thank god for the salvos

I don’t want to come home. Obviously I miss everyone pretty hectically, but the longer I’m here, the more I learn the ins and outs of this place, the more I absolutely love it. Ahhhhhhh! Only 2 weeks to go. Then I’m heading back to:

1. Unemployment.
2. A $5000 credit card debt.
3. Full-time university.
4. Finding a place to live.

So comparatively India is just about the greatest place on earth right now, despite the poo.

Going back a week now, Ash and I had our ‘last’ day together in Jodhpur. I made friends with the guy who runs the little shop next door and he desperately wanted me to join him to watch the cricket. I told him I had to take Ash to the station but that I’d be back. Ash and I got into a rickshaw and made our way to the station. It was a pretty sad goodbye, public embracing is not acceptable between males and females, nor is kissing, so it was just like… oh bye. Got back to the hotel, and went next door to watch India vs. Sri Lanka game #2. Drank chai, and more or less just hung out with the boys, which was heaps of fun. Then Mami came in and wasn’t happy about 6 guys sitting in a tiny shop watching the cricket, so we left to play our own game. Indian backyard cricket is a tad different from how it is in Australia, but equally as fun. Basically about 10 guys stood in a tiny street surrounded by concrete walls. We used a bat that looked like it came from a milo kit or something, and a tiny orange plastic ball. You stand close and just throw the ball at the stumps, if you manage to hit it into a hard to reachplace, like behind a motorbike or in a hole, you’re usually able to score a run, keeping in mind the pitch is littered with debris. Also, Indians play with every single rule as if its international cricket. 6 ball overs between two interchanging bowlers, wides and no balls, 2 batters, etc. They take it pretty seriously, and so it was a good feeling to win the series 2 – 1, by a gallent effort by our last batter and captain who almost single handedly reached the target of17 runs. Went back to his shop to see Sri Lanka get the best of India, and then to find out that Australia lost the series to England (wtf?). Got taken by one of the dudes to next door where he showed me his antique bongs, and obliged me with a couple of cones, then tried to forcibly give me weed which I thanked him for but declined. Then, he showed me his house. It was absolutely amazing. Right in the dead centre of the city, this guys hows was absolutely breathtaking. It was firstly about 600 years old. It had no furniture, and it was crumbling down, yet it was massive. Original art works were still on the roof, there was a dungeon, a watchtower, countless secret doors and passage-ways, about three rooftop areas with a view of Indias most imposing fort. It was a little bit scary to be honest, but I was really thankful to the guy for showing me what he had. So then I was late for my bus to Jaipur so i had to run and pack and get a rickshaw, and I was really stressing. Then the 5 hour bus journey wasn’t even any where near ready to leave when I got there. Id not eaten all day so I bought a bag of peanuts. After an hours wait the bus left, and 5 hours in to our journey (at midnight) we made our first stop. I was really confused, aren’t we supposed to be there? No. Apparently this so called 5 hour bus ride is actually a 10 hour bus ride. I was absolutely starving and to add insult to injury the peanutes were rotten and half of them contained no peanut at all, just 1 lonely ant, who would thank me for freeing him from his peanut shell prison by biting my hands and feet.

Arrived in to Jaipur, a pink wash city of 3 million people, the capitol of Rajasthan at 4am. Got a rickshaw to the Jaipur inn where I had a booking and was told sorry, we’re full. I was 4 hours late after all. Went driving and found a place that was a little over budget but you do what you have to. Spent my time reading and taking care of business. Shivan, Hurshey, Vaas and Len were supposed to meet me at the Jaipur inn, so I got a cycle rickshaw there (feeling like a tool) and left a message at the counter with directions to my new hotel for one Mr. Shivan Yadav. Also spoke with the manager and asked why my room had been given away. It hadn’t. I’d actually been upgraded to a better room for free, and when I arrived, I said I had a booking for the dorm. Shit happens. So the boys eventually got the note and made it to my hotel where the 5 of us jammed into a taxi, and headed back to theres. Spent the evening at their luxury hotel and ate at their luxury rooftop restaurant. A welcome change from the budget accommodation I’d been getting used to. Had a few laughs, played some cards, had a smoke and watched some Adam Sandler movie about jail football which was utterly hilarious. Caught a rickshaw home at 1am, with a little bit of hassle and dodgyness, but got there in the end.

Next day I was meant to go back to their hotel to go shopping, only I’d forgotten to look at its name, or remember where it is so I was in a bit of a situation. With a bit of thinking I decided to go to an internet cafe to look at pictures of Japiur hotels until I found it. It was the first one. I also received an email from Ash in Bombay (20 hours away).

To make a long story short, she got to Bombay and decided that Yoga and solitude wasn’t for her. Secretly I couldn’t be happier.

Went to Shivans hotel and we all packed into a rickshaw and went shopping. First he took us to some dodgy jewellery factory which obviously pays him a commission. Afterwards we went into the pink city, which is considered to be one of Indias best shopping districts. Bought myself a shirt and tried on some shoes. Gave quite a bit of money to homeless kids (at least, a bit to them) and made our way back to the hotel, where we just spent the night stuffing ourselves, playing 13, and watching wrestling and King Kong. Paid for my rickshaw home with a pack of cigarettes as I had no small notes. Got up and packed, and made my way to the station. Shivan and the boys had been on a flight for Bombay that morning, and I was getting the train down to come and rescue Ash. 20 hours later I arrived in Bombay. Of all things ate maccas. Went out for a few drinks with Shivan, who we saw just walking down the street and we called out to him from our cab, and retired to Ash’s shitty and expensive hotel. Next day we found an absolute goldmine. The St. Vinnies Red Shield Hostel. This place is absolute class. About a 3rd the price of anywhere else in Bombay, great location, and 3 free meals a day! (Even if they are gruel and bread). Went out to meet Leo and his friends for a few drinks at a local dive, got absolutely pissed, then another rooftop bar, where we continued to party. Ash and I walked home and Leo, who’d been drinking considerably longer, stumbled. The hostel was locked so Leo obliged by banging loudly on the door. Some dude woke up and let us in.

Yesterday was more or less a repeat of the day before. Met this really lost English dude called David. It’s Davids 2nd day and he was culture shocked pretty badly, coming from a small English village and ending up in a city of 18 million people, was a bit much for him. So we decided to take him out and show him around. Got a train out to Santa Cruz, a known nightlife location and sat at a cool beach side bar with Leo and a couple of his mates, Riddhi and Mani. Downed a few before leaving for his friends house (who happens to be overseas) so that we could sit in their gorgeous front garden and continue to get pissed. His parents came home and were the coolest parents I’ve ever met. A joke from the papa:

4 gay guys enter a bar to find there is only 1 stool left. So what do they do? Turn it upside down.

Got a cab home feeling rather splendid, went to bed, and woke to Ash vomiting in a bucket beside the bed. I on the other hand, feel excellent.

Today were going to see Roger Waters (of Pink Floyd) in concert. Should be a good gig, I really cant wait.

Gruels ready so I’m gonna go eat.

See you all soon!

~ by shayolden on February 18, 2007.