Namaste

The evening at the hotel I was at was so worth it. Having the opportunity to shower and nap was a blessing. Now I am in Kathmandu and I am doing the same thing.

I left the hotel at 12:45am in a pre-arranged taxi to take me to the airport for 1:00am. My flight (Colombo-Chennai-Mumbai-Kathmandu) was set to leave at 3:05am. Tons of time. I went through security, which turned out to be a giant joke as the officers seemed more interested in where I was from rather than the safety of the airport. Regardless, I made it through quickly and pain free (except for my back, which still hurts). I went to the Jet Airways check in counter and received some bad news. The woman behind the counter asked me for my visa for India. I didn't have one because I wasn't staying in India. She said that if there is more than one domestic flight in India then I need a transit visa. Failure to produce it would prevent me from even leaving Colombo. Tears and a wobbly voice came next.

I talked to a man who looked in charge and told him that my original flight (Colombo-Mumbai-Kathmandu) had been changed recently by the airline and I was not told to get a transit visa nor would I have had the time to apply for one and receive it prior to leaving Winnipeg. He told me to sit and relax and he would figure out what to do. I waited over 30 minutes. He walked down the hall and never came back.

I then proceeded to talk to the manager who told me he would fix it. He successfully switched me to a flight leaving Colombo to Mumbai and then to Kathmandu for 6:10am. Do-able for sure. I was able to check in and get a spot on the flight without any problems. One employee, who knew my situation, escorted me to the counter and checked me in ahead of the scheduled check-in time. It was now about 3:40am and I could relax.

I went through another security gate that had a guard sitting and drinking out of what looked like a hybrid between a wine bottle and a Bailey's bottle. Not at all sketchy. ;) There was a lovely selection of  shops and coffee bars to peruse but at a cost. The stores have washers and dryers, PS3, watches, sunglasses, other electronics, it's just weird. I'm not going to buy a bar-fridge on my way out-of-country. It helped to pass the time at least. I boarded at 5:30. The boarding is a bit odd because you have to take a bus to the plane all the way around the airport. This was the same in Mumbai and Kathmandu. Maybe it's a Asian thing?

Karen and Christie met me at the airport and we took a taxi back to Christie's cousin's place. The taxi was held together with packing tape and had no seat belts. I got to shower, we went out for a snack, and meet some friends who came over for dinner. From what I've seen, Kathmandu is crazy. Or as Christie and Karen suggest, a calmer India. There are people, motor bikes, and dogs all in the streets. There are no street signs or street lights and there is a lot of honking. It is very dirty here with trash everywhere, especially in empty lots and on the side of the road. The pollution is bad too. Many people wear masks to protect from the dust. I even saw a chicken and a few cows just eating and observing the hustle and bustle. This is a different place for sure. 

Karen and I will be going traveling tomorrow on a 8 hour bus ride (though only 200 kms away) to Pokhara and spending one or two nights there. We will be hiking, looking at the lake and the Himalayas and whatever else there is! Apparently there are museums, caves, waterfalls, Tibetan villages and adventure-related activities like jungle treks and paragliding! Depending on what we get done, we will determine the number of days. Since we will be doing some hiking and be outdoors I will NOT bring my laptop. Updates will follow once I'm back!

Love!

I Made It!

After 10.5 hours on the plane from London, I have finally made it! The plane was kind of funny... there were TV channels with movies and Hindi shows but if you selected them, you joined in where ever it was playing. I jumped in at the end of Silver Linings Playbook. But they also had video games on the plane and the remote you used to choose channels (you heard me, remote) became a controller. So I played Galaktor (like Space Invaders) and made it to level 52. Like a boss! I also played checkers, reversi, and pac man. I played a lot of spider solitaire on my iPod. A lot. I couldn't really sleep I was so excited. One thing that was pretty cool was that everything on the plane is free! Alcohol, snacks, sandwiches, meals, etc. Awesome! The food (even plane food) was delicious and the variety of fruit is outstanding. I had pieces of orange, grape, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple and mango in my breakfast! That came with a mixed vegetable string hopper which was spicy but oh so good!! It was like angel hair pasta (but made of rice flour) shopped into tiny pieces with bits of carrot and peppers in it. For dinner I had a marinated lemon fish with lyonaisse glazed potatoes. The salad was mini raw shrimps with two melon balls of honeydew and cantaloupe sprinkled with dill. It was an interesting combination but not bad. We also got 'refresher towels' to wipe our hands and face. The stewardesses were beautiful in matching aqua sarees with peacock feathers on them. They always had a smile on their face.

My first view of Sri Lanka was ocean and palm trees. It is beautiful here... palm trees every where. It's 31 with a light breeze. There is hustle and bustle everywhere.. kind of a sensory overload right now. Maybe i'm in shock, I'm not sure. All of a sudden I'm exhausted. I got a taxi to my hotel and just had a shower. Now i'm lying down and going to try to nap, I was so excited I guess it prevented me from sleeping. I have the same driver arranged to come and pick me up at 12:45am to take me back to the airport. I am SO glad I booked this room. I was so smelly and greasy... this is a really good thing!  I can hear birds chirping (lots of honking too!). I am excited to get back here and dive into the culture and learn more. For example, a giant statue of buddha greeted me in the airport... I'm excited to see more! The people here are very nice (and brown... I stick out BIG TIME). I'm loving how people seem easy going and like "yeah! help yourself! take what you want!" yet busy with life. I'm actually kind of sad to leave without even exploring. But nepal should be great! I'm excited to experience my first week away with some amazing friends. That should really make things easier.

One interesting thing was that one man noticed me eating fast and hunched over, and that I kind of stand that way too.  He said it's not bad posture but that my head is heavy with lots of thoughts and worries and that's why my head comes forward and down. Interesting. Definitely a different take on it.

I also noticed the infamous Indian head waggle! Just youtube it! It's funny, but everything I say gets a head waggle, which apparently means 'yes I understand' or 'ok'. I've got to practice my head waggle!

From what I have experienced so far... I think I'm going to love it here!

What a Whirlwind!

The past week and a bit has been absolutely crazy. I have no idea where the time has gone but I hope it continues to pass quickly... I'm in London Heathrow Airport for 10 hours. So now I will take this time to catch up on all that has happened!

On Thursday (May 16 I believe) Max and I met up with my Uncle Jim and Carole at Andaaz Fashions in St. Vital to pick up my saree. I had been so excited to get it... waiting 10 days was so hard! It seems there is always someone in that store, but I was helped right away by Sukmeet. We went to the change room and she gave me the blouse to try on. It is gorgeous, but wow it is different than anything I've ever worn! It is basically like a crop-top with hooks in the front (like a button up) and a beautiful tie and tassel going over the back. It was unbelievably tight (perhaps due to the Starbucks I had been indulging in) so I asked Sukmeet if she could 'let it out' because I saw some extra fabric sewn in. She said that it is supposed to be tight and that if I have it any looser that the shoulders would fall off and it wouldn't look right. I definitely don't want to look 'wrong' so I kept it. Speaking of shoulders, there are even buttons on the inside of the blouse to attach your bra straps to so they don't show. They've got this down to an art! Anyways, Sukmeet helped me assemble it and kind of taught me how to make the pleats, but unfortunately I still haven't really got the hang of it. I'm sure my host family will help me to learn. Everyone seemed really pleased with how it looks, especially me! I am so happy with it, I had even worn it around the house a couple times. I think I might convert to sarees.... ;) Below are some pictures courtesy of Carole of the final product!

Later in the week (I guess that would be Friday) I received a package in the mail from Abby all the way from Latrobe, PA. It was so exciting to receive a package (I'm happy to get anything other than bills!) and it was loaded with goodies. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture to add here, but I can list off everything... A journal with two cute pens, a book about world travels (I have yet to dive in...), a kit of travel sized bottles, ankle socks, sticky notes, and perhaps something else... I feel like I'm missing something, but perhaps not. I definitely have those goodies packed with me. It was super nice to receive a gift like that, thank you so much, Abby!

Basically I started packing on Friday and just loaded my suitcase with stuff. What do you pack for 3 months?! That's what I really struggled with, but I settled on:
-3 skirts (plus my saree)
-3 capris/harem pants
-5+ shirts
-about a week's worth of undergarments
-the basic toiletries to get me by until I arrive and can buy some (like shampoo and lotion etc), toilet paper and more.
-a hat
-sunscreen, bug repellant, a first aid kit, general pills such as Tylenol
-lots of hair scrunchies and bobby pins as well as hair bands!!
-the gifts I had bought
-other such things

My carry on includes what feels like all the heavy stuff. I have a change of clothes, my laptop, iPod, phone, camera, snacks, travel toiletries. I also have a memory foam travel pillow that Max bought me as a parting gift. Unfortunately I was a little ambitious and over-filled some of the containers. Lotion leaked out and my perfume did too. Luckily it was only a little perfume because it is so strong. It drenched only my wallet (as far as I can tell) but have since rinsed out my travel kit and put the perfume in a separate plastic bag. I am getting a headache from it, so I hope the smell is contained!

Saturday night I went out with Max and his family for his birthday dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant called Viva (at Sargent and Young). It was really nice to see his (big) family one last time and talk about my trip. His siblings seemed genuinely interested and I was happy to share what I know, which I am realizing isn't really much at all. Max's mother gave me a lovely gift for my belated birthday and graduation. It included a journal, mug, sock monkey key chain (on my luggage!), a leather rabbit head coin purse, and a fan. It was such a kind gesture, and being treated to dinner was super touching as well. One of Max's brothers also got me a red velvet cupcake (which I ate for breakfast the next day). It was so sweet to have everyone there and wish me well. I hugged pretty much everyone I think. I am going to miss those big gatherings... but I'll be back in time for the ones that matter, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. :)

Max came over on Sunday before he had to work to say goodbye. It was really hard and I was just a blubbering mess... In fact, my eyes are still red and puffy! I think it was best to do it in private at my house because I was just a disaster. I got my composure and then watched the Bruins/Rangers game with my family, said goodbye to my sister who was leaving for work, and then left for the airport. The next thing that happened was wild.

On the way to the airport my family stopped in at Dollarama so that I could buy some gum and trail mix. We were all a bit anxious I think so we left a few minutes earlier than planned. We arrived at the airport with tons of time together and planned on having dinner together while waiting to go through security. When I got to the Air Canada kiosk and began a self-check in a woman rushed up to me and confirmed my identity. She told me my flight to Toronto was late and I'd miss my connection. I made it just before the cut off for a flight to Toronto that was getting ready to board as I arrived in the airport. My mom and dad and I really rushed and didn't really get to say a decent 'goodbye' which was sad. We all were teary and said "This isn't how I imagined this going, I thought we'd have more time." Luckily I only shed a few tears and made my way through security just fine. I ran to the opposite end for the gate I was departing out of because I thought I heard my name called on the intercom. I ran all the way and handed by boarding pass to the lady at the gate desk. She told me they hadn't even started boarding yet and I could relax. Thank goodness! I was hungry and teary and just a mess. I went to Tim's and then the bathroom (probably could have done the opposite) and spilled my iced cap on the counter because I was in a rush. Luckily it wasn't a lot. That was the last thing I needed... my comfort food getting ruined!

I was in the middle seat on the 2.5 hour flight to Toronto. The man to my right seemed interesting.. I said I was in the seat next to him (so he'd let me in) and he said "Ok, I don't dispute that". And the woman beside me was overweight and was half sitting on my leg for a part of the flight. Oh well. In Toronto I made it to my gate with plenty of time to spare. It was the same gate I took to London on the Holy Land Tour last year. Kind of cool. (Tons of changes to that area of the terminal by the way!) I watched "An Idiot Abroad" starring Karl Pilkington. If I were a man, I'd be him. He is a hoot and gets sent on these wild adventures. You'll have to see it. But then I started realizing, "Oh my goodness, that's going to be me... Carrying on conversations in English with people who have no idea what I'm saying, eating strange things... but also having experiences of a lifetime." I then boarded for London.

The flight to London was not packed, maybe 2/3 full. It was about a 7 hour flight and I barely slept. I watched "The Campaign" with Will Ferrell and Zach Galifinakis and it was decent. Not my favourite, but it passes the time (and frees up space on my computer because now I can delete it!). We had a chicken and veggies meal with some amazing chocolate mousse for dessert (though not as amazing as Max's!). For breakfast we had a carrot muffin and orange juice. It was a little dry, but it was good. The orange juice stung my throat... I think I'm getting sick (grrrreeeeeaaaattttt) because my throat feels weird and my voice barely comes out. I really hope it passes because I don't need this! Well, I can deal with losing my voice, but a head cold NO! So I pray this turns out to be nothing.

Now I wait until 8:20ish to board my flight to Colombo. It's 1:30pm here. 7 hours. I'm going to wander around, eat, and come back on the computer once I find a power source... Pictures to come very soon!

Until.... later today?

Departure Day

Well, the day has finally come... I leave for the airport in about 4.5 hours and take off in about 6.5 hours. The last few days have seriously been a whirlwind and I don't even know how to re-cap it all. I was hoping to save this big re-cap entry thing for my layover in London, which is 10 hours. That way I can have something to do. So please keep watching for it.

Please send a prayer up for me as I embark on this really crazy adventure. At times I feel like "What have I done?!" but I am confident it will be an amazing experience.

Flight Map

I finally got around to it. What, you might ask? I made a ghetto map of my flight so people can actually picture where the heck I'm stopping along the way to, from, and during my trip. So, here it is below... Shoddily labeled and with super lame lines and unequal arrows. Don't even judge. I'm proud. ;)

My stops are as follows..

Winnipeg, Canada-Toronto, Canada
Toronto, Canada-London, England
London, England-Colombo, Sri Lanka

-Rest One Night-

Colombo, Sri Lanka-Chennai, India
Chennai, India-Mumbai, India
Mumbai, India-Kathmandu, Nepal

-Spend 8 Days in Kathmandu, Nepal-

Kathmandu, Nepal-Mumbai, India
Mumbai, India-Colombo, Sri Lanka

-Do My Practicum (12 Weeks)-

Colombo, Sri Lanka-London, England
London, England-Montreal, Canada
Montreal, Canada-Winnipeg, Canada.

Hope this helps! Also, what kind of things would you like to see me post about here while on my trip? Specifics? General?

ONE WEEK.

Gifts From Friends, Gifts to my Future Friends.

Well, it's just over two weeks until I leave on this adventure. And I've got to be honest, I'm getting pretty nervous! Lately I have gotten lots of stuff done that is pretty important in regards to my trip.

I bussed downtown earlier this week and went to Manitoba Health to get my Out of Country Medical Card. I am not really sure what this is for, but all I know is that if you're out of the province for more than 90 days you need to have one to ensure you're covered in case of a health emergency. I waited at least 30mins in the waiting room (supervised by an RCMP member... or something close) but the whole process took about 3mins and I was out! Plus, the card was free, so that's a relief.

Yesterday I printed out all the documents I could even dream of printing. I also made photocopies for my parents to have. So both myself and my family have...
-Copies of my itineraries for Winnipeg-Colombo and Colombo-Kathmandu
-Copies of my travel health insurance policies
-Copies of my travel health insurance cards, SIN card, driver's license, Manitoba Health card, Out of Country Medical Card
-Booking information at the hotel in Sri Lanka where I am spending one night.
-Copies of my passport.

I also have a little duo-tang (remember those things?!) with all the contact information for Sarvodaya, the High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka, the hotel I am staying at, as well as some other handy places in case of an emergency. This also includes my confirmation number for my travel visa in Sri Lanka. Dang, I'm good.

While printing off my itinerary I realized my flight actually leaves at 6:35pm instead of 10:30pm, which is what I thought it was before. Thank goodness I looked!!!

The other day my friend Beth K. came over to drop off a travel kit for me. This was so nice and so unexpected, but she is just the bomb! As a medic, she knows what is helpful to take with you when traveling. In this bag was dry shampoo, deodorant wipes, moist face wipes, wipes for your body, foaming soap, hand sanitizer, and a mini pack of kleenex.

Also, I got a whole bunch of moist towelettes from a family friend who is a nurse and from my dad who attended a Workplace Health and Safety. I know these will come in real handy for times I am out in rural areas or just needing to clean my hands before eating. I'm not sure I can have enough of these!

The other day I spent the afternoon with my Aunty Nean at Tim's and going to Goodwill, Dollarama, and Dollar Plus. We had a Tuscan Chicken Panini, donut, and french vanilla (my aunt had tea) and talked for a while. I don't even know how long it was, but it was nice to catch up about a variety of things. At the dollar stores I got some stickers, coloring books, Canada pencils, mint tea and my aunt gave me some postcards of what we are calling 'Canadian scenes' to take with me. Sri Lanka is one of the largest exporters of tea (if not THE largest). The country actually used to be called Ceylon, which is what the ceylon tea is named after. So I thought it might be fun to bring some funky mint tea in case they don't have that kind... apparently they export the good stuff and keep the rejects and murky teas for themselves... Could be a treat. And a special "thank you" to my cat, Emma, who photo bombed this picture.

I know that this whole trip is really weighing on me. Perhaps this is too much information, but I get sick when I am stressed and I have been sick several times recently. Usually it is a very sporadic thing for me with exams or some huge family thing, but this is just massive for me. I haven't been eating quite the same, sleeping the same, or been in a cheerful mood lately. I guess it's because I'm petrified. Excited. Nervous. Ready to go. Never wanting to leave.

Counting down the days..

Saree Shopping!

Today was a totally awesome day! I went out with my Uncle Jim and his girlfriend, Carole to have brunch and go saree shopping!

We began our day at 12:00 at Smitty's on Meadowood (in St. Vital) with a nice brunch. I had a Sunrise Skillet (mushrooms, green onions, bacon, cheese, hash browns, and eggs with toast) while my Uncle had a Western Skillet and Carole had a Smitty's Omelette. It was very filling and an awesome way to start our day... brunch is totally underrated.

Then we walked over to Andaaz Fashions, which is conveniently in the same shopping strip. An appointment was made for me at 2:00 to be fit for a saree, but we arrived a bit early to take a peek at some of the styles and colors... and there were many! After perusing some of the stock, the man in charge (Tejinder) asked me what colors I might be interested in, to which I obviously replied 'purple'. We saw about 7 different sarees... some with paisleys and others with flowers. Sequins, beads, beautiful embroidery... they were all stunning. I think that Uncle Jim, Carole, and myself all had our eye on one that is a maroonish/purple/dark pink (depending on the light!) with some swirls and flowers, also done in a beautiful green and gold stitching. Sukmeet, the woman in charge, helped to put it on me, and although it looked a little weird with my Adidas pink high-tops, yoga pants, and American Eagle shirt, I could definitely look past it and imagine myself with the proper blouse and petticoat. We had another contender that was a more bright pink color with lots of flash and sequins, but it wasn't quite 'me'. So, a unanimous decision was made and the first saree it was! Next, I got measured for the blouse and petticoat, which will be sewn to fit me in just the right way. Sukmeet is even making it a little more modest for me by lengthening the blouse! Even the back of the blouse will have the beautiful pattern throughout it... I cannot wait for it to be made so I can wear it in the full-on 100% Indian way!

So for now, I wait. It should be made in about 10 days, but maybe even sooner! As soon as I go back and try it on again, I will take pictures to post! I am so excited!!!!!!

Thank you Uncle Jim and Carole for a wonderful day, and your generosity in helping me choose the most beautiful saree! <3 :)

Here is a sneak peek....