One Way Ticket

Since becoming part of this tour group, we have been regimented with the 6, 7, 8 rhythm. That is a wake up call at 6 AM, breakfast at 7 AM, and bus departure at 8 AM. We are kept busy daily until early evening. Then we have time to shower and clean up for a 7 PM buffet of a spicy to too hot selection of Indian foods. We are ready to sleep by 8:30 or 9 PM. So, we really have not had time nor energy to post on our blog since beginning the tour of the historic and very traditional Hindu states in the south of India.

We have visited temples, which were constructed 600 to 700 common era through the 17th century. Some temples have been active worship sites, so shoes are not permitted. The Hindu people on tour with us have been allowed to go into the central shrines, but not us non-believers.

The language spoken here is the oldest active language in the world and it is about 10,000 years old. This is a very traditional area. We did visit a palace, a home of a former wealthy cast system family, a new age ashram, and some cottage roadside industry. India is the most populous country in the world with 1.4 billion population. There seems to be a corresponding number of small independent shops everywhere.

Our people encounters have been very positive. We are greeted often by someone with folded hands and offering us a verbal blessing. Young people have wanted to take selfies with us. School children wanted to high five with us. This is a very colorful place. Seeing women dressed so beautifully everywhere in the streets and not hidden behind veils or covered in black is just lovely to behold. Buses are painted wild, crazy colors and the marigold colored tuk tuks flow like blood cells down a veinous path. There’s a vitality which is almost smothering.

Our guide,Srini, has been giving bus ride talks on the history, culture and politics of India. He has explained the damage done to the country as a result of European domination of the economy of India. The political struggle for independence from the British empire was particularly poignant as we visited the Gandhi museum and I walked around his ashes burial place.