Big Trouble in India

Kengonetoindia

Last time I logged on I had just fallen off a train and crucified myself on a rusty iron rail gate beside the tracks. Remember? Yes, ouch. Having recovered enough to be able to hike up to the waterfall at Garuda Chatty near Rishikesh I did it again. This time I stumbled and fell off the narrow path, over the side and down fifteen feet. I was able to grab hold of the last tree before certain death and finally made my way back to the top with the help of my friends. Kind of like a Raiders of the Lost Arc movie, a real cliffhanger.

Having survived both of these harrowing experiences I now get whacked by a starving puppy beside the road. I have a big heart for suffering puppy dogs and so I had no choice but to cradle it in my arms and take it to a little protected room at a friends ashram here, The Center Of Light. In the morning the little critter was almost dead - there was no chance of recovery, none whatsoever, and so I did what I had to do ... to end it's suffering. And that's when mine began. Crying non stop for the little creature. And all the creatures here that are hungry and alone.

So, I've been hit hard by India three time now. And I'm really not sure why this is happening. I've met some great people and had some wonderful experiences and yet I feel that India is out to get me somehow. Can anyone shed any light on this. Anyone?

IndiaKen

lonelyaztec

Don't worry Ken. You will be fine.

If you are in for a adventure, you have undertake some risky stuff. But, be careful.

Check the local telephone directly for Blue Cross telephone number. Call then, and ask them to pick up the pup. Or, you can go there and give the pup to them. They will take care of it, and will find it a family.

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Aztec

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PRIYA

Gosh Ken, you sure have had a really rough time, accident wise, in India and I hope this will be the end of mishaps for you.

However, as far as your puppy is concerned..........I think any animal lover will agree, you did the right thing and just have to TRY and move on. You, and most of us here who've been to India, have seen some dreadful sights, that will never be forgotten, but try to stay focused on the positive sides too. You obviously are sensitive to animals and their suffering and all I can say is 'good for you and keep it up.' India isn't out to get you - it already has - and if you can help any person/animal in distress, you will leave India more enlightened than when you arrived.

Sorry if what I've written sounds a bit 'over the top' - but I'm an animal lover too and can totally understand how you're feeling. To put an animal out of its misery took courage and compassion so know that you did the right thing.

Enjoy the rest of your trip and stay away from accidents

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Happiness is for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. (Anon.)

Nick-H

Good for you, Ken... India ia a better place for having you in it.

I'd say leave the vet stuff to the pros next time; there are charities, or you could probably easily afford a private vet ...but you did what you felt you had to do, and you've got more courage and caring than I have .

But please try to take better care of yourself! There's a Bach flower remedy for having accidents like this. Maybe you can't find a flower-remedy practitioner, but you could try a homeopath. You could get stuff to help your healing process, and maybe to help out whatever mental/emotional thing is attracting accidents. Maybe this wouldn't be your thing; just a suggestion.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

MeCasa

Toughen up dude

andygoodyear

Hi Ken

I am an animal lover too (god I even save bees that are drowning in pools of water). You did a very brave and courageous thing. It was best for the poor pup

mira4bai4

You have arrived, been initiated and now frying in the realms of Karma. The layers are being dug at, opened, peeled and exposed, you will bleed some more sure thing, emotionally and physically, enjoy the process it is your time and Mama India is getting in, cutting out the disease and doing the healing.

Time for some serious meditation.

oldhippie

It takes a lot of courage to put down an animal. I have had to do it several times in my youth back in Texas when we had to put down horses and at times our dogs. You did what was best for the animal at that time so you should not worry about it too much. I went to war at a young age for the first time and I felt horrible about the very first Iraqi I shot in the head. I just could not do it at first but if I didn't he would kill me and some of my guys. I shot loads of these guys in DS & IF but the image of the very first guy still haunts me to this day.

Get over it. Get a few beers and if you have some spare change buy a few packs of Parle Glucose biscuits and feed the strays in your neighbourhood.

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Too Many Gandus, Too Few Bullets.

torryquine

Hats off to you Ken. An awful experience but you know you did the right thing. I was upset by many things I saw in India and I don't think "Toughen up" is the right thing to do. I started a thread "Is compasion for animals a Western Luxury" when I got back. (Sorry, I'm not clever enough to work out how to do the link). But people said some very helpful things to me on it, not least that "it is a luxury to be able to care" or something like that.

You have been unlucky so far on your trip, but that is the random nature of life, magnified by the lens of India. It's right to care and to be hurt by some things that you will see. But without being callous, you can look past these things and see the immence beauty of India too.

I hope you have only good experiences for the rest of your trip.

TQ

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http://werenotafraid.com/

Judi

Hi Ken

Sorry that you are having such tough luck - and I, too, think you were verey brave and honourable by doing the right thing with the puppy. It must have been terrible for you - but I am sure you wouldn't have done it, had you not felt it was the best option. As for being very emotional about it afterwards ..... you would have felt exactly as emotional had you had to do a similar thing back home - you're obviously a compassionate guy. Don't be ashamed/confused or whatever about it - juts accept that is who you are, and celebrate it. I found India a wholly emotional experience anyway - and by reading many, many of the postings here, so do/did a lot of other IMers - so you are not alone there.

A note of caution ...... whilst you have been travelling, a woman returned to the UK, having been bitten by a dog whilst travelling in India. Sadly she died of rabies. Do take more care of yourself, please! You are obviously an animal lover - but equally you shouldn't be putting you own life in danger .... you're precious, too, don't forget.

Enjoy your travels - and don't forget to tell us more about them.

Travel well.

Judi

Hi TQ

I love the new atavar! Where is it, and did you take the picture?????????????

wandering_kat

Ken, well done with the pup - definitely the right thing to do and it takes guts.

India's not out to get you; it's out to teach you about yourself.

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Sorry, but my karma just ran over your dogma

Kengonetoindia

Thank you all for your wonderful advice. I already feel better about what's happening here. I had meant to post daily messages - I do write a daily email to my friends back home - but they are so long (so much happens each and every day) that I didn't want to take up the entire IndiaMike website for my inane ramblings.

The avtar you asked about is from an illustrator's website. It's from the movie Kong and I use it for the background image on my website. If you go to my website you can find the link to that illustrator and you can download some very cool icons and stuff. If you want to do that my website is http://www.drool.com Have fun. And thank you all again.

iwanttogoback

all the best ken. on the positive side, just think of all those dinner parties you'll be invited to just to tell your india stories!

50sQuiff

I don't want to sound callous but to me this is clearly a pastiche. Crucifiction by railings was difficult enough to swallow. Posting on Indiamike so soon... in India?

Now we have Raiders of the Lost Ark, dying puppies and dubiously titled ashrams. Granted, it's a funny spoof but I think you're all being led up the garden path.