Journal of india, starting now!

Sama

been there, DD. you'd do the same for me, no?

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MY INDIA, 2005-2008
"Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

lotus blossom

wazen, i've been reading your journal and the responses, and honestly, unless i missed something, i don't see anyone questioning your credibility.

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Not all who wander are lost

Darmabum

I agree with Lotusblossom and yogagal . . . and I agree with Jack Kerouac - "Everything I wrote was true because I believed in what I saw."
Keep seeing . . . keep sharing . . . keep letting go

Namaste
Scott

Wazen

At the moment, I am online, even though the day is bright and beautiful.

Im very sorry for misunderstanding you both. Your compliments I mistook for the wrong reasons. I dont mean to write such things with a bad heart, it was my mistake, misreading what you said, and I appologise to both of you
After a few Kingfishers, bhang biscut & bhang lassi, with a lot of chillums, coupled with the crazyness of varranasi and the late night-spur of the moment itch to write....

Thank you all for reading my journal, and giving me your kind words. It means a lot to me, from the heart. Mahalo, dandivan.

Digital Drifter,
You are understood, and thank you very much for the compliment!! Really guys, it means a lot to me.
Honestly it was the:
"I dont know whether I just read a surreal experience or something about a chap who's still wandering in my Country?"
that at the moment demanded of me such a response. But its cool man, I dont want thins thread to turn the wrong way, lets keep it real, ya know Its all good bro


Yogagal,
The second reason why for not enjoying the warm sun at the moment was to answer your question I overlooked last night...

Being a man, its hard to guage how easy it is for a female traveler to have the same exerpeinces...Also, women smoking in India is quite the taboo...
If you have faith, and know in your heart what makes you happy, then Jah will provide... I say now Jah Jah will provide!! You are always welcome to meet up with me at anytime aswell, perhaps if our personal little trips coincide...


Well its time to visit Saranath with a few solo travelers, if they are up to it after last night!!!
Much more to come, many more stories and experiences to share. Thank you Indiamike for the opportunity to write and share with everyone.
Time to hit the road and see what trip India has planned for this soul, on yet another beautiful day in this beautiful land.....

ALOHA!!!

PRIYA

You certainly have a gift for writing, Wazen. You paint an excellent picture of each of your experiences. Can't wait for the next exciting instalment

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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.)

8al0ha8

Hey Justin its Kate. Babe I just want to tell you that reading about your journey really brings tears of happiness to my eyes. Im so proud of you and all that youre doing and experiencing out there. You truely have a gift for expresing your thoughts through words. I miss you soooo much and I think about you every day...always wondering what youre doing at the moment and praying that you stay safe and well. But when I log on to this page and see youre doing well it is such a relief. I can't wait to get another call from you...I miss your voice. Sorry it was so brief last time. Please write me or email me when you get a chance, and please keep it up with the journal. You give such vivid details that I can almost picture it all in my mind. I love it. Stay safe and I wish you the best. I love you.

PeakXV

Hey Wazen,

Never mind the partying - it's about time you found a gym and gave us the goods on pumping iron Indian style?

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What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Wazen

Varanasi Hardcore he was dubbed. The craziest rickshaw driver we ever had the pleasure of escaping death with... Never in my life have we hit people and drove off, scraped cycle-wallahs and drove with a trigger happy road-rage. It was f**king cool man.
Although he got a fat deal from us, and made out well, he was paying off policemen at a few corners. This is only part of the darkside merely mentioned in the guidebook...and just a taste of whats to come...

Reaching Saranath, with my 3 day travel buddy Simon from Denmark, we made our way around the old ruins, temple and stupa..
Three bows are a symbolic gesture for this pilgramage, as tought by the buddhist church familiar in Japan and Hawaii. Perhaps Simon was a little tripped out, though theres nothing like cheap Masala-Dosa's and a Coke to chillout with afterward!.. Great food for 25rs, cant help to LOVE it!

An hour late to meet Mr. Varanasi Hardcore,
our trip back was twice the fun, and twice the craziness..
Afternoon Rushhour and this dude is tweaking out like a child with a new toy, a rollcoaster ride like no other, you cant help to love the rush!
I wouldent pay an extra rupee, and later found out we got a little ripped off..

Getting lost between the narrow buildings at night can be pretty intense,
besides the pushing of every type of dope imaginable infront of policemen,
and unnoticeable cowshit waiting to shine that nice shoe of yours, we found hevan within a small resturant. Special Lassi? "sure".. Not to bad, with a little fried rice and a wonderful walk back to the hotel...

Simon was crashed out and a few travelers were chilling out so I joined them for a little more to eat.. man the munchies got me! Luckily the food is always good and cheap!..
Laid back, a few overpriced Kingfishers costing more than my room!, and it was time to check out the balcony overlooking the Ghats...
Two couples were playing music, smoking a coulple chillums and having a blast, and as many travlers are open to any invitation, a seat was offered.
The night was getting late, and the chillums burning low..
One beautiful girl, traveling the world for a year to improve her music style, starting singing with one of the most heart-hitting voices to echo across the silent ghats of Varanasi's night... Unexplainable, sudden to overwhelm my sences, the moment was nothing less than a trance like state...Eyes closed, perma-grinned, nodding away to the ambience of this crazy place...The experience was unreal, and like all things in life, too quick to end.

Supprisingly, the table behind had six other travlers, up and awake in the early morning, 1:00am. People from all over, of all ages.. A samoan traveler around 24, a few men over 40, an Israeli woman, and a few others. Pictureperfect in India, how everything and everyone seems to loose thier boundries of who they are, and adapt as one into the lifestyle: India. As different as we are, knowing moments like this at home wouldent exist with typical stigma of western culture.. We smoked a chillum, some of them partaking for the first time in years, and as the silent moment progessed into the high, the moment was nothing less than perfect.. Jokes and talking for another hour and it was time to end another day in Varanasi....

The next day, Simon and I went to the train station to book a ticket out of here. I was told to just show up at 5:15 by two of the LP listed official agencies, and the ticket will be free and unreserved...?
An hour wait, we booked it out of there into the chaos, again, only to stumble across the same Hole-in-The-Wall style bhang Lassi shop, found the second day here...
Pulling up to the place, picture this:
A cross-eyed gay man, with an uneven face, dressed in female-worn down clothing, fully drag queen style, was dancing infront of the shop! High out of her mind, everyone was just cracking up with laughter, it was the funniest thing in India yet!! I had to throw down two rupees.. to I handed it to her as she danced infront of me...
Then suddenly she turned around insulted, swore at me in Hindi, handed me about 20rs in change, and walked off like a woman with a vegance!! Non stop laughter, I had to drop into the Bhang lassi seat and take my order..
Handed the crazy queen her rupees back, and told the shop owner "make it strong this time, really, really strong".. and watched the procedure..

Two HUGE scoops of green goop, this 5th Bhang Lassi in India was unbearable! It was that strong, but I drank the whole thing... and from here it gets nuts....

An hour later Simon and I browsed around from some supplies, and got lost in the dark alleys. The afternoon was getting cold, and clothes were thin. Soon a clean cut man presented me with an offer, and it was very very sketchy. Running back and forth, "wait here, wait!" with evil eyes, it was the worst buisness deal in history, so we booked it down the alley infront of a resturant..
Running after us, Simons tailor from a silk shop, an honest man, rushed us inside after watching the situation. Luckily he was standing there in that alley, away from his shop.

The Bhang was getting heavy, an the effect was going up, and up...

"that man" he said, "He wil sell you stuff, then turn you into the police, then the police bribe you, and they split the profit"...

.... And Im still going up an up...

"the only real buisness men deal in thier homes, or shop, not on the street".

I didnt care already, I was barely able to speak, and not able to finish the food I just orderd. Telling both of them, "Varanasi is NEVER the place I will trust with this buisness, its too insane and dangeous. It shouldent be like this, its really just, for lack of a better phrase "f**ked up". And insisted over and over..

But this tailer, besides trying to sell silk from his shop thats far away, then pushed me to buy hash from him!! I couldent even say no.. I just ignored him. Simon spoke for me, and the man knew I was flying high, so he kept on with his touting, for silk, for drugs, as I tried to eat and keep calm...
"Are you okay? Are you okay?" He kept asking me, only making my experience THAT much worse. "come buy from me, no police"..
Then and there it was settled, I love Varanasi in many ways, but im leaving the day after tomorow....And even the soft-drug scene here is just NOT WORTH ANY OF YOUR TIME IN VARANASI.

Though the Tailor offered to escort us back to the hotel, and took us through the most vile, insane, unworldy tunnel through a building between the Ghats.
I couldent even breath this small tunnel, barely 6 feet high, and a few feet wide.. There was a cow in there, and an old lady who looked like she had leprosy.. The air was so horrible, it was like raw sewage, not oxygen... Simon had to take a picture, and as I tried to bare with him, egged him to go after one shot... Dryheaving on the way out, never will I forget that moment, or that place..

It was 6:00pm and I wasnt there anymore. Up to my room, straighty to bed, no cold shower, and when the morning came to rise, the time was 9:00AM.

Today is the day to just chill out. Simon left early in the morning, so I walked the ghats, and hung out alone for a while. No one seeemed to really hound me, as it feels like touts and begging are just rolling off my shoulder for the first time. Sometimes a simple look and they know already to not even start with the "HELLO SIR", and it seems im getting the hang of this place..

Funny how India will open your heart, and make you colder than ever at the same time.

After visiting a chemist for the same sleeping aid as mentioned above, for the best price so far 10 x 10mg for 25rs, I can sleep well for the next few days, and my wallet is happy. Good thing to have for traveling endlessly by bus and train! But first 5 chemist turned me down.
Later on a boat ride and a beer, and eventually I came across a buisness man on a boat who I am proud to say, haggled on par with my newbie tactics, and I didnt get TOO ripped off this time. (first present: 2000rs!, second present: 900rs!, This present: 350rs!) Quality of my new personal present is questionable, and im not that thrilled. But its good enough, and I give thanks to Jah, for Jah did provide when I finnaly gave up. For now, and for much time to come, im leaving the scene alone, for it has taken too much effort, risk, and MOST of all, I have enough to share with new friends!!!

The lifestyle of traveling alone in India, has changed my perspective on life, even after this short time.
Besides Delhi, I havent had a real hot shower or any toilet paper. The squating is becoming more routine than effort, and even though I live much more poor than back home, its still luxury compared to those on the street: Bathing, swimming, and yes even drinking the Ganges water, sleeping on dirt, barely a meal to eat...
I am grateful for what India has taught me, and what I have given up for being in India.

Well its an all nighter till 4:00am when I leave for the train station, then to Gorakaphur, and transfer straight to Kushingar where Buddha died. (sorry for the spelling). And now the Spritual journey really starts, for half of this adventure is actually a pilgramage!

Bihar is next, and many have warned against Bihar right now. Some locals straight up told me "Forget it, its too dangerous at the moment"..
But Faith and Goodwill prevails in my heart, and as India keeps teaching me, "let go, dont worry, everything is cool".

Aloha everyone.

Nick-H

I wonder how many of us get driven past in our aircon cars and miss so much....

Different people in the same place, but in different worlds.

Thanks Wazen.... keep it coming

Darmabum

Wazen . . . your experiences, your medium of expression/the rhythm of it, brings to mind early journals by Ginsberg and Snyder, of their "trip" to India in the 60's . . . something of Kerouac's prose/the Truth/Myth that when he turned "On the Road" into his publisher, there was no punctuation . . . no stops . . . no pauses . . . remembering some of your earlier posts . . . what to take/where to go/etc . . . and all the answers/suggestions/possibilities . . . some kind of arrangement . . . but now you're there! . . . now it's all improv . . . some kinda jazz . . . keep goin' Wazen . . . Namaste. Scott

PeakXV

Yes keep it coming ..... The journal is quite vivid to say the least ... almost as though I've been unknowingly fed 2 scoops of green goop. Bihar should be an interesting trip .... and don't take any guff off that Laloo character ........

lotus blossom

the image of the tunnel is a fierce one, but less so than the stench of it. wow...

it is interesting how india takes us all on a different trip, depending on what are agenda is and where we are in ourselves.

re ganga, india is such a trip for me that i don't know that i could be out in that world intoxicated.

thanks for taking us along.

Sama

oh my god, I was thinking the same thing, how it's reminding me of Ginsberg!

my one claim to fame is being at a party and OMing with Ginsberg after he read from Howl, a mindblower for a young hippie chick back in the early '70s.

this is why I said Wazen's writing reminds me of stories an old friend has told me of his time in India in the '70s.

hey Waz, don't bogart that joint, OK?

Digital Drifter

I've only one thing to add.

Go easy on goop in Bihar. Yuo'll need your wits about you there.

Stay sharp, laddie, dont flaunt your purse. Inform someone your whereabouts before you go to each place there.

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Click here for the Indiamike train guide in PDF

daeve

...anyone else wondering what's happened to old Wazen then....?