Toto, We're Not in Vempalli Anymore-Trevor

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In February you would have found me crossing out the days on the calendar impatiently wanting it to just be the 23^rd  already!  The morning and afternoon of the 23^rd seemed painfully slow.  But finally the Brooke, Sid, and I piled into the van with Ramana and headed to Cuddapah.  When my Mom stepped off that train it was hard for me to believe that she was actually in India.  Just like when Brooke’s mom Tina and Debbie had visited, the next few days consisted of feast after feast of incredible Indian food and showing my Mom all around our Indian home, the school, and villages.

On February 25 my Mom and I took and overnight train to the city of Hyderabad, the capital city of the state of Andhra Pradesh where we joined Jeff and Zach Gilbert and their parents. I turned 21 in Hyderabad that day, and while in our hotel, Helen, an incredible Indian lady who lives in Hyderabad with her husband, showed up with a chocolate frosted banana bread cake.  Brooke and Sid had made me a blueberry muffin in a mug the night before I left.  This was definitely a birthday I won’t forget.

Hyderabad was really interesting, the population is 40% Muslim so combined with the arid environment and calls to prayer echoing through the city it often felt like we were in the Middle East.  It was also much bigger than I expected, being one of the biggest cities in India and actually made up of two twin cities, Hyderabad and Secunderabad. We then traveled to Shimla, the mountainous capital of Himachel Pradesh, where I was reminded once again what it actually feels like to be cold. Next was Jaipur, the Pink City, Agra, where us three boys did some serious damage at McDonalds, and of course we saw the magnificent Taj.

We visited two places I had not been to while driving between Jaipur and Agra.  Close to Jaipur, off the beaten path was a Monkey Temple tucked up in a small valley.  The pools of water there are considered holy so we were able to watch everyday people perform rituals, wash colorful saris, and bathe in the holy water. Then close to Agra again off the beaten path in the small village Abhaneri we visited the Chand Baori. The 9^th century step well that is one of the deepest and largest step wells in India. It has 3500 narrow steps in 13 stories and is 100 feet deep. 

Northern India was gearing up for the very famous festival Holi while we were traveling so it was cool to see baskets of colored powder around Dehli.  Some Holi water bombs were also dropped on the rickshaws we were riding in through the city.  When we stopped for dinner some pre-celebrators were already covered in powder, their faces bright red, pink, and purple.  I can’t imagine what it is like in Dehli on the actually day of Holi when everyone lets loose and the colors and water begin to fly.

On the 6^th of March we left Dehli for Singapore via Kaula Lumpar.  Now Singapore would be a shock to someone visiting straight from the US, but after living in India, you could say Zach, Jeff, and I experienced some major culture shock.  Just the award-winning airport was an experience and the ride to where we were staying.  Compared to the roads, or should I say lack of roads in India which consists more of potholes, zooming 70 mph or so on a smooth Singapore freeway felt way too fast to me.  Being able to drink water straight out of the sink felt so foreign.

 The subways were spotless and shiny, everyday cars consisted of Ferraris, Mercedes, Aston Martins, and Bentleys.  I’m sure Zach, Jeff, and I looked like serious tourists as we stood on street corners with our mouths wide open, pointing at every nice car driving by.  The city is seriously spotless.  I’m pretty sure I couldn’t have picked a place more different from India if I tried.  We would get tired trying to count the iPhones and Ipads in one subway car.  At night the city is even more impressive.  The massive three towered hotel, the Marina Bay Sands, looks out of this world as lasers shine from the top across the city.

Transformers the Ride!!

Janae Rose, one of my best friends flew in from Thailand to spend a few days with us.  Zach, Jeff, Janae and I got to spend a day at Universal Studios Singapore.  Our minds were blown as we rode the movies, The Mummy, Jurassic Park, and launched Battlestar Galactica roller coasters that twist and loop around each other. And last but not least the world premier of the 4D Transformers ride, I have never been on such a complex ride as we were sprayed with water, felt heat on our faces as rockets were launched towards us, and fell off a skyscraper.  You could say that I was in heaven.

My Mom and I were able to visit the lush botanical gardens and much of our time was spent just walking around the city and waterfront looking at the architectural marvels of the city.  We ate some incredible mangoes, and the Gilberts also introduced me to an amazing fruit called Mangosteins. Just like India, words truly cannot describe Singapore, it is a place you have to visit to experience.

The Incredible Marina Bay Sands

The 10th of March found Zach, Jeff, and I saying goodbye to our parents and rushing off to the metro.  When I say we almost missed our flight check in, lets just say the entire counter was shut down and the last two workers were shutting down the last few computers as we frantically ran up and asked them to check us in.  I guess getting stuck in Singapore wouldn’t have been the worst thing. 

After flying all night we arrived in Chennai in the morning.  It was weird to retrace the exact entry steps through customs that Sid, Brooke, and I had made months ago as we began our adventure.  The airport looked a whole lot less intimidating in the day this time than it did when we arrived at 3 am. Zach, Jeff’s and my trains left 10 minutes apart that evening.  The plan was to do some sightseeing in Chennai that day.  That didn’t exactly happen for me, we found a Café Coffee Day, India’s closest thing to a Starbucks, and we crashed in the back corner.  You could say I was slightly exhausted.  I found out it is definitely possible to sleep smashed in a coffee shop chair.  Zach and Jeff ventured out later to see some sites.  I agreed to stay in the shop and watch all our baggage, 12 hours in a coffee shop, new record!!!

I said goodbye to Zach and Jeff and began my solo trip back.  Sleep was a little rough that night as I kept worrying that I was some how going to miss my station and end up in who knows where.  After an auto ride and a bus ride I was walking through the gate of our school once again.  A very groggy Sid unlocked the door and let me in. It was great to see Brooke and Sid and the next few hours were spent sharing about the trip and one incredible bucket shower.

This was one extraordinary trip.  The Taj Mahal was still just as impressive and Dehli still puts the CRAZY in crazy.  Singapore was more visually stimulating than a Peter Jackson movie, but getting to spend time with my Mom, the Gilberts and Janae (and well maybe Universal Studios, haha), were truly the highlight of my trip. Now my life here in India, the school, our Indian family, and the kids will be more than just pictures to my Mom.  She was able to experience some of what I experience and meet some of the people who have joined my family.  And Mom, I know you read my blog so thanx for coming all the way to India to see your son and for taking me to Singapore. You're the best!

-T