Where in the World is Sudie?

After a surprisingly pleasant forty-eight hours on the train (we traveled in AC) the six of us arrived in Delhi. Sue and David Hudson, who are living in Delhi while they serve as the PC(USA)’s regional liaison and coordinator for South Asia, offered to host us during our stay. Having embraced the practice of Indian hospitality, the Hudsons welcomed us into their home with hugs, delicious (sometimes American!) food, and lively conversation. We were extremely grateful for their boundless generosity, especially when a bout of food poisoning caused us to cancel our trip to Rajasthan and recover on the Hudson’s couch. As Ariel, John, and I lay on our deathbeds, we could not have asked for better honorary parents.

Our time in Delhi, Agra, Mussoorie, Dharamsala, Amritsar, and Goa was a wonderful (and intense) discovery of India’s diversity. We witnessed new people, religions, languages, and landscapes, all of which contribute to the country’s rich and multi-faceted culture. As with our visit to Andhra Pradesh at Christmas, this tour highlighted Kerala’s relative development and offered new insight into the desperation of many of India’s citizens. For instance, in Kerala beggars (mostly adults who have lost an appendage or the ability to walk) frequent train and bus stations. Yet, in Delhi, beggars line street corners waiting for traffic to stop so they can approach auto-rickshaws and car windows. Many of these are children bearing the scars of abuse and mutilation - scars that will theoretically attract the sympathy of passengers. These people are evidence of a country that is becoming increasingly polarized; much like in the United States, the gap between India’s rich and poor is only widening.

Agra, the home of the country’s most majestic monument, was a striking example of the discrepancy between rich and poor. After an early morning visit to the Taj Mahal, Team India decided to scrap the city’s remaining tourist sites and visit ‘the real Agra.’ At this point we were traveling with Pulkit, my best friend from Miami University who is currently living in Delhi with his parents. As a Hindi speaker, Pulkit was able to explain to our auto-rickshaw drivers that we were traveling on a budget and preferred not to pay a fortune on entrance fees. Thus, they gave us a non-traditional tour including a riverside farm with a view of the Taj, a local Hindu temple, and a couple craft shops. This revealed a crumbling city full of laborers who have likely never been inside the gates of India’s main attraction. Yet the nation’s signs of poverty stand against a backdrop of immense natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. India is a land of contrast.

To view my pictures from our ‘All India’ tour, visit my web album.

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Because April begins India’s summer holidays, the six India YAVs leave today for our ‘All India Tour.’ For those who would like to follow our travels, I have included our itinerary below. I will be back with stories and pictures at the end of April!

Wed 01 April TRAVEL ALUVA => DELHI

Thu 02 April TRAVEL

Fri 03 April ARRIVE in DELHI

Sat 04 April DELHI

Sun 05 April DELHI

Mon 06 April AGRA

Tue 07 April DELHI

Wed 08 April MUSSOORIE

Thu 09 April MUSSOORIE

Fri 10 April MUSSOORIE

Sat 11 April MUSSOORIE

Sun 12 April MUSSOORIE

Mon 13 April DHARAMSALA

Tue 14 April DHARAMSALA

Wed 15 April DHARAMSALA

Thu 16 April AMRITSAR

Fri 17 April DELHI

Sat 18 April JAIPUR

Sun 19 April JAIPUR

Mon 20 April JAIPUR

Tue 21 April JAIPUR

Wed 22 April TRAVEL => GOA

Thu 23 April GOA

Fri 24 April GOA

Sat 25 April GOA

Sun 26 April GOA

Mon 27 April GOA

Tue 28 April RETURN

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