Have you lost your mind?

On the outside, nothing changes. Your heart beats your lungs breathe and – to the outside world, at least – you appear to be a normal, functioning member of society but underneath it all your mind has gone stark-raving mad.

I’m not sure why I went mad. But I sure as hell know how.

And to be honest, it shocked me. As a writer I’ve always expected a combination of scotch, explosives and handguns to do me in.

Surprisingly, it was the absence of such things which pushed me over the brink.

Here’s the funny thing, though. Going mad was – without qualification – the best thing that ever happened to me.

Image by Victor Bezrukov (Flickr)

Self-Loathing

At this point I’m already disgusted with this post. Here I’ve been, rambling on for 133 words without telling you where this whole affair went down and why it changed my life.

It happened in India.

My friend – a madman by all accounts ventured to this ill-begotten Himalayan land years before.

A genius-lunatic fueled by whiskey and unleashed on an unsuspecting public. A man who once scratched a butcher’s knife along his sleeping roommate’s door, asking him to  ”Come out and play.”

Yes, he was a madman. But after that stint in India well he found peace. He went from Lewiss Carroll to Mahatmi Gandhi seemingly overnight.

It was incredible.

And when he cited a ten-day meditation course as the reason why, I decided to find out for myself.

The Life-or-Death Struggle

I arrived in McLeod Ganj, India.

The meditation center perched high above the town itself. Here I was to spend the next ten days of my life. Ten days without speaking, sex, booze, meat, TV, notebooks, computers or (gasp!) Internet access.

Like many positive, life-changing experiences, I was afraid.

Someone once said “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” If true, that is a terrifying statement. Because once you start fearing fear itself you plunge headfirst into a never-ending downward spiral of horror.

These were the thoughts going through my mind as I entered my new home, for ten days of meditation in complete, utter silence.

Picture yourself in prison. Solitary confinement.

Image by Victor Bezrukov (Flickr)

You start contemplating strange, mind-smashing concepts. Questions like What song would you commit suicide to? and How many ravens would it take to pull Earth from orbit? fly through your mind with reckless abandon. Time loses all meaning.

You sit there, focused on your breathing. Time passes. Your legs ache. Your back aches. Your mind wanders. You bring it back. It wanders again. You realize, slowly at first, that you’ve gone completely mad.

Then something gives. Your mind travels across space and, suddenly, the thoughts STOP. Or rather, you stop. Suddenly, it’s just you, your body and your mind. And all those crazy thoughts – every single last one of them – rush past you like a New York City subway train.

Things get quiet after that. The sensation is similar to scuba diving: you float along, focused intently on what is immediately in front of you, with nothing more than the sound of your breathing.

That’s it, really.

Craving and Aversion

The Buddha taught that all suffering stems from craving and aversion. When we crave something (e.g. more money, a new car, a guest post on Zen Habits) we place our happiness on an external object.

Same goes for aversion. When we avoid something (work, washing the car, writing that post) it places our happiness on the avoidance of an external object.

Both these emotions, according to the Buddha, cause needless suffering.

The only remedy, he explained, is to develop a natural resistance to craving and aversion through focus. You must train your mind to be aware of these stimuli, but remain strong enough to not give into them.

The Buddha’s form of meditation is called Vipassana lets you accomplish both. For hours at a time, you sit, quietly, focusing on each body part, piece by piece. You start at the tip of your head, noting each sensation, and work down to your toes.

That improves your focus. And believe me, all those aches and pains from sitting cross-legged help you develop your natural resistance to aversion. Yes, it hurts but you learn to get past that.

Craving comes later. After six days of meditation I had a breakthrough. Instead of focusing on each body part, piece by piece, I could focus on my entire body at once. It was faster, more efficient (?) and best of all it felt damn good.

This is quite common. And it’s where many practitioners get stuck. They begin to crave this state, and end up in a different form of suffering: always chasing the next high.

Meditation is not a high. It’s a method for improving for your life through awareness. Every single decision you make today may be directed by craving and/or aversion. Through meditation you train yourself to remove these limitations and, yes, find inner peace.

Image by kudumomo (Flickr)

Inner Peace

Ten days passed. On the final day we were allowed to speak. And let me tell you, those were some of the most important, thoughtful conversations I have ever had. You’d think that after ten days of silence we’d babble on about something, anything like people bursting to the surface after too much time underwater.

But we didn’t.

Because through meditation the madness had bubbled up, reached the surface of our consciousness and popped. All that remained were focused and peaceful minds. All that remained was us stripped bare of needless suffering. No cravings, no aversions. Just pure being.

Like most life-changing experiences, I was terrified. Going crazy, even for just a few days, is not my idea of a good time.

But I realized something. I realized that madness was a byproduct of filtering all the noise in my mind. Once I powered through it, there was nothing but clarity on the other side. Clarity of mind. Clarity of purpose.

And there’s nothing crazy about that.

###

About the Author: Adam Costa is Editor in Chief of Trekity.com, an “insanely” useful travel site. He also runs the Travel Blogger Academy, which shows how bloggers can grow their travel blogs traffic. Follow Adam on Twitter here.

The Guardian of the Jain Temple in India

When travelling to India, you will see many Jain temples scattered throughout the country. The temples that we visited had many a marble pillar. The Ranakpur Temple has 1444 marble pilars to be exact and is considered one of the finest Jain temples in the country. You can see them at our Snapshot Sunday post where we have shown them off in the past, but we wanted to show you this little elephant that must feel so left out and overlooked as people stare in awe at the marble pilars.

I thought this photo looked more striking in black and while really featuring the daytime moon

Going on a camel safari seems more glamorous than it actually is. When looking at photographs one thinks of Lawrence of Arabia and the Queen of Sheba. In essence, camels have terrible breath, their farts smell bad and they are very uncomfortable to sit on for hours on end. Riding through the desert can be tedious and monotonous, especially when you book a multi day safari in the Thar Desert of India. 

However, going on a camel safari can also be an amazing opportunity for incredible photographs. There is nothing more amazing than eating a meal cooked over an open flame and sleeping under the stars with your saddle for a pillow. The sand dunes are stunning and coming upon a village and meeting people who welcome you into their homes is what travel is all about.

It is these opportunities that make people fantasize about taking a camel safari into the desert. So let’s not burst anyone’s bubble here and pretend that riding a camel in the desert is just as glamorous as this photograph makes it seem to be.

To view more photos of the day check out our ongoing series. 

In Rajasthan, India we came across a friendly man making delicious steamed milk. The guys that boil this milk to be used in chai are true artists. They mix and scoop the milk drawing long lines of liquid through the air. The more skilled they are, the longer the line between the cup and the pot. I think this man had a lot of skill.

That vat of milk looks so tasty. I had a cup of that delicious sweet almond milk and it was heavenly. The man was quite friendly as well.

This photo was taken downtown Jaiselmer, India.

Wow, can you believe it’s nearly 2012?

This has been a short Christmas season, it seems shorter than usual with Christmas and New Years falling on a Sunday. It seems like the holidays just got started and they are already coming to and end!

We are home for the holidays this year and as we watched the snow fall outside, we started to reminisce about where we’ve been for New Year’s over the past decade. It’s been a very fun ride.

So while we celebrate at home for the first time in a few years, enjoy our trip down memory lane and share your stories of where you’ll be this year and where in the world you have celebrated New Years abroad in the past. 

Thailand

Dave and Deb Dukin' it Out at New Years in Thailand

Last Year this time we were in Studying Muay Thai Kickboxing at Rawai Muay Thai in Phuket. A fun New Years on the beach complete with Karaoke, Lady Boys and a little Thai Wiskey. Not much though, we were all in training!

India

Hussein and His Mother in Udaipur India at New Years

We were staying in Udaipur at the Lakeshore Guesthouse where we grew close with it’s manager Hussain. He took us up to the rooftop of his families building to overlook the magical city at midnight. Fireworks were let off over the Lake Palace Hotel standing proud in the middle of Lake Pichola. It was a beautiful sight.

Egypt

2008 Started Off With a Bang, Cycling a Continent!

We were about to start our ride down the continent of Africa and celebrated New Years on the plane to Cairo. We weren’t really thinking about the celebrations we were missing out on, we were getting ready to change our lives and live our dreams.

Somewhere between Florida and Toronto

Our Home Town, Toronto at Night

We had just spent a couple of weeks visiting my parents in Florida and were going to stop at Myrtle Beach on the way home when we left late Dec. Instead, we decided to drive straight through to Canada ended up crossing the border at Niagara Falls somewhere around midnight. It was raining, it was late and it was depressing. It was that night that we made the New Years resolution to change our lives. We watched an interview on CBC with Ray Zahab about how he is now living his dream as an ultra marathon runner and made a pact to do something like that ourselves. One year later we were in Cairo at the start of the Tour d’Afrique and have never looked back!

Quebec City

The Fairmont Hotel in Quebec City Christmas

There isn’t a more romantic city in Canada than Quebec City. We bundled up in our down jackets, snowboarding pants and Sorrel winter boots to walk around the old city and take in its historical architecture. Fondue, cheese, fresh fruit, wine and hot chocolate made for the perfect getaway after a few days of snowboarding at Mont St. Anne for celebrating New years.

Honduras

Starting our Dive Masters in Honduras

We were ready to take our dive masters and there was no where cheaper on earth to study than Honduras. Hanging out on Utilla for a few weeks was an awesome way ring in the New Year. We made new friends and celebrated together like we had known each other for years. When the New Year came, we said our good byes, never to see them again. But we came away with memories to last a lifetime.

Laos

OK, So We dont' have Photos of Vang Viang, It was 2003 we didn't have digital yet!

We had arrived in Vang Vieng just a couple of days after Christmas. I hear that it is over run with backpackers these days, but when we were there on the even of 2004, things were fairly quiet. We walked down the dirt streets and sat with some locals by a fire. We walked some more and grabbed a Bear Lao on a floating bar on the river and eventually settled in while trying to drown our the blaring music coming from the empty bar next door.

Mexico

Traveling Around the Yucatan in Mexico During the Holidays

There’s nothing like celebrating New Years in the tropics and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is one of the most gorgeous places on earth. Dressed in a sundress for Deb and Shorts and a Hawaiian shirt for Dave we put the cold of winter out of our minds while sipping Margaritas at the beach bar listining to Mariachis serenade the crowd.

So, Where are you this New Years Eve? At Home with your family, somewhere exotic, an awesome party? Share your plans, we’d love to live vicariously!

Happy New Year and See you in 2012! 

Portraits give you a picture of the soul. This is something I have always believed. When we travel, we meet so many sweet and curious children around the world that absolutely love  having their photos taken. Over the years we have taken away memories to last a lifetime from children that have touched our hearts. Their smiles will be forever engrained in our memories and today we want to share some of our favourite moments with you.

A portrait of innocence in Sri Lanka

While visiting Sri Lanka, we had the pleasure of visiting a small school in the jungle where our tuk tuk driver was donating shoes to the children that he had spent the last year raising money for and had hand made in the Southern Town of Galle. This little girl stole our hearts as she helped hand out the boxes to the other school kids.

A little smile for a picture in Mongolia

Traveling through Mongolia was one of the most welcoming experiences we’ve ever had. Everyone was happy to stop by our camps and say hello. They were excited to have us visit their country and they were interested in knowing why we were there and where we were going. It was the children on horseback that really caught our attention. As young as five or six years old these kids can ride a horse like nobody. They would look after hundreds of heads of cattle and goats while sitting high upon their steed. Whenever we stopped to say hello, they sat proudly to post for a picture. It really makes the perfect portrait.

A picture perfect look of mischief in Burma

In Inle Lake, Burma we  rented some bicycles to ride around the countryside. We happened upon these two boys who absolutely loved posing for us. It was like a fashion shoot on the top of an ox in the middle of a field of South East Asia. They were as mischievous as they were clever and they did not want us to leave.

A Picture of strength in Malawi, Africa

While cycling through Africa, we rode for Plan Canada and had the opportunity to visit a few of their projects on the continent. This school in Malawi is something to be proud of and we were happy to see the good work that Plan was doing with the money they received from donations. This school was filled with healthy and happy children learning mathematics, playing in the playground, eating healthy meals thanks to their garden and received regular check up from the health care workers that visited regularly. We were followed by crowds of children our entire time there and this girl’s striking eyes stood out to us. Carrying her little sister on her back, she never left our side. 

Work starts young in Rajasthan, India

While attending the Shilpgram arts festival in Udaipur, India we were dazzled by this young girl selling arts and crafts at her parents booth. She seemed to know that everyone was captivated by her as she stood still piercing our souls with her intense eyes. When I asked to take her photograph, she gave a simple nod and stared right into the camera. Proud, strong and determined.

The beauty is in the eyes in Fiji

Fiji is an island that seems to be filled with the happiest people on earth. It was during a kava ceremony that this young girl watched on from the door. She sat and enjoyed the festivities from afar but you could see that she wanted to join in. Once the dancing began, Deb went over to her and grabbed her hand and they danced around the circle together for song after song.

The gaze of a child in Black and white in Nepal

While trekking to Everest Base Camp we happened upon this little ham that was doing his best Zoolander poses for us all. He rolled around on a bench laughing and posing as each trekker walked by. He couldn’t stop giggling, but we were patient and waited for the crowds to pass and snap their quick photos. Once he calmed down at bit, he took a look at us and stared innocently into the lens of the camera. After I showed him the photograph, he started laughing uncontrollably again. It was then that we finally knew it was time to move on. This little guy was having a blast basking in the sun.

A young farmer poses for this picture on a roadside stop in Ethiopia

You may have heard about the times that children pelted us with rocks in Ethiopia and you may have heard us complain about how difficult it was to cycle through that country, but it is also an incredibly beautiful place. Life is hard there and even though the kids have an odd habit of throwing stones at foreigners, they are still extremely adorable. Their smiles light up the land and you can’t help but forgive them for trying to take you out as you ride by with that seemingly innocent staff.

The Holiday season is fast approaching and while we may be all about Christmas here in Canada, we’ve got nothing on the astounding Asian Festivals that we’ve attended in the past.

Christmas in Beijing

We’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon some awesome festivals like Shilpgram in Udaipur India, Chinese New Year in Malaysia, A cremation ceremony in Bali and several other festivals around the world that we don’t even know the names of. Seriously! We have happened upon thousands of people gathering for an event, and at times, we never even found out what we were celebrating!

Anyhoo…

There are three Asian Festivals that stand out in our minds and if you happen to be heading that way in the New Year, you can catch them all, one each month!

Thaipusam, Malaysia

January/February

The most shocking Festival we’ve ever seen, Thaipusam in Malaysia will make your jaw drop. Happening at the end of January or early February, Thaipusam attracts two million people to pay homage to the Lord Muruga. That sounds pretty tame doesn’t it?

Well, Think Again. These worhshippers jam spikes through their cheeks, stab hooks in their backs and pull chariots and people with reigns attached to said hooks. Oh Yeah.

We have had the luxury of witnessing Thaipusam twice in a lifetime. Once at the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur and another in Penang, Malaysia. The Batu Caves are far more intense and if you want to really feel overwhelmed I suggest going to that celebration starting at midnight on day one. Thousands of people walk from downtown to the caves 13 km away. It is here that they are put into a trance and pierced by a high priest before they begin their walk up the 272 steps to the impressive chamber of the Batu Caves.

Thaipusam is also celebrated in Mauritius and Singapore.

Holi, India

February/March

This Hindu Festival happens in the Spring where people throw coloured powders. It occurs at the end of February beginning of march. Burning away the Witch of the Winter. On the eve of Holi, bonfires are lit in the streets to cleanse the air of evil spirits.

Holi is a festive event.

People dance in the streets, music rings through the air and people throw coloured powders at each other and passers by. It is a time for people to put aside all caste, creed and prejudice. The colours bring all of India together in the bond of love. When covered with powders everyone is equal for this one brief moment.

A Meet up with Our Friends Becca and Julian

Try to celebrate it in Mathura, the Birthplace of Krishna. It is believed that the festival began with Krishna, so where else should you celebrate but the place most readily associated with him. However, there are several different stories regarding the origin of Holi. I can’t get them straight even after talking with people and looking it up. This link explains Holi’s different myths and legends quite well.

Instead, let’s just say that Holi is a fun time where India gets to party and forget about what class they come from for a couple of days. It is also a time when they can target crazy foreigners that are nuts enough to join in! Look out if your not from India, they’ll have a blast pelting you with coloured water, water balloons and handfuls of powder. You won’t be able to stop smiling until you get home and try to wash off the sticky mess.

Holi is also celebrated in Pakistan, Nepal, Surinam, Fiji and Mauritius.

Songkran, Thailand

April

Celebrating the coming of Spring, Songkran is the world’s largest water fight! Celebrated on the traditional Thail New Year is falls somewhere around mid April. It has turned into one big party where people line the streets throwing water at each other. People are armed with water guns and trucks drive through the festival route with giant barrels filled with ice water. Kids in the back scoop out bucket loads and throw them on innocent by standers.

Watch out if your a tourist, you are a prime target for the icy cold stuff.

It may be all fun and games now, but there is a religious element to Songkran. A Buddhist Holiday, Songkran takes place over 4 days. it is a time for households to cleanse their Buddhist statues with fragrant water. It is also a time to cleanse their house and start fresh for the New Year.

Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand is where Songkran is celebrated to the fullest and it is here that you will find thousands of people lined up along the moat of the Old City waiting to catch the barrage of people who make their way down for the festivities.

Celebrating Songkran along the Moat in Chiang Mai

If your not in Thailand at this time but at one of the many surrounding countries, never fear, they celebrate them too! Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Yunnan in China celebrate Songkran too!

Have you witnessed an amazing, astonishing, shocking or fun festival? What is your favourite and did you participate? Let us know Now! 

The Great Thar Desert of Rajasthan in India has enticed explorers for centuries.  Its rolling dunes littered with thorny bushes straddle the border of India and Pakistan.  To visit this place is like stepping back in time when Maharajas ruled the land and camel caravans carried the wares of traders and merchants.

When Dave and I decided to travel to India, a visit here was at the top of our list.  What better way to live out our Lawrence of Arabia fantasies than on the back of a camel.

camel safari in Rajasthan is a dream come true

We imagined living as the original desert nomad, cooking our meals over an open flame and discovering remote villages.  Alone with our guide we’d talk about his life and how traditions have been passed down for generations.

We had our fantasy, but quickly learned how things have changed.

It is not the same experience as it would have been a decade ago.  Technology is rapidly advancing and wind turbines scatter the landscape of this once barren desert.

Windmills in the backdrop of Thar Desert in India

India has over 500 million cell phones, and yes, even our camel guide does his business on the cellular network.
His name is Bilal and he is the perfect picture of what you’d expect to see in the desert. Dressed in long blue robes with a white turban on his head and leather sandals strapped to his feet, he looks like he is from another era.

Bilal talking on his cell phone in the middle of the desert

You almost believe you have stepped back in time until techno music blasts from his pocket. A steady stream of calls come in from friends and associates. He texts and talks loudly perched upon his camel paying little attention to the route that he has walked so many times before.

He is a blend of ancient tradition and twenty-first century influence. One minute he says things like “No hurry, no worry. No chicken, no curry” reciting the lyrics from a popular song. In the next he goes quiet and speaks of ghosts in the night.

Ancient India is Surviving in Modern World

India is changing right before our very eyes.

One of our camels is very late arriving so Bilal phones ahead to the next village to have another meet us.  As we eat our lunch under the shade of a thorn tree, a man dressed in pressed pants and a suit jacket emerges from the shrubs. He is here to give us an update on our camel.

Is there nowhere in this populated country off the beaten path?

Bilal leaves with him to find our extra steed as we hold down the camp.  It’s just me, Dave, our two camels and a hungry goat sitting alone in the desert sun.

Dave Checking Email while we wait for Bilal to return

An hour later Bilal comes sauntering back with camel in hand as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened.
It’s just another day at the office.

Hard Life in India

It is a hard life for a camel guide.  He spends days on end away from his family taking care of tourists whims and facing the harsh elements of the desert.  He cooks, he packs and he looks after the camels. All for 1000 rupees ($22.00) a month.

Bilal is only thirty years old.

Deep Lines from a Hard Life in India Desert

The desert takes its toll on him and the deep lines in his face make him look well beyond his years. He is a proud man and proclaims “I am a desert man. Strong body, strong mind.” His bright smile lights up his weather worn face as he sings a constant string of songs for all the desert to hear.

It is an entire day of riding before we reach the solitude of the dunes.  Until now, we have followed the path of hydro wires, listening to shrill musical horns of transport trucks in the distance and fighter jets overhead.  We are only 50 km from the Pakistan border and the military has a strong presence here.

Riding for long Hours in Jaisalmere

Upon arrival at camp, Bilal gets to work unsaddling and hobbling the camels legs.  A foot long rope is fastened to their front legs to keep them from running too far in the night as they are set free to munch on camel grass.

He gathers firewood to prepare our meal and to keep us warm upon our return from hiking up the dunes to watch sunset. The temperature drops quickly along with the sun and we are back at camp huddled by the fire eating our stewed vegetables, rice and chapatis.

cooking our meal by camp fire

Bilal tells us stories as we drink our chai (tea) and for us, it is early to bed after a long day on the camels. We tuck under our thick blankets admiring the clear sky filled with twinkling stars. The desert is silent.  It is the first peace we have had in India.

tranquility of the desert

It has been a loud and busy travel through one of the most rapidly developing countries on the planet. The old is colliding with the new.  Temples and tradition coexist with industry and development. People drive their new cars while relentlessly honking their horns at the wild dogs and sacred cows that roam the streets.  Water is running out, garbage is piling up and the air is thick with pollution.

Busy India

A Very Dirty and Crowded Downtown Jaisalmere, India

The desert is a welcome escape.  We enjoy our three days of semi solitude even though our beaten bodies feel the jolting pain of the saddle.
As we say goodbye to Bilal, we wonder how much things will change for him in five years time.  He has worked this desert for ten years and rapid changes have already occurred.

Letting the Camels Loose for the Night

While technology may change the landscape and experience, he will always be a “Camel Man.”

As I go through the list of amazing ruins we have visited on our travels, I see that we have barely scratched the surface of all there is to see in the world.

We have yet to see Easter Island, Stonehenge, The Acropolis in Athens or the Roman Colosseum. We may never see any of the great structures of Afghanistan or Iraq, however we have seen some pretty spectacular archeological wonders during our travels and we want to share a photographic memory of some of our favourite ruins of the world.

Check out our latest chat on CTVNewsChannel where we discuss our favourite ruins with host Dan Matheson

1.Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan Myanmar

The days were hot that we explored the Temples of Bagan. We hired a horse cart for one day and a bicycle for the next. One thing we remember the most was that our horse cart driver was expecting a child any day now. It was a happy time.

2.Petra, Jordan

Monastery in Petra, Jordan

Having the chance to visit Petra was a dream come true. We had heard about this ancient city but never thought that we’d get there. To have a guide from the Jordan Tourism Board and a Petra official long for our walk through the ruins allowed for us to experience a Petra that many others don’t get to see.

3.Hampi, India

The Ruins of Hampi

4.Giza, Egypt

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

It’s the most famous of all ruins of the world. The Pyramids of Giza don’t disappoint. We saw them by camel and were thoroughly ripped off by the sly guides. We didn’t care a bit as we had just witnessed the mysterious temples that we have seen on movies and television all through our childhood.

5.Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru

6.Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal, Guatamala

7.Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

8.Chizen Itza, Mexico

chitzenitza-mexico-ruins

The first archeological site we ever visited. We took a tour from our resort in the Mayan Riviera and enjoyed every minute of our day. We learned about the ancient Mayans, climbed to the top of the main temple and listened to the acoustics of the ball court.

9. Jerash, Jordan

The Ruins of Jerash

10. Tonina, Mexico

Tonina Ruins in Chiapas, Mexico

11. Great Wall of China

the Great Wall of China

I love coming home. 

Toronto has the most inspiring and friendly travel community on the planet and they are proving it again by banding together to raise money for a great cause.

Toronto Travel Massive Monthly Meet Up

It was at the last Toronto Travel Massive meet up this past Thursday that Katy of Intrepid Travel  announced an amazing initiative.  

They will be giving away a trip to India (flight included) to the person who raises the most money for Depalaya through the Intrepid Foundation. The 15 Day Classic Rajasthan Tour is a gem and what a way to motivate our fellow travellers to make a difference in people’s lives. We believe in giving back to the communities that we travel to and so does Intrepid Travel.

We had the privilege of working with Intrepid Travel on more than one occasion and are always impressed by their commitment to the environment and the community. It was on an Intrepid Tour to China last year and had the chance to visit one of their projects first hand. The Hui Ling school in Xi’ian is a project to help people living with disabilities. Established in 1990 in the town of Guangzhou it has extended it’s reach to cities all over China and Hong Kong and is committed to people develop their personalities to achieve independence and to become an active member of society.

It was a very moving and inspiring day and we are thrilled to do our part to help raise money for the Depalaya Project in India. We visited India for 3 months in 2010/2011 and saw the poverty that millions in the country face each day. We had read about the estimated 100,000 street children in Delhi alone and witnessed the suffering that many homeless and abandoned children face each day. Children are forced into child labour, prostitution, drug trafficking and begging on the streets.

Intrepid Foundation, Giving Children Hope

Deepalaya was started in 1979 to help these children through counceling and placing them in homes where they receive an education and hope for the future. They are also trained in tailoring, computer hardware and software, electronics, air conditioning and refrigeration.  So far, Deeepalaya has educated 44,000 underprivileged children but they need your help to keep going.

Your support for Deepalaya will help to provide: food and board, health care, meaningful education and vocational training, counselling and career guidance. But most important for any growing child understanding, friendship, warmth and solace in terms of loneliness for these children.

We have been to India before and spent nearly a month in Rajasthan. Udaipur was one of our favourite cities we have ever visited. While another trip to India wouldn’t be turned down, we are not joining this initiative to win a trip. We are simply excited to be able to help Intrepid Travel in raising awareness for a worthy cause. We believe in the Intrepid Foundation having seen the great work that they are doing and we believe in helping the children of India who are its future.

Let’s show the world what the Toronto Travel Community can do and how powerful all of our reach is together. All it takes is $5 to change a child’s life.

To Donate Visit Our Donation Page through the Intrepid Foundation. 100% of proceed go directly to the foundation. 

Who Likes Train Travel?

We love taking the train. There is nothing better than watching the countryside pass by as you relax in your compartment while getting to know your fellow passengers.

Dave and I regularly hop on the train to take the popular Toronto/Montreal route. It’s the perfect long weekend getaway. There’s no better way to avoid the heavy traffic on the 401 and travel from downtown to downtown.

The best thing about train travel is that Via Rail now has free wifi. How times have changed since my first trip with my parents when I was just a little rugrat. Riding the train was a rare event I felt like we were going on a great adventure.

Today, when people take the train, they are watching movies and chatting on facebook as they sip a fresh and delicious coffee from the snack cart. It is still a great adventure, the trip itself is just a lot more luxurious and comfortable. We all travel to our destination without a care in the world feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy our destination. In Canada our trains are pristine and clean, quiet and safe. There is no better way to see the country than to ride the rails and explore the beautiful countryside.

As the Shredded Wheat resident travel experts we are excited to share our favourite train Journeys from Around the World to inspire you to get out there and ride the rails. There is nothing like it!

1. India

A Not so busy Platform in India

No country travels by train like India. It is a crazy experience. Trains are booked weeks in advance, trying to figure out how to buy a ticket or book a seat is a confusing experience and standing on the platform with thousands of other people waiting for the train to arrive is down right terrifying. Once it does arrive, you better hurry because people will push and shove their way through to the front of the line leaving you in the dust and stranded on the platform after the door closes. But if you make it on the train, it is an experience you’ll never forget. Chai Wallah’s walk through the cars ready to sell you a cheap hot cup, but make sure that you don’t pass up the tomato soup. It was my favourite snack on the long train journeys through this immense country.

2. Peru

Taking the Vista Dome from Cusco to Aguas Callientas was an outstanding experience. We booked a last minute trip to Peru when we decided to visit Machu Picchu so we couldn’t get ourselves a permit to hike the famous Inca Trail. No matter, we managed to hike many an ancient trail in the surrounding Sacred Valley and it gave us the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent views through our glass roof of the Andes of Peru. We even had ourselves a fashion show on the way back!

3. Switzerland

Snowboarding in Switzerland was on our bucket list and we had the chance to fulfill that dream early in our lives. It was nearly a decade ago that we skiid it’s slopes in Gstaad and one of the most vivid memories we had was taking the train through the Alps to all of the different ski areas and surrounding villages. It was some of the most stunning scenery we have ever seen.

4. Sri Lanka

The country is small and the train routes are short, but in the few hours that we spent on the train between villages in Sri Lanka we witnessed incredible views of tea terraces and mountains, enjoyed conversations with friendly locals, bought cheap snacks from the vendors that walked through the cars and held on to the handrail as we hung outside the train to look at the view ahead and feel the wind on our face.

5. Vietnam

The overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa was one of the most exciting trips of our lives. It was 2004 and we boarded the platform late at night. People in conical hats were huddling by fires and smoke and steam were billowing off into the night sky. The air was chilled and it felt as if we had stepped back to 1969. We hadn’t been to China at this point in our lives so we were excited because we were heading towards the Chinese border to witness to this date, the most breath taking rice terraces on earth.

6. China

Speaking of China, we finally made it there last December. We loved every minute of that country and we were amazed by the train travel there. It is so efficient, clean and organized. It is a country of 1.5 billion people and yet we never felt like we were in crowd. In India, we fought crowds every day on the train, in China we stood in crowds but never fought. The trains were fast and modern and our compartments were clean and ornate. Hot water was provided for our tea and we had a wake up call with fresh coffee in the morning. It was the most pleasant experiences we have ever had on the train.

7. Thailand

Who hasn’t taken the train in Thailand? It was one of the first overnight trains we ever took and we still love hopping on a second class sleeper when we’re there. we’ve taken it from Chiang mai to Bangkok, Bangkok to Singapore and back again. It is so much fun to have a Chiang Beer while looking out the window before setting up your bed to be lulled asleep by the rocking of the train.

Man my back is killing me.

Since returning home a few weeks ago, Dave and I have been trapped behind our computers for far too long. The old kinks and pains are creeping up and I am in desperate need of a yoga class. While we were in Mexico studying yoga and everything else under the sun for 1-week, I have never felt better. During our studies in India, I was energized and alert. Whenever we are away, we practice yoga, go on regular hikes and try new things, but when we come home, the most we can bring ourselves to do is go for a jog.

When this article came in, it inspired me that yes, there are amazing countries around the world where you can study yoga, but that is just it. Yoga can be practiced anywhere. You don’t have to jet off to a foreign land to do so, there is a most likely yoga centre right in your back yard and if you live anywhere near these four destinations, you’re in for a real treat.

Four Yoga Holidays: Stretching and Chilling Around the World

Yoga is no longer the preserve of ancient Indian masters; rather the practice is well on its way to world domination and as such has swept around the globe spawning all manner of luxurious, traditional and unusual holidays catering for all manner of practitioner. Grab your mat, passport and travel insurance, here’s our guide to some of the best and most diverse offerings on the international yoga circuit.

Island chill out – Ibiza

Renowned more for its hedonistic party scene, modern day Ibiza is actually a chill out spot in the middle of the Mediterranean, with the biggest parties cordoned to Ibiza Town and San Antonio.

The rest of this Spanish island is a quiet, stylish, beautiful enclave, where the hippy tendencies of the Sixties continue to influence island life. A wide variety of yoga retreats, trainings and holidays dot the island, most of which offer up well qualified European teachers, Bikram yoga, yoga on the beach, yoga on the rooftop and post clubbing yoga.

Traditional roots – India

Our Swami in India - Swami "G"

The yoga craze has literally wrapped its arms around the entire world, but the roots do still exist in the heart of India. For a truly authentic experience make your way to Rishikesh, the banks of the holy Ganga, ashrams and sadhus. A pilgrimage site for both local and international pilgrims, Rishikesh is home to a number of notable ashrams, some of which are open to Westerners and offering classes and retreats, others that are private affairs but visible at the dusk ritual of aarati pooja at Parmarth Niketan. Alternatively head 1-2 km up river to Poolchati Ashram for a quiet yoga experience.

We studied yoga in India on the beach in Goa. Our Swami practiced in Rishikesh and his Guru sent him off into the world to spread his knowledge.

Tropical adventure – Bali

Bali has been on the traditional backpacker route for years, favoured by Antipodeans as the ideal sunshine get away. Whilst the coast is ideal for surfing and an entire scene has sprung up to accommodate the flux of tourism in areas like Kuta, the lush tropical interior is sparse and home to Hindu and Buddhist temples. Yoga retreats have crawled up along the spine of the island offering all manner of tropical adventures, from intensive yoga courses and teacher training through to sound workshops, trekking and surf combinations.

Mountain retreat – Slovakia

Eastern Europe has very successfully shrugged off the shroud of communist 20^th Century and is now a hot travel destination. Slovakia on the outer edges of Eastern Europe is home to the High Tatras, and the highest peak of the Carpathian range. The entire range is dotted with waterfalls, lakes, huge mountain vistas, snow capped peaks and flower strewn plateaus. Alongside traditional mountain pursuits, such as climbing and ski-ing, the area is starting to provide the ideal, clear, clean environment for yoga retreats. Do your research as new holidays start to pop on the market.

It will be our first trip to Eastern Europe this summer. Maybe while our bodies ache from riding in the car for hours on end during the Mongol Rally, we should stop at the many yoga retreats that can be found throughout Europe. Now that’s an idea!

Oh how I would love to be able to have all the travel money in the world to be able to take off to a different yoga retreat each month, but for now I will be happy to practice my poses in the park around the corner. Canada is beautiful this time of year. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the breeze is warm and the air is fresh. There is nowhere else I’d rather be right now.

A Guest Post by Final Transit

Did you ever visit a place that felt remarkably similar to some other place you had seen before?

It happened to me while I was traveling in Mexico last month. The more I traveled, the more familiar the place felt. Familiar to India, that is. Now what could possibly be similar between Mexico and India – countries that are separated by oceans, and with different histories, races and cultures?

Follow along as I share some clues based on what I encountered in Mexico, and then tell me what you think:

Mexican flag at Merida's city centre.

People

Clue 1: We are “brown”
The majority of Mexicans and Indians are born with a tan. SPF 15 will do nothing. My Mexican couchsurfing host said that he was never bothered by touts in India. And I was mistaken as a local all the time too. What to do?

Clue 2: We talk. A lot
When I asked for directions in Russia and if they didn’t know, I was simply told a “Nyet” and the person walked away. Not in Mexico! Time and again, whenever I asked simple things like “Does the combi stop here?” the reply went on forever. People talked even if they didn’t know the answer. Before I knew, I was talking about my age, telling them why Indians wear a mark on their forehead and getting invited to visit their homes. Ah, about that -

Clue 3: We invite people… and our families are huge
How do you define a family? Well, I once got invited (by someone I met at the bus stop) to a ‘family’ celebration. I was pleasantly surprised to see aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, grandmothers, neighbors, old friends and even visiting couchsurfers included in “family.” Come, share, eat, enjoy, its for everyone! I was so touched by their hospitality!

Society

Hammocks, freshly woven

Clue 1: Collectivist
I got into a very crowded chicken bus the other day and the driver was still forcing more people in. Just like India, buses in Yucatan seem to have infinite capacity. A woman boarded with a big bag and a baby. The baby was handed over to the grandma sitting next to me while the bag was thrust on my lap. Where else might this happen?

Clue 2: Time
I was going to a party once and I arrived promptly at 17:30 as per the invitation. The host asked me, “What are you doing here so early?” Other people came late… quite late. “It’s about hanging out and having a conversation,” my friend said wisely, “not about efficiency.”

Clue 3: Colours and festivals
Vibrant dresses, colourful food, dazzling festive decorations and crowded celebrations. I think that the best time to indulge oneself socially is during festivals. More the merrier, come join the celebration! I ended up participating in a fiesta that ended with tons of street food.

History

Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan

Clue 1: Architectural wonders
If you have visited the Chichen Itzas of Mexico, or Taj Mahals of India, you know what I am talking about. The monuments and temples are huge, often overwhelming, and full of intricate details. And oh, several of these were constructed roughly one or two thousand years ago.

Clue 2: European colonies
India was to the British what Mexico was to the Spanish. I won’t say anything more!

Streets

Mexico city's busy historic centre

Clue 1: Noisy and crowded
I know someone who visited India and wore earplugs all their time in Delhi. Yes our cities are a sea of humanity: noisy, crowded and littered. Despite how chaotic it looks, there is an order and it is incomprehensible how the cities function at five times their design capacity (what’s that?) While I was disappointed that Mexican drivers don’t honk as passionately, their chaotic driving (skills) did make up for the inadequate honking.

Clue 2: Stray animals
I must say that Mexico has a lot of catching up to do is much better in this regard. I could only spot stray dogs and cats. Where did the cows go? Ah, in the burritos perhaps… That brings us to the final topic -

Food

Lunch kitchen

Clue 1: Rotis, Tortillas, Parathas and Gorditas
These are essentially the same, except that wheat is not as popular in Mexico and corn is reserved for roasting in India. The parathas get stuffed with vegetarian fare while the gorditas often get stuffed with meat. The best thing about the food? You can eat on the street, with your hands, fresh off the cooking pan (and probably on the same plates that was used by five previous people.)

Clue 2: Hot and spicy
Being a self-proclaimed connoisseur of chillies, I must point out that Mexican chillies are not the same as Indian ones. Regardless, fact remains that food is incomplete without an adequate dressing of chili pepper sauce of some kind. The madness goes to the next level – we eat our fruit with ‘chili de fruta’ (chili mix/masala to season the fruit). Imagine my shock when I was served a pear as dessert in Toronto!

Gordita, stuffed with refried beans, cheese, cream and generous amount of red chili sauce

Now tell me, after reading this, do you agree with what I had said at the beginning? Did you have a similar experience elsewhere?

PS: This article is written in a lighter vein. While I have lived in India for 25 years, I have barely spent a month in Mexico.

Priyank loves traveling and getting a glimpse of different lifestyles. Having lived in India for 25 years, followed by Canada for the past 4, nothing excites him more than seeing how remarkably similar we all are, despite our cultural differences.
Priyank’s Travel blog: Final Transit | Twitter: @finaltransit | “Like” his Facebook page.

-

-

It was something that we have always wanted to do.

Go on a camel safari through the desert and sleep under the stars.  Rajasthan is the place to do it in India and we wasted no time booking a trip once we hit Jaisalmer.

This coming January we will be back in India leading a photography tour with Wire India.  Travelling through the region of Rajasthan we will explore one of the most photogenic regions of the country .

This is the land of the Maharaja.

It is a land of great history and it was magical for us to travel through it in our own little caravan. We experienced the life of a desert nomad, for just a brief moment.

After editing the video below, our memories of our time with our guide Bilal have softened. He was a good little scam artist that could manipulate a moment and use it to his advantage.  With all the troubles he caused us, we still tipped him too much, gave him a gift and smiled as we said good-bye from the back of our Jeep at the end of our journey.

We wrote about our time while fresh in the moment way back in January in the post Camel Safari Adventure.

In our video he comes across as very sweet and genuine with a big smile. He worked hard and took care of us out there in the desert.  He hummed his songs and he told us stories.   He was kind, and that is how we will always remember him.

I hope you enjoy our very first Camel Safari in India.

For more information on our photo tour through Rajasthan, visit MyWireIndia.co.uk

-

With the advent of digital cameras most people don’t really think of photographing in Black and White.

Well I think people are missing out.

-

If you look back over time you will see that some of the most striking and evoking photographs were taken in Black and White. It gives images a certain impact. Ansel Adams is a perfect example.  His Landscapes of Yosemite stand up to this day. I like to use black and white in instances that would normally be a color photograph. This can completely change the mood and emotion that a photograph conveys.

Here are some of my most recent Black and White efforts. I hope you enjoy them. For more of my photographs please check out Picture the Planet.

Hard at work in Delhi, India

Denali National Park in Alaska

The Athabasca Glacier in Banff, Alberta, Canada

Notre Dame in Paris, France

911 Memorial in New York City

The Beautiful city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, India

A monk stands proud in the Himilayas of Nepal

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India

We thought it would be fun for this Photo Story to compare some of our photo’s to those of National Geographic. We tried to choose photo’s that were places we had been before and had a similar subject matter. In doing this it was a great learning experience.

Just spending the time browsing through the amazing photo’s at National Geographic and seeing different perspectives and compositions really inspires. So I hope these photo’s inspire everyone to go out there and take in the beauty that this world has to offer.

After all National Geographic’s tag line is “Inspiring people to care about the Planet”.

TOLEDO, SPAIN

National Geographic's Toledo, Spain

Dave Bouskill's Toledo, Spain

BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA

National Geographic's Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Bow Lake in the Canadian Rockies, Alberta

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, USA

National Geographic's Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Dave Bouskill's Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA, INDIA

National Geographic's Taj Mahal in Agra, India

Dave Bouskill’s Taj Mahal in Agra, India

THE WHITE DESERT, EGYPT

National Geographic's White Desert, Egypt

Dave Bouskill's White Desert, Egypt

-

One of the things we love the most about travel is meeting new people.  While we could compile a list of a hundred people that we have met that have become great friends and have been an inspiration, we wanted to share with you a few of the special people that have really stood out and touched our hearts during our travels around the world over the years.

1. Mary Louise in Paris, France

We have become great friends through our blog.  Mary Louise has been to India several times and started following us as we traveled through the country.  A wonderful woman that cares about social issues has traveled the world before it was easy.
She has volunteered in some of the most difficult conditions on the planet.  She has climbed the great wall of China with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, has volunteered with Mother Theresa and spent time helping people on the Gaza strip.
So what does this activist, world traveler, mother and friend do for a living? She is a gorgeous model going strong in Paris, her adopted home of 23 years.
She met us upon our arrival in Paris wearing a black beret and a big smile.  She took great care of us escorting us all the way to our hostel.  We enjoyed listening to her stories about her travels through West Africa, India, Europe and the Middle East while sitting in a café in Paris.  We are happy to have made a new and dear friend in Marie Louise.

2. Hussein in Udaipur, India

He has lived in Udaipur all his life.
Hussein was a chai wallah as a child. He would sell tea to tourists on the ghats (steps leading to water) as they stood overlooking the lake and the beautiful city of Udaipur. He had big dreams and he has fulfilled those dreams. Read more at Building a Dream in Udaipur. While his friends played cricket, he would chip away at a giant rock on his fathers land. Working for 20 years with his own two hands, he has finally seen his vision come to fruition.
Using the materials from the rock that he had chipped away so diligently, he is building his very own hotel on Udaipur’s north shore. It will be open by the end of this year.
He had worked as a manager at guesthouses in the area for 9 years honing his skills and while his new hotel will be more upscale than the places that he has worked in, he has decided to make a few rooms for the budget backpacker.  We spent a week with Hussein. We met his family, we saw his house and we enjoyed New Years Eve fireworks on the roof of his not yet complete hotel. Hussein is a role model to us all. Stick to your dreams and they will come true.

3. Ajith in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has had several years of civil war and hardships, but it was here that we met so many giving and friendly people.
There was nobody more inspirational than Ajith our tuk tuk driver.
We became great friends with Ajith and had the privilege to meet his family and enjoy his hospitality. You can read more about him at our post Tuk Tuk Driver Makes a Difference.
It was his charity work that inspired us.  While we were in Sri Lanka we tagged along with Ajith while he donated shoes to poor students in a school in the middle of the jungle.  Ajith is not a rich man. He drives a tuk tuk for a living and his wife works for the government.  He has two children and lives in a modest home on the jungle side of Hikkaduwa.  His does well for a citizen of Sri Lanka, but he has very little to spare. However, what he does have, he gives generously.  He spends his time raising money to buy the shoes, he goes to the school to measure children’s feet and he makes the long drive back and forth to Unawatuna to drop off measurement and pick up shoes from the factory.

When he came with us to a school for the disabled, he had tears in his eyes and spoke of how lucky he and his family are.  We felt lucky meeting Ajith and calling him our friend.

If you are going to Sri Lanka in the Hikkaduwa area email us and we will give you his contact information. You won’t find a better tuk tuk driver in the country.

-

4. Abdulla Ahmed in Wadi Halfa, Sudan

When we had an unexpected layover in Wadi Halfa after crossing Lake Nasser from Egypt, we thought that we would be spending our day alone walking through town with nothing to do.  We barely made it around the corner when a man stopped us and invited us to breakfast.  Abdulla Ahmed is a scholar, a teacher and a kind man that shared his stories of his country with us.

He told us how the Aswan Dam dried up his formerly lush and green home town and how people had to flee to other parts of the Sudan to make a living. People are slowly coming back, but this arid land it will never be the same.  As he spoke and talked to us about his country, the food kept on coming and the tea kept on flowing.  His hospitality was touching.  He would not hear of us paying for our breakfast and enjoyed speaking to us and hearing stories from the outside world.  Abdulla is a testament to the people of Sudan. We encountered moments like this on a regular basis.  People that have very little were always willing to share what they have.   They wanted to talk with us and enjoy a conversation.  Out of all the countries that we travelled through in Africa, we never met a people that were as kind and giving as the people of The Sudan.

-

-

5. Kul and Mim Das Tamang in Kathmandu, Nepal

It was a year before leaving for Nepal that we became friends with Kul and Mim on facebook.  They were mutual friends with people that we know and being the entrepreneurs that they are, they saw the value of facebook and introduced themselves to travelers and adventure seekers.  We kept in touch with them and when we visited Nepal, we enjoyed a tea with them and a trip to their office.

These two brothers have been working in the trekking industry for decades and have pushed through and persevered through difficult circumstances.  Kathmandu is constantly interrupted with load shedding and it is next to impossible to run a business from the internet when the power keeps going out.  They have a website that they have built, they run a trekking company from a small office just outside of Thamel and they work with charities and NGOs improving the quality of life for people in Nepal.  We are always inspired by people that are struggling themselves, yet find the time to give back to others. Mim works for Nepal Projects bringing health care and school projects to his small village in Nepal.

These two guys have big, friendly smiles and are working hard to build a business. If you are going to Nepal, consider checking out Mim and Kul to be your guides, they are friendly and professional.

Contact them at:

• Amazing Authentic Adventures
• Kul Das Tamang
• Mim Das Tamang

-

As the sun sets over the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India a lonely local boy, trudges through the sand from a small village in the distance. After an afternoon of trying to sell tourists a beer in the desert he heads home with his leftover product. He did succeed is selling us a couple of beers, but as we looked around we could see that business was not booming. Hopefully with the few Rupees he made for us he can hold his head high as he returns home with the days earnings.

Life in the desert of India is hard and this photo captures the daily trials and tribulations that people must face every day in the great Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India.

Homeward Bound in Rajasthan

]]> http://theplanetd.com/homeward-bound-in-rajasthan-snapshot-sunday/feed/ 5 http://theplanetd.com/festivals-and-celebrations-of-the-world-a-photo-story/ http://theplanetd.com/festivals-and-celebrations-of-the-world-a-photo-story/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 09:00:11 +0000 debndave http://theplanetd.com/?p=9457

-

Most of the time when Deb and I travel it is to see the country and meet the people. But we always seem to stumble across crazy festivals that never cease to amaze us.

From Thaipusam in Malaysia to the 500yr anniversary of the town of Hampi in India, we seem to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time. Below are just 5 of the crazy festivals we have been lucky enough to experience. Hope you enjoy.

Thaipusam- Batu Caves, Malaysia

Songkran- Chaing Mai, Thailand

Holi- Mathura, India

Adams Peak Pilgrimage- Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

Hampi 500yr Anniversary- Hampi, India

Waiting for the Hampi celebrations to begin!

The 500th anniversary of Hampi is in full swing!