Preparing for India

So in the 6 days that we are spending at sea between Mauritius and India, many things are happening.  I had midterms on the 17th, 18th, and 19th and now I am doing some research for a paper I have to write after India.  I’m writing about the globalization of a pop culture phenomenon.  I chose the globalization of anime from Japan to the United States.  Not my favorite topic, but it shouldn’t be bad.  Doing research on the ship is very frustrating because we have a limited number of books and the databases take forever and a day to load on the computers. 

Two nights ago we had a huge pep rally for the Sea Olympics, which take place tomorrow.  The ship is split up into “seas” by which hallways you live in and I am in the Mediterranean Sea, which is light blue.  I unfortunately had a test the next day, so I didn’t stay at the pep rally long, but it was pretty entertaining.  The Sea Olympics have many different events such as:  orange passing, Sudoku, crab soccer, dodge ball, lip syncing, synchronized swimming, pull up contests, ect… I am not sure which events I will be doing yet.  But the good thing is that to prepare for the Sea Olympics, my sea is meeting tonight and we are having chips & salsa & cookies!!!  Also, one of my friends ordered an ice cream cake that says “Livin’ on a Prayer”.  Why, you ask. Because we are a little over halfway into the voyage and “We’re Halfway There…”  Haha

I am pretty excited/ nervous for India, but I think it should be great!  We are docking in Chennai, India, which just happens to be a sister city of Denver, Colorado.  We get there Friday morning (I am going to be 11.5 hours ahead of CO) and the first day I have nothing planned so far.  I am doing a big SAS trip pretty much the rest of the time.  When I signed up for the trip, I didn’t realize how rigorous it was going to be.  Here’s a description:

CHE23 TAJ MAHAL & VARANASI –(1530 Saturday, 23 October – 0100 Wednesday, 27 October)

This trip combines the bustling city of Delhi, the majesty of the Taj Mahal, and the "eternal city" of Varanasi, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India. Located on the banks of the sacred River Ganges, Varanasi is the holy city of the Hindus. Often called "the heartbeat of India," it is the oldest inhabited city in the world. Varanasi has been a center of civilization and learning for over 2,000 years. Here you can observe the ritual bathing in the Ganges at dawn, a practice that has continued virtually unchanged over the centuries.

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Transfer by motor coach to the Chennai airport for your 2 1⁄2-hour flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: The early morning finds you aboard the Shatabdi Express, heading toward Agra. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. After checking in, enjoy breakfast before departing for the remarkably preserved Fatehpur Sikri, with its red sandstone palaces. Return to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Agra Fort to view the halls and palaces of the Mughals. Then visit the fabled Taj Mahal where you will have the opportunity to view the Taj Mahal at dusk. An optional shopping tour, with your guide, is available after the sunset viewing. Depart for the railway station on the Shatabdi Express for your journey to Delhi.

Day 3: After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. Once there, transfer to the airport for check-in and lunch. Then enjoy a tour of Sarnath, located six miles outside of Varanasi. Although the ancient city of Sarnath lies in ruins, it is as holy to Buddhists as Varanasi is to Hindus; Buddha preached his first sermon here. See the stupa and ruins of an ancient monastery as well as the new Buddhist temple. Afterward, witness the Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat on the banks of the River Ganges, and a rickshaw ride.

Day 4: Awaken early and drive to the banks of the River Ganges before sunrise. Board a boat and sail along the river to witness a spectacle of religious practice that has continued unchanged over centuries. At dawn, pilgrims converge at the holy waters for the ritual immersion and prayer to release their souls from the cycle of rebirth. This is one of the most memorable experiences of a visit to India. Then, continue with a city orientation of Varanasi. Depart for the midday flight to Delhi and enjoy a tour of the area. See Humayun’s Tomb and Raj Ghat. Drive past numerous government buildings, Raj Path and Rashtrapati Bhawan. Before the return flight to Chennai, enjoy an early dinner. Upon arrival, transfer to the ship and arrive shortly after midnight.

Um, sounds hectic, right?  Well I am doing a lot of cool things in a short period of time. 

M