Joining us on our weekend trek into the wilderness was five of our friends: Sriharsha, his wife Gowri, Ramesh, Rakshith, and his girlfriend Sushma. Credit is due to Sriharsha for doing most of the leg-work putting this excursion together. Between the seven of us we lodged in a stone cabin and two well-equipped tents. Our dining area was a homemade wooden platform shaded by a parachute roof. The white parachute was the only visible landmark of our campground seen from a distance.
Bumping along in the back of a Suzuki Gypsy 4x4: we grip tightly to the roll cage, laugh from a place of uncertainty and pray that our spines are not thrown completely out of whack by the rutted jungle path. Our wild entry into the Western Ghats of India heralded the ruggedness and breathtaking beauty that would hallmark our weekend getaway. Almost completely hidden by the mountainous jungle growth our rustic resort, Hulivana, was a most serene escape from the bustle of Bangalore. Finally Megan and I experienced a place in India where the trees outnumbered the people. Joining us on our weekend trek into the wilderness was five of our friends: Sriharsha, his wife Gowri, Ramesh, Rakshith, and his girlfriend Sushma. Credit is due to Sriharsha for doing most of the leg-work putting this excursion together. Between the seven of us we lodged in a stone cabin and two well-equipped tents. Our dining area was a homemade wooden platform shaded by a parachute roof. The white parachute was the only visible landmark of our campground seen from a distance. Hiking in the Western Ghats challenged all of our fitness levels but the view from the top was worth the sweat. At night we gathered around a campfire, ate, drank, and shared many stories. Ghost stories were told with zeal to frighten the former Mr. Bangalore (Ramesh) who apparently has a healthy fear of the supernatural. Before leaving the rain-forest we had the chance to try our hands at a little archery. It was a scary day out at the range as arrows flew in every direction and the bow was used in some very interesting styles. When Megan and I were the only ones to score hits on the target I explained that "Viking Blood" (not the purple and yellow kind) ran through our veins. We then piled back in the Suzuki and rocked and rolled our way out of the forest. On the way back to Bangalore in our rented mini-bus we stopped at the Belur Temple. The temple was constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries and is one of the most well-preserved temples we have seen as of yet. Outside of the temple we all snacked on some goodies being served from street carts before loading back up for the final push home. Here's a fun example of travel through India for the folks back home. The distance from the Ghats to Bangalore is roughly 160 miles, almost the same mileage that separates Minneapolis from Duluth and it took us 10 hours to cover that distance. That would make a day trip to Lake Superior kind of out of the question. At the end of it all we were happy to have filled our lungs with clean mountain air and we our now planning other trips with this great group of people.
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Our fascinating neighborhood - complete with cows, chickens, fish, unidentifiable meat hanging in store fronts and the occasional donkey meandering around. Potholes, garbage piles and the ever so often brush against traffic. It is going to be really sad going back to a neighborhood in MN where the most exciting thing you'll find is a dog on a leash. We think our neighbors run the local laundromat. The other day I saw someone standing at that black bin with just a towel around the waist, dripping wet. Street bath at the laundromat? Bring 2 laundry baskets for wash, get free bath?
Won't you be my neighbor?
Roy and Bev came to India and experienced the joy and madness that has touched our lives these past months. We anticipated the visit of my parents for so long it's hard to believe that their time here has already ended. For the first few days of their visit we tried to show our folks what daily life in Bangalore means to us. Exhilarating rickshaw rides preceded by fierce negotiations, hair-raising walks down our chaotic street, and escapes to clean western-style malls are just some highlights of our daily lives that we shared with my parents. After a few days in Bangalore we packed our bags and headed to the beautiful state of Kerala for a weekend of sight-seeing and relaxation. Earlier in the week our plans for a full, fun visit remained precariously up in the air as we faced a new challenge in our lives. One morning I awoke to find my joints had completely locked up over night. The pain and stiffness in my ankles, knees, back, and neck made it impossible for me to get out of bed without help. I felt as though I had aged 70 years overnight (what a strange and awful sensation). It appears that the Crohn's meds I am on had triggered some strange reaction within me that caused inflammation in my joints. My Doc gave me some NSAID's that eased my symptoms and remaining as active as possible helped keep me relatively limber. By Friday evening we were all confident that our trip to Kerala could move forward as planned. What a relief. In Kerala we spent our first day cruising the backwaters of Alleppey in a houseboat. A popular tourist activity, the houseboats lumber in great clusters past peaceful fishing and farming villages. We enjoyed eating and lounging on the boat but our sleeping arrangements weren't quite up to snuff. I would suggest that if anyone wishes to experience a Kerala houseboat for themselves to skip the overnight trip and just go for a day cruise. Spend your night in a nice hotel you'll be happier in the morning. After the houseboat we spent a few days in Cochin seeing the sights and relaxing in a body rejuvenating hotel. Everyone appreciated retiring to the Ramada after long hot days to lounge by the pool and pamper our stressed out nerves. Comforted by the serenity of the hotel grounds my Dad and I were able to face shopping excursions that would have normally left us dead in the gutters. Megan and my mother are equipped with a special battery designed for foreign markets and they never seemed fazed by the dogged techniques of street vendors. It was a good trip for all: some relaxation for the guys and non-stop shopping punctuated by cultural novelties for the girls. I am glad we had this time with my folks and we are now anticipating the trip we have planned with Megan's parents. Happy Trails,
Bo (photos by Megan) |
Adoption UpdateOur adoption has been put on hold until Spring 2017. Stay tuned for more updates!
Giving Opportunities
If you feel called to help fund our adoption, please click on the Donate button below. Check out our adoption and fundraising pages for additional info. Mil Gracias, in advance! Prayer Opportunities
If you feel called to pray for us, please pray for peace, guidance, patience and safety for everyone involved in the adoption process. Thanks! Team BoganTwo curious mid-westerners with inborn wanderlust, we travel when opportunity arises and we recharge with loved ones at home in the interim. Archives
September 2016
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