My new bestfriend

Day tip to the Mysore Palace

 

Hill to Bahubali

Hike of a Lifetime

Each day I learn something new and discover what Mother India has to offer. Day 4 of our trip we arrive in Bangalore and needed to take a bus to Mysore where our hotel was. We spent some of the day shopping and trying local cuisine. Recommended was a local restaurant, Woody’s. It had amazing food and a friendly staff.

After filling our bellies we were off to Mysore, the bus ride was 4 hours. We were so exhausted everyone immediately fell asleep on the bus. About two hours into our drive we were asked if we would like to stop and see the Bahubali statue. No one seemed to be excited to get out of the bus but we thought it might be an adventure. It might be something we would regret missing.

When we got out of the bus we were asked to take our shoes off in order to walk up the hill to the statue. The hill had hundreds of stairs that led up to the statue. We began our long hike up the hill. Once we got to the top we felt accomplished and like we were a team, the feeling was unbelievable. Looking down and seeing the whole city took our breath away.

We entered the temple in silence. You could feel the peace and spirits that filled the walls. We were all greeted with warm smiles and blessed as we left the statue. I think if you asked anyone on the trip they would say this was one of their favorite experiences on the trip. I know it was one of mine. 

Blessing from the Gods

STOP dance party

 

 

 

STOP Day 1

These songs touched all of our hearts. It demonstrated the passion these little girls 

have to change their lives.  They are using their talents to heal and show the world

how strong they truly are. We celebrated life with them and it was...Simply beautiful.

Garden in the sky.

Agra Hotel by the Taj Mahal. Simply... Stunning

Once in a lifetime. Beauty.

Day in Agra

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Our Journey to Agra began early in the morning. We had to leave by 4 AM in order to have a beautiful surprise breakfast. WE had a date with the Oberoi Amarvillas Hotel, which overlooked the Taj MAhal.

Upon arrival at the hotel we were greeted as if we were Kings and Queens. We were lead down to breakfast where it was a never-ending buffet of food that looked like art. Everything was delicious, even the coffee was special. It was a French press with warm milk to accompany it. We were in heaven. If the food wasn’t enough, the hotel left you amazed. The gardens were stunning and perfectly manicured. 2 hours was not enough to take it all in.

After breakfast we went to the Agra fort and than the Taj Mahal.  Being able to walk through each sight was almost unbelievable. Learning the history and seeing it in real life was mind blowing.

Our tour guide at the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort was a world of knowledge. I had the opportunity to interview him about Indian culture and arranged marriage. I have never been able to ask someone their perspective that has had an arrange marriage. I asked him about his life in Delhi and his experiences. He was very gracious about his experience and I was excited to listen.

It was hard to except that we were actually in the Taj Mahal. It still looked like a picture. I think our whole group was at awe. There were a ton of people but it felt like you were the only one there with its size. The hand carved gems and stones were very detailed and stunning. The whole experience was amazing. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this adventure brings.

Agra Fort

Sightseeing in Delhi.

Delhi

Day 2 was a day to see culture and what New Delhi had to offer. We had two amazing tour guides that took us around the city. They were pools of knowledge and were extremely helpful when we had questions. The sights, the sounds, the smells, and the culture were almost overwhelming at times. It was something I had never experienced before.

For my first interview I talked to our young tour guide about his experiences in Delhi. I wanted to know about the culture and his perspective.  It is very interesting to me to learn bout the culture because it is different than my own.

Everything from their toilets to how they get to work was a little different than I was used to seeing. At the beginning of our journey I promised myself I would emerge myself in the culture. I would not get flustered by the little things and try to be as patient as possible.We saw a lot throughout the day and learned a lot about the history. It was energizing and exciting. I think most of the time we were running or adrenaline.

We got dinner at a place called Karmin's. I think everyone was so tired we didn't want to go but when we sat down I think everyone was glad we did. We shared a bunch of different foods. It was very delicious and worth the wait. SO so so Yummy!!!!!

After the day was over and dinner was done. I felt energized and excited to learn more about the culture.

Dancing Queens

The end to a beautiful day. 

The journey has been long and exhausting. It took almost 48 hours to get to Delhi. Once we arrived at 3 in the morning you could already feel the hustle and bustle of the city. The sights, the sounds and the smells were almost overwhelming. There was so much to look at and take in, it was hard to stay focused. When we arrived at the hotel we rested for a few hours and then up for breakfast.

            When we walked in to the kitchen the breakfast smelled amazing. It was a completely new experience. After enjoying hot tea and eggs we were created by a woman who was a long time friend time friend of our professor and hero in the human trafficking industry. She spoke to us about her experience with young woman and what she is doing to prevent this issue. Her words were deep and stuck our hearts. Her passion filled up the room. She was going to be our guide for the week and bring us to different organizations that are making a change in the industry.

            After hearing her story we got on the bus and headed to the NGO, STOP. We were so exhausted most of us took a nap on the bus ride. It took almost 2 hours to arrive, but time seems to fly by when you are so tired. Upon our arrival a few beautiful young girls greeted us. Their English was limited but through their eyes you could see their excitement to see us come visit them. We walked into a side room and we welcomed by Rosa, who was the “mother” of the organization. She referred to all the young girls that lived there as her daughters.

            We sat down and listened to her story. She was very protective of them and their stories. She wanted our interaction to be completely uplifting and about their plans for the future, and not about their past. It was an overwhelming experience. The girls sang for us and danced. Watching them was a beautiful experience. You could see and feel the new joy they had in their hearts. After we watched them perform they grabbed our hands and we had a dance party. It was fun to let lose, be silly, and enjoy the spirits of the young girls.

            As we walked around, drawings were on every wall. They were beautiful and inspiring. Each girl was given the opportunity to express herself through art. It allowed them to speak out and show their true feelings. We got an opportunity to ask them about the pictures and what they meant to each girl. After discussing the photos we talked about what they enjoy and what inspires them.

            It was getting late so we had to say our goodbyes and thank them for their hospitality. When we left, I began to reflect on the bus about their stories and their new lives. I think this trip will truly help us begin to make a difference. I wanted to stay longer and spend more time getting to know them. They are all very strong woman and young girls. It amazes me, which after all they went through, they could turn it around and have a positive life. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Learning all the moves.

Drawings the girls made for Woman's Day at the Beginning of March.