Intoxicating India...
January 16th 2007 11:14
I have always wanted to go to India. A friend of mine went last year and said it was an amazing, life changing experience. They came back a totally different person. Another friend is going next month.......
I have also lost a lot of family members to the dreadful Cancer disease that plagues our planet today. I would not wish upon my very worst enemy the punishment of watching a loved one die to this disease.
What do the two have in common?
Well, a travel company called World Expeditions has got together with some charities and offers trips to anyone doing fundraising for that charity. The Cancer Council of NSW offers trips to India, trekking in the Himalayas, in return for a personal donation as well as meeting their fundraising target. They give you ideas on how to fundraise, as well as some time after the trip to do some last minute collecting.
As well as this they also offer trips to Nepal and Vietnam and Cambodia....decisions, decisions......Do not think this is a way of travelling for nothing. You must be committed - you will be required to overcome personal obstacles and it is not an easy road to travel. If you are interested in staying in the country after the trek travel arrangements will be made for you to do so, however the cost is all yours.
This is not the only charity challenge that is on offer. There are various ones to different parts of the world and for varying levels of fitness.
I have also lost a lot of family members to the dreadful Cancer disease that plagues our planet today. I would not wish upon my very worst enemy the punishment of watching a loved one die to this disease.
What do the two have in common?
Well, a travel company called World Expeditions has got together with some charities and offers trips to anyone doing fundraising for that charity. The Cancer Council of NSW offers trips to India, trekking in the Himalayas, in return for a personal donation as well as meeting their fundraising target. They give you ideas on how to fundraise, as well as some time after the trip to do some last minute collecting.
As well as this they also offer trips to Nepal and Vietnam and Cambodia....decisions, decisions......Do not think this is a way of travelling for nothing. You must be committed - you will be required to overcome personal obstacles and it is not an easy road to travel. If you are interested in staying in the country after the trek travel arrangements will be made for you to do so, however the cost is all yours.
This is not the only charity challenge that is on offer. There are various ones to different parts of the world and for varying levels of fitness.
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
You may not have been to India but it sounds like you have traveled this road Ash.
Be well.
DuskDevi
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I love challenges, it makes me feel like I am living rather than just observing.
And be well to you to Orble gal pal
Ash
Comment by Jane D
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Yes another on my list of places to travel to, looks such a beautiful part of the world. I love these sorts of places, mysterious and shrouded in history filled with people who are so unique....thanks for the recommendation, definitely will be on the agenda one day.
Ash
Comment by AnthonyB
Jane was in Cambodia when I was in Vietnam !! I also have not been to India, but apparently if you want dental care and laser eye correction surgery, that's where it's at ! I have heard the costs are reasonable, comparatively of course.
I loved Vietnam. Afterwards, I became a bit of a health nut. I joined the gym and was drinking 4 - 6 litres of water a day. I was actually using water as a meal supplement at one point. Just to skip lunch and fill me up after a small dinner.
But yeah, my experiences there changed me beyond sight. I lost 16 kilos because I realised that physical exercise and eating less felt good. Money very well spent. It gave me a whole new lease on life !!
Great post Ash !!
I loved it, I loved it !! and great photo too. ché bella ragazza !!
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Ah yes....these places look so great...I cannot wait to get over there...if only money grew on trees
It certainly sounds like you had a life changing experience...wow! Congrats!
Thanks for the compliment...and quick italian lesson
have a great weekend
ash
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Do you plan on going to India any time soon? I'd love to learn Tamil or something, but the fact that they have around 600 languages intimidates me.
A friend of mine, Iris, is planning on doing missionary work there.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I just missed this years trek so I`m looking into next years one. I think they go around the beginning of March. My friend has just come back and said it was an incredible places he has been to.
600! whew! People appreciate it when you take the time to learn their language, even if you stumble your way through it... it shows respect for their culture.
All the very best to your friend Iris. That is very noble work.
ash
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Hope
Gifted Parenting
Freelance For Life
Comment by Lesley
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Hi Cibby,
I hear what you are saying, I suppose everyone has their own experience and I say each to their own on that. Sorry you had a miserable time!
Hi Hope,
I like to consider myself a bit of an adventurer but Iraq... hmmm don`t think I like the idea of that one too much ! You would have to sign quite a few documents before you went there I would imagine!
Hi Lesley,
My friend just went for a month at the beginning of the year and he LOVED it. He said that it was such a life changing experience. The first thing I noticed about him when he came back was the incredible sense of peace he had about him. I`m going to try!
Thanks for stopping by
Ash
Comment by missnomer
I have been to India for work only....and it was on a TV Commercial with Richard Gere..so the conditions were pretty good but challenging. I had previoulsy lived in Thailand for 12 months so felt I would be prepared to face the poverty...I was very, very wrong.....The trip from Mumbai Airport to my swanky Hotel was shocking....gridlock traffic...mothers with babies pressing them against the car windows shanties on the footpath that clearly were homes for some...the kids were literally playing in the gridlock traffic in the road........I was shellshocked...I only spent a week in Mumbai and then went to Jodphur.....I had taken a large suitcase of stationery with me (dont ask why its what I have to do for stupid reasons)...and I gave away every last item down to paperclips to the school children I met in Rahjastan who used slates and slate pencils..the joy in receiving a pencil was priceless..I also gave away all of my perdiem money and more...and 125 clip on koala bears and all of the chocolates and lollies that the Indian Production had bought for us overseas visitors that I had hid everyday. The life style in Rajhastan was much more privileged than in Mumbai...and the locals mostly had work and some money.....so it wasnt quite as confronting as Mumbai...I was a very different person after that trip...much more appreciative of what we have here... and I cant wait to go back and see more!!!! The energy of the people and the place despite the poverty is something amazing! X
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
you sound like you have had such an eye opening life. I can understand how you feel being faced with such poverty.
I grew up around poverty, it was on my doorstep and I recall an evening my friends and I went to get some videos from the local rental shop and we came across a homeless man lyingpassed out in a shop doorway. I don`t think that image will ever leave me.
Every time we would go into town, to the shops, to the cinema, we would literally be swamped by groups of kids begging for money. Going into a shop you would first have to deal with the woman sitting outside, blind with a child clinging to one breast and another jiggling a metal bowl at you for money.
I guess this type of travel is most rewarding for everyone. You raise money for a good cause, you get to see where your money goes... and you get an eye opening experience that may change your life.
Who knows I may see you on one of these expeditions one day!
ash