Adventure in India Singapore and Bali

8 December, 2010

Adventure in India Singapore and Bali

After my two weeks in India, I was ready for my next destination on the map. I have never been so excited about leaving a country. The people from India are very welcoming and rich in culture and traditions. I have to admit that during my time there one of the most beautiful things I learned was the wonderful hospitality and humility of Indians. Although my connection with the Indians and my conversations were not deep enough to contrast the poverty, the very few discussions I had with them were enough to make my trip worth it. The two weeks gave me more than a cultural experience. The dilapidated building where I stayed was a constant reminder of the poverty, and the fact that I was sleeping on the floor for more than two weeks made me realize that it was time to flight out of there.

A four-hour flight on Kingfisher Airlines took my professor John and I to Singapore. The fourth most important port in the world is also in the the top ten most-developed cities in the world. As soon as we walk out of the plane, a feeling of relief invaded my entire body. As we walked to Customs, we found gardens and decorations of flowers inside the airport. It felt like home. Everything was in complete order, and the air had different smells in every room. I picked up one of the information booklets from the stands and realized that farting and chewing gum were forbidden. A tax over a hundred dollars or even a night in jail were the two options citizens and tourists had if caught doing one of these two actions. We took a taxi and headed straight to the Hilton Hotel. The difference between India and Singapore is monstrous. In India the poverty is palpable, but in Singapore the wealth is everywhere, not just in one city.

I took the side trip to Singapore because I needed to get my Indonesian visa. In Costa Rica and America the embassies are not allowed to give me a visa for more than three months. They suggested I take a flight to Singapore and get the visa form there. The Hilton Hotel seemed like heaven after India, even though the laws seemed a little bit exaggerated. After all, John and I broke the rules a few times specially the one about not farting. When I got the visa, John and I decided to celebrate. We walked around the streets to find a nice place to drink a beer. When we stopped exploring the streets we just decided to go to an Irish pub that was across the street to watch Chelsea play against Sunderland. When the game finished and we were ready to leave the place, we started discussing the results with a Scottish man who was also watching the game. We went on from talking about the game, and the conversation suddenly changed to the history of Spain, America and England. The conversation grew for more than an hour. John was sharing about our experience traveling the world and also trying to link Scotland to our Cold War studies. By the end of the night after celebrating, we went back to the hotel to pack for our flight to Indonesia the next day.

We arrived in Bali one hour before our fellow travel buddies. As we waited for them, we met Nikki, the woman that organized our stay in Bali. Finally, we arrived to the Bali Budi Shady Gully Guest House, where Mr. Budi, the owner of the place, greeted us with a cup of tea. The next day the group headed to a remote beach about an hour and a half away from the guest house. Here we met John's family who came from Kuwait and California to visit and spend time with John, his wife Erica and their kids in Bali. I went to the sand and laid down on the beach watching the Balinese people enjoy the cliff jumping. At lunch time me and two other guys played guitar and shared new songs. Dave, John's brother-in-law, came over and asked one of the guys if he was sick. The guy, who, by that that moment I realized was our driver, pointed at his own head. Dave asked me to pray in Spanish for this guy and ask the Holy Spirit for healing. I did pray for the man, and I was a little bit shocked by Dave's faith. When I finish my thirty-five second prayer, Dave asked the man how was he feeling. The guy looked at him and said, “I feel tickles in my head.” Dave prayed for him one more time and from that instant the man was completely healed. Five minutes later this same man came back with two of his friends, and asked Dave to pray for them also. He did, and both got healed. It was a long day with adventures and crazy supernatural events. Bali at this time was giving me the opening to the best week of my eighteen-week travel adventure.

Later on in the week, I got bored of walking back and forth from the guest house to our destinations, so Ben, Ethan and I decided to rent a moped. Ben and Ethan are my closest friends on this trip. We found a small store around the corner and asked for the prices. We got a good deal renting the three mopeds for only 5 dollars each for two days. I rode motorcycles back when I lived in Costa Rica, so I was confident in using one and driving on the left side of the road. I gave a quick introduction to Ben and Ethan and told them to just follow me while they got used to the motorcycle. We drove for a few blocks and decided to hit the main street. A block before the intersection and the main street where we were staying, Ethan decided to pass me and go ahead of us. He arrived to the intersection first, so when we got there he was ready to take off. I told him to wait, but in his anxiety he pulled the accelerator and went right against the sidewalk at the other side of the street. He flew off the motorcycle and for a few meters the motorcycle kept moving. In just seconds there were about sixty people staring at us. After this awkward moment, Ethan finally decided to follow me. That same night we also took some of the girls on to a ride around downtown.

The day before Thanksgiving was Professor Lee's birthday party. Surrounded by different cultures Nikki's house was ready to host the party. On my way to the party I stopped at the Delta market to get some beer. The two hundred thousand rupiah's in alcohol looked very strange for the workers of the place. One of the cashiers asked, “Are you gonna drink all that alcohol?” I was a little bit embarrassed by her question, especially when I realize that all the cashiers where staring at me. I told them that I was going to a birthday party and I was getting the beer for a few people. They gave me an extra one and all said good bye with a big smile. When I arrived at the party everyone was already in the pool relaxing. The party started, and all the musicians were ready to play. We ate and enjoyed the show of some Balinese ladies dancing for the crowd. Professor Lee was dragged by one of the ladies and forced to dance with her. Soon, I was the one that was dragged up to dance with the ladies. The night ended with a beautiful time with my best friend looking at the stars laying down on the grass of the guesthouse.

The contrast between India, Singapore and Indonesia made me understand the cultural, social and economic variety of the world. From one of the poorest countries in the world, through one of the richest. From one of the richest to one of the tourist hot spot destinations in the world. At the end, no matter the story, traveling will always give a new experience and knowledge to the travelers. As for me, after my visit to Bali, I'm ready to go home and share my stories with my family.

PETRA at Night...

PETRA at Night

...the sun was going down somewhere behind the forty five meters tall walls of Petra. The noises of thousands of tourists was slowly disappearing in the distance. As we walked back to the exit of the city, some of my friends decided to paid a couple dinars to get a donkey ride. The donkeys were slower than we thought, (off course, that is why they are donkeys) and the dark of the night caught us half way through. Proud of been the last tourists in the area, all of us started looking for adventure. Some of the girls were offered to go and spend the night in one of the caves. Others got a proposal to get married. The guys got the bill for the donkey ride.

There was not much light left when we walked near the "Treasury." Sam suggested to go and sneaked into the treasury since no one was looking at us. As we walked towards the "Narrow Path" we found two guys, one seemed to be the twin of Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) and the other was apparently the security guard. We asked for permission to go into the “Treasury.” They looked at us and laugh for a few seconds, and then they said, “No one is allow to go into the Treasury.” With that said the two guys turned around and walked away. We stood there looking at each other until the two guys got lost into the darkness of the “Narrow Path”...

When the guys started walking away from us we did not realized what was happening yet. The Rolf Potts adventures started popping up in our heads. The idea of finding our own adventures, making our own story, and experience a lifetime experience invaded our five senses. As I saw the guys walking away I thought, “Unbelievable. Are they really leaving us here?” Every single one of us was thinking the same idea...

When I looked back my friend Ben was already half way. Only five seconds before I looked, he ran out of control towards the “Treasury.” Wait!- I said. At the time I looked back again to see the rest of us they already had started to run. A rush of emotion traveled all over my body. I also ran behind them. Finally a good travel writing paper for my class. I was already taking notes on my mind, when all of the sudden, “Hey! Stop. You are not allow to go inside” At this point we all stopped, and started laughing hysterically. We thought it was that easy, but no, there was a security guard right behind the tends just waiting for us to do that. Oh! I thought that was the end of the night. It could not be better that that. But...

...It was time to go home, and we were walking back through the Narrow Path. The dark of the night was not capable to blocked the bright rays reflected by the moon. We walked close from each other. We decided to stopped, and enjoy the silence of the night in one of the most beautiful and fascinating places in the world. We sat there and waited... and prayed... and... enjoyed. We looked for a moment of silence, and meditation, but the creation can not be silent. Through the wind, God spoke into us an internal peace. “Creation adores you God. It can not be silent” I thought. When we finally decided to go straight to home, we found the workers setting the two thousand candles for the night show. They offer us a candle for everyone, and also lighted it for us. It was wonderful, specially when something like this happens around someone you care about.

...We walked closer for a while, taking care of each others candle, when hers went off, we used mine to light it over, and when mine went off, we used hers to light it again. One of my lifetime experiences I will never forget. In our walk she came closer and said, “I am so glad that we are living this together” I could not think in anything else. Her soft voice, and the infinite sky collided to create a party of feelings in the atmosphere. I felt a shower of shooting starts falling on me. My heart was soaking wet of the beauty of God's creation not only in my surroundings, but in her...

Petra the city made of rock, with no vegetation around, was the witness of a new story that will have no end. Nor the time or the history, nor the mountains or the darkness could stop this new adventure, and journey of friendship... Petra at night, or Petra during the day...

To be Continue...

Be part of Cade's Army

What do you think when I say life? Where does your mind go when I say hope? Have you ever heard about miracles? Who do you think of when I say a little kid? Do you think of your brother? Your sister? Your grandson? Your son or daughter? I want you to open your eyes. I want you to focus on the next paragraph.

A five year old kid. Hair bright as the sun, skin smooth and soft as the breeze of the ocean. Unending deep blue eyes infinite as the sky. Created by God. Wonderful masterpiece that carries the love of thousands of people. Small size that carries a profound message to humanity. The smell of his hair and the softness of his voice melts the hearts around him in sweetness, and peace. His heart is so big that angels, and the whole creation is amazed of how such a big heart can fit in such a small body. They ask the creator, how is that possible? He looks at them and says, “It's call a miracle.” So this kid five years old is a miracle. Miracles are all around us. If you can read this note, if you can hear this note, if you can feel this, you are a miracle, if you are alive, you are a miracle.

Welcome to Cade's life, “My best friend” as he said a couple days before knowing that a tumor on his brain was affecting his vision, and later his entire life. A tumor? Yes, a brain tumor. Do not think that he gave up. No! He is a warrior, he is a super hero, he is strong, he is invincible. Through his bloodstream runs the strength and honor of the Kings of Kings.

Cade is alive. He is in a fight. He is a warrior. He is fighting a battle that not everyone dares to fight. The battle of life. But he is not alone thousands of people are in battle with him. I'm calling you all warriors, to join to our army, and pray for my “Best friend” I want to see a moment of divine grace, just as when he was formed in the womb of his mom, just as that moment where the glory of God is shown as the miracle of life. Just as that spark of unseen grace, DIVINE GRACE.

Be Part of the thousands...... Visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cader/journal

Spicy India

Lutheran Center in Mumbai, India.

Hey friends,

Finally we are in India. What an adventure this trip has been. From Buenos Aires to Russia, from Russia to Ankara, from Ankara to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Then from the Holy Land to Kenya, and from Kenya to the the SPICY India.

Since we arrived in Mumbai, as soon as we all walked out the airport, everyone started sweating. The humidity and temperature of the city was unbelievable. We all squeezed in some little vans that took us to the Lutheran Center where we were going to stay for the next two weeks. The ride that was about 20 minutes, took our senses into a journey of different smells(about 15 to be more specific). The smells were not precisely incense. As soon as the van started moving, all the cliches, believes, and my expectations for India felt on the ground. The poverty of the region was palpable, and violent. The trash was impregnated into the walls, the buildings, and the streets. I closed my eyes for a while when all of the sudden a kid yelled, "Namaste..."

Depack was one of the kids in the Lutheran Center that was supported for the Church. He is a happy and pretty joyful kid. He had a rough childhood and for that reason he moved away and finally was rescued for our brothers in India. Depack was our friend our language partner. He knew nothing about English, but had the most wonderful gift of communicating whatever he wanted to say through motions, sounds, or even just a look.

Today a month ago since our tip ended, India is the country a talk about the most. Why? Well because people ask, "Which was the hardest country to stay? Where did you feel more challenge? and off course the answer is India.
Four weeks ago I was on my way back to Costa Rica when I met this 46 years old lady. She was a traveler, and we shared a few stories. She asked me about India and what was my feeling towards Mumbai. I hold up my words for a few seconds. I didn't want to talk all the bad things about India. Yes it was a difficult country, but I have never been so humbled in my life by looking at people serving others. All our friends from India pour out themselves for us. Anyway, I explained this to the lady, and she was blowing away. She said that there was something in me that she have never seeing before. I agreed. In the last four months I have never seen myself as I do now. As nothing. As someone unable to change others. I can not be the same anymore. After traveling around eleven countries, I can not be the same. I have seen God's love in every single part of the places I visited. I could not change anyone, but God did. When I explained all this to the lady, she went on in a psychological analysis of the trip (off course, because she was a psychology major). "Definitely," she said, "Only God can change the world"

There are many stories about India: the food, the rickshaws, the smells, the bathrooms, the people, the cows, the streets, the religion, the animals, the ministry, the slums, the poverty, and on and on and on. But this is what India taught me, and is that, "God is the only one that can change the world."

My little African Brother

4 November 2010

Samuel Doni

Thinking back to Costa Rica, I remember the first time that I used the glue as a drug. I decided to try it, because I was angry with my parents for not spending enough time with me. They were spending a lot time with the kids from the shelter where my mom used to worked. I did not need the glue, but my desire to block these feelings pushed me to try it. For five months of my life, the small can of glue followed me everywhere I went. I remember how it felt for the thick smell of the glue to go through my nose, reaching the deepest corners of my lungs.

My favorite number was nine, because I knew that at that point the anger and pain in my heart would disappear. In fact, after nine inhalations my muscles trembled and the breathing would become longer and deeper. Thirty seconds later I would lose control of myself, falling on the ground in a deep sleep. Every time I woke up was different, my mom and dad looked different. Every smile or even the smell of their clothes would break through my entire body giving me the satisfaction I wanted. I wanted to be loved, I wanted to be noticed and I wanted to feel my parents in me. The reason I am telling my story is because of Samuel Doni.

Samuel is seventeen years old and lives in a slum that is ten times the size of a football field. He was born in Nakuru, a city that is nine hours away from Kawangware where he lives today. When his mom died in 1999, he moved with his grandmother, but she could not help him anymore after a few years. He moved to Kawangware and started living on the streets. Three weeks later he begun inhaling glue. With big black eyes and a big smile on his face he introduced himself saying, “Hello, I am Don Carlos. That is my real name, but on the street I am known as Samuel Doni, or just Doni to my friends.” His joy and kindness is contagious. Samuel wants to be a tour guide some day.

Samuel has a group of “friends” from the street that share a few sacks at night to keep their bodies warm from the cold of the night. One day while they where sleeping, the police chased a thief. The man was trying to avoid the police jumped in between a group of kids that was near where they were. The police, annoyed by the situation, decided to shoot randomly at the group. They killed all of them. This is just one of the many stories of Samuel. On another occasion, he and one of his friends where sharing a bottle of glue at night. The small fire in front of them seemed to be harmless, but it was not. When they both fell on the ground, losing the notion of everything, his friend did not feel the heat of the fire burning his leg. When they woke up from the effect of the glue it was already too late, the skin of half of his leg was gone.

By knowing these stories, his answer to the question, “Who is God for you?” is understandable: “He is my provider and the one who makes me wake up every morning.

Using a white t-shirt with stripes and blue jeans cut-offs, Samuel is waiting to go to a boarding school in December. He says that once he goes there he will stop using drugs. Right now he uses the glue only to not be afraid of the streets. Using the glue allows him to not feel the cold at night, to not feel the pain in case of been raped by someone at night or to not feel the cold of the rain during the rainy season.

Everyday Samuel wakes up and puts his dirty clothes on and walks out to the streets hoping to find some kind of scrap metal that he can sell. After selling the metal, he goes to one of the hotels around the area and buys a cup of tea (the reason of going to the hotels is because someday he wants to be a tour guide.) once he finishes his tea, Samuel goes back to the slum and buys the glue for the day. Later on after using the drug he walks to the Fikisha Center, takes a shower, and puts his clean clothes on. He does not like being dirty, especially at the church because he respects God and the church. At night he puts his dirty clothes on and explores for more metal. At the end of the night it is only him and his friends. There is not a kiss on the cheek or the forehead, there is no story time or a bed. It is only the glue and his clothes. He knows God and sings praises every Sunday morning in his clean outfit. He needs a chance, he needs a hand to get out of there. His heart is beating and his eyes are blinking right now.

Samuel is just like every other 17-year-old boy. His body is still growing as well as his dreams. He is fighting against poverty, against drugs, against a life that is out of his control. He has been fighting on the streets for more than ten years, with no family and without ever knowing his dad. Samuel is just a kid, it could be my neighbor, it could be yours, but today this is Samuel Doni from Kenya. This is his story and this is his life.

I had a hand that took me from the ground and lifted me up, someone that believed in me, someone that heard my story and decided to help me. After three weeks I stopped using the glue. I finished high school and became a camp leader and a soccer player. But I needed the chance, I needed the opportunity, the light of someone that without knowing me believed and changed the course of my life.

Samuel Doni is living today in Kawangware, waiting for an opportunity to get out of this conflicting area, the opportunity of finishing school and become the next president of Kenya.

“Because you want to change my life and you want me to be the next president of Kenya” Samuel Doni.