A birthday celebration overseas

I celebrated my birthday in Orange, a small country town, where Debby, Mike, and their friend Wayne live and work as teachers. They take me out for dinner for my birthday, we drink wine, eat pavolva birthday cake, and then we go out to a dodgy club in Orange to further celebrate.

Alison brings some shots, we all chink glasses to toast and I break my glass with my enthusiasm. I bring the broken glass to the bar, and report, "this is so unsafe. I want another." They oblige. I don't drink it though, think I poured it in someone's glass of water. Alison, Sarah, and I dance like Elaine from Seinfield to random music on the dance floor. Alison and Sarah have a "hair off" much like Zoolander, play the air guitar and dirty the knees of their jeans. I realize I may have drunk too much and escape the noise by going to the bar. Wayne finds me later, and said the sight of me sitting at the bar, appearing folorn, nursing a water, and surrounded by old men, looked like a scene from the movie Heartbreak Hotel. We left early thankfully, as a result of the "lockdown" procedure in Orange, where the bars all refuse to let anyone else in after 12:30 am. Not a bad thing as there were many student sightings by Wayne, "Why aren't you all home studying tonight?"

Well, we're in Brisbane now, and Sarah's mom took us to Steve Irwin's zoo, to see the famous croc shows. No sightings of Steve, but we did meet Harriett, a turtle from the days of Darwin that is 172 years old. Also got a phenomenal photos of the two of us with a python wrapped around our shoulders.

Fun fact: Steve and Terry's daughter, Bindi Sue, was named after a crocadile, Bindi, and their dog Sui.

We're off to the Gold Coast tomorrow, to see Surfer's Paradise and meet up with friends we made in Rajistahan on the tour. Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Sending you heaps of love.

Carla

Down (under) time in Australia

Hello again! Having some down time in Australia is allowing me to log on to email heaps. So lucky for all of you, more newsletters! In Sydney, Alison and I did the bridge climb up the harbor bridge. It's only been open to the public since 1998, and they are so systematic about the whole process! We got full gear: climbing harness, jumpsuit, fleece jacket, hat, and they even had shoes if you needed them! If you show up to this place in only your underwear, it's STILL possible to climb the bridge! I thought it would be much more scary than it actually was. More of a stroll than a climb, as Alison said. We got some great photos of us, completely posed by the guide, of course. I suspect he's done it before...they are almost as ketch as the Taj Mahal shots we had done. Alison said they make us look like we should be announcing our engagement to be married or something.

The next day, we "czeched" out the Tarrango Zoo in Sydney. We were lucky enough to arrive in time for the koala's to be fed. I'd never seen them so active! Alison must've taken over a dozen photos of them. It was hilarious. We wanted to get our photo taken with the koala, but the booth was already closed. Ah well. Sarah's parents promised to take us to the zoo in Brisbane, where that can be done there as well.

So in case you felt my last newsletter was a bit dull, well, here is a classic story: We're on the bus, having a rather mundane conversation, for once, and the Australian guy sitting across from us remarks out of no where, "Oh my God, you have the strongest American accents I've ever heard! Are you doing that on purpose, because you're traveling?"

Alison: "No, this is how we really talk."
Rude Aussie: "But I have American friends in Japan, and they don't sound like you. You seem like you've turned up the volume on it, deliberately. Has anyone ever said that to you before?"
Alison: "No, not to our face, anyway."
Rude Aussie: "Well, I prefer the American southern accent. It just has a sound to it that is so pleasing, and the wide brim hats the men wear, I just love that! (he smiles and reflects fondly on this)
Carla: "Interesting, I think some Americans wouldn't agree with you on that one."
Alison: "So, do all Australians talk like you?"
Rude Aussie: "We just say it like it is, ya know? Put it all out on the table. Nothing beats honesty, I say."

He got off the bus at this point, which was good because Alison looked ready to smack him silly and I was biting my lip, trying not to laugh.

We're in Canberra now, with my penpal of 15 years, Sarah Kearns. This city is like a country version of Washington DC, minus the Smithsonians. Alison discovered there's an Erotica Museum here, though, so we're going to "czech" that out tomorrow. Sarah's brother, Scean, is taking the day off from work to show us around. When we told Scean where we wanted to go, he couldn't stop laughing.

Oh, in regards to my newsletter about the Indian burning man festival I went to in Delhi, but couldn't remember the name, my Mom sent me the following information via her friend Amy:

I believe she is speaking of Diwali (pronounce dee-vall-ee). It is the Festival of Lights representing (light over darkness or good or evil). It is the major Hindu holiday.

Hope that was as enlightening for all of you as it was for me! Thanks Mom and Amy!

Love, Carla

Greeting from Australia!

G'day mates! We made it safe and sound to Sydney, Australia. Alison and I were good and ready to take off from India. We were just so tired of being gawked at by the locals. We meet up with Baron for one last evening of the 2 for 1 happy hour at DV8, then we crashed out ourselves from sheer exhaustion. Not even the dreariness of the Ringos Guest House could keep us from sleeping over 12 hours straight!

Flew out of Delhi the next afternoon, back to Bangkok (for one night in Bangkok....) and then flew out of Bangkok the next day to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We couldn't leave the airport, since we didn't have a visa. So we passed the 5 hour layover with some furiously competitive games of backgammon. Jon, Alison has shared some tips with me, so she doesn't beat me every time anymore! We finally made it to Syndey, and checked into the most posh youth hostel I've ever seen. It's got a game room, pool, and a kitchen the size of a small cafeteria! There are signs all over it saying, "your food is protected by video surveillance." It's so nice to walk the streets and not get badgered by anyone.

No exciting news, just letting ya'll know we're both safe and still having fun. Joining up with the Sydney hash on Tuesday, then off by bus to Canberra to see my penpal Sarah on Wednesday.

Czech you later!
Carla

One more night in Delhi!

We have one more night left here in Delhi before flying out to Sydney next. Alison made the realization that we spent more time in India than any other country on our trip! Who knew it would be so fun? After the hash run/crashing Indian wedding on Monday night I hung out with Flipper and Baron on Tuesday and we went to the ninth day of the festival here. Wish I could remember the name of the festival, how ignorant of me! Anyway, they had these three huge paper men on a field and they set them on fire with fireworks. The park held probably a third of the population of Delhi and we were the only tourists there. The guards just let us in the gates, no fee, no tickets, nothing. I think they were just happy to see tourists interested in their culture, or wanted to keep us safe from the mobs that were forming outside the gates. The ninth day was supposed represent the fight between good and evil, ie, buring the evil men. I got some interesting photos of the carnage.

After the festival was finished, I pulled out my interhash photos to share with Flipper and Baron. The photos attracted quite a crowd of young boys hovering around us, giggling at the photos of men mooning me, of course. Thankfully I had no shots of harriets flashing me. That might have gotten rather excited reactions from those pre- pubescent Indian boys. The guards eventually appeared to disperse our audience. I was starting to feel claustrophobic.

Alison and Friar met me Wednesday morning as arranged, and we went sightseeing around Delhi, "czeching" out the Lotus Temple, that looks a lot like the Sydney Opera house, and the Red Fort in Old Delhi. We escaped the traffic and heat for the oasis of the bar DV8 I had discovered the other night. Missing Link, Baron, and Money King joined us in time to enjoy happy hour, "2 4 1 beer" as Friar kept reminding us everytime the waiter came over. They were nice and cold too!

Money King drove us and Friar to the airport to see Friar off. I hope he made it on his flight ok, he really enjoyed that happy hour special. We had loaded him up with all our souvies from India as well, so he had quite a few bags to keep track of.

Well, not much else to report. We're just chilling in Delhi, biding time until we fly to Australia. We're meeting up with the same group tonight, to see Baron off. One by one the hashers are leaving the country of India. Will it recover, I wonder?

Love to you all! Thanks for all your responses as well. I always enjoy hearing about how life is going for my friends and family.

Cheers!
Carla

crashing an Indian wedding!

Winding up my last few days in India by doing much of nothing in Delhi. Alison went on with our friend Austin back to Jaipur to check out wholesale Indian jewelry and i opted to stay in Delhi on my own and rest. Hard to believe, but Delhi is very clean for a major capital city of India! I joined up with the Delhi hash last night and after the run we came upon a wedding procession. The tradition is for the groom to ride a horse through town with all his friends and family in tow. They end up at the bride's house where the two families meet and perform the ceremony. Most Indian marriages are arranged so it is not unheard of for the bride and groom to only have met once or twice before they are wed! Our local Indian friends assured us it was ok to join in and go on to the wedding ceremony! Dressed in our running gear, sweaty and smelling of the beer I dumped on my head, I met the bride and gave her my congratulations. We danced, ate the food, and chatted with the family members like we were invited guests! How strange is that???? Indians are very welcoming people.

Before arriving in Delhi, I visited the Taj Mahal in Agra. It was probably the most impressive sight I saw here in India. The craftsmen who built it had their hands all chopped off afterward so they would never make another one like it. All done in the name of love. The Maharaja's dying wife had three requests: that he not remarry, that he raise the remaining 7 children, and that she be buried in a tomb. Well, she got what she wanted and then some, eh?

We all have heard the terrible news about the explosion in Bali. My thoughts are with the friends and families of the victims. Please try not to worry about me out here. We'll be on to Australia in just a few days.

All my love,
Carla

Indian camels...watch out, they spit!

We are in Jodpur now, and I actually found a fast internet connetion! Of course, it's a billion degrees in here so this won't be long.

We went on a camel ride in the desert to watch the sunset. Riding a camel is a lot more comfortable than I thought! They don't guide like horses, but they sure last longer on long treks. They can go up to 80 kilomenters in a day without water!

The eggs here have white yokes. We're not sure why, don't know what the chickens eat, but hope it's not the same garbage the cows and pigs eat. Needless to say, I've been sticking to a veggie diet. I helped set a hash run this morning at sunrise and we had a lot of fun bringing the other hashers through a park, past a pile of broken razor blades, and around a palace and a temple. The ants wasted no time eating the flour we used to set trail.

Well, I was supposed to join the group in a shopping excursion, but I got tired of the street boys hassling me into their shops. I'm too hot to think of anything else to type. Don't know how these computers can stay functioning in this weather.

Love to you all!
Carla

Touring Rajistahan, India

Right now I'm about 150 km from the Pakistan border in a beautiful town called Jaisalimer. We're staying in the old fort palace, and being treated like queens and kings. Saw gazelle, goats and plenty of cows and camels along the desert road. The locals are all very friendly and helpful, seem pleased to see tourists, and are eager to chat with us. Having men around (ok, hasher men, but still better than nothing) makes me feel more comfortable striking up conversation with the local Indian men who are so interested in the "western women." One guy tonight wanted to tell me all about his infatuation with the famous American actress, Sharon Stone.

The last place we stayed in, Bikenir, had a rat temple and a camel breeding farm that we visited. The Hindi believed these rats were the reincarnation of their relatives from a neighboring town so they worship and respect them. They also feed them a diet strictly of carbos and sweet milk to keep the male rats sexually weak so the population is kept under control. The whole place was a bit too strange for me, and I didn't much care for the rats running over my bare feet. No shoes were allowed in the temple. The camel breeding farm was very nice though, and I'm looking forward to riding one tomorrow when we go on our safari in the desert.

No mishaps have occured, except the life of one sacred cow that happen to wander in the path of our train up to Bikenir. I slept through the event, but my other hasher friends reported seeing random cow parts dragged along the bottom of the train, and apparently it struck the water pipe to the toilet, since there was water all over the floor. Never a dull moment!

I am still waiting for my email account to open, (it's been 20 minutes) so I don't think I'll be able to read, let alone send, many messages back to you all. Just know that I'm quite alright here and having a phenomenal time!

All my love, Carla

Goa going and gone!

I'm still alive and well in India! For all you who were concerned, the attack on the temple in Deli involved the Muslim and Hindu locals. No tourists were involved. We're far from there anyway.

The Bollywood thing in Mumbai didn't quite pan out. We get picked up by our "agent" who gives us a long song and dance about how he "takes care of the foreigners" who work with him. He brings us to the Marriott hotel where the party scene is taking place and then disappears. The woman in charge gives us the skimpiest red dresses to put on and tells us we will be playing bartenders behind the bar. I got the best photo of Alison in this dress. We looked like a pair of hookers. We sit ourselves down and wait and wait and wait, then this Indian version of the Godfather comes over to us and tells us he wants us to DANCE on top of the bar. He takes on look at our black flip flops we have on and yells at the woman for not telling us to bring decent shoes. The whole thing was just getting too shady for us. I sat around watching them all argue and the Indian actors practice juggling flaming bottles of champagne. Alison got bored and wandered around the hotel in her skimpy red dress. After 3 1/2 hours of this, we make a collective decision to just take off. We leave our red ensembles in the ladies room of the hotel and make a discrete exit thanks to Alison scouting out the place while I sat and did nothing. "Ok, Carla, when we go out the bathroom door go LEFT and then an immediate RIGHT!" We were like secret agents in James Bond...

We got back to our local bar and hung out with the other hashers for the evening laughing over our amusing evening. Guess we weren't made to be in the Indian movies!

The Interhash rented out an ENTIRE train for us to get to Goa with and it was like summer camp on rails, as Missing Link called it. No one slept, as we were so excited to hang out and visit. They gave us free beer which pretty much ensured no one would sleep. Goa is just beautiful, lots of beaches and palm trees. The runs set were all over the area. The run I did on Saturday went out to a cliff peninsula and we could see the dolphins playing in the ocean below. Alison was psyched to meet another hasher with her same name, Piss Stop. I did not find any other F*cks Like a Rabbits, unfortunately. A bunch of kiwis tried to tell me there was a guy called F*ck the Rabbit but I think they were making it up. As Sean (Queen of the Pussies) said to me, "it's a great line, Carla. I'd use it. 'Oh, you're Mellon Patch? Why, my name is F*ck the Mellon Patch!'" For those of you who do not know, the 2004 interhash is going to be in Cardiff, Wales. Hope to see you all there!

Took the train back to Mumbai and it was much quieter. We were all beat from the weekend so everyone actually slept. I'm off for a 2 week trip around Northern India now with about 30 other hashers. Should be fun! Hope all's well with you all.

Love, Carla