Last day in Hyderabad. Last day in India.

Today we awoke tired but satisfied as yesterday we managed to visit the Charminar, the Chow Mohalla Palace, Birlar Mandir, shop for bangles, ride throughout the city in auto rickshaws (or tuk tuks as some people call them), and enjoy a full Indian meal next to Hussainsager Lake to end the evening with spicy mouths and full bellies.

After breakfast in our hotel dining room overlooking the lake and the city of Hyderabad, we met our driver, Mohammed. We were driven to the Pushpagiri Eye Institute where we were warmly greeted by Vijay, the Course Administrator, as well as our guide for the day. We hopped into their van and were driven to one of the many slums of the city. As we unloaded from the vehicle, our eyes widened as we attempted to take in all that we saw. Hundreds of tent-like shacks constructed out of mud and found objects made up an entire community of thousands. Pushapagiri had put up a camp for 15 days in the area to examine and prescribe surgery and/or glasses to those in need. It is difficult to describe the experience of meeting these beautiful and kind people and seeing the way in which they live. At one point, I was introduced to a young girl named Sarahita who was blind at birth. She shook my hand and expressed her gratitude in meeting me. My eyes filled with tears as I hugged her and told her the pleasure was all mine. As we walked through the slums, we took pictures of the children who giggled with pleasure when we would show them their image on our camera screens. We also took pictures of the doctors who have given their time and skill to serve the less fortunate. They are truly heroes.

From the slums we returned to the clinic for a tour of the facility. It was a beautiful building that is run by those who give of their time and talents. It is all paid for by the generosity of others and a little seems to go a long way. 10,000 Indian Rupees pays for the complete surgery procedure for 10 individuals. This includes transportation to the hospital from the slums, the surgery, boarding and food for two nights, medicine and transportation back. Amazing as 10,000INR is the equivalent of about $200 US dollars. It challenged us all to think about what we could give up in order to potentially help give sight to the poor and blind.

And so, we end today knowing that we return to the states tomorrow morning. It is with mixed emotion that we return home. We are grateful for the experience and we will treasure the memories that were made on this journey.

Hyderabad

"And the smile that is worth the praises of earth is the smile that shines through tears."
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Today we shed tears of joy.

As our van pulled up outside the orphanage on the outskirts of Hyderabad, we noticed the children sitting quietly outside working on their homework. Amit, the man in charge of our visit, kindly informed us about the children and the orphanage itself. They currently house and take care of twenty two children. All of them are either single or double orphaned, and all of are living with HIV. They are received by the organization through the police or by the parents or relatives who can no longer care for them. One boy was found abandoned outside of a church by a Priest. He was one year old at the time and was expected to live only a few months. He was incredibly weak and had behavior problems. It has now been years and he is intelligent, strong, and happy. In fact, all of the children appeared happy. We were introduced to the children, the young female teacher and the two older women who help run the small home. The organization cannot afford rent in the city which is why they are in the outskirts of Hyderabad where rent is about $200 USD a month. They currently have to turn away children because they don't have any more room and so they desire to build a larger building. I asked Amit what this would cost and he thought about 30 or 40 Lakhs which is the equivalent of about $70,000 USD. Hmmm....what it would it take to be able to raise this much money from those we know in the states? Could we buy a home for these children?

The children performed a few songs in English for us. Although their English was spotty, their happiness was clearly communicated. We passed out toys and school supplies to them and the gratitude that they expressed touched all of our hearts. Such small gifts brought such smiles. I looked around and felt pure joy when noticing the smiles on the faces of our travelers, as well as, on each precious little face. The joy and contentment that we experienced during our time with these children is what, perhaps, we all long for most in life. We were privileged to spent this time with these beautiful children who have challenged us to live more fully.

Since our visit we have had discussions about what we can do to help build the orphanage. Plans are in the making for a fundraiser in LA. Keep your eyes open for updates on this. We would love to have you there! We also encourage you to perhaps have your own fundraiser where you live.

"I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, By the grace of God, I will do." --Edward Everett Hale

Kabini to Bengaluru to Hyderabad

February 26, 2012

We awake to the morning refreshed after a lovely evening the night prior. We had ended our day yesterday with an afternoon vehicle safari in which various wildlife, including a tiger, was spotted. Perhaps just as exciting as spotting the tiger, was watching our fellow safari participates yell in excitement. As the sun set, we traveled by boat upon the quiet river waters to our lodging. We watched a tribal dance and then ate a delicious bbq dinner under the stars.

Today was a day of travel. After another spicy breakfast (you simply must like spice to enjoy the food here), we set off by car to Bangalore. Along the way we stopped at a couple of temples and took pictures. For lunch, we asked our driver to take us to a local spot that he likes. As we entered the small, dark restaurant we were met with many stares. As the only non-Indians in the place, we stood out. Our driver ordered for us and we ate as he did...with our hands. We smiled and laughed and he stared at us in confusion.

From Bangalore we took a flight to Hyderabad where a driver met us to take us to our hotel. We checked in to our new, modern hotel and walked to a nearby restaurant for dinner. The lake close by was quiet and as we looked out over it, we watched as a large lantern floated in the sky. The night was peaceful and serene. We await our Hyderabad adventures.

Bangalore to Kabini

“It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” –Ursula K. Le Guin

After breakfast we are greeted by our friendly driver. His smiling face mirrors the bright morning sun. As we journey outside of Bangalore we watch through the windows of the vehicle as the scenery changes from urban mayhem to rural peacefulness. Our bodies relax as the van eases into a comfortable pace on its way towards Kabini. As the sun floods through the window it lulls the traveler in the front seat to sleep. I watch quietly from the back as our driver reaches over to pull down the visor to shade her. Although he was unaware of watching eyes, his kindness did not go unnoticed. If love and compassion is shown in action more than in word, we have experienced an abundance by the Indian people.

After some time we stop at a small roadside restaurant because our driver is hungry and needs breakfast. We sit down next to him as he orders the regional speciality, Doosa. He generously offers some of his food to us by hand. Instead of eating his food, we order a plate to share. A couple of meals plus a cup of tea for everyone costs the equivalent of 2 US dollars.

One traveler needs to use the bathroom and she finds that we no longer have access to western plumbing. The toilet is a hole in the floor which is common around many parts of the world. It is yet another reminder that we have traveled far from home.

After around six hours we arrive at our destination which is an oasis of peace and tranquility. We check into our rooms and from there venture out towards the river. Soon we find ourselves bathing an elephant. She playfully splashes us with water as we climb onto her back. The friendly 48 year old elephant is a fixture of the property. After her bath, she takes us for a ride around the property and as we sway with ease, we smile with this unexpected adventure.

Another day of a beautiful life well lived. Another day of gratitude.

Mumbai Madness

From the peaceful rest of our boutique hotel in Goa to the madness of bustling Mumbai, our trip has been a whirlwind. Mumbai, or Bombay, is a energetic city bursting with activity. Our accommodations are luxurious and they provide serenity in the heart of this city of frenzy. As we stepped out the doors of our hotel in the morning, we were met with a myriad of sounds, smells, and sights. We dodged cars, bikes, people, and even cattle as we made our way through the streets. We weaved our way through the markets and bartered with the vendors selling spices, fruit, fabric, jewels, and anything else imaginable. As one traveler bargained with a vendor over a pashmina, he offered a date for tea as part of the negotiation. She politely declined. With bags full of saffron, saris, and Indian trinkets we found our way into Leopold's cafe for a lunch of masala curry and naan. Food is always fragrant and never bland in this country. The late afternoon was filled with continued exploration of the city streets and a cup a tea with a woman who lives in Mumbai. In the evening we took taxis to a venue that overlooked the city lights. Although beautiful, we couldn't help but notice the stark contrast of the gorgeous venue with the slums that were visible below. We were faced with the intense clash of wealthy and poor. Talk turned from light hearted to serious as we struggled to make sense of it all. When you are fortunate enough to enjoy some of the luxuries in this life, how do you deal with the poverty that is encountered? What is our role in all of this? We will continue the discussion as we experience India together.

Greetings from Goa

Greetings from Goa!

After a long journey from the states we were greeted with peaceful breezes, kind faces, colorful sights, and the warmth of Indian sun. Our travelers expressed gratitude as the sun went down on our first full day in India. New experiences were had and views on life were challenged as we interacted with those who live differently on the other side of this world that we all live in.

As grown adults we splashed in the Arabian Sea with child-like enthusiasm, devoured delicious seafood, walked along the beaches with eyes wide open, rode motorized scooters along the seaside roads, and made new friends who live all around the world. With tired bodies, full stomachs, and smiling faces we crawled into our beautifully draped white silk beds."Baby clouds" is how one guest described the beds at the resort we are staying at. "That was the best night of sleep I have ever had" were the words from another.

We now awake from our sleep within the clouds to a new day as our close friends and family at home in the states close their eyes to the end of theirs.

We will begin this new day with yoga and then breakfast overlooking the Goan rivers below.

May your day today be well lived and may you take the time to express gratitude for your blessings, however small or large they may seem.

Namaste.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill

Traveler's Gift Vacations has stumbled across some amazing generosity when gathering toys & supplies for our upcoming trip to India. Aahs! party store here in Los Angeles has made a generous contribution by discounting and donating pencils, notebooks, games, and toys. We cannot express our gratitude enough to Nitu and the Aahs! management for their generosity. We know that these precious Indian children will be overwhelmed with smiles on their faces and gratefulness in their hearts!

Please let us know if you would like to donate to the work that we visit.

Rudy Maxa Interview!

One of our co-founders Sarah Wauterlek had the opportunity to be interviewed by Rudy Maxa, also known as the Savvy Traveler. Mr. Maxa has his own radio show, blog, has had television segments that have won numerous awards including emmys, and has been called one of the country's premier travel guru. We at Traveler's gift are ecstatic that Sarah has been interviewed not once but twice by Mr. Maxa! Check out his website below.

http://rudymaxa.com/