When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, yes, this is how I ought to feel.
- Harold Kushner

My attempt to keep a diary of my trip failed on the second day. Firstly because there were too much too write. Secondly, because I had other more important things to do. I was going to bring my traditional diary but it was too risky as unauthorised people might read it intentionally or unintentionally. I know we all grown up, but it happened. Trusts me!

Anyhow, so many highlights from my trip to India. The good, the bad and the ugly. Especially during my travel with Amy to Jaipur and back to New Delhi.. phew, it did feels like we're on the "Amazing Race." In India we experienced everything from 5 star hotel service to “getting-ripped-off” hotel service.

I was writing down everything I could remember in a word document, I ended up writing a 4-pages, 1500 words essay on it. So below are the selected anecdotes from the trip.

The traveling

I think the traveling is the most memorable moment in my trip. I’m sorry to say it’s not the International Congress itself although it has its own memorable moments. I guess I have never been in a completely foreign country , where its safety is questionable, traveling by myself (well, with Amy – same thing , we’re two girls). I wouldn’t have done it even if it’s in Indonesia. My parents would not let me – I can guarantee you that. The only reason why my parents let me go to India is because I told them that there are six of us from New Zealand going. Well.. it’s true though, for most of my trip.

Knowing my parents would be paranoid I guess its kind of rubbed on me. I started to worry about small things, getting upset when things didn’t go right and actually starting to feel homesick. I have never experience homesickness for being away from home for 14 days. That’s kinda weird.

Anyhow, until the closing plenary of IC – we still didn’t know what to do. Where to stay, how to go to Jaipur, where to stay in Jaipur. Everything is so unplanned. I was running around asking people what they do after IC, where to stay. But the traveling turned out to be as good as it gets. We traveled with the SSGN people – from Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, Peru. Those were a cool bunch of people. When they realized that they talked in Spanish too much then they talked more in English. Sandra, kindly translate what they were talking about when we seemed a bit lost. Mauro, he’s the cultural insensitively funny guy. He imitates how the Indian shop owner talks and acts.

On our last day in Jaipur, we got to hang out with the Malaysian delegates. Had a chance to meet with the whole delegation, including Bonnie and Edwin, but we shopped with Jill, Jas and Ren Chang the rest afternoon. They are so fun to shop around with. They know the best bargain and the tricks to get a good one!

AIESEC moments

Well, there are so many AIESEC moments during my whole trip. But the truly AIESEC Moment was when Amy and I reached Delhi from Jaipur. We have been on the bus for more than 5 hours and it was around 10 pm at night. I was worried sick throughout the trip because 1.) It was night time and is not safe for us to be out by ourselves 2.) we are going to be dropped off at a BUS STATION – it doesn’t make things better 3.) We haven’t made any booking on hotel whatsoever. So.. the grand question was WHAT THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO DO?? I was thinking about that - tired, sick and worried. Until we reached the first stop which turned out to be an ordinary bus stop off a road. I saw someone with the ugly orange AIESEC bag! I went, “Amy! Look, AIESECers!! “ That was the happiest moment in my whole trip. Seeing AIESECers.

Shopping

Amy and I went retail-therapy after the stress at IC (LOL, what stress??) Yeah, we shopped heaps especially in Jaipur. Earrings, marbles,, postcards, bangles, sandals, pashminas, bindhi, sarees, bags, cushion covers, Tshirts, bookmarks, CHAI…. The list could go on and on and on.

Of course no shopping experience is complete without getting ripped off. I think we did get ripped off BIG TIME at the little marble shop in Agra after our Taj Mahal visit. We spent quite some rupees there for a little marble token, I bought a couple of little elephants and elephant egg type of thing. (Can you tell my other new obsession with elephants?)

Another time where I learnt my lesson was when I bought pashmina. That was one of my goal when I went to India, to buy a pashmina. I bought one that was offered to me for 800 rupees for 400. I thought that was a good bargain until we went to other shop that offered me one similar like mine for 300 – and that was even before bargaining. Although, I had a little regret for not buying the two-coloured pashmina. It was soooo cool, but no other place has the same colour like it. L

My biggest shopping achievement of course when I bought saree. The sneaky shop owner, knowing I like the colour of the Sareevery much tried to get me buy it for 1800 rupees! Ha, I know how much does one of those costs, so I bargain for 400 rupees. That’s like a quarter of its original price I know. But hey, I got it for 450!

There are sooooo many other things that I want to write about. I guess it can wait for another week, just until I get pictures off other people. Pictures are coming *soon*. (Although dont go back and check this blog every single day - it won't be until next week! ;)