Wow. I’m sitting here trying to find the words. There aren’t enough words I can possibly use to explain this experience, this feeling, this love that I’ve gained through this trip. Whenever I read back through my journal entries I’m so baffled at everything I’ve done and who I was when I did them. I know the saying is so cliche but I honestly feel that I’ve come such a… Read More
Carpe crew,
I have no negative feedback for the time we’ve shared over here, only appreciations. I am humbled to know that there are organizations out there that can get a group of 7 18-20 year-olds into, and through this place. India in a word is “dense,” I don’t know how else to put it without whipping out my camera to show off some pics and vids. I have full… Read More
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart-
Mom and Dad: yogi and musician; Beautiful athletic woman and beautiful balding man; disciplinary/mercy-giver and mercy-giver/disciplinary; Role model and Role model.
Ben and Carly: Grizzly bear and Tiger; Homie and Homie; 6’3″ rock climber and slightly shorter rock climber; Leader and Leader; Role model and Role model.
My Carpe Group: Friends; Brothers and Sisters; Travelling buddies; Spankin’ beautiful people who i’ll never… Read More
Mcleod Ganj is a suburban town in the northern section of Dharmsala, laying on the ever rising hills with miniature, breakneck curving roads that redefine traffic laws and pedestrian awareness. Mcleod Ganj has been an area of refuge for the Tibetan people living in exile and fear caused by the Chinese Government. After resting our bones for a couple days in a local guest house, our contact introduced our group… Read More
Well Rishikesh was truly a dream! Full of breathtaking nature, yoga, live music, crystals, vegan food, and dreadlocks…yum. I know I’ll be back one day. In some ways, it kind of felt like a little bubble; it was too clean, peaceful, and full of Westerners to be “real India”. I was starting to feel really comfortable there, but that just means it’s time to move!
After fourteen hours of bumpy,… Read More
This week was our week to decide where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do and when we wanted to do it. Carpe Diem dubs it “student directed travel.”
Rishikesh sits in the small hills overlooking the Ganges. The two main parts of town are separated by the river and connected by a big suspension bridge (where the monkeys liked to hang around and snag your chip bag… Read More
Shanti arrived in Rishikesh on the 25th of October from Calcutta by Plane, Train, and an auto which took us to what seemed like nowhere near our hotel. We gathered our packs and wits to navigate our way through a refreshing change of scenery. A few minutes into the walk our crew was compressed onto, and stretched out over, what seemed like a one-way bridge: we soon remembered there are… Read More
Monday, October 19th:
The group arrived in the capital city of West Bengal (also known as the cultural capital of India), Calcutta or, more correctly, Kolkata, after another rather sticky night on a two-and-a-half-hour-delayed overnight train (a new record!). We taxied to the Sunflower Guest House, a nice tourist establishment with the front desk curiously located on the top floor. After making ourselves at home in our shared seven-person room,… Read More
We arrived at the Root Institute on Tuesday, the 13th of October. After our shortest train ride yet (about 5 hours) we arrived in Gaya. From the crowded train station we packed into three auto-rickshaws which took us all the way to Bodh Gaya, where we concluded that leg of our journey at the Root Institute: a Buddhist retreat center. It was well past 11pm, and the sleepy guard let… Read More
Our week began and culminated with 2 incredible sunrises. On Sunday morning, we sleepily stumbled into rickshaws at 5:45 AM to head to the Taj Mahal. We were able to beat the crowds and the scorching mid-day heat. In true Indian fashion, we had to experience some sort of chaos before actually getting in! The security line was hectic and extremely unorganized, but it was well worth the wait. The… Read More
Our journey to Udaipur began in a train station in Jaipur, around 10 PM. Most of the group was groggy, and not particularly looking forward to the bumpy, overnight train ride we were about to embark on. Sensing the collective lethargy within the group, Ben Ji decided to energize us with our favorite past time besides shuttlecocking(Rest in peace):a jam sesh. The minute Ben Ji started strumming his mandelin, a… Read More
Day three in Delhi. Insanity. First of all, it feels weird to be on the internet. I have really enjoyed being unplugged.
The roads here are absolute chaos. The taxis, motorcycles, tuck tucks(?), pedestrians, and wild animals all fight for space on the narrow streets. It makes me so appreciative of crosswalks. You can’t go 1.3 seconds without hearing a horn honk. There are also lots of interesting odors here.… Read More
Namaste from New Delhi! Today we are out on a scavenger hunt of the city. We have met some really nice people who are helping us find what we need. The city is crazy but really cool. We are enjoying getting used to the culture and language. -Margaret
Things here are incredible! It’s all so different and new to us, but we pick up all we can everyday. the language… Read More
Somehow we all woke up feeling refreshed on our first morning in Delhi – neither the 30 hours of travel nor the magic of jumping a day forward in time seemed to phase the group. We had an amazing and quintessential Indian breakfast on the rooftop of our hotel – chai, aloo parantha (potato-stuffed bread), breakfast curries, omelettes, cornflakes and curd. Appetites sated, we jumped right in with some great… Read More
We have received word that the Shanti group has landed safely in Delhi and settled into their hotel for a much-deserved rest. Stay tuned for more from the group themselves as they set out to explore India!… Read More
The mighty Shanti group has successfully gathered together at the San Francisco airport. They’ve gone through security and they are off to board their plane.
We look forward to hearing more from this team as they delve deeper into all that awaits in India.
Stay tuned to the blog for an update when they have landed safely in Delhi!
– Mike and the HQ team… Read More
Namaste to all of our Shanti adventurers!
We are here in Portland eagerly and enthusiastically preparing for our upcoming India semester together. We are so excited to meet you all in just five short days! Within the many activities we are planning for the trip, we have also been putting our heads together to come up with great Carpe Diem lessons, as well as hilarious jokes to enlighten you with.… Read More
Walking through the San Francisco airport this morning, I was more alone than I had been in three months. In a timezone that didn't feel like mine, I walked feeling as though I had discovered something. I feel such profound gratitude for all the small pieces which brought me to India, which brought me through India, and which brought me home to where I am now. Looking around this place… Read More
This morning we said goodbye to our wonderful group of students. We have shared some amazing memories with them and will remember each of them fondly.
After our arduous journey across the plains of Northern India, and a breathtaking trek into the mountains of Sikkim, we ended our semester in the Tibetan communities of Dharamsala and Bir. The students remained engaged and enthusiastic up to the very last moment, taking… Read More
We've received word that the mighty Shanti group has checked in to their flights New Delhi. They've been a fantastic group and it been a great semester. We are wishing them all traveling mercies on their respective journeys home. Here's a retrospective picture the the handsome group from their time at Dev Bala farm. Namaste… Read More
