Stretching with the locals! Kovalam, India

12/3 Hollie

Stretch - verb (used with object)

1. to draw out or extend (oneself, a body, limbs, wings, etc.) to the full length or extent (often followed by out ): to stretch oneself out on the ground.

2. Actual meaning – GOING TO INDIA.

Hollie and her new friends!

BEEP BEEP BEEP, the alarm clock awoke us for what I now know as the most harrowing journey OF MY LIFE. Mom had always lectured me on how India would be something I may find difficult and uncomfortable. I shrugged it off thinking nothing of it like many teenagers react to a mothers advice, and just expected, the unexpected. I had my thoughts of how India would be, a lot of people, no personal space, ridiculous amounts of staring, children looking at you as some foreign alien…and the thing is I was right - but was too stubborn to think it might actually be REALISTIC. 

We were quite the spectacle!

This morning, my worst fears came to life, literally staring me in the face. Really, the only thing forcing me out of bed at 5:30 in the morning, was the fact that we were at the tip of the world, and one of the best sunrises that you witness once in a lifetime, and that we were going to be picked up to go to the sunset spot. Well as it turned out, neither happened. We ended up walking through seas of what only seemed to be eyes on us - the only white people, “parading” down the street. Its funny how mom says its good for us to go along with the locals and their way of life so we don’t stand out as much as tourists. Well no matter how we experience this trip, there will be no “fitting in,” sorry to burst the bubble…! We finally made it to the “sunrise area” where all we could see was people. No sunrise, no “spiritual meanings,” or anyone of our kind. Not. A. Soul.

Who's capturing who?

We made it to a ledge where we stood with some friendly men who just couldn’t get enough with the pictures. Literally everywhere we looked, there was a camera phone staring at us until we realized most of them were videos. We were being literally documented, like exotic animals in a zoo! At this point I had lost any kind of worry or care in the world, and everything was just a blur. However, I have to say that even though the staring was extremely uncomfortable, when you talk to the people, all of them are so genuine and just curious. But for any insecure, teenage mind, this kind of experience is hard to be interested in doing again. Walking back to the hotel seemed like a breeze, being totally desensitized to anything and everything around me. Not even my mother dancing in the street naked screaming my name would faze me. It was like I was subconsciously, moving through what I had feared from the beginning. It was good for me I admit, but was this day done? Nope. It just began.

Our trusty guide..."Stinky"

We met our guide Stinky, (name given due to the excessive release of bodily gas he produced) and headed off in our little car with a pleasing, abnormally long burp from our lovely guide to start our day. The first stop was the ferry building, where he took us around the long line of 2000 strong, to the boat. (Not even Mom cuts as many people in line as we did today..) We were motioned onto the boat and into our little private cage(“VIP” room) to head over to the Kanyakumari temple. We continued through all the restricted area signs, and again through all of the lines, until we reached the top of the temple. 50% of this time was spent being followed and taking pictures with what seemed like every single person on the island. But it only continued – to the Thirulalluvar Statue, a 133 foot rock mass carved and sculpted into the famous Saint Thirulalluvar. We again spent a majority of our time taking more pictures, but in no way did it bother me anymore, there’s a point where you just have to “GO WITH THE FLOW.” The rest of the day was driving back to the hotel in Kovalam, for massages and relaxing. More touring tomorrow, God help us J

Kanyakumari Temple 

Thirulalluvar Statue at Sunrise

We're not the only ones?