We are officially finished with the program and a bunch of us flew out of Leh this morning. I'm now in Delhi with 7 other people and we're mostly taking today to relax and chill out. Tomorrow morning everyone is headed to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and then i have one more day in Delhi by myself so i'm going to meet up with someone from UT that was also in the program with us and hangout with her until my midnight flight tomorrow night. Then i'll be back in Seattle and able to upload a bunch or last pictures so that you can see the final product of the shade structure and a bunch of other stuff that we've done in the last week.
For now good night and i'll blog again once i'm back state side. (where what i'm looking forward to most is ice cold water with ice cubes, a home made hamburger and some ice cream!)
-Caty
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Day 32: It's Been A While
Sorry it's been so long i have a bunch to catch up on i guess.
Saturday was my first day back on the site since i was sick and i had a lot of catching up to do with the design and pattern making of the sails, it was the last day our experts were in town before they went back to Canada so they made all their last minute suggestions .
Sunday we went white water rafting and that was loads of fun and our next couple of experts came to town the day. Bryan and Michel from New York are here to produce a book about this project and what we are doing and they have been so much fun to have around, they're really my kind of guys.
Monday we moved into the school where there is no Internet, there's barley electricity really. But being at the school is great it's nice not to deal with the time limits of when we get there in the morning and when we have to leave to go back into town. So that of course means longer days of work, that's important though because this is production week and we have to get it all done. As far as the sails are concerned Monday was pretty much a waste because the fabric which we had custom dyed over the weekend didn't show up until 5pm and by that time all but me and one other member of my team had left to go into town so not much work got done. That night i deiced to sleep outside in the open air because the stars were so amazing.
Tuesday we spent all of the day cutting the fabric to fit the sails and getting it all laid out and ready for the 3 seamstress to come the next day and of course all along the way we're hitting snags in the design and having to work it out as we go. The worst of it was that the fabric's color was bleeding like no other and would be a real disaster if it wasn't fixed so Andy, Shamus and I spent half of the day in a science experiment with vinegar, salt and ironing the fabric to try and set the color and nothing worked. we end up just washing it all about 3 times each and then having to iron it all. It was a disaster in it's own because it took all of the day and we still weren't done because our 2 irons were so crappy they could get through it all. We finally had to stop at 11:30 when the power went out. So we decided to had a bon fire instead which was great and 4 other people slept outside with me that night around the fire.
Wednesday morning i woke at 5 am to walk to the closest monastery to watch the Solar Eclipse, it was supposed to be the best one in 300 years. It was kind of a bummer because it was a cloudy morning and the sun was behind the clouds but oh well at least the walk was nice. Our seamstresses didn't show up until after lunch and were quite a pain in the butt. At first they wouldn't use the thread we brought from the US, it's extremely expensive and made just to resist the UV rays but they were not familiar with it and didn't speak any English so it's hard to tell them why we had to use it. Finally we got them to agree and got a good 2 hours of work out of them until the they got up and left and we had no idea why. Finally we got them back to work but at that point we were seeing how much they could get done at a time and how hard it was for their machines (which are ancinet) and we relized that we are never going to get it done by Friday. So Sergio went to town to look for a better machine and someone who could get it done. At dinner he came back with great news that he found someone and that we would take the sails to him tomorrow in town. That night another bon fire and more sleeping outside.
Today, Thursday i had to wake up at 6:30 to be there for the seamstress who got there at 7am to get some other last minute stuff done before we took the sails to town. They got all the corners done but were still working on some seams when we had to go so we split in half and only 3 went with the sails while me and some others stayed back waiting for them to finish. and hour or so later they finish so Emily, Shamus and i caught the bus to town and i already wasn't feeling so hot but by the end of the ride i was in bad shape. So we walked to the Yak Tail which is our old hotel and were the man was going to do the sewing, but i went up to the one room which we kept at the hotel for the sick people. So for the whole day i've been in bed, sleeping and sick again. Every once and a while my team members would come up to check on me and update me on the progress and it doesn't look good at all. It's going way too slow and he only got through the first step of sewing on only 3 of the 6 sails. So it's on to plan B (or maybe it's C or D). Unfortunately I didn't go back to the school with everyone to work it out i'm staying in town. But i think i will be better tomorrow so i'll hopefully get to head back in the morning to help out.
Back to Bed of me now,
Caty
Saturday was my first day back on the site since i was sick and i had a lot of catching up to do with the design and pattern making of the sails, it was the last day our experts were in town before they went back to Canada so they made all their last minute suggestions .
Sunday we went white water rafting and that was loads of fun and our next couple of experts came to town the day. Bryan and Michel from New York are here to produce a book about this project and what we are doing and they have been so much fun to have around, they're really my kind of guys.
Monday we moved into the school where there is no Internet, there's barley electricity really. But being at the school is great it's nice not to deal with the time limits of when we get there in the morning and when we have to leave to go back into town. So that of course means longer days of work, that's important though because this is production week and we have to get it all done. As far as the sails are concerned Monday was pretty much a waste because the fabric which we had custom dyed over the weekend didn't show up until 5pm and by that time all but me and one other member of my team had left to go into town so not much work got done. That night i deiced to sleep outside in the open air because the stars were so amazing.
Tuesday we spent all of the day cutting the fabric to fit the sails and getting it all laid out and ready for the 3 seamstress to come the next day and of course all along the way we're hitting snags in the design and having to work it out as we go. The worst of it was that the fabric's color was bleeding like no other and would be a real disaster if it wasn't fixed so Andy, Shamus and I spent half of the day in a science experiment with vinegar, salt and ironing the fabric to try and set the color and nothing worked. we end up just washing it all about 3 times each and then having to iron it all. It was a disaster in it's own because it took all of the day and we still weren't done because our 2 irons were so crappy they could get through it all. We finally had to stop at 11:30 when the power went out. So we decided to had a bon fire instead which was great and 4 other people slept outside with me that night around the fire.
Wednesday morning i woke at 5 am to walk to the closest monastery to watch the Solar Eclipse, it was supposed to be the best one in 300 years. It was kind of a bummer because it was a cloudy morning and the sun was behind the clouds but oh well at least the walk was nice. Our seamstresses didn't show up until after lunch and were quite a pain in the butt. At first they wouldn't use the thread we brought from the US, it's extremely expensive and made just to resist the UV rays but they were not familiar with it and didn't speak any English so it's hard to tell them why we had to use it. Finally we got them to agree and got a good 2 hours of work out of them until the they got up and left and we had no idea why. Finally we got them back to work but at that point we were seeing how much they could get done at a time and how hard it was for their machines (which are ancinet) and we relized that we are never going to get it done by Friday. So Sergio went to town to look for a better machine and someone who could get it done. At dinner he came back with great news that he found someone and that we would take the sails to him tomorrow in town. That night another bon fire and more sleeping outside.
Today, Thursday i had to wake up at 6:30 to be there for the seamstress who got there at 7am to get some other last minute stuff done before we took the sails to town. They got all the corners done but were still working on some seams when we had to go so we split in half and only 3 went with the sails while me and some others stayed back waiting for them to finish. and hour or so later they finish so Emily, Shamus and i caught the bus to town and i already wasn't feeling so hot but by the end of the ride i was in bad shape. So we walked to the Yak Tail which is our old hotel and were the man was going to do the sewing, but i went up to the one room which we kept at the hotel for the sick people. So for the whole day i've been in bed, sleeping and sick again. Every once and a while my team members would come up to check on me and update me on the progress and it doesn't look good at all. It's going way too slow and he only got through the first step of sewing on only 3 of the 6 sails. So it's on to plan B (or maybe it's C or D). Unfortunately I didn't go back to the school with everyone to work it out i'm staying in town. But i think i will be better tomorrow so i'll hopefully get to head back in the morning to help out.
Back to Bed of me now,
Caty
Friday, July 17, 2009
Day 25: Sick Day
Yesterday was my day off and we hiked up 2000ft to see the Yogi Monks. They are the monks that almost have super powers they can create their own heat so that they only have to wear t-shirts when in below zero temperatures, and other things. But it's at an extremely remote location. And was hell of a hike, when we finally got to the top one of the people that was will us puked and another almost passed out. Thankfully i felt fine. We met a couple Yogis and met one nun that had just arrived days before and was there to train under the Yogis. On the way back down i wasn't feeling so good and by the end of the night i was in bad shape, i won't go into the gross details but it wasn't pretty. I stayed back from going to the school today and stayed in bed all day with what i thought was the flu, but now by the end of the night i'm almost all the way better so i think it might have been an altitude problem. Oh well just another adventure in India. I'm excited to get back on the site tomorrow though because we're pretty close to putting up the shade structure so that should be very exciting!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Day 23: Tensile Design Proposal
Here's the formal proposal that we sent to ARUP today to ask for their approval on our design. They are the firm that designed and built the school, so we have to pass everything we do by them.
Our aim in designing and building a tensile shading structure is to enrich the technical palette of the school and nourish and support the life of the users. We are utilizing hyperbolic curves to create a structure to withstand the intense wind loads present on the site. Developing a system using a familiar local material pallet makes production possible and culturally accessible to the local community. The material we are proposing will provide necessary shading but let the wind flow through the layer of the canopy because of its open weave; while still providing plenty of shade this space will be cool and comfortable to teach, learn, and play. The design is created by a repeated pattern that is possible for local tailors to create.
The double curves of the space replicate arched entryways that delineate areas of distinction for children that beckon them to play as well as providing them a safe haven from the harsh summer sun. The varying heights of the structure create spaces that are sensitive to the scale of the child, while allowing for the easy circulation of adults that are teaching or simply making their way through the space. These spaces that have been avoided by children and adults alike will now be able to function as they were originally intended-as outdoor classrooms. The bright colors of the fabric will bring an element of enthusiasm (as we saw the teachers’ reaction to the model) and cultural identity to the infant/junior courtyard.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Day 22: Sewing
We worked on the detail of the shade structure today. I worked on mocking up a full scale section of the corner where the fabric meets the hardware which is attaching it to the ground or wall. Sadly i don't have an pictures of exactly what i was working on but i do have some others:
The doorway to the sky! You feel so much closer to it all here, last night the stars were out and beautiful but you could only see half the amount of sky here as i'm used to in the northwest.
Here is my new pen pal Nilza helping me sew. It's really sweet that many of the girls at the school have come started to ask for our names and addresses so that we could send letters. But they just can't wait to share now and many of them have brought us gifts. Nilza told me she would bring me Momo tomorrow for lunch (it's a ladakhi version of the pot sticker), so tonight i'm going to look around for a little something for her too.
A beautiful shot of a valley we visted a couple of days ago.
The largest Buddha in Ladakh, over 45ft tall if i remember correctly.
The doorway to the sky! You feel so much closer to it all here, last night the stars were out and beautiful but you could only see half the amount of sky here as i'm used to in the northwest.
Here is my new pen pal Nilza helping me sew. It's really sweet that many of the girls at the school have come started to ask for our names and addresses so that we could send letters. But they just can't wait to share now and many of them have brought us gifts. Nilza told me she would bring me Momo tomorrow for lunch (it's a ladakhi version of the pot sticker), so tonight i'm going to look around for a little something for her too.
A beautiful shot of a valley we visted a couple of days ago.
The largest Buddha in Ladakh, over 45ft tall if i remember correctly.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Day 21: Shade Structure
The Internet has been really bad the past three days so i just couldn't get a post up.
This week started out with the some of the leading tensile experts in the world, Sarah Bonnemaison and Christine Macy (that's right i just name dropped). We split into two groups one is doing a tensile, sail type shading structure (that's my group) and a group that is mimicking the traditional poplar framed and willow lined architecture of the local area, to create smaller shading over the individual benches. This is all going in the infant courtyard, only a small piece of the whole school. This project is going to be taking place over the next 5 years and we are only the first year. Once we put in our structures the will be in testing for a year and then they will expand on them or redesign them if they fail in some way.
We finished the whole design today in one day and tomorrow we're on to designing the details i'll post pictures of our proposal so you can see what we're up to.
It's late in india so i'm off to bed,
Caty
This week started out with the some of the leading tensile experts in the world, Sarah Bonnemaison and Christine Macy (that's right i just name dropped). We split into two groups one is doing a tensile, sail type shading structure (that's my group) and a group that is mimicking the traditional poplar framed and willow lined architecture of the local area, to create smaller shading over the individual benches. This is all going in the infant courtyard, only a small piece of the whole school. This project is going to be taking place over the next 5 years and we are only the first year. Once we put in our structures the will be in testing for a year and then they will expand on them or redesign them if they fail in some way.
We finished the whole design today in one day and tomorrow we're on to designing the details i'll post pictures of our proposal so you can see what we're up to.
It's late in india so i'm off to bed,
Caty
Friday, July 10, 2009
Day 18: Video Of What I've Been Doing the Past 4 Days
Today we finished putting together the Rebo. Here is a video of time lapse photos that Timmy put together to some awesome MJ music.
Like i said before, a Rebo is a traditional nomadic tent used through out the Himalayas. It took us 4 days to put in together when it normally only takes nomads 1 day to put together. Kind of sad but we got it finally! In the video i'm the one wearing the large brimmed brown hat, wearing a light blue shirt most days and a bright pink shirt on the last day (toward the end of the video).
So tomorrow we are going to have all the kids at the school who come from nomadic families come and check out what we've done
Like i said before, a Rebo is a traditional nomadic tent used through out the Himalayas. It took us 4 days to put in together when it normally only takes nomads 1 day to put together. Kind of sad but we got it finally! In the video i'm the one wearing the large brimmed brown hat, wearing a light blue shirt most days and a bright pink shirt on the last day (toward the end of the video).
So tomorrow we are going to have all the kids at the school who come from nomadic families come and check out what we've done
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Day 17: My Day Off
Today is my day off, i'm just going to take it easy and get a couple things done around town. Get some rest and hang out with all the sick people back at the hotel. We've had a bug that's getting past around the group, but have no fear, i'm not going to get it.
That's it for now here's some more pictures from the past week.
Jullay,
Caty
We are now living in the age of the 4th Buddha and there are 1000 ages of Buddha each lasting 5000 years. All 1000 Buddhas were painted on this monastery we went to.
This is the beautiful construction work of the Ladakhis.
There was a big festival at the school last Saturday for His Holiness and the kids had a sort of field day that we all watched and this kid was so cute trying the hop in these huge snow boots.
This is Nora (my roommate here) and Jersey at the Hemis monastary going down these scary stairs they had everywhere.
Every buddist temple has these prayer wheels on the outside of the building that when you go to the temple you go around in 3 times clockwise and pray as you turn each wheel.
That's it for now here's some more pictures from the past week.
Jullay,
Caty
We are now living in the age of the 4th Buddha and there are 1000 ages of Buddha each lasting 5000 years. All 1000 Buddhas were painted on this monastery we went to.
This is the beautiful construction work of the Ladakhis.
There was a big festival at the school last Saturday for His Holiness and the kids had a sort of field day that we all watched and this kid was so cute trying the hop in these huge snow boots.
This is Nora (my roommate here) and Jersey at the Hemis monastary going down these scary stairs they had everywhere.Every buddist temple has these prayer wheels on the outside of the building that when you go to the temple you go around in 3 times clockwise and pray as you turn each wheel.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Day 16: More Digging
Today was just more digging and then we started building up a rock wall around the inside of the hole which will act as the base wall inside the nomadic tent we are building. So nothing really new is happening on the site.
Tonight we had a traditional Ladakhi meal made for us by this aw some family and the food was amazing, just as most all of the food here has been.
Tomorrow is my day off which will be really nice i can sleep in and take the day slow. I'm thinking about going up to see the Yogi Monks, their monastery is up in the mountains past the Hemis monastery where we went to the festival. It's about 13,000 ft up so that should be quite a hike, but i'm really for it.
Jullay,
Caty
P.S. Jullay (jew-lay) means Hello, Goodbye, Thank You and You're Welcome in Ladakhi, so it's pretty much the only word you need to know.
Tonight we had a traditional Ladakhi meal made for us by this aw some family and the food was amazing, just as most all of the food here has been.
Tomorrow is my day off which will be really nice i can sleep in and take the day slow. I'm thinking about going up to see the Yogi Monks, their monastery is up in the mountains past the Hemis monastery where we went to the festival. It's about 13,000 ft up so that should be quite a hike, but i'm really for it.
Jullay,
Caty
P.S. Jullay (jew-lay) means Hello, Goodbye, Thank You and You're Welcome in Ladakhi, so it's pretty much the only word you need to know.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Day 15: Manual Labor
Today was our first day of real work we were out in the hot hot sun digging and pick axing all day! what my group is working on now is building a permanent version of the traditional nomadic home called a Rebo. So we're digging down 18" then building up low walls out of the granite that is found everywhere since all the mountains around are made up of that. That's all i really know about the structure so far because that's all we did today but tomorrow we're going to get into the cover which is a hand made yak hair tarp like thing. Whatever it turns out to be we have to have it done by Saturday so i'll have pictures of it up when we're done.
Bed for me now, i am super beat!
Peace,
Caty
Bed for me now, i am super beat!
Peace,
Caty
Monday, July 6, 2009
Day 14: Pictures!
Prayer Flags above the monastery that sits with the palace above all of Leh. 
I met this little girl sitting out side of the festival. She was so cute, we had a good time together playing phone with rocks.
This is from the roof of the Hemis monastery looking down on the festival. The monastery itself was hidden back inside the mountains and you couldn't see it until you were about a half a km away from it. So it was extremely beautiful.
Here's me over looking the town of Leh where our hotel is about 18 km away from the town of Shey where the school we're working at is. 
I met this little girl sitting out side of the festival. She was so cute, we had a good time together playing phone with rocks.
This is from the roof of the Hemis monastery looking down on the festival. The monastery itself was hidden back inside the mountains and you couldn't see it until you were about a half a km away from it. So it was extremely beautiful.Here's me over looking the town of Leh where our hotel is about 18 km away from the town of Shey where the school we're working at is. 
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Day 12: Happy 4th of Jullay!
Just wanted to wish everyone a happy forth, we are having a party here tonight to celebrate every country's Independence since we have so many nationalities in your group.
I also want to wish Lorraine a safe journey as today the island family will spread her ashes into the lake. I raise my Andre to you with lots of love!
-Caty
I also want to wish Lorraine a safe journey as today the island family will spread her ashes into the lake. I raise my Andre to you with lots of love!
-Caty
Friday, July 3, 2009
Day 12: "So why are you in India again?"
At the beginning of this school year my architecture department at PSU got a new professor named Sergio Palleroni and he heads a non-profit organization called Basic Initiative that he started in the 80's. The pedagogy behind the program is to teach architecture students how to build in a real world hands on way but most importantly to help out communities in much less of parts of the world then the US. There have been over 80 projects completed all around the world. But most importantly it is to teach us architects can have a greater role in the world then just sitting behind desks. This is something that really calls to me, I can never see myself designing strip malls or high rises. i want my work to touch people's life's in a much more powerful way. The way that design is now in the world only 2% of people will ever receive a designers help, but i want to design for the other 98%. I know that my design skills aren't in the top of the pack so why not use what is my strength which is leadership and my positive attitude to just do what ever needs to be done.
So onto this project in particular i don't think that i could ever do the school justice by trying to describe it myself so if you have time please, please go to the right and click on the top link called "PBS e2 Video on Druk White Lotus School" it is a show produced by PSB that is extremely good and as a bonus narrated by Brad Pitt! I think it's only 20 mins or so.
But in brief the school is a primary and secondary school under the patronage of the Dalai Lama. The school was started at the request of the Ladakhi people who wanted a school that would help maintain their rich cultural traditions, based on Tibetan Buddhism, while equipping their children for life in the 21st Century. Designed by Arup Associates, a huge international design firm. It is a slowly but steadily expanded each summer during Ladakh’s short construction season. This beautiful school, which has won several international design awards combines traditional Ladakhi architecture with a focus on sustainability. So us as student's have been asked to looking some of the finer details. The project as a whole will continue for the next 5 years so this (the first year) is about setting a foundation for what will be done in the future and looking at the master plan of the project. Our building assignment will be a shade structure for between some of the buildings to add more usable outside space and hopefully and little more of the children's color and culture to their school.
So that's enough for now please ask questions if you are still wondering anything and i'll clear it up tomorrow.
Jullay,
Caty
So onto this project in particular i don't think that i could ever do the school justice by trying to describe it myself so if you have time please, please go to the right and click on the top link called "PBS e2 Video on Druk White Lotus School" it is a show produced by PSB that is extremely good and as a bonus narrated by Brad Pitt! I think it's only 20 mins or so.
But in brief the school is a primary and secondary school under the patronage of the Dalai Lama. The school was started at the request of the Ladakhi people who wanted a school that would help maintain their rich cultural traditions, based on Tibetan Buddhism, while equipping their children for life in the 21st Century. Designed by Arup Associates, a huge international design firm. It is a slowly but steadily expanded each summer during Ladakh’s short construction season. This beautiful school, which has won several international design awards combines traditional Ladakhi architecture with a focus on sustainability. So us as student's have been asked to looking some of the finer details. The project as a whole will continue for the next 5 years so this (the first year) is about setting a foundation for what will be done in the future and looking at the master plan of the project. Our building assignment will be a shade structure for between some of the buildings to add more usable outside space and hopefully and little more of the children's color and culture to their school.
So that's enough for now please ask questions if you are still wondering anything and i'll clear it up tomorrow.
Jullay,
Caty
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Day 11: Thank You So Much For Your Comments
I can't even tell you how much i appreciate all your comments, it reminds me that i'm not just writing out into no where cyber space and funny enough that i'm not alone on this trip, that other people care about what i'm doing. So thank you again.
Today was a great day at the Hemis Festival, there were so many people there and we had to climb onto the roof top of the monastery to be able to see what was going on, we met some locals and i made friends with a tiny little girl that couldn't have been more then 3 years old, she was adorable and i drew a picture of her in the sand which she enjoyed a lot.
So tomorrow we are off to the school where we are going to get the first introduction to the school at which we will be working and hear more details about our project, so tomorrow i should have a update for you all who are still a little in the black as to why i'm even in India.
Good Night or Good Morning,
Caty
Some responses:
Alec: I'm so excited for UT-09 and i think i can retire the name Sea Booty for a year to be Susan, and i would love a bow and arrow so that i can shoot balloons from the sky.
KC: Yes i am keeping covered up in India, trying not to get sun burnt i got a little bit of red on my cheeks today so extra 85+ SPF for me tomorrow.
Dad: No we're not getting any monsoons here it actually only rains 2 in. a year but this morning we actually woke up to snow, which made for some beautiful snow dusted mountain tops.
Stephen: Yes i would love to add some more pictures it's just a little hard because i can't upload the 900 pictures i've taken so far onto the Internet cafe computers, so i have to find someones lap top that i can borrow, so i'm working on that.
Nona: Thanks so much for all the comments i love staying caught up with you as well i don't want to be totally out of the loop when i return home, keep it coming : )
Today was a great day at the Hemis Festival, there were so many people there and we had to climb onto the roof top of the monastery to be able to see what was going on, we met some locals and i made friends with a tiny little girl that couldn't have been more then 3 years old, she was adorable and i drew a picture of her in the sand which she enjoyed a lot.
So tomorrow we are off to the school where we are going to get the first introduction to the school at which we will be working and hear more details about our project, so tomorrow i should have a update for you all who are still a little in the black as to why i'm even in India.
Good Night or Good Morning,
Caty
Some responses:
Alec: I'm so excited for UT-09 and i think i can retire the name Sea Booty for a year to be Susan, and i would love a bow and arrow so that i can shoot balloons from the sky.
KC: Yes i am keeping covered up in India, trying not to get sun burnt i got a little bit of red on my cheeks today so extra 85+ SPF for me tomorrow.
Dad: No we're not getting any monsoons here it actually only rains 2 in. a year but this morning we actually woke up to snow, which made for some beautiful snow dusted mountain tops.
Stephen: Yes i would love to add some more pictures it's just a little hard because i can't upload the 900 pictures i've taken so far onto the Internet cafe computers, so i have to find someones lap top that i can borrow, so i'm working on that.
Nona: Thanks so much for all the comments i love staying caught up with you as well i don't want to be totally out of the loop when i return home, keep it coming : )
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Day 10: I'm in Leh!
Yesterday we arrived in Leh, India (look it up on Google Earth) it is a extremely beautiful place we are surrounded by mountains and you just can't help yourself from taking pictures everywhere you turn. We're staying at a cute little hotel name Yak Tail Hotel and we've pretty much taken it over with the 26 of us. My room mate is a girl named Nora from Hawaii (Stephen you might know her) and we're having a great time making our room into home since i've been on the road so much it feels so good to be able to unpack my pack and spread out.
Lets see when we first got here most all of us arrived on the same fight so we all got to meet each other there at the airport then we all drove up to the town (it's a very hilly town, everything is up hill) we got our rooms and ooed and ahhed over the views out our windows and we got a great welcome note and map which we all tossed aside because we were so excited to get out to explore. But since we are 11,500 ft up we have to get used to the less oxygen in our blood and that first hill was a killer we were all panting like we'd just dashed a marathon. We checked out all the markets and a couple people bought some things and we were all around talking to people. One man that i talked to was very nice and he asked were i was from and when i got here. I told him today and he said "oh no no no you must go back to your hotel and lay down no walking around, you will get very sick" so we went back to our hotel and sure enough on the welcome note it says "Please enjoy a day of doing nothing" apparently the sickness doesn't hit you until after the first couple hours so sure enough there are a couple of people who are really hurting today, but no worries i feel great.
This morning i enjoyed sleeping in till 9! then i went around to some more markets and bought some clothes and earrings, i'm really not trying to buy too much in the very beginning but it's hard there's some much great stuff everywhere. then this evening we had a man come and give us a seminar on Buddhism, which was great because tomorrow bright and early we're headed for the Hemis Festival, a Buddhist festival that's been happening every year since 1730 so that should be amazing i should be gushing about that tomorrow.
by the way now i really will have more of a chance to up date this more often since i'm in the same place, and i know where the internet cafe is.
Jullay,
Caty
Lets see when we first got here most all of us arrived on the same fight so we all got to meet each other there at the airport then we all drove up to the town (it's a very hilly town, everything is up hill) we got our rooms and ooed and ahhed over the views out our windows and we got a great welcome note and map which we all tossed aside because we were so excited to get out to explore. But since we are 11,500 ft up we have to get used to the less oxygen in our blood and that first hill was a killer we were all panting like we'd just dashed a marathon. We checked out all the markets and a couple people bought some things and we were all around talking to people. One man that i talked to was very nice and he asked were i was from and when i got here. I told him today and he said "oh no no no you must go back to your hotel and lay down no walking around, you will get very sick" so we went back to our hotel and sure enough on the welcome note it says "Please enjoy a day of doing nothing" apparently the sickness doesn't hit you until after the first couple hours so sure enough there are a couple of people who are really hurting today, but no worries i feel great.
This morning i enjoyed sleeping in till 9! then i went around to some more markets and bought some clothes and earrings, i'm really not trying to buy too much in the very beginning but it's hard there's some much great stuff everywhere. then this evening we had a man come and give us a seminar on Buddhism, which was great because tomorrow bright and early we're headed for the Hemis Festival, a Buddhist festival that's been happening every year since 1730 so that should be amazing i should be gushing about that tomorrow.
by the way now i really will have more of a chance to up date this more often since i'm in the same place, and i know where the internet cafe is.
Jullay,
Caty
Monday, June 29, 2009
Day 6? I think
Gosh i really dont know what day it is at all. Just wanted to let you know i'm safe in India a little bit of adventure got me too a good hotel. So no worrying (mom), But it's 2 am here so i should go to bed i'll have more time to write tomorrow i hope
Night,
Caty
Night,
Caty
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Day 6:
SO wow i've skepped over a lot. Today is my last day at the beach. I got here yesterday but woke up that day in Amsterdam. I had a long day the day before too with Anne Frank in the morning and then booking my hostels for the next couple days and in India. then i took a nap and woke by 4 to go hang out with a friend from the hostel. We walked around in Amsterdam that day and went to the store to pick up food and get other stuff, and then met up with other friends from the hostel and party all night. so then i woke up and caught a bus out to the beach town of Noordwijk where i am now. All day yesterday i was out in the town or on the beach i walked as far up the beach as my fair skin could stand and then i started walking back, i got to go topless so that was awesome and i ate grapes on the beach and went in the water. In town i just walked all around their village where all the locals lived and then down on the beachfront where they had so awesome art and installations. Now today i'm goig to go walk on the beach some more and then head back to amsterdam where i have one more day till my flight to india. Hopefully i will get to up load some pictures when i get to india. That's the basic idea of what i've been doing these last couple days. Hope all is well where you are.
Peace & Love,
Caty
Peace & Love,
Caty
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Day 4: Another Day in Amsterdam
This morning i woke up bright and early to get the the Anne Frank house before the rush. Last night I met some fun people from Australia, Norway and Britain last night and Celeste from Australia came to the house with us and then her and i wondered around the more local part of Amsterdam which had much better shops and places to eat then the touristy red light area.
I stayed up much too late and only got 4 hours of sleep. So tomorrow I'm headed to the beach for some relaxation before India. The other two architecture students who i was traveling with are off to Paris today, so i'm on my own, which i'm liking more it's so much easier to only look after yourself. Well my time is running out on the internet so i'm off hopefully when i'm at the beach i'll have more down time to update more.
Peace & Love,
Caty
I stayed up much too late and only got 4 hours of sleep. So tomorrow I'm headed to the beach for some relaxation before India. The other two architecture students who i was traveling with are off to Paris today, so i'm on my own, which i'm liking more it's so much easier to only look after yourself. Well my time is running out on the internet so i'm off hopefully when i'm at the beach i'll have more down time to update more.
Peace & Love,
Caty
Day 3: In Amsterdam, am Still Awake
So yes i've made it to Amsterdam, and am still awake. It's been a really long day of plane ride and train ride, walking around Amsterdam (at least 4 times, and my feet are killing me), looking at loads of Architecture, enjoying the, culture and life style, of the, people and city setting, and so much more... but right now i'm too busy living to write too long of a note i'll try to catch you guys up tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know i got here safe. : )
Peace & love,
Caty
Peace & love,
Caty
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Day 2: Flying to Amsterdam
I'm off to the airport! flying to Amsterdam. We get in at 7am local time then, we're staying at the flying pig hostel in downtown. I'll write again once i get there.
Day 1: Drive from Portland to Seattle
Today I woke up, and was sure I had forgotten half the things that I needed. I double and triple checked everything but still managed to forget a couple things like my headphones. oh well life goes on.
Sam is my traveling partner from Portland to Amsterdam so her and I drove up to Seattle this afternoon, here's a picture of us at our Starbucks pit stop.
We got to my parent's house in Seattle around 5 after I gave Sam a mini tour of West Seattle. We had spaghetti with some family and Megan. We got to watch a movie about Grandma and Grandpa's adventure travels in Africa with elephants.
I'm kind of nervous but mostly excited. My flight is tomorrow at 1 so I get to sleep in. So off I go to bed. Hopefully I'll have time tomorrow before my flight to write again and tell you all what this crazy trip abroad is all about. But for now good night.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
3 More Days
Only 3 more days till I'm off to Amsterdam, and then India after that. I still have lots of packing to do but my last day at work is tomorrow then I'm off to the cabin for Father's Day and to Seattle on Monday, my I have much to do.
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