Singing the blues
Last night we went out to a great little rooftop resauraunt. One of the guys waiting on there looked Nepalese so we asked him where he came from. He enthrawled us with the most amazing story that I feel needs passing on as an inspiration to us all.
The guy, aged twenty three, comes from the far North East part of India in the state of Mizorum. Its the most easterly state in India and borders Myanmar (Burma). He is the son of a missionary in a very remote part of the country and his family as well as missionaries are subsistence farmers. That means no income at all apart from what you can grow or harvest from the jungle.
He is in Kerala studying for a doctorate in divinity and has been here for two years after completing a Masters in theology and education. His aim is to become a missionary and introduce education into the state of Mizorum as none currently exists.
Mizorum is a jungle covered mountainous area with virtually no infrastructure outside of the one main city. Many of the people outside of the town still follow ancient spirit religions. Only a few western missionaries ever go to this remote region.
He works eleven hours a day for a few ruppees when he has no lectures and studies early morning and late at night (he had his textbooks with him in case the restaurant was quiet). Thus far his education has cost over thirty thousand ruppees that he has had to earn himself. He gets no support from his parents as they themselves don't have any money.
It takes him seven days to get home to mizorum and a further two days to get back to his village after the final bus stop.
He paid for his initial train ticket to Kerala (for missionary school) by spending two months in the jungle with his farther cutting down a large teak tree, sawing it into planks by hand and carrying each one three hours back to his village to sell for 30 ruppees a plank. He has been home once since starting his education.
I have seldom come across a more remarkable man. His passion for his home is such that nothing, absolutely nothing will stop this man from attaining his goals. I was humbled by him.
Just let some spotty smelly little shite from Bolton tech, oops university, grumble to me about how hard student life is.
Just before we were leaving the restaurant a guy came up to us and started talking. He looked like a very good friend of mine who we affectionately call Cookie, but with the world's best suntan. His mannerisms, laugh and general attitude were a mirror reflection of my friend. It turns out he is a musician that has worked all over the place but lastly in the Maldives. He rates himself as the worlds greatest Dylan fan. (Sorry Cookie but you have bern usurped). Before long he had his guitar in hand and was "getting down" with some Dylan, Clapton and other blues. It was another surreal experience. Sat on a balcony, overlooking a side street, in Southern India with a sunkissed version of my friend singing the blues.
We have had the great pleasure of meeting some amazing people so far. I think its one of the best parts of travelling.
Other than that its been a lovely relaxing day. Our return to good old Blighty is looming large so I am giving Crispy every opportunity to relax in the sunshine. Looking at Google weather it seems its grim up north.
Bare and Crispy signing off, Cochin, Kerala, India
Last night we went out to a great little rooftop resauraunt. One of the guys waiting on there looked Nepalese so we asked him where he came from. He enthrawled us with the most amazing story that I feel needs passing on as an inspiration to us all.
The guy, aged twenty three, comes from the far North East part of India in the state of Mizorum. Its the most easterly state in India and borders Myanmar (Burma). He is the son of a missionary in a very remote part of the country and his family as well as missionaries are subsistence farmers. That means no income at all apart from what you can grow or harvest from the jungle.
He is in Kerala studying for a doctorate in divinity and has been here for two years after completing a Masters in theology and education. His aim is to become a missionary and introduce education into the state of Mizorum as none currently exists.
Mizorum is a jungle covered mountainous area with virtually no infrastructure outside of the one main city. Many of the people outside of the town still follow ancient spirit religions. Only a few western missionaries ever go to this remote region.
He works eleven hours a day for a few ruppees when he has no lectures and studies early morning and late at night (he had his textbooks with him in case the restaurant was quiet). Thus far his education has cost over thirty thousand ruppees that he has had to earn himself. He gets no support from his parents as they themselves don't have any money.
It takes him seven days to get home to mizorum and a further two days to get back to his village after the final bus stop.
He paid for his initial train ticket to Kerala (for missionary school) by spending two months in the jungle with his farther cutting down a large teak tree, sawing it into planks by hand and carrying each one three hours back to his village to sell for 30 ruppees a plank. He has been home once since starting his education.
I have seldom come across a more remarkable man. His passion for his home is such that nothing, absolutely nothing will stop this man from attaining his goals. I was humbled by him.
Just let some spotty smelly little shite from Bolton tech, oops university, grumble to me about how hard student life is.
Just before we were leaving the restaurant a guy came up to us and started talking. He looked like a very good friend of mine who we affectionately call Cookie, but with the world's best suntan. His mannerisms, laugh and general attitude were a mirror reflection of my friend. It turns out he is a musician that has worked all over the place but lastly in the Maldives. He rates himself as the worlds greatest Dylan fan. (Sorry Cookie but you have bern usurped). Before long he had his guitar in hand and was "getting down" with some Dylan, Clapton and other blues. It was another surreal experience. Sat on a balcony, overlooking a side street, in Southern India with a sunkissed version of my friend singing the blues.
We have had the great pleasure of meeting some amazing people so far. I think its one of the best parts of travelling.
Other than that its been a lovely relaxing day. Our return to good old Blighty is looming large so I am giving Crispy every opportunity to relax in the sunshine. Looking at Google weather it seems its grim up north.
Bare and Crispy signing off, Cochin, Kerala, India
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