Passing thoughts.

I just watched a show on national geographic - hostage abroad. They focused on the 1994 kidnapping of 3 british tourists along with 1 american tourist - in return for the release of 10 Kashmiri militants.

I was 10 when this happened, but hearing about it today, evoked a strong emotional reaction. To imagine the terror what these tourists when too. I have friends around the world, friends like these tourists who see India as a top choice for the backpacking traveller.

That mystical place called India.

These tourists were kept prisioners for 32 days. Befriended by an 'indian' but actually Omar Saeed Sheikh, they were invited to visit a typical indian village but instead were kept hostage for a month.

The ol indian hospitality, turned on its head.



Watching this show, I sat back and saw a bit of my friends in those 4 travellers. Wanting to experience something. Trusting people. It scared me. What if that was W, M, A, V, K or someone else.



I went on to do some more research on this, and found out that the hijakking in 1999 of the indian airlines flight was so that the militants could free Omar Saeed Sheikh in turn for the 180 passangers. He then went on to behead Daniel Pearl (American journalist, beheaded in Pakistan - 2002) He is currently in jail awaiting a death sentence. Will it happen. I highly doubt it.



Why am I writing about this? I honestly dont know. On one hand its a warning to the travellers coming to experience 'india' . With the amount of radical fanatics out there, the possibility of this happening again it high.



I watched the final video of Daniel Pearl. What causes one human being to torture and kill another. To have the blood of another man on oneself. I have never seen a gun in real life. Violence like this does not touch my life. Though there is no guarantee that it will remain that way. Every day we live with the hope that nothing will happen.

That the malls we walk in, wont be blown away
That the airports we go through, wont be blown away
That the flights we take wont be flown into buildings
That the person who walks into a busy building wont take out a gun and shot anything in sight.


Do we really have any guarantees in this world?

Just popping in to say hello

Yeah I know, I last did a post 2 months ago. Shame on me.
So whats going on in the life of Shreez. A lot and very little at the same time. My time in Kodai has finally come to an end. Its weird knowing that I wont be there for opening assembly or getting ready for the staff welcome back dinner. But like all good things, this too needed to come to an end.
The last month and half was crazy.
New friendships were formed.
Old ones further developed.
And now I look back the bond which has formed, in every part of the world, someone awaits.. my friends.
I am back in Delhi now. Its weird, after being constantly around people to now becoming pretty much a recluse. Not that I mind it. But it sucks being unable to talk to CNSVC anytime I want. So its online chats at different times of the day (and night) to cover all the time differences.
Life in Delhi is pretty chilled out. Stay up late, wake up even later. Read. Eat. Chat. The usual schedule of the unemployed.
Well I have a month to enjoy it. And then my next adventure begins.
I am off to Bangalore in August, to start the student life again. I am getting my teaching degree from Christ College. So now am in the midst of finding a place to stay.
If anyone has any ideas - please email me :) and too all my friends in Bangalore I hope to see you soon.
Been hanging out a lot with Blondie. Best friends, you gotta love them! Movies, Pedicures, Nights out... the city life is good :)
Nothing more to say really. Just thought I'd pop in and say hello.

Listening to ~ Stu's song (from the movie the hangover)
Loving ~ skype and its video option. So kicked to talk to Wiggles, Kiwi and Mendhi Girl

xoxo
S