India in my mind

We've been back for a few months now and while months is a relatively short period of time in a lifetime, it feels like we've been back for an eternity. I guess that's what being a grown up is all about, eh?

So, India...

First let me start with WOW. And WOW. It is the most surreal experience to be jam-packed in the middle of 20 million people. The smells overwhelm, the crowds create anxiety. I could not help but wonder, over and over again, what the frack I thought I was thinking when I said this was my dream trip. It was probably during our first day in Delhi that I realized that I was so not prepared for India. Well, at least not the smell part.

We prepared by going to the travel doc, getting totally screwed by Insurance, but prepared nonethelss. There would be no malaria, hepatitis, Delhi Belly, typhoid - you name the disease, we didn't get it.

What I was not prepared for was the smell and the crowds. Most people discussed the smells of India, but it was always of the bodily functions type of smell. We had prepared ourselves for that but what it really smells like is burning trash. It's the smell of burn everywhere. In India, there are no landfills, no places to drop off your toxic cleaning items, no car depots. So instead of getting rid of it in a western way, they burn it. Trash, tires, cars, paint...you name it, we saw it, or better yet smelled it being burned.

Once we got out of Delhi, it was not so severe, but I'm sure I've painted a delightful picture and you all want to book your flights to India today! Right?!

In Southern India, we enjoyed every luxury possible. We stayed in a bed and breakfast, ate the most amazing food, swam in the arabian sea, had very awkward massages, and most importantly fell in love with India. Or, at least Kerala.

P. has posted some great pics on his blog, so I won't do the same here because we have the same three readers. But, check it out, if you can at http://wbcc21.blogspot.com/

If I was given a choice to go back to India or Greece, I honestly don't know what my decision would be. I both loved and loathed so many different things about our trip, but the country is an absolute fascination to me.

I just finished reading A Fine Balance. If you get a chance, and are at all interested in learning about India, its troubles, and its beauty, then read this book. Editor's Note: there is NOTHING happy about this book. You end it feeling so depressed that you don't know what to do with yourself. But, don't say I didn't warn you.

Anyway, I loved our trip and I miss our friends who live there. So, they either need to move back, or we will have to bring Baby B. to India (if my mom is reading this, she just passed out).

Since we've back, we've been to Jersey twice for two fabulous weddings. Oh, and I got knocked up. So, I'm sure there will be fun stuff to post about that. Or, better yet, at the rate I post, I will have the baby before I post again.