Back to real life...

Oh India...how do I even begin to describe you???

So I'm back from my magical adventure. And magical it was.

Now that I'm home, of course everyone is asking me how my trip went and if I had fun. Its so hard because while it definitely was fun at times..."fun" isn't the word I jump to when I think about my trip. Don't get me wrong...we laughed our asses off a lot which helped to make life seem just a little lighter. A lot of times, everything felt awfully heavy while we were there. There is just so much poverty and sadness everywhere and it feels and seems as if its all so big and that there will never be an end to it. But when you look more closely, you really do get a sense that these people are hopeful, that they have a sense of community and closeness with the people that live around them. I saw a show once that talked about the happiest places in the world. I remember them saying that the poor and homeless people of India are much happier than those in the United States because they have a sense of family and community and a "we're all in this together" mentality.

Being gone a whole month was both amazing and incredibly hard at the same time. I don't think I could have really gotten a feel for the place in less time than that...but being away from AJ was so difficult at times. One of the things I really learned on this trip is how much I truly, completely love him. You'd think I'd already have known that since we've been married for two years now...but you learn something new about how much you love someone when you are forced to be apart from them for long periods of time. When you're in the everyday, with all the bills and schedules and budgets and planning, it easy to let that love get away from you sometimes...to let it just be assumed rather than be deliberate. Now that I'm back, I feel like I can't do enough for AJ to show him that I love him...he's amazing in so many ways. The fact that he was so supportive of my trip from the beginning helped to make my trip so much more magical.

As far as personal growth and development goes, I firmly believe that travel is one of those things that will help you along the path toward having an open heart, an open mind and a more compassionate soul. Every trip I've ever been on has changed me in some way for the good. This trip was no exception. The biggest thing that I learned was how to live in the now, to be present, to accept the fact that where ever I am is where I'm supposed to be. We spent the first two weeks at a yoga ashram where time seemed to fly by and crawl by all at the same time. I've never spent so much time in silence, in quiet. I struggled often with wanting to be or wanting to do something else...but it wasn't because I really wanted to be somewhere else...its just that I'm so used to feeling that way that it was hard to let it go, even in a yoga ashram in India! But slowly I let it all just come to me and allowed life to unfold without me trying to control it all the time. It felt amazing. So many times when I was struggling with homesickness I'd just keep reminding myself, "This is exactly where I'm supposed to be right now, this moment was never not happening."

I'll finish up with a few of my most favorite and least favorite things about India....

Least Favorite:

-Monkeys...I'm very passionate in my dislike for these aggresive little shits. On more than one occasion I thought a monkey was going to kill me. If there is a such thing as an anti-spirit animal than monkey's would be mine.

-Chai Wallas...these are guys on the train that walk by literally every couple of minutes YELLING "CHAI! CHAI!" Its not so bad most of the time, but when its 5am and you're desperately trying to get in some sleep on the train, it can be more than a little irritating.

-Taxi and Auto Rickshaw drivers...I know they're just trying to make a living, but seriously, they are beyond annoying, always up in your face trying to win you over. And then when you actually do need one, they're always just trying to rip you off and charge you WAY more than they should. Ugh.

-The smells...its unlike anything you've ever smelled before. And it can be really really awful sometimes.




Most Favorite:
-Chai! OMG...seriously, the best thing ever. When you taste it for the first time you think, "Wow, this is how its SUPPPOSED to taste."

-Mcleod Ganj...a beautiful mountain town full of Tibetan refugees. This is also where the Dali Lama resides, although he wasn't there when we were visiting, bummer. This place was amazing though...

-Playing cards and eating chocolates with Mariah when I was feeling homesick. Always made me feel better.

-Paneer Butter Masala with Garlic Naan...the best Indian food ever. EVER.

-Tam Ding...this is the name of the awesome Tibetan guy who did my tattoo. We ended up spending all day with him...he was so funny and nice and such an amazing artist.

-Train rides...I don't know what it is...but they feel magical sometimes.

-YOGA! Of course.