The wedding was totally indescribable.   We were invited by the uncle of the groom who owns a tailor shop where we had jumpsuits made when we first arrived.   Somehow we made a connection with him.  It started when he asked us what we thought about Trump.   I will not go into that further but it started a conversation that lead to a friendship and an invitation to an Indian wedding.   The three day event and invitation to stay in a luxury hotel/palace will never be forgotten.  The colors!!!! There are many pictures on facebook and instagram if you have not seen. 

  This trip to India has been the most exotic trip i have ever taken.  I have met people from so many different cultures.  We have had intimate conversations with Hindus and Muslims, Israelis, Scandinavians.  I love how open they have been to discuss their beliefs and perspectives.  Each have their own worries, passions and national issues of concern.    My mind is open to the many different beliefs and practices that we as humans have.   More than ever I see the thread that we each weave through this majestic tapestry of this earth we live on.  

I am struck by the human condition that has so much more in common than not.  I know that most want peace and want to discuss the issues and the world with hopes of union.   We all breathe and fear and strive and hope to see dreams that come true.   The connection that we feel with so many that we have intersected with is to me a gorgeous thing.  

Today as we drove a motor scooter through the countryside of Goa India we saw people working in the fields, standing at the wayside market shooting the breeze, sweeping the walkways, tending the storefronts.   We drove through the jungle and marveled at the coconut groves.   I love India.   It seems to bring front and center the best and the worst of humanity.   This is a beautiful place. 

Last evening I swam in the Arabian sea as the sun went down in front of me and the almost full moon, the one we all share, rose up behind me.   We then went to dinner and had a beautiful greek salad and wood-fired pizza.   We were told to avoid raw fruit and veggies which we have generally done.  The salad was beautiful and carefully cleaned in mineral water and it tasted divine.   One of my biggest fears was tiring of indian food and missing pizza.   That fear has taken a back seat and the indian food has grown on me though we do seem to find pizza that is  good here and there.   The seafood and coconut curries in the South of India are soooo good.  We were primarily vegetarian in the north.  The chai and tea is such a huge part of the culture here and we have managed to find very good cappuccino as well.  

We were planning to head further south to Kerala after Goa but have decided that the travel time is not something we want to do so we are staying in Goa for an extended time before we finish in Varanasi.   

We have fit in some meditation and yoga but not as regularly as we had hoped and the painting has been minimal but i feel my inspiration brewing for when i return home.   We have had weekly Ayurvedic massages ( so incredible and cheap) and are scheduled for our 4th one this evening.  

So far we have stayed well other than a minor cold that i got and gave to my sister.    Our stomachs have fared well ( fingers crossed!)

My sister Cori has been the best travel partner ever.  We seem to have several things in common. A love of adventure, narrow roads where treasures are around every corner, really finding the off the beaten track spots , comfort but not luxury , a good nights sleep and most importantly seeing that which is real India and interacting with the people.   Yesterday as we were speeding down a country road on our scooter Cori said to me  " memories to last a lifetime".  Our mother would have been horrified a little as we weaved our way around busses and cows and other scooters and our father smiled down from heaven.   The other quote of Cori's that I carry with me is when i said to her "what is going on?"  which we have said oh so many times and she replied " so much more than we can possibly imagine".  

India has a way of really making you aware of that precious facet of life.  That beyond what we we see and understand. 
There is so much that we cannot possibly imagine. 

The month is flying by.   We had a driver for the first couple of weeks which was a God send.  Now we are on our own and i think are doing a beautiful job of navigating this crazy beautiful place.  

So many times i have thought to myself pinch me.   



With love, 

​Stacia and Cori



​

We arrived in Delhi one week ago.   The travel to India was smooth and relatively easy.  I think i travelled over 8,000 miles.   

I met my sister at our homestay in Haus Khas Village,  New Delhi.   We stayed in Delhi long enough to acclimate, rest a bit and to explore the surface of New Delhi and Old Delhi with Harvindar Singh (.Our Sikh taxi driver).     We bought a few Indian dresses as we travelled with little clothing.  The air in Delhi was thick with fog and smog.   We met our driver Vikram ( Viki) and took off for one night in Agra where we visited the magnificent Taj Mahal.   When my eyes landed on that majestic marble masterpiece my heart skipped several beats and my breath escaped me for a brief moment.   

There was really not much more to write about in Agra other than meeting Asma, a local 21 year old girl who lives in Agra and to whom i was introduced by a friend in Grand Junction with whom I study spanish.   

Onto Rajasthan, India.  A land of ancient history, Moguls, forts and palaces.   We visited Jaipur (the pink city) , Jodhpur( the blue city)  and next will be Udaipur where we head tomorrow ( the Lake city).   I am not sure i can begin to describe the adventures, treasures and faces we have met in the last week.  The tuk tuk rides are a great adventure.   Yes there are foul odors and they are then swept away by the smells of fresh cardamon , cinnamon , ginger and turmeric.  The sadness of the poverty dissolves into the grandeur of the palaces, the forts and the pale blue and pink cities.  The smiles on the peoples face and the hands joined in prayer.  The chanting and the humming if Hindu  prayers are heard across the city.  

tWe are taught to be wary of the Indian people.  " You cannot trust them" .  "They will cheat you and steal from ".  I am certain there is some truth to that.  But what we have pales in comparison to what they have so the cheating may amount to one dollar,  I am more struck by the sincerity and the charm and kindness of these people .    More than anything they want to help, to share and to have their pictures taken with us.   

When there is a language barrier , hands to the heart, eye contact and Namaste says it all.   Everyone you meet uses it.  It is sooo very amazing

It is a country of dichotomy .  My sister Cori and I have been invited to return to Jaipur for an Indian wedding.  We have tweaked our itinerary just a bit to be able to attend it.  Oh the people you will meet along the way.  You never know what the next day will bring.   

To have this time, this space and this time to share with my sister.   For that i am grateful.  Thank you to those who are following along with me on this dream come true to incredible India 

with love,

​Stacia