India- week 1

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