Walking into National Geographic and Miscellaneous firsts

We were told that this would be an intense and singular life experience, but nothing and no one can prepare you. The best way I can describe is that a trip to India is like falling headfirst into a 3-D version of National Geographic magazine, complete with all five senses on overload. We ride for hours through slums, cities, countryside highways and cannot stop looking in wonder

We're down to the last 48 hours in country, and its bittersweet.

The bitter:
- Saying goodbye to very loving and kind brothers and sisters
- bringing an end to the long awaited and long planned for trip to India
- goodbye to authentic "spicy" Indian food
- losing the daily kaleidoscope of animals, humanity, colors

Sweet:
- losing the opportunity to eat rice and chicken and lentils in various forms several times/day
- the "comforts" of Western life
- driving our own car again
- driving on the RIGHT side of the road
- mining the experience for NEXT re: serving our friends in relationship development

FIRSTS today:
- An elephant in the median
- hordes of young Hindu men dressed in bright orange marching down the highway
- a baby being cradled by mother on the back of a motorcyle in a horrid traffic jam
- a woman w/ leprosy, bandaged hands and soiled clothing begging along the median (I'll never forget her face; about 25, someone's daughter...)

off to bed for much needed rest.

blessings, US