[Back In India]

Tuesday the 5th was a long day. Slept about 2 hours before I had to get up for a taxi. Shael saw me off at the airport, and despite all the tears, fears and anger between us in the past, it was, gratefully, a respectful, honoring and a very loving emotional good bye.

After more than 20 hours on the road I finally reached Puttaparti (ashram town of Sai Baba), after routing through 5 airports (and they do all look the same) and including a 5.5 hour bus ride from Bangalore. I jumped on the first available bus, thinking (although by this time my thinking capabilities were rather limited) it couldn't take much longer than the 3 hour express bus. (wrong!) The upshot was India has just received rain so the country side tour was very pretty, but with only 1 toilet break I was sure glad to finally get off after such a long trip.

My first impressions of India were quite strong. I felt how rich it is, rich in life. Its very dynamic here and people, despite the extremes of poverty, really do live here. It has a life energy. Even the air smells sweeter, as funny as that sounds, it was even noticeable at the airport. I notice how more people as a percentage smile here too. India has something, a vibrancy, I can feel it.

I checked into the first simple hotel, knowing that my favorite apartment complex is full. After showering etc I went to the apartment complex, actually I am not sure why I did. By 'chance' the manager was arriving just as I did. He recognized me straight away and said he would give me an apartment that became free yesterday and was supposed to be booked by another lady. (Turns out previously she was not so nice to the manager) I felt so lucky and grateful!

So I left the hotel and on my first day in India I am sitting in a comfortable apartment, like the one I had before in 2004-05, with a balcony overlooking a garden. :-)

Maybe due to the emotional last weeks in Holland, or the sweet life air in India or the long travel plus jet lag, or maybe it is just the customary spiritual introduction to the ashram- I developed a cold on Thursday. What is India without a little cleansing I ask you..?

Its winter here but I am wearing shorts and t-shirts, sure beats the European winter! I just love the Indian food (all vegetarian) and being a tea drinker myself from way back the chai here just wins me over. I have also caught up with some friends and acquaintances here so its nice to come back to a warm house so to speak.

In Holland I couldn't believe I was leaving. It didn't feel real. In the plane over here I was a bit shocked to realize I would be in India soon. And now that I am here, it feels like a dream. I am walking in a dream. Strange. I don't know why I am here, but strangely and unexpectedly for me, I feel a deeper happiness here.

with warm hugs

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