Reflections upon a North-South journey through India

On a crisp, end-of-April morning, Emily and Eleasha emerged from the Pearson International airport into the welcoming arms of Emily's mom and step-dad. The two girls felt slightly out-of-place, due to scantily clad birk and chacoed scanky feet, their hippie scarves, and above all, their utter lack of trendy jeans and puma apparel. Dizzy and exhausted due to the 15 hour continental flight, they were elated to simply have clean air to breathe, and room to stretch their stiff and sore bodies. In the days to come, the girls would have plenty of time to recount their adventures and contemplate the lessons that they had learnt over the course of their 2 month journey through India. But on that particular day, they were content to eat scrumptious homemade meals and sleep the better part of the day away.

Of course, some memorable, humourous stories did spill over on that day, over meals and in between naps: Emily's first attempt to re-organize India; the wild tiger spotting and heart-wrenching attempt to save the injured deer; the many fecal matters; and the frightful encounter with an apparently under-funded Indian hospital. But these stories, while entertaining, fall hugely short of giving an accurate image of Eleasha's experience of India and her true feelings about the country and it's people- good and bad.

While I can't claim to have reached a new level of spritual enlightenment or to have 'found myself' while in India, I think it is fair to say that I had some eye-opening experiences and came to a few realizations while away. Though I doubt I will be one of the few who actually write the "groundbreaking" novel that all travellers in India seem intent on penning, I have decided that I will attempt to log some of my memories in the form of a blog. Hopefully, this blog will help me to (a) remember my trip as the years and inevitable alzeimers set in, (b) allow me to finally express myself in a semi-creative work, and (c) keep in touch with friends, acquaintances and even those who may despise me and my argumentative nature as I find myself touching down from continent to continent.

As those who know me are aware, I love to chat and I love to argue. So if you feel like engaging me in a pleasant conversation or a heated debate, I welcome you to do so. And if you feel like it, check back soon for future postings and photos documenting the trip.