Lisa Barnard – The EcoFitChick

I tried to blog one last time before we left Rishikesh on the 7th but the town lost internet connection and my blog along with it — that’s life in India.

We were back on the train on the 7th and arrived late that night admidst the chaos of the Delhi train station. People everywhere and porters taking our group’s bags in every which direction. Yours truly finally had to lay down the law to the porters. I don’t think they understood every word but they knew I wasn’t happy. The group got split up and our group leader had her professional camera stolen on the train. It was quite a dramatic night and when we eventually settled into our oasis downtown we had about 4 hours to sleep before we jumped on the express train for Agra and the Taj Mahal.

Awaiting us at the Agra train station was a luxurious private bus and a room at the Hilton. After three weeks in mostly spartan furnishings the Hilton felt like we’d died and gone to heaven.  When we reached the Hilton it was off to the buffet for a proper breakfast and coffee. After that I walked down the street to the local mall — yes a real mall. I needed sunglasses and then found a tshirt, which then necessitated a new sports bra. The only store available was a Jockey store which was fine but it was odd buying it from a young Indian man particularly when he asked me if I wanted the matching panties.  

In Agra we did the traditional tourist thing visiting Agra Fort, a marble factory and an gem factory — a few of us opted out of this and headed back to the Hilton for drinks. That was much more fun!  

Early on the morning of the 9th we went to Taj Mahal. Its spectacular but somewhat disappointing because with the fog and pollution our view of the Taj was ghostly at best — except up close. After that it was back to the Hilton to pack up and head out for our bus ride back to Delhi.

We took a diversion to the Hare Krishna Ashram which was quite a feat for our bus driver with all the tiny roads in the villages. Once back on the main “highway” I put on my music and watched India pass by to Evanescence, KT Tunstall, Dixie Chicks and others. It was surreal listening to my American music and passing by camels, elephants, horses, sheep, people and cars. It was a bittersweet ride back and I said my goodbyes along the way waving to everyone.

Our earlier diverson almost cost a couple of people there plane back but we made it — barely. The arrival back at our downtown hotel was chaotic as are most things in India traveling with 16 people. I had my last Indian meal with few people in the ground at the hotel restaurant and then showered and repacked for my long journey home.

It was a sad return home as my Shih Tzu, Sage, that I’ve had for 14 years passed away while I was gone. I had the oddest feeling when I left home back in February that he might not be here when I returned.

I’ve been home for about 36 hours or so and  I’m still tired,  a little sick and somewhat spacey. I miss India — the chaos, noise, the food and the people. It was an amazing trip. The entire trip was serendiptious and it even followed me home. My first contact at a meeting Tuesday morning, the 11th, was with a business associate I hadn’t seen in a while — Nimesh who is from India and returns to his home in a small village regularly. He shared with me that there is a local group in Phoenix that supports the ashram I stayed at in Rishikesh; and that Pujya Swamiji visits here every summer. It seems like my Indian connection might just continue here in Arizona.

Thanks everyone for taking the journey with me. Stay tuned if you’re interested as life after India unfolds.

Namaste.