India

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW SEAN, YOU WILL KNOW IMMEDIATELY WHICH PARTS HE WROTE:



Why did the Ethiopian cross the road?
To steal gas (fuel for car full of chickens) from his national airline so that he could delay passengers from taking off.

Before we got to India, we were delayed 5 hours on both legs of our flight. Ditto on the return flight. However, the Indian Experience more than made up for the collective de Luna bitching in response to the inefficient flight.

VIEW PHOTOS from India (photo entries Jan 4-12, 2006). www.dropshots.com/delunasinafrica

The country is gorgeous, and more colorful than what we have seen so far in Zambia. Best of all, you can get a scrumptious Indian meal that would challenge any at a five-star American hotel chef, for about $2. Actually, a quick meal at a place like a diner is about $0.25. We both liked that. The best part of India for Kate was seeing her closest friends, Pam and Sona. Although the trip was quite hectic and sometimes confusing (mostly due to the logistical nightmare of moving a group of 12+ people around a foreign country, the language barrier, and the fact that Sona was doing all her wedding prep in a mere week or so!!!) and although I don’t think I really realized it at the time, but being with old friends is certainly the most rejuvenating way to recover from three months in Africa!

Some highlights from the trip, aside from the food, were our ‘safari’ trip on 4WD, foot and camel, into the desert and around the palaces and forts of the northwest, up near the Pakistani border. We not only got to experience the rich desert culture but modern warfare in action with India’s Border Security Force on high alert and conducting exercises to sharpen a response in the event of conflict with neighboring Pakistan.

We stayed at Manvar Desert Resort and Camp where we could imagine ourselves as abusive British colonialist commanding the inferior Rajputs to fetch us a “cup of tea”, Fort Rajwada in Jaisalmer and the Taj Hari Mahel in Jodhpur where we witnessed royalty trying to make a buck (since they do not collect taxes anymore, to increase wealth they converted their palaces to lavish hotels and rent out the rooms). They were all amazing hotels –five star quality that made us understand why Indians were hotel experts in the States from Econolodge to Holiday Inn.

India is certainly one of those countries you want to visit again and again. Just avoid the cow pies. India is cow heaven, because cows are considered holy and you’d be cussed to hell if you harmed one. There’s an ongoing joke among overseas Indians that America should send it’s cows to India –so they could lose weight and return less obese. India’s holy cows are everywhere, on the streets, sidewalks, and blocking your cab –leaving their holy shit as a reminder of mooing generosity. Those fancy hotels were our only escape and the fragrant cuisine the ultimate neutralizer to the odor of the street.

Another highlight was Sean’s facial. While us girls were busy shopping around (AND WE DID SHOP!), the boys decided to relax and get facials (mancials?) and dietary Bhang supplements (for those who are curious about Bhang, think Amsterdam). Sean says it’s part of being metrosexual and the best way of fighting free-radicals in the polluted Indian cities from inside (Bhang) and out (facial). I’d take the shopping any day… which, in fact, I did as we shopped almost everyday. I can’t wait to show off our purchases to y’all! Sadly, we couldn’t bulk up too much as we have to carry it all around Africa for a year!

So, we returned from India glowing- Kate basking in the afterglow of 10 days with Sona and Pam and Sean radiant from his… mancial (and Bhang high). We must have really seemed happy because we now have convinced about half of the people we have seen since our trip to go to India- the shopping pays for itself!

Just don’t fly Ethiopian Airways.