here we come

i got tired of looking at that picture of the taj mahal, so i was inspired to update the blog. new years always make you feel a little introspective, so let's get the looking back post overwith. i've included pictures that aren't on facebook or anywhere. until i have new pictures, we'll stick with these. the first three are amsterdam. 

we got off the train and headed straight for the 'i (am)sterdam' thing, i think mainly because i didn't know anything else about the city and jd goes with the flow and is happy to be pointed in a direction. brr it was cold.

i have to admit that i didn't really care that much about being in amsterdam for the city itself. i was happy it wasn't india yet. in the days leading up to leaving, my stomach would tie up in big knots and i would feel dizzy.. the way i always feel before a major move. i think i felt a little surprised by how afraid i was since china was no big deal. but it feels really different to know you won't be able to communicate with people on a basic level. even though i had forgotten a lot of chinese, at least i could say 'chicken' or 'beef' or 'noodle.'

the picture below is of the view from our room in delhi on the first morning in india. we arrived at the hotel at 4 am after a foggy/(smoggy?) van ride from the airport on mostly empty streets. exhausted, we both fell asleep relatively easily and woke up late.

when you tell people you are going or you did go to india, they either ask why or ask if you're afraid or tell you they've been and it's amazing and you should hope you don't die of stomach problems. and with good reason. it isn't paris, that's for sure.

and now when i say 'i just got back from a month in india' like it's no big deal, i still remember that first day when it was a really big deal. i was afraid to leave the hotel. it looked noisy and scary outside. but i knew i had just signed up for a month and i had no choice but to get up and out and tackle it. so we did.

and it turned out to be amazing. was it scary at times? yep. i was pushed over the edge with india more than once when people would keep asking and asking questions when all you wanted was food, or when i doused myself with cold water in bucket showers because the promised hot water wasn't appearing. 

but overall it was eye-opening and fun and life changing the way all travel is. after four months away from the boyfriend, i was happy to spend a solid month together, even though we hit our bumps along the way. the country itself is so beautiful and the people are so friendly. it puts us to shame the way they'll give you everything they have when they have very little to give. 

in the end, i learned a lot about india and remembered lots about myself. ready for whatever comes next.