I love India.

Hi there.

I don't have much to say other than holy hell, I am having a ball. Today a guru blessed me. He smeared some yellow and red powder on my forehead and instructed me to toss a flower in the holy pond here in Pushkar. He then told me that I will land a very nice boyfriend and I will live happily ever after. Later, he asked me to take two little bunches of roses over to a couple of pretty ladies he had spotted and tell then they were from him. This earned me more karma points and I ended the day totally elated with life and in love with being. I may or may not come home. Pictured is me and Guruji post blessing. He also gave me an Indian name- Sapnaa, which means 'dream' in Hindi. Yup, India rules.

Peace Love Mung beans

BJ

The tour begins...

Yo camp dogs.

The tour officially started last night at 1800 with a meeting with our guide, Bee Cash (spell check, but that is how he told us to remember his name, sign language and all), but we all met around the hotel during the day and hung out for a bit. It's a full tour, so 12 people and everyone is great!

Today we catch the metro to Old Delhi for a walking tour of the town, then we jump on an overnight sleeper train for Jodphur. I am really excited to get going! I have A Feast for Crows to sink my teeth into!

On sickness, so far so good. Today I feel rather bloated but I'm putting that down to the massive meals I ate yesterday. A few of the girls on the tour have been travelling around India before this leg began and haven't been sick yet so I reckon I'm going to be ok.

Peace Love Mung Beans

BJ

I'm in India!!!

Greeting campers!

I arrived at Hotel Perfect last night around midnight after about 30 hours in transit. I'm sure the porter guy that showed me to my room thought I was nuts when I couldn't get the grin off my face at the site of a bed! A bed! I made some friends during the layover in Guangzhou. They were making their annual pilgrimage to India for a festival, the name of which escapes me, but I am looking forward to visiting them in China in the future.

Now I'm laying in bed waiting for the sun to rise so I can venture out for breakfast and to explore New Delhi. There are some pigeons roosting above my window. The photo is the view from my hotel room.

Love to all!

BJ

The day before the day of my trip. Status: shitting myself.

Hi campers.

Tomorrow I leave for India.

So here I sit on my bedroom floor, reading over and over the trip notes for my tour, fretting that I'll miss some vital piece of information resulting in me wearing clothing that offend India, missing a transfer, catching a disease, etc. It's going to be fine, I know, but holy hell am I nervous/ anxious/ excited. My friends Long and Jimmy took me out for Yum Cha today (my first Yum Cha!) and I ate chicken feet for the first time. I believe that having chicken feet in my belly is contributing to the feeling of dread I am experiencing at the moment. Also, this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken

Rightio, I am off to do some more packing and pace the house for a bit. Walk the dogs, unpack, repack, unpack, try and sleep.

Must. Pack. Toilet paper.

xxx

Preparing for my Indian adventure

G'day folks.

Just installed the blogger app on my phone so I can keep you updated on my movements around India. Here is a photo of my pack waiting patiently for the trip.

Wetting myself in anticipation,
BJ

This girl may not be good with directions, but she sure can... ummm...

No, I am not very good with directions. I can not sing, dance or even paint my nails cleanly (I end up with nail polish halfway to my elbow). I am not particularly book smart but I love books. I am a terrible cook.

All of these things are particular talents that can make people a lot of money (maybe except for the nail polish one), and with that comes an element of fame (in differing amounts). I sometimes wish that I had one or more of these talents so I could one day set my folks up in an awesome nursing home, or be a little bit more comfortable in myself.

Despite not possessing any groundbreaking talents, I have come to the realisation that I am pretty darn awesome. I am a nice person, I like to go out of my way to make people feel good, and I am pretty OK at horse riding. I love my dogs, my friends and my family and the fact that these people and dogs love me back speaks volumes about what they see in me. This to me is more than enough to make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Return of the Jedi

Hello!

I have had a couple of requests to get this thing up and running again, so here it is. I believe though that it may be just a clever guise for more procrastination.

Uni is going well, and I have been back in Aus since June last year. Ben and I are splitsville and I'm digging being a single lady again. I am seriously beginning to believe that this is how it's meant to be, just as much for everyone else as it is for me. Mum is spewing as it means less grandkids for her, but she has the dogs to spoil.

I am going to India in October, which seems to be creeping up pretty quickly already. I can't wait! Carli is going to the US so I am going to teach her how to set up one of these so she can keep everyone up to date with her adventures, and let us know when she'll be on Banged Up Abroad.

I have run out of intelligent things to say, so hoo roo for now.

BJ

ps. I have been reading back through some old posts, and noticed that I have a shocking handle on grammar. I am not a total nincompoop, and really do know the difference between 'to' and 'too'. I just seem to forget sometimes.