More is not enough

India is an explosion to all your senses. The colors of the clothing, buildings, sign posts are all bright, gorgeous jewel tones. The smells are intoxicating, spicy, smoky, full of flavor. The heat is intense, but not unbearable. You either love or hate India. As my friend, Estelle, put it, "In India, more is not less, more is not enough!"

I arrived around midnight in New Delhi. Outside the airport were hundreds of people waiting for travelers. They were illuminated by strong orange city lights -- kind of eerie. We were met by our guide and taken by bus to our hotel. The group was mostly made up of retired couples from around the US -- Texas, New York, Ohio. I met a single woman who would end up being a good friend (we keep in touch still), Ellen. She and I would end up being paired up for most experiences.

The hotel was very modern and very Western. Ellen and I wanted to take a stroll around the neighborhood, but were discouraged by the guide. The rest of the tour was much the same. I did get to see the highlights of India, the Taj Mahal, the Ganges, Jaipur and we got to go to the Pushkar Camel Fair, an annual event with Ferris Wheels, acrobats and stalls selling everything from cooking pots to puppets. The mornings were early ("Call time, 5 AM?"), but I saw a lot of sights. I knew, however, that was not really the way I wanted to travel.

India was a life changing experience for me. I came home a different person, not so caught up in the problems of daily life or interpersonal squabbles. I had a kind of peace from being in a place so immersed in spirituality. It was my own experience, I know, and I also know I was ready for it.