Driving in India

I would have to say one of my favorite parts of the trip was just sitting in the car/rickshaw/bus completely amazed at the driving skills of Indians. It was unlike any experience I have ever had. On a typical street in the city there were people on foot and bicycle, cows and goats, rickshaws, cars, and buses. All on a narrow two lane street with someone crossing over to the other lane to pass while honking their horn (creating three lanes in a two lane space) almost constantly. They come so close to each other but somehow I never saw an accident.

Varkala, South india

Our first stop after arriving in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum for short) was a bamboo hut on this little hippie section of coast at almost the very tip of southern India.

My favorite part of this stop was the yoga in the morning on the rooftop of a hotel. Definitely the best yoga class I've ever been to and our instructor was a local who should be yoga's poster child.

Dubai and India Pics

Dubai and India

How to describe one of the most incredible experiences of my life... it's just not possible. A friend reminded me a few days ago that you never feel quite like you can adequately convey the experiences you have on this kind of a trip. Not even through written or spoken words or pictures. I loved it all. I laughed so hard my stomach muscles were sore most of the time. I loved the people I met. And I especially loved the moments (which were often) when I had to pinch myself and ask if I was really having that particular experience in that particular place. I think I understand the whole concept of catching the traveling bug (among other kinds of bugs I caught while there...) I got the most memorable massages of my life (hopefully I'll never have anything as memorable as that second one), experienced a completely different culture and way of doing things (squat toilets really are the way to go), and learned a whole lot about myself.

Of the 800 or so (yikes) pictures taken, I'll try to just choose the highlights

California

...for the family reunion. Sisters reunited (but we missed you Kristina!), qt with Mom and Dad. And of course, no one could get enough of the munchkins. How do they just get cuter and sweeter and more fun every time I see them?

Palmyra

...was so fun with Bekah. We went to Niagara, the pagaent, and the sacred grove. It was magnificent, especially after it rained.

Summer

Wow, it's really been since the last week of school before summer break that I blogged. And now school is starting in just a few days. It has been the PERFECT summer. I had just enough time to relax, do things I've been wanting to do, work a little, enjoy DC stress free... then visit family in California... then travel to places I never thought I would visit.

So here's a little update on some summer happenings.