Home again

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Hope you enjoyed our blog hearing of our journies together--we are back in sunny california trying to process our trip and get ready for homelife again. Kevin's going to massage school for 12 straight days! and Kara will work on her dissertation, both jetlagged and happy to have had such an exciting adventure. Our honeymoon in the third world. It has been a great learning experience. One of the big lessons we've taken from our trip seems simple but it almost needs a direct challenge that confronts all the senses rather than just intellectual understanding--it's that this world is so big with so many people and cultures and haves and have nots, and the idea of wealth is truly relative. There are some people there who seem so happy without desiring all the stuff of our consumer culture. America is so different and coming back is a bit of a culture shock. We are surprised with how much we really have. We haven't seen a supermarket in months. This passing realization may be fleeting but we feel it on a fuller level that we're grateful for not being poor and destitute, and though we are no means rich in America, there is so much stuff here, and it's nice to experiment with doing without all that in India. We are a bit thinner too. We have learned a lot. We love the people and the music and the diversity of India, the buddhism and the hinduism, the mountains, rivers, camels elephants, temples and bazars, but we are also happy to sleep in our bed, eat food and not worry about getting sick--we devoured our yummy salads yesterday, haven't had salad for a month. A month is really only a very short while. Thanks again for all your kind thoughts on our travels. Sheilan took care of missy and our house well and we are back like it was all a dream. We look forward to sharing stories, gifts and pictures with our friends and family. Here's a few quick snaps from India. All the best, LOVE knk

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Photos

in the kangra valley
After Chamunda Temple

beautiful girls
Indians love taking pictures with us!

sunset in Leh
On a mountain in Leh

Taj Mahal in the rain
dawn in the rain

Temple to Hanuman
one of our new Indian families

Matreya
The buddha to come

Comments

[Sheila Mark]

homesick
Your photos are wonderful. They make me "homesick" for India. I loved reading your blogs. It brought back so many memories, though I think of India every day. What a rich culture!! Sorry you got sick. Did you figure out what it was from? When I came back from China, I was sick for 2 years. So if you have any lingering intestinal symptoms, go to the doctor. When we got back from India, Annie said she learned the difference between "I want" and "I need" I'm planning to go back next year, or as soon as Max is free to spend some time there. Kevin, did you get to play some tabala? Kara, did you wear any saris or punjabe dresses? I almost got my nose pierced when I was there. Annie and I were on our way to the jeweler who was going to do it, and we decided to wait until we got back to the States. (for sanitation reasons). Of course I still haven't done it but I might (on any whim). I'm so glad you had the opportunity to go there. Did you hear much music? I loved the music. Pop, classical, all of it. I am trying to learn Hindi, but the alphabet is difficult. If I had been there only one more month, I would have started to speak it. I was really starting to pick it up the last week we were there. Oh, you have memories that will last a life time. Hope Kevin gets over his jet lag enough to enjoy his classes. Your sleep schedules will be turned around for a while. Love you both. Sheila