Here we go...

---

I've arrived safe and sound in India. Staying in the Midland Hotel in Mumbai for a night and finding my western female mind unsure and assessing already. Am reminding myself I'm home, on our beautiful planet earth, but the stories we bring with us or world (including Lonely Planet warnings) throws at us are not always easy to ignore.

It should be fun.

I woke up with the whirrrr of the a/c fan and wandering if my last dream about the malarial mosquitoes dancing a kundallini conga (they are reputedly found in swarms around the airports here) was real or not. Wandered if I should eat any breakfast and trying to sense if I already have the runs... Were there any peep-holes in the bathroom or was that the splash button? Should I have wandered out last night into the market street I am staying on or would I have been leered at at the first hair accessories stall?

Am I a Coward and, if so, was he really such a British legend after all?

Reality was a clean and comfortable room on a busy street, not too far from the airport. I had a very neo-colonial breakfast (toast and jam with tea - I did not take any milk!) on the terrace, serenaded by the busy transport GPSs (general positioning system). Horns really are used as a part of every manouvre of every car on the street.
I am sweating as a little boar, revealing my foreigner acclimatisation patches...

...but hey...unsure is good...

Especially as I am heading to Delhi and Leh (3505m above sea)...where Lonely Planet guru's say: "mild altitude sickness symptoms may range from persistent headaches, dizzines, insomnia, nausea, loss of apetite or shortness of breath"...and "overdo it in the first few days and you'll feel off-colour for up to a week".

Gulp. * *

I shall follow the honoured Buddhist advice - no brain no pain. Fingers in my ears, closing my eyes and singing lllllllalaalalalalalla...unless I am to tired from lack of sleep or throwing up of a mountain cliff.

Lucky I left reading Indian LP guide until now....otherwise I'd still be clutching that last koala I saw with a sisterly hope of redemption.

; )

Anyhow, here are few images from NOWHERE. (clever ey? - read the Conversations With God).
Love you all.
Irena

---

Photos

The last koala out of Australia
What's he saying? Lost cause? Ha! To be or not to be? To die, to sleep... Lucky little ...!

Breakfast at Midlands
Looking at the web of building supports at the back of the hotel while munching a toast.

The bustle outside
My complimentary hotel driver would beat any of those over-sponsored formula guys on any road. For cert.
I kept looking "at the scenery" rather than the 5 people on the motorbike just mili-inches from our tyres.
Part of me wants to go:yeeeeeehhhhhhhha! Need to reconect to that part. Quickly.

Comments

[Maya]

odlicno
Draga Irena, kao sto obecah pogledala sam u tvoje odabrane karte i mogu ti reci da si ih birala "s lica" ne bi ih tako precizno izvukla. cela prica je o tvojoj potrebi da se privremeno izvuces iz kolotecine, napunis baterije i odlucis kojim putem da ides u buducnosti. Ako naidjes na poteskoce smatraj ih prociscenjem i izlecenjem, ne odustaj vec pronaci alternativu koja vodi istom cilju! Super sto si na putu za Ladakh. Kad stignes ,prva dva dana ne mrdaj iz kreveta osim za kratki obrok i bices OK sto se tice visine! Voli te Maja

[Martin]

Zen and the art of
It's a little known fact that the braking system on many vehicles is India is consinered too coplex and difficult to repair and is therefore simply removed. The brake pedel (or lever) is converted to operate the horn which is a far less coplex device consisting of a flexible metal diaphram a coil of wire that forms an electromagnet that in turn move a central armature, altogether much easier to maintain......With love and thoughts.......... Martin

[Amanda]

India is great, you love it or hate no inbetweens
Hi Irena Wow, now I have discovered how to read your blog, welcome to the 21st century Amanda, you are having an incredible time. India, is like I said you either love it or hate it, but you need to get over that 2 week barrier. I loved it, and I didn't get any runny tummy or bottomssss. Saw amazing things and amazing food, proper india. Although be warned when they shake theire heads slowly and then it increases, they are lying to you. Otherwise, throw the Lonely planet out of the window and go and live India away from delhi, get out there and experience, but enjoy and be safe. Keep safe luv Amanda x

[David]

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeena
Proud of you girl. Live it to the full and stay intouch. Un abbraccione sorrelina mia