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brotha from S.Africa

brotha from Belgium

Sista Emily (Kenya), India Gate, Fort entrance (formerly used by elephants), some of my peeps!

I/m preparing to leave India:-(

Honestly, i'm just really get acclimated to the weather and rhythm of the place and it's time to go, (sniff sniff). I really need about 2 more months here and i'd have some remedial Hindi language skills and would be able to get around on my own a lot easier, but as it stands, I'll be returning '...back to life, back to reality...' My birthday yesterday had some highs and lows but overall, it was pretty good. I took a bit of a tour around Delhi and only saw 1 cow all day:-( No camels, sheep, monkeys, etc. just people, and city stuff. I actually bought some teas last night and will head to the malls as they are open and have A/C, Yeh!

Photos: Temple, family going to the Karni Mata Temple (Rat Temple), posing in a Palace, plate of traditional Rajastani food.

I took the metro train yesterday and had a sardine experience of being shoved and packed on and tackled from behind to get off. I did go off on one guy who tackled me and vowed to never get on the metro again as I knew i'd shank somebody...fo' real!

My Delhi guide was supposed to be English speaking but if 10 words of a language implies that you are fluent, i'm multilingual!!! So I ended up cutting the trip short and asking to return to my hotel after he asked for 100Rupees for parking (cost 10) and took me to a shopping market where he'd get a commission for bringing me there. I never got out of the car and he was annoyed about it but so was I as it was not one of the monuments, forts, palaces, or temples on my list. I later went walking around the bazaar and just became overwhelmed.

Most shops were closed to commemorate Ghandi's birthday but a few opened in time for me to buy some earrings, incense, etc. I ate a good meal of rice and veggies on the rooftop of the Metropolis Hotel and people watched until it was time to go toward the airport. Before I left, I spent time with my new friend and Couchsurfer (traveler's network) Ambassador for Delhi, Barbara. Love her to bits!

Finally went to airport and got rid of the rest of the Indian Rupees I had and settled on the plane for a 14hr journey which went smoothly. Stopped off in Chicago for some time with the family who I hadn't seen in 4 years. Everyone was fat and fine! The horror for me was leaving India's 91 degrees for Chicago's 41 degrees....burrrr! Serves as a reminder of reason #97 why I left that city for sunny California!

Started back to work with a stomach bug (from my trip), jetlag, and 12 and 1/2 hour time change to reacclimate to...barely functional but trying to hang in here until my off days so I can have time to recover and resettle in peace.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip but too short! Nevertheless, I have seen the Taj Mahal, touched it, walked in and around it, and can say...it was definitely worth it! Truly a Happy Birthday present from me to me! Hope you enjoyed what I shared, feel free to send comments and thanks to all who already did...they were well recieved presents!

Hugs to all!

Namaste,

Lonnieworld aka Nubian Nomad