I AM BACK

I am back.  It has been quite a while since I even signed into my blog, but I have just been so busy lately.  And time is passing so so quickly.

I had a wonderful time in Goa!  It was relaxing and it was definitely a welcome diversion from my studies (which I am continuing diligently!)  I would recommend Goa to anybody: it is beautiful, the people are friendly and laid back, the sun is bright and hot, the beaches are beautiful, there is no hassle, they take a siesta from 12.00 to 3 pm, they eat meat!  Everyday we would eat fresh coconuts and there was one night we were able to escape the 100 GIRLS and go to the beach for a party!  Goa is wonderful—it is like being in Brazil or Costa Rica.  I would like to go back—but I have other places to jaunt off too! But the joys of Goa faded fast when I got on the bus to return home from Delhi- 24 hours of sitting on a bus (3 to be exact) is far from enjoyable— hours and hours and hours of hot dusty fields really can make your mind go very numb (but I had a good book- The Baron in Trees—about a boy who leaves his family and lives in a tree for the rest of his life and  NEVER comes back down)

In December we begin our winter vacation—and I have finally finalized, made final my plans.  We will all be given a the entire month of to do as we please.  One girl is going to Turkey another to Nepal.  I am sticking a little more close to home.  I will be in Varanasi for two weeks again learning and exploring the city (and saving a little money) and then leave to Lucknow over the 15^th with my friend Eamon (who is in LOVE with Lucknow- he lived there over the summer)  Lucknow is the capital of Shi’a Islam in India and over that weekend is Muharrem, the festival commemorating the death of Ali’s son Hussein.  It is supposed to be amazing, beyond amazing there.  People mob the streets, renting their hair and mourning the death 2000 years ago of Hussein.  A white horse walks down the street as people throng it, attempting to touch it and commune with the saint (as represented by this horse- the white horse he rode into battle).  There will be Qawwali performances (devotional song) and lots of gooooood food!  Leaving Lucknow I will arrive in Delhi hang out there for a while—hopefully finally going to see the National Gallery of Modern Art and various other galleries around town.  I then will board a 48 hour train to Kerala- God’s Green Thumb and the setting for my favorite favorite book in all the Land- The God of Small Things.

I am heading down to Kerala with a group of 10 others—friends of my really good friend Emma.  While in Delhi a month ago they were planning their trip to Kerala and I was invited along.  I will be sharing a beach house between Christmas and New Years in Kovalam.  There will be Brazilians, Frenchies, Amis, Brits, Dutchies, Germans all sharing this house together and hopefully making real merry!  I hope to also make some solo adevntures to see some very famous murals (The Mattancherry Murals that really inspired my favorite artist Amrita Sher-gil) see an all night long Kathakali dance performance, and head out into the hills and view tea plantations.  OH so so so much to do.