A short note:
Beginning in December 2007 our family, my husband, my two teenage sons, and my mom, began our 3 week journey through India. We were luckly enough to stay with the relatives of several friends located throughout India along the way, which made our journey more interesting, enjoyable, and safe. Thank you all so much.
The people of India and their culture was more vivid and alive than anything we've seen in the U.S. We were constantly overwhelmed by the experience both positivly and sometimes not. The constant sound of honking comes to mind. After several months back home, images of the India we saw come into our awareness at the most unusual times. We remember the colors and the smiling faces most vividly but it is the food we miss the most. The aroma of the spices fill our memories and make us salivate. Living in Colorado, it is difficult to match the flavor of Southern India with its fresh coconut curries, parathas, dosas, masala curry, and Austin's favorite, chicken 65. Trying to learn the different languages of each province we visited was another piece of our journey I remember fondly. As I struggled to negotiate hello or thank you, Ian and Don easily picked up various words as needed from the languages we encountered, bringing smiles of surprise and pleasure to those we met.
So many revealing moments come to mind when I look back on our trip but what remains clear in my mind is that I must return someday soon.