Dear India:

I feel the way one feels after stepping out of a crowded room into the cool quiet night. The silence is ear splitting, and lack of stimuli is not alleviating but aggrovating. The things that i abhored i know hold dear, like the tides of flies crashing and retreating against your skin, the myriad of smells, both good and bad, the dodging and weaving between people, cars, motorbikes and cows... Without all that everything seems so... bland.

Here are some of my favourite moments:

• Khajuraho train station when i was ordering Chai for Tahna and I. I ordered it with difficulty because of the language then i was motioned to take a seat. I sat alone and then a man sat on one side of me, then the other, then a man burst out laughing at me, pointed finger and all, then two were standing infront of me and then two more... Before i knew it i was surrounded by about 10 or more locals just staring at me
• Wandana (her name means make a wish)... A little girl from Varanasi who was selling these little flower boats with candles that you put into the ganges. She was one of the most special people i have met in my life. She spoke perfect english and convinced Tahna and I that we should part with a few of our belongings and WAY too many rupees and she also got a few juices out of us. We didnt mind though because she was so beautiful and kind. I will never forget when she made a wish with us at the ganges.
• Watching the various goings ons at the Ghats in Varanasi. We saw many Pujas (religious songs), Religious gatherings and demonstrations, cow cleanings and just awesome people watching.
• The Keralan backwaters. Coasting through the leafy foliage in the sleep backwaters while drinking WAY too much and listening to good music. Awesome tiems!!!
• Wandering through ruins and temples and monuments. My favourites were the ruins and temples in Orchha and the Taj Mahal (obviously).
• The parades in Pushkar... So full of life and colour and EVERYONE in the town gets involved! I didnt reallly like the selling of the religion thing but atleast they celebrated and worshipped more than they sold.
• Traditional Rajastani dance in Pushkar. It was so amazing! All the slight head and eye movements and how everything was so precise and practiced. Also the part of it where the men seemed to be posessed by some crazy spirit that made them go crazy. SO AWESOME!

So many amazing moments and life lessons. I am so thankful for all of my amazing friends and family members and my wonderful life that I have. I am also very thankful for Canada and that my country treats everyone equally and with compassion.

So I'm in Bangkok and I am definitely happy to be here. Things are definitely more expensive here but the quality is much better and everything is heaps easier so its kind of refreshing although everything does seem a little lacklustre.