I'm home.
I made it back after three long flights, and even arrived a little earlier. Everything went very smoothly. Well, everything except when I opened my bag at home and discovered my hiking shoes had been stolen and replaced with the very worn sandals of an Indian airport worker. Baggage handlers at the New Delhi airport can't be trusted.
I've been back for almost a week and my body still isn't quite back to the Pacific time zone. I've been waking up every morning at 6am and I'm exhausted by the early evening. That thirteen and a half hour time change is pretty rough.
Thanksgiving was great, but I am getting a little of the reverse culture shock. Everything is just so nice here. The roads are smooth, the sidewalks free of trash, the hot water is actually hot, the electricity stays on all the time, I don't get electrocuted when I flip a switch (okay, that only happened once in India, but still), and everything is very clean. I have to say it feels very sterile. Going to India the sights and smells are overwhelming, so coming back the sights and smells are underwhelming, just a faint whiff of this or that.
I've been asked if I would go back, or if I would recommend the places I've been. The short answer: I plan to go back, and you should meet me there. If India seems too intense (for many it really is too intense) go to Nepal. Nepal is now one of my favorite countries in the world. The people, the scenery, the culture, the outdoor activities and the general attitude and feel of the place make it a very special place. With all the tourist centers it's not scary at all (at least compared to India).
As has often been said, India takes a little getting used to, but once you're used to it, it really is fantastic. I'll miss walking down the street, smelling fresh oranges and pomegranates, chai stands on every corner, samosas frying, cows lazily wandering, looking for the next stunning sight to see. I'll miss meeting people from all over the world every day, chatting about traveling, trading stories and comparing beards. I'll miss waking up every morning to a brand new adventure. I don't know why I'm saying I will miss it; I already do.
On the other hand, there are plenty of things I won't miss. I've mentioned some of the things here we take for granted, but really we just take our lifestyles for granted. When we think we have problems here, they're mostly minor things. The reality is that Indians, as well as most of the world, dream of coming to America, and for good reason. They just don't have the opportunity and chances there. Success for many in India is making it to tomorrow, which obviously is a very different mindset to have.
I've uploaded some of the pictures I've taken (I've uploaded less than 400 of my 2800+ photos), so please check them out:
India Part 1
Nepal
India Part 2
87 days of John
If anyone would like any tips for a trip of their own, please just ask, I feel like I have all this India and Nepal travel knowledge that will just go to waste if I don't share it.
Thank you for reading, I appreciate all the comments (on the blog and elsewhere), I hope you all enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed writing it (I enjoyed living it even more). So with that, this blog is officially finished.
Namaste!
-John
