Let's do it again

I am back on the road.I arrived in Turkey after a 17 hour plane trip. Phew and are my arms tired. teehee. I am on my way back to India to see the kids.

I actually started my travel a bit before. I flew out of Seattle. To break up the trip I stayed with my pal Therese at her families just over the boarder. I got up early in the am, drove to Therese's in Seattle, parked my car, caught a bus (dragging a HUGE bag full of uses clothes for the kids) to downtown and jumped on the subway to the airport. I think I covered every mode of transportation in only a few hours. Throughout my flight, I remembered one of the reasons I love traveling-- beautiful men. AND holy crap, There a some beautiful Germans. Those blonde chisled hunks were everywhere from 1st class, to ticket agents, to garbage men. I didn't chat any of them up. My seat mate was not that attractive or even male.

I arrived in Istanbul and had the familiar experience of being worked. I was told by Tia that I could grab a cab from the airport and it would be 60TL. As I headed to the door for the airport, a few men approached to "just talk". They wanted to "help" me find a hotel, taxi or anything else I could think of. Lady, lady just talk. My guard was up and I took a big breath. I got through that guantlet and was in my shuttle to the W Otel to meet up with Tia and James.

I arrived at the hotel after the craziest rush hour. We basically took an hour to move 5 km, but when I got here I was blown away. Tia and James are running one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen. I was greeted by tall gorgeous door men that lifted my bag with amazing ease. I then was helped by a lovely man that got me in touch with Tia.

My friend, Tia, walked up to me in a stunning black dress and the best red patent boots I have ever seen. She was full of smiles and the biggest hugs. She took me over to her apartment across the street and I was blown away by this gorgeous two story apt with an amazing and comfortable patio. It isn't sun tanning weather but is is lovely being outside.

I settled in, showered and was ready for dinner. What an amazing dinner. We walked along cobbled streets and came to a small section around surrounding a fishing market. The streets are thin and lined with tables. The food was delicious. I have never eaten fish that incredible. I love eating through a city.

I am going to get a going. I have a delicious breakfast waiting for me and I need to get to a palace today.

I will be back.

A

The End

I last left talking about my adventures out of India. I had a soft landing in London and spent 5 fabulous days with my friends Ali and Hamish McArthur. They were the hosts with the mosts. I ambled all over the city. I went on a double decker bus. I saw the Notting Hill market. We went to an outdoor theatre and saw The Importance of Being Earnest. I sat in a few pubs. I said hello to Elizabeth at her residence. I saw the latest show at the art museum. It was awesome to be there. I was struck by the history of place. It is amazing to think how old the buildings are.
However, compared to Delhi, it was a little newer, so clean and very quiet. I have come to realize that it is all about perspective.
I climbed on to the tube and was out of England and back home. I stepped on the place to big greetings from both of my parents. My mom then took me about for a few errands (get my car insured) and then dinner at my aunts. It is so good to see everyone.
The next morning, I continued to do some errands and attended a few appointments. I ended the day at my friends, Michael and Michelle's, place where I greeted them and then promptly took a nap. Bright the next morning we were off for the 8:30am ferry. We were off to Soundwave to hear fabulous music and just be in beautiful BC at Mussel beach. We were at a 4 day music festival about 20kms south of Tofino along the coast. We got there and set up an epic camp and shared the experience with an excellent group of friends. I was enveloped in more love and good times. Michael, Michelle and I were then invited to stay Monday night in Tofino. I fell a little bit in love with the town. It is very special.
I finally got to my own home on Tuesday night. I let myself in at about 9pm. The place was spotless and my bed was made. Andrea did an amazing job. She has moved into an apartment in Kerrisdale. I am going to get the details when she comes over tonight.
Andrea did an incredible job on my balcony. It surpasses any expectations. It is stunning. You will all have to come over and see it.
The only complaint I had at this time, was the slight twinge in my back. It was seizing up a bit. I decided to ignore it because I still needed to move my stuff from my mom's to my place. I also wanted to enjoy this week and then pick up some shifts next week. It was a great plan.
I have had to take my plans down a notch. I have had my back massaged and have been doing a ton of stretching. I can feel some improvement, but I am definitely moving at a slower pace at the moment.
Being home has been interesting. I am happy to be home. I am thrilled to be able to play in this weather. It is Vancouver at its best. I am also missing the kids a ton. I think about when I can get back there. I am also thinking about what I want to do for work now that I am home. Also, where I want to be doing this work. There are a lot of options. I do know that I am craving a dog and a yard and how that will work will be very interesting.
This is most likely my last entry, at least for awhile. I want to thank everyone for all the support and love. There has been a ton of it.
See you all soon
Welcome to Iris and Kaz. They are two new ones that were born since I was gone. I was able to visit with Iris today and have fallen madly in love with her. I can't wait to meet Kaz in a few weeks. xo

photos

I am uploading pictures on to my Flickr account. The link on the side of the page should still work. Fingers crossed.

London Time

I made it to London. It was an epic travel. No hitches, just long. It is July 3rd at 6 am and I am up while everyone else is asleep here at Ali's. This part of the journey start on July 1st 4am at the Ashram. I got up that early so that I could catch a 5am lift to the train station on the school bus. I was up and ready and all packed. The ashram was silent as I waited outside. I was able to give Jai one last pat and clean up the poop he left (we believe he is the nightly offender) in front of the office. Pritam- bi was right on time. I jumped into the rambling school bus and said my silent good-byes to the ashram. At the same time, I looked a head to what was in store.
I had a 6:20 shotabi train to Delhi. I met new Indian friends in the station and also a new Dutch friend. I met another westerner and had a great chat. The train was basically on time and I was now really on my way out of India. It is interesting as I leave because I am just backtracking my entrance. This is the same type of train that got me there and I pass all the same places. I am settle into my seat. Half of the car's seats are facing one way and the other half are the other way. I have the middle seat, so I am staring at the man in front of me. He and his wife are fascinating to watch. I love their facial features. He is middle aged with beautiful skin and a tiny face and these awesome 50s-looking glasses. He gets very annoyed as he tries to sleep and just as he nods off, his wife asks him something. One of those fun marital games.
I get to Delhi and walk across the car jammed street to the Par Ganj. This area is a market place, full of budget hotels and Westerners. It is gross, but it is cheap and the location is central. I am not even going to stay a whole night, so I figure I will go upscale cheap. Instead of paying $5 for a room, I spent $13. For that extra money, I got a pretty clean place, with a great restaurant, attentive staff and an a/c that almost works. It was fine. I dropped my stuff, watched a little bit of Transformers on HBO and then headed out. I had a few things to pick up at the market and then it was time for my massage. YEAH.
I set out to walk to my errands. There is something reassuring about coming back to a place you know. It is easy. I knew what things cost and where I was heading to. I wasn't on a whim of a taxi driver. I was also a little tired and feeling very flexible (that was a word the kids learned during camp and they loved to bring it up ALL THE TIME). I was just unfazed by the chaos. I had particular missions and otherwise had no worries. I got to Connaught Place and had an ice coffee and a sandwich. Why would I write about that? It seems so inconsequential. Because I have been dreaming of a sandwich. They are something that is just not possible without much effort at the ashram, but this was a deli and it was so much fun to order. I gulped that down, did a little shopping, and headed for my massage at the fancy hotel, Metropolitan. It was awesome. It was relaxing and so clean. I got there and was directed to the steam room. Did I need to sweat more? No, but this was different. I was planning to stay for awhile, but it was just a bit too warm. I then was shown to the shower. That was my favourite. There was water pressure from a HUGE shower head. I could have stayed there all day. I was then massaged and scrubbed. I was relaxed and clean. It was awesome. After 2 hours I was placed back on the street and decided to walk back to my hotel. It is about 5pm now.
A strange part of the walk was an older Indian man, being chauffeured insisted that we had met before and that I should get in his car. I politely declined while shaking his diamond encrusted hand and kept heading to my cheap, and all mine, hotel.
I took myself out for dinner and then headed to my room. It was only about 7pm, but I got into my PJ's and watched a few movies. My flight the next morning was at 5am. I needed to leave the hotel at 1:30am, thus I had a 1am wake up call. I figured I would relax in the hotel room and have a little nap before I left.
The hotel people called hourly. They kept checking if I wanted any room service. They were either annoying, or very attentive, or a bit of both. At 11, I shut my eyes. At 12:45 on July 2nd, my room phone rang to ask when exactly did I order my wake up call, 1 or 1:30. I figured I was already awake, so I got up and got started. At 1am, I had a knock at my door and a phone call to make sure I was awake. It was a very Indian experience.
I got up and dressed and headed to the lobby. The cab was there and I was whisked off. The airport was uneventful. When I was in my seat on the plane, I did note that it was interesting how 24 hours earlier at that time, (5am) I was getting on the school bus at the ashram. With each km there was a physical and a time distance growing. There was also me mentally getting farther away. I would think about the ashram and have a smile for the amazing adventure I just had and a tear about the people and dogs I have left behind.
After 2 flights, and many movies and TV watching with little sleeping occuring, I arrived in London at 1:30pm (about 9:30 Delhi time). I was given excellent instructions and took the tube to Ali's.
It is amazing the people you meet when traveling. When I was buying my ticket for the trains, I asked the guy behind the counter about how much the phone would be. I wanted to call Ali so she knew I was in her country and almost there. As I asked him, with my printed out email of directions in front of me, he dialed his cell phone and handed it to me. It is a small inconvenience for him and I am sure the people in the cue behind me wanted to have their turn. But that kindness of a phone call was so generous for me. ahhhhh
I got to Ali's home and was received with the biggest hug. I should have gone and showered and napped, but I was excited. I pulled out her present and started to tell her tales. I subjected her to photos. I got on line and skyped with family and sent out some emails. It is amazing to be here. I am so happy that my adventures are still continuing. I am also excited about flushing toilet paper down the loo again. Walking on sidewalks that are clean. Actually that there are sidewalks is amazing and that there is little garbage there and no one urinating. I totally noticed the absence of ammonia in the air.
Ali treated me to a gorgeous homemade dinner, let me ensconce her computer, availed her bathroom to me and let me crash into bed without cleaning up after dinner. I was spoiled.
I am feeling at peace. I feel in the right place, no worries, no hurries, keep everything simple. My thoughts can start to whirl about the future and plans, but I grab on to them and pull them in. I am here in London and this is good. I then am home and off to Vancouver and that is good. I then will settle back into my life and it is all good. I have some great plans for the summer and there is no rush. That is good. We will see.

I will work on some photos and put them up.

See you all soon
Ashley
xo

Wow it is here

It is my final day here. I can't believe it. I feels like I was just leaving Vancouver. 4 months is not that long, but it is a decent amount of time. I am going to hang with the kids all day. I have settled up everything else. I am packed. I am booked for what I need in Delhi. I have made my plans with Ali about arriving and all of that. I will have skyping abilities when I am in London (thank you Ali). I can't believe I am here already. I feel the shift.

the rains

4 am this morning it went quiet. The dogs were not barking, the power was out so my fan was off and I heard silence. As I was listening to it, I could hear the rain start. It was so soft. It was so awesome. There was a sigh of relief from the earth. The generator started shortly after and I got up to turn off my fan so I could continue to listen to the rain. There is that great smell of a hot earth (yesterday it was in the mid 40s) being cool. Everything has lost it's edge. It is still sweaty and I am not sure how I am going to dry my clothes before I go. Those are details to be worried about later

Just putting it out there

As I am thinking about getting home, I just want to put it out there that I will be in the market for a new laptop/computer. If anyone has a spare or selling one... I just thought I would throw it out there.