September 30th, 2008

12:30 p.m. Nepal time

On the road again… I really hate getting on the road again. If only it was guaranteed 100% stress free and then I’d be cool. Took only about 45 minutes to get to my gate. Very good time considering.

You arrive. Because I’m a foreigner a porter immediately nabbed me. I can’t complain as he lugged around my huge bags.

Then 2 other porters nabbed me. I paid the first one. These 2 porters whisked me through the first security check. They then paid my exit tax while in the process of stealing $10 U.S. from me. That’s about 750 rupees which is enough to feed you for a week here. They then took me to my ticket counter.

I checked my baggage. Woot! So far no problems with my mongoid bag.

I then am told to go upstairs by my 2 porters who then asked for a tip. Oh well. We are talking about change, pocket change.

I head upstairs and fill out my departure form. Customs was very easy.

Then more security. I got lucky being born a woman as that line was 1/10th the length of the men’s’ line. My bags are x-rayed again. My bags are searched. Standard procedure here. Everyone’s bags are checked. And now I’m waiting. My boarding ticket says I get to board at 2:10 p.m. and its 12:40 p.m. here.

Back to nicotine gum for me. I have kind of let the subject drop, but after a couple of days here I started smoking again. Then after a couple of days later I decided I am quitting, for sure, but it’s my way. My ways isn’t cold turkey either.

So I’ve been smoking 2-4 times a day. A serious reduction. But now I am back to not smoking for 2 days and back to the gum. Yippee! Not!

I was almost able to leave the monastery without tears. Almost. Lama-la had already given me a huge blessing this morning.

Then it was time to leave. He brought out the fancy kata and blessed me again. This kata is for like Rinpoches and what not. I almost cried.

We headed downstairs. The big monks were in puja and the little monks were in their Tibetan class upstairs in the classroom.

I stood in front of the gompa doors and waved goodbye to the big monks. I’m ok, I’m not going to cry… Then Kunzang jumped up. They all stopped puja and they each ran and grabbed a kata, placed it around my neck, and shook my hand. I started blubbering after the 2nd or 3rd blessing. Dechen asked me if I want to say goodbye to the little monks and I said no. No way could I do that!

All last night the little monks were telling me they were angry and sad I was leaving.

I hugged the ‘other’ Dechen and Ani goodbye. They were a bit uncomfortable with it, but giggled all the same.

Dechen took me to the airport and we were both pretty quiet on the drive.

It is not good bye, it is just see you soon. Tim and I will go back after Lama-la returns from his next visit.

Well, that’s enough for now. My hand is tired from writing. I will read or say mantras for an hour, till boarding time.

September 30th, 2008 3:04 p.m. Nepal time

Flight has been delayed, but I am onboard now. Only 2/3rds full so I have all 3 seats on my side of the plane to myself. Boarding required my 3rd body search (standard) and I don’t know how many baggage checks I’ve had so far.

Food was not a highly planned priority for me today, obviously. I ate a croissant for breakfast. I don’t have a scheduled meal again until sometime after 2 a.m. Ooopsie!

Sometime before I leave Delhi I hope to get in a phone call to Tim. It will be day time for basically the whole time I am flying. Except for now, I hope he isn’t awake at 2:25 a.m.

3:11 p.m. We are pushing back.

3:37 p.m. Take off. I didn’t cry. I didn’t cry when I saw the Hyatt. (The gompa is right next to the Hyatt.) I didn’t cry when I saw Boudha Stupa. I did however almost cry when they said they only accept Indian rupees! On this flight when they say they serve snacks, they mean they serve food to order… not as in free with flight food.

Getting very hungry!

One very positive thing in having a delayed flight, less time in Delhi! Woo hoo! Very big woo hoo!

I have some fruit chews I purchased to hand out to kids. That gets to be my lunch. Hopefully my one and only granola bar isn’t my dinner!

6:10 p.m. Nepal time

Well, I’m in Delhi. I’m in my holding cell for 8 more hours. I’m starving but I don’t want to fritter away my money.

I found a place I can smoke. It is $10 an hour to use. But I went up with a man from Northern Ireland and a man from France. I paid for the French man. And the Irish man was able to bargain for us to pay once for our entire time here considering we won’t be drinking.

India is expensive as 100 rupees equals a little more than $2. There is a sandwich shop here with 400 rupee sandwiches. Just plain potato and pea sandwiches. But I am here without a whole lot of options. I think it is 15 minutes earlier here, but I’m not sure.

Not expensive. Just not Nepal. Dechen, Anna, and I went out to lunch yesterday. Oy vey! Already feels like a week ago. Anyway, for 2 huge plates of chow mein, 10 momos, and 4 sodas it was like 230 rupees or around $3 U.S.

They’ve been remodeling this airport. They have done so much in a month. There are now reclining chairs in here. Of course they are all taken. I wish I could score one! Doubt it since they are full with people taking my flight.

I guess there is wireless internet here, but it is about $8 an hour. Ouch!

No interesting characters yet, course it would take quite a lot for me to interesting now. Hehehe.

9:02 p.m. India time

I finally confirmed that it is 15 minutes earlier here.

I also found a half of a chicken sandwich for about $3. I decided to get another one after a couple hours. Part way through that sandwich I realized that might have been a poor decision. Mayo, chicken, stored in an unrefrigerated counter for hours, maybe even days.

I just went up to smoke again. I met a lovely pair of ladies from Holland. They are leaving India after a week and a half. They’ve had a horrible time. They were met with hostility and very corrupt police officers.

So I decided to figure out my flights in U.S. times. I will try to call Tim in a couple of hours as I learned that this will be my only chance to contact him while I am travelling. I will be in London while he is sleeping.

Some day I will be home. Some day. 5 more hours till my flight. I would like a shower and my bed. I was able to get on track very easily going to Nepal. Coming home might be a bit more difficult, especially with my available sleeping times.

Here I am complaining… sorry! In about 30-31 hours I will have my family in my arms again. It is going to be frantic!

I would like to shower first thing. Then unpack while talking and kissing and hugging my babies. I want to show them all the photos, videos, and tell them all the stories.

But I may end up pinned to the couch. Hehehe.

You all read my upcoming schedule from Tim. I have to hit the ground running when I get home.

How blessed is my life? I have such a wonderful family, great friends, and an amazing life!

I am so blessed to get to do the many things I do and I am so blessed to have my friends join me!

9:30 p.m. India time

I just witnessed an American becoming irate over his flight arrangements. Yelling and cursing. It has brought me to the brink of tears!

How many times have I done that? He didn’t make me feel embarrassed to be an American. I felt embarrassed to be me. So many times I have yelled and screamed in anger. Instead of seeing the great blessing of being fortunate to travel. The great blessing of being a mother. To be a friend.

I am going to yell again. Because I will forget, at least momentarily, my blessings.