SOL LUCET OMNIBUS

I see how it is, beloved friends and family. Nah, its cool though. Just because I occasionally read your blogs and comment on your facebook statuses does not mean that I expect the same from you. I know you’re all very, very busy. And me? I’m super busy (like probably way busier than you are) but I totally understand.

Besides, this bloggy thing is for me. I prefer not to get a lot of traffic- because more often than not, I find myself incredibly embarrassed the next day when I read over what I’ve written. Like a blog hangover, if you will…except fortunately, I can undo the damage before it GOES TO PRESS! with a few clickety clacks on the old keyboard.

For the record, I do happen to have 4 followers. Who cares if they come stock with a new Tumblr account? Basically, I’m the girl with just the one friend on Myspace ( you all remember Tom, I presume?).

I can’t blame you, though. I do have a bad track record with blogs. There’s something like 18 abandoned blogs out there floating in cyberspace. This is the first blog I’ve ever created that I actually wrote something on.

Welp, that’s all. Just wanted to throw that out there.

(Source: drop50, via ohshitgetfit)

ohshitgetfit:

No nbd

(Source: y-en)

 Well, because, I have no clue what the future holds for me but I know it’s gonna be amazing.

  It’s like God is up there planning this huge surprise party that has nothing to do with birthdays or milestones or what your best friend is doing. Nope. Each party is unique and specifically designed for your life to unfold in the time, place and order that is just right for you. You don’t get to make the guest list and the gifts may be everything you’ve ever wanted or maybe all the things you thought you never wanted, but either way, it is perfect and it is exactly as it was meant to be.

  With that in mind, I find peace in all the things I’ve yet to experience because they’ll happen when I’m good and ready. I feel no need to stress about all the things I haven’t crossed off on my list of things to accomplish in life. Instead, I am thrilled and thankful to be exactly where I am today. Change is inevitable and once it happens, there is no going back. While I look forward to what’s ahead, I’m mostly just reveling in the right now because it is precious and fleeting and most importantly, it’s shaping me into the person I am supposed to be.

  So, my darlings, let’s sit back and enjoy the scenery along the way to this unknown destination. Don’t worry about the estimated time of arrival or where we might stop along the way, it’s out of our hands. Instead, why don’t ya come help me think of more cheesy metaphors to describe the journey of life? ;)

I’ve had a topic mulling around in my head for the last few weeks-what twenty six looks like. It’s certainly different than I imagined it would be. These last 6 years have been such a whirlwind of new experiences. Some good, some not so good- but all worthwhile. As I’m nearing the portion of my twenties that will hopefully be a little less tumultuous, I want to reflect back on everything that’s led up to this point. In writing this, I’ve rediscovered all these old memories and feelings that I’d kind of just swept under the rug, but now I realize how important they were. Those are the experiences that changed me and helped me grow even if I didn’t know it was happening at the time.

So,I want to go a little further back to when I was 18. This is the first time I’ve ever really allowed myself to go here and I’m realizing now that a twinge of sadness is still there. My freshman year of college was really tough and full of heartache. I’d spent all those years in high school dreaming of playing basketball in college and there I was with the opportunity, and suddenly I no longer wanted it. I really don’t know what caused this sudden change, but I felt shocked and lost in this realization. I was so scared to tell my dad because I knew I was going to break his heart. He had dedicated so much of himself to helping me make my dreams come true and providing me with the opportunities he never had. To some, it may seem silly that there would be so much emotion involved in a sport. It isn’t as if I was some prodigy who would just naturally go on to play professionally. I knew the most I could realistically hope for was to play at a small college. But that was just it, what made it so dear to me- I worked really hard for it. I was terrible(and I mean really terrible) when I first started playing but I loved it anyway. I spent summers training with my Dad and going to camps while my friends were at the swimming pool because I wanted to get better more than anything. My dad helped me set goals and when I achieved them- there was a fun reward waiting for me, usually a t shirt I’d picked out. We even had a secret handshake, my dad and I. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work, but we were in it together. He believed in me so much and in turn, I believed in myself.

The other part of it was that it provided an escape from the pain my family was going through at that time. I won’t get into that too much right now, but my parents were consumed with grief and worry. I didn’t like being at home anymore because it was too quiet, too somber. The only time I really saw my parents, especially my Dad, come out of this shell was when I had a basketball game. So just briefly, it would feel like everything was okay again.

I always thought it was basketball that I wanted to hang onto when I got to college, but I realize now that it wasn’t. As much as I loved to play, it was my relationship with my Dad that I wanted to hang onto. That first practice I went to felt so different, he wasn’t in the stands and he wasn’t there to give me his feedback after. It left me feeling homesick and detached. As far as the rest of my college experience went, I pretty much blew it. I couldn’t pick a major because I had no clue what I was good at or what I was interested in. If I didn’t enjoy a class, I just didn’t go. Needless to say, I dropped out after my first year.

I try not to hold onto regret because I think things happen when we are ready for them to happen. I try to imagine what path I’d be on now if I’d stuck with basketball and finished school, but it doesn’t matter. My relationship with my Dad would’ve changed regardless because that’s what time does, it changes things. Holding onto memories becomes more important once you realize that. I sometimes catch my sentimental Dad watching old game tapes and I know that era in his life was as defining for him as it was for me.

See, Shannon, I told you there would be a second edition. So there, missy.

So my first post about India was mostly just a recap of Bombay and how I almost hightailed it back to the States after seeing my hotel room. Over the last two weeks, as I’ve been catching up with friends and family, I hear myself telling about my trip and somehow it comes across as way less interesting and exciting than it actually was. I don’t know what it is about me and storytelling, but I feel like I never truly deliver. So, maybe just sitting down and writing it out will give me a chance to really give my experience in India the oomph it deserves.

Now, where was I… Right, so after Mumbai my plan was to head to Kochi, Kerala. I learned a very important lesson right off the bat here. I came to India without prebooking any flights and I intended to use my airline benefits to fly stand by on some of the Indian airlines. The only problem with that is that there were no ticket counters at the airport. They won’t even let you inside the airport without a ticket. So, instead of the $40 flight I thought I’d be able to get, I paid $180 for a regular fare ticket. That’s still not terrible but more than I’d planned on spending.

Fort Kochi is a really quaint little tourist friendly town.  I could not have asked for a sweeter retreat from the chaos that is Mumbai. I booked a room at Tag Und Nacht which was within walking distance of the markets, restaurants, and Cherai Beach. I was only there for a few days but it’s one of those places that you just feel at home right away. One thing I really appreciated about the guest house was that it only had about 4 or so rooms and that gave me a chance to get to know the other travelers staying there. Something else I found to be really unique about Kochi was that it is a model city for people of all different religions living and working in a peaceful coexistence.

From Kochi, I took a bus about an hour and a half south to Alleppey. It was packed to the brim and hot, but cheap! My plan was to make my way down the coast and Alleppey was on the way so I decided to spend a night there. I booked a room off the same website that I’d booked my stay in Kochi on. When the bus first pulled into town, I felt a little anxiety set in. I was expecting another charming tourist hub, but I didn’t see a single other tourist there. Basically, it appeared to be the Indian version of a working class suburb. Now to be fair, I didn’t really even give it a chance. I was ready to go as soon as I got there. Had I stayed a little longer and had a more open mind, I would’ve probably had a great time. But anyway upon arriving at the bus station, I met a guy, Robin,who worked at the homestay I was going to. I’m still not sure how that worked out because I wasn’t expecting anyone to pick me up and I don’t know how he knew who I was or where I was going but I just went with it. I was slightly shocked to find that the room wasn’t really in a guest house, but in the actual house that the family lives in. The grandmother was there at the time but the rest of the family was out so Robin took me to find an internet cafe. He seemed to sense my anxiety about being there and told me to “think positive thoughts”, which was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. I just had to let go of my expectations and look at it as an opportunity to have a once in a lifetime experience. How many people can say that they were welcomed into an Indian home and treated with utmost kindness? The family consisted of a grandmother, father, mother and a daughter who was home from college for the weekend. We watched an Indian soap opera and I showed them pictures of my family and friends. They were adamant that I bring my mom and boyfriend back to visit sometime. It was a short visit, but I had a great time and was really glad that things worked out the way they did.

The next morning, I boarded a train to Varkala where I planned to stay a couple days and find some yoga classes and get some quality beach time. At the train station, I befriended an interesting woman named Kate who shared her snacks and some great stories with me. We talked throughout the entire 4 hour train ride and discovered that neither of us really had made any plans for Varkala. Luckily, she had been there before and offered to help me find my way. We went to a restaurant and hotel where she knew a manager and were able to get rooms. I was awestruck by the oceanfront view from the rooftop restaurant and knew right away that I was going to love this place. We decided to get some food before heading out to explore.  We ended up meeting another traveler, Whitney, who happened to be sitting at a table next to ours and we invited her to join us. We clicked right away and made plans to go to a yoga class that afternoon.

We all went out for dinner later that night and I was just amazed at how easily I’d made two new friends. Kate had to leave the next morning, but Whitney was going to be around for a few days so we made plans to share a room. Then, I discovered after being there a couple days, that there was something different about Varkala that made me want to finish out my trip there. Not only is it stunningly beautiful and ridiculously cheap, but it also has a small town feel. We kept running into other people we’d met on the beach at a yoga class or out at dinner.  We found a clean, airy room with a front porch and hammock for less than $10 a night. I found an amazing yoga teacher and in less than a week, I could feel my practice improving. Another little perk was that our afternoon classes were held on the open air rooftop of our guesthouse!  I brought several books with me on the trip because I was expecting to have a lot of down time. I barely even opened my book while I was there because I was too busy taking everything in. It was really good for my spirit to be pulled out of my own world, my own mind, and just enjoy being where I was.

That’s exactly what I hoped would come out of my trip. I felt so carefree and lighthearted, especially in that last week. In my everyday life, I tie myself down to routine and needing to have control. I get so set in my ways that I stop being open to new experiences and I tend to keep people at a distance. This trip kind of forced me to let go of that and it had an incredibly positive effect on me.

The last thought I want to add is that two and a half weeks is not nearly enough time for India. I didn’t even attempt to see the northern region and I still barely covered any distance.  I came with this list of things to see and do, but realized right away that there was no way that was realistic. I did maybe two things on that list. If I had rushed around trying to do it all- I think I would’ve missed out on so much.

Since I’ve been home, I’ve hit a bit of a post vacation lull. I probably played it a little too safe making sure I got back in time to let myself readjust because I feel like I’ve been sitting around my house for a month. So to give me something to look forward to, I’ve already started planning my next trip back- obsessed, I know.

That’s all for now. I still feel like I’ve left some stuff out but my brain is going to mush from sitting in front of a computer for so long. Maybe I’ll just do a follow up post later.

Let me just start by saying, I almost came home after my first night in India. After traveling for 24 hours and arriving in Mumbai at 1:50 AM, I was hoping and praying that my hotel had arranged the shuttle that I requested. Not surprisingly there was no one there to pick me up, but fortunately there were loads of people just standing around waiting to help a distressed tourist. That sounds a bit sketchy, I know, but I never felt threatened.. This was the case through my entire stay in India, there is always someone available for whatever you might need but  “at a very special price, just for you, ma’am”.

I eventually made it to the hotel and culture shock set in at first glance. There were tarps covering parts of the roof, sheets drying out of windows, trash everywhere. It wasn’t really that bad though, in retrospect.

But at the time, I had nothing to compare it to. So anyway, I had a little mini anxiety attack that night and again the next day when I woke up. I began frantically searching flights back home but in the back of my mind, I kind of knew I’d stay. I just needed to know that I could get home if I needed to.  I decided to find a new hotel once I realized that I was an hour outside of the city and there was pretty much nothing around. I found a hotel that was almost 3 times my nightly budget but I decided it was worth it.  I thought I’d maybe stay for 3 or 4 days and then go back home.  After all the hype about this trip, I was really disappointed in myself for not wanting to stick it out. I talked to my mom and Saad about it and they were really supportive.

But on the third day, I somehow managed to actually enjoy myself. I went sightseeing, drank the most delicious chai I’ve ever had and browsed the bazaars. I saw wild monkeys, rode in a rickshaw and haggled with some shopkeepers. I got blessed by a holy man and had a long, strange conversation with a lady who turned out to be crazy. It was all new and surreal and I decided I wanted more of it. With each day that passed, the panic subsided a little more and I stopped feeling overwhelmed and started feeling inspired and excited to be there.

So, this first post mostly pertains to my stay in Bombay, I’ll follow up with the rest of the trip but I’m still trying to process my experience. Bombay was incredible, but not somewhere you want to stay more than a day or two. It is really expensive and busy busy busy. I visited Elephanta Caves and that was really interesting. On the ferry ride back, I had an incredible view of the sun setting over Mumbai and I felt really thankful to be there in that moment.

Here are a few pictures from Mumbai… More to come soon

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Gateway to India

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

Lady who wanted her picture taken, it wasn’t until later that I noticed all the people posing in the background.

Elephanta Caves

Yatra is “journey” in Hindi.  I thought this was an appropriate blog title as I’ve been planning my first big trip to India. I’ve never gone out of the country, really. Toronto, once, but does Canada really even count? I touched down in the Bahamas and Mexico but that definitely doesn’t count because I didn’t even get off the plane.

And also, there was the first failed attempt at my trip (less than a week ago) where I spent the night in Amsterdam. I was far too distraught and jet lagged to get out and explore the city. Here’s what had happened..

I made it on the first leg of the trip from Atlanta to Amsterdam. We were five hours delayed leaving due to maintenance but the gate agent assured me I wouldn’t miss my connection to Mumbai because that flight left on the same aircraft we were coming in on. So, I was feeling quite fancy in my first class seat as they passed out champagne and menus for our in-flight meal, complete with appetizers and dessert. 

We landed in Amsterdam 3 hours past our scheduled time of arrival, but I still wasn’t too concerned. Then, I saw a KLM customer service agent holding up a big sign for BOMBAY. She informed us that the flight left out on another aircraft and we’d all be rebooked for the next day. However, being an employee flying standby, you don’t get rebooked…nor do you get hotel and food vouchers. You’re pretty much on your own. This basically meant that I was stuck. I usually have no trouble in the States when I don’t make it on a flight, I can always come up with another route. But not having internet access, I was completely in a bind.

So, I found a hotel for the night which cost almost a week’s budget for India. Then I went to see about getting my checked baggage. I waited for 5 HOURS before they finally figured out my luggage had never left Atlanta. Note to self: never, ever check bags again when traveling internationally. At this point, I was in tears and ready to call the whole thing off. Although I know better, for some reason I didn’t really bring anything in my carry on bag. I guess I was just feeling confident that things were going to go smoothly. I won’t make that mistake again.  So, all I had was the dress I was wearing and a light sweater, my contact lens solution and a toothbrush.

I made the decision not to go on to Mumbai without knowing for sure where my bags were and that they would make it to me right away. There was no way I was going to India without the bit of comfort I could pack in my suitcase. That’s also the beauty of airline employee travel, you don’t pay for the flight, except for taxes. So I got on the first flight to Detroit the next morning, then made a connection to Atlanta. All in all, I traveled for 24 hours and was on the ground for about 14.  I filed my lost baggage claim and am hoping that it shows up in Atlanta today.

If it does, I’m actually going to give this thing another whirl. I’ve been planning this trip to India in my mind for about a year and preparing for the last two months. I’ve spent hours upon hours researching and reading. I carefully picked out every item I’d need for the trip and saved every spare dollar I had. So, I’m going..gosh darnit.

This time, though, I will not be checking my bag. Lesson learned the hard way.

Alright, ladies.. I know many, if not all, of you can relate. I found myself at the fancy makeup and perfume store at the airport. With 8 hours to kill, what else is a girl to do? So, I casually saunter in as if I’ve got some serious shopping to do. I begin sampling every eyeshadow and lipgloss in the store. I have headphones in to deter those pesky saleswomen, but that does not work at all. It just makes for an awkward encounter. So I take them out and tell her I’m just browsing. Fast forward 3 minutes, I’m approached by another lady. I decide to waste her time a little and indulge that I’m looking for the perfect mascara. She doesn’t need to know that I’m looking for the perfect mascara to sample, not to buy. So, I let her help me and then stand over me as I give it a whirl.
“Shall I take that to the counter for you, ma’am?”
… No, no you shouldn’t. It’s not quuuuuite what I had in mind, I’ll just keep looking.
This general scenario plays out for about 10 minutes before I lose my patience and begin looking a bit clownish. I tuck my guilty little tail between my legs and see myself out. Now, time to camp out at the bookstore and read all the magazines.
As I walk there, I catch a glimpse of my expensive looking face in the mirror and suddenly have a little extra bounce in my step.
Oh c’mon. Everybody does it.

I want it!!