The Shrine it Grows; My Seester, She Goes!

My sister, Pam, left today for Ghana. She's traveling with a long-time friend, Leslie. They are visiting her friend's partner who has a project in Ghana that involves rechargable batteries as a power source for villages who don't have any power. Interesting idea, don't you think? I leave for India in 11 more days and arrive the night before my 61st birthday. What a fantastic birthday - to awaken....in India and celebrate with my little sister. Ahhhhh, I've said it before and I'll say it again - LIFE IS GOOD ! Check the Travel Shrine closely and see if you can find all the new additions!

My Lil Elephant

This little elephant (painted by me ....and don't you laugh) is the newest addition to the travel shrine. Isn't he cute? We (Pam & I) are really looking forward to our elephant ride on our trip AND we hope she's a 'painted lady!'

Can you tell that I'm excited to get going? Look out India!!! Here we come!!

India Through the Eyes of Eric Meola

My Travel Shrine is growing. Last weeks additions was a fantastic book (another gift from Pam) on India with articles by many of my favorite Indian writers - Jlhumpa Lahiri (Interpreter of Maladies), Nirad Chaudhuri ( My Birth Place), and Arundhari Roy (God of Small things) just to mention a few. PLUS - and this the the BIG plus - amazing photographs by the world famous - Eric Meola. I've been studing his photographs and hope to try to do some in his style while in India. Of course that is a HUGE goal....maybe it's a more realistic one to hope to get ONE photo in the style and quality of Eric Meola out of the thousands I will be taking along our journey.

Reading for India

As always, before I embark on a trip I like to read several books - some fiction, some non-fiction, that help me begin to understand the country and culture I am about to enter. Here's a couple of recent reads that I highly recommend: Ganesh, the Remover of Obstacles by Sujoya Roy and Sister of My Heart by Chitra Divkaruni. Both are fiction but give real insight into the culture of India - especially the culture of women. An enlightening book of poetry is - Words Under the Words by Naomi S. Nye. (who is actually from Palestine not India)

Now I've begun a more serious read : National Geographic's History of Religion that starts with Hinduism, the world's oldest religion. It's big, heavy (literally and figuratively) and an awesome read. Report to follow.

Depok Choopra on Mayhem in Mambai

I received an email tonight from Rahul, our Tour operator in India. He was graciously letting us off the hook if we choose not to come to India now if our travel plans included Mumbai. But, our plans do not include Mumbai and, at this time, we don't plan to cancel. If there is more unrest in other parts of the country over the next month...well that is a different story. I would like to share bits of an interview of Deepok Chopa with Larry King. You can read the entire interview on www.cnn.com -

The situation is complex because it could inflame to proportions that we cannot even imagine. It has to be contained. We now recognize that this is a global problem, with only a global effort can solve this…..And you know, one of the things that I think is happening is that these militant terrorist groups are actually terrified that [President-elect Barack] Obama's gestures to the rest of the Muslim world may actually overturn the tables on them by alienating them from the rest of the Muslim world, so they're reacting to this…….And the world has to be very careful that they don't go after the wrong people. Because if you go after the wrong people, you convert moderates into extremists. It happens every time, and retribution against innocent people just because they have the same religion actually aggravates and perpetuates the problem……..Get rid of the phrase "war on terrorism." Ask for a creative solution in which we all participate………..It is because the war on terrorism really can never be won., because it's an oxymoron. It's an oxymoron - a war on war, a war on terrorism…….You know, terrorists call mechanized death from 35,000 feet above sea level with a press of a button also terror. We don't call it that, because our soldiers are wearing uniforms. They don't see what is happening, and innocent people are being killed. So, you know, terror is a term that you apply to the other…….This is a global problem

As always, Depok is a very enlightening man.

A Shrine and a Shout Out

A travel shrine is supposed to be an expression of my journey in all its many manifestations. It should show my restlessness, my excitement, my hesitation, my joy and my fears. Its primary purpose is to help me see and understand all the issues that surround this journey. What do I want to learn about India? What do I want to learn in India? What do I want to learn about myself in India? These are questions my Travel Shrine is suppose to help me to clarify.

Shrines stretch back into antiquity, perhaps to the beginning of time when that first cave man lugged a special rock into his cave and placed it on his hunting alter. Here is my Travel Shrine! I've ordered a figurine of Ganesh, the Remover of Obstacles, for it and hope to add trinkets of elephants and camels later....maybe a rickshaw and a few rupees.

Right now I just hope that Ganesh can remove the 'obstacle' of my shingles because it's been a true ordeal and now I have only 6 weeks to mend! So, I'm sending out what Sarah Palen calls a 'Shout Out!" Please send me your prayers, positive thoughts, healing energy,reiki, or any other words you might chose to describe.... IT.

Nothing Happens Unless First a Dream

I started with a piece of embroidered silk - deep purple with gold threads, next a lovely candle given to me by a friend, Linda. It's decorated with beads and melted glass. Then I surrounded the candle with pictures and books of India. I hope to add trinkets of elephants and camels later and may some rupees (money). This is my Travel Altar. It is to help me center and think about the things I hope to learn in India - about the country and about myself.

I'm following the suggestions in a little book, "The Way of the Traveler," by Joseph Dispenza. What a lovely way to begin a journey! I hope each of you will want to follow along with me and my little sister, Pam as we explore the Golden Triangle of India,then travel south to spend time on the beaches on India. It looks to be an adventure. I can feel it in my bones!

We'll begin two months from today - on my 61st birthday. This trip has been my sister's dream for some time. India was actually down on my 'Bucket List' at about 5th in line of the next places I thought I would explore. But, now I feel a sacred restlessness, like something is waiting for me in India. This trip was for my sister, but it has become my own dream. I can't wait to see how it will unfold and I hope that you will chose to join me.