Coments

I read all coments, however can't write back as i'm limited to 15 minutes of internet access on occasion :).

Changed my flight.. now will be staying in NEW DELHI overnight.. random stop due to flight issues..

Fun times..

When you travel, especially in random 3rd world countries, flexibility is key.
I've packed way too much..and haven't had time to film much..

Hopefully this too shall change.

Yes, I saw my family (sans brother who I'll be seeing when I get back)... all are well..and I am a smiling idiot since i'm so happy to be out of the south and back in my homestate of California. California is California...and there is no place like it!!!

Okay, back to Indian weather.
Drinking lots...
Sending good thoughts all of your ways... hope all doctors appts, and things are going well!!!

XOXO--Krupali

Visa Issues

Am in India, just was contacted by my Nepaleese travel agent that China has changed it's visa regulations and now am in A TOTAL BIND..

Send good thoughts..
Have to get to Kathmandu a day earlier...

Try changing a flight in India..
Yeah.
Good luck.
May the force be with me.
That and a lot of water to keep hydrated.

It's hot..
Hot..
You don't know what a cold glass of water is here.. it's like a treasured commodity..
Drink water for me.
Please.

Hi From India..

Where it is HOT HOT HOT!!
I am in the south.. and literally sweating buckets daily..

I'm attending a youth conference in Puttaparthi, India with 8000 people from all over the world. People are fainting like flies.. trying to keep up the hydration. I haven't had the chance to take pictures/upload them as of yet....

Hope you are all doing well.. will be here for a few more days.. then off to Kathmandu!

In Bangkok--Transit

The 17 Hour flight was surivived. Slept 13 hours of it, thanks to 50mg of Bendadryl, and luckily the flight wasn't full!

Arrived in Bangkok at 9am, and by 10am, was on a Taxi to see the temples in the city....came back around 3pm, and bought a 10 dollar shower at the airport... kinda using their internet for free so keeping this short!

Ate 1 kilo of mangosteens, my most favorite fruit ever...they don't have them in America... and the canned ones DO NOT count.

Be well... Bangalore,India flight in 2 hours.
:)

My Itinerary

I leave tonight on my trek (or part one of my journey). Part two is later on this summer to South America. This leg of my journey includes: India, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. Bhutan has always fascinated me... do you know, instead of the GNP/GDP, they have a Gross National Happiness factor and are known as the happiest nation in the world? Yes, I too was flabbergasted, and want a piece of this happy factor. Tibet and Nepal have always captured my mind as well...and Thailand, is you know... Thailand! (actually in all honesty, I am flying via Thai Airlines, and hence told my agent, keep me in Thailand for 4 days, since right now, for the first time in MY LIFE, i'm not on a time crunch...and also, it's a free layover.. might as well see more of the world as I can, right?). I am planning to take cooking classes there and learn how to make the delicious curries. I'm going to India to go attend a world youth conference and see a lot of old friends and to say 'Thank you' to God for helping me get through residency. This part of my journey is pretty introspective to say the least... a lot of soul searching and deep thoughts...

I fly from LAX to Bangkok on a 17 hour flight. Yes, seventeen hours! I just hope, I can sleep, watch plenty of movies and catch up on PLEASURE reading...

I will be in Bangkok on a 15 hour layover before my flight to Bangalore, India. I plan to roam around Bangkok and see some of the sights, get a massage, and eat a good meal before going back to the airport.

I'll be arriving into India 9:30pm July 24, and will stay in a hotel near the airport and leave for my final destination at 4am, to arrive their by 8am in the morning. Will then stay for a week, and leave for Kathmandu on August 1st. My itinerary after August 1st, is the following (so you may follow along!)

Aug 01 Arrival, Hotel Vaishali Transfer, Sight seeing at Kathmandu Durbar square and Living Goddess Kumari's house
Aug 02 Sight seeing in Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath, Swoyambhunath, and Patan Durbar Square;
Aug 03 Airport transfer and fly to Lhasa (3650 m), hotel Dhood Gu (or similar) transfer, and rest whole day for acclimatization.
Aug 04/5 Sight seeing at Potala palace, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, the Norbulinka Palace, Jokhang temple Barkhor Market, etc.
Aug 06 Drive to Ganden Monastery for sight seeing and back
Aug 07 Airport transfer and fly to Kathmandu;
Aug 08 Drive to Chitwan, Hotel Rhino Lodge transfer, Lunch upon arrival; Village Tour and Sunset view from beach Rapti river; Dinner
Aug 09 Jungle walk after early morning Tea/Coffee. After breakfast: Canoeing and Trip to Elephant breeding center; After lunch, Elephant ride Evening: Cultural program and Dinner around the camp firing.
Aug 10 Bird Watching (or extra elephant ride at extra cost) after early morning tea/coffee.8.00 AM: Breakfast 9.00 AM: drive to Pokhara, Hotel Fewa Prince transfer, Leisure walk along Fewa lake and boating
Aug 11 Sight seeing at Vindyavashini Temple, Sheti Gorge, Mahendra cave, Davi's fall, etc., and stay
Aug 12 Drive to Kurintar, cable car ride to Mankamana Temple and back, Kathmandu and stay
Aug 13 Airport transfer and fly to Paro and then drive to Thimpu and stay
Aug 14 Full day sight seeing at Memorial Chorten, National Library, Tashichho Dzong, Simtokha Dzong, Handicrafts Emporium, etc.
Aug 15 Drive to Paro, hotel transfer, and sight seeing at Drukgyel Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang, National Museum at The Ta Dzong
Aug 16 Drive to Sartsham Chorten, pony ride to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest) and back Aug 17 Airport transfer and fly to Kathmandu and stay in Hotel Vaishali
Aug 18 Airport transfer and departure to Thailand
Aug 18-22nd Thailand, cooking classes, tours....

There is a lot to see, a lot to talk about, and a lot to discuss--unforutunately, i've been without internet at home in California for the past 2 days, hence the limited updates.

I will try and log in and write as much as I can during my travels, but will write on my laptop and update when I find online resources....

Last night I bought a sweet High Definition 60 GB Hard Drive Video Camera (JVC), and am also going to be reporting my travels for Sony Asia Television, based out of London. We'll see how my reporting skills go... or more than likely, me laughing, and enjoying the moments.

I hope that you all are doing well. I'm just so happy to be back home on the West Coast after 5 years of living in the south. I haven't stopped smiling... I feel like a grinning idiot.

Will write with updates soon!!!!!
-Krupali

Bye to the Dirty South

After 5 years, I'm finally leaving today from Atlanta. Bye bye...thanks for the memories....see y'all later!

Packing

I don't know if many of you have moved across the country. I'm not a big fan of moving. It is a great time to throw out stuff, donate, and minimize to the bare minimum. I cleared out from my 3 bedroom home to a studio size unit which will be shipped across country. Lots of minimizing. Cathartic, actually.