Thamel

Am walking around Thamel... it's very similar to india.. the sounds, sights, shops... it's much cooler in temerature since it's monsoon season, and it had rained this morning..

Got my eyebrows threaded... they have a Nepaleese Rupee currency... and a weird visa.. if you stay less than 3 days, it's free, otherwise it's 30 US Dollars. I am staying free, since in a few days I leave for Tibet.

While wandering I ecncountered a Canadian gal who had just been in Tibet.. where she said it was quite cold... arghh. Have a jacket and will be layered I guess? Who knows.. take it as it comes.

I can't wait to dance with a monk.
That is my goal.
My friend promi9ses me 100 dollars, and another friend promises me a dinner at any place I want.

Fun times.

Kathmandu, Nepal

Reached Kathmandu 2 hours ago...

Settled in the great hotel..and now am in Thamel at my Travel Agents place, who has kindly let me use his internet, and given me black tea.

So, tomorrow, added something spectacular to the itinerary (weather permitting...cross fingers)

A mountain flight... to see MOUNT EVEREST!

Whohooo... random addition.

Last minute.. told to me by the guy sitting next to me on my Delhi--Kathmandu flight.
See, talking to the person next to you on the plane can do wonders.

:)

Monsoon season here, so it's all weather permitting.. the flight is at 6:30am...
Top of the morning...to see the MOUNTAIN.
Can't wait.

Leaving Delhi

Staying at the Westside Inn.. a place where you pay for the TV or hot water not to work. Brilliant. Simply awesome. Note my sarcasm.

Leaving for the International Airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu... hopefully better hotels there.. this one in Dehli I picked at 11pm when I arrived in...so I can't really complain..clean bed at least...

Tomorrow, the Chinese Embassy..may they grant me a visa to Tibet, so I can also visit Lhasa, Vegas... my sweet nickname for it...

Lhasa, Vegas, baby Vegas.
Be well!

Puttaparthi, India

Puttaparthi is located 3 hours via taxi from Bangalore, India. It's a place where I visit often... it's where I am right now, and today is a holy day called Guru Purnima...the day of the Guru (teacher). It's a place where Satya Sai Baba lives. I've been coming here since I was 3 years old, and try to make a trip once or twice a year. (If you do the math, i've been to India dozens of times, and I love it...it's my second home). This place is a spiritual cleansing of sorts--makes me realize that life isn't about the rat race per se, but something more. This year, I attended a world youth conference for 3 days prior to the festival which was great. Yes, it's been hot...yes, i've been 'complaining'...but it's been good. I wake up every morning around 3:30, and go make prayer rounds and attend bhajans (devotional singing), etc... it takes up the whole day.... I had to come to say thank you.... thank you to god for helping me get through residency. It was a rough road... and I learned a ton from it... both the good and the bad... but I made it.

I leave tomorrow via taxi with a friend (who I last saw at my medical school graduation!!!), and we head to the Bangalore airport, where she catches a flight back home to NYC, and I catch a flight to Delhi. Then the next morning I leave for Kathmandu, and hopefully resolve my China Visa issues for me to get to Lhasa, Tibet.

Whew.
Just ate dinner, and now am going to pack up.
Be well!

Dentist...

As I called my brother last night, my filling in my tooth fell out... great times! Fortunately my brother knows the home number to my dentist back in California, so I called him..

Told him, i'm wandering the globe, and what should I do? Dentists are not a dime a dozen in the small cities i'm going to, and I don't really want to get treated here.

He told me, not to worry, to keep the tooth clean and to eat on the other side of my mouth.
Brilliant.
My appointment with him will be the morning that I get back.

Good times.
Gotta love traveling and the random things that come your way.

(and gotta love the fantasticness of being on the phone with the brother who knew the home phone number... things work out...see?)

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.