We’ve arrived in India!
I am jet-lagged and sleep deprived and brain dead, friends. Like, for real. We’ve traveled from Brazil to Germany to India in less than a week and then, arriving in Delhi mid-morning, we boarded a train and shot across the country, an 18-hour overnight trip complete with snoring men and crying babies.
But none of that matters because we! are! here! And Hannah and Sarah are here too. I am already madly in love with these girls and feel as though I have known them forever. Sarah is a kind and calming presence with a wicked sense of humor. Hannah just shines like the sun. She is absolutely beautiful.
I love India. I love that it is messy and dirty and beautiful all at once. I love that God exists in everything. I love the colors and the smells and the cows in the streets and the skinny dogs. I love the shit and the naked kids and the chai tea and the bobbling heads of the Indian men as they try to sell me trousers. India is so alive. I feel alive here too.
And, ahem, of course there is that business of driving a rickshaw.
Today Hannah, Sarah and I met the fourth member of our team. She is beautiful and only slightly rickety. She has padded seats, just like me.
We took her on a test drive up and down a fairly quiet street. Hannah and Sarah are natural drivers but I am terrible. I have to constantly remind myself to squeeze the clutch before I shift gears, to slowly turn the accelerator. Also, I panic each time I get behind the wheel. I haven’t driven a car, lawn mower or bicycle in almost a year, but here I go navigating a rickshaw through India. Life is so unpredictable.
And in case you were wondering, our rickshaw has already broken down. Something to do with an air bubble in the fuel line. Thankfully, this nice man fixed it in about three seconds flat. I have a feeling that the good people of India will take care of us.
Our adventure begins in four days!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
This sounds like a lot of fun. My wife and I drive a 40 year old classic mk1 escort around Thailand and that breaks down ALL the time! Good luck to you girls. PS advice, carry tools lol
We will definitely carry tools. Thanks!
You gals are amazing. I have no doubt your spirits and smiles will keep you going…along with the nice and handy people of India. Love you!! Go get ‘em!
Thanks lady
We’ll keep our spirits up all the way to Kochen.
This is so bad-ass. I can’t wait to see all the awesome adventures you get involved in. You’re going to have such an amazing experience.
Thanks Marco. We are very, VERY excited.
Looking forward to live this adventure with you girls on your blogs! In the meantime, don’t forget to rest!
Thanks Lucie. I slept 12 hours last night… getting good at that rest thing
OMG.. I AM SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR YOU AND JEALOUS I’M NOT THERE TOO!!!! Just your brief description and pictures transports me right back to India where I, too, have felt more alive than anywhere else on earth. Enjoy it all, the good and the bad, and embrace that amazing place!
Rhonda, now I understand why you and Jim were so moved by India. I just can’t even find words. But I love it… so excited for the adventure to begin!
So excited for you all!! Sending you positive thoughts and lots of good luck wishes for your journey, enjoy every minute
Thanks Maddie. I think we’ll need the good vibes. Many, many kilometers to travel
Wahoo! You go girl, kick some ass!
Thanks Patti!
Hey, I have padded seats too! So I feel a kinship with your new team member already.
I have no doubt she will take good care of you. Can’t wait to hear what you end up naming her – every steed deserves a special name!
You and me both Michele! We don’t have a name for her yet but hope it will come to us quickly. Sending our love to Portland
It seems like in India and Cambodia and the like, every man and his malnourished dog is a mechanic, must be mandatory in school. I’m sure you will get the hang of it in no time. Go team Namaste!
Haha, yes, we’ve run into a whole lot of mechanics already…
It’s almost here. I wish you and the team the best of luck.
Only two days now… can’t wait!
I’m so excited for you! The way you described India is absolutely the same with how I picture it right now. Never been to the country, though. But I’m planning to go in a few years’ time. Good luck with the rickshaw, and everything else in India!
It is a very amazing place, Bama. Hope you make it here soon.
What a way to bring in the New Year for you guys!! We are so excited for you guys! I really hope we meet up in Portland sometime to drink beers and hear all your awesome stories!!
Maria
I would love to meet in Portland for beers (and just love a beer in general… we had to order “special tea” today at the bar ). Thanks for your support!
What will Brian be doing while you are on this adventure? Take tons of pictures!!
Brian is having his own Indian adventure and will meet me in Goa in a few weeks. He’s already been on a camel tour of the desert complete with camping under the stars.
Hi Michele, Brian went on his own Indian adventure. I hope he’ll write a post or two about his time.
I know I’ll be waiting excitedly for every blog post. And I agree with everyone else. Lots of pics! Have lots of fun!
I’ll try to get plenty of pics up Judy. Glad you’re following along!
Isn’t India wild?! I just arrived last week. I’ll have to check out your rickshaw route. Yikes, I’d be too scared to drive one. Good luck!
India is so wild. No place like it on earth. I love it and hate it a million times in the same day.
Cannot wait to follow your progress, it looks like it will be a blast.
Thanks Ayngelina
What an adventure! Can’t wait to read all about it;)
Thanks Pernilla. It was certainly an adventure!
Hi Kim , Please post daily as you travel across India. It brings tears to my eyes, while reading about your travelling rickshaw adventrures. As always be sure to stay safe!! Love, Mom
Hi mom. We were safe and we survived. Sorry to make you worry about me
haha so great. I can’t wait to experience India. When I do I hope it is as unquie and mind blowing as driving a rickshaw across the country.
Oh man, I’ve got to say that there is no other way to see India except by rickshaw. What an experience! Such an adventure.
Welcome to India……NAMASTE…
hi.nice to meet you all kim and both.. and thanks to give us to give pleasure…i like to help to you……and Graceful and Enjoy ur journey..happy journy…GOD BLESS YOU..HAPPY NEW YEAR….
Aniket, thank you so much for your help. You and all of the other wonderful people we met are the reason we made it to the finish line.
India really does look amazing, and I must experience it soon. I hear people say you will both love and hate India. Happy travels to yo.
I agree that it is a love/hate relationship with India, many times within the same day or even same minute. But there is no place else like this amazing country. I’m so glad I’m here.