Final Thoughts on India/Europe Trip

I'm back in Hawaii now, so I finally have time to reflect on my trips and come up with a summation of it all. The India and Europe trips so starkly contrasted one another that it would be senseless to talk about them as one--so I won't.

India was slower-paced, but while it should have been more demanding with high altitude hikes and very basic living conditions, I found it soothing and spiritual. We were quite active but allowed for plenty of time to absorb, relax, reflect. Joel and I were constantly engaging in political, psychological, or philosophical discussions; I completed four books; and having to "rough it" meant fewer distractions from both my external and internal environments. Cerebral exercise.

The landscapes we explored were like none I've ever confronted. While Alaska's peaks and glaciers were impressive, to say the least, I was not hiking and sleeping among them. There were multiple times when the sheer grandeur and spectacle of the Indian scene overwhelmed me, and my chest ached.

Other parts of India greatly tried my patience and tolerance. It was difficult being so obviously foreign and to the locals, so obviously rich. But Joel and I met great people along the way, from India and elsewhere, like France, Spain, Israel, Tibet, Australia, Poland, Canada--not so many Americans go to India.

I have little doubt that I will find myself in India again. Hopefully, next time I will be there in winter, so I can make it down south without melting in the 100+ degree heat; but if I do find myself there again in summer, there’s plenty more of the north I’d love to explore.

(Culture Shock? Interestingly, the most uncomfortable and out of place I've felt on any trip was in Heathrow Airport (outside London) after India.)

Europe was a whirlwind of cities and sites. (I’m really glad I kept a journal to help me remember what we did where.) We stayed just long enough in each city to realize that we weren't staying long enough: "This place is interesting; let's go." It was great to see so much, but I think I prefer taking it slower.

It was confounding to visit Auschwitz, the old Jewish ghetto of Budapest, and then Berlin; seeing the geographical source of the death and torture--while destruction normally upsets me--it was hard to feel bad that most of Berlin (a city hundreds of years old) was built only in the last 20 years. However, it was inspiring to see Berlin, having been through so much with the Nazis and Communists, was now thriving and doing so with full acknowledgment of their past (i.e., remnants of the Berlin wall, museum for the euthanized handicapped, tomb of the unknown concentration camp victim, memorial for the Jews).

My mother's generosity in paying for most of my Europe expenses (it was up to me to get there) allowed me to enjoy that part of the world, but I expect that for the next few years my trips will remain mostly in the southern hemisphere where I can afford to stay longer. I don't know where my next trip will be, but I look forward to it.

Almost...

Chuck and Dan left early this morning, and Mom and Krista just left. So here I am in Hamburg, Germany waiting for my turn. I'm spending tonight in London near Heathrow. I just booked a place which seems small but nice.

I'll be spending Saturday night and the first half of Sunday in New York City. Then to CT until Wednesday when I fly back to Hawaii.

See you when I see you!

Germany- Berlin

So while I'm in Europe that has more internet cafes and faster access, we have so little time in each city that taking the time to check email and post blogs just doesn't seem to make sense.

Since the last time I've posted, we've been to Budapest, Vienna, and are now in Berlin. Budapest was so alive with people and music; so much so that we were able to hear and even see a Brian Adams concert from our hotel room. (That's right, the musician that brought us musical classics like "All for One and All for Love.")

By the time we got to Vienna, our trip had been progressing at such a pace that it had become hard to keep up the energy to explore, but I think we did ok. This trip is providing quick tastes of cities but no meals, if you know what I mean. On our sleeper train to Berlin (oh, by the way, the Europe trains are--not surprisingly--better than the Asian ones), we were delayed two hours by a train strike. Ah, workers and their rights. Germany's really gotta get over that and get with the times. ;)

I really like Berlin. Since 85% of it was levelled in World War II, it's quite new. It feels really alive and as though it's filled with stuff to do. Plus, it's been such a huge part of history for the past 60 years: the hot and cold wars...

Berlin still tomorrow and then onto Hamburg for one night before we all fly out and part ways. I will first meet up with Mom in NYC/CT before flying back to Hawaii to meet up with the rest of the gang. Then I get to see doggies!!!!

Sorry I can't post any pictures; there's no access to the USB ports in this cafe. Just know that I'm in Europe, near old buildings (well, maybe not so old in Berlin), and smiling.

Czech Republic-Prague

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update... and now there's too much to say to go into too much detail.

Joel and I hung out in Delhi for a day and a half. We were able to check out a few of the tourist spots and get a sense of the city. We were very lucky with the weather and enjoyed a nice cool day of 86 degrees.

I went to Paris to the Bat Mitzva of the girl I took care of when I lived there. It was great, and I wore a dress that I had bought in India. I really miss Paris. My French wasn't so bad either.

Now I'm in Prague. Mom and I met in the airport, and went to the hotel to find out that Chuck and our friend Dan from Hawaii had surprised us by coming to Europe! That was not part of plan. Very cool.


(Ok, not the greatest picture, but it's better than nothing. Thanks, Dan.)

We're leaving on a train to Krakow tonight after three days here in Prague. I'm excited to see how a Western sleeper train compares to the Chinese and Indian ones I'm used to. I'll let you know.

How India and Europe got crammed into 6 weeks...

Short answer:
Joel asked me to go with him to India; then Mom asked me to go with her to Europe. I said yes to both. Living in Hawaii, as far as I'm concerned, India and Europe might as well border.

Long answer:
Last year I was talking with Joel about my upcoming China trip and he suggested that he and I go to India together at some point. While we had no specific plans, I know that (especially when it comes to traveling) if I say I'm going to do something, I do it.

A few months ago, Joel brought up India again, but now in the context of "do you want to go this summer?" ...So it was soon time to look for flights.

My mother has caught the travel bug something feirce recently (the impending retirement and all) and asked me if I wanted to go on a trip with her to Eastern Europe this summer. My only hesitation in accepting this was the potential for conflicting dates, but a week separated the two, so voila!

Mom invited the rest of the Brodie clan but only Krista was able to go. So it'll be the Brodie women.

I'm spending just over three weeks in India and two weeks in Europe. I don't know what either itinerary is going to look like yet. I do know that Joel has mentioned the Himalayas and Mom wants to go to Italy to see family--yes yes, I know that that doesn't qualify as Eastern Europe.

I've also learned that Joel and I are venturing to India at the absolute worst time of year to go: monsoon season. When it's not overbearingly hot, it will be pouring; but it's not like that's stopping us. "Oh no, I'll just wait for the next India trip to come along and hope it will be during a nicer season." Yeah, right.

So I'm hoping to see as many friends as possible while I make my usual East Coast pit stop. Ideally, I'd love to hang out for longer than what appears to be a speed-dating stint.