But, alas, this is not a rant about my shortcomings. This entry is filled with sage wisdom about the value of returning to the same place.
Last time I came to India, we visited a little village called Ganeshpuri. It's the home of three gurus that we both feel a strong connection to. We decided that we would re-enter India via Geneshpuri again, especially since Mumbai was such an unpleasant experience last time I came. (See previous entry "Mumbai is not for Beginners") But since I've been here I've realized that it's very sweet to come back again to the same place...especially a small place like Ganeshpuri. We were picked up at the Mumbai airport by our friend and host Denish. That was truly luxurious considering that the alternative would have been to negotiate with strangers and struggle desperately with how to explain where Ganeshpuri was.
There was also something nice about returning to our same room and village . We knew where to go to get our first Chai of the visit and we knew a few names. Even the street venders remembered us, which felt kinda special. No these weren't incredibly close friends, but there was an authentic welcoming energy to reuniting with them.
One of the things I don't really like about travel is being a stranger and worse, a tourist. Yeh, we were still tourists to these folks, but we were also old friends. Granted, the cynic in me wants to say, yea, of course they are gonna call you friends. It will help them seal the deal and get your money, but I did get some enlightenment while I was here and I like to think that the authenticity I read in their eyes was as truthful and sincere as it felt.
I feel ready to move on and know I got a little of my "family" right here in India.
Next stop, Kerala!
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