Mumbai Marine Drive Night Shot

Fort Collins, Colorado to Mumbai, India

We rented a car in Fort Collins, Oct. 7th and drove to Charlevoix, Michigan arriving on the 8th (1,300 miles). I met Michele's Dad for the first time. What a lovely, absolutely salt of the earth man. I really enjoyed meeting him and spending time with the rest of Michele's family. Michele's niece (Emily) was married on the 10th - beautiful wedding on Lake Michigan.

Oct. 13th we drove to Dayton, Ohio (500 miles) to spend a week with my daughter, Ciara. Great week, jammed with activity. Ciara's grandmother invited all of us over for dinner. Michele and I really enjoyed this and it had to be great for Ciara to see all of us get together (my ex Nichole, her boyfriend, Hersh, my ex father and mother in-law, Mike and Sue, Judy a close friend of the family, Ciara, Michele and I). Thank you to all for an amazing night.

Oct. 20th dropped Ciara off at school and said our last good-bye's for a while. Sad, but at the same time it has been a great year with Ciara (after Christmas in Colorado, Spring in Disney World with a bonus Space Shuttle launch, 7 weeks at Shambhala Mountain Center in the Summer and a week in Dayton, Ohio). We then drove to Chicago for our flight to India. The flight was great. We flew Edihad Airline out of Abu Dhabi, UAE voted the world's best airline in 2009. 3 full meals on the way over and I watched 5 full movies. They have on-demand movies, tv, even video games with your own 15" monitor. Food and service was excellent. Arrived in Mumbai, went outside to get a taxi and a man telling us that he worked for the airport and would help us get a taxi wanted 1,800 rupees (over $40), we knew not to pay more than $10. Michele suggested that we try the pre-paid taxis and the guy said oh yeah that will be a lot cheaper. You just can't believe what some of the people say.

The taxi ride to the hotel was crazy, even at 3:30 in the morning. Cars driving in all directions. Red lights don't mean anything, traffic cops would rather take a nap than direct traffic. We were pulled over (not sure what for, because this is what was going on: running a red light, nearly hitting 10 cars, just missing a bicycle, pedestrian or a 100 other things) and they quickly ushered us on once they saw Michele and I in the back. Looking out the window at all the slums, was a little shocking to say the least (14 million people live in slums in Mumbai, right next to billionaires in some area). The visual, smell and audio senses where fully overwhelmed. We where quite happy to make it to the hotel. Nice place, small by American standards, but we have a shower, and a real toilet in our room; even a fan to help with the 104 degree heat index.

Oct. 22nd - first day in Mumbai. Can you say overwhelmed! People lying on the street with no signs of life. Street kids, that break your heart. Beggars everywhere. Drunks and drug addicts. We took a boat to Elephanta Island, a world heritage site. I've never seen wild cows scavenging for food along with the dogs. Monkeys, hens, vultures, piles of crap been washed up on the beach. The caves were so so, but it was a nice break from the short few hours we were in the city. The city at night is mad, never slows down. The amount of stimuli just blows your mind.

Oct 23rd - day two. Quite a change of pace - we walked down Marine Drive. Quite and slow paced if you can say that for Mumbai. Back to the hotel early (5pm) to relax. Eat at a Muslim Restaurant next door to the hotel - we were invited in, but Michele was the only woman and felt a little uncomfortable to begin with. Lovely people and food (two soft bottled drinks and two dinners: $3). What does tomorrow have in store?

Bye, Bye: Shambhala Mountain Center

We left Shambhala Mountain Center this morning. A little feeling of sadness, a lot of feeling that it is time to move on (I don't say this in a bad way). Put a 18 hour day in yesterday in a final push to get ready to leave. We still have more stuff than we need. All in stages..........
I'm left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude to Shambhala Mountain Center for the opportunity to serve, practice, and personally grow. I thank the people that help create the container called SMC, because the world needs it............

Second Last Night at Shambhala Mountain Center

Finished Work - Sold Our Car

Finished work officially on Thursday. We drove to Boulder on Friday and sold our last car. Going to Fort Collins on Tuesday and off to Michigan on Thursday. Feeling a little groundless - feeling good. Soaking up Shambhala Mountain Center before we leave; I sure will miss this place. Photographing the stars tonight, thinking do I want to walk up to The Stupa? Down to a backpack in a couple of days - how exciting! India is on my mind, but Ciara takes first place.......

Map of India Destinations up-to Dec 5th

Travel Itinerary up-to Dec 5th

Oct 20th Leave the US for India

Oct 22st - Mumbai arrive at 2:50 am IST (morning)

Oct 23rd - Mumbai

Oct 24th - Mumbai

Oct 25th - Mumbai - Train to Aurangabad

Oct 26th - Aurangabad - Ajanta Caves

Oct 27th - Aurangabad Ellora/Daulatabad - 9:35 train back to Mumbai

Oct 28th - Mumbai to Ahmedabad Mumbai Central 9:45 Gujarat Mail 2901

Oct 29th - Ahmedabad - Arrive 6:20am

Oct 30th - Ahmadabad to Veraval - 22:00 Ahmedabad Jn

Oct 31st - Somnath

Nov 1st - Somnath

Nov 2nd - Somnath

Nov 3rd - Somnath

Nov 4th - Somnath

Nov 5th - Somnath to Udaipur City (UDZ) (Verala to Ahmedabad to Udaipur)

Nov 6th - Udaipur

Nov 7th - Udaipur

Nov 8th - Udaipur

Nov 9th - Train Udaipur to Jaipur

Nov 10th - Jaipur arrive at 6am

Nov 11th - Jaipur

Nov 12th - Jaipur

Nov 13th - Jaipur to Jodhpur Train 1am on the 14th

Nov 14th - Jodhpur arrive at 7am

Nov 15th - Jodhpur to Jaisalmer

Nov 16th - Jaisalmer Desert Trek arrive at 5pm

Nov 17th - Jaisalmer Desert Trek

Nov 18th - Jaisalmer Desert Trek

Nov 19th - Jaisalmer to Jodhpur 11:15 arrive 5:20am

Nov 20th - Train Jodhpur to Agra

Nov 21st - arrive in Agra at 6:35am

Nov 22nd - Agra

Nov 23rd - Agra

Nov 24th - Agra to Gwalior

Nov 25th - Gwalior

Nov 26th - Gwalior to Mahoba 9:15pm

Nov 27th - Mahoba to Khajuraho

Nov 28th - Khajuraho

Nov 29th - Khajuraho

Nov 30th - Khajuraho to Mohoba to Santa

Dec 1st - Satna to Umbria

Dec 2nd - Bandhavgarh

Dec 3rd - Umaria – Varanasi

Dec 4th - Varanasi (sarnath)

Dec 5th Varanasi to Gaya