The Good Parts

Ah yes, I couldn't let you think it was ALL bad, could I?

But just to cement what I said before - both John and I have cried about 80K times today. So.

We also laughed a bunch of times. The most hearty laugh coming after I put Cortisol 10 on my toothbrush at my in-laws house and actually brushed my teeth with it, like, for a little while....

So. We're good.

Whenever anyone wonders how it is we can do this, it all comes down to John. He has never met a stranger he didn't like. So when we're traveling he's a marvel. I'll sit off to the side of the bus, looking at the window endlessly and John will be chatting and laughing with another traveler. When we're done, I've listened to a podcast and John has made a friend for life.

I can think of at least four occasions we've been traveling that John has met someone who later became "important" to us. One time, on our first trip to India, I swear to god John saved someone's life. My personal opinion of course, but these two became so close so fast and got incredibly deep into life - on a train ride.

I'm much more of an observer when we travel. I like to stay quiet and ignorable. It's so great then, because John will go make all of the friends and introduce me later. Then I'll generally stay in touch with everyone because John isn't so much for Facebook but trust me when I say he's really good at meeting people.

When we went to India the first time in 2010 - we stayed in the Pearl Palace Hotel in Jaipur. When the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was filming in Jaipur - the cast stayed with Mr. Singh. When they came to film the second one, they used his new hotel in the actual movie. So cool.

John found the Pearl Palace, we both pick places when we travel but John found this place, I remember how excited he was about it.

As well he should be because the Pearl Palace is the single greatest refuge of India. It's a budget hotel and it is SPECTACULAR. It is one of the most beautiful places in all of India if you ask me. Each room is done with Mr. Singh's artistic and lovely hand and each one different from the next. There's a restaurant on top called The Peacock and at the Peacock the Westerner can eat safe food, free from worry.

John soon met the owner - Mr. Singh. And guess what? Right. They hit it off. They hit it off so hard, John went back two years later to do Mr. Singh's website.

And now, in 2017, Mr. Singh has a new business venture. He's making and selling beautiful clothes.

So now John goes back and we stay at his beautiful hotel and eat at his beautiful restaurant and because of John and his friendliness and Mr. Singh and his generosity, we have this chance of a lifetime.

Good job boys.

"Leap! Net Appears" is Total BS

My most wonderful friend Sabrina and I were texting the other day, she wrote:

"I have no doubt in my mind that you guys will pull it off once again in an elegant, amazing, inspirational way."

That is a really wonderful thing to say, Sabrina’s like that though, she says wonderful things all the time.

And then I started to giggle in a maniacal sort of way because really, there is nothing elegant about any of this. Inspirational maybe, I get that, but elegant it is not.

I know full well I am a lucky motherfucker that I get to go to India for three months and any complaints I have about it are full of shit, but again I will tell you - this is not easy.

The phrase I hate the most lately is "Leap! Net appears." Fuck that. It should be "Leap! Then build a net really fucking fast even though you have no money and you've been building nets for years and they're all still really fucking flimsy and you're tired of breaking your legs every time you leap."

The Seth Godins, The Tim Ferriss' all those Ted Talks - it's untrue. All of it.

I had this idea when I started my business that it would be a great success. I found out what I was great at, what I liked doing and I did it my own way.

And it's been a struggle every day since. There was never any moment of "TOTAL SUCCESS! Here's some money for being awesome at what you do!" Every day I struggle to get people to come on tours. For seven years. Struggle. It's been fun, but I'm still looking for that freaking net.

And with this trip - oh yay! We're doing something outside the box! We're doing something amazing! This is going to be FUN. Leap and let's watch that net appear!

There is so much crying happening I can’t even tell you. I’m crying all the time. It’s not lovely Eat, Pray, Love crying either (I’ve been getting a lot of that comparison by the way, I’m calling it Eat, Pray, Shove. Heh.) it's some ugly cries.  

John and I have mini-arguments all the time. Bickering about this or that thing - passports or dinner or what to toss and what to keep. This romantic notion of us bent over maps of the Himalayas while we try delivery Nepali food is not how it is. Not that I ever saw it that way of course.

We’re broke. We’re totally broke. This is an absolute chance we’re taking. Many of you more responsible types might even call us reckless. I have no idea if this is the right thing to do. I’m not sure. I’m not sure of anything.

We’re not sure what happens when we get back. India will change everything and ultimately, India will change nothing.

We’ll still be broke. We’ll still be arguing. We’ll still be struggling and weaving nets together frantically. I promise you it will not be elegant.

But when I'm old and sitting in my city-run old folks home and everyone has gone from me - I'd rather be the old lady who did go to India for three months than be the old lady who didn't.

Stupid nets.