We made it out of Nepal! Arrived in Delhi and staying at the Holiday Inn.
Leaving Nepal brings mixed feelings. Of course I'm happy because it means we are safe and sound (and I've made my mama very happy). But it's difficult to reconcile the joy we feel in leaving such a devastated country, able to fly so (relatively) easily to India, and stay at a nice hotel, when people are not only unable to get out, but are not receiving basic food, water, shelter. People are still trapped in remote sites, homes destroyed, and have not received any aid. People are living in tents, and worse yet, have not received tents, or any other form of shelter, to protect them. Because of the rain and landslides, many villages have not been reached. It's easy to take my hot shower and lounge in the soft bed, using my wifi, and forget about what we went through, but more importantly, what every Nepalese man and woman are going through at the moment. I loved Nepal and I feel sad to leave, albeit a bit relieved. I fell in love with a beautiful country, far before the earthquake. Nepal is a poor country, full of positive, smiling, resilient, happy, and highly spiritual people. The Himalayas, which towered over me for over two weeks, humbled me, a constant reminder that I am only small in this giant world. To say they were breathtakingly beautiful is not enough. There is nothing like it, and I already long to return.
We will spend two nights in Delhi, because, while my street food degustation dinner spared me the dreaded stomach bug, I have come down with a nasty case of strep throat. I need some down time.
Next we fly to Dharamsala, and its back to budget accommodation, shared bathrooms, and squat toilets. I don't mind that, in fact, I even enjoy it. I can't wait for long hikes and fulfilling yoga and pranayama sessions! With that said I look forward to a full day of recovery with clean sheets, possible room service, and binge tv watching.
Thank you to all who have taken the time to read my blog. I look forward to it becoming more dull in the weeks to come.
Till then.