The Damp Arrival Back to India

The plane ride was lovely, 

[2 hr flight to Chicago]…..(left my camera battery and charger in the CAK airport...Oh Shyla!)

[5 hr Layover in Chicago] - Had a discrepancy about which flight I was on from Chicago to Frankfurt - had to call my Travel Agent - got it worked out 10min before boarding - just enough time to fit in one last Starbucks Vanilla Latte that I enjoyed on the plane.

[8 hr flight to Frankfurt, Germany]… sat by a lovely old lady.

[5 hr layover in Frankfurt] - slept as always in Frankfurt - somehow this layover always ends up in the middle of the night my time and I'm exhausted.  I've mastered the art of sleeping sprawled out on the seats and protecting my luggage at the same time.

[8 hr flight to Banglalore] - still fine.  Read most of the time - lovely lovely many from Argentina - shared Christ with Him.  Arrived to Bangalore with a friend waiting for me - was such a delight.

Slept at CSI - A guest house I know in Bangalore. 

I rested awhile and met my friend, Sathish in the city, spent the day there - lovely time.  I just sat on a second floor coffee shop and took in India again - the beautiful people, busy streets, and my heart melted again for the country.

We rode his bike (motorcycle) to the bus station WITH all my luggage.  Haha.. Yes, just imagine me, him, a 50 pound luggage, and a 40 pound luggage - all on one bike!  We did it - and I felt like a true Indian. :)

  

[Boarded the Bus for Ooty] - Night train should be 5 hrs, I had to pee so bad and thought I would hold but ended up requesting the driver to 'Stop for toilet, please.'  Then got more comfortable but my legs started aching like nothing else, and it was like the weight of exhaustion from the past 30 hours of sitting caught up to me.  When we stopped in the jungle and I discovered that we had not made the 2 bus quota to get through and had to wait 2 hours…. I got really grumpy.  I was tired.

Decided to get off the bus to stretch even though I didn't know anyone - but of course I wasn't lonely for long.  Sweet, sweet, curious Indians came and talked to me - and with one came a crowd, all interested in the foreign girl.  Then the girl who sat beside me came and said that if I am lonely I can come and be with her group.  A group of 5 young adults getting their PHD in Engineering Science…haha.  They were so kind - and we laughed and carried on during the two hours, thank you Lord. 

Finally reaching Ooty - after a total of [9 hours] later!!!  Got to Farley (where I stay) around 9:30am- very very tired and a bit grumpy - but so glad to be there. 

The W.eather is really damp and wet here - beautifully green - but cold. :)

Pray for me as I spend the next two weeks here with the friends I have made here over the past 6 months and prepare to go to Calcutta.

*Total Travel Time: 41 hrs