So we'll collect the moments 1 by 1; I guess that's how the future's done...

Wow...Srinigar was the last I wrote 2U. I'll try 2B brief.

I popped out of Srinigar...w8 w8 w8....Srinigar to Jammu was a knackering 12 hours where I connected to a night bus for another 10 hour bus ride to Chandigar. From there, I slept in a bus stand and got on another 10 hour bus ride to the most impressive place in India 4 me so far; Chitkul. So, "popped" out like a child "pops" out of mom after 20+hrs of labour...not so much.

Chitkul is where 29 years caught up w/ me. Many would say my bday was predictable...I would. I woke up, climbed a mountain--magnificent mountain w/ sick...ILL views of Whoo Hoo!!! Then, I returned, showered, and read a book cover 2 cover. I didn't really expect much to happen cuz when you're on the road, your life becomes much less important to others than it was when you were home w/ people who cared. However, there was a Belgian guy who really pumped the night up w/ energy. Unfortunately, Chitkul isn't the most happenin' town, quite religious, community feel, and the more intoxicating spirit was harder to find. No matter. That night some 15-20 people found there way to my guesthouse (4 random reasons) and we all had a good laugh. Then the family, which I connected well with, came into the room and the girl who took care of us and similarly, a boy, brought me presents. The boy brought me a plastic 4 inch rose that said "just 4 U" while the girl brought me a trophy or something (not sure what it was) that I figure she won in a contest. It had an emblem in the shape of India. The Belgian got good photos and they seemed so proud. I felt bad that the only thing they had in their room, they offered me as a gift; so typical of those who have so little, still wanting to share and give it to others—I need 2 learn from these people! Johan still hasn't sent me the pics.

That got me to thinking...I've spent a good load of Sept. 17 on the road of l8.

23 I was in Tallahassee--selling blades--and had a pool party that was semi-posh.

24 Buenos Aires. My 2 Argentinian sisters Vane and Sa made me a cake.

25 I was in Atlanta drinkin' down beers and gettin' read 2 find any job in the states 2 make cash...I left 2 weeks l8r for South Korea.

26 I was in the districts of Sinchon, Hong-dae, and Itaewon in Seoul, South Korea w/ some really switched-on Canadians and Janelle that made my last 6 months so much more enjoyable.

27 I got bombed and went to a U2 concert w/ Bri in Atlanta--thanks Sis!

28 saw me naked (what, U didn't remember?) at--what seemed 2 me at the time--the end of the world; an island off the furthest eastern point of East Timor. See that Delay in Dili 4 that story.

29 found me in the tiny village of Chitkul, Himachal Pradesh doin' what I do at this stage; climbin' peaks and readin' pages. This pic was captured on my 29th.

Thola Peak

Chandigar to Sangla Valley, Shimla, then I revisited Varanasi, got on my favorite Indian transport, a train, and ran up to N.E. Bengal hitting Darjeeling, and surrounding areas, and the restricted area of Sikkim, which holds yet another area of India so very Tibetan.

I've had so many nights of l8 where I just can't get 2 sleep...thoughts R my tormenter. Anyone who knows me--even slightly--knows that thought is this vagabond's biggest vice; tho' it's also the source of many my virtues...not that my virtues R many. So naturally I sought a bit of spirititual help; twistin' a cap of grain alcohol 2 overcome insomnia; some would say that's a problem...I call it a solution.

In fact, just 2 try 2 sort out some of my mind's melee, I took a bus out to a village some 65km (40miles) away and started walking back. I ended up walking between most of the villages I visited once I got into the Darjeeling/Kalimpong/Sikkim area; I think better when I'm moving amongst nature.

Reads: On my bday I re-read one of the best books in print…a masterpiece! Kahil Gibran’s ***The Prophet and it is just one of those books. Like picking up an old mirror and holding it up to your face w/ all the dust on it. You see yourself thru the past and its particals. Then as you read it, the dust slowly blows away and reveals a newer you…or at least something you hope to attain 2.

This book is only 100 pages and is easily read by the slowest reader in just a day. Do yourself a favour and go to a library and check it out…buy the damn thing as it is a book that should ALWAYS B on your shelf for anyone who needs inspiration and/or 2B grounded back to what matters. Jaqueline...this is a MUST 4U; I hope U enjoy.

I am incredulous at the amount of books I've read, in addition to my #1 rec. above, in the last 6 wks...but it's true:

--New Thinking for the New Millenium by Edward de Bono--he should fire his publicist 4 letting him title the book something SO 'riveting and intriguing'..."yawn"--the book has some good ideas, but is just too dry to read conventionally. I only read 200 of the ~300pgs.

*--A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is simple story telling but very revealing of Indian life. You'll probably be ignited by some of the horrors Indians face during The Emergency and due to caste structure politics...I was. #3 rec on this list, tho' many will be put off by ~600pgs.

--Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. Maoist China; cute, easy read. ~200pgs.

--Ka, by Roberto Calasso is about Hindu Myth and gives entertaining stories of the deities. ~450pgs...2 many in my opinion.

--David Copperfield (Dickens)...only a shortened version of the story; I get the gist. ~100pgs.

--The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. Not much happening here. 135pgs.

--The Moor's Last Sigh (Salman Rushdie); classic Rushdie w/ brilliant linguistic maneuvering, crafting the cleverest of jokes in so many things we say by rote. If U like wit in your lit; open it up. ~440pgs

--Into the Wild, (Jon Krakauer) the story of Jon McCandless leaving Emory--in Atlanta--for the open road. Donating ~25K 2 charity, burning the money in his wallet, changing his name, and eventually going north to Alaska. His body was found 6 wks after he'd entered the bush (tho' some 2 years after havin' been on the road, livin' the hard way). Easily readable, entertaining book about an untamed American youth seeking harmony w/ the wild. ~225pgs.

--A Clockwork Orange (Anthony Burgess). Playin' God w/ the masses and examining it individually; good short read, tho' you'll feel you need 2 learn a new language; Nadsat. ~150pg

**--The Kite Runner by (Khaled Hosseini). #2 rec'd book on this list. Amazing story that ushers 4th life in its most raw form. Your heart will burn w/ hatred, melt w/ compassion, and ultimately you'll see how we R all so similar to Amir. Very easy 2 read yet rich in substance. ~345pgs.

Muzic: Don't think I've let pages domin8 my last 6 weeks, cuz ohhh there've been some soothing and vivifying sounds dancing thru these ears as of l8. Song of the month...Mushaboom a remix of Feist by Postal Service. One of the lyrics to which is the heading for this post. Also, Tegan and Sara's newest album The Con, just scroll down and you'll see the track list. Check out, Back in Your Head, Are You 10 Yrs. Ago, and Call It Off. My most listened 2 is Mates of the State and their album, Bring It Back.; my faves, So Many Ways, Punchline, and Think Long. Also, the second album of Stars, In our Bedroom, After the War. The Night Starts Here is prob the most played song on radio, but I prefer Window Bird, The Ghost of Genova Heights, Take Me To The Riot, Personal, and Midnight Coward. Grab an earful from any of those links I set up; I can't see if they work cuz I'm outta the U.S. and they R strictly 4 U.S. surfers.

Film: Saw The Bourne Ultimatum and got a good dose of modern Bollywood in Dhol; classic experience in the auditorium.

Photo Pholder: My camera is broken...which really irrit8s cuz I've seen sick, crazy beauty around the hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim. Unfortunately, I can only offer this.

The world's 3rd highest, Kanchendzonga

The most recent of my status is that I'm blind...or almost. I've got the wonderful conjunctivitis workin' overtime. This means I wake up w/ my eyes sealed shut from the nasty eye-crust/adhesive. My eyes R so blurred by the discharge that all the haphazards of India R now full-hazards. Ironic, now that I'm blind, I finally see the dangers of Indian streets; the holes, the random animals quick to nip...and the bloody horning vehicles. The other thing I've noticed is how 4tun8 I've been in health for this entire trip; it's amazing.

But the question U've all been asking yourselves is, "what has India done 4 ME?!!?" That is YOU, the reader, I mean. Lemme tell ya. First of all, any of you sexy lexies w/ nose-rings; have you never thought where the bizarre idea came from? Actually it came from the Middle East, but in my opinion (which clearly matters...here at least) it was Indians that made it appealingly fashionable. And let's talk about words we use that were derived from Indian languages. Just a list off the top of my head, and in alphabetical order:

avatar, bazaar, caste, ganja (it's true), guru, karma, kismet, mantra, nirvana, om, outcast, pariah, pyjama, thug, yoga, and yogi . They're all from Hindi, Urdu, Tamil...all Indian origin.

I won't mention the millions of Indians working 4U in the IT sector (ie. customer service hotlines) cuz most of you R indignant at the "takin' of OUR jobs", but it keeps your bill down, which surely you don't complain about; or RU such a curmudgeon?

And India has done much more for ME...wow. The characters that've passed b4 these now watery eyes. I saw leprosy for the first time--a man whose teeth ever showed for his loss of lips; his constant reapplication of the gauze dangling where his nose once was; his pain at the brightness of the sun 4 lackin' eye-lids, and only a few fingers w/ which to hold out for spare change. I saw human beings w/ only their trunk and head. Yet they squirm along the street and push their metal tin w/ their head; no arms or legs w/ which to drink chai, xchange $ 4 that tea...completely dependent. Babies not a year old w/ the puffy bellies you C on t.v. being spoon fed stale curd w/ visible dirt in it.

And brothers and sisters, think not it only people. I've seen the true camaraderie amongst dogs who MUST join gangs 2 survive against other dogs, and the much more injurious, Indians. 4 a people who claim the cow sacred, who R as a whole, all-vegetarians, it's disgraceful how they treat dogs.

What is this morbid chatter you say? Well, I was telling you how India has given me so much. What I learned 2C in all this destitution & deprivation is the humanity of it all. Tho' raw, it's real. It's a face you can't turn away from, lest U encounter something more horrid...yourself in denial. I learned that I must countenance such catastrophic and catatonic people cuz in the end, that's what they are; they're human beings. They eat, drink, laugh, cry, feel everything U and I feel. More times than not, I found that if I lifted a smile upon my face, it brought them off the ground and to the world of humanity where they belong. And just 4 that instance, we could look eye-to-bloodshot eye and share understanding. That was a precious gift from India's people that can't be overestim8'd.

Mind U, India also gave me several weeks of the runs, sheer stress in every cell at times, and all 2 often, frustration at the banal inquiries and superficial perspectives of a people so diverse. I learned of so many religions and their bizarre practises that in truth, R no more strange than those of other more "accepted" religions by the world. It gave me beautiful experiences w/ Italian pixies, w/ Sweedish seekers, w/ Israeli irregularity, w/ American aberrations, and w/ a lesser known part of myself.

Finally, the numbers R in. Most of you wouldnt dream of leavin' your comfort at home 2 brave the world of India, but 4 those few dreamers...here's my expenditures for the 6 months in India.
May: $275 (26 days); June $204; July $250; Aug $604; Sept $350; Oct $225 (31); plus the visa ($95) and the $200 flight from Bangkok, it's a total of <$2200US or roughly $12.25/day ALL included.

Mind U, I'm extremely clever at conserving cash, pinching pennies, or in this case rationing Rupias. But U2 could be here experiencing everything 4 next 2 nothing...just so ya know.

Me & my Journal; in between the lines.