Saturday. We are here in Mysore, The City of Palaces, for the 67th annual Indian Pharmaceutical Congress that is being hosted by JSS, our collaborative college. The principal, Dr. Dhanabal, took lead in getting Tanya to the conference as a delegate invitee, so she could meet Indian players in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Cheitanya and his wife rode with us into the big city from Ooty. Along the way, we were privileged enough to see three wild elephants grazing on the mountain side mid day. Elephants are nocturnal creatures, so that was a very rare and special occasion. The deer here have a reddish tint to their hide and hold onto their spots for their entire lives.

Our first roadside coconut experience went hand in hand with our first time peeing in a "porcelain" hole in the ground. It is all so new, but so exciting at the same time. They do not use toilet paper or soap here, so hand sanitizer is an important factor for us more "Americanized" individuals traveling the Indian way. Maybe some Charmin-to-go as well. These amenities that seem so simple to us in America, are not even thought of here. The lack of toilet paper and soap amongst the organized chaos makes me curious to know if the majority of the population is happy in these circumstances or if they have feelings of suffering due to this. Also, as much as I adore walking with bare feet, it is a common way to acquire parasites. A large majority of the population walk with their feet kissing the ground, but in return, is it causing unnecessary disease? I do not think it is a lack of money that moves them in the direction of bare feet, I think it is cultural and religious. I come to this conclusion partially because of the fact that the Peace Corps is non existent here to provide because India does not considered themselves a third world country. Although, there are a couple organizations that are asking for shoe donations for India such as Soles for Souls.

No one way of life is correct, even one neighbor to the next in America will live differently from one another. Back to the talk of happiness though... From my conclusion, the people that we are meeting are very joyous individuals, but some of the people in the smaller communities that we saw as we flew by atop our four doored motor, look of struggle. Even more conclusively, happy or not happy, they all dress in flowing, vibrant colors and somehow they keep them totally pristine. Even the women working in the fields wear a proud vibrancy sunup to sundown. I would like to learn their ways. I struggle to even keep a red shirt clean from garlic bread and spaghetti!

Tanya & Seth Sharing a Coconut on the roadside

Opening a coconut with a machete is not a task for everyone. It takes great skill, reasoning, and a sort of fearlessness. Thankful for this Coconut Man on the roadside. Providing us with the ultimate deliciousness! — Opening a coconut with a machete is not a task for everyone. It takes great skill, reasoning, and a sort of fearlessness. Thankful for this Coconut Man on the roadside. Providing us with the ultimate deliciousness!

India is different in the city. Much more chaotic and smog filled than the mountain top. Upon the mountains at the JSS campus, we breathe clean air and when we are surrounded by haze, it is because we are literally in the clouds. Straight to lunch we go into one of the many giant tents at the congress. The present crowd of Indian people let us go first in line, it felt so strange, but they were only trying to be respectful.

Perfect timing everywhere we go this first day in Mysore! Acting as a paparazzi for Tanya while she meets some of the most important individuals at the conference on this very first day, including the president of JSS! Wow. Our hosts are so sweet. Cheitanya is so proud of his beautifully intelligent wife.

The people are here at this conference for medicine and science purposes, but are speaking very spiritually based at the inauguration. We are now watching a presentation competition that Cheitanya has competed in already. He speaks so fast and fluid that I had a difficult time understanding him with the heavy accent included. The "s" sound turns to a "sh" and the "t" sound to a soft "th" and the r's tend to roll. Reading his slides though, I think what his objective is to cure cancer at a molecular level. The deepest layer of the surface. He is very popular and efficient here at this conference it seems. His research must be on the leading edge because a video camera entered the room just before he began and as soon as he was finished. He is a very holistic person as well. When we first met he was telling me about the frequency of his bright blue topaz stones and the power it had with his personal frequency. Similar to the way my moon stone ring from Zaragoza, Spain vibes with me. All very intriguing and also very realistic, as everything is molded and currently exists with frequency.

Cheitanya raising thoughts at the IPC presentations

Another cultural exceptance that I have noticed is open nose picking. They are very blunt about being human here, whereas in the states we try to appear invincible often times and maybe even super human. Now.. America.. I'm not suggesting open nose picking. I am merely stating an observation. Our super human code was almost immediately broken in India with Seth and his kryptonite of sunbathing combined with the spicy food. The poor man was working in a small boat delivering fuel in Alaska for six months and then took a straight shot to India. That may be in the category of "natural disaster." Alaska to India is not a mild transition and as our experiment proved: results in one “hot mess." Dripping sweat and glowing red. The best part though, is that he is absolutely soaking in every moment of this experience and makes humor over his current state. Fellow libra, undoubtedly!

After the first day at the conference, we walked to a custom saree shop. The young owner was so educated on so many different subjects from where to eat to interesting plants to what colors and fabrics to wear to traveling to music to painting to whatever you want to talk about! That's how I want to be. It takes experiences and listening to gain that sort of factual wisdom. Then, just a touch of memory skill. The John Denne of Indian fashion. He wants to go to South America because he grew close to a Mexican woman at one point in his life. They traveled all through India together with themselves. What a romantic love story that would be!

On another note, we were advised to only drink bottled water here and only certain brands. This point was proven when Seth and Tanya bought a water bottle today and the steri pen tested negative. On our way from Ooty, I caught a glimpse of the water system and it was not pretty. What I saw was a culvert full of everything. Everything! Once again, it is wise to be cautious and alert always. Along with the water, one of the wine bottles had floaters and vinegar swimming in it and Tanya's consumption of such, quickly resulted in desired ejection.

At the conference spending time, when out of nowhere, young people swarmed us to take selfies and to get autographs and FB names. When we take photos with the girls, they hold our hands. Many same gender individuals hold hands and put their arms around each other naturally. A loving and comfortable culture in that sense. There are two prevalent extremes in India thus far: love and desperation. Desperate love, no, as we were discussing marriage with a young woman who will be getting married in the Spring who was not even one bit excited about marriage. Me, living as a being who thrives on thoughts of successful romance, I was instantly enthused to hear her news until her heart sunk when I asked if she was excited. Then, my feminist bias secretly took over my body and I wanted to save her from this arrangement. I kept my mouth shut though and carried on with another topic, yet still wondering how their arrangement will pan out. Hopefully for the best. The girls who held our hands with love, also held our hands in desperation. Asking us not to forget them and to let them know if there were vacancies in the America for medical work. So, desperate for love no, loving desperately no, just loving even in the moments of desperation. The way they drive through the streets all over India proves the same fact. Everyone seems to be in such a hurry and a panic, but when you look closer, they are taking into consideration the animals who roam free and the people who are walking in the flow and the oncoming vehicles. The honking is a sign of consideration and compassion in a certain sort of way. Each day proves to me how fortunate we are in America, but also how closed off.

The flute players the horns the bells the people the zoom the roar the singing the chanting. Craziest most exciting cab ride of my entire life in the Indian winter evening. Somehow the cab driver got us into the palace gates after closing by bribing the guards. The lights were beaming and it was brilliant! We had the Mysore Palace walls all to ourselves for a single fraction of each of our lives. There is something magical about having something of your own. Seth and Tanya bartered for jewelry outside the gates. Then, we were shown around to other monuments and shopping centers as instructed by Cheitanya. I sat in the front passenger seat of the car on the way to the palace. So thrilling sitting in the front with this craze! Although, a woman in the front seat of a car is not socially acceptable, but I had to at least once for the thrill.

Parkinson’s drugs are sold to be self-prescribed on the streets at open pharmacies here, but it is nearly impossible to find vino anywhere. No alcohol. Just tea! I would say that it is much better for my health, but the amount of sugar and milk that is added to the mix nixes that ideal and eliminates the buzz. Eventually, we found some wine on our cab ride at a sketchy little liquor shop with a child working the counter and at a ridiculous price. The wine was called "Elite Red Wine” and it is made in India. We cracked open the bottles for a crew cheers just before dinner.

Every time I drink vino, I think I'm in love with this crazy world. Then, I wake up. Possibly slightly hungover. And I realize that Yes, it's true. I am definitely in love with this crazy world. If it came down to it and we were all to leave for mars to possibly preserve human life, I just might stay here. I feel so connected to these grounds and this sky. Hello, to the sunshine each morning, goodnight to the moon each night. My appreciation exceeds societal expectations by far and I like it that way.

It is our first Monday in India. Sunday evening over in Oregon, so in all reality, I could be potentially be sleeping just before an alarm goes off to wake me up for my nine to five. Luckily, I did not choose that route of living thus far and continue on my Monday way experiencing my India day!

John, Seth, and I are sitting in the heated shade on fancy lilac purple chairs discussing natural disasters and the world and other stories about earth while we wait for Tanya to finish her meeting with a pharmaceutical group at IPC. She has met many substantial men and women on this Mysore journey. She was also given the opportunity to visit the JSS hospital. From what I gather, the Indian pharmaceutical world is striving to be the best in the world in every sort of way. The British had grip on the country until about 68 years ago, so it makes sense that they are slightly behind. It is hard not to be impressed with their drive to succeed though. It will be incredible to see the progress in India in the next 20 years. My most recent toilet experience has been the most interesting yet! When I opened the door to the toilet, the entire ground was covered with the running water that I couldn't get to turn off. A girl behind me walked into the bathroom and told me to push down on it. The next girl in the group scoot right past me and through the doors when the first girl was finished. The culture here is very flow orientated versus line standing. I realized the flow orientation quickly and finally puzzled a way to get in. Or so I thought. Next thing I knew, an old woman shoved her way through the door as I was trying to close it and took a squatting stance right in front of me to the porcelain looking hole in the ground. She held her saree up and spoke to me quickly and lightly in a foreign tongue while also laughing between her words. Not knowing what to do, I laughed awkwardly and tried smiling politely. The fluid ran down her leg and to her foot, barley missing her bunched up material. I really had no idea what to do in this moment, so I decided to follow suit in the squatting game, so I wasn't staring totally plainly. When she left, I quickly locked the door behind her. Clearly, I was not mentally prepared for this portion of the trip quite yet. After all was done, I washed my feet off with the small bucket that is always in the corner of every women’s toilet room. Tanya had an even more traumatic experience that involved feces all over the floor. A very different view on cleanliness and bathroom educate. A learning experience indeed. Learning a different balance of modesty and vulnerability.

We are speaking to a young man who has dual citizenship with America. He is extremely fashionable. His mannerisms and all remind me of my friends back in Denver. I immediately felt comforted by this familiarity.

Sitting in the lunch room, John comes up to the table and says, "I need to brag," he proceeds to tell us about how the man would not believe that he was 68 years old. The man acts out how straggly a 68 year old would be. 50 is what he believed. Then, he remembered that John forgot his camera yesterday. It is the mountains and the activity that keep us young! The love for life. I see this in both of my grandmothers. That is how they remain so vibrant even at 69 and 82. Inspirational lights amongst us.

John is pretty stoked about his coconut!

During dinner time at a restaurant next door to our hotel, a man brought his baby over for us to see. She was so beautiful and bright eyed. She is going to be a very intellectual and adventurous woman as she grows up! Her mother soon took over the showcasing roll. Bumping our heads with the toddlers head for good luck and affection. She kept reaching out towards me, but then she would get shy. She kept trying to run out of her mother’s arms onto the table, which reminded me of myself at that age. Always trying to escape and explore. Wanting to connect and seeing beyond, but then becoming nervous upon the human elements. Flashing back with a mirror.

We packed up and headed back to Ooty after a good breakfast. The old man that works at our hotel has beautiful dark blue eyes and dark skin. His bindi is a red vertical stripe. He talked to me and asked where we are from and where we are going. People are very curious about us and have very positive feelings towards America.

Cathedral of St. Philomena decorated for the Christmas season

So car sick on the car ride up. It feels much better when the air from outside is blowing on my forehead. We eventually stopped for coconuts before the Bandipur tiger reserve. They are so delicious! They usually give you the smaller coconuts because they are more plentiful and the juice is slightly sour. John and I were informed that the bigger coconuts are sweeter and that's where the meat that we eat in America comes from as well, so we shared one of those too. The coconut water eventually caught up to us and we had to find a toilet. John asked me if i am good with going outside and I said, "it's the same thing.” It is only the number of walls that make up the difference. Hairpin bend after hair pin bend until a small shop upon the hill came into view where we stopped. An herbalist's heaven! We walked up the large stone steps with the thin wooden railing to get to the top. They gave us complimentary tea! Chocolate & Cardomom tea. So wonderful and they were so pleasant. We went to the toilet over the hill past the green tea and across the broken down barbed wire fence and the rock plateau. Let me just remind you, gage the wind before you take a seat. Went back to the shop upon the hill beneath the green tea plants and we bought face masks, oils, tea, and spices. It was all so exciting. Of course, they all wanted photos with us. After my purchase, I proceeded to the back of the building to take photos of the small lot of green tea and the eldest man came over to dress me up as a tea picker then took my camera and started snapping the out of focus joy in the beautiful shine. The green tea leaves have much luster and chlorophyll vibrancy to their appearance.

When we got back to Ooty, we met with Dr. Dhanabal, the principal of JSS, Ooty. He is the man who orchestrated much of this. The man that Tanya has been in email contact with for five years. He is a very loving and important individual. On our way to his office, there were kids in the classroom next door. When they spotted us, they remembered from the conference and all pointed and waved ecstatic hands and arms in our direction. We found out that Cheitanya received an award. He is a very, very intelligent man, as are all of the men and women we are meeting here through JSS. Anyways, we met with Dr. Dhanabal and made a game plan for the rest of the week and talked about home and such over lemon tea, milk tea, and cookies. We are always taken care of here. Hospitality is more than a priority in India. It is a way of cultivating positive karma.