Dec 17, 2012 - Tiuni, Uttarkhand

December 15, 2012 2am. Can’t sleep. Listening to Allman Bros. Do it again. Left Nainbabh around 9am[?]. I had nasta at the same place I had supper. Aloo parantha and chai. Still raining. Lube chain, check tyre pressures. All good. Big crowd. Everyone wants to hear Suukye roar. As we left town she did. And spat dirt. Power just went out. Again. I am in a small[ish] village called Tuini. Green Palace hotel. Rs. 300. It’s the last stop before Rampur and Hirmacal Pradesh. I have been to Rampur before. 2004. Its ok. It was late October 2004....

Dec 11, 2012 - Mussoorie, Uttarahkand

December 7, 2012 I left Rishikesh for Mussoorie today and pulled the dumbest move yet in all my years of traveling. I don’t have a murse (lost it the other day with all my navagaton tools) and I needed to photocopy some maps on my way out of town. I put the guide book under the netting that holds my pack to the back of the bike. The town starches on for quite aways. I kept looking and looking after about 15kms I final stopped, reached around an no book. Fuck me. In a matter of three days I have lost two guide books. Something is worng with...

Dec 8, 2012 - Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

December 5, 2012 6:22pm and I am in Rishikesh. It’s a nice town. Clean and everyone is polite and speaks more English than the average Indian. This is nice. For example some dude wanted to charge me Rs.20 for a liter of water. It’s Rs.15. I have been here for two months now and there are only four things that are habitual and can never be cured. Eating, drinking, shitting and pissing. I buy at least one liter of water a day, minimum. It’s Rs.15. I spent five minutes telling the shopkeeper this and he relented. Rs.15 per liter. I am so dry....

Dec 8, 2012 - Haridwar, Uttarakhand

December 4, 2012 Finally left Delhi two days ago. Destination Haridwar. Mannish gave me really good directions get to the highway but I fucked it. I don’t know what it is but this time in Delhi I get all turned around. Sure it’s a big city (12mn) but I roughly knew my way around last time. Now is like south is north and vice versa. I can’t wrap my head around it. I asked a few people and found my way. The city seemed to go on forever. I am sure that I went through two or three cities that had now blended into Delhi. At one point I got...

Aug 26, 2012 - Day 68

Hello Everyone! In about 10 days time, I will be leaving India for a short (60 days) break. I am returning in November for a little while longer. The reason for the break is that India can be very daunting on your first visit. From what I hear (among those who have come and gone for many years)is most Westerners come to India, stay at 4 and 5 star hotels and really never see the "real India" I have been so blessed to have gotten to see this part for the last 68 days. Secondly, being a hospice nurse is trying under the best circumstances but...

Aug 11, 2012 - Day 52

Hello Everyone, It's been sometime since I last sent an update. Today is Lord Krishna's birthday so we have the day off from work. I was finally able to clean my apartment. The landlord stated he cleaned before I moved in, however it must have been months ago that he did. It was good to finally get the Lysol out and really clean to my liking. Work is going well, however there are times that I feel I am not doing enough or well enough. I suppose we all have feeling like this, and I am no different. It has been a very trying week for me...

Jul 29, 2012 - Day 40

Hello Everyone! Well, I have reached the 40th day in India! Time is going fast and also creeping along at the same time. I continue to try and adapt everyday with some days better than others, but still it's going ok. Today was our monthly clinic and my best guess, we saw 85 patients in about 4 hours. It still floors me how the system works here. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say, it's not hospice care but somewhere between palliative and curative. I don't think there is a name for it yet! I am trying to get some sort of...

Jul 21, 2012 - Work has started!

Hello everyone! I started seeing patients at Ganga Prem Hospice this week and it certainly is different but at the same time it's just like back home. I have seen 11 patients so far and all have varying forms of cancer. I am surprised that due to the smog and very poor air quality that I am not seeing any lung cancers! Family takes on a significant role and are very involved. Spouse, adult children, grandchildren are around for every visit, know the medications they are on and help answer any questions. As I have said before, family is...

Jul 12, 2012 - Thoughts on India ( so far)

Hello All! I thought I would send a few thoughts on India. I have been here over 3 weeks now and have gathered a few "oh my's" " I can't believe this" to share with you. 1. There are really no line markings on the roadways. It's pretty much if you want to pass you can do so anyway you can. You do need to use your car horn ALOT as this tells walkers and cars in the other lane what you plan on doing. There is a hierarchy to passing and that is buses and trucks first, then shared jeeps, cars, tuk tuks and cycle rickshaws then finally, last on...

Jul 8, 2012 - Uttrakashi to Mussoorie

Hari OM, Since I am now in a place that I can use my computer, I thought I would update on the past week. I spent a very quiet and peaceful time at the ashram but after one week, I needed to move on. I lived a very simple life with the only requirements were meal times at 0700, 1200, and 830pmand of corse tea time at 400pm. This ashram is considered to be a "contemplative ashram" as there are no programs except for aarti in morning and evening (devotional). Electricity was sporadic at best, outhouses, outside bath houses, and hard, hard...

Apr 3, 2012 - My Trip to Chardham Yatra

India’s pilgrimage centers are world renowned and Hindu beliefs are pushed by so many mythical legends. Keeping this belief ahead, Chardham Yatra, like many other pilgrims, motivated me too to make my presence at the holy abodes of Lord Vishnu and the almighty Lord Shiva. A trip to Chardham Yatra as every Hindu believes is the sole way to attain redemption and salvation. When I heard about its popularity and the firm belief of the devotees, I could not retain myself from making a sacred visit to the famous shrines- Yamonotri, Gangotri,...

Feb 18, 2012 - Munsiari - Dharchula February 2011

MUNSIARI – DHARCHULA TRIP February 2011 17th February 2011 - Dehradun-Kathgodam. 18th February 2011 - Kathgodam-Bhimtaal-Bhowali-Khairna-Almora-Chitai-Petshal-Dhaulachhina-Seraghat-Ganai-Berinag-Thal-Nachni-Tejam-Kwiti-Birthi. 19th February 2011 - Birthi-Ratapani-Kalamuni-Balanti-Munsiari-Darkot-Madkot-Bangapani-Lumti-Baram-Jauljibi-Askot-Jauljubi-Balwakot-Kaika-Balwakot-Jauljibi-Askot 20th February 2011 -...