TIME IS AN ILLUSION

Just two more nights before the first leg closes. I feel like I'm in some kind of weird time warp from the pages of Einstein's Dreams. . . . the days are going so fast that they're all melting into each other, but the beginning of the trip seems like it was years ago. And, NO, I still haven't loaded any pix to post. Sorry to all those who keep asking. (I can't download straight from my camera and haven't had time and/or resources to burn to CD first.) Believe me, I will bore you with more pictures than you'll care to see once I'm home!

We are in Jaipur right now, as full of contradictions as I've seen. McDonald's and United Colors of Benetton stores across the street from pigs/cows rooting in the garbage and huge families living on a piece of cotton on the sidewalk. Western European-style bathrooms (i.e., squatless and toilet paper supplied) in the hotel and people taking dumps right out in the street. Fancy cars passing camels in the streets. It really is just a full frontal assault on every one of my senses.

Had a full morning of sightseeing at The City Palace and Observatory, and now we actually have a whole free afternoon/evening. That is virtually unheard of on this trip. Took a bicycle rickshaw back to hotel with Dad & Marty and the driver "let" Dad pedal part of the trip. He did great! Very good at dodging the tuk tuks, cars, donkey carts, meandering cows, ad nauseum! Maybe he has found his true calling:-)

The major highlight of the day, however, is that Nic actually found a market that carries the highly-coveted "astro turf" clothing. For those who do not know what that is (and why would you?), it is a very popular boys/mens clothing item here . . . vests that look like they are literally made out of various colors of astro turf. She bought several of us astro turf wraps this afternoon. HAH! Mine is bright red and embellished with sequins, and it is brilliantly HIDEOUS. I shall wear it with pride.

I am ready for some good gossip/updates from home, so please shoot me an e-mail to stormi@stormisees.com when you (any and all of you who are reading this) a get a chance. You'll get an auto reply that says I am "Far Far Away," but I actually do get the e-mails and will respond when I can.