Getting Ready to Go

It's Monday the 17th, and we're getting close to our departure.  My wife Lenka and I will be leaving tomorrow night around midnight, and Ian will follow the next day.  We'll be taking opposite routes around the globe to India: Lenka and I to the west through Asia, and Ian to the east through Europe.  We'd like to think we're giving the globe a big hug.

We're all excited about this trip, as it's been a long time coming.  Ian and Lenka have never been to India before, but have always wanted to go.  In fact Ian and I had planned to go in 2005, but a death in the family postponed the trip, and we've only now gotten enough projects done to allow us the time off.  

This will be my 4th trip, and I don't feel my last.  India is one of those places that gets under your skin, and inspires strong reactions.  People seem to love it, or they don't go back.  I knew from my first trip there 10 years ago that it was a special place, and that I would be going back.  You can see some info on that trip by visiting this (very old) website.

I returned a year later, this time doing some consulting for one of the large Indian movie studios.  I spent two months outside Hyderabad, the capitol of Andra Pradesh.  You can read some funny tales from that trip here.

Then in 2004 my friend Claire Rudholm, who graces the cover of our Anatomy for Yoga DVD, was diagnosed with stage-4 cancer at age 32.  She was told that she had a short time to live, and chose to spend her last weeks at her favorite Sivananda ashram in Kerala, southern India.  Her remarkable story, which serves as an inspiration for our return trip there now, can be found here.

So, we'll be traveling somewhat in Claire's footsteps, and exploring some new places with eager, fresh eyes and open hearts.  Thanks for tagging along—we hope you enjoy the ride.

Blessings,

Mark