Best. Vacation. Ever.

I don't really know how write about my trip to India. I didn't really go over there to see the sights or anything like that. I went over there to see my friends. They being in a awesome place I'd never been before was just an added bonus. If you want to know what it was like over there, it was like this. the weather was hot...but not really hot. We had great weather while I was there. The smog was a little much, as was the traffic...crazy. The people...there were a lot of them, but only three times did I feel like pushing people off of me. They all liked to stare at white folks too. That part was uncomfortable at first, then it didn't bother me, then it was annoying. The food was really good and it didn't tear up my insides like I thought it would. Khan Cha Cha...go there if you can. Also whatever the place was that we went on my b-day.

And, of course we did some touristy things. Here is somewhat of a rundown of those.

Rajghat, Gandhi Museum, India Gate, Parliament, Khan Market, Taj Mahal, Lodhi Gardens, Akshardham, train ride, Jaipur (Amber Fort elephant ride, world's largest cannon at Jaigarh Fort, world's largest sundial at Jantar Mantar, world's largest silver kettles and wicked awesome weapons room at City Palace), Hauz Khas...other stuff that I can't remember right now. I did not go to a single mosque or temple while I was there. I was told that extremely unusual, especially since I was there for two weeks.

That is what I did in India. If you want to know more about that stuff, feel free to ask me. The things that stick out in my mind aren't the places I went or the things I saw. It's the good times with great friends. Here's what I'll remember when I think of this trip:

I'll remember going to Rajghat, which is pretty much the most important memorial in India, and feeling like stupid Americans for not knowing what it was all about. Just so you know, it's where Gandhi was cremated.

I'll remember having a fool-proof plan to beat the jetlag. Then I had two straight days of waking up at 4 AM. Later I was convinced that Joe and Amberley were the most evil people in the universe because they wouldn't let me go to sleep when I wanted to (9:00 PM).

I'll remember everything that went wrong (getting lost in North Delhi on my first rickshaw ride, being without power in Jaipur and in Delhi, having no water for the first couple of days in the new flat, internet access being non-existent)

I'll remember realizing that even though I haven't really cared for my birthday in 10+ years or so, 3 of my best have been in the past 5 years. This one was definitely up there, even though it was the only day I felt sick and my birthday dessert ended up shattered on the kitchen counter and floor.

I'll remember helping them move. I remember feeling bad that they wouldn't let me help the first day. They made me sit around the temporary house while they did all the lifting and carrying. I felt better after they let me help. Anyone want to guess what my spiritual gift is?

I'll remember sitting in the landlord's living room at around midnight after walking around a 100 degree Jaipur all day and riding in a train all night. we were hot, tired, dirty, we had no water, we had no power, and I was eating a bowl of ice cream (I don't like ice cream). It was then that I decided that this was my favorite vacation ever.

I'll remember having an awkward conversation with another one of the workers who may or may not be Jeff Bridges' half-brother.

I'll remember the cricket match. Amberley being as mad as I've ever seen her (and hopefully ever see her) at the security lady for trying to take her bag. And 20 minutes later yelling and cheering in the stands with the rest of the fans, even though I had no idea about anything that was going on.

I'll remember separate but equal conversations. One with Amberley on the way back from Agra, and one with Joe on the way to Jaipur. I operate so much better on a one-on-one basis, and I rarely get to do that with either of them anymore. I'm very thankful that I was able to talk to both of them individually.

I'll remember the everyday Indian life that the Futterers have to deal with: heat, constant smog, crazy traffic, language barrier, lots of dirt, everybody trying to rip them off because they're white (yeah, I just played the race card). Before I went, I never realized how different and harder things could be for them and other workers. I now have a better idea of what they deal with, what they need, how to pray for them, etc.

I told them on the way to the airport that even though a lot of things went wrong while I was there, I wouldn't change anything about my visit. That's not exactly true. If I could have, I would have stayed longer. How much longer? Well I have a six month visa...so that sounds good. Also, I would liked to have been able to see them work. I picked a good/bad time to visit depending on how you look at it. The universities they work with were out on break and a lot of the students and other workers had gone home. It was good because they weren't tied up in meetings and work and I pretty much had their undivided attention. We were, for the most part, able to do a whole lot of goofing off. I'm thankful for that. Bad because I would have like to get a better idea of the work they are doing over there. Meet some of the people whose lives they are impacting. Seen them in their element. Regardless, it was still the best vacation ever.

Oh...and we went to the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets.