Goodbye, India. I will miss you.

I am sitting in the Hong Kong airport on this day that will last 37.5 hours, contemplating what India meant to my life. Everything about India is a paradox: messy is beautiful, chaos is organized, yes is actually no, the pace is intense yet relaxed, and the simple things are often complex. So it is only fitting that after leaving that fascinating place, I am feeling positive and negative emotions all at once - I am so excited to go home, yet so sad to leave India behind. I know I have truly changed throughout this experience and I loved being reminded (over and over, every day) that if I just go with the flow, things will work out the way they are supposed to. Here are a few previously unreleased pictures that remind me of things I saw a lot in the last seven weeks...

persistent street vendors, willing to be paid in rupees, or even watches...

thousands of travelers getting on and off the trains...

all kinds of items available to buy and sell at the market...

women in saris, patiently waiting for buses...

the tranquility of a train station, in between trains...

amazing, dark eyes and curious, friendly faces...

awesome shadows and ever-changing light...

the constant beauty of water on the most mundane surfaces...

the importance and abundance and yumminess of chai...

fabulous houseboats roaming the backwaters of Kerala...

mass amounts of everything, including ducks...

and smart, happy, curious children.

Kanyakumari and other adventures...

Wow - I didn't realize how long it has been since I've updated my blog! I have been extremely busy and am quickly approaching the end of this fabulous journey. As I mentioned before, my entire class met up in Kanyakumari and spent a few days there getting caught up. I enjoyed the company, but didn't care as much for the location. I saw more Western-ers during my short time there than I have seen the rest of my time in India. Because of the tourist-y nature of the town, the locals constantly try to sell you things and want to take you to all the hot-spots. Besides that I think I just missed Kerala. Nevertheless, I still snapped a few photos...

This is the view from our hotel lobby - I am loving the views of colorful laundry hanging out to dry everywhere in this country.

We had a grand plan to take a group portrait on the roof of our hotel. We scheduled a time, then Paul and I went up to scope the scene out and figure out where to put the camera and the people. The view was awesome with the town and the ocean in the background (kinda similar to the top photo, just higher point of view.) Unfortunately, in the 5 mimutes that it took us to go downstairs and tell everyone we were ready - it started to pour! Some people were planning to leave that day so we decided it would be appropriate to put everyone out in the rain. It's hard to see in the picture, but we are getting soaked...

When it wasn't raining in Kanyakumari, there was some incredible light peeking through the clouds.

Once I returned to Trivandrum, I knew that time would start flying by. I also started getting sentimental because I love this town and the people I've met here. I am also strangely attached to this main road I walk up and down almost every day and wanted a picture of it from a rooftop. So... I climbed to the top of Hotel Safari (where my good friend Rajeev works) and took this shot. I know it might not look very exciting, but I'm attached to this place so I like it a lot.

Sometimes when it rains here (which has been nearly every day) I just try to find interesting ways to show it.

Paul and Ellen have been hanging out with me in Trivandrum for the last week or so. We went back to the market and what do you know - I took more pictures of hands!

We also were lucky enough to get a little tour of Raj and Susan's property on Lake Vellayani. What an amazing view!

Ellen had metioned that she might want to go on a quick tour of the backwaters so I mentioned it to my friend Babu, who owns Tourindia (and the houseboat I went on before,) and he made it happen the next day! We went on the same route I had been on before, but did it in one day instead of two by skipping most of the stops. It was so exciting to revisit - and with the same amazing crew!!! The best part was that I got to stop by and see the family I stayed with and deliver some pictures to them as well. They were so incredibly happy and I can't even describe how great it made me feel to see them smile when they saw the photos of themselves.

In addition, I had been talking about their "pet" eagle all day and when we got to the house, the eagle was right there waiting to say hello! I walked right up and I swear it recognized me. This picture is full-frame wtih my 5D and a 35mm lens - which means I was like a foot away.

During this boat ride I also saw the most incredible sunset that I had seen so far in India...

Back in the city, I've been working on a picture story about Dr. Rani who is a medical doctor at an all girls school of 5,700 students. She is a very special lady...

The story on Dr. Rani led me to this yoga center which I've gotten up at 5 a.m. to shoot at a couple of times. The light at sunrise on this rooftop is incredible!

I wish I had found this place earlier so I could have signed up for a month of yoga classes!

I especially loved listening to the instructor - his voice was both powerful and calming at the same time.

After more than 4 weeks in Trivandrum, I finally tried the Indian Coffee House with Paul and Ellen. The building is a very cool spiral shape and has these lovely windows all the way around.

Last, but not least - who is that white guy in a munda (moon-duh)??? Yes, he is a new man!!!