namaste

Its now 4.20pm, and I'm sitting in a quaint little booth in an internet cafe in Kovalam,Kerala;South India. Yes, my travels have brought me home to my roots. I have been in India for almost a month now and have enjoyed almost every single moment of it, where I got sick..... yes I was a victim of the infamous 'travellers diarrhoea' ,only mine was quite a dazzling show of gastronomical pyrotechnics (I really don't want to rehash the details, as I'm sure you wouldn't want me to either...so I'm hoping you get my drift;) I was admitted for 2 days,and being a patient in a rural Indian hospital was really quite an experience. Once I got passed that, awww man everything has been super like. I live in a little village with a lovely family. The food is mainly vegetarian....good vegetarian good. I've had less than 1 litre of Coca-Cola in the past four weeks , NO COFFEE in the past four weeks ( and for those of you who know me.... yeah ...THIS ALMOST COMPLETE ABSENCE OF CAFFEINCE IN MY LIFE IS A MILESTONE OF MONUMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE) . Its very quiet here, and when I'm not working at the hospital, I find myself left alone with my thoughts. Its a good break....time to take stock sorta thing.
Being in India and living among the people has been one of the most humbling experiences ever. I've met some really lovely locals and the family I stay with have adopted me as their own. I cycle to work almost every morning.... me,Karen who is completely devoid of hand -eye coordination riding a bicycle on the chaotic streets of Tirunelvelli (the town) ......where cars, auto-rickshaws,massive busses, lorries, cows, goats ,dogs ,pedestrians and cyclists ALL HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY...RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME. I wish my parents were here to see that!!!!
Working here has been an eye-opener. I have assisted in surgeries, drilled open plaster casts, helped deliver babies.......I could go on and on,but I'm tired of typing...(you might be tired of reading).... in a nutshell, from a medical perspective, its been an invaluable exposure.
I'm done my fair share of travelling and sight seeing as well.What can I say except that the sights I've seen are breathtaking and glorious. Yesterday,I was at the southern tip, the tail end of India.....a place called Kanyakumari.....awwww man....there are no words. (will post pictures soon).
So yes, this is my last weekend here and will be flying back to KL for a short stint.

Man, I'm having fun:)

Ps: Himara, you should see my nails.... you'd be proud.