My first thought when arriving at New Delhi airport was... How had I traveled back in time to a world war 1 airport without noticing the effects of time displacement? This airport was seriously falling apart at the seems and all around I could see remnants of past eras.Clearing customs was a pinch and soon after we got our baggage from the stupid rail thingy and soon after that had some of Blakes trail mix packets. We Exchanged our money at 48.10 rupees to the dollar. I Exchanged 700 and Blake 175. I got 32k he got 8k the money changers took 15 dollars from me for the service and 8 from Blake.Funnily enough our first experience with the government approved taxi was him trying to rip us off, lol, well we made short work of him and paid the right price promptly. We got into our "taxi" a simple box car with wheels with no radio no ac/heating or anything else besides a steering wheel, accelerator and brake. Our drivers name was mano, a young guy who spoke just enough English to keep us vaguely informed and guessing as to what we were informed about.The traffic in Delhi is chaotic at times and madness every time else, but Mano swerved through nooks and crannies that bikers in the US wouldn't even attempt, and after an hour we got the hostel. It was HOT and that's not including the layers of toxins and airborne moisture's that permeate Delhi in all it's many sections.We checked in and got to our bunks, the fans weren't running yet, we really wished that they were though. I wasn't sweating so much, but I could see the buckets running off Blakes brow. The whole time all I could think off was how much trouble we were really in, 2 american kids running arround this mega city with no clue and no help... But little did we know of what was in store for us.
Chapter 3: Feelings and Preperations
Well here we are ladies and gents, take off in t minus 4 days. It's so exciting to be off again, seeing the world and in so doing seeing my potential as a journeyman in this life grow as well. A week ago I got my pack and sleeping bag for the trip, along with thermals and other assorted items, I can't wait to use them for real though.Today I got my journal, which will be the record in which we place our trust for lack of trust in what will eventually be our failed memories, it always amazes me, every single time, the way I could have completely forgotten an entire section of my life, not to mention the little things that build upon our life as a whole. Even if you keep a journal everyday, inevitably things are omitted, forgotten, over or under stated, exaggerated, miss-remembered, or flat out lied about, and in the end years down the line you've forgotten which was real or otherwise and so what you wrote becomes the truth that you believe, which is why I do my best to be accurate and persistent in my recounting s of what I've seen and done.Right after my mom and I got the journal we went to see Mr. Lee at the loft, we compared notes and he showed me what to look for in India, if I wanted to become a salesman lol, I'll take the opportunity if I get it for sure, but I find it just crazy to think of myself as a businessman running around India looking for treasures at a bargain price. No matter which way I think about it though it surely will be an grand experience.So, I can't speak for Blake but I'm almost all set. I've packed my room up and put all my things away so my mom can rent out my room and I've set out all the things I'm taking with me across my bed so I can do inventory. All in all I feel good about my equipment, of course I'll add more along the way but generally this will be my starting gear, and so with that the excitement and anticipation builds.Every time I have traveled abroad I've felt the same strange feeling days before we would depart, it's a feeling unlike fear or nervousness in that It doesn't make me feel uneasy, but neither is it like excitement or happiness because I don't look forward to the feeling or seek it out. I've thought about it before and recently I've come to the conclusion that it really isn't a feeling at all, it's actually a force all in and of self, a presence that pulls me away from the known and into the unknown. I've felt it so many times before, and yet it always hits me exactly the same way, and as always I give in and never look back.India lies ahead of us, yet even beyond it there is so so oh so much more... For now though will keep our focus on the immediate ^^.