Kutchh

I just got back from my trip to Kutchh. Kutchh is an area on the north west side of Gujarat. We went to Mata ni math, Ambe dhaam, Mandvi beach, and Bhuj. I finally got to go to a beach in India in day time!! I rode a camel on the beach with my little niece! Dream come true to ride a camel-finally! Drank coconut water at the beach! I love Indian fast food- masala corn (baked corn with masala-hmm hmm good!), nariyel nu pani (coconut water) after a long walk in mid afternoon heat!, Bombay sandwich, pani puri (my absolute favorite-ate plenty of that in Kutchh!), baraf na gola (snow cone) with ice cream and dry fruits!!- everything is so much cheaper than USA prices! I shall enjoy it all while I am here! I will miss the food here. I will try to make it in USA, but the taste is never the same as in India! My favorite part about my 5 day stay in Kutchh has to me playing with my nieces and going to the beach!! Spending time with my cousin sister after ages felt so amazing. I missed out on so much being oceans away, but I wanted to make up for that time with family while I am here. My 2 yr old niece was the highlight of my days there. She never failed to entertain me with her cuteness. The things she says and does are adorable beyond words! Whereever I go, I always have little kids to play with here!! I love that-kids teach me so much about life! They make life seem so easy and sweet. I forget all worries or troubles when I play with them. I am so thankful to have been able to come to India for this long and see my family here, gain eternal life lessons and happiness from my time with ngos. The experiences I have had here have changed me so much. Sometimes, I feel like it is worthless to buy things to take back because I do not want objects to be symbol of India. I want my memories to remain pure without any materialistic attachment. It is a given though that I have to take things back for family there and all. The love I have received here can only be stored in my heart. No dress or fancy expensive jewelary can make me happy when compared to the memories I have with the children here-playing at the community center, the random garba at Gandhi ashram, morning prayer everyday, trip to Aadarsh Ahemdabad with Aanganwadi teachers, bonding with all the wonderful people that made me smile. It has been a blessing to meet them all. It is time for me to wrap up my trip-so much paperwork, so much packing, errends, meeting all relatives and family friends. That takes up most time. I would rather travel than pack, but I guess this trip to Kutchh was the only real traveling in India that was in my destiny for this India stay. Next time, I will expand my horizons more. Other people keep closing gates for me in the name of having to run errends for everyone else, and I feel obligated to do those things for them, but at the same time, I want to live my life and travel and make the most of my days here. It is a sensitive approach that I have to take at times, but I have to try my best to please everybody else and keep faces smiling. I am thankful for the little traveling I got to do, but even more thankful for everything else that I only got to experience thanks to God and my parents finally letting me come to India after so much convincing. I know in the future, I  am meant to return to India and serve here. This is where I ultimately belong, and I knew that when I was born. My heart will always be in India. I will return to USA and train myself to grow and become more and more capable just so I can come back to India and serve others here. That is my dream. It always has been. Interestingly enough though, last couple days, I have been missing USA. It is as much as my home as India is. I have two home countries. I am very lucky to have been raised in different cultures, different languages, and customs. Somewhere, somehow, it has shaped me to be who I am today. The challenges, the set backs, the hardships of growing up in a diaspora has only made me more open minded and be able to see through different perspectives easily-A trait I value so much as I learn so many life lessons through that.

windmills aka pawan chakki (in Gujarati) in Kutchh, my little niece calls it chawan paki!! 2 yr olds-and their  pronunciations!!  :) 

Maa tujhe salam! 

Mandvi beach in Kutchh

camel ride -1st actual camel ride, and that too on a beach :) 

serdi no ras (sugar cane) making machine at the beach

the lady with a bright smile- who made the masala corn for us at the park 

masala corn-my favorite! 

dabeli (a type of sandwich) popular snack in India; apparently Kutchh is famous for Dabeli

Rann of Kutchh- salt 

salt 

In life, one must keep on the path of virtue. Do as your heart says-try at least. Happiness is a product of your thoughts rather than external circumstances.