Well, it's been a long time, but I'm back in the US now, and settling back into my "normal" life. The funny thing is that what I used to think was normal no longer really seems that way. Everything from drinking water out of several plastic bottles a day, to going to Whole Foods, to filling up a gas tank seems slightly surreal. I feel like I've entered the land of the consumer in full force, and it's making me a bit uneasy. But, at the same time, I'm surrounded by loved ones, and every time I see someone for the first time again I get this amazing feeling of right-ness. So I guess it's an exercise in reconciliation. I have to reconcile myself to being back in this "normal" life.

This was our pre-New Years dinner, at the nicest hotel in Bombay, the Taj Mahal. They have a sushi restaurant there, Wasabi, that is phenomenal. Yeah, I know, sushi in India, a little risky perhaps, but not at this place. It's the Nobu of India. 

New Years was a blast with Ashwin, Neel and Brian. Look at those cheesy smiles! 

We were obviously having a good time. The one in the back with the jazz hands we lovingly termed, "Johnny Fever." 

Reg and me, sharing the love. 

We invented a new holiday in Hyderabad: Diwaloween. Halloween and Divali fell within a day of each other, and so we combined them. Brian is dressed as one of the best known beers in India, Kingfisher, and I am "The Personification of Disco." 

My boss is on the left, and one of my colleagues is on the right. I love working for a company where you're the weird one if you don't dress up for Halloween. 

Campbell, Roy's daughter, in heaven with some bubble wrap. Remember when all you needed for entertainment was some bubble wrap? I miss those days.

Kalpana and Raunak. Kalpana is a colleague and friend, and Raunak is her smart-as-a-whip son.  

Brian and Raunak playing the hand slap game. I think Raunak won... 

Scuba diving in Koh Tao. I want to live in the house that's behind me.  

Claire and I, preparing for a night dive off Koh Tao. Don't we look all sporty and professional in our wetsuits? Ok, just pretend we do then. 

Thailand is truly, truly beautiful. It just grabs and holds you breathless. 

So, after getting off my 14 hour flight, I decided to get on another plane. I know, I know, I'm crazy, but when the end point of my journey is Park City Utah and skiing, can you blame me? I mean, look at that view! 

This is the biggest statue of Ganesh I've ever seen. The day after this picture, the statue was taken to the lake in the middle of town and thrown in. It's all part of a Hindu holiday called Ganesh Chaturthi :)

Just a quick digression from the normal chronological order for a truly unique and spectacular event... Swampfest 2005. For Sara Wampler's birthday, we all donned shirts that identified us as either Banjara Hillbillies, or part of the Banjara Hills 90210 crew. We then proceeded to terrorize the city of Hyderabad on a scavenger hunt that took us from buffaloes to beer to bangles. It was a blast, and as with all modern scavenger hunts, involved photo documentation. Hence, I have some truly memorable moments to share below. Enjoy!

Yes, it is legal to buy fireworks here. In fact, it might even be legal to buy dynamite. Fireworks and beer are a great combo, by the way. 

It's amazing to me that so many women wear burqas here, and yet they work, drive scooters, and generally lead their lives with no discernable difference other than their outward appearance. 

This is my feeble attempt to kiss a water buffalo. I think the buffalo didn't want me kissing him as much as I didn't want to kiss him! 

So, there's this boarding house down the street from where our office is in Hyderabad, and this is the sign. Interesting... 

Well, I owe anyone who's been trying to read my blog for the past several months a big apology. It's been almost 6 months since I updated it (gasp!), and I really have no valid excuse. Yes, I've been busy, yes, I've been running around, but I have certainly had time to spend in the blogosphere... Anyways, I'm sorry, let's move on.

To summarize the last several months (see pictures for evidence):
-Turned 25, had a wine and cheese party that degenerated into an arrack and paneer/dance fever experience (if you don't know what arrack and paneer are, search them on google :)
-Went back to the US for a few weeks of fun with the ladies, and a *very* fun trip to Vegas
-Dressed up as a disco princess for halloween
-Went to Mumbai and the Sula Winery with Ashwin and crew (I have now been wine tasting on multiple continents)
-Had an excellent Thanksgiving dinner complete with real turkey (not too common in India, as you might imagine)
-Spent Christmas with the Gilberts
-Spent New Years in Mumbai, was up till 7:30 am (a personal record)
-Went back to Mumbai in mid-Jan (anyone see a theme here? Mumbai is phenomenal...)


Now I'm in my last month in Hyderabad, and as I look back on my time here, I'm starting to get impossibly nostalgic. India has changed me in so many ways, and it's difficult for me to imagine what my life will be like when I go back to San Francisco, even though that is technically "home." I will carry little pieces of India with me for the rest of my life: an appreciation of really good chai, the varied flavors of chat masala (perhaps the most complicated spice I've ever tasted), the memory of my friend Maya's particular tone of voice and intonation when she's being teased about something, an appreciation of staring in public being an acceptable convention, the pride in knowing how to get around a city that has no street names or building numbers.

I will wear the saris and bangles I'm bringing back to the States with pride, and plan to organize "salwar kameez" Thursdays at work. I know I will never find dal like the dal from Angeethi. I plan to make appam and prawn curry at home (I'll probably fail, but I WILL try). I will probably do the head bobble for several months after I return, and will certainly get strange looks for it.

So much of my time here has been in a bubble of the expat lifestyle, but I have also walked around the streets of Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, and have gained a profound respect for the people of this country, who despite crushing poverty and backbreaking work, still find time to smile, laugh, and love fiercely. India is a humbling place.

Alright, enough of the reflection. I've added some new pictures below, take a look, leave a comment, etc.

People carry all kinds of stuff on scooters here, it's really incredible. 40-inch TV anyone? 

This is Sara *succeeding* in kissing a water buffalo. 

The roadside barbershop industry in Hyderabad is booming. 

For the momentous occasion of my 25th birthday, we had a wine and cheese party. Please note that the wine bottles in the picture are only 25 percent of the total wine bottle-age at the party.

Haha, they have no idea what's coming up in the next few hours... 

Josh was triple fisting at one point. Hmmm.... 

Josh+triple-fisting=bikes in the living room