Leaving on a jet plane...

All my bags are packed. I'm ready to go...back to India after 35 years.

The end of the trip will be a cruise in Kerala, the healthiest state in India.

It seems like a long time ago when Peter and I chose a small group tour to South India. But now it is just days away. I have satisfied myself that everything I need to take fits in my small wheelie duffle bag. We have done a lot of reading, seen some movies, looked at maps, and most recently read the reviews on the places we will stay.

We will fly Air Emirates (a first for us) out of Boston to Dubai (also a first) and onward to Mumbai. The trip includes urban and historical sight-seeing, a hill station and national park, bird watching and a boat safari (better to see a tiger from a distance, if we are lucky) all before the final cruise.

The last time I was in India was 1980, and it was my first trip overseas. Talk about starting with a challenge! After enjoying the food and sights of Delhi and Agra, we spent most of about three months in Bangalore, with side trips to Sri Lanka and the southern India coast. I still have some of the baskets and brass I brought home from that visit. This trip is also to South India, but mostly west. There is an overnight in Bangalore (reputedly the Silicon Valley of India and the location of all those people who take your customer service calls). But it is mostly new territory for me and I am armed with a ten-year visa (I think the government of India assumes I might want to come back), new big sunglasses, and a hat with a brim (also bug spray, sunblock, and anti-malarial drugs).

Stay tuned. I look forward to sharing this new/old experience. Chaat reports coming up.