Alive and well

Thanks for all who were inquiring about my state. Nice to know that there are people out there who care about my well-being. I´m well and was already out of harms way when things set off in Mumbai. Still, I stayed at Colaba area, two blocks away from the Taj Mahal Hotel and the gas station blown up beside Nariman house were on my way back to the hotel. And we sat at Leopold's just two weeks before.

Even though I would say that India is a really safe place to travel it is quite striking how present death and mortality can be. Of course being submerged to the Ganges as your final resting place is the most graceful ending to this life the locals can think of but still the image of a child's body washed ashore being devoured by a hound is quite well embedded to my memories. And even though cremation is a custom in my home country it is being done behind closed doors and away from the public eye. Therefore the presence of death and the constant reminder of our impermanency might be quite shocking and open your eyes in a different way. At least it gives perspective and when you are ill in your hotel room, struggling to go downstairs to get some more water it makes you feel quite alone at times. Even without any extra terrorist attacks.

I've had a little fever and some stirrups in my stomach but nothing major. Being woken up by the sound of a loud explosion and fireworks nearby did scare me a bit though during the night. Hard to believe me saying this, but is this really an appropriate time to be setting off fireworks? :)

Now back in Palolem, trying to get better and planning on the Kerala trip.