No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. ~Lin Yutang

I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be back in the United States! India was incredible, and my travel, education, and experiences in this incredible country were invaluable and life-changing. But, for me, nothing truly compares to home. During my last week in India, I visited a town in the foothills of the Himalayas where I learned about the relationship between Tibet (China) and India. I did some hiking, and my entire group rafted down the Ganges River. We then made our way to New Delhi, the capital of India, where we visited the Taj Mahal. My group and I ended our Indian adventure in Mumbai, "The Gateway to India." Mumbai still has a distinctive European "feel" to it from its British occupation, which made for very interesting cultural and historical conversations. India was captivating, beautiful, and enlightening. I was sad to leave the country and the friends I have made, but I am look forward to sharing my adventures with all of my friends and family at home.

 An approaching storm in the Himalayas

 The foothills of the Himalayas

 Sunset in Mumbai

 Port of Mumbai

It is incredible how something as simple as a vegetable stand can be so stunning

 The side of the Taj Mahal

 View of the Taj Mahal from the Agra Fort across the river

See the Taj Mahal...Check!!

“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” – Hilaire Belloc

My time in the northern part of India is speeding by as fast as the trains I am traveling on. Yesterday my group completed a twenty-eight hour train ride, yes I said twenty-eight hours. I spent two days in Mutyalapadu, where we studied agriculture and the negative impacts of globalization and the influx of MNCs (Multi-National Corporations) on the agricultural sector of India. We were hosted by an organization that educates farmers about farming techniques, water conservation, and land rights. We then spent two days in Hyderabad, where we studied Islam. The city has one of the highest urban concentrations of Muslims in India, and India has the third largest Muslim population in the world. We visited a mosque (well, we were shown the outside because as non-Muslims, and women, we could not enter) which was beautiful.

We are currently in Varanasi, the city of lights. Varanasi is the holiest of cities for Hindus, sometimes referred to as the Mecca of Hinduism. Hinduism is centered around attaining moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth and reincarnation. It's believed that if a person’s ashes are scattered on the Ganges River in Varanasi, they will be able to obtain this spiritual release. Last night, we were able to witness a festival celebrating the birth and wedding of the deity Ram, and it was an extraordinary cultural experience.

 Varanasi and the Ganges River

 Street view in Hyderabad

 Hyderabad

 Hyderabad

 Mutyalapadu

 Hindi celebration from the Ganges River

 Sunset in Mutyalapadu

 Hyderabad

The mosque we visited in Hyderabad