After two weeks in India, Crystal is ready to make a difference.
I've been in India for about two months now. I'm learning so much about culture, language, society and even love. I visited the local Fort Jhansi again. It's old and it's not a place to go if you want to have fun, but looking out at the entire city makes me feel so. . .peaceful.
As days go by, I'm constantly planning my next move. There's always adventure to be had when exploring India. A few weeks ago, I visited Orchha, a holy place near my home city. I prayed at the temples, walked the streets, met other travellers, toured the Orchha fort, met a Sadhu and spent some time near the river. I was in the company of some great friends the whole time. The entire experience brought me an overwhelming sense of peace and belonging.
Last week I also attended a wedding in Nagpur. Between the events, I had the chance to explore the city. I got to see a couple of really beautiful lakes and parks, as well as a sacred Buddhist monument, the Deeksha Bhoomi. I tried Indian street food for the first time and I loved it! We had something called bhelpuri, which was delicious.
Witnessing the wedding itself was beautiful, as it was a traditional Marathi wedding.
My next move is Delhi, and I'll be leaving in a day or so. I plan to stay in a hostel or find a "paid guest" living arrangement. My business partner and good friend from Delhi is searching for a place for me to stay before I arrive. Most likely, I will be in an all-girls hostel with my own separate room. I’ll have access to a kitchen, so I'll be able to cook—finally!
Another good thing about being in Delhi is searching all of the local volunteer opportunities there. I've finally found a few that I'm ready to investigate.