7 Hours Until Departure!

So, I'm sitting at the kitchen table at my parents new house in Danville California eating bites of Pumpkin Pie from Thanksgiving dessert straight out of the tin. It's toasty warm, cozy and comfortable. Looking down at the crisp new holiday themed table mats, listening to the conversation. Trying to stay present, but feeling slightly disconnected from it all. In just 7 hours I will be on my way to India. I can only imagine the contrast that awaits.
Fortunately I will have a very cushy landing. The first 10 days I will be in Coimbatore celebrating my friend Ishani's wedding. I've only heard a few details about the wedding so far, but rumor has it we will be learning a Bollywood dance upon arrival to preform at the wedding, and we each have our own Henna artist. AND, there will be over 1000 people at this 5 star wedding, I have never been to an Indian wedding before, but I've heard they are unbelievable. After the wedding the Grooms family is taking us on a jungle excursion where we will get to play with monkeys and magical elephants.
The month following the wedding will be spent backpacking through Northern India with 3 friends. We are 4 women, all 5'9'' and taller, and 2 of us are blonde, so I
imagine we will blend right in ;)
Am I apprehensive? Slightly.
Am I excited? Definitely.
Off to take a little hike with my sister and parents and then finish packing.
Next time I post I will be sitting in an internet cafe in India!

Travel Advice

If I had a penny for every time I heard these India Travel Tips, I'd be able to fund my entire trip!

"Don't drink the water"
"Not even the ice"
"Never eat street food"
"Never eat with your left hand"
"That's the hand you wipe with"

Anybody else have a tip?