Aliveness.

We've been moving at an extraordinary rate. After exploring Hampi, we traveled by train to Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India where three seas meet. Four days in Tamil Nadu hardly gives southern India any justice, and I can't even pretend to think that I saw anything at all.

The temples we visited were cities in their own rights - Sri Ranganathaswamy in Trichy, Sri Meenakshi in Madurai - were alive. Perhaps that's what makes India's architectural wonders and temples so beautiful - not necessarily their esthetics (although they were incredibly beautiful), but their liveliness. As keeps happening to us (inevitably because so much is happening everywhere) we were in the right place at the right time. At Sri Ranganathaswamy, a festival brought thousands of pilgrims to the temple at sunset to join in a procession around the city, each day a different deity being carried (and not an easy feat, requiring 12-16 men laboring hard) with music, prayers, and the temple elephant. As we joined the crowds, all trying to catch a glimpse of Hanuman outside of the temple, I was reminded again of how integrated religion is in everyday life. Temple festivals don't just recognize important days on a calendar. Everyone I ask has a different answer as to what all the noise and colour and parading is good for - from community and spirituality to politics and brainwashing - and without a doubt, every answer is true in some regard. But they all point fingers at the same thing - this (to me) insane aliveness.

One day I'll think of a better word.