Like walking to the source of one of the world's most important and holy water sources, the Mother Ganga, getting burned by the sun and chilled by the glacier at the same time.
Like eating momos and tingmo until I thought I would burst.
Like almost loosing our fruit to stealing monkeys on a bridge in Rishikesh minutes after having a conversation about whether or not it was in fact the bridge famous for fruit-stealing monkeys.
Like wandering through the previously secret garden of salvage scrap and rock art, a labyrinth of fantastic proportions in the most elaborately planned city in India.
Like knowing we would be here during mango season, enjoying kilos of them, and then being pleasantly surprised that it was also lichee season, and eating even more.
Like attending a candle-light vigil down the streets of Dharamshala twelve hours after the self-immolation of a Tibetan nomad in Eastern Tibet.
Like having round after round of cards and drinking chai with bus and taxi drivers while stranded in the Pin Valley - and winning my fair share of the hands.
Like drinking a beer in a restaurant next to a table with a Hindu, a Muslim, and a Sikh - all businessmen - two enjoying beer and one orange juice, all laughing and sharing a meal.
Like playing catch with kids and learning all the games that can be played with a ball without exchanging a single word, but plenty of smiles and laughs.
Like learning how two people with one shovel (and a piece of rope) is indeed more effective.
Like watching monks slip away from monasteries to smoke cigarettes, drink Coke, and eat chicken wings.
Like having a man who just pulled me out of ten foot deep mud kindly brush the hair out of my face for me.
Like sharing a simple meal with a sadhu in his cave in the mountains.
Like discovering how effective a piece of slate and a good rock is better than any mortar and pestle.
Like becoming suddenly aware we were in the Himalayas walking along a still-closed road because of snow and ice in sandals.
Like coming back to Delhi and, finding it much less overwhelming, realizing how long we've been in India.
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