The Last Days.

Nat on the playground with Shanthi's kids.

Waiting for the Chennai Experess in the Bangalore Station.

Eating apples on the train.

A restuarant with free napkins! This means toilet paper for us!

Coconut milk... not as good as it looks.

Getting elephant blessings... obviously an enlightening experience.

With the temple elephant.

Nat buying jasmine for her hair.

Nat and I are back in Bellingham, safe, clean, happy, and unbelievably jet-lagged. We had a good train trip over to Chennai, and a great last day in Pondicherry with Tami. Walked through the Sri Aurobindo ashram barefoot, got blessed by an elephant, drank milk from coconuts, strolled along the beach, bought fresh jasmine, listened to all the tourists speaking beautiful French, visited a Hindu temple of the monkey god Hanuman, bought saris, got henna on our hands, and drank unbelievably strong coffee that kept us awake till 3am the next morning. The flight home was long but smooth and 2 very relieved parents were awaiting us at baggage claim 2 in the chilly SeaTac airport.

Being home feels extremely quiet and very clean, which says a lot about India considering the normal state of the Day house. We are thoroughly enjoying every non-spicy meal, clean blanket, hot shower, and uninterrupted phone conversation, and simultaneously missing the sunshine, mango lassi, and constant hugs from little brown arms.