We're Here!!!!!!!!!!

After wanting to come to India for years and years and years ... after planning this trip for months and months ... here I am in the most gorgeous room you can imagine at the fabulous Imperial Hotel in Delhi!

OMG!!!

Tomorrow (make that later today because it is now 2:15 a.m.) I will upload some photos -- of our little group at the Maple Leaf Lounge, on the plane and THIS ROOM! I will also go into detail about the trip here. I honestly need to get some sleep but knew you'd all be wondering how I was and where I was.

But until then ...

Jet Air is the most amazing airline I have ever flown and I have flown on several Canadian, American and International airlines.

The smog here can kill you -- the instant the opened the door of the plane I started to cough and I haven't stopped yet. No wonder my doctor gave me antibiotics in case I get a respiratory infection. It is so dense it sticks to your skin and your clothes and you actually walk into it -- like walking through a curtain -- even inside the airport.

The honking of horns is relentless and deafening -- even at 1 in the morning when we finally walked out of the airport.

No matter what anybody tells you about how they drive here trust me you are unprepared for it. I closed my eyes and kept them shut and that's what I intend to do for the rest of the trip. A prayer here and there wouldn't hurt either, let me tell you.

What I was thinking when I said I wanted to come here by myself I do not know. We thought a piece of my luggage didn't make it -- we waited the better part of an hour. The airport was chaos -- who I would have ever found to report it to I do not know. When you finally get out of the customs area the sight that awaits you is unbelieveable -- I took pictures which I will upload tomorrow -- but they don't do it justice. The doors open and you see hundreds of people -- literally ringing the hall -- all 3 sides -- and they are about 6 or 8 deep. And they all have signs -- they are here to pick up tourists -- from hotels, from tour companies, from travel agents, from family and friends.

You cannot imagine. And they are so tightly packed in -- think sardines in a can -- it is impossible to figure out who is who, what is what and where your driver is.

Our pre-arranged bus didn't show up. If you're thinking taxi stand forget it. If you're thinking limo stand forget it. If you're thinking just ask someone in a uniform forget it. If you're thinking just call someone forget it.

We had Rashmi; and thankfully she organized 2 jeep-type vehicles for us. How I don't know. All I know is that after travelling for the better part of 24 hours and being hot, dusty, thirsty and tired in a place unlike anything I've ever experienced before I am certainly happy that I was not alone.

I am very happy I am here with our little group and with Rashmi -- we all talked about it while we were waiting for her to solve the transportation problem and we all agreed.

Come with a group!

I am going to sleep now ...