INDIA: A 26 day odyssey.

dagmarka, you seem to have extensive knowledge of the area! Have you lived there or just traveled it much?

Fascinating web site, McT-!

nah, i've been there twice for a few weeks. i keep in touch with my students, one of whom i have on IM as we speak.

He says Kerala was not hit by the rains and floods at all (and he's all the way down in <...deep breath, lessee how good my memory is> Thiruvanathapuram - yeah, I think i got it.

ATTENTION CLARY, THIS I ASKED FOR YOU:

Nidhin: one of the famous ayurvedic centre in kerala is kottaykal arya vaidya sala

his uncle is a doctor there and will give you special treatment if you're interested in venturing there. i can get more info from nidhin...

mcT, your article was about something else, sorry. What I was referring to was current news - south of india was hit by severe storms and floods and over 100 people died. but not in the areas you're going to...

Just been south to Cornwall

but back now

not been off in a huff or anything in case you were all worried (not).

Cornwall (Kernow) is a special place, noted for pastys and mad women. (both tasty)

Thank you very much Dagmara - I have another contact, now, a Dr who runs a holistic clinic incorporating both ayurveda and allopathy whose wife I know. If I have time I'll contact the one you suggested too.

WB Steve from the Wild West

thks clry ws tuf bt m25 notwithstanding, we made it.

Just two days prior to Diwali, the terrorists have detonated two bombs in Delhi killing 100s.
Clary,McTag and also Prince El take care.

Terrible. I'm very sorry. I heard an Indian govt. minister on the radio this morning saying they had no idea who was behind the attack, other than terrorists. Cant believe that. Who do you think was behind it?

Lashkar-e-toiba, a terrorist outfit based on the POK(Pakistan occupied Kashmir) - Kashmir border is suspected to have carried out this attack.
The reason is simple- Utter Frustation. All their post-parliament attack attempts to harm the Indian intregity went waste.
The three areas that have been attacked : Pahadganj, Sarojini Nagar and Chandni Chowk are located in the Old Delhi region- where the 70% Delhi population dwells. It is a non-posh locality, it is Diwali time and markets are crowded than ever. This made their game easier. Huh..

Delhi and Mumbai both are highly terrorized by such incidents from time to time. I feel sometimes (out of frustration) to claim the POK back by starting counter terrorism by India.... But the next moment I find myself not different than them.

Does patience pays off really....

Reuters India:
Kashmir Militants Claim Delhi Blast
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-10-30T201559Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-221582-5.xml&archived=False
By Shailendra Bhatnagar and Palash Kumar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - An obscure Kashmiri militant group claimed responsibility on Sunday for bomb blasts in India's capital which killed at least 59 people, but analysts said it was probably a front for a larger Pakistan-based group.

New Delhi has so far refused to speculate on who was behind Saturday's triple blasts, but security experts see the hand of Lashkar-e-Taiba (Force of the Pure) behind the attacks, in an attempt to derail the peace process between India and Pakistan.

The explosions took place within half an hour in markets packed with shoppers just days before major Hindu and Muslim festivals. Many of the victims were women and children.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed terrorists, but said it was too early to say who was behind the attacks.

On Sunday, the Islami Inqilabi Mahaz (Islamic Revolutionary Group), telephoned local newspapers in Indian Kashmir to claim responsibility for the blasts and warn of more to come.

Delhi Police said they were checking the claim.

"This is a very old organisation, it was formed in 1996 and has not been very active recently. They are linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba," Joint Commissioner of Police Karnal Singh told a news conference.

Singh denied local media reports that police had detained 20 people. "We have only questioned some people during investigations. We will crack this soon," he said, adding that the death toll stood at 59 while 210 were wounded.

this Inqilabi thing is the incarnation of LET, a part of International Islamic Front. There previous attempts had failed.

Well, to resume... this is the day we leave. In a few hours, McTag and I will be, I hope, meeting at Terminal 4 Heathrow Airport. I am in southern Paris right now, luckily right on the RER underground line to Charles de Gaulle Airport. I've already lost things, or realised I've forgotten them. C'est la vie...

McTag here at home computer. Shortly off for shower & shave, and will be going to the airport for the first leg, to London Heathrow, in about two hours.

Everything, as far as I know, under control.

Bon voyage Clary, hasta la vista.

Have a good trip, both of you - to Heathrow but especially further on!!!

exciting! i cannot wait to hear stories and see pics!

I'm checking in for the virtual flight...

That's the spirit! I'll be listening with interest and hoping you have an amazing time.

It's so good to see Clary having a good time, after what she's been through. It's so life-affirming.