For so many reasons, as I leave Kathmandu, I feel as if a piece of me is left behind. But as sad as that may seem, within it I find comfort that I know that I will return some day, possibly sooner rather than later.

After leaving the “internship” program, I found my niche in the system. I seemed to find my way around quickly, made good friends, and soon felt as if in some ways I was at home. Sure the surroundings were different, the environment chaotic, and the glares of some of the people consumed me at times. But returning home to my beloved stupa and apartment was always a slice of tranquility pie at the end of my day.

But just like all other times in my life moving day has arrived, and off to India I go. The bustle of Delhi is calling me and I am ready to see the sights, taste the samosas, and smell the curry. So really how different will it be? And, more so what else am I to learn of myself and the world?

Jane, Tenzin Jang Chub, and Lama Guru all headed to New Orleans Cafe for Jane and I to say our farewells. I will see her in just a couple of days when she too heads to Delhi, but it is always nice to be sent off by a good friend. Tenzin Jang Chub and Lama Guru presented Allison and I with farewell katas to wish us a safe journey, and I believe that there is no better way that I could have imagined to have bent sent off from Kathmandu.

Well actually, that is not necessarily true. The few days leading up to my departure brought me a bit of sorrow. There is one friend that I made in Nepal that I feel I never was able to say good bye to properly, and that is something that I may not be able to mentally resolve. I learned to seize and challenge my realized fear of farewells recently, and the fact that I was not able to see this person and say my good byes, did leave me a bit jaded. I was finally ready to face a goodbye in my life, and this person maybe was not, or had already moved on, who is to say. But maybe closure is over rated any way, or maybe it was just not yet time for that farewell.

The ride to the airport Allison and I were up and down on a roller coaster ride of emotion, we laughed, we got a little sad, but mostly we just had a good time. I think more and more as each day passes for this female future pulitzer prize duo, I realize a little bit more just how alike that we are.

We both have moved around so much in life, from being kids and doing the mother to father and back again shuffle, to apartment jumble in the college years, and now from city to city in Asia, it’s funny how quickly we pack and unpack, and then do it all again. It is nice to finally know someone that can often relate to many of my feelings and situations that I have faced in life. Oh, and I think we follow the same mood swing cycle, which really helps!!!

At the Kathmandu airport security was a hassle, but not really as stringent as it appeared. We went from line to line having our bags checked and rechecked, yet I still managed to carry a “liquid” bottle of hand sanitizer and get a few lighters into Delhi. I guess the key is to carry so much stuff that no one wants to take the time to deal with really looking through it all.

We clicked another nice little “us” portrait, which shortly after Allison pointed out to me that she had seen a sign saying no photos. Yet, I carried my big ‘ol camera on my shoulder the entire way through all of the various checkpoints and no one mentioned a thing. I even managed to take the self portrait below as I was waiting in line to go through immigration and customs.

While taking off and looking back at Kathmandu, I took a bit of time to think and to reflect. It was another one of those moments that I was holding my huge copy of Anna Karenina and was really not reading it. Someone told me recently that you only carry around a copy of Tolstoy if you are looking to impress people. I wonder now what that really means. I looked out the window and took one last “click” of the shutter to capture another moment of light in the Valley. The clouds were beautiful, the air was clear, and from the sky the valley looks so lush and so green. It is nice to have a pleasant view of Kathmandu when thinking of all of your final farewells.

After a can of Air Sahara’s complimentary Tiger beer and an Indian dish of some sort of paneer and sweets, I was feeling better. I ended the flight feeling giddy and just ready for the next adventure. Though I was a bubble gum queen since the flight was one of the most difficult on my ears that I have flown on in quite some time!

Ahh, Delhi airport. What more can I say? There are two types of bathroom stalls; Indian and Western. I opted for the one not photographed as it flushed and came fully equipped with toilet paper. And if you are wearing jeans and carrying a backpack full of camera gear, I think that the later is definitely the smarter of the two options.

So we arrived in Delhi safe and sound and were greeted at the airport by our hosts. Our living arrangements are more than I could have hoped for and we are settling in nicely. It will be interesting to see where the road will lead this duo next.