USA

Miles playing ball with Cooby

Miles and I walked Cooby to the park at the end of Grand St. together to say goodbye. It is a beautiful day and the cute twins, Izzy and Ozzie were there. Delilah really likes them. It's unusual for us to all walk together as a family, but oh, so special. Of course we wonder at what points Cooby knows what is going on. I used to indicate to him a few days before leaving that something is up, but I have learned that can create anxiety. We were told by one of his dog boarding places that he's getting more anxious during his stays than when he was younger (he's 6 1/2).

So this time, remembering that dogs live in the moment and can't tell time, I didn't really say goodbye until the moment I said goodbye, with him in the back of the car. MIles is driving him up to Phonecia to board with a wonderful woman in the country. Her name is Marilyn Manning. She has a paradise with a lovely garden and water features, and two houses. She manages the dogs between the garden and the two houses, dividing them up depending on who's coming or going. We sent along a pillowcase that we hope smells a little like us, for his comfort. Miles will remind Marilyn of some of his vocabulary.

Leah saying goodbye to Cooby

Delilah Leah and Miles go to India

Day 1 Tuesday August 5
Fly NY-LONDON Virgin Flight #26
LONDON-DELHI Virgin Flight #300

Day 2 Wednesday, August 6th
Arrive Delhi
Hotel: The Oberoi Maidens
011 91 1123975464
gm@maidensHotel.com

Day 3 Thursday, August 7th
Leave Delhi
Namaste tours, contacts: Lu Ann and Jawahar
011 911902-252104
Hotel in Chandigarh

Day 4 Friday August 8th
Leave Cahndigarh Arrive Mandi

Day 5 Saturday August 9th
Leave Mandi arrive Manali
Hotel: Negi's Mayflower Hotel Manali

Day 6 Sunday August 10th
Manali

Day 7 Monday August 11
Manali

Day 8 Tuesday August 12
Leave Manali arrive Keylong

Day 9 Wednesday August 13th
Leave Keylong arrive Leh

Day 10 Thursday August 14th –
Day 17 Thursday August 21
Leh
Goba Guest House
ph# 011 91 1982 253670
mob# 011 91 9419179688

Day 18 Friday August 22
Fly Leh-Delhi Deccan flight #786
Hotel: unknown

Day 19 Saturday August 23
Delhi

Day 20 Sunday August 24
fly Delhi-Varanasi Jet Air flight 723
Hotel: SITA GUEST HOUSE
011 91 542 245 0061
SitaGuestHouse@yahoo.com

Day 21 Monday August 25th
Varanasi

Day 22 Tuesday August 26th
fly Varanasi –Delhi Spicejet flight# 119
Hotel:

Day 23 Wednesday August 27th
fly Delhi- London Virgin flight #301
The Geary Hoetink Residence
011 44 771 3063049

Day 24 Thursday, August 28
London

Day 25 Friday August 29
London

Day 26 Saturday August 30
fly London-New York Continental #29
Home!

Tuesday September 2
School starts!

Miles went to the drug store today. Here's a sample of the goods: grapefruit seed extract (an anti bacterial to take after every meal - bitter stuff. I hope Delilah will accept), immodium for kids (some people say take it, some people say don't), betadine, valerian, acetazolamide (for altitude), tylenol, nighttime sleep aid, sun block... the list goes on. We have yet to pick up cipro (a general antibiotic; some people say take it, some people say don't) and cipro for kids (ditto). Delilah's doc said hers was a high concentrated liquid. The pharmacist said the script says powder. We'll have to get to the bottom of that one. How wonderful it would be to not have to take the stuff.

I talked to SOS International today to see if their insurance would complement ours, or overlap. Apparently their speciality is evacuation from medical facilities and repatriation. I think we'll stick with the insurance we have through the airline which covers medical.

Lilia gave me some bucks to buy something in Viranasi for her. She said Shiva is her man, her god. She wants a piece of Viranasi (aka Benares, birthplace of Shiva). Andre, who will be painting our apartment for us when we are gone, went on and on about the Bodhi tree. THe Buddhists are coming out of the walls.

I ran into a yogi as he wa about to go off on a month long silent retreat. I could relate.

Why not start a blog? This templates of this bog look tasteful, and I can picture myself with delilah staring at the screen for a few minutes, and she would be engaged looking at the cartoons.

Every day before going we do a little more. Today I took Deli to the doc for her well child visit before she stars school 3 days after we return. She got her second hep A shot, as well as a booster for MMR, not required for school for another year, but I thought a booster could help. She has one more doc appointment to go (dermatology) and perhaps Miles will get a second hep A shot as well. Coverage coverage.

We have been torn about whether to book a trek from here via the internet or wait until we get to Ladakh. Our latest decision is to wait until we get to Ladakh, see how we feel, and talk to other travelers about which of the many valleys and towns to travel into.

Latest recommendations: Kargil province, Chiktan and Suru Valley.

In the meantime, my website is up and running after about 3 months of one day a week work with (the fabulous) Corinne. Check it out: www.IndamineOchre.com/new That's the beta version, soon it will be plain old IndamineOchre.com.

Delilah at Beatrice's party

Beatrice - check out those shoes