Journal Entries con't

July 25 @ 2:04am
Faith has brought you here (India) and faith will lead you in your spiritual journey.

July 29 @ 2:54 pm
Jaipur

Jaipur is beautiful. We arrived to a rainfall which was celebrated by this pink town. All the walls of the street were pink (actually a run down kinda red). Children were playing in the water that was flooding the streets. We stayed at the Holiday Inn where we were able to use their pool then eat at their restaurant (called cum bar). This city is covered by pink buildings. The first building was the city palace and it was very British with it's huge chandlers, carpets, and royal outfits. Here the "royal" family was definitely treated like kings and queens with full service (natural air-conditioning, heavy gold clothing for the queen who was transported via wheel chair due to the weight of her dress, a maze of rooms, and water that had to be brought in from outside India.) I found the decor and architecture more lively here with the colour and peacock doorways. then those in Delhi. Following this we went to the carpet place and it was neat to see all the steps taken for high quality carpets. I bought my first two saris here.
It was neat watching the people celebrate rain here. Children were in the streets playing in the water overflow, store owners sat back as water flood into their shops, and many came out of their homes and shops to stand knee high in the water and be grateful for the rain fall. It was like driving through a parade. We definitely do not have this same appreciation for rainfall in North America. We run inside and lock the door keeping the rain out and ourselves dry.

Day 2 in Jaipur

Today we took an elephant ride at amber fort and ran into Kirt the chef on tv. This is the second famous person I ran into here! Am I really in India? The art work here was amazing with the silver and gold trim walls. The golden triangle has given me so much beauty to look at. From the mosque, mosoleums, Taj Mahal, and palaces I have seen more beauty then I would have ever expected. Little did I know about the history that exists here.
A part of me feels, however, that I am still missing out on something however. I came here on a spiritual journey to build on my relationship with God and the His calling. I see the beauty here but I feel more guilty then anything for all the graces of experience I am receiving and the lack of work I am doing for Him. I definitely know He is here with me and I recal the high tower we climbed at the mosque where I stood in a small circular room above the city and feeling the wind blow right through me. It was so amazing. It felt like His presence in the wind blowing all around me. That still remains to be the most spiritual feeling I have had since I got here and that took place on day 2 and I am almost a week into this trip...