Friday, 1 February - 7:00 AM

Yesterday was one of the best days of my entire life.

In the morning, Poonam took me and Elizabeth to visit the school where she teaches. It's a Jaycees school and is actually right next to their house. She works there a couple hours each day as an 8th grade teacher.


Sitting with the teachers from the Jaycees school.

The rest of the team met us around 11:00 AM and we went to visit another Ayurvedic hospital. This one was a million times better than the creepy one we saw in Dharwad. We got to see their herb garden and visit the actual pharmaceutical lab where they turn the herbs into medicine.


Herbs = medicine.

I got to sit and talk with one of the doctors and learn a little bit about Ayurvedic medicine (which is actually really interesting!) and then we got to sit and talk to a roomful of medical students.


"Well, at least you have a pulse..."


Future Ayurvedic doctors.

Afterwards, the Gadag Inner Wheel ladies took us to a couple historical spots. The first was a temple to meet a Guru who had only recently begun speaking after a 38-year vow of silence. Apparently he was silent in order to pray for world healing.


Did not speak for 38 years!

Then they took us to a couple more temples, but we were all a little templed-out from Hampi. The team was invited back to Poonam and Mohan's for an incredible lunch. There were lots of great family and friends and we all just hung out having a great time.

Mohan brought out a bottle of vodka that he'd had in his closet for a really long time. They don't really drink any alcohol in their home, but he served it to the men in the living room while we ladies hung out at the dining room table.


After copious amounts of vodka,
Bernie attempts some yoga.


The best of times.

I can't explain this awesome bond I feel with this family. It was like I knew them all so well. I hung out a little with their son, Mayur, kicking a soccer ball in the driveway. I also met Poonam's niece, Sneha, who is studying textile engineering. It was just such a great afternoon, I didn't want to leave!


A prayer in the puja room for safe journeys.


A new friend I've known forever.

But when we finally did, we took a ride to visit their family farm before leaving to Hubli. The team took the party van and I got to ride with Sneha, Poonam and her sister. The four of us stopped off at this HUGE old house where their family stays and where Mohan grew up. Then we met up with everyone else at the farm.

Ever have a moment when you feel as if you're experiencing heaven? I think the memory of walking through the banana fields next to Poonam and Sneha, with the sun beaming down on our faces, will stay in my mind as one of those moments. I really don't have the words to express how full my heart was (and is). It was heaven.


Heaven.

We stayed longer than we probably should have. We were meant to arrive in Hubli by 5:00 and it was already 6:30 and we still hadn't left Gadag. We made one more quick stop at a yoga retreat center and then set off for Hubli.

Our new hosts met us at this huge, beautiful hotel. I think they were a little pissed that we were three hours late! It was so hard to say goodbye to Mohan and the rest of the Gadag hosts who took us to Hubli. Hopefully we'll see them at some point during the conference.

My new hosts here in Hubli have a very nice home. I'm staying in a quiet room downstairs with a mosquito net and a nice, big bathroom. I even got to play "Whack-A-Bug" with this great gizmo... a bug-zapping tennis racket!!

We met back up at the hotel around 9:00 PM last night for the opening meeting of the conference. There was a huge room full of Rotarians - mostly club presidents and their wives - and were introduced. District Governor, Bazil D'Souza was there and so were many of the people we'd met along the way. It was so cool to recognize all the faces and feel like we were in a room full of friends.

I think we'll really enjoy the district conference, even if it is just a bunch of speeches and food for three days. I really think it will be nice to see so many great people and hear about all the great projects they're doing.

I slept soundly last night. This morning, the team is supposed to meet up to work on a new presentation for Sunday. I know I have some great ideas and am looking forward to putting something together.

Damn, I just feel so frigging GOOD!