Sylvia's Journal

All through the night I wandered through dangerous territories, much triggered by what is happening in India. I was supposed to travel through Delhi on my way to Dhaka. Before my itinerary was changed to route me through Dubai I received an email from the SOS Company to which MSH subscribes for its travelers. It reminded me that India was a dangerous place. I remember being a bit surprised as I had not considered it more dangerous than Afghanistan. It is as if they knew something was afoot. On a previous trip through Delhi on my way to Nepal I stayed overnight at the Taj Palace hotel, an obscenely luxurious affair. Sita has also stayed there and I remember we talked about the heavy security which may have been, in hindsight, more show than substance (like the TSA Theater). After that one time I have always stayed at a more local place; one that would surely not have been singled out as a place to catch foreigners.

The Indian embassy with its slow visa application process has unknowingly done me a favor. It is only for that reason that I am traveling through Dubai again where transit visas are stamped in your passport at the airport, without a fee, just a long waiting line. And yes, there I am staying at a luxurious hotel, frequented by foreigners; but there are hundreds of those and I have never felt like a target there.

Yesterday morning I received my passport, its absence the only obstacle between me and my next trip. Now that this obstacle is removed I started to think about leaving again, just when Sita comes home – we may cross paths at the airport. Psychologically I am not quite ready for the next trip – they rarely are this close, and I haven’t thought about packing yet. It will require some thought as I am planning to travel light, with hand carry items only since I am only away for a week and to a warm place.

Tessa went off yesterday to spend the weekend with her honey at the Hilton in Back Bay to celebrate some important day, go to a hockey game and hang out with friends in the big city. Puppy Chicha has been parked with Val and so we had the house to ourselves. We had out third ham and mashed potatoes meal since Thanksgiving and walked into town for a movie which we did not like. Like some boring old couple we went to bed very early. It is just that the dreams where anything but boring.