Overwhelming Nostalgia

Indiadancer

Well I don't know if this thread is exactly relevant to anything, but I hadn't been on this site in a while and I came back today and I was looking through all the threads, and a feeling of nostalgia and loss and missing India (or maybe my memories or the possibilities of the place) came back and crushed me in what was almost a tidal wave of emotion. I know that sounds melodramatic, but I wonder sometimes if visiting sites like this just make it worse for those of us who may not be able to make it back for a while. Sometimes I feel it's waving a chocolate cake in front of a dieter. Anyway, so I am sharing this with everyone in case maybe someone else recognizes themself in this thread and maybe they will feel less alone. Because no one in my family or among my close friends really understands my attachment to a place where I have no history or ties to except for some sort of fascination. But what I wouldn't give for a hot Pondy evening, walking to the iWay, eating at Pizza Corner, egg masala, filter coffee, the little dog that lived on the stoop of my apartment, riding on the back of my friend's scooter, walking around in a salwar, the sound of loud Tamil music being blasted from random places, a rickshaw ride, fresh pineapple juice, egg puffs from the canteen....and so much more...

amyl

a postcard infront of me reads a quote by M J Kraybill

"Do what you can, where you are, with what you've got."


so...simply live your beautiful memories(DO) from Virginia(WHERE) with this site(GOT.
Because thats all we have got..A wonderful site and isn't it a beautiful window to India? But hey that only until our next trip there, yeah!

I had never ever imagined that I would be missing India soooooo much!!!

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a'mar kono chinta nei

machadinha

Hey IndiaDancer, just wanted to say nice to see you back! What do you think keeps the forums so active! Stick around!

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Darmabum

ever since I left . . . my fifth trip "ended" in August of last year, August 4th, but who's counting (I guess I am!) . . . Since my first trip in 1982 I've never quite returned . . . it seems each time that more and more of me stays . . . less and less of me comes back . . . I understand your friends/family not understanding . . . I tried for over 20 years to understand it myself . . . then about five years ago I gave up trying . . . gave in . . . India sings to me, and I'm glad I've found a place that does.

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

Nick-H

Indiandancer... nice to see you

I'm sure you'll be telling us your plans for the next trip soon.

It happened to me the time I visited the tropical Biome at Cornwall's wonderful Eden Project (on its opening day). I took one breath of the warm, humid earth smell, turned to my friend and said, 'I've got to go to India'...

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robotvoice

For me the problem is, if i wasn't on india mike all day long i would be out working and saving for my next trip!

mt.kailash

A cold clear misty morning just needs a bus or lorry running by spewing diesel fumes to remind me of India-that's India 1975!
It's a different place now but it will always be Mrs Gandhi's Emergency as far as I'm concerned!

palerider

I know this may sound terrible. I live in a country town, where the creeks flood every time it rains. An animal of some description got stuck in the reeds last time, (two weeks ago), and it started rotting. I cycle past it every day on my way to town, and when i smell it I have a vision of city market in Bangalore, at 5am, when the wholesalers are there.
I was told I'd be hooked to India the moment I bought the ticket, or revolted forever the minute I arrived.
For whatever the outcome, it was the former.
I think it's the paradox, thank god for Indiamike. I's like being washed with sandalwood, until you can get there again.
Lovely post, I feel the same
Remember your first Elephant sighting?.

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I finally realised, in the nic of time,
that Life was for Living.

Indiadancer

I do remember my first elephant siting. I was going into town to get a good masala dosa and buy a salwar and there was some sort of festival going on complete with lighted up floats and a decorated elephant. I just had to take a picture, I was so astonished at the time. I didn't believe you actually saw elephants walking around. But that was the first of many sightings. I remember the big silver anklets it had on. It was from a famous Ganesha temple and I saw that elephant again a few times. It would take rupees in it's trunk and then tap you on the head as a blessing. That was sort of scary and I felt sorry for the elephant kind of, but all I could think of when it happened was, "Did I get elephant snot in my hair?"

Nick-H

I wonder how many people get a rush of nostalgia for India every time they go into a dirty public toilet?

Seriously--- very much one of the everyday smells of India!

PeakXV

..... one whiff of naphthalene and I'm right back in India.

ID: Just be thankful he didn't sneeze ....

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We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

amyl

Actually! That dirt, smell(stink rather), chaos, pollution, unexpected things to see, experience everyday is what makes India so unique for me. Of course, India will be missed for zillions of beautiful places but its quite strange that whenever I step into Mumbai and get 'that' smell....its makes me feel - AM HOME, YEAH! No complaints about that typical Mumbai smell....may be getting used to it is another factor.

But chic buildings, predictable nature of pppl's reaction, perfect train/bus timings, uninterrupted power/water supply is way toooo different from India. Its such an easy life outside India. Kinda get really really bored with such an easy-life. Unpredictability in trains/buses, Air Deccan flights, ppl's nature, taxi/auto man's fares, etc... DOES make life more interesting!

There is no fun without the struggle to get the train, getting cramped between sweating ppl around, haggling with the traffic police on the fine for breaking the signals.....that IS fun!

Everyday is a challenge, a new adventure in India (specially in Mumbai for me)

Sama

I know how you feel, Indiadancer....

I finally started updating my blog, one that I started in 2005 before my first trip. I'm writing mostly about my second trip by salvaging old emails home and fleshing out some posts from here. Remembering some of the things that I'm writing about brought tears to my eyes. A friend of mine who is reading my blog updates emailed me to tell me "I am just now beginning to understand how much India is living in you heart, your life, your past, and future...."

every since my first trip, there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of India. I'll be back, sooner rather than later.

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My India, 2005-2008
BE THE REVOLUTION

NiccNY

When I checked my email this morning I was greeted by a few IM messages. I have been away from the forum for awhile and, yes a wave of nostalgia hit me quite quickly!

I too think of India everyday - I am still amazed how my first trip came about and in awe of how much it has changed my life - and even more so, how it has impacted those around me!

When I tell people about my time in India - it is an immediate connection - it seems everyone around me has a hidden desire to experience it!

It still feels like yesterday that I was there, yet - somehow two years have passed. I am grateful to 'travel back' with each memory, to be an ambassador to those who think getting to India is impossible and to have such a wonderful place to share the joy!

Thanks IndiaDancer for starting the thread!