Rush rush rush

After spending a slow last few days in Delhi shopping and looking at more crafts, I returned to Shivani's place to join her aunt and uncle for dinner. "How was Dharamsala?" They inquire. I eventually find out that many people go to the mountains, Manali and particular because Hashish grows wild in the mountains and you can simply process if yourself. The things I didn't know about my travel destination because I'm a "good" girl not venturing towards the illegal I guess but better safe than sorry.

The flight back to NYC was a continuous line of security checks, once at the delhi airport entrance, twice at the security gate, once after we went through the gate and before we boarded the flight, one physical check of our bags visually, one hand body search. I boarded the flight to London and then went through two more security checks in which I had 20 minutes (which decreased to 5 ) to board my connecting flight due to delays. The second security check, they go through my carry on AGAIN and try to force me to throw away two bronze serving spoons that made it through four rounds of security checks in Delhi. NO, I am NOT THROWING THEM OUT. "Mam you have 5 minutes to your flight" NO, they didn't stop me in India. What the hell am I going to do with serving spoons? Attack the flight attendants and serve dinner? "Mam..."
The Brits eventually conceded and helped me check my baggage with the spoons. I always have trouble with security going through the UK, last time I traveled I was forced to throw out my monopod. The problem with traveling these days is that the luggage often gets lost, or if you are like United, you get charged for checking anything. You carry on things and then get treated with suspicion with my camera equipment and other goods. I just can't win, also does not help that I'm traveling two three countries that have been terror targets in the last few years.

After a little time spent in NYC I am back in Chicago, back to the rush of bills, work, school and life. Back to the grind, back to the rush, and yet after India, things feel quite relaxed. Good to travel to put things in better perspective.