Hello loved ones-

Well, it's arrived. The date for me to take off to India. This time around my preparation has been very minimal and rushed. But, I got all the essentials: passport, visa, money, underwears, books, journal, Lonely Planet India, inflatable fake turkey in case I'm hanging out with Americans on Thanksgiving, light up yo yo etc. OH, and lots of pens. Ball point pens were my greatest commodity last year in India. Don't know what it is but a good pen is hard to find in India and the Indians go nuts over em'. Indians woudl just come up and blatantly ask "May I have your pen?" or if they didn't speak English would make some type of hand gestures. Last year within two weeks I had given out six pens and found myself with only one for my own usage! So, I have about twenty very nice pens to give away this year. Was thinking maybe I'll take pictures with everyone who gets a pen and title it "pen pals" in my scrap book.... or something like that.

Before I arrive to India I'll be spending a day in London visiting two very good friends and then off to Stockholm, Sweden for five days to visit two more good friends I fondly call my Swedish fish. Plans include attending an Oktober Fest just adding to the month long celebrations I've been attending... October should just be called "Rocktober".

I take off for India October 20th, land in Delhi and this is where I try to pretend to like Delhi and appreciate the city for just what she is.. but between you and me, I can't stand Delhi- filthy, crowded, smelly, smoggy, etc. So as soon as I land I head out to a tibetan colony about 40 minutes outside of Delhi and the next night take a 13 hour bus ride up to McLeod Ganj. Please Lord I pray to sit next to someone who doesn't smell really bad. Oh, and I snagged some barf bags from an airplane for the bus ride. I think it might be pretty brutal. Last year I observed that many buses throughout the HImalayan roadways had vomit down the sides under the windows! I'm going prepared.

McLeod Ganj is the area India offered to the Tibetans as refuge from Chinese oppression and is located within the beautiful, magical, Godly Himalayas. Alleluia! Clean air, beautiful mountain scenery etc. I believe the altitude is about 10,000 feet so it's gonna be chilly! McLeod Ganj is also where the Dali Lama resides when not touring or tending to other responsibilities. I plan to take a ten day tushita course while living here. Don't exactly know what I'm getting myself into but take a look at the link

www.tushita.info

So that's about that for the first part, after that I have two weeks to do whatever and go wherever I'm blown.

November 17th to 28th I take a ten day silent retreat course known as vipassana. www.dhamma.org

That will be near Rishikesh and near the ashram I hold so dear to me known as Parmarth Niketan Ashram. www.parmarth.com

In December I'm thinkin to head south to the beaches of Goa. So beautiful and relaxing and warm!

So now I rush on out of here to make my plane which take off from LAX in four hours. I spilled a tub full of powder glitter in my purse over the weekend so everything i have and touch pretty much has glitter on it, including my face!

much love and get skype if you'd like to talk or chat while i'm in india. my skype name is "barbie bunz".

thanks for all your support and prayers-

barb, barbie, babs, babbells, barbie bunz, robobarb, sister sue, barbara, barbarella, little b, D, aunt barb, beebs, santa barbara, bah-bu-dah, hey you!