last night, rin was getting stuff ready for the garage sale that is taking place today and tomorrow at her parent's house. while she was pulling things and looking through them, she came across a shoebox full of photos. "i wonder if those are my india pictures" i told her. sure enough, the lost photographs were found. it was awesome to hold those memories in my hand again.

the glossy paper ignited the recollection of past times. the smells and sights hit me as i flipped through the pictures. walking the streets of kolkata and downtown siliguri, i remembered the heat and foot traffic. the street vendors yelling at us to come see their wares. the old man sitting by all of his brass collection of merchandise. the incense that seemed to follow me as i turn this corner to that corner. the women that were out getting new salwars and sarees.

the green tea gardens, the schools that i walked by, the little villages and bustling cities. the yellow taxis driving this way and that. the horns that are constantly blowing. the underground market. even as i write this, more images are entering my head. india is a place that has to be experienced. my expectations of it didn't prepare me for what i actually witnessed...and not in a bad way either. i've seen videos and heard the stories. i now have the pictures and the stories. i get to go again. soon and very soon. this time, rin will see what i've seen. will hear what her parent's have heard. will taste what we've tasted. . .