Where In The World Is Becky?

Hi all! Well, this is it, the last blog post. Ever. Here I am in London, hanging out with my friend Toni and her boyfriend Sam, watching Jackie Brown. Ah, home life. My friends Suzie and Alex got married yesterday at a country manor – no shit – in the lovely English countryside. It was like a Currier and Ives postcard, about 150 people, and all the older ladies wore hats. Like big hats, with feathers and stuff on them, that came in big hat boxes. I’ve never been to a wedding with hats before. The beginning of the wedding was so very English and proper, and then by the end, there were people dancing on tables. Right about then, Suzie’s mom asked me if it was like an American wedding, and I said, “It is now.” In bed by midnight though, as the champagne started flowing around 2pm, and this little lady can’t handle her booze so well any more. After a healthy English breakfast (minus the beans) Toni and Sam and I caught a train back to London, where I now sit on the couch wrapped up in a cozy comforter.

Got here from India on the 9th and brrr, um, winter is, like, cold and stuff. Got off the plane in my India clothes – sandals and socks, fisherman pants (at least they were long) and a flowy scarf. Went over to to Suzie and Alex’s for the weekend and shopped on Oxford St. for an outfit for the wedding – dress, shoes, bag and accessories for £67, which = $134. A crackin’ good deal for London! And there are pictures on Flickr of the wedding, so you can all tell me how the dress looked. And my tan. 🙂 Went back to Oxford St. the next day to buy some winter clothes and met Toni for a little more last-minute wedding shopping. Me = shopped out. Next day I met my friend Fiona for the day: uh-oh, more shopping. We mostly just wandered around Camden Market, Covent Garden and Harrod’s, looking for some sort of folk-art knick-knack chicken cause my weirdo parents collect them. Sorry mom and dad, I did my best, but there was no chicken to be had.

Next day Toni and I met my friends Himesh and Danny (from the safari in Kenya) for Thai food (oh, how I’ve missed you, Thai food) and drinks. It’s been great to catch up with everybody – strange to see them out of context, but great. Went off to the countryside on Thursday, and, as I said, here I sit on the couch. Ahh. We have to go out again tonight though to meet some of Toni’s friends. Too bad I have to change out of my jammies. Leaving on Monday, back to Michigan for Thanksgiving! Hooray turkey and Packers! So, all, that’s it. The end. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it, see you soon and peace out, homies. xxx

So clever, this one! Hi all from Mumbai, aka Bombay. Closing in on the last few days of my trip and really can’t believe it’s coming to a close. You may have noticed that I’ve lost a little enthusiasm for the blog here in India – like I said, it’s not because it’s not interesting enough to write about – in fact, it’s too interesting. You’ll just have to talk to me, not e-me, when I get home, if you want the stories. But, I didn’t want to leave you all hanging completely, so I’ll just give you a quick where-I’ve-been entry. Toni and I split in Jaipur, about two weeks ago – she headed home, and I took a 30-hour train ride to Goa, a former Portuguese outpost on the coast. Train ride was fun, sat in a compartment with a friendly Indian family – they all are, really – with lots of questions regarding my age, marital status, job, trip, country etc. They had an adorable 3-year old boy who kept saying “Salute!” and putting his wee little hand to his head. I had to salute, or else. Here in Goa there’s lots of cool architecture and interesting sites – so I’m told. Cause all I’ve done for the last nine days is sit on the beach, roasting like a little sausage.

Here in Mumbai, aka Bombay, it’s much, much better than Delhi, with wide, relatively clean streets, lots of Victorian architecture, and no one hassles you. And I’ve only seen three cows! There were that many taking a crap outside my hotel door in Delhi. Very polluted, smoggy and noisy, but on the whole, enjoyable. I’ve been looking for a dress for this wedding I’m going to, thinking it would be cheaper than getting one in London, and guess what: it’s not. It’s a pricey city. I might go to an airconditioned mall later today and look for one. That way even if I don’t find one, I won’t melt, because boy is it hot. HOT. Like 100 degress with 90% humidity hot. Picture it: 16 million sweating bodies. Note to self: next world tour, include Scandinavia.

Before I got here, as I said, I was lounging on a beach in Goa. I think I set the record for most Sudokus completed by one person in any nine-day period. The beach itself wasn’t spectacular, but the setting was very relaxed, the weather and sunsets were perfect and I got a good tan: mission accomplished. Lots of westerners have established homes there, and come for the entire winter season. Lots of aging hippies and backpackers taking a break from ‘India.’ It was a very refreshing nine days, that’s for sure. And like I said, I’m going to be t-a-n for that wedding.

I leave for London tomorrow – might be an extra in a Bollywood movie for the day before I go! I wonder if they saw me on Millionaire and know I’m already famous in my home country. I should ask for a private dressing room. Okay all, off to face the heat and do yet more Christmas shopping. All for you, readers. Well, some of you. I’ll write one more entry from London, promise. xx