We wandered the tree-lined streets of GK-II, ate in an Italian restaurant, and then retreated into the relative quiet of our clean and comfortable guesthouse. Then the next day we lazed around Lodi Gardens, which is a little like Central Park, if Central Park had 15th-century Afghan tombs and bright green parrots everywhere. We grabbed an auto-rickshaw bound for teeming Old Delhi to catch the sunset at India’s largest mosque and then ate some of the best chicken we’ve ever had in one of Chadni Chowk’s back-alley restaurants. Then it was time to head back. It took several hours, three different drivers, and a couple of threats (for good measure) to get us all the way from Old Delhi to GK-II. It was a long journey, but not as long as the next one will be. We are going home.

I wrote that paragraph in late November 2009 on our last day in Delhi. It’s crazy to think that it has been that long, but so much has happened in the four-plus years since we abandoned this blog on the Indian subcontinent, we might as well be different people! And yet it feels appropriate to pick up right where we left off. We are headed back to India!

I always tell people that Asia is my addiction. It took hold of me 5 years ago and never let go. In the same way that some people dream of France or Italy or the Caribbean, I dream about Asia. But I never thought we would have the opportunity to go back so soon. So how did we get here? Well, to make a short (and frantic!) story even shorter, a few months ago Greg and I attended his office Christmas party. I had arrived late after dropping off Elliotte to spend a few hours with her Aunt Geraldine. Greg met me at the door and led me inside, then turned around and abruptly said “I have to ask you something. Do you want to go to India for 3 or 4 months?” “Do you know me at all?!” I returned.

And that was that. We were going.

This adventure will no doubt be more of a challenge now that there are three of us. Despite having very bad traveler’s luck (more about that here and here), we were free spirits traveling through Asia in our early twenties. I mean, I still marvel at how we managed to pack for the beaches of Cambodia and Everest base camp each in a single backpack. Our stay in India will be very different this time. We will have greater resources, but much less time to use them. We won’t really be tourists, but not exactly ex-pats either (not long term at least). All the worries about health and safety we had on our last trip will certainly be amplified now that we are parents. And we will have way more stuff. And yet, what an incredible opportunity! I am so thrilled and grateful to be able to have this adventure with our sweet girl. I know she probably won’t remember these experiences, but I hope they will still be formative for her. I want her to know that from the very beginning, she was a citizen of the world.