Sept 8, 2003 Home Sweet Home-Kailwood at Last!

This is funny....I am posting this exactly 3 years to the date from the day I originally wrote it!!

I just want to write about my return to McLeod and how the day went.

I arrived preciesely at 7:50 in Pathankot and will not write right now about the taxi journey up but will begin with my arrival at the Kailwood.

11:30...Well, the long journey is not over yet...got here about 10:30 with no problem...saw ashish right away and was really good to come home! The room was not available today but things always work out for the best. so decided to go down and see Kelly while deciding what room I DID want but missed his entrance and wound up in Klaske's room instead (she is the Dutch lady who has lived here up in a big house up on the mountain but came down to town this year during the monsoon...by the way...she only pays 4500 rupees for her whole house here)...She gave me a big hug hello and explained she was just leaving for her house in the mountains after being here for the monsoon. We were talking about the rooms and she said SHE would not want to be up there with "the child" who was quite precoscious and hyperactive and noisy...very sweet, but not quiet...So I reserved the room downstairs on the main terrace but it is taken for 2-3 weeks. So I was given a room which I never stayed in or even saw before ....Klaske says it's also real nice. Same side view but back of building so will be quieter. Perhaps I have found a new home. Will see soon. (Note: Little did I know what suprises that room held in store for me!!) In the meantime I have ordered soup and instead of sitting downstairs...Klaske had the key to Susie's room upstairs (she is in Delhi for a few days waiting for her twin sister Barbara to get back with the little girl Yeshi) and said it would be OK for me to sit here and wait. So I am! The monsoon must have been really bad as the roads are in terrible shape here.. Will explore staring tomorrow-today I will eat, get my room set up and my myself in order...(who was I kidding...I rested and then HAD to go out...couldn't not explore today...more later)

12:30...After lunch and phone call to Elisheva right here...great!...My room is being cleaned...may be OK...Great big Bay window...ashish is putting in some spare furniture he found...will be there for at least 2 weeks as I just met Marilyn-Lady from New Zealand who has the front room and isn't thinking of leaving so soon!!!Seeing all the equipment upstairs for the little girl, swing, bicycle etc. really think it would not be nice and the room down here is only 175 rupees before a discount I hope to get for staying a long time. So will try it out and see. Maybe get a couple of mats for the floor (found out I can only get them in Dharamsala so I simply bought woolen socks to use in the room...cheaper and easier.)..

5:30...Slept...fixed up room and went shopping. It is sooooooo nice to know where to buy everything. Got a cheap bed cover...couldn't get mat for floor....but got umbrella, woolen socks with "fingers" hangers, insense, large candle and cookies from the health food shop and right now am at Nick's waiting for my order. The prices here are the same...much cheaper than down south...Also gave in my laundry...will be ready only on Wednesday...
The iron staircase down to Bhagsu road is no longer...It has been replaced with real concrete stairs---wonder what other changes I will find...tomorrow will go up and visit Akhilesh...hope I find him in and will also go up to Beit Chabad and check into their Kabbalah course...

I am feeling as if I never left...it is a very unusual feeling....Speaking with kelly as if it was just yesterday, ashsish,,,,the shops, most of the shopkeepers are even the same...of course they cannot remember me but I mention I was there 2 years ago and happy to see the "good places" are still around and they are very pleased. Checked out the movies and they are also still here but now one even has a lighted marquee out front!...I'm sure there will be lots of changes, but the essence here is the same...what can I say...for me it is a fantastic place and God willing, I will be here for awhile and check out my options. Klaske says one day she will go down to the "big town" Dharamasal shopping and take me around to see where all the best shops are and also to the best tailor in town ...she always has really nice clothing which she always has copied there...