this year’s india trip felt different to last year’s in so many ways. i was returning after one year rather than seven. we covered a few of the same places but also some new ones. it was less of a nostalgia tour and more of a semi-annual tradition.

it was so much fun introducing sarah to my various family members and being able to fill her in on all the family lore. my aunts and uncles and cousins had a great time getting to know her, and i had fun seeing their awe of her ability to eat with her hands and handle spice.

there were a few things we didn’t get to do, like ride the local train in bombay or have phuchka at a street vendor in calcutta. we didn’t get vada pav and i’m still sad about it. i have so many restaurants on my bangalore list and never enough time to get to all of them, and i even missed out on pecos this visit. i wanted to get back to park street cemetery and there just wasn’t enough time.

i’m lucky enough to know there will be a next time and a next time and many more next times and so it’s okay if i don’t get to everything in one visit because it’s impossible. and when is the next time, you ask? not next january for sure, but that’s all we’ve decided for now.

i am working on convincing my father that a november/december 2026 visit [before or after marathon weekend, of course, since next year will be my 15th year!] should be our move. we’ll still have good weather in india but we’ll miss the possible winter delays in the states and also the higher prices of travelling around the new year. nothing is set in stone, of course, but you know i’m always scheming in the back of my mind.

i have a few bits and bobs pinging around in my brain, but i won’t share them until a trip is closer in hand. in the meantime i will continue sharing some of my old stories and memories to commemorate 20 years since i first moved to bangalore.

as always, thank you for coming along on the journey with me.

xx