I had meant to update this blog for one final time before officially closing it post-expedition, but an exciting holiday whirlwind tour of Indian heat, colour, spices and light swiftly followed by grey January English gloom has meant that firstly I lacked the time and then felt less than inspired to write about my experiences.
It is only now, 14 days exactly since I touched back down in the UK and the day of my 28th birthday (which I have spent at work), that I feel mentally ready to return to the blog and write some kind of update.
Adam and I had a wonderful 16 days holiday over the Christmas and New Year period, taking in Mysore, Ooty, Coimbatore, Fort Cochin, Alleppey, Varkala and Trivandrum by means of taxi, bus, train, a houseboat on the Keralan backwaters for New Year, ferry from Alleppey, auto-rickshaw and aeroplane (from Trivandrum back to Bangalore).
I’m going to put some photos up soon, but highlights included visiting various elephant reserves, feeding, washing and watering the elephants, spending the night on our very own houseboat for New Year, eating lots of delicious food and attending a production of Kathakali in Fort Cochin.
Somehow the UK just doesn’t seem so colourful!
I have various challenges facing me in 2009, and before returning to the UK I had been keen to work as hard as possible to continue to develop myself in taking up Raleigh’s “fourth challenge”, with challenges such as the forthcoming London marathon, voluntary work and going for promotion at work at some point later this year.
However (while I’m doing my best not to make excuses!), I am finding readjustment to life in the UK a lot more difficult than anticipated, and so my main aim for the next few weeks at least is to be kind to myself and take things one step at a time. New Year may traditionally be a time of new beginnings, resolutions and self-improvements, but I think my fresh start may need to follow in the spring of 2009 instead, when I will have rested, recuperated and readjusted to the exciting opportunities hopefully open to me later in the year.
I may decide to continue this blog once I've recovered my Raleigh spirit and feel more like "Ros on Raleigh" again. In the meantime, thanks for taking the time to read and follow this blog, as well as for your encouragement and support - both emotionally and financially - in actually getting me out to India in the first place. It's been amazing. Thank you.
