Connect your heart; see for yourself

You've heard it before..."oh this experience changed my life", "a once in a life time opportunity", "the people you meet, the friends you make". As many of you may remember just over 12 months ago I embarked on a remarkable two week volunteer program in New Delhi, India as part of the Connecting Hearts Aboard 2013 program. 

Hand on heart, this experience well and truly changed my life and was a once in a life time opportunity. As for the people I met and the friends I made - people you treasure and remember for the rest of your life.  For those of you who read my blogs via Lilly's The Loop, you know through my words, the power of this amazing experience and what is does for all involved - it truly is a gift that keeps giving.  I would do another program in a heart beat. 

If you have a love for giving back to the community through volunteering, a thirst for experiencing different cultures and a desire to take yourself out of your comfort zone, then take a few minutes to apply for this wonderful program. 

By applying you've opened your mind to being part of a program that fosters being a member of the greater community and giving back to those less fortunate than ourselves.  If your application is successful, the program will encourage growth and an open mind across so many facets from within ourselves first and foremost, to this inspiring world in which we all live in. 

We as Lilly employees are so fortunate to have the opportunity to apply for such an incredible program.  And yes, you may not be selected first time round, but do not despair because as the Indians say, "it will all work out in the end, and if it doesn't, it isn't yet the end". 

Please email or call if you'd like to discuss the experience in more detail. Wishing you all the very best for the week ahead. 

Namaste, 

Em

India you were more than I bargained for and some

The tuk tuk rides, the shoes, the clothes, the jewellery were just the start.... India witnessed the end of my endearing and significant relationship with The Italian.  Given the sensitivity of the topic and out of respect to both of us, I will refrain from writing any more on this.

India was life changing in more ways I could have ever imagined. It's amazing the "gifts" life presents us, mostly when you least expect them. Mixed emotions is a complete understatement yet a lovely summary of how i was feeling post my time there.  It's also why the lack of posts for the remainder of the trip until now.  It was all too sad, too raw and too unbelievable.  As I've said, life and its journey is full of gifts and while this break up has been hard to accept at times, the life experience which was India is a truly blessed gift.  A gift I will treasure throughout this lifetime, knowing that everything will be alright in the end and if it isn't then it isn't yet the end. 

India is every bit incredible. I thank her for opening her heart and soul; providing light when there was darkness, laughter when there was sadness, authenticity when there was faux and most importantly, honesty when there was doubt. I will one day return and explore more of this grounding, moving and very real, authentic part of the world. Thanks beyond thanks to Lilly, the Cross Cultural Solutions program, my beautiful roomies Kimber and Anne, my fabulous fellow Lilly volunteers, the darling children, the moorish food, the daily yoga and my ever supportive and loving family and friends for being part of the journey thus far. 

To The Italian...grazie tanto.

Namaste x

Happy Dhanteras

Fri 1 November

A week has already past since finishing my volunteer program.   Further words to describe my feelings about this time include enriched and blessed, a direct consequence of being selected and undertaking this wonderful adventure.  It feels surreal and so incredible to have experienced what I've experienced over the past couple of weeks. 

Today is Dhanteras, one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar.  It marks the commencement of the famous five-day Hindu festival Diwali.  On this day, Hindu's worship the Goddess Lakshmi to provide prosperity and well being.  Dhanteras is especially significant in the business world, considered the best day to purchase precious metals and jewellery.  Given this, I now own a darling pair earrings to mark this day and my life changing time in India. 

Homeward bound this evening.  Endless feelings I currently feel, endless thoughts I currently think... 

Namaste x  

Poolside in the Pink City

Thursday 31 October

Yesterday's mini adventures and the ongoing yet improving head cold has resulted in a need to chill out poolside...I'm exhausted both mentally and physically.  

Tranquil, calming, warm, relaxing, peaceful, reflective, pensive, disbelieving, overwhelming, mesmerising, shocking, grateful, happy, emotional, speechless, amazement, blessed, privileged, contemplative, perplexed, thankful....just a few words to describe where it's all at in this point in time. 

To sit and be with one's thoughts and feelings is always so incredibly empowering and worthwhile. As hard as it is at times, it really does put things into perspective. 

With the day and my Indian adventure drawing to a close, how does one spend the last evening...shopping of course. Mode of transportation - a rusty yet very trusty tuk tuk.

Namaste x  

FORT ME....again

Wednesday 30 October 

My "when in Rome" attitude was taken to the next level today. After trying a number of neti pot nasal rinses, yoga and good old fashion rest, The Italian and I went in search of my very own neti pot and some cold and flu drugs. So where does one buy a neti pot and cold and flu tablets? A visit to the local Ashram and pharmacy of course. First stop, one very intriguing and interesting Ashram. To recount this experience step by step just wouldn't do it justice. It was definitely a first and made me more curious about spending some time at one in the not too distant future, though maybe not this one.  But mission accomplished, I'm now the proud owner of my very own neti pot and some local publications on yoga at this particular Ashram.

The second mission this morning was purchasing cold and flu tablets from one very precarious looking pharmacy located somewhere close by to the Ashram.  Given one's day job, it took some convincing that what I was about to take was in fact legal, would indeed work and not result in me being flown home to Australia via a Medi-vac.  At approx 20 cents a tablet, no Product Information or packet for that matter but efficacy beyond efficacy, what's not to love about a stash of Indian cold and flu tablets.  

Not quite a miraculous recovery but enough to charge ahead and get a fort or two under one's belt yet again.  The Italian and I took in the stunning historical sights and sounds of Jaipur.  This of course included some shopping.  Buying shoes, standing up on the side of a road has never been so fun or productive. 

Namaste x
    

  

Practically Jaipurrrrfect in every single way...

...despite my cold and a very early start for our flight to Jaipur....all of 27 minutes of flying. 

The remainder of the day was like yesterday...a bit of a blur and in need of rest.  I'm really quite unwell, a solid cold taking hold as the minutes tick by.  And who are we kidding, when did flying ever aid in the recovery of a cold?!  Or a F1 event for that matter!

The arrival into Jaipur Airport was an experience.  Yet another one because as we know, everything in India is an experience. The Italian and I were met by the Rambagh Palace hotel driver/car.  The driver's traditional Jaipur outfit was a sight to behold. The Italian took an instant like to the turban.  The welcome didn't end at the airport.  Further eye-opening displays of hospitality were literally showered upon both The Italian and I, ie flower petals on arrival at the hotel.  Jaipurrrrect! 

The Rambagh Palace, without doubt the jewel of Jaipur's hotels. It's the "sister" property to the Palace we stayed at last week for our "Golden Triangle" adventure.  How utterly deluxe to have the opportunity to experience both Palaces - some would say rather appropriate for a little Leo...wink, wink. Though the diversity, extreme wealth and extreme poverty and endless contradictions that of which are India, never cease to amaze me and are hard to comprehend at times...ever grateful.

Given the ever present and developing head cold, the afternoon was very quiet.  Lots of quality time in my bed fit for a princess - the bed was seriously cool though out of control.  When feeling better, The Italian and I spent time exploring the expansive grounds of this former real-life palace for the Maharaja and his family back in the day. 

Some quality time beside the pool perhaps? Well, why not...

Namaste x 

Start your engines....

...and fasten your seat belts as today The Italian and I slowly made our way to the Formula 1 Airtel Indian Grand Prix held just outside of the Delhi CBD. Seems a little ironic to arrive slowly to a Grand Prix...Delhi traffic well and truly lived up to its reputation of sheer chaos. 

The Buddh International Circuit, part of the Jaypee Sports City, the location for this high octane petrol sniffing opportunity, is a sight to behold. Acres beyond acres of vacant dusty land, a few high rise awaiting their new owners and then boom, an international standard race track appears like a mirage in the desert.  Quite extraordinary. 

The Italian was in his absolute element.  Honestly he was jumping out of skin with anticipation.  He was eagerly watching every move the taxi driver made on the way to the track to ensure not a single wrong turn was made. Me on the other hand was feeling sickie thanks to my Indian cold and a little apprehensive about watching, actually rephrase that, attempting to watch carbon fibre cocoons zoom past at approximately 330km/hour.  On reflection the afternoon was somewhat hilarious really.  

We had amazing seats in the main grandstand right in front of the starting podium, four rows from the front. The stand was full of F1 enthusiasts wearing their team colours and capturing every moment on their phones.  The countdown to the start is somewhat of a blur, there was so much happening from the first high-pitched roar...to the cherry red pit girls, to the Bollywood celebrity doing his "thang" on the straight, to the cars doing their warm up lap and lining up on the grid.  Onto national anthem time, media galore, officials and mechanics galore, sponsors, the big names of F1 racing, the peeps in "the paddock"...honestly it was sensory overload for the F1 bunny Emma B.

And then the moment we've all been waiting for...the most unexpectedly loud roar of F1 cars starting and their engines being revved all at once in preparation for the start.  I think my mouth was a gasp with shock and belief.  The vibration could be felt through every part of my body. It was at this point I fully understood why people are addicted to F1 racing and everything that goes with it. However the full force of the noise wasn't felt until start time.  I was stunned and left with not just my ear plugs in my ears but fingers as well to block the noise.  

60 laps later, mishaps, engine failure etc etc and upteen unsuccessful photo attempts to capture a race leading Mark Webber passing us each 1minute, 30 odd seconds... the German superstar Vettel won not only the race but the Championship for 2013.  He celebrated in F1, petrol head style...with a few burnouts/doughnuts right in front of our seats. The noise, smoke and smell of burning rubber was enough to have everyone in the grandstand up standing and cheering their hearts out for this spectacle.  Who would have thought burnouts/doughnuts were now deemed "classy" and worth approx 21,000 pounds...the fine which Red Bull was required to pay as a consequence of Vettel's actions. 

Namaste x