January 7, 2011

Preparation Mode/Intro

As of today the India-specific blog begins! Lyndia's India is in no way my attempt to own the country... I am definitely not as possessive as that apostrophe suggests. However, I do intend to explore as much as possible but in a meaningful and holistic fashion that will not result in a completed checklist of sights, places and photos (although I know there will be some of that). I have almost three months to get a feel for the country and will likely stay in the Northern half, only so that I can make a valid argument for a second trip in the future! The neglect of over 50% of the sub-continent is also due to the fact I will be studying yoga for the first month and then helping out in an unpaid fashion for at least three weeks at a boys' school. (I don't discuss too much yet... that would ruin the blogy-suspense.)

The trip itself doesn't start until January 24th but I'm sure there are bound to be some blog-worthy moments in the almost-month of ongoing preparations.

Fear not, I will not bore you with the endless phone calls, confirmation numbers and the procurement of supplies (the latter which is my mission today). Should you be enticed by learning which anti-malaria option I decided on, or what water purification system I ended up with, or how many pairs of yoga pants (two) I'm packing I might be convinced to ramble wax poetic on these topics but won't make the whole of January so dull...

The thing I really wanted to mention today is about my plan for this blog from January to April 2011.

What I will do:
- keep you updated on my travels
- share the things I learn
- try to upload photos
- write in whatever format I feel like (i.e. prose, poem, journal, short story, stream of consciousness)
- entertain tangents of all kinds (that's a promise).
- be as accurate as possible with spelling, grammar and punctuation but I have no idea what the computer/ spell-check situation will be, so please cut me some slack :)
- write posts in advance and schedule them to be posted on a future day for your enjoyment
- reply to comments when I can (no promises, but I DO love your comments!!)
- be happy if you share this with other less blog-inclined people who will probably want to get the Lyndia in India updates (thank you!)


What I won't do:
- post everyday
- complain a lot (unless it's funny, life-altering or critical to some other aspect of my 'story')
- make stereotypes
- make promises about how often I'll post
- guarantee there won't be embellishments or some semi-fictional aspects as my creative license permits



Now off to obtain my passport with a shiny new India Visa, some water purification ingredients and anti-malarial pills. Yay! (but not for malaria, I can't cheer for an infectious disease)