Another perfect day in Goa we just had breakfast at Biri's and we're just sitting out on the back porch looking out over there rice fields.
 

Four airports in twenty four hours

What it's like to visit four airports in a twenty four hour period.

Qatar Airport

 

We started our journey in Toronto on Sunday at five thirty  in the afternoon and arrived in Goa India at four in the morning Tuesday nigh travelling across many time zones.  We went from Toronto which was very quiet comparatively when I look back on our journey. We travelled in a small plane to Washington and on arrival had to traverse through the Washington airport to find Qatar Air. The plane to Doha Qatar Saudi Arabia  was huge with nine seats across and two isles. This was a fabulous airline. They handed out little clothe pouches with an eye mask, tooth brush, earplugs, headphones and socks, all colour coordinated of course. This airport in Doha was huge and the number of people milling about was substantially greater than when we left Toronto. You could tell there was a lot of money here because you could buy a ticket for $180.00 dollars to win a $400,000.00 Maclarin sports car. It was perched at the bottom of the escalators where anyone could get close to it. Paul needed  a picture of course. Our final airport was in Goa. We were warned not to take pictures on the approach to the runway or within the airport because it was a strategic military base for India. We took their advice of course and got through Indian costumes unscathed. What a day!

Our adventure to Badami

Well we push off tomorrow to Badami to see some 15th century temples leaving behind the beaches of Goa. As one friend put it to me we are going to ROI (Rest of India). We had a busy day today doing some running around to get ready for the next leg of the trip.
Biri took me in to the closes town to his village which is Mapusa this morning, that was a truly frightening experience. There was so much traffic, cars and trucks all going this way and that way. Passing them all with little room zig zagging in and out of the other lane missing the vehicles by inches.
With Biri's help I was able to get my phone cracked. Biri got me a Sim card so now I have a cell phone much easier to stay in touch with the family and Biri.

It is Wednesday morning and I think I am human again. We arrived at Biri's house at 4am Tuesday and decided to power through  and only had a couple of hours sleep until Tuesday night at 9pm. What a long day.  There are many firsts that I have accomplished already and one of them was getting back on a scooter to travel to the beach to see the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea. It was the first time back on a motorcycling since I flew off one and fractured my knee cap when I was 19 years old. We were flying down narrow roads dodging all the other scooters and cars trying to make their way. We survived and watched the sun go down while sipping a drink at "CURLY'S" one of the famous beach bars on that strip. What a way to finish our first day in India. Kim picture to follow.

We arrived in Goa to 315 a.m.. Biri sent a car to pick us up and he met us at the house at 4am. We talked for quite a while and then we went on a hike in the rice paddy's (pictures to follow)

 

 

Well we just landed in Doha Qatar. We did have a delay in Toronto Ontario Canada but it was no big deal. We have left all the connection very long.

I hope this is not an indication of the food to come.

We are at the airport in Toronto. Our flight to Washington is delayed by 40 minutes. Fortunately we have a long layover in Washington so we are not to concerned.
I just tried to up load a picture of the food at the airport, which was very bad by the way. But a technical problem prevented the upload, let's hope this doesn't continue. So that appears to be a short lived problem.

It is the night before we leave. I can tell the reality of Paul and I leaving is starting to sink in with Connor and Bailey. I am so thankful that we have such great kids. This trip would not be possible if it were not for our amazing little people. Paul and I are nervous to leave on this adventure leaving behind the two people we love the most. If they weren't such confident, amazing individuals, we couldn't have even imagined such a thing.  We have an incredible group of friends who have all offered support to Connor and Bailey and Emily while we are gone. We know they will be alright. Thank you all for helping to make this adventure possible.


Bailey




Connor

We have a lot of running around to do today, we have just one day to finish getting things finalized. Biri my adopted brother in Goa, that has been taking care of most of the organization for this trip and who is looking after us while we are in India reminded me that I should get an International Drivers License. So I am heading out to get the license today. We also have to go shopping for food for the kids and Kim has to go to the Chiropractor because she put her back out. Never a dull moment

This is a 2009 picture of Biri and his lovely wife Leela.

Without their help this trip would never have happened.

Special thanks goes out to Emily Marks for looking after my most precious things in the world my children.

Emily, Dustin & Solomon

It's really happening!

Two more sleeps and we are off on our Indian adventure. Today would have been my dads 94th birthday. Wow! I can't help but think about  how my life has taken me in such a different direction than my fathers. I can't imagine John Hartford would have ever contemplated  flying across the Atlantic Ocean to a world so incredibly different then the one he knew. In a few short days I will  turn 50 and I will be celebrating this milestone in India, a place that could be an alien landscape compared to my comfortable life in the heart of Toronto Canada. It is amazing how the internet has made the world so accessible. I have been researching India trying to prepare myself for what is to  come. I have been told that a visit to India changes you. I have no doubt that that is true. I am up for the challenge. I think........

A view from our porch in Toronto just days before we leave

This is a picture from our house on Friday Jan 25 2013 we are getting ready to leave on Sunday. I just have to be believe that it will be better in Goa.

We are slowly getting ready for our adventure