Mary Emmer Hi Marcie, I am a client of your mothers and was very worried about you and your situation. thank you for letting everyone know you are safe for the time being. my thoughts and prayersare with you and your mom. be safe

Mary Emmer Hi

Mike Healey Marci:I've known your mother for 25 years. I've been her client for that long. During that time your mom and I have talked about our kids. In that way I learned a lot about you as you were growing up. Your sense of adventure over the past several years is extraordinary. What you are experiencing and what you have experienced with your travels not only to India but to Thailand are experiences that not many people have an unfortunately, even think about having. I didn't get to travel in India until I was 56. My son and my daughter went with my wife and I to India and China and my son, on his own, recently traveled to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. (My daughter is 22 and my son is 25)The fact that you have taken it upon yourself to see and experience these places is very impressive. Travel in India is daunting as a family but as a single woman it has to be absolutely crazy. If I had written you early on in your trip I would have recommended that you buy yourself some traditional Indian garb to make yourself appear as much as possible as a traditional, repressed, Indian woman. That is about the only way that you could have avoided some of the experiences that you've had thus far. In fact, if you can I suggest that you pick up some Indian clothing for the rest of your trip. It will make your experience there much more pleasant.The culture is hard to describe. That's why I recommended to your mother that she tell you about "Holy Cow." I read that book on the way back from India. It was a quick read and very entertaining but most importantly, it summarized in a very entertaining way, exactly what my family experienced. I would not have thought that what Holy Cow's author's experience was still the norm in India. Sadly, it is.India is a place that has to be actually experienced in order to be believed. The word chaotic comes to mind. India is a place that I'm very happy that I've visited but I can honestly say I would never go back. Once is enough for me.As I read some of your experiences in the hospitals and clinics that you've visited, I cringed. Their blood-borne pathogen protocol in these facilities appears to be nonexistent. That might explain the incredibly high level of blood-borne diseases such as HIV, hepatitis etc. in India. To the extent possible, I'm hoping that you are doing whatever necessary to protect yourself not only in the operating room and clinics but also, anywhere else that your travels in India may take you. While India is an incredible adventure, you don't want to take anything home other than souvenirs purchased from some local vendor. It does not take much to become infected. A scratch or cut on your hand exposed to blood carrying HIV or some other pathogen is all it takes. Do whatever you need to do to protect yourself in these situations. You have a lot of adventures ahead of you. If you are as careful as you possibly can be you will have even more time to explore other countries and have other adventures.I would have liked to give you some tips about what to visit but I never made it to Mumbai or any part of Central or southern India. Our trip was limited to the northern part of India. I especially enjoyed visiting a town of about 2 million people on the Ganges River (Varnassi) (SP?). This is one of several Hindu holy cities where Hindus make pilgrimages in order to bathe in the river. Many Hindus also come to these holy cities to be cremated and have their ashes deposited in the Ganges (along with sewage, un-cremated bodies, and any other source of pollution you can possibly think of). About 20,000 pilgrims visit these cities each day. The cremations occur on the river banks at what are called burning ghats. The bodies are placed on a pile of wood. It takes about seven to eight hours to fully cremate an adult. Women of course are not allowed to attend the cremation. Our guide told us that if you are cremated in one of these holy cities and your ashes are deposited in the river, all that bad karma is forgiven and you head straight for Nirvana. Kind of a get out of jail free card so to speak. Such is India. If one of these holy cities is in the area where you will be over the next 20 days please be sure to stop by. You won't be disappointed.Have fun and be careful. Your mother asked me to tell you that she expects to see you home for Christmas. Don't disappoint her. You will have plenty of time to visit other places but Christmas' with your mother are unique experiences that only occur one time each year.I will leave you with the only Hindu joke that I know. I shared it with one of our guides and he thought it was pretty funny. (He was Brahmin of course. All of our guides wanted us to know that the caste system no longer exists by law but they also wanted to make sure we understood that they were in the upper part of the cast). The joke goes like this:What did the Hindu say to the hot dog vendor? Answer: Make me one with everything.

Mary Ann WOW!!! Amazing! You had better write down everything, and take a lot of pics for me!!! We REALLY need to get together more...I'm happy your mom called, and look forward to hearing all about your adventures!!! Please stay safe!! Love you, Mary Ann

margo Hi Marci: Your mom is here and I have loved looking at your pics. You look fabulous in that bikini by the way! Safe travels. Margo

terry i just saw the new batch of pictures and didn't see the sultans camel. he must be behind those buildings. love you and have fun xxxxxoooooxxxxxooooo .

mom im at grams. and your talking to grams right now. hope your trip to mumbi goes fine . i have had a long day today . are you ready for all those 22 million people?????????????? be sure to take pics of everything o.k. hope your breakfast and shower went fine . oh and now you will have to pack you will have to tell me how that went ha ha ha got to go now because this lady im working for is cracking the whip she is so mean ha ha ha xxooxxooxxooxxooxxxoooxxxoooxxxoooxxxxooooxxxxoooozzzooo okthats enuogh

MOM over at grams printing out pics i love the pics of your beds take pics of the buildings where you stayed ok and clinics and hospitals had so much fun talking to you from safeway can hardly wait till its for real !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love you soooooooooooooooooo much xoxoxoxoxoxo

Noel ohhh Marci your pictures are amazing, every time I read your blog I still can't believe you are actually living in India right now! Be careful traveling by yourself!! The pictures of the Taj are awesome, I wish I could be there with you! Soon enough we will take a trip together...South America?? YEAH! LOVE YOU!

suzy Marci -So exciting to hear about your adventures. I love the pics as well. The scenery is amazing and it is fun to see in a white coat in action. I am so proud of you and living vicariously through your experiences. I can't wait to see ALL your pictures and hear ALL your stories when you return. Keep up the good work and stay safe. Love ya, Suz

terry mauuurci just saw your pictures - looks like your having a good time- we miss you alot my little indian mountain women. be safe and have fun- love ya lotsxxxxxxoooooxxxxoooo

Kristin I just read all your blogs. You must be having an amazing time and expierencing so much! I'm so jealous. Hope you are doing well :)

Camille So now I am sitting at my desk with watery eyes. Reading your blog got me all emotional lol, god I am a loser! ahah Love you and miss you! Have a great time and send me a picture of a howler monkey! haha LOVE YOU!!!

Suzy Hey Marci - It is fun to hear about your travels. I can't wait to hear about India. Take good care of yourself, learn lots and have fun! It is going to be an amazing experience and it is going to go fast. Much love - Suz

Camille I LOVE YOU! I MISS YOU!!!