Good To Be Home

We had 3 fun filled days in Cape Town, from 31st Jan to 2nd Feb. It was nice to be back in civilization after ages. I had long forgotten that the world was so colourful. It was difficult to imagine such a world while I was in Antarctica and it is difficult to imagine life in Antarctica now that I was in Cape Town. The trees, birds, animals, people, lots of movement, lots of different things to eat, different sounds, roads, warmth, regular cycles of day and night and so much more. It was fascinating. The world suddenly seemed so big. But a bigger shock awaited me in Delhi.

Just after landing in Cape Town

A winery near Cape Town

African Penguins

We were still a fair distance away from home. We took the Emirates flight to Dubai, where we indulged ourselves and blew up a lot of money on duty free stuff. This was the first time in 15 months that I had an opportunity to spend money. I hadn’t seen the colour of money all these months. Surprisingly, it felt good. We finally landed in Delhi on 4th afternoon. This was the end of our expedition and we were all reunited with our families. The rest had to go to other towns around Delhi, but for me, this was the end of my travels. It was an emotional moment.

Dubai International Airport

Surprisingly, I did not feel any sense of relief. I was well aware of the struggles that lay ahead for me. I was suddenly jobless. I hurried back home, and had some home made food. It consisted of lots of salads, pickles and assorted vegetables. The same stuff that tasted so mundane just a year ago tasted like nectar now- ghar ka khaana. I have not had the urge to eat out since I returned. Home made food is good enough for me. Strangely, I have lost the urge to socialise much. I am flooded with phone calls and I don’t know what to tell people about my experiences. There is so much to tell that I feel bogged down by the sheer weight of this experience. I feel lost trying to make sense of the world around me and coming to terms with reality. The city has changed, maybe so have I, for the better or for the worst only time will tell. As I write this I am wondering if I have actually been to Antarctica or was it just a dream sequence. I don’t know what to make of the whole experience.
…… I hope I am making sense…………..