Aloha Chile!

I know now that this surrender was bound to happen. The surrender of expectation, and meticulousness, of planning and perfection. My life has become magnified these last three and a half months by the random encounters, the gut instinct and the beauty of impulse. As such, I find myself this morning eating a Geisha chocolate from Doha airport's duty free and people watching from my balcony in Santiago, Chile. Just spectacular.

I was first introduced to Geisha chocolate in 2009 at Mackenzie's wedding. For four long years, I have sought them out, but sadly, I accepted they could only be found in Finland...but then! The Doha Duty Free. So yes, I consumed 2500 (that's right, 2500) calories of chocolate in my 48 hour journey. Gross...but lovely.

It all started when I returned to Kathmandu following my Everest trek, and discovered an email from Michael. He was potentially traveling to Chile for a month long cultural immersion over the holidays. It took about two seconds for everything to come halfway together in my mind. At that point, I was without any long term plans, and was just considering the yoga retreat. Heading into my ten days of meditation, chanting, yoga and meeting some of the most incredible people yet in my travels (more to come later...), I had the the bud of a South American idea in my mind.

After only wearing giant green Solomans for weeks, I opted for another pair of walking shoes...the ever classy black Converse low tops.

Emerging from my no-wifi cocoon at the tail end of the retreat, I had fallen in love with the idea of a South American tour. And, I am ready in my heart to spend some real time with Michael. To bring together, and repair some of what we have lost in our years of separation and long distance. We are two changed people from where we were at 24 living and loving in San Diego. Life is possibility, it is change, and as Bipin from Sadhana told us, "happiness is a birthright." So I am here, and happiness followed.

After almost exactly 48 hours of travel, 3 flights (6, 19 and 2 hours respectively), six movies, airport strolls for an 8 hour layover in Doha, then a 10 hour layover in a Buenos Aires, and I am here. Whew. And yet, the journey really did seem to fly by. 

One of the most egregious misprints I have ever seen. 

I miss Nepal already. And Spain, and Italy. I miss my beautiful friends, old and new. But I am not sad. I have seen and experienced, and I know in my heart that I will return to these places. And that I will laugh and chant with my friends again. Truth.

New amigas!

Way back friends.

Familia! So many incredible people in my life...I love you all! Does travel make you even more sentimental?

Tonight, Michael and I are taking a 12 hour bus ride south Puerto Montt. We have a week to play before starting Spanish lessons in Mendoza, Argentina on Monday. The holidays with a person I love, in the sunshine heat of the Southern Hemisphere.