Friday, February 18th 2005, 9:30pm

I did accept the invitation, and so we hit the road in the afternoon, arriving in Delhi around 10pm.

It's an interesting deal trying to drive oneself (so to speak) out of one Indian city, across the country, and into another city. It requires many stops to "ask directions", interpret "directions", make it some distance through twisting and confusing streets, ask directions again... and so forth. Then driving on the roads is a real trip. A two lane highway turns into a two to five lane gauntlet. Cars, trucks, busses, motorcycles, etc, passing in both directions simultaneously. Flashing lights to claim right of way, honking to let someone know you're in the process of passing them so that they don't turn into you (people do not even think of shoulder checking). If you don't honk, you don't exist. Honking to warn the pedestrian 100' ahead that if they cross the road without looking, as they were just about to and often do, they're going to be dead. Passing on the right, passing on the left, two wheels on the shoulder and two on the road, weaving in and out of lanes, slamming the brakes and lurching back into our lane to avoid the bus from hell which came.... very close.... Trying to decide if that right-hand turn signal means he's going to move into the right-hand lane, or if he wants us to pass him on the right. It seriously is used for both. Hitting hidden bumps and speed breaks, and then the roof. It's all in good fun, and god's with us every step of the way.

We did make it though, and made it well. I hope the couple on the Vespa scooter that ran into our opening passenger door make it home ok too.

After a couple days in Delhi, which were pleasant enough, we took off at about 6am, and headed to Vrindaben U.P. The dense fog didn't slow the car much, and neither did any of the vehicles which emerged from it and slid by us as we sped along. Following the directions of Pupino, one of the Chezk fellows, we made out way to a nice little temple where we got a single room for Rs 15, and a room with three beds for Rs 60 total. We've been relaxing like mad here... it's really quite peaceful and quiet as towns in India go. Vridaban is the home of the ISKCON Hari Krishna movement, and they have a truely beautiful temple here with services throughout the day. I don't feel entirely comfortable with the whole ...movement, I must say. There are a number of aspects of what I see that just rub me the wrong way right now. Another instance of my very stiff mind - interesting to watch.

So we were going to spend another day or two, and then head to Agra, then through Rajasthan toward Diu, but as seems very common these days, plans have changed for me.

A serious family ...situation.. has come up, and I shall be flying back to Canada on evening of the 22nd - roughly four days. I wanted adventure and unpredictability, and I have gotten it in spades, and it's been so good for me.

dharma