Victoria Kjos

Welcome to India Victoria Kjos

Many fantasize about leaving the materialistic west to search for life's meaning in spiritual India. Few, though, actually walk away from a productive, comfortable middle-class life on such quest. Weary of the self-indulgence and money-centric American life, the author disposed of the majority of her belongings determined to carve out a simpler existence. Traveling alone, with two outdated guidebooks, this woman with various prior careers--as a lawyer, realtor, banker, political consultant, and yoga, meditation and qigong teacher--left America with no plans. Her guiding compass was a deep-seated belief in the oneness of humanity and connection to the divine. Opening her heart for what she might encounter and desirous of burning her ego, her trip was unscheduled to allow flexibility along the way. The reader will feel as if walking beside her experiencing the paradoxes of India's cacophony and peacefulness. A journey that is at times heartrending, poignant, challenging, and hysterical, the author is candid about her adventures and tribulations, referring to herself as a "spoiled westerner." Box-stealing cows, powerful chanting sessions, near collapse from heat exhaustion, and arduous travels provide a peek into the colorful chaos of this magical country. Her plainspoken journals transport you to the streets, temples, trains, ashrams and marketplaces of South India. Whether avoiding critters in ashrams, maneuvering the various toilet experiences, or dealing with language challenges, the author becomes entranced by the country. Most significantly, she falls in love with the overwhelming kindness and generosity of the people of Mother India.