Friday, May 30th, 2008

Friday, May 30th, 2008 – Baltimore, Maryland, USA

The bottom of my feet have been looking a bit like a war zone with ongoing treatments to address callouses and warts. The saviour to what appears a sorry sight is Vivek, my host in Baltimore. Being in the medical profession he has treated foot conditions for some time. With nitrogen application and careful carving the soles are starting to look like something again, thanks to him and the help of his other youthful friends who have taken their hands at dipping into the Epsom salt water which soak my feet at night.
Vivek was determined that even if after a short night, he wanted to be woken early to join me on a high-powered walk from Catonsville to downtown Baltimore. The day was great with early sunshine and the trekking route on Frederic St. (later Pratt St.) being all downhill. We walked through some skuzzy neighbourhoods which had seen better day.
There are ways in which to live, goodness, passion or ignorance. By the force of birth we land ourselves in one of these predominant modes, but each and everyone of us have chose whether to stay in one mode or to shift to another. Choice is a blessing and by our decision from choice we can slide from sadness to happiness.
Vivek was not used to such a stretch but was happy to have made thte choice to walk while chanting. We had reached the destination point at city square where the Festival of India was to be staged very close to Babe Ruth Museum.

11 Km