travel

Tomorrow morning at around 5am, we will be heading down to Delhi for a few days of sightseeing. We’ll have to go down that famously scary road, back down to Delhi. Hopefully with no flat tires this time and a few hours shorter. (The 6-hour drive took 9 hours last week). We’ll be doing lots of touristy things in Delhi – saturday we go to the Taj Mahal, which I am super excited about!!

Yesterday we had a traditional Indian breakfast cooked by mom MIL’s Hindi teacher, which was soooooo yummy. Then we went to visit the early development center where she works with disabled children. After that, we went to visit the women’s center where Mom volunteers. This is a center where battered women (most with deadbeat husbands) learn to quilt, knit, weave and cook while earning money to feed their children and enjoying a safe place for the day. It was so incredible to see this ministry and meet these women, some of whom travel upwards of one hour each way to work there. We were there while the local day care (which the director helps them pay for) let out, so I got to meet their children as well.  I took LOADS of pictures, which I can’t wait to post.
Last night we went to dinner at the neighbors house, which was very interesting. They are three sisters who have traveled all over Inida. They are Hindu, so they were able to answer a lot of our questions about what we were seeing here. They adored Ellie and Grace, who happily ate their weight in food. (Seriously, homemade samosas, people. By their 200-year-old mother with no teeth. You can only imagine how amazing they tasted!!)
Today we visited the local Hindu temple, which was fascinating. Ellie and Grace are getting so comfortable with Indian people that Grace made friends with a monk. They were chatting away, him in Hindi (with the occasionaly “Hello! Good morning!” thrown in and Grace in English (with the occasional “Namaste!”). So funny! Ellie wants to know why all of the statues have so many arms.
Have to run — power surges again! 

I think this just about sums up my kids impression of India — lots and lots and lots of Purell.

We are having an amazing time!!! We spent yesterday at the Childrens Home, which was so wonderful. We had a tour of the home and school and got to meet many of the workers and children. Our kids had a wonderful time – Ellie disappeared at one point and was found hanging out and giggling with some other little girls. I didn’t even cry – only teared up a few times. I swear I didn’t take any children to bring home in my suitcase.
We also went to Rishikesh (made famous by the Beatles) and saw the Ganges River. It was very crowded and extremely interesting. Husband actually put his feet in the Ganges River – with a cut on his foot. Seriously. I have photographic evidence, so when he has to have his leg amputated I can say “That water was disgusting! I told you so!”  Then we crossed an HUGE suspension bridge that was very narrow (no cars, just people. And motorcycles. And cows.) Which required some deep calming breaths on my part. The kids were a little freaked out by the huge statues of the Hindu gods and the men with paint all over their bodies, but it was still a really neat time.
People’s prayers are certainly working. Our kids have not been sick at all, despite our children insisting on touching everything and Grace drank some tap water when we first arrived. Its a miracle!! 😉
We are so thankful for our amazing children. They are doing just beautifully, playing with Indian children and now they don’t even flinch when strange Indian women grab their cheeks and give them a good hard pinch 😉 They are no longer impressed by the cows, which are wandering around everywhere but think the monkeys are really cool.  We drove through a real, actual jungle yesterday, but we didn’t see any elephants. I was very sad. Ellie’s favorite is the “Vegetable Man” who walks around the neighborhood with his wooden cart fill of veggies. And the girls are fascinated with the fruit trees in Grandma and Grandpa’s yard – the papaya tree, pomegrante tree and lemon tree. They go outside several times a day to see if they’ve grown yet.
Gotta run!

The startled look on the children’s faces when Grandma told them that the chili they were eating for lunch was made with water buffalo. (If your kids watch VeggieTales, you’ll be familiar with the ‘Water Buffalo Song’)

The look on my face when Grace told me that she had gotten herself a drink of water. From the SINK. Oh dear.

Trying to explain to kids to keep their eyes and mouths closed in the shower.

We’re in India!! The plane ride was suprisingly painless – much to our delight. Not that I would recommend a 15-hour place ride if you don’t have to. Time flying was aided by our own personal TVs in the seats that we could watch movies on demand and play video games on. The kids watched Cartoon Network a bunch and both slept for almost 8 hours!!! We arrived in Delhi on time and with all our luggage!! A miracle!!!

We arrived safely in Dehra Dun this afternoon after a mere 40 hours of travel.  We left Delhi this morning for the 150 mile trip up to Dehra Dun at 5am and arrived here around 2pm. We had many fun experiences during the journey, which would never happen in Philly. Like stopping to let a group of monkeys cross the road. Like driving the wrong way on a divided highway – twice.  Like driving on a two-lane road (as in one lane of traffic in each direction) and passing a tractor piled sky-high with sugarcane who is passing a ox-cart, while getting honked at by an oncoming bus.  And the public toilets. OH MY GOODNESS the toilets. My kids are like, “Enough with the Purell, already, Mom!” As I douse them very 15 minutes.

Anywho, gotta run before the power goes out again and I lose my post – again. Pictures coming soon, I hope!! We can see the Himalayas from the house – seriously! Its breathtaking!!