Family

To read about India is interesting, to hear stories about our family is exciting, to actually be here is MIND BLOWING!!!

Monkeys perch on the fences bordering the streets, snake charmers greet you at restaurants.  However, the Roads....These vibrant, chaotic roads of India have made an impression on me as much as much as anything else.  The roads are shared not simply with a variety of motorized vehicles but also animal-drawn wagons, human powered handcarts and uncountable pedestrians all competing (by means of continuous horn honking and shouting) to get to their destination.  Whether it is a 4 lane hwy or 4 meter wide alley congestion is an understatement.  The Roads of India take a life and personality of their own.  Although it has been a hair-raising experience from the beginning it wasn't until we pulled up beside an elephant that I was truly speechless.

I am in the van, on the hwy, less than 1 foot away...this is NOT a close up and yes this elephant is carrying passengers down the hwy.

We began our first official day with a tour old Old Delhi.   It is a maze of shops and crumbling mansions.   We took a rickshaws ride through the narrow lanes of the 300 year old Chandni Chowk market.  I hung on for dear life to both Savitri and the rickshaw while admiring the workmanship of various artisans, who skills and storefront have been handed down from one generation to the next.  Savitri spent the ride waving to excitedly and signing about how much she loves stray dogs and cats.

Next stop was a contrast to the noise and crowds of Old Delhi, Raj Ghat.  An oasis of manicured lawns and peace.  Raj Ghat is the humble, yet stunning memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the main architect of India's Independence.  

Obviously I realized that I will "stand out" in India in comparison to the locals but I didn't release what that actually meant on a daily basis.  Initially, I thought I was doing something inappropriate, or the girls were too loud and that's why everyone was starring at us but I quickly realized no matter what we did people starred.   But not at all in a negative way, in fact just the opposite. As we walked to Gandhi's cremation site an adorable bunch of school children were standing on the bridge above us waving.  I gave a wave back and they erupted in cheers and smiles...of course I loved it and we waved back and forth excessively.  Moments later, a Tibetan woman asked if she could shake Savitri's hand (shockingly for those of you who know Savitri she actually said yes).   On our way back to the van we passed another group of (girl) school children who were even more animated with us than their male counterparts.  

Now you think wow what a day...no no no the fun has just begun....

Our first excursion with Mom's (Pushpa) family is next! Manju Massiji (Mom's sister) Mausaji, Kamya, Rani, Roshni, Manu, Gooddu, Archana ("cousins" in western culture but here they are truly our brothers and sisters) as well as Krish (4 yr old son of Gooddu and Archana) all came to the hotel to meet us.

Now this crew, Our Family, is beyond words....their energy, instantaneous love and adoration towards us was humbling.  They eagerly took off work and stopped their daily lives just for us.  And, did they ever take care of us!!!  First stop, one of the oldest restaurants in Delhi for a wonderful feast.  Then our after diner entertainment...the infamous Snake Charmer.  Our family swore to me the snakes making their way out of the basket had already had their venom removed but the way Roshni jumped back as the first of 2 cobras sprang out of the basket made me wonder!   Jaya and Savtri were wondering what their Aunt Sheryl would have thought of it!

Then, off to The India Gate, a war monument for the freedom fighters.  Jaya, Savitri and Jay were spoiled with bubbles, glow swords, a boat ride and most importantly unlimited of love and attention.  

Just when we thought it couldn't get any better Manu byiah (bhiah = older brother) arrived.  Manu, currently lives in Australia but arranged his hectic schedule to meet us in Delhi.   The remainder of the evening was filled with a visit to the Presidents Palace and of course in India yet another Feast.  What most stands out in my memory is the company (our family) we held. 

Shannon