Goa, December 18

Tiny Christian chapel on way to beach.

Kavi and Strahlia share a coke

More days of beach and sand. All along the beach are little shacks selling drinks and snacks. They have chaise lounges and umbrellas that you can use for a few hours if you buy something. Our little place is called Dreamers Shack. Yesterday as we left, they said, "See you tomorrow."

Gopal relaxes on the beach

Kavi gets a coconut

Anjuna Market, Goa

We arrived in Goa two days ago. We are staying in a lovely rental house that is perfect for the kids and all of us to relax in. The beach is a five minute walk down the street. Yesterday we all packed up our lunches and towels and headed over to the beach. Kids played in the water and sand; adults relaxed under palm frond umbrellas; really is couldn't be any better.

After that we hired a taxi and went to the Anjuna flea market. This a market that for years has been frequented by western hippies, and continues to be. In the traffic jam on the way in, we saw lots of Euro-Americans riding their scooters in to the market. The market itself has many vendors who are gypsies from Karnatika, selling beads and bags and items that are decorated with little glass squares. Ila was entranced by much of it.

Finally a dinner in nice restaurant on the beach. Crab curry with coconut milk, mutton curry, and spicy shrimp. It was really good. By this point our poor children were wiped out exhausted, so that was a slight downer, but we all survived.

Turns out Kavi is a very game world traveler. Eats everything. Is interested in everything. Ila on the other hand is less enthusiastic. Food is a big issue and I'm working on not being mad at her all the time for her fussiness. Also, when she's tired she gets overwhelmed by noise. At the restaurant last night, there were disco dance party raves starting in some nearby establishments. She said the noise was going to make her throw up. Well, in a way I can't blame her--it was pretty awful. I'm very relieved that our little house is not in the midst of a party-central like that. Yuck. Strahlia, despite her many food allergies, is doing fabulous too. Going with the flow and having a good time. All the kids are playing together a ton, enjoying each other's company.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Greetings to Everyone from India!!!

I arrived here on Sunday after three days of travel--an overnight to London, a day in London, another overnight to India then a flight from Delhi to Hyderabad. We have been busy seeing family since I arrived--that's why there have been no new posts. Everyone is doing great. We are all adjusting well. Today we are  getting on a plane for Goa. Beach vacation awaits us. I think the kids will love it.

Here are a few photos of the kids waiting at our guest house in Hyderabad for the car to airport.

Gopal's cousin Rishidar got married to Gita Shree. Sounds like it was a beautiful, low key ceremony in the temple in her hometown in Assam. There is always meant to be someone from the next generation involved in a wedding ceremony. Kavi was that person. You will see a photo of him with his foot all painted as part of it.

\

They went on an outing to the Brahmaputra River... Beautiful, isn't it?

Here is a tea plantation. The tea plants are at the bottom. There are shade trees above, with pepper vines growing on them.

Assam: Kaziranga National Park

Just heard from Gopal. They are having a great time in Assam. This morning they got up at five a.m. (not hard with jetlagged kids) and took a wildlife viewing trip on the backs of elephants. They saw rhinoceros, eagles, wild boar, and many birds. Also a few skittish wild elephants.  It sounds like it was great. They were in Kaziranga National Park.

Leaving Delhi

Gopal and the kids are still suffering from jetlag. But today they are off on an airplane for Dibrughar, Assam where they will attend the wedding of his cousin Rishidar. His sister Jini and daughter Strahlia have joined Gopal, the kids, and his parents. They are going on a safari at a national park before attending the wedding. Hope to be able to tell you more about it soon.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Gopal called me this evening. Everyone is doing well, but the kids are slow to adjust. They went to the Akshar Dham temple in Delhi yesterday for a couple of hours. It has a boat-ride exhibit on the history of India. The kids fell asleep on the way home at three pm and could not be roused. So they slept until midnight, and then Gopal was up with them all night. Sounds like the kids have bad jetlag! Poor Gopal is exhausted. They leave tomorrow for Assam.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

I heard from Gopal and the kids today. They have safely arrived in Delhi.

The travel was uneventful, apparently, except for both kids throwing up on the landing in Heathrow Airport! And Kavi threw up again in the car getting picked up from the airport in Delhi. Wow. Then Gopal says he already gave the kids unboiled milk on accident. The adventure begins...

Sorry. Still no new pictures.