Yes, that's right, Mommy-ji Sue ann is in INDIA!!! We have had jam packed days since she has been here. On December 10th after finishing up my classes and semester, I got on a bus from Jaipur to Delhi. Then, once in Delhi I got a rickshaw to take me to the hotel I had booked for us. That rickshaw took some time, since neither of us knew where the hotel was located exactly, and also because we had to stop for gas. Then, I went and got some fruit and snacks and cleaned up before taking a taxi to the airport at 9:00pm. Mom was supposed to get in at 9:45pm, but he plane was delayed almost 2 hours because of snow in Chicago. But, since I had no way to check that before going to the airport, I was there 2 hours before she got there. It was alright, but the waiting area is closed off now since the Mombay bombings. So, I waited outside along with all the other anxious family and friends waiting for their loved ones. I enjoyed some hot chai while I waited. Then, finally she came through the doors and I was sooo excited. We headed back to the hotel, all the while catching up on everything from the past 3 1/2 months. During this time, Mom was pointing out things like crazy traffic, cows in the streets, the people everywhere-things that I have now become accustomed to, but which are very surprising when you first arrive.
The next day we got up early, had some breakfast and then headed to Agra. We had a really nice driver named Sanjeev, who shared helpful cultural commentary while carefully navigating us to Agra. We visited the Taj Mahal, which is BEAUTIFUL!!! It is like everyone says-breathtaking, beyond words, just spectacular. We had a great dinner out and also Mom had her first chai of India on the street from a vendor.
The next day we got up early and headed toward Jaipur, with a stop at a Bird Sanctuary on the way. The Bird Sanctuary was AWESOME!! We rented bikes and had a great time biking around and looking at birds-like storks, cranes, snake birds and kingfishers. I can't wait to put up the pictures. The storks were unbelievable-there were so many of them and they were all nesting.
After the bird sanctuary we continued on to Jaipur. Then in Jaipur we went over to my host family for Mom to meet everyone. They love her and it is so funny and fun having my families meet. We stayed over late and then Papa-ji and Vinita Bua took us back to the hotel on their motor-bikes. Mom was so scared and held onto Vinita Bua really tight-it was pretty cute and funny. When we got back to the hotel mom got to meet Erik, Grace and Molly. Grace and Molly were leaving the next day for Delhi, but Erik is traveling out with Mom and me to Jaisalmer to meet all the NGO friends and family.
Yesterday we got up early at 6:15am to go running in Central Park while Papa-ji walked. Mom had brought him a track suit from the USA and he was wearing that and it looked great! Then we went to the house for chai and then walked back to the hotel to get cleaned up. After cleaning up, we headed back to the house for breakfast-which was delicious poha, and then Mommy-ji, Mom, Akshay and I went up to the roof to fly kites!! Akshay is really good at flying kites and he even cut someone's kite! We were totally impressed! Mom did a good job helping reel the kite back in. After kite flying on the roof, we headed to the old city for shopping! It was quite the adventure and experience. We bought sooooooo much stuff and had lots of laughs. After shopping, we went back to the house and then the hotel to drop things off, had a little short rest, and then headed back to the house to go to Raja Park for a few more things. Mom got to try her first samosa also! Oh, and in the old city we had buttermilk lassis! They were DELICIOUS! After all this shopping we did a little bit more by Ganesh temple on our street and then had a great dinner of palak paneer, dal and rice and roti.
This morning we got up at 6:15am again to go run in the park. Then, chai at the house again, and then back to the hotel to pack up and check out. We moved a lot of our baggage to MSID to store while we got out west. We leave on a train tonight for Jaisalmer. And today during the day we are going to do some Jaipur sight seeing. Also, for lunch today we had gatte belle, and garlic chutney-my favorite dishes!!!
Its great having Mom here and she is being quite the trooper-she is wearing me out and I don't even have to adjust to the time change! I feel very lucky and blessed to have this time together.
I'll try to put up pictures if I can, but my internet is not really frequent now, so they might have to wait til we get back to the United States.
I hope you are all happy and healthy and enjoying winter and getting excited for the holidays.
Much love from India!
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