I Just LOVE India

I'm awake early and everyone else is fast asleep...a good chance to catch up with the blog...

'I just LOVE India,' said the 7 year old yesterday, as she got dressed to go out for another plate of shark tikka. Her new ankle chain jangled like sleigh bells, and I smiled as she admired the henna tattoo on her hand for the 40 millionth time. 9 little bangles on her wrist, a bindi dot on her forehead, a lovely necklace and that beautiful dress from Panaji market...'an Indian Princess,' the man at the restaurant had said, kissing her hand.

Its wonderful how both the kids have 'settled in' to the heat, the hustle, the noise, and the smells (not all nice!)

The Ashram. Spot the little white boy!

One of the little lads from the Ashram. He was trying to make one of those spinning toys

We have an Ashram over the wall of our apartment where a load of boys live with one lovely, cheerful lady. We think its some kind of orphanage. Every morning - early - we hear them all getting ready to go off to school. Chattering, laughing, teasing. They're all back in the early afternoon to do jobs and to get showered under one outside tap. They shout for the 10 year old each day at 4pm - 'Tom! Tom! You come now!' He climbs over the wall, ducks under the washing line that groans under the weight of their drying clothes, and they all play - football and cricket. One of the older boys took Tom inside yesterday and showed him round. They have a telly, and they sleep in a dormitory. The lad showed Tom his artwork, and he was very impressed. There never seems to be any trouble there. They live a simple existance, have very little possessions, and yet have the biggest, beaming smiles.

It is Saturday today. When everyone is up and ready, we're planning to catch the bus to the ferry and sail across to Panaji again. Our mission? Haircuts for the scarecrow boys. Last year, they both had a haircut there in an amazing little sidestreet 'hair saloon.' We ALL ended up having Indian head massages. Eddie and I also had our faces covered in a green cream which left our skin feeling lovely and soft. It was a brilliant experience, so we're off to see if we can find the same place again...

I just LOVE India! :-)