Before you take a peak.....

You need to be aware this is our old blog. Dave (the blogger) started blogging when, as a family, we went to India for 3.5 months from April - August 2008. This blog is the story of our time there. You'll find lots about our story by going to the 'archives' section of the blog to the left below.

If you want to see our current news go to our new website and blog here..

May 01, 2008

Getting into it slowly..

Well, we unashamedly went for a bit of chill tonight. The heat and
storms had really affected us on day one and we all really struggled. I think we were actually surprised how quick we sank BUT day two we woke and all felt 100% different.

The temperature here will go up and up now til the end of May (they say) and then starts to drop but that's when Monsoon comes....

We took it easy last night as as from next week it all starts to happen with the kids and me (Dave) off to a camp 'in the forest (that's an Indian forest!!) to speak to 2 big groups of young people. Sarah will be fine at home (her words!) with Lillie, a really nice UK girl who works with Janet (who has rented us the flat) and lives next door in a kind of annexe. The 'other guys' (good friends of Raj's and ours too) will also keep an eye on Sarah - we are constantly getting texts to say 'are you OK?' 'can I get you anything?' etc.....!

The evening last night (that we said we took easy) was a typical Indian one. Here's just a taster of one night:

1. Kids love the rickshaws (example left) so we caught one on our own (normally hand held by Raj!) from the house to the main shopping/City area called MG Road (Mahatma Gandhi Road). An experience in itself!!! We'll mail you a video of this soon - to be seen to be believed especially at rush hour.

  • 2. Haggling with the rick driver to get 'best price' is the part of it I love - knocking him down by 10rps (8p) is something that is expected.....

3. Sitting having a cappuchino and 'Cafe Days' (equivalent of Starbucks in India) and seeing a rick pull up with the sun visa shown above left and then as it drove off seeing on the rear of the rick the equivalent to 'glory to Lord Shiva' - on the same rick!!!!!!! They love their religion out here!

4. Buying all sorts of weird and wonderful things at the supermarket including hot chocolate

5. Having a pizza at Pizza Hut!!

6. Haggling with street vendors to buy the full set of Harry Potter books (all 7 of them for about £14!) and then getting a drum for Josh from a guy who was wanting to trade 6 of the drums he was selling for my watch!!

7. Getting attacked by hundreds of huge flying ants and mossies

8. Having to barter hard for a rick back home as aftre 9pm the price doubles unless you work hard....I got us home for 60rps (80p) so not bad - took bartering with 5 guys tio get one!!

and that is just in one night!!!

And so to bed....! zzzzzzz......