India 2009 Update, Feb 1
It’s 8:30 PM on January 31. We are now happy guests of Dahno and Susilee Reddy in Peddapalli, and since they have good Internet access I can report to you that the feast at the orphanage was a great success. I also may have a rare opportunity to include a picture.
We had probably 10, or more different vegetables (I don’t know what they were), apples, a special rice and mutton; all of these in good quantities except the cake, which barely made it. It was decided to have mutton instead of chicken because it is considered a more special dish. The rice was referred to as “fine rice”. It is used at the hostel only for festive occasions. It is assumed that as soon as the kids saw it they knew something was up. The cake had been kept out of sight until after the dinner.
Sharon and I had walked into town the day before and ordered the large cake from the bakery; big enough to serve 250 kids. We picked it up yesterday, the day of the feast, and brought it to the hostel. It was really beautifully done and ended up being just the right size.
Before the food was served there was much singing and dancing, some of it done with Sharon and Jan included. Everyone had a good time.
The dancing, by the way, was beautiful. Several of the girls, about 10 years old performed a couple dances that seemed to be telling a story. They did such a good job and were, I thought, very expressive. One part also included that head movement where it shifts from side to side while at the same time keeping perfectly level. I don’t know how they do that. I can’t even grab my head in my hands and make it do it. I video recorded it but it was fairly dark at the time, so the playback is a little hard to see.
Jan 31:
This morning we had to say “good-bye” to the children at the orphanage. It was time to head out to Peddipalli. One of the girls who had been in the orphanage and grown up there was now recently married and moved away. We planned to meet her and her husband there and visit for a few hours. Then we would head over to the Reddy’s.
By “heading over” I mean call ahead for a couple pedicabs to pick us and all our many suitcases up and haul us over there (it must really be great to be a seasoned traveler and literally travel light). Pedicabs are the ubiquitous taxis of India. If you ever come here you really must try one. In all honesty we enjoy riding in them, if we are not in the monsoon season; they have no windows, or even doors! So, with each pedicab stuffed with as much suitcases and people as we could work out, we headed off.
February 1:
We have had another good night’s sleep. This morning we both enjoyed hot showers. Sharon and I are staying in the Reddy’s “guest house”. This is quite a bit like a hotel room, but I understand it is owned by the company Mr. Reddy works for, and is used when the employees have guests that they have not room for in their own house. It’s quite comfortable, including a bed with a very firm mattress which both Sharon and I find very restful.
Shortly we will head outdoors for the short walk to their house to join them and Roger and Jan for breakfast before heading over for church.
The time is going so fast. We are already half done with our trip. I feel like a kid who doesn’t want the family vacation to end. I love India. There are so many things to enjoy. It is not the same as having “fun” like vacations when I was a child. One could probably write a book on such differences. Maybe someone has. At any rate, I would take this over a fun vacation anyday.
More later.
Mike
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