India Part 3

This is the town where Neeraj's parents and sister live.

Rohun getting a bucket bath. In India, you fill a bucket with hot water, you sit on a little stool and use a scooper to pour the water over your head to take a bath. There was a shower, but this method uses less hot water and when you've got six people to bathe hot water becomes an issue.

Rohun showing off how clean he is after his bath.

Kiran and Shveta.

All the Arora grandchildren.

Neeru and the boys.

Snuggling with the grandparents.

Rohun with his Daadi.

Arjun with Daadu.

Nikita (Cherry), Shveta and Divya.

School children outside the temple close to Neeraj's parent's home.

These were some children asleep on a cot beside the road next to a large temple in Chandigarh.

Waiting to enter the temple. There are bells overhead that you ring. I think it's suppose to announce your arrival to the gods.

This is the top of the temple. I could only take pictures outsite, you weren't allowed to use your camera inside the temple.

Illegal photo inside the temple of a silver door. You'll notice there are swastika on the doors. Hindus have used the swastika as a religious symbol for thousands of years. The Hindu swastika is actually backward from the one used by Hitler.

After we have been blessed by the temple dudes. Notice Maya is almost the same height as her Daadi. They're actually standing on their toes in this picture, each one trying to be taller than the other one.

Family shot at the temple. All the floors were marble and you're not allowed to wear shoes. With night time temps of around 40 and daytime in the 60s the floors where extremely cold.

Our snack we picked up on the road from Panchkula to Faridabad. These are ketchup flavored potato chips. They actually weren't too bad.

Arjun slept almost the whole way in the back. Notice no car seat, no seat belts. Things are a little different in India.

This is Neeraj's uncle, his Mamu (mother's brother) and Arjun. We stayed with them in Faridabad our last couple of days.

We went to a New Year's Eve party organized by Beenu, the wife of Neeraj's cousin Anurag. This is the magician they had to entertain the kids.

Watching the magician.

Maya with her cousin Suhail.

Neeraj with Rishi. Rishi is the youngest son of Neeraj's cousin Micku (Anurag's older sister).

This is Anurag and Beenu. Don't they look great for the party.

Me with Beenu and her friends. I look a little out of place don't I.

The boys having a good time with the balloons.

Giant, inflatable Mickey Mouse. Arjun did not like giant inflatable mickey mouse. He wanted to be as far away from giant inflatable mickey mouse as possible.

Kiran dancing to the beat.

Maya's turn to dance.

This is Micku, Neeraj's cousin.

Beenu made me dance and she made me wear the mask. Ok, it was fun.

The party in full force.

Neeraj attempting to dance with Beenu and Anurag.

Smoking a cigar. I later learned the theme for the night was hats and cigars. Even the ladies were smoking cigars. It was quite odd to see these Inidan ladies all dressed up and smoking cigars.

This is Neeraj and the boys with big Arjun. He is Micku's oldest son. Our Arjun thought it was the greatest thing to meet another Arjun. He said "I really like that guy, big Arjun."

End of the night, Arjun with the balloons again. We stayed until about 12:45. The latest the kids have ever been up. Dinner wasn't served until well after we left (luckily we ate some of Beenu's fabulous food before we went to the party, so no one was hungry). Beenu and Anurag didn't come home until after 3:00 am!!!