'Well, Well, Well' (yes, a very big one too!!)

Last Saturday evening we set off for Neemrana - where we looked forward to a restful couple of days and spending Valentine's Day together. We stayed close to the town in a hotel where Ken enjoyed swimming in a pool amongst hundreds of rose petals (it was freezing - like swimming off the coast of England in March!)

and I decided  to have an Indian head massage (when in India..... and all that) - INCREDIBLE!!!  Having had my head smothered in oil, pummelled, massaged and hair-twisted/pulled for 30mins, (you'll be relieved to hear there are no photos!!) I wondered whether I would wake up in the morning to find a massive hair growth or all my 'shocked' hair lying on the pillow - thankfully, neither, but I had a beautiful restful sleep!!  I'm off for another as soon as possible! (I did think it might be a bit risky for Ken though!)

Neemrana is best known for its 18C Fort Palace, now a hotel and unfortunately closed that weekend due to a wedding - but we did manage to have a brief look from the outside - definitely a beautiful place to visit next time!!

We were told about a  'Step Well' on the edge of the town - we found it after driving around for a while looking (it's just incredible that a major tourist attraction like this is not sign posted at all - we just stumbled across it!).

About Stepwells:

The stepwell is huge and extends to 9 storeys. The Baoli was used both as a reservoir and for “leisure” purposes.  There was no water in the well, but Neemrana Baoli appeared enigmatic with its complex architecture that has been crafted within the earth’s surface. We wandered around for a while amazed at the size and depth and trying to imagine it as a working well and how it used to work.

I have read since that, 'In a region where water is sacred, the step wells of Rajasthan are the temples of well architecture and Neemrana well, although dilapidated, is one of the best examples in the state. They are fantastic examples of subterranean architecture and engineering skills and are only found in arid Gujarat and Rajasthan where water was only available at great depths. Apart from serving an essential purpose, step wells fulfilled the social needs of the community in a gloriously artistic environment serving as shrines, sanctuaries and community spaces.'

Back in Ekta Vihar, the children loved preparing for Valentine's Day and made Valentine butterfly lollipop cards,

and my Saturday students made heart baskets full of sweets and lollipops, as they giggled about who they would give them to - (I'm not sure the lollipops made it out the door though!)

Ken needed his hair cut and was also hoping for an Indian head massage, so went to have his haircut by his student, Sadab, in the saloon where Sadab works in R K Puram Sector 7. Again, another good haircut and this time there is a photo too!

During our visit to Agra, we had met an American family, the Johnsons, who were about to come to Delhi as part of their travels. They were very interested in our work with Asha so we invited them to join us on Tuesday morning to see Ekta Vihar and hear all about the work of Asha. We had a wonderful morning with them, (thank you Ayesha and Shubhra for your hospitality at Bikaji and thank you Shalini, Azad and Narayani for making us so welcome and the delicious masala chai!). I know they were very impressed with all the work and achievements in health and education and I can imagine that Ben, their son could well be planning some fund raising and a visit back to help paint murals on the classroom walls one day (he's an artist).

Tomorrow night we will be welcoming Steve Curran, a friend from St. Stephens, who will be staying with us for a few nights.  He is here to visit Asha and talk with Freddy and Kiran Martin. We will be going with him to visit Seelampur Colony and Dr Ambedkar Colony.

It feels strange that this time this next week will be our last (for a while) - there are parties planned and we know that the goodbyes are going to be very hard!!

Our visas expire on 1st March, so we'll be off to Thailand. 

Next week will be our last Delhi blog.

Love and best wishes.

Heather and Ken xx