On a slow boat to Mumbai..... truck to Delhi and the books have finally arrived!

It was such a relief to hear that the books, so kindly donated by all the children at St Mary's and St. Peter's School in Teddington, have now arrived at Asha.

Big thanks to Simon and Katie who boxed them all up and found a shipping company (at a reasonable cost) and shipped them last June.

We went on Wednesday to sort them into piles, ready to be taken to the various Asha slum centres.

The books are beautiful - such a great selection and they will be so enjoyed by many, many children who have no books of their own. Many students say that they only get to read a school book.

Our work continues in two different slum areas with English teaching, songs, games, craft and baby massage. 

We are now making the journeys each day by tuk tuk and metro - tiring in the heat with so many people desperate to get on and off the trains all at the same time - Ken was seen today forcing the train doors open as they tried to shut him out - some kindly folk came to his aid! It doesn't help having all the bags of resources I seem to need, but it's worth it in the end! 

It's Friday - Fiona's got a bottle of red open, so we're off to join her...


Love 

Heather and Ken 

 

On our way to Chanderpuri - the bus driver misjudged the height of the bridge - didn't sound or look too good!

The water tanker has arrived so people rush with their containers.

Vikram' vehicles cram as many passengers as they can in for a cheaper ride .....

Loads of children piled into the centre at Anna Nagar to enjoy the afternoon ......

Time for some painting....

Asha drivers helped unload the boxes of books which had been transported in these sacks.

Just the beginning of sorting the books - it was great to see some of my old favourites - looking forward to reading them to the children in the next few weeks.

They loved the painting.

Akbar, one of Ken's students was keen to show us where he lives in Chanderpuri.

Akbar and Durgesh kindly showed us a shortcut through the slum to the metro - they also kindly carried some of our bags!!!

... (needing a good G & T)

What an incredibly busy time we have had since being back in Delhi!

We will try to summarise and just include the important parts and let the photos tell the story as well, otherwise it gets too boring.

Last Sunday we had a wonderful reunion with a few of our Ekta Vihar students - a picnic and games in the beautiful Lodi Gardens (the last time we were there was on Christmas Day!).

We were able to show the gardens to Amanda Johnson (staying with us whilst in Delhi) and Fiona Smith, who has just arrived in Delhi and is also working with Asha. 

Monday morning, a 1hr car journey, and our work began. 

Ken and I are working in two slums this time, Chandapuri and Anna Nagar - both new to us. 

Ken is teaching the Year12 students and also College students and I am teaching the children in the Bal Mandal groups as well as beginning a new class for mothers and babies exploring with them the value of the Power of Touch and Baby Massage - these are both things that Dr Kiren Martin has been wanting to bring to the women in all the slums (I am starting with 2 slums but could spread to many other areas during these next two months).

All has gone really well for Ken's teaching. He has been so welcomed by the students who are grateful to have this extra experience of English. 

There have been many mums coming to the two 'centres' to learn about baby massage during this week. It's been such a joy to work with them, laugh with them, and be welcomed so warmly!! There is also a need to support the 'pre school' children in their learning and preparation for school....... I am hoping there will be time to give some help in this area as well.

It's the end of our 'working' week - we are exhausted but smiling!!!

Love 

Ken and Heather 

So good to meet up with our students again!

The Girls!

Lodi Gardens covers an area of 90 acres and is dotted with beautiful monuments and tombs, belonging to the Sayyid, Lodi and Mughal dynasties.

Chandapuri is the centre for the supply of 'goods'.

We have never seen so many large boxes and bales of goods in one place......

Couldn't he fit another one or two onto his bike?

.... and then someone has to transport them to their destination.

Some of Ken's students at Chandapuri.

My 'Bal Mandal' children all busy working

The boys were so proud of their design and pattern with the pens and scissors - they continued using these items for more model making ........fabulous creativity!

A small group of 'preschoolers' loving the puzzles Amanda Johnson brought with her.

They were so proud of their achievement!

Some of the mums and babies I talked to at Chandapuri.

Our first view of Anna Nagar Slum Colony

Suresh, (our driver for this week) staggers towards Anna Nagar with Ken's new white board!!

Crossing the bridge - very stagnant water and a terrible smell!

The lane leading to the Asha Centre.

We've arrived!!

Looking out from the Health Centre entrance.

The young children love to have the books and puzzles and toys Amanda kindly brought - they are gifts from families in her congregation in Croydon. Thank you so much!!

A lovely morning with the mums. Shashi, the Team Leader here at Anna Nagar, does a wonderful job at translating for me.

I have a 'long-suffering' doll to demonstrate on!! Took me 4 shops and many tuk tuk journeys to find a suitable one!!

My Bal Mandal group made butterflies, sang songs, shared English conversation and played games. They are so enthusiastic - all wanted hugs before they would go home!
They have an understanding of the Power of Touch!!

Is this a 'coolie' or a 'hottie' blog?

Actually it's a bit of both - very hot, now back in Delhi, but feels like we have come 'home', so really good to be here again.

However, we were sad to leave beautiful Mussoorie with its forests, hills, monkeys and new friends.

Arriving at Delhi railway station we were so relieved to have the services of a 'coolie' to help with our luggage up and down numerous stairs - his ability was outstanding, so we want to 'celebrate' the 'humble coolie' in our blog this week. 

We have seen them working in Mussoorie - carrying heavy trunks for the children returning to Woodstock School, up the never ending hills, carting large gas canisters to homes, piling sackfulls of produce on their heads for shopkeepers - there is no end to what they can carry, how far they will walk, how steep the hills they have to climb - and often getting soaked to the bone in the cool monsoon rain! Most are from Nepal, 3-4 days journey from Mussoorie. They are indispensable - we can't imagine how people would survive without them. Let's hope they get the thanks and rewards they deserve! 

We are making our home again here in Delhi for the next few months - exactly what we will be doing will be clearer soon after meeting with Asha tomorrow. 

So, "THANK YOU" to the wonderful coolies who all over the world make our lives easier.

Can't imagine why our bags were so heavy - it can't be the jars of Mussourie peanut butter we've brought back with us!!

Our lovely 'coolie' carried our bags as if they were full of feathers !

12 cartons of milk, 1 tray of eggs, flour, butter, 2 litres of oil - one of many deliveries during his day.

We had two enormous gas canisters in our cabin - I wondered however they had got up to us!

Manoj, one of the nicest coolies on the hillside.

Coolies in Mussoorie, with their sacking and ropes waiting for their next jobs and keeping the tailor company!

There seems to be no limit to the amount they will pile on top and carry.

Head down, he just keeps on walking believing he will reach his destination soon!

Thank you for carrying our heavy bags and for having such a lovely attitude!!

A 'Magical Mystery Tour' to the 'White Albumn' by the Brown's having just been to Rishikesh.......

Rishikesh is said to be the 'Yoga Capital of the World' and having just travelled by local bus from Haridwar, when we crossed the Laksham Julha bridge into a calmer, quieter, environment, it was bliss!

We followed in the Beatles footsteps to the ashram of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - quite 'a moment' to imagine their visit there in 1968....and the music that came as a result of that visit.

As we have been travelling, many people ask us, "what's the best place you have been to?" Although some places stand out as 'beautiful and amazing' - it's always the people we meet or the lives we see on the street that we value the most.

This week's recollections are pictures of people we saw in Haridwar. It would be so interesting to be able to 'step' into the lives of these beautiful people and learn more about them......

The 'Wedding Cake' Temple on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. We walked up all 13 floors to the top!

Caught in a moment .....

Who's driving I wonder?

An over-crowded waggon going where? With whom?

Street sellers...

Stall-holders working from early morning till late at night.

Father and daughter playing and laughing together.

There are many very sad, poor, needy beggars on the streets.

Brilliant colours.....goes well with the white...

Such a life ......

The different lives that people lead...

Interesting people.... Interesting lives.....

This family stopped us and wanted photos of their children with us!! It happens quite a lot - we are a bit of a novelty in some places. They were lovely!

Love all the jewellery!!!

We met a beautiful family on the cable car going up to the Mansa Devi Temple. The father is a soldier from Mumbai visiting Haridwar with his wife and little baby daughter.

Business from a bike - I love the weighing scales - far more practical!

You never know who you will meet on a bridge over the Ganges.

Time to sit, think, meditate, enjoy the cool breeze from the Ganges - (don't forget the water samples for the relatives!!)

Rani at Kempty Falls. Rani gives Ken some extra Hindi conversation lessons. She has become a special friend to us both.

Ken with Nikki - our lovely taxi driver in Landour. We've been on lots of trips with him - sometimes his wife and son come too, just for the ride!