Food glorious food -and a bit of exercise!

Friends, Deirdre, Allison and Christine from St. Mary’s & St. Peter’s School in Teddington arrived last week for their half term holiday - (not a very restful one) - and were immediately thrown into tuk-tuks and rickshaws and taken to explore Dilli Haat Market, India Gate, Old Delhi, the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and Janpath Market...the pashminas were bartered over and lots of lovely Christmas presents bought! No problem about room in their suitcases as they came laden with sports equipment, balls, a large parachute, skipping ropes, bags of soft toys and hundreds of white Polo shirts to give to the Asha children. Thank you to everyone who contributed to provide all these wonderful things.

Already the parachute has been thoroughly enjoyed and everyone has had lots of exercise this week!

Deidre, Christine and Allison are in the air on their way home as we write this blog. Have a safe journey and thank you for all you brought and for all your help!

The photos tell some more of this week’s story...

Eating at the Bangla Sahib

Waiting to eat at the Bangla Sahib

Allison making chapatis in the Bangla Sahib kitchen

A cooking pot at Bangla Sahib

Supper with Allison, Deidre, Christine, Shiv, Monika and Durgesh

A new dish - aubergine in a lovely Indian sauce

Cheelis made by Heather

Christine among the children

Ahh, the parachute game! 

Chart puja

Kanak Durga

It's a baby in a sling

Allison with her dosai

Yes, another dosai

South Indian coffee

Diwali

It's Diwali!

As we write this blog, fire crackers explode and the whole of Delhi twinkles with lights - the festival began days ago but last night was ‘THE’ night. We were delighted to be invited to the home and family of a lovely friend, Pankaj, for a traditional Rajasthani meal.

But our week has also been full of other amazing delights.

Gail and Heather headed off to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. We booked a small (very modest) hotel promising a roof terrace with a view - what a view! - nothing disappointed - it was a wonderful time and even the 5.30am queue into the West Gate for a ‘sunrise experience’ was perfect as it was cool and quiet.

The night before Gail returned to the UK we were at Kiran and Freddie’s home enjoying a delicious meal with a team of volunteers from the UK led by David Briggs - lots of teachers and school teaching assistants on their half term who shared with us their experience of working in Seelampur.

Our work with the children and students is our priority and Ken has taken on extra tutoring this week for a former student who has an important exam on Tuesday……. every little bit helps!

The trip to the Taj Mahal 

 

Gail at the Taj

 Diwali in Delhi with friends

Rada

Outside Pankaj's home

A family photo

 

Ambedkar from the rooftop

Fireworks from the rooftop

 Chhaturpur

Hanuman at Chhattapur

 Delhi

The Lotus Temple

Diwali rangoli

Shiv and Usha dancing at Dr Kiran's

Heather's star jewelry was a big hit!

The kids loved making the start jewelry too

The ones on the outside looking in

Goats and good food

How exciting!

Our time here this year is taking us into so many different places - this week seems to be ‘gastronomic’ week - the women in the slums are making all kinds of delicious dishes in the hope that they will be picked for a future recipe book - definitely our gain!

It is brilliant having Gail with us - she has made a big impression on the children with her dance skills and leading them in an expressive fire dance this week.

Church was interesting last Sunday, as we had to walk through closed roads guarded by police with riot gear, water cannon, automatic weapons and strangely blue camouflage uniforms (could be spotted a mile off!). There was a political rally by the BJP about the alleged killings in Kerala.

Sunday also found us needing a cool peaceful place, so we headed for the Bangla Sahib - why did we continue to Chandi Chowk? It was ‘closed’ (supposedly) but the spice market, dried fruits/nuts, bling/wedding lanes, jewelry, shoes - everything was open and manic! Madness, full of life, and as chaotic as always, but Karim’s didn't disappoint and we enjoyed a delicious meal there.

It's Friday night - we’re shattered - a bottle of wine enjoyed and feeling a little revived….. busy weekend ahead tho.

love

Ken and Heather xx

Ayesha tasting the food

one of the children playing in the tunnel

Heather dipping her toes in the Bangla Sahib pool

children in the slum

Chilli Alley!

Gail spending a morning with mums and children at Chanderpuri

Gail with the kids

Goats welcome!

The mums at Chanderpuri having lunch after the 'tasting'

More spices!

what can you say? Ahhhh.

The Fire Dance