Monthly Archives: April 2013

They really like using their horns in India- they are some of the loudest horns we’ve ever heard.

If someone was granted permission to speak to the ruler at the Red Fort in Delhi- they would walk down the extremely long pathway to the throne. They would stand on the large marble slab to speak to him.

On certain days, people bring offerings to the gods and goddesses. If they have food/drink left over, they will give it to the beggars out on the lawn.

In India, you have to do research on how to get things done. Men come running up to you telling you where to go, covering up signs, saying that you are in the wrong place, etc. You need to question everything- which isn’t bad once you get used to it, but it would be hard for me to live like this for an extended period of time. It can get exhausting!

This was built in the mid-16th century and brought Persian style to Delhi via Haji Begum who was the Persian born senior wife of the second Mughal emperor Humayun. The building is actually the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Tombs are inside and out- even the emperor’s favorite barber earned a final resting place here.

It is a simple, black marble platform along with an eternal flame surrounded by lots of green grass and quiet, peaceful gardens. It’s inscribed with ‘Hai Ram’ – his last words which mean ‘Oh, God.’

We went to a light show here but I forgot to pack the bug spray. I didn’t expect to be out all day. The light show was great- a whole history of Delhi set to music and lights, but the mosquitoes destroyed us and we had to leave early. Bummer.

I tell the kids all the time to say no if they don’t want their picture taken with someone. Sometimes they say no, other times they pose reluctantly and Maddux makes a face and/or Emerson looks like she’s going to beat the crap out of the person in the photo with her! It’s kind of funny.

This was insanely amazing. We were walking down a street- people were staring at us like we were in a zoo. I don’t think they see many families roll through town. Anyways- a man with dreaded hair in a huge turban touches my arm and puts his hand in a prayer position and is pointing for me to go in a temple. Emerson is saying no, Jesse is wondering if it is safe, boys are up for it. We go in and give our shoes to some guy, then go up some stairs and through a garbage dump, then walk into a Hindu temple. People are praying on the floor, worshipping different gods and goddesses- everyone turns to look at us. We smile and nod respectfully. They stare, they look us over a few times- then they smile and nod back. Whew! We’re in. We watched some men dancing while ringing a huge bell, watched people bless themselves with the heat from a bunch of candles, saw a man performing rituals by a statue… I wish I could have taken video. Some asked if they could take photos with us. Notice the strange man in two of the pictures – he came from out of nowhere and sidled into both pictures then walked away. Too funny.