Update from India

It has been over six months now since we came here so we thought we would give you a tour of our India.

Work permits...........................we got them! Note the pale skin!

The removal van arrives at last........all our worldly goods 

Local lawnmowers.......cheap to run

Just arrived to our new home, fantastic place we really cant believe it.Three on-suite bathrooms/bedrooms, massive lounge, grotty kitchen with no hot water. All the drains stank badly, for a while Chris thought we were investing in the bleach company. Very high ceilings I need to invest in some step ladders as I do not think I will grow any taller (this is Kris commenting)

Garden clearing the Indian way, If you had seen the state of it when we looked around you would be impressed with the transformation to this point. It was like a building site, stones, rocks, weeds, rubbish  and looked so unloved and neglected. 

Getting ready to leave the campus ..... exciting 

This is all our worldly goods and clothing ready, yeah thats everything, for the off. How are we going to fill such a big house?

Our back garden and our Papaya tree, never had one before 

I have the honour of opening the lock to the main gate

Yes it will all fit in we have so little to take, but we feel so blessed with all God has provided for us.

Oh what a beautiful weed this is (was) I did ask our Landlord not to cut it down or dig it our I loved it. Alas it just was not to be and we had to remove it a couple of months after getting here.

Chris giving me the honour of unlocking our front door

Lord of the manor, I think it suits him don't you.

Unloading begins ..... not a moment too soon. It is good to be in our own place again and we can start getting to know the neighbours.

Local plumbers/electricians, they are definitely trained differently here compared to the UK

They were so proud of their work , they were beaming as they showed me what they had done. This boiler was installed by our Landlord who could not understand why I needed hot water in the kitchen. Wait till I show this to Chris, Janet could not believe her eyes when she saw this.

Shame it leaked from every joint, Chris replumbed it all and moved the boiler. It no longer leaks and looks much better. 

The view from our bedroom balcony, now isn't this a view to die for. Never thought I would live anywhere like this.

7th Battallion Seikh Regiment who had the honour of being the band to greet the guests at the Wedding we attended. This was the daughter of Mr Hoda the Resort owner, a really lovely family.

Brilliant Band at the wedding we attended

Resort owners daughters wedding, this is taken at the entrance to the resort/hotel.

Wedding guests arriving at our first Siekh wedding, this was an amazing experience and honour to be invited normally reserved for close friends or family. We attended all 3 days of the ceremonies.

Great to hear this band playing, they knew we appreciated them and they practiced a piece especially for Chris which they played for us on day 2 of the wedding. We were so touched and honoured, very proud, friendly and professional soldiers, not one under 6'6".

Official line up to greet wedding guests

And the band played on, not that you can see very much of the band in this shot. The drum depicts all the battles the regiment have been in. Very impressive. 

Wedding breakfast day 1 of wedding, we were unsure what to expect but everyone was very welcoming and friendly

Where do I go to eat next?

Great food too much to choose from and this is just starters

Happy guests mingling whilst eating, food food and more food!

Getting everyone involved to celebrate

2nd band played on near swimming pool

Band tuning up and ready to play, all this going on whilst 7th Battallion Regiment are playing at front of Resort Entrance

Band getting organised

Personal announcement lets dance and boy do the Indians know how to pary, Yes they do and the men love to dance and show off their moves on the dancefloor.

More food, will we have room? It is good that the resort has large grounds for all the food areas, seating and bands to play.

And the band played on

Very lively wedding breakfast, it was much more lively than it looked here. 

Catching up with old friends

Beautiful Sari's, the women all looked beautiful

Brides father awaiting bride and groom, and just making sure all was going to plan 

Too much food to choose from shame about our diets, well we can't offend can we!

View of our house from the resort, we are just behind this row of bungalows

The rear of the resort our house just out of sight

Resorts pool come on in there are changing rooms and showers nearby.

The happy couple, looking a little nervous and tired. But who wouldn't be with such a long wedding, and so many different functions to attend. The groom travelled this day from Surat in Gujarat which is the next state to Rajasthan. 

All lit up for evening celebration

Its been a very long day

Bride an groom just having 5 minutes to themselves, good job they took it now as they had no time to themselves for many more hours after this shot was taken

Blessing the happy couple

Happy families relaxing together and watching the ceremony of the bride and groom receiving gifts 

Virendra ( Resort Business Manager) and I having a well deserved break, and rest from food till the next course and dancing begin

All lit up awaiting final guests

MY PURPLE Sari

Brides father and immediate family

Brides father awaiting to greet everyone

Proud grandparents with the Bride

Old building at Panavar 

Panavar

Further Panavar photos

This building is to be demolished

Boys sleep 2 to a bunk head to toe, hot and no privacy

Boys toilets

Local gardening at Panavar hostel

Very cramped conditions for the boys

It gets mega hot in summer 

Tin boxes at end of bed are all boys have for possessions

This toy truck made me very sad , placed here with love

Cooking area very dark, hot and smokey

Church hall just used Sundays

Protecting the crops

Will we ever see new building up

Andrew and Chris chatting with the boys

Panavar Church 

Chris getting reading to preach

Chris blessing one of the boys

Map plans for Panavar hostel

Joining in prayers

boys getting ready to leave

We are off to school 

Boys providing stones for foundation

What are you up to?

Ground breaking for new building

Locals getting ready to do more work

The foundations are there.......... really they are.

We will lay the foundation stones

Surveying the building site

Group photo at Panavar

Observing the action of the build

Never thought we would see this build happen

Preparing for the foundation stones

Where has our other building gone?

Foundation trenches

Laying the stones in the foundations

This is site of first foundation stone

Boys taking turns to lay foundation stones

Chris laying first foundation stone

I got to lay 2nd foundation stone

Building site

Our walls are going up .... at last

It looks great can't wait for it to be completed

Indian building site, note the new shade area.

HOME

Our back garden before we started work 

Soil and ground in poor condition 

Dry rocky desolate earth

View from side of our garden looking down the drive

Getting ready to landscape our garden

More views of garden border

Yes this is grass.... really needs tlc

front view of our home with roof shade, the locals think we have gone mad

Where do we start with such rocky poor soil?

Kris sewing net to help plants climb, Chris told locals we were off fishing

Chris hid my boots in tree as joke, neighbours thought this was funny to watch, Chris had asked them not to tell me where boots were. This is my attempt to retrieve them.

Chris's new toy 

This was his Chr

istmas present from me.

My Christmas present all way from Delhi what can it be? I had to wait till January as shippers could not be contacted. I have no idea what it is but as you can see I am excited. Notice our original curtains (came with the house, they must go)

Start of our new garden, wall just being built, chris replumbed the water suppley to the house to give us hose pipes four in all dotted about where we need them, including on the roof!

This is finished wall complete with good soil, now for rotavator

Wow it is an easel fantastic  (my Christmas present) I can't believe that Chris thought of this. he is so  kind, not just one easel but 2.

Local workman he worke

d very hard

Rear garden showing raised bed

Are they ready yet? We were so impatent to try our first crops.

Our first crops in the garden, looks so empty compared to now.

Nasturtians planted in water jar (locals think were are mad)

These water pots make great planters

Our roof garden complete with shade a great place to sit and relax if ever we find the time

Yes its our new lawn mower the cows were eating my plants so had to go, great engine on it 1Pp.

I get to keep my sewing skills up to date

More sewing of shading and netting on roof

Shading complete with plants on roof

Oh yes we can 

You can't grow tomatoes and plants on the roof , oh yes you can!

Our babies are growing soon lovely fresh organic food

Plants need protecting from the summer sun so more construction and shading in garden

More planting in our back garden, it gets a  little more shade but not much

Side garden with first version of shading this will need to be adapted to allow us to open and close it as required

Haven't they grown, there are herbs in foreground, with cabbages brinjal /bhindi behind papaya tree and a poor sad mango tree in front of wall that requires to be moved. Mango is fantastic fresh, not like in the UK it just melts in your mouth.

Just one of the species of wildlife we have in our garden great bug catcher, it is amazing it changes colours to blend in with the garden when on bark or leaves etc.

This a view from inside our shaded area at the side of the garden

A recent photo of our garden side entrance, notice our bamboo gate crafted by Chris isn't he clever.

Our bamboo structure just before the shading is to be erected

Notice the container to the right of our gate this is for the water which the local animals, dogs and cows use. They have very few sources of drinking water in the area, so we have to do our bit.

More wildlife, this was taken on waste ground not far from our home they also live in a tree in our garden. Funnyist thing, one of these stressed out because it could see a toad, hopping running in circles screaching all hell let loose, we thought it was a snake but no a toad, what a lot of fuss!

See I did tell you that the grass was green, this is after we have given it water and tended it to bring it back to life. Our Landlord is so very pleased with the improvements we have made to the house and garden. He was told by friends not to rent to foreigners, he said he has found in us the best tenants he has ever had, he has asked if we can recomend any of our friends to him if they are looking for a home..

This is Hoppity, aka Mohti aka tripod, Tripod lying next to Chris's gorgeous Royal Enfield Desert Storm. Not a lot gets past Hoppity. He is a street dog who has 3 legs and has had a very rough life, but is very protective of us and our property. Many are scared of him but a lot of that is because they mistreat him, trying to kick him to get him to do what they want. We would never do that, he is the best fed street dog we have met. Loves just lying in the sun getting a bit of fuss now and again. Chris says he reminds him of him!

Out and about

Just a few photos of our local area to give you a flavour of where we are living, these were taken in Summer when water was rare so all the hills go brown, when the rains come it all bursts into life and goes green.

We still find it awesome that we live here

It may look desolate but it is gorgeous and so very different to the UK

Bananas growing on the tree taken from below

One of the local roads, they are not always this empty and this one goes on and on for miles through this kind of contry. The road by the way is a state highway, single lane with (Ha Ha) passing places.

Just one of the roads we have travelled on and yes it is a road

This was a home in a remote village we visited when we first came to Udaipur, one of our field trips with Debi

Debi (managing director of Pragati Marg Foundation the NGO we work with) having a chat with some local villages

This is a fairly typical village home 

Scene from our ride out to Pai which is one of the villages we work with

Very proud village lady next to her water pump

Add caption

Local village children wondering what everyone was up to 

This is new well just been sunk, covered over to protect it until complete

This is the actual well uncovered, the local villagers who will be using it are very proud

Looking very interested in what we were up to, (we were looking at well)

This little girl is daughter of one of the field officers working for Debi

The villagers are friendly if a little shy at times

Children doing chores, they do not play like kids in the UK

Typical view of the local landscape in and around Pai

Innocence but looking a little wary, who can blame him

Still keeping an eye on what we were up to. Probably not seen a lot of westerners before

This is how you work the pump, its cheaper than joining the gym

Not sure which one of us took this one

Children walk miles just to collect water which they carry on their heads, we don't know how fortunate we are

Scenes around village about 50 miles from Udaipur City

This is the only safe way to store hay etc to prevent aniimals eating it

More views of the countryside

One of the goats from Jacobs flock

Innocence of childhood

Not a lot of time for fun when there is work to be done

Children from one of the schools we visited

Most were fascinated by having a photo taken

This boy is going to be a heartbreaker with that smile

Very shy little boy Chris took this shot 

Local villagers

Some of the ladies from my first teaching session, some had walked over 10km

Ladies group

What a wonderful smile and so friendlg

Children helping with chores and cleaning up

Chris holding snake caught in Resort grounds just near our home

I am so pleased he did not bring it home to show me, bad enough in photo. I still hate snakes

A very relaxed Chris and the snake crawled into his t shirt, just did not bother him at all very confident around snakes. 

This is a well dug out by one of the villagers, and it was very deep indeed

We are all off to view the well dug by man on the far left

Another view of the well it looked a lot deeper in real life believe me. Chris pretended to push me in the locals thought it was funny.

Local Pastor at Pai painting his cross, this is chapel where  Chris taught Chringlish

This lady is tending her crops

One of the homes nearby to the chapel

Local homes in Pai Village

Pai village home

This cow tried to join Chris class

Chris and Pastor admiring the newly painted cross

       

View from Mango tree where I lay down to clear headache

View outside chapel

This little girl was fascinated in Chris's English class

Just one of the goats that tried to join Chringlish

Chris in full flow teaching English to his students  

Not sure what kind of tree it is but it is fascinating root system

No time to get bored in one of Chris's  Chringlish Classes

All tied up and no where to go

Class under the Mango tree, nice and cool

These children joined in Chringlish when held under the Mango tree

More children appeared and showed an interest in learning English

Local ladies and children fascinated with our presence in Pai

This monkey did not want to have his photo taken

One of Chris students

Some of Chris's students sitting under Mango Tree

Yes they do have to work in class but Chris makes it fun

See it is fun to learn

Boxing day surprise Shantilals family he is the one dressed as Santa, this is the day he adopted me as his 2nd Mam

Christmas day and Debi joining in the fun

Chris preaching at Panavar

Worship at Panavar

Debis  little boy celebrating Christmas with us

Ooops losing my footing, must be too much  lager

Chris made this Christmas card we sent it to friends and family

Jean looking serious

Samuel is getting hard to catch these days, Noah is in pool

Noah braving the water at the Resorts pool near our home

View of the pool at Jeevan Tara Resort

Just arrived my new Yamaha Ray

Throw a bit more on top, plenty of room yet.

Just keeping an eye on you

Chris and I were got, Out celebrating Holi with friends and neighbours

Electrical fire at new build behind our house the guy was about to throw water on it to try and douse it. Chris stopped him just in time we have some very interesting shots from the first sparks to black smoke.

First Christian wedding we attended in one of the remote villages, we had to walk over difficult terrain to get there, but it was worth it

This is the happy couple

At this point we left the car and walked to the wedding

Yes I walked in a sari and shoes more suitable for the city if I had known I would have worn my boots

Very tiring walking the ground is very hilly, rocky and unevern

Her Majesty arrives. They guys wanted to carry me on this blanket,  no way was  I going to do that

Pastor Wilson speaking at the wedding

'B' Road, move the boulders that have slid onto it.

This is some of the ground we walked on to get to the wedding

At last we are nearly there

Another view of where we walked

Pre MONSOON shower

I was out riding in this (Kris) It was great fun

Proved it....Chris cannot walk on water!!

This is the view from our roof, they are building in the distance, lorries go up and down collecting Marble and earth etc.

The tree is less than 30' from our bedroom balcony where this was taken, huge amout of water in ten mins.

Monsoon may have come early

Yes this is Kris with no coat soaking wet but happy

Kris just arrived home in pouring rain

The drive is like a lake wait till monsoon really gets going  we might need a boat

Don't think I could be any wetter

SURAT

Chris Preaching at the church of 7th Day Adventists

Our host Alfred speaking at the teachers inaugaration ceremony

Rajathan traditional dancers at Wedding 

One of the traditional dancers

These dancers are beautiful to watch and so quick on their feet

This is the damage a rickshaw did to Chris's Royal Enfield Desert Storm

Chris dismantled it and repaired damage himself this is the work in progress

Ah yes this was first time I stood in rain here in Udaipur we are in the grounds of Jeevan  Tara Resort

I had to get Chris a cake for his birthday

Snapshot of ladies marching taken from rickshaw

Ladies had a police escort

This is a beehive

English Church just started  and they have a sign already

View of everyday life in Udaipur

Picture of Hoppity guarding our front door

He is very sweet 

Local wildlife 

Guess who owns this bike?

Guess who this belongs to ?

Our office unit under construction

Close up view

Yes we did build it ourselves

It is the same unit now varnished

Sexy legs

One of the beautiful blooms in our front garden

We think it cross pollinated as it is rare to see this colour

Our neighbour enjoying Holi

More Holi celebrations fun was had by all

She got us too

Chris covered and giving as good as he got

Jeevan Tara Celebrating holi

We had loads of fun can't wait for next year

Royal Enfield ride to Jaisamand Lake

Royal Enfields for all to admire

This is the largest man made lake in Asia

View around the lake

Fantastic sculpture and beauty combined

Food stop at local resort near Lake

We were told this road was concrete, no way but it was fun

End of ride can't wait for the next one

Birthday celebrations for one of the staff at Jeevan Tara Resort

Happy birthday Jean

Birthday celebrations

Good food and good company

Where's my food then?

Oh dear I think I ate it sorry bro

Completed air con with vent to go around the corner and they said it couldn't be done. They don't know  Chris do they.

Under construction and so many doubting it will work

At last we have air con

We were invited to a house blessing by one of our neighbours it was an amazing experience, opportunity to share about the differences and similarities in our faiths

Our tomatoes on the roof and so many doubted it would work

Our first home grown cucumber

Don't do it Manu, Pui will never forgive you. Pastor Manu and his wife relaxing with us at Jeevan Tara Resort, come in the water is great

Everyone having fun

An unwelcome guest we let it out on waste ground not far from the house.

Our Party to celebrate 6mths here our wedding anniversary and to say thanks to everyone who welcomed us. Notice the flags at our entrance to our drive

It's our Party

Friends and neighbours celebrating with us

A bouncy castle for the kids they would not let Kris have a go shame

Garlands were a handmade gift from Shantilals mother in the background , we are renewing our vows the indian way. We felt very honoured that she made these for us, we have kept them.

Chris and I having a brief private moment at our party

We grew these

Another ride with a couple of the Royal Enfield guys Sujeet and  Hemant

Hoppity with Samuel and Noah at our home

We met these Royal Enfield riders when they stayed at the /Resort

Chris's new bike club

Who said you can't have air con on a bike

Just born, a member of Jacobs flock

Mushroom manufacturing at Pai

Very proud owners of this small business

Demonstrating the process to us

Not mushroom inside, hee hee

Voyage Motors where Chris bought his Enfield

gvjhrtjhftuuygtdtfhju

We have found that plastic bowls are far cheaper and last much longer than seed trays that are 'single' use, pop a few holes in the bottom amd hey presto 4" deep compost tray.

Well thats about it for this month, we will go back to the normal format in July, this was far to much work to produce, hope you enjoyed a look at some of our India. There was so many more pics we could have encuded but where do you stop!
God Bless all of you
C&K