INDIA!

left: bike trip to Palau Ubin (off the coast of Singapore)

right: relaxing at the pool

We were lucky to have my dad and Norin visit Singapore recently, and during their stay we took a 4 day trip to Delhi, Jaipur and Agra (whoops!!! due to Carol's careless ticket reading Dad and Norin had a 3 day trip, sorry!). India is home to 1.2 billion people! Yes, it was chaotic, dirty, polluted and heartwrenchingly sobering. But at the same time I found an unexpected optimism to the people and culture. As a whole, the people we met were intelligent (India has an 82% literacy rate), genuine, proud of their heritage and backgrounds and could be incredible salesmen. Driving the streets of Delhi and making the 200km trips to Jaipur and Agra gave us a real sense of how so many people can co-exist rather peacefully. Two lane roads were shared by camels lumbering with heavy loads, cows, young and old men on bikes, motorcycles, and cars-the last 2 providing a din of beeping so relentless one almost got used to it. All modes of transportation managed to function with amazing grace, negotiating the road with mere centimeters to spare at speeds from 5 to 80 miles/hour, merging, passing and all merrily on their way to their destinations.

Kevin's work takes him to Mumbai (Bombay) relatively often, and I thank him for allowing me to take the family on this Indian adventure, as it was not his first choice for a "vacation." Highlights included:

• visiting the Taj Mahal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal and many of the other historical sites and monuments;
• enjoying plenty of yummy Indian fare: garlic and butter naan, palak paneer, tandoori chicken, chicken curries, Kingfisher beer...
• sharing the experience with Dad and Norin, who were up for the adventure!
• taking a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi;
• seeing the Indian countryside, small towns & scenery on the way to Jaipur and Agra.