Back to Delhi!

Moved back to Delhi today as we seemed to get everything we wanted to do done in Jaipur. The children loved riding the elephant who Malieka kindly named "crusty" because his skin was hard and, well, CRUSTY! The poverty was even worse than Delhi and i was told that the Government actually paints the walls of the "Pink City" and maintains the frontages of the buildings where they think tourists may go to cause an illusion. I saw behind those walls and it is absolute hell. Kids lying in their own feaces, starving, desperate people, so unfair and apparently so deserted by their own. This is all part of why we took this trip though. So safe and cosseted in our comfortable lives and yet out there in the big wide world is a melting pot of incredible beauty and incredible misery which we all needed to experience. We struggled to even get basic supplies in Jaipur. Personal hygiene, baby food or just healthy food that the kids would eat were a problem. Thankfully Xantippe has adjusted well to goats milk! Bless her!

Not much for children to do in Jaipur. I managed to find an outside 'eatery' on last night with a sort of mini travelling fair...well, it had a bouncy castle, climbing thing and electric mini cars for them to ride in. The Kids enjoyed it though and the locals all adored Tippe (the Diva)...for a change!

We splashed out one night and had dinner in the Palace gardens. What amazing food. Fresh, succulent king prawns cooked in spices, mmmm! The children, by turning on the ultra-cute thing that only children do, managed to get them to cook plain chicken 'n' fries. Thank goodness as they wouldn't have liked the spices and i would have had 3 'Wafer Thin Mints' to deal with! There was live music and dancers too and dare i say it was also nice to see other British faces for the first time in Rajhistan.

After our lovely last evening of colorful dance we made the 5 hour car journey back to Delhi. The kids were amazing again. I have now got the military precision timing off to a fine art and this journey was timed so that they would all sleep for big chunk of the journey. It's strange you know but all of the cars over here seem to have the same wiring fault! With their horns. They all seem to be constantly sounding and there is no way that you would bother having a new car out here, they drive into anything! Finally we got to our destination and booked into The Metropolitan Hotel, New Delhi yesterday.

Going to get our old taxi guy, a gent that took us everywhere during our first stay in Delhi, to take us to the zoo tomorrow, that should be an experience!? Not sure i'm going to like it but... The kids started their schooling today, science and maths, they were actually asking to start it!

We have a good routine so far, we have kept to Tippe's 2 naps in the day, the second one we all tend to take together.....aghhh, tough life eh?

The poverty has really got to me here and we have decided to try and do the little that we can to help a few. Yesterday we took some more things to the homeless, a young mum on the streets with 3 little babies. I was so shocked. We took my coat I brought with us for her as they are freezing at night, some more childrens clothes, toiletries, food and water. Took her powdered milk and baby granuals. I have never received such gratitude, her face was a picture. I felt so humbled by it all. A word to the wise. If you want to stay inside your bubble of green grass and sunshine then don't visit India where reality will hit you like a wet sock right in the face. If you want to climb out of your bubble and experience life then India is a fabulous place to visit.

We are going to Singapore soon so will post out the hotel address for anyone wanting to send Chaska's birthday card there. He's checking his hotmail account daily hoping to get some mail so any little hello's will be really welcomed!!??Bless!

Love to you all n God bless

xxxx

March 10th