Greetings and Thanks...

Okay I am not up as early as some...!

I was asked especially by Kiran to pass on her greetings to our church and our friends, and her thanks for all the support you have given to us as a team and to Asha. So thanks from Kiran, and from us. We have really felt that we have gone to the poor in Delhi representing YOU this time because we have felt you all so much behind us!

So thank you for your interest, for your financial gifts, for you prayer support, for your selling of crafts, for your buying of crafts, for your reading our blog, and whatever else you have done to help. Special thanks are due to Rob Atkin who kindly drove the bus up to Heathrow to collect us yesterday, and deliver us to our homes.

Together we have all been part of representing the love of Jesus to the poorest of the poor in Delhi, helping them to feel they matter to Him and to us.

So...THANK YOU!!!!!!

Reflections

We've just been reading through the blogs together, catching up with people's impressions, highs, lows and inner thoughts. I never really made it into the computer room because of the permanent residents! How can Tim and Laura get there so fast?
I wish I could have recorded some of the conversations we have had during the week, just as we have photos to remind us of the sights. I don't want to forget those chats in the backs of rickshaws ( eyes closed as buses and lorries criss-cross in front of us) as we reacted together to the life going on around us. It made us reflect on the things we are shaped by- the Highway code, health and safety, conformity. And yet, we realised how patient and tolerant the people are here. they don't react when others cut them up at the lights!
On a deeper level we have had long chats (over curries- even the Chinese food was hottttttttttt!) about the rights of the child, social justice, priorities and the asha approach to changing whole communities. We chatted with Kiran about her priorities. Water, education, health, social inclusion. No wonder she said she couldn't sleep some nights with all the ideas flying round in her head.
I was so struck by the way all the children in Ektar Vihar could recite the UNICEF Rights of the Child. They KNEW they were entitled to education, parental love, sex equality etc etc. What a powerful message to give them. As Kiran said at the High Commission, she wanted them to know that it was not their fault they were born in the gutter, that they belonged to the human family as equals. Wow, powerful stuff.
I'm sure we will all have come back different people for this experience, having some of our prejudices stripped away and looking at others through different eyes. I know I've got loads to think about.
Thanks Dick and Julie for making it possible for us to share your passion for the poor. What a challenge!

Sue (Early morning posting!)

Nigel beat me to it...body clocks....

Well it's 6am and I have had a few hours sleep....

I just want to say what an amazing privilege it has been to work as a team with this wonderful crowd from Yeovil. Some of them had never spoken to each other before...but relationships will never be the same again.....we've seen Neil dance....and pay 550 ruppees for a "shoe shine" (10 rupees going rate...but the guy has a tender heart!)

Al, Tim and Dennis sat APART on the plane...NO WAY!!!

We have discussed "gastric incidents" over breakfast.....

More than anything though....it has been great to see our friends catch the asha vision and I am sure they have all left a little bit of themselves behind in Delhi....Nigel says "more than I had intended"... but he was referring to the "unfortunate occurrance" that took place in the bathroom in the early hours of one morning.....

Now our Yeovil friends will have more of us banging on about the work of asha!

I also have skirts, tops, scarves (loads!!!), journals and bits and pieces that I have bought in order to follow up with some fundraising.

Hand over and back to the UK

Well, we are back, and I know it is early (05:00 am in the UK), but hey, that's the body clock kicking in.

The Inauguration of the centre was attended by around 500 people, stunning welcome, the pleasure on faces, enthusiastic handshaking, much dancing by some of the children who had dressed up specially to perform in front of all their family and friends all added to making it a very special event.

A part of the opening were the interviews for television. Dick, Tina, Julie and I were "volunteered", so we shall see what happens. They wanted to know what we had done, why we had come, and what were our impressions, all difficult to sum up in a few short sound bites. They were also interested in the training that Tim and Dick had done for local Doctors and that I have been able to do some work with Kiran to help prepare for meetings with local bankers where Asha is working with them and the Finance Ministry in Delhi to start putting together a scheme that will make banking facilities available to those in the slums.

Yesterday (Sat) brought the trip home, a long day with a 9 hour flight which (looking back) went quite quickly. reflection time for all of us. We looked at the slums and and saw the difficult circumstances its residents lived in, the crowding within the slums, lack of water supplies, lots of evidence of poor health, but we also saw determination to improve, immense pride in the homes that had been built, (often on previously waste ground), the gratefulness that people had for Asha and the work it was doing, helping to improve health amongst all the population, especially the rates of infant mortality. Many of the people we met had lived in the slums for many years, having moved from rural villages, where there was limited food (especially if a harvest failed) no work and worse poverty. Their moves to Delhi were driven by looking for work, a better life, and in some cases for the women, being sent through an arranged marriage to join another family (often at 16) and to be part of a household in the slum with the husbands family. By our standards, very hard, but accepted as normality by those we met, with no regrets.

Water is a constant issue, there is no piped water to Kasumper Pahardi (hope I spelt that right!) Water is delivered by 40 tankers each day (still not enough for the 5000 who live there). All over the slums there are rows and rows of blue water carriers, some full, some waiting to be filled all the constant flow of tankers into the slums. Being an illegal development, we are told that the Government will not install standpipes or any other system to alleviate this problem. As a result all water is precious, making it even more special when we see how generous people are being towards us. Many of the people we met have lived with this for 25+ years.

As others have said, we were taken on walks around the slums. Crowded with familys living very close together, here are some images of this.

It was always amazing to walk round a corner and find a cow, goat or sheep. Often a cow would wander down the lane. Cows are sacred in India, and often left free to roam.

Nigel.

And next...we address one sixth of the world's population!

So Kiran drops us in it again! This time - 5 minutes before my departure to the slum for the inauguration ceremony she tells me that an Indian national news channel wishes to interview us on camera! So when I arrived at the slum I had just 5-10 minutes to warn the team. We picked our spokesmen- I had to be one according to Kiran - and we added Julie Tina and Nigel. We picked our soundbites and answered the interviewers questions using those. I just hope whatever proportion of India's 1.2 billion who watch will be enthralled! What a week this has been!

This morning Tim and I had our teaching session with the Asha doctors, which we both found an enjoyable and highly interactive experience. We then spent a while chatting to Kiran's 17 year old daughter - an aspiring doctor, who had been doing a research project among the elderly in the slum. Another inspiring experience.

Tonight Kiran and Freddy are taking us out for a meal...!

overview

Well, what a week it's been! The people here are amazing - so generous and hospitable with so little. Yesterday was a blue gloss day for me (Val) and Neil finally finished his artwork in the underwater scene room. The women then prepared a meal for at least 15 people as a thankyou for our work during the week. Yesterday afternoon we went to the British High Commission for tea, having been invited by Wendy Butler, wife of Deputy High Commissioner. It was good to hear how supportive she is of Asha's work - she recently invited 25 children from the slums for tea, which was quite an experience for all apparently! We were joined by another group from St Stephen's in Twickenham, who are working in another slum.
This afternoon we are looking forward to going to the opening ceremony of the Community Centre/Medical Centre we have been painting. We are sure the women will have done a fantastic job cleaning and decorating the room ready for this occasion and we know the rooms will be well used.
One memorable incident yesterday was a young boy who had never seen a football before and was absolutely delighted to be given one of his own! He kept it clutched firmly to his chest!
The lads here seem to use balls made out of strands of old inner tubes and they are incredibly skillful at 'keepey uppey' - or 'tonghi' as they call it.
With a little free time this morning we hope to visit the Moghul Gardens at the Presidents Palace and maybe do a bit more shopping - looking forward to yet another exhilarating auto-rickshaw ride in the cut and thrust of Delhi traffic where the rule seems to be 'he who dares wins!'.
So much more we could share and lots of wonderful pictures to show on our return.
Val & Neil

Three little maids...or three muskateers...

We have in our midst a threesome whom no man (or woman) shall dare separate. They share the same quarters and spend their pre sleep moments putting the world to rights until the early hours. Rarely seen apart unless Tim is blogging (again) (Judy...he has presents!!!!! You nearly had a carpet too.....it was a close call!)

They swagger into the dining hall, three abreast Al, Dennis and Tim. When I suggested early on in the week if they wanted to sort out a single room for one of them as their space was quite cramped...Al indignantly responded "they'll be divorce proceedings if we do!" Ahhh blessssssss!

We have wondered about changing the words to the G&S "Three little maids from school are we....."

My Newest Friends...

We have finished the painting at last!

It really came together at the end and everyone seems very happy with the work. As we were coming to a close yesterday we were joined by little Vishal. Although I had met him and a million others before, hand shakes and broken English greetings had soon become very superficial and I was struggling to interact with them. So I gave him a paintbrush and got him doing some seaweed. He quickly showed that he was making the work his own by changing the shapes and colours so I drew him a fish to paint. He competed this quickly and I congratulated him on his fine handy work with many smiles and thumbs up and returned to my section. I turned back to see the most delightful smile splashed across the fish's' face. We both laughed at how wonderful it was.

I also had the opportunity to talk to some lads my age. The were very friendly and we discussed the UK and India, their hopes, the water shortage, what I do etc. I talked a little too much about my life since one said that he was a very unlucky person. However he said this with a smile and as we continued talking he really showed incredible wisdom towards money. He said that the rich have a tension in their life of always wanting more yet the poor can be happy. Now of course he disliked the water shortages and dreams of being a lawyer to better himself; nobody would live in his slum out of anything but necessity, yet he had this real understanding that impressed me so much. I hope he fulfills his dreams. This is also why Asha is so impressive: they give the poor a hand to pull themselves out of their situation, not just throwing cash at them. Money without wisdom is useless.

Two days ago I had met Vishal's brother Eclob. Eclob and I had really hit it off as I showed him my family photos. Today I was humbled again as he gave me a tungi. This is a ball of loose rubber that the boys play keep ups with. It is made from bike inner tubes and is a very simple thing but I have it now in my pocket with the clear instruction to give my brother Chris a go. (Krish as they say, my name is 'eh'shteve) Although I know it is always the case I can't help but be astounded that a child as poor as him be so generous?! I have had the great privilege this week to make some wonderful new friends.

A different kind of day

Today I got the morning off to go and sit in on a doctor's surgery in the Asha polyclinic. There were many young women there to discuss fertility issues. It is very important to most Indian couples to have children and to have a son if at all possible. I think there is quite a big social stigma associated with being childless.

We also saw a very worrying case of a young boy who had come to the doctor some time earlier and been given treatment for a nasty infection. We know he is usually quite a strong and feisty child but today he does not look strong, in fact, he walks in holding onto furniture for support. He is much weaker and more unwell. Blood tests show that he is severely anaemic, as well as problems. We can't tell exactly what is wrong without further tests and the doctor wants to admit him to hospital but we are told we can only do this if we are able to find blood for his immediately necessary transfusion. There is no national blood bank in India, each hospital has their own and you need to contribute some from donor if you are going to use any. As I left, the doctor was still trying to find a place to get some. I hope and pray that things worked out as he was getting very ill.

On a happier note, we have finished the painting early!! Thanks to- well everyone, really, for working so hard at it, and Dennis for organising us, but above all, a special mention to the master decorator and paintmeister extraordinaire of great patience, Radishan and also his two helpers. And here he is, pictured.

The only way for me to get time to blog!

Hi all - this is the first opportunity I have had since we've been in India to write my two-pen'orth! I have achieved it by being up all night with the runs - and being unable to go to the slum today! Life has been going at a pretty relentless pace since we have been here - but it so good to be back.
It is a fairly daunting task taking 14 people out to work in a team in the place we have come to love - the slums of Delhi. What will they think? Will they hate it? Will they work as a team? Well this team have been first class! Right from the outset we have gelled, and had so much fun together. Everybody has got stuck in and all have contributed something special to the whole:
Dennis - our Project Manager who has organised us all
Laura - who has been an absolute star with her mural painting
Steve - who has similarly kept his mural painting skills under a bushel
Riina - who has painted tirelessly
Tina - who has also been a skilled artist, and who has been excellent with the slum kids
Nick - who has been a brilliant ice-breaker with the kids
Neil - underwater mural painter extroadinaire
Val - an all-rounder, never seen slacking, and prepared to ride the bumpy slide
Sue - Another great painter and instigator of our musical masterpiece - "the wheels on the bus..."
Nigel - ...well did you know he could draw and paint fish? AND support Kiran in banking matters
Tim - who has been happy painting, encouraging slum kids and teaching docs
Alan - like me a paint slosher rather than artist - but with such panache!
Julie - last of all who has confidently led the team through Delhi airport, and is frankly "in her element" when in Delhi's slums

Thanks guys 'n' gals!

Anyway I am feeling better and will hopefully be able to get to the prayer meeting in Kusumpur Pahadi this afternoon, followed by the visit to the British High Commission later - what an honour!

Bye for now!

Link to Asha in India

If you would like to follow what Asha is doing inNew Delhi, head for www.asha-india.org , visit the site, and also see the updates that have been posted for the Yeovil team. Direct Link to Yeovil update is http://www.asha-india.org/Article.aspx?auid=879

All news and views at http://www.asha-india.org/Newsandinformation/Latestnews.aspx

Nigel.

Food For Thought

As you can read we all went on tours of Kusumpur Prahadi on Tues/Weds. I've never been a guest of such a gracious, beautiful and finely dressed group of women! (Apologies 'n all that mine hostesses past). The women's groups in these slums are a sight to behold- strong, charismatic, determined and effective. Our afternoon visit to Ekta Vihar(?spelling) was overwhelming. A large group of women and children met, and promptly completely overwhelmed us, with the energy and enthusiasm of their welcome. Before long we were all part of a singing dancing crowd. Dick, Julie, Nick and Al were very happy to meet old friends.

This picture is a women's group leader- extreme caution advised if messing with her rights.

Meeting old friends..the Ektar Vihar crowd!

Went back to Ektar Vihar this afternoon. This is the slum I worked in when I came out with the Tearfund Transform team at Easter 2005. As this is my 4th visit to India, I have been able to make brief visits to see them each time and catch up with some of the families and particularly the girls. It was so exciting to see Reena again, she was only 16 when I first met her. She is now a mother witha 9 month old son called Ashish which means blessing. She presented him to Dick and I and said "Grandmother, Grandfather"....she sees us as her "English parents". It was good to hear she had received my letters and that one of the Asha staff had read them to her. We had bought her mother in law a box of biscuits, some soap for Reena and T shirts for Ashish...now I have an excuse to visit Mothercare!
Neha, one of "my other girls" has recently got married, she must be about 17 now. She always has someone's baby on hip..soon she'll have her own baby I expect.
Usha (who is also Reena's sister in law) is 16 and is getting married next month! She was a child when I first came out...I couldn't believe the transformation. Dick and I were invited to her wedding on the 27th....
Nick had great time seeing the crowd of kids and teens who remembered him. He has been playing football with the kids quite a bit...some times in barefeet....

The God who answers prayer!

Yesterday I met a lady who had a great testimony as to how God had intervened in her life. She had been married for about 2 years and there were two major problems:

Her husband had been unable to find work.
She had been unable to get pregnant.

She went along to the Prayer meeting that meets in the slum and they got praying! Off she went, back to her slum house. That very day a letter arrived offering her husband in an insurance firm! Considering that most people are labourers in this slum, it wasn't any old job!!!!

Then very soon after she discovered she was pregnant......and expecting triplets!!!

She is now 7 months pregnant, so for those of you who pray about such things, safety for the rest of her pregnancy and safe delivery would be good starting point.

So enough for now, see you later...a painting morning in the slum followed by tea on the lawns of the British High Commission....a life of contrasts.

Water issues...

Imagine this..
10,000 people...72 toilets.... (not all of them working because of lack of water to flush...)

Most families have to go to the forest to wee...If one wants to go, then the whole family have to go because it is not safe...especially for the women...how vunerable would YOU feel?

Having no water for 2 days and being dependant on a water tanker arriving to deliver your supply.

Waiting around for the tanker which may or may not come..
If no tanker, how can you wash your clothes, cook your food etc..

We have been into homes and been offered chai which means using this precious supply for guests and not your own family....sacrificial giving..

The Woman's group is lobbying the government dept...but it costs money for 15 of them to go as a group to make their concerns felt. 14 ruppees for each person to get a richshaw. They collect funds, but finding money is a big issue. We are on the case...

So you can see water (or lack of)is a major issue in the slum where we are working...

Amazing with a capital A continued.!!

I was not sure what to expect in the slums but have been pleasantly surprised. The people are so lovely and very friendly. The children are amazing! I have had so much fun with them. The are all keen to try out their English and love to say hello and shake our hands. They really love to have their photos taken and look at the picture and constantly ask for their photo to be taken. It's a real sense of family and community and everyone seems to look out for everyone. The children are so resourceful. Our English children could learn so much from them. They are happy playing 'jacks' with stones found in the dusty ground. I had a game with a small group and they are so good at it. I wasn't!! I was made to go down their bumpy slide too!! -ouch!! I have also been pulled in to play skipping with a group of girls who had a rope. They all join in and have great fun. I was very proud to jump over the rope 20 times as the girls practiced counting in English! They showed several songs and dances so I showed them 'Down in the jungle' which has been a great hit with them joining in the actions and the 'boogie woogies'!! They are all such happy, energetic and vibrant children-not at all what I expected. They all have so little yet so much to give.

Amazing with a capital A!!

I am having such an amazing time and had so many experiences too numerous to recount. I don't know where to start!
I have seen incredible sites. The sheer amount of poverty is mind blowing. Seeing so many people and children, desperate and begging on the streets is heart wrenching. Street children run in between cars trying to get money by selling papers for pennies. They walk in the roads and hang on cars and buses, risking their lives, daily. Mums with crying and sleeping babies walk alongside anybody hoping for money.
We have done so much in such a short space of time. We have visited the red fort(alongside hundreds of Indian school children!), India Gate, the Taj Mahal which was amazing. We have had some lovely meals out and seen the contrast of the poor and rich. There are some lovely restaurants in Delhi but its really hard walking into a 5* hotel when you have a 4 year old street boy begging for money. It's a real emotional roller coaster.
Riding around Delhi in a rickshaw is a real experience- fun but life risking!! There doesn't appear to be many rules on the road and it is common for up to 6 vehicles to be spread along 3 lanes!

Another day , another paint brush

Great progress made on the painting front.
two highlights of the day for me today,
1. was a visit to one of the houses in the slum whilst on walk about. Made to feel so welcome, we were given Chai ( tea ) despite an awful water shortage which means often having to wait for hours for the tanker to turn up. The water table is so low that it cannot be accessed by means of taps etc. During the visit, the lady of the house handed me her mobile phone & said its for you !
I said " Namaste " ( hello ) , a voice on the other end said I was in his house !! . It was her husband telling us that he wanted us to stay for lunch. He was at work & wouldnt be home to meet us . Incredible generosity.
2. Going to Ektar Vehar,the slum behind the Asha HQ. We met with the womens
& Childrens groups. We spent a great time there listening to what they do ,asking Q's & they in turn asking us about what its like in the UK & how the poor are helped. Challenging stuff .
They are a very empowered group & are a gtreat expample of how the Asha way of doings things work .
Ah well - short & sweet, of to get cleaned up . t c Alan x

Children living in Kusumpur Pahadi

They're irresistible, and addicted to having their picture taken!

A lady painting!

El Presidente outlines his plan to take over India

After in-depth and passionate late-night discussions about poverty, infrastructure, corruption etc. in India, Dennis has decided that the only course of action is to become elected president. We thought, Why wait? So here he is two days later, in role, having already given out some key ministerial posts. Observe that he is already wearing a quasi-military green shirt as he addresses the new cabinet. Unfortunately being head of security I have lost all my friends.

Seriously, what we have seen by the roadside in the way of poverty, never mind in the slums, has given us a lot to think about. One thing people told us about Kiran is her total lack of any kind of condecension towards those living in poverty, of any airs or graces when she goes to meet them. I hope we can all be the same.

The Five Day Plan

Well, we had a great day painting everything in sight yesterday as you can tell from other blogs. Some of us were completely covered in spatter which at least made more reticent members of the community laugh when we passed them by on the way out. More pics above.

From the President (Project Manager) for the day

Hi Everyone I am using Julies page as yes I have forgotten the password.
The trip has been amazing with wonderful people and we have made it to Asha to start on the project and yes I am project manager for today, what a fantastic team and great friends.
The driving on the Delhi roads is an experience and the trip to Agra gave us a view outside the City.Kieron and Freddy were very welcoming to us all when we met them and they shared and updated us with Asha
We have seen Canels , Elephants , Monkeys , Kites , and woodpeckers at Breakfast boys and thanks for your pictures
Hils thanks for your support

Dennis

Dream Team!

What can I say, the team have been amazing! Having said nearly 3 years ago that I would love to bring a team out from Yeovil, it has happened! We have had loads of laughs and the banter has been ongoing. Each person has brought something different to the team and we are all getting on amazingly well! Dennis has become Project Manager and organises us each day into teams for each room. He manages this with perfection considering how different all 14 of us are! Nigel has become Finance Minister and is in charge of the kitty.. Will blog more, but as Dennis has broken his computer...he is coming on now for a bit.
Julie

At last , a chance to blog

Hi All
just back from painting in the slum - saw internet cafe was empty so dived in ,even though covered in paint from top to toe . No Its not that I'm a messy painter, its just that they dont do non drip or "one coat" here . The guy who mixes the paints is amazing - Radhysham - he's a walking paint chart , just show him a colour, & he mixes it by, literally by hand .
Today was very good, Dennis had done his homework & put us in teams as we had much to do - 3 rooms,hall area + outside - though Asha had some pro's there as well . I was mostly in the green room up a bamboo ladder supported at various times by Val or a bookcase .The ceilings are v. high & I couldnt help wondering what the local A&E looked like - that thought however concentrated my mind enough to stay on .
After the base coat came the jungle scene -Laura , Sue & Tina did some great feehand animal drawings - I got to colour in a lion !
All the while , we had many kids from the slum trying to catch our attention - hello , how are you they cried - Mera Nam Alan Hai , I was able to reply ( my name is Alan ) - Oupa Nam ? what is (your name ) .Thats where the converstion ended in my hindi ,however its amazing how one can communicate without speech.
I tried palying keepy uppy with one of the kids in between painting . Then a quick game of cricket .
The kids helped paint the animals on the walls - it was great.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Quite A View

So... Yesterday we went to ASHA HQ for the first time and met Kiran Martin.
What a woman! Full of energy and passion about her work, discussing all kinds of different areas to do with the people she works with- health, finance, robber housing barons, building, you name it. At the same time she is happy and laughing, very gracious and welcoming, having time for each person, asking who each of us is and something about ourselves. Freddie is equally welcoming. Fortunately perhaps, he is the first person I see as I'm feeling slightly intimidated initially. Julie has done a great job so far shepherding her flock and keeping us fed on bananas and oranges and endless humour! Even if she does wash her feet in sinks... er, there is a shower, boss. . .
Kiran's office is in the middle of Asha's building which has just been redecorated and extended. On the way to her office we walk through a waiting-room; there are about 15 people waiting to be seen. We all get introduced and talk to her about who we are and what we do. It seems we all have useful talents that Asha can use- Nigel is surprised to find that his experience in banking will come in very handy indeed. And Dennis is quickly earmarked as a co-ordinator for our decorating project. This is Kiran at work! Dick and I have a few minutes to discuss what we are going to talk to the clinic doctors about. Alan is very happy to meet old friends again. The budding artists are identified and are keen to get going- Neil, Tina, Sue, Val, Rina, Stephen and Laura.
And, finally, from there, we go to the slum itself. I first notice the tall smooth concrete walls that our road passes between to get there. These surround exclusive houses, private schools, etx. that the slum is located next to. Once in the slum we are on a narrow road surrounded by small workshops and homes with lots of busy people everywhere. Some give us a brief glance as we pass. When we get out there is a welcoming committee of women to meet us and here an amazing experience begins. We are all dressed in beautiful garlands of marigolds- Rina manages to get three. Rose petals are showered over us and we are invited into the home of the women's group leader for tea, which is delicious. A secret recipe, she says, when asked for it. Crowds of children build up at the walls, looking in.
A few pictures will tell it better than my verbiage. Will post then as soon as can downsize images from 3Mb.

it works!!!

Well, my turn to blog! What can I say since there has been so much to take in.

Sightseeing was great and I now feel I have seen a fair bit of the county even if it has a population of a bilion people!

We've all really enjoyed some of the roadsigns and advertisments that are around. They have a certain delightful unweildiness about their turn of phrase...

"Hell or helmet, your choice"

"lane driving is safe driving"

"Wheather day or night obey traffic light"

The adverts are eqally enjoyable:

"Pee emporium exports" (I have no clue what that business specialises in!)

"Central institute for research in goats"

"Mind blowing English courses"

Not only has this caused much ammusment but we have also been left laughing at the driving (often nervously in the back of an auto rickshaw) which is very cut throat in a good naured sort of way. I admire the skill and bravery of the drivers, I guess you can only laugh or cry, no other response would cut it. We all choose the former! If I can summise I would say that the general rule is Honk, Manouver, Accelerate; yet it all seems to be without any anger at all.

I have also tried my hand at some haggling in the market. I found it such fun with the theatre of trying to get the price down, I'm sure I stil paid over the odds yet came away feeling a winner!

Aside from this I have begun to see why the Hogbens love the culture and the people. Everything is sights and smells; vibrant colours contrast dustiness that seems to linger and every person has a wonderful character. We visited the slum we are working in today. Every person there gave us the most wonderful welcome and we were showered with flowers and all given garlands. We sat and met the womens' group in their leader's home and she said that she was very pleased that we could drink her tea. It was very sweet and tasted beautiful but she wouldn't give us the recipe. I am quite humbled by such a welcome. If they could have cooked us a feast I'm sure they would have spent a week preparing it. After this we went outside and met the children, apart from feeling a bit mobbed we made instant friends, there was no hesitation for smiles and handshakes, I'm looking forward to meeting them all again tomorrow.

Pictures to follow on my next installment

Hi to everyone at home.

TTFN

Delhi and Taj Mahal.

Third Day, after one touring Delhi in a AutoRickshaw, and the second, off to Taj Mahal.
Sunday, yesterday, we left YMCA before dawn at 6:30 for the four hour drive to Agra. Each corner brought a new view, sights and sounds of downtown Delhi, Donkeys carrying bricks, camels pulling carts, horses with larger carts, often piled high with straw. Lorries would have people and cows in the back with dung dribbling out. Road tactic is to drive fast, find the gap, and hit the horn. If you overtake, or undertake, you use the horn and accelerator, or you just hit the horn anyway. All of life passed by babies, children, mothers, teenagers, wives hurrting to shop, men standing around, or sitting and being shaved, or facing the road or wall and p..........g.

Arrived in Agra around midday, and headed towards the Taj Mahal. Stops at lights or road crossing brought road side sellers banging on the windows.

Into Taj, and quiteness, symmetrical gardens, buildings and the Taj itself made entirely in white marble. Huge, impressive and awe inspiring. Clear blue skies with Red Kites (you don't see many of those in England) swooping and soaring. Time to go, returned to Delhi, and on to tomorrow.......

This morning we are off to Asha, to start what we have come for.

Nigel and Sue.

Right, it begins

So im back in the fabulously scented city of Dehli! having literally only just arrived from the airport not long ago i dont have too much to write about the actual country, no particularly extreme events so far... but my only exposure to India so far this time round has been the journey throught the traffic in the taxi. So with not much to write about on the Dehli as a city - lets start with the journey.

i apologise in advanced for the inevitable negativity of what im about to write - today HAS been fairly enjoyable but i enjoy discussing the more... fun aspects of the trip.

train journey up was largely uneventful - the most exitement me and dad had was when he showed me (with great pride) the only magic trick he knows - which admitidley it took me 2 viewings to figure out and 1 more to clarrify. also we played a couple of games of speed - and it appears young muscles will always conquer older ones.

then we took the tube - i dont like the tube.

Heathrow Airport = Death - its actually been proven. they did a test the other week....

So we arrive at Heathrow at about 6ish but for some bizarre reason they were only letting people through to the actual terminal place like 2 hours before the flight is due to leave. so me and daddy have a couple of hours to bum around - we drop our luggage in the check in as soon as we could and try and figure out what we could do... we sat outside for a bit... then we were too cold so we went in again.

the problem was all the good stuff was behind the barrier which we werent allowed to pass for another 2 hours.

i found a WH Smiths and bought a nerd magazine and a killer sudoku book. havent actualy got round to the sudoku yet and i feel largely disappointed with the nintendo magazine.

i guess im just not as much of a nerd as i used to be

BUT I DID GET A FREE KIRBY FIGURE!!!

ok maybe i am...

airport food was death too - what kind of restaurant doesnt have forks!!??

hmm...

after having got through the barrier we just had to bum around mre shops... neither me or dad got searched at security which has to be a first... dad always gets searched! and i was really proudthe first time i got searched last time we can - made me feel a bit more manly...

eventually we get the boarding/gate information half an hour late or so and we cue up for the plane

so the plane journey was overally quite nice! felt well looked after, comfortable, entertainment was good, watched doctor who, couple of flight of the conchords episodes.. family guy... transformers the movie... wrote in my diary alot... all good.

but the food we all agree is the worst we've ever experienced on a plane.

not even joking - dinner was painful to eat. food shouldn't ever be painful right?

breakfast in the morning wasnt too good either. not convinced the sausage had so much as 0.0001% of meat in it...

it was very white...

so then dad had a bit of a heated discussion with one of the stewardess's about the lack of imigration forms which apparently had been given to everyone. but somehow we had been missed - and i was suprised that it was only us that was missed...

so i dont think that stewardess liked us very much.. after we arrived in dehli she walked past and i gave her a friendly smile - she returned with the coldest glare ever. WHAT DID I DO? ITS DAD WHO YOU DONT LIKE!!

heh...

so we arrived in dehli and after a brief mystery to be solved as to the location of the toilets we'd grabbed an official taxi and were on our way through the chaos that is the streets of dehli.

its like a fairground ride :) sept it doesnt ever stop. and there are less rules. and more monkeys. and more cows. and more elephants.

ok no elephants yet - but you wait!!!

so im at the hotel now and my hour is about up so im gonna go up to the hotel room now and see if shaaktimaan is on t.v

He is my favourite Indian Superhero!

love!

nick

Second Day in India

Helloooo
Am here for my second day after much confusion about setting up the blog.
Yesterday was amazing, although really tiring and the culture change seemed abit too much. I also found it hard with the time difference which meant Riins and I spent most of the early hours of the morning sitting out in the YMC garden.
Got up today at about 8-9ish for a breakfast of vegatable curry and japatis (think thats spelt alright.) The rest of the group, went sight seeing for he day, Julie, Riina and I went shopping in the local market. Was a real eye opener and bought a lot of really nice stuff. I also really got into bartering, and was surprised when something actually came with a fixed price.
Managed (with m ainly Julie's help) to get some sunglasses down from 750 rupees down to 200 - BARGAIN! Alsoo bought some lovely hangmade leather shoes. And some nice clothes, we are all off to the Imperial Hotel for high tea, which i am looking forward to, i shall also have to take advantage of using a flushing toilet!!!
Am still quite tired, but alot better than i was yesterday, hopefully my sleeping pattern will sort itself out after today.
Anyway i best be off
x

We've arrived! Tired but happy!

First things first....you all need to know some team facts! Al had the heaviest suitcase, not me, which surprised everyone, and I felt pleased with myself. Dennis came a close second, but he HAS packed his kettle...Laura won ouright with the lightest weighing about 7kg, flipping heck! We amused the Virgin staff by playing the childish "guess the weight of each person's suitcase" before it is weighed. I have to say Nigel really entered into this...
Flight was excellent, Stephen enjoyed his window seat and has some great photos he says.
Asha minibus came to collect us with two minibuses, one for luggage!
Saw our first monkeys on the way to the YMCA. Laura made us all laugh by exclaiming "Oh look at them and one has a little baby!" in a high excited girlie voice!!!!
We have done a litle shopping in a fixed price shop to break them in gently. They have experienced the first child beggars who were similar ages to Dennis' children..not easy for him.
In the evening, the young uns all crashed out, whilst the older generation decided to live it up and go out for evening drinks at a local hotel. I don't know, no stamina these teenagers! They were all asleep before we left!
So this morning, my shower was a trickle, but at least warm..Dick and Nick are joining us at lunchtime. I have had breakfast and now I will see whether anyone else has surfaced!
First one to blog Yay!!!!

Chickens are sorted!

OK. Chickens are cleaned fed and watered...5 eggs so far today including a blue one which was still warm! Nick and I are just finishing packing and leaving in 2 hours to join the others in Delhi...who I know by the way are there safely!

Last minute packing?

Last minute packing Steve? I haven't started yet!

Well, I've had my last day of school before we go. This week certianly has arrived quickly. I'm really excited to see the work of Asha and am expecting to learn loads. I can hardly wait, I just have some last minute packing to do! :-D

Counting down

Just had my introductory lesson for blogging....here goes!

We have had a really encouraging day running the car boot sale. We have been quite overwhelmed by everyone's willingness to help. On Friday children at school had paid a pound each to come dressed up in 'International costumes'. They looked great. One 4 year old girl brought in an envelope with her own pocket money in it for Asha. Amazing. Other children donated toys for the sale too.

Dick and Julie came to do an assembly at school, showing us how big an average slum house is, and then getting the children to act out how many people would be living in it. One boy's reaction-- 'But that's smaller than my bedroom!' (Thanks D and J- it was really thought-provoking.)

Today, with clear blue skies and warm sunshine, we had the carboot sale. Other staff have been great at helping run the event. We had loads of interesting converations with people about Asha and Delhi. It is so encouraging to have so much support! Can't wait for Thursday!



Sue

Asha Car Boot Sale

A fantastic thank you everyone this morning, especially Val and Neil, at the Thornford School Car Boot Sale.

This raised £181.15

Nigel & Sue

Last Night

Great seeing everyone again last night. Just got to go off and book the car parking, and practice putting up the mozzie net.

Nigel

I have never 'blogged' before so another new experience for me! The trip suddenly seems to be getting very close - mustn't forget to start taking the antimalarials tomorrow!
Val

Ten days to go & counting ............Really looking forward to getting stuck into it again with this group of lovely people .

An introduction to Asha

Hey! I'm first to post!

Julie and I are so excited to have the opportunity to take a team of 14 to visit Asha in Delhi. They are all from Yeovil Community Church and vary in age from 16 to over 60 (ish) We will be going out on 14.02.08 and returning on 23.02.08.

Asha (hindi for "hope") is a Charity working in about 45 of the hundreds of slums in the capital city of Delhi in India. It seeks to provide health care and community and environmental development to the urban poor. Many families migrate to India's cities from rural areas in search of work, and then find themselves living in cramped and dirty slums with poor sanitation. These poor living conditions produce health risks.

Asha was started in 1988 by an Indian paediatrician, Dr Kiran Martin, in response to seeing children die from simple treatable illnesses such as diarrhoea. Kiran borrowed a table and set it up under a tree, and there was her first slum clinic!

Our team will be re-furbishing a community building in one of the slums, which includes a children's resource centre and a clinic. We hope to be able to make the environment bright and cheerful, by painting murals of jungle and under-water scenes.

Two GPs on the team will also be teaching the doctors who work in the slums on topics relating to Care of the Elderly. While we are there we hope to be able to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra!

Pictures:

Top - Dr Kiran Martin chats to some of the slum children

Middle - Children in a slum lane

Bottom - decorating a clinic building in 2005

You can find out more about Asha at: http://www.asha-india.org/
...and more about Yeovil Community Church at: http://www.yeovilcommunitychurch.co.uk/UntitledFrame-7.htm