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