Happy Holi

Happy Holi!!

Holi is the Indian Festival of Colors. It is the official beginning of Spring. People get all these fantastic colored powders and cover each other with them. It really sounds like a great time, right?

So then when my friends were all warning me to stay inside all day I had to question why? So I did a little research:

• Make sure that powder or any other product does not get inside your eyes. Eyes are extremely vulnerable on Holi because of their strategic place in body and also because of the use of harmful chemicals in colors these days. Please ensure that your eyes remain protected at all times. Use sunglass to protect your eyes from a misfire of colour filled darts or water jets.
• Use dental caps to save your teeth from any unwanted stains.
• Try to save yourself off from all possible attacks on the face. In case your such attempts fail, keep your eyes and lips tightly shut if you are attacked on your face.
• If possible avoid going outside your home, atleast for the peak hours of celebration. The premises of your home ensure that you are safe from pouncing hooligans, even friends who can be a little rough on the day.
• When traveling keep the car windows thoroughly shut, even if you don't have an AC car. Do not bump into the frenzied group of mob if you take to streets. Better you cross the road to the sidewalk across. Or, simply stay at a safe distance.
• Rotten eggs when thrown on your head, flying missiles from locality buildings…are still not too bad, will be smelly yet is a good conditioner for your hair. But tar, shit, Mobil, stones and all the rubbish that you can be hit with is not. Avoid being a prey to hooligans.
• Remember you also have police on your side and if any untoward revelers misbehave, you can make your complaint. Mark out the locality, building and if possible the person.
• If you are prone to skin allergies, avoid playing with gulal altogether. Going to a dermatologist (skin specialist) serves no purpose, after the damage is done.
• Avoid running on jumping on wet floors, so that you don't slip and injure yourself. Bones are specially vulnerable on this day.
• Avoid over indulgence in bhang, drinks or food... so that you don't repent later.
• Do not drive if you are high on alcohol or bhang.
• Keep handy pain killers, anti-oxidants, anti-allergic tablets if all the above tips have been disregarded.

By the way, Bhang is concentrated cannibis, ground up and mixed with milk and spices. You drink it. Or at least some people do... It is considered holy and healing here in India. This will make me think twice before I take an "herbal remedy" for an illness here.

And here is an image from last year's celebration:

So we decided that we'd skip the public celebration with the babies. But we didn't want to be complete party poopers, so here is our own little Holi celebration

Attention

Poor Wesley isn't getting the same attention he used to. And this is the culprit! Sohalia has moved in and takes up so much of Mom and Dad's time.

Even when Lola came to visit, she divided her attention between the two children. And then had the nerve to want to go sight seeing, too!
Same with Grandpa and Grandma. At least Wesley was able to monopolize all the Grandparents once in a while.
Worst of all, Sohalia is even infringing on Wesley's beloved Anjana. She's still his favorite person in the world, though (occasional exception for Mom and Dad)
Well, if you can't beat them, join them. Wesley has figured out that the best way to get attention while Sohalia is on the scene is to love her. He is always looking to give her a big kiss.
As far as attention seeking behavior, this is pretty great! What a perfect big brother!!!

Elephants!!

Wesley LOVES elephants. Whenever he sees a picture of one he raises his arm up like a trunk and says "ppbbbuuthhh" which is the closest written version of the raspberry-esque sound that he uses to imitate them. So, here in India, seeing elephants is not that uncommon. Here were a few of them walking down the streets of New Delhi!

So, Mom and Dad (with Grandpa and Grandma) made a special trip to Amer Fort in Jaipur where Wesley could have a ride on one of these wonderful creatures. But, as happens with many of our tourist activities, he slept right through it. We couldn't wake him up!!

Oh well. We've got the pictures to prove he did it. Maybe this charm will give him better luck next time

It's all over now, no more "all about me" time. Now I have to share my mom, my dad, my blog with this little baby I call, "Halia". Yeah, she's cute but she sure needs alot of attention. Thank goodness we've had Uncle Charles and Lola here to spend some time with me. I'm looking forward to Grandma and Grandpa coming next month too.

-Big Brother Wesley

President's Palace and Polo

Today we had a great adventure. We started out piling into the back of an auto-rickshaw. This is basically a three-wheeled golf cart that hits highway speeds. There are no doors, windows, or shock absorbers but they all come equipped with a very loud horn which is used constantly.

We survived the auto ride without Erin going into labor, and arrived at the President of India's Estate. A friend, General Shergil (the tall gentleman in the green turban) used to command the President's bodyguard and invited us for a "back stage tour" of the complex. In this picture he and two other soldiers pose with Uncle Charlie (visiting us from Pittsburg) in front of a horse drawn carriage.

This horse drawn carriage is special. This is the President's own carriage. All the metal is pure gold. It was built in 1911, and has carried kings and queens of England and many Indian presidents. Today, it carried Wesley!!

We weren't actually allowed to bring our cameras, phones or anything once inside the true palace complex. Fortunately, General Shergil thought ahead and had a photographer join us. Those pictures should be available in a week or so. Stay tuned for those, it was pretty amazing!

After visiting the Prez's place, we had a fantastic lunch then went to see a polo match. General Shergil's son is a professional player, and we enjoyed the game. Wesley liked the horses, we think, although he just kept mooing like he does when he sees cows.

Stepping out in Indian Finery

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WESLEY!!!!

It's the big #1 for Mr. Wesley, and this guy is ready to party!! He has heard something about this new thing called "cake" and he wants to know all about it. He also understands that there will be presents, like on Christmas but this time only for him. For that, he even agreed to wear a silly hat.First, his admirers and friends arrive. Here are a few of them. All together he had about 25 of his closest friends in attendance.
His grandparents were, of course, on the other side of the world. Lucky for Wesley Mr. and Mrs. Panjabi (our landlord and lady) have assigned themselves surrogate grandparents until the real ones come to visit.
Now, friends are great and all, but what about this cake thing? Don't hold out on me anymore! Ahh.. there it is! His friends the PTs brought it for him!
In India, there is a tradition of mashing the cake in the face of the birthday boy. When in Rome...

As in all good parties, this got a little out of hand. It was also our friend Shruti's birthday, and so eventually everyone smashed cake on everyone else. Here Garima is helping clean off Mamta.
But smashing on the face is only half of the fun. The really good part is to eat it!! Here is Shashi helping Wesley out in this department. The look in Wesley's eyes is utter rapture mixed with a serious sugar high.
And of course, the presents!! Wesley hit the Jackpot. Thanks everyone for a great first birthday!