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