Arrival in Mumbai--picking up our pilot

Woman Weaving

Mangalore--Soans Farm

Proud Grandmas

At almost the same time these proud grandmas were celebrating their grandson's rite of passage at the temple our 8 year old granddaughter Lilly was celebrating her First Communion in Seattle. This proud grandma was sad not

 to be there!

Infant Temple Ceremony

On our way to the rural village of Vaikom we stopped at a large Hindu temple.  Coincidentally this was a day that astrologically it was right to bring your six-month old baby to the temple to receive his or her first solid food.   It is tradition that the infant is brought by his parents and extended family for a ritual.  The priest gives mashed banana presented on a banana leaf to the father who is seated on the ground holding the baby.  After the father puts some of the banana in the child’s mouth, the mother and grandparents do the same.   While we were not permitted to photograph the actual ceremony, afterwards the families were very willing to allow us to take pictures.   They were all so happy and proud and it was special to be able to share this event with them.

During the ceremony that Dads all removed their shirts.

Also note how the baby's eyes were decorated.

Restroom Stop!

This was a most unusual bathroom stop. It was in a very charming private home which I think belonged to the BIL of or local guide. Outside there was a lovely garden and within a welcoming woman who served us delicious warm rice cakes--made with coconut and cardamom . The home was very clean and tidy. I especially enjoyed seeing the kitchen. Our hostess told me she had no oven and food was primarily steamed using a stove or rice cooker. There was also a washing machine. Everywhere clothes are hung outside to dry.

Road to the home littered with garbage.

 Lovely 3 bedroom home with gardens.

Very clean, "modern" kitchen

Bedroom with bath

Our host, a delightful woman  So sorry the picture doesn't show her welcoming smile!

Visit to Vaikom

We spent the entire day traveling to this village in rural India with stops along the way. It turned out to be a very special day despite travel along a very narrow and often bumpy road with both established and minimal homes and all sorts of shops and businesses right up to the street. It was a big challenges for two buses to pass. Since it was Sunday we were told traffic was lighter. We passed a long line of parked TaTa trucks each elaborately painted. We were told that this was a local custom reflecting the pride each driver had in his truck.