Coonoor to Kathmandu, 4-9 November 2010

We had our driver Prabhu drive us to Mettapalayam to catch the train to Chennai, where we connected with a train to Delhi.

Since we left on Divali Eve, the streets of Mettapalayam were packed with people doing last-minute shopping.

Many people were shopping at sweets shops.

We had booked first class seats, and maybe because it was the holiday, we had a whole compartment to ourselves.  Sweet!

When we connected with the train for Delhi, we were again expecting to share our first-class cabin with other people.  But  no!  We had the whole compartment to ourselves!  So sweet.  Here's the very good tea they served us right away.

Gopal was in heaven because of the free newspapers brought to him.

Since I was a little gun-shy about train food, I was thrilled when good pongal, sambar, and vada were served.

 Here are some shots of India en route to Delhi (during daylight).

Pickpocket wanted posters at a train station.

Our train car (special paint job was probably in honor of the Commonwealth Games that took place in Delhi in October).

Train platform at Vijayawada Junction.

We arrived at Delhi train station, and almost got lost everything looks so different.  For the Commonwealth Games, they fixed all the streets and sidewalks.  It transformed the city. 

Gopal, Harsh, Suman, and Raju.  Suman is Raju's sister; Harsh is her 7-year-old.

Krishna's cousin Ashish brought his new baby over.  Here, his wife is helping in the kitchen.

Monday, the 8th, off to the airport for our flight to Kathmandu.

The Himalayas from the plane.

Approaching Kathmandu, which has really sprawled

Tilak's house

Empty lot next door (I'll show you this lot later in the pictures).

Tea with Paresh at Tilak's

Solar water heating system, common in Nepal.

Nandani, Puja, Durmilla, Tilak (I'm waiting for the names of the two ladies on the right).  The gal on the far right is studying environmental law.

That evening we went into Thamel, the shopping area for westerners, where a mandala had been created at an intersection.

Oil lamps were lit all around it as the sun went down.

Nandani and Tilak at a khukuri shop he used to own.  Khukuri knives are part of Nepal's identity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukri

Shopping for pashmina shawls

Buying North Face hiking shoes.

Early the morning of the 9th, we left Kathmandu for a tour of Nepal.

Here are Paresh's brother Siddhu and Gopal wearing masks to protect themselves from the Kathmandu pollution.

We had a mediocre lunch at this place which was closed, but she was kind enough to through something together for us.

We arrived at Chitwan as the sun was going down.

Here we are having dinner together.

University Women's Association Divali party 2 November 2010

Divali as defined by Wikipedia:  Deepawali (also spelled Divali in other countries) or Diwali^[1] is popularly known as thefestival of lights. It is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For most Hindus and Indians, Diwali is the most important festival of the year and is celebrated with families performing traditional activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday in India, ^[2] Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago,Mauritius, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar , Fiji ,Suriname and Guyana

The name Diwali is itself a contraction of the word Deepavali (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvali), which translates into row of lamps.^[3] Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas) (orDeep in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Some Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali, hoping for prosperity the following year.

The University Women's Association which runs The Clinic for the Poor, where I volunteer three days a week, held their Divali celebration at the Coonoor Club.  That's Sheila on the left. 

This is beautiful kolams in the doorway of the event.

Radha making some adjustments to Sheila's necklace.

Ann Thadeus works with me at the clinic.  We have a lot of fun together.

Sara Hanif, the clinic's nurse and my good friend

The kolam and lamps in front of the stage.

Sheila, Malathi Mithal, Carolyn, Ann

I was one of six women chosen as wearing the prettiest sarees.  I had  3" heels on (because they were the only black sandals I had that didn't have the thing between the toes which hurt like hell, ya know?), so look how I tower over everybody!  I'm always taller than anyone as it is.

We were each expected to take turns showing off our sarees.  I was not even in the top three finalists.  The gal in the pink won.

These high-school girls came and did a Divali dance for us.  It was wonderful!  Here's a video of part of it.

The event ended in a snack buffet of food brought by some of the members and a chance to socialize together.  It was fun for me because I don't get invited to many social events.  And it's fun to see everybody in sarees!