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Published: February 19th 2008
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Luna enjoying the plane!
Don't you wish you could curl up like this! Well, we've now been here ten days and I can say it's been an intense ten days in the best possible way. The flight went well and I caught up on some film watching while Luna and Susie slept. At the end of the second film I saw that it was light outside thought I'd take a peak and was rewarded by the most amazing view. Turkmenistan (I found out later) and it is really beautiful. Hopefully I'll work out how to put a photo on this computer!
We did have one comotion on the plane, a call for a doctor or nurse, luckily a dashing Indian doctor came forward, I wondered if I could feign illness to be treated! So we didn't have to do an emergency landing in Afghanistan which was probably a good thing! Some turbulence but otherwise the journey was good. Arrived in Dehli where I made the mistake of using my very limited Hindi and was bombarded with tons back. Straight away everyone was intrigued by Luna!
Got our bags and it was lovely to see Tommy and Neeta waiting for us. (Luna's godfather and his gorgeous fiancee, now wife.) And we met the first
Turkmenistan
A picture speaks a thousand words! member of Neeta's family, her cousin Tosha. A very serious fellow, a lawyer but lovely! And off we went in the hectic Dehli traffic to Tosha's mother's house. It all looked strangely familiar despite having last been, dare I say it 16 years ago!
As soon as we arrived, we were, obviously fed and watered and introduced to a few more members of Neeta's family. And Luna, despite having slept about 5 hours so she must have been tired, was such a star. She lapped all the attention up and delighted Neeta's auntie by having seconds of all the curries and other foods. She loved it all so much. I hadn't slept so it didn't feel like breakfast. But Luna was very impressive!
We then went with another cousin to see the biggest Hindu temple in Asia, it's new but oh so impressive and beautifully carved. Nishu, the cousin, explained lots of Hindu mythology and the religion to us so it made it very interesting. Tora, tora (slowly, slowly) we're learning! Again Luna was quite a big draw especially as she fell asleep and I had her on my back!with my coat tied round her. And getting a
bit cold, the sacrifices one undergoes for ones children!
When we got back there were more cousins from both sides to meet and Luna found herself with yet new fans and people to make a fuss of her which she just totally lapped up!
Never got to bed early as everytime we thought we'd finish, there was more food for us to eat and I'm pleased to say Luna just kept eating it all, abcolutely loving it! Everyone was amazed!
Next day we had to confirm a few things with Susie's travel agent friend and Luna was not impressed with me waking her up, not one little bit!! We went over to the other house (ie Auntie NAresh's house) and were offered chai and cornflakes which we mistakenly though was breakfast, oh no it's only a starter said Tosha, there's more to come!!!! We all ate tons which pleased Neeta's family no end.
we eventually made it out and unsurprisingly got back late with everyone waiting for us, threw everything in a bag and came down but everyone had dissapeared, lunch!!!! Finally we set off in a convoy of three cars with Auntie Nuresh worrying we
Luna being very attentive!
She studied the safety features with such concentration!!! might get hungry on the two hour drive (which in fairness turned out to be more like 4!
We got to Meerut (where the wedding was held) to be greeted by lots of garlands of Calcutta marigolds. And a big welcome written in marigolds. And met many, many more family members, including granny who is 91 and is so lovely. This evening ended in drumming and dancing. A sneak preview of things to come. I had a slight suspicion that we weren't ever going to get an early night
I'm running out of internet time but basically the next three days were all wedding celebration days! Parties, blessings, Mendhi (henna painting on your hands), washing of the groom, putting bracelets on the bride. Lots and lots of Bollywood dancing. Luna's a natural, I'm improving slowly, slowly!!!! The shoulder rolls still elude me!
And the actual wedding starts at night. The groom's family process to the temple or where the wedding's going to happen. With soooooooooooooooo much noise and fanfare. The groom gets to ride a beautiful grey arab with curly ears and he usually has a small child. Luna in this case! She'll have a tale or
Dehli playground!
Great playground where my bottom fitted on the slide and the swing!!! two to tell at nursery! There's more dancing to big drums, loud music, fireworks, men carrying chandeliers and general madness. It was so much fun.
Then the bride and groom have to sit on these huge thrones while everyone else gets to eat and dance and general merryment!
I think this is very sensible feed your guests first. When everyone's eaten, most of the guests leave except the close family and then the relgious wedding cerimony takes place, some three hours but you don't have to be dead serious, it's quite a relaxed affair. Luna stayed up for a big chunk but she did eventually fall asleep. As the wedding ended at around 3a.m.! And it was all so fantastical that it wasn't until the next morning that I realised that Tommy was actually married!
Oh and on the way home there was absolutely no traffic, a great contrast from the chaos there is in the day. But we passed a convoy of camels pulling large carts of forage, maybe, it was very mystical.
I have to say we've been quite lucky in our animal spotting. Lots and lots of monkeys, cows, chipmunks, rats, mice, dogs, birds!
Neeta and family
Slowly meeting the family! Brother Sam who Luna absolutely adores!! Eagles! And ask me about Sachin's driving!!! I 'm trying to work out how to add photos which I feel will finish the time here or at the very least the time Luna's patience has left!
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