The sight of huge bunches of balloons being carried through the streets reminded me so strongly of a short story written by Holly Flude, I just had to capture this image for her..so here you go Holly, this one is for you :)

Whilst just wandering in the back streets of Amritsar I came upon a bull, fully dressed in ceremonial garb. The people leading it were very admit that I should take a  picture and I was more than happy to oblige!

This is me taking one of those self conscious tourist photos in front of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a very hot and dazzlingly beautiful day.

Those Moments....

Had a surreal moment one night ago.....
Had gone to Manali after school, already with a developing head cold and the bus trip back was in pitch darkness, the light only showing the very edge of the precipice as you drove along at such a rate you would become airborne on the ridges as well as the potholes. My signalling to the ticket master resulted in me being let off far past my stop and lugging my gear for twice the distance I needed to normally, I found myself walking beside a man in thongs, traditional Himachel pants and jacket and a Cabana hat!
His flowing fruits and flowers jolted with each shuffling step and I couldn't help but wonder whether I was hallucinating on my Cold and Flu tablets!
After parting ways, I couldn't but help noticing that I looked at all around me, considering how out of the ordinary everything is here and how much I have already accepted things as they are. It made me wonder how it is that people who are surrounded by difference, and what greater difference than that between humans, cannot come to accept and enjoy all as the wonderful extravagances of Mother Nature?  

Indian Life

There is alot to annoy one in their everyday life in India...
1. The constant ripping off....They make a profit off locals so why try to rip us off all the time, I appreciate a little honesty every now and then!
2. The inability to find a rubbish bin......the locals can't either apparently!
3. Seeing suffering with no avenue to change things......wish there was an RSPCA here or even just a vet with half a heart.
There is also a lot to fall in love with everyday in India....
1. The open smiles freely given to all......even on the faces of people who understand not a shred of English
2. The decoration and care taken by the people......of themselves and their homes
3. Seeing everyday the kindness....amongst students, family and strangers

Really India is a melting pot of all things, good as well as bad, but so long as you can see the stars at night and realise that your existence is just a blot in a huge swirl of time none of really matters.
 

My School Project

For my Grade 2 Craft class I have begun constructing a paper-mache model of the solar system. I am an expert at paper-mache so all is going well except what does one do with the Pluto dilemma? Should I put him in there, explaining he is now a dwarf planet or leave him out? People put the asteroid belts in around Saturn and they are technically not planetary objects..... and the solar system refers to all that orbits around the Sun, so should I put in all the asteroid belts and dwarf planets? Ahhhhhhhh so much to decide!

But really life is exceedingly cruisey at the moment, all I have to worry about every morning is what to teach my class today and how to do it. At the same time my heart is wrenched out everyday by what I see and experience, so it is hard to explain to anyone why I suddenly burst into tears or laugh out loud. The poverty and desperation is back dropped by the most exquisite scenes in the world and immeasurable kindness.

India is India and it doesn't matter how hard you try to describe it, with its magical power the real description will always evade your grasp.  

School Day

Had a big day at school today. I start the day with taking the year 1's into the library in two separate groups and teaching them the English equivalent of what their teacher is doing at the same time with the other half. This is to reinforce the learning process, I also try to make it a little fun for the munchkins. Today was all about the body and naming bones so I got them to sing 'them dry bones' they loved it!

Then Courtney and I take the grade 2's for an arts and craft lesson which today was colouring in a Kangaroo I had drawn earlier, lunch then three periods of games with the higher year groups. The Indian game of Kho Kho is a fantastic one and when played properly is super competitive. Going to introduce it back home!!! 

Hope all is well back home, intending to travel to Kullu town tomorrow after school so maybe another post from there ;) All my love xxx Billy!!!