Bangalore

We flew down as we didn't have the spare 8 days needed to train there and back, and jen was flying out of Hyd later that week.

I had told Bernie we would be there for her 21st birthday on the Thursday and then booked tickets to arrive with Wes on Wed. SO it was quite a cool thing to see the surprise on her face when she arrived to pickup 3 'parcels' at the mission flat and discover they were us!!

Since I was last in Bangalore a nutrition scheme has been set up 3 days a week for the children and old people living in the slums next door, which I was really happy to see. No longer are we ignoring them and expecting them to be warmed and filled...it's really happening.

Thursday a group came round and we had a happy birthday for Bernie, and then she went to work (her last day was her 21st bday) and Jen and I were invited back to Susan and Linus' for dinner where we ended up sleeping the night as it was too late, and too much hassle to go back.

The next morning Susan and I went to visit Mike and Anne, as Anne had been in hospital and had literally just got back to her house when we arrived. She looked a little tired, but was in good spirits and seemed to want the company.

Then I was dropped off and a whole group of us (Cals and Kate having arrived from Hyd that morning) went out for lunch to celebrate Bernie's bday properly. Was lovely to see Pavi and Naomi again.

Unfortunately Jen and I had eaten something somewhere and weren't feeling so good, so by the time we got back to the mission flat that night we were feeling rather unwell, and had to miss out on the whole KCY on Saturday.

I was still weak, but we got up for most things on Sunday, but after saying goodbye to Cals, kate & Jen on the train to Hyd, we collapsed and enjoyed a good sleepin on monday.

Naomi is the best pancake maker ever. I enjoyed them so many times during my stay in Bangalore, and introduced using lemon and sugar on them!!

Monday Bernie and I caught a bus to Mandya and on route stopped in Maddur and visited with the massive family living there. Caught up with Ashur and Prema and the rest as they hadn't been able to make it to KCY and I'd really missed their presence.
Something that I really noticed about this trip was the families willingness to pay for our travel. In Kolkata I am so used to being fleeced for every rupee people can get, that it was the most refreshing thing for someone to want to pay for us:-)

Tuesday Bernie and I caught yet another bus to Mysore and spend the late morning touring the palace and then in the evening met up with Bernie's relatives and then had dinner with Persis and met her new husband. We had planned to also see James before we left, but we ran out of time...as I am right now.

Wednesday was back to Bangalore with a quick house visit on the way to the bus to visit a single sister who had recently lost her mother, she is looking for a new job, and was home alone, so I was very glad that we ended up making the time instead of catching an earlier bus back.

Then it was packing and training to Hyderabad.