An Indian Birthday

What a day!

My day began a little earlier than normal with the collecting of Sarah Vogel from the airport and a birthday hug in the am. Then back at the compound, I received an amazing birthday present from her. Two blocks of chocolate: cadbury no less, all the way from NZ. She'd been guarding herself from them for the last 6 weeks, and I felt that it was the most amazing present.
Ok, it's reasonably random to be so excited by blocks of chocolate for a birthday present, as it's a pretty standard present. But when you've not had real cadbury chocolate for some time, and you think you're going to be in India for quite a few months more without it, you feel excessively comforted to have 2 blocks fall into your lap from the skies.

After that from 6:45am on I had phone call after phonecall!
From Erina in Kolkata, through coastal Ap to Hyderabad, I had about 8 calls from Indian friends, which included the birthday tune on the Harmonica thanks to Nani. Esther also called from the office to say she has something that needed collecting.
After a little bit of a lie in, and yes, we did miss the readings on my only day off in Hyderabad unfortunately, Sarah and I got to and made pancakes for brekky. So much fun to use a sparkling clean kitchen!!
I eventually made my way to the office to visit Esther and she had a bunch of 12 red roses for me. What a surprise. And a massive 3-part tiffin container filled with my favourite Indian sweet. Vermacelli made with milk, sugar, and cashewnuts. Amazing. I think her plan was to present it to me at breakfast, but my breakfast was some hours later than hers considering the time of Sarah's arrival!

Then Tim Uncle invited Sarah and I to lunch. When I arrived there, there was a lovely looking bday cake with God Bless Abigail written on it, and we had the usual birthday psalm reading and prayer before partaking of chicken curry and cake. Sarah Aunty presented me with a huge garland of flowers, and I got presents and felt much loved.
It was a very interesting occasion for Sarah's first few hours in India!

After lunch it was shopping time for Sarah and I and we headed off down the road to the Cali shop, and then caught an auto to the 2008 All India Arts and Crafts festival.
We found shop upon shop selling cushions, bed spreads and pillow cases, and had to walk half the way round and ran out of time before we actually found the spot selling Indian clothes for Sarah. Some man was really kind and gave me some free bangles as we walked past for my bday present!

Time flies when you're busy, all of a sudden Tim Uncle was driving us to the airport in the heavy traffic to catch our flight to Kolkata. On the way was dinner and we ate as much of the vermacelli as was possible. It was quite tragic to leave the roses behind, but they would probably not have got through customs.

The man sitting next to me on the plane had a driver coming for him and he lived 5 mins from Jodphur Park, so it was lovely to get out of the airport and not have to worry about haggling with the taxi drivers and also to get a free ride on my birthday!

Erina and Ben Bowen were at the flat to welcome us. I celebrated my 24th birthday by cooking Parantha's just after midnight and catching up with Erina.