This one's for you Dad

Dad,

In the last week I've taken the train to Delhi and then back home, turned around headed right back by night taxi, and then made it home again this morning by train. I feel like I've been on the run non-stop (and that's not stopping anytime soon), but while I was in Delhi this last time I found a few things that I'm sure would interest you.

First, I found a the world's largest cup of coffee. Well, maybe it wasn't the world's largest, but it was big enough have to use two hands even at the bottom of the cup. Best of all though, it was just a big cup of black coffee. I know how you like that stuff (guess I didn't fall too far from the tree on that one).


Then when I was wondering around I also found some construction techniques I'm sure you'd be found of... bamboo scaffolding।


And now, in the morning I'm headed out into the Himalayas... I imagine that it'll be kind of like El Paso's mountain, but then again probably a lot different, too. I'm just hoping it doesn't end up like the time we went camping at Martin Creek Park and it poured down on us all night. That'd be no fun.

So you've been on my mind lately, and just thought I'd send you a quick hello before heading out for another week!

-eric (एरिक)

The Calm Before the Storm

The next few weeks are going to be a little crazy...

Over the course of the next 13 nights I'll spend 4 in my bed. The rest will be on trains, in hotels, in friends' houses or in a tent. It's going to be a whirlwind of a time for sure. I leave by train tonight to go pick up my friend Josh from the airport, and then it's going to be run, run, run for a while.

If I don't get a chance to post in the next few weeks I apologize. I've got two quick trips to Delhi planned before a few days trekking up in the Himalayas. My camera will be with me everywhere I go, and I'm sure I'll have lots to talk about when I get back!

-एरिक

Welcome to the Jungle... oh wait, thats my backyard

I live at the edge of the city, and behind our back wall is a "jungle." Really its more of a grove of Mango trees and Leechi trees, but they call it a jungle. There's a fence between us and the trees, but the branches hangover our porch. You better believe that I'm going to eat those mangoes when they're ripe next month.

I digress. The real reason for this post is what I found IN the nearest mango tree. This bird:


It looks a little like Toucan Sam and a dinosaur had a baby. It sounds like a mix between a pterodactyl and my sister hiccuping... "mwaaaak!" (Sorry, JA... love you!)

I first saw it several days ago, and then yesterday there were four of them in the tree! I have a pack of pterodactyl like birds living behind my house. great....

Anyone have any idea what this creature really is?

-एरिक

Club Shadi

Today I went to my first Indian wedding. Wow, it was an adventure, and to be honest words would do little to describe it. Instead, I've got some great pictures to show just what went down (I'm sure one day I'll regret these pictures being on the internet).

So this is my buddy Prem and me. It was a girl in his neighborhood that got married, so its our friendship that got me into the wedding today. He also took me shopping for my kurta (traditional Indian shirt).

This is the wedding tent. It was 100 degrees outside today, the wedding was at one pm, and outside in a tent. Sweet.

Like most weddings, this one had a bride and groom, but they really didn't seem to be the center of attention most of the time.

Turns out it was really the white people who ended up being the center of attention at times.
This is us with the groom's party.

Like any good wedding this one had food. Unlike a good wedding the cows managed to find their way into this one.



And there was music by the Euphorian DJ. Not sure that I want "smack that" played at mine.



Now with music comes dancing...



Lots of dancing...



So its only right that I joined in!



During a break we headed back up to Prem's house where I played with the kids.



And then we got silly...



But he got even sillier...

And then things just got out of control!
(no children were harmed the taking of this photo)

All in all it was a really fun day. A new experience and a chance to spend more time with a great family of friends. And to the bride and groom: I wish you luck and apologize for stealing some of the attention at your wedding. But then again, had you really been upset about it you probably wouldn't have spent your first dance as a couple dancing with me!

-एरिक

a special invitation

I was invited to my first Indian wedding! It's tomorrow, and I'm pretty excited. I even got a REAL wedding invitation.


If I'm going to a wedding I need something nice to wear, so today I went down into the market and found a new "kurta" (extremely long shirt) to sport tomorrow. I was a little disappointed when I found out that no one wears "real Indian" clothes to weddings anymore, which means I didn't get to buy a pair of "pajama pants" or curly toed shoes. Sad day, I know.

Anyways, I'm sure that tomorrow will be loads of fun, and I can't wait to update with all the pictures/video of what's bound to be an exciting day!

-एरिक

Three Good Things... Count 'em... 1,2,3

Here's your Hindi lesson for the day. By the time we're done you'll be able to count to three, and now three things that brightened up my day a little.

1. Ek - Chicken Wings - Nothing like a little bit of America to satisfy my belly. Homemade chicken wings sure hit the spot tonight (plus they were a big hit with my Indian friends).

I don't mind bragging about my own cooking... it was delicious. I'll make you a deal, come visit me and I'll prove it to you.

2. Do (Doe) - The "electric mosquito destroyer machine..." Not only does it sound intimidating, but hopefully now I'll be able to sleep without being eaten alive. Those pesky mosquitoes don't stand a chance.

How to activate the electric mosquito destroyer machine.

The electric mosquito destroyer machine activated! Mosquitoes beware!

3. Tin (Teen) - Air Conditioning - I finally have my very own window unit installed in my room!

I don't plan on using it except for an hour or so before I go to sleep, but that will sure help to fight of the 95+ weather we're already having (both outside and inside).

Ek, Do, Tin. It's as easy as One, Two, Three.

-एरिक

An Easter Wake Up Call

“I hear the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play…”

Well it wasn’t Christmas, and it wasn’t a familiar song, but I was woken up early Easter morning to the sound of bells. These weren’t bells celebrating our risen Savior, but instead they were the bells of a Hindu temple calling their gods to wake up and answer the patrons’ prayers. Not long after I heard another sound: the call to prayer.

I traveled across the state to celebrate Easter with some great friends. We had a great few days of fun and fellowship, but Easter morning hit me hard. On the day we celebrate Christ’s resurrection I was once again reminded that there are people all around me who have never even heard about the reason that He died.

I guess sometimes I need a wake up call.

“There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.”

- In Christ Alone