Halfway there!

Today Baby Goccia is 20 weeks, which means we're halfway through. I keep telling Aaron that this little one is going to take after him because he/she is always on the move. Thankfully the movement isn't enough to keep me up at night! Aaron hasn't been able to feel the baby move yet but hopefully soon. It's been 4 weeks since the last picture, so here you go...another picture of the growing belly. And no, we still don't have any names!

Strange picture of the week

We see a lot of strange things here in South Asia but I don't know if I will ever get used to seeing totally naked men walking down the street. Today we were up on our balcony, minding our own business and all of a sudden this man was casually strolling by our building...until the dogs started chasing him! We couldn't resist taking a picture to post because we know that nobody at home would actually believe it! In order to be somewhat tactful, we have posted a picture of the man as he walked behind a tree...but believe me, he didn't have a stitch of clothing on!

Mehrangarh Fort

This will be our last past regarding our recent trip to Jodhpur. While we were there we spent one afternoon at Mehrangarh Fort; it was the most impressive structure that we have seen anywhere in the world.

The fort was founded in 1459AD by Rao Jodha, the 15th of the Rathore dynasty, that was in control over the entire Marwar region (also known as "the land of death"), from the 13th century through the 20th century.

Mehrangarh Fort is constructed from burnished red sandstone and sits atop a mountain surrounded by perpendicular cliffs 400 feet above the city. The fort covers the entire summit of the mountain which is about 3 square miles. The walls of the fort are up to 118 feet high and 69 feet wide. It is not only beautiful and impressively built but it is impenetrable; since its construction in 1459AD, the fort has never been conquered (even by the fierce and powerful Moghul invaders). This is something that no other fort can boast in the surrounding regions of the country.

Mehrangarh Fort was the official residence of the royal family until the mid-20th century when they moved to their new residence on the outside of the city; their new home is called Umaid Bhawan Palace.

View of Mehrangarh Fort looking over the city of Jodhpur.

The brown circles on the wall show where cannon balls struck during the battle with Maharaja Jagat Singh of Jaipur in 1808AD.

In 1459AD when the fort was constructed, the Maharaja Rao Jodha took the extreme step to ensure the new site; he buried a man alive in the foundations. The man was Rajiya Bambi (Meghwal) and he was promised that in return his family would forever more be looked after by the Rathores. This plaque marks the spot where Rajiya Bambi (Meghwal) lies buried in the wall.

This is just inside the sixth of seven gates to the fort, it is known as Loha Pole. This is where the hand prints of the late Maharaja Man Singh's widows were left as they exited the fort for the last time. This plaque in the wall is one of two which commemorate their sacrifice. They voluntarily ended their lives in 1843AD when they let themselves be burned alive on top of their late husband's funeral pyre. This was done despite the law which the British passed in 1829AD banning this ritual known as "sati". There are small red hand prints visible around the area from the late wives.

This is the view from one of the many courtyards within the palace complex. It is awes inspiring to see the intricate carving out of solid stone. It is a truly amazing experience to visit Mehrangarh Fort and try to imagine what has transpired within the walls of this magnificent fort over the last five centuries. Imagine being within its thick walls when the fierce and undefeated Moghuls were attacking. What would it have sounded like to hear the dozens of canons on the surrounding walls fire; the sound echoed off the courtyards within? What would it be like to be the young maharaja and be able to grow up running within and exploring the sprawling fort?

A Very Sad Day

Today when we went to Help In Suffering to see how Lulu was doing, our hearts sank. In the 20 hours since we last saw her, she had become much worse. She was was barely alert and only the tip of her tail moved when Melanie spoke to her. We knew that there was no way that she would survive and we made the difficult decision to have her put to sleep. Aaron held her as they gave her the injection, she was already unconscious and passed immediately and without pain. We cried as we took her to be buried. She is now buried under some shade trees beside a wall with a small stream gently flowing by.

We want to thank all of our friends at HIS who tried so hard to help Lulu. Special thanks to Minal, Dr. Rias, Dr. Devi, Dr. Chawla and Suresh who cared for her the last two nights in his own home.

Lulu the first day that we brought her home.

Lulu the day before she left our home and went to stay at HIS for treatment.

Little Lulu

I apologize that it has been so long since we've posted anything. This week has been very hard and very crazy. Last Thursday we finally gave in and brought Lulu home to keep. She was doing great and eating tons. Then Saturday night I was up with her all night as she was very sick. Well, things continued to get worse and by Tuesday we were really worried. We took her to the vet at Help In Suffering (HIS) and they told us that she has distemper. We were blown away, as this is not a very good diagnosis for a puppy (most don't survive). Basically this week has been spent attempting to nurse her back to health. We were taking her to the vet in the morning and the evening so they could give her an IV drip. By Thursday she was doing really poorly so she's staying at HIS day and night right now so that they can give her anything she needs. We went to see her today and were thrilled to see that she wagged her tail as soon as she saw us - she hasn't done that for days. She's still really weak and we're not sure if she'll make it. On the positive side, they fed her some Cerelac (baby cereal) today and she was able to keep it down.

I also want to say that we are so impressed with Help In Suffering. The staff there has quickly become like family to us. They are treating Lulu like a baby and helping her fight. I know that some of you contributed to HIS before, but I would like to personally ask the rest of you to donate something if you could. You can go to their website: http://his-india.org.au/donate.html
We were blown away by the cheap prices that they charge owners to care for their pets. One man's Doberman had to have an IV and they charged him 50 Rupees ($1.00) for the vet visit. The local government assists with the funding for rabies vaccinations as well as animal birth control (ABC); the funding for the remaining programs and services is provided through donations. There is a huge need for an organization like this and we want to help them any way we can.

Please be praying for our Little Lulu...the house is very lonely and quiet without her here.

Lulu (21 March 2007) the morning we discovered that she was sick.

Baby Goccia's Dr Appoinment

We went to the doctor last night for an eighteen week checkup. We had an ultrasound done and we were so excited to find out that the placenta has moved up to the proper position! Thank you all for your prayers! Baby G was very active for us and we saw all of his/her body parts...well, except the boy/girl ones. The sonographer even counted the fingers! I would post the ultrasound pictures, but they're not very clear. The baby has been VERY active and I'm feeling him/her move all the time. We can't believe that pretty soon we'll be halfway through. We can't wait to meet our little one!

Happy Birthday Bethany!

Happy Birthday to the newest member of our family...our sister in law, Bethany. We hope you have a great day with lots of cake, chocolate and surprises! Please eat some good ice cream for us! Have a wonderful day! We love you!
Aaron & Mel

Jodhpur

This was our first trip to Jodhpur and we did not know what to expect. We were very pleased and excited that it was a beautiful city with a rich history and quite a few interesting historical sights to see.

The city was founded by Rao Jodha in AD 1459 who was the Rajput chieftain of the fierce and powerful Rathores. The name of the city Jodhpur means "Jodhas place" or "place of Jodha" ("Jodha" the name of the king and "pur" meaning place).

For those of you wondering the word "jodhpurs" owes its etymology to this city. (riding breeches, cut at the hips but tight fitting from knee to ankle, usually worn while riding horses or playing polo). They were worn for riding horses and the color was the same as the local sand, this was so that they would not show dirt.

Jodhpur is also known as the Blue City, an apt name as most houses in the old city are shades of blue. This is particularly noticeable on the north side of the town, known as Brahmpur for the many Brahmins (highest caste) that live there. Other names for the city are "Gateway to Thar" (the city is just inside the Thar desert) and "Sun City" (because the sun shines very bright and very hot year round).


A picture of the winding and narrow streets inside of the old section of the city. The blue buildings and wildlife are everywhere.

This is the clock tower that is one of the famous landmarks in the old section of the city. The view from in the clock tower is very nice and well worth the 5 rupees (about 8 cents) that it costs to go up the observation deck.

The city's main shopping drag is Nai Sadak, lined mostly with sari and shoe shops and leading straight into Sardar Market (the picture above is the gate into the Sardar Market), a typical bustling Indian market with a barely contained riot of sights, sounds and stinks. The clock tower in the center is a useful orientation point. Popular souvenirs include:

• Bandhej sarees and dress material
• Mojris or Jootis. Shoes with a pointed front, a must-have accessory if you plan on dressing like a Rajput Maharaja (king).
• Handicrafts, these are handmade (made to look like old antiques), the handicraft industry is a booming industry in this city.
• Antiques (real as well as fake) are plentiful in the city. We learned a lot about the culture and history just by visiting a couple of the local antique shops.
  

This is a picture of one of the water tanks in the old city. The water, which is precious in the desert, is a main source of water for the city. People can be seen bathing and swimming in the green water amidst the trash. I was excited to see fish swimming in the water, I have never seen fish swimming anywhere in the country.

Happy Birthday Stephen & Amelia!!!

Happy 9th Birthday!! I still remember the day that your Mom and Dad told us that they were having twins. I couldn't have been any happier! Then there is the day that we finally got to bring you home from the hospital and I held you for the first time...it was love at first sight. You've both been a tremendous blessing to our family and we are so grateful for you. I'm so proud of both of you and so proud to say that you're my niece and nephew. You'll ALWAYS be my babies! Have a great day! I love you!

Aunt Moo

Princess Amelia

Handsome boy!


Big catch!

"Moo, you so punny!"

Village Life

On Thursday we went on a village tour with a man who grew up in the villages of Jodhpur. It was so interesting! We learned so much about the people and how different their lives are in the villages. We went several places but our two favorites was the Muslim potter village and the Bishnoi village.

Beating the clay pots - while they're wet - to make them round.

You can't see it in this picture, but the round cement block is spinning while this potter forms the clay. Also, the pots behind him are drying in the sun before they are fired in a kiln. After they are completed they can be painted and sold.

Our next stop was a Bishnoi village. The Bishnoi people are Hindu, but they're founder, Guru Jambheshwar, gave them a list of 29 laws that they must follow. The name "Bishnoi" means 29 in the Marwar language. One of the most famous of their 29 laws is that they are to protect the wildlife and land, so trees and animals are sacred to the Bishnoi people.

History of the Bishnoi people:
On a Tuesday in 1730 A.D., Amrita Devi, a Bishnoi woman was at her home with her three daughters (Asu, Ratni and Bhagu bai) when she came to know that a number of people had descended on their otherwise sleepy village of Khejarli. The people were a party of men sent by Maharaja Abhay Singh, the ruler of the kingdom of Jodhpur in the Marwar region, who wanted to fell green Khejri trees to burn lime for the construction of the Maharaja's new palace. Since there was a lot of greenery in the Bishnoi villages even in the middle of the Thar Desert, the king ordered his men to get the wood by cutting the Khejri trees. Amrita Devi protested against the Maharaja's men who were attempting to cut green trees as it was prohibited according to Bishnoi principles. The malevolent feudal party told her that if she wanted the trees to be spared, she would have to give them money as bribe. She refused to acknowledge this demand and told them that she would consider it as an act of insult to her religious faith and would rather give away her life to save the green trees. It is at that stage she spoke these words: Sar santey rookh rahe to bhi sasto jaan (If a tree is saved even at the cost of one's head, it's worth it).Saying these words, she offered her head. The axes, which were brought to cut the trees, severed her head. The three young girls Asu, Ratni and Bhagu were not daunted, and offered their heads too. When the Maharaja heard of her devotion to the protection of these trees, he wrote a decree to protect the trees and wildlife in the Bishnoi villages that is still enforced today.
There is a famous Bollywood actor, Salman Khan, who shot a black buck in the Bishnoi villages and was prosecuted after being turned in by the Bishnoi people. (We got to see the exact place where he shot the deer and was apprehended by some local villagers.)

This is the Bishnoi family that we visited with. The Bishnoi men always wear white to symbolize peace and the women wear red to draw others to the Bishnoi people and their way of life, the color is also for good luck. The women wear those large nose rings from the time they get married until their husband dies...it's used to signify a long life for the husband.

This is the Bishnoi opium ceremony. Although their 29 laws require them to be hospitable to guests, they are not allowed to partake of it (opium) themselves. They crush up the opium and add water, then they filter it and offer it to their guests in the palm of their hands. It's a sign of hospitality toward the guest.

Here is the female nilgai that we saw in the Bishnoi villages. The females are brown, but the males are blue. They are the largest antelope found in Asia.
The Bishnoi are well known not only for their protection of trees but also animals (especially the black buck). The Bishnoi villages are full of cinkara (antelope), black buck and nilgai (blue bull); these animals can be seen wandering throughout the Bishnoi villages.

We're Back Home!!

We finally made it back home around 1:00 this morning! We had a great trip. We traveled to Jodhpur (also known as the Sun City) last Wednesday and stayed for 6 days. We did a lot of sight seeing - really too much to post here so we'll drag it out for a few days. We traveled to and from Jodhpur by train and it was a great experience. The Indian Railroad is over 150 years old and is the most extensive train system in the world. We booked tickets for 2AC because there are beds so I could rest during the ride. It was supposed to be a 5 hour ride to Jodhpur, but because this is S. Asia, the train was 2 hours late arriving (at one point there was a cow on the track that wouldn't move)! I was really glad to have that bed. The train was so comfortable and it's definitely my favorite way to travel here. People came by selling chai, coffee, snacks, meals and drinks. We passed the time by sleeping, eating, listening to our MP3 players and playing games on Aaron's phone. We took the train back from Jodhpur as well, but slept most of the way home since it was dark and we couldn't watch the scenery.

The bottom seat also lowers down into a bed like the one on top. Some workers come by and hand out very clean sheets, pillows and blankets. You can even pull a curtain closed so others can't bother you while you sleep.

Aaron's first S. Asian train ride!

Playing games to pass the time.

We just thought this train looked cool. It was outside the Jodhpur train station.

Funny use for a helmet...

Last week Aaron was "helping" me cut up vegetables for dinner. I gave Aaron the job of cutting up the onions, which for some reason are extremely strong here. After only a few seconds Aaron's eyes were burning so he came up with this remedy:


Yes, that is his motorcycle helmet he's wearing while cutting up onions. Any of you at home feel free to "invent" something similar and let us in on the profits.

We're going out to town tomorrow for a few days and I don't know if we'll have access to internet. If we do we'll be posting but if not, then we'll see you next week.

Lulu

I know this is a common theme in our blog, but it's such a part of our everyday lives that we just have to post about it. This is our newest and youngest street puppy, Lulu. We fell in love with her immediately because she's half the size of her brother and sister and she looks so much like our Dixie did when she was a pup. Since we nicknamed Dixie "Dixie Lu", we decided to call this little one Lulu. We've been going by everyday to check on this puppy and everyday I would beg Aaron to let me bring her home. Today we decided to bring her to our house for a bath, lots of milk and lots of love. We started off by giving her a bath, and then she sat in the sun on our balcony and drank milk until her sides poked out. She was fed 3 times today and slept for hours before we took her back to her brother and sister.

Little Lulu drying off in the sun.


Whew! I had too much milk!!!


Lulu before her bath.


Maybe I'll have just a sip more?


This is not Lulu, but our Dixie when she was a pup. I think they could pass for sisters!

Holi

Sunday was Holi in South Asia. Holi is an annual and popular Hindu Spring Festival . It takes place over two days in the later part of February or early March. As per the Hindu calendar, it falls on the full moon. It is also called the Festival of Colors.

On the first day, a bonfire is lit at night to signify burning Holika. The burning of Holika is the most common mythological explanation for the celebration of Holi.
The King Hiranyakashipu desired to be seen as a great man. To fulfill his desire he did the required penance and was granted a boon by Brahma. He asked that it not be possible for him to die as a result of a human or animal, that he not die either in his home or outside, that he not die in the day or at night, and that he not die either on land or in the sea or in the air. He was granted his wish and so felt invincible and told his people to worship him as a god. Everyone obeyed with the exception of his son Prahlad. Prahlad refused to see his father as a god and stayed devoted to Vishnu. This made Hiranyakashipu very angry and he made various attempts to have Prahlad killed. These attempts included telling Prahlad to hold a red-hot pole, telling him to jump off a steep cliff and even getting a herd of elephants to walk over Prahlad. Each time Prahlad did as he was told but was saved by his devotion to Vishnu. So Holi is a time to celebrate Prahlad's faith and ability to survive.

On the second day, known as Dhulandi, people go around until afternoon throwing colored powder and water at each other. People invite each other to their houses for feasts and celebrations later in the evening. Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colours.

Our neighbors performing Holika.

Neighbors playing Holi on their roof.

An entire family covered in Holi colors!!

Aaron & Mickey after going out into the city.

A close up of the color disaster. They've already been hosed down too! Aaron's hands and some spots on his face are still dyed pink....guess it will have to wear off!!

Elephant Festival

Every March, just before Holi (a Hindu festival we'll talk more about tomorrow), our city holds an Elephant Festival. Presently there are over 100 elephants that live and work in our city and 95 of them were at the festival. It all started off with an elephant parade. The elephants were decorated from tusk to tail and some were very ornate. All 95 of them paraded around the arena...it was quite a sight! After the parade, around 20 humans played tug of war with one elephant - and lost very quickly! Next was the elephant polo match. There were 6 elephants with 2 riders each playing polo. It was a slow moving but very interesting game. We are so glad that we went and I think we'll try to attend every year. We took over 90 pictures, but unfortunately we can't fit them all on here.

Decorated elephant - we thought it was so cool that they even paint their toenails.

Camels with mounted guns - they were part of the parade.

Elephant polo - you can see that in this picture they're getting ready to hit the ball.

This is one of my favorite pictures. I can't imagine how much time it took to paint the elephant like this...and who knows how they get the mirrors to stick!

No, you're eyes are not deceiving you, there is an elephant in this picture!

If you're ever here in March, this festival is worth seeing!

Clothes Shopping

One of the striking things about living in South Asia is that you are surrounded by a myriad of vibrant colors and designs. Womens clothing is especially striking and colorful. Two years ago when we came to South Asia to visit, we met Mickey and Suresh whose family owns many textile shops. These shops sell clothing (men and womens), blankets, sheets, shawls and just about anything else that is made of fabric. The name of Mickey's shop is Kala Creation. The word "kala" means "art" in Hindi.

The outside of Kala Creation.

The inside of Kala Creation. As you can see the shelves are covered with materials of every imaginable color and pattern. Just the experience of walking inside is overwhelming!

Suresh holding a comforter which is hand embroidered with intricate stitching
and mirrors. Shopping for clothing is a totally different experience here. There's
nothing hanging up and you can't just go and pick out what you want. Here you have to tell them the color and material you're wanting and they pull out everything they have that matches your criteria. Usually when we go shopping here, we leave behind very large piles of material that we've gone through.

Aaron, Melanie and our "brother" Mickey. Mickey has been a great friend and has become like a member of our family. Our time settling in and becoming accustomed to life in this culture was greatly aided by our friendship with him. If you come to visit us, you will not return home without meeting our sweet "brother".

And this has nothing to do with shopping, but Baby G is 16 weeks today! Here's a picture that we took today of Mel's ever expanding belly.