Friends That Won't Play

Of the two boys, Sidd has a greater attraction to such furry friends as cats and dogs. Back in our neighborhood in Belmont, the Russian family next door had a cat that used to sun bathe in our driveway, much to Sidd's delight. Unfortunately, when our sociable toddler would come out to pet the feline friend, the cat would stay a healthy 2 or 3 feet away. Perhaps Sidd played a bit rough in all the excitement. Perhaps this was not one of those gregarious cats. In any event, what entailed was a steady saunter for Sidd across our yard, in slow pursuit of the cat, but to no avail. Finally, it would dash off across the road to find a less interrupted location, leaving our younger one crest fallen. Petting the cat would have to wait another day.


Hoping against hope...
- -Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

Stood up by the cat, and heading home...
- -Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

That cat, sheesh...
- -Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

A Case for Shifting Religions

Rekha signs the registry - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

Sometimes one sees both a goal in the distance, AND the work needed to get there and still says, "Yup let’s do it." Even when one has the sneaky suspicion that daunting obstacles may come out of the woodwork.

So it was the case for Molly’s cousin Rekha. You see, she meets this man, and somewhere along the way, man oh man, she decides that he’s THE man.

But there was a catch – his family was (and is) Jacobite ( http://www.answers.com/Jacobite%20Church ) which in many instances would be inconsequential but… hers was (and is) Catholic. All are Christians, but it is one of those important nuances, one that matters. Particularly to the parents, who were pretty keen that each keep their current denomination – a reasonable request to expect from anyone who believes in their own faith.

As you may suspect, one converted - - in this case, it was Rekha. And after I had a chance to meet her man, Jomy, well, it seemed like an awfully good decision. We attended their marriage, my first Jacobite wedding, presided over by none other that the Bishop of Kollam (which is a big deal). And even though I didn’t really understand any of the Malayalam spoken at the function, it was still grand, solemn, and prayerful.

Jomy signs the registry - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

The newlyweds and the Bishop - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

Blessing the thali - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

Blessing the manthrakody saree - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

The Bishop leads a prayer - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

Under the haze of photographers' lights - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

Books of prayer - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

The family looks appropriately serious for this joyous occasion - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

Outsourcing Your Own Legacy

Dusk falls upon the angels - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

If you wanted to leave behind a monument or some such structure for posterity, how much of your own hard earned money would you be willing to part with? How about 1 lakh, that is 100,000 Rupees, or about $2,500 U.S. dollars. Perhaps less than you expected? You may first ask well what sort of "leave behind" are we talking about, and that would be a smart thing to ask.

I was taken by Mamachen Uncle to a nearby church, right on the waters of Lake Vembanad. Lo and behold, here was a serene addition to the original structure that had be installed by a non-resident Indian in commemoration of St. Thomas' visit to the area back in the 1st Century, A.D. It has angels, lights, a beautiful walkway, a fairly ornate cross whose design is historically significant (not to mention that it is seven sided to showcase the names of the original families who came with him). And, along with all of this, on each side of the walkway are tasteful depictions from Biblical stories.

My reaction: wow, not bad for 2,500 clams! If sheer mileage is what one is looking for, this sure beats getting your name engraved into the end of a church pew in some U.S. suburb, eh?

Mamachen Uncle tours us through the site - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

One of seven families is seen on the right facet - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

The cross, seen up close - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click for larger image)

Modes of Transportation, Part 1

No longer strapped into a car seat, Paul takes it all in - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click to enlarge image)

The India trip presented a fantastic opportunity to try out quite an array of transportation for two reasons: 1) both our boys have a fascination with any manner of transport; 2) compared to being tied down by a 5 point harness, in a rigid car seat, in the belly of a mini-van, 3rd world travel is about as untethered (and therefore exhilarating) as it gets.

The first real chance occurred one Saturday morning, when my Uncle Jose dropped my 2 ½ year old Paul and myself at the local train station. We caught the “Chennai Mail” as it passed through Kottayam (coming from none other than Chennai and zipping towards Trivandrum) and jumped off 30 minutes later in Changanacheri. After a brief wait, we got on board a local train heading back to Kottayam.

For Paul that was all that was needed. The relatively brief interaction provided enough to chew on without physically taxing his constitution. He was: mystified by the train's inside (as all the books had only schooled him on the outside); enthralled by the sights; and intrigued in particular by the sounds and smells as tropical trains have portals with bars rather than the sealed panes of glass you see on U.S. and Canadian trains.

We also had the terrific luck on getting on at the station where a couple of thousand Hindu pilgrims disembarked as part of an annual trek to Sabarimala (http://www.sacredsites.com/asia/india/sabarimala.html). They left the train adorned in flowers, providing me with a truly vivid example of the prominent role that religion plays in daily life of this nation.

The Chennai Mail, addorned in flowers by Sabarimala pilgrims - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click to enlarge image)

The idyllic countryside races by - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click to enlarge image)

Our train continues onward - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click to enlarge image)

One Way to Boost Your Immunity

Who needs toys when you've got rocks! - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click to enlarge image)

Here is one of those local beliefs: If you are visiting from outside the country, you can expect to get a little sick, a little stung by critters, and have to put up with an “adjustment” phase.

Want to get this over with quick? Then rather than avoiding the elements, immerse yourself in them. For example, don’t have your children avoid the outside elements; rather, have them spend time playing just the way the locals do. Sure they may experience some initial discomforts, but they’ll certainly get tougher quicker.

Can I say this worked? I don’t really know. But once Sidd was introduced to all the fascinating things to be found outside the house, he was hooked. That is for certain.

Sidd get's cozy with the flora and fauna - -
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2005 (click to enlarge image)