Naniji made us all some pouches to wear beneath our shirts. The idea was that money kept in these pouches could not be pick-pocketed, so we would never end up helpless with no hope of being found. Thanks to her ingenuity and forethought, all of us made it home safely.

Sachin and Suneel (and Mom) got to experience Diwali as well – but it was a little late. Mom, being her thoughtful self, called me in November to ask if I could buy some extra fireworks so that when they arrived in December, they could have their own little Diwali.

Let’s be clear. This is amazing:

Sachin and Suneel had so much fun playing with our little cousins in Sunam:

Probably a good idea not to let Suneel near your children.

Suneel showed Sucharan the wonder that is Rubik’s Cube. Needless to say, Sucharan was entranced:

Sachin took this photo, which I think is probably one of the best from Sunam:

Mom got to meet a few of her aunts, which was a treat for her. It was also fascinating watching them interact: They all spoke so quickly with each other – and then stopped all of a sudden as one person demanded the floor – and then they started up again – and then stopped, etc.

Suneel had a major mosquito bite fiasco his first night in Sunam. It was brutal, but Bua-Naniji was able to take care of his boo-boos.

Who do you think is winning this game of Checkers?

The family arrived in India to join me for a the last couple weeks of the trip. It was great to see everyone, except I didn’t quite recognize one of the guys with my brother Suneel…

At the risk of reinforcing the unfair stereotype that scholars have facial hair, I thought that surely this dashing, young man must be an academic or spiritual leader who decided to join us for our trip. But if that was the case, then where was my other brother – Sachin?

It turns out that was Sachin! He’d lost a bet to Suneel and had to grow out his hair and beard for a month. It was a sad day when he shaved. At least 15 perceived IQ points lost. Such a shame. But let’s not pretend he doesn’t have a few to spare

No story for this one. I just love the picture.

The Dhauladhars are a branch of the main Himalayan chain of mountains. Its peaks rise to almost 19,000 feet. (For comparison, the highest peak in the United States of America is less than 15,000 feet.)

One of the wonders of mountains (something which is lost when modern society takes over nature) is the acceptance of animals as parts of the world – not as inconveniences which must be dealt with. Horses, yaks, and other wild creatures can be companions, helpers, or can merely exist. They are part of the beauty of a location.

Elections in India are something to see and hear. Strange noises heard from a mile away end up being the shouts of a parade marching through (and therefore obstructing) narrow streets.

And when you finally get to see the parade of supporters, you can’t help but cheer them on.

This is one of the most memorable sights I experienced in India. So many things to look at! And the woman in the very front was special. When I asked if it’s alright for me to take a photo, her response was so clear and confident; her voice so soft.