Happy Diwali from India!!

We made it to INDIA! Last night at 1 am, Frank and I stand outside Ramkrishna Mission in Mumbai where a Diwali celebration started an hour earlier, and would continue until 4am.

What a great flight. If we had been in coach with the "commoners" this could've been a14 hour flight from hell....but alas...we were in business class and iwas soooooo easy! We enjoyed a great indian meal and several glasses of wine, Argentina style. We then SLEPT for a full 8 hours, right through the breakfast service!! We woke up watched a movie, ate dinner again, and landed just in time for the Diwali festival! The whole city was lit up with lots of fireworks (phatakas) We could see it all when flying in. We went straight to Nameeta's from the airport, ate AGAIN, (here, its all about the food) then changed into a traditional salwar kameez (turquoise for me of course) and we headed to the where a celebration started at midnight.
The place was full, shoes in piles outside the temple and everyone seating indian style (go figure)

We listened to the singing and chanting as people prayed to the goddess Kali. (good over evil) It was so relaxing, I had no idea what they were saying but you dont need to....the drums and chimes are enought to make you feel it. Here I am in the mission with the image of Kali shrine behind me. I look pretty fresh after a 14 hour flight, verdad????? yeah, right.... I love this picture of us outside the mission. Notice the image of Ganesh, the elephant god, the "remover of obstacles," above us. Hanging below that are fresh flowers strung like streamers.

From left to right, Nameeta's mother-in-law, Smita, Nameeta, me and Frank.

After leaving the mission, we went back to Nameeta's. We stopped by thia temple to Hanuman where people have tied bells over the years for good fortune. There are thousands of bells.

The girls stayed up talking til 4am! you figure out the time conversion....I vow not to. No "Ohio time" for me. I like to swing right into local time. Stay tuned!! Two more weeks of India updates!!!!