3rd Feb - House Warming and Out in Alleppey

View India To 23rd Feb 2011 in a larger map

Up at 7 to get ready to go for breakfast with Natchew and his family to celebrate their new house warming. After some time trying to meet his friend at the right place with translation problems etc I eventually arrive around 9. There were loads of his family and friends there - about 20 people. It was lovely to watch how they all interacted and sit an eat a massive breakfast with them served by their servants out of a huge pot. I got on very well with Natchew's wife Nina. See speaks extremely good English although she has never been out of the country. It was really interesting to ask her some questions that I had been trying to answer as her English was good enough to explain.

They have a 5 year old son - nick named spider man as he loves to climb on everything and jump in the air. Unfortunately, he was not feeling very well and he cuddled up with his grandfather on the floor and fell asleep.

This lovely old lady is apparently very famous in Kerala and was a high up politician involved in socialism. She is a relative.

We sat and chatted all morning and then had a few drinks and lunch then arrived - a huge take away Chicken Masala. The family wanted me to take loads of pictures of them all. Always happy to do that!

In the afternoon I asked for a lift back and we went via Natchew and Nina's family home. It was several hours later when I got back to the homestay as they were having some family issues and I kind of got suck in the middle. It was an insight into Indian culture and how much they are still very much effected by the old dogma...

Did not get back until 6.30ish. Fawaz was worried about me. I got showered and changed and then as I thought it would be my last day in Alleppey I took Fawaz out for a meal in town. He took me to a lovely place where there were loads of Westerners (strange after so much time in the company of Indians). It was very nicely decorated etc but the food was only slightly more than a low end restaurant. Fawaz said that it is his mums favorite restaurant. We shared one Indian dish and one Chinese dish.

After dinner we went and sat on the beach and nattered again - it is becoming a routine!