Wendy Arrives! ... Happy Holi

It's around 11am on Saturday having arrived safely back in Delhi and staying at the YWCA Family Hostel. Wendy (our friend from home & also West Bromwich & District YMCA Board member) has just joined us for breakfast, glad to have made it to the YWCA through the confusion of Delhi International Arrivals. Fortunately the taxi ride cost her 1/6 of the cost the first taxi tout tried to con her with!! (A little local knowledge is very helpful). Today is 'Holi' (AKA 'The festival of colours') - one of the biggest and most famous of Indian festivals, particularly in the north but also now in most parts of India in one form or another. The festival is a mixture of welcoming spring combined with historical and Hindu religious influences. People paint each other with colours from head to toe - a sort of mass paint ball party .. everywhere. As westerners we're keeping a low profile, especially with the kids. At the best of times we draw attention on the streets of Delhi - today would not be a good day for being the centre of attention. Much of the powder paint used is synthetic containing lead and very bad for the kids skin (which it dyes for 3-5 days). We plan to venture out later this afternoon when most of the excitement will have calmed down ... and allowing Wendy to readjust to the timezone.