WAKE UP!

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An early Gurudwara wake up call before a short visit. We were accompanied by our friend whose dad tipped her off that we were there. We think from the CCTV.

We drank chai and watched the cute cats running in and out of the langar hall. We waited for everyone else to rise from their slumber ...

11.30 was time to go out to celebrate a birthday party. We were driven to a very fancy resort. There were rabbits, geese and very big dogs! You could stay at the hotel overnight and there were many attractions for the children to play on.


We ate a wonderful meal together in the posh restaurant. We had some very delicious palak paneer, garlic naan and masala papads.

We played in the amusement park racing cars and basketball.

Many photos later we left and headed to the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on the other side of town. It was relatively new and a very beautiful place. Ornate carved pillars and a beautifully manicured garden with elephant and giraffe bushes.


We left here and ate more food at a small cafe. A delicious creamy desert called ras malai. Absolutely delicious! When we thought it impossible to let anything else enter our stomach, we stopped for a fresh coconut each. Our friend bought a lot of fruit too. We thought it was all for his family and the Gurudwara. We were wrong. He handed it all to us!

Back at the Gurudwara we relaxed until we received a message from Baba ji. We attended only to be welcomed in for a special meal. On a Sunday people make a special meal for him and others travel from far away to see him. We ate together another delicious feast!


We realaxed until New Year arrived. A huge wedding procession drove past and we followed them. We watched them dance and saw the groom on his special horse too. The procession was lit with fancy umberellas and everyone was wearing beautiful clothes.  It was a bit like a mini carnival.

We chatted to our friends, watched a little of India's Big Boss (very popular version of Big Brother) before heading to the Gurudwara for midnight.


New year has arrived and so have the many fire crackers. Welcome 2024!

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