Souvenir from Goa

Happy New Year to you all.

This is our new travel blog to keep you abreast of all our adventures. The first exciting instalment features an image of Amélie's very special souvenir from Goa - is that 4 stitches? So besides from action adventures on mopeds in Goa, and Paul nearly puking as they cleaned the bloody mess in hospital we've been travelling South India. Starting off in Kerala and ending up in Goa, to say we had an varied week would be an understatement; from two days on a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala, where we were doing nothing but eating, sleeping and sunbathing (and getting beaten at chess by the captain) to haggling for a 20p discount at a local flea market to finally ending up at a beach trance party (that's right, Amélie & TRANCE!) for New Year's Eve…which involved staying up to watch the sunrise, spending the first day of 2010 sleeping and waking up just in time to have an amazing curry whilst watching the sunset. A day well spent we feel!

The two weeks away were the perfect antidote to the volunteering in Mumbai. As much as we love working with the kids (we're getting pretty used to getting hugs as you walk in to work every morning - not sure if that would ever catch on in London) and really enjoy living somewhere as exciting and different as Mumbai, it is undoubtedly an emotionally and physically draining experience.

The kids are still for both of us the highlight of Mumbai and although you're not supposed to have favourites, we both do. Amélie will be bringing back at-least 3 or 4 the way things are going.

Mumbai continues to amaze. From the unique experience of seeing high-rise luxury apartments next to flimsy metallic slums; the way you move from initially heartache through to annoyance at having to endure the continuous beggars; back to the guilt you then experience for realising they have no other option but to beg, Mumbai is a bucket load of emotion.

We've both now had the pleasure of hospital visits and the Indian health system is a truly unique experience. Lack of bedside manner would be one notable difference but the constant reminder of British bureaucracy is as frustrating as bewildering at times (although having said that, even the NHS can lose Paul's results in the system…).

One of the hardest things to accept and deal with is that the situations we see our kids facing on a daily basis could be eased it would seem, with minimal intervention from the authorities. We're not sure if it's an unwillingness to do something, or just inept management on their part. Although there are so many beautiful things about India and Indian people, this is a tough one to accept.

Everywhere we see signs up encouraging Indians not to spit (it spreads TB you know) even in hospital corridors! But every morning we have the best spitting (or hawking as it's known here) experience. Now to hawk, one must thoroughly clear the throat, sinuses, and possibly even darkest reaches of the lungs themselves. Our bedroom window is next to a public washing & water facility, so every morning we get to hear the locals as they wash and prepare for their day. This means every morning we have the pleasure of hearing our neighbourly Mumbaikkers clearing their unwanted phlegm out of their system. And if you knew the air quality of the city (as Paul's lungs do by now) you'd know this was not a pretty thing for them, or our sensitive ears! At 5.30 in the morning when it starts, it really is stomach churning to hear (although Paul is a lot better at dealing with it than Amélie!).

So as you enjoy your snow freeze (no snow here in Mumbai) know that we are currently planning our next 3 week break away, which will be to Dubai to renew Paul's visa and visit Amélie's brother followed by a trip around Northern India including the desserts of Rajasthan, the wonder of the Taj and the holy experience of the magical Varanasi. We will think of you all as our trip begins in 2 weeks' time!

Miss you all loads, keep letting us know how you are.

Love
Amélie & Paul

(p.s. check out FB for pics)