India Mike

Who is India Mike?  I'm not exactly sure.
Possibly our new favorite friend.
One thing is for sure, this discussion forum is absolutely what we have been looking for....

www.indiamike.com

Here is how it works:   you type anything at all into the search box at the top right of the page--  for example, just now I typed in contact lens solution--  and your worried heart is instantly taken to various  discussion threads containing your search words.  If nothing comes up, you can post a question, and miraculously others write in telling you about their experience in India dealing with contacts, cribs, toddler dehydration, etc......

Also, you can do searches by region and city, and view pictures, discussion boards, hotels, etc...  of practically any area in India.

It is becoming very clear that people generally have a lot to say about India--  and people who have been there love sharing their experiences.  This, somehow, means the world to me.
Here are a couple more links about bringing kids to India....

Interview with travelin' mama: part 1

Interview with travelin' mama: part 2

Rachel 

g & g

Grandma Daisy.  Grandpa John.

every. single. day.  --I miss you both like mad.

There are all these rose colored memories that float around my head--  there you are sitting at your huge wooden table that is covered in everyday bed sheets and also lace from china and always colorful batiks from india. 

Everyone has a little english teacup.  and maybe a brownie or grapes or cookies from a dutch tin.  or a swedish pancake.  or a papadom.    

And the stories of your travels and your life in india wander through the daily conversation.  something about an elephant;  something about getting lost; something about a nice couple selling fruit at the market.  something about a church.  something about cooking.  

I wish I could sit at that table again with you and talk with you about this trip we are taking.  I know you would have miles to say about everything.  I know you could put my mind to rest.  

Rachel  

Vikram's Book

This is the book written by the professor leading the UW trip to Chandigarh - Vikram Prakash. It is widely considered the best book on the city and its history, and is fairly easy to read. It has a great introduction to the Indian independence from British rule in 1947 as well as architectural modernism in the post-WWII era. Le Corbusier was a Swiss-French architect and planner who designed the city - he is probably the most famous architect of the 20th century (either him or Frank Lloyd Wright).

It is called "Chandigarh's Le Corbusier".

--Tyler