Another quick note from Akhil. Ahmedabad is quite different from other parts of India we've seen. Quite a bit more prosporous. We've been visiting with family and friends for the last three days. Visit, eat, sleep, eat, eat some more, visit some more... We've had the wonderful opportunity to get to know my cousin Devan and his wife Gauri, and their two children, Shreeja and Raj. I played a bit of street cricket with Raj yesterday (he's six, but he has a bat). Shannon got a scooter ride with Gauri (which involves avoiding cows and monkey street-gangs) as well. We went to the sari shop today which was fun - Shannon tried on a beaded chiffon number and wowed everyone (they were laughing, I think that means they were wowed). We visited Gandhi's Ashram, where he lived for 12 years and a famous temple just out of town. Some beautifully and extravagantly dressed Rajasthani women (stone bangles from their wrists to their shoulders, bright saris and huge nose rings with a chain to their ear) stopped, stared and pointed at Shannon - of course we were staring at them!

Tonight, we're having dinner with about 20+ friends and family - and we haven't even gone to Jamnagar yet where most of the family is!

That's it for now - wishing everyone a Very Happy New Year!! At some point I'll explain how they celebrate Christmas for a week with Indian Santas everywhere, but that's another story...