Hi everyone!
Sunday seems like a really long time ago. We started the day driving from Delhi to Agra. We stopped for lunch and to buy some goods native from Ranthambhore, the state we just entered. Once we arrived in Agra we met our new tourguide, who we called Doctor Vinnie. He took us on a tour of Agra Fort and to a local shop. In the evening we went to the pool before a yummy dinner in our hotel. Some of us got henna after dinner, which turned out beautifully! It should last for a week, so that even after we get back we can remember our time in India. Then we saw a puppet show and sang songs with some local boys. We were again reminded of the universality of music!
Yesterday had to be the longest day ever. In a good way! We got up at 4:45 and went to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise. It was beautiful, everything we hoped it would be. True to form, we found a beautiful room off the main chamber of the Taj and sang inside it. Because there is a 30 ft. gap between the top dome and the ceiling, there was absolutely stunning reverb. Then we visited the Abandoned City, a fort developed by a Mughal king that then shut down due to lack of water. There was a winter palace and a summer palace, and the tempurature at the fort reached 113 degrees! But we're acclimated now, so it wasn't that bad at all. Then we got on the bus ride, and enjoyed seeing camels, cows, monkeys, water buffalo, pigs, goats, and lots of people waving at the foreigners. We were in the bus, which we fondly nicknamed Shiva the Destroyer, for eight hours, enjoying bumps, turns, and windy dirt roads due to a long detour. We arrived at Nahargarh, the resort on the National Park, which basically is a palace. Last night we went to the pool for a late night swim, and got enough sleep to get us ready for our adventures this morning!
More on the safari next post. Hope everything's great at home!
Much love,
the Madrigals in India
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Dearest Bloggy,
Another wonderful day in New Delhi, and Old Delhi, and all types of Delhi. We did a ton of things today! First we went to a mosque in Old Delhi, which was quite beautiful. There was so much intricate marble work which Pankaj (our trusted tour guide) told us all about in extreme detail (just like the detail in the marble work.). Go Pankaj! After the mosque we headed to a Sikh temple where we covered our heads, took off our shoes, washed our feet upon entry, and witnessed an incredibly enlightening religion. We sat down amongst the people praying to participate in prayer. They were incredibly accepting of us. We went to a room where Sikhs prepare food for anyone and everyone who wants it. We helped make rothi, an Indian Bread. Then we went to a Hindu Temple. We watched a great movie in Imax, and then went on a boat ride through 1000 years of Indian history. Indian history is really interesting! Then we looked around the temple, which Pankaj thinks will be the next wonder of the world. Outside the temple, Charlotte stepped in some poop, which smelled up the entire bus. But JSall cleaned it up while the Indian passers-by laughed and stared. Yay Julie! We then went shopping at Connaught Place, and bought lots of goodies (get excited for your thoughtful gifts, parents!). Now we're relaxing at the hotel, looking forward to a great day tomorrow. Agra, here we come!
With love, there is no distance.
The Madrigals in India
Another wonderful day in New Delhi, and Old Delhi, and all types of Delhi. We did a ton of things today! First we went to a mosque in Old Delhi, which was quite beautiful. There was so much intricate marble work which Pankaj (our trusted tour guide) told us all about in extreme detail (just like the detail in the marble work.). Go Pankaj! After the mosque we headed to a Sikh temple where we covered our heads, took off our shoes, washed our feet upon entry, and witnessed an incredibly enlightening religion. We sat down amongst the people praying to participate in prayer. They were incredibly accepting of us. We went to a room where Sikhs prepare food for anyone and everyone who wants it. We helped make rothi, an Indian Bread. Then we went to a Hindu Temple. We watched a great movie in Imax, and then went on a boat ride through 1000 years of Indian history. Indian history is really interesting! Then we looked around the temple, which Pankaj thinks will be the next wonder of the world. Outside the temple, Charlotte stepped in some poop, which smelled up the entire bus. But JSall cleaned it up while the Indian passers-by laughed and stared. Yay Julie! We then went shopping at Connaught Place, and bought lots of goodies (get excited for your thoughtful gifts, parents!). Now we're relaxing at the hotel, looking forward to a great day tomorrow. Agra, here we come!
With love, there is no distance.
The Madrigals in India
Friday, April 16, 2010
Day 3-4
Hola Compadres!
Yesterday was a day full of adventure, as we journeyed from Hyderabad to New Delhi (population approx. 15 million). The plane ride was swell. We arrived and met Pankaj, our trusted tour guide, who knows everything. We went to our beautiful hotel, where we got a dot on our forehead and drank delicious fruit juices, unprecedented in the United States. We then ate the longest lunch ever. It was great. Next, we drove for a bit to the first mosque in India, which is a World Heritage Site. Our assistant principal carries a thermometer (she's a math teacher, you know) and told us that the weather at the minaret was 112 degrees. Wowzers!! Many Indians wanted to take pictures with us, and we posed. Then we chilled at the hotel for the rest of the evening. Most of us got over 10 hours of sleep, whoopee!
We were rejuvinated for day four, which began with some food. Nom nom nom! Then we took a nice bus ride to the outskirts of Delhi, where we met with Ravi Shankhar's student, Shubhendra Rao. He gave us an awesome lesson about ragam, the Indian scales, and then played us actually the most amazing thing, an Indian citar. We were dazed by his talent. (And confused.) (Not really, though.) His Dutch wife was a cellist playing Indian music, and we had some visitors. Then we hopped over to St. Mark's school, where we performed again and watched some great dancers. The food was great. Nom nom nom, again. Oh, and also, cake. We went to an awesome Ghandi museum where we learned a lot about the Ghandiji, and Harry made friends. Now we're late for a trip to the bazaar, so we've got to run. But we're having a total blast, eating pastrami!
Adios amigos!
Much love,
the Madrigals in India
Yesterday was a day full of adventure, as we journeyed from Hyderabad to New Delhi (population approx. 15 million). The plane ride was swell. We arrived and met Pankaj, our trusted tour guide, who knows everything. We went to our beautiful hotel, where we got a dot on our forehead and drank delicious fruit juices, unprecedented in the United States. We then ate the longest lunch ever. It was great. Next, we drove for a bit to the first mosque in India, which is a World Heritage Site. Our assistant principal carries a thermometer (she's a math teacher, you know) and told us that the weather at the minaret was 112 degrees. Wowzers!! Many Indians wanted to take pictures with us, and we posed. Then we chilled at the hotel for the rest of the evening. Most of us got over 10 hours of sleep, whoopee!
We were rejuvinated for day four, which began with some food. Nom nom nom! Then we took a nice bus ride to the outskirts of Delhi, where we met with Ravi Shankhar's student, Shubhendra Rao. He gave us an awesome lesson about ragam, the Indian scales, and then played us actually the most amazing thing, an Indian citar. We were dazed by his talent. (And confused.) (Not really, though.) His Dutch wife was a cellist playing Indian music, and we had some visitors. Then we hopped over to St. Mark's school, where we performed again and watched some great dancers. The food was great. Nom nom nom, again. Oh, and also, cake. We went to an awesome Ghandi museum where we learned a lot about the Ghandiji, and Harry made friends. Now we're late for a trip to the bazaar, so we've got to run. But we're having a total blast, eating pastrami!
Adios amigos!
Much love,
the Madrigals in India
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Day 2
Hi everyone!
Today we started our day bright and early. After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, we hopped into our (pax o)minibus to meet up with Emily RiCharde and go to the Agape Orphanege. After t he girls changed into Punjabis, we headed to the school for a special assembly, where we sang for all 225 children- and they sang for us! We spent much of the day painting four rooms in the girl's hostel a pastel purple, where we learned that Mr youngman's many skills can all be used in one day! We took a break for lunch with the students, who taught us how to eat with our hands and sitting on the ground. The young girls were estatic to see the purple rooms. We left Agape with heavy hearts to say goodbye to our new friends, but happy to have the honor of meeting them. Dinner was great (sikly purple, mmm). We're all doing great, laughing a ton, and learning so much about India and each other.
Bonae, bonae voluntatis!
Much love,
The Madrigals
Today we started our day bright and early. After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, we hopped into our (pax o)minibus to meet up with Emily RiCharde and go to the Agape Orphanege. After t he girls changed into Punjabis, we headed to the school for a special assembly, where we sang for all 225 children- and they sang for us! We spent much of the day painting four rooms in the girl's hostel a pastel purple, where we learned that Mr youngman's many skills can all be used in one day! We took a break for lunch with the students, who taught us how to eat with our hands and sitting on the ground. The young girls were estatic to see the purple rooms. We left Agape with heavy hearts to say goodbye to our new friends, but happy to have the honor of meeting them. Dinner was great (sikly purple, mmm). We're all doing great, laughing a ton, and learning so much about India and each other.
Bonae, bonae voluntatis!
Much love,
The Madrigals
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
day 1
Hi everyone!
Our first day in India has definitely been full of adventure! We got into the Hyderabad airport at 4:30 AM after 24 hours in transit. We were tired but ready to take in the amazing sights of our first city in India. After a little bit of time resting at our wonderful hotel, we went back out in our bus, and our tour guide showed us a famous Hyderabad Fort. It was built in the 16th century to protect the city, and still has really complex systems of keeping enemies out and food and water in. We climbed 375 steps to the top in 105 degree weather, which definitely left us pretty piqued. We have outlawed the word h-o-t, and anyone who says the h-word has to give Mr. Youngman 10 rupees.
After the Fort, we went to a museum, where we saw all sorts of Indian artifacts and art, some as old as from the 1st century AD! Then we returned to the hotel to rest before dinner. Dinner was scrumptious, with many courses of sweet and spicy Indian cuisine. Upon returning to the hotel, we practiced our music for tomorrow's concert at the orphanege.
We're happy that our first day went so well and excited for the amazing experiences of the next two weeks!
Peace and love,
The Madrigals in India
Our first day in India has definitely been full of adventure! We got into the Hyderabad airport at 4:30 AM after 24 hours in transit. We were tired but ready to take in the amazing sights of our first city in India. After a little bit of time resting at our wonderful hotel, we went back out in our bus, and our tour guide showed us a famous Hyderabad Fort. It was built in the 16th century to protect the city, and still has really complex systems of keeping enemies out and food and water in. We climbed 375 steps to the top in 105 degree weather, which definitely left us pretty piqued. We have outlawed the word h-o-t, and anyone who says the h-word has to give Mr. Youngman 10 rupees.
After the Fort, we went to a museum, where we saw all sorts of Indian artifacts and art, some as old as from the 1st century AD! Then we returned to the hotel to rest before dinner. Dinner was scrumptious, with many courses of sweet and spicy Indian cuisine. Upon returning to the hotel, we practiced our music for tomorrow's concert at the orphanege.
We're happy that our first day went so well and excited for the amazing experiences of the next two weeks!
Peace and love,
The Madrigals in India
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Madrigals in India, April 2010!
Hi everyone!
This is the first post in our India blog for all friends and parents of the Madrigals! We'll update every day during our trip to detail our exciting adventures singing and traveling.
Talk to you from India soon!
Peace,
The Madrigals
This is the first post in our India blog for all friends and parents of the Madrigals! We'll update every day during our trip to detail our exciting adventures singing and traveling.
Talk to you from India soon!
Peace,
The Madrigals
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