Photo Albums

Sorry for the delay. But here are ALL of our pictures from the trip!
Much Love.
Gautam & Katie.

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Our first stop on this adventure was Kochi (via a quick 24 hours in Delhi) Father Joe was there to great us at the airport and give a glimpse into what local life in Kochi is like.

[Pictures from Kochi]

After 3 days in Kochi, we drove 7 hours south to Poovar. Poovar is almost at the tip of the sub-continent. We stayed in a floating cottage on the water, accross from a small fishing village. The area is called the "back-waters" - were the fresh water meets the sea.

[Pictures from Poovar]

Next up. Kovolam. A cool beach town 30 km north of Poovar.

[Pictures from Kovolam]

Finally, we had to say good bye to the gorgeous (and delicious) south and returned to northern India. After a day resting in Delhi, we took a day trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal! No matter how many times I see it, it is still absolutely breath taking.

[Picture from the Taj Mahal]

That concluded our travels around India. The remaining portion of the trip we chilled in Delhi, hung out with family, and prepared for my brothers wedding.

Here are just some random pictures from hanging out:
[Picture Chillin in Delhi]

The day before the wedding, the mendhi was held. Where the bride and girls get intricate henna designs on their hands. The bride gets both hands and feet done. It is meant to symbolize the bond and happiness between the new couple. The darker the henna, the stronger the love/happiness/marriage.

[Picture from the Mendhi]

The actually wedding ceremony was the next morning. It was a small ceremony held in my aunts living room. The ceremony took about 90 minutes, despite my aunts pleas to the pundit to hurry up.

The ceremony is complete, once the bride and groom take 7 steps around the fire, repeating the following vows (taken from Wikipedia - may not be perfect)

"We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently settled."

[Pictures from the Wedding]

The day after the wedding we did some site seeing around Delhi. We saw Humayans Tomb, Qutab Minar, India Gate, and Parliment.

[Pictures of Delhi Sites]

On the final weekend, we celebrated Holi. It's partly a Hindu religous festival, partly a spring harvest festival, and partly a big party. I've never been in India for Holi, but have only heard how much fun it is. Part (most) of the celebration involves throwing colors. Which in itself is a hard concept to grasp, you might ask...how are colors thrown? I wondered the same thing. These pictures below should give you a better understanding of how to "play Holi."

[Pictures from Holi]