Beach Time in Goa

We said good bye to Anjali and Nathan at the airport in Goa on Sunday afternoon. They have a few more days in India, but we won't see them again until we are back in Canada next April. While we were together, we made some memories that we shall always cherish!

Our time together in Goa was extra special. We stayed on Agonda Beach in south Goa. It takes a while to get to Agonda, but it's definitely worth the drive. Even in 2014, Agonda isn't overly developed or crowded. The sun shone on us, the water was warm, and our time together passed altogether too quickly!

Here's a slide show that shares a few of the highlights of our Beach Time in Goa.

Beach Time in Goa from paulhami

More Mussoorie Time with Anjali and Nathan

Anjali and Nathan are in Calcutta now, and our little Pine Point flat feels slightly bigger again. We are delighted that we can join 'Anj and Nath' on Tuesday in Goa for a few more days together--on the beach this time. 

But first... here are a few images to share more of the special memories we created together before the adventurers left us on Wednesday. 

Landour with Anjali and Nathan

Landour is the Mussoorie community where we are based. It remains remarkably unchanged since the 1960's when I was a boy here, as scenic and alluring as ever. This is where we spent our Thursday with Anjali and Nathan, and this is the subject of the slide show embedded below. 

We set out before breakfast for an early morning walk along the "Eyebrow" path, and made our way slowly to the "top of the hill", where we were blessed with crystal clear views of Bandarpunch and Swagarohini. We stopped at Char Dukhan for a breakfast of paranthas and chocolate pancakes! Then it was down for a look-in at Aotearoa, where our family lived from 1988 to 1990.

We were welcomed warmly at Landour Community Hospital and given a tour of the facilities. This is where Anjali was born on October 12 in 1983. In her present capacity as a delivery nurse in British Columbia, Anjali seemed impressed with what LCH has to offer. 

Eventually, we wound up at Woodstock School, where Anjali attended kindergarten and grade 1, and where Lynn and I worked from 1981 to 1990. In the alumni office, Anjali found a significant record of her time as a student. There is a wonderful large picture of her in the 1990 yearbook. Judy Crider facilitated a brief tour of the school, and we joined her for lunch in the staff dining room.

Here are a few images of our "Landour Day".

Anjali and Nathan are Here!

Lynn and I worked in Mussoorie from 1981 to 1990. Our son Aaron was 5 months old when we arrived, and our daughter Anjali was born here in 1983. Until this week, neither of our children had been back to India since 1990. Anjali and her husband Nathan landed in Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday morning this week. Aaron will be coming in mid-December, along with his children Isaac and Annika. 

So, it was way beyond special for us to meet Anjali and Nathan at the airport in Delhi! We spent all of Tuesday in Delhi, resting up and doing a little exploration of some Delhi shops, with the help of Delhi's wonderful Metro system. 

Early on Wednesday morning, we caught the Shatabdi Express from New Delhi Station to Dehradun. Then it was up to Mussoorie in the Bolero. Thursday was spent in a leisurely walk through Mussoorie's bazaars. Although Anjali was only 7 when she left India, and she's been gone for 24 years, many of her memories are remarkably clear.

Here's a slide show with some images of our first three days together in India. A second post and slide show will appear here soon.