Sunday 1st August

Happy Friendship Day.
Today we went to the park "to meet some of my [Gid's] friends for a party, you know, cool drinks, samosa, music...". We got to the park, no friends, no cool drinks, no samosa. Eventually some of Gideon's students ('friends'), all about 13 or 14 years old, turned up. Without cool drinks. It was getting hotter. So we squirrel watched whilst the students meandered off into the distance to get supplies.
Eventually the drifted back, we played some games, drank some cool drinks and ate some samosa. Good family fun all round.
Being in the park, we were right next to some intriguing looking Hindu temples, the party was fizzling out so we said good-bye and Kelv and I made our way to go look around.
As we wandered about our curiosity grew and with it our confidence, so that by the time we got to the fourth and final temple we were confident enough to wander right in for a peek!
There was a really welcoming guy who seemed happy that we were showing some interest. We got dabbed on the head with some yellow gunky stuff, had to touch some fire stuff and then were given ''holy'' water to drink from our hands which both of us promptly allowed to run straight off onto the floor whilst making loud slurping noises.
Did I fancy drinking questionable water out of my dusty hands? Errr no.

In for a Penny.
On the way back we passed the church shared by different Christian groups. In the spirit of equality and continuing curiosity we went in and sat at the back, again greeted by a cheery man saying "come in, come in".
There were some long sound checks of electrical keyboards and guitars before an American-style 'enthusiastic' service started which included the words, I kid you not, "Can I hear a hallelujah?"!!
A less than spiritually productive way to spend a Sunday evening. But it did offer some insight into the choices Indian's face religion-wise!