Our next stop was Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, where we stayed with Patrick’s friend Ruchil and his family. Ruchil lives in California, but before we left he had mentioned that he would be visiting his home sometime between November and January. Though we had been keeping in touch as we travelled, it was mostly good fortune that Ruchil was visiting his family just as we were wrapping up our time in Rajasthan and heading south.
Ahmedabad straddles the Sabarmati River, and is big (5.6 million residents), bustling, and home to some memorable tourist sites. For us, though, the highlight was meeting and staying with the Shah family. Ruchil’s mother (Deena), brother (Nimil), sister-in-law (Khyati), and 1-year old nephew (Mehaan) welcomed us with open arms, though they had never met us. Over the five days we stayed with them they stuffed our bellies with some of the best food we ate on our entire trip, including fabulous home cooked meals, street food we never would have tried on our own, and even a Guajarati-style thali lunch at a swanky local restaurant. They acted as our tour guides, taking us to many of the area’s most famous sites, including Sabarmati Ashram, founded by Gandhi in 1915, Jain temples, and to the Akshardham temple and its amazing laser, water, and fire show. They taught us the basics of cricket, discussed the challenges India faces as a developing nation, answered our many questions about India, and danced with us until well after midnight on New Year’s Eve. Mostly, they treated us like family, making us feel at home from the instant we arrived. Though we were only there five days, we definitely consider our time with the Shahs the highlight of our trip to India. We feel really lucky to have made such wonderful friends and can’t wait for them to visit Ruchil in California!
Click on the photo below for our Ahmedabad album.
Ahmedabad straddles the Sabarmati River, and is big (5.6 million residents), bustling, and home to some memorable tourist sites. For us, though, the highlight was meeting and staying with the Shah family. Ruchil’s mother (Deena), brother (Nimil), sister-in-law (Khyati), and 1-year old nephew (Mehaan) welcomed us with open arms, though they had never met us. Over the five days we stayed with them they stuffed our bellies with some of the best food we ate on our entire trip, including fabulous home cooked meals, street food we never would have tried on our own, and even a Guajarati-style thali lunch at a swanky local restaurant. They acted as our tour guides, taking us to many of the area’s most famous sites, including Sabarmati Ashram, founded by Gandhi in 1915, Jain temples, and to the Akshardham temple and its amazing laser, water, and fire show. They taught us the basics of cricket, discussed the challenges India faces as a developing nation, answered our many questions about India, and danced with us until well after midnight on New Year’s Eve. Mostly, they treated us like family, making us feel at home from the instant we arrived. Though we were only there five days, we definitely consider our time with the Shahs the highlight of our trip to India. We feel really lucky to have made such wonderful friends and can’t wait for them to visit Ruchil in California!
Click on the photo below for our Ahmedabad album.
Oh... I just read this. While watching photos... I saw each moments in front of my eyes. We had lots of fun and food. It was purely a surprise gift from shanta claus to us, to have you guys and Ruchil with us. On our terrace, Ruchil and me were used to miss you. It was so much fun to sit in the ride called TORA TORA with Patrick, at Akshardham.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for your surprise greeting card from Malaysia. On that day me, Khyati and Dina mom were so happy to have your card, written to SHAH FAMILY.
Still my 1 year old boy Mehaan Shah can recognize you from your names and pictures. He used to call Partick as Pattikk Pattikk. We will do the video chat once you guys are back in the states.
Nora and Patrick, thanks for visiting us and Ahmedabad, come again soon...