Nov. 5 again - after we checked in. There was a bit of a problem with check in as the hotel had our reservations starting 2 days earlier. Fortunately, we were able to get the issue cleared up quickly. We then called our driver to take us to Jandiala, Rupee's birthplace. Our driver had assured us in Delhi that he was very familiar with the Punjab and knew his way around - not so!
After stopping serveral times for directions R finally got out of the vehicle and asked a group of ladies waiting at a bus stop. Luck would have it that they were from the village. Two of the eldest ladies offered to show us the way if we would give them a ride. They were in their glory riding in a fancy Toyota with a group of lost Canadians. They took us right to the Pallan Cloth House. Our driver went as fas as possible through the narrow streets and we walked the rest of the way on foot. The distant cousin who owns the cloth house was delighted to have family visit. We made some purchases and then he showed us around the village. It was such an emotional time for us to be in the place where R was born and the place where his grandfather had built a towering mansion of a home 80 years ago. The home still stands tall in all its grandeur but is unfortunately unhabitated. The cousin tells us that people want something more modern in these days. We were able to wander through the rooms, saw the stairs R fell down as a child and where Grandma used to cook the family meals. I'm amazed R survived the fall. The stairs are incredibly narrow, very deep, very steep and curve in a semi-spiral. We all knew that but it has to be seen to be believed. On our village tour we met several excited Pallans who were so happy we were there. There are 50 Pallan families still in the village and many want to meet us so plan to go back sometime in the next couple of days. Mukan Lal showed us his home and the well/water pump that R's grandfather donated to the village 80 years ago - still functioning. After a confusing drive back to the hotel we have decided that our driver is probably the worst in India. In the evening R called his cousin Ashok who came with his son to visit in the hotel room. It was an evening of laughs and family gossip. We will meet all the rest of Ashok's family On Thursday. His father is Grandma's elder brother. Thursday is also our day to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. More on that later.
After stopping serveral times for directions R finally got out of the vehicle and asked a group of ladies waiting at a bus stop. Luck would have it that they were from the village. Two of the eldest ladies offered to show us the way if we would give them a ride. They were in their glory riding in a fancy Toyota with a group of lost Canadians. They took us right to the Pallan Cloth House. Our driver went as fas as possible through the narrow streets and we walked the rest of the way on foot. The distant cousin who owns the cloth house was delighted to have family visit. We made some purchases and then he showed us around the village. It was such an emotional time for us to be in the place where R was born and the place where his grandfather had built a towering mansion of a home 80 years ago. The home still stands tall in all its grandeur but is unfortunately unhabitated. The cousin tells us that people want something more modern in these days. We were able to wander through the rooms, saw the stairs R fell down as a child and where Grandma used to cook the family meals. I'm amazed R survived the fall. The stairs are incredibly narrow, very deep, very steep and curve in a semi-spiral. We all knew that but it has to be seen to be believed. On our village tour we met several excited Pallans who were so happy we were there. There are 50 Pallan families still in the village and many want to meet us so plan to go back sometime in the next couple of days. Mukan Lal showed us his home and the well/water pump that R's grandfather donated to the village 80 years ago - still functioning. After a confusing drive back to the hotel we have decided that our driver is probably the worst in India. In the evening R called his cousin Ashok who came with his son to visit in the hotel room. It was an evening of laughs and family gossip. We will meet all the rest of Ashok's family On Thursday. His father is Grandma's elder brother. Thursday is also our day to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. More on that later.
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