Ok, I will be honest. I am struggling with something. We are here, in part, to “pop our kids' bubble”; and, at the same time, we are staying at some of the nicest hotels that I have ever had the opportunity to stay in. The juxtaposition of the poverty we encounter each day and luxury we inhabit each evening has to be confusing to my kids. It is to me. I feel guilty. Less than a week in, we found ourselves in the Oberoi in Agra. Its stunning and the service is unlike anything that I have experienced. They spoiled the kids (and us) rotten. That evening at dinner, I asked my son how he felt about what we had seen in the streets of Old Delhi and Agra. He then responded with something that stopped me dead in my idealistic tracks. He said: I saw community. I probed further and asked: so when we saw those men bathing in the alley? He said: so? It works. So where I felt pity and shame, he saw community. And he’s right. We have witnessed the role of family, friendship, work, food, fun, religion and how universal it is. Damn. Perhaps I am the one that is not getting it.

(Note: Traveling to Bhutan early tomorrow. We are not sure what our connectivity will be there so may not be able to maintain daily posts. We also have a post to add for a magical day 2 in Jaipur.)

Amelia enjoying chocolate ice cream in bed, which was sent up to her by the restaurant manager (along with a series of gifts) as a surprise