Welcome to Ian Forber-Pratt's Website...

Hi everyone,

I sit here, as ants, lizards and flies swarm around the keyboard and smile because I'm in India.

If you don't have facebook, I would recommend getting it because the pictures of Udaipur are astounding to say the least. This city of 500,000, small in comparison to Delhi's 15 million, is the essence of beauty and wonder. I can't even begin to describe it. The city is well taken care of in stark comparison to the crumbling old Delhi.

The Rajputs here, warriors who have deep pride in their linage and hertitage also have a fierce love for their city and all who come here. I asked our guide, who is a strong Rajput, if he would fight to defend his people if the need arose. He shook his head yes and mentioned with awe "If only I could be so lucky. To defend my country." The sense of honor is like nothing I have ever seen. This place, the people, everything is beautiful.

We have been working to understand how this beautiful country can seem so dirty at times. Is it the amount of people? Is it the mentality? It is something that is bothering many members of the group. But the reality of the matter is that Indians are emotional and hard working people. They live their lives together, for relationships and to support their families. The material surroundings often times don't matter. The other major factor is that 70% of Indians lives off of less than $2 a day with the average annual income of $380. Poverty makes the landscape seem like a small deal when one fights to feed their children.

I could go on, but this internet cafe will close soon. I will write more tomorrow...