I arrived in India one day late, due to a snowstorm in New York that caused a delay, and I missed the connecting flight in Paris. I had planned to get there one day before the group and I'd hire a local guide to show me some temples and the Red Fort that were not included in my tour itinerary, but I ended up losing a whole day. What a pity.....And on the first day, when I boarded the tour bus, I hurt my knees and didn't walk up the steps to enter the main mosque. My few photos of the mosque were just taken on the tumbling cycle rickshaw ride, with one hand holding on to the bar in front of me.

The Indians are basically friendly people, and most of them are not camera shy. The children would wave to me, and their parents would encourage them to smile in front of my camera. The family in Photo 26 was exactly sitting like that at the portal when I passed by them. The perfect colour coordination between what they were wearing and the girls' sparkling eyes caught my attention. I asked if I could take a photo of them. They were delighted, and everybody just gave me a very natural and warm smile. I thanked them. I regret that I didn't ask if there was a way I could send them a copy of this photo. I wish they could see this online.

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