From rural Kerala

Yesterday's detailed update seems to have vanished into thin air, and there's no time to reconstruct it before we set out on our backwaters houseboat cruise in a little while.

This is a magical place where crows and roosters wake us with their raucous version of the Halleluia Chorus, accompanied by an orchestra of crickets.

I wish I could describe what it's been like watching Peter connect with every person he meets ... From the bored cops at the airport to a group of fishermen pulling their boat above the tide line. Peter saw the fishermen straining against the weight of the heavy wooden boat. One of them noticed him, smiled, and made a joking gesture to come and help.

Peter was immediately at his side. Without skipping a beat, the fisherman showed Peter how and where to grab the boat and made room for him to pull with them. Peter got that little solemn look of his that says, "They needed me". My fellow travelers and I keep misting over because these incidents happen many times a day.

Peter needs India and India needs Peter. Peter loves "his people" and they unreservedly love him back.

Here's a shot of Peter enjoying a cup of tea after lunch yesterday. He savors everything!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry