I left Amritsar headed to Dharmasala on Wednesday via a pit stop in Phagwara, Punjab to visit with Ron’s family. Ron Singh (I didn’t know his last name before but now I do because he’s Sikh and all Sihks have the last name of Singh…however not all Singhs are Sikh!) is the owner of one of my favorite Indian restaurants in Nashville- Bombay Palace. When Ron found out I was coming to India he INSISTED that I visit his family and since I ended up being only 2 hours away in Amritsar… I did!
I arrived at 9AM to the warmest greeting!! Even though we had never met…and that I really don’t even know Ron except from chatting with him as he takes my order at Bombay Palace…there were hugs all around. I meet his 2 daughters, his 18 month old granddaughter, his daughter’s husband and in-laws, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and neighbors. In the span of the 3 hour visit, we looked at wedding photos, played with the baby, ate a yummy Indian “brunch”, and fielded calls from Ron at home in Nashville (he was soooo happy that we were all together and wanted me to stay for 15 days, go see his father’s house 90 km away, try the finest restaurant in Phagwara, etc) all while sitting/laying on the master bedroom bed! They insisted in holding camp in the bedroom because it was the coolest room with AC and a fan. It was so kind! They even gave us gifts.
A parade of about 12 people walked us to the car to send us off. It was such a wonderful (and very typical) Indian experience!! There is an Indian saying that guests are gods and therefore you should treat them as such…Ron and his beautiful family are wonderful examples of putting those words in action.
I’m so thankful that I said yes to Ron’s invitation and went out of the way or off the direct route to have this special experience. What a wonderful lesson to remember.
Nashville, Tennessee to Phagwara, Punjab. Indian restaurant acquaintance to having a bed picnic brunch with family and friends. It’s a small world.
I arrived at 9AM to the warmest greeting!! Even though we had never met…and that I really don’t even know Ron except from chatting with him as he takes my order at Bombay Palace…there were hugs all around. I meet his 2 daughters, his 18 month old granddaughter, his daughter’s husband and in-laws, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and neighbors. In the span of the 3 hour visit, we looked at wedding photos, played with the baby, ate a yummy Indian “brunch”, and fielded calls from Ron at home in Nashville (he was soooo happy that we were all together and wanted me to stay for 15 days, go see his father’s house 90 km away, try the finest restaurant in Phagwara, etc) all while sitting/laying on the master bedroom bed! They insisted in holding camp in the bedroom because it was the coolest room with AC and a fan. It was so kind! They even gave us gifts.
A parade of about 12 people walked us to the car to send us off. It was such a wonderful (and very typical) Indian experience!! There is an Indian saying that guests are gods and therefore you should treat them as such…Ron and his beautiful family are wonderful examples of putting those words in action.
I’m so thankful that I said yes to Ron’s invitation and went out of the way or off the direct route to have this special experience. What a wonderful lesson to remember.
Nashville, Tennessee to Phagwara, Punjab. Indian restaurant acquaintance to having a bed picnic brunch with family and friends. It’s a small world.
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