tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30941997908188610982024-03-13T04:42:50.269-07:00White Man for LeaseChronicles of a 2-year tour in IndiaDAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-17158394358588230792012-11-22T20:00:00.000-08:002012-12-02T22:59:20.522-08:00Shopping India Style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma negotiating at a Malaysian market for the latest in faux fashion. </td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We knew shopping would be a bit different here in Asia. Aside from all the new European and Asian brands, and the necessity to haggle on everything from chewing gum to the phone bill, we have discovered a few finer points on shopping. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Pants around the neck.</b> Not every place has a changing room, particularly the low priced bazaars. You can always try on a shirt easily enough, but it is not so simple with pants. To solve that problem, people wrap the waist of the pants around their necks. Since your neck is about half the size of your waist, if the buckled pants fit your neck, they will also fit your waist when you get home. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Double Occupancy</b>. Upscale shops do have dressing rooms and they sometimes come with their own customs. When Becky purchased her first Sari, the sales girl came into the dressing room with her to help her change. Luckily, no one has tried that with me in the Levi’s store. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>All Sales Final</b>. When you buy a light bulb at Home Depot, do you insist the cashier plug it in ? Do you open your egg carton to make sure you have chicken eggs ? Since all sales are final, we do exactly that. We still got burned a few months ago when Emma bought a bottle of shampoo that came wrapped with a free sample of face soap. She unwrapped it at home and discovered the shampoo bottle was completely empty. The weight of the free sample threw us off. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>No reasonable offer refused, Anything is reasonable.</b> It is important in negotiation to determine how much something is worth to you before haggling. Knowing that, I was still surprised when my sister bought a ring that only mildly interested her. When she first discovered they wanted $200 for it, she lost all interest. They kept coming down in price and finally asked her what she would only pay. The jeweler seemed a little offended when she said $40. It went directly back into the case. 2 minutes later, the jeweler give it to her for the $40. </span></div>
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DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-18334010318715413262012-06-17T09:10:00.000-07:002012-06-17T09:10:30.033-07:00I’m Ready for the Big Screen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Most Indian people are quite pleasant, so when you have a run in with someone who is difficult, it sets off an alarm bell. You’re either doing some thing they don’t like or they hold some power over you. I’ve learned to pay close attention when the bell goes off. And when someone is being just too nice, this sets off the high alert. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I recently ran into this situation while trying to bring a Television from the US through customs at Bangalore International. The TV was checked luggage and didn’t make the transfer with me onto the plane with in Paris. I had to come back to the airport and retreive it from customs. Three times. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The first was an exercise in Indian bureaucracy. I and a junior Air France gate agent who was unfortunate enough to be there when I arrived, ran around to all the security offices trying to get me into airport customs. When we found the right guy, produced the correct documents, filled out the proper forms and did a little shouting, I was finally let in. We arrived at customs just in time for lunch hour. We could have waited the hour, but the next international flight wasn’t due until 1am that night, so we might be waiting until then. I’ll come back. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The next time was smooth sailing through security, but the Customs agent didn’t seem to pleased to see us. We may have woke him up from a nap. They brought the TV around and when he saw the beauty of the 55” flat screen, it just made him meaner. Signal the Alarm Bell. His suggestion was that I leave it in customs and then take it back when I return to the US. I can just picture him watching every Cricket match on my TV for the next year. Then he introduced me to his boss, who was probably the nicest person I ever met. Signal high alert. After offering Tea and Biscuits, he kindly explained to me that the value of the TV was nearly $3200, but since he was such a good guy he would give me the Indian citizen exemption and the duty would only be $600. Cash please. I’ll come back.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The third time, Prakash at security waived me through with a smile. The same grumpy customs agent was there and was none too happy when I presented my $900 receipt for the TV. As he grudgingly wrote out the paperwork for the $180 due in duties, he asked his assistant the size of the TV. When she said “55-inches”, he made a snarky remark at my expense. I don’t speak the local language, but I’m sure it was, “This guy’s compensating for something.” </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Girls with the Big Screen safely at home.</td></tr>
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</div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-63971589708378634262012-06-10T22:41:00.002-07:002012-06-10T22:46:50.442-07:00Where have I been ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yes, I was shipped back to the US for time. Fortunate enough my old company wanted me for a 3-month assignment. I really enjoyed all the fresh air, predictable efficiency and open spaces. The US seems almost empty compared to India. </span>I also had some great times with my Folks and brothers & sisters. Not much else to report unless you'd like to hear about the adventures of plastics in the Auto industry, but that’s for another blog. Now and I’m back in the swing of things here in Bangalore. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fish my Dad caught off the coast of Florida. <br />
The biggest fish of the day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Turtle I caught off the coast of Florida.<br />
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</div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-59498832346634721782011-12-13T04:11:00.000-08:002011-12-15T01:51:17.351-08:00Subtle Changes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We’ve come to make India our home and for the most part, live a very American lifestyle. We have HD TV, a nice big car and eat as much beef as we please. Probably too much. We owe a debt of gratitude to the many foreigners before us and the great Indian entrepreneurial spirit that made it all possible. However, as American as this life seems, you may notice some peculiar behavior when we return to the States in a few days.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1. <b>The</b> <b>Toothbrush Double Tap.</b> <b> </b> We give toothbrushes a couple hard hits on the sink before using. India has these ‘micro-ants‘ that are a bit bigger than a pepper flake and they love toothpaste. (or just want minty mandibles?) They will pick your toothbrush clean. On the bright side, if you spill some toothpaste on the counter, it’s usually clean by the morning. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">2. <b>Change hoarding.</b> No merchant (except McDonald’s) stocks change. It’s a great way to get customers to pay extra once the haggling is done. You end up paying 200 rupees for a 164 rupee bill because the merchant has no change to return. So, I like to have 5 bills of each rupee denomination before leaving the house. I’ve snapped 3 money clips already, but will usually have the right change. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">3. <b>Charge for pictures. Cheek pinching extra.</b> As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, Nolan doesn’t like going out to public places because people will want a picture with him. As a parting gesture, they’ll try to pinch his cheek, too. It’s not bad when one or two people ask, but when a line begins to form it’s time to leave. Now when people ask for his picture, he says “100 rupees”. No sales so far. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">4 <b>Bite and chew gently.</b> I’ve had more than my fair share of boneless chicken or meat turnout to be semi-boneless. Same rule applies to fruit salad. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">5 <b>Ask lots of questions and get pushy.</b> A friend of ours simply wanted faster Internet service. He spent two weeks of his life proving he had the permission of the landlord to increase the speed, only then to be told he already had the fastest rate available. Brings me to my next point ...</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">6. <b>Lose your temper</b>. My favorite pastime while waiting at the airport is watching the ticket counter. Once or twice an hour someone loses it on one of the poor ticket agents. This is no quick vulgar outburst. This is an art form in India. A good “tirade” can last up to 3 minutes without pause for a breath or to blink. No personal attacks. No cussing. Just a cascade of complaints presented in a rapid-fire chain of rhetorical questions. It’s a great way to flag the manager’s attention and receive special treatment. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It’s tougher than it looks. I’ve done this while getting a cell phone and again at the bank, but could only muster 30 seconds of rage. It still works.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>7. Always carry a flashlight. </b> The power is always going out and you never know where you’ll be. I have a dinky penlight tethered to my cell phone that has saved me a lot of trouble. It was the one time I was without it that caused me problems. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Nolan and I were showering after an evening swim at the club inside the Men’s showers when the lights went down. No windows, no emergency lighting. I was able to locate Nolan in the hallway by heading for his voice -- like a game of Marco Polo. We slowly navigated a 20 foot hallway feeling our way along the wall until we got to the outer door and the moon light. Nolan then realized he left his swim goggles back in the shower. Return to the darkness. Upon reaching the shower stall, we discovered there was a man now using it, Luckily, he already found the goggles and handed them over. One must be very careful receiving goggles from a showering man in complete darkness. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">8.<b> Look down when walking.</b> Open manhole covers, exposed wiring, missing chunks of sidewalk and cow/dog waste are all par for the course on the sidewalks outside the compound. We’ve even had a family member fall through when one of the concrete sidewalk tiles snapped in two. And this was inside our nicely manicured Palm Meadows compound. If walking at night, see #7 and add sleeping dogs to the potential hazards.</span></div>
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</div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-92088346849181048372011-11-02T04:26:00.000-07:002011-11-02T04:26:53.674-07:00We've moved<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One of the benefits of Becky's recent promotion was the upgrade in the housing allowance. So , we packed up and moved down the street to a nice 4-bedroom with a white (concrete) picket fence. We also got a another dog, Myli, but that's another story. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There have been many questions and requests for pictures with the new house, so I will attempt to answer them here. For those who could care less, nothing exciting happens, so you can stop reading now. Just remember to update our address so you know where to send our next care package. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Villa 273 Phase 2 Palm Meadows</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ramagondanahalli</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Whitefield, Bangalore 560066</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The house is in the same neighborhood, just down the street. It has a more American feel -- 4 bedroom with a attached two-car garage. It's larger than the old -- we packed 6 people and a dog into 1500 sq. ft. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Emma is back to having her own room and so is Danielle. The boys inhabit the kids' room which has a groovy built in double loft. Will could do all his homework in the privacy of his own room, but still prefers the kitchen table so he can annoy his sister. Nolan also has his own desk, but does his homework on the bus coming home. His handwriting looks like a seismograph. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The new kitchen is full size. Our last kitchen had low countertops and small cabinets -- imagine the nicest Playskool kitchen you have ever seen. The new house also has many extras. It has a large Pooja room, used by Hindu families for their prayer offerings. There is a “Florida” room, built in computer desk, servant quarters, front and rear terraces and of course our favorite, the Media Room. Sounds cool, but it’s just an upstairs room where we watch TV. The living room reminds me of home. It’s by far the largest room, but no one ever goes in there. That is except Myli, the new dog. She redecorated the place by ripping the stuffing out of the couches and chewing the corners off the coffee table.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new joint. At the intersection of the Main Road and Phase 2 Main Road, </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the dining room to the <br />Florida room from the Entrance. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nolan answers the door.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharadha (Head of Household Hygiene) and<br /> Mrs. Thompson (Master Chef) in the Kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danielle says hello from her room. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The side yard. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conservatory.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hall. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lounge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Study.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billiards Room. <br />Nolan gets in a little batting <br />practice. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Ballroom. <br />Bonus points if you can find which two<br />couches Myli (dog in foreground) tore into. The coffee table<br />was also victimized.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Library. (Pooja Room) <br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Dining room. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Hall. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front terrace with the Grocery store across the street. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back terrace. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nolan's desk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The loft.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk in closet. Rumour has it the original <br />owner would do yoga atop the closet<br /> each morning, </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma's room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master bedroom from the top of the walk in closet. </td></tr>
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</div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-70539676227117820732011-10-18T04:54:00.000-07:002011-10-18T05:59:55.117-07:00The Road to Pondicherry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While in India, one of our goals is to travel at least once a month. There is always the risk that the plug gets pulled and we'll be on the next plane to Detroit. We need to see India while we can, So, taking advantage of Danielle, our live-in guest, Becky and I left the kids at home and drove to Pondicherry. (Technically, we rode since Javeed did the driving. )<br />
Pondicherry is on India's East coast and a former French colony. The city really plays up it's French heritage, so you expect to find New Orleans, but it's really more Baton Rouge.<br />
Since it was just the two us with Javeed along as a designated driver, we decided this 8 hour road trip would be a first class. We rented a couple movies, packed a nice lunch and a cooler full of ice. I pictured us in watching movies and sipping on G&T's while Javeed comfortable sped us onto Pondicherry.<br />
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India had other plans.<br />
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The road between Bangalore and Pondicherry runs through some old mountains and lots of mining. The trucks hauling ore from the mines have turned the road into a rumble strip. Instead of lunch, I should have brought Dramamine and barf bags. Becky would have also liked a port-a-potty. 7 hours driving, 5 of them riding atop a lasagna noodle, is a lot for the bladder. You can't just hit the bathroom before ordering your Big Mac at the next town. Boys are better equipped for travel since the roads are all lined with drainage ditches. There's no shortage of men showing how they're used either.<br />
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Once we arrived, we never wanted to leave. A little because Pondicherry is a few blocks of French charm, steak dinners and pastries, but mostly because we dreaded the ride back. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old World Charm</b><br />
A dog having lunch from the hotel dumpster. <br />
In the evening, the cows come over for dinner. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbNVEwhtUEM/Tp1XiMcZmoI/AAAAAAAAAEc/6A5pFYSOTM8/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbNVEwhtUEM/Tp1XiMcZmoI/AAAAAAAAAEc/6A5pFYSOTM8/s320/DSC_0039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Becky and Javeed</b> with the Bay of Bengal behind.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pochzbh9gbE/Tp1XkrV2sAI/AAAAAAAAAEk/xTryH2r0oyk/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pochzbh9gbE/Tp1XkrV2sAI/AAAAAAAAAEk/xTryH2r0oyk/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Becky and I</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDMHz3zuu6o/Tp1Xomg_iyI/AAAAAAAAAEs/iYJX1ZJj20Y/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDMHz3zuu6o/Tp1Xomg_iyI/AAAAAAAAAEs/iYJX1ZJj20Y/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Hotel L'Orient</b><br />
If it wasn't for all the friendly people, <br />
this block of Pondicherry could almost be Paris. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Notre Dame Cathedral </b>Indian Style</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCdyLaDOZRw/Tp1Xu9nZuDI/AAAAAAAAAE8/UJZ9rRHYEn0/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCdyLaDOZRw/Tp1Xu9nZuDI/AAAAAAAAAE8/UJZ9rRHYEn0/s320/DSC_0137.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What's that bus doing in the middle of the road ? About 35 miles per hour. </b><br />
Per local customs, he was just borrowing our side of the road until we really needed it.<br />
<i> (We drive on the left here)</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Mountains between Bangalore & Pondicherry</td></tr>
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<br /></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-63316862478402781572011-06-08T06:44:00.000-07:002011-06-08T06:44:24.881-07:00Black Friday Falls on a Wednesday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You have heard the phrase ,“ busy as </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a bee " or "busy as a beaver". Perhaps even, "busy as a one arm paper hanger" . I'll add : "busy as </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a security guard at an Indian rummage </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">sale. “</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">People ask me,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What have you been up to since your arrival in India ?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well outside of my new hobby of Squash,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my old hobby of Golf , taking in Indian culture and my significant duties supervising our Driver, Maid , Cook and Gardener,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do volunteer work from time to time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Okay,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so this was the first).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I volunteered to be a security guard for a second hand sale.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bangalore’s Overseas Women’s Club has a rummage sale every year to benefit their charities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expats donate clothes,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>housewares ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>old curtains,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>appliances ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and anything else that will fit into a box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The items are sold for pennies on the dollar. The deals are tremendous and more people come every year as word spreads. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Indians are particularly adept at making the most of their resources. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The high ratio of people to resources drives that fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also fuels serious competitive spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you soon learn that while standing in line,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you must keep less than 1 body space between you and the person in front of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>someone will make use of that space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Cars are driven the same way.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Combine the great deals at the sale with 500 spirited competitors and you have serious crowd control issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ‘private sale’ for the volunteers’ staff (Drivers, Maids, etc…) scheduled to open up at 11am,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>became the 10:15 open to everyone sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the line grew,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the mob pushed and our security team was soon overrun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to start the sale to avoid people,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>including children,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from getting crushed by the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Black Friday at Macy’s times 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Swarms of people filled the tent in a mad rush to get the prime goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> During our retreat, </span>I was charged the task of holding the mob back so customers could be released one by one to the cashiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's a good role for a tall, fat American. </span>Other security volunteers had the task of getting the customers to stand in line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the highly competitive Indian culture <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“lines are for suckers”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So is personal space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within moments of the opening,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was belly to belly with the A-Players of Indian competitiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the sale organizers passed out apples to the volunteers before the sale to keep everyone's sugar up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discovered that taking a cracking bite from the apple and chewing with my mouth open helped people keep their distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chewed that apple down to the seeds. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am delighted to report the sale was a big success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The planned 4-hour sale was closed after <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1-1/2 hours since nearly everything was sold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-27109084789070492392011-04-17T09:31:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:26:00.344-07:00The Ayurvedic Treatment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">“India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition.” <i>-- Mark Twain</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As the Earth's oldest largest continuing civilization, India has contributed more than it’s fair share toward global culture. Among its many achievements, Chess, Buddhism, Navigation and even Hockey were all invented here. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">So it’s not surprising the first school of medicine, Ayurveda, was borne of India. I failed to understand this fact before Becky and I spent a weekend at an Ayurvedic Spa a few weeks back. When I think Spa, I think relaxation. Nice massages, inviting hot tubs, a few saunas and perhaps a swimming pool next to a bar. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With this in mind, we checked in on a Friday evening. After being led to our spartan room, we were invited to dinner at the restaurant and given a Doctor’s appointment in the morning. Dinner started with hot Cumin Tea and moved onto a buffet of Vegan specialities. It wasn’t exactly bland, but we’re not coming back for takeout either. The were shocked when we asked if they had beer or wine. Alcohol is strictly prohibited anywhere at the Spa. This was true health food. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xIVJmD-Wt_g/TasUhQxKSAI/AAAAAAAAAEM/sFpa4P_sZcQ/s1600/DSC04113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xIVJmD-Wt_g/TasUhQxKSAI/AAAAAAAAAEM/sFpa4P_sZcQ/s320/DSC04113.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yoga Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In the morning, we hit the 7am Yoga, got breakfast (no coffee, no eggs, more Vegan) and went to see the Doctor. He prescribed a hot oil massage and a steam bath for us both. Perfect. I’d been looking forward to a nice massage all month. Over we went to the treatment facility.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was led to the massage room, given a changing closet and a napkin with a long string on it. Without using any English, the masseur made it clear this napkin was to be worn and nothing else. Okay. Dressed like a Kalahari Bushman, I mounted the massage table and the hot oil treatment began. Two guys with gorilla sized forearms aggressively rubbing in HOT oil. Three quarts of hot oil and they were determined to force it into my skin. Each guy worked a side with counterbalancing force. If it wasn’t balanced, I would have shot off the vinyl table like a wet bar of soap. This wasn’t pleasure, this was treatment. After a half hour of this abuse, they threw me into the steam bath to really give me the deep fried effect. Once I was near to losing consciousness, they knew I was done. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5q0xDANRRs/TasUqvKJq8I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/SpZQB9Y0hj4/s1600/DSC04119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5q0xDANRRs/TasUqvKJq8I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/SpZQB9Y0hj4/s320/DSC04119.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Steam Bath: Your head sticks out of the top. <br />
I thought these only existed in 3-Stooges movies. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Becky and I compared notes over lunch. This did not meet expectations. We needed to talk with this Doctor and see if we could get another package for tomorrow. Perhaps a Swedish deep tissue or a Shiatsu massage. Exhausted from treatment, we returned to our room and slept for the next 20 hours. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After morning Yoga and vegan Breakfast (I would have killed for Eggs Benedict at this point), we met with the Doctor to express our concerns. He just stared at us. It was as if he prescribed antibiotics, but we didn’t like the taste and could we just eat jelly beans instead. He called over to the treatment center and had them make a few adjustments. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If anything, they turned it up a notch. The oil was hotter, the gorillas pressed harder and the steam bath was more intense. We were going to be healthy if it killed us. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After two days of Yoga, Hot Oil treatment, I was sore everywhere. Years of toxins and preservatives deeply buried within my body were getting knocked loose by all the health food resulting in a massive headache. It felt like I had the flu. We hobbled to lunch and after another vegan meal and decided we had to escape.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There were lasting side effects. The oil was sweetly scented, so we smelled like French Toast for a week. Even now, when I sweat, it smells like the pancake house. Two days later, we felt fantastic -- rested, energetic, happy, relaxed. The treatment works, if you can survive. </span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-35842813618581756852011-02-08T03:46:00.000-08:002011-02-08T03:46:42.019-08:00Goon Squads<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Staying on course</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A neighbor and I left for the golf course about 6am one Saturday morning. The early start means a return before our families are even awake. It also means we miss the morning news. Somewhere about the 11th hole, we were informed by our concerned wives there was a bandh. </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TVEjeQVWzqI/AAAAAAAAAEE/OmEnOQMeJFs/s1600/hole_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TVEjeQVWzqI/AAAAAAAAAEE/OmEnOQMeJFs/s320/hole_18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Signature 18th Green</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TVEp18SbPPI/AAAAAAAAAEI/wODvUV7oAjs/s1600/clubhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TVEp18SbPPI/AAAAAAAAAEI/wODvUV7oAjs/s320/clubhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Clubhouse is a well disguised trailer.<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Photo courtesy JPRaguso)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A bandh is a general strike with the specific aim to shut down the city. Whatever group or political party that calls for the bandh sends out their 'goon squads' to block traffic, shut down businesses, close schools and throw stones. Occasionally, they overturn busses and set cars afire. They are out to ruin everyones' day. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We finished our golf round, headed home and found the road blocked. Nobody was getting through. So much for a few quick holes and back home. Fearing a stone throwing mob, the safest thing to do was to sit tight and play another 18 holes. First we had to stock up on food -- before the other golfers finish and realize they're stuck too. We had a nice lunch and then the worst happened -- we got word the roadblock was lifted and we could go home. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Where Ikea when you need it ?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We have amassed enough books, knick knacks and electronics to warrant bookshelves. The usual furniture showrooms didn't have what we wanted, so we headed to the local furniture market. They sell wholesale furniture and can also make custom pieces. You even get to haggle a little bit -- it's fun. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Not seeing what we wanted, we left a deposit with a furniture shop to make a couple bookcases. Two weeks and many phone calls later, there were no shelves. Unhappy about the whole thing, Javeed, our savvy driver, called the Corporator. The Corporator is like a city councilman with henchmen. It's not clear if the henchmen are a prerequisite for the job or if they come with the office, but these are the basis for the goon squads mentioned above. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Javeed returned to furniture shop along with the Corporator. Once they saw the Corporator, they quickly returned the deposit money and apologized. The Corporator told them they still needed to make and deliver the shelves in 2 days. Another week passed and still no shelves. Hearing the news from Javeed, the Corporator and his squad headed over to the furniture shop, got the money and threw all their furniture in the street for good measure. Like a temporary eviction over a couple of $30 bookshelves. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Javeed wasn't there for the "eviction", but returned the next day. They sat him down, got him some tea and asked his forgiveness on their knees. Really. </span></div></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-74553674254406833812011-02-02T22:28:00.000-08:002011-02-02T22:28:39.184-08:00The Creeps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life in India is generally a pleasure. It's been something of a vacation (for me)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I do admit there have been more than a few times when I've longed for the good ol' USA. The next few blogs will relate to this topic. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter is pleasant here. Weather is like southern California. The last rain was early December and temperatures range from 80's in the day and 50's at night. That's as cold as it ever gets. The absence of freezing is a boon to the insect community. They keep on growing until eaten by something bigger. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While in Sri Lanka, I grabbed a towel from the clothesline and slung it over my shoulder. The Giant Centipede that was in the towel was now crawling underneath my shirt and up my spine. Animal instinct (the creeps) took over, and I whipped off my shirt to reveal the beast which had luckily fallen to the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bedroom </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">floor. Becky says it was 8" long, but it looked 2 feet at the time. Her first instinct was to call everyone to our room, "hey everybody, look what was crawling inside Doug's shirt." </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TUpIpjlSZKI/AAAAAAAAAD8/50rFmGz8hXc/s1600/centipede.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TUpIpjlSZKI/AAAAAAAAAD8/50rFmGz8hXc/s200/centipede.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Centipede: <br />
Insectus Surprizus</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have new respect for hanging laundry. </span><br />
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></span></span></div></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-64364643802055393082011-01-21T03:56:00.000-08:002011-01-21T03:56:25.380-08:00Police Report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Javeed, our driver, and I filed a police report at the local police station. Once the sub-inspector and detectives heard our complaint, they left us for a few minutes to shuffle some paperwork. Javeed leaned over and calmly said, “Now they will arrest Sudha (our maid), throw her in Jail and beat her with a ruler.” </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TTluIDCDjjI/AAAAAAAAAD0/OyEUbajxAHk/s1600/sub+inspector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TTluIDCDjjI/AAAAAAAAAD0/OyEUbajxAHk/s1600/sub+inspector.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The burly Sub Inspector of Bangalore. <br />
His detectives have even bigger mustaches.</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In retrospect I might have asked, “Just how big is the ruler?” At the time, I was caught off guard. In the US, these detectives would have been the starting linebackers on any high school football team. By contrast, most Indian folks make a good horse jockey. These detectives were not selected just for their brains. I had to make it very clear that I didn’t want any human rights violations just because we're missing some jewelry. After all, we weren’t positive if it was Sudha or the electricians who stole Becky’s ring and necklace. In any event, we were told that getting the the police involved often makes the goods “reappear”. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The detectives loaded into our car and came back to the house. The crime scene was thoroughly inspected for evidence. We retired to the living room and Sudha made us some tea. She espoused innocence as they politely questioned her. I tried to offer the Detectives a few hundred rupees for their trouble, but they refused. (I was later told they didn’t want to take money from a foreigner because if the jewelry did “reappear”, I’d want the money back. They would have taken a good bottle of wine though.)</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The very next morning, some missing cosmetics returned. They had been used by someone with a much darker complexion than Becky. We thought, “The Police scared Sudha. She returned it. Doesn’t mean she took the jewelry, but maybe something else will show up.” That’s all that showed -- until Christmas time. Sudha told us she had a dream the necklace was returned. Three days later, Becky found it in her purse. We are very thankful she returned it and will allow extra credit for the foreshadowing, but could you be more stupid ? A couple days later, we discovered $120 missing from my mother-in-law’s purse. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TTlzoIlgQGI/AAAAAAAAAD4/URvOhZY1LOo/s1600/sudha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TTlzoIlgQGI/AAAAAAAAAD4/URvOhZY1LOo/s200/sudha.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sudha: looking for new work</td></tr>
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Now I have to make my bed and my own dinner. Lucky for the family, I have mastered 5 different meals : grilled chicken, grilled burgers, hamburger helper, leftovers and frozen leftovers from when we had a cook. I give it 3 weeks before I’m sacked. </div></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-9351902007854480722010-12-23T05:31:00.000-08:002010-12-23T05:31:47.396-08:00Vestigial Security<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When you come to India, you immediately notice is all he security. You are first welcomed at the airport by an Army Soldier with assault rifle. To enter our gated and barb-wired walled community, you must pass a check point with no less than 6 security guards who pop the trunk and look beneath the engine. When you go to the Office or Mall, same routine. The hotels even have the fancy vertical bars, big enough which to stop a tank, which disappear into the ground to let you proceed once you pass security. Any place worthwhile is surrounded by </span>barb wire walls or at least broken glass embedded on the top. So, why all the security ? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TRNMsHjWrDI/AAAAAAAAADs/nDeY0hUWaJs/s1600/DSC03578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TRNMsHjWrDI/AAAAAAAAADs/nDeY0hUWaJs/s400/DSC03578.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Security likes cameras about as much as Sean Penn. Here is a rare photo in their natural habitat. Nolan nicknamed the guy in blue 'The General".</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While the US had 9/11, India had 26/11. This is the November 26th ‘invasion’ of Mumbai where a group of terrorists based in Pakistan shot up key Western parts of the city, killed 175 people and injured another 300+. Of course, we knew about this before coming. But no one mentioned that Bangalore has also had it’s fair share of bombings. Last Spring, a terrorist who was upset with the local police, set off 8 bombs at bus stops across the city within the span of 45 minutes. Luckily no one as hurt because he wanted to avoid rush hour traffic and nobody was at the stops when they went off. He hit the local cricket stadium a couple months later as a follow up before being caught. A few other organized terror groups exist, but not much action in Bangalore. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As an aside, be thankful of US police. They are alomst all honest, community minded, trustworthy and helpful (if you’re older than 25). Here the police play both Cop and a Mobster. Not much law enforcement happens without a little something for the police. Bribes are expected. There is even a website called <a href="http://ipaidabribe.com/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000099; text-decoration: underline;">http://ipaidabribe.com</span></a>/ to anonymously report and record bribes. The police top the charts. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So you can understand the need for security, particularly private paid security. But we eventually realized these guards are just for show. What looks impressive is in reality much different. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A friend, after passing his office security checkpoint, joked with the security guard that the bomb was really in his back pack. Everyone had a laugh. Try that one with Homeland Security next time you fly. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When we first hired our maid, she didn’t get her security gate pass until weeks afterward. We told her to just walk through security, keep her head down and don’t make eye contact. No problem. It worked everyday for 2 weeks. Did they use Hogan’s Heroes as a training film ? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Metal detectors are common at the mall, hospital and health club. I set off the metal detector every time. The only guy who moves is the one who turns off the annoying alarm. I don’t even slow down anymore. It would be cheaper to buy a door frame and paint it black. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We don’t worry. Statistically speaking, we are much more likely to be hurt by the crazy traffic than by a crazy terrorist. </span></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-56499060051239765622010-12-07T00:50:00.000-08:002010-12-07T00:50:13.911-08:00The Kids are All Right<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">So I've written some about myself, but people seem much more interested in the kids. So here's the low down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TP3xy2LiHNI/AAAAAAAAADg/NGWdTPKTaYQ/s1600/DSC03977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TP3xy2LiHNI/AAAAAAAAADg/NGWdTPKTaYQ/s400/DSC03977.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The new school is tough. The International School, Bangalore (TISB) is a British school and most Americans find their approach heavy-handed and disciplinarian. Becky and I both went to Catholic school, so no problem. As a result, the other students are either European or Americans of Indian Origin. When the blond Schmitt kids arrived, everyone asked them where in Germany they lived -- usually in German. It's still a little confusing to their peers (and some teachers). On 'heritage day' most kids wore Sarees, Khaftans, Leiderhosen, or other 'costumes' to reflect their nationality. Our kids wore Jeans and T-Shirts.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The school bus, a first for these Grosse Pointe kids, picks up at the end of the street each day at 7:30am. Since they were the last kids to sign up for the bus route, they were assigned the last seats on the bus. The rear-most seats combined with the numerous speed bumps (they work better than stop signs to slow traffic) and a lead foot bus driver make for a vertebrae compacting ride. They can regularly get 1-2 feet of air off the seats, if traffic allows. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Will is in 9th grade and besides cutting his hair and pulling up his pants, has made quite an adjustment. Its been a different house, country, school, friends and curriculum (IGSCE) combined with school on Saturday. The Brits don't hold back. The course load is heavy. He has Biology, Physics, Advanced Algebra and Chemistry for starters. Of course the Indian culture is not happy unless there is a minimum of 2 hours homework each day. He sleeps on Sundays to recover. We're quite proud of him. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TP3t5NaHXsI/AAAAAAAAADU/rU-kJ99TP1s/s1600/DSC03950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TP3t5NaHXsI/AAAAAAAAADU/rU-kJ99TP1s/s320/DSC03950.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will is getting Tall. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Will has made the easiest adjustment to the spicy food. (even when we tell our cook Soudha to make it for a baby's mouth). Will can't get enough spice. Nolan and Emma'a mouths will be in flames and Will says, "a little plain". </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Will has also made it out on the town several times with his friends after school Saturdays. Movies, go-carting, the mall etc... As a Parent it's a little unnerving to send him off with his friends into a foreign city and the only adults present are the drivers.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Emma has already made many friends (and some drama) in the neighborhood and at school. Typical stuff -- riding bikes in the neighborhood, board games and movies at her friends' house. She loves to be the center of attention and being a blond American girl in India, she gets all the attention she wants. Emma will actually stay after school to pal around with her friends who board at the school. She actually finds India “as boring as back home” and want to be a boarder at the school. She expected more excitement and less gated community suburbia. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TP3uvcQ_tbI/AAAAAAAAADY/7n0Z2cgV37s/s1600/DSC03979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TP3uvcQ_tbI/AAAAAAAAADY/7n0Z2cgV37s/s320/DSC03979.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nolan and Emma share a cold one with Javeed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Her fashion sense has been a little repressed since she started wearing uniforms. She has taken up the guitar and we hope to have her play a Christmas carol. (Christmas music is a little hard to come by.)</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Nolan also does very well in school, but finds it a little boring. He's much more focussed on extracurriculars and schoolwork is just something to pass the time. For example, he led the class in a game of "lets see who can slide farthest across this mud puddle". Not sure if he won, but was Top 3 based on his clothes alone. He plays goalie and half back on the school soccer team. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Overall they are well adjusted, miss their friends and Taco Bell. On a recent school day off, we made the trek across town to eat at the only Taco Bell in Bangalore. They hardly even liked Taco Bell in the US. It's funny what you miss.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TP3vBPvw3VI/AAAAAAAAADc/fwl5eIHdufo/s1600/DSC04035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TP3vBPvw3VI/AAAAAAAAADc/fwl5eIHdufo/s320/DSC04035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought I discovered another Taco Bell in Bangalore, <br />
but it was only a mobile phone store. </td></tr>
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</span></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-41820123292287106522010-11-15T04:51:00.000-08:002010-11-16T00:46:50.442-08:00DiwaliDiwali is a celebration of knowledge (light) conquering ignorance (darkness). It is the loudest holiday I have ever seen. It has elements of Christmas: a week-long holiday with big gift giving, holiday bonuses, and plenty of holiday lights. Diwali takes it to the next level and throws in 4th of July fireworks. We're not talking well regulated community funded professional displays. It's everyman for himself. Indians purchased 920 million 'crackers' this year in the week preceding Diwali. A cracker is anything from a bottle rocket to a full blown 500-ft. mortar. The sky is truly the limit. The 'cracker houses' that sell them are still doing a brisk business a week a later.<br />
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Unlike the USA, you are more than welcome to hurt, maim or kill yourself in India. Drugs need no prescription. (And they are MUCH cheaper here). You can legally load a family of 4 onto a motorcycle so long as someone has a helmet. You can have any seat on a public bus, including atop the roof or hanging off the side. Having come form a Petrochemical company that is ultra-safety conscious, I cringe just thinking about the safety level of those 'crackers'. Needless to say, we've not purchased any.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEYnk9_xtI/AAAAAAAAACk/e9DpWN8CDO4/s1600/DSC03802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEYnk9_xtI/AAAAAAAAACk/e9DpWN8CDO4/s640/DSC03802.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That's not a backpack between the driver and his wife, it's his son.</div></td></tr>
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With the locals armed with 920 Million rounds of explosives, we were advised by friends down the street that we should leave town for a couple days if we expected to get any sleep. They were right. Think "Shock & Awe", Baghdad 2002. It's actually quite spectacular for the first hour or so. After that, it's just hard to hear the TV.<br />
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We left town and headed to Mysore, a tourist town nearby. I'm not sure we escaped any fireworks, but were able to take in the attractions. Some pictures are attached for your viewing pleasure. It's all fairly standard historical stuff - except you need to pay a guy a couple rupees to watch your shoes while you get to walk around in your bare feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEbaf-faDI/AAAAAAAAACs/E9AOuPvPORE/s1600/DSC03875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEbaf-faDI/AAAAAAAAACs/E9AOuPvPORE/s400/DSC03875.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Official Family Photo under a Banyon Tree.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">40 acres under a single tree.</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEbHkGHp-I/AAAAAAAAACo/RkwpHIFMHQk/s1600/DSC03873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEbHkGHp-I/AAAAAAAAACo/RkwpHIFMHQk/s320/DSC03873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Just before the picture:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A behind the scenes shot of Will getting an earful from his Mom. </div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEe_0kn5ZI/AAAAAAAAAC4/tJyfZrbr31s/s1600/DSC03915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEe_0kn5ZI/AAAAAAAAAC4/tJyfZrbr31s/s640/DSC03915.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">St. Philomena Basilica in Mysore, India.</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEfSz6nnDI/AAAAAAAAAC8/EBcQCn_SKSo/s1600/DSC03916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEfSz6nnDI/AAAAAAAAAC8/EBcQCn_SKSo/s400/DSC03916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Loading up the School bus at St.Philomena's.</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEfjbz08gI/AAAAAAAAADA/GCHuDoyqL2o/s1600/DSC03917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEfjbz08gI/AAAAAAAAADA/GCHuDoyqL2o/s400/DSC03917.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We counted 11 kids. Imagine how many can fit into a VW Bug. </div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEefenjJ_I/AAAAAAAAACw/Vonf8B4ii_E/s1600/DSC03890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEefenjJ_I/AAAAAAAAACw/Vonf8B4ii_E/s400/DSC03890.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Note the Trash Inspector on top of the garbage can.</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Monkeys are Raccoons with attitude. </div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mysore's Palace.</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEgD_I0siI/AAAAAAAAADI/npkVsB_QCTA/s1600/DSC03955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TOEgD_I0siI/AAAAAAAAADI/npkVsB_QCTA/s320/DSC03955.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Bulls get to park wherever they wish.</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"></span><br />
<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"></span></div></div><div></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-92177171721832646782010-10-26T20:05:00.000-07:002010-11-10T21:03:01.615-08:00Bounty from the Sea<div style="font: 12.0px Lucida Grande; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Imagine<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Christmas<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>winning<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>lottery<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>all<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>on<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>same<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>day<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>This<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>is<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>how<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>we<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>felt<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>when<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>our<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>ocean<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>shipment<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>arrived after 3 months in transit<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>It<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>was<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>just a few<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>bikes,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>mattresses,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>food<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> various </span>sporting<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>equipment<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>No big deal ? Big deal.<br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Lucida Grande; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbTpIU9xtI/AAAAAAAAACA/7pz-Ud9qytA/s1600/DSC03818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbTpIU9xtI/AAAAAAAAACA/7pz-Ud9qytA/s200/DSC03818.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: A real bed. <br />
(I had no input on the bedspread.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="font: 12.0px Lucida Grande; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbTW3wHqiI/AAAAAAAAAB8/aH6xWBGAwJg/s1600/DSC03631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbTW3wHqiI/AAAAAAAAAB8/aH6xWBGAwJg/s200/DSC03631.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before:Sleeping on dirigibles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Lucida Grande; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
When<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>you<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">'</span>ve<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>been<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>sleeping<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>on<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>a<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>either<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>a<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>futon<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>or<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>an<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>air<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>mattress<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>for<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>two<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>months,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>a<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>genuine<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>honest<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>to<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>goodness<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>american<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>pillow<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>top<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>mattress<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>is<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>heaven. As if we moved out of a cave and into the Four Seasons. No<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>more<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>camping, we're home now. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>The<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>fluffy<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>american<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>mattresses<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>did<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>prove a<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>challenge<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>for<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Indian<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>stairwell<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>movers<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>So,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>in<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>true<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Indian<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>fashion,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>problem<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>was<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>solved<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>with<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>sheer<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>manpower<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>The<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>upstairs bedrooms<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>have<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>exterior<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>balconies.<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>With<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>three<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>guys<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>on<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>bottom<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>two<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>at<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>top,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>mattresses<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>were<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>hoisted<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>over<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>railing<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>flipped<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>onto<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>beds<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Lucida Grande; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbS2iBBIbI/AAAAAAAAAB4/z8NnMNMGyBU/s1600/DSC03773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbS2iBBIbI/AAAAAAAAAB4/z8NnMNMGyBU/s320/DSC03773.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mattress Toss.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Geeza Pro'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Lucida Grande; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>arrival<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>of the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>sporting<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>goods<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>means<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>outside<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>fun. We<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>finally<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>made<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>good<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>use<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>of<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>our<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>dead<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>end<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>street.<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Our<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>first<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>big<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>street<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>action was<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>a<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>cricket<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>match and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>it<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>happened on the 8th day of Dasara. As<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>everyone<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>knows,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>8th<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>day of Dasara means<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>car<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>pooja<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>Pooja, a Hindu prayer offering, <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>is<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>made to receive the blessings of a particular Hindu god.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMeNS5W3sRI/AAAAAAAAACU/e1mK3kS_Bes/s1600/DSC03786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMeNS5W3sRI/AAAAAAAAACU/e1mK3kS_Bes/s320/DSC03786.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smashing Pumpkins. India style.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Due the importance of the car, even<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>our Muslim driver, Javeed, <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>thought<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>it necessary<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>to<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> '</span>make<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>car<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>pooja<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">'. </span>He<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>brought<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>along<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>his<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>two<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>sons<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>that<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>day,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>both<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>on<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>back<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>of<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>his<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>motorcycle<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>Sahil<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Nadeem<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>joined Will,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Nolan<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>I<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>in<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>a game of<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>street<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>cricket<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>while<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Javeed<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>meticulously<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>cleaned<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>decorated<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>the<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>car<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>We<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>stopped<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>when<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Javeed smashed a pumpkin on the driveway in front of the car. And then a coconut (after a few tries). The finale was the squishing of lemons under each tire by running them over. David Letterman would have been proud. We all posed for pictures afterwards. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Lucida Grande; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbVIqKhl8I/AAAAAAAAACM/pe3tGIwmU2c/s1600/DSC03791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbVIqKhl8I/AAAAAAAAACM/pe3tGIwmU2c/s200/DSC03791.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Becky and I.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbVZg_3kaI/AAAAAAAAACQ/fTfVx-AUHIg/s1600/DSC03794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbVZg_3kaI/AAAAAAAAACQ/fTfVx-AUHIg/s200/DSC03794.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nadeem, Javeed & Will.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbU3xHRSRI/AAAAAAAAACI/JV9ZHOGVfIg/s1600/DSC03790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TMbU3xHRSRI/AAAAAAAAACI/JV9ZHOGVfIg/s200/DSC03790.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Left to Right: Sahil, Nadeem, <br />
Will, Emma & Nolan</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="font: 12.0px Geeza Pro; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Lucida Grande; line-height: 15.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;">While several care packages took the edge off our cravings, the American food brought joy to all. </span>Nolan<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>was<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>most<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>excited<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>to<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>get<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Nutella<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>He puts in on on<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Chapati,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Vegetables,<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Bananas<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>and<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>others<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>things<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>where<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>it<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>actually<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>tastes<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>good<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>He<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>may<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>stop<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>eating<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>altogether<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>when<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>we<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>run<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>out<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">. </span>Same<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>goes<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>for<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Will, but his choice condiment is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Geeza Pro';">P</span>eanut<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"> </span>Butter<span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';">.</span></div><div><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Geeza Pro';"><br />
</span></div>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-73116109560884825802010-10-20T08:04:00.000-07:002010-10-29T20:18:07.231-07:00Wildlife<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The flora and fauna here in India are a bit different than North America. There are certainly more similarities than differences, but the differences are significant. The birds look to be standard issue, Ravens, Pigeons, and Sparrows; but they seem to be outfitted with an internal loudspeaker. It's hard to sleep past dawn even with the windows shut. Actually the birds are only partially responsible for the din at dawn. The chipmunks here have a piercing chirp (something like a Blue Jay), but they chirp incessantly for a few minutes at a time. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Wild monkeys take take the most getting used to. They come in all sizes from 3 foot adults on down. The monkeys are a littler harder to spot than the rest of the wild mammals because the monkeys tend to hang out in the trees and move quickly when there is food to be had. The kids school, The International School of Bangalore, is out in country and surrounded by trees. The scaffolding on the addition under construction makes a great jungle gym. They move from the trees to the scaffolding and into the classrooms with ease. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real Monkeys are hard to photograph with a slow camera. <br />
The best I can do is this guy in the green shirt.<br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">It is common for the monkey to come into the classroom looking for a snack. So common, sometimes the teachers don't even stop class. The kids had to tell me this about 3 times before I believed. Cheetos are a favorite. Fortunately, these are typically the small monkeys. The big adults don't come into school unless the classroom is empty.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The big monkeys hang out at the "Tuck Shop". This is the on-campus snack shop the kids go to after school for chips and candy. The adults will hang out here looking for scraps. One of Will's friends, who is a little too afraid of the monkeys, ran when surprised and lost both his chips and wallet. He got the wallet back after the Monkey couldn't eat it. </span>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-73555019742299205182010-10-05T08:02:00.000-07:002010-10-05T08:02:12.285-07:00Paparazzi<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Saturday, the family did the first official sightseeing tour. Our initial plans to travel to Mysore, a historic city nearby, were cancelled by a Supreme Court judgement that shut down the country for 2 days due to fears of unrest. We just go with the flow, but evidently "fears of unrest" just occur from time to time. Since the fear was over, we thought we should check out the local Bangalore sights.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">We went to Lalbagh Botanical Garden; Bangalore's version of Central Park. It was our first time fully exposed to the general public as a family and we attracted a lot of attention. Within 10-minutes of our arrival, we were asked to pose for pictures with people. Becky and I are used to people staring when we go out, but less so for the kids. Becky's blond hair brings them in, but it's the blond kids with blue eyes that really amazes people. All the pictures and swarming people freaked out the kids, so we had to keep on the move and get to a less populated place in the park. </span><br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Not sure what happens to all these pictures, but I haven't been tagged on Facebook yet. I suppose these Indians are taking home pictures of me to show their friends, "Look at this pasty foreigner we found at the park. There was a whole family of them. So cute." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">We found a shady area within the park and got out the drinks and chips. After a few Pringles, we busted out the frisbee (courtesy of <i>Pi R Squared</i>, a group of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">elitist </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Washington DC Flying Disc Club enthusiasts). We could not have attracted more attention if we were handling out cash. The park actually seemed to get quiet. The crowd started to return. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Indians in general a very friendly and their kids are not shy. "Can I throw flying saucer ?" First time throwers are not accurate and after a few diving catches to save a baby and woman with a cane, it was time to pack up the gear and head home. </span><br />
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</span>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-28847986900766093172010-09-25T22:19:00.000-07:002010-09-26T03:07:50.068-07:00Dude Looks like a Lady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TJ7WUkfgHwI/AAAAAAAAABY/qA16BuE2UJw/s1600/DSC03675_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TJ7WUkfgHwI/AAAAAAAAABY/qA16BuE2UJw/s320/DSC03675_2.JPG" width="313" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Homosexuals are not openly accepted in Indian society. Ironically, the cross dressing variety are some of the better paid members of society. They work the traffic lights, just like the beggars do, moving from vehicle to vehicle. Unlike the beggars, everyone gives them money.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I was amazed when I first saw this. I thought they were women dressed in Saris, until I saw a 5 o'clock shadow and Adam's apple. I've never seen anyone give money to a beggar, but everyone gave to the gays. Even our driver had a few rupees ready. When asked why, he explained if people don't give, the gays will 'make trouble'. Trouble means kissing a man or lifting up their Sari and dancing. They can make 1500 rupees a day -- about 3 times that of our highly skilled english speaking and writing driver. I'm told they can make even more in the red-light district. Then I stopped asking questions.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-17730340876646185532010-09-21T12:26:00.000-07:002010-09-21T12:54:40.114-07:00The Staff<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Americans pride themselves on getting the job done. We have a can-do attitude and getting your hands dirty is a good thing. Hired help is a foreign concept, but common here. We are adjusting to this new concept. We hired a Driver, Maid, Gardener and Cook. I assure you they are all very much needed.</span><br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A driver is a safety necessity. After weeks of observation, I'm just now starting to see some order to the madness of India's streets. The larger the vehicle, the greater the right of way. In reality, driving is the least of Javeed's skills. He is also our translator, advocate, advisor, teacher, fixer, shopper and chief of staff. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The dust of India keeps Sudha, our maid, busy 6 hours each day just keeping things tidy. When we arrived, the house hadn't been cleaned for 3-weeks and our feet were stained black just from the dust on the floor. Sudha also has many talents. I never knew underwear could be folded and pressed. It's amazing how many T-Shirts can fit into a single drawer when they're ironed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Manpower is plentiful. It's part what makes India great, but also what holds it back. There's no need for labor saving devices. Our lawn service cuts grass by hand with a small blade. A lawn crew is half a dozen people squatting on your front lawn pulling weeks and cutting grass for the afternoon. When Tata came to install our satellite TV, I expected a panel van, but it was two guys on a motorcycle. One drove while the other held the satellite dish and drill. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Having a Cook is also a must. I personally tried my hand at it for the first couple weeks, but when family morale dropped dangerously low, something had to be done. My American cooking skills we no match for Indian ingredients. Everything here is done from scratch. The only processed food is imported and expensive. For example, I can make Spaghetti and Meatballs, but the sauce comes from a jar and the meatballs come from frozen foods. Indians just don't eat processed food. Their cooks to do all the processing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While imported foods (Tomato Sauce, Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Cereal and Pop Tarts) are expensive, other foods are ridiculously cheap. Tomatoes are 4 cents a piece. Eggs are 12 cents. However, everything is somewhat smaller than what I am used to seeing. I was a little shocked when I asked what a particular fruit was called and then told it was a Watermelon. It was the size of a basketball -- and it had seeds too. So do grapes and cucumbers. The kids are repulsed. "Daaaad, there's something hard in this grape." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the spirit of full disclosure, we're actually having a mini-Master Chef India contest. We found two cooks we liked, Sarithe and Sudha. Sarithe cooked last week and Sudha is cooking this week. Winner to be decided Saturday. </span><br />
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</span>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-20763194564446378302010-09-14T10:16:00.000-07:002010-09-14T10:16:56.400-07:00Ebony Bistro: A One Time Tradition<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Tradition and routine help give order to our lives. Traditions give us something to look forward to. Most importantly for us, it brings a little order the choas of uprooting our life to live on the other side of the planet. So we decided to continue a weekly tradition from Grosse Pointe. Church and food. After services, we'd usually hit a Coney island or sometimes Farms Market Pizza, but the emphassis was always on a fun meal together. </span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Of course, nothing is more traditional that a Catholic mass. The Holy Roman Church invented the franchise concept. There is nothing more consistent the world over than a Catholic Mass. It's more consistent than a McDonald's hamburger (which McD's does not sell in India). From the first Alleluiah to the last Amen, the script is the same. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Our first church services in India were what we expected, but still surprising. The church was a basically a metal roofed Quonset hut with large entrances on all sides for good ventilation. When it rained on the metal roof, you could hardly hear the person next to you and forget about hearing the priest. Like McD's Japanese teriaki burger, every good franchise has some necessary adaption of local culture. Here, Mary wears a Sari. There is no handshake of peace, they have a "Namaste" of peace (head bow with hands together at the chest). Jesus is still white. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">It's off to dinner. The speedy 5:30 pm services let out at 6pm -- the lack of a fancy organ has some advantages. Emma wanted Thai and had a 7pm reservations at he nearest Thai place. It was at the country club of a neighboring gated community. Within the club house, the famous Ebony Bistro opened a satellite location which is much more convenient than the hour drive to the original in downtown B'lore.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Now, Indian dinner is typically served around 8pm and even later on weekends. We knew 6pm was early and were not surprised when we were the only customers. There was some confusion with the bartender and waiter at first, but this was all in Kanada (the local tongue) and I figured it was due to our early arrival. We were quickly seated at a nice large table with a white tablecloth and a significant wobble. Things just didn't seem right. The lighting and decor looked more like a lobby or classroom. Something was odd, but was it real or just India?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">After ordering a round of drinks, things went from suspicious to strange. The waiter handed us 3 menus and left. Why are they only giving us 3 menus when there are 5 of us ? Is he coming back with some Kids' menus ? And while similar, none of the menus were the same. One was stapled, one bound with string and the last looked like a term paper jacket. The menus had common pages, but only one menu had appetizers, one had a Italian page and a wine list, the other menu had several Indian dishes the others didn't.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The bartender served the drinks along with an explanation. The Ebony Bistro closed several months ago, but they were still glad to serve us. The guy who took the reservation, the one at the front desk who gave us directions and the host who seated us all forgot to mention this fact. We were assured many times we could have anything on or off the menu we wanted -- including steak, meat loaf and lasagna. (These, along with Pop-Tarts are the stereotypical Western dishes.) So, the restaurant closed 3 months ago and you can still make us anything we want at a moment's notice ?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Since we were already dealt drinks, we decided to play out the hand and eat. We ordered a spring roll and chicken satay to start, which both came relatively quickly. The entrees took some time, but we've learned to be patient. Although we had the sole attention of the entire kitchen staff, the sense of urgency to get things done is less than in the US. This is normal.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The food was better than average and the bill was reasonable. We assumed the food came from the country club's kitchen. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">We ordered Chinese take-out the following Friday. The spring roll looked and tasted familiar. Too familiar. I wouldn't put it past them if the kitchen was a collection of take out menus and the busboy doubled as the pick up man.</span>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-39830122066556798182010-09-09T03:52:00.000-07:002010-09-09T03:52:58.054-07:00Ride of the Fogger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TIi8OnoFBxI/AAAAAAAAAAM/LusR3RM9IrE/s1600/DSC03553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TIi8OnoFBxI/AAAAAAAAAAM/LusR3RM9IrE/s320/DSC03553.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Each evening in the upstanding community of Palm Meadows, the Mosquito Fogger rides. His highly specialized skill is to ride a bike down the streets at dusk wearing a mask. I've not seen anything like it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The fog machine rides on top his rear fender throwing a deadly tail of smog. As soon as he starts the machine, he rides like he's being chased. Weaving in and out of traffic, it's fun to watch. Like a stunt plane at an airshow. Until we realized India may not be so hip on carcinogens. Could they be using DDT? At that point we ran and shut the doors. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-8611254780356988742010-09-06T23:22:00.000-07:002010-11-10T20:11:37.819-08:00A Bizarre Bazaar<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TNtrhqErykI/AAAAAAAAACg/wZTsEiPhAZ8/s1600/DSC03781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xo1DnwO4-UE/TNtrhqErykI/AAAAAAAAACg/wZTsEiPhAZ8/s320/DSC03781.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Entrance to the Bazaar</div></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">On our Bangalore arrival, we moved directly from the airport to our new house. We found our supposedly furnished house was indeed a house, but not furnished. No pots, pans silverware, bedding, etc... After a few days of indoor camping and wrangling with the realtor, they agreed to provide us with some rental gear until our shipments come.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">We arrived at the rental place, a market bazaar in the Islamic section of Bangalore. When you think of a 3rd world city street, this is it. The street is jammed with people and vendor stalls while motorcycles and 3-wheeled auto taxies zoomed through the crowd. The smell is a mixture of nutmeg, cigarette smoke, diesel exhaust with the occasional waft of sewage. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">It is not a place for women and children. Javeed, our trusty driver, and I went to get the furnishings and left Becky and the kids </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">safely</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> in the car. After a little searching, we found the right guy, but he had no idea what we were talking about. After a few phone calls and some tea, we straightened things out. This whole process, including the initial confusion, is standard operating procedure for India. We were then escorted down the street and told to pick out the wares we wanted.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Meanwhile, Becky and the kids were safe back at the car. Nearby, a wild dog and a raven got into a tug of war over slimy piece of roadkill. We know it was slimy because the bird won and while taking off with it's prize, the roadkill slapped into the side window of the car and smeared slime across the window and roof.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">So far, the kids have had no nightmares about flying roadkill, yet.</span></div></span>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094199790818861098.post-51573119213363072152010-09-06T23:20:00.000-07:002010-09-07T03:12:52.480-07:00What's a sub-continent anyway ?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">My wife, Becky, recently took a new assignment with Accenture. We always wanted to live overseas and with our son Will ready to start High School, it was the last opportunity. So, we loaded up the truck and moved to Bangalore. India, that is. The sub-continent. Home of silk, spice, shampoo and pajamas. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">With Becky hard at work, I am left to set up shop and then look for work, adventure or what finds me first. Once the help is hired (driver, maid, cook), the kids adjusted to their new school, I will be on my way...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">To avoid mindless Facebook updates, the story of the India Schmitts will be chronicled here.</span>DAShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05812185047325387840noreply@blogger.com1