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  • Our New Car – Actually Shashi’s New Car

    Yahoooo! 

    We (by default) have a brand spanking new Toyota Innova!  We previously had a Tata Indigo which was a small 4 seater and while only 9 months old, seemed a bit warn.  After a few long car trips during Amy's visit, and after seeing similar small cars banged up pretty bad, we decided that we needed a larger car for both safety, comfort, and all the guests we are having visit!

    Even though it is a basic version, we now have room for 7, tons more leg space, electric windows, surround air conditioning (very very nice), seats that lean back – so cool for long haul trips AND very importantly, an all India Driving Permit – here you have to purchase the ability to drive in the other states and previously we were limited to the State of Karnataka.  Almost all the comforts of my beloved Passat.

    So Dar cut out the middleman (who took a heavy percentage of our monthly car allowance) and Shashi was able to buy a bigger car and net, net we pay the same amount.  I am also very pleased to say that it runs on bio diesel (which is about the best fuel option we have here) and gets the same gas mileage as the other car!!! Double yahoo as both the environment and we win!

    Below is Shashi and the new car.  He and his wife had a puja performed for the car (hence the flowers and sandlewood paste on the car) and he has already installed his good luck charms from the rear view mirror.  He was totally stoked with the car.  The only thing he is now worried about is getting around one particular parking garage where we shop for groceries – it is ok though, we just go really really slow – who cares how long it takes now!

    Shashi's New Car
    Shashi's New Car
    New Innova
    New Innova

  • Signage

    Everywhere around town there are interesting signs.  Yesterday, I was out running to and from different shops (grocery, saree top tailor, etc) and came upon this sign.  On one hand, after living here for long enough and seeing enough men peeing by the side of the road, I understand and appreciate this sort of sign.  However, it still through me a bit to see it big and bold on a government building wall.  At least it is translated into Hindi and Kanada.

    Signage
    Signage

  • Bolt or Nut

    So some of the neighborhood girls went out to the local watering hole tonight – Take 5 – which is Bangalore's answer to a jazz club.  We had a super good time – it is a very eclectic group of women – different countries, life experiences, professions, languages – you name it.  All of this lends itself to interesting conversation, good laughs and great stories.  

    After a few rounds, the loo called and one of the gals came back and said that there was a nut and bolt on the loo doors.  Well, I had to have a picture!! 
    While this is a rather blunt, crude way of letting you know what door to enter, maybe that is what works in a bar.  
    Anyway, my good friend Sara (of saree shopping fame) posed for a picture.

  • Bloomin Trees and Another Sunset

    There is a this tree that comes up above our terrace;  it has been getting ready to bloom for a couple of weeks now….well when it finally started …..stunning!

    I also got another picture of a rooftop sunset – maybe sunsets in tropical locations are just prettier (palm trees and all) …hum or maybe the pollution? Na, couldn't be …. But man it was pretty.

  • Musing….

    After a difficult mime conversation with our security guard – I speak no Kanada and he speaks no English – I was wondering if people who live in foreign countries where they don't speak the native language(s) are better at charades?  I think I might be interested in conducting a empirical study.

  • My First Saree

    Ok, so a bit of a confession at first:

    I never in a million years thought I would want a saree or look good wearing one….not to mention feel comfortable wearing one – guess I was a bit concerned about trying to "put on" India.  

    However, a good friend here (and my next door neighbor for the next 30 or so days – very sad she and her family are moving back home to Portland at the end of October) told me that folks here would feel honored that I was wearing a saree.    A few other women I have spoken with here agreed.  I guess I was too caught up in my impressions and I am so glad that I was given a different perspective – one that allows me to take a further step into India and it's culture.
    So Sara and I went saree shopping (say that 3 times quickly) – the occasion for this excursion is I needed something to wear to a wedding Dar and I are going to Uttar Pradesh in November.  She took me to a fabulous couple of places in our neighborhood and can I just say … man is there a lot of choice.  I now understand why saree shopping can be so addictive – so many beautiful designs, fabrics and colors!!!
    After looking at a two shops and a few dozen sarees appropriately ornate enough for a wedding, I was able to find one that seemed like it was made for me – it is a very dark blue and maroon.   The pallu (the end bit of the saree which is usually more detailed and/or heavily embroidered) is what caught my eye at the beginning.  It is absolutely stunning and dare I say…. quite sophisticated.  It has beautiful designs, cutouts, and lots of hand detail work with sequins and tiny tiny mirrors. The blouse fabric that came with the saree has the same cutout detailing for the sleeves and detail work for the back of the blouse.
    The next step is to have a test blouse made out of muslin – can't risk the fabric for the blouse that came with the sari until the test blouse is a perfect fit – and then I get to go back to the shop to have the ladies teach me how to wrap it!  
    I can honestly say, apart from my wedding dress, I have never been more excited about a garment before.  I have included pictures of the saree laying on my sofa and not on me because I have not learned to wrap it yet….again another set of choices as there are many styles of wrapping.  

  • Weekend Safari

    Nagerhole is an 640 sq km (really need to work on my km to mile conversion) nature reserve south of Bangalore in the Deccan Plateau.  We went there because we understood it would be resplendent with wildlife and we were not disappointed – good thing because it took 5.5 hrs to get there.  We did two safaris – one on Saturday at 3 pm and one Sunday at 5:30 am.  They were both amazing.  

    We were lucky to meet up with some guys there for the weekend from Bangalore who had been there a number of times before.  They were both incredibly knowledgeable and it gave us access to things we wouldn't have known about or likely gotten to experience without them (like going to the observation station where we sat for 45 minutes and just watched for wildlife or getting to go on the back roads in the preserve).  
    A short list of the things we saw includes herds of Gaur, Chital, Sambar, a wild elephant (a tusker), wild pea hens, monkeys (Bonnet Macaques and Langurs), a Muntjac, tons of birds (need a bit of research to actually know what I saw) and apparently, the find of the trip according to our fellow Bangalorian guide, an Indian Giant Squirrel.  I have to say I am happy with the picture I took.
    The forest (reserve, jungle or what ever you want to call it) was so impressive.  I can't begin to describe how beautiful it is….so peaceful just watching it go by from our open air jeep.  By far, my favorite was the morning safari – it was a bit early but what a way to wake up.  Quick coffee, climb into a jeep and off to see wild animals as they are moving through the misty forest in search of breakfast.
    There are villages within the forest and they were very interesting to drive through – there were some mahouts in one village who were training a HUGE tusker but unfortunately I was not quick enough with the camera to snap a shoot.  The children were playing on one of the roads in the forest – one of our companions remarked on how it was unbelievable given the wildlife – and we stopped so I could take a picture.
    Both of us are keen to go back soon – apparently March is a good time to see Tigers which alluded us this trip – we did see evidence of them on tree trunks which gave us a small taste for how powerful and large these animals are.  The safari per person was about $25 which was nothing when you consider we were out for at least 3 hours each time. 
    My picture taking was a bit challenging – still getting friendly with my Nikon D60 and various accoutrement.  Definitely would have helped if I had VR on my 55-200 lens (Xmas ideas everyone!) but I happy with most of my shots.  Be warned – there are MANY!
    First – my favorite!

  • Relaxing

    A cat was taking advantage of the sunny weather on my neighbors roof yesterday.

  • Can You Say Workers Comp!

    There has been some problems with water seepage upstairs so our landlord hired a company to remove a lot of the old cracked stucco outside the upstairs rooms and fix the damage.  The company is also going to seal up the window sills so that the water doesn't get in.

    Thus, yesterday consisted of tremendous amount of banging as they hammered out the old stucco etc – needless to say I stayed downstairs and in the other side of the house.
    Today I heard workmen outside on the terrace.  Being India, I went outside for a look with my camera and this is what I saw – this guy was being held by a very dodgy looking rope (sailor knotted) around his waist while two buddies above were lowering supplies to him to seal the sill on other ropes.  Mind you this is 6 stories up!!:
    Rathakrishnan – yes, that his him in blue – casually observed that the work seemed "dangerous"…. yeah, no @#%$

  • Mehndi Parting Gift

    I did a little mehndi for my sister so that she could remember her trip and have something cool to show the folks at work.  Also sent mehndi cones home so that Marie could go to town on anyone who will let her….Paul 😉

    Here is the one that I think I liked the best: