S's b'day and train ride back

All us adults were awake past midnight today...so just after the clock struck 12, we started singing "Happy Birthday" to S.  My uncle even bought a small little cake for him.  It was sweet that they stayed up to make his birthday.

Later...this morning we were going to visit another family related to us, on our way back from church.   But, they decided to visit us between services on their way back home.  Fair enough.  Well, the first service ended late (what's new!), so they came to visit us late and we went to the second service late, but because of brown outs and the generator failing, we were early.  The second service, which is supposed to begin at 10:30 a.m., began at 11:45 a.m., after the power came back.  Since the service was all in Telugu, we didn't stay long, just for the singing.  I can't even begin to describe the singing.  The "worship leader" was out of tune and practically eating the microphone and we ended up sitting just below one of the speakers.  Not only that, but it was all a cappella, so he had only himself to drown him out.  Isabella was holding her ears in agony...unfortunately, we couldn't be that candid. 

Right after we got home, my cousin, B and myself went to grab some special lunch for S's b'day.  We got some pizza from Pizza Hut and a few subs from Subway...a real "American" lunch.  We also got a few pieces of cake and a slice of "apple pie", which wasn't the same, but it was the idea.  At least lunch was better than my McDees b'day dinner a few years back.

Pizza:

Hawaiian (Large); Paneer Veg (Med.); Veggie special (Small - came free with the medium paneer)

Subs:

Roast lamb; Club (turkey, "ham" and lamb); Chicken Tikka; Paneer Tikka

Cake (Slices):Chocolate Almond; Black Forest; White Forest; Truffle Nut; Honey Nut; Chocolate Vanilla

Apple Pie

It took us about 2 hours by auto to grab this stuff and we didn't go more than 7 miles.  We got home with lunch around 2 p.m. and our train was leaving at 4:30 p.m.  Talk about rushing through a meal...we gobbled it down and headed to the train station.  India has to be the largest manufacturer of rubber neckers.  On the way to the station we were caught in a traffic jam because of an accident.  The vehicles involved weren't actually causing the jam, it was all the crazy people who stopped in the middle of the street to see what was going on.  Good grief!  I would not have been happy if we had missed the train....

The kids were back to their monkey business...climbing up and down.  We were sharing our box with another woman and i'm sure she didn't appreciate two little kids jumping all over the place, but really...this was like a jungle gym for them.  It was hard to contain their "enthusiasm"...it'll be a while (if ever) before they'll be on another train, might as well enjoy this.  Not the best end to a b'day, but i hope it was eventful and hopefully memorable for S. Happy Birthday, honey!

saturday - visiting

Since it's the weekend, my uncle was able to spend the day with us.  Since he's also the designated driver, this day was dedicated to the (obligatory) visiting of family in this part of the country.  Apparently, most of my mom's side of the family has settled out here and i've been getting quite the family history lesson from my aunt R.

Here in Vizag, we're staying with my aunt and uncle (R &R) and my cousin (Si).  My aunt R is not only taking care of ammamma (her mother), but also her mother-in-law, downstairs.  There has got to be a special crown in heaven for her - i couldn't even pretend to be that amazing - and she does it voluntarily.  

Little family background:

My mother's grandfather was the first in their family to become a Christian.  Due to the stigma back then, when his wife found out, she committed suicide; they had 1 son and 2 daughters.  My great grandfather later married the woman who would become my great grandmother...they also had 1 son and 2 daughters.  Even though the kids were siblings, they were only half siblings, i.e. they don't share the same blood...so, the "half" cousins are able to marry each other.

Two of my mom's sisters (the oldest and the youngest) married their "cousins" - they all have the same grandfather, but different grandmothers.  My aunt R's mother-in-law is also her aunt, my ammamma's brother's wife (my grand uncle's wife)...and therefore, we had to visit her.  After "grand aunt", it was uncle R's older brother, who lived a couple houses down.  

After a short visit with them, we headed over to my cousin's uni to grab lunch...but the campus was on holiday and only a couple of the "cafe's" we're open.  We didn't care by then, w were hungry.  The college students went a little gaga over our kids and were taking pictures of them with their mobiles.  Only after the fact did we think to ask them not to post the pics online...oops.  So, you might see our kids on a facebook (not ours) near you...

Next stop was another aunt's house.  They live pretty close to the uni and are my mom's cousin on her dad's side...mom's dad's sister and her son's family.  This grand aunt is 98 years old and the last time she saw me, i was 1.  She even remembered my name...that's pretty impressive.  Must be a shock - the next time she sees me, i'm with my husband, daughter and son...who's older than i was when she last saw me.  The house they live in boasts a beautiful garden with the biggest, prettiest pink hibiscus you've ever seen.  They were beyond gorgeous.  I wish i'd taken a picture of the whole tree...hmm...maybe i can get my cousin go to back and get a couple snaps for me.  I was more enamored with their garden than with my aunt.  Ehh...how many grand aunt's can you care about. 

Now i know why my cousin chose to attend this uni, i would too, if i'd know what was less than a 1/4 mile away - the ocean!!! (Bay of Bengal).  Are you kidding me...all i got was a prison and a corn field 1/4 mile from my college...man, i was so gypped.   On our breaks we went to Taco Bell or Wal-Mart...they get to go to the beach!!!  So not fair!  Well, that's what we did - we went to the beach.  The water was unbelieveably warm and the shore was swarming with college kids.  The kids had loads of fun and got drenched (as expected) and covered with sand.  It's so sad to see a marvelous beach like this buried under garbage...why can't people take pride at least in special spots.  We couldn't stay too long as we had more relatives to visit and meetings to attend...well, just my uncle. On our way back to the car, B saw a horse and was able to get a ride...she was thrilled!  Both kids are absolutely worn out...yeah! it'll make bed time a whole lot easier.

Next stop another grand aunt and son's family.  This is my ammamma's younger sister and surprisingly i remember her son.  I even remember him being one of the uncle's that i liked... man, all these family connections are making sense to me now.  I'm going to put together a little family tree, so i can remember people and places...who knows when we'll be doing one of these reunion tours again.  And i want something my kids can look at as part of their heritage - sordid as some of it might be.

My aunt (mom's sister) married a widower with four daughters.  The oldest of the daughters was our last stop today.  She lives here with her husband and two daughters and our visit to her was purely out of love for my aunt.  None of us (my aunt's side of the family) like these daughters and can just tolerate the husband, but since they're now her daughters, we have to respect that.  If i'd known this was who we were visiting,  i'd have stayed downstairs with my uncle.  This was like pulling teeth for us...she has been the source of grief to a beloved aunt, who continues to love her.  Even though India has "progressed" in many ways, it is still a very patriarchal society, where a woman is nothing without a man.  This marriage would not have happened otherwise.  And we would not have been associated at all with this woman that we had to visit.  Grrr....obligations for love

Well, we're pooped!  But we're sand free, clean, fed and the kids are fast asleep.  All in all, a good day

Apolo Who?

For who read this in the West, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics most likely dominate your sports news now. Not so here in India. I open the sports section of "The Hindu" newspaper every day....not a word about the Olympics. Nothing on Indian TV. (Might have a little to do with India's small 3-person representation.) So what are the big stories in Indian sports right now? What else but cricket!

To get an idea how cricket consumes the sports scene here....two days ago, India celebrated a remarkable achievement by one of its most famous cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar scored the first "double century" ever in one-day international cricket. He did it against South Africa at the ripe-old, past-prime age of 37.

What's a "double century", you ask? It's 200 points....the equivalent of someone scoring 100 points in an international basketball game. Few have come close, but no one's ever actually done it....until this past Wednesday. Individual performances of half-centuries (50 points) and centuries (100 points) are well-respected in cricket already. Getting a previously-unheard-of double century borders on superhuman for most cricket fans.

Here's what one half-page ad wrote as their tribute to Tendulkar's achievement in today's "The Hindu" newspaper....

For giving us a story to tell our grandchildren.
For making us believe that He still exists.
For making 50-year olds behave like 5-year olds.
For carrying a billion hopes on your shoulders, and still walking tall.
For making each one of us feel like a double-century maker.
For being the glue India needs.
For giving us sore throats.
For making us cry.
For erasing borders.
For making toothless grandmothers do a jig.
For giving us 24th February, 2010.
For being born an Indian.
For showing the world what 'andar se solid' really means.
For believing that no dream is too big.
Thank you, Sachin

Above, a school class honors Tendulkar in their own way....

Seen at a Vizag mall arcade....

A cute little game for kids....with a rather wacky set of instructions (click on above pic for closer look)

Getting scammed....and a train ride...

A couple days ago, S went to get his eyes checked and was prescribed glasses...they charged Rs. 8000 for them!  When he told me, i had another one of those "are you kidding me!?" moments.  It had to be because he's a "foreigner".  He paid Rs.1000 as a deposit and has to pay the balance when he picks up the glasses.  Today he went to go ask them to cancel the order and get the money back.  I'll let you guess if that happened.  Of course, when we want something right away, they say it'll take a while.  But when we want our money back..then "the order has already been put through..."  What a crock!  I've "advised" him to get his prescription and get whatever glasses he might need back at home.  That's ridiculous - Rs.8000!  What a scam!  We're out Rs.1000 and will just chalk it up to the charge of a very steep eye exam.

The afternoon was spent packing for our trip - the taxi was there by 4:15 to get us on the 5:40 p.m. train.  Well, needless to say, we had plenty of time to explore the platform...B was getting pretty antsy to get on the train. This was a 13 hour ride...as expected, we heard a lot of "are we there yet?"s.

Once we were on the train, it was novel for the kids.  B enjoyed climbing up and down the berths, and J had fun "surfing" the train...his balance has improved in the last couple hours.  We did indulge the kids by buying snacks from the vendors.  I always wanted them when i was a kid...so of course, this was a little for me too, (now that i could afford it by myself) but my kids are a good excuse.  We also had "train coffee" - it's a lot different from when i was a kid with the little clay pots and the quality has plummeted...still it was fun for the experience.  I'll probably get it again once on the way back, but it has fallen from it's pedestal.  I used to love the coffee they served on trains, it was always the only thing i wanted.

I dread going to the bathroom on trains.  As a kid, i was always worried, i'd fall through...yes! they're squatties.  There is actually no septic tank...it's just a hole in the floor of the train.  During the day, you can see the train tracks below.  (S says he remembers when Amtrak used to be like that, until they went "green")  And the train is constantly in motion, therefore, there's no stability.  During times of "turbulance" you're hanging on for dear life while trying not to wet yourself.  (Pardon the mental picture, but you need it to understand the trepidation of such an endeavor).  Putting all these factors together, of course, as a kid your fear is very real.  If you fall through, not only will you die...but there is the larger fear of missing your ride and getting lost (if you survive).

As an adult, i'm not so much afraid of being swallowed by the potty as i am of the sanitary conditions and the spatial dimensions.  It's like going in a squatty outhouse, the size of an airplane bathroom, that is constantly in motion...i'll leave it at that.  Well, now there's the added factor of being a parent...and having to take your kid to the bathroom..so the two of you have to fit.  Like that wasn't enough...this time we had a plugged sink drain.  

Mental picture time: B needs to go to the bathroom bad.  We didn't notice the plugged sink and by the time we maneuver both of us into the stall and shut the door, it's too late to turn back.  B's about to squat, when the train hits a rough patch.  The water from the sink starts sloshing out - wave after wave of nasty water aimed right at her head.  So...we're trying to get as far away from the sink as possible (less than a foot)  and i'm trying to shield her while she's screaming that she needs to go.  Well, she goes and i'm all wet from the sink water...but fortunately, it's all empty for the next customer.  Gross! GRoss! GROss! GROSs! GROSS!  Worse...i have to stay in these clothes until we get to my aunt's house...tomorrow morning!   Which means, i have to sleep in them tonight!  (Apologies for the extensive use of exclaimation points).


S and i had the kids sharing the berth with us...S had J and I got B (did U get that?)...we're not getting much sleep tonight.  Even though this is an air conditioned boogie (car), the air conditioning only reaches a couple people...who freeze..while the rest of us sweat. 


The night was also interrupted by the train stops where we picked up more passengers...we still had two empty berths in our block (sleeps 8).  During one of the stops, my dad had a skirmish with the TT (conductor) about my berth.  (I guess testosterone will fly any time of day or night.)  My bad...no one was in it when we went to bed, so i hopped in instead of climbing to the top...where my ticket indicated.  Who knew that they'd need it at 11:30 at night.)  The TT thought we were occupying more berths than we paid for, but after doing a count of the empty berths and seeing our ticket, he was satisfied...and let me stay.


Are we there yet?

Another relaxing day

Well, i'm definitely on the mend...although, i've been having dizzy spells all day, probably from not eating much the last couple days.  I'm eating now...just had a chappati with curry - yum. Working on getting the kids into a regular eating/sleeping pattern...but why bother, just when we get something settled, they have one of these weekends.

Tomorrow we're off to an aunt's house in another town...about a 12 hour train ride.  She's the youngest on my mom's side and is also taking care of her mom, my grandmother.  Don't know when we'll be coming here next and if my grandmother will still be alive then...so taking this opportunity to introduce her to J and hopefully B will remember her this time around.

BRAT

Stayed at home and recouped from the weekend.  The kids especially needed a rest.  I was pretty good about sticking to toast, curd rice (rice with homemade yogurt) and chappatis (flat wheat bread).  I'm on the mend...yippee.  Surprised that no else suffered from the "Andhra" curry...but then again, S took some preventive measures when he saw the effects on me.  Kids are unharmed...although J hasn't fully recovered from last time.  But he has his appetite and that's always a good sign.

What a day...

Well, after last night's dinner...let's just say i relapsed.  Without a doubt, i can trace it back to the "Andhra" fish curry.  Argh...last night was not pleasant.

Today my dad had four shoebox gift distributions scheduled.  I think sometimes he forgets he's not a teenager anymore...that kind of schedule is exhausting.  He left in the morning and got home around 4:30 after only two... and we were leaving at 4:30 p.m. for the next two.  Normally, we all don't go, but after the second one, we were invited for dinner...so off we went.  Well, the rest of them went, i decided to stay home because of my "delicate" system.  Actually, they went to the one and came and picked me up between the two...i felt bad that this family had wanted to host us and it seemed rude not to go.  Better to go and eat very little, than not go at all. 

This was a long program...i'm not sure any kids can sit through it, much less our kids, especially when it was all in Telugu.  It must get really monotonous to do this everyday, multiple times a day...

They gather the kids around, then talk about: 

- Samaritan's Purse and the number of kids in America that put together these shoebox gifts

- the different between a gift and a prize and the gift of love and salvation.  

- go through the 10 commandments

- any special guests of honor get to talk a little too

- roll call for the kids that enrolled to get a gift

- lining them up and getting the gifts sorted for their specs

- then come the handing out of gifts and photo ops...

Even the adults were getting restless.  Well, kids will sit through it...but not quietly.

The dinner was delicious...especially the biryani.  I did end up tasting it and it was beyond yummy! wish i could have had more.  Tomorrow it's only BRAT for me...well, all minus the apple sauce.   We're going to be on the road in a couple days, i need to get all sorted by then.

Shopping...again

We did go shopping again today and yes, we did capture the experience in pictures.  Although this also was "indian" shopping, it wasn't the "off the street" shopping that is a daily occurrence.  Today was more of an outing.  Like making a quick stop at Target (yesterday) vs. going to IKEA (today)  IKEA is never a "quick run" for me...i like browsing there. 

Both B and myself needed different anklets as hers were too small and mine were worn and coming apart.  Not totally happy - i liked what i had the best, but am ok with it...until the next time.  Everyone felt sorry for B with all the red welts on her arms from the mosquito bites.  She milked it! =D

Since this place is mostly a fabric store, S and Dad and J weren't too excited...and eventually B lost interest too.  This is a mom and me thing.  S and Dad were relegated to being babysitters, which is not easy in a store.  Thank goodness J exuded enough cuteness for people not to be too bothered by him.  OK...so i've learned my lesson - no shopping with the kids for longer than 30 minutes.  It's probably easier for S and Dad to watch them at home - i'll have to remember that for next time.  S was able to participate a little - we got a few shirts for him, and a scarf.  We also got more fabric to make B some outfits (the mosquitoes are relentless here) to cover her arms and legs.  Knowing it was going to be warm, i only got one pair of pants for her (for traveling), but she needs some linen pants to keep her legs covered and cool.  Nothing decent here...so we're going to have to make some.  J seems to have "yucky" blood - the blood suckers aren't bothering him too much.  It would be very hard to keep him from itching. 

After shopping we decided to grab dinner before heading home.  Dad knew a place he wanted to go nearby, but didn't know the exact location, just the general direction.  We walked a ways and then Dad decided to check it out on his own.  So, here we are, Mom, myself, S, B and J...standing aimlessly on the side of the road waiting for some signal from my dad.  Many auto rickshaws (taxis) meandered our way hoping for clients, but we disappointed them.  There was a restaurant right across the street from us and after waiting a while we were tempted to can Dad's idea and just go in...but we had no way of letting Dad know the change of plans.  Dad had his heart set on whatever place he had in mind...so we indulged him.  After about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes Dad came back and said, he had found the place.  It was the one across the street!!!   Argh...we could have ordered and started eating by then...the kids were not happy.  You just have to roll your eyes on this one. 

They said it was family friendly, but of course, it was a nice sit down place with glass flatware, linen napkins, overpriced dishes and waiters who were getting paid to watch tv.  We ordered kebabs as appetizers - they were good and the kids loved them.  We also ordered chicken biryani, mutton curry and (by Dad's request) Andhra fish curry.  

SIDE NOTE: If something is labeled "Andhra whatever" it's going to be spicy...i mean, really spicy.  The kind where just taking a spoon won't help, you have to practically drown yourself in yogurt.  "Andhra" is just another word of "you can't feel your tongue" spicy.  I know - my family is from Andhra and my dad's side of the family cooks "Andhra" style.  We couldn't drink enough water!

After the kebabs, the rest of the meal was a bust.  Once we'd had a taste of the fish curry, we couldn't taste anything else.  Plus - and my biggest grievance - they charged us Rs. 150 for plain white rice!!!  That's like charging for water - you don't charge for rice...it should come with the curry.  The rotis were Rs. 20-25...we should have just ordered that.  This was insane!!!  Of course, we wouldn't find out until after we'd eaten and got the check.  But i made sure they knew my sentiments in their "comments" card.  Told them if we ever came again, we'd be sure to bring our own rice.  This is India - you don't charge for plain rice!  Biryani, fine...pulao fine...fried rice...fine - but plain, unseasoned, white, rice - are you kidding me! 

Ok...i'm done...need to get my heart ready for church tomorrow (that's not going to be fun)

Nice naps

The kids seem to nap a lot better here in India for some reason.  They sleep a lot longer without waking up peridically (unlike in Seattle).  We think it's because Thatha and Amama's home feels quite comfortable, balancing the outside warmth with soft electric fans and thick concrete walls, ceilings, and floors to keep the temperature down.  It's been in the 90's lately....folks feel summer is arriving early.  But inside our home, it's very nice.  Under similar weather conditions in Seattle, our home there would be a stifling oven.

Shopping

This day would look a lot more interesting if i had pictures to go along with it...but i don't. Mom and I and one of her friends went shopping. I think i was invited because they needed a pack mule...but whatever. I know shopping doesn't sound that exciting, but it was fun for me...we did it Indian style and in my old neighborhood. Things have really developed since we lived there...there's even a KFC and Subway within walking distance from our old house.

We bought:

- flip flops for J (he's "stealing" everyone else), myself and Sam (they don't fit, so we'll have to get him some other ones)

- cloth to make cloth diapers for J (have to be exchanged since it actually might be cheaper in Wal-Mart)

- fabric to make little cotton long sleeve "petticoats" for B - to keep her arms covered from the mosquitoes and still keep her cool

- sappotas...yum!

- and looked at some furniture for my parents

It was nice to get something practical done, but boy...was it hot outside...i think 1 1/2 hours is about all we can handle outside in the middle of the day. We thought about bringing B along, but she wouldn't have been able to handle the walk or the sun. Glad she stayed at home...

While we were buying sappotas i wish i'd had a camera...but if i have a camera then i also loose my bargaining power since it shows i have "money"...problem.  Solution: cell phone camera.  Brilliant!  Even the fruit vendors have mobiles...so it's not a big deal to carry mine around.  Yeah, problem solved.  There'll be pics from the next time we go shopping again.

Bath In A Bucket, Part 2

A sequel to "Bath In A Bucket", starring "J"!

On the mend...

Well...S is much better.  I tried some cheese last night...not a good idea, but am better today.  J is the only one that is really out of it today...i guess it's his turn.  He's only had water, but at least he's drinking something...and he had a couple pieces of toast...so we'll see.  We have been shoving some glucose biscuits (comparable to crackers) at him...and he's been eating them...yeah

Also gave the kids haircuts...the weather is getting quite warm here...in the 90's.  There's a couple spots where J moved, hopefully it'll grow out soon.  B kept changing her mind...first Mulan, then Belle, then Jasmine...she doesn't know that no matter what she wants, it'll always end up as whatever Mommy wants.

This evening we went for a walk to my "close" aunt's house.  It was good to get out of the house.  Because of the bug, we haven't left the house in a few days and i think the kids had cabin fever.  Getting out was nice...we saw a mummy pig and her piglets and lots of dogs.  What an education for B!  

I visited the beauty parlor - they're all over the place and they're only for "ladies" in case men get any ideas.  It was nice to get a little pampering for quite a reasonable price.  Yeah...wish i could come here more often than once every three years.  S and the kids hung out there...B and J watched "Finding Nemo" for a bit and S and my uncle watched some T.V.  All in all a good day.  

J allowed me to feed him a few bites of plain white rice, which is a vast improvement since yesterday... he's getting better... This thing has taken us out for an entire week...here's to a fun weekend.

It's S turn

I feel a little better today...still a little weak, but better.  S, however, is knocked out.  He's been in bed all day without eating anything.  This bug is really kicking our butts.  My mom made a little tapioca pudding which is supposed to help...he says he felt a little better after that and some coconut water (fresh out of a coconut). 

Dad was fine after he woke up, so i think he's on the mend.  Hopefully this is only a 24 hour bug...  I thought J would be fine, but he wasn't...just a little delayed.  He has no appetite now, so i hope he'll be ok overnight...he's been playing fine, so didn't think he'd be affected.  

We've narrowed it down to the lunch we had at church...the catered lunch.  Mom didn't go to church with us, so she didn't have the lunch...and she's the only one that hasn't had this bug.  Also, we've heard that a few other people from church are also "sick"...well, what conclusion would you come to?

Bad...bad...day

Should have known this day was going to be "one of those days" when i was woken up at 4:30 a.m. J overflowed his diaper, which got B wet too.  We had to change both the kids and all the sheets!  Sheesh!

So, we put B in the living room and J with my parents, while we changed the sheets.  Before putting B down, i sprayed her with "pesticide free" mosquito repellent - our living room gives them plenty of space to hide and they come out while you're sleeping.  B seems to be particularly allergic to mosquito bites, they just swell up on her.  That and the scratching...i'm surprised we haven't been to a hospital yet because of infection.  We have been practically bathing her in calomine lotion, hopefully that'll stave off any infection.

Anyway, when i sprayed the repellent, i happened to inhale some of the fumes...it was literally nauseating..I couldn't go back to sleep.  And that began my day.  I dozed off for a little while but did not feel good AT ALL.  Had breakfast, but upchucked it all within an hour.  Talk about an upset stomach...it was pretty bad.  Well, safe to say, i didn't eat anything all day and i'm not even hungry...

Oh yeah...and B had her own "issues" during her afternoon nap...so had to change those sheets too.  This day can't end soon enough...  Am going to try and get some shut eye - both S and my dad say that they're not feeling the greatest either.  What is going on?! 

No Exhibition

Well...we didn't go to the Exhibition today...that's about it.  Stayed at home and rested.

Mom said that whatever we saw at the Exhibition, we could find in the city somewhere and there were some other deals going on we could check out close to our home.  That and the cost and time it took going there and coming back wouldn't save us that much money if we just shopped around here.  Also, since it's the last day, the crowds would be crazy.  And last, but not least, we weren't fully confident that Sam and my Dad could handle the kids for that long...they'd be chewed up and spit out before they knew what hit them.  Ok, it wouldn't be that drastic, but i feel like i'd owe them big and right now, i don't feel like "owing" anyone.  

So, i got an afternoon nap in...yippee

Bella got a little bit of a tummy problem tonight, hopefully it'll resolve itself by tomorrow

Church...strange, Valentines...good

Church was the same…and yet different...the format was the same, the songs were the same, prayers were the same, but the faces were different.  There were even a couple "foreigners" there, not including S.  It was disappointing.  I must have been hoping for a mini reunion ...argh, unmet expectations.  After the service I mentioned to S that none of the crowd that I hung out with (13 years ago) was still going to this church…my “gang”.  OK, I take that back…there are still three around...and one of them is me.  There used to be a rather large young adult/career group…about 20 - 30 of us and what fun we used to have together.  The "gang" probably consisted of 5-6 of us of the whole.  Most of them are gone now, some in Australia, some in the UK, couple in the US and I know some are still here…but don’t go to this church anymore.  
 
When we came here last, three of "the gang" were still coming here, so I at least got to see them on Sundays.  This time around, only one…the other two have disappeared and I have no idea how to get in touch with them.  Sad - to come all this way and not be able to hang.  But it was good to see the other one…in the last three years she’s gotten married and is expecting a little one in May.  It’s amazing how much you can miss when you’re gone for even a short while…but I guess a lot can happen in 3 years.  We not only had J, and he's had surgery, and it's been over a year since his surgery and he's almost two.  
 
One of the couples celebrated their 1 year anniversary, so they treated the church to lunch after the service.  It was good, but extremely greasy (to be expected of catered food)…I and J enjoyed the rice and chicken and curries…fish was too spicy for them, but J had a few bits.
 
S and I got a chance to go out on a date, it being Valentine’s and all.  We walked to a little joint and had pani puri and shakes...and took some dinner back.  S thinks we should introduce pani puri to the West,  but it probably wouldn’t taste the same.  We might be able to find them in some restaurants...but it'll be quite the search and i don't think that's part of our budget.  Besides, we're still working out the other Indian eatery idea.  

Dinner consisted of: Singapore noodles (ehh....way better in Singapore =D)
Siddharth Special noodles (same as above, but with more grease, spices and cheese).  
Aloo palak (potato and spinach curry) - very bland
Roasted chicken curry (from a curry stand) - pretty good
Badam milk (almond flavored milk) - eh...
 
We'll be visiting the curry stand again.  The noodles place - their shakes and pani puris were decent.  Will have to introduce S to the usual way we eat pani puris - one at a time, standing up.  Probably get the full quota that way.


Tomorrow...exhibition

Two of my mom's sisters live in this city.  The one closest (about a mile) to us has three kids: the youngest one is still in college and the older two...post college.  The one farther away (about 10 miles) from us has four stepdaughters - with a combined total of 7 grandkids.

Today we visited both sisters.  The close one had toys for the kids, so they really liked that, especially when they were allowed to "borrow" the toys for the rest of our time here.  And since her kids are "younger", they were quite enthusiastic about playing with their niece and nephew - hopefully we can use them for some babysitting int he future.

I was worried about our visit with the "far" aunt...but was told she has cable, so yeah!  Got there and the cable was terrible.  There was maybe one kids show, but it was in Hindi.  S and I welcome shows in Hindi for the kids, gives them more exposure to half their heritage.  This show was terrible - the kids were so violent!  We didn't spend more than a few minutes before changing the channel.  So, the kids spent time running around the balcony and getting themselves super filthy...but boy! did they enjoy themselves.  Our kids are very happy about anything outdoors, even on a balcony.  We didn't my aunt prior notice that we were coming, so when her husband got home from work and saw us, he went back out and got some goodies for the kids, including a couple teddy bears.  Un-needed (is that a word?) but much appreciated.

Even though the "far" aunt lives about 10 miles away, it takes us between 1 and 1 1/2 hours to get there by taxi, much longer by bus because of all the transfers.  It's been a long, full day...time for bed and church tomorrow morning.

We learned this afternoon that my father's oldest brother passed away a couple hours before.  He was around 85.  The funeral is early tomorrow morning, so Dad's catching the night train to get there in time, but he has to hop back on the next train in order to be back for church on Sunday.  S is amazed that they can arrange things this quickly...i am a bit puzzled as well. 

To make Dad's departure a little easier, a couple hours before he leaves the UPS blows up.  The "UPS" is a battery system that supports the computers that are used at Dad's work.  Apparently, it can support up to 3 comoputers at one time...and i turned on a 4th.  Oops!  Due to the fluctuation in their power supply, my parents got this battery system.  When the power is on, it charges the batteries and when there's none, the computers can still be used.

Here in India, and i know in China too, there are scheduled power cuts to balance the input and output of electricity.  They're supposed to tell you when they're going to do it, so you can be prepared, but of course, there's no way to hold them to that.  So...we have no idea when the power goes out...in fact, it comes and goes all day long.  It's much more steady in the evenings when offices shut down.  Havind said that, because of the constant use of computers here, our batteries (the UPS system) have not had a chance to recharge and the system got overloaded, hence the "fireworks".  Basically, the batteries that supported the computers are fried and they have to get a whole new system.  Since i'm the one who doesn't need a computer to get my "work" done - getting on one from now on is going to be a privilege.  Frustrating, but i guess i should count my blessings.

So, Dad's off to his hometown for his brother's funeral and our first weekend back home begins...

Exhibition - Part I

So, today's big program was going to the Exhibition.  It's very similar to a fair...where vendors from all over the country come to exhibit their goods.  It happens every year from January until February 15.  It takes us about 1 1/2 hours to get there by cab and up to 2 hours by bus.  The traffic on the way was horrendous and we found out later that tomorrow is a holiday, so everyone was headed to the Exhibition...great!

This was my chance to get some shopping done...which i did, but not enough.  This place is huge and they have so many "bargains" - it's hard to find the right one.  I did buy some shirts for B and mom was able to score a saree and we got some fabric as well. 

I think it was hard on Sam and the kids.  Sam couldn't really barter...once they saw him coming, or even heard him speak...they would hike up the price.  He and Dad kept the kids busy, but how long can you do that with 1 and 4 year olds...but they managed.  The kids were getting a bit restless and wanted to eat all kinds of junk food and go on the rides...i guess, kids will be kids.  We were maybe able to check out 1/4 of this fair.  Mom and I are going to go back on Monday (the last day) and get some more bargains.  We left around 9:00 p.m. and there were still crowds coming in...it was crazy, but i think the kids loved it (especially since they were able to talk daddy (S)  into getting them creamsicles).

SIDE NOTE: I remember being able to "talk" my dad into getting those for us too...i think he really liked them and used us as an excuse to get some.  Apparently, dads will be dads too =D

I promised the kids (B mostly) that they could watch a movie if they behaved...the choice was Tarzan.  I think there were a couple parts that were scary, but on the whole they enjoyed it.  Just before putting them to bed, i asked B what she thought of the movie.  Her response, "yah, it was nice because Jane wore the same panties as Tarzan"  I love my kids!

venturing out

Well, the kids are pretty close to normal.  We ventured outside the house today and went for a walk.  The last couple days B went on outings, and she already has mosquito bites.  One of them doesn't look like a mosquito bite and isn't acting like one, so we'll see how it does tomorrow.  She was allergic to mosquito bites the last time we were here, and i guess that hasn't changed.  J seems to be doing ok, but its still the beginning, so there's plenty of time for something to happen. 


This morning B heard a vendor outside shouting his wares and asked, "What's that noise?"  It's so interesting to see my home through her eyes.  I'm really looking forward to experiencing India with both B and J. 


Might do some shopping tomorrow...can't wait to start bargaining...need new shoes.  I did a little warmup in Dubai, but this will be the real thing...must keep S far away...don't have much bargaining power when he's around.

Upon request...

So...i'm adding a few entries/thoughts of my own. Most of this stuff is new/novel to S. and i thought you'd be more interested seeing India through his eyes. I'm used to most of this stuff...he's not.

However, India is very different since we lived here...more than i ever imagined. I think in her effort to become "western" she's giving up a large part of her culture. To someone who was raised in the era where women didn't show their ankles...seeing scantily dressed girls in the newspaper is not only shocking, but very disappointing as well. Indian women walking around in shorts and belly-baring blouses - it's just not us! Sure, the saree bares our mid-section...but at least there is some semblance at propriety, now even that facade has been removed. But, perhaps to our credit, this has mostly hit Bollywood and some "rich" suburbs in big cities. I'm pretty sure jeans and shorts won't ever get to rural towns and villages, but you can see them in "rich" urban cities, Bombay.

The other day we went shopping to find some men's "ethnic" shirts...but after several hours we returned empty handed. All the stores we went to boasted "western" style men's clothing. We have to go to specialty stores to find Indian style shirts - IN INDIA!!! I guess only foreigners want Indian style clothes - natives want western-style. I am deeply saddened by this change.

The joy of giving

Yesterday, S and B went with my dad and a couple others to pass out Shoe Box Presents (through Samaritan's Purse). From what i heard, B did well, after a little talk with Daddy about the joy of giving. She ended up getting her own box, since the people at one of the churches wanted to give her one...but i hope she knows this is the only one she'll get. It was her first motorbike ride and she loved it!

They also went today after specific instructions that B only give and not ask for one, since she already got one.  I guess it is hard for kids her age to give away presents without receiving something.  But i'm sure during the course of these next couple months both B and J will be getting loads of stuff from folks here.  S and I are both hoping that she'll learn to be more generous with all the blessings.  I wasn't sure she'd learned anything, until she prayed at dinner today...she prayed for those children.  Hopefully a seed has been planted... 

My feet are pretty swollen from all the travel, so my attempt at walking this morning was truncated after less than 10 minutes...  The kids slept quite a bit today too, but i think they'll be all sorted over jetlag by tomorrow.  To tomorrow!

Mickey D's Expanding

When I first came to India 5 years ago, I didn't see any. Now, just outside the brand-new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport next to arrivals....a McDonald's restaurant. The only restaurant we saw in the airport's front, in fact. And open 24 hours to boot!

 

Why izzit?

Peeve O' The Day:
Airport luggage cart costs are NOT created equally.

Luggage cart at Sea-Tac International Airport, USA	$4.00
Luggage cart at JFK International Airport, USA	$5.00
Luggage cart at Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates	FREE
Luggage cart at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, India	FREE

Are U.S. airports THAT hard up for money?

Mum ..and chai

We arrived around 3:00 a.m. this morning.  Both the kids were fast asleep when we landed, so we had to wake them up...which is never fun, especially going through immigration.  Those agents were probably as tired, if not more tired and were very gracious in dealing with us.  By the time we got through immigration, baggage claim, customs, finding my dad and arriving at my parents home, it was almost 6:00 a.m.  B fell asleep during the ride and didn't wake up until later in the day.  S and J (and my dad) washed up, changed and promptly went to bed.  Mom and i saw treasure in this uninterrupted time and caught up.  It was so nice to just sit there and talk over cups of tea.  I've missed her.  We were able to talk for a few hours, but jetlag caught up to me and i passed out later in the afternoon...just before the kids woke up.

The next couple days will probably be devoted to loads of sleep and getting over jetlag.  Nothing terribly exciting...besides mum and (real) chai.

The Big "Burj" -- nighttime contrast

I mentioned earlier how dim the Burj Khalifa seemed in comparison to nearby buildings. Here's an example how it contrasts to another building (I believe it's the Address Hotel) just a few blocks away....

 
It seems only appropriate to light up the centerpiece building in a way that surpasses others in your city.  Would've been a great photo, if it had been lit up so. Perhaps they're working on that....

The Big "Burj"

No travel blog would be complete without a post about the Burj Khalifa (f.k.a. Burj Dubai). It took the crown recently as the tallest building...nay, tallest structure of any kind...in the world. I was quite fascinated by something this notable.

We drove past the Burj Khalifa several times on Sheikh Zayed Road that ran by only a few blocks away....and quite frankly, it didn't seem all that big to me from that vantage point. Only when we stopped off to see it up close....once at night, another during the day....did its immense size really reveal itself. It's really quite a challenge to get a decent picture of it when you're standing that close. In this post are the two best close-up photos we could come up with.

I'm sure there are places around Dubai that offered a better photo op of the building than we ever had, but we didn't find those places. Still, the experience of seeing it up close was pretty awesome. It was hard for me not to keep staring at it any chance I got.

There are opportunities for visitors to go up the Burj Khalifa, but they require advanced purchase of around $30 at schedule times (unless you pay $110 to get in immediately). Needless to say, we didn't go up.

I noticed a few oddities during our up-close visits to the Burj Khalifa. One, there was still tape stretched around the block the Burj was situated, cordoning off any access to the general public. Two, other than construction workers, there was no pedestrian traffic in or out of the building that I could see. Three, I noticed at night that the building wasn't very well-lit, compared to other buildings nearby. With the recent economic problems plaguing Dubai, it made me wonder whether anyone could afford to rent the place now, unlike the times when ground was first broken years ago. Maybe it still wasn't ready....but then why the huge fanfare opening on Jan 4? Was anyone actually using the place? "K" mentioned that the Abu Dhabi ruler after whom the building was named wasn't present at the Burj's inauguration ceremony, which was rather embarrassing for Dubai. The circumstances surrounding the completion of this incredible structure seem muddled in uncertainties.

I was reminded of a friend commenting to me during a visit to Kuala Lumpur that the Petronas Towers had trouble attracting tenants for a long time, cynically suggesting these buildings were built more for Babel-like pride and ego than for commercial practicality. I'm sure more than a few people have thought that about the Burj Khalifa.

It certainly is a architectural sight to behold, this king of skycrapers. Still, bystander admiration doesn't pay rent. Time will tell if the Burj Khalifa will be worth what it cost Dubai.

-------------

UPDATE (Mar 2010): Evidently, the Burj Khalifa observation deck was closed indefinitely due to "power supply problems", just one day after we left Dubai. Another article reports that there was an elevator malfunction....scary. Still doesn't totally explain the observations I had before the ob deck closed down.

Sunday...it's back to work

So, it's Sunday here...we're leaving Dubai this evening. Our hosts are back to work today, but their daughter took us around. Things to do:
Ride the "light rail"
Try to get as close to the Burj Dubai as possible
Eat some more middle-eastern food
Shop for souvenirs
Pack
Visit the Gold Souk (market)

The metro rail was all above ground - pretty cool and very smooth. I guess that's what you get when you have money, unlike the crazy at-grade rail we have in S.Seattle. Their metro stations reminded me a lot of the ones we had in Hong Kong and Guangzhou...very nice. Also, you're not allowed to eat/drink on the train. If they catch you, you're fined like 2-300 AED (that's almost $100) - they're pretty serious about keeping this thing clean. I say, good for them.

We were able to walk up to the area around the Burj, but there's still some landscaping work to be done, so a lot of it was roped off. I think you need a decent amount of moola to even get close to it. Oh well, we got a couple good shots.

We also visited a couple places that are great for souvenir shopping...Karama Market and the Gold Souk. I wish we had more time there, but maybe it was good that we didn't...i can see myself spending a lot of time and possibly money. Karama Market reminded me a lot of Hong Kong with peddlers trying to sell stuff like purses, perfumes, watches, etc. The Gold Souk reminded me more of the night market in Thailand. There were different concentrations like: spices, gold, textiles,etc. and many of them are sold wholesale, so you had to buy in bulk. We just looked around, but maybe i'll be able to check out the textiles on our way back...the spices looked fabulous too.

Off to the airport...next entry will be from India

It's a small world

Today was pretty cool...G and K (our hosts...now our friends) took us to a little North Indian "cafe" which they frequent.  When we were discussing things we'd like to do, both S and I agreed that we would like to be part of the local culture, as opposed to being treated like tourists.  We wanted to know the hole-in-the-wall places that the locals raved about, ride public transport, etc.  This little eatery was perfect...small, cramped and delicious...unlimited dhal and rotis - you can't beat that for under $3/person.  S and I actually entertained the thought of opening something like this up in Seattle, as we haven't found anything close.  I want simple, authentic Indian food, without breaking the bank.  What i've found most of the time is rich, buttery, Americanized food that makes sure i have nothing left for a rainy day.  This place in Dubai rocked - we'll have to duplicate it stateside.

They also took us to see The Atlantis on Palm Jumeira.  So, Palm Jumeira is the island shaped like a palm tree, built on reclaimed land.  The "trunk" is lined with large buildings of condos waiting to be bought.  The "palms" consists of villas, each with its own private beach.  The Atlantis is a huge hotel on the tip of the "tree" - TAR fans might recognize it from last season...the one that had that giant waterslide, through a pool of sharks.  We have to pay money to see that slide...sheesh!  I guess they have to get out of debt somehow.

We were hoping to take our hosts out to dinner tonight, but during lunch, they got a call inviting all of us to an anniversary dinner.  Dinner was with a group of friends that were all part of their original community group, but had branched off since then.  It was nice to see that they still kept in regular contact and it was very apparent that their friendships had not suffered even though they now attended different churches.  It reminded me very  much of our own community group in the Rainier Valley and the friendships that have developed through that.  (I miss you guys)  The host couple wanted to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary by treating all to dinner...we are so honored that they included us in their celebration.

SIDE NOTE: So, "R" from last night...the reason "R" and i became chums was because his best friend in high school, "SP", was in love with me / had a crush on me / liked me / whatever...it was high school, take it with a grain of salt.  SP was a little on the shy side, so he would never actually talk to me directly ...instead R became the go-between.  Again, think high school...either that, or i must have been incredibly intimidating, i guess some guys like that  =D  SP also went to the same school and church and i guess he really liked me, because R and i became great friends.  Fast forward 20+ years...

So, we're at this anniversary dinner (in Dubai) and i get to talking to our hosts/guests of honor about where in India we're from.  Someone mentioned Bangalore and i said, "yeah, i'd lived there for a few years too and went to such and such school and such and such church, etc, etc..."  So, the guy says, "Well, then you must know QP (SP's mom)?"  How random...i mean, of all the folks to pick out, he picks this family. 

I must have nodded, because before i knew it he was calling her up - she lives in Dubai.  So, he hands the phone to me and we start talking, 
"Oh L, how are you?" 
"Fine, Aunty, how are you?"  We start catching up, yadda, yadda, yadda...then she says,
"You remember, SP?  He lives here too...do you want to talk to him?"  What!?  SP is there!!! 
"Um..."  Not sure what i said next, i think something to the effect of, "yeah, i know, i was just talking to "R" yesterday..."
That seemed to pacify her.  I don't think he was at the same place, but i think she was going to give me his number to call him.  That would have been interesting.  I really don't know how to talk to the dude without "R" being there. 
We promised to stay in touch...i owe her an email, must get on that.

The rest of the evening went well without any more surprises...food was decent but the company was fantastic...what an enjoyable day!

Old friends...and reflections

So, a week before we left, i was "friended" on Facebook by an old schoolmate, "R". We lost touch for over 20 years and it was great to hear from him. Come to find out, he lives in Dubai and we were able to meet up for a few minutes this evening. He has a lovely family, wife and two adorable sons, the youngest is only a couple weeks younger than "B". After a couple minutes of the initial shyness they interacted well. It was surreal!


SIDE NOTE: We moved around so much that i have a whole different set of "friends" for each phase of life. I have "childhood friends" in Calcutta; childhood and high school friends in Bangalore; school friends also in IL and MO; "career" friends in Hyderabad, Waukegan, Beijing, Guangzhou; friends from my single days; friends from my married days; friends from my parenthood days...the list goes on and on... Due to such a "restless" lifestyle, i lost touch with folks once i moved to a different chapter of life - very few friends have "carried over" into these different phases. Of course, with the introduction of the internet, it's been much easier to keep in touch, which only happened after i was in college. Facebook has been wonderful for reconnecting me with so many people that i've sadly lost touch with.


I've known "R" since we were 10, went to the same school and church, so we basically spent most of the week together. To watch our kids play with each other was something i never thought i'd experience. Except for one guy, Joe, i do not regularly see folks that i've known since childhood. And Joe just had a baby girl a few months back, so our kids haven't had the chance to play together. But how cool is it to be friends with someone since you were a kid and then see your kids play together. "R"s kids and my kids might never become lifelong friends, but for that moment, it was awesome to see them play together.


"R" and I had been out of touch for so long, i wasn't sure how things would be...were we still friends or acquaintances? Would he remember our friendship the way i remembered it - with great fondness. He was one of my best chums and i hoped he still felt that way about me. The minute we said hi, it was like picking up after summer break (not 20+ years). I love those kind of friendships, the kind where time stands still when you're apart. Of course, we had other variables like our families, but it only added to the beauty of our friendship. It wasn't weird at all! We were one big happy group walking and talking and trying to mind our kids. I've missed our friendship, but now that we've reconnected, i can't wait for it to continue.

Church in Dubai

We attended the United Christian Church of Dubai this morning with "G", "K", and "P".

Christians in the UAE typically attend church on Friday, which is the Muslim day of worship as well. The weekend starts Friday and ends Saturday. Sunday is a work day. So instead of "Thank God, It's Friday", it's "Thank God, It's Thursday" here.

UCCD is located in a compound of Christian churches in Jebel Ali. The UAE government granted this compound for Christian churches to be built, so there are Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, and Evangelical centers, each containing several worship halls that schedule multiple services by multiple churches.

Landing in Dubai

We arrived Dubai around 7:30 am....much earlier than expected due to a fast tailwind. Dubai International Airport is quite a remarkable place....still, for its size and splendor, it wasn't very crowded and seemed rather empty.

We met our hosts, "G" and "K", a couple who knew "L's" uncle Mamayya while they were in Oman. "G", "K", and their teenager "P" are extremely nice and hospitable people...we feel very blessed, especially since we've only known each other just through email within the past month.

Currently, the weather here is quite pleasant. It's breezy and cool, around 60's and 70's Fahrenheit. It's also quite overcast and hazy....the haze may be because of the wind blowing up sand. So it's a bit hard to see some of the city landscape, particularly the Burj Khalifa, the just-completed tallest building/structure in the world. "G" and "K" commented that it's rarely this hazy and overcast....usually it's cloudlessly clear. Just our luck.

After settling in, we took a long afternoon nap, then took a night drive around town. Lots of cranes and half-completed buildings to see. Some uncompleted buildings are suspended in uncertainty, due to the economic downturn that's hit Dubai hard of late. Still, there is much to marvel architecturally. We stopped by the famous Burj al-Arab hotel, one of the tallest, most expensive, and most opulent hotels in the world. We were more than content to play for free under its shadow in the sand (which, by the way, was the finest sand I've ever felt).

Flights

"B" has been eagerly asking about our upcoming trip every day since Jan 16. I'm looking forward to sharing it with her, now that she's able to comprehend the experience better.

We took off on JetBlue at 10 pm yesterday and arrived JFK at 6 am. The Emirates counter hadn't opened yet, so we were first in line in a rather sparse Terminal 4. Around 10 am, we were off again on an Emirates airliner, headed for Dubai.

The service on Emirates is renown for its excellence, and we soon found out why. What stood out was how they specially attended to the needs of our kids. We so appreciated it. The massive selections in their in-flight entertainment helped as well....not to mention the partially-full plane that allowed us to stretch out across multiple seats for restful sleep.

Overall, "B" and "J" handled the 17 hours of flight time quite well....and as a result, so did "L" and I.