Seen at the exhibition...

A month ago (how time flies!), our family attended a Hyderabadi exhibition (i.e. fair). Only now have I collected pix from that event and arranged them for this post....however, I figured if I back-posted it to the date it happened, it would likely not get viewed by our faithful readers (all five of you!), so here they are, a month later....



Rows and rows of colorful outfits


Bangles galore!


Kids munching on "kurkure" (sort of an Indian cheeto)


Auditioning for the "laughing house"!


A small train motoring through the crowds


Enjoying same train ourselves


Train ride -- view from above (watch your feet!)


Fountains!


"J" meeting new people


Yet another color-filled booth


Happy kid!


Yummy rooftop dinner


Another view of exhibition from same rooftop


The "faces of America" beckon exhibition attendees to sample their produce! (click above pic for larger pic).

And yes....know that even American corn is "100% Vegetarian"! :-D

Holy Cows!

As most folks familiar with India know, buffaloes, cows, bulls, oxen, and every imaginable bovine creature meander all around, showing up in unexpected places.  Like past our in-laws' house, as Dad and "J" witnessed (click pic below for larger pic)...

Note the brownish-red fence at the far left.  My in-laws and their neighbors had to put them up to keep these animals from grazing on their garden plants.  Pest-control of the sort seldom seen in the U.S.

A looooooooooong, but accomplished day

Today started off quite early...we woke up around 6:00 a.m. and got the children up too and were off to the park.  Park hours are 5:30 - 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 - 8:00 p.m.  This is really the best time for us to come, it's much cooler at this time of day and there's far less of a crowd.  The kids had the playground all to themselves and loved it!  After they played a bit, we took a couple laps around the park...S loved the feel of the dew wet grass under his feet and so did B and J.

We got home by 8:00 a.m., just in time for breakfast and dad to get to the office.  I thought i could keep the kids up to 11:00 a.m. and then put them down for their naps.  But J didn't go to bed the previous night (morning) till after 2:00 a.m. and B after midnight, so they had less than 6 hours of sleep.  That and the running around the park...they didn't make it past 9:15 a.m.

The plan was that we'd tire them out so they'd sleep really long and then mom and I could go out shopping.  But they went down so early, we didn't get a chance to get our act together before they woke up.  And since Murphy has never been wrong...they starting waking up just as we were walking out the door.  We did manage to escape, but heard later that J woke up shortly after we left, but B went back to bed and woke up just before we came back.  We were only gone 3 hours: 2 hours for the commute and 1 for shopping.  Not the best deal!  Anyway, shopping rocked...1 hour is NOT enough, we'll have to go back again.  It's hard to believe that we have a little over two weeks left...time has raced by!  How did that happen?!

We were invited to dinner by some friends who've known my dad for about 40 years, now those are old friends.  The meal was excellent, as expected, and the mozzies had a pretty decent dinner as well.  Their compound is beautiful with foliage, but it also lends itself to loads of mozzies.  They did not spare an inch of open flesh...poor kids and us.  When we got home we did our usual mozzie killing exercise...it took a couple hours, but we killed almost 30 mosquitoes!  All were asleep, but S and I and, man! i am thankful that we got so many...here's to a good night's sleep...

Masala KFC

We were hoping to get up early yesterday to go to the park, but that didn't happen..  Most of the day we just stayed at home and chilled.  Did try calling up folks through skype in the morning...but the connection was a bit scratchy...still a connection, so no complaints.

The day was spent as most days are spent hanging out, although we tried to keep B from an afternoon nap, so she's sleep early, in order to get up early for the park.  While waiting for J to sleep, B wanted me to read her "The Chronicles of Narnia" - so we started on the "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" as she already recognized the characters.  I was actually quite surprised that she paid attention to the story even though it wasn't a picture book.  My little girl is growing up *sniff sniff*

So, we wanted to go out for dinner and decided to take our neighbors (good friends also) out as well.  My mom make the deal, but only after she had agreed to the plan, did we find out that due to a prior engagement, they weren't free until 9:30 p.m., which is when we'd all head out for dinner!  We didn't think the kids could make it that long, but with junk food, anyone  can.  

Our friends called and said they'd be ready to go at 9...so off to KFC we headed.  This was our old neighborhood - i'd lived here back in 96, before my parents built their home.  I'd walk this road everyday to work and it was just a little main road.  Now it's bustling and there's a KFC, Subway and Dominoes right where i walked every day.  I guess i'm glad it wasn't there when i lived here...

Once at KFC, and the main reason for this post, was the metal detector we had to go through...at a fast food.  I was so shocked...seriously, is this a terrorist threat.  Later when S and i were discussing it, he reminded me of the bomb blast at a German bakery in Pune.  To think we have to be worried to grab a bucked of fried chicken.  B and J had much fun going back and forth through the detector, which i didn't mind too much, since there were very few customers - what did i expect at 9:30 p.m.  It was really weird to eat with a metal detector a few feet from us and of course KFC just isn't KFC anywhere else.  They just didn't have the colonel's recipe.

We were out of there by 10:30 p.m. and thought they were waiting for us to leave.  While we were backing out, S wondered out loud when their closing time was and jokingly i replied, "whenever the last customer leaves."  At that exact moment, we saw another car pull out, a man get out and walk right into an unlocked and lit KFC - at 10:30 at night!  Wow - they really are open late.  I wonder if they would have closed earlier if we weren't around...

"farmer's market"

We checked out a farmer's market today.  I'd seen it on my way home last week and thought it looked huge, so wanted to check it out.  Yeah, it was huge...i don't think we made it to the end before we had to leave.  I would love for something like this to be in Seattle...fresh veggies for cheap prices.  The farmer's markets stateside are so expensive, it's just cheaper to go to the big chain grocery stores.  On Monday, my mom got the equivalent of 10 cents/lb. for tomatoes.  Can  you beat that?!  Best i can do is have a veggie garden of my own.  Maybe i'll get on that this year, now that they're going to charge for having a pea-patch.  

The farmers market gave me ideas for gifts...so even though i didn't buy anything this time around, my head is full of ideas.  Next time i need to get there before it gets dark.  

Also on the way there, my uncle showed us a park with a playground.  Some of the "playgrounds" around us are really pathetic, so when they suggested this as a place for the kids to play, i was very skeptical.  This place is awesome and very well maintained and it's open from 5:30 - 9:00 a.m.  Who goes at 5:30 in the morning - well, we're planning to check it out at 6:00 - when it's cool outside.  Once it's 10:00 a.m. here, it starts to get quite hot and you really don't feel like going out at all.

Besides, if we go out early, we might be able to get the kids good and tired for a long nap, when we can go out shopping...and then they'll even go to bed a little early.  Hmmm...sounds like a plan.

S

Today started out relatively normal.  My dad had a meeting, so i was a bit excited to find i could get on his computer.  By the time we had the kids sorted with their breakfast and other stuff, i was able to get online around 10:30 a.m.  Wouldn't you know it...the power went out at 10:45.  First we thought it was a mistake and would come back on at any minute...it didn't.  Then we thought they were doing their brown out thing a little earlier in the day and the power would be back on by 12:30...it didn't.  Around 1:00, mom went to see what the problem was...turns out, every once in a while, our municipality cuts tree branches by the power lines.  Our power lines are not insulated, and therefore are live wires.  If a tree branch touches it, it'll most likely catch on fire...which will consume the entire tree and most likely the house that "owns" the tree.  Hence the regular pruning of trees.  And while pruning, they turn off the power box that feeds these wires...today was our turn.  I asked mom if the city knew, so that they couldn't combine our brown out with municipal pruning...of course not.  The municipal guys were done around 2:00, but of course that was in time for our city brown out and we continued in the dark heat until 3:00 p.m.- more than 4 hours!!!  In the middle of the day!!!  It was sweltering - even S had a "glow" about him.  On the bright side...we didn't have to pay for this sauna.

Later today, a couple of friends stopped by.  It was nice to spend some time with them...haven't been able to do that since we arrived.  They were kept entertained by the kiddos and J even put on a little "show" for them.  Of course, B couldn't be outdone and tried to be like J, but was later convinced she was cute by just being herself.

My reflections tonight centered around how much i appreciate S.  Since we've been married, i've come to appreciate the hard work that goes into a good marriage.  And i am in awe of couples that have been married for 50 years...i want us to be one of them.  I've also learned that unless both of us consistently work on your marriage, it will not last, no matter how hard one of us tries.  In recent years, i have several friends whose marriages have failed due to several reasons, adultery, abuse, addiction, etc.  Some are fortunate to have married again, others are still looking and hoping, and still others are done with the whole business and worse - they have lost hope.  I can't blame them...i just pray that God will heal their wounds and return the hope of a lifelong love.  

As i dwell on these thoughts, i realize that i don't appreciate my husband enough.  I have a good marriage, in fact, for having just crossed the five year mark - i have a great marriage!  Things i love about S:
He does not let me schlump through my marriage, but encourages me to sort through issues straightaway and not let them fester.  I am the festering sort and i'm glad he doesn't let me do that in our marriage.
He is not a "philanderer" - i never have to worry about that.
He treats me better than i deserve.
He challenges my faith.  He's not afraid or apathetic toward asking hard questions...of himself and of me.  
He still tells me i'm beautiful and isn't too shabby looking himself.
He makes me laugh
He pushes himself into a more meaningful relationship with God, even though the methods might be a little unorthodox. He really seeks to unpack Scripture and make it as applicable to life as possible.
He loves our kids.  No one else loves my kids as much as i do, except him.  They might not be dressed properly, or fed, but they will be safe and loved.  I can't ask for more.


I love you, S

cabbage patch doll

Was woken up early this morning by S..couldn't sleep, too hot.  It's become quite warm within the last week...our fans are on practically all the time, but sometimes it seems we're just circulating the hot air.  Best times are in the early morning...it's just perfectly comfortable around 6:00 a.m.

Anyway, was woken up again a little while later  by B...mosquito bites.  The poor girl...i don't know why these buggers like her so much.  Her arm was peppered with bites and since she's allergic to them, they swell up.  To add something exciting, she got bit on her right eyelid, so that started swelling too.  I rubbed some calamine on her and got her back to sleep.  But i couldn't get back to sleep...it was too stuffy and the air from the fan wasn't getting to me, just the mosquitoes.  Plus, i could hear the sounds of the neighborhood waking up, i.e. maids coming to word and sweeping the "yards".  I knew our maid wasn't far behind, so stayed up in the living room.  Thought i might be able to catch a nap later in the day, but of course, with young kids, that's not going to happen while they're awake. 

B went out on an errand with S and my dad...some mosquitoes found her while she was waiting to get on the scooter.  By this evening, her face looked like a cabbage patch doll.  Both her eyelids are puffy and if you didn't think she had Chinese blood in her before...well, you should see her now.  They've acquired a taste for J as well, so i'm doing damage control there too.  My poor kids...

One of my mom's friends dropped by and when she saw our kids, told us her way of getting rid of mosquitoes.  It was a long shot, but at this point i'm willing to try anything that might give us fewer bites.  So, we tried it about an hour ago and i became almost giddy...it worked!  I must have killed between 20-25 mosquitoes...I haven't felt such a sense of accomplishment since i gave birth to J.  Just kidding, but you know what i mean...it felt good to see the sparks fly and smell the burnt flesh.  Die buggers, die!

There is still at least one mosquito in our room and it's been taunting me ever since i've been typing this.  Too bad it doesn't know that it's going to die shortly and i am going to sleep very peacefully.

PS:  B asked if God is happy when we kill mosquitoes...what would you say?

sunday

Just got back from church...plan for the remainder of the day...REST

Went for a short walk, got some badam (almond) milk - yum!, walked back.  Good day.

Why do i not learn!?

Earlier today S said that he would like to visit Charminar at night...or dusk, just to see what it looks like at that time of day.  Fair enough.  (Charminar is in old Hyderabad, we live in Secunderabad - akin to St. Paul and wanting to go to Minneapolis)  It takes about an hour to get to Charminar, but it does have some great shopping, so of course, i'm ok with it.  Now, how to fit it into the schedule...

We were invited to lunch by one of my parents friends - a pastor and his wife and their four daughters.  As we're talking about what time to leave for lunch, Dad mentions that his afternoon/evening is free.  So (idiot me) i jump in and announce that since Dad's free, we should all got to Charminar after lunch...and a plot is hatched.

Lunch was excellent...as is custom in more formal relationships, the guests (we) ate first and then the family.  Thankfully, the younger kids ate before we did...i'd hate for them to wait.  The "parsonage" was behind the church and it was quite small for a family of six.  Yet, there didn't seem to be a disgruntled spirit there - they were quite happy...or they seemed happy the couple hours we were with them.  (This time back home has been rather introspective for me - pages in my mind that would take years to fill up here.)  S was shocked and fascinated that a family of that size could live in a home that small.  It wasn't that shocking to me as i've seen homes that are smaller, but looking through his eyes and B's was an experience.  It was refreshing to see happy kids who didn't think they were deprived at all, even though, others seeing their "situation" might think they were.  They played with B quite a bit...i hope some of their contentment rubbed off on her.

SIDE NOTE:  Their mom was married when she was 16 and their dad, 21.  She's my age and her eldest daughter is 17 - yikes!

After lunch, we stopped home for a bathroom break and to rest/refresh and then headed out to Charminar.  That time of day, we hit rush hour and it was bad.  There was not too much daylight left when we got there.  First item of business was grabbing some sugarcane juice...yumm-O!  It was hot and muggy then, the sugarcane juice was exactly what we needed.  Would have been better if it was chilled, but nothing beats fresh sugarcane juice.

Time to shop...we had hardly shopped 15 minutes when it began...
"Can you carry me?"
"I'm hungry"
"Can i have a snack?"
"I want this ____"  and then...
"Can we go home?" - this by my dad!  Seriously!?  Ok, this time, i've really learned my lesson. Do not take my kids...OR MY DAD...shopping.  B was doing better than him...maybe he was tired, but it was like having another kid with us. Sheesh!  I think we shopped a total of 30 minutes, waited 20+ minutes for a taxi and came home.  Next time, we're leaving the kids with my cousin (fingers crossed), my dad by himself and S, myself and mom are going shopping. 

Kids are actually asleep...but that's cause neither one took an afternoon nap.  J pretty much had a meltdown, he was so tired.  I don't know what's better...for them to stay up and go to bed early, or for them to be cranky for a couple hours...i really don't like meltdowns that are that long.

Our walk today took us through some unchartered territory (to us anyway), where we encountered quite a number of kids.  I can see B and J playing with them if they were a few years older and lived in the same block.  Hopefully, it'll be like that in our neighborhood.  Right now most of the kids are older than them. 

Walk + dogs + not having to worry about having "the talk" = good walk