WRAPPING UP

WOW, THIS WHOLE WHIRLWIND OF AN ADVENTURE IS OVER! HARD (OK, IMPOSSIBLE) TO BELIEVE! GOING TO INDIA WAS ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE, AND I AM GLAD EVERYDAY THAT I CHOSE TO GO. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THOSE WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO SEIZE THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE TRIP OR WHAT I'VE LEARNED - BOTH ABOUT LIFE AND MYSELF. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO WRITE IN THIS FINAL BLOG HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT I CAME ACROSS A SONG...A SONG THAT MADE ME THINK "THAT'S IT! THAT'S INDIA FOR ME!" I'VE INCLUDED A LINK TO THE SONG/VIDEO (ON YOUTUBE). THE WORDS ARE FAIRLY EASY TO HEAR - BUT THE VIDEO ALSO DISPLAYS THEM. MY FAVORITE LINES - THAT I FEEL LIKE I COULD HAVE WRITTEN MYSELF DURING MY TRIP ARE:

"YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THAT SUNRISE, WITH YOUR OWN EYES. IT BROUGHT ME BACK TO LIFE."
AND
"OH, TODAY, I FINALLY OVERCAME TRYIN' TO FIT THE WORLD INSIDE A PICTURE FRAME."

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG ON THIS WILD RIDE WITH ME! UNTIL NEXT TIME...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP5gWbyuXrs&feature=related

Leh, India - Day 3

ON OUR THIRD DAY IN LEH, WE TOOK A JEEP RIDE ALONG THE HIGHEST MOTORABLE ROAD IN THE WORLD - KHARDUNGLA PASS. AT THE HIGHEST POINT, THE ELEVATION IS 5600 METERS! THE RIDE WAS...WELL...NERVE-RACKING TO SAY THE LEAST! (DO LOOSE ROCKS MAKE ANYONE ELSE NERVOUS?) THE ROAD WE WERE ON SEEMED VERY, VERY NARROW, AND THE DRIVER SEEMED TO DRIVE A BIT TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE FOR MY TASTES - BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT HE WAS A GREAT DRIVER! HE KNEW JUST HOW TO MANEUVER ALL THE TIGHT SPOTS, AND OUR JEEP NEVER ONCE GOT STUCK OR FELL OFF A CLIFF! SERIOUSLY THOUGH, OUR DRIVER EVEN PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT WE WERE SNAPPING PICS. OF ON THE WAY UP (MOSTLY THE AMAZING SNOWY PEAKS AND THE VARIOUS MOUNTAIN ANIMALS), AND HE MADE A POINT TO SLOW DOWN AT GREAT SPOTS AND POINT OUT ANIMALS WE MIGHT HAVE OTHERWISED MISSED. HE WOULD EVEN TELL US THEIR NAMES IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE - ALTHOUGH YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK HANK WHAT WE SAW - HE IS MUCH BETTER WITH FOREIGN WORDS THAN I AM! WE MADE IT UP SAFE, AND FOR THE LAST 20 MINUTES OF THE DRIVE (ABOUT A 2 HR. TRIP UP IN ALL) WE GOT TO SEE SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS AROUND US. THE DRIVER SAID IT WAS FRESH - IT HAD JUST FALLEN THE DAY BEFORE.

OUR DRIVER HAD STOPPED ONCE ON THE WAY UP, TO LET US GET SOME PICS. AND TAKE A BREAK FROM THE QUICK ALTITUDE CHANGE. THEN, RIGHT BACK INTO THE JEEP FOR MORE TWISTS AND TURNS. WHEN WE GOT TO THE TOP OF THE PASS AND WERE ABLE TO GET OUT AND WALK AROUND - AT THE HIGHEST POINT - IT WAS AMAZING! BEAUTIFUL VIEWS AND THE BEST PART - IT WAS ACTUALLY SNOWING SOFTLY! FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION IN AGRA TO LIGHT SNOWFALL IN LEH! WOW!

AFTER SPENDING ABOUT 15 MINUTES WALKING AROUND AND TAKING PICTURES, WE HAD TO GET BACK INTO THE JEEP -- IT WAS FREEZING!!! WE MADE OUR DESCENT (ANOTHER 2 HRS. - WELL, ACTUALLY LONGER, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KEEP STOPPING AND "GIVING WAY" TO THOSE VEHICLES COMING UP THE MOUNTAIN) AND THEN WE WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL FOR LUNCH. THAT AFTERNOON OUR DRIVER TOOK US TO A FEW OF THE MORE LOCAL (IN TOWN) SIGHTS. WE HAD A GREAT LAST FULL DAY IN LEH, AND WE WERE REALLY SAD GOING TO BED THAT NIGHT - KNOWING THAT OUR TRIP TO LEH (AND INDIA) WAS COMING TO AN END ALREADY.

WE TOOK A TON OF PICTURES THAT LAST DAY IN LEH. HERE'S THE LINK TO THE WEB-ALBUM: http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/LehFinalDay

Leh, India - Day 2

ON OUR SECOND DAY IN LEH, WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE HOTEL'S TOUR OF THE LOCAL BUDDHIST MONASTERIES. I'D HEARD FROM MY BOSS THAT THE MONASTERIES WERE REALLY AMAZING - BESIDES THE MONKS EVERYWHERE, WHO WOULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE PLACE, THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK ON EVERY WALL! WE SET OUT EARLY IN THE MORNING IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT THE FIRST MONASTERY - THIKSEY - IN TIME FOR THE 7AM PUJA (PRAYER). WE WERE TOLD THAT PUJA WAS REALLY QUITE A SIGHT! ALL THE MONKS IN THE MONASTERY GATHER IN ONE AREA TO CHANT, SING, AND RECITE PRAYERS. WE WERE SUPER EXCITED TO SEE THIS AMAZING DISPLAY OF REVERENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE GOT TO THIKSEY AT 6:30AM, WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE NO PUJA THIS MORNING - THE MAJORITY OF THE MONKS WERE VISITING ANOTHER MONASTERY. BUMMER. ON TOP OF THAT, SINCE WE WERE THERE AT SUCH AN UNGODLY HOUR, A LOT OF THE MONASTERY WAS NOT OPEN TO VISITORS YET (OPENED AT 8AM). UGH! LUCKILY, THE ARTWORK ON THE WALLS WAS AS AMAZING AS PEOPLE CLAIMED, AND WE WERE ABLE TO WALK AROUND THE CENTER PLAZA AREA TAKING PICTURES AND ENJOYING THE PEACEFUL MORNING.

THEN, WE BEGAN TO HEAR SOME CHANTING AFTER ALL! WE FOLLOWED SOME OTHER VISITORS UP A SMALL PATHWAY AND FOUND A MONK PERFORMING HIS MORNING PRAYERS. ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T THE LARGE GROUP OF MONKS WE HAD HOPED FOR, IT WAS AMAZING TO WATCH NONETHELESS. THE MONK WAS USING A PRAYER BOOK TO GUIDE HIM, BEATING A DRUM, AND SINGING/CHANTING IN THIS TINY, DARK ROOM. PEOPLE WERE SNAPPING PICTURES AND I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET A SHORT VIDEO OF HIS PRAYERS. IT WAS TRULY SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET!


AFTER WE'D WATCHED THIS PRAYER FOR A WHILE, WE WENT BACK TO THE PLAZA TO PASS THE TIME UNTIL THE OTHER PARTS OF THE MONASTERY OPENED. THE MONKS WHO WERE THERE BEGAN TO TAKE PITY ON US AND OPEN SOME OF THE LOCKED DOORS. WE WERE ABLE TO GO INTO SOME OF THE MOST ORNATE ROOMS (TEMPLES AS THEY CALLED THEM) THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. THIKSEY IS MOST FAMOUS FOR ITS TWO STORY BUDDHA STATUE. WHEN THE DOOR TO THE BUILDING HOUSING THAT STATUE WAS UNLOCKED WE WENT IN AND SAW NOT ONLY THE BUDDHA BUT ALSO A MONK PREPARING THE OFFERINGS AROUND THE STATUE - BOWLS OF HOLY WATER, BURNING CANDLES, ETC. IT WAS REALLY AWESOME TO WITNESS. WE GOT SOME GREAT PICTURES OF THE BUDDHA AND THE MONK!

AFTER EXPLORING THIKSEY, WE WENT TO HEMIS MONASTERY. THIS MONASTERY IS THE LARGEST IN LEH, BUT DUE TO SOME CONSTRUCTION WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO GET INTO PARTS OF IT. HEMIS DID HAVE A MUSEUM THAT HANK ENJOYED QUITE A BIT, AND THIS IS WHERE I LEARNED A LESSON ABOUT ONE WAY MY HUSBAND AND I ARE DIFFERENT. THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE IN THE MUSEUM, HANK TRIED TO "TEACH" ME THINGS - UGH! NOW, HE DIDN'T MEAN TO, (AND HE DOESN'T EVEN SEE IT AS TEACHING), BUT HE LIKES TO TALK ABOUT EVERY COOL THING HE SEES. "WOW, THIS IS FROM 1200A.D." "DID YOU SEE THAT BIG SCROLL OVER THERE?" ETC. I LIKE TO LOOK AND TAKE IT ALL IN - QUIETLY. BECAUSE OF THIS DIFFERENCE, OUR MUSEUM TRIP INCLUDED A LOT OF TERSE STATEMENTS LIKE "YES, I SAW IT! I AM RIGHT HERE BESIDE YOU!" LUCKILY WE LAUGHED ABOUT OUR DIFFERENT STYLES, AND HE AGREED TO PIPE-DOWN A BIT.

PERHAPS THE SINGLE BEST THING ABOUT DAY 2 IN LEH WAS THE FACT THAT IT WAS THE DALI LAMA'S BIRTHDAY! THAT'S RIGHT - THE DALI LAMA! THERE WAS A CELEBRATION FOR HIS BIRTHDAY NEARBY, SINCE THE DALI LAMA HAS A RESIDENCE IN LEH, AND OUR HOTEL MANAGER HAD ARRANGED FOR THE DRIVER TO TAKE US THERE. WELL, ON THE WAY TO THE CELEBRATION - WE HAD AN ACCIDENT. THAT'S RIGHT, YOURS TRULY WAS IN ANOTHER CAR ACCIDENT! WELL, THIS TIME, I WAS IN THE LARGER VEHICLE - A VAN - WHEN WE HIT A MOTORCYCLE! I WAS PETRIFIED! I THOUGHT WE'D KILLED THE KID FOR SURE. (I SAY KID BECAUSE THE LITTLE GUY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN OVER 17!) WE CREAMED HIM WHILE HE WAS MAKING A U-TURN OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW - ALL I KNOW IS THAT HE WAS OK AND OUR DRIVER BASICALLY TOOK HIM HOSTAGE, AND MADE HIM COME TO THE REPAIR SHOP WITH US TO HAVE THE VAN'S SIDE REPAIRED. IT WAS SHOCKING TO HIT SOMEONE AND HAVE NO COPS OR MEDICAL AID COME, BUT I HAD TO REMEMBER THAT NOT ALL COUNTRIES DO THINGS LIKE THE U.S.

WHEN WE FINALLY GOT TO THE DALI LAMA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, IT WAS AWESOME! THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF TENTS SET UP, WITH PEOPLE RELAXING WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, COOKING OUT, BASICALLY JUST ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER, AND HONORING HIS HOLINESS. IF I HAD TO RELATE IT TO SOMETHING, I WOULD SAY IT WAS LIKE A BIG CARNIVAL OR FAIR - ICE CREAM CARTS, BALLOONS, DECORATIONS - BUT WITH A BIG HEAPING OF REVERENCE AND RESPECT THROWN IN THE MIX. (I.E. BOWING AT THE DALI LAMA'S PICTURE IN HIS HOUSE, REMOVING SHOES, ETC.) WE WANTED TO STAY AT THIS CELEBRATION LONGER BECAUSE IT WAS SO RELAXING, BUT WE'D TOLD THE DRIVER WE ONLY NEEDED 1/2 HR. SO WE HAD TO LEAVE AND HEAD BACK TO THE CAR. AFTER ALL THAT EXPLORING, WE WERE READY TO HEAD BACK TO THE HOTEL FOR LUNCH. YES, WE DID ALL THAT BEFORE LUNCH! (ALTHOUGH, I WILL ADD THAT THEY DO EAT LUNCH LATER IN INDIA - AROUND 2PM.) WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO OUT AGAIN AFTER A FEW HRS. REST, BUT HANK AND I AGREED THAT WE WERE POOPED, AND WOULD PREFER TO STAY AROUND THE HOTEL THE REST OF THE DAY. BESIDES, WE WERE ONLY A COUPLE MINUTES WALK FROM THE MAIN MARKET, AND THERE WAS TONS TO SEE THERE. HANK GOT THE HOTEL MANAGER TO CANCEL THE CAR FOR THAT AFTERNOON AND WE RELAXED FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

FOR PICTURES OF OUR MONASTERY ADVENTURES, GO TO: http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/IndiaLehMonestariesTour

BONUS VIDEO: HERE IS A FUN LITTLE CLIP I TOOK OF HANK TURNING THE PRAYER WHEELS AT THIKSEY:

Leh, India - Day 1

AFTER FINISHING MY INTERNSHIP ON THE 4TH OF JULY - A FRIDAY - HANK AND I SET OUT FOR THE AIRPORT ON SATURDAY MORNING. AFTER HAVING OUR BAGS X-RAYED AND SEALED (WITH ZIP TIES), WE WERE OFF. THE PLANE RIDE WAS GREAT! SINCE WE'D BOOKED THE TICKETS ONLY A WEEK BEFORE THE TRIP, WE HAD TO BOOK THE TOP CLASS. UNLIKE IN THE U.S. THIS DIDN'T BREAK THE BANK (LUCKILY) AND THE PERKS ON THE PLANE WERE AMAZING - BREAKFAST SMOOTHIES, MENUS FOR MADE-TO-ORDER BREAKFASTS, OUTSTANDING SERVICE, ETC.

SADLY, THE FLIGHT WAS A SHORT, 55-MINS. (SINCE WE NEVER GET TO FLY FIRST CLASS, WE WERE BUMMED THAT THIS PLANE RIDE DIDN'T LAST A BIT LONGER!) THE PEOPLE AT MY OFFICE WERE RIGHT, IT ISN'T 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF WHEN YOU BEGIN TO SEE THE HIMALAYAS. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! THE VIEWS FROM THE AIR, DURING SUNRISE, WERE INDESCRIBABLE, AND I FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VIEW SUCH A PRESTINE ENVIRONMENT. WE WERE ABLE TO SNAP PICTURES ON THE FLIGHT TO LEH - NOT ALLOWED ON THE FLIGHT OUT OF LEH, BECAUSE LEH IS IN AN "UNSTABLE REGION" (KASHMIR) SO NO HAND-BAGGAGE IS ALLOWED IN THE CABIN. THE PICS. TURNED OUT REALLY WELL, AND THEY GIVE A NEAT PERSPECTIVE OF THE MOUNTAINS. OUR PILOT (A WOMAN, I MIGHT ADD) EXECUTED A PERFECT LANDING - DODGING MOUNTAINS ALL THE WHILE - AND RECEIVED THUNDERING APPLAUSE FROM THE PASSENGERS (I GUESS THEY'D HEARD THAT LANDINGS AREN'T ALWAYS THAT SMOOTH!).

HERE IS A VIDEO OF OUR AIRPLANE LANDING (MOUNTAIN DODGING, AS I LIKE TO CALL IT). I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE THIS WITH OUR LITTLE POINT AND SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERA - THAT CAMERA ROCKS!

WHEN WE STEPPED OFF THE PLANE...WOW, I CAN'T EVEN PUT IT INTO WORDS. THE LEH AIRPORT FELT LIKE ONE LITTLE LANDING STRIP SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LARGEST MOUNTAINS YOU'VE EVER SEEN! THERE WERE MOUNTAINS ON EVERY SIDE, AND THE AIR WAS A COOL 65 DEGREES OR SO (A VERY PLEASANT CHANGE FROM DELHI'S SWELTERING HEAT!). WE FOUND OUR BAGS, FILLED OUT SOME PAPERWORK TO ENTER LEH, AND FOUND OUR TAXI DRIVER (SENT BY OUR HOTEL). DURING THE RIDE TO THE HOTEL, I KEPT GRABBING HANK'S ARM AND YELLING "LOOK AT THAT! ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT?" HE KEPT ASSURING ME HE HADN'T AND WE KNEW WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT WE HAD CHOSEN THE RIGHT CITY TO END OUR INDIA TRIP. WE ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL AND WERE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE GARDEN AREA, ASKED TO SIT DOWN, AND BROUGHT HOT TEA, CRACKERS, AND COOKIES. WE WERE TOLD TO RELAX, THAT THE AIR WAS THIN AND WE NEEDED TO TAKE IT EASY THAT FIRST DAY. (ALTHOUGH WE ARRIVED AROUND 9AM - WE KNEW THAT THIS ENTIRE DAY WAS TO BE SPENT ACCLIMATIZING - A WASTED DAY, BUT WE WEREN'T COMPLAINING - WE PREFERRED NOT TO DIE FROM LACK OF OXYGEN!)

WE SPENT MOST OF THE DAY SLEEPING, ONLY COMING DOWN TO THE DINING ROOM FOR MEALS. SINCE WE HADN'T GOT MUCH SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE OUR TRIP, IT WAS ACTUALLY NICE TO BE "EXPECTED" TO WASTE THE ENTIRE DAY RELAXING! BY 4PM, WE WERE TOLD WE COULD EXPLORE THE LOCAL MARKET FOR A BIT IF WE FELT UP TO IT (A 2 MINUTE WALK FROM THE HOTEL AND AT THE SAME ELEVATION). WE DECIDED TO TRY IT OUT, AND WHEW, THE SLIGHT HILLS OF THE ROADS WERE LIKE CLIMBING EVEREST! MY HEART WAS RACING AND IT WAS HARD TO BREATH - THE FIRST TIME I'D EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS FROM THE THIN AIR SINCE LANDING IN LEH. (I NOW HAVE A NEW RESPECT FOR 90 YEAR OLDS WHO GET WINDED JUST TRYING TO GET UP THE 2 OR 3 STEPS TO REACH THEIR FRONT DOOR!) WE TOOK IT SLOW, AND WERE ABLE TO CHECK OUT A FEW SHOPS. WE TOOK TONS OF PICS. THAT FIRST DAY BECAUSE WE WERE AMAZED BY EVERY BEAUTIFUL THING WE LAID EYES ON! LEH HAS A LOT OF GREAT BUILDINGS AND SITES, BUT THEY ARE EVEN MORE AMAZING BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL SET AGAINST A HIMALAYAN BACKDROP. CAN'T BEAT THAT WITH A STICK!

THIS IS THE LINK TO THE PICS. FROM OUR FIRST DAY IN LEH: http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/IndiaLeh. SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY PICS., AND EACH OF OUR DAYS IN LEH WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS, I WILL BE BLOGGING ABOUT THE OTHER DAYS SEPARATELY.

BEYOND DELHI - FINALLY!

I'VE FINALLY GOTTEN A CHANCE TO BLOG ABOUT OUR TRAVELS SINCE HANK ARRIVED. AFTER PICKING HIM UP AT THE AIRPORT LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND GIVING HIM A FEW HOURS TO SLEEP OFF THE JET-LAG (YES, I KNOW THAT IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TIME!) WE SET OUT TO VISIT AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE. AKSHARDHAM IS A NEW TEMPLE IN DELHI - 2005 - AND IT HAS BEEN RAVED ABOUT BY MY MOTHER-IN-LAW (WELL, BY ONE OF HER CO-WORKERS) EVER SINCE WE BEGAN PLANNING OUR TRIP TO INDIA! IT WAS DEFINITELY AMAZING, AND VERY, VERY INTRICATE. MY FAVORITE PART WAS THE WRAP-AROUND ELEPHANT CARVING WHICH SURROUNDED THE ENTIRE OUTER BASE OF THE TEMPLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO NOT ALLOW CAMERAS! THE BEST I COULD DO IS INCLUDE A PICTURE I GOT FROM THE INTERNET - BUT AT LEAST IT WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE PLACE.


AFTER VISITING THE TEMPLE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE SOMETHING I HAD NOT YET FACED IN INDIA -- SOMETHING I HAD MANAGED TO AVOID FOR 5 LONG WEEKS -- SUNBURN! I WAS FRIED! I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE AS HOT AS IT WAS, AND I THOUGHT AFTER BEING HERE FIVE WEEKS, THAT I'D BUILT UP SOME BIT OF TOLERANCE TO THE SUN - WRONG! WE TOOK A HILARIOUS PIC. OF MY BURNT, SAD FACE - BUT I LEFT THE CAMERA AT THE APARTMENT, SO I CAN'T INSERT IT HERE. IT'S A SHAME TOO - HANK SAID THE PICTURE WAS THE SADDEST FACE HE'D EVER SEEN - PERFECTLY CAPTURING MY FEELING ABOUT THE BURN.

ON MONDAY, WE WERE OFF TO AGRA - THE CITY OF THE TAJ MAHAL. MY FIRM HAD HELPED ME BOOK TRAIN TICKETS, AND WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE TRAIN. (APPROXIMATELY $20 ROUND-TRIP PER PERSON - A.C. TRAIN CARS AND THE PRICE INCLUDED BREAKFAST, DINNER, A COUPLE CUPS OF HOT TEA, AND BOTTLED WATER FOR EACH OF US.) WHEN WE GOT TO AGRA WE WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE PRE-PAY TAXI BOOTH (A MUST FOR VISITORS, AS IT IS RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND YOU ARE BEING ACCOSTED FROM THE MOMENT YOU EXIT THE TRAIN DOOR!). A MAN WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP US GET A RICKSHAW TICKET FOR A RIDE TO THE TAJ MAHAL -- 50 RUPEES (ABOUT $1.20) -- AND THEN PUT US IN HIS RICKSHAW. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOOD SERVICE -- WHEN, ONLY ABOUT 100 METERS DOWN THE ROAD HE PULLED THE RICKSHAW OVER AND GAVE US A MAP, A COMMENTS BOOK, AND A SPEECH ABOUT HOW FOR 600 RUPEES HE WOULD BE OUR GUIDE ALL DAY -- SHOWING US 5 TO 6 SITES, TAKING US TO A SAFE RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH, ETC. ALTHOUGH I WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE BAIT-AND-SWITCH, $30 WAS NOT BAD, THE COMMENT BOOK WAS FULL OF "ALI WAS THE GREATEST! SHOWED US MORE THINGS THAN WE EVER WOULD HAVE FOUND ON OUR OWN!" TYPE COMMENTS, AND WE WERE ALREADY IN HIS RICKSHAW, SO WE AGREED. WELL, HE DID LIVE UP TO HIS PART OF THE DEAL (MOSTLY)- WE GOT TO SEE ALL THE MAJOR LANDMARKS IN AGRA - HE TOOK SHORT-CUTS BETWEEN THEM - AND HE TOOK US TO A VERY NICE HOTEL RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH (WHERE MANY OTHER WESTERNERS WERE DINING.) THERE WAS ONLY A BIT OF A PROBLEM WHEN WE WANTED TO END OUR "TOUR" EARLY -- AFTER SEEING ALL THE SITES, WE WANTED TO SKIP THE MARKETS (I.E. THE PLACES WERE HE GETS COMMISSION FOR BRINGING WESTERNERS!). I WAS FEELING REALLY ILL FROM ALL THE SUN - I MEAN, REALLY ILL -- AND ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS GET BACK TO THE TRAIN STATION AND WAIT ON THE TRAIN. I DID NOT CARE THAT WE WERE 2 1/2 HRS. EARLY -- I WANTED TO GO TO THE TRAIN STATION. WELL, WE HUMORED THE DRIVER BY GOING TO ONE MARKET - A CARPET MAKING PLACE (IT WAS ACTUALLY AMAZING SEEING THEM MAKE SUCH BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS - BY HAND!) - BUT AFTER THAT - I WAS READY TO GO! WELL, OUR GUIDE WAS NOT HAPPY. HIS FRIENDLY SMILE IMMEDIATELY TURNED INTO A VERY UNFRIENDLY FROWN, AND I WAS NERVOUS! HOWEVER - I WAS NOT ABOUT TO BACK DOWN! HE TRIED TO PUSH US ON THE IDEA OF THE MARKETS - SAYING "THEY ARE INSIDE, NO MORE SUN." AND "BEAUTIFUL THINGS." I TOOK CHARGE AND JUST SAID "WE WOULD LIKE TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE TRAIN STATION, NOW PLEASE. WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANYTHING ELSE. WE ARE VERY TIRED. WE ARE STILL GOING TO PAY YOU THE FULL AMOUNT - 600 RUPEES - IF YOU TAKE US BACK NOW." AFTER SEVERAL BACK AND FORTH EXCHANGES, HE GRUMBLED TO HIMSELF IN HINDI AND FINALLY TOOK US TO THE TRAIN STATION (THANKFULLY!). AGRA WAS A HARD TRIP - BETWEEN THE ARGUING WITH THE DRIVER AND THE HEAT EXHAUSTION - WHICH I NOW KNOW I HAD AS I WAS SICK FOR DAYS AFTERWARDS! (THANK GOD I DID NOT LET THAT DRIVER PUSH US ANY FARTHER IN THE JOURNEY -- I MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY DIED!) IT WAS TOUGH - BUT IT WAS GREAT TO GET TO SEE THE TAJ MAHAL AND OTHER LANDMARKS. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE BEST PICS.
CLASSIC TAJ MAHAL PIC:
(YES, THE PICS. YOU ALWAYS SEE ARE EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!)

HERE IS A SHOT OF ONE OF THE SIDES OF THE TAJ UP CLOSE:

AWESOME LAWNMOWER AT THE TAJ!:
(DON'T WORRY DADS - WE ARE GETTING ONE FOR EACH OF YOU NEXT FATHER'S DAY!)

AGRA FORT:
(NEAT, AS FAR AS FORTS GO - BUT I WAS TOO SICK FROM THE HEAT TO CARE AT THIS POINT.)

HANK REALLY LOVED THE FORT THOUGH:
(I GUESS I WAS RIGHT - FORTS ARE FOR BOYS!)

AFTER TAKING THE TRAIN BACK TO DELHI, WE GOT A FEW HOURS SLEEP THAT NIGHT (A VERY FEW) AND WERE UP AGAIN AT 5AM TO GET READY FOR ANOTHER LONG DAY-TRIP - THIS TIME TO RISHIKESH. RISHIKESH IS A CITY WHERE YOU CAN VISIT THE HOLY GANGA (THE GANGES RIVER) AND IT IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE RIVER IS THE CLEANEST - AS IS HAS JUST RUN OUT OF THE HIMALAYAS. WE WERE TOLD THAT RISHIKESH WOULD BE GREEN AND LUSH, AND THAT WE SHOULD ENJOY IT, BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT SEE "GREENERY" IN LEH (LEH IS BARREN MOUNTAIN LAND - NOT A TREE FOR MILES!). WELL, THEY WERE RIGHT - IT WAS VERY GREEN, AND WE REALLY ENJOYED SEEING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN INDIA - THE GANGES. (I'M GLAD WE DECIDED TO GO - EVEN AFTER THE HARD, HOT DAY IN AGRA - BUT WE SURE PAID FOR IT THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS WHEN WE WERE STILL VERY SICK FROM THE SUN OVER-EXPOSURE!) HERE ARE A FEW PICS. FROM OUR TRIP TO RISHIKESH:

FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE HIMALAYAN FOOTHILLS (ON THE RIDE TO RISHIKESH):

THE HOLY GANGES!!! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!

LAKSHMAN JHULA BRIDGE (FAMOUS SUSPENSION BRIDGE OVER THE GANGES):

ONE OF THE MANY MONKEYS IN RISHIKESH:

(ACTUALLY THEY ARE ALL OVER INDIA)

YOU MIGHT BE THINKING "OH CUTE, THERE ARE MONKEYS THERE" - BUT NOT ME. I KEPT MY EYE ON EVERY MONKEY AROUND! WE'D BEEN WARNED THAT THEY ARE MEAN, AND CAN BITE OR JUMP ON YOU (FROM ABOVE) AT ANY MOMENT. IN FACT, ONE OF THE INTERNS ACROSS TOWN WAS BITTEN BY A BABY MONKEY WHILE VISITING A TEMPLE AND HAD TO GET MANY, MANY PAINFUL SHOTS IN THE PALM OF HER HAND. OUCH! I MADE SURE TO GIVE THEM WIDE BERTH AND NOT TO SMILE AT THEM! (APPARENTLY, THEY CAN GET "CRAZED" AT THE SIGHT OF TEETH -- DON'T ASK ME WHY.)

HERE ARE A COUPLE PICS. OF HANK AND ME DIPPING INTO THE GANGES

(OK, SO OUR "DIP" WAS ONLY OUR TOES - BUT WE CONTEND THAT IT STILL COUNTS):

ALTHOUGH WE ONLY HAD A FEW HOURS IN RISHIKESH, IT WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME - WE WERE EXHAUSTED!!! WE COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HOME. WE WENT BACK TO THE TRAIN STATION EARLY, AND THE WAIT ON THE PLATFORM HAD TO BE THE LONGEST HOUR OF MY LIFE - BUT WE FINALLY MADE IT. WE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING A RIDE FROM THE DELHI TRAIN STATION TO OUR APARTMENT -- A COUPLE OF JERK RICKSHAW DRIVERS WERE FOLLOWING US AROUND TELLING EACH DRIVER NOT TO TAKE US BECAUSE THERE WAS A RICKSHAW "STRIKE." (THERE WAS NO SUCH THING - THEY WERE JUST PLAYING GAMES WITH US BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T PAY THE REDICULOUS 350 RUPEES THEY REQUESTED. NOTE: WE PAID 40 TO GET TO THE STATION THAT MORNING. THESE GUYS WANTED 350!!!! BUTT-HEADS!) I ENDED UP GETTING REALLY SCARED AND FRUSTRATED AND WAS ALMOST IN TEARS WHEN A BICYCLE RICKSHAW OFFERED US A RIDE HOME. THERE YOU HAVE THE STORY OF HOW WE TRIED SOMETHING WE'D NEVER PLANNED TO TRY: A BICYCLE RICKSHAW. IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGH -- ALTHOUGH IT WAS PAINFULLY SLOW. (I MEAN, HOW FAST CAN ONE LITTLE 5' TALL MAN PEDAL A BIKE WITH 2 ADULTS AND BAGGAGE ON THE BACK!) ANYWAY, WE FINALLY GOT HOME, AND FOR ONCE, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO WORK! (AT LEAST THERE IS CONSTANT A.C. IN THE OFFICE AND I GET TO SIT DOWN ALL DAY -- NO WALKING/HIKING IN OUTRAGEOUS HEAT, GETTING HEAT STROKE!)

TOMORROW MORNING WE ARE FLYING OFF TO LEH. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TRIP AND HOPE THAT EVERYTHING GOES WELL DURING OUR 4 DAYS THERE. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT WE ADJUST TO THE ALTITUDE QUICKLY, SO THAT WE CAN GET OUT AND SEE SOME OF THE MOUNTAINS AND BUDDIST MONESTARIES. I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE WILL BE ANY MORE BLOGS OR PICTURES UNTIL WE ARE BACK IN THE U.S. TODAY IS MY LAST DAY IN THE OFFICE (WHERE I USUALLY HAVE INTERNET) AND THE APARTMENT'S "SOMETIMES THERE" SIGNAL IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BLOG OR UPLOAD PICS. I WILL BE SURE TO PUT UP SOME PICTURES OF LEH AFTER WE GET BACK. WE FLY BACK TO THE U.S. ON JULY 10TH. SEE YOU SOON!

THIS IS A TEST…THIS IS ONLY A TEST

THAT’S WHAT I KEEP TELLING MYSELF! THIS WEEK HAS BEEN QUITE EVENTFUL – STILL NO WORKING SHOWER (HAVING TO DART INTO OTHER ROOMS WHEN NO ONE’S IN THEM TO SHOWER – AND THAT ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES!), MY INDIAN CELL PHONE HAS BEEN CUT OFF (THE COMPANY IS TAKING THEIR SWEET TIME WITH RESTORING SERVICE), AND LAST NIGHT I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO INTERNET SIGNAL IN MY ROOM (SO WITH NO PHONE AND NO INTERNET THERE WAS NO TALKING TO HANKO ALL DAY!). BASICALLY, IT WAS JUST NO GOOD!

I HAVE BEEN WONDERING IF THIS IS SOME KIND OF TEST. I MEAN, THINGS ARE JUST ABOUT TO GET WAY BETTER – HANK WILL BE HERE IN A LITTLE UNDER 36HRS – BUT THINGS SEEM TO BE GETTING WORSE AND WORSE UNTIL THEN. WELL, I HAVE TO TAKE THAT BACK AND SAY THAT I AM IN NO WAY HAVING A BAD TIME. IN FACT, I’M ACTUALLY STILL REALLY LOVING IT HERE. JUST, THE HEADACHES AT MY APARTMENT ARE STARTING TO DRIVE ME NUTS! ON THE DAYS WHEN I CAN’T GET A SHOWER IN SOMEONE ELSE’S ROOM (WHICH IS AS GROSS AS IT SOUNDS BY THE WAY) – I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO MAKE DUE WITH THE FAUCET THAT IS UNDER MY SHOWER HEAD (ABOUT 1 ½ FEET OFF THE GROUND). NOW, I AM NOT AS FLEXIBLE AS I ONCE WAS (IN MY YOUNGER DAYS) SO WASHING MY NOW SUPER-LONG HAIR IS QUITE A CHALLENGE! I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SHIFTING ROOMS LAST NIGHT – THAT’S WHAT I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY MORNING ANYWAY – BUT WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL THE ROOMS WERE FULL. UGH! SINCE THEY WERE ALL OCCUPIED – NO WAY TO GET IN FOR A SHOWER – HELLO, MR. FAUCET!

ANYWAY, I AM SUPPOSED TO BE SHIFTING ROOMS WHEN I GET BACK TO THE APARTMENT TODAY, AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO MOVE THE MINI FRIDGE FROM MY CURRENT ROOM TO THE NEW ONE. LET’S PRAY THAT HAPPENS! MY CURRENT ROOM IS THE ONLY ONE WITH A FRIDGE AND BEING SO UNUSED TO THE HEAT HERE I KEEP A CONSTANT SUPPLY OF BOTTLED WATER IN THERE! ALSO, I REALLY NEED IT TO KEEP FOOD. SINCE I DON’T HAVE A KITCHEN, I ALREADY HAVE TO BUY MY MEALS FROM RESTAURANTS – WITHOUT A FRIDGE THAT WOULD MEAN SOMEHOW MANAGING TO GET FRESH TAKE OUT FOR EVERY MEAL! NOT ONLY WOULD THAT BE A SUPER HEADACHE – BUT IT WOULD BE OUTRAGEOUSLY COSTLY!

I AM GETTING READY TO GIVE A PRESENTATION AT WORK – ABOUT AN HOUR FROM NOW. THE PRESENTATION IS TO THE ENTIRE OFFICE (ABOUT 15 ATTORNEYS PLUS INTERNS) SO I’M HOPING IT GOES WELL. I’M DOING IT ON INCORPORATION OF BUSINESSES IN THE U.S., SO HOPEFULLY, WITH HAVING PICKED A U.S. TOPIC, THERE WON’T BE ANYONE SHOWING ME UP WITH HOW MUCH THEY KNOW (OR HOW INCORRECT THE INFO. I’M GIVING THEM ACTUALLY IS!). ONCE I FINISH THIS PRESENTATION, I FEEL LIKE THERE WILL BE A BIG SENSE OF RELIEF! I AM ONLY WORKING 3 DAYS NEXT WEEK – MY LAST WEEK – BECAUSE MY BOSS APPROVED 2 DAYS OFF FOR HANK AND ME TO TAKE DAY TRIPS. ONE DAY WE WILL BE GOING TO AGRA TO SEE THE TAJ MAHAL, AND THEN THE OTHER WE WILL BE SPENDING IN A CITY CALLED RISHIKESH VISITING THE GANGES RIVER (OR “THE HOLY GANGES” AS THEY CALL IT HERE). I AM SO EXCITED TO GET OUT AND SEE THESE MAJOR LANDMARKS, AND EVEN MORE EXCITED THAT HANK GETS TO SEE THEM WITH ME. SEEING THEM IN PICTURES IS JUST NOT THE SAME – ALTHOUGH…NEVER FEAR – FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FLYING OVER WITH HANK, MANY PICTURES WILL BE TAKEN.

RUBBER NECKING – IT’S NOT JUST FOR ACCIDENTS ANYMORE!

THE TITLE OF THIS BLOG REFERS TO THE CONSTANT RUBBER-NECKING (TURNING YOUR HEAD TO STARE AS YOU DRIVE/WALK BY) THAT OCCURS WHENEVER I TRAVEL DOWN AN INDIAN ROAD. “IS IT STILL THAT BAD?” YOU MIGHT ASK. WELL, LET’S JUST SAY, WHEN I’M OUTSIDE I OFTEN THINK “MAN, I MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN TO COVER UP MY THIRD HEAD THIS MORNING!” ALTHOUGH YOU’D THINK I WOULD BE ALARMED BY BEING STARED AT LIKE A PORKCHOP, MY REAL WORRY IS THAT THE DUDE PASSING ME ON A MOTORCYCLE IS (1) GOING TO CRASH BECAUSE HE’S NOT LOOKING WHERE HE’S GOING, OR (2) GOING TO SNAP HIS NECK BECAUSE HE HAS TWISTED IT BEYOND THE NORMAL RANGE OF MOTION. NEITHER HAS HAPPENED YET – BUT THERE’S STILL TIME!

SO, YESTERDAY WHILE HAVING LUNCH WITH THE OTHERS IN THE OFFICE, ONE OF THE YOUNG FEMALE ATTORNEYS (PROBABLY MY BEST FRIEND IN THE OFFICE) ASKED ME “ARE YOU IN A ‘LOVE MARRIAGE’?” NOW, AFTER FIVE WEEKS IN INDIA, I KNOW WHAT A “LOVE MARRIAGE” IS (A MARRIAGE FOR LOVE RATHER THAN AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE) SO I WASN’T REALLY SHOCKED AT THE QUESTION, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS DEEPLY SADDENED. SHE WAS ASKING SO SINCERELY, AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO GROW UP THINKING THAT THERE IS NO OTHER KIND OF MARRIAGE – EVEN IF THE LOVE DOESN’T LAST, WE ALWAYS EXPECT IT TO BE THERE AT FIRST – IT WAS A STARK REALIZATION. I TOLD HER YES, THAT I WAS IN A “LOVE MARRIAGE,” AND AFTER WE TALKED A LITTLE, I ASKED IF THEY (THE 4 YOUNG FEMALES I WAS SITTING WITH) BEING HYPER-EDUCATED, AND ALREADY IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD MAKING THEIR OWN MONEY, WOULD STILL HAVE ARRANGED MARRIAGES. THEY SAID IT WOULD DEPEND – THAT DESPITE THE SYSTEM, THEY HAD RELATIVES IN “LOVE MARRIAGES,” BUT THAT YOU STILL ESSENTIALLY NEEDED TO FIND SOMEONE “SUITABLE” (I SUPPOSE BY YOUR PARENTS’ STANDARDS). ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THERE ARE POSITIVES IN THE ARRANGED MARRIAGE SYSTEM – SOCIETAL STABILITY FOR EXAMPLE, LOWER RATES OF DIVORCE, ETC., I CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL A SENSE OF DESPAIR FOR THESE WOMEN. WHEN I THINK THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN MARRIED OFF TO A “SUITABLE FELLOW” YEARS AGO - MISSING OUT ON A LIFE WITH HANK, THE ONLY PERSON WHO REALLY EVER UNDERSTOOD ME COMPLETELY - I THANK GOD THAT FOR BETTER OR WORSE, “LOVE MARRIAGES” DO EXIST.

OK, ENOUGH MUSH - ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOTE: THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN BEING THE MOST HATED EMPLOYEE IN YOUR OFFICE IS BEING THE MOST LOVED. I KNOW YOU ARE READING THAT STATEMENT AND THINKING – “HAVE YOU BEEN SMOKING THE CRACK PIPE, APRIL?” BUT LET ME TELL YOU, BEING THE ONE EVERYONE DOTES ON (PERHAPS BECAUSE I’M A HARDWORKER – MORE LIKELY BECAUSE I’VE COME TO WORK HERE FROM SO FAR AWAY) IS REALLY HARD.

THE MOOD AT WORK HAS BEEN TENSE LATELY - TO SAY THE LEAST. THE ASSOCIATES (ATTORNEYS WHO ARE NOT PARTNERS) IN THE OFFICE, GOT “BLASTED” BY THE BOSS ABOUT A WEEK AGO. (“BLASTED” IS WHAT THEY CALL IT HERE – YELLING, THREATS TO FIRE, ETC.) THE BOSS HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON BUSINESS FOR OVER A WEEK AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK – WELL, LET’S JUST SAY HELL HATH NO FURY! THEN TODAY, THE OTHER FEMALE INTERN (AN INDIA NATIVE) WAS CALLED INTO THE BOSS'S OFFICE AS SOON AS SHE STROLLED INTO THE OFFICE – AROUND 10AM. APPARENTLY SHE WAS YELLED AT FOR COMING IN BETWEEN 9:30 AND 10 EACH DAY (THE OFFICE STARTS AT 9) AND TOLD SINCE SHE’D TAKEN IT UPON HERSELF TO SHORTEN THE LENGTH OF HER INTERNSHIP FROM 2 MONTHS TO 4 WEEKS – SHE WOULD ONLY BE WORKING AT THE FIRM FOR 3 WEEKS. (I.E. THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE NEEDED AFTER NEXT MONDAY. YIKES!) WELL THAT POOR GIRL CAME INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM TO TELL ME ABOUT IT – FIGHTING BACK TEARS – ASKING WHY THE BOSS HAD TO TREAT HER LIKE THAT, AND I FELT SO BAD FOR HER. :(

ABOUT 45 MINS. LATER (AFTER THE OTHER INTERN HAD GONE TO ANOTHER PART OF THE OFFICE TO WORK) THE BOSS BURSTS IN MY DOOR AND SAYS “APRIL, COME TO MY OFFICE!” WELL, I WAS ALREADY STARTLED BY THE “BURSTING IN” BUT I WAS THINKING “OH BOY, THIS CAN'T BE GOOD.” WELL, TURNS OUT THE BOSS WAS SO EXCITED – SHE WANTED TO GIVE ME AN ART BOOK AND A DVD TO CHECK OUT BEFORE MY TRIP TO LEH WITH HANK. SHE KEPT GOING ON ABOUT THE BEAUTY OF LEH, AND HOW EXCITED SHE WAS THAT I WAS GOING THERE. WHEN I LEFT HER OFFICE I WAS CARRYING THIS HUGE ART BOOK – MAYBE 20”X20” AND A FEW PEOPLE SAW ME WITH IT. I FELT SO BAD. THAT FEELING LIKE, I DON’T WANT TO BE MOM’S FAVORITE CHILD, I JUST WANT HER TO BE NICE TO EVERYONE EQUALLY! I GUESS I SHOULD COUNT MY BLESSINGS, BUT I JUST HATE TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE SUFFER. (AND I KNOW IT IS SALT IN A WOUND TO SEE SOMEONE ELSE BEING CONSTANTLY DOTED ON!) I JUST HAVE TO HOPE THAT THEY WON’T THROW ME INTO A PIT AND THEN SELL ME TO PASSERS-BY – LIKE JOSEPH’S BROTHERS DID TO HIM IN THE BIBLE!

PICS. AND OTHER SUCH GOODIES

I KNOW, I KNOW…LONG TIME NO BLOG. WELL, I HAVEN’T FELT LIKE WRITING, SO I HAVEN’T. ALTHOUGH I HAD A PRETTY FUN WEEKEND, I’VE BEEN HAVING ANOTHER SEVERE BOUT OF INSOMNIA – WHICH REALLY SUCKS WHEN YOU WORK ON THE COMPUTER ALL DAY, IN A QUIET OFFICE (ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO FALL ASLEEP WHILE WORKING, AND THAT DOES NOT GIVE THE BEST IMPRESSION!). I’M NOT SURE WHY I’M HAVING THE TROUBLE SLEEPING. I HAD THIS ISSUE THE FIRST WEEK I WAS HERE, BUT THEN FOR 3 WEEKS OR SO, I’VE BEEN SLEEPING LIKE A BABY. HANK SAID MAYBE I’M EXCITED ABOUT HIS RETURN AND OUR TRAVELS – BUT I DOUBT THAT IS IT. (NOT THAT I’M NOT EXCITED, JUST THAT – I’M CERTAINLY NOT THINKING ABOUT IT AT 3AM – THE ONLY THING I AM THINKING IS “GO TO SLEEP, GO TO SLEEP, GO TO SLEEP.” MAYBE IT HAS BEEN A COMBO OF THE ANTIBIOTICS, VITAMINS, ETC. I’VE BEEN ON FOR MY SORE THROAT, OR MAYBE IT HAS BEEN THE FEW SODAS I’VE HAD RECENTLY (I NORMALLY DON’T DRINK THEM). I DON’T KNOW. ALL I DO KNOW IS THAT FOR SOMEONE WHO CONSIDERS SLEEP ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE ACTIVITIES ON EARTH (I’M A 9 HRS. A NIGHT KINDA’ GIRL!) INSOMNIA BITES THE BIG ONE!

ON A MORE PLEASANT NOTE, ONLY ABOUT 5 MORE DAYS UNTIL HANKO GETS BACK! WOO HOO! I CAN’T WAIT! I AM EXCITED TO SEE THE TAJ MAHAL – PRAY FOR A SUNNY DAY (FOR DECENT PICTURES)! WE’VE ALSO PLANNED OUR TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS – GOING TO A CITY CALLED LEH (“LAY”) IN THE UPPERMOST PART OF INDIA. THE WORST PART (HOPEFULLY) WILL BE THE DAY OR MORE IT TAKES TO GET OVER THE DRASTIC ELEVATION CHANGE (OVER 3,000 METERS UP) – OTHER THAN THAT – LEH IS SUPPOSED TO BE PHENOMENAL! A PEACEFUL, CITY OF BUDDISTS (BUDDISTS = NO VIOLENCE) – WITH LOTS OF MONESTARIES, MARKETS, AND COWS, ALL PLOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF MOUNTAINS. I’M HOPING THAT WE CRAZY AMERICANS WILL FIND IT AS WONDERFUL AS THEY DO! I HAVE HOPE THOUGH – APPRENTLY THE TWO INTERNS FROM MY SCHOOL WHO CAME HERE LAST SUMMER CHOSE LEH AS THEIR MOUNTAIN CITY ADVENTURE AND AFTER ABOUT 5 DAYS THERE – THEY EXTENDED THEIR TRIP ANOTHER WEEK IN ORDER TO STAY IN LEH AND DO MORE HIKING, EXPLORING, ETC. ALTHOUGH HANK AND I DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF EXTENDING OUR TRIP ANY LONGER THAN ALREADY PLANNED – THAT STORY BODES WELL FOR THE BEAUTY AND MAJESTY OF LEH. EXPECT GREAT PICTURES!

I'VE INCLUDED A FEW CHOICE PICS. FROM LAST WEEKEND WITHIN THIS BLOG. WE MADE IT TO DILLI HAAT AND SAW ALL THE CRAFTS – IT WAS BASICALLY AN INDIAN VERSION OF A FLEA MARKET (WHICH I LOVE) SO WOO HOO! THEN, ON SUNDAY, CURREY AND I WENT TO LODI GARDENS – A BEAUTIFUL, SERENE ESCAPE SOUTH OF WHERE I’M STAYING. (PARK-LIKE AREA BUILT TO MARK THE TOMBS OF A FEW IMPORTANT PEOPLE.) THE FULL COLLECTION OF PICS. FROM THIS WEEKEND CAN BE ACCESSED HERE: http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/DilliHaatAndLodiGardens

YEA FOR BROWN!

WELL, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT MY TATTOO DARKENED UP! DON'T GET ME WRONG - ORANGE IS OK - IF THAT'S THE COLOR YOU WANTED. (IN FACT, LOOKING BACK AT THE PICS. I'M THINKING THE ORANGE WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY NICE!) HOWEVER, HENNA TATTOOS ARE NOT ORANGE -- THEY ARE A BROWN SKIN STAIN, AND WHEN MINE WAS ORANGE - I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED. WELL, IT IS BROWN NOW - I GUESS THEY DARKENED UP OVER TIME, SO I AWOKE TO A PLEASANT SURPRISE THIS MORNING. I'VE INCLUDED TWO PICS. SO YOU CAN SEE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN LAST NIGHT AND TODAY.

THE SHOT BELOW IS JUST A BONUS - BECAUSE I REALLY LIKED THE ANGLE AND THE WAY IT TURNED OUT.

GOAT PARTY

TONIGHT WAS THE “GOAT PARTY.” WHAT IS A GOAT PARTY YOU MIGHT WONDER – WELL, IT IS A PARTY WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOREIGN INTERNS WHO ARE AMAZED AT THE FACT THAT IN INDIA YOU CAN ORDER A WHOLE COOKED GOAT. ONE WAS ORDERED AND RETRIEVED BY THE BOYS VIA MOTOR RICKSHAW – I BET THAT WAS AN INTERESTING RIDE! THE GOAT (ALONG WITH A FEW TASTY BEVERAGES AND DESSERTS) MADE FOR A GREAT FEAST – OH, AND THE GOAT WAS STUFFED – WITH RICE, BOILED EGGS, AND EVEN CHICKEN (AS IF AN ENTIRE GOAT WAS NOT ENOUGH MEAT ALREADY!) MOST EVERYONE WORE INDIAN ATTIRE AND THERE WAS A BIT OF DANCING (NOT YOURS TRULY OF COURSE!). ALTHOUGH I LEFT A BIT EARLY - SINCE I HAD A LONG RIDE HOME AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO NOT OVER DO IT AFTER BEING SICK, I HAVE TO SAY THAT ALL-IN-ALL IT WAS A VERY FUN EVENING.

BEFORE THE PARTY, I MET UP WITH CURREY IN GREEN PARK (NOT REALLY A PARK AT ALL – IT’S A MARKET NEAR THE OTHER INTERNS’ SIDE OF TOWN). WE HAD DECIDED EARLIER IN THE DAY TO GET HENNA TATTOOS, SO BEFORE HEADING THE ROOFTOP WHERE THE PARTY WAS HELD, WE STOPPED ON THE STREET, SAT ON LITTLE BUCKETS, AND SPENT THE BEST 30 RUPEES WE’VE SPENT SO FAR! (IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HENNA TATTOOS ARE - DON'T FREAK - THEY ARE TEMPORARY TATTOO DESIGNS - USUALLY ON YOUR HANDS OR ARMS - THAT LAST A COUPLE WEEKS - FADING OVER TIME.) I’VE INCLUDED A FEW PICS. FROM THE EVENING IN THIS BLOG – BUT THE FULL COLLECTION IS ONLINE AT: http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/TattooGoatParty

THE PLAN FOR TOMORROW IS TO TRY AND GET TO DILLI HAAD – THE CRAFTS MARKET WE MISSED LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. IF WE GO I WILL TAKE MY CAMERA WITH ME. I KNOW YOU ARE ALL PICTURE ADDICTS! (SOME OF YOU SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A REHAB FACILITY!) I WILL TRY TO CAPTURE THE INTERESTING THINGS AROUND ME BUT NOT GET TRAMPLED BY THE COWS OR THE BEGGERS!
P.S. TINY TOTALLY TRIED TO CRAWL UP MY LEG TONIGHT. BAD TINY!

ARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!

1.) SORE THROAT - HURTS TO SWALLOW (4 DAYS NOW)
2.) NO WATER FROM THE FAUCETS (I.E. NO SHOWER BEFORE WORK!)
3.) ASSIGNMENT I CANNOT FIGURE OUT (THAT NONE OF THE OTHER, INDIAN, INTERNS CAN EITHER!) - KEEPING ME AT WORK AND AWAY FROM THE DOCTOR!

THAT IS THE SUMMARY OF MY DAY SO FAR. GREAT, HUH?! I THOUGHT THIS LITTLE SORENESS IN MY THROAT WOULD PASS - IT HAS NOT. AND IN A COUNTRY WHERE EVERY DISH IS SPICY -- MEALTIMES ARE KILLING IT! (WHEN I EAT, THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY THROAT BURNS LIKE SALT IN A WOUND.) YES, I AM GOING TO THE DOCTOR AS SOON AS I CAN. I HAVE GIVEN UP HOPE THAT IT WILL CURE ITSELF. TO ADD TO THIS EXCITEMENT, THERE WAS NO WATER THIS MORNING AT MY APARTMENT -- EXTREMELY ODD. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH WATER MY ENTIRE STAY -- UNTIL THIS MORNING. OVER THE SPAN OF 1 1/2 HRS. I KEPT TRYING THE FAUCETS, BUT NOTHING WAS COMING OUT EXCEPT REALLY LOUD, CLANKING SOUNDS. SO, I DID NOT GET TO SHOWER BEFORE WORK - YUCK! I AM OFFICIALLY THE SMELLY LADY. (AND...WE ALL KNOW THAT A HOT SHOWER CAN HELP EASE A SORE THROAT A BIT -- OH WELL, NO HELP FOR ME.)

THIS IS WHAT TAKES THE CAKE -- AFTER GETTING DRESSED FOR WORK AND WASHING MY FACE / BRUSHING MY TEETH WITH BOTTLED WATER!, I CAUGHT ONE OF THE GUYS WHO RUNS THE APARTMENT AND BROUGHT HIM IN MY ROOM TO SHOW HIM THE "NO WATER SITUATION." WELL LOW-AND-BEHOLD -- IT WAS FLOWIN' JUST FINE. UGHHHH! OF STINKIN' COURSE! (I WAS VERY ANNOYED, AND HE PROBABLY THOUGHT I WAS NUTS!) ANYWAY, I REALLY WANTED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND SEE ABOUT GETTING MEDICINE FOR MY SORE THROAT BUT I HAVE STILL NOT FINISHED MY ASSIGNMENT FROM YESTERDAY, SO HERE I AM AT WORK - CONFUSED AS EVER. (GUESS I WILL HEAD TO THE DOCTOR IN THE MORNING - SINCE MY BOSS HAS TO HAVE THIS INFO. BY TONIGHT, I WILL PROBABLY BE HERE TILL THE END OF THE WORKDAY AGAIN.)

OH WHAT I WOULDN'T DO FOR SOME HOT CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, MY FLUFFY, QUEEN-SIZED BED, 1 JACK D. TO SNUGGLE WITH, AND "NURSE GAY 2" (OR MOM) TO CARE FOR ME. AHHH, THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE!

TIME IS NOT MY FRIEND!

THE TIME ZONE DIFFERENCE OFFICIALLY DRIVES ME NUTS! THIS LITTLE PROBLEM BEGAN A BIT OVER A WEEK AGO! I MISS HANK (AND OTHERS) SO MUCH, AND THE FACT THAT OUR WAKING HOURS ARE ALMOST EXACTLY OPPOSITE DOES NOT HELP WITH STAYING IN TOUCH. ALTHOUGH I’VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO CALL PEOPLE BACK HOME PRETTY FREQUENTLY – HECK, PROBABLY ALL I CAN AFFORD! – I WISH I COULD TALK TO THEM MORE. I GET SOME BREAKS DURING THE DAY WHERE I WOULD LOVE TO CHAT WITH HANK ONLINE OR CALL HIM ON THE PHONE, BUT SINCE IT IS USUALLY AROUND 3AM U.S. TIME, I TRY TO RESTRAIN MYSELF. (“TRY” BEING THE KEY WORD IN THAT SENTENCE.) I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HIM AGAIN! AT LEAST IN THAT RESPECT, THIS HAS BEEN THE LONGEST FEW WEEKS OF MY LIFE! ALTHOUGH I LOVE IT HERE AND AM 100% GLAD I CAME – IT WOULD BE A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER IF I HAD HANK HERE WITH ME. (AND OF COURSE JACK D. TOO – ALTHOUGH FROM THE LOOKS OF THE STARVED AND BROKEN STREET DOGS, MOST PLACES PROBABLY WOULDN’T ALLOW A SPOILED INDOOR PUP LIKE OURS ANYWAY!)

ON A POSITIVE NOTE – HANKO WILL BE BY MY SIDE IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS – 11 DAYS TO BE EXACT! THAT IS ABOUT A WEEK EARLIER THAN WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED. WE HAD ALWAYS PLANNED FOR HIM TO RETURN TO INDIA AT THE END OF MY TRIP TO TRAVEL WITH ME AND THEN BRING ME HOME SAFELY, BUT SINCE IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD TO BE APART, WE DECIDED TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO ABOUT GETTING HIM BACK HERE SOONER. LUCKILY FOR US, HANK’S BOSS ROCKS AND SAID THAT HANK COULD WORK ADDITIONAL HOURS IN ADVANCE AND “BANK” THEM FOR THE FUTURE. BASICALLY, HE’S WORKING EXTRA TIME NOW, AND THEN HE CAN TAKE MORE “VACATION” DAYS (WHICH HE DOESN’T REALLY HAVE) LATER. SO, HANK WILL BE COMING BACK TO INDIA EARLY, AND THAT WILL GIVE US ALMOST 2 FULL WEEKS TOGETHER TO SEE THINGS IN DELHI AND THEN TRAVEL TO THE TAJ MAHAL AND THE HIMALAYAS. I AM SOOOO EXCITED!

THE ONLY THING IS – I’M HAVING A HARD TIME WANTING TO GET OUT AND DO THINGS THESE DAYS. I’M BASICALLY JUST CHECKING OFF THE DAYS UNTIL HE GETS HERE – WANTING THE TIME TO PASS QUICKLY. BUT THAT IS NOT HOW I WANT THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO BE – I MEAN, THEY ARE STILL A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF MY TRIP (ALMOST 1/3) AND I DO WANT TO GET OUT AND DO NEW THINGS. IT WILL JUST TAKE A BIT MORE DISCIPLINE ON MY PART – REALLY FORCING MYSELF TO GET OUT WHEN ALL I WANT TO DO IS STAY IN, GO TO SLEEP, AND CHECK OFF ONE MORE DAY ON MY “COUNTDOWN TO HANK’S RETURN” CALENDAR.

WHAT AN ADVENTURE!

I’VE STILL NEVER SEEN DILLI HAAT – THE CRAFTS MARKET I’VE BEEN ACHING TO GO TO. APPARENTLY MONSOON SEASON IS HERE 3 WEEKS EARLY THIS YEAR. (LUCKY ME!) SINCE IT RAINED ALL DAY ON SUNDAY, MY FRIENDS AND I WERE NOT ABLE TO GO TO DILLI HAAT, SO WE OPTED FOR A RELAXED MOVIE AT THE MALL INSTEAD. WE DECIDED TO GO TO THE MALL A BIT EARLY AND BROWSE/SHOP UNTIL THE MOVIE. AFTER HAVING TO PAY AN OUTRAGEOUS PRICE FOR A RICKSHAW – THEY WERE TOTALLY WORKING ME OVER BECAUSE I WAS STANDING IN THE RAIN AND THEY KNEW THEY COULD – I WAS IN A RICKSHAW ACCIDENT. DON’T FREAK, I’M FINE; HOWEVER, IT DID SHAKE ME UP QUITE A BIT. (ENOUGH THAT I CALLED HANKO AT APPROX. 3AM U.S. TIME TO FIGURE OUT IF I NEEDED TO GET CHECKED OUT FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES.) BASICALLY, MY RICKSHAW (REMEMBER, ABOUT AS STURDY AS A GOLF CART) WAS SLAMMED IN THE BACK BY A VAN. OK, MAYBE SLAMMED IS A BIT STRONG, BUT IT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO KNOCK US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US, AND I BELIEVE HIM INTO THE GUY IN FRONT OF HIM. WELL, IMMEDIATELY MY DRIVER JUMPED OUT AND RAN UP TO THE VAN TO BEGIN A VERBAL LASHING OF THE DRIVER. LUCKY FOR ME, WE WERE OUTSIDE THE MALL I WAS GOING TO – I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AND A CROWD WAS STARTING TO GATHER (NO ONE SPOKE ENGLISH OF COURSE), SO I WENT UP TO MY DRIVER (WHO WAS STILL YELLING) PUSHED MY MONEY INTO HIS HAND AND WALKED TO THE MALL ENTRANCE. AFTER TALKING TO HANK A BIT, MY FRIENDS GOT TO THE MALL AND I CALMED DOWN AND WAS OK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. WE DECIDED THAT I SHOULD ONLY GO TO THE HOSPITAL IF I BECAME SORE (MAYBE THE NEXT DAY). I MEAN, REALLY I WAS FINE – DIDN’T EVEN HIT THE SEAT IN FRONT OF ME.

ONCE I FINALLY MADE IT INSIDE THE MALL AND BEGAN SHOPPING WITH MY FRIENDS I FOUND THE SCARF THAT SAVED MY TRIP!

PICTURES OF SAID SCARF BELOW:

NOW, THE PICTURES DO NOT DO IT JUSTICE. THIS SCARF IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COLOR I HAVE SEEN SINCE I GOT TO INDIA. IT IS A GORGEOUS AQUA GREEN/BLUE, AND IT HAS LITTLE TINY RHINESTONES SPACED THROUGHOUT THE FABRIC (WHICH REFLECT THE LIGHT). I PASSED IT NO LESS THAN 5 TIMES – TRYING TO RESIST THE PURCHASE. (THE TAG HAD A NUMBER I CALCULATED TO BE EQUIVALENT TO ALMOST $50 U.S. – A BIT OUT OF MY BUDGET FOR A SCARF!) AFTER TRYING ON A FEW TOPS THAT DIDN’T FIT RIGHT, I DECIDED I COULDN’T RESIST THE SCARF ANYMORE!!! I DECIDED TO BUY IT! WHEN I GOT TO THE COUNTER AND REACHED FOR MY CREDIT CARD…IT WAS GONE! NOT ONLY MY CREDIT CARD – MY ENTIRE MONEY BELT! AFTER A MOMENT OF PANIC, I REMEMBERED THAT I’D TAKEN IT OFF IN THE DRESSING ROOM (A MAJOR NO-NO) WHEN I WAS TRYING ON A FORM-FITTING TOP. LIKE A FLASH, I WAS OFF! I RAN BACK TO THAT DRESSING ROOM SO FAST, THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT MY PANTS WERE ON FIRE! LUCKILY, IN INDIA, PEOPLE DO NOT PUT THE CLOTHES THEY’VE TRIED ON BACK ON THE HANGERS OR THE RACK. INSTEAD, THEY JUST LEAVE THEM IN A PILE IN THE DRESSING ROOM. THANKFULLY, MY MONEY BELT WAS IN THE DRESSING ROOM – UNDER A PILE OF DISCARDED CLOTHES! I WAS SOOO RELIEVED! MY MONEY BELT HAS MY PASSPORT, INDIAN VISA, CREDIT CARDS, AND MEDICAL INSURANCE INFO. (JUST TO LIST A FEW OF THE THINGS!) ANYWAY, MY FRIEND SAID “GOOD THING YOU DECIDED TO BUY THAT SCARF AFTER ALL, OR YOU WOULDN’T HAVE EVEN KNOWN IT WAS MISSING!” SHE WAS SO RIGHT – AWESOME SCARF! (ON A SECOND HAPPY NOTE, THE SCARF WAS LESS THAN $5 U.S. – APPARENTLY THE NUMBERS ON THE HANDWRITTEN TAG WERE SOME SORT OF CODE TO TYPE IN AT THE REGISTER. I LOVE THIS SCARF!)

AFTER THAT FIASCO, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE MOVIE WE’D GONE TO THE MALL TO SEE, “THE HAPPENING,” WAS ACTUALLY SOLD OUT! AFTER ALL MY “ADVENTURES” I DIDN’T EVEN GET TO SEE IT! WE SHOULD HAVE PREDICTED THE SELL-OUT THOUGH – THIS WAS OPENING WEEKEND FOR AN AMERICAN MOVIE – A MOVIE DIRECTED BY M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN. (AN INDIAN DIRECTOR) – PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR A SELL-OUT IN NEW DELHI!

AS FOR MY RETURN TRIP: AFTER HAVING TO PRACTICALLY BEG MY WAY INTO A RICKSHAW – APPARENTLY NO ONE WANTED TO GO MY DIRECTION – I FINALLY MADE IT BACK TO MY APARTMENT – VOWING NEVER AGAIN TO LEAVE! (AT LEAST TILL MORNING!)

SO, YOU KNOW HOW I TOLD YOU I’VE BEEN LEARNING A LOT AT MY JOB? WELL, I’VE ACTUALLY BEEN STUDYING SOME HINDI TOO - SO THIS NEXT PART WILL BE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON:
दोन'टी यू थिंक आईटी इस फुन्न्य ठाट थिस प्रोग्राम विल कनवर्ट यौर वोर्ड्स इन्तो हिन्दी? हाउ फ्रेअकिन' अवेसोमे इस ठाट?! लुक्क्य फॉर मी नो ओनेरीडिंग थिस ब्लॉग इस अबले टू रीड हिन्दी, और थे मिघ्त क्नो ठाट इ ऍमल्यिंग टू थेम अबाउट माय अबिलितिएस!

OK, YOU COULDN’T HAVE POSSIBLY BELIEVED THAT, RIGHT?! (THAT IS A NEAT FEATURE THAT THE BLOG PROGRAM HAS WHEN YOU SIGN ONTO THE INTERNET FROM AN INDIAN WEB CONNECTION.)

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS I’VE (ACTUALLY) LEARNED IN MY 3 WEEKS IN INDIA:
1.) TOO MANY PEOPLE MAKES THE POWER GO OUT DAILY – OFTEN MULTIPLE TIMES (FROM CIRCUIT OVERLOAD) – BUT YOU LEARN TO DEAL.
2.) “CLEAN” IS A RELATIVE TERM – JUST BECAUSE YOU’VE WORN THAT SHIRT 4 TIMES DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN IT’S DIRTY (BESIDES – YOU HAVE TO ASK HOW MUCH A DIP IN A DIRTY BUCKET WILL HELP IT!)
3.) ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I AM STRONGER AND MORE CAPABLE THAN I EVER THOUGHT. (HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A NOTE HERE THAT GIVEN THE CHOICE I STILL PREFER BEING PAMPERED TO BEING STRONG!)

THE ½ WAY MARK – CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!

I AM NOW ½ WAY DONE WITH MY INTERNSHIP – HARD TO BELIEVE! THE PAST 3 WEEKS HAVE BEEN REALLY…INTERESTING. OK, I’VE ACTUALLY HAD A BLAST HERE SO FAR – EVEN AT WORK. ALTHOUGH I DON’T NECESSARILY LOVE THE TYPE OF WORK I’M DOING (COMMERCIAL ARBITRATIONAL STUFF) OR THE LONG HOURS, I FEEL LIKE I’VE LEARNED A LOT AND MET SOME REALLY NICE PEOPLE. IT IS JUST SO HARD TO FATHOM THAT MY TIME IN INDIA IS 50% OVER. ALTHOUGH, ON THE OTHER HAND - I AM SUPER EXCITED TO REPORT THAT HANK WILL BE RETURNING TO INDIA IN ONLY 14 DAYS!!! I CAN’T WAIT TO SHOW HIM THE SIGHTS I’VE FOUND, THE MARKETS I ENJOY, AND SEE THE NEW THINGS WITH HIM THAT I’VE BEEN SAVING FOR WHEN HE GETS BACK.

THE BIG GROUP OF FOREIGN INTERNS WHEN TO AGRA TODAY – A CITY NEAR DELHI AND HOME OF THE TAJ MAHAL. I OPTED NOT TO GO BECAUSE I DECIDED BEFORE I EVER ARRIVED HERE THAT HANK AND I SHOULD SEE THE TAJ TOGETHER. I MEAN, AFTER ALL, IT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL! AND AS CHEESY AS IT SOUNDS, I LIKE MY BIG DEALS WITH A SIDE OF HANKO! SINCE I WASN’T GOING TO AGRA TODAY, THE INTERNS I WORK WITH AND I DECIDED WE WOULD GO TO DILLI HAAT – A BIG CRAFTS MARKET IN SOUTH DELHI. THE MARKET HAS FOOD STATIONS FOR EACH REGION OF INDIA, SO YOU CAN SAMPLE THE DIFFERENT CUISINES ALL IN ONE PLACE. THEY ALSO HAVE CRAFTS FROM THE VARIOUS REGIONS – OR AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT I HEAR. I DIDN’T GET TO GO TO DILLI HAAT AFTER ALL - AS I WAS STOOD UP BY NOT ONE, BUT BOTH OF THE INTERNS I WORK WITH! ONE CLAIMED NOT TO FEEL WELL, THE OTHER SAID “SOMETHING CAME UP.” WELL YES, I WAS ANNOYED – AND I THOUGHT ABOUT STAYING IN AND SULKING – BUT THEN I THOUGHT HOW I WOULD HATE TO WASTE AN ENTIRE SATURDAY (SINCE I HAVE SO FEW SATURDAYS LEFT)! I THOUGHT OF MY FRIEND, COURTNEY (WHO IS MUCH MORE FEARLESS THAN I) AND ABOUT HOW IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO HER, SHE WOULD GET DRESSED AND GO OUT EXPLORING ON HER OWN. WELL, I DECIDED TO FOLLOW HER LEAD AND DO JUST THAT! MAYBE I DIDN'T GO “EXPLORING” PER SAY – BUT I WENT BACK TO KHAN MARKET AND SPENT A FEW HOURS REALLY CHECKING OUT EACH SHOP AND WANDERING THE AREA. I HAD A LOT OF FUN THERE, AND I BOUGHT SOME GREAT THINGS! I AM SO GLAD I DID NOT LET THE OTHERS CANCELLING ON ME RUIN MY DAY!

I’VE ASKED ONE OF THE AMERICAN INTERNS (CURREY) TO GO TO DILLI HAAT WITH ME TOMORROW, AND SHE AGREED THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WORTH CHECKING OUT – SO LOOKS LIKE I WON’T MISS THE CRAFTS MARKET AFTER ALL. :)

HERE ARE A FEW PICS. THAT I TOOK TODAY.

MY NEW BANGLES:

ART PIECE FOR OUR COLLECTION:
WITH THE FLASH - THE COLORS ARE SUPER VIVID.

WITHOUT THE FLASH YOU SEE THE GOLD HUE REALLY COME THROUGH.

A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE VASE / CONTAINER:

EVEN GOT A NOBBLY-WOBBLY FOR JACK (AT INDIAN PRICES!):

NOT SURE WHAT THEY WERE GIVING OUT, BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN GOOD!

PEOPLE - SUCH HUMOROUS CREATURES

TODAY’S LESSON IS SOMETHING WE ALL KNOW DEEP DOWN, BUT SOMETHING WE TEND TO FORGET – ESPECIALLY AS AMERICA DEALS WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND THE DIVIDE BETWEEN “THEM” AND “US” SEEMS TO WIDEN (AS LEAST PERCEPTUALLY).

LANGUAGE, CLOTHING, AND FOOD ARE DIFFERENT – PEOPLE ARE ALL THE SAME – EVERYWHERE.

ON WEDNESDAY I SPENT THE MAJORITY OF MY WORKDAY DISCUSSING THAT CONFUSING, TUMULTUOUS WHIRLWIND KNOWN AS BOY-GIRL INTERACTION. SAHIL, A 20 YEAR OLD INDIAN INTERN AT MY OFFICE, WAS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE A GIRL HE’S BEEN SPENDING TIME WITH WAS BEING “FUSSY.” SHE WANTED HIM TO GO SOMEWHERE WITH HER AT 11AM – BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE AT WORK. SHE KEPT CALLING HIS CELL PHONE, SAYING SHE NEEDED HIM TO GO WITH HER, THAT HE HAD TO GO WITH HER – BUT OF COURSE HE TOLD HER HE COULDN’T, BECAUSE HE WAS AT WORK. THIS BACK AND FORTH BEGAN A HUMOROUS TIRADE FROM MY NEW FRIEND ON WHY WOMEN ARE THE WAY THEY ARE! (AND HOW HE JUST CAN’T UNDERSTAND THEM!)

I NEVER THOUGHT I WAS OLD – OK, I’VE THOUGHT IT, BUT NEVER REALLY BELIEVED IT – UNTIL THIS CONVERSATION. I WAS ENTHRALLED BY SAHIL’S YOUTHFUL PASSION ON THE TOPIC AND WANTED TO TELL HIM “IT WILL GET EASIER AS YOU GET OLDER, TRUST ME” BUT INSTEAD I DID WHAT THOSE I LOOKED UP TO AT HIS AGE DID FOR ME – SAT BACK AND LISTENED TO HIM EXPLAIN LIFE’S FRUSTRATIONS AS ONLY A 20 YEAR OLD CAN.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF SAHIL PRETENDING TO WORK:


DURING OUR DISCUSSION HE MADE SEVERAL HILARIOUS POINTS THAT MADE ME LAUGH – LISTED BELOW FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT:

1.) HOW COME WHEN I GO PLACES AND I ASK HER TO GO, SHE SAYS NO AND THAT IS OK WITH ME. BUT WHEN SHE ASKS ME TO GO SOMEWHERE WITH HER AND I SAY NO – HER VOICE DROPS 3 OCTAVES, SHE TALKS VERY SLOWLY, AND ACTS SO SAD?

2.) WHY IS IT THAT I TELL MY GUY FRIEND I’LL CALL, AND 10 DAYS LATER – WHEN I HAVEN’T CALLED, I TELL HIM I WAS BUSY AND HE SAYS “OK.” BUT WHEN I DO THAT WITH HER – SHE IS PISSED AND I HAVE TO SUFFER FOR DAYS?

3.) HOW MANY STUPID ANIMATED FLICKS (I.E. DISNEY MOVIES) DO I HAVE TO WATCH????

4.) I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN I CALL AND SHE IS BEING FUSSY, I SAY “WHAT’S WRONG” AND SHE SAYS “NOTHING.” THEN I SAY, “DID I DO SOMETHING?” AND THERE IS SILENCE – SO I KNOW IT WAS ME, BUT SHE WON’T TELL ME. I SPEND HALF MY TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I DID WRONG IN THE FIRST PLACE!

YOU HAVE TO ADMIT – THESE POINTS REMIND YOU OF AN EARLIER TIME IN YOUR LIFE! (I KNOW THEY TAKE ME BACK A FEW YEARS!) WELL, I GOT TO MEET LITTLE MISS DIVA THAT AFTERNOON, AND BOY IS SHE A PIECE OF WORK! IT WILL TAKE QUITE A MAN TO KNOCK HER OFF HER PEDISTAL. WE EVEN HAD OUR OWN LITTLE VERBAL INCIDENT AT THE MARKET - WHERE SHE TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT I WAS NOT BUYING THE FRUIT I’D PICKED OUT BECAUSE IT WASN’T RIPE ENOUGH. I WAS LIKE “EXCUSE ME?! I MOST CERTAINLY AM BUYING THAT FRUIT!” (IN MY HEAD ADDING – “MS. BOSSY-BUTT!”) SHE KEPT SAYING “NO” – I KEPT SAYING “YES, I WANT IT” UNTIL FINALLY I HAD TO PULL THE SALESMAN TO THE SIDE AND SAY “PUT IT IN THE BAG! I AM BUYING IT RIGHT NOW!” IT WAS QUITE A SHOW! AS WE LEFT THE MARKET I SAID A LITTLE PRAYER FOR SAHIL AND HIS DEALINGS WITH THIS ONE! – A PRAYER I’M SURE MANY MOTHERS SAY FOR THEIR SONS WHEN THEY BEGIN DATING “LITTLE MISS THING.” (AGAIN, I FELT OLD.)

ALL THIS DRAMA MADE ME APPRECIATE MY LIFE WITH HANKO EVEN MORE, AND MADE ME WANT TO PLAY HIM THAT OLD ROD STEWART CLASSIC – “HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY?” (IT’S A GOOD SONG – IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD IT IN A WHILE YOU SHOULD MAKE A POINT TO CHECK IT OUT. HECK, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW PROBABLY HAS 3 COPIES YOU CAN BORROW! – BIG STEWART FAN, THAT WOMAN!)

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE: EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON, I WENT TO AN INDIAN CLOTHING STORE WITH THE FEMALE INTERN AT MY OFFICE. HERE’S A PIC. OF ISHA (Pronounced "E-Sha"):



I PICKED UP A FEW THINGS, SO EXPECT TO SEE PICS. OF MY NEW INDIAN ATTIRE SOON!

ON ANOTHER (STILL DIFFERENT) NOTE: GUESS WHO’S BACK!!!

YEA!

WHY I CAME TO INDIA

THERE ARE TIMES IN LIFE WHEN YOU REALIZE “WOW, THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL PROBABLY NEVER EXPERIENCE AGAIN!”

A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO I WENT TO DINNER WITH A GROUP OF ABOUT 10 FOREIGN INTERNS. (MOSTLY AMERICANS, ONE BRITISH GUY, AND MAYBE ONE OR TWO AUSTRALIANS.) WE WENT TO A PLACE CALLED KARIM’S – IT WAS REALLY GOOD – BUT IT WAS ALL MEAT. :( SINCE I AM ABOUT 90% VEG. IT WASN’T MY USUAL FARE, BUT I PARTOOK OF THE FESTIVITIES, AS THE RESTAURANT WAS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (WELL, MOST OF THE FESTIVITIES – I WAS NOT ABOUT TO EAT THE BRAIN STEW.) WE ORDERED MULTIPLE DISHES AND ATE COMMUNALLY – WITH OUR HANDS – LITERALLY 12 DISHES - NOT ONE VEGETABLE IN SIGHT! (I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WAS SPICY, GREASY, FUN!)

AFTER DINNER, SOME OF THE INTERNS HEADED HOME, WHILE SOME HEADED OUT TO A SPORTS BAR TO WATCH SOME SOCCER. I DECIDED TO HEAD HOME, AND 3 OF THE GUYS WHO WERE GOING OUT WERE GOING MY DIRECTION, SO THEY AGREED TO CATCH A RICKSHAW AND DROP ME BY MY PLACE. WELL THIS WAS A VERY UNIQUE RICKSHAW RIDE. AFTER ENDING UP AT THE WRONG PLACE, AND HAVING TO ARGUE WITH THE DRIVER TO TAKE US TO THE RIGHT PLACE - HIS STOPPING NO LESS THAN 6 TIMES FOR DIRECTIONS - WE WERE FINALLY ON THE WAY TO MY APARTMENT.

DURING THIS RIDE – I HAD ONE OF “THOSE MOMENTS.” FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN’T HAD THE PLEASURE OF RIDING IN A MOTOR RICKSHAW – IT IS SIMILAR TO A GOLF CART. SO…THE 4 OF US THAT DECIDED TO RIDE IN THIS 1 RICKSHAW WERE IN FOR AN ADVENTURE. BEING A GIRL, I GOT PART OF THE SEAT. MY FRIEND DAVID SAT BESIDE ME, AND ADAM, THE BRITISH INTERN, SAT BESIDE HIM. THAT LEFT DAN, THE AUSSIE, WHO ASSURED US THAT HE COULD SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE RICKSHAW – ESSENTIALLY A METAL BAR WHERE A DOOR WOULD NORMALLY BE. WELL DAN IS A VERY TALL FELLOW, SO ALTHOUGH HIS BUM WAS ON THE BAR, HIS LEGS WERE ON ME – SO IN REALITY, HE WAS SITTING ON MY LAP. (SIDENOTE: BY THE END OF THE RIDE – I REALIZED THAT A MUSCULAR 6’ SOMETHING MAN IS NOT AS LIGHT AS HE LOOKS!)

WELL, THERE I WAS – CRUSHED INTO THIS LITTLE CORNER – WITH MY FRIEND, A BRIT, AND AN AUSSIE ON MY LAP – DISCUSSING EVERYTHING FROM SOCCER TO POLITICS – AND I HAD TO LAUGH TO MYSELF! WHAT A MOMENT IN TIME. WHEN WILL I EVER BE IN THAT SITUATION AGAIN - WITH SUCH INTERESTING PEOPLE – WHO LET’S FACE IT – I WILL MOST CERTAINLY NEVER SEE AGAIN AFTER I LEAVE INDIA? I COULDN’T HELP BUT THINK HOW MUCH BRAIN POWER THERE WAS IN THIS ONE LITTLE CART – WHAT THESE PEOPLE MIGHT DO IN THE FUTURE TO CHANGE THE WORLD – AND I THOUGHT - WOW, ONE DAY WHEN ONE OF THESE GUYS HAS DONE SOMETHING REALLY GREAT, AND SOMEONE SAYS TO ME “HEY, WERE YOU EVER CLOSE TO SO-AND-SO ,” – I CAN SAY IN ALL HONESTY “WELL, THERE WAS THIS ONE TIME IN INDIA…”

OH, MY ACHING GUT!

WELL, MY STOMACH ISSUES WERE NOT BETTER BY THE MORNING (YESTERDAY) AND IT WAS A REALLY LONG, HARD DAY. AFTER I POSTED THAT I WAS FEELING A BIT ILL FROM THE JALAPENO PIZZA I ATE, I WENT TO BED – ONLY TO WAKE AT 1AM WITH HORRIBLE STOMACH PAINS. FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT AND MORNING I HAD THE WORST UPSET STOMACH - THOUGHT I MIGHT DIE – AND I WAS NOT SURE WHAT I WOULD DO WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR WORK. I KNEW I COULD CALL IN AND EXPLAIN THAT I WASN’T COMING IN, BUT I DIDN’T WANT TO DO THAT. AFTER ALL, IT WAS A MONDAY MORNING AND THERE IS ALWAYS TONS TO DO AT THE BEGINNING OF A WEEK! PLUS, I AM VERY PRACTICAL, AND I KNOW THAT BEING AN AMERICAN IN INDIA (WHERE I CAN’T DRINK THE WATER, EAT FRESH FRUITS UNLESS PEALABLE, HAVE LETTUCE, ETC.) MEANS THAT THERE IS A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE I WILL BE SICK AGAIN BEFORE MY 7 WEEKS IS UP – PERHAPS MUCH SICKER THAN I WAS FEELING NOW. (SO, IN OTHER WORDS, I NEEDED TO SAVE MY “SICK DAYS” FOR FUTURE USE.) AFTER TALKING TO “NURSE GAY 2” – (HANK) – (MY MOTHER-IN-LAW BEING “NURSE GAY 1” – AS SHE IS REALLY A NURSE) – I DECIDED TO TRY TO DRAG MYSELF INTO WORK – ALTHOUGH I WAS 1 HR. LATE. I FELT REALLY WEAK SINCE I DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING IN MY STOMACH, BUT I WAS NOT ABOUT TO EAT ANYTHING FOR BREAKFAST!

WELL, SOMEHOW I MADE IT THROUGH THE DAY – ACTUALLY FELT A BIT BETTER ONCE I GOT TO THE OFFICE. ALTHOUGH, I WAS CONVINCED TO TRY A SANDWICH AT LUNCH – BAD MOVE – MY STOMACH WAS NOT HAVING IT! AFTER WORK I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO WALK TO THE LOCAL MARKET. I HAD TO HAVE BOTTLED WATER! I HAD LET MY SUPPLY RUN DOWN TO 1 FULL BOTTLE (I.E. A DAY’S WORTH) AND BEING SICK I KNEW I NEEDED TO DRINK A LOT OF FLUIDS. (I KNEW THIS BECAUSE “NURSE GAY 2” HAD ORDERED ME TO – BOSSY, BOSSY, THAT MAN IS!) WELL, THAT WAS PERHAPS THE HARDEST WALK TO THE MARKET I HAVE EVER HAD! THE MARKET IS A GOOD WAYS AWAY – ABOUT A 15 MINUTE WALK EACH WAY – AND AFTER BUYING 5 LARGE BOTTLES OF WATER (AND VARIOUS OTHER SUPPLIES) MY BACKPACK WAS SUPER HEAVY (ADDING TO THE BURDEN OF WALKING HOME!) WHEN I MADE IT TO MY BUILDING’S ELEVATOR AND LOOKED IN THE MIRROR I LOOKED LIKE I HAD JUST STEPPED OUT OF THE SHOWER – I WAS POURING SWEAT! I THOUGHT “NO WONDER THEY WERE ALL STARING AT ME EXTRA HARD TONIGHT – I LOOK LIKE DEATH!” ANYWAY, I MADE IT TO MY ROOM, PUT AWAY MY SUPPLIES, AND CRAWLED INTO BED.

BY THIS MORNING I WAS FEELING BETTER, AND I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE ‘OLE DIGESTIVE TRACT SEEMS TO BE ON THE UP AND UP AGAIN! I HAD A BANANA LAST NIGHT AND ONE THIS MORNING WITH NO PAINS – WOO HOO! INDIA (OR PIZZA RATHER) WILL NOT BEAT ME!!!

DELHI TOUR

ON SATURDAY DAVID, CURREY (AN INTERN HERE FROM EMORY UNIVERSITY IN ATLANTA), AND I WENT ON ONE OF THE DELHI TOURS. THE TOUR WAS RECOMMENDED BY DAVID AND CURREY'S BOSS SO WE KNEW IT WAS LEGIT. IT WAS AN ALL-DAY THING THAT TOOK YOU TO 8 OR 9 FAMOUS SITES AROUND DELHI. WELL, I JUST HAVE TO SAY IT WAS AWESOME!

WE WENT TO SEE RED FORT - AN OLD MILITARY FORT -- THAT WAS OK, BUT YOU KNOW FORTS -- BOY STUFF! I WAS REALLY EXCITED FOR LOTUS TEMPLE - A TEMPLE THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE SHAPE OF A LOTUS FLOWER (MAKING FOR AMAZING PICTURES FROM THE OUTSIDE). IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE. HOWEVER, MY FAVORITE STOP, BY FAR, WAS RAJGHAT, OR THE SITE OF MAHATMA GANDHI'S CREMATION. IT WAS AMAZING! YOU WALK UP A LONG PATHWAY, AND ARE TOLD TO REMOVE YOUR SHOES (OUT OF RESPECT). THEN YOU ENTER INTO A PEACEFUL, WELL-MANICURED GARDEN, IN THE CENTER OF WHICH IS A LARGE (QUEEN MATTRESS SIZED) BLACK PLATFORM. THIS PLATFORM MARKS THE SPOT WHERE GANDHI WAS CREMATED AFTER HIS ASSASSINATION IN 1948. AT THE HEAD OF THE PLATFORM, THERE IS A FLAME THAT BURNS CONTINUOUSLY - IN HIS HONOR. THERE WERE SEVERAL ROUND ARRANGEMENTS OF FLOWERS ON THE BOX, BUT ONLY 2 INSCRIPTIONS - ONE ON THE TOP AND ONE ON THE FRONT. THE INSCRIPTIONS ARE VERY SHORT AND IN HINDI. THEY ARE THE WORDS "OH, GOD" - THOUGHT TO BE GANDHI'S LAST WORDS, UTTERED AFTER HE WAS SHOT. I CAN'T TRULY DESCRIBE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE THERE -- OR WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR ME ANYWAY. I'VE ALWAYS FELT DEEPLY MOVED BY GOING TO THE GRAVES / MEMORIALS OF PEOPLE LIKE GANDHI, MOTHER THERESA, ETC. I FIND THAT IT IS ONE OF THE MOST MOVING THINGS A PERSON CAN EXPERIENCE - TO BE THAT CLOSE TO SOME SPOT OF SUCH IMPORTANCE. BEING NEAR ANYTHING DIRECTLY TIED TO THESE AMAZING FIGURES (WHO ARE MERELY STORYBOOK CHARACTERS TO THOSE GROWING UP IN THE U.S.) IS UNREAL. FEELING THE SPIRIT OF THE GARDEN, THE SACREDNESS OF THE SPOT -- IT IS TRULY INDESCRIBABLE.

AS PROMISED, HERE ARE THE PICTURES FROM OUR TOUR: http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/IndiaDelhiTour

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PICTURE PROGRAM I'VE BEEN USING IS ACTING UP, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FINISH CAPTIONING ALL THE PICTURES LIKE I WANTED. BUT, I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND POST THE LINK TO THE ALBUM. MOST OF THE PICS. HAVE CAPTIONS, AND YOU CAN PROBABLY FIGURE OUT THE REST. I HOPE YOU LIKE THEM - I FEEL THEY TURNED OUT WELL, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO PRINT THEM AND PUT THEM INTO AN ALBUM COMMEMORATING MY TRIP.

FALLING BEHIND

SO, AS TIME PASSES, I REALIZE THAT I AM GETTING WORSE AND WORSE ABOUT BLOGGING EACH DAY. IT HAS BEEN HARD WITH WORK KEEPING ME BUSY UNTIL ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT (DURING THE WEEK) AND THEN GETTING OUT TO SEE THINGS ON THE WEEKENDS. I REALLY ENJOYED THE DELHI TOUR WE TOOK THIS WEEKEND, AND THAT IS WHAT MY NEXT POST WILL BE ABOUT -- COMPLETE WITH OVER 100 PICTURES! GO AHEAD, GET EXCITED NOW -- YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

I AM SAD TO REPORT THAT "TINY" IS MISSING IN ACTION. :( WHO KNEW THAT JUST NAMING A LIZARD AND THINKING OF HIM AS A PET (A LIZARD THAT YOU ORIGINALLY DIDN'T EVEN WANT IN YOUR ROOM) WOULD MAKE HIM INTO SOMETHING YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT?!


I HOPE HE COMES BACK SOON - THE ROOM JUST ISN'T THE SAME WITHOUT A COMPANION! OH, I HOPE I DIDN'T SCARE HIM OFF - THE OTHER DAY HE WAS LOOKING A BIT DRY AND I WONDERED IF HE WASN'T ABLE TO FIND HIS WAY BACK OUTSIDE AND MIGHT NEED SOME WATER (AFTER ALL, HE IS SOOO LITTLE -- HE IS PROBABLY A BABY!). I PONDERED DRIPPING SOME DROPS ONTO HIM, OR PUTTING OUT A BUCKET OF WATER ON THE FLOOR NEAR HIM, BUT WHEN I GOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO HIM - THE LITTLE BUGGER TOOK OFF LIKE HE'D BEEN HIT WITH A CATTLE-PROD! PERHAPS OUR FRIENDSHIP IS MORE ONE-SIDED THAN I WOULD CARE TO BELIEVE! (AND MAYBE NOW HE'S RUN AWAY.)

I DECIDED TO INCLUDE A PIC. TO SHOW YOU HOW I START MY MORNINGS:

NOT BAD, HUH?! KULDEEP IS REALLY GOOD ABOUT FIXING ME ANYTHING I NEED, AND ONCE I LEARNED TO ASK FOR EGGS (AFTER A WEEK AND A HALF OF JUST TOAST AND JAM FOR BREAKFAST) MY BREAKFASTS HAVE BEEN VERY FILLING. TOO BAD THAT DOESN'T REALLY EXPAND HANK'S BREAKFAST SELECTIONS WHEN HE COMES BACK, AS HE DOESN'T EAT EGGS!

SO, TODAY I AM NOT FEELING SO WELL. NO, IT ISN'T DELHI-BELLY -- IT IS PLAIN 'OLE AMERICAN STUPIDITY. I DECIDED TO STAY IN TODAY AND GET SOME CHORES DONE - WASH A LOAD OF CLOTHES, FINISH UP MY ARTICLE FOR WORK, ETC. AFTER SLEEPING THROUGH BREAKFAST I DECIDED TO ORDER A PIZZA FOR LUNCH. AFTER HAVING THAT PIZZA FOR LUNCH, AFTERNOON SNACK, AND DINNER - THE ENTIRE LARGE PIZZA WAS GONE! A LARGE PIZZA WITH JALAPENOS, I MIGHT ADD! SMOOTH MOVE, APRIL! THE 'OLE BELLY HAS BEEN FEELING LESS THAN SUPERB FROM THE PEPPERS, BUT I AM HOPING THAT THIS FEELING WILL PASS BY TOMORROW! (NOTHING LIKE GOING TO THE OFFICE WITH A SICK BELLY!)

WELL, THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO REPORT FOR NOW. I WILL TRY TO GET THE PICTURES FROM MY TOUR UP TOMORROW SO YOU CAN ALL SEE THE SIGHTS OF INDIA!

BUSY BEE

SO, I AM REALLY TOO EXHAUSTED TO POST TONIGHT, BUT AS I DIDN'T PUT ANYTHING UP LAST NIGHT EITHER -- HERE ARE A FEW PICS. THAT I'VE TAKEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THE FIRST 3 ARE FROM KHAN MARKET -- A NICE MARKET THAT IS A LITTLE WAYS SOUTH OF MY APARTMENT (BUT WELL WORTH THE TRIP!). WE HAD REALLY GOOD BURRITO-LIKE ROLLS FOR DINNER THERE. THEY WERE SERVED DOWN THIS DARK ALLEY - BUT SINCE THEY ARE REALLY GOOD THERE WAS A HUGE CROWD. SO IT WASN'T LIKE A SCARY DARK ALLEY -- JUST...YOUR NORMAL, AVERAGE DARK ALLEY. ;)

ALTHOUGH WE (THE GROUP OF INTERNS) HAD PLANNED TO TAKE THE FOOD TO INDIA GATE (A STONE MONUMENT HERE) AND HAVE A PICNIC -- APPARENTLY THE PLANS CHANGED SOMEHOW SO WE JUST HUNG AROUND THE MARKET FOR A COUPLE HOURS, ATE IN THE ALLEY, HAD ICE CREAM AT A COFFEE SHOP AND WE HOME. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D RIDEN IN A MOTOR-RICKSHAW ALONE AT NIGHT, BUT LUCKILY I SURVIVED. (I REALLY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BRAVE IT SINCE THE OTHER INTERNS ALL LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, IN A BIG GROUP. IF I WANT TO HANG OUT WITH THEM, SEEMS THAT I WILL BE COMING HOME ALONE AT NIGHT.)

OH, GOOD NEWS -- WHILE AT KHAN MARKET I FOUND A PLASTIC TUMBLER! AGAIN, THIS SEEMS LIKE NO BIG DEAL TO YOU, BUT IT HAS TAKEN ME QUITE A WHILE TO FIND ONE!

GO AHEAD...

TAKE A PEEK INSIDE...

THAT'S RIGHT!!! THERE IS ICE IN MY FABULOUS TUMBLER! YEA, I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT!

SO, YOU NOW KNOW I HAVE ICE, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT I ALSO HAVE A NEW FRIEND? THAT'S RIGHT. WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK TODAY "TINY" WAS IN MY ROOM. WHO'S "TINY?" YOU ASK. WELL FOLKS -- AS I AM THE GECKO MAGNET -- I'LL GIVE YOU 3 GUESSES. INSTEAD OF CHASING TINY AROUND THE ROOM TONIGHT OR TRYING TO HURT HIM, I DECIDED TO DO WHAT I WAS ADVISED BY ONE OF THE OTHER UGA INTERNS HERE -- NAME HIM AND TREAT HIM LIKE A PET. (SHE APPARENTLY HAS "FATTY" IN HER KITCHEN - A RATHER LARGE GECKO THAT SHE SO LOVINGLY NAMED FOR HIS ENORMOUS GIRTH. AT LEAST "TINY" IS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 1" LONG!) WELL, SO FAR ME AND TINY ARE GETTING ALONG JUST FINE. HE IS CHILLIN' ON TOP OF A PICTURE FRAME ON MY WALL AS I TYPE THIS MESSAGE. HERE'S A PIC. OF MY NEW BUD:

OK, WELL I AM OFF TO BED. I AM SOOOO SLEEPY I SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE REACHING DREAMLAND TONIGHT! PRAY THAT TINY STAYS WHERE HE IS! (I HAVE A FEAR OF CREEPY CRAWLERS ON MY FACE AT NIGHT! YUCK!)

A FEW NEW PICS

NOT TOO MUCH TO POST ABOUT TODAY. LAST NIGHT I DECIDED TO STAY-IN AND RELAX AROUND THE APARTMENT. SO WHEN I GOT OFF WORK, I WENT HOME, CHANGED INTO SOME COMFY CLOTHES, GOT A BOTTLED WATER, A SNACK, AND A BOOK, AND SAT IN THE LIVING ROOM AREA OF THE APARTMENT TO READ FOR A WHILE. I GOT A CALL THAT THE OTHER INTERNS (THE ONES ACROSS TOWN) WERE GOING OUT TO A RESTAURANT SOMEWHAT NEAR MY APARTMENT, AND THAT I COULD JOIN THEM IF I WANTED TO. HOWEVER, I WAS ALREADY RELAXIN' WITH MY BOOK, AND DIDN'T FEEL TOO EXCITED ABOUT HAVING TO GET DRESSED AGAIN TO GO TO DINNER, SO I DECIDED TO STICK WITH MY ORIGINAL PLAN OF STAYING-IN. AFTER READING FOR A WHILE AND ATTEMPTING TO CHAT WITH HANKO ON THE COMPUTER (THE INTERNET SIGNAL I STEAL WAS ACTING UP - SO WE GOT CUT OFF MID-CONVERSATION SEVERAL TIMES), I WENT TO BED AT 8:30! SURPRISINGLY I FELL RIGHT TO SLEEP FOR A CHANGE -- WOO HOO!

THIS MORNING I HAD TO MAKE A TRIP TO THE ATM IN ORDER TO GET OUT 12,000 RUPEES TO PAY FOR MY FIRST 10 DAYS IN THE APARTMENT. (THAT'S AROUND $285.) SINCE IT IS BRIGHT AT 5:30AM - THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH RUNNING TO THE ATM BEFORE WORK AT 9. IT WAS ACTUALLY A VERY PLEASANT MORNING WALK - NICE AND COOL, AND NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE ON THE STREET YET - SO LESS HONKING AND NOISE THAN USUAL. I EVEN TOOK A FEW PICTURES DURING MY WALK. HERE THEY ARE: http://picasaweb.google.com/April.Gay/IndiaPicsJune42008

TONIGHT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO KHAN MARKET - I'VE HEARD IT'S A NICE MARKET, SO I WILL BE SURE TO TAKE MY CAMERA IN CASE THERE IS ANYTHING WORTH FILMING. OK, BACK TO WORK FOR ME!

NO ICE HERE

CALL IT AN ADDICTION – CALL IT A VICE – WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT – I NEED ICE!!! (OK, I DID NOT INTEND THAT TO RHYME – THAT WAS JUST A CHEESY BONUS.) AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK IN INDIA I AM GOING THROUGH ICE WITHDRAWL. I KNOW YOU THINK ICE IS NO BIG DEAL, BUT HAVE YOU EVER GONE OVER A WEEK WITHOUT IT?! WELL, I HAVE BEEN DYING WITHOUT IT, SO TONIGHT AFTER WORK I CHANGED MY CLOTHES AND WALKED TO THE MARKET TO PICK UP SOME ICE CUBE TRAYS. I ALSO ENDED UP GETTING DINNER (ENOUGH FOR LUNCH TOMORROW TOO) AND A FEW OTHER SUPPLIES. SEE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOT ONLY CAN I NOT ENJOY A CUP OF CUBES THEMSELVES – I MUST SPECIFICALLY REQUEST “NO ICE” IN EVERY DRINK I GET HERE. (ICE IS A BIG RISK – SINCE IT IS OBVIOUSLY MADE FROM THE LOCAL WATER – WHICH WE ALL KNOW LEADS TO DELHI-BELLY.) WELL, ONCE I GOT HOME AND ATE MY PULAK PANEER (SPELLING?) WHICH IS CREAMY SPINACH WITH CHEESE CUBES, EATEN WITH WHITE RICE – I SET OUT TO MAKE SOME ICE CUBES FROM MY BOTTLED WATER. IT WENT WELL, AND I AM HOPING THAT IN HOWEVER MANY HRS. IT TAKES FOR ICE TO FORM, I WILL HAVE REAL ICE CUBES!

SEE ME CHEESIN' ABOUT THE FACT THAT I WILL HAVE ICE SOON!

YES, IT IS THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY. (AND IF IT’S NOT – IT SHOULD BE!)

OH, A LESS PLEASANT NOTE, I BOUGHT THE WORST BREAD TONIGHT! A LOAF OF SOME GINGER FLAVORED BREAD. YUCK! (I HATE GINGER!) I AM GOING TO BRING IT TO THE OFFICE TOMORROW, AND I SHOULD BE A HIT (PROVIDED THERE IS AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO DOESN’T HATE GINGER AND WOULD LIKE SOME FREE BREAD!)

I HAD AN INTERESTING DAY AT WORK. FOR MOST OF THE DAY, I DIDN’T DO THAT MUCH. THEN AFTER LUNCH, SHALINI CAME TO TALK TO ME ABOUT MY 6 PAGE ARTICLE DUE ON THURSDAY. THIS THURSDAY??? I THOUGHT THE DEADLINE WAS JUNE 25TH! WELL APPARENTLY THAT IS THE DATE THE ARTICLE MUST BE READY FOR CIRCULATION – AND THE 5TH OF THE MONTH IS THE DAY THE FIRST DRAFT IS DUE. WELL, TODAY IS THE 2ND AND I DO NOT YET HAVE A TOPIC, MY BOSS IS IN PARIS ON BUSINESS, AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO INTERPRET INDIAN LAW ENOUGH TO DRAFT AN ARTICLE TO BE INCLUDED ON THE COMPANY’S WEBSITE. ARGH! ADDITIONALLY, SOMEHOW I DREW THE SHORT STRAW – I ALSO HAVE TO WRITE AN “IN THE NEWS” ARTICLE ABOUT IMPORTANT LEGAL CHANGES IN THE INDIA NEWS RECENTLY AND GIVE A PRESENTATION TO THE 15 OR SO ATTORNEYS ON A LEGAL TOPIC OF MY CHOOSING. SERIOUSLY??? I NEED TO JUST RETURN TO THE U.S. NOW! ME? APRIL? YOU WANT THIS AMERICAN STUDENT TO TEACH 15 INDIAN ATTORNEYS ABOUT INDIAN LAW?! YEAH, THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA!

WELL I AM PLUM-TUCKERED! SO, IT IS OFF TO BED FOR ME! SEE YOU ON THE FLIP-SIDE…