India is celebrating Diwali tonight.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Dilli Haat Home Visit TGIF
Well I have been sloughing off this past week about keeping up with this blog. I am well. Staying home in front of a computer learning how to create a blog using wordpress.com for Keary's artwork. See it at keary.kautzer.wordpress.com..Give me some feedback...encouragement?
Keary was busy installing his art exhibition of 52 paintings at The Pyle Center yesterday. I am very proud. He is a prolific painter! Wow!!!!
When I get back to Wisconsin I need to upload as many paintings as possible online for the world to see and buy/admire his wonderful paintings.
Today at 2:30 pm Eli and I headed to Dilli Haat to watch cultural performances. We stopped at Le Marche Market next door first to purchase a box of candy as a gift for a co-worker. We also plan to visit his home. India is celebrating Diwali starting today and the next three days. Day Two..tomorrow is the big day. It is like Christmas and July 4 rolled into four days. Visiting relatives, gift giving, decorating homes with lights, candles. Many apartment buildings are decorated with strings of lights. Eli's apartment complex has lights around trees and other structures for decorations. It is lovely at night to see so many lights.
Eli and I took a tuk tuk together..60 rupees ...to the Sikanderpur Metro. At the station Eli tried to communicate that he wanted buy a smartcard and fill it with 100 rupees. He ended up getting two cards for 150 rupees each. The man saw two people and did not know if I needed a card or not. There is an extra 50 rupee charge for the card itself which is refunded when you return the card for a refund.
We went through security check and ran upstairs to the platform to go to INA station.. about a 45 minute trip. I could not sit in the women's only section with Eli, so I had to board a train which was packed with mostly men and a few women. When the train arrived, I hesitated to take the first train in front of us, I walked quickly past a few trains looking for one that was not as jammed packed with people. I found one and quickly jumped on board with Eli following me. This was the second time Eli traveled via tuk tuk or Metro.
At INA station, I did not remember which exit was the right one to take for Dilli Haat. Read a previous blog about my first visit to Dilli Haat. We tried one exit, but we were on the wrong side of the street. We went back down into the Metro to go underneath the street and come back up on the correct side of the street. I asked people for directions and walked there in 5 minutes.
This week Dilli Haat is celebrating Diwali with extra booths set up to sell items that Indians want to decorate their homes and for gift giving. candy, candles, jewelry, ...etc. Somewhere I read that there was a dance competition going on, so I wanted to see the performances. An hour later, I learned that I was wrong...no dancing today. Extra booths were set up and took up the space that would have been for the audience to sit. Eli and I were both disappointed.
Eli does not like shopping. He sat and played on his cell phone while I browsed the little booths...about 70 of them. I have will power. I did not buy anything. I kept telling myself...Do I need anything? Will I use this item? I saw a necklace I liked, but it was 750 rupees...$15...too much. We did stop to eat...a plate of fried pork momos and a plate of pork chow mein for 125 rupees each. REAL pork. We both thought that the food was Wonderfulllllll. Eli said the momos were the highlight of the day. They were that good.
Next Eli called his co-worker ...don't remember his name...and arranged for him to meet us at the Jor Bagh Metro station, one Metro station away. We would call him when we arrived. We left Dilli Haat and had just arrived at Jor Bagh when he called again to say that he was waiting at the top of the stairs for us. We found the right exit and we found him without any problem.
We walked to his car and he drove us around his neighborhood to show off the outdoor light decorations and the shopping area. His small apartment is on the third floor of a concrete building with about 12 apartments in it. His apartment entrance area was decorated with plants and lights. His living room/dining room is the size of my kitchen/dining room.
There are three bedrooms, but his father lives in one and brother lives in another. So his wife and two children must share one room? Not sure. We only saw the living room. Sofa and loveseat with small dining table. Large fish tank with two sharks and puffer fish.
We met his wife, 4 year old daughter, 8 year old son, and father. His brother was gone to work. His job requires him to work six days a week. We were served water, juice or soda and an assortment of snacks.
We went up to the roof top to shoot off firecrackers. They call them crackers. His son waited anxiously for dusk so he could watch his father light some crackers. We saw five different firecrackers. One that shot up sparks for five seconds. One spun around on the ground for 10 seconds. One just made a very loud BOOM. He warned us so I covered my ears, but that loud BOOM still startled me. Another one fell off a ledge and sparkled on the ground. Then he lit four sparklers that you could hold in your hand. That was it for the evening. He still had a large bag of firecrackers for the next three days.
We went back downstairs and talked about work and his co-worker wanted to know how to get a job transfer to the new Johnson Controls office in Hong Kong. Then it was time to go. His wife gave us a large box of candy...larger than the box we gave to them.
We said our goodbyes and got a ride back to the Metro. Took the Metro back, but we missed the Sikanderpur station and got off one station too late...MG Road station. Then Eli said..Let's go to TGIF for Nacho chips. So we walked over to the mall right across the street. There are seven malls located very close together. TGIF and McDonalds were on the first floor of the MGF Metropolitan Mall.
TFIF was pretty crowded. We chose a booth and I read the placemat...free chicken wings or free fried cheese sticks if I sent a text message to a certain number....So you know me, I can't pass up getting something for free. When the waiter came to take our order I pointed to the placemat and we got free fried cheese sticks with our order of Nachos with cream cheese, salsa, and guacamole dips and milkshakes...I got chocolate and Eli got strawberry milkshakes. My milkshake was more like thick cold chocolate flavored milk...not very thick and not very cold. We got 8 yummy cheese sticks...Very hot from the fryer, but I loved eating them. Yummmmmy. Nachos were too spicey. Eli tried taking the chicken off each chip, but they were still spicey. We saved most of them to take home. I will try to do something at home to make them more edible. 1195 rupees ($18). Eli usually comes to TGIF for lunch specials 249 rupees for a two course lunch and drink.
We got a tuk tuk outside after negotiating...They wanted 200 rupees. No. Then 150 rupees. No. Then 100 rupees. OK.
When we got home Eli took and nap and is still sleeping. I am up at 4:51 am typing this blog.
I called Keary at least four times today, but he was busy doing something else.
Good night. Look at the blog I set up. Kearykautzer.wordpress.com
Keary was busy installing his art exhibition of 52 paintings at The Pyle Center yesterday. I am very proud. He is a prolific painter! Wow!!!!
When I get back to Wisconsin I need to upload as many paintings as possible online for the world to see and buy/admire his wonderful paintings.
Today at 2:30 pm Eli and I headed to Dilli Haat to watch cultural performances. We stopped at Le Marche Market next door first to purchase a box of candy as a gift for a co-worker. We also plan to visit his home. India is celebrating Diwali starting today and the next three days. Day Two..tomorrow is the big day. It is like Christmas and July 4 rolled into four days. Visiting relatives, gift giving, decorating homes with lights, candles. Many apartment buildings are decorated with strings of lights. Eli's apartment complex has lights around trees and other structures for decorations. It is lovely at night to see so many lights.
Eli and I took a tuk tuk together..60 rupees ...to the Sikanderpur Metro. At the station Eli tried to communicate that he wanted buy a smartcard and fill it with 100 rupees. He ended up getting two cards for 150 rupees each. The man saw two people and did not know if I needed a card or not. There is an extra 50 rupee charge for the card itself which is refunded when you return the card for a refund.
We went through security check and ran upstairs to the platform to go to INA station.. about a 45 minute trip. I could not sit in the women's only section with Eli, so I had to board a train which was packed with mostly men and a few women. When the train arrived, I hesitated to take the first train in front of us, I walked quickly past a few trains looking for one that was not as jammed packed with people. I found one and quickly jumped on board with Eli following me. This was the second time Eli traveled via tuk tuk or Metro.
At INA station, I did not remember which exit was the right one to take for Dilli Haat. Read a previous blog about my first visit to Dilli Haat. We tried one exit, but we were on the wrong side of the street. We went back down into the Metro to go underneath the street and come back up on the correct side of the street. I asked people for directions and walked there in 5 minutes.
This week Dilli Haat is celebrating Diwali with extra booths set up to sell items that Indians want to decorate their homes and for gift giving. candy, candles, jewelry, ...etc. Somewhere I read that there was a dance competition going on, so I wanted to see the performances. An hour later, I learned that I was wrong...no dancing today. Extra booths were set up and took up the space that would have been for the audience to sit. Eli and I were both disappointed. |
| Diwali sprinkles to form images used to decorate floors |
Next Eli called his co-worker ...don't remember his name...and arranged for him to meet us at the Jor Bagh Metro station, one Metro station away. We would call him when we arrived. We left Dilli Haat and had just arrived at Jor Bagh when he called again to say that he was waiting at the top of the stairs for us. We found the right exit and we found him without any problem.
We walked to his car and he drove us around his neighborhood to show off the outdoor light decorations and the shopping area. His small apartment is on the third floor of a concrete building with about 12 apartments in it. His apartment entrance area was decorated with plants and lights. His living room/dining room is the size of my kitchen/dining room.
There are three bedrooms, but his father lives in one and brother lives in another. So his wife and two children must share one room? Not sure. We only saw the living room. Sofa and loveseat with small dining table. Large fish tank with two sharks and puffer fish.
We met his wife, 4 year old daughter, 8 year old son, and father. His brother was gone to work. His job requires him to work six days a week. We were served water, juice or soda and an assortment of snacks.
We went back downstairs and talked about work and his co-worker wanted to know how to get a job transfer to the new Johnson Controls office in Hong Kong. Then it was time to go. His wife gave us a large box of candy...larger than the box we gave to them.
We said our goodbyes and got a ride back to the Metro. Took the Metro back, but we missed the Sikanderpur station and got off one station too late...MG Road station. Then Eli said..Let's go to TGIF for Nacho chips. So we walked over to the mall right across the street. There are seven malls located very close together. TGIF and McDonalds were on the first floor of the MGF Metropolitan Mall.
TFIF was pretty crowded. We chose a booth and I read the placemat...free chicken wings or free fried cheese sticks if I sent a text message to a certain number....So you know me, I can't pass up getting something for free. When the waiter came to take our order I pointed to the placemat and we got free fried cheese sticks with our order of Nachos with cream cheese, salsa, and guacamole dips and milkshakes...I got chocolate and Eli got strawberry milkshakes. My milkshake was more like thick cold chocolate flavored milk...not very thick and not very cold. We got 8 yummy cheese sticks...Very hot from the fryer, but I loved eating them. Yummmmmy. Nachos were too spicey. Eli tried taking the chicken off each chip, but they were still spicey. We saved most of them to take home. I will try to do something at home to make them more edible. 1195 rupees ($18). Eli usually comes to TGIF for lunch specials 249 rupees for a two course lunch and drink.We got a tuk tuk outside after negotiating...They wanted 200 rupees. No. Then 150 rupees. No. Then 100 rupees. OK.
When we got home Eli took and nap and is still sleeping. I am up at 4:51 am typing this blog.
I called Keary at least four times today, but he was busy doing something else.
Good night. Look at the blog I set up. Kearykautzer.wordpress.com
Friday, October 18, 2013
Day 24 - Diwali Mela Tsunamika Varnasi Weavers
Today I went to a Diwali Celebration at the Epicentre in Gurgaon. It was only 3.4 km from Eli's place, but it was difficult for the tuk tuk driver to understand where I wanted to go. We stopped and had to turn around at one point and he went to the headquarters of a bank and I asked for help. A nice man listened to where I wanted to go and explained to the driver how to get there.
Five minutes later we arrived at the right place. The Epicentre plaza was set up with food booths under a tent and an outdoor stage was set up in front of rows of concrete steps/seats facing the stage.
Ode to Earth is a specialized affiliate of ACCESS Development Services with an aim to link small producers to the mainstream markets. They organized this annual event to give small businesses a place to market their products.
I went inside to find two floors of booths selling clothing, jewelry, decorations for celebrating Diwali, gift boxes of candy, fabric for sarees, and much more. I enjoyed browsing the booths and talking to people.
Ode to Earth is a specialized affiliate of ACCESS Development Services with an aim to link small producers to the mainstream markets.
I was most interested in a booth that gave away tiny handmade cloth dolls made by women survivors of the Tsunami that hit the southern coast of India. Project Tsnamika was created by Upasana Design Studio of Auroville, India as a livelihood project to help about 180 women start their lives again by empowering the women to make these dolls from leftover waste cloth. The project team, who trained the ladies, now supplies them with raw materials to continue producing the dolls. All dolls produced are bought from them in bulk and are gifted unconditionally worldwide by Upasana.
Tsunamika is not a brand, she is a living symbol, a conscious force with her own unique personality and mission. The doll was around a couple of years even before Tsunami; but only when the Tsunami brought death and destruction on Dec 26, 2004 did she became Tsunamika. She was not born out of any conventional design process, it happened spontaneously and naturally.
Tsunamika is given unconditionally to whoever wants her. She has no price tag. Unconditional self giving is one her characteristics and the distribution network is made of volunteers in different countries who unconditionally give their service....Tsumanika Ambassadors. She is traveling all over the world through a network of love and friendship. There is no advertisement or salaries involved.
The project is entirely run by the donations received. The first phase of the project – Handicraft Training to the fisherwomen – was funded by Concern Worldwide. With an investment of Rs.4,00,000/ - (US $ 8,000), training modules were developed and nearly 480 ladies from 7 villages were trained over a period of three months. The second phase of the project – Production and distribution of Tsunamika – was also funded by Concern Worldwide for one year. Since 2006 the project is run by donations.
In the beginning of the project the ladies were asked how much they would like to earn and they said Rs 1000 (US $20) month working from home. In the context of the concerned villages it is a significant amount. This money they earn when Upasana buy in bulk the Tsunamika's they make. Nearly 100 ladies are now earning this money; some of them earn up to Rs 3000/- (US $60) depending on their performance.
Read more about the project at www.tsunamika.org.
A living symbol
She is a symbol, a living symbol with her own life.As her name suggests, she is a child of tsunami;
The tsunami that changed the lives of millions.
She is the memory of Tsunami...
She has been hand-made by women,
The women who live by the ocean,
The women whose lives changed forever after the tsunami,
The women who are exploring a new way of living,
The women who are empowering themselves.
Tsunamika is an expression of their creative fire;
Through Tsunamika they enter a new & wider world.
She is made out of bits and pieces of cloth
Left over from other works;
Made from what is known as waste.
There is nothing called waste in Nature,
Everything has its creative role.
Everything can be living & beautiful,
As Tsunamika is …
She is a living message,
A message of a new way of living
In which Life is respected.
A message of the Oneness of Life
In which love has a place.
A message of the sacredness of life
In which we can celebrate, together.
And life can be very simple
Like Tsunamika is.
She is our beloved.
She has touched many lives.
Now, she is here.
With you!
Another project sponsored by Upsana is the project to help preserve the ancient craft of the Varanasi Weavers Guild which served royalty for thousands of years. The effects of globalization changed the structure of their economy. Thousands of looms in Varanasi, India fell silent in the last decade. Cheap, bad quality imitations flooded the market and left weavers and traders in despair. These looms are busy again due to the assistance they received from Upsana. I purchased a skirt and scarf made of silk from Varnansi.Then I went outside to watch a performance of the Ramayana play and get a bite to eat.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Day 22 -- Gurgaon Connections Brunch
Yesterday I did not do much. This morning I am getting ready to meet some members of the Gurgaon Connections at the Pullman Hotel at 9:30 am. Last week I came on the wrong day. Today is the right day. After taking some time to decide what to wear...Western or Indian...I decide to stick with Indian because I have to take the tuk tuk there. I blend in better with Indian clothing on.
I leave the apartment early..about 8:15 am. I don't want to be late. The tuk tuk driver is not sure exactly where the Pullman Hotel is located. I direct him to turn right onto Sunset Blvd and turn left onto MG Road. We get there, but wants 80 Rupees.
I get there a little early. I have a chance to meet Penny, one of the organizers. There are a few businesses displaying their products...gold jewelry, baby clothing, and scarves. People trickle in a few at a time until about 11 am when most people arrived. I especially enjoyed speaking to a woman from Israel that has been here for a few years. I bought a ticket to the Australian High Commission BBQ for 3,000 rupees and a ticket for an Oktoberfest celebration at the Pullman Hotel next Friday from 7:30 pm - 11 pm. One of the members is a singer in the band...2999 rupees.
At noon I walk out to the street to catch a tuk tuk back to Eli's place. I stop at Le Marche grocery store for toilet paper, an avacado, an onion, a lime, and coconut oil for my hair..575 rupees (6 rolls of toilet paper is 447 rupees).
Not much else to report.
I leave the apartment early..about 8:15 am. I don't want to be late. The tuk tuk driver is not sure exactly where the Pullman Hotel is located. I direct him to turn right onto Sunset Blvd and turn left onto MG Road. We get there, but wants 80 Rupees.
I get there a little early. I have a chance to meet Penny, one of the organizers. There are a few businesses displaying their products...gold jewelry, baby clothing, and scarves. People trickle in a few at a time until about 11 am when most people arrived. I especially enjoyed speaking to a woman from Israel that has been here for a few years. I bought a ticket to the Australian High Commission BBQ for 3,000 rupees and a ticket for an Oktoberfest celebration at the Pullman Hotel next Friday from 7:30 pm - 11 pm. One of the members is a singer in the band...2999 rupees.
At noon I walk out to the street to catch a tuk tuk back to Eli's place. I stop at Le Marche grocery store for toilet paper, an avacado, an onion, a lime, and coconut oil for my hair..575 rupees (6 rolls of toilet paper is 447 rupees).
Not much else to report.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Day 20 - Carnival and Fireworks
I started the day searching the events pages for Delhi looking for festivals to go to. The Ramlila will be celebrated today at several places. I chose to go to the Red Fort area. The celebration there should be pretty large. There are three pretty large celebrations near the Chandni Chowk Metro station in the evening. So I decide to go there late afternoon.
Before I left, I wanted to eat something because I had not eatten anything yet. I went to the Kentucky Fried Chicken store in the South Point Mall. I ordered 3 chicken breast sticks for 117 rupies. They were pretty small pieces, but it was ok. Here is the sign that greets you as you enter.
At about 4:30 pm I took the Metro to Chandni Chowk station and walked outside. I was in the middle of old Delhi. I saw so many goats being taken to market area for sale. People and vehicles were all hurrying this way and that way.
In a distance I could see the lights of the Festival grounds with the Red Fort in the background.
As I got closer I could see two Ferris wheels all lit up rotating. When I walked into the Festival grounds, I saw a carnival like atmosphere with carnival rides and carnival type games of tossing a ball to knock something down for a prize. There even were a few carnival side shows advertising grotesque humans...a woman dressed like a vampire with vampire teeth, a woman with snake body, etc. Food stalls selling Indian foods, popcorn, and cotton candy. Peanuts were served in a tube of old magazine paper and then sprinkled with fresh lime juice. A haunted house.
After walking through the whole area, I bought what looked like rice crispies with spices served in a bowl for 35 rupees. It was pretty good. I got two bowls to that.
About 6:30 pm I picked a seat in front of a stage set up for a Ramayana play and watched people. There is a VIP air-conditioned tent, a platform with a fan above it for other VIPs. The area just in front of the stage which was sectioned off for other VIPs with sofas for seating. There was a large screen next to the VIP stage that showed the stage performance on large screen.
At 8 pm I decided it was time to go to the washroom before the show started. It was a task trying to find a washroom. I asked the security police booth. They directed me to a porta-potty area near the entrance. I did not know what to expect, but I knew it would be bad. I had my own toilet
paper and baby wipes. After a few wrong turns, I found a set of ten porta-potties standing on a platform...five facing one way and five facing another way. One side for men. Other side for women. I had to walk through a wet, stinky area to get to the steps going up to the narrow walkway in front of the doors. I had to lean close to the doors or I may fall off the walkway into the mud. No handrails. I chose a door farther down hoping it would be cleaner than the others. It was a dirty hole in the floor with a porcelain place to squat. No toilet paper. No water to flush. Who knows where mess went to. I did my duty and got out of it as soon as I could. I took a photo after I went a ways away. They are the blue boxy structures in a distance in the photo.
At 8:30 pm a man started chanting prayers and mantras to god Ram accompanied with drums and the accordion instrument. The area was lit up by spot lights coming from a bamboo platform tower in the middle of the audience area.
At 9 pm the show started. A man read the story of Rama into a microphone and stage actors mimed the play. It was interesting to watch the play and the audience. Rama is the avatar of the supreme god Vishnu. His wife Sita is abducted by King Ravana, a demon. The play presents teachings of ancient Hindi sages in narrative allegory, interspersed with philosophical and devotional elements. Ram helps to destroy the king of the monkey people. Ram's younger brother becomes their king. There are movies and TV serials telling this story.
At about 10 pm the fireworks started. Groups of fireworks were spinning in a circle from the ground just 25 feet away. Fireworks were shot into the sky for the next hour. Smoke filled the area below the fireworks. I had to leave. Smoke was too hard to breathe. I walked for about half a mile and then looked for a tuk tuk. It turned out that I went the wrong way. It took a half hour to get back to the entrance of the Festival. Then another half hour to get to the Metro station.
The last Metro train was about 11:30 pm..I got on the 11:15 train. Too close for comfort. Being stuck in Old Delhi would not be good. It took about an hour to get back to Eli's house via Metro and tuk tuk.
Before I left, I wanted to eat something because I had not eatten anything yet. I went to the Kentucky Fried Chicken store in the South Point Mall. I ordered 3 chicken breast sticks for 117 rupies. They were pretty small pieces, but it was ok. Here is the sign that greets you as you enter.In a distance I could see the lights of the Festival grounds with the Red Fort in the background.After walking through the whole area, I bought what looked like rice crispies with spices served in a bowl for 35 rupees. It was pretty good. I got two bowls to that.About 6:30 pm I picked a seat in front of a stage set up for a Ramayana play and watched people. There is a VIP air-conditioned tent, a platform with a fan above it for other VIPs. The area just in front of the stage which was sectioned off for other VIPs with sofas for seating. There was a large screen next to the VIP stage that showed the stage performance on large screen.At 8:30 pm a man started chanting prayers and mantras to god Ram accompanied with drums and the accordion instrument. The area was lit up by spot lights coming from a bamboo platform tower in the middle of the audience area.
At 9 pm the show started. A man read the story of Rama into a microphone and stage actors mimed the play. It was interesting to watch the play and the audience. Rama is the avatar of the supreme god Vishnu. His wife Sita is abducted by King Ravana, a demon. The play presents teachings of ancient Hindi sages in narrative allegory, interspersed with philosophical and devotional elements. Ram helps to destroy the king of the monkey people. Ram's younger brother becomes their king. There are movies and TV serials telling this story.
The last Metro train was about 11:30 pm..I got on the 11:15 train. Too close for comfort. Being stuck in Old Delhi would not be good. It took about an hour to get back to Eli's house via Metro and tuk tuk.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Day 19 - Hair ...Steak....Packer Game
It is Sunday, but I don't feel like going to church. Didn't do much this morning.
In the afternoon I decide to check out the Central Plaza Mall which is not far from Eli's place. It is just down the street the other way from the South Point Mall and the grocery store...There is a Subway Restaurant, an Indian Restaurant, a bakery with sweet pastries, cakes, and bread...not the kind I like. I notice a sign that there is a beauty salon on the third floor...Hair Art Salon. I decide to go there and ask about getting my gray hair colored. The elevator door opens and I don't see the salon. I go down a narrow hallway and don't know what to expect.
I open the door and there is a woman sitting in the waiting area and three men getting a hair cut. The place is pretty clean, bright and modern. The receptionist greets me and speaks good English. I ask about coloring my hair...3500 rupies. Do you take credit cards? Yes. I agree. Let's do it.
I sit in a chair that is fixed to the floor and it spins around... just like the ones in America. The salon stylists are all men. The man who will work on me is Shammi. He shows me a color pallette and asks me what shade of black or brown I want for me hair. I point to dark brown. He goes into the back room and mixes up the solution. I am a little nervous and I look around at other men getting their hair cut. They get a head massage after the haircut. A well dressed woman comes in and talks to a man and disappears in a back room.
Shammi comes back, wraps a towel around my shoulder, and begins to section off my hair and brushes on the solution. It takes about 15 minutes. He wraps a plastic thing around my head and I get a two year old Vogue magazine to read while I wait for the solution to cook my hair.
After about a half hour, I go to the sink area and get the solution washed out, shampoo/conditioner and a head massage. It feels rather good. I have never had my hair colored in a salon before. I usually do it myself with a mix from the store.
I then go back to my chair and Shammi blow dries my hair. It looks pretty nice...no more gray. Now it is time to pay. 3933 rupies with 18% tax...I show my American Express credit card. No. They won't take it. Oh oh. I look in my purse for cash. Only 3000 rupies. I need 933 rupies more. The receptionist suggests that I go to the ATM on the ground floor. They assign a man to follow me downstairs. I get the money and pay him 900 rupies. He is happy. The ATM machine only gives out 100 rupie bills. No small change.
I feel pretty good with my gray hair gone. It's 7 pm. I am hungry, so I decide to go for a steak at Medium Well Done Restaurant in the lower level of Southpoint Mall. Eli told me about it before he left. When I get there I learn that there will be a live band playing out in the courtyard tonight. Great!
The courtyard is nice. It is an open area below the street level. People at street level can look down into the courtyard. Tables have an umbrella over them. They are playing Beatle songs over the loud speaker. Mrs. Robinson. I Want to Hold Your Hand. I am the only customer there. Later on another customer came in for a drink and left.
I order a a glass of sweet lime soda and a medium rare tenderloin steak with potato wedges. I get a basket of an assortment of breads...french bread was yummy. I ate all the bread before the steak arrived. Food portions are small in India compared to America. I didn't get many potato wedges, but they were delicious. Steak was large, so I only ate a fourth of it. It didn't have much taste. I am told that steaks in India are really buffalo meat. No real beef sold in India.
Bill was 1120 rupies with another 27% tax...1440 rupies. No wonder we are not expected to tip for services in India. The tax is high enough. I hope some of the tax gets back to the waiter.
The band started late, but they weren't bad once they got going...three guitars and a drummer. They play until 10 pm. While the band is putting away their instruments, I go up to talk to them. They play here every Sunday night. The band is Squarez Attached. ..check them out on Facebook. I am invited to come back next week.
It's time to hurry home for the Packer Game. I put on my Packer jersey and set up in front of Eli's computer game to cheer on the Packers. The Packer game is available for free online at a price....
every 15 minutes, the broadcast is interrupted with advertising. I learned after trial and error that I have to click through 10 ads to get back to the game again. So it's 15 minutes of game, click through 10 ads, 15 minutes of game, etc. I have to tolerate this to see my favorite team... Go Packers!! They win!! Yahoo.
That's all to report. Fireworks tomorrow.
In the afternoon I decide to check out the Central Plaza Mall which is not far from Eli's place. It is just down the street the other way from the South Point Mall and the grocery store...There is a Subway Restaurant, an Indian Restaurant, a bakery with sweet pastries, cakes, and bread...not the kind I like. I notice a sign that there is a beauty salon on the third floor...Hair Art Salon. I decide to go there and ask about getting my gray hair colored. The elevator door opens and I don't see the salon. I go down a narrow hallway and don't know what to expect.
I open the door and there is a woman sitting in the waiting area and three men getting a hair cut. The place is pretty clean, bright and modern. The receptionist greets me and speaks good English. I ask about coloring my hair...3500 rupies. Do you take credit cards? Yes. I agree. Let's do it.
I sit in a chair that is fixed to the floor and it spins around... just like the ones in America. The salon stylists are all men. The man who will work on me is Shammi. He shows me a color pallette and asks me what shade of black or brown I want for me hair. I point to dark brown. He goes into the back room and mixes up the solution. I am a little nervous and I look around at other men getting their hair cut. They get a head massage after the haircut. A well dressed woman comes in and talks to a man and disappears in a back room.
Shammi comes back, wraps a towel around my shoulder, and begins to section off my hair and brushes on the solution. It takes about 15 minutes. He wraps a plastic thing around my head and I get a two year old Vogue magazine to read while I wait for the solution to cook my hair.
After about a half hour, I go to the sink area and get the solution washed out, shampoo/conditioner and a head massage. It feels rather good. I have never had my hair colored in a salon before. I usually do it myself with a mix from the store.
I then go back to my chair and Shammi blow dries my hair. It looks pretty nice...no more gray. Now it is time to pay. 3933 rupies with 18% tax...I show my American Express credit card. No. They won't take it. Oh oh. I look in my purse for cash. Only 3000 rupies. I need 933 rupies more. The receptionist suggests that I go to the ATM on the ground floor. They assign a man to follow me downstairs. I get the money and pay him 900 rupies. He is happy. The ATM machine only gives out 100 rupie bills. No small change.
I feel pretty good with my gray hair gone. It's 7 pm. I am hungry, so I decide to go for a steak at Medium Well Done Restaurant in the lower level of Southpoint Mall. Eli told me about it before he left. When I get there I learn that there will be a live band playing out in the courtyard tonight. Great!
The courtyard is nice. It is an open area below the street level. People at street level can look down into the courtyard. Tables have an umbrella over them. They are playing Beatle songs over the loud speaker. Mrs. Robinson. I Want to Hold Your Hand. I am the only customer there. Later on another customer came in for a drink and left.
I order a a glass of sweet lime soda and a medium rare tenderloin steak with potato wedges. I get a basket of an assortment of breads...french bread was yummy. I ate all the bread before the steak arrived. Food portions are small in India compared to America. I didn't get many potato wedges, but they were delicious. Steak was large, so I only ate a fourth of it. It didn't have much taste. I am told that steaks in India are really buffalo meat. No real beef sold in India.
Bill was 1120 rupies with another 27% tax...1440 rupies. No wonder we are not expected to tip for services in India. The tax is high enough. I hope some of the tax gets back to the waiter.
The band started late, but they weren't bad once they got going...three guitars and a drummer. They play until 10 pm. While the band is putting away their instruments, I go up to talk to them. They play here every Sunday night. The band is Squarez Attached. ..check them out on Facebook. I am invited to come back next week.
It's time to hurry home for the Packer Game. I put on my Packer jersey and set up in front of Eli's computer game to cheer on the Packers. The Packer game is available for free online at a price....
every 15 minutes, the broadcast is interrupted with advertising. I learned after trial and error that I have to click through 10 ads to get back to the game again. So it's 15 minutes of game, click through 10 ads, 15 minutes of game, etc. I have to tolerate this to see my favorite team... Go Packers!! They win!! Yahoo.
That's all to report. Fireworks tomorrow.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Day 18 - It's My Birthday and I'll Cry If I Want to
Today is my birthday. I am alone in this apartment. What will I do to celebrate??
I call Keary right away. It's bedtime Saturday night in Wisconsin. Keary gave me a birthday card to open for my birthday, so I open it and read it. Very nice card, Keary. I miss you. Give me lots of hugs and back rubs when I get home.
For breakfast I made the Indian version of ramen noodles...still not as good as US ramen noodles....with leftover broccoli stems. My stomach does not feel good.....ugh.
Eli and Nicole finally get back to me and give me the passwords I need.
My brother Arne and Zeke left voice mail messages on my cell phone. I call them back.
I lay down and sleep for a few hours. When I wake up I feel better. I decide to go next door to Le Marche Market to buy myself a piece of chocolate cake and a six pack of Corona beer. Wait, I'm going to the kitchen to get one of those beers right now.
The rest of the night I decide to pull out my Packer jersey and read about the Packer game tomorrow. Which team are they playing and what time does the game start? It starts at noon which is about 10 pm my time. I plan to stay up late to watch the game via the internet.
Nothing else to report. Happy Birthday to Me!!
I call Keary right away. It's bedtime Saturday night in Wisconsin. Keary gave me a birthday card to open for my birthday, so I open it and read it. Very nice card, Keary. I miss you. Give me lots of hugs and back rubs when I get home.
For breakfast I made the Indian version of ramen noodles...still not as good as US ramen noodles....with leftover broccoli stems. My stomach does not feel good.....ugh.
Eli and Nicole finally get back to me and give me the passwords I need.
My brother Arne and Zeke left voice mail messages on my cell phone. I call them back.
I lay down and sleep for a few hours. When I wake up I feel better. I decide to go next door to Le Marche Market to buy myself a piece of chocolate cake and a six pack of Corona beer. Wait, I'm going to the kitchen to get one of those beers right now.
The rest of the night I decide to pull out my Packer jersey and read about the Packer game tomorrow. Which team are they playing and what time does the game start? It starts at noon which is about 10 pm my time. I plan to stay up late to watch the game via the internet.
Nothing else to report. Happy Birthday to Me!!
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