I learned in India

I love warm weather
It is hard not to smile at strangers
Home made indian food is a whole better world
Spicy food is good
Seeing my sister is love is awesome
I like soft beds
Jet lag is no big deal
Cooking is not always fun
I’m a shopaholic when the price is right
Change is good
But change is hard
Skin color does make a difference
Money can make life easier
Having a gross sense of humor is fun
Ceiling fans are amazing
Making rice isn’t that hard
Boys are different
Eating with your hands is fun
Bread can be full of protein and nutritious
I really love dogs
People are people no matter their life story
Space and thought before talking are ok
Dancing is fun
Bollywood movies are predictable and funny
My sister is amazing
I don’t think I could live in India
Did I mention I love warm weather
Family is not defined but ever growing
Even covered from head to toe people thought I was a prostitute
My sister makes good choices
Life is unpredictable and sooooooo exciting!!!!!!

Sista's World

This arch is the only way I can tell that we are close to home. Every morning it is crowded with "day workers" waiting to get picked up for a job. Throughout the day individuals sell fresh veggies and prepared cart food to the passersby. Just one block and around the corner lies my sister's abode.

The colony gate is open by day and closed by night. The street traffic noise is diminished because there is a park across the street and no through roads within the colony.

Four stories up you find a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment with all the conveniences of home: AC, microwave, blender, tv with cable, wireless, and a washing machine. Two missing items which can only be acquired for an extremely high price (and really aren't necessary in such a hot climate).....an oven and a dryer!

From the tiny patio above the keys can easily be tossed down to the working man headed out for a day of business. Inside the apt is decorated with cane furniture, woven rugs, and memorabilia collected from adventures around town.

In the evenings these two goofy love birds are usually found snuggled on the couch with the TV on and the computer nearby recounting the day and enjoying each others company. The gigantic poster of the family hanging over head is just one of three reminders of home created by A for homesick M for her birthday.

In the small colony there are gigantic modern upper class houses and apartment buildings. Just below is a slum where lower middle class individuals live such as drivers and maids.

The corrugated steel roofs with rocks on top is the middle class neighborhood.

Ramoji Film City - Day 2

One hours drive East of Hyderabad is Ramoji Film City (aka the Bolliwood version of Universal Studios)

Our day started with 2 rides:
1) A very cheesy and fake "free fall" from the 46th floor of a building on fire.
2) A 1950s version of the Disney "Its a small world" ride in which the US was portrayed as the Statue of Liberty, an army helicopter, and an Oklahoma wild west scene.

Martha and I couldn't resist the cheesy photos so here is sampling of our goofiness......

Our final adventure was a bus tour of all of the sets and gardens where the films had been shot. It would have helped to have seen a few Bolliwood films before the tour.

I just couldn't resist the irony of Indian women in saris in the Wild Wild West sets.

Hyderabad Day 1

We traveled by "auto" to visit the Fosters

and enjoyed a pre-brunch gathering at the Foster abode.

Anshuman took us to a rajastani restaurant

Were we sampled a little bit of everything.

The kitchen was spotless and bustling

and the spice rack amazing :)

Jalebis were frying (indian dessert)

and Martha posed with the chefs and manager who were incredibly proud of their cuisine.

Off to India

Off I go on a jet plane for 36 hours to see my sister and meet her gentleman friend Anshuman.

4 magazines
1 book
4 tv episodes on my ipod
and some sleeping medicine will hopefully be enough to keep me occupied on the plane.

And when I land in Hyderabad I can't wait for the HUGS!

New Shelves

These handcrafted shelves were made for me by craftsman Mark! Thank you Mark for your beautiful work and for endless amount of space to display my nicnacs!