Summer Vacation

Kids middle, three and I all took a week off from India and traveled to Thailand to break up our summer overseas and away from extended family.  We miss everyone in the US but the trip to Thailand, even with our stay at some rather nice hotels, was one third the price to the US for all three of us.  Traveling within Asia would naturally be less when starting from Asia. Plus the fact that this time of year is hot and steamy and monsoons keep visitors at bay, we were able to get some pretty sweet deals on airfare and hotels.

A friend from Thailand taught us some quick survival Thai for our stay (sa wad dee ka/krub, kob koon ka/krub) which was nice to know and use while we were there.  Those at the resort seemed very impressed that we said hello/good bye and thank you in the language of Thailand.  Although the demeanor of those from Thailand is so pleasant, even if they weren’t impressed they would make it seem they were to make us happy and not to offend us.
We flew into and out of Bangkok but only spent one full day in the city.  From what very little we saw we can say it is HUGE and has lots of cars.  Bangkok in a quick day is not the way to see Bangkok but it gave us an idea that we would like to go there again sometime.  The rail system is impressive and easy to use, there is a lot of traffic and very little horn honking, and there is a really neat aquarium in the lower level of one of the malls that was well worth the visit. http://siamoceanworld.co.th 
The remainder of our time in Thailand was spent in Hau Hin, a lovely city on the Thai gulf about 125 miles (200 km) south of Bangkok.  We found a wonderful resort with great prices if we booked our stay online.  Asara villa and suites (http://www.asaravillaandsuite.com )  was every bit as beautiful as it looked online but even more fun than it can seem to a ten and eleven year old who are told to behave at every turn.  There were activities every day at three o’clock like kayaking, garland making, and origami that were all enjoyed.  The kayaks were made available to resort guests even when it was not the assigned activity time.  The gulf seems to house many jellyfish and we were told of them before going into the water.  Although we did not see any jellyfish (other than at the aquarium) we didn’t take our chances other than enjoying the kayak on two occasions.  Family members recently visited Florida and were stung by jellyfish so we learned from their mistakes.  We spent our water time in the two beautiful pools at the resort and visited the malls and night market at Hua Hin.  We drifted through a floating market and road on an elephant and in general just enjoyed ourselves.  It was truly a vacation to remember.                                                                                                                  The cherry on top came for our return flight home, to India.  Our seats on the way to Bangkok were first assigned to the exit row, where we cannot sit because of the ages of the kids.  Another row of very willing passengers exchanged seats with us to accommodate.  When checking in for our return flight I mentioned the mishap.  Partly to make sure we were not given the exit row again but mostly to point out that the kids were very good about changing seats and behaved themselves very well due to the circumstances of now you have it now you don’t.  I asked that if seats needed to be moved on this flight could we please be moved to business class?  The ticket agent politely smiled and assured me to plane was very full and she would not place us in an exit row.  Fast forward two hours later, while waiting for the plane to begin boarding the name of kid three was called over the loud speaker to report to the gate counter.  The thoughts, “Did we get ANOTHER exit row?” or “Could we really fly business class?” both went through the minds of all three of us.  The agent needed our boarding passes to write in our new seating assignment to which we all quietly and in a restrained manner, celebrated our journey.  We ended this beautiful trip on a wonderful note and flew home to India in business class, all three together.  Thank you Air India! http://home.airindia.in  

We will post some pictures of the trip at a later time.  That is what we are doing this summer.  What have you all been up to?

Independence Day Celebration

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound?  The age old philosophical question that came to mind as people asked us in email, on the phone and on face book if we, as Americans, celebrated July fourth, Independence Day, with the rest of America?  Well our answer is yes AND no.  We celebrated with a grand display of red, white and blue at the American Embassy in Delhi India.  All American passport holders and their immediate family members were invited to the American Embassy in New Delhi on Saturday, July 2 to celebrate American Independence Day. There was a formal ceremony with the Marin Corps Color Guard and even video recorded messages from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama.  For the kids there was a bouncy castle and face painters, (thanks to the nice volunteers who painted faces!), as well as a tug of war and pie eating contest for the older party goers. (Note: the winners of the pie eating contest were not very old.  Teamed with a friend, kid three enjoyed a gluten apple pie in a very short amount of time.)  There was music and a great band that performed.  At the end of the night we enjoyed the fireworks display put on right next to our gathering place.  It really was an awesome display of our red, white and blue, apple pie eating, American pride.  Thank you US Embassy New Delhi/ACSA www.acsaindia.com for the help in celebrating our Independence Day.  Although a few days before the rest of America really celebrated, is it truly the DAY or the concept of independence that we are celebrating anyway?

All things in moderation

The abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers even silk scarves is wonderful.  With all produce we have to carefully wash it with cleaner before even peeling it to eat but the produce choices are wonderful!

We use Stereliq cleaner in our house.  One cap full to every liter of water, soak for thirty minutes then thoroughly rinse.  Bananas, apples, pineapple, asparagus, kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, broccoli, carrots (orange and RED), litchi berries, and most recently mangoes! We love mangoes and now we even know how to best peel and eat them.  Our helpful house staff showed us how to cut, slightly off center, close to the pit (or bone, she calls it), two chunks of mango with peel then remove what is left on the pit/bone.  It works beautifully and we have eaten our weight in mangoes since the season has started recently.  We are told there is a mango festival here in Delhi in the month of July.  We will see if we can find our way to it when the time comes.  In the mean time we are going to continue to purchase mangoes from the fruit stands and eat while we wait.  YUM!

Kid one and I recently took a morning tour into south Delhi and walked through the Mehrauli area near Qutab Minar.  The vegetable market was in full swing and our tour guide gathered a large assortment of vegetables for us to try (he suggested our cook prepare the items).  We had enough to share with staff members as well. 

We took a quick walk through the Qutab Minar area.  A historical site of the world's tallest brick minaret.  Then ended our morning tour in the flower market where I bought way too many flowers and just enough vases to share my purchase with many people near me.  In a land of such scarcity there is really abundance.  Opposites in India, here again is proof positive.  The flower market and now my dining room smells wonderful, the produce is ripe, washed and ready for sharing.  Because all good things should be enjoyed in moderation.

Get your motor runnin'

Head out on the highway...When we packed up and moved from the US to India the mister sold his Harley knowing when he reached India he wanted to buy a Royal Enfield, the local motorcycle made here in India.  Once we arrived in Delhi he heard of many other expats doing much of the same thing but buying old restored bikes so when their time in Delhi is complete they can ship an antique (25 years or older) with their belongs back to the US.  This made for quite the dilemma.  Which ONE?  Old antique to send back or new and now.  For now he settled on a new Royal Enfield Bullet to ride while he decides which OTHER ONE?  Decisions, decisions.
The ONE he purchased recently registered enough kilometers to be considered "broke in".  Shortly there after he and a fellow RE owner had time off and could go for a long ride.  They plotted a highway route to the Ganges River and headed off for their first road trip by motorcycle here in India.
Setting off they road through small villages along the way that stared at them as though they landed from another planet.  They cooled their heads with water from wells along the road side.  They slept in a small hotel with paper thin walls.  And they arrived at the Ganges River to enjoy their achievement of the goal.  Neither one actually swam in the river but they enjoyed being there just the same.

It's the end of the year as we know it

The 2010-11 school year ended here in Delhi and in the American Embassy School.  Summer break officially starts Monday, May 30 (memorial day in the USA).  There was a school assembly for all three schools (elementary, middle and high school) on Friday to say farewell to the parting staff, faculty and students.  Wow, people change out around here!  Lots of people moving on to other posts, some going back to their country of origin and even some just moving to other parts of India.  All kinds of moving, changing, crying, celebrating, hugging, sharing, packing, leaving, vacationing and even some staying.
We are approaching six months since our arrival here in Delhi and WOW, what a six months that has been.  I am amazed at our kids acceptance of the moving, changing, crying, celebrating, hugging, sharing, packing, leaving, vacationing and even staying.  Shoot, I am amazed at all of our acceptance of...the ings.
The assembly at the elementary school was in the gym where the graduation was held the night before.  Beautifully decorated with school colors draped on the ceiling and walls.  Flower garland hanging throughout making the place smell of garden.  It was beautiful to see and experience.  The farewell was tender and sincere.  I am still reeling in the disbelief of the number of changes.  I am amazed that this well oiled machine we call school can have so many changes from year to year and still churn out such a successful year again and again.  I am amazed at the number of people I met that are moving on.  I am amazed at the ability of the people to move with such poise, such confidence, such joy onto their next place to live.  Some of these people knew for some time they would be moving, some knew just last week of their plans.  Amazing, right.
I have heard it said and read it many different ways but the statement that whatever is said about India, the opposite is also true as well.  The two oppositions play a part of every day.  The last day of school was no exception.  It was happy and sad as most farewells tend to be.  So long our friends we have made and welcome to our new friends that are about to arrive.

Rain Days and Saturday

     Out of character for this time of year in New Delhi we woke this Saturday morning to the sounds of thunder, lightening, pouring rain and plastic chairs being overturned on the rooftop terrace.  It was very windy and rained most of the day.  Around 10am there was a break in the rain that made way for a cool but dark Saturday morning.  Our family enjoyed a lazy Saturday.  As the rain continued on and off we did our own hobbies, studied for next week's finals and watched movies.  We also made lots of things in our gluten free kitchen.
Gluten free Corn Chips:
All corn tortilla cut in quarters and baked or fried to a crisp.  Salt to taste.

Gluten free Donuts:
4 1/4 cups Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix
1/4 cup melted butter
2/3 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs (or three small)
1 cup brown sugar
2 t vanilla
Mix all ingredients together.  Dust counter with additional Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix, scoop out about 1/3 of the dough and roll it with a dusted rolling pin to about 1/2 inch thick.  Cut out donut shapes and place into preheated fryer to 375 degrees, carefully lower donut into oil.  Fry approximately one minute on each side. Repeat until you have eaten all or some are left for after church tomorrow.

Gluten free Chicken Stew with dumplings

    We had this mix sent to us in a care package from a neighbor friend.  The rain had been on and off with the wind gusting throughout the day.  It was a perfect piece for a lazy Saturday, rainy day meal.  We added dumplings made from Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix.  Everyone ate until we were full and not one of the kids tried to pick out the vegetables.  Clean plate club all around the table.
    The temperature has been in the triple digits (Fahrenheit scale) for a few weeks now so we also made homemade ice cream.  Easily done gluten free.  I did a shout out on facebook for good homemade ice cream recipes and did not get even one real response.  If you are reading this and YOU have a good homemade ice cream recipe please share it.  We would love to try it this summer while the three of us "stayers" tough out the heat. ToDelhiWeGo@ameritech.net
    It is supposed to rain again tomorrow.  Hope there is enough of a break in the rain so we can get from one place to the next during our plans without getting wet. But that is why we packed umbrellas.

Cars, drivers and driving

   We managed to purchase a car from a family who will be leaving India in May.  We had wanted one far before this time but we looked high and low for a car that would fit our budget and requirements making a used car the only realistic option.  We had wanted to use the funds from our car sale in the US to purchase one here in India but with the bad winter in the states our car there did not sell until March, three months after we left.  We found a car to rent for a temporary ride but the size alone made it a joke to think about long term. 

    We called it a clown car, because when all five of us (yes the family rode in this plus the driver) piled out of our seats at our destination we looked like clowns unfolding from the corners of a small box.  One nice thing about the clown car was that the many street vendors who bang on your window to sell their wares would not persist at the windows of the clown car for long.  We physically looked like good targets with our clothes that look like a foreigner and out of place coloring but often they surveyed the car and bobbled their head from side to side then strolled onto their next best target.     
    The new car screams “sell to me”.  Clearly a foreigner’s car, the mini-van with window decals makes it an easy target for all street vendors at any stop light.  We have yet to purchase anything from a street seller except for a map early after our arrival here.  We keep the windows up at all times for safety, or that is what I say.  I don’t want the junk that is being sold and I have a sensitive sense of smell that often detects the scent of oil or tar or toxic from dollar store items and I would prefer not close these items inside my ‘windows up tight’ car.
     Hiring a driver has proven to be a challenge for me.  Our first driver came with the car we were renting and although he did not attend meetings for the directionally challenged, clearly he could have been accepted into that club.  He was the cause of my one weak moment when I purchased from a street vendor.  One day after making a few U-turns in an attempt to get to my husband’s office we were stuck at a traffic light and a man selling maps came to my window.  I believe in God and I felt he was a sign.  We were in the clown car and it was child proofed in the back seat so I could not put my window down.  I asked the driver to get a map.  The good thing there was he negotiated the price.  I bought a map for 50 rupees (equal to approximately one US dollar) and tried to make heads or tails of where we were.  I also get nauseous when I read in the car so I quickly gave up.  After we were safely home I offered the map to the directionally challenged driver but he was oddly not interested in knowing where we came from.  Possibly he did not have his reading glasses so looking at a map could have been a challenge.  We happened to negotiate our way out of accepting a driver with the rental car and tried to hire a driver for ourselves.  American Welcome Association

http://awadelhi.com/about.html  had a staff registry service that a person could use when we first arrived.  It is currently being combined with another service here in Delhi called Domstique  http://www.domesteq.com/  both services charge a fee, either one time or membership of sorts.

     Our first attempt at hiring a driver brought us a man who had some listening problems.  Not hearing problems that I am accustomed to dealing with in the deaf population but listening problems, slightly different.  Those with hearing problems can sometimes use an alternative communication such as sign language and still communicate with others.  Those with listening problems don’t listen, no matter the language spoke or written and for these individuals sign language is very limited.  He stayed with us for three months.  Our second attempt at hiring for ourselves we interviewed and did some test driving and even showed him a clear idea of what we expect, in writing.  Unfortunately what he told us during the interview and what his most recent previous employers stated were two different stories and it is really his past that is haunting him.  With the muddy references we have heeded their advice and we do not have this driver drive at night which is a strain on our lifestyle, especially the teenager who is constantly in need of asking for a ride from another friend.  We will keep this guy until June and then interview some of the many drivers who will be left behind as the mass exodus begins from the private schools in the Delhi area for the move to another country where their driver is not welcome to join the family.   From this new glut of drivers we are hoping that one family will gush about the driver and his skills and attitude and respect and everything that is nice to have in a driver and we will find a match for us and our new car.  Although it is hot and sometimes very dusty here in Delhi we are not holding our breath.

     Our new car has automatic transition and the mister and I went through the long and painful process of getting a driver’s license here in India.    If need be we could (by we I mean the mister) drive ourselves but driving is much different here in India.  Lines in general mean nothing to anyone, anywhere except to possibly guess someone’s age.  Unless one is making a 90 degree turn left or right blinkers are not necessary and even when turning left or right they are only an option.  If there is a gap and your car might fit in it that is where you belong.  The lines on the road mean nothing.  The line of cars at a light or congestion means nothing, but if your car might fit in the gap, that is where you belong.  On Sundays because of the limited number of cars on the road we have ventured out for a bit of family exploring, but only to locations we are familiar with.  Many stores are closed on Sundays and it is generally just a slower day all around, so it is a nice day to try our sea legs at driving (by our I mean the mister).  I might just try driving for a short bit, just to see if I still remember how to do it.  Although for me it is all backwards.  India cars have right side drive and traffic flows on the left side of the road, again this is optional.  It is all opposite from what I am familiar with.  But I am obviously not familiar with hiring a good driver either so what do I have to loose except for my perfect driving record (perfect by India standards that is).