THANKSGIVING 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Eating in NYC
Grandpa Bob has been in India for 6 months without American food and India does not eat beef. They worship the cows, that is the reason that they walk around the streets.
So we have been eating hamburgers, ribs, hotdogs, New York Cheesecake. Yesterday we took the Subway to Chinatown and had Hong Kong Dim Sum.
That's where you go to a Chinese restaurant and they bring all of these steamed dished around to your table. It's a lot like a buffet in Oklahoma except they bring the food to you.
The conference starts on 22nd of March, but everybody starts getting here on the 20th. We have a lot of work to get the booth ready for the conference. So Grandma Kathi and Grandpa Bob will be busy.
So we have been eating hamburgers, ribs, hotdogs, New York Cheesecake. Yesterday we took the Subway to Chinatown and had Hong Kong Dim Sum.
That's where you go to a Chinese restaurant and they bring all of these steamed dished around to your table. It's a lot like a buffet in Oklahoma except they bring the food to you.
The conference starts on 22nd of March, but everybody starts getting here on the 20th. We have a lot of work to get the booth ready for the conference. So Grandma Kathi and Grandpa Bob will be busy.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
NYC
We have been enjoying walking around NYC.
St. Patrick's Day in NYC. The parade started at 11 am and didn't finish until 4 pm and then it took until 9 pm to clean up the streets and take down all the street blockage barriers. I have never seen so many people. GREEN PEOPLE
This is a wonderful statue of Atlas, by Lee Lawrie, not only is very impressive but it also provides much needed space to appreciate the glories across Fifth Avenue of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
St. Patrick's Day in NYC. The parade started at 11 am and didn't finish until 4 pm and then it took until 9 pm to clean up the streets and take down all the street blockage barriers. I have never seen so many people. GREEN PEOPLE
This is a wonderful statue of Atlas, by Lee Lawrie, not only is very impressive but it also provides much needed space to appreciate the glories across Fifth Avenue of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Qatar airplaine ride . . . .
The seats are so big and comfortable. Grandpa Bob is really happy about that.
Look at the leg room that Grandma Kathi has
Look at the leg room that Grandma Kathi has
Qatar Flight to NYC
We had to get up really early. Gorark came to drive us to the airport at 3 AM. Our flight left at 5:15 am from Ahmedabad airport. After going thru security we had to take a bus out to the plane.
Riding on the bus to the first leg of our flight to NYC on a Qatar airplane with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Kathi.
It took use 3 hours to get to Doha, so we went shopping and then had a free Breakfast in the Business lounge. This is me sitting in the lounge in Doha.
Riding on the bus to the first leg of our flight to NYC on a Qatar airplane with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Kathi.
It took use 3 hours to get to Doha, so we went shopping and then had a free Breakfast in the Business lounge. This is me sitting in the lounge in Doha.
Friday, March 12, 2010
H O T !
JENNI,
It has gotten SO H O T HERE!
FRIDAY
High 102 F / Low 73 F
SATURDAY
High 102 F / Low 73 F
SUNDAY
High 103 F / Low 73 F
MONDAY
High 105 F / Low 73 F
TUESDAY
High 106 F / Low 75 F
We will be leaving for NYC at 5:15 am on Tuesday morning so we will miss the 106 F temperature.
There has been NO RAIN, they only have rain during monsoons.
_________________________________________
INDIA MONSOONS
India’s climate is dominated by monsoons and account for 80% of the rainfall in India.
The monsoon season in India brings along a quite heavy rainfall along the west coast between June and September whereas the eastern coast observes rains somewhere between mid-October and December. The monsoon winds in winter mainly blow from northeastern region of Indian subcontinent carrying a little amount of moisture. With the Himalayas acting as a barrier to the cold air from passing onto the subcontinent, the winters in the country go relatively dry.
It has gotten SO H O T HERE!
FRIDAY
High 102 F / Low 73 F
SATURDAY
High 102 F / Low 73 F
SUNDAY
High 103 F / Low 73 F
MONDAY
High 105 F / Low 73 F
TUESDAY
High 106 F / Low 75 F
We will be leaving for NYC at 5:15 am on Tuesday morning so we will miss the 106 F temperature.
There has been NO RAIN, they only have rain during monsoons.
_________________________________________
INDIA MONSOONS
India’s climate is dominated by monsoons and account for 80% of the rainfall in India.
The monsoon season in India brings along a quite heavy rainfall along the west coast between June and September whereas the eastern coast observes rains somewhere between mid-October and December. The monsoon winds in winter mainly blow from northeastern region of Indian subcontinent carrying a little amount of moisture. With the Himalayas acting as a barrier to the cold air from passing onto the subcontinent, the winters in the country go relatively dry.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Getting ready to go to NYC
Grandma Kathi has been getting ready to go back to US.
She bought a new purse. Hidesign.
She bought a new purse. Hidesign.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Henna
Grandma Kathi had henna design put around her ankles.
She let me put it on my ankles too. What do you think Jenni?
It's not permanent it will wear off in just a few weeks.
In February 2009, Grandma Kathi got to go to a mehandi party before Dipani's wedding.
You can read about the Mehndi Party and the Wedding.
So, what exactly is mehndi?
The art of mehndi (or mehandi) has been a long-standing tradition stemming from many ancient cultures dating back as far as about 5,000 years, but is most known today for its history in India. Today, it is still used in religious and ritualistic ceremonies in India, but has also gained appreciation in other countries as a beautiful art to be appreciated at any time.
Mehndi is a temporary art done on the body with henna. Henna powder is derived from a plant (actually a bush), Lawsonia inermis, commonly found in the Middle East and other areas where the climate is hot and dry. The bush is harvested, dried, and then crushed to make henna powder. Henna itself is used for many things such as hair treatment, heat rash relief, and skin conditioner to name a few. The top leaves of the plant are best for mehndi, while the lower part of the plant is used for the other purposes. Henna paste is what is made to apply henna art designs.
Henna powder itself is green in color, but the stain it leaves behind is usually an orange-red color. There are many suppliers now that offer henna in a variety of colors but these are not recommended. Pure henna has had little to no incident of allergic reaction. When colors are added to natural henna, reactions can be mild to severe. Black henna especially has been known to cause serious skin burns as a result of the chemicals added to it to produce the black color effect. Henna is best to be appreciated in its purest form.
Most who are familiar with henna have seen the traditional designs. These beautifully intricate patterns are similar to those used for the marriage ceremonies and other rituals. They usually adorn the hands and feet of the wearer, and require that they remain still for many hours to apply the paste and then allow it to dry. Henna color has been known to take best to the hands and feet due to their dry properties which soak up and hold the color better, but henna can be applied anywhere. How well your skin takes to the henna will depend on each individual's skin properties.
Today, henna has been done in many forms including more contemporary designs. Some contemplating a permanent tattoo might apply henna first to see if they like the look before making a permanent decision. Some just enjoy having a temporary design they know will wash off in a few weeks. Whatever your reasons might be for being interested in henna, you are delving into a beautiful form of art rich in culture.
She let me put it on my ankles too. What do you think Jenni?
It's not permanent it will wear off in just a few weeks.
In February 2009, Grandma Kathi got to go to a mehandi party before Dipani's wedding.
You can read about the Mehndi Party and the Wedding.
So, what exactly is mehndi?
The art of mehndi (or mehandi) has been a long-standing tradition stemming from many ancient cultures dating back as far as about 5,000 years, but is most known today for its history in India. Today, it is still used in religious and ritualistic ceremonies in India, but has also gained appreciation in other countries as a beautiful art to be appreciated at any time.
Mehndi is a temporary art done on the body with henna. Henna powder is derived from a plant (actually a bush), Lawsonia inermis, commonly found in the Middle East and other areas where the climate is hot and dry. The bush is harvested, dried, and then crushed to make henna powder. Henna itself is used for many things such as hair treatment, heat rash relief, and skin conditioner to name a few. The top leaves of the plant are best for mehndi, while the lower part of the plant is used for the other purposes. Henna paste is what is made to apply henna art designs.
Henna powder itself is green in color, but the stain it leaves behind is usually an orange-red color. There are many suppliers now that offer henna in a variety of colors but these are not recommended. Pure henna has had little to no incident of allergic reaction. When colors are added to natural henna, reactions can be mild to severe. Black henna especially has been known to cause serious skin burns as a result of the chemicals added to it to produce the black color effect. Henna is best to be appreciated in its purest form.
Most who are familiar with henna have seen the traditional designs. These beautifully intricate patterns are similar to those used for the marriage ceremonies and other rituals. They usually adorn the hands and feet of the wearer, and require that they remain still for many hours to apply the paste and then allow it to dry. Henna color has been known to take best to the hands and feet due to their dry properties which soak up and hold the color better, but henna can be applied anywhere. How well your skin takes to the henna will depend on each individual's skin properties.
Today, henna has been done in many forms including more contemporary designs. Some contemplating a permanent tattoo might apply henna first to see if they like the look before making a permanent decision. Some just enjoy having a temporary design they know will wash off in a few weeks. Whatever your reasons might be for being interested in henna, you are delving into a beautiful form of art rich in culture.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Hijras of India
These Hijras came to Grandma Kathi's office. She has never met a Hijra, so she got to get her picture taken with them.
The hijras appear at weddings and at the births of sons to bless the family with luck and fertility in exchange for gifts and money.
Hindu society incorporates the hijras as “a measure of power and requires (or at least accepts) their presence on auspicious occasions.”
The hijras not only identify with the Mother Goddess and Shiva through their ambiguous natures but are actually believed to embody their powers.
In Hindu mythology, ritual, and art, androgynous figures are frequent and significant themes. “Hinduism in general holds that all persons contain within themselves both male and female principles.
The hijras appear at weddings and at the births of sons to bless the family with luck and fertility in exchange for gifts and money.
Hindu society incorporates the hijras as “a measure of power and requires (or at least accepts) their presence on auspicious occasions.”
The hijras not only identify with the Mother Goddess and Shiva through their ambiguous natures but are actually believed to embody their powers.
In Hindu mythology, ritual, and art, androgynous figures are frequent and significant themes. “Hinduism in general holds that all persons contain within themselves both male and female principles.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Heading back to USA
Grandma Kathi and Grandpa Bob have purchased their tickets to USA. They are going to spend a week in NYC. I am thinking about going home with them on the plane. All I need is permission from Jenni.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Holi Festival
SanJay is the man that comes up and gets the trash. He was the first one that I saw with the Holi Festival powder on him, it was in his hair and on his back. He rubbed some on my face. I watched over Grandma Kathi's balcony. There were people throwing this powder all over each other. The 2 little boys and 1 little girl from downstairs, played in the water and the colors all morning.
Then at 5:00 pm we went to Ben's and he had powder all over his face. So Grandma Kathi said that I could have the Holi powder thrown on me.
It was so much fun getting the powder thrown all over me.
I am so glad that I got to enjoy this Holi Festival.
Then at 5:00 pm we went to Ben's and he had powder all over his face. So Grandma Kathi said that I could have the Holi powder thrown on me.
It was so much fun getting the powder thrown all over me.
I am so glad that I got to enjoy this Holi Festival.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Dinner Party
Grandma Kathi and Grandpa Bob has invited some friends over for dinner. So we went to find a couple of chickens. Grocery markets here don't have a meat market because they are all vegetarians, they don't eat meat or any animal products. So you have to go out to the streets to find some meat. As we pull up I didn't think I wanted to get out of the car.
Raju means chicken. Grandma Kathi had our driver Gorark get us 2 chickens.
The blue van had fish, so we had Gorard get us 2 fish.
Grandma Kathi had Gorark drive us to a floral shop and Grandma Kathi got out and went into the flower shop and bought the coolest center piece for her table. It cost her 320 rupees, $6.93468 USD. 1 dozen red roses and 1 dozen peach roses.
Raju means chicken. Grandma Kathi had our driver Gorark get us 2 chickens.
The blue van had fish, so we had Gorard get us 2 fish.
Grandma Kathi had Gorark drive us to a floral shop and Grandma Kathi got out and went into the flower shop and bought the coolest center piece for her table. It cost her 320 rupees, $6.93468 USD. 1 dozen red roses and 1 dozen peach roses.
Holli, also called the Festival of Colours
Tomorrow is Holi Festival!
The main day, Holi is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other.
The festival of colour is celebrated with great festivity and joy. On this day, people come out wearing pure white clothes and gather together in a common place where they play and throw the colors on each other. People walk down their neighborhoods to celebrate Holi by exchanging colours and spraying coloured water on one another. A popular activity is the throwing of water balloons at one another,
Bonfires are lit the day before. Grandma Kathi and I got to attend one of these bonfires. The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2009, Holi (Dhulandi) was on March 11 and Holika Dahan was on March 10. In 2010, Holi is on March 1 and Holika Dahan was on February 28.
The main day, Holi is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other.
The festival of colour is celebrated with great festivity and joy. On this day, people come out wearing pure white clothes and gather together in a common place where they play and throw the colors on each other. People walk down their neighborhoods to celebrate Holi by exchanging colours and spraying coloured water on one another. A popular activity is the throwing of water balloons at one another,
Bonfires are lit the day before. Grandma Kathi and I got to attend one of these bonfires. The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2009, Holi (Dhulandi) was on March 11 and Holika Dahan was on March 10. In 2010, Holi is on March 1 and Holika Dahan was on February 28.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Eating In India
Most of the food here is way to spicy, but Grandma Kathi takes me to McDonald's every once in a while so I can have Chicken McNuggets.
The chocolate milk shake was 24.00 rupees / $.52 USD
2 - 9 piece Chicken McNuggets were 328.00 rupees / $7.13 USD
Total bill was 352.00 rupees / $7.65 USD
They don't eat beef here so there are not any hamburgers, they eat veggie burgers. The French Fries taste the same, it was just a little like being home again.
All the dessert are different here, too. They are vegetarian's and they don't eat eggs, Grandma Kathi just doesn't know how they can bake a cake without eggs.
Grandma Kathi treated me to a "Chocolate Fondue". That was really good!
The chocolate milk shake was 24.00 rupees / $.52 USD
2 - 9 piece Chicken McNuggets were 328.00 rupees / $7.13 USD
Total bill was 352.00 rupees / $7.65 USD
They don't eat beef here so there are not any hamburgers, they eat veggie burgers. The French Fries taste the same, it was just a little like being home again.
All the dessert are different here, too. They are vegetarian's and they don't eat eggs, Grandma Kathi just doesn't know how they can bake a cake without eggs.
Grandma Kathi treated me to a "Chocolate Fondue". That was really good!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Staying with Grandma
The best part of this trip is sleeping in Grandma's BIG BED
She has people that cleans her apartment and washes her floor everyday.
People that driver her car.
She has people that cleans her apartment and washes her floor everyday.
People that driver her car.
Grandpa Bob's Office
I was at the SearchKing Techno Labs of India office today.
Grandma and I in the employees work room of India
Grandpa Bob has finally got his office decorated,
so he was proud to take a picture with me.
Grandma and I in the employees work room of India
Grandpa Bob has finally got his office decorated,
so he was proud to take a picture with me.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Pharmacy
This is for Aunt Kimi:
This is like a Walgreen's in the USA. Everything is behind the counter. Dove lotion, soap, tissues. You have to ask for everything. Not much theft here. There are "Chemists" almost on every street. They are not hard to find.
All pharmacy's are open with no store front. You don't have to have a prescription, just know the name of the drug you want and they will sell it to you. The cost is very low. You can see the plastic containers in the background.
Each one of the plastic containers has 100's of pills in them.
Pharmacies that speak English are few so this is our favorite pharmacist that speaks English. There are not very many that have computers, everything is written down in a ledger book.
This is like a Walgreen's in the USA. Everything is behind the counter. Dove lotion, soap, tissues. You have to ask for everything. Not much theft here. There are "Chemists" almost on every street. They are not hard to find.
All pharmacy's are open with no store front. You don't have to have a prescription, just know the name of the drug you want and they will sell it to you. The cost is very low. You can see the plastic containers in the background.
Each one of the plastic containers has 100's of pills in them.
Pharmacies that speak English are few so this is our favorite pharmacist that speaks English. There are not very many that have computers, everything is written down in a ledger book.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Incredible India
Jenni I am so glad that you sent me to India to visit Grandma Kathi. I have experienced some of the most amazing things in this world. It's hard to describe how I feel so far away from you, halfway around the world. As far away as I can get without starting back around the other side of the world, but it is an experience that I have really enjoyed. It really makes me appreciate home.
It's hard to believe that people in this world still live on so little. Most people earn only 10 rupees as day. That's 0.215958 USD. These are where most of them live in these 1 room huts along the streets. They cook on fires outside their huts.
There are children that beg on the street.
It's hard to believe that people in this world still live on so little. Most people earn only 10 rupees as day. That's 0.215958 USD. These are where most of them live in these 1 room huts along the streets. They cook on fires outside their huts.
There are children that beg on the street.
School bus
This is the way the kids get to school.
See the backpacks on the back of the rickshaw? The rickshaws are packed full of kids. It doesn't look very comfortable.
See the backpacks on the back of the rickshaw? The rickshaws are packed full of kids. It doesn't look very comfortable.
Camels and elephants
There are alot of working camels in Ahmedabad.
They pull carts for of crops. Most of them are painted and have beautiful decorations on them.
The streets that you drive down have camels, cows, elephants, goats, horses, dogs, water buffalo, bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, vegetable carts pushed by men or women, cars, trucks, tractors, and people with not many traffic laws. Police are only stationed at the corners.
ELEPHANTS
Elephants are used in weddings to bring the groom to the wedding. But most are used to haul crops.
They pull carts for of crops. Most of them are painted and have beautiful decorations on them.
The streets that you drive down have camels, cows, elephants, goats, horses, dogs, water buffalo, bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, vegetable carts pushed by men or women, cars, trucks, tractors, and people with not many traffic laws. Police are only stationed at the corners.
ELEPHANTS
Elephants are used in weddings to bring the groom to the wedding. But most are used to haul crops.
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