NYC

NYC is a really BIG CITY!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Getting ready to go to NYC

Grandma Kathi has been getting ready to go back to US.

She bought a new purse. Hidesign.

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.

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.

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.

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.