This is the other image that we've noticed around town. Today I saw it on a shelf in a store next to the other goddess. They had fresh strings of jasmine draped on both of them.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Day 6 in India
Today there are 85,000 weddings going on in Mumbai. Tonight is a very good night for a wedding according to the Hindu calendar. The city is filled with beautiful clothes. The woman and girls are draped in bright colors and lots and lots of bling. The temples on every corner are set up with flowers and candles. Weddings are happening in every corner from our hotel to courtyards and alleyways. Fireworks have been popping in the sky since about 6:30pm.
It's now about 10:30pm and we have to leave to the Mumbai airport shortly. Our flight is at 1:20am. We are very tired so I'm sure we will sleep the entire 8 1/2 - 9 hour journey back to Vienna. It's always a longer plane ride going West due to the winds. We land Vienna time around 5am where we have to get our car and drive the 2 hours back to Budapest. I cannot wait to see the kids. To kiss them and smell them!
It's now about 10:30pm and we have to leave to the Mumbai airport shortly. Our flight is at 1:20am. We are very tired so I'm sure we will sleep the entire 8 1/2 - 9 hour journey back to Vienna. It's always a longer plane ride going West due to the winds. We land Vienna time around 5am where we have to get our car and drive the 2 hours back to Budapest. I cannot wait to see the kids. To kiss them and smell them!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Day 5 in India
At least 75-80% of the rickshaw drivers have stickers of this Hindu goddess inside their rickshaws - usually around their steering wheel / dashboard area.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Krvavec Ski Shot
Kerry sent me this photo that she took of Terence and I on the top of the ski mountain in Slovenia. Look at the clouds below us. It was incredible.
Day 4 in India
My last post was short and direct. I think the immense poverty here got to me. Someone during our meeting today said at least 50% of the population (in Mumbai) was living in poverty. Driving through the streets and seeing all the little children living, sleeping, bathing on the side of the road like they were wild animals really amazed me. Yesterday evening we saw a young man with 3 young women and about 6 children under the age of 4 years. You don't see that in the places I've lived. But, as Curt pointed out, more people probably live like he does and we are the minority in the world. Wow!
It's still somehow a safe place. I don't feel like I'm in any danger of physical harm. Sure we are stared at because we look different and the blonde hair and blue eyes are especially of interest to some of the little children but I enjoy watching them as much as they do me.
Yesterday we found a nice neighborhood in Bandra after visiting a friend of a friend off of Linking Road. It was the first area where dogs were actually on leashes. Must have been security dogs. The preference being bull mastifs. Huge dogs! Very lucky dogs as there are thousands probably millions of wild starving dogs here. Even a few stray cats but not many.
The other thing we noticed were bats. Giant bats with wing spans of at least a meter. The kind that you only see in plastic or material on Halloween. These were flying through the trees at dusk. Incredible.
The other things that are flying are kites as it is kite fighting month. I've never even heard of kite fighting until reading the Kite Runner last year. The kites are everywhere and since a couple of days ago they are less in the sky and more often seen stuck in the trees.
One of the big cultural differences we have discovered is the shaking of one's head means yes and not no as we know it. Every time we ask a rickshaw driver (I've had it confirmed - they are officially referred to as auto rickshaws in India and 'tuk tuk' is more a Thai or Vietnamese word) to take us somewhere they shake their head. So we walk away assuming they are letting us know that they cannot take us to this location. Instead it means 'yes'. Who would have thought?
Yesterday when we were talking with the kids back home they were so interested in hearing about India and what we are doing and seeing. Terence really, really wants to come here with us and see it for himself. Mia does too but then she started crying about it. I asked her why she was crying and she replied, "Mama, I want to go to India with you but I don't want to get the shots!" She was with me at the clinic when I had to get my final Hep A and B shot and my Typhoid shot. She hates shots and was crying about having to get one in order to come with us next time. Maybe only Terence will get to see India in the near future ;-) Ali is still too young and would only want to come to be with us and play in the hotel pool or on the beach. One day I look forward to bringing all of them as I feel it will be incredibly enlightening.
As for work, so far our meetings have been quite successful. It's just the beginning of a long road and we truly hope to see Move One here in the near future. There is competition but plenty of room for a new relocation company. We had to give a presentation about Move One today and said it would only be about 30 minutes. It was at least 2 hours before Curt and I realized that we went over our 30 minutes. We both laughed explaining that it was our passion and excitement of our industry that keeps us talking.
Tonight we have a dinner meeting - at 9:30pm! They definitely like to eat later, stay up later and start work later. Fortunately our jetlag is working in our favor as we haven't been able to fall asleep before 2am or 3am since arriving. Back home I'd be heading to bed at 9:30am! ;-)
Oh, I almost forgot, Curt and I came up with the perfect solution to handling all the begging children (often carrying their baby siblings) who were coming up to us, rubbing our feet and hoping for some change. Our hotel room has a cookie jar that they fill up with fresh new cookies every day. The hotel staff must think we are the biggest pigs as we empty it everyday! We take the cookies and fill up my purse before every outing. While at red lights, the children come up to us in our rickshaws and beg. We hand them each a cookie. Poor things are so taken back by the gesture but then are happy when they realize it is food.
It's 6pm and I'm off to the gym before our dinner ... in 3 1/2 hours...
It's still somehow a safe place. I don't feel like I'm in any danger of physical harm. Sure we are stared at because we look different and the blonde hair and blue eyes are especially of interest to some of the little children but I enjoy watching them as much as they do me.
Yesterday we found a nice neighborhood in Bandra after visiting a friend of a friend off of Linking Road. It was the first area where dogs were actually on leashes. Must have been security dogs. The preference being bull mastifs. Huge dogs! Very lucky dogs as there are thousands probably millions of wild starving dogs here. Even a few stray cats but not many.
The other thing we noticed were bats. Giant bats with wing spans of at least a meter. The kind that you only see in plastic or material on Halloween. These were flying through the trees at dusk. Incredible.
The other things that are flying are kites as it is kite fighting month. I've never even heard of kite fighting until reading the Kite Runner last year. The kites are everywhere and since a couple of days ago they are less in the sky and more often seen stuck in the trees.
One of the big cultural differences we have discovered is the shaking of one's head means yes and not no as we know it. Every time we ask a rickshaw driver (I've had it confirmed - they are officially referred to as auto rickshaws in India and 'tuk tuk' is more a Thai or Vietnamese word) to take us somewhere they shake their head. So we walk away assuming they are letting us know that they cannot take us to this location. Instead it means 'yes'. Who would have thought?
Yesterday when we were talking with the kids back home they were so interested in hearing about India and what we are doing and seeing. Terence really, really wants to come here with us and see it for himself. Mia does too but then she started crying about it. I asked her why she was crying and she replied, "Mama, I want to go to India with you but I don't want to get the shots!" She was with me at the clinic when I had to get my final Hep A and B shot and my Typhoid shot. She hates shots and was crying about having to get one in order to come with us next time. Maybe only Terence will get to see India in the near future ;-) Ali is still too young and would only want to come to be with us and play in the hotel pool or on the beach. One day I look forward to bringing all of them as I feel it will be incredibly enlightening.
As for work, so far our meetings have been quite successful. It's just the beginning of a long road and we truly hope to see Move One here in the near future. There is competition but plenty of room for a new relocation company. We had to give a presentation about Move One today and said it would only be about 30 minutes. It was at least 2 hours before Curt and I realized that we went over our 30 minutes. We both laughed explaining that it was our passion and excitement of our industry that keeps us talking.
Tonight we have a dinner meeting - at 9:30pm! They definitely like to eat later, stay up later and start work later. Fortunately our jetlag is working in our favor as we haven't been able to fall asleep before 2am or 3am since arriving. Back home I'd be heading to bed at 9:30am! ;-)
Oh, I almost forgot, Curt and I came up with the perfect solution to handling all the begging children (often carrying their baby siblings) who were coming up to us, rubbing our feet and hoping for some change. Our hotel room has a cookie jar that they fill up with fresh new cookies every day. The hotel staff must think we are the biggest pigs as we empty it everyday! We take the cookies and fill up my purse before every outing. While at red lights, the children come up to us in our rickshaws and beg. We hand them each a cookie. Poor things are so taken back by the gesture but then are happy when they realize it is food.
It's 6pm and I'm off to the gym before our dinner ... in 3 1/2 hours...
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Day 3 in India
I am so happy that my children and I do not have to bathe or drink out of puddles on the side of the road. How did the world get so overpopulated? Now I understand why so many families only have 2 children (max).
Monday, January 14, 2008
Day 2 in India
What a cultural awakening we had last night. First of all, I must tell everyone how thankful I am to have been board into a country and culture where, as a child / woman, I had a chance to progress.
Curt and I started our evening by jumping into a Tuk Tuk (not Rickshaw). Tuk Tuks are motorized 3-wheel little vehicles with a driver (usually barefoot) on the front seat steering with a motorcycle handle bar and a bench in the back for Curt and I. If we brought the kids we decided we'd need at least 2 for the 5 of us.
Our first Tuk Tuk driver didn't read. We showed him the name of the hospital and realized that most of them probably don't read. We took another one who understood the hospital name when we pronounced it and took us in what seemed to be a direct route. How he maneuvered through the chaotic traffic was amazing. At times I had to close my eyes convinced that we were going to get hit by a truck, car or other Tuk Tuk. We finally got to the hospital safely and it only cost us 20 Indian Rupees (about 50 cents US).
On the way I discovered many things about Mumbai. First of all, this is the only place where I've seen a dirt bike being used as a family vehicle. Dad drove with 2 kids and wife on seat behind him. Amazing!
We drove through an area congested with school kids in their school uniforms. A graying khaki color seemed to be the popular color amongst the many uniforms. Probably wise in a polluted, dirty city.
The hospital was another incredible experience. It wasn't too overpopulated as I had expected. We got in right away but had to take our shoes off before going into the operating theater where Curt would receive his stitches. The doctors were all very friendly and spoke great English. All of them seemed to have worked in the US for short stints which was interesting.
While we were waiting, the theater door next to us kept opening and closing with doctors / nurses going in and out. My curiosity took over and I had to watch as they performed an operational procedure on a man about my age. I found out later he was having liposuction! He lives in the US but flew back to India (he's Indian) for the operation as it was only costing him an equivalent of USD1000 with a USD75 for the night's stay. The plastic surgeon was very friendly and shared this information with me freely.
While I sat bare footed on a stool in the small hallway, Curt went in with the owner of the hospital for a look at his forehead. The surgeon decided that a butterfly stitch would be ideal for his deep cut. We paid him a fee of USD2000 rupees (about USD50) and made an appointment to return for a follow up the next evening. After we left we were excited to return as we noticed a COSTA coffee shop on the other side of the hospital! We were wizzing by in our Tuk Tuk so couldn't stop last night but will definitely get some giant lattes tonight!
One thing that I found amusing while waiting for Curt was the hospital's price list for baby deliveries. They charge based on a 2 hour labor and it's a fee of 4000 rupees (USD100). Episiotomy, a Vacuum, Forceps are all an additional 750 rupees. However, they charge additional emergency charges on Sundays. I wonder how many woman get yelled at for going into labor on a Sunday?
The Tuk Tuk dropped us off near our hotel where we wanted to walk along the streets and look at the shops, buildings, etc. We were told by the concierge that the restaurant that we wanted to eat at was too far to walk (at least 15 mins). Curt and I thought that was funny so decided to walk. He really had no idea as it was a good hour of walking before we found Aurus. An amazing restaurant with a giant terrace over the ocean. It was worth the adventure of walking through the dirty streets, passing begging children, barking stray dogs, sleeping cows, teenagers heading out for the night, etc. The city was just coming alive and it was funny to witness it. Only when the stray dogs barked our direction did I get nervous.
Dinner was romantic (the only lights were candles - they were everywhere) and great. We tasted Indian prawns and lobster. It was incredible. Their usage of sauces were creative and delicious. Lots of lemongrass, koriander, coconut, all my favorites.
Today is a new day. We are still a bit jetlagged and staying up late and having trouble waking in the morning. We have a lot of work today on our presentation which has been postponed until Thursday morning.
Now we are going out for our first meal of the day (it's already 1:45pm!) More soon.
Curt and I started our evening by jumping into a Tuk Tuk (not Rickshaw). Tuk Tuks are motorized 3-wheel little vehicles with a driver (usually barefoot) on the front seat steering with a motorcycle handle bar and a bench in the back for Curt and I. If we brought the kids we decided we'd need at least 2 for the 5 of us.
Our first Tuk Tuk driver didn't read. We showed him the name of the hospital and realized that most of them probably don't read. We took another one who understood the hospital name when we pronounced it and took us in what seemed to be a direct route. How he maneuvered through the chaotic traffic was amazing. At times I had to close my eyes convinced that we were going to get hit by a truck, car or other Tuk Tuk. We finally got to the hospital safely and it only cost us 20 Indian Rupees (about 50 cents US).
On the way I discovered many things about Mumbai. First of all, this is the only place where I've seen a dirt bike being used as a family vehicle. Dad drove with 2 kids and wife on seat behind him. Amazing!
We drove through an area congested with school kids in their school uniforms. A graying khaki color seemed to be the popular color amongst the many uniforms. Probably wise in a polluted, dirty city.
The hospital was another incredible experience. It wasn't too overpopulated as I had expected. We got in right away but had to take our shoes off before going into the operating theater where Curt would receive his stitches. The doctors were all very friendly and spoke great English. All of them seemed to have worked in the US for short stints which was interesting.
While we were waiting, the theater door next to us kept opening and closing with doctors / nurses going in and out. My curiosity took over and I had to watch as they performed an operational procedure on a man about my age. I found out later he was having liposuction! He lives in the US but flew back to India (he's Indian) for the operation as it was only costing him an equivalent of USD1000 with a USD75 for the night's stay. The plastic surgeon was very friendly and shared this information with me freely.
While I sat bare footed on a stool in the small hallway, Curt went in with the owner of the hospital for a look at his forehead. The surgeon decided that a butterfly stitch would be ideal for his deep cut. We paid him a fee of USD2000 rupees (about USD50) and made an appointment to return for a follow up the next evening. After we left we were excited to return as we noticed a COSTA coffee shop on the other side of the hospital! We were wizzing by in our Tuk Tuk so couldn't stop last night but will definitely get some giant lattes tonight!
One thing that I found amusing while waiting for Curt was the hospital's price list for baby deliveries. They charge based on a 2 hour labor and it's a fee of 4000 rupees (USD100). Episiotomy, a Vacuum, Forceps are all an additional 750 rupees. However, they charge additional emergency charges on Sundays. I wonder how many woman get yelled at for going into labor on a Sunday?
The Tuk Tuk dropped us off near our hotel where we wanted to walk along the streets and look at the shops, buildings, etc. We were told by the concierge that the restaurant that we wanted to eat at was too far to walk (at least 15 mins). Curt and I thought that was funny so decided to walk. He really had no idea as it was a good hour of walking before we found Aurus. An amazing restaurant with a giant terrace over the ocean. It was worth the adventure of walking through the dirty streets, passing begging children, barking stray dogs, sleeping cows, teenagers heading out for the night, etc. The city was just coming alive and it was funny to witness it. Only when the stray dogs barked our direction did I get nervous.
Dinner was romantic (the only lights were candles - they were everywhere) and great. We tasted Indian prawns and lobster. It was incredible. Their usage of sauces were creative and delicious. Lots of lemongrass, koriander, coconut, all my favorites.
Today is a new day. We are still a bit jetlagged and staying up late and having trouble waking in the morning. We have a lot of work today on our presentation which has been postponed until Thursday morning.
Now we are going out for our first meal of the day (it's already 1:45pm!) More soon.
Day 1 in India
First of all, I have to mention that the Spice Girls concert in London's O2 Arena was incredible! Our seats were incredible, the lights, choreography, everything was such a fun party. I have no idea how those 5 women (all about my age) get up there in those stiletto heals and do that night after night. My feat still hurt from dancing in my heals the entire night - and I didn't have to remember any lyrics or dance moves! The nicest part is that 4 of the 5 of them have small children and they were all on tour with them. Victoria Beckham's (aka Posh) handsome hubby (America now knows him as he is playing soccer in LA) and 2 oldest children were in the front row of the audience.
Now, here Curt and I are on our first day in India. We landed 1 hour later than scheduled. The direct flight from Vienna was very comfortable and only about 8 hours. The time difference between Mumbai and Budapest is 5 1/2 hours which takes a minute longer to calculate when calling home to talk with the kids.
Our Austrian Air flight OS 035 landed at about 1am (this morning). I expected chaos - especially as most international flights land between 11pm and about 3am into Mumbai. I first noticed the nice warm temperature (it was 76 degrees F when we landed). Next I noticed air purifiers everywhere. Let me take one step back. When the pilot announced 10 mins to landing the flight attendants walked up and down the aisles spraying what I'd imagine to by a Lysol type spray. It didn't smell bad or overpowering but it was my first flight experiencing this. I heard they always do that into Australia - which I understand a bit more - but India? If anyone can explain, I'd be curious to hear.
Immigration went quickly as we had our visas, landing cards, passports, etc all organized. Baggage claim was not too overcrowded except for large groups of Muslims returning from the Hajj. They were all dressed in white robes and their white beanie type hats (don't know what these are called) and they all seemed to have gigantic plastic bags (with zippers) packed to the rim.
We couldn't find an ATM in the airport but were glad to exit customs and see our Mr and Mrs Clements / JW Marriott sign in the mob right away. We walked directly outside and were greeted by all the people and honking of horns. Buses were coming to pick up all the Muslims and take them home to wherever they came from. Rickshaws and SUVs were overpacked with people hanging out the sides. We had to wait a few minutes for our air conditioned car to arrive but I didn't mind because I loved the people watching. The little Indian girls with their gold earrings were all so beautiful. Lots of smiling faces which was a big difference after coming from the sad faced Eastern Europe and the overly busy London. Many young men were holding each other's hands which is not something common in the West (except San Francisco). I remember just seeing Pres. Bush on TV holding hands with the King of Saudi Arabia so I knew it was customary.
On the drive to the hotel I did see piles of garbage and lots of stray dogs digging through looking for a morsel of anything resembling food. I commented on how all the dogs looked rather healthy and large. Before Curt could even reply, I followed with the thought that the big dogs probably ate the little dogs...
It's 5:30pm here local time and the sun is still up. We have an ocean view so it is rather holiday like. A bit of a funny feeling to be in this oasis looking out at the ocean and then walking out to the lift and seeing such poverty out the windows facing the other direction.
Now we are off to the hospital. Nothing serious other than Curt needing a few stitches in his forehead. The hospital will probably be a big eye opener. Not an experience I am really looking forward to but the house doctor said it was a must as his 3/4 of an inch gash is quite deep.
Don't worry, no fights. Just a misplaced wall.
More soon since we have 24 hour WIFI in our room.
Now, here Curt and I are on our first day in India. We landed 1 hour later than scheduled. The direct flight from Vienna was very comfortable and only about 8 hours. The time difference between Mumbai and Budapest is 5 1/2 hours which takes a minute longer to calculate when calling home to talk with the kids.
Our Austrian Air flight OS 035 landed at about 1am (this morning). I expected chaos - especially as most international flights land between 11pm and about 3am into Mumbai. I first noticed the nice warm temperature (it was 76 degrees F when we landed). Next I noticed air purifiers everywhere. Let me take one step back. When the pilot announced 10 mins to landing the flight attendants walked up and down the aisles spraying what I'd imagine to by a Lysol type spray. It didn't smell bad or overpowering but it was my first flight experiencing this. I heard they always do that into Australia - which I understand a bit more - but India? If anyone can explain, I'd be curious to hear.
Immigration went quickly as we had our visas, landing cards, passports, etc all organized. Baggage claim was not too overcrowded except for large groups of Muslims returning from the Hajj. They were all dressed in white robes and their white beanie type hats (don't know what these are called) and they all seemed to have gigantic plastic bags (with zippers) packed to the rim.
We couldn't find an ATM in the airport but were glad to exit customs and see our Mr and Mrs Clements / JW Marriott sign in the mob right away. We walked directly outside and were greeted by all the people and honking of horns. Buses were coming to pick up all the Muslims and take them home to wherever they came from. Rickshaws and SUVs were overpacked with people hanging out the sides. We had to wait a few minutes for our air conditioned car to arrive but I didn't mind because I loved the people watching. The little Indian girls with their gold earrings were all so beautiful. Lots of smiling faces which was a big difference after coming from the sad faced Eastern Europe and the overly busy London. Many young men were holding each other's hands which is not something common in the West (except San Francisco). I remember just seeing Pres. Bush on TV holding hands with the King of Saudi Arabia so I knew it was customary.
On the drive to the hotel I did see piles of garbage and lots of stray dogs digging through looking for a morsel of anything resembling food. I commented on how all the dogs looked rather healthy and large. Before Curt could even reply, I followed with the thought that the big dogs probably ate the little dogs...
It's 5:30pm here local time and the sun is still up. We have an ocean view so it is rather holiday like. A bit of a funny feeling to be in this oasis looking out at the ocean and then walking out to the lift and seeing such poverty out the windows facing the other direction.
Now we are off to the hospital. Nothing serious other than Curt needing a few stitches in his forehead. The hospital will probably be a big eye opener. Not an experience I am really looking forward to but the house doctor said it was a must as his 3/4 of an inch gash is quite deep.
Don't worry, no fights. Just a misplaced wall.
More soon since we have 24 hour WIFI in our room.
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