1 month anniversary ;)

Hello Everybody! ;)

Now, let's sing all together - Happy One Month, Roberta! :)

Must say, this month was full of everything!
Loss of precious things! Cultural shock! Homesickness! Exploration! Excitment! Happyness! Surprises! Amusement! everything..
My most used word: ''different!''

Last week I have poisoned myself mistakenly by mallaria pills.. not that I had enough of them already.. - I overdose.. But the stick has two ends, right? So I stayed up all night and could catch up with some of you :) Time difference makes it much harder to get to people and hold connections.
Keep in mind - true connections never break! ;)

I do not know whether I have mentioned.. But it was some time ago I had to decide where I come from :) It's only natural when people meet me for the first time, they ask where I am from.. And I was really confused!! Initially - Lithuania, praktically - Denmark.. this answer would only confuse others.. beause then I had to explain what and why - who cares :P.. And then I found it hard to make my mind up! It's actually been 1/4 of my file that I spent in Dk.. and have created other chapter of my life in there.. whatever I have become, Denmark had left a mark on that and it would not be fair to jsut cross it out, moreover, if not experience in DK, I would have never ended up in India :).. On the other hand, Lithuania - my Mother Land! That's where I grew and developed main values and principles for life! I would have never been who I am if not LT...
Anyways, after all I decided I come from Lithuania.. This is what it says in my passport :) Not only for that..Cpuple of days ago I was asked: '' so when you are finished with India, you're going home, right?'' This triggered me in a weird sence! and I replied: ''I do not have home''..
I left LT a while ago, I do not even have my own bed there..All my social-world is built in Dk, I got nothing to hold on, but my Family!, and in DK -.. friends only..and some stuff that I was not able to pack with.. and the only bond there - university!
So my  mind is in both laces! neither I have true home here :P Just people I count on..
Then, I received a good counter-question: ''where is your heart?''
I got no questions afterward..
So from now on :) I come from Lithuania! The small country, everyone refers to Russia.. so I always picture it as a neighboring country of Poland, first.. :) and if people are in doubt, mention Germany and Baltic sea.. and then.. Russia..
At least this way I will spear the word about little cute country in East Europe.

So.. within a month I have got a lot - cultural knowledge, self observation and development.. I do meet nice people and they are so open and friendly.. I try to be as honest to them, as they are to me and it works out fine so far.

It is definitelly a highly spiritual land - one might get so good comments from a total stranger! People seem to be more genuine, not that superficial!

I am always invited to some parties :) of people I barrely know..

Sometimes I pose to people :) because they ask to get picture of me with their children or husbands (the strangest thing). But they are harmless..

So.. I started horse riding course ;) Now trying to get to the stable three times a week!
After training I have a possibility to join for walleyball match! treid once :) OMG! :D
The first ball broke my nails! The second I just missed :D the third flew so fast, I did not notice how it flew into me.. No wonders, I was playing with strong men! who play walleyball every night! and are very very good at it!
My possition was at the second line in the corner :) the guy in front of me was trying to step on my toes, so I was backing off.. and he'd take all my balls! :D so at the end of a match I started getting cold :) Later, I got some chances to take the ball..(out of pitty or something :D) I did pretty well (that's what I have heared afterwards :P) The thing is that they are so into the game, so passionate that I hold a responsibility not to let my team down... and they fight for every point! (actually the rules are little different, too :) they do not change the possition when take over the ball from other team, and there's only couple of guys who serve! well.., their field - their rules ;) ) So.. with all the preasure.. and lack of confidence :) and broken nails :D I left the field with my head as hight as it could hang :D
Next time, as I was offered, I will leave my head home :) and just play :) if I get the ball :D

So.. kinda exploring further and creating new network.. One girlish in aerobics :) other, malish - at the stable.. Neither of places are visited by other gender! The aerobics - because of the rules! it is strictly only for women.. and it has its own beauty of it :) and the stable - just that it is perceived that women should not mix in.., depending on a cast, position, etc.. so this way I get little bit of both :)

So, I am still enjoying high service here :) in a very good places I receive super-service.. with drop off to other destination, etc.. (but because of the network, I guess that is not too common, anyways) and I would not trust every shop owner.. etc.. I am naive.. but have some sence..
So.. I still spend a lot of money for souvenirs.. but many of them, decide to keep :D so.. too bad for some of you.. I do promise to replace them somehow..
One for sure, I will get another luggage for my flight back and I will very much need your help carrying everything home..!

One more interesting thing.. I was kinda sceptical about all the astrology and everything, but once I appeared to be in this environment and had heared some reasonable stories, decided to try it out myself.. So.. now my horoscope is about to be build according to the planet locations, etc! and I had my first palm-reading experience! Telling you... not always very pleasant.. and if you think knowing it all is helping a lot - you might be wrong.. I just got confused! well.., life is what it is.. and I will continue the path.
For all the curious ones - I will be fine ;) will be happy at some points, not too happy at others. You'll see ;)

But all in all.. I am trying to mix in ;) getting little tan :) clothes! looking forward to my first trip to Agra and Udaipur ;) (other two tourist beloved destinations I have never been to..) and my B-day is comming..! :)
I expect people, who really love me - to show up at the door :) (kidding ;) )
I had a chance to try making a cake here! Not everybody liked the taste, must say... but give the circumstances and tools :) I did really, really good job! :) and I loved it :) so fresh! so easy! creamy! soft and wet! :) jsut perfect! They are used to dry and tasteless! :P (have tried some 'chocolate' ones... could not feel much of a taste..) mine was probably too tasty :D
Not bragging, just pointing the taste differences here.. I will probably not be surprising them with good-taste-dishes made by me, anyways.. the tastes are so different.. however much i will try, they will need more chilli! and salt! or chappati (roti, the bread) on it :D

I am having a good experience here.. ;)
Hugs for all who cares!
Missing You!
Missing My People! :)*

The horse shed!

Oh.. and today (15 10 2011) I got a brilliant chance to visit the horse shed and see the horse polo!! ;)
Here is how the horse shed look down here..

 The horse polo!
Apparently, polo and horse sport has royal roots on the culture, therefore it is still considered to be very prestige..., moreover, hore has a significan meaning in hindu mithology: Hayagriva is a God of knowledge and wisdom and is pictured with human body and horse-head, all in pure white! (later I realised that white horses are much more expensive than regular brown or grey horses.., mithology does have to do a lot with it.., on the other hand, white horses have greater strength, speed and stamina capacity, so one might wonder..).
Also, I noticed some businessmen having horse paintings or pictures on the walls as well as symbols on other business related attributes.. (interesting!)
All in all, not every regular man can afford this rather royal sport, moreover, it does look very classy and intelligent...
So.., the ones, who can devote time from their work get here to play in the very early mornings (before it gets too hot) and in the evenings (before the sunset) get together and have polo matches every day! (I want to look like one of them! such power! gooooood speed!)
It is actually a very nice club! Poeple here are very kind! and they are very friendly! Not only they play polo together, but also stay for valleyball afterwards..!

I loved the place and planing to join them any time soon! :) .. keeping my options open .. lai lai lai :)

I feel so lucky to know the hosts! They have an amazing network and all are trully nice people!

At the moment I arrived to the area, I was introduced by the place owner to all the staff members and best polo players, as well as the manager of the place and they were all so nice! and they told me I can come there as often as I want! and ride horses.. and spend time there.. get to know people! Extra activity in my schedule :)

I will definitely go there! Would be awesome if I learned to ride a horse! :) properly..

Cross your fingers for me! I will try to do my best to get there asap.. :) so I will need your minds for me not to fall down too hard :)

Hugs! ;)

Mehndi (henna) :)

Well.. it was just a matter of time when I will get a natural tattoo :) Called: mehndi (henna) painting!
Here is what I got couple of days ago..

yes, yes... you might have guessed.. - own made mehndi :)

 And that I got by a professional ;) no difference, right?? ^^
 A professional takes around 15 min. to complete this art!

Looking forward to making some bigger ones.. :)

Ok, now the interesting story behind the scenes:
This is not just a regular day today (15 10 2011) in India.. ;)
This is a day for praying for men's long life!
In this occasion women fats the whole day: no food! no water!, they only get food in the night, when they complete the prayer in front of the moon light!
Then, they are given water from the hands of their husband and can have the meal.
Not that it is too much.. women dress up! they even wear wedding dresses, all the jewellery! (and there are 16 type of jewellery on a women - not all is seen for public, though ;) ), they draw mehndi on their hands, are all pretty and tidy.. and during the day of fasting, they are the ones to cook the meal as well... (interesting stuff, ha?).

While men, in return, if they feel like it..- they bring a gift to wifes.

In India, they fast a lot!! before I mentioned 9 Goddesses day (people were fasting for 9 days, including men).. and also the last three days, before the Men's Day, they had some God's fast because that God did some Good stuff!!.. (I am so sorry to express my lack of knowledge..) So you can imagine women's stand at the day - after the whole fasting.. (be aware, fastings differ in type: one - they can drink water, have fruits and eat once a day, other - drink water, have one meal per day and eat only the fruits and things that they themselves have paid for.., other - one meal a day, with no water in between.. fruits- I think optional)

And Indians have 33 mlj. Gods! anr thei worship everything who gives them benefit! (there are not enough days in a year to fast for all of them :)  ).

New-born-child Celebration

Hey there.. ;)
Decided not to take it for too long to share this :)
Couple of days ago we were on our way out of the neighborhood, when suddenly my host was stopped and asked to join the upcoming party - our neighbor became a Grandfather, so they are throwing a celebration for this! (it is a tradition, every new family member gets this fest ;) ). And then I got to know that I am invited too.. because it works like this: one gets invited, and everyone, who is with that person, is invited too :)
After this official invite :) the day has come and we went to congratulate our neighbors :)

Meet the place ;) and try to get what I mean..:

This is the entrance! Note, couple of guards at the gate!.., red carpet and few photographers by the entrance...

This is the lounge for new-born-child's attention!.. Women gather there with their children, eat.., talk, give presents, sit by the new baby..

I wonder how his 'sweet 16' will go by :)

Isn't it child's paradise?

staff, I think there were around 50 people of staff only.. (caterers, cooks, waiters, trash collectors, photographers, guards, servants.. etc...

Some unfamiliar food...

It is a leave with spices, one should eat it all...

Vegetable table :) (mansion)

The area..

My favorite!! - nan! :) a bread, very very tasty!!!

Roti/chappati.. and the cooks

Dhal! (soup)

Only for children..

This one is very good! - spinach with some sauce!!! aaa - yammy!

This is a little stall for yoghurt and some doughnuts..(tasteless), but here are all you need - salt, pepper, chilli! to make it taste good :) (did not really like it..)

This is kinda nut-type of dry dressing for the salad.. (goody)

This must be some sweet, which I did not try.. :S was full already...

Salad table

This is very traditional dish.. one can find it everywhere in the streets, I wrote before.. it is to be broken from the top and filled with some stuff.. this time it was potatoe with something else.. (I was happy not to try!, to be honest)

 Ice cream wagon!!!

 I must be expecting new FB-friends very soon!!!! These were my stalkers of the evening :)

 Baby gifts ;)

 This is a sweet.. also served in a leave (tried - and learned a lesson.. ;) )

It was a good experience to see it happening.. Well the whole celebration is a dinner, actually.. The hosts are greeting people by the gates.. everything is pretty much pimped up with all you see! All relatives, friends, neighbors come to congratulate you.. and eat the food! chat and have little fun.. I got an impression that people tend to stay for a hour and leave.. Maybe it is the way it is done.. 

Sleep tight, Tigers!!

Roberta

I am an inspiration to someone ;)

Hey there!
So.. being a simple, white person in India might help a lot :)
During the 9 Goddesses Day, there were couple of girls coming over and talking to me :) it is kinda nice, too! they are always so shy to speak.. asked someones permission to speak to me.. and whispered things to one another :) Popular questions:
what is your favorite food?
what is your favorite color :)
Where are you from?
then, something about education..
And me, I like asking them what would they like to become... :) singers, dancers, actresses :) (you remember yourselves ;) ) and then I ask what post curricular activity they do.. and etc :)
Oh.. and of course.. what subject do they like the most - they all answer: English :) (wonder why :) )

Anyways, so one morning, my host received a call from one man, who is a father of one girl. And he said that that girl enjoyed so much talking to me and was so inspired that would like to arrange a visit and bring me some vegetable sauce (that we eat here together with chapati/roti).. Uh! so nice! ;) Really :) Well, kids enjoy talking English here, cause most families do not use English at home and this is one of the opportunities for them.. Unfortunately, I was not available that day (felt like a real busy person :D), but I had to work! and went for aerobics.. and then plenty of other stuff came up in the evening..
Maybe other time I will make up for that girl.. cause she showed up anyways and had a chat with my host :) and left me some vegetables! :) which I enjoyed during my lunch...

So, while I was writing here, I got a visitor - my new Indian-Friend, Himakshi :) To make it up for her afternoons goodies, I ran quickly upstairs to pick some candies, actually, Polish candies :D (they are called "Cow" in Lithuania "karvute" - very very tasty ones). And when I handed those to her, I saw a bag in her hand...

As you can see, she came with hands full of presents... TO ME!!! :)

Here is what it says on the paper: "Dear, Robita, with lots of love and care, from your loving friend Himakshi :) " Isn't it sweet!!!??? 

And this is what I found
 in the package :) Meet my forst statue of Indian God for "a good start" and my first "Friend" bracelet! :)

We sat for a little while, talked.. and for my surprise I realized her secret wish to become a foreigner.. And the argumentation for that was that she does not want to wear sari, she does not want to be Indian, she does not like that people throw garbage in the streets and she does not like the dust.. So she wants to become a foreigner.. I wish there would be an easy way to do it.. But I am sure, with a good attitude and clear vision of what she wants - she can definitely get there ;) (Good luck, Himakshi :) )

I enjoyed our little talk and after she left, felt like a child myself :) had a huge smile in my face :) Just like that!

Another thing :)
I started aerobics :) At the same place i mentioned a while ago.. My first day was Wednesday, as it is a day for the new starts ;) (in hindi religion).. and I really liked it! I sweat my ass off there :) They have nothing! and the thing we do I would not call aerobics :D It's just exercising and the only inventory they have, some weights, I think 3 kg..
It is extremely interesting how everything goes :D

Let's say, the session is scheduled for 10:30, I am there already 10:25, all set!
Everybody who comes, has to weight themselves before and after the training! and leave a note in the exercise book! As well as every new girl is measured up: weight, waste, legs, ass-line, chest - everything! arms.. and taken a photograph... :)
Well.. since the tricks they do there are very similar.. I tend to stay longer, for some time to do some more and stretch.. and when they saw me (was doing some regular tricks).. started taking these pictures as well :) (I guess my photo will be put up on the wall pretty soon :) ) for a reason to brag for other international visitors.. or something like this.. :)

So.. I am there on time, when everybody comes only at 10:40.. slow gatherings.. small talks :D apparent glances to me.. as I am so not patient, so I am warming up by myself.. I do not understand hindi, so they talk freely about me, stare and wonder what am I doing on the floor :) crazy feeling :) but I just smile.. what can I say.. :)
And suddenly I notice that my coach will be a big girl, 3 times bigger than me :D she starts to show the exercises.. and as a simple member follow her :) until she runs out of breath .. as well as other girls and I am there all alone, standing and doing exercise in the middle of the room :D, right by the coach (of course, as I came the first one, I took the first line, by the mirror, to see if I do exercises correctly..).. and then I feel that everybody is staring :D and laughing.. :D and I keep going.. cause this is what I came for :) and kinda wait until my coach gets her breath back and we continue.. but surprise.. she asks some other girl to replace her :) cause probably she also ran out of the ideas :) and we continued..
until the real coach came.. around 30min. late :) and continued :D by showing 50% of the moves that we already did :)

Also, as a new girl, I had an external 'guard' watching me :) to see if I do everything correctly.. but from the first day, as I was standing in the first line, the coach (real), shouted on the other girls and pointed eyes at me and asked everyone to look at me when they do things :D so the 'guard' got the message...

All in all, what they call 'aerobics', I would describe: a meet up with some interest group! with same music :) (I like one indian peace (emplifier!).. and Justin Beabers' song which is put in the very beginning :) ).. They gather, chat, do some exercises and wonder around.. are little lazy to move.. :) (have I mentioned that I could finally feel myself smaller in India..:) those women are really big)
And one came to me after the session and said that I am her inspiration :) When the coach heard that, she said..:" and mine desperation" :D.. So.., maybe I am not that bad after all :D

Whatever said, I enjoy it so much! ;) it's just interesting cultural observation and I am always drained.. so - all just for the better.. :) women are really nice here.. whatever they say, I do not think that they bad-mouth, they are just making comments and wondering.. and whenever they approach me, they are really positive ;)

Hugs! ;)
Robertele

Some exhibition of garments, jewellery..etc.. businesses

Alrighty.. I did not take too much pictures from the exhibition, it looks like a regular market, full of unnecessary stuff :) all blinking, all golden, all so useless for me :) But here I met the local snack stool :)

This is what I tried: some bread, which is very hard and is round until broken in the middle for purpose- to fill it.. I asked to make it not spicy.. So they poured some spicy things and some sweet things :) did not taste good, must say :/

And then she brought me some simple stuff.. with no filling and nothing. pure dry corn rice and backed bread :) with no salt, just oil :) did not taste good, either :)

Then I decided to buy some not seen stuff :) and took not spicy thingy :) it looks like a very very thin sheet of dough.. is very crispy..got home.. tried.. and taste is no good either.. :) like.. nothing :D says :"cheese" but would doubt :)

A lesson :) Do not buy snacks :D they are weird and tasteless..
What to add.. bought some chocolate :D was not happy either :D they are so buttery.. and flavorless and the type is different.. I should import some "Milka" here! they would eat it with their fingers :D
And all the pastries and pies we bought.. - no good, no good.. usually very dry and cream is tasteless..
Hopefully, that will turn to the better for me ;)
You know what I mean :)

That reminds me of a good story.. but I guess.. it is enough for today :) Been writing to you, guys for the last 3-4 hours!!

Peace ;)*
Roberta

Dashara - 3 Bad Gods Fest

ooook, now something from the previously mentioned 3 Bad Gods Fest :)

So.. there is a legend about a gooooood God who concurred a Bad God and his supporters. 

It says that there was a pretty pretty Goddess, who was captures and hidden from people. She was captured by that one Bad God, who had 10 heads (you can see him in the pict, he is in the middle). Initially, he was very powerful, wise and Good God, until he made this mistake.. and those two other Gods are his brothers, who helped to commit the crime!

This Good God wanted to fight the Bad God.. But it was very hard! He had so many heads! and every time Good God would cut one of them, they would grow again..and it was even harder because of the supporting powers from other Bad Gods.. Luckily, the Good God realized the weak spot! He stabbed him and won the battle! and released the pretty pretty Goddess ;)

And everyone is celebrating the victory! that the Good God won! 

as mentioned in the prior post, those are located in many places, different stations, areas.. public places.. and celebrations are everywhere in the city..

Sorry for the quality.., I am still working on my skills..

I got a pleasure to stay away from all the hassle and join locals on the roof top ;) (kinda good to know the right people).. It took very looooong to listen to the story - it is run every year during the celebration so people know what they are celebrating ;)

and in some 3 hours of the story listening :) we got to see the battle!!! Followed by the fireworks!! ;) some nice ones, must admit! but not as we could see in the New Years eve..

And this is the traffic :) of course, two way traffic :D

Oh, same day we went for little shopping :)
When I saw the variety, went from one bangle to another.. and finally, could not make my mind, so went out with nothing in hand :D Crazy, ha?? Which would you choose???!!! all did not fit to the pict..

BTW.., this is English language exercise book of a 5 year child!
Note: "Cow is a pet animal" ;)  we can definitely see the influence of the culture in here :)
When I took this picture :) one women said: "and you eat cows, right??? o.O"
Just as camel, and buffalo and elephant, probably :)


Yours,
Roberta!!!

Navratra ;) 9 Goddesses Day!

So.., here is a little taste of culture!
There are plenty of Fests and Festivals in India! as well as traditions !! Imagine, they have 9 Goddesses and 3 Gods! Do not know them all by heart, yet.. But know for sure that every weekday has a Goddess appointed: Monday- long lasting life, Tuesday- power. Wednesday- new start/beginnings.. (other do not know yet). So I was right on time when moved to India on Wednesday ;) and thus visited the temple at the very first day of the arrival :)

Now, recently there was 9 Goddesses week, when people were fasting for 9 days! Ate only one a day, had big prays, etc. And the last days of The Goddesses celebration any small girls were either visited by people or asked to come to peoples' homes.
It is believed that small girls are innocent, honest, fair, truthful, open and contain a Goddess inside! So the last days they are treated as ones: they are given gifts, money, sweets.
Every house should invite or visit 9 girls!
 
When one visits someone - A girl comes to someones' home, then she is to be seated on a mat, which is specially laid on the floor for coming girls. Then she is asked whether she wants to eat something, drink, etc.. then she is sanctified (put a red dot with some rice on the forehead, that mass was previously blessed in the home-temple with all the rituals). Then she is given a gift and some money... And she can stay and play or talk.. or just whatever :)

When girls are coming to your home:
The huge ritual is made beforehand! The housewife dresses up nicely, with traditional dress! All clean and sober :), prepares a sweet, prepares a worship for the Gods and the rest is the same:
As you can see, there are some backed bread, vegetables, sweet and coconut.

 And this is how the home-temple looks like: Gods, and all the utensils to worship.. note the little bowl for fire place, essense..
Everything is prepared carefully, even before going to the temple people wash the dishes that are going to be used for worship with some rituals and priers...

The oils and the sweets..

And here with all the gifts to be given for girls.

This is how it is done ;) (great stuff, ha?)

Could not resist taking my new favorite sweets :)

BTW, this is a taxi (tuk-tuk) which is on three wheels :) Can get probably 10 ppl in :D and is very very hard! the first time I got a chance to drive in it, had to keep myself from the sides not to hit the metal :) but it is very nice experience! on the way one gets to smell all the nasty things! get the dust :D see people :) get even closer to the traffic with no conditioning! :) feel the dirt and sweat on your face and hands :) everything :) Actually, it is good :)
Tourists are very much fooled by those drivers! One has to agree for the price before he/she gets in!! otherwise will pay a fortune ;) And! locals have their own/loyal drivers (couple of them, because they are busy most of the time).. whom they call in cells and ask for a lift..it is usually cheaper as well! Imagine, we were going with this precious driver for 20 min. back and then 20 min. forth and he was waiting for an hour outside for us..and we paid him 100 rupees (~10kr~5lt).. mhm!!
other time we just caught one from the street and it cost us 40rupees just for 10 min. drive.. ;)

It is deffinitely good transportation mean! and very important to try once! at least!!

BTW, dolls and children toys are so suited to the market! They are all different as well :) The kitchen stuff, for eg. looks just as the kitchen looks here :) with the gas-stove, diff. kind of pans, traditional metal plates, even bread (chapati)! (we'd have chicken burgers :D) etc..

And movies!! :) sometimes it is very funny to see how they show when a women, who has her face covered, is talking.. When it is the case, they show her face from under the sheet, to show the face expressions, etc.. and it looks like a woman's face under the cover, taken from down :) and nothing else :) And then they show the other episode how do people reacted to the things which the covered women told :)..
or it is fun to see when there are several women sitting in circle and doing some things.. and someone comes and approaches one of them :) Then I wonder..:" how does that person know that a particular woman is sitting there!! :) One might pretend not being there so easily :D (under disguise) :D

ok, these were my observations :)

Hello to my Dear People ;)

Hello Dears! ;)
I wanted to apologize for delayed updates, but I have started working aside of my leisure.. so have way less time for this..
But hopefully You all have been Good ;)* And I send kisses to You!

It might be a long letter, indeed :) so be prepared!! :)
If something about me.. I have been looking for malaria pills for some time now..., finally found! (Cause was running out and it was kinda difficult to find, also the alternatives.., and it is necesarry for me to take them, cause there is no vaccination founded, yet, which could make me immune for at least some month, or so.. I am so not used to take them.. and I see they have some side effect! - sometimes I cannot remember where I am or what my name is!! (ok, ok, joking! :P) but some unusual headache or weird dreams - which could also be explained by cultural change, weather, etc.., but I do not know..I blame malaria pills for everything, cause I feel good now! ;) India is nice! :)
so far so good with the work as well! I Like my Boss! His Family! Though, I feel like the daughter does not like me at all :D Not that I am being rude, but I am hard on her if I help with homework, so she does not like me :) and I still cannot cook the perfect paranta! (a bread that she eats only when her Mother makes it :) )
Oh.. one time I realized that I have some episodes of Desperate Housewives, so I ran to my room and watched some.. And you know what? I kinda forgot where I am! Felt so good, got into it so deep that did not even think of anything! :) I was in my peace and emotional transfer until a bug bumped into my leg :D A bug, which came out of the big big fan/cooler, attached to my window.. (some time ago I mentioned the difference of everything.. so.. if some time ago when I wanted to sleep I had to jump in the bed and be good, now I have to: get the cooler working (which makes wind in my room from the outside to inside with enormous power! sometimes I am afraid to switch it of/on, because it is spinning so fast, seems like my finger will get cut.. :D but everything is protected by the cage! :) or metal strings...so any bug that comes into the room through that machine, is pretty much dead :D.. and while it is on, all the papers fly around! :) So I have to keep my room clean..), I leave it for an hour with the balcony doors open.. but the light switched off (because I do not want to be sleeping with bugs!), then.. when I go to sleep, I switch the fan off.. and turn the air conditioner on :) for over the night :) and then I am set to go to sleep :) as simple as that :) And you'd be surprised to know that sometimes it gets rather chilly in the night, so I wake up to close the balcony door or switch the conditioner.. (BTW, the conditioner makes a lot of noise! they all do! Something to get used to when living in India!)
Other thing to get used to - people shouting in the morning :D "PAPER" and everything else! :) Cause there is a lot of services provided for people right outside of their homes!: as.. servants who come to pick the trash from your home, or take your paper-waste, or clean your car every morning (it is that dusty that it is kinda necessary) and so on.. ;)
What other thing I recognized.. I am sleeping in the obliquely in the bed! :D totally.. why? I do not know.. (I guess this is one of the many things that I have never done before, and do in India..)

oh, one funny thing :) After all my evening routines I started to get myself ready to bed :) and saw amazing performance :) A tribe of ants were escaping my room :D but it was so interesting and kinda nice to watch! they were going from my bathroom, via my dressing room, along the wall, so nicely and quiet!, taking the hurt ones on their back, one after another as if they'd had a leader.. (they are much bigger here, btw), they went behind my luggage case, to my room, still along my walls and got out :) through the small path under the door.. did not follow them.. gave some privacy :) I was just wondering - do they do that every night? at a particular time and come back for breakfast? :D or what was it all about - still figuring this out :)

Oki.. my shopping experience - it is as cheap as people are talking! and level of the service is very pleasant :) I got some slippers for 160rupees (16kr~8lt) and I was totally served: there were three guys searching for the best fit for me, one of them was taking my shoes of an on! and other were just running around! and I was just sitting and telling: "yes", "no".. and one of them was making some tricks with the shoes.. :) (you know flipping them in the air, etc. :)
Also, took some pictures from the sari-shop! They look amazing! I am not planing to buy one, because I would have no place to wear it! And my Mom is so keen on figuring the sewing secrets of it.. that maybe.., very big maybe. I would get it only because of her :)
  
this is a sari-shop :) They are so nice!, look at how many shop workers are there! I guess, the system works like this - a women comes with a husband.. sits on the chairs and she's given plenty of choices.. of colors, patterns, etc! Looks good ;)


What I realized: women care about colors so much here! They buy everything in a set.. They would have diff. top for diff. pants (of course, every pant has a diff. name) and diff. scarf for it! And they take a very good care of their cloths! I must have posted the pict. of the regular wardrobe.. Everything is folded as new! and has its own place.. Just as well as the bangles! They have separate drawers for bangles! :) I think after this trip I will need to get one too.. and they switch bangles according to the color they are wearing that day.. So it is all very well thought! ;)

this is a snap of the regular shopping mall! Looks very western..but people.. and snacks are very different.. Here they are very much fond of spicy snacks..with some weird sauce..or fillings..I find it not tasty.. :S so..

and we have Mc'Donalds here too! Beware, all the prices are stated without tax.. So I was extremely surprised when had to pay 65 rupees (instead of 55) (it's ~6.5 kr.~ 3.25 lt) for this giant ice-cream with brownie and hot chocolate on the top..!!!

Have not met anything similar neither in LT nor in DK Mc'Donalds.., though I am a very very rare visitor there...

Oh, and this is another outfit I got myself ;)

Some crazy pants!! I love them! ;)

This is our visitor :) in the kitchen..

Surprise!, I am sowing!! :) Not entirely, but would seem so :P Just fixing things.. My Mother will be so proud of me! ;)

This is traditional indian sweet dish made of milk, raisins and cashewnuts.. :) and is called kheer  (big thanks to Rahgu Nv for correction :) )

Now, something more about my experience.. One would think that 35km is not too far and possible to get from A to B in around 25 min.. but here! everything is different! :) 35km. is done in 45min -1hour!!
Not mentioning the traffic conditions!!! OMG! I felt like in a bull-fight! They are crazy here! driving only with the long lights in the dark! so you are blinded all the time! and they do not obey anything! no rules apply here! I was really tensed.. normally, I trust only my Father in the roads.. and here.. it is just speechless.. as mentioned before cars fold their mirrors to save some space in the road! so try to imagine.. so it is many times you just face the other car, which is confronting you from the front,towards your car! until it's 5m. before the big boom.. and both cars turn the opposite ways! (luckily they do not get confused by the direction! otherwise no good! no good)..
But on my way I managed to grasp some nice sights of India! Hills, people, culture..diff. religion ppl. live in diff. parts of the city, so I got to see the muslim-part.. also different :) and I saw wild monkeys, pigs, horses, camels, elephants, dogs, goats! :) amazing! :) Could not capture due to the crazy traffic, some time in the near future..

One nice fact: people have personal cooks here! ;) who come to your home and cook on demand! anything ;) Nice, ha? It is going to be, indeed, an experience of my lifetime!! ;)
Also, there are some particular rules of the house! As I understood, at the time family moves in, they create some ground rules, say:  do not cook non.veg.., do not use egg, do not have drinks in the house! and they obey then stricktly, it does not mean that people are all vegetarian or had never tried alcohol.. it just means that they go along with Gods and Goddesses and may have everything they want outside the house..

In addition to that, I got to know that in hindi religion they believe that there is a God in everyone of us! And we have to appreciate Him and serve Him! The way I understand it - Follow your heart! ;) BTW, I believe, indian women are very good at reading people! Really..! So when we are at the visit somewhere, I am feeling little bit naked in a way :)

Some picts now:

If anyone is still wondering how does the fresh papaya look like ;)

chopped..

Oh,

in Europe we have this saying: "a woman can break the hills.." I wonder now.. what things could indian-woman break if she really wanted! :D

These are those spicy snacks.. in any shape with diff. spice tensity.. (not my taste at all!)

Anyways, here in India, I avoid snacking at all.. everything is very dusty, you can never trust the quality, the way it was made and kept 'fresh', in the sun! for ages!! People themselves wear scarfs on their nose and mouth if they are out for longer time! so it is really dusty! ;)

Ooh.. the amazing Amber fort

 in the night lights...

Ok.. and then, there was an evening we went to see how are the weird creatures built! :) They symbolize the three Bad Gods and are going to be burned in couple of days! And we could not get through the traffic, as you see.. it's a highway.. and it was too dense to get through :) so we just parked in the middle to take those couple of snaps :)

and this is how they look in the day light ;)

as you can see, they are many sizes! One big costs about 5000 rupees (~500kr~250lt), and can be placed in any location. In couple of days from this moment, there will be a fest, where they will have many locations/stadiums with those dolls and will arrange fest in the whole city to celebrate burning the Bad Gods!

The builders

If you can see, here sits the man, who is sharpening the wooden strings which are used to build the creatures...

Just making my point about the traffic :)

Sweeeeeeets!! I like those! they are sweet! and with almonds :)

This is how the place looks like from the outside, who could tell, ha? And they are, apparently backing something here.. it's their little kitchen :)