They're just like us

If you've traveled to India, you've probably experienced the phenomenon of being stared at. It's not an accusatory stare, or one of malice; it's a stare of extreme curiosity mixed with pleasure and often, if the stare-er is under 15, the giggles. Which got me to thinking about the US Weekly section called, Stars: They're Just Like Us! Before you go a gettin all holier than thou, no, I don't read this magazine regularly; but yes, I have been known to peruse it on occasion, such as when waiting on an interminable line at Duane Reade. At any rate, hopefully this does not come across the wrong way, but when I'm getting stared at here, I kind of feel like one of those stars!  I mean, it makes sense that maybe they're thinking, "Hey, that foreigner, she scratches her nose...just like us! Hey, that foreigner, she crosses the street...just like us!"


The other week I had an annoying layover in Delhi. I arrived on the train at 4:30 AM and had to wait until 7:20 AM to board my next train at a different train station. So my friend and I wiled away 2 hours at the Delhi train station waiting for the Metro to open. I had yet to brush my teeth, so decided that I would take a cue from my fellow Indians who are rarely shy about public grooming, bathing and toileting, or really anything, and just brush in the small outdoor cafe where we were waiting.  This should attract more staring, right? Well, given that I was already being stared at, and I'm always being stared at, I decided that little more could come of this. And I was right. Was that anticlimactic (Should hit the delete button?)? Well, you get the point.

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

My friend Alice came through on her way to yoga training in Maharashtra.  Here are some pics from the weekend at Jim Corbett park. Sadly, there were no tiger spottings. We did hear the warning call that the forest animals give to other animals to notify them of the tiger's wanderings, but in the end, that was the closest we got. Apparently you have spend the night in the park and you're more or less guaranteed to see a tiger.  

Vegetable art

Van tries to ensure greater access to PDS

I recently got the chance to visit a van that distributes rations from India's reputedly corrupt Public Distribution System (PDS).  I can't attest to what the papers say about the PDS, but I do know that the depots that distribute the rations are run by private citizens and often they are open only once a month.  So Jago, the NGO working on this project, was able to get some ration cards transferred from neighborhood depots to the van with the goal of increase residents' access to the rations. A study is currently being undertaken to see if the program is effective.

Carrying on the tradition

Traditional dance performance put on for school kids

Sister and bro in law's visit

My sister and brother in law arrived around 3 am on December 26th. It was cold and shortly thereafter, they were both felled by some stomach illnesses.  Then on to Agra and the Taj Mahal, where I became sick and my sister got scratched by a monkey. Then to Delhi for New Year's Eve where we got into a car accident.  From there we flew to Goa where we finally released ourselves of the curse that had been placed on us for the first week. All in all though, it was a great time! After two fun, exciting and finally relaxing weeks, we parted ways. Luckily I was able to get past security on Spice Jet and bring the kitty home with me. 

A friend asked me via email if I had laundry 
services in my apartment. I said yes, I have 
a bucket and a clothesline.

Rural Museum on PAU's campus

Arrival in Ludhiana

Lunch with my friends who live next door

Ludhiana market

Making makhi roti

Visit to a Punjab vocational school

Punjab gudwara

We did not know this boy.

Monkey stole my sister's chips

Subsequent rabies shot because of monkey "attack"

Lotus Temple, New Delhi

Tree/place of employment

Old Delhi, outside Jama Masjid, India's largest 
mosque that holds 25,000 worshipers. Kristina and 
I were not allowed inside because it was 
after sunset and we are merely women.

Best kebab's I've had in a while

Goa

Something embedded in my toe

First day with my new kitty, Bujia

Bujia's first trip to the vet

Woman selling fish from her head