Gandhi's Death

Today we ventured to the home where Ghandi last resided in Delhi.

We were told the story (that I already knew) about his death.

Here goes. He was leaving his house to go to prayer and on the way there were always several people waiting to greet him. He went up to all of them to greet them and on his final day, one person had his hands folded together and people do (like you are praying) when giving the Indian greeting of "Namaste". Folded between his hands was a pistol. Supposedly he cried out "Oh Lord Oh Lord" two or three times. This was Gandhi's death.

Here are his footsteps leading to his prayer spot, where he was assasinated before he reached there.

And here is the room where he spent his final days. Supposedly still in tact.

More to come, unfortunately Melissa and I are waaaaaay far away from our "home" right now and have to get ourselves back by our "curfew" (lol) of 11:00. So will write more tomorrow! Hope you all are well.

P.S. I am really hot and tired and am a little fearful this post didn't entirely make sense or was that clear, sorry if it that was the case.

Love, Janelle

I Got Skills

Melissa and I (annoyed as can be with the living arrangements and etc. etc. etc.) - details which I will spare you, at least for the moment... decided to go out tonight by ourselves and visit an Indian market. To get to this particular market we had to travel by rickshaw.

Here's a little view from inside a rickshaw.

This I found so amusing, we were told by the other girls it's a "knock out punching match" to get a rickshaw - and to barter price. LOL LOL LOL. Omg - wow was that hilarious. I'm like... "ah... ok (?)" because I know it totally ISN"T. Perhaps for them it must be, so sorry for them. All I did was ask our host how much the ride should cost, so we had an idea, not to pay American prices and off we went. I flagged a rickshaw down - told him our destination - and asked for price. He replied 110, I told him "No, too much" and told him "80 rupees" he then replies "90 rupees" I said "No 80 rupees" he repeated "90 rupees" and I told him we'd find another ride and then motioned to another rickshaw. Then he says "Ok ok get in" and motions for us to get in. Melissa was pretty impressed with my skill - hahaha. I do realize I was arguing over probably 25 cents, but still! (And for a certain person who makes fun of me for being pushy... ah hem... (?).... see it pays off. Read on... lol - of course you've seen this skill in action yourself, so I don't have to tell you; And I do honestly think I picked that up from being here before.)

So then we went to purchase some lovely, lovely scarves that some of the other girls had bought and showed us. Once we found the stand I ask "How much?" He replies "250" I'm like "For one?!?!?!" (Shocked) and told him "no, no" then he replies "200 for 1". I then told him "200 for 3". Of course he acts like that can't happen and then has a side conversation in Hindi with his father, who owns the shop. (Below in pink.)I then added in that "our friends" bought the same scarves 3 for 200. Then he decides it's ok. They both then assured us that's the lowest price we'd find them anywhere. (I have to say.....I think they were right.) But then again, I want to believe that to feel like we got the best deal.

Needless to say, we both loaded up and got some beautiful scarves to take back.

I forget this man's name, but he got a kick out of Melissa and I and we had him laughing pretty good before it was all said and done. He gave us his card and asked that we please send him these pictures.

After this I went and bartered 4 purses down. A 5th purse I bought was at a fixed price, dirt cheap, so that was ok. If I'd a had more money, we'd probably still be at the market. But made a plan to go back tomorrow. What deals! One of the many reasons I love it here. If any of you have seen my bedroom wall..... you get it.

Love, Janelle

We Deliver Happiness

Here's a Dominos delivery motorcycle boy. Which it's too small to read the box, but it says, "I deliver happiness."

And for 35 rupees you can get a personal pizza. Reminder of currency 46.6 rupees = 1$ US. Craaaaaaziness. I've also found the prices of things are EVEN cheaper now than when we were here 1 1/2 years ago. We went shopping tonight to a real market and my head is still spinning from the deals I got!

Love, Janelle

Double Parked? Not a Problem

Hilarious!!

We stopped at a shopping area today to find me an adaptor, so I can plug in my American devices into these Indian outlets. (Silly me thinking an organized volunteer association may already be equipped with these types of things... ha.)

Anyway, while we were out and about someone parked us in.

To solve the problem, this parking attendant, simply "moved the car" with his own human hands and force. Lol. We all got a kick out of this. The vehicles are so light here, all you have to do aparently is roll them away.

Sorry, I hope you are finding some of this interesting or slightly amusing. I know I am. But also you know me, it doesn't take much to amuse me!

Love, Janelle

Indo Tibetan Border Patrol Spotting and What About Speed?

Here are a couple interesting sights from the road today.

This sign snuck up on me so fast, unfortunately I didn't get the top of the poles - which say "India Police". But here's the bottom. And here's this guy...

Love, Janelle

Slumdog Millionaire

A little excerpt from the movie. This was one of many little beggars that approached our car today. Nothing new....this is India.

Shortly after this boy another one came by that had his leg chopped off right below his knee. Stuff like that is really difficult for me to see. Then I always wonder what happened. There are a lot of missing limbs in this city. And I always think it's some type of car accident, because the driving is so messed up here. There are no road rules - literally - people just go, and constantly honk. I'll try to upload a video later of some driving.

Love, Janelle

Masala Dosa

So this post I am sharing with you our lunch, which we had at a South Indian place.

Here is Rajiv (our host) waiting outside the restaurant. This crazy looking meal is called Masala Dosa. The outer shell is made of dal (Indian staple), rice and salt. Inside was potatoes and other spiced veggies. To be dipped in two chutneys, one of which is correander (eiw, eiw, eiw)!! Correander is a spice useful in digestion, and therefore, used quite heavily in India. I haaaaaaate correander/cilantro. They even had correander/garlic flavored crutons on the plane here, I forgot to mention that (Druschker and Sean... yea totally thought of you guys.)

The white circular dish is a coconut milk - to offset the spicy hot red chutney.

Melissa and I looking all sweaty and gross.

And here are fennel seeds with sugar cubes - that are served at every restaurant in India after the meal, also to aid in digestion. (Tastes like black licorice, incase you were wondering.)Here is something that was new to me. Rajiv explained it is a beetle leaf (which he said is expensive and traded over the Pakistani border). With various fresh juices and fennel seeds and a "beetle nut" in the middle. It is served after a meal - or anytime someone wants to "freshen their breath". I soooo wanted to try it, only 7 rupees.

Melissa was game to try with me. (P.S. Currently 46.6 rupees = 1$ US). It wasn't bad, only neither of us were tough enough to actually "eat" it. We kinda sucked on them, chewed them, then spit them out. Wasn't bad except for the grassy taste.

More more more to come.

Love, Janelle