We arrived in Delhi, India on May 2, 2011.
First lesson in India--- read your hair dryer instructions before plugging in!!! I did have the converter but neglected to flip the switch.
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| dead dryer |
After a long flight, and a good nights sleep at the Pride Park Hotel, our first week was spent mostly in the CNC SSIPL building/office that was being renovated. Dave was going over service plans with the engineers. It was very hot. I believe the temp. was 106!! The only part of the building that had AC was the conference room in the basement! We spent most of our time in there. In India, the electricity goes out quite often, so most places have generator back ups. I listened in on most of the meetings but when I got bored, I would walk around the building and take pictures of the staff and building.
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| Haas Outlet Delhi building |
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| Conference room service meeting |
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| Us with Ajit |
On our way home one night our car broke down on the highway! Dave and Amarjit pushed while I drove! I never thought I'd be brave enough to drive in India!! Tho-- I was more worried about Dave being behind the car pushing! Drivers in India drive crazy, and there are so many of them!
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| Sign where we broke down!!! |
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| Dave on side of road |
We had one day to go site seeing. Amarjit, his wife and daughter took us on a tour of Delhi. First stop was the Lotus Temple. We went inside and sat quietly for about 10 minutes. It was beautiful but the temp was so warm we needed to get going.
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| Lotus Temple |
Second stop was another beautiful Temple. Taking "snaps" was not allowed. The only picture we could get was from the parking lot.
Third, and last stop was India Gate. It is a memorial for the soldiers that fought in the war. The flame is eternal. There were tons of people there. Vendors trying to sell you every thing from a henna tatoo to ice cream. I didn't get a tatoo but Amarjit's wife did. The stuff they used would stay for at least 10 days and the woman doing it was making quite a mess!
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| India Gate Memorial |
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| Us with Amarjit's family at India Gate |
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| Amarjit's family |
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| Amarjit's wife getting henna tatoo |
Next stop--- Pune!
We flew into Pune on May 7th. We spent Saturday and Sunday looking for a place to live. We were staying at the Cyprus . It was nice but the electricity was out almost as much as it was on! So-- we moved over to the St. Laurn Hotel. That was much better! The Indians at this hotel were very service oriented. During dinner, if you were on your last bite of food they would be there to refill your plate. Dave found it a challenge to see if he could refill his own plate before they got to our table. Most of the time he was not successful! They were very quick!
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| Dave out front of St. Laurn |
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| Dinner at the St. Laurn |
On Monday, Dave went to work at the Pune office and I went out looking at flats. Once I found a few that were okay, Dave would go look at them with me. We really didn't find much that appealed to us. Either there were to many dogs outside the gates ( you all know how afraid of dogs I am ) or the places were just not clean. We finally found a service hotel that had 24 hour security and a restaurant that is also open 24 hours. It is called the Oakwood Premiere. Most places here have security, except when the guard goes on holiday. Then-- you are on your own! Our place is a small studio but clean, and has a nice view of the sunset and real 24 hour security. So much so that there is a guard with a gun at night. Not sure what to think of that! For those of you that are married, you know a studio could be a real challenge! : ) But we are up for it!
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| Pune Office |
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| David in his office at the Pune HFO |
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| View from our balcony |
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| bedroom, living area |
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| Our kitchen |
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| Buffet at restaurant |
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| Swimming pool and Dave |
We have done a little site seeing!!
Aga Kahn Palace: Gandhi was imprisoned there with is wife in 1942.
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| Aga Khan Palace |
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| Bust of Gandhi |
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| Ashes of Gandhi |
Pataleshwar Caves: 8th - 9th Century stone Temple.
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| Stone Temple |
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| Inside Caves |
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| Family resting at Temple site |
Laxmi Street Market: Famous and very crowded market and hot. You can get just about any thing there.
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| Crowded Market |
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| Dave paying in Rupees |
Pune Zoo and Snake Park: Not many animals but LOTS of SNAKES. They are in pits, not behind glass. Dave assures me that they can't get out but--- I'm not sure. They are creepy!
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| Dave with COBRA!!! |
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| Creepy Crawler!! |
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| Sign at zoo!!!! |
We have also seen and been a part of Indian culture.
Water Buffalo: Walking amid the cars on a very busy street.
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| Water Buffalo in traffic |
An elephant: Walking in front of our hotel.
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| Elephant walking in front of our hotel in Pune |
A wedding float: It plays music and every one dances in the street. I even danced with them! : ) Dave hid!
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| Wedding Float |
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| Wedding Dancers in street |
Cricket: Games in just about every empty lot you see.
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| Cricket players in lot beside park |
Women: Dressed in beautiful bright colors carrying baskets on their heads, working very hard and celebrating.
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| Indian woman carrying weeds |
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| Woman working at market |
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| Women at the Wedding |
We have kinda adopted a young woman and her 2 young children. They sit out on the sidewalk every morning. She rocks her baby in a blanket that she hangs between 2 trees and picks flowers. I think her husband works here at the hotel.
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| Mother and 2 children outside our flat |
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| Little Girl outside flat |
We took one trip to Mumbai about a week ago. The driver, Akbar, was crazy! We came face to face with a bus twice! Not once, that could be an accident, but twice! Then, the speed limit is 60 to 80 kil. He was going 120!! When questioned--- he said we were in Gods hands!! He won't be driving us to Mumbai again!!! Ever!
Finally--- Mother's Day in India, 2011!!! WOW!!
Our very first rickshaw ride. We survived!!
A trip to the Hard Rock Cafe. We decided that would be our US day each week! Takes away a little of the homesickness!
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| Mother's Day dinner at Hard Rock Cafe |
We leave for Mumbai tomorrow for our summer vacation. No, Akbar will not be driving us!
We hope you enjoy this blog and make comments. Once the year is over we will be making a book out of this blog and would love to include all of your comments!
Enjoy!! And-- we will write more once we return.
