For the Indians who visit my blog, you may want to pass up the following video displaying my very first auto-rickshaw ride! I’m sure it’s nothing you haven’t seen! But for my parents and friends at home and others interested in coming to India, I think you will love to see exactly what I am seeing here and I am so excited to share it with you. (It only took me 250 minutes to upload using this mobile data card so you BETTER enjoy it! ) My First Bangalore Rickshaw Ride

Today has been one full day of firsts: My first auto-rickshaw ride, my first time crossing the crazy India streets, my first time apartment searching in a foreign land, my first Indian movie theater, (complete with hot chai delivered straight to our seats during intermission!) AND, my first time riding on a motorcycle here! (sorry mom!)

The motorcycle ride was so random and made my entire day. It happened when we contacted an agent to help with the apartment search, and he asked us to meet him at Bethany High School where he would be waiting on his motorcycle. The man set to unlock the apartments showed up on his motorcycle as well, and both asked us to hop on the back to take us to the locations. I hesitated at first but really had no other option so on I went, having no idea if I should put my hands around his waist or what. I ultimately did for the first ride but by second ride I figured out the handles behind me! I have now ridden through the Indian streets by car, auto-rickshaw and motorcycle, and I have to say the motorcycle trumps them all!

We saw four apartments today total. The first one was off the beaten path which gave me an unsettling feeling that only got worse when we climbed the narrow four flights of stairs to a tiny (shoebox tiny!) dark and gloomy efficiency apartment. The porch was bigger than the actual apartment. So that was an easy no. The asking price was $400 a month (Rs. 20,000). I got a little down after seeing it and wondered if this was going to be our only option. But the second was completely different: gorgeous and huge which turned out to be the problem; it was too huge. Everything else, like the floor to ceiling windows, verandas every which way you looked, and the location directly across from a park with a walking trail was perfect. The price unfurnished was $500 (Rs. 25,000).

Huge Living Room

Look at that window!

The third was located in a big complex and an older couple still resided there as we looked around. They kept the place immaculate. It was sparkling, located on the top floor with great views, tons of fresh breezes coming through the open windows, and a perfect kitchen. Again, it was too big but fully furnished. It’s placed high on the favorites list for me. Asking price: $600 (Rs. 30,000). The final apartment in the same complex was the perfect size but wasn’t taken care of well at all, had bad views, a little dark and gloomy, and generally a bad gut feeling towards it for $500. That completed our apartment search.

The final apartment complex.

We did a lot of walking and rickshaw riding today. I take back what I said about the pollution; it is a menace! After returning from the first time out, I needed to take out my contacts because of all the dust and smog and suffered from a slight sinus ache. I have eaten nothing but Indian food since arriving, and only very slight stomach problems so far. Nothing very bad yet.

Tomorrow we are headed out to look at some villas, which we are told reside many expats. Looking forward to finalizing a place and getting on with the job search and forming a nice routine.

Till next time!

It’s raining in Bangalore. Yes, I have arrived safely! Internet has been hard to come by and even now I am typing this as a Word document and will have to upload it when possible. I have been dying to get everything down before I forget a thing, and share it with all of you! Thank you for being patient and writing to find out if I have arrived safely.

I am sitting inside a friend’s apartment where we are staying for the moment, staring beyond the plant covered veranda out into the rain that is falling heavily upon rows of parked motorcycles.

View from friend's balcony, Bommahalli, Bangalore, India

We just came back from a car drive around town, checking out apartments and stopping at the mall, almost purchasing a ticket to see Inception, then finding out only the front row was available. I was in complete awe the entire drive, staring every which way like a small child, trying to take it all in, but quickly realizing there is never enough time to take it ALL in. There is SO much going on around you, it’s unbelievable. But I can’t help but love the madness. I love how everything that seems so impossible- in India, has a way of working itself out. The vehicles come within millimeters of brushing a bus, or a rickshaw, or a pedestrian or dog, but somehow all pass untouched. Indians are daredevils to say the least. You have to be to live here. I’m surly going to have to grow a tough skin!

We arrived at Bangalore airport around 3:30am after a four hour flight from Dubai. The taxi drive was as scary as I thought it would be, with no seatbelts available in the backseat, and the driver flying through stop signs with only a beep of the horn. Laugh all you want, but I sat in the middle and pulled both seatbelts across my chest, twisting them around each other until tightly fastened! I then grasped it with white knuckles the entire hour ride. I always thought I would ride eyes closed at first, but I couldn’t stand not to look around. I found the arrival instantly pleasing, especially the cool weather and greenery. So far, I love Bangalore! Oh, it’s much better than Dubai for sure. Trees everywhere! We were surly ripped off by the driver but I left all that up to my Indian friend, who gave whatever the driver asked, even when he presented a form with set fees but said it’s 50% extra at night!

Breakfast was cashew upma and dosa with coconut chutney. Amazing! Sweet, hot chai followed afterwards. See, we have the luxury of a mother-in-law in the home! I eat very little at each setting usually, and felt bad denying seconds, but tried my best to smile, pat my stomach and say mmmm! so she understood I liked it very much. She only speaks Tamil, no English at all, so, it’s hard to communicate the way I want which can be frustrating.

Getting a little personal: there is no toilet paper in the home which was expected, but I packed wet wipes just for these purposes. There are hoses next to each toilet (public toilets included), but I have no idea the proper way to use them without accidentally taking a shower with them!

Public toilet in Dubai. Gross picture, I know! But wanted to show the hose.

I quickly realized when in the Bangalore airport there was a stream of water flowing from the next stall into mine, that it wasn’t urine but water from the hose! How do women in burqas, or with so much fabric draping from their Indian dress, juggle all of this? In fact, I find Indian women amazing after seeing how much they have to juggle in India in general. Riding side saddle on the back of a motorcycle through unforgiving traffic, balancing items on their heads and they tread the streets full of dirt, garbage, potholes, or construction, and in our case today, walking through ankle high areas of water, crossing treacherous roads with children by their side…To the Indian women who may read my blog, I bow to you!

The apartment we are staying in for now is very nice by Indian standards and very expensive, but still very basic by American standards. The bathroom leaves much to be desired, but I expected that. It makes me appreciate what we get for our money in America.

• The cutest sight to see? Hands down the school children walking in groups in their school uniforms, and the pigtails and bows in the school girl’s hair.

• Best sound to hear? The Muslim prayer that emanates from the nearby Mosque. Such a soothing break in the day for everyone I would assume, Muslim or not.

• Best smell so far? I really dig the Indian liquid Santoor hand soap kept in the house! I’m sure this will be replaced by something better later…

• Scariest moment? Taxi ride for sure, when the car in front of us missed getting side swiped by less than a second.

• Most shocking? The Indian traffic. I have seen so many videos and was mentally prepared, but being IN it is nothing like watching it.

• Most relieving? Not being stared at. In Dubai, I was stared at like crazy so I expected the same from India. Sure there may be a few looks here and there, but everyone seems way too busy and on the go to spend much time staring at little ole’ me!

• What turned out not to be true in my case? The smell and the pollution that I heard so much about, I don’t seem to notice either! ..yet!

• What I didn’t expect to see so many of? Security guards. They are everywhere from apartment complex entrances, mall entrances, roaming through the stack of motorcycles you see above…

• What I love most about Bangalore so far? The cool weather and trees trees trees!

I have started a post about the two days spent in Dubai as well, but I was in more of a hurry to update about India! Dubai shall follow when possible.

I don’t want to say too much because I’m writing a nice long post with pictures about the experience so far, but I do want to quickly update you all and say I’ve arrived safely and loving it Internet has been a problem to get, but should be relatively frequent from now on so expect a post soon!

I’ve had a lot of comments or messages from white women who fell in love with an Indian man only to have him run off and get married behind their backs. I usually assume the Indian men do really like their girlfriends but in the end just can’t bear their family’s disapproval so they marry Indian women. Well, I was shocked to hear it happened to a friend of mine as well – and she is Indian. Her Indian boyfriend went home for a usual college summer break visit – and got married. He first told her it “just happened” and he had no control over the situation, but it soon came out that he actually knew all along.

Why????? I simply don’t get it.

Yeah right! My packing has grown enormously and I have to blame it on India. At first I thought I would only pack a few Western outfits and would buy the rest of my clothing in India to “fit in”. But after seeing videos of the city life and talking to Indians, the recommendation is that I will feel more comfortable in my western clothing. (can I not escape the west anywhere?!) So now I feel like I’m packing for a trip to Florida. My whole closet is strewn out on the bed and I’m deciding what to pack and what will stay. It’s hard to do when there’s that little voice in every girl’s head whispering “you may need that, better bring it just in case…”

I shouldn’t even be blogging right now. The clock is ticking for me and there is so much to do! Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes, although I have NO idea how you figured it out. As far as I know I never mentioned it was going to be my birthday! Please fill me in…maybe in my old age of 28 I’ve just forgotten that I posted it.

Also, I will respond to many of you soon. It has been just a tad bit crazy here working, shopping, packing, celebrating a birthday, and seeing all my friends and family for goodbyes. I’m already missing everyone and the comforts of home, and I haven’t left yet!

The mid monsoon will welcome you both, so carry nice big American umbrellas. The Bangalore weather has gotten a lot hotter (due to the pollution, dust etc.), so you won’t need any thick clothing at least until late September, but be sure to ask MDG, if she’s super sensitive, to get a few air masks to get acclimatized.

Starting October (and previously, even evenings and nights August onwards), a light to medium thickness jacket or sweater will make you comfortable. If you think of driving a bike, then these, along with a head cap, will be especially useful on all mornings and evenings.

In December and January, you may need slightly better winter wear. Perhaps an extra layer.

I am so proud of our garden’s development! Both MIM and I had no previous experience gardening but it’s doing so well. Although, it’s too bad I won’t be around to enjoy the harvest.

Remember the baby pepper? Look at it now!

Baby tomatoes!

Sqaush and beans intermingling.

MIM’s brother and bhabhi just welcomed another little one into the world making MIM an uncle for the second time – but this time it’s a boy! Because he arrived earlier than expected, they hadn’t decided on a name for him yet. So MIM and I both sent our picks: Shayan (deserving, worthy) is mine and Rayan (heaven’s gate during month of Ramadan) is MIM’s. Not until writing it out just now did I realize how similar the two names actually are!

Well, they went with Rayan! So, welcome to the world Rayan!

I’ve been run over by a truck.

At least – that’s how I feel right now.

I received 4 shots in all, 2 in each arm, and was made aware of the possible symptoms from each shot. Directly after the shots I took my dogs for a walk and besides some soreness, was fine. I then gave my dog a bath, prepared and ate dinner, all fine. It wasn’t until 10pm that the symptoms began. I went straight to bed and tossed and turned most of the night with body aches, chills, and a 100.4 temp! And this morning, that is how I feel – run over by a truck.

Sadly, today I was supposed to meet with friends for a morning run, lunch, and catching a tan by the pool. Instead I’m sitting here watching ghost stories on the SyFy channel! Just not quite the same!

India – you better be worth all of this!

Here are the vaccinations recommended for travel to India which I am going to receive today. The last time I had some of these was in 1987 and I’m sure my mother was there holding my hand. These days I won’t be so lucky!

Hepatitis A (Hep B is also highly recommended but I had it already)

Typhoid

DPT – diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus

Polio

Malaria pills are also recommended, but I’m taking my chances. Bangalore is not a high risk area for it and I hear there have been some scary side effects while taking the pills.

I also have purchased homeopathic digestive medicine to help relieve any of that “Delhi Belly” I keep hearing so much about. The saleswoman also recommended taking charcoal pills for relief. Yes, I did ask – is it really charcoal?? And yes, it is. I had no idea charcoal could contain any health benefits but apparently it does and has been around for many years!