Last post!

So I'll be leaving in a few short hours.  Yippee!  I'm full of nerves about this long flight. :-(  My driver took me to see the 7 tombs today, and then over to his home.  His family was extremely welcoming.  His sister gave me henna tattoos on my arms.  I'm excited for everyone to see them, hopefully they will last.  I took a picture before I washed off the henna, just in case it fades before I get home.  It only lasts about 3 days, and I had to keep the henna on for 3 hours before washing it off.  She had such a steady hand it was amazing.  Well I'd better log out and finish putting the last few items in the suitcase.  Hope this flight goes quick.  I hope you all enjoyed my blog and I hope that you feel like you've experienced some of India with me.  Love you all and will be seeing you soon.
KB over and out!

One of my lasts postings...

Well this will be one of my last postings, I have just a little over 24 hours left of my trip here in India.  It's been a blast!  I'm attaching some photos of the class and some photos from Rajesh's birthday.  Poor guy they smeared the cake all over his face.  That is a custom here for birthday to add some sweetness to their lives.  Pretty funny!  I can honestly say that I'm ready to come home.  I'm at my wits end with the hotel today.  I asked if I could get a bottle of champagne for breakfast to make mimosas to celebrate and the cheapest bottle was 15,000 rupees equivalent to $300 American.  Are you kidding me!  Then I asked about a courtesy shuttle to the airport but that would cost me $60 American.  I guess they don't understand the word courtesy.  To top it all off, I went down to the dinner buffet and grabbed something quick by myself 'cause Becca was on a call.  I asked for my bill and signed it and headed back towards the elevators to my room.  When all of a sudden I feel a hand on my shoulder, in the middle of the lobby, another waiter saying "ma'am you didn't pay your bill".  I was about to lose it, right in front of the dining room manager I turned to the waiter and said "check the table it's on top signed, you need to look next time before you accuse someone."   I just turned around and headed up to my room.  On arrival I received a phone call from the manager apologizing profusely for the waiter.  He also advised that Becca was downstairs at the buffet and he would like me to come down to join her, to make up for the waiters mistake.  When I got down he ushered me over to Becca and returned a few mins. later with a coconut creme brule.  I think it's time that the hotel and I get a divorce we've been around each other too long.  Becca said we'll go to dinner at the Italian restaurant so I can avoid being harassed.

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

KB

Days are winding down...

Mark today as the first day that I'm truly homesick.  I've made it for 5 1/2 weeks of such an adventure. Now that everything is winding down and I'm so close to going home,  I wish the week was already over.  I can't wait to see my family and friends.  Roscoe will probably be a little menace for the first few days but I'm even prepared for him.  I will miss everyone here and it will be a little weird not living at a hotel but I'll survive.  Plus I guess I'll be back in a hotel for 4 weeks soon enough.  I've made a lot of new friends that I know I'll keep in touch with in the states and here in India.  I have no regrets about what I've gotten to see and do while I've been here.  Everyone here in India are such welcoming people.  For example Becca and I picked up her saree at the shop on Monday and the owner invited us for dinner at his home with his whole family.  The hotel staff although a few are nuts many of them have become my friends asking me what I got shopping and how's work going.  I'm very blessed to have had the chance to come here and blessed that I have such loving family and friends at home ready for me to come back.  These six weeks have been a blast and I will never forget this trip for the rest of my life.  Sorry for the long monologue but I felt that I haven't written in awhile.

 “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

KB

Cricket and Inorbit.

Yesterday was a day filled with cricket and shopping.  In the morning we went over to Vineet's home where he made us breakfast.  Rice patties with coconut and tomato, chili chutneys and Maggie (which is similar to Ramin noodles).  I've supplied a pic.  Also we went and watched his cricket match where both Becca and I got to swing the bat.  See to the left Becca creaming the ball.  I've also attached pics of the MVP of the game Vineet.  He's an excellent bowler and hit a 6 and a 4 during his time up to bat.  I'll have to break down and explain the game at another time.  We all went to lunch at a nice restaurant near Golkonda Fort called the Fort and Vineet got Becca and I onto his scooter on the side road near it.  WOoo Hoo!  After we went over to the Inorbit mall and did a little shopping Rahul came with us and thought we bought out all the stores.  Men should really not come shopping with women except to carry the bags.  Back at the hotel we were riding up the elevator and Becca decided to ask this poor white guy on the elevator if he was Travis, I looked at her funny then she said oh no Rich.  She must have been extremely tired asking strangers who they were.  The man just thought she was crazy.  Today is going to be a lazy day we went to brunch at Bubblicious and had some drinks and great Italian food and we are heading off to the pool just to lounge around for awhile.  Tomorrow we'll be going to Charminar to do some sight seeing and shopping, maybe to a movie before work.  Everyone have a great Sunday!!!  Less than a week to go.  I miss everyone and will be home before you know it.
KB

Last weekend begins....

Ok I think I'm ready to come home, everyone is now starting to get on my nerves at the hotel.  They are charging me for things that shouldn't be charged, shutting off the hot water in my room.  Why me?  Now it's my last weekend here in Hyderabad and there are protests going on all weekend and everything is shut down for the weekend.  I guess I'll be going out during the week to get my final purchases.  Well at least we are going over to Vineet's home this morning and he's fixing Becca and I Maggie noodles and chai.  Then off to the cricket game, he even said that I can try batting.  Wooo hoo!  We were supposed to go to Charminar today but that will be postponed till Monday.  We will hit the mall I guess.  Well no sleep for me today.  I'll get pics of me playing some cricket.  I leave a week from today and it doesn't seem for real yet, we'll see when I have to start packing up.  Miss you all and will see you soon.
KB 

10 days and counting!

I know I haven't been very good at writing lately especially when it's been work and the hotel during the week.  This weekend will be my last weekend it's weird to think that my trip is almost over.  My class got me a giant silver Charminar that lights up, 'cause they say I need one or I'll get withdraws when I get home.  Of course I'll be heading back there again this weekend.  I also have plans to see a cricket game in person and see a flick one night.  Becca wants to see some of the old standbys and I'll probably hit some of those with her.  I've decided that I want to create a traditional Indian meal for my family so get your tummies ready for some spice.  Tandoori chicken is the best and maybe some curry and naan.  Deserts, I think I'll keep with an American recipe.  10 days to go and I'll be home.
KB

Going bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S....

Sorry to all my followers its been awhile since I've written I've been ill I haven't had much to say and not feeling up to it.  Yesterday did a little shopping and today had a big adventure to YadagiriGutta a very large temple about 1 1/2 hours away from Hyderabad.  The drive over wasn't with my usual driver Abdul it was a new driver I've never been with.  It was a scary ride I believe I saw my life flash before my eyes about 18 times on the way there.  I'm all about the fast crazy driving but if the guy ahead has his break lights on slow down before you make a stop.  Becca has arrived also and took the trip up with a few people from the class, Travis and I.  We got there just as the gates had closed for a couple hours so we went to an old temple near by.  At that temple my class knew how much I wanted to see the monkeys and there was one there.  They bought me some bananas to throw to him and before we knew it there were 5 or 6 hanging around.  One came down let me hand him the banana right to him another decided he couldn't wait and grabbed one right out of my hands and ran off. They are pretty smart they would peel the bananas before eating them.  I've attached a pic of me handing a banana over to one of the monkeys.  On the ride out of the little village we saw a funeral procession.  They carried the deceased on straw down the streets and the body was exposed with a sugar cane in his mouth for a sweet end.  They also tossed flowers up in the air beated drums and chanted happily celebrating the man's life.  We had some time to buy so we went over to Surendra Puri which had replicas of all the gods and demi gods and their stories.  Like a large diorama, it was great I got to go to heaven and hell and back all in a couple hours.  Cameras weren't allowed into the park but we spent about 2 hours inside and the heat was sweltering.  Once we were done we headed up to YadagiriGutta and went into that temple with a giant idol that you are only to see partial side view because of it's power.  On the way home I rode with Abdul so I could feel safe.  We stopped off at a roadside restaurant and had tandoori chicken and biryani.  Today has been a really long day I will talk soon.
KB