Here comes the rain again, falling on my head like a memory...

Sleeping again has become a chore.  Almost a complete month down here in Hyderabad.  I was taught how to really put on my saree so I'm going to practice this morning then crash down to sleep.  I've got nothing more today except the rain has started coming down again and I'm hoping that it stops before the weekend.  Nightie night.
KB

Busy, busy, busy...

Monday morning we wanted to get a jump on our day since it's the few last days that Tammy will be here.  We wanted to go see the Salar Jung Museum and Chowmahalla Palace before she leaves.  The museum was very interesting with all the Indian art pieces, furniture and weapons.  One of the most famous pieces in the collection is the marble sculpture "Veiled Rebecca" by an Italian artist.  Attached is a photo of the sculpture, still won't do it justice.  No cameras were allowed in the museum so no personal photos.  Chowmahalla Palace though was exquisite as you can see by my photos.  Beautiful architecture and wonderful show pieces from the Hyderabad royalty.  Most of my class has never been in the palace, shocking I know but then I thought of Hollywood Graumans Chinese Theater and the first time I went was just a couple years ago.  I guess you don't always appreciate what is close by.  Kalyani one of my participants was so sweet and had my petticoats made for my sarees this weekend, to finish them off.  I'm so excited now they are complete.  I did make Tammy a little jealous since she hasn't gotten hers yet and she's leaving on Wed.  Yesterday was a long day so I'll be signing off.  Till tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.
KB

Amazing daze...

Yesterday we decided not to sleep and head over to the Birla Temple.  It's located up on top of a hill overlooking Hussain Sagar Lake.  The temple is made completely with white marble the details were amazing.  Cameras and and shoes were forbidden so we couldn't take pictures any closer to the temple then down at the parking.  It was a good and bad thing, good that nobody could stop us to ask to take pictures and bad that I don't think I could even begin to describe how beautiful and detailed the building were.  There was a young girl that came up to me when we were getting our shoes on and said "hi" when i replied hi to her she ran over to her friend and said I talked to the white girl.  Then we were trying to get a few pics before we left and a big group of girls came up all giggly introducing themselves.  Then they asked us if they could take a picture, I did what my class had suggested and asked if I could take a pic of them.  They all squealed with glee.  I've attached some photos of the temple and of the girls.  Today we met Travis, who is out here from TN.  He said that he was going out with Samir, Tammy and I decided to invite ourselves to come along.  Some more shopping was on the agenda then we went to the bar to grab a drink.  Today was the final day of Ganesh festival so everyone was covered in colors, banging drums and bringing their Ganesh to the water to throw in.  I don't know what is up with me and the hotel but I've got to say that the strangest things only happen to me.  I ordered a glass of wine and when the waiter came out he brought Travis and Tammy their drinks but only brought me an empty glass.  So kidding I asked if the wine was magic and would appear later he said he would go get the bottle.  When he got the bottle he couldn't open it so he started to bang the bottom of the bottle like it was a Heinz 57 bottle of ketchup.  We were all rolling on the floor laughing.  I'm terribly tired and we have a long day of sightseeing then to the office so I'm going to hit the sheets.  Nighty Night.
KB

It's all just craziness...

Well to start it all off there is just craziness here.  The hotel staff as nice as they can be are a little off the wall.  Whatever happened to the customer is always right?  I was planning on meeting Tammy in the gym yesterday and I told her I had to run to the restroom and change and I would meet her up there.  Well I was just starting to wash up and the door bell rang, not just once but continually for about 2 mins.  I kept yelling at her (thinking it was Tammy) to take a chill pill and I'd be right there but the ringing wouldn't stop.  I swung open the door ready to be a smart mouth and it wasn't Tammy standing there.  It was the bell hop.  I asked what was wrong and he said he was there to pick up my luggage.  I told him I wasn't leaving & that he had the wrong room, but he was insistent that I was the one that was wrong and tried to push his way in.  Really does he know something that I don't?  WOW!!  Besides the point we got our sarees last night so Tammy and I played around this morning and put them on.  Boy I've got a lot of working out to do.  They are really sparkly and Tammy took a pic of one of them on me I'll try to post it if she sends it over.  We are heading out to do some sight seeing at about 10:30 am so we both made a pact to fore go any sleep till we get back.  There is a new trainer in town and Tammy told him to rest up today and we would do something on Monday afternoon (more shopping).  Tomorrow is the last day of the Ganesh festival and everyone is getting ready to throw their statues into the lakes and rivers, so they told us we are better off not going out.  I'm thinking it would be a good time to unwind and get a hot stone massage.  My class asked me about Sept. 11th last night and talking about it made me almost tear up.  The people here deal with so much already, I'm very lucky and blessed. Namaste!
KB

Shiparamam going shopping strong....

4 o'clock and off to shop was our plan yesterday at the arts & crafts village of Shilparamam.  Try to say that 10 times fast.  I've attached some photos to check out.  You really had to haggle the vendors down.  One of them tried to sell a pashmina to Tammy for 900 rupees.  Our driver was with us and told me I needed to fetch Tammy so she wouldn't get ripped off by the outrageous prices.  She ended up buying one similar for 300 rupees.  Really can't people be honest?  Again we were attacked by request for photos.  What is such a big deal about Tammy and I.  My class said they must think we are celebrities.  Bunch of Crazies!!  I've attached a pic of my class also.  We've got a busy weekend filled with fun places and things to see.  My class told me that I should turn it around on those that keep asking us for our pictures and start taking pictures of them.  Well I'm going to try to sleep up today so I'm ready for the weekend.  See ya later...
KB

To all of my loyal followers...

I want you all to know that it's not that easy to be so witty and charming every day.  There is only so much I can say about a day of reading, watching t.v. and sleeping then going to work at night.  So I'm sorry for not communicating the mundane days and nights in India.  I'm doing my best though.  I slept all day and last night I worked.  I'm planning on resting this morning until about 3pm then we are going to go to shopping at a local art bazaar, then off to work. I'll talk to you all soon with hopefully some more entertaining information.
KB

I knew I was going to be saree....

Sleeping has been eluding itself from me for the past few days.  I went from sleeping all day & night to feeling like Hans Christian Andersen's Princess and the Pea.  I'm exhausted from working all night but as soon as I lay down on the bed I just can't get comfortable.  I get phone calls from the front desk advising me there was a man standing at my door in regards to a sock.  A sock tried to run for freedom by jumping into my laundry bag.  Of course these comments to the staff here at the hotel didn't get the chortles that I am accustomed to receiving.  I went to my front door and spent 20 mins. trying to restrict entrance of the laundry man from his search and recovery mission for the at large, sock to the pair. He was insistent that it could be found under my bed.  I advised that the escape artists twin was in my suitcase.  With the construction outside my window and a bird that is insistent on singing me a lullaby, and phone calls from the front desk, none of these are helping with my sleep patterns.  Tammy and I did head out to the far parts of town to get measured for our sarees.  So finally I know I'm going to have a finished saree.  We also got a delivery of our custom pearls, they are so beautiful.  More than what I could imagine.  We planned out our busy weekend since this will be her last weekend here.  I will miss her crazy, wonderful, indecisive, adventurous spirit.  No plans for today except hopefully get some peace, ok how about just a good 5 hours, no interruptions, snooze fest.  I guess the sleeping pills will return today or I'll be useless tonight in class.  Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite, but if they do, grab your shoe and beat them till they are black and blue....
KB