Freakin' Weekend

This was our first non-jet lagged weekend in Delhi. We ate, we fed deer, we shopped, we caused a ruckus, we swam in the pool.......

First, I must say that the food here is really good. I mean really, really good. Lots of dal. Lots of naan. Lots of mango (sadly, the season will be ending this month). And lots of other stuff and I don't know what any of it is called. Bottom line is: we are eating well.

Yesterday evening, we set out with colleagues (who have been here 16 years!!) and their young daughters for an excursion to Deer Park. First, we shopped around Hauz Khas - narrow streets, gorgeous wood crafts and textiles for sale. Next, we wandered into the park and over to the deer enclosure with celery sticks and corn husks in-hand. And after the spotted deer were fed, we continued on to our own dinner of spicy South Indian specialties and giant Kingfisher beers - delish.

Today we did a bit of shopping in two very distinct Indian styles. The first was a family outing to Dilli Haat market where we picked up a few much needed areas rugs. It was really hot, and we got there 20 minutes before it opened, but the trip was a success overall except for the ruckus (see below). The second shopping success is the new television mounted on the living room wall. This was Jonah's project. He did the research, checked out the options at the large market nearby, sought guidance from our neighbors, and this (Sunday) afternoon, he left the pool to make a phone call. Within an hour, a 40-inch flat screen tv was delivered to our house and a team of men dispatched to install it. Now that's service!

And this is the paragraph not suited for the grandparents......For our trip to Dilli Haat, we asked the taxi driver to wait for us while we shopped (common practice around here). When we piled back into his car with our new carpets, the engine would not start. He decided that the most prudent thing to do would be to summons several young men who were standing around to push the car, perhaps thinking that rolling into the street would convince the engine to turn over. It did not. What it did accomplish: completely blocking the road. Soon, our (non-air conditioned) taxi was surrounded by men trying to push the car out of the way, and many perturbed drivers, all honking their horns. At this point, I got a bit panicky and insisted (perhaps yelled?) that we get out of the car and find a new ride home. This did not go over well with the driver. Words (and some cash) were exchanged. And in the end, we got loaded into a new car (with A/C), with a new driver, and Asa broke the tension by simply saying, "Back on track". Phew, yes we were.

And when we got home, we went for a long, long swim.