Monkey business

Last weekend, my aunt's sister and their family had come to visit Baroda for Minna's birthday. They arrived on Friday night. On Saturday, we all went to one of Baroda's two museums. A few of the painting's really stuck out: the effect of the paintings changed as you moved around the room- similar to the Mona Lisa effect.
Later that day, we played some friendly badminton, and then went to eat some pani puri from a ladi in Fategunj. Forget the word sanitary. The dirt from the man's hand and the flies and insects simply enhance the taste ;). One by one, the ladiwala filled the small puris with potatoes dipped them in the water and served them to us. It really is an art. After that, as if I wasn't full already, we went to dinner and stuffed ourselves some more. Of course, the meal wasn't over until we had mawa ice cream in Sursagar. Oh how I love food. And oh how my plan to lose weight in India isn't working.
The next day, my cousin and some of the workers fixed the pipes on the roof where the water from the rains was accumulating. To do that, they climbed on a really tall scaffold. Of course, being a monkey myself, I couldn't help but resist climbing up there with them. Check out the pics (I'll put the link up soon). After that work was done, we headed out on another picnic. This time we stopped off at the camping ground we had checked out on our last picnic. After playing frisbee and dodgeball, we ate some delicious daal, and then headed to hawa mehl. (Check out the pictures http://picasaweb.google.com/saba.merchant/PicnicAtHawaMehelScenic) Hawa Mehl is an a structure located just above a lake on one side. There is always the best breeze there no matter when you go. When we had gone, the villagers were fishing down below.
That night was my last night at my Nani's house, so Minna and I pretty much stayed awake most of the night talking, monkeying around, and acting like the little children we are. The next day, after some shopping, I moved to my Amma's apartment, which is conveniently walking distance from my Nani's.

Picnic at Pawagadh

One of the traditions with my family on my Ammi's (Mom's) side is to go on picnics. On Sunday, we made cold coffee, packed some uncooked rice and daal, the frisbee, the ring, and of course the music. We left around 10:30 and headed to the area behind Pawagadh, a mountain about an hour away from our house in Baroda. And of course, in all the hungama (craziness), noone brought a camera. But I'll paint a picture. We parked the jeep on the side of a small road, and headed down to an area where, if it wasn't so dry and hot, a river would be flowing. The trees above us were filled with sleeping bats.

We set up a stove using three rocks, dry leaves and twigs in the middle. Soon the fires were going, and we began to cook. I had recently introduced Mamu to the acapella music of Penn Masala, and he insisted that we do it. Mamu and Sajju Mamu (two of my uncles) made us all laugh sooooooo hard, my tummy hurts just thinking about it. After our food digested a bit, we threw around a ball and frisbee for a little while, and then the uncles, my cousin Saud, and I went hiking. We found some of the most beautiful rocks: pure white with crystals forming on the side. Once we headed down, we had some cold coffee and played Estimate (a card game). Although we left the picnic spot after that, the day was still far from over.

On our way back, we stopped off to check out a new camping area owned by Mahipal Singh Yadav where we found a wooden flute made by some village locals. By the time we left, it was time for dinner. We ate the most delicious butter chicken at a pretty famous restaurant called Tandoor. After eating, when the music in the attached club began, my cousin Saud decided to go in and dance to his hearts content, and in doing so, make a complete food of himself. But if anyone asks, he's not my cousin ;).

First Friday: prayer and food

Friday is our day of prayer. So, after begging and persuading my little cousin (Minna) to come with me to the Masjid for Jummah prayer, we headed out in our rickshaw with Nani. There weren't as many people as I had expected, but I guess this is because another Masjid was just recently established in a different area. I was a bit disappointed with the prayer... there was no khutba (sermon) or anything that I could really understand very clearly. Same problem as usual with the language barrier of the Urdu we speak regularly, the Shakespearean, proper Urdu that the elders speak.

Later that day, my cousin took me around Baroda, and I met some of his friends from college. We talked about a lot of things; we went to his old schools; we went to a bookstore. When I met his friends, I realized that I have definitely started to speak with an Indian accent when I speak English. Yes, a FoB I am.

At Jummah, I met some people from the US that I knew. Later we went to dinner with them at Sasujee, a restaurant that serves Gujarati Thalis (basically a plate with about 10 different vegetarian dishes that you eat with chapati and rice). India is a place where they just keep feeding you and feeding you. I feel like a stuffed turkey. Although, really, I don't know what that would feel like. These waiters just kept forcing food on your plate, even if you told them you didn't want it. That's pretty much how it is with all my relatives here.

Storms and such

Lights out. Unfortunately it wasn't a choice. Although really, it wasn't so unfortunate either. As we sat around the dinner table eating noodles, the pitter patter of rain on the rooftop began, and soon enough, there was a storm abrewing :) The whole family went out to the veranda, eating and singing in the cool air, with misty drops seeping in. After the heat during the day, it was a great night. The type that calls for hot tea and bhajiye. It's amazing to see how much people wait for rain,and the celebration it is.

Arrival

11 days at my Nani's (maternal grandmother) and 11 at my Amma's (paternal grandmother). My days are set. Right now, I'm at my Nani's while my cousins still have vacations. After spending some time with my Dad's business friends, my family from my Dad's side came to pick me up from Ahmedabad, where I flew in from Dehli. I stayed with them the first night. It was so shocking to see Amma, lying on the bed, stick thin and face sunken. Its so hard to imagine life like that. Both my grandmothers have begun to talk about how they won't be here for long; but I guess they're at peace with it, and at this point in their lives, probably welcome it.
Anyway, after the first night, I went to my Nani's (this was Thursday). I can't really remember much of what I did the first day, but that's how time goes here. My little sis (Minna)and I pretty much laugh 24/7 and act like little kids all the time. Time goes like that.

Still in Chicago

The best way to start off a trip? Forget your visa at home. Yesterday, bags packed and ready to go, my parents and I headed to the airport. My Dad dropped us off and parked the car, while my Mom and I went the check in. A few minutes after I handed the agent my passport, she paged through it with a confused look. I didn't have a visa for India in that passport. Unknowingly, we left the house with my newest passport, without even considering that the visa may have been in my old, expired passport. Dad drove like a madman to pick it up from the house, but reached too late. Fortunately, we had the kindest agent who immediately booked me on a flight for today without even charging the change fee. Despite the stress, the extra day at home with my parents, really was a blessing after the hectic schedule I had for the last two weeks.