Twenty Nine Reasons For Us To Go To India

29. it's much warmer than Canada
28. great excuse to get your shots updated
27. don't have to work for 3 weeks!
26. Ajay will not be a minority while we're there
25. I'll stand out like a sore thumb while we're there :)
24. yummy Indian food at Indian prices
23. Ajay is losing his tan here
22. because Conan isn't coming with us ;)
21. proof that Sid really can shoot stick and it's not all fluff
20. I'll get to play cards and win everyone's money!
19. shopping for sarees
18. seeing all of the temples and ancient architecture
17. seeing fruit trees, other than apples!
16. tasting Mummy Jaan's famous cooking
15. sleeping under mosquito netting, reminds me of The Poisonwood Bible
14. taking naps in the afternoon for fun
13. seeing Ajay smile that gorgeous smile of his
12. getting an Indian stamp in my passport!
11. duty free shopping in Dubai
10. not having to do dishes for 3 whole weeks!!!
09. spending quality time in front of the airconditioner with Uncle
08. seeing what 42 degree heat feels like all day and all night
07. from what I've seen, amazing place to take pictures
06. only way we'll have something new to write about here on the blog
05. get all of the gifts out of my spare room!
04. bring back suitcases filled with prepackaged food!
03. I want to hear Kareena call Ajay Chachu
02. meet all of Ajay's friends
01. and most importantly, spend time with our family

TherTea

30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...
30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...
30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...30...

days to go :)

33 bottles of Keiths on the wall........

Everyone says that their mom is the best cook in the world and I am not any different. My mom IS the best cook in the world. She makes the best palak paneer in the world and also the best chocolate souffle and not to forget, she makes the most delicious cookies which are very hard to resist (Nanette will get to taste all of these I am sure :)).

Many people have asked me if it is home food that I have missed the most in the last year and a half and I always answer in the affirmative because I really dont want to get emotional and explain its my family i miss the most and not being with my parents has been kinda tough but hey, no one said it was gonna be easy. As most of you have already guessed, I am the youngest in my family and i was spoilt :).

That plane trip is going to be a killer but alteast we have great things to look forward to. I cant wait to get home and hug my parents.

Thirty-Four

Here are some promotional videos for India:

vid 1
vid 2
vid 3
vid 4
vid 5 my favourite one


... they're pretty cool actually... the imagery atleast.

Check out a couple of them! You're here because you're bored, aren't you? :)

833... Hours Till We Board Our Flight

....or 5 weeks from today, give or take an hour or so :)

Five weeks seems insanely close to me, and I feel like there is still so much to be done. It's all manageable, but those who know me well, know how I am about details, and getting things done well before necessary, especially when it comes to travel. Mom always jokes that there is no one she trusts more on a road trip, because I have all the bathroom stops, snack stops and shopping outlets mapped out long before we hit the highway :) For India however I am feeling a bit stunted... I will have to rely heavily on Ajay and family to direct me. Imagine, me not in control... lol :)

One of the things that I am really looking forward to is buying a traditional saree. I am in love with this one, but I think it might be a bit formal :)

For those interested, and it is indeed interesting, this is a good pictoral of how to wear a saree. I think it's going to take two or three tries till I get this down pat. Then again, maybe I'll be a natural.... keep your fingers crossed. I can't wait to head out with Mummy Jaan to get fitted for my first saree... though the thought of a crop top is not very appealling, perhaps I can negotiate something a little longer.

Five Weeks and Five Days

Well after much ado and plenty of money, my passport and India travel visa have arrived!! I am now approved to visit India for up to 6 months... even though we will only stay for 3 weeks this visit.

It's really a bit of a scary process sending your passport and an application off to Toronto to be approved. I stressed every day over the past week and a half, hoping that it would arrive there safely, and be returned promptly. Thankfully it came back to me just in a knick of time as I am heading to the US on Wednesday for business.... lovely Minnesota in March :)

Our trip is now less than 6 weeks away, there are still more innoculations ahead, shopping, packing and planning to do!

I love this story from Good News India... hard work, determination, and dedication will lead to your successes, whatever they may be. It's worth the read, even without the India connection.

Enjoy!
Nanette

43 For You, 43 For Me

Did You Know?

- India has 17 major languages and 844 dialects

- The number system was invented by India. Aryabhatta was the scientist who invented the digit zero.

- The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat.' The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent several modifications but the meaning is the same i.e good deeds take us to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births

- India has the most post offices in the world !

- The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people.

- Although modern images & descriptions of India often show poverty, India was one of the richest countries till the time of British in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth and was looking for route to India when he discovered America by mistake.

- India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.

And Then There Were 44

The more I talk and email Mummy Jaan the more I miss a place I've never been. Perhaps "miss" is not the right word, "long for" might be a better fit.

Today at the office I mentioned in passing that I would be away for three weeks at the end of April to a coworker, and she asked if I was going anywhere special. I don't like to smoother people with my happy news, but when the invitation presents itself, I can certainly find 20 minutes to share the excitement! We chatted for a while and she mentioned that 12 years back she too had ventured to India, much closer to Delhi than Chennai though. She spoke of some of the cultural do's and don't's... I hope I don't end up embarassing Ajay :) It's amazing what we take for granted here.

I hope for lots of patience from my host country!

A Month And A Half...

It's funny, Ajay and I have been counting down the days till we leave for India since about 63 days out... this is definitely my influence. Each day seems to drag along, and eventually becomes another 'X' on the calendar. I'm betting though that each day of the three weeks we are off for, will absolutely fly by. Vacations are strange like that, which is perhaps why I am always on some countdown or another, using the aniticipation factor as an extender to the actual enjoyment :)

The thing I am going to miss the most while away from home is of course snuggling with Marshall. The little beggar is going to be spending time with my parents while we're away, and he'll have tons of fun with their dog Snoop... but it's going to be terribly sad to leave him behind. Marshall is no 'Paris Hilton dog'... he's 80lbs of pitbull and labrador retriever... can you imagine the size of the carryon for him?


Once we've reached Chennai though, I'm positive that it will be just as tough to get back on the plane to begin the journey back to Canada. It's hard having family abroad, but I'm quite sure that Ajay speaks best to that topic.

Thankfully, this is just the first of many trips between Canada and Chennai.

From Canada To India With Love

Hard to believe that we are just a month and a half away from beginning our 36 hour journey home to Chennai.


A first time visit for me, a Canadian who isn't so fond of the heat :) Leave it to us to go at the hottest time of the year. I figure though that atleast this way, once I've survived three weeks in insane heat, I'll be able to enjoy our future visits even more :)



Check out our links, lots of great information on Indian culture, and especially Chennai.

Going Home Baby Yeah!!!!

April 29th 2006, 46 Days to go. Here we come!!!!! :)