Random Photos

 In light of the unexciting nature of the last few weeks, I thought I'd just post a few photos that have yet to find a home in other posts.  Enjoy!

 

 

The trip to the Post Office was surprisingly uneventful.  NOTHING went wrong, which is rare in India!

Some rickshaw drivers waiting for a gig.

View from a rickshaw.

Another, more interesting view from a rickshaw.  Any and everything can be bought and delivered in India.  Including mattresses.

The rickshaw driver enjoying some cold water (that I gave him) after bringing me home.  He then tried to scam me out of money.  Whatevs.

The best part about Dilli Haat, a local craft market we visited, was the food.  I am enjoying some kachoori, which are pockets of bread stuffed with vegetables and then deep fried.

"Cold coffee" is a BIG deal in India.  Bob can't get enough :)

On the left: one of our favorite Indian foods, chole baturri, which is a bit like chili.  On the right... I can't really remember.  I think it might be dahi bhalla, a yogurt treat that Bob likes and which I find a bit repulsive.

Monsoon view from our apartment.

Cute boy riding in auto rickshaw.

Wedding!

Sorry we haven't posted in so long!  Between pretty serious bouts with homesickness and real sickness, I haven't been up to writing.  And although neither of us are feeling that much better, I figured if I didn't write soon, I might never write again.

Due to my low grade fever (and Bob's belief that pictures are way better than words), I decided to post some of our favorite photos from the wedding with captions.  Enjoy friends!

check out my salwar kameez!  i didn't have time to get a sari.  i also doubt i'll ever learn to tie one.

ajay, the groom (and bob's friend from work). per tradition, he arrived on a white horse surrounded by about 10 drummers and a bunch of crazy dancing people.  when we arrived, we got pulled into their crazy dance circle, where bob got trapped.  i escaped.

the reception hall.  it was HUGE.  there must have been close to 500 people present.  interesting indian wedding fact:  the ceremony and reception take place at the same time.  up in the front, near the dance floor, there was a stage where the ceremony was taking place.  and NO ONE was paying attention.  the music was blasting, people were dancing and singing, and everyone else was eating.

there was food EVERYWHERE.  it was all vegetarian, and there was a buffet of nearly 50 options that covered almost the entire wall space of the room.  there were also cocktail waiters who circulated the room, and forced tiny appetizers and toothpicks upon unsuspecting guests.  the fried pineapple, on the left, was UNBELIEVABLE.  i think it was pretty much all i ate.  note:  whenever a guest accepted food from one waiter, the rest of the waiters swarmed.  i guess they got rewards for serving the most food or something. i didn't mind :)

the bride, who was absolutely BEAUTIFUL.  our perception was that indian weddings focus on the groom, as opposed to the bride.  surbhi, who also works with bob, didn't arrive until about two hours after the ceremony started.

the saunf spread.  these are something like after dinner mints (because we all know indian food puts your breath on kill) that come in a myriad of flavors.  my favorite is the fennel.  the first time i asked an indian what they were, he said, "it is a mouth freshener and good for digestion."  indians think everything is good for digestion.  and i guess they would know. 

Our Trip to Mussoorie, in the Mountains

It was great.  It was amazing.  It was beautiful.  I mean really.  It was the Himalayan Mountains.  I still can't believe we went.  Despite the car sickness on the way there (yikes!, and thanks to Phenergan for the save on the way home), the rabid monkeys that Bob kept trying to befriend, and the cold fog, which reminded me of scary movies, it was the best vacation I've ever been on.  My favorite pics are below:

the view

the garden outside our room

 

 

bob and the fog

me and the mountains

the rabid monkey bob wanted to be friends with

little bracelet man

a great anniversary!

I am tempted to go on and on about the beauty of the earth, the glory of God, the wonders of nature, etc, but Bob said, "Sometimes people just like to look at pictures.  I know I do."  So enjoy friends!