Nov 22-23 - MEHSANA

We spent the 22nd neel shopping - that is the punjabi style dress opposed to a sari. It was cool. I tried on quite a few colors and styles and ended up with two and couldnt make up my mind, so I bought both. One to wear to a wedding, the other to wear with jeans. We went to a fabric shop and watched M's mom choose fabric, but in the end she did not purchase, but we enjoyed the show. Kim managed to run into the phone box on the way out of the store for her second clumsy move of the trip. Poor gal. :-( I then went in search of a baby bracelet for H's baby, but no luck and it was decided that I should wait until Bombay. We took the dresses to get altered and then came back to the house to rest. In the evening, we went with Manjit and bro to their farm and got some great pictures of the workers and land there. Kim even did her best to milk a buffalo - which, yes, apparently they can be milked (in the meantime, we are both craving buffalo burgers!). Getting into the car when leaving the farm, Kim managed to whack her head on the top of the car having not bent down enough to get in. That's clumsy move #3. We needed to pray for her safety (kidding) so we went to some temples in her city - a Jain Temple and M's Sikh temple. We ran a few errands and then saw the last of her papa's hotels/guest houses - Hotel Janpath(s). When we got home, Kim and I made mashed potatoes since my tummy is still not so sure it wants curry. So that went down ok and then we tried on our dresses. To our dismay, they were so fitted that we could not get into them! M's mom spent some time restitching them and we could get them over our heads again. (hurrah!) The rest of the evening was spent resting and watching tv.

Today (23) we went to a wedding. We went to M's papa's guest house for breakfast and then the bridegroom ad party showed up for brekkie. This party included M's bro's future fiance. She is 18 or 19 and absolutely gorgeous. Her parents live in Libya, so she knew som English and was so nice. We left the house breakfast and followed the party to the bride's house. The band started to play and we walked along the procession with the groom's car with flowers on it. We then ate (again) before going to the tented area where the ceremony would take place. We covered our heads, took off our shoes, and bowed and put an offering down before taking a seat and waiting for it all to start. It took about an hour, with M's father doing the majority of the chanting and organ playing (or something like that) and it was a lovely, but different, ceremony. Afterwards, it was time to eat AGAIN and this time I actually tried some food. It was all good (except for the waterballs - not so sure about those), but my tummy still didnt like it so I begged M to let us leave and we made it back to her JUST in time. Poor me. :-(

Since coming back, we have been researching Sri Lanka and Thailand trip details - hotel and such. Our host for SL has been somewhat MIA and we dont know if we are going to have to plan the trip on our own now. Not having done anything for it because he was planning it all, we are doing our best to map things out. Our Thai hotel is coming along. We switched beaches, but it's the same island - Koh Chang. Anyhow, that's all for now. We leave for our 18hr train ride to Delhi in the morning and will be staying with M's family there and then heading to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Exciting stuff! I just hope my tummy recovers. I'm off to eat some potato-cakes. :-)

Nov 20-21 UDAIPUR - Rajasthan

We had a very enjoyable trip to Rajathan - home to kings and queens. We had a later than expected start on Sunday due to our hired driver over sleeping and coming about 2 hours late! After getting up at 5am for a 6am start, I was a bit tired by the time we finally reached Udaipur, but the city's life brightened me up a bit. We got checked into a hotel and immediately went to the City Palace to learn about the Maharana's home. Yes, rana - not raja. It was a beautiful white building with fantastic views of the city. From there we went up to a hilltop monument with spectacular views of the lake called Fatehsagar. Next up we went to a garden for girlfriends called Saheliyon Ki Badi. I went to take a picture by this elephant fountain and it turned on suddenly and I lost my step and landed in a pool of water up to my ankles... OOPS! After the garden we had a camel ride around a park. Kim and Manjit were on Hasmikh (happy) and Gurjit and I were on Jitendra. We had a nice ride and I had the giggles the whole way. As it was getting dark, we couldnt do much more sightseeing, so we went to the musical fountains overlooking
the city palace and had a great view - while simultaneously being eaten by mosquitoes. Yum. We stayed only for about three songs of dancing fountains and decided to hit the street fair for some shopping. I didnt buy anything but I tried a couple mouth fresheners - the first tasted as I would expect my deoderant to taste and the second just like a perfume I have! (Both not good!) Kim managed to get a $5 watch and then got hit by a motorcycle crossing the street! She's ok. A bit bruised, but fine. I ran over to help with Manjit's bro and picked up all the articles of her purse that had flown out on impact (money, passport, wallet, receipts). I just know people sat there and laughed at the silly blonde tourist who didnt look before crossing ... she was extremely fortunate! (Today's update...She's fine - only a couple marks to show.) After that excitement, we went to dinner and had a great meal and then called it a night.

I unfortunately did not make it all the way through the night as something got a hold of my tummy and did not let go until around 7am so it was another tiring day of being up early. We did a bit of sightseeing before leaving Udaipur. We went to a rose garden where Kim and I had pics made of us in traditional Rajasthani clothing. We followed that with a traditional puppet show - it was very cute. We wanted to see some traditional dances, but they didnt put on that show until the evenings, so we were out of luck. We did a bit more driving around before the driver decided he needed to have a wheel checked before heading back, so Kim, Manjit and I did some shoe shopping in the store across from the mechanic and then just sat there for an hour waiting on the car. A wheel was bent and it was repaired and we got on our way. We stopped for lunch at a hotel on the highway and I could barely eat anything. Nothing looked good (and I tried... it tasted horrible to me) so I really just ate tomatoes and onions on pompadom. Such is my tummy. It sadly got worse on the drive and rather than needing to urgently use the toilet, I just felt green the entire ride. Not fun for me on the bumps and swerves.

We made it back to Manjit's and I took a nap after downing some meds. I'm about to try some cereal. Her parents told me to eat rice and curd, but curd rhymes with turd and I couldnt do it. Something about it just sounded suspect. Actually, I'm just not sure I want something like that... so instead I'm off to have some cornflakes because my body will hopefully recognize it as non-foreign!

We are local for a couple days before heading off to Delhi. I'll update in a couple days.

Nov 17-19 AHMEDABAD/MEHSANA - Gujurat

We arrived at Ahmedabad International Airport around 1045pm on Thursday from Singapore. The airport was very small and didnt have an actual walkway from the plane to the interior. We just parked off the runway and were bussed in stages over. Once Kim and I finally elbowed our way onto the bus, we then got off to just have to wait in the crazy line for customs. I went through first and got a trolley while Kim got stared at and possibly talked about by two customs guys. She got thru and then we had to get to the baggage area where people crowded and jumped in front of us and it was just chaos. Our bags arrived, we maneuvered out of the area, thru the xray and outside. Manjit and her brother, Uncle, Aunt, and cousins greeted us with flowers as we jumped up and down to be there. We drove an hour to Manjit's house in Mahsana and met her parents, had a snack, a shower and went to bed.

For the past two days we have done some shopping in Ahmedabad (I got Lauren two skirts at a craft fair, and a pair of shoes for me); bought tickets to see another housemate Krishna (who went to Tasmania with us) who lives in Hyderabad; met Manjit's relatives; gone to a waterpark; played pool, bowling, and been on silly rides; and eaten lots of good stuff!! Just down the street from M's house are camels and cows... we even saw an elephant. We have been treated SOOO well and we are definitely the minority in this area and are stared at frequently like we are movie stars or something. We cant help that we are beautiful - or perhaps just alien to them. :-)

We leave to go to Rajasthan tomorrow early in the morning to Udaipur. It's about a 3 hour drive. We look forward to it. We will spend a couple days there and then come back here for a wedding - we will wear traditional clothes... possibly made for us! We'll see.

We are very excited and are having an amazing experience. Manjit and her brother (who is driving us around) are great guides and her parents could not be nicer or more hospitable.

That's all for now... I'll write when we return from Udaipur.

Nov 15-27 SINGAPURA

We are in Singapore now. We were met by Te Wann at Changi International and went directly out to hit the sights. I will try to get pics up soon, but no promises.

11-15

Te Wann took us on a quick driving tour ending at the Raffles Hotel's Long Bar for a Singapore Sling - the original one! It was tasty. We followed it with a Tiger Beer. Then we went out to try some food: Satay - Chicken, Beef and Mutton in peanut sauce; Stingray in a chili sauce (really good); Nata de Coco (coconut fibre mainly) and Honey sea coconut - an icy dessert; and then two frozen drinks with Logan and Lychee. After that we were tired and stuffed so T1 took us to check in at our hostel in Little India area. Sleep!

11-16
We started our day at Sentosa Island on Siloso Beach. We found a shady spot to put our stuff and jumped in. We basically spent the majority of the day beachhopping and burning our shoulders. We saw a pink dolphin show and a cool aquarium called Underwater World. It was a beautiful spot. Then we toured the island a bit more and went to learn about the city and it's watchful eye - the Merlion. It's this statue with a great view back on to the city. We watched lighting over the city from there and a lookout on a hill before heading back to the city to see Mt Faber and then head back to clean up for dinner. T1 picked us up around 930 for dinner of chilli crab akan datang and cuttlefish, another fish, noodles with seafood... it was all good. He brought along E, his fiance, and we all had a nice time. Then we went out for fruit - kinds we'd never had before. Other than a durian and persimmon, I dont remember what we had. I'll have to ask the names. The durian was HORRIBLE and the persimmon was not as good as the one I had in Korea. We had the prettiest fruit that tasted like nothing... and one other that tasted like spiced pear. Then it was time to call it a night. Chilli Crab

11-17
Kim and I got packed up and went and grabbed the City Buzz hop on and off bus and saw a few more sights, took some pics, saw an amazing prayer session at a temple and had lunch before heading back to come to the airport. We are on our way to India now!!!



Singapore Slings!




At the Southern most tip of the Asian continent.

Nov 15 - The Journey of Natty Gann

So today is the big day. Time to go off and see the sights of Asia. We will be landing in Singapore tonight where my friend T1 will pick us up, help get us to our place to check in and then take us out for a late dinner of Chilli Crab. For the next two days we'll be exploring what Singa has to offer us gals as T1 plays the guide. Should be fun. Not sure when I'll first see internet - maybe on Friday? Til then, keep travel graces for Kim and me in your thoughts.

Nov 12 - What's Going On...

I had quite a fun day today, though it started kinda late. Kim and I (ok, it's really me, but she's watching too) are addicted to Scrubs and have been watching episode after episode. It actually makes me laugh out loud which is pretty rare. Usually I just get this somewhat amused look on my face, but this actually makes me throw my head back and snort! Ok... gruesome thought, but hey... it's honest.

Our Thai plans are somewhat sketchy right now. We have had our first two choices (Bangkok and Koh Chang) come back booked, so we are in our second rounds of searches and reservation inquiries. We'll see what happens.

In other, and more exciting, news - I made plans to catch up with Trisha in the evening to head to dinner. We made plans to meet at the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth. I planned it to go a bit early so I could pass by the Myer Christmas windows and see what it was all about. Yes, it's Christmas already down here. It's truly odd. Anyhow, pics of what I could see from behind the line is below.

We met up around 730 and went to Victoria Street for some Asian cuisine. We went to a place called Tho Tho. The selection was huge. The food was ok. The place was packed. We had to shout to each other. We deemed it not a good date place if the occasion ever presented, but it was very popular - especially for birthdays. The waiter would come out with a sparkler in one hand and the birthday cake (?) in the other and it honestly looked like a penis. Like... this bread thing was long and raised on toothpicks and then two balls of some other bread were on either side. (Sorry grands, but I have to describe the tackiness of this dessert!) This music would come over the speakers singing happy birthday to Lou or Loulou or something like that. It happened 5 times in like... maybe 15 or 20 minutes. Anyhow, we left there for Grandma Funks for dessert cookies and tea/coffee. It was a cool, retro kind of bar/coffee shop. It's in Richmond... and that's one of the areas we are looking at to live in. So maybe I'll see these areas again.

Once I got back, I took some time to load soothing music on my mp3 player to take with me on the trip for when I've had an overload of culture and need a dose of normal sounds on my ears. It honestly took me nearly an hour to do this.

It was Gruvi's and Sukirti's birthday party tonight. It was also another girl's but I dont really know her. Anyhow, I finally went and made an appearance at that in the rec room. People were REALLY hammered by the time I got there. Some evidence can be seen in the pics below. I basically went, took pics, came back 30 min later, loaded and corrected them, loaded them on a share computer downstairs for people to download, and then had a couple showings in my room of the video I took and the pics and now... well... I'm here writing.

So fun stuff!! Anyhow, pics are below. Enjoy!

View of Bourke Street from near my tram stop at the corner of Swanston and Bourke. This is a main stop for one of the main intersections. Myer and David Jones department stores are on this street, as well as the Royal Arcade.
The line to see the pics at Myer.
The theme at Myer.
The Party peeps!
Just the posse...

Nov 11 - Copacabana

I played Ultimate Frisbee with Aidan last night. I've played before in Loose Park back in KC with the Cerner kids, but this was the social club that Aidan plays on Thursday night out in Box Hill. So the first detail was that it had been raining, so the cut grass was sticking to my shoes. It was cold so I had on shorts with sweat pants over them, and a t-shirt with a fleece. I got my throwing lessons. Not that I was that bad to start with, I just got some tips. I dont think I did too badly with that. When it was time to start the game, it started to sprinkle again, then it rained. So here we were in 60 degree weather playing in the rain. They all had cleats, so my tennis shoes and I wouldnt get a chance to slow down before running into the person I was guarding. I did one random performance of a ground hurkey (otherwise, not the splits, but a great cheer pose anyhow) when Aidan threw to me and I just couldnt get there. I was having flashbacks to junior high basketball. I was great on defense, but hated offense. Like... oh please, do NOT pass the frisbee to me. I dont want to let you down if I dont catch it or cant get it thrown to someone else. But, on D, I felt fine - that is, when I could catch up to my girl I was guarding - and that varied.

Anyhow, today is Friday and I've only got a few more days til we leave. I am supposed to run into the city with Kim, but I dont know if I'll make it all the way to the city. We'll see. I need to pick up some dry cleaning over on the campus, but I really dont feel bothered to get over there right now. I'm being lazy and lame. Tonight, I've had a couple offers of things to do, but cant decide... it's one of Sahani's friend's birthday tonight, so they are all going to this salsa club called Copacabana. I've been invited to that. I've also been invited out for drinks with Trisha, but there have not been any followup deets with that, so not sure. Basically, I'm being very non-committal.

My summer clothes have still not arrived, so they've got two days to get here. I'm a bit concerned. DAAANGIT! Might go pick up some extra tanks today at the outlets -just in case.

2 days til the Malaria pills! EEEEEEK!

Update (11-12) here are the pics from Copa -
Kim, Ronita, me on tram to the Copa
The band cuties
The salsa dancers' show
Udeshika, Ronita, Sahani, me

Nov 7 - Free at Last

Oh yes, I'm done, baby! I got up this morning and went to the journalism lab and printed out my two papers and had them tweaked and turned in by 11am! Then it was off to the library for a new research project - Thailand. We have some time to sort things out still, but I'd like to have something lined up if possible. Might go talk to the STA Travel peeps about suggestions. By Thailand, I want the LEAST stress I can have.

Next up... no more work, no more school... so a-packing I will go. I'm moving my stuff out of my room and into Kim's for the duration of our trip and for the first few days we are back. It allows me to pay only a quarter of the rent I'm paying now. Sweet deal. So I'll miss my little space, but a cheaper one awaits and I'll be gone for 5 weeks of it anyhow.

Otherwise, it's just getting prepared for my Asian adventure. Singapore is all lined up and ready to go - that's the first stop. We start taking our Malaria pills on the 13th... fun fun. I guess that's it. It's going to be a busy time. I need to have an apt lined up when we get back so I can get furniture and move in before JG comes... we have a third person who will live with us and will continue the search for us while we're gone. So that's good.

Random note - the flies here have a lack of personal space. They have no problem buzzing around your head and sitting on your face as you walk around. And they are slow - like the kind that are dying. It's really, really odd. :-)

Nov 4 - Breakable

Premi left today. And I am SAD. Perhaps more than I thought I would be. I know I will see him in just a few weeks, but it still was an abrupt end.

From all of your friends here, Premi, we are sad that you are gone. We are sad we did not get a chance to say goodbye. And be warned, Mark has put a jihad on you

Nov 1-3 - Bednobs and Broomsticks

Oh the madness. Melbourne Cup was Nov 1. I ended up not going due to cost, time to prepare (as in, didnt have any), had to find a dress (but didnt), and other various reasons... So Kim and I went out on Brunswick with Andrew (an ex co-worker at the 'skito) and Justicia (from grad house east). We had a might fine time taking advantage of drink specials around the area. After the races ended, we got to watch the fashion show as people paraded up and down the streets in search of more food and drink. Ladies in dresses and hats and the men in suits. It was a HOT day. Poor guys.

I've been pretty busy, otherwise, working on final papers. It's really all-consuming when I'm not procrastinating. Actually... I call it creative mind breathers. ;-)

So some of those breaks have included a night at work on Wednesday and then going to hear our new favorite local band play Radiodogs. And they were really good. I was very impressed. There were a couple more bands after, but these guys by far blew me away. Of course, it helps knowing the drummer, who is a complete doll and damn good. But the singer, Oliver... whoa. He had range and smoothness that typically is only album quality - not usually heard live. It was awesome. Totally worth the time spent not working on my papers.

Other jaunts pictured below:


Ok, I know I'm white - but you'll see a bandaid on my arm from my typhoid shot. Kim and I got our shots and malaria pills. There appears to be no cholera pills available right now. And the only flu defense that we could get for potential prevention of avian flu is being held by the government, so we cant get any.


Tom, Me, Andrew. I work with Tom and workED with Andrew at 'skito. This was Andrew's going away party. He's going to go off to some resort location to pick cherries. He's a crazy cat and Tom's nice as can be.


Modeling for the self-timer with Andrew after the Radiodogs show.