C H R O N I C L E D

Thumbs Up + Thumbs Down / Surprises, Doggie Kisses, and Company Shirts

2012-02-02T08:05:00.000-05:00

Did any of you set blog goals for 2012? I did. I didn't share them in this post because well, that post got a bit long with my own personal goals for the year, but trust, for the first time ever, I do have some goals for the blog this year. I might share them later, at the halfway mark to see how well I'm doing. Anyways, until then I'll share one of them now which is to start some new regular features on Chronicled. Thumbs Up + Thumbs Down is in the same vain as Christy's Love/Don't Love or Sydney's Awkward and Awesome posts. Instead of trying to explain what it is, because I'll just get super wordy, I'll just get right to it.

Thumbs Up + Thumbs Down

Surprising my sister and brothers by arriving totally unexpected.
Their reactions = priceless.
.....thumbs up
Having Howard snuggle up right beside me just like old time.
It's amazing how perfectly his body fits into mine.
.....thumbs up
Forgetting that after I vigorously rub Howard I should not rub my eyes.
The result? Extremely swollen itchy eyes all day Saturday and most of Sunday.
.....thumbs down
Traveling for 26 hours to get from Delhi to Toronto.
.....thumbs down
Having my first sushi meal in almost a year (at Heathrow Airport).
I *might* have let out a little sigh of pleasure.
.....thumbs up
After thinking about them for almost a year, finally indulging in Viva Puffs cookies
by eating them for dinner and breakfast.
.....thumbs up
Eating an entire box of Viva Puffs cookies in a span of 12 hours.

.....thumbs down

Going into my new office (I start on Monday) for the first time and meeting some of my colleagues who all seem super nice. Since I was in India and did everything

over Skype I hadn't been into the office before.

.....thumbs up
Discovering that bus lines that used to run 11 months ago no longer run.
Making me late for said meeting since I had no idea of this change.
.....thumbs down

Having my dreams of being a fashionable dresser when going to work dashed when I received not one but an assortment of FIVE company shirts. (The position is in PR at a major home retailer...I was certain that since I'd be working in the offices and not on the floor/frontline I wouldn't have to wear the company shirt...I was wrong). There is simply no way to make these shirts fashionable.

Me and my Style pinterest board I've been saving inspiration outfits to are sad. So very sad.

.....thumbs down...way way down

Having to wear a company shirt daily to work means that I'll have to step up

my makeup, accessories, and outerwear game.

.....thumbs up
Becoming extremely tired at random hours throughout the day and taking three hour long naps.
.....thumbs down
Watching my niece crawl around, crawling after her, holding her, playing with her, hearing laugh...
.....thumbs up
Getting and giving a million doggie kisses.
.....thumbs up

I kind of want to do this weekly but don't want to say that just in case it doesn't get done. So let's just say that for now the plan is for Thumbs Up + Thumbs Down to post every Thursday or Friday. Or every other Thursday or Friday....

What gets a thumbs up, or a thumbs down, from you this week?

Frequent Flyer: Kristina of Le Fabuleux Destin

2012-01-31T08:51:00.000-05:00

Do any of you have blog goals for 2012? I do. I won't get into all of them in this post but one of them is to post at least one Frequent Flyer feature monthly...and today, on the 31st of the month, I'm getting one in. I've cut it kinda close this month but considering all I had on my plate this month I'm sure you can cut me some slack ;)

Kristina writes the lovely blog Le Fabuleux Destin where she shares lovely photographs of her even lovelier travels. I love the way Kristina captures moments and makes even the simplest scene beautiful. An avid traveler, she recently (this past December) moved to Australia from Europe and I'm excited to see what adventures she'll undertake while there. If you haven't visited her blog yet be sure you do - it's like a lovely little breath of fresh air.

Current City:
Melbourne, Australia

Hometown:
Frankfurt, Germany

How many trips do you take each year?
As many as possible! I used to have 5 weeks vacation in Switzerland (where I lived the last 4 years) which I normally spent traveling abroad. Plus many weekend trips which was quite easy in Europe as everything is just a car drive / short plane ride away. Love that about Europe!

Switzerland

The streets of Rome

Favourite travel memory (in 5 sentences or less)?
One of the most amazing memory of my travels is hiking along the Great Wall in China during my last trip to Beijing a couple of weeks ago. We walked 6 km along a part of the wall which is unrestored and therefore deserted, not another soul was around. The landscape was beautiful, we had blue sky and a unbelievable visibility of the wall which seemed to go on forever on the horizon. And the whole time I was thinking: "I cannot believe I am standing on the Great Wall of China!! I cannot believe....". A truly magical moment!

Best thing about traveling?
The freedrom to decide each day what you would like to do with your time. The amount of things you experience, see, smell and feel. The people you meet along the way. The things you learn from those people and their cultures. To get out of your comfort zone and appreciate life to the fullest!

Dining in Ticino, Switzerland

Toughest thing about traveling?
Definitely coming home :) And getting sick on the road - it is a horrible feeling to be sick and so far away from home!

Three essentials you always take with you and why (excluding money & passport)?
My camera (never leave on a journey without it), flip-flops (for all the nasty showers and bathrooms I may encounter) and a map of the place I am going (a bit nerdy I know, but I love to study maps).

A favourite gadget/item/tip you’ve discovered that helps:
I always carry a Swiss army knife with me - it is so handy - opening wine bottles, cutting cheese for a picnic. A big help in many situations, I promise!

How do you survive long plane rides?
As I fly quite often (also for my job), I am used to spending time on planes. I prepare myself and take a soft pillow, earplugs, warm socks and a sleep mask. Then I watch a movie, wait for the food, drink a glass of red wine and try to sleep. The older I get the more I am able to actually get some sleep, which is good! I never take any pills to make me sleep, just not comfortable doing that! And I can also spend hours looking out of the window on the world below me - flying over the Hindukusch on the way to Asia on a clear day was the most amazing thing I saw! The landscape was unbelievable!

How do you plan for a trip?
I am definitely a planner! I love to study maps, read about about sights, cafés, restaurants and shopping before I go. I normally travel with Lonely Planet guides, so I read them plus I do a lot of surfing on the web, including blogs, contacting my blog friends who have been to the place to hear their "must-do's". Contrary, my boyfriend (who most of the time travels with me) is not a planner at all, so once we are at our destination it is a mixture of my planning and his spontaneity, which is fun and always exciting! I also make sure that I have basic knowledge about the culture and history of the place I travel to - makes it so much easier to understand everything that you see!

In Bangkok

Carpets in Marrakech

Favourite things to do/see when you’re in a new city?
I love to visit local markets, either vintage, food or art markets. This always gives me a great feeling for the city and its people! And I love to just wander off the main roads and see what surprises wait for me around the next corner!

What camera do you carry with you?
I love my Canon 7D and even if it is really heavy, I bring it on all my travels. I have invested in the 24 - 105mm lens and I think it is great! I also love to take pictures with my grandfathers old Kodak Retina which is an analog camera - loving the vintage look of the pictures!

Many people want to travel but often don’t – citing reasons like not enough time/money, too busy etc. how are you able to make travel a regular part of your life?
For me and my boyfriend traveling, exploring and seeing the world is a passion and a never-ending lovestory - I would never be too busy for traveling! We make sure that we put money aside for our travels - however, depending on where you go and your style of traveling, it does not need to be that expensive actually! Traveling in Asia and Central America on a budget left us spending as much money as if we would have stayed home (excluding the flight). So we stay in budget hostels (never in dorms though), don't have fancy dinners and suddenly there is enough money to spend weeks on the road!

Do you collect anything from your trips?
Not really - besides my photographs of course. I am terrible when it comes to haggling, so I try to avoid it :) Shame on me, I know. Missing out great things! We have many lovely carvings and paintings from our travels in South East Asia which I adore - but nothing we really collect....

Last trip?
I just recently moved to Melbourne and on my way from Europe to Australia I did a two week stop-over in Beijing, China and Bali, Indonesia. It was beautiful and also the first time I traveled all by myself! Kind of proud over here :)

Next trip?
Roadtrip along the Australian coast from Melbourne to Sydney and back! Hope to see some kangaroos and koalas along the way!

Place your dying to return to?
South East Asia in general - love the food, the people and the culture! Some of my best travels include Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand!

Cambodia

Best hotel you’ve stayed in?
I normally do not stay in fancy hotels when traveling privately, mostly in hostels, small B&B's and cheap, modern hotels. I like to spend my money elsewhere :) However I have been lucky to stay in super nice hotels while traveling for business! My most favorite business hotel was in Dubai, with a view on the new Burj Khalifa, that was really amazing!

Dream destination?
Right now my list includes Tibet, Japan, North India and anywhere in Southern Africa! Oh and a roadtrip through North America! I love destinations with a rich mixture of culture, nature, exciting cities and people who inspire me!

Finish this sentence: A world without travel is like…
...being a bird but not using my wings to fly!

Hvar

*****
Thanks Kristina for participating (and your patience)! Kristina kindly completed this feature for me back in December but with everything I've had on my plate (moving back home from India) I've only been able to get it formatted and posted now.

Be sure to stop by Le Fabuleux Destin and say "Hi!"

Frequent Flyer spotlights a blogger I enjoy who also happens to love traveling and exploring new places. In Frequent Flyer I ask them a few questions to get their thoughts, tips, suggestions, and travel tales - in hopes of inspiring YOU (and myself!) on future travels. In the Frequent Flyer feature I don't just talk to travel bloggers - I talk to bloggers of various backgrounds (design, photography, fashion, life...) Some take many quick trips a year, others travel frequently for work, and others take a handful of longer jaunts abroad - but they all have great stories and tips and I hope you enjoy this feature! To see past Frequent Flyers click here.

+All photos taken by Kristina and used with permission.

Welcome Home

2012-01-30T08:58:00.002-05:00

The weekend was for 26 hours of travel from Delhi, India to Toronto, Canada via London, England...Arriving home to surprise 3 (out of 4) of my younger brothers who had NO IDEA I was coming home that evening; I hid under their bunk bed and grabbed their feet and they practically had a heart attack - it was kind of the best thing ever lol...Properly meeting my niece for the first time (when I left for India she was only 5 days old)!...Attending my niece's christening...Becoming extremely exhausted at random hours of the day and taking 3 hour long naps...Curling up with Howard and giving him more tummy rubs than any dog has probably ever received.

I'm home. Outside is cold. And I'm exhausted.

Excuse me while I go take a nap. Back tomorrow with a new Frequent Flyer post.

DEL to YYZ

2012-01-26T13:34:00.000-05:00

Well, in just a few hours I'll be boarding a plane back home to Toronto. Do I have to say again how quickly the past 10.5 months have gone? They've. Flown. By. I don't think it's still really hit me yet.......you know, I've created a life here. I have friends here. I have a routine I enjoy here. Simply put, this has been my home for almost a year. And now it's time to leave. To go back home home.

Lots of reflection coming up....but in the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing family, friends, and this guy.....

because despite how bittersweet leaving Delhi is for me - when I think of this face my heart starts to melt. How can you resist that face?????

The Last Three Days

2012-01-25T23:23:00.001-05:00

The past three days have been filled with:
- final souvenir shopping for others
- shopping for myself
- packing
- reconnecting with a high school friend (who I haven't seen since high school) whose company happened to send him to Delhi for a few weeks
- picking up my custom made leather bags (one pictured above...look familiar?)....a result of a leather party I attended last week
- repacking
- getting domestic things done like having my AC removed
- having a cooking lesson with my landlady
- roaming the back alleys of Old Delhi one last time (for now!) via rickshaw
- repacking
- see you later (not good-bye!) get-togethers and dinners
- making plans to meet up with some of the wonderful friends I've made in May 2013....in Kenya!
- repacking
- watching The Sopranos (two episodes left to finish the series!)

It's been a crazy busy past three days but I wouldn't have had it any other way. In 24 hours I'll be on my layover in London and all of this, this Indian Adventure, these past 10.5 months, will be a fond memory. I still don't think it's really hit me yet.....

But as of right now I still have a few hours left in Delhi. It's Republic Day (a national holiday) so my friends are free from work and I have plans to enjoy these last few hours with them. I have postcards to finish writing up. And repacking to do...yet again. So instead of spending these last few hours on the 'net I'm gonna go make some more memories.

Funny How Things Work Out

2012-01-23T05:39:00.001-05:00

Pardon the radio silence on the blog the past few days, I decided for my last weekend in India to head to Jaipur! The capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur is also affectionately called the "Pink City." It's a city with amazing forts, brightly painted elephants, men in colourful turbans and much more.

I spent 3 days there. My visit coincided with the annual literature festival which had, drumroll, Oprah in attendance this year. I always wanted to attend a taping of Oprah in Chicago but never got the chance to. So, it was in Jaipur, India that I saw Oprah (her first visit to India) and watched and listened as she was interviewed for one hour. It was so good. Of all the places to see Oprah. Jaipur, India.

Funny how things work huh?

It goes without saying that the blog might be a bit silent every now and then over the next few days/weeks. My flight home is this Friday. Can you believe that? Just a few days away.

But not to worry, I still have one or two posts planned before Friday and tons more India related posts coming up in the next few weeks/months as I readjust to being back home in Toronto. You know posts on things like my weekend in Jaipur, what I've learned from living in India, what I've learned about dating (in general) while in India (because yes friends, there has been some dating ;), how not to get Delhi Belly (10 months with no delhi belly folks!), how to barter with vendors and rickshaw drivers, Delhi myths busted, my safety tips (and tips in general) for women traveling solo to Delhi (I get tons of emails about this)......and things like that. I also have a guest post from my bff who came out to visit me for the holidays about her impressions of the city as well as not one but two new instalments of Frequent Flyers. And of course there will be snippets of my life as I re-adjust to Toronto, start my new job, and apartment hunt.

Yes, tons coming up folks. Tons.

(Have you commented on my Vanity post? I'd LOVE to hear what goodies are in your makeup bag that you recommend!)

Vanity {And Postcard Recipients}

2012-01-19T00:07:00.000-05:00

So, after the heaviness of yesterdays post a light fun post is in order, ya? Ya, I think so too!

I swear I'm not as vain as some of my last few posts may be leading you to believe but seriously, the prospect of shopping for new beauty items once I'm home has been in the back of my mind all year. Well last year. There are products I'm looking forward to restocking up on my beloved facial cleanser (but the exfoliating one) and new products I've put on my list sometime over the past 10 months that I'm very eager to try and buy.

1. The perfect neutral lipstick. This has been on my list for YEARS but I think I'm close friends. Gonna give Nars Tashkent a try but if not I have a small shortlist of other candidates. I'm telling you. This. Is. The. Year. I. Find. A. Neutral. Lip. Colour.

2. Clairsonic Mia. I've heard nothing but good things about it. You might remember I included it on my birthday wish list. Obviously, I didn't get it lol.

3. Perfect neutral lips and a winged liner. That's the look I'm going for this year.Want to use a liquid liner for a more intense look. Gonna try this L'Oreal one.

4. I've been lusting after this top coat for months now. It also appeared on my birthday wish list. I'm very excited about it.

5. Tried MAC Studio Fix last month and liked that it didn't feel heavy and made me look more even.

6. In the past few months I've been on a "I need to find the perfect red lipstick" kick. I don't know why considering I have never worn red lipstick and usually don't wear any lipstick at all. But, I tried this one and I think it's it.

7. My hair is natural and super thick - so a good detangling comb is a necessity. At $24 this one is pricey but I see it as an investment that, hopefully, I won't have to replace for many many years (if ever!).

8. Another product I've heard nothing but good things about. Again, on the pricey side but I'm ready to invest in products that will really camouflage and brighten up the super dark circles I've got going on under my eyes.

9. I'm on the hunt for the perfect beige-y coloured nail polish. Essie's Ballet Slippers is my go to neutral pink so I'm hoping this will be nice on my complexion.

10. I actually already have this MAC brow pencil but don't know where it is. Gotta replace it.

11. I'm not a big eye shadow person but I've heard lots of people say to use a primer before applying shadow - to help the colour stay longer and not crease. So I'm gonna give the MAC paint pots a try. Or Urban Decay's Primer Potion.

12. This is the year I nail my foundation. I've read really good things (and seen lots of people on YouTube get good results) from the Chanel Lumiere line (obvs not the shade pictured!). I also read that Gabrielle Union's makeup artist uses Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra on her and her skin always looks great when she's on the red carpet (and we're about the same complexion so that is encouraging). So I'm going to try both and see if ones a winner. Both are investments but I'm willing to invest in a great foundation.

13. A diffuser. I've never ever used a diffuser. To be honest, it wasn't until like 1.5 years ago I found out that diffusers can be used on black (african-american) hair. I'm so serious. I'm eager to see if it will help loosen my natural curl for a "wash, diffuse, and go" look. I'm really excited about it. Really.

The grand total of all of this, at regular cost, comes to $375 before tax. So clearly, I won't be purchasing it all at once but rather over the next few months. But it's fun to have a little list ready to cross things off of!

Any products on your to buy (or try) list this year? Do you use any of the above products? Or have any suggestions for me on any of the above (or good alternatives)? Come on ladies, dish the dirt. You know there's a part of us all that loves hearing what beauty products others are using :)

{The following 10 readers/commenters were selected via Random Generator to receive a postcard sent from India - Can you please email me at hellokisha(at)gmail.com with your mailing address ASAP: Andi, Jenny, Marie in Buenos Aires, Taitin (commenter #1), SP in Atlanta, LAL, Sayra in Switzerland, ClaireMarie, Jessica O'Brien, and Chinye. Thank you so much to everyone who commented and delurked! It's nice knowing who is reading (who knew I had readers in Switzerland, Africa, and South America?!?) and I thank you for coming along on this adventure with me!}

Part Three: The Ugly

2012-01-17T14:07:00.000-05:00

In July of last year I started a three part series allowing me to reflect more on my observations of India, or shall I say Delhi, specifically. Part One was called The Good, Part Two, posted in September, was called The Bad, and now for the final piece: The Ugly.

Over the past 10 months I've been very honest in sharing what my life has been like here (from the mundane to my explorations around the city, to hanging in the park for a jam session, rickshaw rides through busy lanes, and adventures in other cities) to my observations on the culture (here and here), and even the odd, to me, things some Indians say. It's with that same honesty that I write this post.The Ugly.

Truth be told, I've known exactly what I've wanted to write about for months now. Why it's actually taken so long for me to write this post is because I honestly feel that words will not do what I'm about to try and put into words justice. Nor would pictures. Or video. And, to be honest, I don't feel comfortable taking pictures of what I'm about to discuss; it feels weird and intrusive. So a post sans pictures it is (a quick google image search will show more than you even know what to do with). What I'm about to attempt to put into words, I think, can't truly be understood until you experience it but, none-the-less, I'll do my best...

What I have found perhaps the most overwhelming thing to witness and process this year has been the level of poverty and the kinds of disability many people seem to live in and with. I have truly never seen anything like it before in my life. Of course back in Toronto I've seen homeless people and beggars, often with comical signs, but never had I ever truly seen a poor child. Have you? I mean, literally a two year old baby standing pantless, diaperless and without shoes with a dirty face holding their hand out to you for food? An 8 year old with a baby that can't be more than 6 months old on their hip mouthing for food right at the window of your car. Kids no older than 11 with their faces painted (in what should be fun but really looks kind of frightening) doing cartwheels and acrobatic tricks in he middle of stopped traffic for a few rupees......well it's not easy to see. The sound they make when they beg.....oh, the sound. It's this gut wrenching low gurgling moan that sounds like it's coming from the mouth of someone 10x older and who is literally knocking on deaths door. And what can you do? What should you do? You're often warned that you shouldn't give these kids money because chances are they are part of a gang and the money will go to the gang leader - or other stories that make you hesitant. You are told not to give packaged food because they will take it and sell it (instead, if you must, open the package and then give it to them so it can't be resold). You are told to instead give a donation to a charity that works with these children to make positive changes...but still, when they are right at the window of your car....or face to face with you as you sit in an auto (because autos don't have doors or windows) - what do you do? When they are begging for the equivalent of what is 25 or 50 cents...you, I, feel terrible not giving it. You think, I think, what is the government doing about this? How can this situation exist? How can people live like this? How can they survive? And then you start to get philosophical and debate to yourself the difference between living and surviving.....

Then there are the disabilities and deformities that you see. Over the past 10 months I've seen deformities I never even knew existed. People using their hands as feet. Think about that for a minute. They have legs but their legs, apparently, for some reason, don't work. So they are bent over at the waist and use their hands as feet. I've seen people missing entire limbs (ie, both arms right at the shoulder joint) walking around in tank tops and coming up to the car window to beg for money. I've seen people using single bamboo sticks to walk (kinda like a crutch but not really). I've seen limbs growing at odd angles. How is this possible? Maybe it's the.......western idealist in me that thinks some of these deformities and disabilities I've seen could have been corrected in childhood. Had they been able to receive proper medical attention perhaps that foot could have been corrected to grow normal. Sometimes it makes me mad. Why didn't they get proper medical attention?

On my way to work the train goes by a large slum; I've never seen a slum before. "Houses" that look like 5x5 foot rooms with plastic tarps for the roof.....Right beside the slum is a small dirty little stream of water that can't be wider than 10 feet. On the other side of that stream is a large building with the letters WHO on it. When I first noticed the building I thought "That can't be the World Health Organization......right beside the slum." I thought this each day for a few days as I passed it on my way to work. One day I googled it. Sure enough, it's the World Health Organization. Right beside the stream. Right beside the slum. If you work in that building, the view outside your window is of the slum.

And that's another thing. The stark contrast between the very very poor, the poor, the middle class, the upper middle class, and the upper class is glaringly obvious, often in very close proximity of each other, and totally in your face. You can be shopping at a trendy store in the city centre's commercial shopping area and exit a store to a beggar with missing limbs right outside the door...who follows you for a few feet begging for money or food. You can be driving through the wide clean beautifully manicured streets of the diplomatic area, and at the stop lights a young child will come and tap on your window. And stay there until the light turns green. Begging. Mouthing that they want food. They are hungry. It's tough. Really really tough.

And I don't know at what point it is that it stops shocking you; but at some point it does (is that terrible for me to say?). I've seen kids defecating on the side of the road (and this is in the city not in the suburb or a rural part of the country) and entire families living under underpasses. I've seen more children without shoes than I can even count. It still kinda shocks you. You still notice it, but (I'm kind of embarrassed to say) at some point it becomes easier to look away. To walk a little bit faster past them. To say "no" once and mean it and not say anything again. You wonder if it makes you a bad person...

I could go on and on but I won't. This post would quickly grow into a long essay, a posting of my random thoughts on the subject and what can and should be done, and me venting on how this just isn't fair (I once saw someone throw what could not have been more than a 10 rupee coin (more likely it was a 1 or 2 rupee coin - which is the equivalent of like 10 cents) out the window of their car as they started to drive away. The lady begging almost got run over by traffic looking for that coin. I was sad and furious at that driver) People shouldn't have to live like this. Children shouldn't have to live like this. Ever. Not one.

Like I said, I don't know that I can truly do this topic justice in words...it's something you really have to witness for yourself. And I'm not sure what I want the outcome of this post to be. Nothing really. I just didn't want to leave a painted picture that it's all roses and unicorns here (I don't think I have) because there are definitely some things that are hard to deal with and to see. I guess it's just all a part of the experience.

+John of Mr and Mrs Luth Go to India and Kay of Chota Peelee Auto have also touched, in some way, on the topic (or some aspect of this topic). Feel free to give their posts a read.

++I know there are many many organizations doing wonderful things to help those in need. I'm not debating that. I'm merely stating the obvious which is something you definitely see when in Delhi and, for me, falls under the category of The Ugly.

+++Back tomorrow with a much lighter post (and one with pictures!) I promise!

Ten

2012-01-16T13:31:00.000-05:00

It was 10 months ago that I got on a plane and headed off to India on my year long Indian adventure. Coincidentally, 10 days from today I'll be getting on another plane - this time headed home. And strangely, 10 days after that I'll start my brand new job.

Ten. 10. Or as I've grown accustomed to saying over the past 10 months - das. Which is Hindi for 10.

So, with all this in mind and wanting to do something nice for my blog readers, I've decided to send ten of you postcards - From India. With Love.

All you have to do is leave a comment below. That's it. No twitter. No facebook. No likes. Just leave a comment. If it's your first, maybe introduce yourself? That'd be nice.

Ten readers will be selected at random and announced on Thursday, January 19th. To make it easy to remember, you have until 10:10 pm Wednesday evening (Delhi time) to enter. I must be able to get in touch with you and you must be able to respond rather quickly as I'll be sending the postcards this week! I wish I could send all of you postcards but sadly I can't. So I figure this is the next best thing.

*In order to be eligible you have to be a follower of my blog as I really want to send postcards to those of you who have been following along with me on this Indian adventure. So if you're not already a follower, now is a good time to become one. On the other hand, if you're not a follower but I know that you read my blog (you comment frequently or have sent me emails or we've been in touch via some other route) then that's totally fine too.

A Successful Afternoon at the Market

2012-01-16T01:42:00.001-05:00

With my time in India quickly winding down, on Sunday afternoon I decided to brave the market known as Sarojini Nagar. It's known as the market to go to to for trendy and name brand clothes (often originals that are surplus, rejects, have irregularities, or "fell off the truck") at inexpensive prices. But there's one catch: you have to know how to bargain. And when I say bargain I mean bargain. I have to really be in the mood to go to Sarojini and because I'm usually not up for bargaining too much, I haven't been to this particular market often. But on Sunday, reminding myself I'll need a new wardrobe for work, I decided to go for it.

Sarojni is large, busy, and always, ALWAYS, crowded. But guys, you shoulda seen me. I bargained like a champ. A PRO. And as a result I left the market with not one, not two, not three new pieces...but 11. Yes folks. 11 pieces for a whopping grand total of Rs.1700 (or $34). Not bad right? I'd say all in all I bargained and saved about 50%.

Things to note:
- I got 3 really great dresses (I'm kinda feeling myself too much in dress #1 - I adore it (Rs.150/$3). I'm not a dress girl but as a part of my 2012 goal to dress more pulled together I want to start wearing more dresses and skirts so....
- Most pieces were quoted at a cost of Rs.450/$9 (#1,2,3,8) - for those I bargained to Rs.200 ($4)
- The pieces quote as Rs.250/$5 (#4,5,6) I bargained to Rs.100 ($2)
- The turquoise top (#10) is Zara Collection (paid Rs.200/$4)
- The cotton denim shirt reminds me of this one from J.Crew but is Eddie Bauer (paid Rs.150) and I actually like it more than the J.Crew one.

The only downside to shopping at Sarojini is that, for the most part, you can't try things on. So it really helps to know your size and what shapes/styles work on your body. I almost always go dressed with this in mind and wear a tank top or something that way I can try things on over my clothes (and yes, people stop and stare at the girl trying things on in the middle of the lane). The only purchase I'm kinda on the fence about is #11 - it's a really cute top but just a bit big. If I can get my tailor to take it in before I leave then it'll be perfect. If not, it was only Rs.100 ($2) and I'll just wear a blazer over it.

I'm telling you, it's going to be tough to pay full price for clothing again when I get home! Where else will I be able to get 11 great pieces for $34???

While I'm at it, here are some other purchases from this weekend (at a different market):

I'm normally a hoop earring type of girl or, on the other end, I like things really different and kind of "ethnic-y."
These fit the "different/ethnic-y" bill. Paid about Rs.175 for all 5 ($3.50)

A small look at a pair of leather embroidered flats I bought. I went with the intention of buying simple black shoes and left with these. Black, gold, embroidered, cut-outs...there's even a tassle on it folks. Lol. "You know you've been in India a long time when....." lol. In hindsight even though I bargained down to Rs.650/$13 (from Rs.750/$15) I overpaid. But that's okay. I kinda love them.

All in all I'd say it was a pretty successful afternoon at the market.

+ By coincidence, my friend Naomi of DelhiBound just did a post on Sarojni too! Check out the video she captured at the market.

Hong Kong It Is!

2012-01-12T14:48:00.002-05:00

Photo Credit: Streets of Hong Kong via the blog Travel Notes

Hong Kong it is!

After fairly quickly ruling out Frankfurt, I really debated whether I should have my layover in London or Hong Kong. I finally decided on Hong Kong primarily because it's not really on my list of countries I want to visit so I never know when I'll be in that part of the world again - this seems like a good opportunity to explore for a bit and who knows, maybe a little taste will make me want to return.

I'll only have a few hours so I know I can't do or see a whole lot. To be honest, I don't even know what there is to do or see since I've never considered HK in the slightest. All I know is that I'd love to check out a market and pick up some trinkets and, of course, find some place to enjoy some dim sum - which is apparently a must do while in Hong Kong. Any suggestions?

If all else fails and I end up having to spend my layover in the airport...it could be much worse. The airport has won 8 Skytrax World Airport Awards for customer satisfaction in 11 years, was ranked 2nd and 3rd in 2009 and 2010 respectively for the Skytrax World Airport Awards, and in 2011 won the Skytrax World Airport of the Year Award. Not bad, right?

*Actually, I just quickly looked at the airport website and I'm actually excited about the possibility of spending my layover in the airport! Lol.

Happy Friday the 13th!

p.s. This is my last full weekend in Delhi, isn't that hard to believe? Next weekend I'll be doing some exploring outside of Delhi and the following weekend.....I'll be home. Wow. How quickly time flies.

UPDATE
Turns out the flight of the ticket through Hong Kong increased and my organization was unable to book it. So, it looks like I'll be heading home via London then, but that's not bad right?! I have a lot more time on this layover so I've decided I'll try and do this free city tour that Julia and Yuriy from the blog Travel Notes did and enjoyed (read their post here) and hopefully I'll finally be able to meet up with Oneika from Oneika the Traveller. We've been corresponding by email forEVER so it will be nice to finally meet her in person!

(btw, I'm 4 followers away from my goal of 200 before heading home! If you enjoy my blog - follow along via the google friend thing over on the right sidebar. Hoping to hit 200 this weekend!)

I Haven't Worn Heels In Three Years

2012-01-11T02:29:00.000-05:00

I'm trying really really hard to live in the moment and enjoy my final few days here in India but I can't lie - thoughts of seeing family and friends, my Howard, decorating a new apartment, and starting a brand new job that I'm super excited about well, those thoughts keep sneaking in. Thus this post. I gotta get some of it out!

Starting a new job is kinda like starting a new school...and in some ways like going back to school after the summer vacation, don't you think? Remember how excited you'd get? The feeling of opportunity and potential? Excitement at the unknown? The thought of meeting new people and, of course, what to wear??? I kid you not when I say I have absolutely nothing in my wardrobe that I can wear to my new job. Heck to any job period. Before moving to India I purged the majority of my wardrobe with the intentions of creating a wardrobe I love upon my return. I've not really done any clothes shopping in India though recently I've found a tailor who does western style clothes and who is making me a ton of shirts, blouses (and one dress & skirt) in fabrics I picked out myself. So that's a start.

But, as I gear up to head back into a professional work office (which is business casual according to my research since I have not even stepped foot in the office yet!) after volunteering in India for the better part of a year (and having no dress code) and working a year freelance prior to that (freelance = work from home = no dressing up) it's high time I get this wardrobe thing started! Building a wardrobe from scratch is slightly overwhelming but I've come up with some "rules" for myself (that I might share in a later post) and I figure I'll just take it season by season in 2012. So with that, a look at my Back To Work / Winter Wardrobe list.

The List

Pretty Blouses & Shirts. I'm in the process of getting about 10 blouses and shirts custom made. I pushed myself out of my "just pick black" box to pick fabrics in colours and prints and I'm glad I did. They'll pair nicely with pants or jeans.

A Chunky Warm Winter Sweater with a Navajo-ish Inspired Print. Because I like it.

A Slightly Oversized Gold Watch. This has been on my list for some time now. Time to find one.

Straight Leg Jeans in both a black and dark denim wash.

Trouser Jeans in both a black and dark denim wash.

Perfect Tees in a variety of colours. You know, not too tight, not too slouchy, perfect weight. So good on its own or paired with a blazer...with jeans or trousers.

Ugg Adirondack winter boots. Canadian winters can get cold y'all. These are still cute and will keep my feet super duper warm.

Black Pointy Shoes with a medium/low heel. I can't tell you how long I haven't worn heels for. Seriously, it's been a long time...so nothing ridiculously high for me. But I figure with the trouser jeans and long pants I'll need some kinda height on my shoe so they don't drag on the ground too much.

Black Semi Structured Bag with Gold Hardware. In a "money is no object" world I'd have the Alexa Mulberry bag (pictured). But I'm sure I'll be able to find something I like just as much at a much more affordable price.

A Warm Down Filled Winter Jacket that doesn't make me look like the michelin man. Seriously y'all. Canadian winters = cold.

A Black Blazer. Easy to wear over nearly any top and look instantly a bit more pulled together.

Long Loose Fitting Trousers. I love the cut of these ones from Zara.

A Dark Brown Leather Belt with Bronze Hardware. I've never ever been a belt girl but that has really changed in the past year. I imagine I'll be heading to the thrift shops for my belts as you can find such great quality leather belts there for super cheap.

Black Flats. I told you guys - I don't do heels...haven't in at least three years. Seriously. Not one pair. I'm literally trying to remember wearing a pair of heels in the past three years and can't. I'm sure I must have at least once...but I can't remember. I will definitely need comfortable flats.

So that's it. It might look like a big overwhelming list but it's really not. And actually, having a list is actually super helpful as it'll keep me focused when it comes time to hit the mall. I have about a week after arriving home before I starting my new job so I imagine I won't be able to get everything on my list before I start - so I'm giving myself until the end of the Winter season to get through this list. I'll let you all know how I do!

In the meantime, any suggestions for super comfortable black flats and the perfect tee? I really think these are two staples in most wardrobes so if you have a favourite for either please share!

A Most Uncomfortable Way To Sit

2012-01-10T03:11:00.000-05:00

I call the above the Indian Squat. I don't know if that's the official name but that's what I call it and it seems appropriate to me.

The first time I saw someone doing it I was a bit in awe; it looked (looks) so uncomfortable and yet there they were (are), doing the Indian Squat and carrying on a conversation, drinking chai, or just thinking. Since then, I've grown accustomed to seeing people, 99% of the time men, sitting like this and yet - it never fails to amaze me for a second or two. Why? We've already established that it just looks plain uncomfortable. But the second reason, which I find even more amazing/amusing, is that 99% of the time it's being done on a surface that, I think, it would be just so much more comfortable and easier to sit on! For example, on a curb, on a wall...I've even seen someone do the I.S. on a bench! Hilarious.

Decisions: Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London

2012-01-09T10:25:00.001-05:00

Frankfurt (Germany), London, or Hong Kong.

Assuming you had a long flight ahead of you and had to have a layover in one of the aforementioned cities (6+ hours in Frankfurt or Hong Kong, a variety of options for London), which would you choose?

You know, totally hypothetical ;)

*Photo Credits: Frankfurt from here. Hong Kong and London from the blog Travel Notes here and here respectively.

Seriously, I'm Not Complaining

2012-01-09T00:37:00.000-05:00

It's funny how your (meaning my) social calendar really starts to fill up the less time you (again, I) have. I mean, I've become much more social since being in India but this past weekend my schedule was booked solid....not that I'm complaining one bit. I continued to "say yes more than I say no" and as a result I had a great weekend. Great. It was filled with a dinner date, a breakfast date, some shopping, a lunch date, and another dinner date. I suspect my last 3 weeks in India will be much of the same. But seriously, I'm not complaining. I've also been working with my friend Brenna of This Battered Suitcase to give her blog a makeover and this weekend I installed it. Have a look and show her some love :)

The pictures above have nothing to do with this weekend. I take lots of pictures here and not all of them get blogged so I thought I'd share some of the more random ones. The top image is a ceiling detail from Humayun's Tomb - one of my favourite sites in Delhi. The middle image is of one of my favourite places in Delhi to get Parathas - specifically Banana Parathas. So good. The last image is of a dinner I had at a co-workers home shortly before Christmas. I was very eager to try Kashmiri food and since she is from Kashmir she was kind enough to make some dishes (including rista - one of the traditional items included in a Wazwan, a traditional multi-course meal served on special occasions). It was delicious.

How was your weekend? Did you say "yes" to any adventures (big or small) of your own?

*Friends I'd love to hit the 200 follower mark on this blog before heading home. So if you read and enjoy Chronicled - why not follow along! It's simple, just click that little google friend thing in the right sidebar. Thanks!

A Simple Solution

2012-01-06T00:24:00.000-05:00

All around the city of Delhi you'll see images of various Gods (not just Hindu ones) in seemingly random places - at least random to me. On walls, in stairwells, in lanes... When I first noticed this back when I first arrived, I wondered who put the pictures there and why there were there. I thought, maybe it was for protection, or maybe so people can pray (or do hail mary) as they pass by. I pondered the reason for a few seconds before totally disregarding it and not thinking about it again for 10 months.

But two weeks ago when my friend was visiting me we decided to go on the Salaam Balaak Trust Walk. The walk is lead by a former street kid who shows you different things and talks to you about what life is like for kids who end up on the streets of Delhi. If you're in Delhi I highly recommend the walk. At any rate, during the walk we passed a wall with images of Gods. Our guide asked us if we knew why the images were there. I asked if it was for protection or for people to pray - I was wrong on both accounts. After giving us some time to think (and to take more guesses) he explained the reason.

Apparently, the images are put on the walls to stop people (men) from peeing on the wall! It's a deterrent! If there were no images, men would pee on the wall (trust me I've seen men peeing openly everywhere in the city!). But, with the images of Gods present they don't take a whiz out of respect.

I actually think it's quite a good idea. I'm sure there are several walls in other major cities around the world that could use this simple solution!

And with that, I wish you a fantastic first weekend of 2012.

*By the way, if you've so kindly linked to my blog on yours - could you please update the name and url to reflect the new one? Thank you!

A Whole 'Nother Level

2012-01-03T06:24:00.000-05:00

+Photo taken at Agra Fort in Agra, India.

Like most people, every year I make a list of resolutions, or goals, that seem to become less of a priority after February and then kind of just fizzle out. Last year, I didn't do too bad though. One of my big goals was to "say yes more than I say no" (meaning to step outside of my comfort zone and perhaps do things I wouldn't normally do) and heading off to India was definitely a big yes. While in India I've continued to "say yes more than I say no" which has lead to me meeting some wonderful people, having some great adventures, and making lifelong memories.

Now the new year is here and it's time for me to sit down and think about what I want to accomplish in 2012. Of course, you can resolve to do things and set goals any day of the year but there's just something about starting off the year with a new list of goals and things you want to do. I absolutely love that feeling of "newness" that the new year brings and I'm a perpetual list makeover so, naturally, I quite enjoyed reflecting on 2011 and coming up with my list for 2012. I came up with 12 goals which feels fitting. 12 for 2012. I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Continue to Say Yes More Than I Say No. This one thing lead to a lot of adventure, fun, and growth in 2011- so I think I'll continue to be mindful of stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying/doing new things.

2. Host More Get-Togethers. Technically this should read "host a get-together" instead of "...more get-togethers" since I've never actually hosted a single one. But it's something I've wanted to do for a while. You know, be that friend or that girl who hosts lovely little dinner parties or game nights. Well, in 2012 I'm resolving to do just that - I've even started a pinterest board with inspiration!

3. Work Hard At Work. I was trying to think of a more articulate way of phrasing this but simply couldn't. In a month I start my brand new job and it's one that I'm really excited about as it's a great opportunity to be in a field that I enjoy and to grow professionally (all while putting my diploma to use - score!). I've been out of the industry for a year while I volunteered in India so in 2012 I want to re-establish myself in my field and really do a great job in my new role. You know, basically to just rock career-wise.

4. Read the Bible. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. Every now and then I'll hear mention of one of the stories in the Bible and it sounds interesting. For this and other reasons I'd like to read it for myself. In its entirety.

5. Dress More Pulled Together. Which means to make an effort when getting dressed and going out. You know, give some thought to what I wear. Dress not only for function but also for form. I have a tendency to just throw on whatever feels comfortable and while I normally look okay (don't ask my sister though - she'll say otherwise) I really need to start paying more attention to fit and how things look...and you know, wear outfits. Don't worry, I'm not going to bombard Chronicled with outfit posts or become a fashion blogger! Never. Ever.

6. Volunteer. I spent the better part of 2011 volunteering abroad in India. It was a great feeling and I learned a lot. In 2012 I want to find a local organization, something related to animals, to volunteer with. I don't want to over commit though so hopefully it'll be an organization I can volunteer with remotely or for a few hours each month. Or perhaps on just an event or two as needed.

7. Focus. This is a big one for me and one that I'm going to have to work really hard on. I'm the type of person who, hard as it is for me to admit to myself let alone publicly declare it to all of you, (in my personal life) tends to have lots of (great) ideas and who wants to do a lot. I start off super excited and gung-ho...but then I loose steam and kinda just not finish. Or really start. This year I want to pick just one or two of these ideas and really focus on just them.

8. Get My Affairs In Order. Another one I was trying to think of a more articulate way to phrase but couldn't. I don't know if it's the fact that I turned 30 a few months ago or what but I feel the overwhelming urgency to do things like open a proper savings account (one that I don't dip into!), an rrsp account, finally get my driver's license, and those kind of things. Does this mean I'm an adult now?

9. Cook More. For the past 10 months I've had no microwave, no oven, and only to two gas burners. I found out a few things. One, food tastes much better when its reheated on the stove instead of zapped in the microwave. Two, I miss cooking and baking. It's not like I was a domestic goddess back home but you really don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. So in 2012 I plan on cooking and baking up a storm...and I have several recipes pinned to try out! Some of these, my foray into cooking and baking, I will chronicle here on Chronicled.

10. Nail Down Howard's Diet. Howard is basically the pickiest dog ever when it comes to what he eats (partially my fault I admit since I spoil him by feeding him from my plate. I know I know....) Seriously, I've tried him on all kinds of food including high end and organic stuff and boy - this dog has some standards. I dislike feeding him cheap dog food because, basically, once you're read the labels on them and google what it all means - it's really pretty bad so I've resigned to the fact that I'll have to cook for him. Which I've done in the past and then stopped doing because I got lazy. In 2012 I'm really going to educate myself on what would be a proper, healthy diet for Howard and commit to it, even if it is expensive and requires me to cook for him. Even if people look at me slightly funny when I say I cook for my dog. Because I love him and he's totally worth it. (Anyone have any good recipes or resources to share?)

11. Explore Toronto. I spent 2011 exploring a new land and city visiting sites, trying new restaurants, and discovering new markets to shop in. I loved every minute of it. Despite being born and raised in Toronto I mostly stick to them same ol' same ol' and, admittedly, haven't really explored much of my city. In 2012 that changes. I'll be chronicling these mini adventures as well.

12. Be Thankful. At the end of the day I'm surrounded by loving family and friends. I have a roof over my head. Food in my tummy. And I'm healthy. Everything else - being able to travel, have nice things, to save money, to write a list that includes things like "dress more nicely" and "host parties"- it's really just a bonus I think. So in 2012 I want to remind myself to be thankful for what I do have (and not dwell on what I don't have which is much easier said than done) and for those surrounding me - who encourage, support, and love me unconditionally. To be thankful for the little things as well as the big things. The small quiet moments and the moments that see me doing incredible things I never thought I'd have the courage to do. You know, just be thankful for it all.

Basically, 2012 will be there year that I take it to a whole 'nother level. What are your goals or resolutions for 2012? If you've blogged it on your own blog feel free to leave a link in the comments. I'd love to see what's on your list!

(And thank you all for your kind comments and tweets re my new job and the new blog!)

+++
*Please tell me you got my "whole 'nother level" reference? If not, see this. Cracks me up every time.
**I actually have one more goal for 2012 but I decided "reconnecting with my family and friends and getting to know my niece" (who was just five days old when I headed to India) - was a given. Something that, without a question I'd be doing. So I didn't list it. Well, I guess now I have. Ha!

New Year. New Chapter. New Blog.

2012-01-01T15:19:00.001-05:00

Why hello! Happy New Year! Things are looking pretty different around here, aren't they? Before I get ahead of myself and talk about the changes to the blog let me stay organized and keep things in the same order as the title of this post.

New Year. How did you ring in the 2012? My friend and her hubby are visiting so we headed up to my rooftop to watch fireworks. Nothing big or fancy but it was nice. I literally remember ringing in 2011 like it was yesterday, the year has flown by. It was a year of adventure, saying "yes", stepping outside of my comfort zone, and being open to new experiences and opportunities. The year wasn't without its frustrations but overall, it is one that I will remember fondly; I created many special memories here and made lots of friends - several of which I know I will keep in touch with and meet up with again. In 2011 I stepped out on lots of faith and a bit of courage and spent the better part of the year living in New Delhi, India. On my own! Working as a volunteer! (and thus earning a very small salary). And I had a blast. I'm proud of myself and the year I had but now that it's come to a close and one adventure/phase/journey is about to end I'm excited and looking forward to what's in store for 2012...

New Chapter. When one door closes another one opens, at least so the saying goes. And in my case, I feel like 2011 was the close of one chapter, a great chapter, and the beginning of 2012 marks the start of a new one. What I haven't mentioned to you all is that over the past few weeks I've been interviewing for a position back home in Toronto that I really want. Well, earlier this week I was offered the role and I accepted! (In October I started keeping an eye out for positions back home that I was interested in - I wanted to get an early start on the job hunt instead of waiting until I got back home). For those of you who don't know my professional background is in communications/pr. And as many of you know I have an interest in design. Well, without spelling it out the position is in communications at a major international home + accessories retailer. Yes, one we all know. Needless to say I'm VERY excited. I start at the beginning of February which gives me just enough time to tie things up here, head home, unpack, kiss my loved ones and spoil Howard with hour long tummy rubs before starting a brand new job. It is an awesome feeling knowing a job, that I'm excited about, is waiting for me when I get home and I won't have to job hunt! Instead, I'll be able to start apartment hunting. Definitely a new chapter, don't you agree?

New Blog. I knew that once my year in India ended I'd want the name of the blog to change since it would no longer be relevant. Some of you might know my tendency to start new blogs seemingly out of the blue - but I really like the space I've created here and so I decided to rename the blog to something that will be all encompassing - and simply point the old url to the new one. After thinking of a new name for several days I decided on Chronicled. The definition works well as this will continue to be a space for me to share and chronicle whatever my heart desires, now and in the future, and I won't have to worry about whether or not the name fits. With the new name I also decided to freshen up the design. I still have a few more things to add over the next few days (FAQ, links, etc.) but please have a look around, click on some things, and tell me what you think! I'm still trying to make sure that the old url (fromindiawithlove.blogspot.com) points directly to the new one (chronicledblog.com) and I'm not sure if the change in url will affect those of you who read my blog via readers - hopefully it doesn't. My hope is that those of you who read my blog in a reader won't have to do anything differently...but you may have to update the url to the new one - I'm really not sure. If so, I hope you don't mind making the updated. This is the last time....seriously! I will also say that since I'll be heading home soon the content of the blog will shift more to....just things I want to chronicle and share with you all from my life. Whether it's apartment hunting, decorating my apartment, design, travels that I'm bound to take (Ireland in June!), baking (I plan on doing lots of baking!), my love for my dog Howard...basically, it'll be snippets from my life. I'll continue to do Frequent Flyer features as I love doing those and there are a few other themed posts that I plan on doing weekly or bi-weekly. So yeah, there'll see some changes in more than just the look and the name. But I'm still the one writing it and my "voice" won't change :) Yay for Chronicled!

So there you have it. New Year. New Chapter. New Blog. I feel good. Really good. Optimistic. And excited. How do you feel about 2012?

To 2012 I say, "Let's rock" (said like Al Bundy of course).

*Oh! One more. New Hair. Rather last minute on Saturday I decided to go and get bangs cut. Actually, I'd been debating it for a little while now and I woke up and just decided to go and do it. Luckily, I also found a stylist who knew how to work with my hair. I've been wearing my hair in a top knot quite a bit and I like the way it looks with bangs in pictures I've seen 'round the 'net (since no one here wears there here like that) - so I decided "why not?" I quite like the result.

Thank You

2011-12-27T13:02:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas spending time with loved ones. I've been spending the past few days showing one of my besties and her hubby around the city I've been calling home for the past nine months - roaming ancient tombs, squeezing our way through crowded lanes, marvelling at beautiful architecture, eating yummy food, and, of course, doing some shopping at the markets. And yesterday, we were joined by a mutual friend from elementary and high school (who is currently living in another part of India) whom neither of us had seen in 16 years. It's been good times.

In fact, it's been so good at times that I had a brief thought that all of the city had conspired to intentionally display its best face to my visitors. Bargaining with shopkeepers has been fun and not stressful (I was even gifted a lovely free wool scarf that I had my eye on by one shopkeeper...though my friends thing he was a bit smitten with me...), the hired driver was friendly and knowledgeable, service has (for the most part) been prompt and pleasant, and strangers wanting pictures have done the polite thing of asking (and not taking sneaky hidden pictures) - I've taken more pictures with people at sites these past few days than I have the entire nine months I've been here. It's been good times.

Which leads me to this, the past nine months have flown by - hasn't it? Like...flown by. I can't believe 2011 is almost over. If you would have told me during my first week here that nine months later I'd feel comfortable and confident here - I might have rolled my eyes in slight disbelief. But you know what, this place has grown on me. And once I've packed up my bags and headed home - there are things I will definitely miss...but more on that later.

2011 has been incredible. Sure, at times it's been overwhelming, trying, and frustrating - but for the most part it's been wonderful. In just a few weeks I'll be heading home and this year and journey will become a memory - a very pleasant memory. Some of you have been with me before this journey to India was even a consideration, some of you joined me at the beginning of this journey, and some of you joined along somewhere in the middle. Regardless of when you stumbled on From India. With Love. thank you. I genuinely want to thank you all for reading along my random thoughts, observations, and occasional rants. Your comments, emails, and in some cases - friendship...it just blows my mind. I really never expected any of it and it's all pretty incredible; I feel like I have friends on nearly every continent on the planet or at least across many states in the US and countries around the globe! I hope you'll stick around for what's coming up next in 2012.

Okay, so I just wanted to pop in quickly with a quick update, to thank you all for reading along in 2011, and to wish you a very Happy New Year since I'll be heading offline again until 2012.

Be safe folks and I'll see ya next year ;)xo

To All Of You...

2011-12-22T01:18:00.000-05:00

I'll be signing off from the 'net early for the weekend - one of my bestest friends arrives tomorrow!

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas, Holiday, Kwanza, Hanukkah.... weekend spending time with your family and loves ones - ideally cozied up by the fireplace (or in front of the television) with a big cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows (of course!) and with a nice fresh layer of snow outside.

I also hope you get everything you asked for! Even though it's not all about the gifts... ;)

The Weekend Was For...

2011-12-20T01:17:00.002-05:00

(i) Seeing Mission Impossible 4 (I enjoyed it - it is what it is), (ii+iv) going out with the intention of starting my souvenir shopping for loved ones....and then buying myself new facial products to try out (and accidentally spilling 1/4 of the toner on the bathroom floor - ugh!), (iii) watching peacocks roam in Deer Park and trying to figure out how to get one of their feathers. Going on a lunch date with a new friend at a new to me Korean restaurant (which I didn't take pictures of). I also co-hosted, along with two other expat volunteers, a Christmas dinner at my flat that was a lot of fun. Good company, good food, and a playlist filled with Christmas music - I had a blast (and sadly didn't take many pictures to share). We also did a Secret Santa and I was way too happy to tear open the wrapping to my present at the end of the evening! Have I mentioned before how much I love Christmas time? Well, I do. So it was a good weekend. Busy but good.

***

I've been offline for the past four days...which isn't too hard when you don't have internet at home or on your phone. It's quite nice to step back from online stuff but now I have a google reader filled to the brim with new posts to catch up on....in due time.

As I mentioned before I have tons to blog - it's just a matter of finding (1) the time and (2) the inspiration to sit down and write. I have a feeling though, that with the relaunch of the blog in the new year (new look, new name, slightly new/wider focus - I'm very excited to show you all!) some inspiration will return. Look out for that the first week of January :)

And have I mentioned that one of my bestest friends on the entire planet will be visiting me here, along with her hubby, in 3 days! I'm pretty certain I have mentioned it but I'm just way too excited. I have a feeling I'll be screaming my joy at the airport like a little school girl who's just seen Zac Efron in the flesh. Seriously, I'm sure I'll be quite the scene. She live in the US so while I've been in India for 9 months (wowza!) I actually haven't seen her for about a year and a half - far too long! I'm. So. Excited.

And seriously, I can't believe Christmas is in five days. Like, whoa.

Let me be frank...

2011-12-12T02:42:00.001-05:00

My intentions were to do a variety of different gift guides. I even started a few. But there are so many out there I decided to just cut to the chase and do my Christmas wish list. These are things that, had I been home, I would have been more than happy to receive this year. I don't normally have pricey things on my list - so number 1, the bag, is one of those "pie in the sky" items - but hey, a girl can dream right?

1. Proenza Schouler PS1 - Love the look of this bag.
2. It's Called Pop Not Soda tee - Representing for the Canadians! (And anyone else who calls it pop - not soda :)
3. iPhone 4s - Pretty self explanatory I think! And I'll always pick the black version over the white.
4. 2012 Crocodile Embossed Agenda - Even though I have an iPad, I'm still a paper + pencil agenda girl...I LOVE writing things down and this one from Graphic Image is soooo pretty.
5. MAC 187 Brush - I'm not a big makeup gal but a few weeks ago I was at the mall looking for foundation and they used this brush to apply it. This. Brush. Was. So. Good.
6. Ugg Adirondack Boots (in Otter) - Perfect for Canadian winters. Toes the line between heavy duty and stylish.
7& 8. Momofuku Milk Bar and Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Farm Life - I plan on spending a lot of time in the kitchen when I return home...(and secretly, for some reason, I'd love to spend time on a farm - maybe next summer.......)
9. Williams-Sonoma Digital Oil and Candy Thermometer - I also plan on doing a lot of baking and this will come in useful.
10. MAC Russian Red - Despite not being a big makeup gal - one of my goals in the new year is to wear more makeup...and to find the perfect shade of red lipstick (ya, I'm either all or nothing). I tried this and really like it - it might be the one...though I have to try one more....
11. CB2 Pom Pom Pillow - I like.
12. Modern Family Season 2 - I don't care what anyone says. This, to me, is hands down the funniest show on television right now....and sadly, being in India, I've missed the better half of Season 2.

What's on YOUR wish list?

2012 Travel Plans

2011-12-08T00:22:00.000-05:00

One of my favourite blog friends (and the first Frequent Flyer interviewee) Oneika recently shared some of her travel plans for the next few months; it's quite the list!

It made me wonder - do any of you have any travel plans yet for 2012? If so - where to?

On my birthday this year I made a goal to myself to, going forward, travel at least three times a year: once internationally (outside of North America), once within Canada (so much of my own country I have yet to discover), and one within the U.S. (the list of cities I want to visit keeps growing). So far, my 2012 travel plans look like this: Ireland in the early Summer to shoot a wedding (I'll then have about a week on my own to explore), Nova Scotia or Newfoundland late summer for my birthday (for a long time I've wanted to explore Eastern Canada....and indulge in the abundance of seafood), and Chicago in early Winter.

International, National, U.S. - check, check, check.

I'd also really love to add Turkey to the list for 2012 but I don't think it'll happen....

So, what about you?

Focus On Today

2011-12-07T01:42:00.000-05:00

It was particularly hot outside this past Sunday...

Where are the days going? I can remember arriving in India as if it were just yesterday. In reality, this time in two months I'll be back home in Toronto. Yup, in less than two months I'll be back home.Ya, the year flew by. I'm excited to see family and friends and spend time with them all - but the reality is that the sort of...panic of finding a job, an apartment, and all that other stuff is starting to kick in. I'm trying really hard to just enjoy my remaining weeks here in India but it's in my nature to start planning ahead. I need to stay calm and focus on today....

It's officially the Christmas/holiday season but being here in Delhi I often find myself forgetting what time of year it is. Then I log onto facebook or get caught up with my blog reading and remember, "Oh yes, it's Christmas! My most favourite time of the year!" So to get into the spirit I play Christmas music every chance I get, and have started making paper decorations to hang around my flat. It's very weird singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town or Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow when it's 25c and I'm wearing flip flops - but oh well. Many of the friends I've made here are heading home for the holidays and while at first I was like "Who am I going to be with on Christmas Day?!?!?!" one of my best friends on the entire planet and her hubby are coming out to visit me...just in time for the holidays! I'm beyond excited. Seriously, I've had dreams about their visit. I. Can't. Wait.

A friend and I indulged in not one but TWO Cinnabon's last week...

Now that the mornings and evenings are cooler women wear wool shawls...

There is so much for me to blog India-related that I just haven't found the time to blog yet. And I have lots and lots of pictures to share. But I find my plate a bit full these days - I'm preparing for my friend and her hubby to visit, starting to make lists of things I need to buy for myself and others (gifts) in the next seven weeks, writing Christmas cards to mail to family, friends, and blog friends, working on a total overhaul of my blog (yes, it will be changing looks AND name in the new year), working on blog makeovers for others, getting my flat "decorated" for the holidays (and the Christmas dinner that will be held at my place in less than 2 weeks), sending out resumes to open positions back home......When I find the time to sit down and actually write for my blog....I just can't find the words. It's like I draw a blank. Oh well. I'm sure they'll return soon.

In the meantime, I'll point you to some things around the 'net that I've particularly enjoyed over the past few days.

+ K and her hubby moved to India this Fall to work/volunteer. She recently wrote a great post about how India must be experienced not just photographed. Some of the topics I've yet to blog because I can't quite find the words how to really convey them to you all - she's captured why it's difficult to do so. To quote K: "...i can take a picture of a woman begging with a baby on her hip, but until you feel her fingers tugging at your shirt, see her mime that she needs to eat, you can't walk away unchanged. until you hear the singsong voice of the blind beggar boy as he boards the bus at Gandhi park, shaking his steel plate in your direction to rattle around the coins he’s collected and encourage you to add to it, you can only imagine how awkward you feel clutching a cell phone, an iPod, a wallet full of more coins than you know what to do with. photographs can’t capture the sound of an autorickshaw or a koal bird or do the incessant honking of traffic justice...."

+ I featured artist Shirin Sahba a few months ago in Frequent Flyers - so I was very excited to open my google reader and see a sneak peak of her home on Design Sponge. LOVE all the textiles and colours.

+ My friend Brenna of This Battered Suitcase has such an incredible way with words...her recent blog posts have been especially poignant, honest, and inspiring.

+I love the idea of using simple materials like newspapers and kraft paper to wrap gifts. So pretty...and economical. Next year.

+ I've been thinking a LOT about how I'll decorate my apartment when I move home (pinning lots of inspiration photos) and when I came across this post it was like they had literally taken all my thoughts and made an inspiration board. Though I would not call my style "Boho Glam" all of the elements are the same - the faux bamboo, gold/brass, wood and black. I'll be substituting ethnic textiles + prints for animal prints but other than that - that post is a very good overall of where my new apartment will be headed. VERY excited. (Seriously, look at my pinterest board - it's filled with gold, wood, black, ethnic textiles and knick-knacks...)

+ I'm only gonna tell you all one more time to bookmark this food blog. Seriously, chocolate covered peanut butter ritz sandwiches? My mouth is watering just writing that....

+ I've been reading Mrs. Limestone's blog, Brooklyn Limestone, for ages now so when she dropped me a line early in the Fall to let me know she'd be heading to India for a few days I was only to happy to meet up for lunch with her and her hubby while they were in Delhi. She's started to blog about her trip to India - the photos, as expected, are especially gorgeous. (She was also very kind to bring me some supplies I was running low on and was just lovely in-person!) (Oh, she was also one of my first Frequent Flyer interviewees).

Hope you're all enjoying the season!

(If anyone is looking to give their blog a makeover in time for Christmas or the New Year and needs some help - drop me a line hellokisha(at)gmail.com)

It's December 1st?!?!

2011-12-01T01:41:00.001-05:00

A gift guide. All the cool kids are doing it so I thought I'd do it too.

What does a gift guide have to do with my life in India. Sadly, nothing. Truth be told on a day-to-day basis I forget that it's the Christmas season as it's totally not reflected in anything here. But as soon as I log into my fb account, chat with family/friends, or read my favourite blogs I'm reminded that yes - it is in fact the holiday season. So even though it looks nothing like Christmas outside, if you come to my small little flat I have Christmas music playing, lights strung, and have started to make paper snowflakes (totally elementary school style). Perhaps I'll share some pics once they are all finished....

At any rate, you'll have to excuse me if for the month of December I indulge in some holiday cheer here on the blog in addition to my regular musings on life in Delhi.

So here's the first, a gift guide for the photography enthusiast in your life. Trust me, as someone into photography if you have a photography lover in your life they'd be thrilled to get any one of these items.

Clockwise from top left:

1. Canon 5D Mark II. IMO one of the best cameras on the market. Oh, how I lust for this camera (& will actually be upgrading to it when I go home. SO excited!) Get this for someone and they will love you forever.

2. Lacie Hard Drive. Every photographer pro or not needs a good portable hard drive. These ones, from what I've read and been told, are awesome.

3. Fingerless gloves. These ones are from J.Crew but you can find them at lots of places. Especially good for photogs in colder climates.

4. Panasonic Lumix LX5. I did a post on it here. It's a great compact camera that has advanced features, shoots manual, hi-def, and has amazing macro capabilities. It's my everyday camera.

5. Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. When I first started to get into photography and was teaching myself this book came in so so useful. Plain language with examples throughout. Great for beginner photos who are still trying to figure out exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and how those things work together to create an image.

6. VSCO Film Pack. Though I have quite a few Photoshop actions I don't use very many when editing my photos. However, this one I think would become my go-to. I love the look of film and try to edit my photos to look that way...the before & afters I've seen using these are incredible. Plus, if it's good enough for my favourite photographer to use on his photos...it's good enough for me.

7. A 50mm 1.8 lens. The one pictured is Nikon but Canon makes a version too. A great first lens for people getting into DSLR photography. Really nice for portraits. And in the land of expensive lenses it's totally affordable.

8. Kelly Moore Classic Bag. I've seen TONS of stylish camera bags (especially over the past year or so) and I still think this one by Kelly Moore is the nicest looking of the bunch for the simple fact that it does not look like a camera bag.

Anything on this list caught your eye? Don't worry. If photography's not your cup of tea (or for anyone on your shopping list for that matter), I've got four more gift guides coming up. That's right. FOUR. Awesome.

+Note: I've not been compensated or anything like that to include any of these products. They're just products I've discovered on my own and love and that I think would make excellent gifts for other photography lovers. However, if any of the above companies find this post and what to do a little giveaway for my readers drop me a line! That would be fun, huh?

No. No One Cares.

2011-11-24T03:47:00.001-05:00

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged

by the way its animals are treated."

- Mahatma Gandhi

This morning, on my way in to work I passed the local elementary school as I normally do. This morning however, I saw the security guard with the most adorable puppy (that couldn't be older than 2 weeks) under his arm. I watched as the security guard walked around the corner of the school, dropped the puppy off, and ran back to his post.

The puppy followed him back.

Again, he picked the puppy up, disappeared around the corner, then came running back sans puppy.

Again, the puppy came back.

He started to shoo the puppy away.

I watched this and a terrible sadness came over me. I know there is a problem with stray dogs here. They are everywhere. But I have yet to see, what I assume is a stray puppy, this young. All alone. And to see someone trying to get rid of it....I started to imagine the worst case scenarios. "What if it get's hit by a car?" "What if s/he's hungry or thirsty?" "What if a bigger dog comes and attacks it?"

I somehow managed to ask the security guard if the dog was his (because contrary to what is frequently said most Indians do NOT speak English. I have a post about this coming up too). He said no and walked away. "Is there not an organization you can call to pick it up?" I asked. But he was busy walking away. "Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me!" Finally he stopped and said something in Hindi which I didn't understand. A parent standing nearby who had been observing this all motioned that I should go inside the school. So I did.

I stopped at the reception desk and had the following conversation with the receptionist:

(*my words highlighted in bold)
"Excuse me, do you speak English?"
Yes.
"Ummm. There's a really young puppy outside....that your guard is trying to get rid of by putting around the corner and then running away from it..."
(she watches me with a smile on her face)
"Ummm. It's a stray puppy that's really young and--"
Yes, it's a stray.
"Yes, I know. But it's really little and I was wondering - is there not an organization you can call - like an animal welfare organization - that would come and pick it up?"
(she's still smiling at me but now giving me this look like "poor foreign girl doesn't understand how things work here" - instead she says:)
Yes, in India we have a big problem with strays. They are everywhere.
"Yes, I realize that. But it's really young and someone might be able to adopt it. Is there an organization you could call?"
No. (still smiling though)
"There's no animal welfare or protection organization that you can call?" I spot her computer open and ask "Do you have an internet connection? Maybe you can look one up..."
I have internet but not here.
"Oh. Okay. So there's no one you can call?"
There is but they won't come.
"Oh...........Okay. But...but what if it gets hit by a car or something? It's really young. Doesn't anyone care?"
No. No one cares.

And so I walked out feeling defeated. I called my landlord to ask if he knows an organization. My thinking that if he did, I would take the puppy home, call the organization and wait for it to come. But my landlord wasn't available. I looked around for the puppy but didn't see it. So I walked to the subway.

Now, I'm sitting here at work trying to find animal welfare organizations and calling vets so they can point me in the right direction. So I can have the right number in my phone just in case I see this little guy after work. Or tomorrow. Or the next day.

I also plan on going back to the school and giving the number, once I find it, to the receptionist.

(On a brighter note, Happy Thanksgiving Day to those of you in the United States!)

Update:
Yes, someone cares! I attended a mela (fair) this week and one booth belonged to a vet that had a few puppies for adoption (I saw one get adopted as soon as the mela opened!). I contacted her (enlarged a photo I had taken at her booth and made out the phone number - gotta be resourceful y'all) and she just called me back and let me know that she is more than willing and happy to help get the puppy adopted! If I see the puppy I'll take him home, feed him, then bring him to her clinic. I hope I see him/her again. So happy! (and get this, she thanked ME for being willing to help!)

Obsessed With Security

2011-11-23T03:42:00.001-05:00

One thing that I've noticed here is that Indians are obsessed with security. I mean, obsessed. Security guards are everywhere, and though half the time they are napping or simply not paying attention, their presence everywhere is still a little bit of a shock to me.

At the subway, outside homes, at shops, at the grocery store, at malls, at banks, at atm machines, at fast food restaurants......it all just seems a bit...excessive. Some examples, shall we?

To get on the subway (called the Metro) you have to go through a metal detector and then be patted down by a female (if you're a female) security guard. Then you put your bag on a conveyor belt and it goes through a little x-ray machine where another security guard looks at the picture and, sometimes, upon the exit of your bag looks perplexed as he asks "Camera?" During peak hours there are security guards with rifles patrolling the station, some with guard dogs (which I always find funny as the guard dogs are overweight labradors - how intimidating! <- that's sarcasm) and security guards, again with rifles, are stationed behind chest height walls of sand bags.

To enter the mall, it's the same procedure. Through a metal detector, pat down and bag search by female security officer. Then in the mall most stores have their own security guard - and I'm not talking expensive jewellery shops or something, I mean, just regular stores.

Most every shop (outside of a mall I'm talking now) has a security guard at the door. In most, you have to leave any shopping bags you already have and take a tag with your number on it so you can retrieve your bag after you've looked through their store.

Most ATM machines, whether they are attached to a bank or solo, have a guard sitting in a plastic chair a few feet away. Even after business hours. At home, the only banks that have security guards are the big ones downtown in/near the financial district.

The grocery store I shop at by North American standards is tiny. I do not exaggerate when I say the size of the entire shop is smaller than that of the vegetable & produce section in Western grocery stores. Remember 7-11's (they are pretty universal in size I think)? That's about the size of the my grocery store. At any rate. The check out is literally, I've counted, about 9 feet from the exit door. The checkout does not have a conveyor belt like grocery stores back home. Think of it as just a counter....like what you'd find at your local convenience store. At any rate, literally 9 feet from the counter is the exit. And at the exit is, you guessed it, a security guard. He can literally see everything I'm doing since he is only 9 feet away. Yet, after paying for and bagging my groceries....and walking the 9 feet to the exit door - I have to show him my receipt. Are you f*ing kidding me? I find this just so....unnecessary. I mean, didn't he just watch me pay for and bag everything? Most of the time I've put my receipt into my wallet so I have to put down my bags, pull out my wallet, find the receipt, hand it to him so he can stamp it and hand it back to me - so I can go on my way. (It's just another example of things being done the hard way here that I have yet to blog about).

And what I find really...weird (or maybe not weird just different), is that most middle class families have guards outside the gate to their home. Since most individual homes in North America aren't gated this would be like having a security guard stationed where your lawn meets the sidewalk. They stand in a little booth that could not be bigger than 4x4 feet and just...stand. All day. Sometimes they sit in their plastic chair and chat with the other guards or drivers (because most of these families that have security also have a driver or two, housekeeper/cook, and other help). It's all very weird to me as at home this is something you'd associate with upper class families (and I mean upper upper class). (Actually, now that I think about it, even in Toronto's richest neighbourhoods you don't see security guards at the gate). But here?....And these are middle class families I'm talking about. Not upper middle class. Just middle class. It appears, to me, to be some kind of sign of status thing...to have a security guard and driver and live-in help...but anyways...

The amount of security here is one thing that surprised me and that I continue to note even after eight months (eight months? holy crap!).

+Don't forget, until the end of the month I'm taking on a handful of blog makeover projects! If you want to freshen up your blog with a total overhaul or just some new elements (header, buttons...) drop me a line hellokisha(at)gmail.com and lets get started!

*sorry for the lack of illustrative photos...but it's a bit hard to take pics of security guards (many armed) without them getting a bit suspicious!

Pretty Up Your Blog

2011-11-21T00:12:00.001-05:00

Hey!

So over the past month or two I've gotten quite a few emails from readers complimenting me on the look of my blog (thank you!) and asking for pointers, resources, or anything like that that can help them pretty up their blog too. I always respond the same way - that I don't have any one resource I can share since anything I want to know how to do, I google it and figure it out myself. Actually, the one resource I point to is Pugly Pixel who has really great photoshop tutorials for creating buttons, elements, and things like that. Even though you can find everything on google and blogger has made it a bit easier to get a more custom look - I get it, for some people that stuff is still a bit overwhelming. So allow me to help.

I've decided to take on a handful of blog makeover projects so if you're looking to pretty up your blog, whether it's a total overhaul or you just want a new header or some custom buttons and elements, get in touch with me at hellokisha(at)gmail.com. I'm only taking on new projects until November 31st though (so that your blog can be prettied up just in time for the holidays and new year!) so if you're interested get in touch soon for pricing and details. Okay, what are you waiting for? Lets pretty up your blog!

Two Videos

2011-11-17T04:10:00.001-05:00

Enjoy!

*videos by me....just in case there was any question.

Frequent Flyer: Gemma of Line x Shape x Colour

2011-11-15T01:17:00.000-05:00

Here's the thing about doing this Frequent Flyer series. The people I feature, I usually end up becoming friends with. Obviously, I've never met many of them - so I use the term friends somewhat loosely. But if you blog, you know what I mean. They become people that I exchange emails and catch up with and people who, I know one day, I'll meet in-person. Such is the case with Gemma of the blog Line x Shape x Colour.

First, I'm going to say right off the bat that Gemma is an ah-mazing photographer (though it's not her profession, she's a textile designer (which I think is so cool!)). Seriously, one look at the pictures on her blog and you want to go where they were taken - without even knowing where exactly those places are. Gemma and her hubby Andrew recently finished up a 4 month adventure where they traveled through parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. I love that they went to countries and places that are more off the beaten path, a woman of my own heart. Gemma was kind enough to take some time to participate in this, the 11th, Frequent Flyer feature. She shares some really great tips and advice so read on...

Current City:
Sydney, Australia

Hometown:
Sydney, Australia

How many trips do you take each year?
I probably take around 2-3 overseas trips (some for work) plus a few local weekends away.

Favourite travel memory (in 5 sentences or less)?
Oh that's sooo hard! There are way too many to choose from, plus it changes all the time. I'm going to cheat a bit here... a few include sleeping under the stars on a remote island in the Philippines; ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey; a meal at a 2 michelin star restaurant in Paris; staying in a yurt in Krygyzstan; seeing all of Egypt's ancient wonders; learning to become an elephant mahout in Laos; and walking around the old town in Kashgar, China.

Ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey

Inside their yurt...the things I would do for some of those fabrics...

One of Gemma's favourite taken in Old Town, Kashgar China. It is a pretty great photo.

Best thing about traveling?
All the incredible experiences! Meeting amazing people who you wouldn't normally cross paths with, eating delicious food, seeing and being in places that you've always dreamt of and the constant broadening of the mind.

The best hummus ever...according to Gemma and Andrew :)

A friendly face in Lebanon

Toughest thing about traveling?
Saying goodbye to new friends and going home.

Three essentials you always take with you and why (excluding money & passport)?
1. My husband Andrew - the best travel companion ever. We have so much fun together!
2. SLR camera - I love trying to visually capture a destination.
3. An open mind - to get the most out of of travelling you have to be open to new experiences and things not always going to plan.

With her favourite travel companion - her husband Andrew

A favourite gadget/item/tip you’ve discovered that helps:
An iPhone! It's a phone, ipod, internet connection, camera, calculator, notepad... plus it can hold many helpful travel apps including Lonely Planet, Google Maps, XE etc. It's also small and portable. A great travel gadget that I can not live without now.

How do you survive long plane rides?
First thing I do as soon as I am on the plane is set my watch to our destination's time to avoid too much jetlag. If I'm meant to be awake I'll watch heaps of films (comedies or doco's) on the inflight entertainment or try and get some sleep.

Uzbekistan

How do you plan for a trip?
Andrew and I have a nice balance. I'm a bit of a planner in that I love researching before we go to make sure we get the most out of a destination, especially when it comes to eating, shopping and trying to get in with the locals. I mostly use Lonely Planet, their Thorn Tree forums and Tripadvisor for helpful info. For me, that's half the fun of travelling - all the researching and anticipation. Andrew on the other hand is a bit more relaxed and unplanned, so we get a great mix of having some research before we go, and lots of spontaneity once we are there.

Favourite things to do/see when you’re in a new city?
I love exploring a new city by foot, so this is often the first thing Andrew and I will do once we arrive somewhere new. Then it's off to find a good bazaar/market and some yummy local food. We're not big museum people when travelling and would rather be out and about amongst all the action.

Antique Market in China

What camera do you carry with you?
On our most recent trip we used a Canon 5d mkII with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom and an EF 50mm f/1.8 lens, plus a Canon s95 with an underwater housing for happy snaps and underwater shots. I love our set up and are so glad we invested in the 24-70mm lens. It's such a good all rounder, and I barely took it off during our travels. The s95 is a hot little camera that has full manual features and is particularly great underwater with it's housing on. The colours were spectacular. Andrew is a pretty good free diver, so he can get right down and get shots of all the sea life when we are snorkelling (I just float up to the top!). (Note: Gemma did a great post on her blog about the equipment she uses and some tips for taking photographs while traveling).

Many people want to travel but often don’t – citing reasons like not enough time/money, too busy etc. how are you able to make travel a regular part of your life?
Andrew and I have made a conscience decision that we want travel to be a part of our lifestyle. We both work in creative fields (I'm a textile designer and Andrew is an architect), so travel is vital not only for inspiration but for a general break and refresh, which is very important. We also find travel plays an exciting part in expanding yourself, as it can challenge the way you think and do things, which we both really value.

Do you collect anything from your trips?
After photography, shopping is my other passion. I don't really shop that much when we are home, but once we're overseas I LOVE trawlling through bazaars and buying trinkets and souvenirs for our home. It's also a great way of meeting people. Andrew loves to sharpen his bargaining skills which is a joy to watch as the vendor usually ends up laughing so much from all his jokes in trying to get the price down. Being a textile designer, I love collecting textiles in particular and I've recently developed a bit of a carpet obsession. Andrew reckons I get my thing for shopping overseas off my grandmother, who with my grandfather lived all of over Asia after they were married in India due to my grandfathers job. (Kay's Note: Click here for a post Gemma did on her grandparents, complete with photos her grandfather took in Afghanistan in the 1950s). Her house is full of all these amazing pieces from their travels and adventures, all of which have a story behind them. I think this has influenced me quite a bit.

Note: Click here to see more of what they bought...

Last trip?
A four month journey around the Middle East and Asia (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Philippines + Singapore)

Next trip?
I'm off to Europe, for work, in January (Frankfurt, Lisbon, London and Paris), for inspiration and to visit some trade shows.But personal trip-wise, Andrew is a keen surfer, so we're thinking the next trip we'll take together will definitely involve some surf for him - possibly somewhere remote in Indonesia, or even West Africa or Central America, as we're both pretty keen to visit these areas soon.

Place you're dying to return to?
Lebanon. A lot of people have asked us this question since got back, and we both say it at the same time which is quite amusing. We fell in love with Beirut in particular and could live there. (Note: Click here for her series of posts on Lebanon)

Martyr's Square. Scars from the war can still be seen in downtown Beirut.

Best hotel you’ve stayed in?
I think Etu Moana in Aitutaki, Cook Islands which was for our honeymoon. It's a tiny boutique resort right on the the beach with some pretty amazing snorkelling just out the front. We're not huge fans of the big 5-star hotels, preferring more boutique types. But having stayed in a few of those too, we were really impressed with the Marriot in Manila.

Dream destination?
Such a hard question, so many places! Right now though, Mali, Iran, Tanzania, Madagascar and Cuba are up there and have me day dreaming at work...

Finish this sentence: A world without travel is like…
...not making the most of the incredible world we live in.

*****
Because of Gemma's blog I've added like....4 countries to my list of countries to visit. And that, I think, is the sign of a good travel blog...or travel writing and photography. At the end of their time in each country, Gemma did a summary post with advice, tips etc. - which I think is just brilliant. If you're planning on visiting any of the countries they did definitely give those posts a read...in addition to all the rest over on Line x Shape x Colour.

Photo credit: All pictures taken by Gemma or Andrew and used with permission.

Frequent Flyer spotlights a blogger I enjoy who also happens to love traveling and exploring new places. In Frequent Flyer I ask them a few questions to get their thoughts, tips, suggestions, and travel tales - in hopes of inspiring YOU (and myself!) on future travels. In the Frequent Flyer feature I don't just talk to travel bloggers - I talk to bloggers of various backgrounds (design, photography, fashion, life...) Some take many quick trips a year, others travel frequently for work, and others take a handful of longer jaunts abroad - but they all have great stories and tips and I hope you enjoy this feature! To see past Frequent Flyers click here.

My Favourites Were The Camels

2011-11-09T05:39:00.000-05:00

Last week I was in Pushkar for the annual Pushkar Camel Festival. It's a massively huge fair that, depending on what you read, sees 10,000-50,000 camels brought in from various villages around the region to be sold and traded. In addition to this business side of things there are events like camel racing, best decorated camel, and weirder events like best moustache, turban tying, and various local vs. tourists competitions. In addition to all this there's a huge fair with rides, ferris wheels, and games.

At the same time there are also hundreds of horses being bought, sold, and traded.

Oh yeah, and the festival coincides with a religious festival that sees devotees come to the sacred lake to bathe.

Needless to say, there is a lot see and do over the 8 days of the festival in this, otherwise not quite so touristy but becomes very much so during this time, town.

I found the town itself to be quite lovely. It feels like it is surrounded by a wall of green hills with this little town in the middle...that has a sacred little lake in its middle.

As much as I love these pictures and the video I captured - neither really do the festival justice as it was literally camels as far as the eye could see. It was fun watching their owners get them primped, decorated, and ready to be sold and traded (note the orange mohawk on one camel above). I tried in my best broken hindi to talk to some owners and they seemed pleased as punch (did I just write that?) that I was just interested in taking pictures of their camels. I stopped at one owner to admire his camel and he told me he had just bought it for Rs.30,000 (roughly $666 dollars). It was a massive camel. Seriously, it was camels as far as you could see with their owners (and their families) set up in little tents right beside them. Cooking, talking, hanging out. Crazy.

Rajasthani's also wear the most saturated colours you could ever imagine and I seriously contemplated asking several of the women if I could buy their saris/scarves right off them but I didn't know how well that would be received....

Despite several offers of "you want camel ride?" and "camel taxi?" I didn't ride one. I don't know. I just didn't feel I really needed to. And while I'm sure my body weight would not be much for a camel to bare it just didn't feel...right to me. Besides, I was more than content to just walk amongst them and to take their pictures. Their crooked teeth and funny facial expressions never failed to amuse me. Plus they have the best eyelashes. I think camels have moved onto my top 5 3 list of favourite animals.

If you ever get the chance to attend the festival I would strongly suggest taking it. I didn't stay for the entire duration and instead was only there for the first three days (though I did arrive a day early)...but for me that was fine. The town is located about 6.5 hours from Delhi and easily accessible by train (though the train goes to Ajmer, a nearby city, and then you take a bus or taxi into the town).

Also note the town is vegetarian (that includes eggs) though they do use dairy (vegetarians here have no problem with dairy it seems). So for meat eaters like myself just a little something to keep in mind!

Catching Up

2011-11-08T01:05:00.000-05:00

Hello blog readers! I'm back, and have been since the weekend, but took a few days to recuperate. Pushkar was hot. So so hot. But I had a wonderful time and will share photos next week (in addition to a Diwali video) Actually, I have quite a few things to blog now that I think about it but first I thought I'd do a post on all the "little" things I've thought to blog but are too little for their own post. Together though, they make up this random-ish post.

Give or take, I've lost about 10 pounds since being in India. Had in not been for these cheese balls it would be 11 pounds. I swear to you, they are soooooo addictive. You can't eat just one let alone one bag. I regularly eat two bags at a sitting. But the bags are small. That's how I justify it.

You know which musical artist seems to be insanely popular here? Akon. I know, Akon. WTF? I can't understand why but his music is played in fast food restaurants, I'll walk by a little stall and it'll be playing, and young people have his song as their ringtone. Seriously, Akon?!?!?! I don't think he's as popular in North America as he is here in Delhi. Oh, and Enrique Iglesisas too. Circa 2001.

I was, for the first time a few weeks ago, browsing the site Refinery 29. In the makeup and beauty sections I came across two articles of particular interest. The first was this one. Before leaving India I know I wanted to get some kohl eyeliner (called kajal here) that is worn by most every single south east asian woman. When I spotted the girl in the article lining her eyes with kohl I decided I wanted the one she was using and, having seen just the lid in the photo (the brand was not mentioned), I knew immediately what it was - Himalaya (a popular brand here). In another article I spotted a woman with natural hair like myself and she commented that she used a particular almond oil in her hair that she picked up in a shop in the Indian community where she lives. So, I bought that too. Sometimes, I can be easily persuaded. (The kohl liner is like buttah y'all. So creamy and smooth when it goes on. And the colour is so intense.)

Okay, this next thing has been on my mind for some time now and if you follow me on twitter you might have seen a tweet I sent but I just have to get it off my chest. Warning, some of you may think I'm a total beeyatch for saying it...but...I'm really tired and not into seeing toddlers and little kids (I'd say under the age of 10) dressed like trendsetters, hipsters, and miniature versions of the Olsens and whoever else is popular in fashion nowadays. Seriously, I don't think anyone under the age of 10 should be basically wearing an outfit that a 20-something could wear - head to toe. Maybe one trend at a time (like ballet flats for example) would be okay. But ballet flats, skinny jeans, some trendy top, an oversized scarf, and then a topknot? That's too much I think...it's feels a little bit 'try hard' on the parents end. Call me old fashioned but I think a kid should look like a kid. I would put a picture here to illustrate but I think you all can use your imagination. Or just google or pinterest it.

And if I can rant one more thing? I'm reeeeeeally over the phrases/words "pop of colour" and "epic." Ugh. SO over them. I'll admit it, I might occassionaly write "pop of colour" in a post but going forward it's something I'm going to make a conscious effort not to do.

Hmmm, what else....of course, now that I'm sitting down to write a random-ish post I can't think of all the random things I've wanted to mention. Of course.

So I guess I'll close by pointing you over to this post on the blog Manhattan Nest. He doesn't post as frequently as most of my favourite bloggers do but when he does his posts are always entertaining. I mean, how many bloggers can you think of that can write a post about painting their doors black and make it fun to read?

Oh, one more thing. I'm in the process of updating my resume to apply for jobs back home in Toronto. I know. It's already that time. Thoughts on whether or not an address is still needed on a resume? In addition to my email address, should I list my Canadian number (where my mom can take a message and pass it on to me) or my Indian mobile? I guess my concern is that seeing a foreign number at the top of my resume might not be the best thing...but then again I've heard varying thoughts. What's yours?

Guest Post: Sunny of Musings of a Louisville Slugger | City Guide: Louisville

2011-11-04T07:37:00.000-04:00

I've been reading Sunny's blog, Musings of a Louisville Slugger, for.... a long time now. She seems like such a cool gal - a gal who's recently become a new mommy! Congrats Sunny. One day, we'll meet in-person and drink mint juleps and eat derby pie.....

1. Something Louisville is known for:
Derby!

2. Your favourite thing about Louisville:
It's a great place for a family. Now that I have a husband and a baby girl, I can appreciate that. Before all of this happened, I seriously considered moving! I also love that we are so close to bigger cities and I can drive there for day trips- like Nashville, Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

3. Favourite time of year in Louisville and why:
Derby. It's the only time this city gets real recognition. We have more activities and parties going on than any other time and the city is flooded with celebrities!

4. Local delicacy:
This is a hard one, I hate to sound like everything is Derby related but Derby Pie and Mint Juleps!

5. Favourite place to eat that's off the tourist path:
Sake Blue. It's a Japanese Bistro, so you can eat all kinds of sushi or from the hibachi grill. The lights are low and they often have live jazz bands. It kinda makes me feel like I'm in a hipper city, like Chicago!

6. Favourite place to shop:
Target. Because I can buy any and everything there!!! Plus a lot of the hot designers are starting to have lines there.

7. When visiting Louisville don't miss:
The HIghlands, which is an area full of bars and galleries and off-the-cuff restaurants, etc. where you will find all things artsy and creative. It's a really nice environment and sometimes I go there and just walking! It's so relaxing. Also, be sure to visit the Muhammad Ali Museum!

8. Cool place to stay:
Any of our older downtown hotels- the Seelbach, the Galt House, or the Hilton, because everything is in walking distance, including the museum, great restaurants, shopping, the Kentucky Center for the Arts, and 4th Street Live!

*******

Thanks Sunny! If you haven't checked out Musings of a Louisville Slugger yet please do - and tell her I sent you :)

And that concludes the guests posts! Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did. Have a good weekend.

Guest Post: Jacquelyn of Lark + Linen | City Guide: Toronto

2011-11-03T09:57:00.000-04:00

I couldn't have guest bloggers share their city and not have someone from my hometown represent! Enter Jacquelyn from the lovely blog Lark + Linen. I discovered Jacquelyn's blog earlier this summer and it's quickly become one of my favourite reads.

1. Something Toronto is known for:
It’s multiculturalism! I definitely don’t realize how wonderful it is until a travel to another city where I can’t find a decent Vietnamese restaurant or delicious pad thai! How does one live without these necessary staples?! I will never know.

2. Your favourite thing about Toronto:
Oh man, this is a tough one. There’s so many wonderful things about this city! One thing in particular that I love is that there’s always something interesting going on; whether it’s the hot and spicy food festival, spending your night in a dingy bar listening an underground band or free champagne at an art gallery opening there’s no shortage of fun little adventures. Additionally, I love the fact that fresh air and open fields are just a short drive away. Sometimes its nice to get away and Toronto has the best of both worlds, really!

3. Favourite time of year in Toronto and why:
This questions kind of funny because I’m big into seasonal things. Had you asked me this in the 3 months ago I would surely respond that the summer is my favourite, but now that autumn is upon us I’m all for it. That said, I find that the beginning of any season is always exciting for Torontonians. People seem happy, refreshed and rejuvenated, ready for a change. Right now the air is crisp, the leaves are turning all shades of pretty and we’re all feeling relieved about the cooler temperatures (despite what many people think it does get ridiculously hot in Canada during the summer months). It’s such a nice time of the year to stroll the streets with a light jacket and a cozy scarf, or to spend the day cuddled up watching movies, not feeling any sort of guilt about your obvious laziness.

4. Local delicacy:
I feel like it would be wrong to visit Toronto and not indulge in a heaping portion of poutine. If you’re looking for the best, head over to Poutini's – it may be the only place in Toronto that is consistently busy despite only having one option on the menu. You can rest assured that you will NOT be disappointed by the cheesy fry-ee (it’s a word) goodness. Also, if you’re feeling fancy (I mean real fancy – it’s expensive), you could head to Canoe and try their caribou or other local cuts of delicious meats(oh so Canadian). The views of the city from this 54th floor restaurant are unbelievable.

5. Favourite place to eat that's off the tourist path:
If you’ve ever read my blog you’ll know that I’m all for brunch. I love that it can be enjoyed at 9 am or at 2 in the afternoon (depending on when you drag yourself out of bed on a lazy Sunday). It’s acceptable to drink champagne (so long as its combined with orange juice) and it never costs too much. We recently found an amazing little spot called Hammersmiths that I can’t stop thinking about. It’s in an up and coming neighborhood east of Riverdale and north of Leslieville (and I really mean that… the location is a little sketchy to say the least) but its ridiculously cute and the food is beyond words.

6. Favourite place to shop:
Being an interior designer I get this question a lot and my response is always Flick & Company. They sell an assortment of found accessories, a collection of both new and old furniture pieces and I ALWAYS find something that just needs to make it’s way home with me. Plus, the owners are the absolute nicest and I’m always down for some neighbourly friendliness.

7. When visiting Toronto don't miss:
Strolling through the Distillery District (stop by Balzacs for lattes in a bowl), the beaches jazz festival which always promises a lot of fun, and try to catch a concert at the Molson Amphitheatre if you can. The open air venue located on the water is a great summer activity, and the lawn seats are much cheaper and always more fun than the covered ones. Also, you could rent bikes (or a sailboat if that’s your thing!) and head over (or around) the Toronto islands.

8. Cool place to stay:
The Gladstone hotel! It’s a little pricier but a different artist has designed each room and they change often. It’s a really interesting place (and the neighborhood is pretty great as well). Also, if you’re feeling trendy, you could stay at the Thompson Hotel (which is more in the downtown core). They have an amazing rooftop pool (and rooftop bar) and a restaurant that’s open 24 hours complete with grilled cheese and mac & cheese. It’s a go to spot once the bars and clubs close and it really can’t be beat.

*******

Thanks Jacquelyn! Many of these places I've never been to, despite being a born and bred Torontonian - so I'll have to check them out when I'm back in the city. Be sure check out Jackquelyn's blog Lark + Linen.

Mint Juleps, The Derby...any idea where we're headed tomorrow for our final guest blogger?

A Quick Hello

2011-11-03T06:02:00.004-04:00

Greetings from Pushkar! Just stopping in quickly to share a quick photo with you all taken at the Pushkar Camel Festival where I've been for the past few days. Camels as far as the eye can see y'all. Seriously. I've never seen anything like it. And some, like this one, are being primped in all kinds of fancy hair cuts and hair colours! Despite being packed with tourists, myself included, I've been enjoying this small town. The architecture is lovely, the shopping fair, and the turbans and the saris the women wear - gorgeous; the most saturanted pinks, oranges, reds, and yellows I've ever seen. Will have to try and get my hands on one.......

Guest Post: Danielle of Breakfast at Toast | City Guide: Chicago

2011-11-02T00:13:00.000-04:00

Chicago is a city that is quickly moving up my list of "American cities to visit" so I thought I'd get one of my blog friends, Danielle of Breakfast at Toast, to share some of her new hometown with us. Danielle moved to Chicago from L.A. 15 months ago and since then her frequent glowing posts about the city have made me convinced it's a city I desperately need to see for myself.

top to bottom/left to right: chicago seen from the navy pier/farmers market/"the bean"/danielle enjoying the snow/randolph street market/danielle's beloved dog buddy in his bears shirt (how cute is he?!)

Something Chicago is known for:
Chicago has the longest uninterrupted shoreline in the country. The beaches are packed in the summer! The people are friendly. It's a beautiful city and the restaurants are amazing. I am NOT a sports fan but Cubs games are really fun. I'd love to go to a Bears game, too! Michigan Ave has some great shopping and there is always something fun going on. Fireworks every weekend during Summer and part of Fall. Street festivals all summer long. The Randolph Street Market (one of my favorites!) Great theater, bars, etc. I could go on and on.....

Your favourite thing about Chicago:
I love just waking through Chicago. It's such a beautiful city. But -- I am going to have to go with the people. They are 1000x friendlier than the people in Los Angeles. I have made some of the most wonderful friends and the city wouldn't be the same without them.

Favourite time of year in Chicago:
While I love Fall, I am going to have to go with summer. There are street festivals every weekend and everyone wants to be outside as much as possible. The city truly comes alive. Patios, rooftops, walking around in sandals…it is all about being outside as much as possible.

Local delicacy:
People always talk about Chicago deep dish and Chicago hot dogs. I prefer thin crust to deep dish and am a vegetarian so while these aren't my favorites, I suppose they are must haves if you are coming to Chicago.

Favourite place to eat that's off the tourist path:
I am probably the worst person to answer this question since I am not much of a foodie. Not sure if Big Star counts, but it has one of the best patios in the city. I love Ralph Lauren Grill, too. Such a pretty spot. If you go there, don't make reservations, cross your fingers and hope that you get a spot in the lounge vs the dining room. There's a fireplace. It's quite romantic.

Favourite place to shop:
I'll shop anywhere. I love Michigan Avenue, great shops in Lincoln Park. North + Clybourn for West Elm and all those stores, and Andersonville for antiques. Jayson Home and Garden is one of my favorite stores in the city. I could walk around for an hour every time I go in there. And I do.

When visiting Chicago don't miss:
There are festivals all summer long so any weekend over summer you'll find something fun to do. I recommend renting bikes at Navy Pier. Great way to see the city. You should also check out the architectural tour. Another wonderful way to see Chicago. Whole Foods in Lincoln Park is one of my favorite spots in the city. It is ginormous and has a wine bar. Best way to shop. You must go to the Randolph Street Market, so plan accordingly. I also recommend a trip to Andersonville. And you will not want to miss Michigan Avenue. The bars on Hubbard are great, too! And Bucktown. Ok…I could keep going, so I'll stop now.

Cool place to stay:
I stayed at a random hotel when I first came to Chicago and it wasn't that great. If you're feeling fancy I recommend the Elysian or Peninsula. I don't know any small/cool hotels because I live here and have a habit of staying at my place. When friends come to visit, they stay with me. You're on your own for this one. Unless we're friends. Then you're welcome to stay here.

*******

I'll definitely be referring to this post when I visit Chicago - thanks Danielle! Be sure to stop by Danielle's blog Breakfast at Toast - love the collages she frequently puts together. She also does photography and graphic/blog design - so if you're in need of a blog makeover check out her website!

Next up, we head to my hometown!

Guest Post: Tamara of Get It Girl Style | City Guide: Dallas

2011-10-31T00:04:00.000-04:00

While I'm out exploring Rajasthan for the next few days, rather than leave the blog quiet I've asked a few blog friends to contribute some guest posts. Since I'll be exploring some new cities I thought it'd be fun if these bloggers shared their city with us in a series of guest posts I'm calling "City Guide."

First up, Tamara of the blog Get It Girl Style shares a bit of Dallas, her hometown, with us.

top to bottom/left to right: dallas skyline/bluebonnets/dallas cowboys/texas state fair/bbq ribs/palomar hotel

Something Dallas is known for:
Dallas Cowboys, BBQ, Cowboys Hats & Boots, Oil, Big Hair, The Heat.

Your favourite thing about Dallas:
When you walk down the street, or into a place, most people are friendly and say hello. I think it’s a southern things because we all speak for the sake of doing so. If not verbally, at least with a smile.

Favourite time of year in Dallas:
Spring. The weather is perfect, and bluebonnets bloom.

Local delicacy:
Everyone claims to be the best at BBQ. It almost depends on where you are in the city. Your best bet is to ask for a rib sample. If it doesn’t fall of the bone, get a wet wipe and run!

Favourite place to eat that's off the tourist path:
Black Jack Burgers. This place is on MLK, and the burgers require two hands.

Favourite place to shop:
Northpark Mall. Every store that you need to keep your self styled is located in this mall. Plus they throw in Neiman Marcus for those that want to really spend a few bucks.

When visiting Dallas don't miss:
State Fair when its open, Bishop Arts District for eating, and shopping, Hyatt Regency (THE BALL) to eat, and see the city from above it all, and The Velvet Taco for great tacos on the go.

Cool place to stay:
The Palomar Hotel for its chic décor, and Hotel ZaZa for the unexpected opulence.

******
Thanks for sharing a bit of Dallas with us Tam! If you aren't already following Tam's blog Get It Girl Style be sure to stop by. While she mostly blogs about decor and design she frequently posts about fashion and other things. Her honest writing style makes her blog a joy to read.

Up next, we head to the windy city....

*And by the way, Happy Halloween!

Heading to The Desert...

2011-10-28T06:12:00.000-04:00

I have never EVER seen or heard anything like Diwali. I promise you, I PROMISE you, unless you've been in India for Diwali you have not seen, or actually, you have not HEARD anything like this. I'm excited to show you all the pictures I managed to get but even more than that I'm excited to share the audio I captured. It's insane. As soon as I figure out how to get it off my iPhone onto my iTunes........

I'll be taking next week away from the blog to go explore outside of Delhi - I'll be heading to Rajasthan for a few days! Despite having still not bought my tickets yet, I'm excited. But not to fear - I have some awesome guest bloggers lined up so the blog will not be quiet. Be kind to them!

Have a great weekend, week, and Happy (early) Halloween.

*p.s. Since my post on the vintage rajasthani bags I've had a few inquiries via email - very exciting and cool! Until the shop is open if you have any inquiries about the bags or anything (maybe something in particular you are looking for) feel free to drop me a line at hellokisha (at) gmail.com

Festival of Lights

2011-10-26T05:32:00.000-04:00

Known as the "festival of lights" the biggest (?) holiday in India is today. Most buildings, shops, and homes are strung with lights (including mine) and the sounds and sights of fire crackers have been going non-stop.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous Diwali!

Totally Bohemian Gypsy-ish

2011-10-24T06:38:00.000-04:00

Yet another busy weekend that has left me totally drained and, perhaps, taken a little tole on my immune system as I seem to be coming down with a bit of a cold. There was a day trip on Saturday with friends to Agra (to visit a bear sanctuary) which left me with an extra packed Sunday as I had to buy Diwali gifts, lights for my balcony, and an outfit to wear to my landlord’s annual Diwali party - which I was kindly invited to. Diwali is a BIG celebration here and while it isn’t until Wednesday the festivities in the city (and all of the lights) are well underway.Which, kinda, brings me to a B for Bazaar update.

Today is supposed to be the opening of B for Bazaar but I'm not quite ready to open yet. Shopping for the online shop is a bit of a challenge - not because there aren't treasures to be found but precisely the opposite - because there is so much to be found and, well, I'm on a budget so I shop very carefully. Plus, I only buy items I truly fall in love with - which is another problem. Because I buy an item for the shop and love it so much I decide to keep it for myself - womp womp! I guess I could buy two of everything...but sometimes there aren't two! Plus, I'm only buying things I can easily ship and won't cost you, the buyer, an arm and a leg to have shipped. Plus, I'm looking for a tailor to transform some antique silk saris into accent cushions. AND product photography is hard y'all. My goodness my hats off to those who take pictures of things like scarves and make them look good - it's tough! So yes, all this means the shop isn't quite ready to open yet - and that when it does open it will open with a small stock of things - around 5 or 6 items. But they'll be good y'all. Very good. And if they sell, then I'll know other people like these things as much as I do and, well, a shop with a rotating collection of things will be born. Which brings me to this bag...

I finally came across a vintage Rajasthani bag (don't know if that's the proper name for it but that's what I call them). It’s something I have on my list of “things to by myself before leaving India” list. They are not for the faint of heart and are quite “out there.” They are adorned with old coins, mirrors, shells, and tassels - some all on the same bag. Though it is newly sewn (by villagers) the fabric itself is old vintage fabric (sometimes from wedding outfits) and patched together. It is colourful and loud but in a way that I’m strangely drawn to. It’s like India interpreted as a bag lol - loud, colourful, and a bit crazy - but somehow it works ;) I normally stick with neutrals and play it safe - but I just like this bag. It’s so....interesting....and looks great, I think, with just a plain neutral outfit. So while looking at the bag for myself I wondered, maybe I should get one for B for Bazaar....As you can see from the collage above they are quite popular with the celeb crowd. They have that ethnic, boho, gypsy feel that seems to be popular. I’ve done my homework and have seen them retailing for upwards of $2,000 and on the lowest end about $375. I would list them for much less than that. But I'm mulling it over. Like I said, I'm only buying things I totally fall in love with for B for Bazaar - in the hopes that someone else out there loves them too - but what if I'm off with this one. What say ye? To stock or not to stock? I know it's not for everyone - but maybe it's for you? Or maybe you know someone who it would be perfect for? I'm hoping you guys will be my, and B for Bazaar's, ambassador once we're up and running so I thought I'd get your thoughts on this one.

Yay or nay?

It's Just Fabric Now...

2011-10-21T05:09:00.001-04:00

...but in a few weeks they'll be custom shirts for yours truly. These are some of the fabrics I purchased last weekend to get made into shirts like this and this. I'm trying to step outside my box and pick prints and colours - something I normally wouldn't do - but in a country like this in a city like this where the fabric stores are piled high with the most beautiful colours and uncommon prints...you try to take a little walk on the wild side. I can't tell you how much I'm in love with these fabrics - particularly the last one pictured (which is navy blue and white not black and white). I really splurged on it but the print is fantastic and it's 100% silk and feels like buttah on my skin. Seriously. Not pictured is a lovely cream fabric with small red-y, maroon-y dots that I've already dropped off at the tailor. Fingers crossed it turns out as I imagine so that I can drop these off to be transformed too.

I literally keep thinking about my shirts and can't wait to see how they turn out. Who knew there was so much to consider when getting shirts made - I'm thinking about what type of collar I want on each, the arm length, and what kinds of buttons to add. I can tell you the last fabric picture will have a mandarin style collar, shoulder lapels, wrist length sleeves, and gold buttons - oooooooh I. Can't. Wait. (I know that sounds like "a lot" but I saw a girl wearing the shirt as I just described it in the same fabric (she was in the store getting more of the fabric) and trust me - it looked fantastic.) I also spend a fair amount of time scouring the 'net (and pinterest) for pictures of things that I want to get made while I'm here. My little folder of inspiration is growing larger and larger........

Have you ever had clothes custom made? Me thinks it can become quite addicting and when I go home I'll sorely miss having an affordable tailor!

I Live Here

2011-10-19T10:33:00.000-04:00

I took the day off of work today to go to the post office. Yes, the entire day for one task. It didn't take the entire day mind you but it did require two visits, like most "official" visits here do, but in the end I was successful.

Since I'm normally at work during the day and busy on the weekend I never really find the time to take some pics of where I live (when I get home its usually dark and not good for pictures). But today, I took some. Top to bottom....I technically have two doors that I am able to lock from the inside. The first picture was taken just outside the first door - as you can see when you enter it you still have to enter a second door - this second door leads into my place. However, before going through that second door you can take a left and you'll find yourself on my landlords rooftop garden (2). Step into the second door (3) and the teeny tiny kitchen is to the left. A shelf in my kitchen (4) - the only thing I bought on that shelf are the cornflakes, rice, and sidekicks....everything else was left behind by the previous volunteer. Now, with your back to the kitchen, you'll see my room on the left and the bathroom on the right (5). I know, it's a weird set-up with me technically having to go outside to go into the bathroom or the kitchen. But I have the entire rooftop to myself and, for the most part, it's pretty private. It's not as weird now as it was in the beginning. (6) This is what my bathroom sink looks like right. this. minute. I always have a bottle of filtered water for brushing my teeth. Standing inside my bathroom looking out (7). The house next to me recently got new piping that is painted bright yellow (8 + 9) - I like the way the bright yellow looks next to the old peeling gray of the building itself. When I first hung my tibetan prayer flags the colours were SO saturated but a few months in the sun has completely worn them out (10). Some of the books on my bookshelf (11) - please note some of them were leave behinds from the previous volunteer (I'm looking at you Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus....) My laptop - aka my television, connection to home, and source of entertainment (12). I seriously don't know what I would do without it.

And there you have it. A little peak at where I live.

Now, it's 8 p.m. and time for me to decide what to have for dinner.

In Need of a Weekend From My Weekend

2011-10-17T02:55:00.000-04:00

I need a weekend from my weekend. Seriously. It was that packed.

Let me try and do a bit of a recap.

Friday I went for out for dinner with a visiting friend before heading to do, what was supposed to be window shopping in Connaught Place. Dozens of bangles and two (albeit very beautiful) scarves later I headed home.

Saturday I woke up bright and early (before 8 am!) for photo outing #2 with friends. We headed back to Chandni Chowk but this time went to, what I call, the Muslim side - it's close to Jama Masjid (the biggest mosque in India) and has a very different vibe than the other side of Chandni Chowk. Lots of meat hanging in shop fronts (and chickens being slaughtered), live goats tied up or just hanging out (like pictured above) and women covered in hijabs. I'll post some of these photos soon. At about 12:30 a friend and I headed to the Delhi Photo Festival which started that day. I was very impressed with the exhibits (these 2 photographs below were favourites of mine) and plan on heading back this week and next to check out some more and hopefully listen to some artist discussions. We also sat in on a seminar but it wasn't quite what we expected so we ducked out (respectfully) early and headed to do some fabric shopping!

I can't NOT smile when looking at the photo on the left! LOVE it. And the photo on the right....spot the monkey mimicking his owners positions?

I don't have this part of the day pictured - but I did buy 5 different fabrics (3 seen in this post...and yes, I splurged on the blue/white silk one!) for 5 (western) shirts I'm getting made here. I'm kinda in love with all 5 fabrics and can't wait to share the end result (hoping they turn out well!).

Now here's the thing, there are TONS of tailors here but it's finding one that does "western style" clothes that is tricky. Especially, when like me, you're on a budget and don't really have the funds to "shop around" and try out lots of different ones. You kinda just want to find "the one" - you know. Luckily, a friend thinks she's found "the one" - so after buying fabric in one market we headed to a different market, Lajpat Nagar, to her tailor. Of course, knowing exactly what I want, I brought along tons of pictures on my iPad to show the tailor - and I think she really got me. She picked up things in the cut, and the way the clothes were made that I thought I would have to point out. I decided to try her first with just one shirt...and if it turns out well (which I think it will) she'll become "my" tailor and I'll have her make the rest of things I have on my growing list of "clothes to get made in India." OH! And I should add that at this market we also had to buy buttons - so that was another thing we did. Man, if I thought picking fabric was overwhelming picking BUTTONS?!?!? Seriously guys. We did a bit more shopping in this market (well, my friend did), got something to eat, and called it a night at about 8:30. I know it might not sound that long but dudes, it was a LONG day....started at the early morning photo outing remember?? You should know that once I leave my flat I do everything I need/want to do because once I get home - I'll not leave for the rest of the day. I'm that drained. There's no, "I'll go home and recharge and head back out later in the afternoon." No. The heat, combined with the walking, combined with the haggling for autos to use the meter and then haggling to get a fair rate when they won't use the meter, and then haggling in the markets....trust me, it adds up to a tiring day. My rule - one outing per day. Once I get in, it's shower and lounging with some laptop tv lol.

Street food snack: Fried sweet potatoe, assorted spices add and a dash of lime..Yummy! Rs.20 (about 50 cents)

Lajpat Nagar (above and below)

Sunday. Up early again to clean with my cleaning girl. Yes, I have a cleaning girl and I will be doing a post on what that is like. Needless-to-say it's very weird for me so I always clean with her - despite her telling me not to. Anywho, after she left I showered and headed out to a farewell brunch for a friend who is leaving Delhi today (Monday). Things didn't quite work out so we ended up saying our good-byes on the phone - but I'm sure we'll meet again...South Africa is high on my list of places to visit and now that I know someone there it's moved up even higher! After plans didn't quite work out I headed to the mall for a snack - before jumping in an auto and meeting up with a different friend at the Craft Museum where they have a huge open air craft mela ("mela" meaning "fair" - I think) going on. Vendors from all over India sell a variety of goods (from shoes to bags to scarves to artwork to kites to jewellery) and man oh man was it overwhelming and tempting. We walked around for a few hours gathering up bills from the various stalls we liked before heading to the payment table, paying, and going back to the stalls to pick up our items. It was tiring but great fun. I picked up some stuff for myself and some things for family (I'm starting to pick up family and friends gifts).

Craft Mela

I'm torn as to whether I should share pics of some of the things I'm beginning to buy as souvenirs for myself or wait until I'm back home in Toronto and share it then in a few big "what I bought" type posts......Anywho, at about 8 p.m. called it a a very successful afternoon and went home. Exhausted.

How was your weekend?

Let Me Upgrade You

2011-10-14T03:56:00.000-04:00

It's that time again where I share some links that have caught my eyes on the 'net over the past several days. If you're you know who feel free to skip this post and come back on Monday when I'll share some "my life in India" related adventures ;)

Spice Market, Chandni Chowk - Delhi, India

+ I have a new favourite food blog and it's called Spoon Fork Bacon (it's listed as one of my featured October blogs over on my sidebar...). The writing is authentic (it could be a friend talking to you) and the pictures are gorgeous. Good writing + beautiful pictures = win. Plus, the recipes all look delicious. I've pinned quite a few of them already....

+ Blogger and photographer Leela Cyd has started a fantastic photo tip site - Super Photo Magic School. If you're into photography or just want to learn how to take better photos check it out. And don't worry if you're not familiar with camera talk/jargo - she makes it totally easy to understand.

+ This photo has made me decide that I want tassels on my bedroom curtains when I move home. Does anyone know if this picture is from a house tour that can be found online? Would love to see more of what the space looks like.

+ This literally had me laughing out loud. Brilliant! One in Hindi please! (Thanks for the heads up Naomi :)

+ I've been listening to this song on repeat all week on my iPod. It's one of those songs that I didn't really listen to before but it popped up and I've just had the most fun singing along to it.

+ Not a link but last night I tried, for the first time, to duplicate my favourite Garlic Chilli Chicken with Gravy that I order from my favourite take-out place. I came pretty darn close! I'll share next week - if I can get around to taking pictures before devouring it.

+ And lastly, I'm all about keeping this blog as ad-free and free of sponsored posts as possible but peeps - I'm starting to count down my time in India. And I'm a volunteer...on a budget. Who wants to do ish. More ish than my budget allows. So if there are any tour operators or hotels reading this who want me to review their tour or hotel in India - at no cost to me - drop me a line ;)

Come across anything interesting? Have a great weekend!

*Photo above taken by me. Forgot I have to share the rest of my photos from my photo outing. This is one of them. I'll share the rest next week - portraits and the Spice Market.

Time to Explore

2011-10-11T05:29:00.003-04:00

Clockwise: A walk through my local market, fruit stand in my local market, lunch on Saturday afternoon - funny how all fast food shops look the same only the menus are different, elephant spotting, lovely tea shop i stopped in...and promptly made a cup of masala chai when I got home, I love how green Delhi is, the guidebooks I was knee deep in most of Sunday, craving for an ice cream sundae led me to this little ice cream shop in my neighbourhood (so good!), personal pan cheese pizza from pizza hut, tomb at the end of a street, stray dogs napping, the same elephant seen from the front, a fab store I perused on Saturday afternoon, lady lighting a prayer candle in my local market, as close to rocky road as I could find in my neighbourhood.

When I moved to Delhi I made a conscious decision that I'd take the first 3 months to settle in Delhi and not travel anywhere. I wanted to explore the city and get my footing a bit; learn how to haggle/bargain, and feel somewhat comfortable in my own skin here in a new country. Well, I've been here for almost 7 months now (can you believe that?) and am more than halfway through my year of being abroad - so I figure it's time to get moving! During what time I have left I have plans to get out and see more of the country (and cross things off my Wanderlist) - and while there are TONS that I want to do with my time and budget I simply won't be able to do it all.

So this past Sunday I spent much of the day knee-deep in guidebooks, using google for recommendations, writing (and re-writing) potential schedules, and looking at my calendar. Here's some of what I have (roughly) planned for my remaining time in India:

+ October: Might be heading to a Bear Sanctuary in Agra with some fellow volunteers.

+ October/November: Off to Rajasthan for a few weeks to do an overnight camel trek (sleeping in the desert!), take a textile course, and attend the Pushkcar Camel Festival. The festival was on my Wanderlist and I'm glad I'll get to cross it off.

+ November: I'll take a long weekend to head to Amritsar to visit the Golden Temple and see the border closing - which is supposed to be quite the spectacle.

+ Late November: Yet another train ride for another long weekend to explore the Kama Sutra Temples which are sure to make me blush profusely.

+ Early December: Since I don't think I'll be able to do Ladakh (insert very sad face here) I'll head to Shimla instead (a hill station that's not as far North) for some cold air, scenery, and chillaxing.

+ December/January: My bff and her hubby are coming out to visit for a few weeks and we'll head to Agra as well as the Ranthambore National Park to try and spot some tigers.

+ Mid - January: A high school friend of mine is currently in South Korea teaching English and will be heading to Thailand for a few weeks. I might join him there for a few days. Would be nice to catch up on a different continent!

And I think that's it travel/exploration wise. Though I really want to head South to Kerala and the backwaters and far North to Ladakh/Leh (it's the one place I've had high on my "to-visit" list while here in India).

Anyone ever been to India and done any of the things listed above? Any tips or suggestions?

Eat

2011-10-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

Today, back home in Toronto, it's Thanksgiving Day (or it will be in 9.5 hours). A day for gathering with family, friends, and loved ones and giving thanks. If I were at home I would have been in charge of roasting the chicken (using a combo of my two favourite roast chicken recipes - this one and this one (I like the brining of the meat overnight and high heat instructions as per one recipe and adding the lemon and potatoes as per the second recipe - but both are equally delicious if followed on their own) and broiling a couple pieces of smoked turkey (mmmmm). My mom would cook up some Jamaican dishes, my middle brother would make his usual salad (haha), and me and the youngest ones would bake something. Howard would also get his own little dish of turkey and meat. We'd all sit at the table, it would take a few minutes for someone to finally say grace, then we would chow down. And it would be awesome.

The day before I'd do the same thing at my sister's house with her and her longtime boyfriend - and this year, my new niece would be there. It too would be awesome.

This year though I'm thousands of miles away from home...without an oven. So this evening when my family and friends and loved ones are gathered around their table giving thanks I'll be giving thanks at an upscale restaurant I'm treating myself to - because I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving Day.

This video has been making it's way around the blogsphere and perhaps you've already seen it...but perhaps you haven't. 3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage = a trip of a lifetime & 3 beautiful and compelling short films based on movement, learning and food.

I felt it appropriate to share Eat. Here's Move and Learn.

+Last years Thanksgiving Post. I literally remember it like it was yesterday. The year went so quickly...

All That Glitters

2011-10-05T04:45:00.000-04:00

(1) Brass Lamp (2) Gold Glitter Nail Polish (3) Gold Sequinned Dress

Feeling... oddly optimistic.
Thinking about... life in general. You know, those heavy soul searching questions.
Seriously considering... cutting my hair short when I move back home (basically like this).
Excited about... my best friend coming to visit in December - just in time for Christmas!
Worried about... how long it will take to find a job when I get home. (But still feeling optimistic)
Craving... a grilled cheese sandwich, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, rocky road ice cream, and jumbo spicy shrimps from my favourite hole-in-the-wall in Toronto.
Watching... 24, Lie To Me, and Sex and The City on my laptop.
Loving... the past few updates received from family and friends. Such great/exciting/hopeful things going on back home.
Hating... not knowing. Kinda vague, I know.
Busy... working on some personal projects, updating my resume (yikes, already!) and getting actual work stuff done.
Counting down for... pay day! Budgeting quarterly payments is tough!
Looking forward to... the end of the month - a camel festival and textile workshop.
Lusting after... the things picture above. I need that nail polish in my life.
Reading... blogs and the history/culture section of my India guide books. I need to pick up a novel.
Hoping... my dog behaves himself this week. My mom called a bit frustrated this week :(

Frequent Flyer: Kylie of Spencer and Kylie

2011-10-03T08:06:00.000-04:00

As with most of the blogs I read, I don't remember exactly how I stumbled on Kylie's blog, Kylie and Spencer, earlier this summer but I did and after reading just a few posts I quickly became a "follower" and have been reading along ever since. Kylie and her husband Spencer are humanitarian photographers/videographers - something I'm interested in as well (which could be part of the reason I instantly fell for their blog). So far, they've lived and worked in China, Hawaii, Peru, and now Ecuador where they are currently shooting for a non-profit. Travellers and humanitarians? My kinda people. When you read Kylie's blog it's clear that they have a genuine love, passion, and excitement for what they do (and each other) - I love that.

Oh, Kylie's also a triplet. An identical triplet (how cool is that!) - and they each love to travel. Together with her sister's they write the blog Traveling Triplets - another fun read. So now you have two new reads to add to your reader :)

You're welcome.

Current City:
Ibarra, Imbabura, Ecuador

Hometown:
Caldwell, Idaho

How many trips do you take each year?
I have a tendency to move places instead of just stopping by – so it really depends on the year. While living abroad we travel to many other places nearby which averages out to about 3 trips per year.

Favourite travel memory (in 5 sentences or less)?
In Spring of 2011, I traveled with a group of students to the tiny island nation of Tuvalu. Tuvalu is said to disappear in the next 50 years, swallowed by the sea due to its low elevation of only 15 feet above sea level. This island is one of 9 coral atolls, and can hardly be seen on a map. Located in Polynesia near Fiji, Tuvalu is home to the most kind, warm and welcoming people where everyone is considered family. You can learn more about the island by watching our videos here.

Tuvalu

Best thing about traveling?
Meeting new people – seeing how families live from day to day in a totally different environment – trying new food and being introduced to new customs and traditions. There is so much to learn from experience that we cannot learn from books or online.

Toughest thing about traveling?
Having enough money to do what you want to do! It can be tricky when you travel on a small backpacker budget, as I do, but there are always ways to do what you dream of doing without having a heap of money to do it.

Three essentials you always take with you and why (excluding money & passport)?
1. Hand sanitizer – I use this stuff all the time, especially considering so often there is no soap or running water where I go and I do love me some clean hands!
2. SLR camera – must.document.everything
3. My hubby – he is my other half, my best travel mate, and without him it just isn’t near as fun!

A favourite gadget/item/tip you’ve discovered that helps:
Lonely Planet travel books and their Thorntree Forum. They’re my ultimate travel companions. I never go to any country without one. LP is perfect for those who travel on a budget and full of great ideas and adventurous destinations without making you feel like a total goofball tourist. Thorntree is an awesome discussion board where travelers leave comments and posts about where they’ve been and what they did, and it is usually quite reliable.

How do you survive long plane rides?
I sleep! A lot! Put me in a car and I’m out in 5 minutes, just ask my hub. I ask for a blanket and cover my head with it, too. Then I always make sure to wake up for free drinks and complimentary meals/snacks. It does help to be near the aisle to get to the bathroom easier and unload your baggage first, but I admit I prefer the window so I can gaze at the sky and sun as it sets and rises between time zones. Those moments are magical.

How do you plan for a trip?
I would categorize myself as a planner, although my husband and I don’t do a lot of planning when it comes to traveling. We do our homework on areas we want to go beforehand – such as seeing what there is to do in each city, what kinds of activities are available, and which destinations we would prefer. Beyond that, it is all spontaneity. We get off a bus, train or plane and with our packs on our back mill around looking for a hostel to our liking. From there, we talk with the locals or other expats and see what there is to do that is fun and adventurous. My husband and I like to pave our own path – we are two little explorers that enjoy the relaxed low-key rhythm of travel with no real concrete plans that just end up stressing you out or failing. It’s more fun to plan as you go – and it allows flexibility in your schedule.

In Thailand

Favourite things to do/see when you’re in a new city?
Whenever we get to a new place, we always look for good food. We love to eat. And I especially love to eat ice cream and anything chocolate. We sniff our way to yummy bakeries hidden around corners and appetizing restaurants on the streets. As a couple, we most enjoy doing things alongside the locals and taking the less-trodden path to see how things really are at a local level.

What camera do you carry with you?
We carry two cameras with us – as humanitarian videographers and photographers, our gear and equipment is our job and therefore we guard them with our lives and take good care of them. Our cameras mean a great deal to us. At this point, we are absolutely 100% satisfied with our equipment, especially since it took 4 years to upgrade to this level. I shoot on a Canon 7D while my husband handles the Canon 5D mk II, but when he isn’t filming I snag the 5D for photography as well. We always bring along external hard drives, the LaCie 2 TB and portable Mac-compatible WD drives to backup our photos and video as we go. We have experienced the photographer’s dreaded moment of the computer crashing and losing ALL our photos from Asia, and ever since we never hesitate to back up right away. Our favorite lenses include Canon’s 17-40 mm L series, 50 mm 1.8 thrifty fifty, and an old school Hoya Skylight IA 50 mm 1.4 lens that has incredible bokeh.

Many people want to travel but often don’t – citing reasons like not enough time/money, too busy etc. How are you able to make travel a regular part of your life?
Traveling is not a question of time or money, but rather priority. Although time and money have a huge deal to do with it, there is more to it than what people may assume. For those of us who have a burning passion to explore and see the world, traveling is not just an option it is a necessity. We make things happen. The key is looking for opportunities to work with NGOs or humanitarian organizations that can use a helping hand in exchange for free rent, or making time during the summer or with what time you get off from work to go somewhere new. Some people even take on school abroad to see the world! There are plenty of options.

Do you collect anything from your trips?
YES – bracelets, bracelets, and more bracelets! I LOVE bracelets. My wrist has a party all year round. My husband and I each buy wedding bands (just any type of ring) everywhere we go, as well. It’s a fun tradition! And of course, anytime there is an opportunity for a new hair wrap I take it.

Last trip:
Peru. I lived in Cusco for two months, filming and photographing for a humanitarian organization with my husband. During our time there, we were able to visit the infamous and stunning Machu Picchu! I loved the fuzzy llamas and climbing ancient ruins under the scorching Incan sun.

At Machu Picchu

Next trip:
The Caribbean side of Colombia. We want to soak in all the rays we can, and enjoy a change of scenery under the sun.

Place your dying to return to?
CHINA! I LOVE CHINA! Seriously, hands down, top fav of all the places I’ve been. The people in China blow me away with their love and kindness. The culture is so unique and there is SO MUCH to see in China. With such incredible diversity in climate, landscape, food, and dialect you are bound to have an adventure no matter which direction you take.

With her students in China

Best hotel you’ve stayed in?
The best hotel I’ve stayed in would have to be in La Fortuna, Costa Rica at Villas Vista Arenal. This place is luxurious and located in the middle of the jungle at the base of a beautiful volcano. The grounds are serene and peaceful, with an eternity pool out front and private cabinas spread throughout the property. Rooms are spacious, include a safe for your valuables, and accommodations include delicious complimentary breakfast to fill your tum to its max! There is a porch out front with hammocks strung for you to relax with a book, and the grounds are quiet and peaceful for you and your lover to have some ME TIME! Love this place, and would recommend it in a heartbeat.

Dream destination?
France. My mother and grandmother are French, and I have many relatives in the South of France that I would absolutely love to visit. It is on my must-visit-when-I-have-money list, since Europe is more spendy than my usual Asia/Latin America trips. I also have my eyes on Greece, as that is a place I’ve always wanted to go with my sisters. I am an identical triplet, and with my sisters we run a site called Traveling Triplets where we share our travel stories and tips on how to travel on a budget. It’s a lot of fun and we are determined to fulfilling all our dream destinations within this lifetime! ☺

The Traveling Triplets (at her sister's wedding this past summer)

Finish this sentence: A world without travel is like…
…..living in a box. I know that sounds harsh, but really people? We need to get out! We all need to see a little of the world to freshen our perspective, keep us humble, and help us learn valuable lessons that we otherwise just won’t learn in our own backyard.

*****
I love these Frequent Flyer features because I get as much out of them as, hopefully, you guys do. I enjoy getting to know the bloggers behind some of my favourite blogs a bit better and sharing their thoughts, insights, tips and suggestions...and it's always fun to discover new blogs, no? Along with her sisters Kylie is in the process of opening up an online shop where they will sell unique handmade items to wear from around the world - I'm really looking forward to it! Be sure to stop by both of her blogs, Kylie and Spencer, and Traveling Triplets - and I tell her I sent you!

Photo credit: All pictures taken by Kylie or Spencer and used with permission.

Frequent Flyer spotlights a blogger I enjoy who also happens to love traveling and exploring new places. In Frequent Flyer I ask them a few questions to get their thoughts, tips, suggestions, and travel tales - in hopes of inspiring YOU (and myself!) on future travels. In the Frequent Flyer feature I don't just talk to travel bloggers - I talk to bloggers of various backgrounds (design, photography, fashion, life...) Some take many quick trips a year, others travel frequently for work, and others take a handful of longer jaunts abroad - but they all have great stories and tips and I hope you enjoy this feature! To see past Frequent Flyers click here.

From My iPhone

2011-10-03T01:32:00.000-04:00

I'm. Such. A. Nerd.

I've had my iPhone here with me this entire time and have only, periodically, been using it to to listen to music on my metro rides to and from work. I've thought "it would be nice if I could use it to take some semi-discreet pics...." but since I don't use it it doesn't have a plan and I thought "well, how would I get the pics from the phone to my computer if I can't email it to myself....."

Then last week I realized, quite out of the blue, that I can connect the USB cable and upload the pics to my computer. D'uh! Needless to say, I'd never done it before so the idea, though quite obvious, was quite a revelation to me. Like I said, I'm such a nerd.

So above are some pics I snapped somewhat discreetly last week after I discovered I can get the pictures off my phone using the usb cable (in hindsight I really am a nerd for not knowing that). Now I can finally do a post about my random thoughts on the ladies metro...with pictures - so expect that soon! And no, the dog isn't dead. It's sleeping on a pile of dirt.

Below are some pictures from my weekend. Again, from my iPhone. I am now officially using four cameras here in India. Awesome.

(And holy heck how is it already October?!?!)

I Love You But....

2011-09-29T02:39:00.002-04:00

I found (and blogged) these photos* about 3 years ago (on an old old blog) but thought I'd share them here because I find them just to be so hilarious - I know I've thought both of these thoughts before! I mean seriously, who wears sunglasses INDOORS? Why? Ugh. Lol.

Now on to something serious. Please go read his article in the NYTimes entitled "Delhi on 32 Rupees a Day?" The fact that some officials here seem to think that any urban resident making more than 32 rupees a day (about 0.65 cents) would NOT be considered as living below the poverty line (aka poor) is absolutely ludicrous to me. 32 rupees a day - seriously?!?!? To LIVE. It costs me about 80 rupees (total) each day to get to and from work. Absolutely ludicrous. I don't know who came up with that number but you can't do ANYTHING for 32 rupees a day in Delhi.

*The original link to the source of the images is no longer working so if you know of the updated link let me know so I can properly give credit.

Chandni Chowk in Photos

2011-09-28T03:18:00.000-04:00

Finally, some more pics from the photography outing I went on a few weekends ago (when I took his portrait, photos of this wedding lane, and this blur filled photo).

A bit of a background: Chandni Chowk (the area these photos were taken) and the immediate area surrounding it is, for me, the most overwhelming place to be in the city. It hits you like a ton of bricks. It's stimulating in every sense of the word and I dare say almost every sense is engaged - mostly at the same time (writing that made me think of this Family Guy clip ha ha). I went here my very first week in Delhi and regretted it - it was just "too" much for me. I didn't know where to look or to walk. I felt on guard. I felt overwhelmed.

Chandni Chowk is in a section of Old Delhi that looks like it could be 1911 instead of 2011. Chandi Chowk is the main street that leads down to the Red Fort...but there are lanes upon lanes upon lanes branching off of the main street that form some kind of maze that I imagine would take years to learn. In these lanes you can find everything you can think of - and certain areas/lanes are known for specific items. So far I've discovered (what I call) Wedding Decor Lane, Silver Lane, Paper Lane, Educational Textbooks Lane, Auto Parts Lane, and the Spice Market (which is much bigger than a lane) On my "to-find" list include Brass Lane and the Fabric Market...So when thinking of where to head on a photography outing - Chandni Chowk, for many reasons, was an obvious choice. Since that first week back in March I've since been a few times and each time my comfort level rises and I'm more confident in navigating the area. It's not as overwhelming as it was in the beginning. We arrived early and many of the shops had not opened - or were just beginning too and in the process of getting ready for the day. It was busy but not that "in your face busy" that I'd come to expect. It was nice to be able to explore the backlanes at a somewhat slower pace - uninterrupted by motorcycles and tons of people. (But in an hour that all changed.)

The backlanes of Chandni Chowk are bright colours, men getting shaved, women selling vegetables, huge bundles being transported by cart & bicycle, people/cycle rickshaws/motorcycles (and the occasional cow) sharing the same packed street, stray dogs, girls getting fitted for their upcoming wedding, colourful scarves and shawls and saris in various colours and prints, students hunting for school books, beautiful natural light (in the right places - you just have to look for it), cracked and crumbling dirty sidewalks, garbage overflowing at the dump, ornate temples....

Still to come - a few more photos of the area, the Spice Market, and portraits.

The 6* Things I Miss The Most

2011-09-27T02:57:00.001-04:00

At least one post each month starts with the words "Can you believe how fast time is flying by?" - but seriously, can you? I'm flabbergasted that I've been in India for over 6 months. SIX MONTHS. Holy crap. Time is flying. A few days ago I asked myself "What do I miss the most about Toronto...about home?" and after serious consideration - and ruling out things that I miss but don't miss the most (like reality tv) I came up with a list of 6 things.

1. My mom is Jamaican and makes the most delicious Jamaican food. What I wouldn't give for some Oxtail, Rice & Peas, Curry Chicken, Roti and Fried Dumplings, Ackee, Cornmeal Porridge*.....

2. My iPhone. You saw the crappy phone I'm using - need I say more?

3. I'm not a huge baker but man do I miss having an oven. It seems like every recipe I pin onto my pinterest Yummy Board requires an oven. I forsee lots of baking and broiling upon my return home!

4. I miss the diversity of Toronto (some facts here). I miss seeing people who look different and are from different places around the world; who have their own individuality. For the most part here, everyone looks the same. Same hairstyle, same style of dressing, same same same.

5. I'm not a huge coffee drinker but I love me some Tim Hortons' coffee. And french vanilla. And hot chocolate. And ice caps. And donuts. And oatmeal raisin cookies. And toasted bagels. And chicken salad sandwich......

6. Thrifting + Craigslisting (not pictured). Despite being 11,656 km (7, 243 miles) away from home I STILL regularly check craigslist and the website for my favourite thrift shop for specific items I want. I've missed some really good things. I don't know why I continue to torture myself by checking...sometimes I feel like crying when I see what I've missed. Is it too much to hope that they'll still be there in 6 months?

So this is it. The 6 things I miss the most - half of it is food related, did you notice that? Funny to compare it to this list I wrote back in January where I wrote about what I thought I'd miss the most. Next I'll share what, surprisingly, I don't miss as much as I thought I would.

Wait a sec. At the last moment, I'm adding a 7th.

7. I miss cuddling with Howard and feeling the warmth of his little 8 pound body. Wherever I am Howard likes to be squished in rightbeside me as closeashecanget - even if there is no room he squeezes in and lies contentedly. And I miss that.

*Note: I have recently found Cornmeal here (it's called something different) and will be attempting to make my favourite porridge this weekend.

Chase Music

2011-09-26T01:52:00.000-04:00

This weekend was for polishing my nails in gold glitter, exploring some shops in Connaught Place, spending almost the entire Sunday in bed (seriously), and going to a rooftop party on Saturday night.

By the way, on my way home on Saturday night I made the above video. Some autos have speakers and some auto drivers like to blast their music. This was one of those drivers. It was late, dark, we were going relatively fast (until other cars zipped by us), and the music reminded me of chase music - you know, the kind of music you'd hear in a movie during a chase scene? For some reason I found it kind of hilarious and decided to shoot a quick video. Nothing exciting. Just Delhi streets at night (just after midnight).

I wish the music was louder so you could get the full effect.

Portrait

2011-09-23T03:37:00.002-04:00

When I went on my photography outing a few weeks ago I gave myself a personal challenge - to ask 3 strangers if I could take their picture. Taking portraits of people (who I don't know) is something I find incredibly difficult. When I look at the travel photos by some of my favourite travel bloggers - I'm always blown away by the portraits they get of the local people. "How do they do that?" I wonder. In the end the answer is always simple, they ask. Even a slight gesture with the camera and a face that says "Do you mind...." is considered as an ask. But I've been too chicken to do even that.

So I challenged myself - ask at least 3 strangers.

I saw this old man sitting down behind his vegetables and I knew I'd ask him.

It's silly, but my heart was beating so quickly! I was terrified he was going to say no.

I (literally) inhaled deeply, walked over with my camera and asked. And he said yes.

I ended up asking about 7 or 8 people that day! Only 1 said no.

Not bad.

+ I plan on getting a copy of the photo printed, going back, and giving him a copy. I have a feeling I'll be able to find him sitting on that step most days.....

The Perfect Shade of Green

2011-09-22T02:51:00.000-04:00

I bought these tassels when I was in Old Delhi a few weeks ago. The seller told me that they are used by (traditionally) Punjabi women to adorn their hair on their wedding day. I'm not a tassel kinda girl but when I saw all of them hanging in various colours and various gold threaded patterns (some with beads and mirrors) I was smitten. I imagine them hung on a door knob or casually hanging on a mirror when I return home (I might even put a couple into B for Bazaar for you all). A perfect little reminder of my time in India.

Plus this shade of green was just too perfect to walk away from. It's like green that has been mixed with gold; I love gold. As a result of these tassels I'm now dreaming of not only a yellow sofa but a green one too.

Wedding Decor Lane

2011-09-20T18:55:00.000-04:00

I had a post all set to go with tons of pictures I took during my photography outing in Old Delhi a two weeks ago but when I went to hit "publish" I noticed that I had somehow resized them wrong. Like 20 of 'em. So until I resize them properly, which I'm going to try and do asap, I leave you with these that sized correctly.

+Images taken at what I call "Wedding Decor Lane" in the back lanes of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi.

Fabric Stores Overwhelm Me

2011-09-20T00:42:00.000-04:00

polka dot

peacock feathers

birds..

animal-esque print

leopard print...

Fabrics I spotted this weekend at an *amazing* fabric store that I will be purchasing to have tailored into shirts like this and this for a fraction of the cost. Sweet.

Now to pick fabrics for the dresses, skirts, blazer, and assortment of accent pillows I plan on getting made before I leave.....

+ All fabric pictured, except animal-esque one, was Rs.120 per meter. [1 meter = 1.09 yards] I don't remember what kind of fabric they were. The animal-esque one was silk/satin blend and a whopping Rs.1150 per meter....but it's SO nice. The leopard one was silk (or silk/satin blend, can't remember) and Rs.950 per meter.

B for Bazaar

2011-09-16T03:02:00.000-04:00

Some things that have caught my eyes around the 'net over the past week or so....

Image Credit: Oh Happy Day!

+ I'm already thinking about my niece's first birthday party (which I totally plan on throwing) and aren't these invitations fun??? I originally saw this on Pinterest but followed the link to the blog Oh Happy Day! where Jordan shares a full tutorial AND template.

+ Anna at Door Sixteen shared easy steps for how to make your images into circles. I suspect there will be a lot more circle images popping up on blogs across the interwebs....as evidenced by my new blog banner :)

+ This post, Fear and Terror, by Tara of the blog Tea & Cookies, really resonated with me. Putting your creative work "out there" is hard. Really hard.

+ Have you ever visited the blog Pugly Pixel? It's such a treat to visit. Katrina is seriously creative and generous to boot - she regularly shares tutorials on making your blog look it's best and how to work in photoshop to create fun elements (blog buttons, tape strips, etc)...she also regularly shares amazing free downloads...I've recently downloaded these awesome glitter buttons and this photo layout template - which I'm sure I'll be making plenty of use of.

+ I just loved reading this post, "When I Grow Up," by my friend Breanna of the blog This Battered Suitcase (she was also a featured Frequent Flyer).

+ And finally, way back in the middle of summer I mentioned my want to open a little online shop selling some of the goodies I find here in India. At the time I gave myself what was, in hindsight, a terribly unrealistic opening date. Well good news, I'm back on track and B for Bazaar is set to open on October 24. Go here to read about it. And follow me on twitter @bforbazaar to stay updated.

So much going on. Not enough hours in the day. Have a good weekend!

Blur

2011-09-14T06:31:00.000-04:00

The top image and one on the left are two of my favourites that I took this past weekend while out on a photography outing in Old Delhi with some friends (and the more I see the one on the right the more I start to like it too). Technically, they aren't perfect. The highlights are a bit blown out. And the one on the left - well it's a complete blur...not focused at all. But there's something about it, and them, that I love. I can easily see framing anyone of them for my wall when I get back home...which was the point of this photography outing - to make pictures I would love and would be proud to frame and hang on my wall. Even if they aren't technically perfect.

I had such a good time slowing down and taking deliberate photographs with other like-minded people. There was no worry that we were "holding each other up" and "moving too slowly" every time one of us stopped to capture something that caught our eyes. I think I'll try and do a little photo outing once a month....

I have TONS more pictures to share and will do so over the next few days.

Part II in The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

2011-09-13T02:21:00.000-04:00

Yikes. It's been almost two months since I wrote Part I of my three part post The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly. You can read Part I - The Good here. Now, just about 6 months into my year long stay in Delhi, it's time for Part II - The Bad. I don't have to say that yes some of these are generalizations and are MY opinions based on my experiences and observations, do I? Good. I didn't think so.

sleeping under a car...normally they are right up under the middle of the car and barely visible...

Stray on top of a garbage dump

1. Stray dogs are everywhere. Everywhere. Why doesn't anyone mention this in guidebooks or on blogs? They roam around, j-walk, sleep under cars, on top of piles of dirt and construction debris...they're everywhere - which means their shit is also everywhere (though, surprisingly, not as much as you'd expect given the number of strays). And, for the most part, I don't think they are a "proper" breed. They seem to be some "new" breed created after what I suppose is years of cross-breeding. As someone who is as (a) mostly afraid of dogs and (b) terrified of rabies - this stray dog situation is not good. I've come to learn that many neighbourhoods consider these dogs "community" dogs and will feed and give them water. So while they don't look malnourished many look like they've been in a scrap or two...or three. I really wish something could be done about the stray dog population because it is really really out of hand. And on a side note I've seen 5 dead dogs since being here....2 in the middle of the road, 1 lying beside a garbage bin, 1 in a garbage bin, and just last week what looked to be a malnourished almost skeletal remain of a pup that couldn't have been more than a few weeks old. It's really pretty sad.

2. Everyone seems to have an air of self-importance. That's the only reason I can think of to explain why no one waits in line (they bud, obviously, right in front of you!), no one waits until you exit the metro (get your elbows ready - it gets really rowdy!), why people squeeze in where there is no seat/room on the metro (and they don't even say "excuse me" they simple demand that you "shift" (meaning move)...and all other sorts of things that leads me to think that people think their comfort/time is more important than yours.

3. The pollution. When I first arrived, and for the first 2-3 months, I was constantly picking at my nose (ask my sister, she witnessed it via skype) and cleaning my ears. They just constantly felt clogged and dirty. And they were; I called them "black boogers." Gross. Now, 6 months in (though I regularly clean my ears) I don't pick at my nose half as often. Only thing I can think of is that I've become "used" to it. Not good. I can only imagine what this year abroad will do to my lungs.....Come to think of it, not just air pollution but noise pollution too. It's noisy. I mean, on the streets it's constant car horns. Constantly. I should take a video just standing on a street side for a few minutes and you're ears will be ringing.

Thought he was taking a discreet picture of me but I caught him...

Who knew I was so interesting to look at???

4. The staring is so so so bad. Like, really bad. I think I've mentioned it before but I don't think I've done a proper post...and I will. But to keep this short, it's really bad. Young, old, men, women (for the most part) every one stares and it seems to be "okay/acceptable" because when you stare back - the staring continues and you find yourself in a staring contest. From the men it feels like I'm either (a) In a zoo or (b) being leered at - like a piece of meat. I hate it. From the women it, for the most part, feels like curiosity. I'll do a separate post but in the beginning I was confused - I'm the same shade as a lot of Indians - so what's the big deal I'd think. I think it's a combination of me being (1) a foreigner and (2) a black girl. While there are Indians who are darker than me I just clearly don't look like "one of them" and I think, for many, I'm the first black person (or black north american person) they are seeing in the flesh. I think here they are somewhat used to seeing white travelers/backpackers now...but a black girl - from America or Africa (which is where they usually guess I'm from though I don't look African in the least) - that's a whole new thing.

5. For the most part people tend to walk really slow, like they have no where to be/go, and it just annoys me.

Yes, this is the shitty phone I'm using while here. Don't you feel bad for me?

6. Spam texts. I love the texts I get from the bank every time a transaction takes place on my account but I hate the spam texts get from other places. I don't even know where they come from! It's always some kind of offer that I have no interest in "save 25% on your next pizza" or "save 10% at the movies" or "download this song" - so freaking annoying.

7. It's totally a man's world.

8. The traffic. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. Cars, buses, trucks, autos, and sometimes cycle rickshaws (and the occasional cow) all crowd the streets trying to be first to get wherever it is they are going. Lanes are mere suggestions as people cut each other off on the regular - as if cutting each other off is a rule of thumb. Car horns go for EVERYTHING - when you're turning, when you're stoping, when you're frustrated, when you want someone to move, when you think someone is driving too slow, when you want to change a lane...and you don't put your indicator on and wait until someone lets you in....I don't even think you put your indicator on - you just change lanes. And if you feel like being nice you'll honk first so the person knows your coming...that or that you're frustrated, going to drive faster, slow down, turn....I don't know how it all works but it seems to. I'm sure there are thousands of accidents a year but I have yet to witness one. Not even a little fender bender.

9. Garbage and construction debris. If you're staying in one of the nice diplomatic areas you won't see garbage on the streets or garbage dumps overflowing (or garbage dumps I don't think)....but if you're anywhere else prepare yourself. In my neighbourhood (which is considered a good neighbourhood in a good area) it's not too bad and the worst you'll see is this:

At least it's in a neat pile ready to be picked up by whoever cleans up the garbage.

But in some areas it will look like this:

And it smells horrible. Granted, I don't think the same garbage is there day after day. I think it's actually cleaned up daily. But you wouldn't know that since every day there seems to be a new fresh pile of overflowing garbage. Also, on lots of streets you'll see piles of construction debris - seemingly sitting there for no reason.

Sometimes there isn't even construction going on...just a big pile of rubble or dirt. I wish someone would clean it up.

So, for the most part, I think that's it. The Bad. I will try not to take as long posting The Ugly.

The Weekend Was For...

2011-09-12T01:49:00.000-04:00

...eating leftovers from my FAVOURITE place in Delhi (this chilli chicken is to. die. for.)

...going on a photography outing with friends in Old Delhi with the sole purpose being to slow down and take
deliberate photographs (can't wait to share some pics)

...doing laundry (bucket-style...glamorous huh?)

It was also for taking a return visit to India Gate at night. What did you get done this weekend?

Update:
I don't have a TV or read the newspapers often or use the internet much on weekends - so to say I lose track of my days easily is an understatement but I did remember, before the day was over, that Sunday was the 10 year anniversary of September 11th. My thoughts to everyone who lost someone on that day. I can't believe it's been 10 years.

Coloured Sofa. Would You? Could You?

2011-09-09T06:17:00.000-04:00

This has NOTHING to do with my life here in Delhi but I've mentioned it before that as much as I'm enjoying my time here I spend lots of time (mostly when I'm commuting on the Metro) daydreaming about decorating my apartment, basically from scratch, when I move back home to Toronto.

So pardon the design-ish posts that I'm sure will pop up every now and then.

Clockwise: Jenna Lyons in British Vogue, Unknown, Pure Style Home, Sofia Coppola in the now defunct
Domino Magazine, Jenna Lyons in Domino, Unknown.

Something that's been on my mind lately are coloured sofas. I know that most people say to keep the "big" items neutral - that way you can easily change your decor around it without having to reinvest...but these pictures of coloured sofas have me weak in the knees. The majority of them (except for the purple settee) are in my favourite style - the English Roll Arm; me thinks it's pretty safe to say that I'll be investing in one. Sure, it's just fine in a neutral...but in colour - they just have so much...personality and make the space they're in really become something special I think.

I don't think I could ever do a true neutral sofa - you know, beige or cream or "wheat" or one of those colours...mostly because I'm afraid of making a mess...or of my dark denim rubbing off on it. So while a part of me is saying "play it semi-safe and go with a modern neutral, like gray..." a larger part of me is saying "what the heck, you only live once - go for it!" Am I crazy?

Tell me, would/could you? (And if you could what colour would you do?)

Free Cocktails? Sure. Why Not.

2011-09-07T06:48:00.001-04:00

Last week I mentioned that I'd be heading out to a non house/terrace party/get-together and I wanted to tell you a bit about it...

I was invited through an expat friend newly arrived here in Delhi. She's living the type of expat life I sometimes wonder about...you know, the one with a proper western salary, a washer and dryer (so jealous!), and a home that looks like a North American home. I call it the "expat bubble" because it's a totally different lifestyle than what volunteers (like me) or other expats here on a modest Indian salary experience and can be quite...sheltered for the lack of a better word. (I won't say it's not a "real" experience because all experiences are "real" - it's just different and perhaps not quite the norm/average Indian lifestyle). But the expat bubble is not what this post is about. It's about this party I went to that, without my new friend, I wouldn't have even known about. I wanted to go to see what it would be like "inside the expat bubble" if only for a night and you know what? It was kinda awesome.

A wall that slides open to reveal the DJ and a Nelson bubble-esque lamp fixture.

We (it ended up being me, my newly arrived friend, another volunteer friend and her friend who's in India on a tour) started at the main location which was pretty laid back. There was good music, people were friendly, I played some pool and met new friends of the opposite sex (just friends, people). These new friends (also living inside the expat bubble) knew of a friend who could get them into some fancy shmancy club - free of charge - did we want to join? Now at home, this isn't something I'd do but without going into details these were trustworthy people who seemed harmless enough (though I've been watching a LOT of 24 and my gosh are there ever some shady characters!) and our gut said things would be fine (always listen to your gut people) so their driver (yes, those inside the expat bubble mostly have drivers and it is awesome) took us all over to this fancy club in this fancy hotel where we had been placed on the guest list. Let me make this very clear that unless you want to eat Maggi (India's version of ramen) for the entire month this is not the kind of club you go to as a volunteer on a budget; it costs 3000 rupees (about $60) just to get in. It was the kind of club with enormous statues that had water coming from them, gigantic buddha heads, upholstered seating, bars and menus that glow (!), and a wall that split in two and slid open to reveal the DJ. It was like I was in another world; my volunteer friend and I were positively giddy lol.

Bars that glow...

Gigantic statue heads...

The clubs here seem to play a lot of dance/techno/house music (or pop songs sped up to a dance/techno/house beat) which isn't really my cup of tea and because there weren't too many people on the dance floor one of the friends of my new friends (who is a DJ) said we could to another club that he plays at....so we got back into the car and headed over to a second fancy shmancy club where we again got in for free and this time were treated to free drinks.

Free drinks? Sure, why not.

Dance floor with blinding flashing lights that made me have to take a break from dancing.

Free cocktails? I'm not a drinker but I decided it's not often I'll get free drinks and I sure as heck am not going to pay between Rs.400-600 for one - so I had a delicious fruity-esque drink and proceeded to dance the night away - despite it being techno/house/dance music (guess the drink loosened me up!) At one point (okay at several points) - on my urging (I'll admit it) - one of my new male friends attempted to get the Indians on the dance floor to join into the Jersey Shore fist pump - it was hilarious and I wish I had a picture of the way one local guy totally India-fied it.

All in all it was a great night (must have been since their driver dropped me home at close to 4am!) and I now have more friends living inside the expat bubble. It's nice to have friends of all sorts, isn't it?

***I also announced the winner of my birthday giveaway in this post. Joji please send me an email confirming your win :) before Thursday Midnight EST***

+ Total number of times I used the word "free" in this post = 5. For a volunteer "free" is a very good word.

The Things They Say

2011-09-06T02:29:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd share a few things they say here that took me a while to get used to. I guess it's like how the British say lift, jumper, or flat when at home we say elevator, sweater, and apartment.....

"Double"
Here the phone number are, I think, 10-digits...without the city code. Whenever ANYONE gives their number - if the same number is repeated they say "double X" (where x=number). I'm making this sound much more confusing than it is so here is an example:

Phone Number: 8185595633
Westerners say: 8 -1- 8 - 5 - 5 - 9 - 5 - 6 - 3 - 3
Indians say: 8 - 1 - 8 - Double 5 - 9 - 5 - Double 3.

It always throws me off for a minute.

"At The Rate"
The first time an Indian was giving me their email address they said: indira at the rate yahoo dot com. So I wrote "indiraattherate@yahoo.com" I was wrong. "At the rate" = @. So I should have just wrote "indira@yahoo.com" I've since kept my ears open and all Indians seem to say "at the rate" instead of just saying "at."

I totally do not understand the reasoning behind this one.

"Shift"
You here this ALL THE TIME on the Metro. The seating is meant to seat 7 (the seats are like...one continuous slab of metal but each individual seat is indented so you can see how many seats there actually are).....

7 free seats on the Metro! A very rare sight!

.....but if there is even a SLIVER of metal showing between you and the person next to you, without failure, someone will get on the Metro, walk over to you and say "shift." This annoys the shit out of me to know end because, given the setting and the way it's said (and the way I've heard in other conversations), I take shift to mean "move." No "please" or "can you" or anything polite like that. And it's not a question (because the voice doesn't go up at the end) it's like a command "shift." Ugh. I hate that most just get onto the train and expect you to move over and make yourself uncomfortable (and believe me, I've seen plenty of people make themselves majorly uncomfortable so someone can squeeze them selves in...or squeeze the edge of their butt on the seat) when there simply isn't any room. Most people "shift" without question but I guess it's the bad-ass (or the meanie) in me who will often just stare at the person as if I have no clue what they are saying, or look at the little sliver of silver that they want to squeeze themselves into - look back at the person and say "there's no room." (Just for the record the most people I've seen squeezed into this seating meant for 7 is 9 adults with 2 or 3 kids. Crazy)

And though this isn't a mistake everyone does here I thought it would be fun to note that my landlady's driver, who is at the gate every morning when I leave for work, greets me each day by saying "Good Morning Sir." Haha.

A Winner

2011-09-05T03:41:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I do things the old fashion way...and because I don't know what online program to use when gathering votes from a variety of places (blog comments, twitter, etc.) I went old school and wrote everyone's name out on paper...cut them into strips...put them into a small bowl...put it behind my back...tossed it a bit...and chose a winner...

Congratulations Joji! Please send me an email at hellokisha(at)gmail(dot)com with your mailing address . Because I'm announcing the winner late, and Monday is a Labour Day, you have until Thursday at 11:59 p.m. to email me otherwise a new winner will be drawn and announced.

The Tamest Picture I Can Share

2011-09-02T05:02:00.000-04:00

The above picture is the tamest picture I can share here, publicly, of my full body massage experience that I treated myself to for my birthday. I didn't know to take the words "full body" literally and people...it was perhaps the most embarrassing thing I've ever subjected myself to lmao. As soon as I can gather the words to properly convey just how mortifying the experience was I promise I will share. Just know that it included what I'm certain was about 3 litres of hot oil, not one but TWO massagers (or whatever you call 'em), a pair of disposable panties...and to my horror not much else. Oy!

I'm still tabulating the entries to my birthday giveaway so I'll post the winner this weekend (my bad) but in the meantime here are some things that are really tickling my fancy right now:

- One of my most favourite bloggers (and someone I now consider a friend) Kathleen of the blog Jeremy + Kathleen just announced her new venture - a kick ass creative and consulting agency called Braid (LOVE the name and the concept). Kathleen is an amazingly talented designer and by coincidence I have a post going up next week revealing something amazing she created for me....I can't wait to share. Seriously, if you have a business (even a small one!) and need help with creative, branding, or consulting - get in touch with her. She knows her stuff.

- Have you seen this new quarterly food magazine called Lucky Peach? I'm not a huge food magazine person but this looks like one I could get into...each issue will focus on a single topic exploring it through travelogues, photography, interviews, and of course recipes. The goal of Lucky Peach is to appeal to foodies AND people who love good writing and art in general. The debut issue focuses on Ramen. Seriously, ramen noodles. You all know how much I love ramen right? Yup, I could totally get down with this magazine.

- This home is giving me all sorts of decorating ideas for when I move back home to Toronto in the New Year. Have I mentioned how I can't wait to decorate a new apartment?!?

And just in case you're wondering I'll be attending a party tonight that is not a house party or terrace party. Much as I'm enjoying those it will be nice to see, if only for a night, how the "other side" (those expats here on a proper western salary not a volunteer budget!) live and party.

A Man's World

2011-08-31T03:11:00.001-04:00

**First, thank you for all of the birthday wishes! I had a wonderful day and will share what I did soon (though I didn't take many pics). The giveaway has closed and the winner will be announced here on the blog on Friday.**

-----

It seems that here in Delhi (India?) men are everywhere. It quite literally seems to be a man's world.

Walking down the street - it's overwhelmingly male dominated. Yes, you see women but just not quite as much as you see men. Not half as much even.

The first car of every metro (underground subway system) is reserved for ladies while the other cars are for everyone - but are mostly male occupied. That's one car for ladies - the rest for men. Not two cars. Just one out of the 10 or so....While shopping recently it struck me, quite out of the blue, at the lack of women sales associates/employees. I mean, even in WOMEN'S STORES people! I went into 3 ladies shoe stores (one after the other) to test my theory and there was not ONE woman sales associate - they were all men. Jewellery stores at the markets where I buy my bangles or scarves? All men. Restaurants? All men (well, at my local Pizza Hut there's one woman I see regularly...) Fabric shops? All men. Come to think of it, the hair salon I went to earlier in the summer? All men. Except the receptionist. And all the salons I walk by - I see male employees outside on their smoke break. It's weird. I have yet to go sari shopping but I have poked my head into some sari shops (or more like my face up to some windows) and what do you know....all men. Me thinks that will be weird; I'll have to find a sari shop with females but that might be challenging....

A few weekends ago it was a Rakhi - or what I call Brother's Day. During this time at stores that sell greeting cards you can find entire sections that sell Rakhi cards (just like how in North America you'll find special sections at special times of the year). Basically, from what I understand, is that on this day you celebrate your brother by tying a string around his wrist. You wish him luck, prosperity, and all that good stuff. At work, and at the greeting card store, when I asked - "So when is the day when you celebrate sisters?" I was met with a blank stare. Almost as if the thought was unheard of or incomprehensible.

Today it's another celebration called Teej and, you guessed it, it's in celebration of husbands. Basically, again from what I understand and how it's been explained to me, wives fast all day, not even allowing themselves something to drink. In the evening the married women of the family will dress in new saris and jewellery, and gather for a small ceremony at home. The purpose of this day? To pray that your husband has a long life. After talking to a lady at work I asked her (cause you know I did...) "So, is there any day when the husbands fast for their wives? You know, in the hopes of giving their wives a long life?" my co-worker responded "Oh, there is no such thing." "Hmm. That doesn't seem fair," I replied. And you know what, she agreed with me.

But what can be done? Apparently, here - it's a man's world.

Christina Augilera singing It's A Man's World at the 2007 Grammy Awards tribute to James Brown....cause you know, seemed fitting to post a woman singing the song ;)

It's My Birthday! {+ A Giveaway to Celebrate!}

2011-08-25T14:30:00.015-04:00

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yup, today (Friday) is my birthday. And not just any birthday - my 30th birthday. The big one...and I'm truly excited to celebrate this milestone number. So while I spend today and maybe tomorrow celebrating I thought I'd give one reader a reason to celebrate along with me!

I sincerely wish I could send everyone of you a gift but since that's just not possible I decided to host a Birthday Giveaway. One reader will receive a gorgeous silk scarf (pictured) and 24 sparkly metal bangles (like the ones pictured) - sent From India. With Love. The silk scarf measures 40" square and has a sort of ombre effect. It's in the most gorgeous colours - a burnt orange, brown, cream, yellow, red...and when I saw it I was in love (I kinda want to keep it!). The colours make it PERFECT for Fall. The lightweight metal bangles are, I've been told, unbreakable and make the most delightful sounds when they hit each other :) They come in every colour in the rainbow and so far my collection includes gold, black, dark green, dark pink, brown, and multicolour. Stacking bracelets is "on trend" right now so you can mix and match them with what you already own or wear them on their own.

How do you win? First you MUST be a follower of From India. With Love (join over on the sidebar!). Then, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post letting me know what colour bangles you would choose (you can pick up to a maximum of 4 colours - any colour you can imagine!). For an extra entry tweet "Enter @kayinto 's Birthday Giveaway to win a silk scarf and bangles sent From India. With Love. http://bit.ly/coe7TQ" and for yet another entry mention this giveaway, linking to this post, on your blog (and let me know you've done so in the comment section below). So that's up to 3 ways to enter. All easy peasy, right?!

The giveaway closes on Wed. Aug. 31 at 10AM IST - so good luck!

Have a great day (and weekend) - I know I will :)

Details:
1. Winner MUST be a follower of From India. With Love.
2. Giveaway closes Wednesday, August 31 at 10AM IST.
3. One winner will be selected at random and announced on Friday, September 2.
4. Winner must respond to me by email before Tuesday, September 6 or another winner will be selected and notified.
5. Open to From India. With Love. readers around the world.
6. Shipping paid by me :)

3 Ways To Enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post letting me know what colour bangles you would choose (you can pick up to a maximum of 4 colours).
2. Tweet "Enter @kayinto 's Birthday Giveaway to win a silk scarf and bangles sent From India. With Love. http://bit.ly/coe7TQ" The tweet will show up in my feed so no need to notify me.
3. Mention this giveaway, linking to this post, on your blog. Leave a comment on this post letting me know you've mentioned the giveaway on your blog.

The Past Few Days

2011-08-24T12:12:00.000-04:00

Since it's my birthday in just a few days I took the week off of work with the intentions to go away for a few days. But, as it turns out, I'm still in the city. I just couldn't decide where to go and where I really want to go is just not in the budget right now...but not to worry, plan is to spoil myself and indulge in the city for my birthday which will be perfectly nice I think.

Anywho, here's some pictures of what I've been up to over the past couple of days...

Exploring Purana Qila...

Every now and then, even on a volunteer stipend, you gotta treat yourself. So since it's my birthday week I thought it was a good week to indulge and headed out for dinner with a friend where we enjoyed Kerala style chicken, steamed rice, spiced pumpkin, and some kind of bread that I can't remember the name of. Delicious. The chef even came out to ask us what we thought of the meal - that's never happened to me before! Talk about fancy shmancy ;)

Papadum with 4 kinds of chutneys. Green-Mint, White-Coconut, Red-Tomatoe, Yellow-Mango.
Tomatoe and Mango were my favourite (though the Mango was spicy!)

After dinner mouth freshers. No clue what the thing on the left was but it was kinda addictive.
Melts in your mouth...

And on Independence Day some kite flying...

I also contributed two guest posts over the past few days. One as part of Expat Week on Terri's blog Try Anything Once (I give tips/suggestions for making friends as an expat) and the other at kkp's blog Chota Peele Auto where I gave some packing tips (her and her hubby just moved to India last week!)

I've been offline for a few days so I've got tons to catch up on before taking a long weekend to celebrate the big 3-0....but be sure to stop by on Friday when I'll be having a special Birthday Giveaway! Fun.

Birthday Wish List

2011-08-19T01:29:00.000-04:00

In exactly one week I'll celebrate my 30th birthday. The big 3-0. Yikes.

Actually, truth be told - in my early 20s and as a teenager 30 sounded so old - but when I hit the 24/25 mark I decided to (unlike most people?) stop dreading my 30th birthday and to instead look forward to it (I had planned to take a big return trip to Egypt but since I'm in India I'll be doing something different)....and I really am looking forward to it. I think it'll be an awesome year and even more awesome decade.

Inspired by Danielle's birthday wish list post I thought it would be fun to create my own wish list. Of course, I don't necessarily NEED any of these things and I'm not expecting them (but if the people over at The Oberoi somehow got wind of this post and wanted to extend a weekend stay at their hotel I'd gladly accept!) but boy oh boy do I WANT them...

1. I love sequins, I love gold, I love clutches. So this oversized sequined Miu Miu clutch is just perfect...and would work equally well with a casual outfit or a dressy one.

2. I've wanted a large oversized gold watch for a while now and now that they are all the rage I feel like I'm jumping on the band wagon - but oh well! This one by Michael Kors fits the bill.

3. At home I had the 3G but here in India I'm using an old Nokia that has to be at least circa 2001 - maybe earlier. No camera. No music. No internet access. No games (well just that game with the snake). Nada. I'm therefore, understandably, lusting after the new iPhone 5.

4. What better way to welcome a new decade than with a weekend stay at the super luxurious Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur (Travel + Leisure Magazine ranked it the 3rd Best Hotel in Asia and the 8th Best Hotel in the World). After 5 months of going at it volunteer style a little R+R would be pure bliss. Pure. Bliss.

5. The OG bag from Lo & Sons is the perfect overnight/gym bag...it even has a laptop compartment making it work just as well for the office.

6. Grace of the blog/site Design*Sponge has been doing sneak peeks of her new book Design Sponge at Home on her blog now for a few weeks and every sneak peek is just fabulous. Court's book, Nomad: Bringing Your Travels Home, sounds like it was made for me and will be filled with tons of inspiring photographs and ideas. Both are due out later this Fall.

7. I've read nothing but good reviews about the Clairsonic Brush and since I'm trying to find and stick with a skin routine I think it would be the perfect addition to my lineup.

8. I've gotten more serious with my photography and my next move will be up to a full frame d-slr. Though I'm torn (between the Nikon d700 and the Canon 5D Mark II) I'm a Nikon shooter and have used the d700 to shoot two weddings and it feels good in my hands. Both brands are set to release newer versions any day now so chances are the prices will drop quite a bit on these models (a good thing for me!).

So those are some of the things I'm lusting after.

Are any of you Virgo's or turning the big 3-0 this year? Looking forward to it or dreading it? And more importantly, what's on your birthday wish list?

Frequent Flyer : Artist Shirin Sahba

2011-08-17T12:19:00.001-04:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again - blogging has introduced me, either virtually or in real life, to so many talented, creative, and kind people all around the world who I never would have met otherwise. (Side note: if you're thinking of starting a blog - do it!). One of those people is Shirin Sahba. I "met" Shirin a few months ago shortly after my arrival in India. It was this post where I mentioned the Lotus Temple (I later blogged it in full here) when Shirin wrote me a sweet email letting me know that she had been a reader of my blog (and my old one!) and that her father is the architect behind the Lotus Temple - how cool is that??? There seems to be no shortage of talent in this family either - her mother is a graphic designer and Shirin herself is a very talented artist who creates beautiful paintings inspired by her travels. I've included some of her work below but you can see more on her website or on her blog Limonana. As I've gotten older I've wanted to invest in proper art and when I move back to Toronto I look forward to buying one of Shirin's pieces to start off my collection...

Shirin travels a lot to stay inspired and to visit her family who are spread out all over the globe. Keep reading for some of her tips, recommendations, and memories.

Current City:
Beijing

Hometown:
Mainly raised in India & Israel, but since my parents took me traveling so much, & being a Baha'i, I was raised to think like a world citizen.

In India at Humayun's Tomb

A Beijing Spring by Shirin Sabha

How many trips do you take each year?
As many as possible! This year I lost count. I have to leave every 3 months for my visa as well, so that gives me even more excuses to travel.

Can you share a favourite travel memory (in 5 sentences or less)?
Traveling to Italy to meet my family for a reunion. We do a lot of gallavanting, strolling, eating gelato, sipping espressos, enjoying the ocean-side. Nothing is better than spending time with your loved ones in a beautiful setting with good food!

delicious!

Best thing about traveling?
That rush that you get knowing that you are going somewhere in search of adventure, oh & of course people-watching in the airports with a fresh magazine & coffee in tow!

Toughest thing about traveling?
Jet lag.

Three essentials you always take with you and why (excluding money & passport):
A Moleskine sketchbook (to document my inspirations), a toy camera (to capture nostalgia for later), & an extra fold-able duffel for bringing back goodies with me.

Photograph taken with a toy camera

A favourite gadget/item/tip you’ve discovered that helps:
I have mini versions of many of my things to lighten my load. For this, I highly recommend Muji (a great Japanese shop that carries all things mini!). My husband taught me to ROLL my clothes into neat little burittos, never folding them, so that you have more room in your luggage.

How do you survive long plane rides?
I love flying, so I usually don't have a problem, but as a precaution I keep hydrated by drinking a lot & I keep a tiny bottle of moisturizer handy to freshen up between flights.

The Guru Walks His Dog by Shirin Sahba

How do you plan for a trip?
I tend to go with the flow, but I often carry a list of top rated restaurants/cafes & art districts/galleries to see, which are on the less "touristy" side & more locally sourced. Better to learn things from the point of view of locals. To be honest, the tourist areas totally disinterest me.

Favourite things to do/see when you’re in a new city?
Markets! Museums! Food! I adore local markets, whether it's antiques, art, produce, anything really. It's a great way to chat with the locals. As an artist if I'm in a city I love to see the museums & galleries...but if there is a beach, take me there immediately!

What camera do you carry with you?
I cart around my toy cameras at the moment, a Holga with a Holgaroid back, & my Polaroid camera. I have a Nikon F801 film camera too but I am saving my pretty pennies for a Canon 5D Mark 3.

Many people want to travel but often don’t – citing reasons like not enough time/money, too busy etc. how are you able to make travel a regular part of your life?
My family lives in so many different countries (US, Costa Rica, Mozambique, Israel) so traveling is a necessity for me. But what enables me to keep it up is my vocation, I need to travel to inspire & inform my art, & by selling that art I can have the means to maintain that lifestyle. Life is short, the world is beautiful, don't miss out! Now if only some genius would come up with some kind of environmentally friendly airplane fuel, I would feel a lot better about my carbon footprint!

Do you collect anything from your trips?
Always! Mainly things to adorn my home with: the bigger the better darling!

Last trip:
La Jolla, California. I loved the old California feel to some parts of it....& don't even talk to me about the fish tacos! Aye mama!

Next trip:
I never know in advance, but let's hope it's Bali, Indonesia!

Traffic - India! by Shirin Sahba

Place you're dying to return to:
India & Cuba.

Best hotel you’ve stayed in:
Little local boutique hotels are always charming! As far as chains go Cordial Hotel & Spa in Bad Gastein, Austria was wonderful & there was a large waterfall right outside our window!

Dream destination:
Marrakesh or Zanzibar or Tahiti. Oh my! I can't decide.

Finish this sentence: A world without travel is like...
....I'd rather not picture it, thank you very much!

*****

Fabulous, right?
Shirin writes a blog, Limonana, where she shares snippets of her life as well as her new paintings. Be sure to stop by and tell her I sent you!

+Photo credit: All pictures taken by Shirin and used with permission. Artwork created by Shirin Sahba and pictures used with permission.

Frequent Flyer spotlights a blogger I enjoy who also happens to love traveling and exploring new places. In Frequent Flyer I ask them a few questions to get their thoughts, tips, suggestions, and travel tales - in hopes of inspiring YOU (and myself!) on future travels. In the Frequent Flyer feature I don't just talk to travel bloggers - I talk to bloggers of various backgrounds (design, photography, fashion, life...) Some take many quick trips a year, others travel frequently for work, and others take a handful of longer jaunts abroad - but they all have great stories and tips and I hope you enjoy this feature! To see past Frequent Flyers click here.