August 29, 2014 -- BBQ Nation

The Barbeque Nation just happened to be located next to a store having a GRAND OPENING last night.  There was much Punjabi music emanating from the sidewalk, security guards to make sure you checked your bags at the door and I think they were also regulating how many people entered the store at one time.  Bright lights, lots of stock on two floors but to my mind looking very Giant Tiger, if you know what I mean.  We only went into the place (after our dinner) to see what kind of a store it was.  Nothing caught our interest, but the store was packed with customers shopping or standing  in twenty,  many-people-deep lines to pay for purchases.

The Barbeque Nation was fun. 

We arrived at 7 and were able to avail ourselves of the early bird special.  Since we were early, (these folks seem to eat dinner very late) and the only customers in the place, we had ten waiters looking after us..   A brazier of hot coals was brought to us right away and lowered into a hole.- exposed when a cover was removed - in the centre of our table .  Immediately, skewers of various meats began to arrive and set onto our brazier.  These were either chicken, shrimp, fish, mushrooms, paneer, green pepper and tofu and were already cooked - just kept warm at our table.  They also brought side dishes of little spicy potatoes with a white sauce(delicious), mutton rolls (not so much) and a tiny naan type of thing perhaps made with sweet potato. 

The above are considered appetizers, but will  keep coming until you put the flag down (cleverly supplied on a post at your table).  Theoretically, afterwards, you go to the giant buffet and eat an Indian dinner.  In fact, we skipped the buffet and had some delicious ice cream provided at the dessert counter.

The only dismaying thing was that when we were ALL DONE, we were finally brought a plateful of pani puri to share, though our waiter said it was some kind of chaat. On this plate were little round crispy, hollow balls surrounding a bowl of some kind of broth. At the bottom of each little ball was chopped onlon, cilantro, other minced veggies, and the idea was to pick up a ball,  fill it with the liquid from the bowl and pop the whole thing into your mouth.  Arghhhhh!

Now I don't know about you, but the idea of eating broth, onion and cilantro hot on the heels of ice cream with chocolate sauce .was repugnant to me, and I will further state that they would probably be the last thing I would select if I were starving to death.  However, those were brought as a SPECIAL TREAT for US, and there were LOTS OF THEM.  We did not want to offend, so we all did our duty and ate one and then Monica and I further reduced the number by secreting two into a paper napkin (for surreptitious removal). 

Finally, the waiter brought a photo of the three of us which had been taken during the meal, printed and mounted in a cardboard frame.   What service.  One final thing - , the waiter told us, on paying, that the policy was "no tipping permitted". 

August 28, 2014 -- Rickshaw Dealership

Did I mention the other day that we passed an auto rickshaw dealership?  Very modern, it has two tiers of showcases for the brand new rickshaws - just like Budd's Mercedes Dealership in Mississauga, Ontario. However, it would seem that the NEW rickshaws look exactly like those from last year, or 10 years ago.  Shiny, though!   

So - the rickshaw dealership was difficult to see at the end of the day because of the sun's reflection in the windows. Perhaps one day we will capture a better one.

Our park where we walk in the morning, just down the street from our gate, is surrounded on three sides by fencing with cow gates for access.  These are turnstiles - to keep cows out.  However, the fourth side has a large gate, big enough to allow a vehicle, and this gate is always open so there are usually fresh cow pies in the park every morning (some bakery!)  but to date we have not found a cow in there. 

Two hours after our walk, however, as we drove by in our vehicle to work, there was a large black Brahman lounging in there.  Question is -  If she is there when we walk, will that be a problem?   Answer is probably not.  We walk right past these cows on our street or the streets leading to the local shops we frequent at night in no danger - except perhaps from the scooters, motorcycles, cars, people, fruit carts and other things trying to get past or cut in front of us on the road.  Cows seem to be the least of our troubles!

Tonight, to celebrate her last weekend in India,  Rob and I are taking Monica to dinner at the Barbeque Nation.  I have not yet been, but they both have.

This is a restaurant that brings fish, chicken and mutton (that is what they call goat) to your table on skewers until you cry uncle, by the sound of it.  Rob says you can also go to the buffet of delectable Indian dishes, but he sticks to the meat, since we don't eat it here at all.  These morsels are cooked in a tandoor, I believe, and I will be happy to take pictures of the food (Jan) and report tomorrow.

Monica goes home (if plans don't change between now and then) next Tuesday.  She and some of her young friends are planning to mark the occasion this weekend, but Rob and I will be in Kasauli - one of the closer Hill Stations in the Himalayas.

I Googled birds in Kasauli - found and printed out a list of the many we should be able to see there.  Won't bore you with the details as I plan to bore you with them after we get back from Kasauli.

Nick, this is the town you and I drove to where you got the Himachal Vest and Hat, and where we saw a Bollywood Video being filmed.

We will be staying in a Military Cantonment as the guest of (Ret'd.)Colonial Randev -  a member (Sr. Manager of Administration at CIIS).  He assures us that little pesky clause from our visa which fouled us up last weekend is NOT going to be a problem at the cantonment.  We do not know what the accommodations will be like.  Lavish?, basic?   But it is only for Saturday night then home Sunday.  Randev says, "Bring a jacket and sweater. It gets cold there."  Rob checked the web last night.  Kasauli weather forecast - 35 day, 27 night.  And we need a sweater why??????

More later.

Hansi

August 26, 2014 -- Pedicures and monkeys

Milo - pronounced Meelu - is our cook and the woman who beats our clothes to a fair-thee-well on washday.  Monica is and has been Rob's roommate since June 2nd.  I believe she goes back to Canada next Tuesday.

Milo and Monica making bracelets

The monkeys I mentioned in my account of going to Ropar two weekends ago.  We saw MANY monkeys that days, and also last Saturday on our trip to the dam.

H.

August 25, 2014 -- Photos from Hansi

The tiffin poster from the light pole across the street.  Rob and Monica got pedicures last night.  We all had chai.  I had a pedicure just before leaving Canada so did not need one yet.  It will give Rob and me an excuse to go again soon.  This little upscale salon offers all the usual services too, so I can get my hair done there as well without having to get to Headmasters in Sector 17 like last visit.

Hansi

August 23, 2014 -- Birding Trip to Bhakra Dam

India Aug. 23

Anand Sahib Dude

We hired a car and driver - requested Johnny from last weekend’s trip – and set out Saturday to drive to Bhakra Dam, NNE of us by 120 km. Some of you may remember that we hired a car ten years ago to see this dam, the largest in India, but were turned away when we got there because Rob did not have his passport along. There are security issues.

Anyhoo, this time we had made SURE to pack the passports, as well as the bird book, the binos, the camera, the tripod, wipe cloths for brows, hats etc. etc. There is a new road - built since 2004 – so our drive wasn’t too long (though probably 2 hr.) We arrived at the checkpoint and went inside to offer up our passports to an old, unsmiling Sikh gentleman with a long grey beard sitting at a wooden desk in the middle of a huge, dark, ALMOST EMPTY room. Over bustled a military man ( ~ 50 yr. old and in uniform) to check our documents. One look at my visa, and he said, “NO – Cannot see the dam.” I believe I squawked, “WHAT?????” so he pointed to the miniscule type on the visa page which states NOT VALID IN RESTRICTED and CANTONMENT AREAS. I pointed out that we were turned away 10 years before because of NO passport without mention of such a ruling. I asked, “Is it because we have a business visa and not a tourist visa?” NO. Can tourists visit this dam? NO. “Then how does a person get to visit this famous, largest dam in India Dam?” Only by getting permission from the Ministry. “You mean in Delhi?????” YES.

Having driven 2 hours without a pitstop, I asked this functionary if I would be permitted to use their washroom, or would I need permission from the Ministry, and he really laughed his head off at that one. Then proceeded to recount it in Hindi to a woman in an office who threw back her head and laughed too. He then sent for some hag who came back with a key and led me outdoors around back to what was basically his and hers outhouses. Oh joy. Don’t worry folks – we don’t leave home without T.P. The toilet was of the Indian variety but did flush, so that part, at least, was sort of modern. Picture follows.

There was absolutely no point in arguing with the Authorities, so we drove off, and our driver decided to take us to the Backside of the dam instead. This meant driving up, up, up into the Himalayas to get to the other side of the dam. Switchback after switchback – higher and higher – all the while Johnny is talking non-stop about the temple at the top that we must reach – one of the five most important Hindu temples in all of India. I understand about one word in 10 of everything Johnny says and Rob doesn’t do much better, but did glean that this route would, in fact, get us to the other side of the dam. And after a LONG TIME of switchbacks on a tiny road with no barriers – where passing on blind curves is no problem if you honk first – we got to a junction where Up to the Temple was left, and we went right – Down to the Dam. I was comforted by the thought that in my backpack was the barf bag from the airplane though in the end we got down to ground level with me using it.

So we came to another guard and another gate. Johnny said he would get out and try one more time. He had to show his ID and car registration, but we did NOT have to offer up our passports nor get out of the car and were told we could go through the gate and drive past the dam, but not stop and not take pictures. This was good news, because we were now only 8 km from Nangal and would NOT have to retrace our winding way up and over the mountain again.

We drove along until we were almost adjacent to the front of the dam, then came to another two guards on the road – shaking a finger. I thought he had seen Rob with his Cell Phone at the window, and expected big trouble but instead, he was telling the driver we could stop, but ONLY for 2 min. and NO PICTURES. So we got out, used our binos to really see the dam, and then drove to Nangal.

So here’s the thing. We did NOT get to go inside the workings of the dam but we did see the huge reservoir of water (from high up) and the dam itself on the same road we would have used – but looking right instead of left - if given permission from the very first checkpoint. Sigh!



Afterwards, we had lunch at the same Haveli as last weekend. Again we stood in front of the outdoor fans and got misted with cool water, and then set off with Johnny to the Backside of Chandigarh Lake to birdwatch.

Rob is going to send bird pictures and talk about the birding. All I will say is that Johnny has Eagle Eyes for spotting birds – WITHOUT binoculars. He must have the most long-sighted vision EVER!

Enough for now. We stopped in Nangal for local apples, where Johnny helped me select and get a good price.

Love, Hansi

_____________________________________________________________

Hi all

It's been a while since I corresponded, mainly since Hansi got here and I let her take over the e-mail duties (she's finally got her e-mail to work properly, took me several days as well).

Yesterday, (Sat Aug 23) we hired a driver/car (Johnny as he likes to be called, same guy as last time) to drive up to the Bhakra Dam - Hansi is writing about the travails of that journey. I'm writing and sending along the bird pictures which I took. Many of them were from quite a distance so the quality is not great but the birds are still identifiable. Except for the ubiquitous Black Kite, these were all new (or "re-new" in a few cases, I guess) since we got here. Of course, two of the bird pix worth mentioning are the Black Kite and the Indian Pond Heron which come under the heading of "no way these are the same kind of bird". Naturally we were happy to see our old friend the white-throated kingfisher - how can you not love 'im! Lastly, we saw a white-breasted waterhen picking its way along the tall grass right at the water's edge - tried to get a photo but just couldn't get him/her focused.

We saw most of these birds around the "backside" of the lake in Chandigarh - aka Sukhna Lake (look up on Google) [no need  now that  I'm putting the emails in this blog--just click on the link above]. The backside is comprised of mixed swampland, backwater, tall grass and trees - good bird grounds.

Just around dusk we began to see birds a-plenty but unfortunately we were just leaving - we'll obviously plan a return around dusk another day. From what we gather this a stopping point for migratory birds later in the Fall so we have a lot to look forward to - can hardly wait.

For all of you who are not bird lovers . . . ?????

Hansi and Johnny in Nangal

Haveli lunch

Rob

August 21, 2014 -- Hansi post re India

India August 21

Here I sit in the lobby of the School, as Rob is having a meeting in his office (I have been sharing with him – until they settle me upstairs with Communications).  I see from the sign hung on the wall across from me that RAGGING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED as per the Supreme Court Judgement in Vishwar.  It goes on to say that Ragging is a cognizable criminal act and is strictly prohibited.

Now I have to find out what ragging is. Ah, it’s hazing!

Today I sat in on more of the IELTS classes.  The students still do not have their workbooks, so they are not yet doing practise tests.  Instead, Amandeep is taking up the modules, one by one – as to what they can expect, and giving  tips for completing the 4 tests on time, esp. in the reading section which seems to give students the most difficulty.  Of course, it boils down to reading   comprehension.. 

For anyone who doesn’t know the term, IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System.  This test is administered to students who are hoping to go to Canada to study (which is the case here) and a certain score must be achieved in order for a Visa to be granted.  The test is only given at certain locations at  certain times and is carefully regulated to prevent cheating.

Some of our students in all programs have already “cleared” (as they say here) their IELTS, but most have yet to write it so time has been provided in each program’s timetable every day for IELTS practise.

I will add a  sign to another email – which was stuck to the pole on our street – because I liked it.

BTW, a tiffin is either your meal – “What do you have for tiffin?” or it can be the container itself – called a tiffin – by which you transport your lunch to school.  I see people who carry plastic ones here now, but many still use the stainless steel ones – many levels of short containers which fasten together into a tower – with a handle.  Perhaps you can see pictures of some on the net.

Love, Hansi

August 10, 2014 -- Hansi is here!

Hi all -

Hansi has finally arrived! Her flight got in about 45 minutes late (10:30 pm instead of 9:45 pm) on Friday evening but I had checked with Jet Airways' flight status so we (me and the driver) didn't go to pick her up until 10 pm. We only had to wait about 15 minutes before she exited and we hustled back to the Hotel Uppal (about 15 minutes from the airport). We celebrated: drank small bottle of wine and ate can of cashews (both from the in-room stock), bag of cheesies from Hansi's tote and settled in. By the way, check out Hotel Uppal Ecotel - it's a pretty swanky place but reasonable (~$80/night includes breakfast).

Arrival video clip: http://youtu.be/418sgqJVRt4

The driver picked me up from CIIS (which is right on NH 1 to Delhi, 235kms) around 3:15pm. Uneventful ride until we got to Delhi and the "ring" road towards the airport and Hotel. Took us about 3 hours to get to the ring road and 2-1/2 hours to reach the Hotel area on NH 8. I say "Hotel area" because we got lost - the drive kept insisting he know where the Hotel was as we wound our way through back streets, making u-turns and asking for directions. Finally, around9:15 I phoned the Hotel to get directions - they were good directions assuming we could wend our way back to NH 8. While I had the desk lady on the phone, she checked the flight status and I know we had a buffer. Finally found the Hotel after another 30 minutes of u-turns and false starts. Mind you, this is with the driver answering "Yes" every time I asked "Are you sure this is correct?" or "We've seen this corner twice already, are you sure we're not lost?" etc etc.

Saturday morning we got up, had a leisurely breakfast and strolled the grounds while Hansi started to get used to the heat and humidity (I'm sure she'll elaborate). The grounds of the Hotel Uppal are quite lovely full of large palms, ornamental trees, pruned shrubbery, paths, a big pool, small golf course for chip shots only - photo self-explanatory, I'm sure. We set off from the Hotel around 9:30am and arrived (during a torrential downpour) in Chandigarh by about3pm. We took our time and stopped at a Dhaba for a chai (and some fries) - so, here we are, settled in, finally.

Hotel Uppal Grounds

I peeled some mangoes far a little snack, made some REAL coffee (I ran out last Monday) and Milo made us supper from left overs. Went out walkies last night to do some shopping (more coat hangers, washcloths, hand soap, scissors and the like). Crashed, got up early, made coffee (Hansi brought lots of Tim's), peeled mangoes and had poached eggs on the last of the Bran flakes. Haven't decided what to do with the rest of the day. Got to pick up a few more odds and ends (drain plug for one).

Anyway, I'm sure Hansi will compose her own note so I'll wrap this up . . . here's pic of her {above] on the porch of the apartment this morning.

Rob (Happy she's here!)