India is Fab
Bring me Fab India or Bring me Death!
I love Fab India. Most of you, who have come to India, have been to Fab India. It is a clothing store with “fixed prices” (some of the which are a little high). They are organized by size and length- so if you know your size, the rest is just easy. Everything is separate, kurtas (tops) pajamas (bottoms) and dupattas. All you do is find a few pieces that mix and match you have a few outfits. There are a few of these stores through out India. In general, they offer simple cotton and silk casual gear ranging in price from Rs. 250 to Rs. 600. I guess it’s like the GAP of India. The store appeals to just about everyone, they have all the sizes (except super sizes) and for the entire family. I can even get maternity clothes there! Nevertheless, I am so short, that I doubt I need them. At least my fashion cousin says that I don’t need to buy it because there are plenty of empire-waisted “regular” sizes I can wear once I get to NYC. So excited! Did I mention that Fab India also sells pillowcases, comforters and duvet covers? Beautiful. I got a bunch of stuff, so did the Rahooli. We blew $100!
Will we die on these Roads? Perhaps.
Running around and shopping in India is painful. The traffic is literally murder, meaning there are so many people and vehicles on the streets—and all on top of each other, no one really has “road rage”. On the city highways you have people on bikes, motorcycles, scooters, small cars, bigger cars, mini-vans, city buses, autos and on foot and all traveling at about 30 to 40 mph, within inches of each other. No exaggeration here. Indian drivers are skilled, and brave beyond measure. And because of the lack of pollution regulations for vehicles, you smell and wear all that diesel too. And, no, it is nothing like the great designer store in Union Square.
My dad’s college friend and his wife took us shopping. It was so great. We also had dinner at their house (yummy) and we were able to spend time with their parents, who are in their nineties. I had a chance to practice my Telugu and they all said they were very impressed. Impressed because I grew up in the US, never really spent a lot of time in India and don’t ever really speak on a regular basis. Plus, I speak respectfully, I think. Moreover, they were really nice to correct me and help me when I was stuck. They even laughed at my jokes, thought it was great that I was “officially” here to do HIV work. And, they though it was cool that we here having a unique and different experience vs. staying in the US. We had a great time. I felt right at home, like I was visiting my parents. I think I will be there often, especially when Rahul is gone.
Off to Work! I work 6 days a week.
Ok. So, we are going to finally take some photos of the zoo that we live in and the super busy road we live near- its called the IT Corridor Project aka, “Old Mahabalipuram Road”—the road is crazy busy- frightening really. There is all this construction, dust, dirt, smoke, animals, crap (and literally their crap), and microsoft hopefuls crammed into company buses, shuttling them to work.
Tehee hee
Rahul just grabbed the lonely planet book, which has a Tamil language guide in the back—he is practicing (experimenting with?) his Tamil with Shanti the cook. Did I mention that she is by far one of our most favorite people in the house? I need to get out there- I don’t want to miss it.
I love Fab India. Most of you, who have come to India, have been to Fab India. It is a clothing store with “fixed prices” (some of the which are a little high). They are organized by size and length- so if you know your size, the rest is just easy. Everything is separate, kurtas (tops) pajamas (bottoms) and dupattas. All you do is find a few pieces that mix and match you have a few outfits. There are a few of these stores through out India. In general, they offer simple cotton and silk casual gear ranging in price from Rs. 250 to Rs. 600. I guess it’s like the GAP of India. The store appeals to just about everyone, they have all the sizes (except super sizes) and for the entire family. I can even get maternity clothes there! Nevertheless, I am so short, that I doubt I need them. At least my fashion cousin says that I don’t need to buy it because there are plenty of empire-waisted “regular” sizes I can wear once I get to NYC. So excited! Did I mention that Fab India also sells pillowcases, comforters and duvet covers? Beautiful. I got a bunch of stuff, so did the Rahooli. We blew $100!
Will we die on these Roads? Perhaps.
Running around and shopping in India is painful. The traffic is literally murder, meaning there are so many people and vehicles on the streets—and all on top of each other, no one really has “road rage”. On the city highways you have people on bikes, motorcycles, scooters, small cars, bigger cars, mini-vans, city buses, autos and on foot and all traveling at about 30 to 40 mph, within inches of each other. No exaggeration here. Indian drivers are skilled, and brave beyond measure. And because of the lack of pollution regulations for vehicles, you smell and wear all that diesel too. And, no, it is nothing like the great designer store in Union Square.
My dad’s college friend and his wife took us shopping. It was so great. We also had dinner at their house (yummy) and we were able to spend time with their parents, who are in their nineties. I had a chance to practice my Telugu and they all said they were very impressed. Impressed because I grew up in the US, never really spent a lot of time in India and don’t ever really speak on a regular basis. Plus, I speak respectfully, I think. Moreover, they were really nice to correct me and help me when I was stuck. They even laughed at my jokes, thought it was great that I was “officially” here to do HIV work. And, they though it was cool that we here having a unique and different experience vs. staying in the US. We had a great time. I felt right at home, like I was visiting my parents. I think I will be there often, especially when Rahul is gone.
Off to Work! I work 6 days a week.
Ok. So, we are going to finally take some photos of the zoo that we live in and the super busy road we live near- its called the IT Corridor Project aka, “Old Mahabalipuram Road”—the road is crazy busy- frightening really. There is all this construction, dust, dirt, smoke, animals, crap (and literally their crap), and microsoft hopefuls crammed into company buses, shuttling them to work.
Tehee hee
Rahul just grabbed the lonely planet book, which has a Tamil language guide in the back—he is practicing (experimenting with?) his Tamil with Shanti the cook. Did I mention that she is by far one of our most favorite people in the house? I need to get out there- I don’t want to miss it.
posted by Anju at 12:37 AM
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