back in our other home

first thing I did was to turn on the AC
it was hot in here !
woke up this morning after a couple of hours sleep
and first thing I, we did was to head for  the pool
and a short workout
felt so good to be back in the water
even though the water in the pool is like 30 degrees
no cooling system !

today is all about adjusting
body and mind
it is really a very different life here in India
things I see and things I do

from a distance this could be laundry hanging out to dry
just like back home
but

it's not
see what it is ?

it's bags of chips hanging on the laundry ropes...

the chips and candy man has a spot underneath a tree along one of the busy roads here in Gurgaon

 candy anyone ?

that's one of the things from home that we can't get here

svenskt smågodis...swedish candy...

but I know that when friends come visiting they will bring some...?....

until then I need to work off those extra kilos in the pool....

it was a long and yummy summer at our other home

enjoy your sunday, dear reader

 wherever you are around the world

One lady stood out at Nehru place

In the midst of all the grey and brown and dusty Nehru place I  saw this lady....I felt she needed a post of her own....she was a bracelet maker -vendor....

with the help of her foot she did these bracelets....you choose your beads....one foot on the wooden frame and then she puts on the beads.....

I should have asked how much they cost ....guess I'll have to do that the next time...

I imagine it has got to be a hard life trying to make a living this way....

it's hard to see all poor people struggling to get by day by day....but I guess the day I don't see them anymore that's the day I should start worrying about what has happened to me !

Pottery girl with a sunshine smile.

 I know I'm rubbing it in, but today it's 23 degrees outside, that is + 23....the sun is shining and it's really nice .....I just had to get out into the sunshine and I needed some pottery for my balcony so I went to this pottery making vendor that I have driven by a couple of times....

after a couple of minutes I found myself bargaining ....what should I pay ?....well I got the prize down 210 rupees....I know I could have bargained more but while I was standing there I saw this beautiful young family member that was cooking naan bread and I so wanted to take some pictures so I let it go....and focused on her.... her younger siblings where sitting inside the tent eating...

I showed her the pictures and she smiled and wobbled her head....like Indians do....and then a shy smile....she was so pretty ....she made my day...and they where so happy for all the money they got.....

I payed 500 rupees, 50 kronor for 2 big pots and 2 smaller ones !

Hope your day is a good one ! 

A sunny afternoon at Dilli Haat.

Dilli Haat is one of the markets in Delhi…you can find handicrafts from all over India and it has been made to look like a traditional weekly village market,called a haat….and it's a place to bargain ….if you don't know how to…you better practise before coming here….

it's always very colourful at the market….

at the moment there's weavers showing how to …..reminded me of my grandmother on my dads side because she did this a long time ago..

workmanship in action

Ms F wanted to get Mehendi done on one of her hands…..it's henna being painted on the skin...  

 they make the most beautiful patterns in a short time...

all done….it had to dry for an hour and then the "brown"clay falls off and the painting stays for about 14 days…

we had some fast food….with spicy sauce…the food court is big and you can find food from all over India…

we had a great afternoon and did some bargains ( papier machè and silver jewellery)

when we where driving towards Gurgaon we started talking about all the animals they've seen here and we just said elephant….and guess what we saw walking right next to us….

so we stopped and got out of the car so that we could

come close ….so nice…

elephants are special and it was so nice that they got a chance to get this close...

the encounter made our day even better !

Fierce competition, juju berries and the sun on a straw !

While driving home from work today I saw these vendors 

all lined up and I thought " this is what I call fierce competition"

….. it was just so cool to see all the wagons lined up…I saw all these wheels and then I saw the fruit...

when I first got into the car my driver wanted me to taste these kind of berries…jujube or indian plums…

I didn't like the smell of them, so I was a little hesitant to taste…it was sweet and sour…nothing I will go out into the hills here and pick though ( like I would here anyhow with jungle cats and leopards around )…Pawan is really thoughtful and knows that I do like to try new things so…some I like some I don't.

when we where getting closer to home I looked up and saw this beautiful sunset…and thought today I will be fast with my camera....you see the sun sets so fast….it's like it's falling into the ground…..but I managed to get one nice shot…well, at least I think so…..I got the sun on a straw….

got me thinking of picking wild strawberries and putting them on a straw in summertime….and now it's christmas….confusing…anyhow, the house you see in the background is actually where we live.

See you tomorrow..I hope….

On an ordinary monday ….

well, as ordinary as it can get a week before Christmas in far away land….at school the kids are practising their Christmas carols and performances…every where I go I hear christmas music playing….not really everywhere !

but then while sitting in the car going home from work  I'm reminded that it's just an ordinary day…..

meaning I see ordinary things…like this guy

not an ordinary sight while driving in Sweden but here yes…..a vendor on a bike selling brooms,brushes and dusters ….so colourful…

 just one of many vendors trying to make a living every day, any day of the year.

Another fun market in Delhi is Dilli Haat.

Yesterday we made our way to Dilli Haat….a market in Delhi…across from INA market….

they sell things from all over India at the market and you never know what you can find because they change vendors veery 14 days…. 

my mother so like these handmade shoes so she had to get a pair on this trip also…

as always it's a colourful experience at a market….

outside they where selling….know what it is ?

yes ,it's cotton candy ! 

if ever in Delhi you have got to go to Dilli Haat….I.N.A metro station is actually right next to the entrance.

A couple of hours at Janpath and Tibetan market.

yes today my mother and I spent a couple of hours at Janpath Tibetan market in Delhi….so much fun but at times the vendors where a little too much….I can only say that my pictures today is an explosion of colours…so hang tight…here comes colours and things and bling and….

we bargained good today, except from this man….I paid him what he asked….10 rupees for the peanuts I wanted.

Deutscher Weihnachtsmarkt….German Christmas Market….in Delhi !

Today we've been to the

in Delhi…..

We did our best to get into the christmas feeling…even though it was around 30 degrees ..

and I must say they did their best to help us out…... with christmas songs and santa claus around…not to forget the gluhweine, beer and german food …...

christmas decor made in papier machee' so beautifully done….I just had to get some…but I will not show you until later…..

I now know what I want for christmas….Mr M doesn't have to look anymore…I made it so easy for him…didn't I ?

After the german christmas market we went to the french christmas market ! Yes I know, it can't get any more christmissy than this…

Red moon Bakery made it even more christmissy..yes, I got something here also ! just had to….

Now I'm kind of in the mood for  the first sunday of advent….which is tomorrow !

Can you believe it ?