Ridiculous Plane Ticket Buying Spree

The degree at which I travel in India astounds me. Tonight I bought 5 separate plane tickets all of which will be used over the course of two weeks – and I had already bought another plane ticket to come home on September 30th. This spree was particularly ridiculous, but I for the last 5 months I have bought at least 4 plane tickets a month and this will continue all the way through November. Obviously this cannot continue when my adventure is over but I do wonder what life will be like when I stay put for a while…or even for just two weeks. At least my credit card will get a break.

Best Mexican Food in India....

....was at the Novotel in Hyderabad. Great tortilla chips, salsa and a legit taco. I didn't even mind that they brought Parmesan instead of Monterey Jack. Sure beats the 'burro to' in Rishikesh and the new Delhi hot spot Sancho's. This also gives me something to look forward to when I travel to HYD.

Gurgaon in the News

Gurgaon made it to the most read list for the NYT again...apparently i-banking is off-shoring talent right in my backyard.

Olympics

When I was home in July I attended Blastoff to Beijing where the US Women's Water Polo team trounced Australia. This event caused me to catch Beijing fever so much so I have considered hopping in a plane to China just because I'm so freaking close to the action. Last night I watched the opening ceremonies live, a friend who is the Water Polo sportscaster for NBC has been sending daily Beijing updates and Brian is wandering around complaining about the air quality and looking for tickets to swimming. So.....the fever continues as I live vicariously.

This morning I watched boxing (while waiting for my organic chicken at the French farm), cycling and football on an Indian sports network. Of course, I didn't expect to see coverage of US athletes (that's what the web is for) but I was surprised at how depressing it is to be an Indian watching the Olympics. The two sportscasters update regularly on the Indian athletes progress and none of them have advanced. The opportunities were in archery, shooting and boxing and the commentators use soft voices and the word "disappointing" a lot. This contrast has sparked a surprising athletic patriotism in me that comes out every four years. It may have started in 1984 when Mary Lou Retton rocked the gymnastics competition in Los Angeles but I am so proud to be an American athlete and am really looking forward to the rest of the games.

And, in particular, I really, really, really, really want the Women's Water Polo team to win GOLD!!!!! GO TEAM USA!!!!!

Organic French Farm

It's almost too good to be true but there is an organic farm just 45 minutes away from where I live. This morning after yoga (love my yoga class!!) instead of heading home, Amit and I continued heading south on the Delhi-Jaipur highway to the "French Farm." The farm is not too far from the highway but arguably in the middle of nowhere. It was started 16 years ago by a Frenchman who left the military and moved to India.

When I decided to drive out to the farm I envisioned something like a very small farmers market, where produce would be on display and there would be coolers with some fresh meat. Instead I got a personal tour of a working farm including a look at the pregnant pigs and baby chicks. They have imported Peking ducks from China, roosters from Africa and pigs from the US; quite a cosmopolitan farm. I did feel a bit guilty thinking of bacon as I looked at the pigs but as I walked away with $50 of free range chicken breast, rocket salad, fresh rosemary and mint the guilt slid away. Tonight I plan to make roasted potatoes, chicken breast and salad and this will be the second meal I will cook since January (the first being pasta when I was in the states for the 4th of July).