Breakfast and Bling-Bling.

Had a very fun and full day today. It's Friday here and I had my dance class very early. I met Aparna at 7:30am to go through our lesson. We had to adjust our schedule to accommodate a press conference that she is holding. On November 10, 11, and 12 Kalabharati Foundation is hosting a dance showcase of classical Indian dance and will feature top performers from around India. This showcase will have all of the 8 styles represented and will draw large local interest. The event will be held in Cochin and I am very excited as I will be a guest of the school and will get to access meet and see all of the performers. Pretty damn cool!

Also of note: Aparna Marar, my teacher made the national paper \yesterday. Here is her interview in The Hindu. Quite a little mover and shaker she is.

After a very productive and early dance lesson. I raced home washed up and met up with my Father-in-Law (Appachan) for a breakfast. We ate at Sree Radakrishna Prasada. A cute, clean little vegetarian place.  My Father in Law is not vegetarian, in fact he prefers to have some form of non-veg with every meal. However, the only exception is dining out. He never eats meat outside his own kitchen. When I asked him about this he indicated that he does not trust the food quality or hygiene of outside kitchens, so eating meat can be dicey.

Paper Dosa, Ghee Dosa, and Vada with assorted Chutneys

We had a lovely breakfast of dosas and chutneys. I also had a Vada. No breakfast is complete for me without my Kappi (coffee) and for Appachan he needs his Chaia (tea). One thing that I will never be comfortable with is service in nice restaurants in India. When you go to a middle to upper scale indoor sit-down restaurant (not a roadside dhaba or hotel) the waiter will serve you. That is ... he will scoop up the food and put it on your plate. Then hover over the table and wait for you to take your last sip to refill your water glass, or dish more food on your plate...even whilst still eating. It is very odd/uncomfortable for me and I find myself fighting with the waiter to handle my own food. I am sure it is rude or awkward to them. Provides many smiles and laughter for my Father-in Law, who like my husband, revels in those awkward "cultural moments" I produce. I am an invaluable source of entertainment for these two fools. 

After breakfast I needed to stop by Goodwill Collections to get a few small items. I needed a hair straightener/curler that had and Indian electrical plug. I will take this with me to Delhi. I also wanted to look at some small trinkets. So this got all cocked-up as I walked in the door.

 

Immediately, like a crow I flew over to the sparkly stuff. Once a sales person sees that you are done for. This very nice gentleman said..."madame, please follow me"...um so I did. First mistake...don't ever follow and Indian salesman.  We went to the second level of the store which is ENTIRELY gorgeous sets of jewelry. I lost it...lost it. I was flitting around like a butterfly looking at ever piece, trying on every set. Appachan was given a chair (smart thinking sales dude) and I spent about one hour and twenty five minuets auditioning gorgeous expensive sets of jewelry. Trying them on...ladies would take these lovely pieces of sarees and drape them on your shoulder to give you the FULL EFFECT of what the set would look like.

This is my heaven. When I die, if I have been good, take me here for eternity, please.



After I chose my necklace, earring, tikka set, then we need to arrange for bangles. Now this is the magic zone. This is where very skilled men look at your set, or saree, or photo you bring in and start making you lovely bangle arrangements. Careful though ladies this is where they take you for an expensive ride...bangle sets can be gorgeous and costly because depending on the type of bangles they stack it can get very expensive. I lost this battle big time today. I could have gotten a simpler arrangement, and I kept pointing to the simpler bangles, but father-in law kept gesturing to the sales staff to ignore me and keep going. It was his way of enjoying the joy of his daughter in law. He is an incredible, kind man. I love him so much.


Once we complete the bangle sets, then of course we are not done. The sales clerk marches me to another counter for hair accessories, then another counter for rings, then another counter for anklets, "Madame do you have a purse?" Um..yeah like 50, but what the hell. Then up to the third store level hand bags and purses. I had to stop there. It was a crazy-ass shopping spree of massive proportions. All I wanted was a hair straightener....which we did finally get to last.

I feel pretty exhilarated, but also a little guilty. I am doing some serious study on this trip and didn't want all the glittery goodness of India to distract me. Luckily, I am set with all my fashions and accessories now.  In a few weeks I will complete my dance classes and then fly to Delhi for the biggest, fattest, Punjabi wedding known to man. So now I have my bling to go with my Lehnga.


I have a designer Lehnga being designed and made for me by my good friend, Daksha's mother. Daksha and her mother are bridal fashion designers and have a high-end boutique in Delhi. Their taste is exquisite and I have no doubt that their studio will make me something I will die over. They took my measurements and I gave them an example of a design I love (above photo). They will make something similar, but better quality and better design. This will be an amazing experience. Can't wait to see what she designs. Now I have the bling-bling to complete the Bollywood look.

What a day.

Namaste,
Christy