These wild parrots were trying to nest outside my hotel room window in Bangalore. So beautiful and fun to watch.
This is Mirs mom and me hanging out at Mirs house, where I was invited to dinner one night after Mir closed his shop. Upon meeting his mom I was greeted with the warmest hug and kissed on both cheeks like the French do, and then hugged some more. There at Mirs I tasted a wonderful meal of mutton, 2 delicious types of chicken and rice, yogurt, and onion, carrot and cucumber salad. When I first arrived, Mirs mom asked me if I wanted some juice and of course I said yes, thinking mango juice, yum! To my surprise, I was offered a little platter with a small glass of coca cola! We all started giggling because it was clear that Mir had tipped off his mama that I was a soda drinker. I thought that was a really sweet and fun thing to do for me, and I really enjoyed the soda and the thought behind having gone out to the local market and bought soda, which in any Indian, or in this case, Kashmiri home, is a luxury item.
The very next day I saw a solar eclipse and here is a photo of the eclipse reflected on a water tower. After I saw this, I ran home and buried myself up to my neck in cow dung! :P
Mir and I before the wheeling and dealing and many cups of tea.
Doing business with Mir always involves a little baksheesh.
Mir thinks that this one of a kind, hand carved and hand painted antique Kashmiri swing with brass chains belongs in my red yurt! What do you think?
Lovely treasures in Mirs shop.
More lovely treasures from Mirs shop.Have an awesome day!
7 comments:
all these pics from your trip are so awesome - the smiles and the people. i need this - just woke up to 4 more inches of snow here in Jersey :)
Luck you; I mean one this is to experience a country as a traveller or tourist - another thing is to see and experience it together with local - to be in their homes, eat their food and gain their friendship. I do understand you are a fan! :-)
Yes, I think you should get the swing....how much do you think it will cost to mail it home ?
Love the Colors!!!
what a treat to share a meal at mir's home and how lovely a gift for them to go to the trouble of getting you coca cola. such warmth and generosity. such a sweet friendship.
awwwwa,
what a sweet, wonderful family.
Mir's shop looks like a place a shopper could kill some time, and their wallet!
The swing?
Oooh yah, I can see that at your house.
No doubt you feel at home in India.
You know I've followed your trips since I did start bloggig - in 2006.
Allways great reading for me.
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