Day 16: Republic Day

India became a republic in 1950, and we don't have to go to work because it's Republic Day!  It's like our 4th of July without the fireworks.  There were Indian flags everywhere.  The people even pinned miniture paper flags on their shirts.  I was finally able to sleep in.  I was so happy about getting just two more hours of sleep.  I finally work up about 8:30am, but decided to stay in bed and relax. But as soon as that thought entered my mind, I get a call on my cell phone.  Who could be calling me this early? I didn't recognize the number so I did't answer it.  Then a minute later I get another call, but this time it's a text message.  So, I read it, and it's Miya asking if I would like to go back to Santa Cruz West and go shopping.  She knew I went to Sama's last week and had to pick up the tunics I had altered.  She offers to go with me to pick them up, and have some "one-on-one time and get to know each other better".  She is really nice and funny!  She says she does better with just one or two people than with big groups.  This works out perfectly because the rest of the Carlsbad girls don't want to do anything today. They jsut want to lounge around the  pool all day.  I take Miya up on her offer and tell her I'd meet her at 10:30am in the lobby.  I get ready and go down to Vista to get a quick bite to eat.  I see Nha and Christina eating breakfast and join them.  After breakfast as  I'm waiting down in the lobby for Miya, I get a phone call from Nha asking if we have left yet.  I tell him I'm still downstairs in the lobby, and he asks if he can come along with us.  He wants to go shopping too and doesn't want to be stuck at the hotel doing nothing.  So Miya, Nha and I head out to Santa Cruz West and go on a shopping spree!  We go back to pick up my shirts, then head back to Fab India.  Miya is looking for leggings and finds them at a street vendor.  Then she wants to go back to the Grand Hyatt to a place called Skin Sin, or something like that.  It's a shoe store at the Hyatt that everybody loves.  And I tell her that sounds great because I want to try the fresh lime soda because that's all Jennifer could talk about was the lime soda and tiramisu.  And it was just about time for lunch anyway.  We get to the Hyatt, and I can't believe how nice the hotel is and the staff is so friendly.  They even remebered Miya and Nha from last year!  They were so happy to see them, but a little sad that they weren't staying at their hotel.  I have to say the first round of expats were spoiled rotten at the Grand Hyatt.   Not only is the hotel beautiful, clean and modern, it also, has a shopping mall and great little cafe.  I was so jealous that I wasn't staying at the Grand Hyatt.  But, there is a plus to not staying there...I wouldn't be spending all my money on the shops there.  After trying the lime soda and tiramisu, which were delicious, we went to the shoe store, but it was closed!  Miya wasn't too happy about that.  But, she introduced me to Suhail, the owner of the pashmina store where all the expats buy their shawls and rugs.  He was very nice, and I was amazed that he remembered everyone's name from GIA that has been to India.  He knew Nha and Miya and asked if I worked in New York or Carlsbad, and I told him I was from Carlsbad.  So he says then you work with Nha, and I say yes I do.  He then asked me how Stephen Lieu was. He told me he bought a rug from him last year. He then proceeded to tell me all about the people that he knew from Carlsbad!  Talk about customer service, and we thought Nordstrom was the best!  I will be going back to buy a few pashminas since I love my scarves.  We leave the Hyatt to go back to Linking Rd.  Miya wants to go to a place called ShopperStop.  She wasn't kidding about shopping!  It reminds me of my shopping days in Arizona with Jennifer.  I was finished spending money and wanted to browse.  ShopperStop is a department store, kinda like a small version of Macy's.  I decide to go down to the basement and look at the pillow covers.  I want to find some with elephants.  They didn't have any.  The salesman asks me if I need any help.  I say I'm just looking, but did he happen to have pillow covers with elephants?  He says no.  I guess I'm out of luck.  So I happen to see a coverlet and like the colors.  It would match my house perfectly.  He asked would i like to see it.  I say sure why not.  I have nothing else to do as I'm waiting for Miya and Nha to finish their shopping.  He pulls it down and opens it up and tells me it has elephants.  My ears perk up and my eyes light up when I see it!  Not only does it have elephants, but it has lions and giraffes too!  I can't believe my luck, and of course, it is the only one in the store.  I have to have it!  I found the perfect souvenir that I will always remember my day shopping with Miya.  This was the last stop on our shopping day, and we go back to the hotel with bags of stuff.  As we reach the front of the hotel, Miya turns to me and says, "Sonja, it was great while it lasted, but I am breaking up with you.  We are bad for each other.  I can't be your shopping partner anymore.  I'm divorcing you!"  She is too funny.  We had a great time shopping, but I guess I encouraged her to spend more than she wanted to.  I kept seeing things and saying, "Oh, look at this, it would look good on you".  So, she would try it on, and give me this look and say, "I wouldn't even think to try this on, but now that I've tried it I think your right", and she would buy it!  My shopping days with Miya are now over, but we will be saving money.  The other big surprise...we found out Nha is a shopaholic too! We said Nha do you really want to go shopping with us?  And he said yes, I don't mind really.  We were a little skeptical.  We just thought he was tagging along to make sure we were safe, but in the end he bought almost as much as we did!  He even went out later that night to shop for sales at Globus.

Day 15: U-Turn

It's a Monday, and we have tomorrow off!  After work we went to U-turn to celebrate Josh's last day. Tod also arrived yesterday, and it's his favorite hang out spot.  We are all really tired and want to go back to the hotel and go to bed, but force ourselves to freshen up and meet Tod and Paige in the lobby.  We (Christina, Jessica, Tiffany) make it down to the lobby and wait for Tod and Paige.  After 25 min., they still have not shown up.  Then we begin to wonder if they have left without us!  Jessica calls Paige, and sure enough, they left us and are already there!  So, we decide to take a wild goose ride and try to find this place ourselves. Paige gives us the drop-off point, and we take off.  We are dropped off at an intersection and don't see U-turn.  We don't even know if we are in the right place.  I call Paige and she tells us she'll be right out to get us.  Meanwhile, Christina and I are still waiting for Tiffany and Jessica to show up in their rickshaw.  They were right behind us, but we got there before them.  We hope their rickshaw driver hasn't taken them the LONG way, which they like to do to earn extra money, even though it's still a really cheap ride.  Rickshaw rides costs about 25-50 cents anywhere we go.  Can't beat that. But, we have to cover our noses because the diesel fumes are so strong, and there are no windows block out the fumes.  Jessica and Tiffany finally pull up in their rickshaw, and just a few seconds later Paige appears.  She leads us to U-turn. We would have never found it ourselves.  We get there early for India time, so we are able to get one of the lounge tables, which is like a huge futon with pillows and a coffee table in the middle.  We have to sit on cushions and take our shoes off.  We order drinks, and Tod is already smoking a hooka, a water pipe for tobacco. It smells really good. He asks if we want to try, so we all do.  It smells and tastes nothing like tobacco.  He order sour apple and it taste just like an apple jolly rancher with mint, but very light and fresh.  We are here to celebrate Josh's going away party, but interestingly, Josh never shows up.  We have fun without him, and Tiffany finally calls to leave a message.  She says, "We are all having fun at your going-away party, wish you were here", and we make a toast.  By 10:00pm, Christina, Jessica and I are tired and decide to leave.  Tiffany stays with Tod, Paige, Nha and Heing.  There was talk about going dancing after U-turn, and we have no more energy.  We just want to go to bed. But, we will go back some other time so we can see Tod dance!  That would be a sight to see, since I can't really picture him dancing.  He says he only dances in India, and I believe it!

Day 14: Gateway of India

Today was the first day of real tourist sight-seeing.  We went to see Mumbai's most famous landmark, the Gateway of India!   It was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911, but the King and Queen didn't get to see it becasue it wasn't finished being built until 1924.  Christina, Tiffany, Jessica and I rode a Cool Cab down to Colaba. Once again, we didn't know where we were going and were winging it.  Nha couldn't fit in the cab, so he decided to take the train and meet us there. He gave the driver instructions on where to drop us off.  When we got to our destination, the driver stops the car, so we get out.  At this point we can't really see the Gateway and it is so crowded.  We don't even know if we are in the right place.  We call Nha to get instructions on where to go. He tells us to walk about three blocks, and we should run into the Gateway and the Taj Palace.  He was already waiting for us at Leopolds, another popular tourist destination.  We are so lucky to have Nha be our very own personal tour guide! We ask someone on the street the direction of Leopolds and he says keep walking you'll run into it.  So we keep walking, following the crowds and right before us stands the Triumphal Arch!  We couldn't get close to it because they have it blocked off.  They are setting up a sound stage for a concert later that night.  We try to get a few pictures but they're so many people in the streets it's a little overwhelming.  We walk right in front of the Taj Palace and everyone (locals and tourists) are taking pictures of it.  It has become even more famous than the Gateway after the terrorist attack last year.  It is still under-going construction.  The entire hotel was blocked off from outsiders and there were police and security guarding every side.  Once we finally made our way through the mob, we met Nha inside the Taj Palace. But before we found the entrance, after walking all the way around the building, we were stopped in the street by a casting agent.  He asked if we would like to be extras in a bollywood movie, a remake of Step Mom.  We had to work the next day, so that was out of the question.  Christina and I were a little weary of some stranger coming and asking us to be in a movie when he said a van could pick us up and take us to the set.  I had just finished watching Taken before leaving, and there was no way in hell, I was getting into anyone's van that I did not know.  Jessica and Tiffany were so thrilled.  They wanted to go, but the guy said they would be filming until 5am.  Thank God we had to work the next day, otherwise, we may have had to hunt these girls down like Liam Nealson.  We finally made it into the Taj Palace and looked through the shops.  They don't allow anyone to take pictures inside the hotel anymore for security reasons.  We didn't stay too long, but we did manage to get a few pictures in the lobby.  They did let us take those for some reason.  We ended up at Leopolds for most of the night.  It was a good dinner and we had a lot of fun talking and taking pictures.  We ordered beer which came in a portable tab.  It was a short trip, but we are planning on going back next weekend.  Hopefully, we'll get to stand underneath the Gateway on the next trip!

Day 13: Shopping Trip to Santa Cruz West

Last Saturday after work, a group of us decide to do some shopping at a place called Santa Cruz West.  A few of the New Yorkers fill us in on this shopping hot spot.  We don't have any idea where it is or how to get there.  Everyone keeps telling us that we have to go one day after work because it is only 5 minutes away, and there is a great store called Fab India.  Apparently, when everyone was staying at the Hyatt, this was one of the more popular places to shop.  So after work, Uma was kind enough to show us the way.  I wanted to get a few tunics because I didn't bring enough work clothes with me.  And the other girls wanted to go to a place called the silver palace.  Uma says she knows the perfect place to get nice quality tunic.  It's called Sama's, and it has become my favorite place to get beautifully decorated kurtas (what we call tunics).  They also do free alterations.  They had so many shirts to choose from in so many beautiful colors and designs.  It was like being in a candy store.  You ask to see one, and the guys behind the counter would pull out one after another.  After about 30 minutes, I decide to buy three, two casual and one fancy.  I wanted an emerald green with beading, so he pulls down a very fancy silk tunic.  The color was perfect.  And once he pulled it down, the local women shopping in the store stopped what they were doing, and told me I had to buy that one because the color was so nice and would suit me well.  They wouldn't let me say no!  It was the most expensive one, but well worth the money.  I ended up with the three costume-fitted tunics for about $65 USD.  That was such a steal. The green one alone back home would have been at least $150. Because I'm having all three altered, I have to go back the next day to pick them up.  We leave Sama's and go to the Silver Palace.  They had a lot of costume jewlery which was fun to look at. I ended up buying a set of thin gold bangels to match my new green kurta and a fun little silver spiral ring.  Then it was off to Fab India.  They had a great selection of tops and accessories.  I found a cute purse and an amethyst bracelet that I might buy before I leave.

Room With A View

Day 10: Princess of Taj!

I have now been given the title of Son-Jah, Princess of Taj!  The day I checked in, I was given a room with an ocean view, Room 1739.  The room was fine, but everyone that stayed at this hotel previously, had told us if we got an ocean view to change to a pool view because the views are much nicer.  So the next morning, I decided to ask for a pool view.  The front desk said it would not be a problem and sent someone to pack my things.  I was on the 17th floor and would be moving to the 16th floor.  I check out the room and the view was amazing.  I had a great view of the pool, the ocean and the bridge going to Colaba.  When I walked in, I noticed a musky order, but figured the air-conditioning wasn't on, and would go away once I turned it on.  I agreed to take the new room.  I was on my out to do some sight-seeing with the rest of the expats, so I told the front desk,  I would be getting back later and would pick up my new room key when I returned.  After a long day of sight-seeing, I return to my room to unpack.  When I walk in, the smell is still noticable.  I figured, I would buy a scented candle and my "little" problem would be solved.  At this point, I had not get ventured into the bathroom.  Once, I did make it to the restroom, I couldn't believe the smell. The ordor was coming from the water closet. The smell was unbearable at that point.  It was really late, and I did not want to pack up my things and move again, so I decided to stay in the room that night.  I went to bed exhausted.  I wanted a good night sleep, but that would not happen.  I kept tossing and turning and waking up with bouts of nausea.  The fumes kept creeping into the bedroom, and I knew I would have to change rooms.  There was no way I was going to stay in a room that smelled that bad, even if the view was incredible.  So the next day after I come back from work, I ask to have my room changed.  I explain that there is an ordor in the room.  I believe there is a backflow problem with the drains next to the toilet.  Meanwhile, Paige has checked into the same floor and is on the same floor just a few doors down from me.  She hears me talking about my room, and asks if I would come to her room because she is experiencing the same problem.  I tell her I'm going to change rooms and she wants to do the same.  She had been living with that smell for a week!  We go down to the front desk and ask to change rooms again.  They were kind enough to change our rooms, but unfortunately, the hotel was booked for the night. So they promised to hold the first two rooms that came available.  One more night in that room was torture!  After work the next day, I move to Room 1650.  The room is at the end of the hall. I don't notice a smell  and decide to take the room.  It still has a pool view, but the flat-screen TV is much bigger and doesn't have an annoying blue light that lights up the room at night. I stay in this room for two days and think it will be great.  Wrong.  By the third day, I could smell faint fumes in the water closet again.  The fumes don't penetrate into the rest of the room, but the minute I smell them I know I won't be happy if the smell continues.  Christina has a brilliant idea of sealing off the drain.  I have plastic bags with me so I was going to tape the drain shut to block out the smell. The only problem is I don't have tape.  So I call the front desk and ask if they happen to have tape.  They send the manager with the plumber and take a look down the drain.  They tell me that if they can fix it they will; but if they can't, then they will have to move me to another room.  I was on my way out, so I tell them I will be back later.  I get back to the hotel around 8:30pm and am tired!  I go to my room, the key works, so I figure they have fixed the problem.  As soon as I settle in, my phone rings.  It's the hotel manager. He tells me that the room has a bigger problem than expected and they couldn't fix it, so I would have to change rooms.  They tell me they would send someone to help me pack.  I was tired and didn't feel like packing and unpacking for the forth time, but do it anyway.  The floor attendent arrives and helps me to my new room.  I'm moving back up to the 17th floor.  This room doesn't have a pool view they inform me.  I said I didn't care as long as the room did not smell!  I'm walking to my new room and I laugh the minute I see the room number.  It's Room 1739, my original room!  So the girls are now calling me the Princess of Taj because I've been in four rooms in one week!  I'm finally settled and I like my room because it smells great!

Day 9: Salman Khan

We come back to the hotel (which we are now calling home), and see that they are setting up for a huge event next to the hotel.  This is almost a daily occurance at the hotel we are staying at. From the pool area we can see they are setting up for some awards ceremony.  Kelly, Jessica and I beeline straight to the pool area to see if we can watch the show.  It so happens it's the CID Gallantry Awards.  They basically give awards to brave, courageous and outstanding citizens.  So we are watching and two hotel staff members come by, and we think they are going to tell us we have to leave.  It was being taped live.  But, they come over and tell us all about the awards and the stars that will be making guest appearances.  So, I ask if I could take pictures.  I happen to have my big camera with a zoom lens.  And they say yes, and are very happy that I want to take pictures.  They see how big my camera is and ask if my pictures are any good.  I show them a few test shots, and they are happy to tell us that Salman Khan is about to walk on stage and I should get some pictures.  They tell us that he is a very famous Bollywood actor, very popular with all the girls because he is young and in really good shape.  He is very muscular and works-out a lot.  Most Indian actors are very lean, not much muscles at all.  Apparently, Salman Khan has caused a big stir because he is the first Indian actor to change his body type.  He is currently in a remake of Troy, called Veer here, and we all know how much Brad Pitt had to workout to get in shape for that movie.  I get a few good pictures of him on stage, and the staff workers are excited about the pictures so I offer to send them the pictures through email. They are very happy I had my camera with me, and so am I.  After Salman Khan leaves the stage, we start to hear the music to Jai Ho. We couldn't believe our luck!  We are about to see a live performance.  Early in the day, we were joking around saying wouldn't it be great if we could see someone dance to Jai Ho.  It was one of the last days Kelly was in town, and one thing on her to-do list was to watch a bollywood dance.  Her wish came true, as we all watched in awe.  This would become another highlight of our trip.  Within one week of being in India, I run into the stars of Slumdog Millionaire and get to watch a bollywood dance to Jai Ho!  It was the talk at the breakfast table the next morning.  Then I say, it's funny because I keep running into this older gentleman that looks like an Indian version of Al Pacino.  So, Uma hears about my story and says, "I can't believe you got to see Big B!"  I don't know what she's talking about.  I ask who Big B is, and she says he is the biggest and most famous actor of India. Now, I read the after hours section of the paper, so I will know who I'm running into.

Day 8: Ride of a lifetime

I'm so excited because I just had the most extraordinary experience.  I can't believe my luck!  I came home from work and stopped at the gift shop in the hotel lobby.  Everyone went to their rooms without me, so I took the opportunity to walk around and look for a silver sleeping Ganesha at Khazana, the hotel gift shop.  They were all sold out so I left my room number with the sales person to call when they get more in stock.  I was tired so I wanted to get to my room and relax.  I'm waiting for the elevator, and when it opens it's jammed packed.  I decided to get in because I didn't want to wait for the next one. I step in and immediately turn around to face the closed doors.  I could barely move it was so crowded.  So the elevator stops, and the three people in the back of the elevator need to get out.  A young man and woman squeeze their way out and then a taller guy follows the first two.  As the last guy exits the elevator I look up and realize to my amazement it's Dev Patel.  Then I look at the girl he's with and realize it's Freida Pinto!  I was just in the elevator with the cast of Slumdog Millionaire!  How cool is that! As they say here, "It's all good in Mumbai!"  So I race to my room to call Christina. As I was getting off at my floor, I see a security guard talking through his earpiece and walking the hall.  I hear him say something about room #1718...that's on my floor.  So much for my relaxing night in. After talking to Christina, the rest of the girls and I decide to walk around the hotel to find out what was going on.  We saw them setting up for some function in the lobby.  They had roped of the bar in the lobby and put up fancy decorations of LV(Louis Vuitton) symbols.  And on the way down, a woman gets on the elevator. So I asked if she knew what was going on in the hotel, and she informed us that Louis Vuitton's grand opening was tonite.  Apparently, they had just opened up the Louis Vuitton store at the hotel three weeks ago.

I can't decide which elevator ride was more thrilling. This one or the one in which Tiffany calls the Tower of Terror! Last week we after finishing lunch and on the way back up to work, the power went out while we were riding in the elevator.  The lights go out and then we drop about a foot or two.  As soon as the lights go out, Christina screams and scares the living daylights out of me, so I yell...which makes Jessica scream.  All this happens in a matter of seconds.  The power goes back on  and the elevator doors open up to a floor under construction. We had no idea where we were.  We thought we were in the basement because there wasn't even flooring on this level. It just looked like sawdust and wooden frames. No walls, no doors...it was just a big construction mess.  As we were peaking our heads out of the elevator to see where we were, a man pops out in front of us from nowhere.  Once again startled, Jessica and Christina scream!  Tiffany and I think it's hilarous and can't stop laughing.  So you can imagine, how crazy we must look like to the locals riding in the elevator with us.  For those who weren't there just imagine...two almost about to go into full panic attacks holding back tears, another two laughing hysterically and another two local workers standing there with no emotion looking at us like were were lunatics, which made us laugh even more!  The rumor back in Carlsbad is that we almost died in a free-falling elevator.  It wasn't that dramatic, but it sure was an experience I will never forget.  Thank God, I'm not claustrophobic or have a fear of being stuck in a dark elevator!