In the News

Miles was recently interviewed for the New Indian Express Newspaper. This newspaper has a section that specifically highlights expats and their lives in India. Miles was honored to be asked for the interview and a great article was written up complete with pictures of our travels. The interviewer was a girl friend of our friend Paloma. Her questions for Miles consisted mostly of places we have been, where we have traveled, the restaurants we like to frequent around town, and what we like to do in our spare time together as a couple in the city. The interview was over the phone which made us laugh because the article is written from the perspective of two people sitting around a coffee table face to face. She added in things like, ...and we nod"....which of course never happened as it was all conducted over the phone with no face to face interaction. She did a good job though capturing Miles words and answers accurately and respectfully. We were both pleased with the outcome.

The interviewer became VERY excited upon discovering our blog. She asked to highlight it in the article. We of course agreed. Since the article has been published our "viewers" have increased phenomenally and we have also been contacted by local Chennains giving us feedback and thanking us for the good publicity of Chennai, for doing the article, and kind words in our blog about the city we now call home. What do you think?

I hope the picture is clear enough you can read it, however you can also read the article here.


Well, the recent media attention has made this blog even more famous and that is a very good thing! Our blog has been visited by 32 different countries around the world! A very good thing indeed.

...and in honor of our celebrating....another Giveaway!
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One random commenter on this post will be selected for a surprise giveaway of a special gift from us here in India. The Winner will be announced on the next post.

Comment away!
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-Jenny

2011 Chennai Open

Our friend, Paloma made us aware of a special event happening in Chennai and wondered if we wanted tickets. Turns out this even was a professional tennis match with some major players. We bought tickets for January 9th for the final men's singles and doubles matches. Chennai has had the honor of hosting this event for the last 12 or so years and we learned that they will host it for at least the next three years! It is so good for this city. We are excited and proud for them to hold this event.






At the gate entrance they handed out these lame, and cheesy paper visors. None of us actually wore them, but we all posed for the silly picture with them on our heads.

Men's Singles

The Men's Singles finals was a good match. The Swiss Wawrinka beat Malisse from Belarus. After both matches the winner and runner up were presented with trophies, scarves, and their checks. The scarves are an Indian tradition and a way of honoring winners and guests to their country.

Defeated

Victory!The Final Score

Men's Doubles

The Men's Doubles match up featured a famous Indian pair, Mahesh and Leander (who are currently in the Men's Doubles finals of the Australian Open). The crowd got really into them which was fun, but annoying at the same time. When the match got close the crowd would cheer loudly at anything good that happened for Mahesh and Leander, even cheering when the opposing team had service faults (very frowned upon in tennis circles). It was a very close match, and the Indian pair pulled out the win. We learned that these Mahesh and Leander, who have been playing together for quite a while, have a signature celebration that the crowd eagerly waits for...a chest bump. Towards the end of the match they finally did their signature chest bump and the crowd went wild. Besides the winning point, that was the loudest the crowd got.

The Chest Bump. A crowd favorite.

This is the video of the winning point. The crowd goes wild. (including Paloma who was standing right next to me -screaming) So awesome!

This little girl was waving her country's flag with much gusto. It was so cute and she was so happy to support her country!

The matches were an all day event. We had an amazing time and it was so great to be apart of this crowd. We cheered wildly right along with them...and participated in The Wave....(all of India refers to as the "Mexican Wave"..?) After all we might look like foreigners and referred to frequently as "the White People" but we live here too. Miles did get mistaken for one of the Swiss players while getting food during a short break between the Men's Singles and Doubles matches. It was great. Hilarious actually. I guess all us "White People" look alike. Truly was funny. Well, regardless, we swelled with pride right along with everyone else as India brought home the final victory. Way to go India!
-Jenny

Beauty Salons in India

Often we have laughed as we pass beauty parlors here in India. They are often called Saloons. Interesting. Hair cuts, walls of polish, pedicures, and wax are not exactly what comes to mind when I think of a saloon.

I have been thankful for my little outings with Ann for so many reasons but it is pretty fabulous that she introduced me to Alice's salon. I will keep the actual name of her salon private for security/safety reasons but I love supporting her business because she is a Christian! I love supporting the businesses or ministries here that further the kingdom. Such a cool deal.

Well Ann introduced me and we have gone for pedicures, haircuts, brow threads, and hot oil massages many times since I arrived here. Man Oh Man, those head massages with the hot coconut oil can put you in a trance! Seriously! Wonderful stuff.

The differences in salons back home and the saloons here is quite drastic. I only mentioning these things not to be critical but just for the sake of comparison. Most salons in the States are clean, modern, hip spacious flats that allow for privacy and pampering....and are pretty expensive. None of those words could describe anything in this country, least of all a salon, however this is India, and I was not necessarily expecting the same standards I was used to back home but I have to admit I was a little surprised. The space is very small and cramped and takes some getting used to. The pampering happens as I consider a pedicure pampering and a massage -both of which I have had here- so that one works. Comfort though was a tough sell in such a small cramped place. The pedi's and massages are done while sitting in what I know as plastic lawn chairs and the pedi was not clean by any means. The bucket of cold water was lightly rinsed and re filled after the previous client for soaking my feet prior to my pedicure. Interesting. The same tools were used (without rinsing or chemically treating) after scrubbing the bottoms or scraping underneath the toes between Ann and I. We had different girls at the same time working the bottoms of our rough and tough -lived in India now for months now- feet but they shared the same tools which I found a little gross that they were not cleaned between use/client. Interesting. But seriously, I was getting a much needed pedicure. No way would I be complaining about anything! It is just the way it is. And I have yet to mention the cost. Things in India are usually way cheaper than in America and the salon is no different.

I still do not understand the waxing customs here too. Women here often wax their legs but do not wax their eyebrows. They thread them. I had my eye brows done today because of the Italian in my blood they tend to get out of control rather quickly. I have to say -O-U-C-H! OUCH!!!!! Threading is way worse and burns and hurts. A lot! Waxing is so much easier I just do not understand why the women here do not wax -especially if they wax everything else. Again, I am not complaining- although maybe the painful brows are a little sore- but merely mentioning it to document the differences.

For all that being said, i truly mean it when I say it has been fun going to Alice's place. Coffee is always served in tiny little espresso sized mugs with tiny matching saucers and is always so yummy and comforting. All three times I have been in the salon new brides are in getting ready for their big day. The super fancy Saris, veils, hair braided with gold threads and jewels adorning their heads....absolutely beautiful! My favorite was this one bride in a fancy white sari. She was sitting right next to me as my hair was getting a slight trim. She was sitting there alone as her attendants were in the next room. She and Ann and I were completely alone for a moment as the salon ladies left to go attend to her attendants. I sneakily stared at her and she was just gazing at herself. I would have given anything to know what she was thinking. She just studied every aspect of her face and hair and all of herself in the mirror before her. She looked perfect. And as I was staring at her (hopefully for me-completely unaware of my infatuation with her beauty and excitement for her and her big day ahead) she smiled a herself approvingly. She just smiled and it warmed me greatly! I could not help but smile myself quickly looking down and away not wanting to be found out that I caught that, or caught myself for staring, I was so excited to witness that subtle happy approval of herself on the day she should be glowing. Very sweet. I would have taken a photo but I felt uncomfortable being the silly and invasive tourist that sees a beautiful bride and asks to take her picture. Oh dear. I sure wish I did though. She was truly stunning!

I have been to the salon several more times after this. Ann and I as well as some new friends come along and we make it a ladies day of pampering. Often pedicures and brow threading takes place amidst the typical American girl talk discussing our new lives as we know it in India and it is so nice to sit back in those chairs and sip on sweet'n milky Indian coffee with my Girls! Now that is not too unlike how it is done in America. However, I do seem to appreciate those times here more that I did when I was back home. With all the reminders in Alice's salon that it is still and Indian "saloon" it is a wonderful way to spend time with the Girls and enjoy a little something a little extra for me too!!


-Jenny

Phuket, Thailand and FantaSea

On our last full day and night in Thailand we went on our last little trip to see the world renown FantaSea Show. It truly is this magical place. Imagine Disneyland (minus the rides) meets a local county fair with all the fanfare and exhibits, vendors, carnival games, food, entertainment, and LIVE animals. We walked around a good long time looking at all the lights, the sounds, the mini shows, dances, and checked out the hundreds of vendors and all their goods. It was a lovely, pleasant evening- perfect weather to enjoy a stroll. It was so great to just drink it all in.
my humbled attempt at creating a picture we took of both of us in it...so close...(fail)

There was a white tiger exhibit that was one of the most amazing things about our Thailand trip. The tigers were so close so beautiful! We could capture video of them. Check them out below.







Besides all of that and the wild and crazy atmosphere there is a dining hall that hosts a full buffet dinner seating 5,000 people at a time. The food and drink were delicious and the desserts out of this world. After dinner the thousands of people go see the show—the main act—FantaSea!
FantaSea is a live show that is like a circus/laser light/Cirque du Soleil show. The massive cast tells a story of Thailand rich in history, culture, in a magical fantasy legend sort of way. There were tons of elephants doing amazing tricks and other animals including tigers that also played a role and performed beautifully on cue. We are still amazed that the doves, and chickens, and goats all ran across stage on cue without any assistance or help from trainers. So impressive. The entire show was. People were doing flips off of high wires hanging from the vaulted auditorium ceilings and the music and colors were mesmerizing. If anyone is in Thailand it is a MUST see for sure. There are no cameras or phones or video equipment allowed. The elegant staff make sure of that as security was tight. You can buy the DVD and colorful booklet of the performance and we did. So anyone can borrow it from us if you would like to see it yourself.

One of the highlights of the evening was the baby tigers available to be held and fed bottles of milk. They were so tiny and adorable! For the short amount of time (about a minute) they allow you to hold the baby tiger. It was not worth the astronomical price of 900 Baht ($29.59), but we still got very close. Close enough we might as well have been holding it ourselves. So see the baby tiger up close like that out of a cage and able to be touched was so amazing.

The night was truly unbelievable and an unforgettable experience.

Well, we hope you enjoyed all the pictures and video we took of our trip to Thailand. If you would like to see more click the PICTURES tab at the top of the home page and there is a direct link there to our Picasa albums. There you will find many many more photos of many of the places we saw and things we did in Thailand...but for now ...and as we learned in Thai ..
Goodbye (Sa wat dee kah) See you again (lao jer gun)
-Jenny