mind your own business!

Neeta and I are both back in Toronto. I got a bit of food poisoning the last few days and have just recovered woohoo!! One thing I really wanted to let you guys know about traveling in India is people in India do not believe in the unstated rule of North American life which is to: Mind your own business!!

In North America if somebody is in line ahead of you and they are arguing with the person selling a ticket- well you might look at your shoes, or the sky or your watch- but never would you walk up to the person ahead of you- stand beside them with your shoulders touching- practically cheek to cheek and listen to the conversation and then join in adding your two cents!!

In India this is normal and not unexpected- at any time someone can stand beside you- very close to you- and join your conversation with someone else!
The rule of life in India is to mind everyone else's business!! This is a good rule!! (sometimes). We enjoyed listening to many peoples conversations! By the end of the trip, I was one of those people who would walk up to a random stranger ahead of me in line, stand shoulder to shoulder and listen to their conversation! They never seemed to mind (I think).

Tip: If you're in trouble
If you're ever in trouble and start talking loudly a crowd will surround you- people will be in your business in a flash! They will join in to whatever is happening, they will not ignore you! This is a good thing, it kept us feeling pretty safe.

I'm coming home soon!

thanx to everyone who has read & posted comments on the blog. I will be arriving back in Toronto on January 18th! I am leaving New Delhi tonight and will be on the road until I get to Mumbai on January 17th..I will try to upload a few more pics and interesting tid bits...Bye for now, my midnight bus to Jaipur leaves in a couple of hours and I need to pack and get ready. The bus ride is only 6 hours! I will be taking a bus from Jaipur to Mumbai on January 15th and it will be longggggggggggggggggggggggg! It will probably take 18 hours! ahhhhhhhh.....oh well. It will be the last long journey in India until next year.

India has the most vegetarians in the world!!

For those of you who are vegetarians or like vegetarian food, then India is the place to be! India has the highest percentage of vegetarians in the world! Since I am a vegetarian, I am really really happy about that! I discovered the best vegetarian corner in Delhi. Bangla corner, it has 6 restaurants and they are all vegetarian! Can you believe that! I don't think there are 6 veg restaurants in Toronto! For most of you this probably doesn't seem like a big deal. Trust me it is! I have been struggling all my life to find good veg food! India has it everywhere! They always give you the option of veg or non-veg on trains & flights! Ok, here are some pics of my favourite restaurant in Delhi! They even have an assortment of egg free desserts!

how products get from place to place!!

While I was sitting on a bicycle rickshaw in a traffic jam trying to get to Old Delhi, I realized how paper, books, pipes ect. get transported across the city! Bicycle rickshaws deliver them!! What a hard, hard job!

Response to Tina's comments!

Tina, I have to say that it sounds like you have been detained by female border agents! If so, I have never heard that story!! Do tell! Thanks for the tip! I have asked around and it seems like the local Indians agree with you! So ladies, never cry if you are questioned by a female officer. According to Tina and others this will make the situation worse!

Lahore Pics

Border Crossing - India to Pakistan!!

Lahore Rocks!!

Many of you know Tariq! He is a ex Torontian who is now living in Lahore. I went to visit him last Friday and just got back to New Delhi yesterday. There is only one authorized land crossing between India and Pakistan and it is located in Amritsar, Punjab. I got to the border 15 minutes before it was supposed to close. The border agent told me I was to late and I would have to come back the next day. I didn't know what to do! I had spent the entire day traveling and to be rejected and that point was to much for me to handle! I started crying and couldn't stop..Once the border agent saw the tears he had a change of heart and said that I could go if I ran. I never cried in public before! I couldn't believe that my tears had that effect on him! I was so happy! Tip for the ladies..If you are ever in a bind, think about crying..It might just work. Especially in South Asia! I ran from India to Pakistan..I never imagined running through customs of both countries but I did it! I was exhausted and tired but thrilled that I made it to the other side!


Every day since 1947 when the two countries were created an elaborate show is performed by the soldiers on both sides to signify the closing of the border. We watched the closing of the border. The flexibility of the soldiers is unbelievable. They can kick their legs over their heads and still look graceful!

I am having problems uploading the pics but they should be uploaded by tomorrow!

Two week update!

I have not updated the blog in a while..Lata has gone back to Toronto and I went to Lahore Pakistan...We have not updated due to lack of internet access..really sucky! When Lata and I were planning our trip I dreamed of all the exciting places that we could spend new years..I thought maybe Goa! or Mumbai, Delhi, Jaisalmer...We couldn't decide because we were not sure of our plans..I knew that which ever city we choose we would have sooooooooooooo much fun dancing the night away..when new years hit we were visiting my grandmother in Gujarat...not that it wasn't fun but it wasn't how i had imagined spending new years! i stayed away till 12 and we cracked open a 200ml bottle of 7UP and wished each other a happy new year!! by 12:05 I was sleeping like a baby..next year i hope all of my friends can come and celebrate new years in goa!