MY HOST FAMILY

I live with a very nice family. I decided it would be more interesting than living alone or with a western roomate, and as I'm only here for a few months, it's a nice way to become immersed in the culture.

Embassy Eating - Last of three posts

A few months ago there was an article in the NY Times Travel section about how each state of India has an embassy in New Delhi which serves that state's regional food. See: http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/travel/11journeys.html?ref=travel

The embassy of the State of Andrha Pradesh was my last stop for the day.

For about $2, I ate until my heart was content/it was time to pop an imodium. The food looks like nothing short of slop, and it was, but it was delicious and spicy slop. I truthfully don't know what I ate and no one working there could explain, but I suspect some lentils, potatoes, cabbage, etc. Your choices are only vegetarian or non-veg. I chose vegetarian since the non-veg was chicken biryiani, which I've eaten the last few nights and because the veg option seemed to come with more options.

The cafeteria works like this: You say veg or non-veg. A tray is put on your table and men holding tins of slop, rice, breads, etc., come around and drop the food on your plate. This continues until you push the tray away from yourself. A photo of the tin used for serving is featured in my photos below as well as in the NY Times photo. I suggest looking at the NY Times article for a more accurate photo.

Don't be fooled by the photos below; what looks to be only 1/2 eaten is actually my second serving. By the way, most people eat with their hands; I chose to use a spoon.

Lodi Park

This is a gorgeous park in a wealthy area of New Delhi. The park has everything from tombs similar to ones in the previous post, to butterfly sanctuaries to fairly nicely manicured lawns. My understanding is that this was a park used primarily by English aristocrats. It's surrounded now by large homes, embassies and the U.N. It's used in the morning by wealth Delhites for jogging and other activities. It's not so representitive of the rest of New Delhi, but a nice break from the craziness of the city.

HUMAYUN TOMB, 1 of multiple postings

I spent today running around New Delhi. Amongst the things I did was visit the Humayun Tomb, which dates back to the 15th Century. It was incredible. Below are photos of the HumayunTomb as well as a smaller tomb leading towards the HumayunTomb.

The last photo I included is the not so incredible part of India/New Delhi, unfortunately a fairly common site.

Market, etc.

Some photos of a market not too far from my house. Henna tatoos are very popular and henna artists line the streets. To get to the market,you have to cross the train tracks.

Also, a photo of the trash collection "services."

Lastly, a photo of a take away restaurant where I've been picking up food the last few night. Very delicious. The best chicken tikka and tandoori I have ever had.

FOOD IN INDIA

Indian food in India - It's different than Indian food on the Upper West Side. It's not different in the sense that, for example, in China, chicken w/ broccoli doesn't exist - it's different in the sense that the first few times you eat Indian food, it just doesn't do wonders for your stomach. Getting accustomed to Indian food takes time. I've had to work my way up, starting with rice and ending tonight with a delicious and greasy Briyani (not featured). The normal recipe equation is: Indian dish + immodium= a worry free day.

Comida hindu en la india - es muy diferente que la comida hindu de Manhattan. No en el sentido que en la China, no hay pollo con almendras, pero en el sentido que tiene un efecto muy raro en tu estomogo. Acustombrarse tarda bastante. He tenido que entrenar mi cuerpo para aceptar la comida aqui. Normalmente, la receta para una buena comida es eso: comi hindu + medicacion anti-diaherial= una dia sin tener que preocuparse.

Chicken kebob (from my first night before the "fun" started). un Kebob de pollo.

Dosa Masala - a typical south Indian dish. It's a lentil crepe filled with curried potatoes. It comes with lentils and chutnies. una comida tipico del sur de la india. es un crepe de lentejas con patatas de curri. Se acompana con lentejas y chutney.

Street foods - various fried delicacies, such as somosas. Comida de la calle - comida frita.

Below is the fruit of this man's labor. Aqui tienes la resultado del foto de arriba.

Fresh fruits and vegetables. Kind of like Fairway, but Indian style.

Here is a sampling of some of the dishes.

sent

NEW DELHI!

NAMASTE from New Delhi,

I finally have internet connection! I've been in ND now since this past Friday. It's overwhelming to say the least. The pollution, poverty, sights, sounds, heat (average 115 degrees) - it's just a lot to take in and I'm just finally get used to life here. It's not as romantic as a Bollywood movie (filmed in Switzerland) or even Ghandi.

I've moved in with a wonderful family in a neighborhood named Jang Pura Extension, South Delhi. The neighborhood is authentic, very authentic. As the pictures below demonstrate, this is not a very expat populated area. I'm one of only a handful of foreigners apart from a substantial Pakistani and Afghani population. At first, it admittedly threw me for a loop - I felt very out of place and wondering what the hell I was doing here instead of 15 minutes west, where there is a large expat population. I've come to like the neighborhood I'm in and I realize what a great opportunity it is to immerse myself in Indian culture. Although everyone stares at me as I walk down the street, the Indian people are very nice and welcoming, and with the exception of the rickshaw drivers, they never take advantage of me.

I've just started eating, by the way. My stomach has taken some time to warm up to the spices. The good part is that between the heat and not heating, I've certainly lost a pound or two.

Below are some photos of my neighborhood and my dinner (basically the second time i have eaten here)

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Namaste desde La India,

Por fin, tengo conexion de internet. Llevo aqui casi 6 dias aqui. El contaminacion, odores, la pobreza - es mucho para acustumbrarse de repente - es muy agobiante a principio. Es muy diferente que las pelicuas de Bollywood (grabado por Suiza) o la pelicula de Ghandi.

Estoy viviendo con una familia hindo. Son muy majos. Vivo en un barrio se llama Jang Pura Extension. Es un bario muy, muy autentico. Casi no hay extranjero menos yo y un monton de gente de Pakistan y Afganistan. A principio pensaba que deberia haber vivido en un barrio mas occidental pero ahora me he acostumbrado y agredezco bastante que he elegido este barrio. Aunque es un poquito chungo en plan todo la gente me miran, pues la gente son muy majo y menos los conductores de rickshaws, no me aprovechen. Como los espanoles menos la mujer quiem trabaja con los extranjeros en la comisaria de leganes, los hindus son muy majos.

Por cierto, he empezado comer. A principio, me estomgo no le gustaba tanto a la comido, pero ahora mejor. Entre el calor y no comer, voy perdiendo peso.

Abajo hay fotos de mi barrio y tambien de mi cena (es casi el primer cena que he tomado aqui)

Bueno, hasta la proxima.

Butter chicken with freshly baked break

NEXT STOP: NEW DELHI, INDIA

Not there yet, but departing shortly. Commentary and photos to come.