Above – Ganesha at the Institute

Yesterday we checked out of the Chetak and moved into our new digs at the Anugraha. Here’s a photo of the building from the street. We’re on the 9th floor (there are 10 floors in the building).

We had a bit of a fiasco checking out at the Chetak. Don’t get me wrong. All the staff at the Chetak are very nice and accommodating, always with a smile. But … It’s typical Indian custom to make things confusing and difficult.

Check out was at noon. We had arranged for Nana (our good friend and loyal rickshaw driver) to pick us up at the new digs at 1pm, assuming an hour would be long enough for us to get checked out and moved in. We arranged for another rickshaw to pick us up at the Chetak at 12:15pm and take us to the new digs (less than 5 minutes away). The driver arrived on time and we had to send him away because another copy of our passport was needed at the Chetak to transfer us to the Anugraha (it’s the same owner). Evidently the photocopy machine (aka cheap printer) was broken so someone had to take our passports somewhere else to get them copied. “Just sit over there and wait. It will only take 15 minutes. [add head wobble here]” We waited and waited and waited.

Next thing we know it’s 12:50pm and we notice our passports are still sitting on the desk when we thought someone had taken them to copy. Guess again. Nana shows up (it was great to see him again!), we wait a little longer, then after some consideration we decide to leave our passports there and pick them up later.

Nana stuffs our luggage and us into the rickshaw and off we go to the Anugraha. We arrive, cram ourselves and our luggage into the very small and ancient elevator hoping it doesn’t decide to get stuck on the way up.

Nana took us for a bite to eat at Shiv Sagar, very popular with the Indians. I had a very tasty Cheese Masala Dosa and will be having leftovers for lunch today!

… and then to Dorabjee (a grocery store). This turned out to be another debacle. You can thank me now for sparing you the details. Note to self: Never go back there!

Selfie of me in the rickshaw attempting to keep the fumes out of my air intakes. The scarf is a necessity here.

Intersections with streetlights are a rarity. This one happens to have one. The rule of thumb is that the smaller the vehicle, the easier it is to squeeze to the front line. The bus must’ve been there first.

This is a pretty common site. Lots of men standing around areas where no one in their right mind would want to hang out.

Beep beep. Lot’s of beeping.

I’m not sure what this building is, but it’s big and I thought it photo worthy.

Squeezing in and more beep beeps.

This kinda looks like a drive thru corn club …

Roadside vendors.

Me and Nana. He’s talking to his next ride. He was late because of us. Nice rays of light though, don’t you think? Or is this what enlightenment looks like?

We ended the day yesterday going to an Indian music concert that was part of an ongoing weekend Guru Purnima celebration for Pandit Taranath Ram Rao Hattaingadi, aka Pt. Taranathji (1915-1991) a guru/teacher of classical Indian percussion. (Robb & Akuch, you would have loved this!) 

There were 4 of us headed to the concert so we had to take two rickshaws. The driver I was with didn’t speak English, was clueless and got us lost. Twice. To make another very long story short, I didn’t let go of our 40Rs until I knew we were at the correct destination.

This morning I’m on my own. I’m heading next door (Yes! we’re right next door to the Institute now) to watch the kids’ class. This was a highlight of my 2013 trip. The kids have so much energy and it’s a lot of fun watching them.

Blogged from iNdia on my 12″ MacBook with LOVE!