Monkey Temple

I decided it was time we ventured out of our gated comunity into the real India. I wanted to see some Hindu Temples around our neighborhood. There must be one every other block, Some temples are very small and close to businesses. Click Here to View Slideshow. They are just a little room open to the street and people can go inside for quick prayers on the way to work (my guess). Inside you can find a figurine representing one of the many Gods of the Hindu religion. The ones we went to visit are bigger buildings. In these kind of temples the Hindus perform "Puja" which is a prayer or ritual to worship their Gods. The driver took us to several temples but they are only open in the mornings and evenings. So we were only able to take pictures of the exterior. Which is a good thing because I had the children with me and visiting these places during the day was weird enough, visiting them at night could be a little too much for their impressionable minds. There was one temple that was open and was worth visiting: the temple for the monkey god Hanuman. To enter the temple people remove their shoes. This day in particular the temple was almost empty but the priest told me that on Saturdays they can get as much as 1500 visitors. They believe that the monkey god will bring them good luck during the week. If you want to learn more about Hanuman click here. Inside there were many altars and fires, and we got the chance to see "Puja". Overall it was a very strange experience because everything is so different from our western cultures, but I enjoyed it and I am glad to have had the chance to see it :)
Check the "picture of the week" at the bottom of this page.

Why Do I Eat There?

One of the major difficulties working the night shift is the lack of food options. All but two restaurants close at the food court after 11:00 pm. Last week walking back from the food court with a couple of my co-workers, we came across a disgruntled customer lying on his back in complaint over the lack of options. I just had to take a picture. After seeing this, Johanna asked me, "why do you eat there?" There are many reasons. The excitement of the unknown. The thrill of staring death in the face and surviving. No need for laxatives. The mysteriousness of Indian food like the veg burger or the white hot dog. You have to love the offshore life!

Don't Judge a Person by the Size of their Banana

Walking through the produce section in India you will quickly stop and say, "wow, look at the size of those bananas." But don't judge these by their size alone. They are just as tasty. In fact, they are perfect for the children, especially our little one. They fit just right in her little hands and we don't waste half a banana on the floor.

The Garden City

Click here to view a slide show of the plants around the house.

Bangalore is a wonderful garden city. Especially during this time of the year when the rain drops are falling daily and flowers are in bloom each morn. This home must have atleast 100 different plants, trees and bushes that surround it.

Wedding Receptions

We have been to two wedding receptions. Ironically, they are very similar to ones in the US. You walk up, say congratulations to the bride and groom, take a few pictures, grab a bite to eat, say hello to a few people you know, and then leave.

I am really glad I went to the weddings because I was able to mark off a couple of items on my list of "Things to do Before I Leave India". One of those is eating off of a banana leaf. The food is spicy but the rice (which I didn't capture in the photo) is usually plentiful and not that hot.

Sarah doesn't have any trouble meeting new people at the weddings. This is nice because Mom and Dad get a chance to eat and talk with others. Here she is at Sayed's wedding reception with some of his extended family.

Culture Shock Moment No. 1,001

When you visit another culture you always do your best to learn about the unique differences before you go, so as not to embarrass oneself. Well, our villa sits on the edge of the subdivision. Just on the other side of the wall is a small dirt road. Adjacent to the road is a small concrete building under construction - almost finished. The other day we heard a band playing in the distance and the music became progressively cheerful as the band marched down the path. With the drums and flutes playing a merry tune, Johanna ran to the back, 2nd story patio to see. In the distance, she could see a group of men carrying a large flowery altar-like structure. Flowers are very common during "puja". Her first reaction was that they must be finished with the construction enough to perform "puja" on the building. So she proceeded to call to the boys, "Joshua, Caleb come quick, see the parade."

By the time I arrive on the patio, the band is walking down the path adjacent our villa with the beautiful flower petaled structure in hand. Johanna is clapping to the music, tapping her feet and surely with a smile. In the meantime, I grab out the camera phone and snap a picture of this special moment. Then in an instant Johanna stops, turns around to me and says, "Eric, there is a dead body in the flowers." huh!!!?? We retreated to our villa in embarrassment.

Side note: Had we been able to see far enough down the path and waited long enough, we would have watched the beautiful flower structure aflame as they cremated the body. Also, the picture has been omitted out of respect for the deceased.

When it rains, it pours!

Despite the heavy rains, we have managed to stay dry. The rain falls about everyday in Bangalore during the month of August and September. The daily check of the weather includes walking outside to look at the clouds and the ground. There are usually two forecasts - dark clouds means rain is on its way or sunny skies with a wet grounds means you have some time to do your shopping before the next storm. The storms do not have a lot of lightning or thunder like the storms in Arizona but the rain does come quickly.