"Whoa!" is the first thing that comes to mind when I try to describe India. I read all the books and guides and tried to prepare myself but it's just unlike any place I've been before.
We arrived in Delhi at 4:00am in the morning and as soon as we stepped out of the airport, we were met with chaos- People EVERYWHERE! For the first part of my trip, I'm traveling with BF and two of his friends. We thankfully booked a cab to come pick us up otherwise there would have been some aggressive haggling which would not have been the most fun so early in the morning. We get to this teeny tiny car and pile our massive suitcases in. Jammed into the backseat, I couldn't see the traffic but I could definitely hear it! Honking every second.... No joke!
We finally get to the hotel, check in and head to our rooms. Sleep? Unsuccessful! Punjab music streamed incessantly throughout the night. I thought it would be hot (21C) so didn't pack warm clothes- not so much. AND, there were no sheets on the bed. What the what? Since it was so late BF and I attempted to fall asleep. I put on as many layers of dresses as possible and BF and I huddled together for warmth. I brought two scarves with me which we used for warmth. (This is so backpacker. I was not prepared!) We must have been a funny sight, lying as still as possible so that the two scarves wouldn't fall off.
As morning came, we checked out of the hotel (even though we booked for another two nights) and checked into a five star hotel. Normally I don't spoil myself like that but it was easily justified after the night we spend in our 9Euro hotel room.
Stay tuned to hear about how we were scammed and what happened to us on the way home from the Taj Mahal!
December 31, 2009
December 27, 2009
Improvements
I spent my Christmas day with BF's family again this year, and as always it was lovely. Last year, I had only been in Ireland for a month and a half. I had dated the BF for 7 years and so thought I was very 'in' with the Irish accent. ER... not so much. I could understand Kieran's mom and sisters. His dad was difficult definitely but manageable. But then I met his Uncle Donie- HOLY HELL - Irish Cork Country accent. For the first 4 hours I understood 40% of what he was saying. I would just nod my head and laugh whenever everyone else laughed.
This year though, 100% improvements. Yeah me! I understood 95% of Uncle Donie's stories... and let me tell you, there is nothing more interesting then stories about the locals in a small Irish village!
This year though, 100% improvements. Yeah me! I understood 95% of Uncle Donie's stories... and let me tell you, there is nothing more interesting then stories about the locals in a small Irish village!
December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas Eve!!!!
My sisters and I doing a holiday song and dance to celebrate the Christmas season.
* Yes, I know this is old. I just had a lot of time at work today
* Yes, I AM working today again, but I'm headed down to Cork at 5:00!
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
* Yes, I know this is old. I just had a lot of time at work today
* Yes, I AM working today again, but I'm headed down to Cork at 5:00!
December 23, 2009
Still Working ...
but not very hard. It's as quiet as a ghost town in here. No phone are ringing, barely anyone is in the office. I'm chatting with friends and entertaining myself on YouTube (er... it's part of the G network so it's work related, right? RIGHT!)
We are going for a long boozy lunch though as a last Christmas Hurrah before the break to Roly's. I spent the better part of the morning deciding on my lunch! :)
We are going for a long boozy lunch though as a last Christmas Hurrah before the break to Roly's. I spent the better part of the morning deciding on my lunch! :)
December 22, 2009
It's a ....
A BOY! My sister called me late last night (I was already asleep) and broke the news to me! YEAH!!! I had a feeling it was going to be a boy. I have been looking at baby shower invitations and for some reason my eyes kept moving to the blue invitations. I cannot WAIT to meet this little baby in May.
I didn't have a preference either way (not my baby!). I would have LOVED to buy baby girl clothes and toys and I nearly die every time I see baby girl shoes. BUT, my poor father has been "dealing" with girls his whole adult life...4 daughters- Imagine the shopping, make-up and boyfriends! I'm glad that there will finally be a proper boy in the family for my dad.
December 21, 2009
Holidays!
I've been going and on and on about my upcoming warm holidays...even G knows about it and is sending me off in style! :)
December 20, 2009
Come dine with me Christmas Edition
Our last Come dine with me dinner for the year was of course Christmas themed. Since our friend Mags was the only one with a table that would fit all 7 of us (the usual crew plus our friend Sean who was home for Xmas from Australia), it was agreed that we would have dinner at her place.
Instead of a gourmet home cooked meal like we normally do, we decided to have our buddies Mark and Spencer help out so we would have more time to chat with each other. We had lovely appetizers and a full Christmas dinner (Ham, turkey, veggies, potatoes and gravy.) Yum! It was such good fun, and we were laughing so hard and talking so loudly that the neighbors CALLED THE GARDAI!! Can you believe it?
We seriously weren't drinking very much (for once) and was in the process of sharing strawberry tarts and tea when we hard loud knocks at the door. Ut-Oh! Flashbacks of my college days went through my head, but they quickly left when they realised we seriously were just having tea and dessert.
Look at these innocent faces...would we cause any chaos?
We also had a Kris Kindle. I bought a lovely gift set from Bath and Body works for mine (taking advantage of the good exchange rate over Thanksgiving!) and I got a pilates DVD and an exercise ball. My Kris Kindle knows me so well!
What did ya get me?!?
Instead of a gourmet home cooked meal like we normally do, we decided to have our buddies Mark and Spencer help out so we would have more time to chat with each other. We had lovely appetizers and a full Christmas dinner (Ham, turkey, veggies, potatoes and gravy.) Yum! It was such good fun, and we were laughing so hard and talking so loudly that the neighbors CALLED THE GARDAI!! Can you believe it?
We seriously weren't drinking very much (for once) and was in the process of sharing strawberry tarts and tea when we hard loud knocks at the door. Ut-Oh! Flashbacks of my college days went through my head, but they quickly left when they realised we seriously were just having tea and dessert.
Look at these innocent faces...would we cause any chaos?
We also had a Kris Kindle. I bought a lovely gift set from Bath and Body works for mine (taking advantage of the good exchange rate over Thanksgiving!) and I got a pilates DVD and an exercise ball. My Kris Kindle knows me so well!
What did ya get me?!?
December 18, 2009
Christmas Karma
So today is my dinner group's Christmas dinner party, and we are doing a Kris Kindle/Secret Santa. I can't wait for my buddy to open up her gift!
Anyways, at work this morning, my friend Michelle was saying how she bought her Kris Kindle gift last night, but then ended up going out, set it down somewhere and lost it. I was laughing at her and saying I couldn't believe she would do that (salt in wound?) and then I looked around my desk and couldn't find MY Kris Kindle gift. EKKKKKKKKKKS! What the what? I know I had it leaving the bus, so I raced to the gym as that would be the only other place I could have lost it this morning.
Lo and behold, it was behind the gym desk safe and sound. That will teach me to be mean!
Anyways, at work this morning, my friend Michelle was saying how she bought her Kris Kindle gift last night, but then ended up going out, set it down somewhere and lost it. I was laughing at her and saying I couldn't believe she would do that (salt in wound?) and then I looked around my desk and couldn't find MY Kris Kindle gift. EKKKKKKKKKKS! What the what? I know I had it leaving the bus, so I raced to the gym as that would be the only other place I could have lost it this morning.
Lo and behold, it was behind the gym desk safe and sound. That will teach me to be mean!
December 17, 2009
No Strike!
Woot Woot! Roll on India!
AND I just found out my friend Jackie is coming to London in February and flights are 50 Euros for me to visit her over there. Woot!
AND (the fun never stops over here), my friend Sean who is home in Ireland for a few days from Australia brought back...TIM TAM's... my FAVORITE from when I lived there. What a great day!
AND I just found out my friend Jackie is coming to London in February and flights are 50 Euros for me to visit her over there. Woot!
AND (the fun never stops over here), my friend Sean who is home in Ireland for a few days from Australia brought back...TIM TAM's... my FAVORITE from when I lived there. What a great day!
Nap Room- please!
In a continued nod to the holidays, G served Christmas dinner at lunch today! We had turkey and ham, stuffing, brussel sprouts, potatoes, the works...nom nom nom... There was even Christmas pudding and Mince pies. If you don't know what this is, it's like fruit cake- an Irish Christmas tradition. However, in the same vain as fruit cake, it's always at dinners but no one eats it, and it's not yummy.
There's a sleepy air in the office right now as everyone digests the turkey!
There's a sleepy air in the office right now as everyone digests the turkey!
December 15, 2009
Flight Fights
As mentioned last week, I have booked a lot of flights for my upcoming holidays already, but each one has been far from smooth.
We booked our flights to the MiddleEast for April 2010 a couple of weeks ago and it was fine, but then we got an email that said that there was a minor change to the flights. No big deal, right? They actually changed the DAY of the flight - from Hamburg to Tel Aviv... ekks! We had bought flights to Hamburg for a different day, and it was a big hassle to get it changed. In the end, we canceled with the airline altogether, and re-booked our flights from Dublin to Hamburg and switched it to Dublin to Barcelona for another weekend. And then rebooked the MiddleEast with another airline.
Fab, right? Well, I then found out I had to be in Zurich for work on the Thursday to Friday before my Barcelona trip. Still, no problem, until I looked for flights. There are no flights out of Zurich to Dublin on the Friday after 6:00pm...EKKKKKKKKKKKS! and I HAD to be in Dublin as I had a flight out of Dublin to Barcelona in the early AM. Anyways, we managed to sort that out, I'll be staying in London instead overnight and flying from London to Barcelona.
After all that was sorted (and yes, I was VERY confused trying to get it all done. Thank goodness for BF!), we found out that British Airways are going to strike right over the Christmas period. Er... yup you guessed it, that's our airline to India. EKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKS again! We actually have no solution for this one. It's a gajillion dollars to buy another last minute flight to India on a different airline as you can imagine. We are just sitting here with fingers crossed - hoping we'll be able to make our friend's wedding.
We booked our flights to the MiddleEast for April 2010 a couple of weeks ago and it was fine, but then we got an email that said that there was a minor change to the flights. No big deal, right? They actually changed the DAY of the flight - from Hamburg to Tel Aviv... ekks! We had bought flights to Hamburg for a different day, and it was a big hassle to get it changed. In the end, we canceled with the airline altogether, and re-booked our flights from Dublin to Hamburg and switched it to Dublin to Barcelona for another weekend. And then rebooked the MiddleEast with another airline.
Fab, right? Well, I then found out I had to be in Zurich for work on the Thursday to Friday before my Barcelona trip. Still, no problem, until I looked for flights. There are no flights out of Zurich to Dublin on the Friday after 6:00pm...EKKKKKKKKKKKS! and I HAD to be in Dublin as I had a flight out of Dublin to Barcelona in the early AM. Anyways, we managed to sort that out, I'll be staying in London instead overnight and flying from London to Barcelona.
After all that was sorted (and yes, I was VERY confused trying to get it all done. Thank goodness for BF!), we found out that British Airways are going to strike right over the Christmas period. Er... yup you guessed it, that's our airline to India. EKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKS again! We actually have no solution for this one. It's a gajillion dollars to buy another last minute flight to India on a different airline as you can imagine. We are just sitting here with fingers crossed - hoping we'll be able to make our friend's wedding.
December 14, 2009
Sambuca Day
BF and I met 8 years ago today in a dingy, college bar
lovely Irish pub in Allston, MA. Every year we celebrate the day with abarf- worthy
lovely shot of Sambuca because that is the drink he first bought me. Err... I was in COLLEGE at the time so I thought a shot of sambuca was very sophisticated :) Doesn't take much to win me over, eh?
lovely Irish pub in Allston, MA. Every year we celebrate the day with a
lovely shot of Sambuca because that is the drink he first bought me. Err... I was in COLLEGE at the time so I thought a shot of sambuca was very sophisticated :) Doesn't take much to win me over, eh?
December 12, 2009
Winter Carnival
Last night was our company Christmas party, and it took me ALL Saturday to recover!!
We started off at my friend Michelle's lovely apartment with drinks and delicious take out from Saba (surprise, surprise!). After we were properly ready, we headed to the RDS and the theme was a Winter Carnival. I wasn't too sure what to expect but loved the circus theme once we got to the RDS. A ringmaster and his ladies greeted us as we walked in the door and the smell of popcorn and cotton candy wafted through the air. There were tons of things to do in the event as well: photo booths, games of skill and chance, karaoke and of course cocktails!
Pre-drinks
The Ringmaster
Midgets!
One more Christmas party down, 4 more to go!
We started off at my friend Michelle's lovely apartment with drinks and delicious take out from Saba (surprise, surprise!). After we were properly ready, we headed to the RDS and the theme was a Winter Carnival. I wasn't too sure what to expect but loved the circus theme once we got to the RDS. A ringmaster and his ladies greeted us as we walked in the door and the smell of popcorn and cotton candy wafted through the air. There were tons of things to do in the event as well: photo booths, games of skill and chance, karaoke and of course cocktails!
Pre-drinks
The Ringmaster
Midgets!
One more Christmas party down, 4 more to go!
December 10, 2009
New Year's Resolution- 2010
Is it too early for this?
My new year's resolution for last year was to travel somewhere- Anywhere (!) each month, and it was a success. Below is my completed resolution (pending a Visa from India!)
January – Galway
February – London (Twice)
March – Prague
April – Morocco
May – London (Again!), Boston
June- Cork
July – Croatia
August - Croatia & Bosnia Herzegovina (Ok to be fair we were there for 45 minutes, but I did use the rest room AND shop in their markets- I think that counts!)
September – Scotland
October- Killarney and Cork
November- Boston
December – Cork and India
And since it was a fun resolution to have, I'm going to do it again for next year. I've actually already booked holidays for the first part of the year. This is what it's looking like so far for 2010.
January - India (still there!)
February - Barcelona and Zurich
March- New York
April - The Middle East (Israel, Jordan and Egypt)
Pretty good so far, right? Half of these are already booked - I still need to work on finding the flight to Zurich and confirming a date for New York. Can't wait for another fun year of traveling!
My new year's resolution for last year was to travel somewhere- Anywhere (!) each month, and it was a success. Below is my completed resolution (pending a Visa from India!)
January – Galway
February – London (Twice)
March – Prague
April – Morocco
May – London (Again!), Boston
June- Cork
July – Croatia
August - Croatia & Bosnia Herzegovina (Ok to be fair we were there for 45 minutes, but I did use the rest room AND shop in their markets- I think that counts!)
September – Scotland
October- Killarney and Cork
November- Boston
December – Cork and India
And since it was a fun resolution to have, I'm going to do it again for next year. I've actually already booked holidays for the first part of the year. This is what it's looking like so far for 2010.
January - India (still there!)
February - Barcelona and Zurich
March- New York
April - The Middle East (Israel, Jordan and Egypt)
Pretty good so far, right? Half of these are already booked - I still need to work on finding the flight to Zurich and confirming a date for New York. Can't wait for another fun year of traveling!
December 9, 2009
Planning for India
We've got about 20 more days until our trip to India!
It's been so busy with the holiday season that I haven't thought about it much at all. I nearly forgot to get additional shots and just applied for our visa! But that's all sorted now, and I'm really starting to look forward to it. BF and I have been busy traveling with work or friends and haven't been on a proper trip together since July so it will be good to take some travel time together.
Last night we were trying to book travel from Delhi to Agra and did a quick search on Indian trains and this is the image that came up.
Err... I don't mind roughing it sometimes, but I don't think this will be my preferred method of transport this time around!
It's been so busy with the holiday season that I haven't thought about it much at all. I nearly forgot to get additional shots and just applied for our visa! But that's all sorted now, and I'm really starting to look forward to it. BF and I have been busy traveling with work or friends and haven't been on a proper trip together since July so it will be good to take some travel time together.
Last night we were trying to book travel from Delhi to Agra and did a quick search on Indian trains and this is the image that came up.
Err... I don't mind roughing it sometimes, but I don't think this will be my preferred method of transport this time around!
December 8, 2009
Christmas Decorations
So I'm not a huge holiday person -despite the many previous posts on holiday parties and such. BF and I aren't even going to exchange Christmas presents because there isn't anything either of us want (except these but BF does not understand the need for them- Boys!)
We are not evening buying a Christmas tree because we'll be in India, but I felt our house needed a little something, so I decorated!
I go all out don't I? tee hee hee...
We are not evening buying a Christmas tree because we'll be in India, but I felt our house needed a little something, so I decorated!
I go all out don't I? tee hee hee...
December 6, 2009
12 Pubs of Christmas- SURVIVED!
My friends and I decided to continue the Christmas cheer this weekend and celebrate with a 12 pubs of Christmas. pub crawl. We decided that the first thing we needed to do in preparation was to line our stomachs full of yummy carbs at Saba before getting started. Even though we said we wouldn't get a cocktail because of the 12 drinks that were ahead of us--- we did get cocktails -Twist our arms, eh?
Then we were off to the pubs!
1. Mulligans
2. Doyle's
3. The Palace
4. The Foggy Dew
5. PorterHouse
6. Stag's Head
7. The Long Hall
8. Sinnot's
9. McDaid's
10 Bruxelles
11. Duke
12. Wheelan's
Many of them were old man's pubs that I have never been to so it was nice to see Dublin this way :)
Sober faces in the first pub
Pub 8 - at the height of the Madness
Pub 10- Still Standing
Then we were off to the pubs!
1. Mulligans
2. Doyle's
3. The Palace
4. The Foggy Dew
5. PorterHouse
6. Stag's Head
7. The Long Hall
8. Sinnot's
9. McDaid's
10 Bruxelles
11. Duke
12. Wheelan's
Many of them were old man's pubs that I have never been to so it was nice to see Dublin this way :)
Sober faces in the first pub
Pub 8 - at the height of the Madness
Pub 10- Still Standing
December 4, 2009
Awards
So after our festive Christmas day at work, we all headed over (yes, in full costume) to Bewley's hotel for some more Christmas cheer - MULLED WINE! Yum!
The evening was lovely and Christmasy- the best part... My win for "Best Dance". . My friend who is in my hip hop dance class and I were just fooling around and trying to remember one of our dance routines when I was given the award (and a 50Euro gift card!). Looks like those dancing lessons paid off!
The evening was lovely and Christmasy- the best part... My win for "Best Dance". . My friend who is in my hip hop dance class and I were just fooling around and trying to remember one of our dance routines when I was given the award (and a 50Euro gift card!). Looks like those dancing lessons paid off!
December 3, 2009
Just another day in the office
This is the first in a series of work Christmas parties...
Pretty Christmas tree
Hard at work
Santa, Elves and Creepy Children
Tell Santa what you want for Christmas
Santa and her elf
Pretty Christmas tree
Hard at work
Santa, Elves and Creepy Children
Tell Santa what you want for Christmas
Santa and her elf
December 2, 2009
Come Dine with Me - Continued
My little gal group has successfully continued the tradition of our Come Dine with me series (each lady cooks approximately once a week for the others), and it seriously is the thing I look forward to the most each week.
Last night, we were over at Kate's house and she totally dazzled us with Lamb Kebabs (I don't usually heart lamb, but I LOVED it last night) and HOMEMADE meringues, cream AND toffee sauce. How does she find time to hand-make toffee sauce? All the laughing last night definitely made up for skipping the gym!
Last night, we were over at Kate's house and she totally dazzled us with Lamb Kebabs (I don't usually heart lamb, but I LOVED it last night) and HOMEMADE meringues, cream AND toffee sauce. How does she find time to hand-make toffee sauce? All the laughing last night definitely made up for skipping the gym!
December 1, 2009
Football Manager of the Month!
That's me! In my fantasy football league at work, I was football manager for the month of November. Woot woot! My prize? The 10 Euro I put in when I entered. :) At the moment, I'm 6th out of 26. Probably no hope of winning the whole thing, but not too shabby!
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