Out and About in Delhi

For those of you who haven't met Annie, I'll tell you this, if you can say one thing about this baby it's that she like to get out. Sure after 5 hours or so she'll devolve into hysterics, but so would the most veteran of Delhi travelers. What we find time and again is that Annie is just captivated by all the colors and sounds of Delhi. Which is great because Delhi has so many sites, and we love to get out every once in a while as well! Although it might be hard to believe it, Grandma Gail's trip here is winding down. Over the last week we've taken a few excursions.

One was to Humayun's tomb.


Humayun's tomb









Amazing stone lattice work

Another was somewhat less exciting, but was to the dentist's office, which still provided some visual stimulation.


Annie checking out the small shrine at the dentist office

Another recent trip was to Jantar Mantar, which is an amazing astronomical observatory. According to wiki, the fount of all knowledge:

The Jantra Mantar (literally the 'instrument and formula' and often called the Jantar Mantar), is located in the modern city of New Delhi, Delhi. It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, from 1724 onwards, and is one of five built by him, as he was given by Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah the task of revising the calendar and astronomical tables.
The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and planets. Some of these purposes nowadays would be classified as astrology.

We had been to the amazing one in Jaipur four years ago, but for some reason never to the one in Delhi.

Complete with a new camera, I really enjoyed myself here taking tons of pictures of my wonderful family in an amazing locale.



I was able to climb the steps and get an incredible bird's eye view of the whole complex.









On the way down I saw the hatch marks that were part of the astronomical measurement system.





The whole place resembles a living M.C. Escher drawing with stair cases that lead nowhere (well, actually to observation points), and incredible geometric shapes.














After that we were off to Dili haat, an open air market for tourists.


Dili haat has a great food court with a shop from each state, we chose Rajasthani thalis






It was everything Jo could do to stop me from getting the fake Tiger carpet pictured here...actually not, but I think the advertisement is stellar




Someone's not paying attention to the pretty pictures


or even at the jewelry!


Taking time to smell the ....

and we're....out

Sweet Times

Sweet moments on the couch


and more sweet moments on the couch



and in the crib


and holding my head up on Grandma's lap

Birthday Bash

Someone had a birthday today (hint: it was me), and to celebrate,I and the three ladies went for a day of indulgence at a nearby fancy hotel: the Jaypee Vasant Continental.




Name that movie star

It was pretty divine.

We started out with a day at the pool, which everyone really enjoyed.




Dad with his best birthday present







We then headed upstairs to the spa where Jo and I each had a great hour long massage.



Throw in some birthday cake, ice cream, and fiddle time and it was a great birthday...now if I could only just be on the West coast of the U.S. right now I'd have the entire day left to celebrate again!

Passing through

One nice thing about living in Delhi is the chance to catch up with friends as they pass through town on their domestic/international travel. Ramuji and Goswamiji came through this weekend, and we were lucky enough to get to see Ramuji, who was staying at the Fulbright House. Adam Grotsky, USIIE Fulbright India Director, and his gracious wife Olga (whom Annie is obsessed with) were great entertainers during our brief visit.


Jo, Annie and Ramuji catching up


Olga, Adam and Ramuji make googly eyes




Annie was an active member of the conversation


Annie's got a new habit: holding onto necklaces; Gail pictured here detaching Annie

So cute it hurts.....

If anyone knows a cardiologist I think I need one, as this one's giving me a broken heart.


Annie in a bonnet!


Smiley feet!


Monkey butt!


Annie learning Hindi with her first books

Day of Indulgence

Notes from the traveling desk of Grandma Gail Weaver

Now that Annie has nearly reached the ripe old age of five weeks, it is time to take a day to just relax and indulgence ourselves.

To start the day off, Mommie and Grandma followed along with a video of a Jazzercise routine. It was a specialty Post Pregnancy workout, and Gail pointed that she also was in the post pregnancy category - just plus 30 years! We mostly succeeded in copying the moves we were watching on the TV except the rather annoying habit of the leaders constantly smiling throughout the 50 minute workout.

Next, Mommie cleaned the wax out of her ears by candling them.


What will they think of next?




This involves lighting the far end of a specially-made hollow beeswax candle, and then inserting the unlighted end in your ear. This creates a vacuum and gently draws out excess earwax into the hollow tube of the candle. Grandma misunderstood the process and kept telling her it might not be wise to insert a lighted candle into her ear!

Then it was out into the world for the next event on the day of pampering schedule. Dad, Mom, and Grandma hired a driver and went to an upscale shopping mall.


We have a headless baby! Who left the baby's head at home....

The first stop was for a "fish spa" treatment. This consists of sitting on the edge of a pool and lowering your feet into the water where hundreds of strange minnow-like fish nibble on your feet and toes for 15 minutes.


Grandma wasn't so sure at first


Jo couldn't decide if it was painful, or uproariously funny


I think she settled on the latter



Those fish sure like Gail's feet


Too much fun, Jo and Gail


Dave tries to convince Annie this is fun


She was finally convinced


Dave's feet are no match for the fish

After this sometimes slightly painful, most ticklish experience. the attendants vigorously rub your feet with a rough file to remove the calluses, followed by applying cream and thoroughly massaging your feet, including cracking the joints of your toes. After all three of us had the treatment, we had feet almost as smooth as Annie's.


Blissed out

We finished out the day by eating a nice dinner at an Asian restaurant at the mall. Annie enjoyed the modern decor of the restaurant, posing for photographs while looking through the front window of the restaurant that was painted to look like television sets.





Due the remarkable three-person tag team led by David with Annie in the chest carrier, Jo acting as purveyor of food for the baby, and Grandma providing back-up holding duties, all four of us had a very fun and rejuvenating day.


Annie asleep on bench


Annie in mirror