Horns and Heat

Namaste, dear readers! Or should I type "नमस्ते" instead?

I have made it to Bangalore in one piece and I haven't died from heat exhaustion yet - although I'm not eliminating the possibility at this point :P

After I got in yesterday, I had most of the day to myself as Tim needed to work (boo! hiss!). I actually ventured out by myself for an hour. What an adventure...

One thing that it near constant here is horn honking and it happens at all hours (my cab driver from the airport kept honking even though it was 4am and there was no one around - maybe he likes to hear the sound of his own horn? I could put in bad pun about him liking to toot his own horn, but that wouldn't be fun for anyone, would it? ;)

Horns seem to be the primary mode of communication while driving - most of it appears to be a friendly reminder to get out of the way (lanes and signaling are kinda optional) rather than the impatient berating they normally connote in the States.

It makes sense given that the streets are a total free for all - pedestrians included. There are sidewalks, but they are narrow and usually blocked by gangs of smoking men (who like to stare at strange white women wandering around like they know where they are going ;). They are also pretty poorly paved and strewn with hazards like uplifted paving stones and piles of rubble.

So, being the game (i.e., crazy) person that I am, I rose to the challenge and walked in the street like a local. It went fairly well - I only almost got run over by motorcycles twice! One guy started up his bike and almost pulled out right into me. Fortunately, I had not a problem in the world slapping my hand down on his ferring (sp?) and navigating around him.

Right now, I'm in the office because I couldn't handle another day on my own sitting in the hotel room. Everyone here is so nice and they were appropriately amused by the few Hindi words that I have learned (including one particularly nasty curse word that I plan on breaking out as a "shock and awe" tactic if necessary).

I had my first mango shake this morning for breakfast and it was divine. I was incredibly excited to learn that I won't miss out on the beginning of mango season here - another two weeks and they will be ripe for the picking and eating with wild abandon. Yum!

Tonight I will be going to Thank Ganesh It's Friday (TGIF) with the gang. I've heard that it is acceptable for women to wear pants and even (gasp!) smoke there. Wow - I can have a cocktail *and* a cigarette at the same time and no one will stare. Unless, of course, I break out that nasty curse word in a loud voice after a few too many - I will do my best to keep 4+ cocktail Anne in check. I am here as an ambassador from the States and have to keep up some semblance of cool, hip professionalism, right? Oh wait...this is *me* we're talking about. How about I make you all a deal that I won't end up in jail? ;)

We're also in the midst of planning a trip to Goa for Tim's last weekend. I will get him out of Karnataka state before he leaves the country! WOOHOO! There will be beaches and water and stuff. Granted, it will be smoking hot, but there will be water...nice, cool water.

And just cuz I think it's hysterically funny, here's your Shakespearean quote of the day:

"Thou art a very ragged Wart."

Much love!

~A~