Gray Street Journal

178 Cows, 14 Donkeys, 6 Elephants, a Million goats, and a gaggle of Monkeys!

Amy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:51:19 +0000

We’ve had too much to do to post — the wedding and reception were amazing, and after we travelled with all the family and close friends (almost 30 people total) to the mountains to do some touring and see elephants. We were regretably unable to ride, it was raining and noone wants to slip off the back of an elephant. It was a crazy trip, but so much fun to spend the time with everyone. Here are some recent pics. Click on them to view in full and read the descriptions. We will have much posting to do once we are back.

103 Cows, still no elephants

Amy — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:45:44 +0000

It is early Sunday morning now, everyone is still sleeping. We have had many adventures in the last 2 days. On Friday, we went shopping in downtown Chennai, which was more of an adventure than any shopping trip I’ve ever been on before. The number of cars and people and bikes and motorbikes and autos and just stuff in the streets is incredible. Boston driving has nothing on Chennai. We went to some upscale shops and bought some clothes, for Shukie and I for the wedding (gorgeous!) and some treats for a few back home. We also went to a jewelry store and I nearly fainted from the beauty of all that gold. Shukie managed to get me out of there before I spent our life savings. After hours of shopping, we went to dinner at an IT office park. Our options were KFC, Subway, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and some Indian cuisine. Shukie and I opted for Indian, but Nisha and Doctor had KFC chicken and burgers.

On Saturday we took a day trip to visit the site of 7th century carvings and temples. It was incredibly beautiful. One of the temples was on the beach, and all were just amazing. I wish I had been able to understand the tour guides’ descriptions of how everything came to be, but it was awesome none-the-less.

The heat is hot, the culture is different from anything I’ve experienced (bathrooms have been a challenge for me….need to start wearing sari’s instead of pants, but Ill stop there before I give tmi…), but there are more adventures to come and I am loving it!

In addition to the 103 cows yesterday, the number of goats and stray dogs is probably double the number of cows.

All the structures at this site, including this elephant and the temple behind it, were carved from one giant boulder.

This is the temple at the beach, there were originally 7, but 6 have washed out to sea.

My first sari-- a gift from Ma that I wore for a ceremony the morning of our wedding.

We went to the mountains to see some elephants - I even shook this baby's trunk!

The evening of our wedding, what we wore for the reception.

My arms and feet were painted with mahindi for the wedding, totally cool, but almost 12 hours of my arms straight out!

On our mountain trip with Neela, Ma and Mala.

Day 2 (or 3)

Amy — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:08:03 +0000

It is Friday morning here in Chennai, and we just had some delicious veggie sandwiches for breakfast. Since we arrived in the middle of the night, and since we lost so much time traveling, we aren’t sure if it is Day 2 or Day 3. I’m having a wonderful time so far, have not ventured out much, just at home with 2 of my new sisters-in-law and Ma. Shukie and I spent most of the first day asleep, the time change is killer. Today, I will head to shopping with Neela. I got a sneak peak at my Ghagra Choli yesterday, and it is amazing. I hope to try it on today so that I can be sure that it fits. It is bright blue and adorned with beads in the shapes of flowers and just amazing. I can’t believe I will wear something so beautiful. Ma also showed me 2 saris that she has gotten for me, both are also blue, one blue flowers on a white background with silver beads on the edge, and one a darker blue with the symbol of India on it. Last night, we all walked to the beach, about a mile away. The sun over the Bay of Bengal was a truely beautiful sight that I will never forget…
More later….
0 cows in road; no elephants

5

Amy — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:07:34 +0000

Wow - the final final countdown. Today is the final prep day before the family arrives…can’t wait to see everyone!

6

Amy — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:05:14 +0000

The last single Sunday! Weather says thunderstorms….let’s hope it changes again, still plenty of time in weather terms…

7!

Amy — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:38:45 +0000

Exactly one week away! The fireworks in Boston were not as spectacular as getting married to Shukie….

8

Amy — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:59:57 +0000

8 Days away…current forecast for July 12th — 81 and Partly Cloudy!!!! Whoo-hoo!

20 Days away….current forecast for July 24th — 94 and Sunny!!! Whoo-hoo again!

Old New Borrowed Blue

Amy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:44:41 +0000

Today marks the one-month-til-wedding milestone date. I am so excited to marry Shukie!! I’m not into some of the traditional things like the Somethings, but a friend help me realize that I already pretty much had them, so why not? My Old is that we used the diamond from my mother’s engagement ring in mine, it is gorgeous and unique and I love the tradition and emotion that goes with re-using something form my mom. My New is everything else, my dress, jewelry, shoes. My Blue is my flowers, which will be orange and blue. That only leaves Borrowed. I’ve asked my sister to try to come up with something, and I might end up with a kitchen towel tucked into my panties, but I’ll have all my Somethings…

Home town

Amy — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:30:32 +0000

Shukie and I went to my home town, Ridgefield CT, over the Memorial Day weekend. It’s been a long time since I’ve even just passed through, and it was fun to show him where I came from. Not sure if it clarified anything for him…. It was a great place to grow up, and it still would be. Not much has changed, a few new (gigantic) houses, the shopping centers are a little different, and they *gasp* allow colorful signs on Main Street! But the hot dog guy was still there, the old high school was still ugly, though it is now surrounded by beatiful new buildings (kids these days are so lucky). The house I grew up in looks different, a giant tree is gone and the front walk is now very formal looking. Here are pictures of how it was then and how it is now.

We also went to my favorite park, where I took my first pictures in pursuit of art with my Dad’s old Canon SLR. We ate giant sandwhiches from the deli that is still there and took Lula for a walk. We visited my mother’s grave for an official introduction with Shukie, and we planted some pretty pink flowers for her. Here are some more pics from our trip:

Amy & Lula at the park in my neighborhood

At my elementary school

Hanging out at the park

Final Stretch

Amy — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:32:03 +0000

We are in the final stretch of wedding preparation — the last 2 months are gonna fly by. I have suddenly become an arts & crafts maven…I’ve spent so much time at the paper store and even bought an old-school paper cutter. I’ve tied many many bows and attached stickers to different things. I kinda like it…who knew? I had my first measurements for my dress this past weekend, another great experience. I highly recommend having a dress custom made, I know that the dress is going to be exactly what I want and fit me perfectly. We also went shopping for Shukie’s suit or tux…we may still be undecided, but he looked so handsome in everything he tried on. I just can’t wait to marry him!