01-31-24

 

I only have a few photos to choose from today, torn on which to post.

It was a busy and late office day then our smaller sub team took us to dinner.  We were going to the Four Seasons, but turns out that is a lovely biryani restaurant, not a five star hotel.  Which makes more sense but is another Indian surprise.

Four on our Week 2 WY team wore kurtas to the office today without coordinating, guess we are all wanting to enjoy the comfort and fun of different clothes that may be harder to wear back home.

We got to see the Deloitte parking garage this evening (four levels for each tower) and this was the first thing we saw, a sea of motorbikes.

01-30-24

 

Made it to an Indian grocery store!

A really grungy one that my Deloitte friends told me to avoid, but a grocery store nonetheless!

We wanted to put together a care package for our COVID co-worker and this was the perfect scavenger hunt.  The store was like a dollar store with much more groceries.

I grabbed a very dirty rolling cart and I was on my way.

She asked for gummy bears, we found Centerfruit Soft Chews and Juzt Jelly strawberry and guava soft candy.  And some other snack foods.  And some chips for me for lunch tomorrow.  And a masala ramen pack for Bruce.

We wanted to get her some things to occupy her as she starts feeling better.  We found brush markers, oil pastel crayons, and some sketch pads.

We looked at the building blocks and play doh, but landed on a silly little wind up toy instead.

And all for 763 INR, or under $10.  Score!  An adventure with a purpose!

01-29-24

 

Happy Monday!

My day consisted of...

Sorting out new transportation to and from the office from the hotel.  The traipsing looking for the pick up place allowed me to get this photo at least.  I liked the reflection of the Deloitte sign from the adjacent building.

Visiting two pharmacies looking for COVID tests and video chatting with our co-worker quarantined with COVID.  Heavy realization that we could all get sick and not be able to come home on time.

Working late (after a late start) and giving up an evening of exploring because I am pretty exhausted.  Maybe tomorrow...

01-28-24

 

How do you choose just one photo of the Taj Mahal?!?

We hired a professional photographer and took a TON of photos, so it is impossible to choose.

I like this one because I was paying attention to the visitors as much as the building, and the building has magnificent workmanship.  20,000 craftsmen worked on it for 22 years.

We also visited Fort Agra, which was also the palace, to see where and how the queen and king lived.

Then Raj took us to a marble shop.  We started with a toilet with toilet paper and masala chai.  Then we learned about the process, about the beautiful marble inlay with jewels, of the same family and style of the craftsmen who created and still maintain the Taj Mahal (every Friday when it is closed for religious purposes).  Then we had the opportunity to view all the unique handiwork and purchase works of art with government subsidized shipping anywhere. Sensing a theme?  We actually all wanted and bought something there though.

And in the blink of an eye, Hyderabad bound again. 

01-27-24

 

Here we are, first glimpse of Taj Mahal!

Long travel day.  A delayed flight, a three plus hour drive from Delhi to Agra, less westernized restrooms.  We did have a very late lunch at a Starbucks for something fast and familiar.

The hotel gave us the yellow dot, the sign of a guest.

Our tour guide Raj took us to a viewing area across from the Taj Mahal to get some photos before heading to an embroidery shop.  When they give you tea or soda on entry you know you are doomed!  We learned about the process, about the beautiful embroidery with gold and silver threads and jewels, of the same family and style of the queen when the kind saw her in the market and fell in love with her.  Then we had the opportunity to view all the unique handiwork and purchase government subsidized works of art.  

Excited for tomorrow!

01-26-24

 

There are certain things I would like to do while in India:

Visit Taj Mahal, bucket list

Visit a grocery store

Take photos with cool architecture

Eat plenty of Indian food, try new things

Drink lots of Masala Chai

Ride in an auto rickshaw

Experience more Bollywood

Experience unique McDonalds menu, per Anastasia

 

We started out day with a rickshaw ride and absolutely fell in love with it.  We can call them on the Uber app to avoid the bartering on price, although it is difficult to find the right one since they all look alike.  All of our rides today cost about $0.50 and we tipped the same.  They are faster than cars since they don’t need a full lane, they have a breeze, and they are just fun.  The only negative is that the air can get kinda thick here (pollution) and at traffic lights the exhaust fumes are a bit much.  And sometimes we need to cross the street, which is scary.  We also learned that three to the back is a bit tight, even though we see as many as 11 in a rickshaw.  We even saw someone riding on the roof once.

 

I would always ride rickshaws if I could.

Flying to Agra for the weekend to see the bucket list item...

01-25-24

 

Tonight we left the office at 4pm to visit Golconda Fort, a 16th-century huge complex that tried to ward off attacks by elephants and traitors and who knows what else.  We had a hilarious tour guide who loved to take group photos and videos of us and yelled at us if we fell behind or were not paying attention.  We enjoyed the grounds at sunset then enjoyed a light show about the history of the fort.  A TV station interviewed me afterwards and I should have paid more attention.

01-24-24

 

My favorite parts of the day may be morning breakfast buffet with co-workers and masala chai and afternoon masala chai break with my Deloitte counterparts to help make it to our late dinners.

Masala Chai is an Indian beverage made by brewing black tea with fragrant spices, sugar, and milk.  I’m enjoying plain, ginger, and Israeli varieties.  In Hindi Masala means spices and Chai means tea.  It is traditionally served in a small clay pot.

Missing a cup of coffee made the way I like it, but the masala chai more than makes up for it and I will miss it when I leave India.

01-23-24

 

Three of us are sticking together within the larger group, and we have the same driver each day.  He can’t speak much English but we laugh together and he navigates the traffic chaos well.

On our way to the Deloitte towers we circle around a big Ikea store and we see this cool huge cat statue, sometimes from below and sometimes from above.  I finally got some photos of it today.

When we get to the hotel, our vehicle is searched for bombs before he can drop us off.  And at Deloitte all of our badges are scanned before the driver is allowed into the complex to drop us off.

Tonight dinner is on the roof of our hotel, a huge group of us, so no evening travels.

01-22-24

 

Deloitte arranged for us to paint and sip this evening.  It was fun and fun to see how different all the artwork turned out.

01-21-24

 

We have 18 Weyerhaeuser people in our group, and maybe another 10 from Deloitte US.  We travel in caravans of hired cars, three to a car.  That's a lot of cars, a lot of people, a lot of waiting and checking that everyone is present and... it's a lot to try to sightsee together, but today we visited Chowmahalla palaces and the Charminar monument.

I took a lot of photos of traffic, since I was riding shotgun, but it is difficult the capture the chaos.  Motorbikes everywhere, most with up to four people, no lanes, lots of friendly honking, auto rickshaws, pedestrians taking their lives into their hands crossing, not a lot of street lights, sheep and goats and stray dogs along the road.  It always feels like a blessing to arrive an a destination!

Nice day to acclimate and try to become less jet lagged before we hit the office tomorrow.

01-20-24

Sightseeing day in Doha today.  We split into two groups, I led the urban sightseeing group.  There were six of us ladies.

It was really easy and inexpensive to Uber around, we had fun exploring the city and taking lots of photos.

This is umbrella park, which is under disrepair but is still a cool place to see and photo.  It is a series of outdoor corridors (tunnels) with colorful umbrellas above.

01-19-24

 

Lost Friday with time change, but did get dinner before it was time for bed.

A group of us walked a half hour to a Lebanese restaurant/hookah bar.

They had loud live music and lots of hookah smoke, but also outdoor dining in lovely weather and great food.  The hummus and naan was to die for.

After a really long dinner we asked for the check.

"Oh no, you can't leave before our complimentary dessert."

And out came the plates again.

They served us karaby, a pudding made with caramel and pistachios with cotton candy on top.  It was strange and difficult to eat, but very delicious.

01-18-24

 

On the 14.5 hour flight to Doha en route to Hyderabad.  Lots of reading time since the wifi is bad and there is no way to keep the laptop charged.

Qatar airlines has a signature drink with lemon and mint.  Thumbs up.

01-17-24

 

Trip planning activate!

Michael is heading up a group to the desert to ride camels, sand surf, and ride the dunes.  I'm heading up a group to explore the city and hit all the most photographable spots.

Final countdown!  Manicure, final packing, charge all my devices, and cram lots of lettuce ahead of the fruit and vegetable drought.  And plan a day in Doha. Check!

01-16-24

 

Happy 30th work anniversary to me!  Small but fun happy hour celebration this afternoon.  Feeling honored, humbled, appreciated, blessed.

01-15-23

 

Pretty sunset while walking with Mom tonight.  Operation clean out the fridge found some great momentum tonight.  We all know Bruce is going to eat at Taco Bell most nights while I am gone.

01-14-24

Used our Rumrunners card to see the crisp views from the Smith Tower today, for something to do.  We must be scraping the bottom of the barrel, because we also stumbled across  old phone books at the library and looked up all of our previous locations and several relatives.  Lazy Sundays, gotta love them!

01-13-24

 

Finally got to see Boys in the Boat today.  It was well done.

01-12-24

 

Um, it is very cold outside today.

We didn't realize until we set out for the banana stand.

Which had to be moved indoors.

Because it is flipping 20 degrees out!

01-11-24

 

This is Devon, our CEO.

He recently sent me an e-mail congratulating me on 30 years with Weyerhaeuser.

I'm never sure if he and Travis remember working with me in Western Timberlands.

Today's topic was a Town Hall update reflecting on the past five years and where we are headed.

I love the log truck artwork in his office.

01-10-24

 

Spending time with the family tonight.

Wondering how Gourmand is a flavor.

Wondering how long the pain touches so many things, even candle flavors.

01-09-24

 

Time keeps marching on.

Whether we are ready for it.

Whether we are going through stuff.

Whether our hearts are hurting.

Time also heals.

01-08-24

 

Fun to see the city turn purple for the big game tonight.

01-07-24

 

Getting my India vibe on with lunch at our local Indian restuarant and a Bollywood movie.

01-06-24

 

Took a walk on Alki today.  Enjoyed all the decorated nutcrackers in front of Salty's.

01-05-24

 

TGIF! So excited to try my new cocktail bombs, a gift I got myself.

01-04-24

 

Playing tourist in my backyard.  Because I can!

01-03-24

 

Getting my hair done on Capital Hill...

01-02-24

 

Venturing out into the cold wet world... must be winter in the PNW!

01-01-24

 

My focus year for 2024 is bear.  New year, new animal, new necklace.

BEAR: endure, carry the weight of, support.

What this looks like:

Endure work chaos until go-live

              Try to limit work hours and stress

              Productive and undramatic trip to Hyderabad

              Continue momentum to improve sleep

              Grin and bear it until July, so to speak

Carry on, but better

              Chase movement and health

More intentional outings in PNW

Get back to travel after project go-live

Watch at least 6 movies

Spend less at ThredUp.  Not sure how I could spend more!

Keep my blog photo count above 330 for the year

Strengthen my spiritual formation practices

Support the kids and  (hopefully) grandkids