The beauty of Agra.

Last weekend we went to Agra to visit Taj Mahal and other places which are also nice. Even it was only a weekend, we felt that we did a lots of thing in 2 days perhaps because of to visit India isn't easy at all. If you want to test how ZEN you are then try India. You will see!! We went to see Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. All these places are so beautiful and it was nice if we could sit there and enjoy the view with the ancien monuments around us but there is always people who called themselves as a guide came and disturbed or sometime forced us to do thing that we didn't really want to do. That is only disadvantage of visiting India. Sometime we have to show them that we are angry, so that they can stop but they will try again and again!! We haven't been so rude in our life until we reached here, just to make them understand what is all about. We know that this thing won't stop but at least we prepare for the next voyage.

Agra is synonymous with Emperor Shah Jahan's monument to love, the Taj Mahal, which draws a huge number of tourists from India and the rest of the world. In the mere three generations during which city retained regal favour, it was embellished with the best of the Mughal architectural legacy, crowned by the Taj. Close by is Emperor Akbar's city, Fatehpur Sikri.

From the top : Meenz with her mother at Agra Fort.

Middle : Sunset at Taj Mahal

Bottom : Laurent & Meenz with thousand and thousand of others visiting Taj Mahal.

Big Kiss from NDH

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachel Pradesh is a land of many splendour: exotic landscapes of mountains, wide verdant valleys, forbidding heights eternally covered in snow and ice, thundering rapids of snow-fed rivers and gently gurgling brooks, ancient temples and historic buildings.....the count is endless.

Kangra Valley. The Kangra Valley lies between the Dhauladhar range and the Shiwalik foothills, spreading northwest from Mandi to Jassur, near Pathankot. Although named after Kangra Town, the largest towns are Dharamsala (1,830 m) and Palampur (1,249 m). The valley is famous for its tea gardens, especially around Palampur, for the Jwalamukhi, Baijnath, Brijeshwari Devi and Chamunda Devi temples, and for the Kangra school of miniature paintings.

Dharamsala is located in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley, set against the backdrop of the Dhauladhar range. The town is known around the world because it is the home-in-exile of the Dalai lama, Tibet's spiritual head, who lives at McLeodganj (or Upper Dharamsala), popularly known as Little Lhasa. Little Lhasa is enchanting, with its many spinning prayer wheels and fluttering prayer flags spreading the message of peace and universal harmony.

Big kiss from NDH

Do you need a ride.....please choose!!

This is one of the preparation for the winter that we saw on the north of India. It is quite loaded isn't it? We think there is no law for having overloaded lorry. It is quite impressive to see such thing like this and the pictures we took during our way to Dharamsala at Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh itself is so beautiful with the nature and rice fields are everywhere which makes the place look so peaceful compare with Delhi where the traffic is so congested. But our visit to Amritsar and Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) just for one weekend which was too short and the way was so long to reach these two places. This experience we will never forget as Meenz almost missed her flight back to Kuala Lumpur. But she managed to check-in 10 minutes before the gate closed. Thank god.

Big kiss from NDH

Lost and found....friendship!!!

These are the pictures with our friend Fares Al-Fayad from Lebanon. We have met him three years ago in Abuja and thought that we would never met him again. But this time we met him in Kuala Lumpur while he was working there for three months. That was the reason why we could meet there. Laurent arrived to Kuala Lumpur at 6.30 a.m on 21st Oct and Fares took a flight back to Lebanon at the same day but night time. We felt lucky that we still managed to see each other even though it was short. "To Fares" felt good to see you again and hopefully we will meet again soon and perhaps in Lebanon (in your country).

Big kiss to all from NDH

Ce sont des photos avec notre ami Fares Al-Fayad du Liban qui a travaille a Abuja trois ans en arriere et nous avons pense que nous ne nous reverrions plus depuis son depart d'Abuja. Et cette fois ci, nous avons eu la chance de pouvoir le revoir a Kuala Lumpur. Il a travaille a Kuala Lumpur pendant trois mois et malheureusement seulement avant son depart au Liban, nous avons pu le revoir pendant nos vacances. Laurent est arrive a 6.30 du matin le 21 Oct et Fares a pris le vol au meme jour au soir. Alors, nous avons passe la journee entiere a nous raconter les conneries que nous avions fait ensemble au Nigeria. ''Pour Fares'' c'etait sympa de pouvoir te revoir encore et nous esperons que nous nous reverrons bientot et peut-etre au Liban (dans ton pays).

Gros becs a tous de NDH

INDIAN BOOMING!!!!!

Well, it isn't easy to be back to India. Feel like, I've been away for a decade and it is so hard to come back here again. I don't even know why I have this feeling!!! But anyway, this is a reality and I have to get use to it. The apartment is full with the cartons and I don't know from where I should start.......hahaha!! So many thing has to be done. Well, that's it and the vacation is over!! Huhuhuhu!!!!

This time, i came back with my mother. The 1st impression for her was "horrible" to see the children sleeping along the road without any cloth while it is quite cold during the night. The people heard so much about the INDIAN BOOMING and thought that everything might change with the way of life and my mother was one of them. But when they reached here, what they found is only a disapoinment. Some of them are crying and don't know what to do and some of them just waiting for the next transfer. But for us, we just don't want to think so much about what is happening around us just because we don't want to spoil our stay in India. We think that it is the best thing to do. But we do hope that my mother will enjoy her stay here in INDIA.

Big kiss from NDH

This is part II.....

Like a fashion show......

Big kiss from KL

Celebrating Idul Fitr....(Part I)

Time to go back to Kampung (village) during the festive season....it is fun. But for us who are coming from Sarawak we didn't go back there. As our dear father was buried in Ipoh, Perak, we decided to go to Ipoh.

Big Kiss from KL

The Golden Temple

The weekend we spent to visit the Golden temple before we left to Malaysia for our vacations. It was saturday when we were there and there was so many people came to pray. It was a beautiful place to see. But to reach this place is another story. From New Delhi to Amritsar is about 460 kms but it took us 10 hours drive with 1 hour break to reach there and we visited the temple only the next day. It was really tiring!! The way they drive in India is really something that we can't compare....not even to the Nigerian's way.

Saturday, we went to visit the famous temple and right after that we drove all the way to the Darmshala at Himachel Predesh. The mountain road was too long for us who just wanted to spend one weekend somewhere else then Delhi. Himachel Pradesh is situated on the north of India and quite on the feet of the Himalaya. The weather is also fresh but there is always the smell of the animal disposal. There is a rice field almost everyway in Himachel Pradesh and it makes the enviroment looks so peaceful and also its remind us to the countryside life in Malaysia. In Darmshala, we stayed at the Tibetien Martial Art and Shoalin Centre.....quite clean. But unfortunately we had to leave early in the morning (about 5.00 a.m) because Meenz had to take a flight back to Kuala Lumpur at the same day. Well the way back was much longer then we accepted because the traffic jam was terrible and more in the city side where the people were so selfish and unpatient. We finally arrived at home about 9.00 p.m.....that was because Laurent managed to drive like he played in the playstation. Even the driver said that he was like a crazy man. We were just like less then 5 minutes at home just to collect the passport and the luggage then left to the airport. We reached at the airport 10 minutes before the check-in counter closed. We made it.....what an adventure, but hopefully it will be the last time. Sometime men need to listen to the women instinct too. We will never forget!

Big kiss from Kuala Lumpur

Swiss Mela 2006

The preparation of Swiss Mela, one way of making charity and it will be held tomorrow 14 Oct at the embassy compound. There will be over 100 stoles to sale foods, handicrafts, from the swiss embassy will be the cheese raclettes and a lots more. Very nice of them to chose just next to our apartment to do the raclettes.I can't imagine the smell of the cheese afterward with hot weather. But it is all right as we won't be here to witness this fiesta of lights. We will have an appoinment at 5.00 o'clock tomorrow morning at Bernhard and Ponie place. Our destination is Amritsar to see a Golden Temple! Out side, people are busy preparing for the Mela and inside the apartment...we are busy to prepare our luggages and sandwiches.

Big kiss from NDH

La preparation de Mela Suisse, c'est une facon de faire de la charite. Il y aura plus de 100 petits stands qui vont vendre de la nourriture, de l'artisanat, et de la part de l'ambassade de Suisse...il y aura de la raclette et encore beaucoup d'autre choses. Le stand raclette se situe juste a cote de notre appartement et on peut imaginer l'odeur du fromage avec le climat qu'il fait ici (36 deg). Mais ca va....nous ne serrons pas la pour temoigner de la fete de la lumiere. Demain, nous avons rendez-vous a 5.00 du matin chez Bernhard et Ponie. Notre destination sera Amritsar dans le nord de l'Inde et nous allons visiter le Temple d'or et le changement de la garde a la frontiere Indo-Pakistanaise. A l'exterieur, les gens sont occupes a preparer la Mela et chez nous, dans notre appartement, nous sommes occupes a faire nos baggages et les sandwiches pour demain.

Gros becs de NDH

Shopping.........

Picture from top : The green cupboard, our living room, dining table for 8 persons and coffee-tea table...enough for 10.

Since at the begining of this week, I was kind of busy with my visit to the furnitures antique shops. A lots.....a lots of them and definately will make your eyes falls on the floor. Looking...serching.....and at the end.....buying! I went to make my survey until I found something and in the afternoon I returned to the shops with Laurent. Of course, he is still my boss and I have to wait for his approval then only I can buy. We found few that we like and actually we bought them already. We just have to wait for the deliveries which may take a few days to arrive. We started to look at the furniture due to our apartment in Kuala Lumpur will be ready soon enough from now. I have been visiting three big antique shops in Delhi and for sure we still can find more of them!! INDIAN CRAFT is one of them and it is quite famous among the foreigners and the locals. They can export the furniture if people order it by internet (www.indiamart.com/indiancrafts/) or by emailing direct to icrafts@mantraonline.com.

Big kiss from NDH

Des le debut de cette semaine, je suis tres occupe avec des visites chez les antiquaires. Il y'en a beaucoup a Delhi....il faut seulement prendre le temps pour bien regarder les choses. Les yeux pourraient tomber par terre quand j'ai vu tous ces meubles. Regarder......chercher.....et a la fin....acheter! Je suis alle le matin pour regarder ce qui me plait et l'apres-midi, avec Laurent nous sommes retourne dans ces magasins. Il faut bien que je demande son opinion car il est toujours le patron chez nous et le plus important c'est qu'il donne l'authorisation avant d'acheter. La livraison pourrait durer quelque jours pour qu'ils puissent nettoyer correctement. Nous avons commence a regarder les meubles car notre appartement a Kuala Lumpur est bientot fini. Je suis allee chez trois antiquaires et j'en suis sure, qu'il y'en a encore beaucoup d'autre et que je n'ai pas encore decouvert. INDIAN CRAFTS est un des trois que j'ai rendu visite cette semaine et c'est assez connu parmi les etrangers ainsi que les locaux. Ils peuvent aussi exporter les meubles s'il y a la demande pas l'internet (www.indiamart.com/indiancrafts/) or par email icrafts@mantraonline.com.

Gros becs de NDH

Parliment House Dlelhi

The sunset is very beautiful in Delhi and we decided to make a tour with the car. There was still a lots of people on the way back to their home. We continued our tour by passing in front of the Delhi Parliment House. We realised that the view was so beautiful and Laurent could take this beautiful picture. This building is situated not far away from where we are staying.

Le couche du soleil est tres joli a Delhi, nous avons decide de faire une promenade avec la voiture. Il y avait encore beaucoup de monde qui etaient stresse de rentrer chez eux. Nous avons continue notre tours et en passant devant le Delhi Parliment House, nous avons realise que le couche du soleil et tres beau et Laurent a reussi de faire cette jolie photo. Cet immeuble est situe pas tres loins de chez nous.

The Indian Gate....

At the center of New Delhi stands the 42 m high Indian gate an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like Archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French Counterpart war memorial. It commermorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the first world war and bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.

The foundation stone was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by Viceroy, Lord Irwim. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. It is the form of a flame that burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan war of december 1971.

The entire arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge molding, bencath, which are inscribed Imperial sons. Above on both sides is inscribed INDIA, flanked by MCM and to the right, XIX. The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is rarely done.

Surrounding the imposing structure is a large expanse of lush green lawn, which is a popular picnic spot. One can see hoards of people moving about the brightly lit area and on the lawns on summer evening. Situated about few kilometres from where we are staying.

Big kiss from NDH

Na Fish ooooo!!

I went to the fish market today with my cook and he look more excited than me!! For me I had so many questions in my mind and I just didn't want to have a suprise.

When we reached the place....I just saw a lots of street dogs searching something to eat in the rubbish bin (if they really have one). Augustin led me to the small way which was quite dark and smelly. Right after I entered the place....I smiled straight away when I smelled the smell that are quite familier to me....SPICES...!! Its all over the place with very neat arrangment. We walked futher inside the market, the floor were more wet and at the same time the fish smell went through deep into my nose. The shopkeepers were so busy selling their merchandises and some of them called at me and said "madame, do you want a cashewnuts". And others asked me if I want to buy a curry powder. Everytime I just answered back to them, "may be next time, thank you" and gave them a smile. In my mind, I thought strongly about FISH and asked myself, "where are those fish".

About 10 metres ahead of me...there I saw....FISH.....lots...lots of FISH. Eeee..seronoknye aku (too excited until came out the words in malay). Garoupas, Red Snappers, prawns and a lots of other differant type of fish. I could even find my favourite one. Don't want to tell you all, it is the secret..hehehe. Only Lukman and Laurent know which one I'm talking about. I even called Laurent to tell him that he missed something that he liked to see too. And I called my friend Ponie and told her what I just discovered. Ponie and I were looking for the fish market for quite sometime and people told us that is too dangerous to buy fish in summer time. But now, I saw for myself that the fishes are quite fresh. Lalalalala.... Big kiss from NDH

Je suis alle au marche du poisson aujourd'hui avec notre cuisine Augustin. Il etait plus ecxite que moi. J'avais beaucoup de questions dans ma tete et je ne voulais pas avoir l'air d'etre suprise.

Quand nous sommes arrives, j'ai vu beaucoup de chiens qui etaient en train de chercher des trucs a manger dans les poubles (s'il y en a une). Augustin m'a conduit sur un petit chemin qui etait tres sombre et qui pue. Le moment que je suis rentre dans ce marche, j'ai sourit toute de suite...ces odeurs qui sont entre dans mon nez etait tres familie.....LES EPICES....!!! elles etaient partout et bien arrange. Nous avons marche encore un peu plus et j'ai vu que le sol etait mouille et l'odeur du poisson est entre dans mon nez qui n'avait pas de protection. Les epiciers etaient tres occupe a vendre leur merchandises et de temps en temps, ils m'ont regarde et m'appellaient en disant, "madame, vous voulez des noix de cashew" et les autres ont dit, " madame, curry en poudre"? J'e leur ai repondu avec une grande sourie, "non merci, peut-etre la prochaine fois"! Dans ma tete, c'etait claire que j'etait venu ici seulement pour les poissons.

De 10 metres devant moi....j'ai vu.....DES POISSONS.....beaucoup....beaucoup de POISSONS. Eeee..seronoknye aku (suis trop excite jusqu'a ce que les mots en malais sont sorti). Les Garoupas, Les Red snappers, les crevettes et beaucoup de differants types de poissons etaient la. J'ai meme vu mon poisson favorit. Je ne veux pas vous dire car c'est mon secret......hehehe. C'est seulement Lukman et Laurent qui savent de quoi je parle. Apres avoir choisi les poissons, j'ai vite appelle Laurent et je lui ai dit qu' il avait manque quelque chose, qu'il aimerait surement bien voir ca. Ensuite, j'ai aussi donne un coup de fil a ma copine, Ponie et je lui ai raconte ce que j'ai decouvert et que je regrette de ne pas l'avoir emmener avec moi. Ponie et moi, avons essaye de trouver un marche de poisson depuis que nous sommes arrive ici et beaucoup de monde nous ont dit qu'il ne fallait pas acheter de poisson en ete car c'etait trop dangereux. Mais, nous sommes au mois d'octobre maintenant et l'ete est deja passe depuis un mois. J'ai vu moi meme que les poissons etaient frais. Lalalala.....Gros becs de NDH

DUSSHERA : The Festival (End of Evil)

One of the big festivals celebrated in most of part of India is Dusshera. The festival is celebrated with zest and festivities as it also marks the beginning of the winter season after the long unbearable, hot summer. Dusshera marks the victory of Ram over the Demon King Ravana, and the rescue of his wife Sita. In north India, gigatic effigies of the ten-headed Ravana and his brothers are set aflame amidst bursting of crackers fairs are usually held on this occasion with lots to eat, buy and enjoy.

Dusshera means the Tenth Day, being the 10th day of the bright half of Aswin. The day is also known as Vijayadashmi, or the Victory Tenth, because of the victory Ram over Ravana.

At the same day, yesterday was the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. So, two celebrations at the same time. We went to the Red Ford to see the festival but unfortunately we weren't allowed to carry the camera and mobilephone during the celebration. At least, we saw Mrs Sonia Gandhi from very near to where we were sitting!!

2 October ; MAHATMA GANDHI - Father of the nation.
(A little refreshment about Mahatma Gandhi)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the town of Porbander in the state of Gujarat on 2 October 1869. He studied law at University College, London. In 1891, after having been admitted to the British bar, Gandhi returned to India and attempted to establish a law practice in Bombay, with little success. He went to South Africa to work but found himself treated very shabbily and like someone of inferior race. The realization changed the face of Indian dependence and freedom struggle.

Political Awakening.

Gandhi emerged as the leader of the Indian Community, and it is in South Africa that he first coined the term SATYAGRAHA to signify his theory and practice of non-violent resistance. Gandhi returned to India in early 1915 and the next few years, he was to become involved in numerous local struggles all over the country. Gandhi became the international symbol of a free India. He lived a spiritual and ascetic life of prayer, fasting and meditation.

In 1921 the Indian National Congress, the group that spearheaded the movement for nationhood, gave Gandhi complete executive authority, with the right of the naming his own successor.

The British government again seized and imprisoned him in 1922 for the failure of the civil disobedience movement.

During the riots that followed the partition of the India, Gandhi pleaded with Hindus and Muslims to live together peacefully. Riots engulfed Calcutta, one of the largest cities in India, and the Mahatma fasted until disturbances ceased. On January 13, 1948, he undertook another successful fast in New Delhi to bring peace, but on January 30, 12 days after the termination of that fast, as he was assassinated by a fanatic Hindu.

A period of mourning was set aside in the United Nation General Assembly, and condolences to India were expressed by all countries.

Big kiss from NDH

Gros becs de NDH

L'armee de Laurent.....Laurent's troop!!!

From the top ; It is not a giraffe....hehehehe!! It's Laurent collecting the limes from the garden.

Middle ; Laurent's troop are preparering their hide's and ready for a war.

Below ; Meenz with the General Maurya (head of gardeners)....hehehe!!

Big kiss from NDH

1ere ; ce n'est pas une giraffe....hehehehe!! C'est Laurent qui cueille les citrons du jardin.

2eme ; L'armee de Laurent sont en train de preparer les tranchees et prets pour le combart.

3eme ; Meenz est avec le General Maurya (chef des jardiners)......hehehe!!

Gros becs de NDH

Ramadhan....

Today is the 4th day for the muslim to fast. But for me, it is only the second day....hehehehe!! All of sudden, we recieved a lots of invitation and yesterday we coudn't refuse when the ambassador invited us. He asked Laurent instead of me, I would have said to him NO and I believed he would understood. But Laurent has confirmed with him without asking me (it wasn't his fault anyway). He was looking for me but I was at the balcony to see the birds. But it's okey...2 days, rather then nothing.


The story about our Permenant Residence ID cards is also something that we never expected. It took five weeks for them to do a very simple ID cards. We thought that Nigeria was the slowest country for the administration stuff but apparrently India is much slower. Five weeks for only the ID cards and then we had to send to the immigration office one more time to renew the visas. Normally, it takes for another two or three weeks. But we were worried because in less then 4 weeks, we want to go back to Malaysia for the festival. So, we did something.....!!! We agreed to say that my father was sick in Malaysia and I needed to go back as soon as I could. But dear father.....I'm really sorry to use your name!! As everyone knows that my father has passed away last year, I'm really sorry too. But thing must have been done. These type of people...they could make it faster if they want to but nobody knows why it takes too long to do such a simple thing. Sometime we have to do something really bad to get something back. That is only for the diplomate visa and ID card.....we can imagine if the people comes for the private company!!!

Big kiss from NDH

C'est le 4eme jours du Ramadhan!! Mais pour moi, c'est seulement le 2eme jour.......hehehehe!!Tout d'un coup, nous avons recu beaucoup d'invitations et hier nous n'avons pas pu refuser car c'etait notre ambassadeur et sa petite femme qui nous ont invite. C'est le 2eme fois qu'ils nous ont invite!! Monsieur l'ambassadeur a demande a Laurent et Laurent n'a pas pu me trouver (l'appartement n'est pas aussi grand que ca.....hehehe en fait j'etais sur le balcon pour regarder les oiseaux). Si non, j'aurais pu explique a notre cher ambassadeur que je fesait le ramhadan. Mais ce n'est pas aussi grave....2 jours...c'est mieux que rien!!


L'histoire de nos cartes d' identite est aussi quelque chose que nous n'avons jamais imagine. Ca prend cinq semaines pour qu'ils les fassent et c'est vraiment une chose simple a faire. Nous avons pense que le Nigeria est l'administration la plus lente mais apparement l'Inde est plus lente. Cinq semaines c'etaient seulement pour les ID cards et apres nous devions envoyer encore une fois a l'immigration pour renouveler nos visas. Normallement, ca prend encore deux ou trois semaines. Nous en avions vraiment assez en plus dans moins de 4 semaines nous voulons rentrer en Malaisie pour feter le 1ere Syawal. Alors, nous avons fait quelque choses!!! Pour mon pere qui est decede l'annee passe je te demande pardon d'avoir utiliser ton nom!!! Et aussi pour tout le monde qui sait deja que mon pere est deja decede, je vous demande pardon!! Nous etions d'accord de dire que mon pere etait malade et il fallait que je rentre le plus vite possible. Et tout d'un coup, nous avons recu nos passeports un jour plus tard. Ces gens la peuvent faire tous ces choses tres rapidement si ils le veulent mais on doit faire quelque choses de minable des fois. Ca c'est pour le visa et ID card diplomatique....on peut imaginer si on est dans une entreprise prive!!

Gros becs de NDH

The neighbours

At the end of our stay in Abuja, we left two birds in a cage. The pirotes from Gabon!! They can speak and are always happy to have people in the garden with them.

But here we have so many of green pirotes in our garden.....flying freely every afternoon. If they are tired they will hang up on the tree next to our balcony. For sure, it is more nice to see them in the nature then in the cage. So, what we do in the afternoon when we don't have much thing to do, we just stay at the balcony, watching and trying to count how many of them. And we tried to take a few photos too. Well, that is a difficult thing to do as the birds are so green and same colours with the leafs. We have also squerills which having a stripe on their back but very small and cute. Means that we are not alone in this beautiful compound!!

Big kiss from NDH

A la fin de notre sejours a Abuja, nous avons laisse deux peroquets qui viennent du Gabon. Ils peuvent parler et ils sont content d'avoir des gens dans le jardin pour qu'ils puissent communiquer. Mais ici, nous avons les peroquets verts et ils sont en liberte. C'est plus sympa surement de voir quand ils sont libre que dans la cage. Quand ils sont fatigue, ils s'agripent sur l'arbre qui est a cote de notre balcon....., ils sont tous mignons!! Alors, quand nous n'avons pas grande chose a faire a la fin de la journee, nous restons sur le balcon pour voir et des fois nous essaieons de prendre les photos.....ce n'est pas toujours facile avec le coulour. A part ca, nous avons aussi les ecureils qui ont les rayures sur le dos, mais ils sont petits et mignons. Cela veut dire que nous ne sommes pas tous seuls dans notre compound!!!

Gros becs de NDH

Preparing for winter.

Our baggages arrived safely right before our arrivals. It is funny to see all the cloths that we haven't seen them for quite sometime and how many of them.....my god!! More the winter here is only for two months and we have the winter cloths like for 6 months.....perhaps for more then that. Of course it is a lots...Laurent was keeping his cloths maybe since 1980...when he was still at school and more he never wore them. So, what we did was the next day when the local employees came at home to arrange some of furnitures.......we took this opportunity to distribute some of the cloths. Even the sizes aren't really fitting on them, they still want to take because it could be useful for the winter.

How many of them died everytime the winter approched. Fortunately, winter is not too long like in europe or america. If it is the case, we can imagine how it will be when the winter arrive everytime. There is still a lots of peoples living on the road side.....their houses don't have any protection for that kind of climate.....the childrens don't have their shoes, the winter cloths and sometime they don't even find the foods. A lots among them can not hold too long!!! Actually, we haven't seen yet this scenario and just wish that we won't see it at all as we are so fragile and won't stand it. It is not because of the egoisme perhaps....unpleasant to see.

Why we have to complain while we have a nice life and we are happy living like we are now and we are happy that we are not on their places but it doesn't mean that we can say that those peoples are happy to live and die like that.....like most of the people from the superior class said!! Sometime we rather just to turn our back on them but sometime we do feel like we want to give them a big slap until they can open their eyes and see what is happening around them. But it is not that going to change the mentalities or the attitudes of those rich peoples. They have to open their own eyes and learn to be human!!

Big kiss from NDH

Nos bagages sont bien arrives meme avant que nous soyons la. Cela nous fait drole de voir tous ces habits et combien ils sont.....mon dieu!! En plus l'hiver ici ne dure que 2 mois et nous avons des habits pour 6 mois peut-etre meme plus. Bien sur c'est beaucoup, Laurent a garde ses habits peut-etre depuis 1980...quand il etait encore a l'ecole, en plus il ne met plus. Alors, c'est le moment pour s'en debarasser. Le lendemain, quand les employes locaux sont venu chez nous pour arranger les meubles.....nous avons pris cette occassion pour les leurs donner. Meme que ce n'etait pas vraiment leur taille....mais ils les ont quand meme pris car c'est toujours utile pour l'hiver.

Combien de gens sont mort ici a Delhi chaque hiver. Heureusement que l'hiver n'est pas aussi long comme en europe ou bien en amerique. Si c'etait le cas, on peut imaginer ce qui peut se passer a chaque fois que l'hiver arrive. Il y a encore beaucoup de gens qui habitent dans la rue....leurs petites maisons n'ont pas vraiment de protection pour ce climat......les enfants n'ont pas de chaussures, des habits d'hiver et ils ne trouvent pas toujours de la nourritures. Beaucoup d'entre eux ne tiennent pas long temps!! Nous n'avons pas encore vu mais nous n'esperons pas trop voir des choses comme ca. Ce n'est pas parce que nous sommes egoiste mais seulement......ce n'est pas tres plaisant a voir. Pourqoui devrions nous plaindre avec notre vie qui a deja tout et content de ne pas etre a leur places mais nous ne pouvons pas dire qu'ils sont content de vivre et de mourir comme ca.....pas comme beaucoup de monde de la classe superieure le disent. Des fois nous tournons le dos aux gens qui peuvent dire un truc pareille et des fois nous avons envie de leurs donner les baffes parce qu'ils le meritent!! Mais ce n'est pas ca qui peut leur changer la mentalite et leurs attitudes.....c'est eux qui doivent ouvrir les yeux et apprendre a etre humain.

Gros becs de Ndh

This morning, we spent a bit longer then usual on the bed and we woke up only at 11.00 a.m. Last night, we stayed quite late as we recieved an invitation from one of Laurent collegue's to have a small apperitif for her farewell. She will be leaving India next week and go back to Switzerland. We met her just a month ago. Well....that's life!!
At 12.00 noon, after having our coffee and hot chocolate we went to KHAN MARKET. Laurent needed to get his webcam as soon as possible but it is sunday....and nice to walk around. To go to KHAN MARKET takes 7 - 8 minutes with a TUK TUK. Unfortunately, not all the shops were open and more the shops that selling the electrical staffs. After buying what ever we should buy, then we decided to go to PALIKA BAZAAR. That place must be open anyway.
We took another TUK TUK to go to there. This place is a bit far and usually there is a lots of peoples during the weekend. But when we reached there....it was almost empthy but the shops were open and suprisingly the bazaar was clean. AHHHA...it was a pleasure!! At least we really could see what they were selling. I can remember when a first time we went there, it was hardly to put the foots and walked around because it was too dirty. And this time, it didn't take along time for us to find the webcam and we just hoped that it would work well. We left the PALIKA BAZAAR and visited the JANPATH MARKET which situated just across the street. At this market, we can find the souvenirs and cheap cloths. Wehen we think that we will stay here for 4 years, no need to rush and perhaps we can find more interresting things else where . Right after that we went to CONNAUGHT PLACE to get some new cloths for Laurent. Fabindia is my favorite shop, who's selling the cottons staffs....from the cloths to a decoration. So colorful and it is so beautiful!! At the same time, we bought also something to decorate the apartment because it is too empthy and no colors.
To terminate our sunday, we played tennis for one hour and then we swam a little. It is really like a vacation.....perhaps better then that! The life is great isn't it??

Aujourd'hui, nous sommes restes un peu plus long temps que d'habitude au lit et nous nous sommes reveilles vers 11h00 du matin. Hier soir, nous sommes restes un peu tard car nous etions invites par une collegue de Laurent. Elle va partir la semaine prochaine pour la Suisse. Nous nous sommes rencontres juste un mois en arriere. Ban....c'est la vie!!
A midi, apres avoir bu du cafe et un chocolate chaud, nous sommes partis pour KHAN MARKET. Laurent a eu besoin de trouver son webcam. C'est le dimanche....et cela nous fait du bien de sortir et de nous balader un peu. Pour aller au KHAN MARKET, ca nous prend 7 - 8 minutes en TUK TUK. Mais malheureusement, il n'y avait pas tout les magasins ouvert et en plus les magasins qui vendent les appareils electriques. Apres avoir achete ce qu'il nous fallait, nous avons decide d'aller au PALIKA BAZAAR. Cet endroit est ouvert le dimanche et c'est un endroit ou l'on peut trouver un peu de tout. Alors, nous avons pris un autre TUK TUK. Normalment il y a beaucoup de monde au marche comme ca mais quand nous sommes arrives nous etions un peu suprise car l'endroit etait assez propre pas comme la premiere fois nous y avons ete et en plus il n'y avaient pas beaucoup de monde. AHHHA ca fait plaisir!! Au moins, nous avons pu vraiment regarder ce qu'ils vendent. Ca ne nous prend pas long temps de trouver le webcam et nous avons espere que ca allait marcher. En sortant de PALIKA BAZAAR, nous avons visite un peu le JANPATH MARKET ou on peut trouver des souvenirs et aussi les habits qui cout bon marche. Quand nous pensons que nous allons rester la pour 4 ans alors, ce sera rien d'acheter tout de suite car peut-etre que nous pourrions trouver quelque choses d'autre plus interessant.
Ensuite, nous sommes alles a CONNAUGHT PLACE pour chercher des habits pour Laurent. Mon magasin prefere c'est Fabindia qui vend des choses en cotton et qui ont un prix raisonable. Avec beaucoup de couleurs, c'est vraiment beau. En meme temps, nous avons achete aussi quelque choses pour decorer notre appartement car il est trop vide et pas de couleurs.
Pour terminer notre dimanche, nous avons joue au tennis pendant une heure et ensuite, nous avons fait de la natation. C'est vraiment comme les vacances....peut-etre mieux que les vacances!! Elle n'est pas belle la vie??

Buffet dinner...!!

Last night we were invited at a residence of the ambassador to celebrate a Swiss National Day. Apparently they coudn't do it at 1st of August because of the outside temperature was too hot (44 - 45 degrees). Well that's really hot!! We had the same thing in Nigeria in March and April. The photo on the side showing 2 days preparation for more then 300 guests were coming last night.

Hier soir, nous etions invites a la residence de l'ambassadeur pour feter la fete national Suisse. Apparentment, ils ne pouvaient pas faire cette fete le 1ere aout car la temperature dehors etait epouvantable (44 - 45 degrees). Ca c'est vraiment chaud!! Nous avions la meme chose au Nigeria le mois de mars et avril. La photo a cote montre les 2 jours de preparation pour une reception de plus de 300 personnes invitee hier soir.

So, this is also a preparation for the buffet dinner. It was under our apartment! The menu came with a lots of differant variaties. We had the cheese raclettes, kneupli, pasta, indian food's and also a mongolian dish's. It was delicious!

Ceci est aussi une photo pendant la preparation et c'est juste en dessous de chez nous. Le menu etait tres varie. Nous avons eu de la raclette que nous n'avons pas eu depuis "long temps", les knoepflis (c'est typiquement suisse), les pastas (comme nous n'avons pas assez), la cuisine indienne comme du tandori au poulet qui faisait plaisir aux Indiens) et aussi de la cuisine mongole (que nous n'avons jamais goute jusqu'a hier soir. C'etait delicieux!

A decoration at the embassy with the flags of all the cantons in Switzerland. For the fribourgeois, we have to be proud because it was a Fribourg flag at front. And the ambassador is also origine from this canton. Live the fribourgeois......hehehe.....oppps of course for the Switzerland too.

La decoration a l'ambassade avec les drapeaux des cantons Suisse. Pour les fribourgeois , nous devons etre fier car c'etait le premier drapeau car l'ambassadeur est fribourgeois! Vive les fribourgeois...hehehe....oppps bien sur que c'est aussi pour la Suisse.

Big kiss from NDH

Gros becs de NDH

Augustin!!!!

In Nigeria, we had Ellen as our housekeeper. She is a wonderful person and we has treated her like one of our family.We misses her so much anyway. Here we are engaging a men to do this job as the womens here are not competence on this field. His name is Augustin and he's coming from the south of India. The people from the south normally called as the Tamil....that is because the Tamil language is spoken more on the south. Augustin is also a good cook...and we can assure you that he is really a good one. He makes us a scare of gaining a weight with his nice and delicious foods everyday. Fortunately, we have a swimming pool and a tennis court who can help us to have a little balance in our everyday life's. He speak very little english but we still can understand what he says and he makes us smile every time he says "madame, I go gabbage throw". It is cute.....isn't it??

The pamplemouses and the grapefruits are from the garden. The head of gardener bring it to us every 2 or 3 times a week. At this time, the 7 gardeners are doing a huge garden for vegetables, fruits and spices. It will be for everyone who is working at the embassy. In the morning, if we see the gardeners are really like the militaries who are ready for an action.

Big kiss from NDH

Au Nigeria, nous avons eu Ellen comme femme de menage et c'est une femme que nous adorions et que nous avons traité comme une de notre propre famille. Elle nous manque terriblement d'ailleur. Ici, nous avons engagé un homme car les femmes ici ne sont pas trop compétante dans ce domain là. Il s'appelle Augustin et il vient du sud de l'Inde. Les gens du sud normalement sont des tamouls....c'est parce que ils parlent le Tamoul. Augustin fait la cuisine aussi et il nous fait peur car avec la nourriture qu'il fait tous les jours, nous prenons du poid facilement. Heureusement, il y a une piscine et un terrain de tennis qui peuvent nous aider a faire un peu la balance dans notre vie de tous les jours. Il parle vraiment peu l'anglais mais nous pouvons comprendre ce qu'il dit et il nous fait marer quand il dit "madame, I go gabbage throw". C'est mignon....pas vrai??

Les pamplemouses et les grapes fruits sont du jardin. Le chef des jardiniers, nous les apportes à la maison 2 ou 3 fois par semaine. Et maintenant, les 7 jardiniers sont en train de faire un grand jardin potagé à l'entrée de l'ambassade. Ce sera pour tout les gens qui travaillent à l'ambassade. Le matin, quand on voit les jardiniers, se sont vraiment comme des militaires qui sont prêt pout l'action.

Gros becs de NDH

Good Bye Taj Palace....

Tomorrow, we will move to our apartment after 3 weeks staying at the hotel. So, today the local workers came to clean it after some work that has to be done during these 3 weeks time. We are so happy at last to be in our own apartment and we no need to take and to fight with any TUK TUK anymore. We are so excited too, to decorate again our small nest with what we can find here..... in India. Big kiss from NDH.

Demain, nous allons déménager dans notre apartement après avoir vécu 3 semaines à l'hôtel. Il y a eu des travaux pendant ces 3 semaines et en fin, aujourd'hui les employées locaux sont venu pour nettoyer l'appartement. Nous sommes très content d'être chez nous comme cela nous n'avons plus besoin de prendre ou de nous bagarer avec les TUK TUK. Nous sommes aussi très excité de décorer notre petit nid avec tous ce que nous pouvons trouver ici....en Inde. Gros becs de NDH.

It is our small paradise!

It is our car....ready to travel to every corner in India and the other photo is a fountain in the embassy.

Ceci est notre voiture qui est prête à partir en voyage dans tous les coins de l'Inde et l'autre photo c'est une fountaine dans l'ambassade.

A tennis court and a swimming pool.

The swimming pool is 20 metres long and 10 metres large.

La piscine est de 20 mètres de long et 10 mètres de large.

This is the garden in the embassy but if you see New Delhi it is also green like in these photos.

C'est le jardin de l'ambassade mais si vous regardez New Delhi c'est aussi vert que sur les photos.

Making Appointment with The Indians!!

Annoying......
We have learned something for the past two weeks we are in Delhi. How to have an appointment with the locals here! Well...it isn't that easy......and it is always a "misunderstanding" like they said when they couldn't turn up. It is okey if they can't make it but after one or two hours waiting, there is still no ringing on our phones to tell us where are they at that moment. We have two nice examples :

Friday 01 September 2006: We were supposed to meet this girl who is working at the hotel where we are staying at the moment. Early that week we have met and had decided to go to this huge market. Since she had offered her help....why not?? It should be nice to have some local friends anywhere we are. So we made an appointment on Friday the 1st of September at 4.00 p.m at the hotel lobby. We agreed together and confirmed that we would go on Friday and I gave her my phone number in case of emergency. That Friday, Laurent had a lots of jobs that had to be done but he made an effort to be at the hotel before 4.00 p.m. After 30 minutes of waiting, still there was no sign of her. I went to ask for her phone to one of her collegues and her collegue managed to get her on the phone. Do you know what she told me.....she said that she was waiting for our confirmation by calling her but how could we call her as we didn't have her number until that day.

Monday, 05 September 2006 : I had an appointment with one salesman whose selling the computers and accessories. I wanted to purchase few accessories for our computer and he had promised me that he would come on Monday at 2.oo p.m. Again after one hour waiting, Laurent asked his assistance (Anthony) to call and this salesman said to him that he was waiting for our confirmation too. He is the one who gave us the time of the appointment and yet he said that he was waiting for our confirmation. At last he turned up at 4.30 p.m after 2 hours and the half we were waiting for him.......yaaaa he did turned up but with the empthy hand. After the confirmation......he came with the empthy hand.....hahaha! I wasn't sure at what level I was that day to control my angure. No....I didn't control it actually....I was explosed in a million pieces!!

Since then I had decided to speak either malais or french with the locals. Like this if there is a misunderstanding again at least we know why!

P/S: Do you know why this is very common things happening in DELHI (I won't say INDIA as I've never been to the whole INDIA yet)....it is because when we are saying something, they will cut you off by saying.....YES SIR or YES MEM!!!

Big kiss from New Delhi

Ennuyeux.......
Nous avons appris quelque choses après les deux premières semaines que nous sommes ici à Delhi. Comment fait on pour avoir un rendez-vous avec des locaux. Ban....ce nest pas toujours facile ou peut-être ça n'a jamais été facile du tout et c'est toujours la même réponse c'est un "malentendu'' quand ils ne viennent pas. Si au moins, il nous téléphone pour nous dire qu'ils ne peuvent pas venir cela ne serais pas trop grave mais comme il font comme de rien n'était. Nous attendons près de 2 heures pour rien et après quand on leur téléphone, ils disent qu'ils sont en route. Nous avons deux bon examples :

Le Vendredie 01 Septembre 2006 : Nous aurions du rencontrer cette fille indienne qui travaille à l'hôtel où nous habitons maintenant. Début de la semaine, nous avons discuté et avons été d'accord d'aller avec elle car il nous a proposé pour nous montrer cet immense marché. Alors, le rendez-vous est pour le vendredi 01 septembre à 16h dans le lobby d'hôtel. Ce jour là, Laurent a eu beaucoup de choses qu'il devait finir mais il a fait un effort pour être à l'heure à l'hôtel. Après une demie heure d'attendre, je suis allé demander à une de ses collegues pour me donner son numéro et elle a réussi de l'avoir en ligne. J'ai discuté avec elle et vous savez ce qu'elle m'a dit.....elle m'a dit qu'elle attendait notre confirmation par téléphone. Comment pouvions nous l'appeller car nous n'avions pas son numéro.

Le Lundi 05 Septembre 2006 : J'ai eu un rendez-vous avec un mec qui vend des ordinateurs et les accessoires. Je voulais acheter certains accessoires pour notre ordinateur et il m'a promis qu'il allait venir à 2h de l'après-midi le lundi. Encore une fois, nous avons dû attendre une heure et en suite nous avons demandé à l'assistant de Laurent pour appeller ce mec. Tout ce qu'il a dit c'est qu'il attendait notre confirmation ce qui paraît vraiment bizarre pour nous car c'était lui qui nous a donné l'heure exact pour être là. Alors, il a dit encore qu'il allait quand même venir pour eviter le "malentendu". Enfin, il est arrivé après 2h30 d'attendre........mais avec les mains vite.....hahaha! Je ne savais plus à quel point que j'étais faché encore j'ai essaié de me contrôler mais je n'arrivais plus. Jétais explosé en millions morceaux......

Depuis j'ai décidé de parler soit malais....soit français avec eux. Comme ça s'il y a le malentendu au moins on sait pourquoi!!

P/S: Vous savez pourqoui ça arrive très souvent ici à DELHI en tout cas c'est parce qu'avant de finir notre phrase il nous coupe déjà en disant OUI MONSIEUR ou OUI MADAME!!

Gros becs de New Delhi

Flower.....flower everywhere and same with the cows!!!!

Look at us.....! Like in the Hindi movie. In Delhi we can find a lots of flower and quiet cheap. So this is how we are invited at the local houses. In Delhi itself is full with the gardens everywhere and then we realised that why those Bollywood stars have chosen europe as their destinations. Either for vacations or for their new films. The Gardens are everywhere!!! But we hoped that they won't step on the cows shit......hehehehe!! Or maybe they are used to it as we can see here that the cows in the shopping complex doing shopping too....or in front of the nice 5 star restaurant....or somewhere else where you might like to be!! Well they like cows.....so it won't be a problem to have a cow shits on their shoes. I know I won't have a lunch today that's why I put my teori about cows shits in my blog today as my special edition.....hahaha. AHHH...almost forgot....HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURENT!! Ummmmp......Big kiss for you Laurent.

Big kiss from NDH


Regardez-nous! C'est comme dans un film Hindi. À Delhi, nous pouvons trouver beaucoup de fleurs et c'est vraiment bon marché. Voici comment cela se passe quand nous sommes invités chez les locaux. Ici, il y a des jardins parcis par-là, nous ne savons pas pourquoi les Bollywood stars ont choisi l'europe comme destination....soit pour les vacances, soit pour tourner des films. Mais, nous espérons qu' ils ne macherons pas dans des kaka de vaches.......hehehehe!! Ou peut-être qu'ils sont habitués car nous pouvons voir des vaches dans des centres commerciaux.... qui font aussi du shopping ou devant des hôtel et restaurant 5 étoiles.....ou elles peuvent être dans un endroit où on aimerai bien être!! Donc ils aiment bien les vaches.....alors, il n'y aura pas de problème pour les kaka de vaches sur les chaussures. Je sais que je ne mangerai pas a midi aujourd'hui et c'est pour ça que je peux sortir ma teori sur les kakas de vaches sur mon blog comme mon édition spéciale.....hahaha. AHHHH.....j'ai presque oublié......BON ANNIVERSAIRE LAURENT!! Ummmp...Gros becs à toi, Laurent.

Gros becs de NDH