Shops On Wheels

This is the local $2 store. And as usual in India it's on wheels.

What an array of stock he has for sale.

You can buy almost anything from the side of the road, from fruit and vegetables to a Indian carpet, a motorbike helmet to a packet of cotton buds.

The world is your oyster if its on wheels.

"What The" part?

Ok, I've given up on the amount of "What The's" I've done but here's another and I am sure it won't be the last.
It seems even the ants in India are Indian. Last week we had left a open bag of lollies on the kitchen bench overnight. Along side the lollies was the dishes I had washed and left to air dry. On one of the pans was some Curry that I had missed when washing up, guess where the ants were??
All over the curry on the pan.

The Road To Paradise

Paradise

Fishermans Cove

Tropical Paradise is only a one hour drive from home so I thought it fitting that Cheryl would spend her last 24 hours in India in style. With the kids all sorted and our bags packed we hot footed it out of here on Friday morning and headed down to Fisherman's Cove. Ah the Bliss.

On our arrival we were welcomed with shell necklaces and a lovely cool drink. Just what we needed to start our time in paradise. The pool surrounded by coconut palms and frangipani, was calling our name so it was into our swimmers and off to the pool. There we sat and swam for the next 6 hours till the mozzies started to attack. We did manage a walk on the beach only to get harassed by some locals so we cut that short to head back to the solitude of the resort.

It's amazing how quickly the time goes when you don't want something to end, but as we know all good things must come to an end. It was such a relaxing time and just what we both needed after a busy week supporting the Indian economy and seeing some of the sights of Chennai.

We will miss having our friend around as she is such a breath a fresh air and always fun to be around. I was so happy that Cheryl loved India. But with so much beauty and intrigue it's hard not to love it.

A New Taste Sensation

My 12 year old has been busy in the kitchen developing a new taste sensation for us to devour. Eliza is a foodie. What can I say? She enjoys her food just like her Mum and Dad.

We always seen to have an abundance of Bananas sitting in the fruit bowl that need using. So being the sweet tooth she is, this is what she has come up with.......

Caramel Banana's

2 tbs Butter

4 tbs Maple Syrup

2 Banana's

Place the Butter and Syrup in a fry pan and cook for 2 mins, then add sliced Banana's and cook for another few mins till they soften.

Serve with a big dollop of ice-cream

Enjoy.....Yum......

The Arrival Of Chez

On Friday night my sisterchick Chez arrived all the way from downtown Lara. This was her first ever overseas trip, and what a place to come for your first overseas experience. I am so proud of her and I am sure we are going to have a awesome week discovering India together.

Our beautiful friend Chez with her welcoming Rangoli.

The Beauty Of India

With the arrival of my friend Cheryl, on Friday I thought it would be nice to have some fresh flowers around the house. Margaret had said she would love to make a Rangoli, a flower picture used as a special welcome outside the front door of the house, so off we headed to the big Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Market and of coarse it was yet amazing Indian experience. So many people all selling their fresh produce and displayed in the usual pyramids stacked so beautifully. The colours of the flowers were so beautiful and it was an experience being the only white person around for miles. Lucky for me I had Margaret and Victor to guide me along the way with their usual funny bickering and banter. They are so funny together. Margaret was in heaven and I left her to do the buying and bartering while I enjoyed wandering around taking photo's. I am sure the price was hiked up because I was there but we still payed a third of what we would normally pay in a shop in town, let alone what we would pay at home in Australia.
We bought tomatoes for 10 cents a kilo, watermelons for 50 cents and cauliflowers for 20 cents.
I think I may have had about $30 in my purse and you would not believe the stuff we got for our money. The car was laden. We even had to employ the services of a young boy who's job at the market is to help people carry their purchases to the cars. He was so sweet and asked me if he could come and work for me at my residence. This young boy, not much older than Eliza carrying such heavy loads around for pittance. I nearly put him in the car and brought him home. Victor thought we could employ him to play cricket with the boys. Andrew would kill me.
Margaret had her girls come over and help make the Rangoli. They are such nice girls and are warming to us a bit more each time they come to our house.