Shoes shoes shoes

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Don't even ask me. I'm just a fool for shoes. The DSW up in Yonkers is my place of worship.

For my impending trip to India, I'm just going to have to use the biggest suitcase I own.

But have you ever noticed how a lot of shoes can make a BIG suitcase look, well, SMALL? 

Consider Exhibit A:

Exhibit A

No. This is ridiculous. I'm not schlepping 10 pounds of footwear. 

After considerable hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing, I eliminated some of my beloved shoes. 

Now look at Exhibit B:

Exhibit B

Tada! I think this will work. My brand new Teva sandals are very comfortable, and I won't freak out if they get wet. My blue slippers are cute, and those little brown leather slides are pretty versatile.
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I'm a Foodie (sigh)

As I contemplate my impending journey through India, there are certain culinary delights that I will definitely miss.

(Don't get me wrong. I love Indian food, and am going to eat everything that doesn't move.  Mmmm. nom nom) .

What will I miss? 

Consider Exhibit A- Coffee. Made just right. Dark. No sugar.

Exhibit B- Dark M&Ms, aka Power Pellets. A necessity at 3:00 in the afternoon. All you teachers out there know just what I'm talking about.

Exhibit C- Bronx style pizza. It's so big you have to fold it in half just to shove it in your mouth.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

 

 

Exhibit C

 

 

 

 

Theme Thursday: Teacher's Pet

When I go to India this summer, I'm going to miss my family.
I'm also going to miss my very old dog.
Her name is Pretty.

She is a Chihuahua, mixed with something else.
My Partner rescued her as a young pup at the animal shelter almost 20 years ago. I've had the pleasure of living with him and her for the past 12 years now.
There's something painfully poignant about elderly pets.
We care for them as babies. 
If you want to see more Theme Thursday blog posts, visit ThemeThursday.
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Water is the elixir of life

How much water do you drink during the day? Do you drink your 8 glasses, like you know you should?  Drinking 8 glasses of water each day is no small task. It feels more like an assignment.

In India, it is super HOT and HUMID. Your required 8 glasses of H2O will be a mere drop in the bucket. You WILL drink a lot more water. 

Here are a few common-sense safety-tips:

• Be sure to drink only bottled water. 
• Make sure the safety seal is intact. If the seal is broken, ask for another bottle.
• Insist that you open your own bottled water.
• Avoid drinking anything with ice-cubes.
• Save some bottled water for the hotel room. You want to use it when brushing your teeth.

One final caveat: As you busily drink all that water, keep in mind when and where you can use the bathroom! Timing is everything, if you get my drift...

In my next post, I will discuss (ahem) bathroom duty.

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Jaipur: The Pink City

Jaipur Palace of the Winds

Jaipur, popularly known as the "Pink City", and "Paris of India", is the capital of Rajasthan state, India.  The city was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, a Kachawaha Rajput, who ruled from 1699-1744. Initially his capital was Amber (now pronounced as Amer).

In 1853, when the Prince of Wales visited Jaipur, the whole city was painted pink to welcome him.  Jaipur got the name "Pink City"  at that time.  The old city (known as four-wall city) is still painted and maintained in pink.
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Who Wears Short Shorts?

When it comes to wearing makeup and/or jewelry, "less is more". A single strand of pearls says a lot more than doing the whole neacklace+earrings+ bracelets+rings combo. 


Here in the States, women enjoy a lot of freedom in attire. We can wear just about anything we fancy.

But for female travelers in India, less is definitely not more. We really need to cover up.

It's a good idea to leave your favorite skimpy tank tops and short pants at home.  People in India get offended when they see women parade around in shorts and tank tops. Scantily-clad women will attract stares and unwelcomed comments from men in India.

Really.

For those of you who are offended by my views, well tough cookies. It's not going to kill you to dress modestly. 

Better yet, consider buying a couple items to wear while in India. A sari is very comforatble, and they come in many different colors. I'm looking forward to wearing one when I'm there. I already know I'm going to get really tired of my LLBean shirts and pants. 
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