Last weekend was really fun as I saw some new parts of Delhi and Gurgaon.
On Friday night, a group of us went to dinner at Veda, my favorite restaurant. The interior is decorated by Rohit Ball. What a sight to see. It's dark and read with lots of lamps and mirrors.
Saturday was dance class at Rashid's (see the Oct 20th entry for a description). I started chatting with one of the girls I partnered with, who told me that she was going to a ballet class later that day and said I should come along. First though, we were going to eat khana (food). We ate at Pam's and shared a waffle and cheese omlette. Sounds like I could be in SF eh?
She has a car so I told Deepak he could go do what he pleased until 4pm. We drove towards the next class and stopped for gas on the way. It was a trip to be in someone's private car (a first?).
The next class was taught by a Domincan who lived in France for a few years before moving to India several years ago. She has studied Budhism around India and is currently in Delhi teaching Dance Yoga and related classes. The Saturday class isn't Ballet, but rather whatever she feels like doing. Today to mend an aching body, she did a full yoga class. It was great. So relaxing.
After I headed back to the Gurgs. Around 9:30, Durand and I decided to go dancing. The driver coordinator was quite surprised that we wanted a car for the same night. We headed out to Sahara mall (hadn't been there yet), one of the many on MG Road, and were surprised to find not 1, but 4 clubs. Not sure which to go into, we went to a restaurant that felt like we were on a cruise ship for a drink. Then after vetoing one based on the music we chose then next. The music was so loud (as expected) and dance floor packed so we headed for the 2nd room, not quite ready to face that. After a few drinks, we decided to try one of the others because 'Summer of 69' makes people 'act like that' according to Durand. The one we decided against was now closed so that left one which name sounded like a strip club 'Hot Sensation' or something like that or another. Intrigued we walked into the 'strip club.' We almost walked out because there was no one inside, but decided we could stay for a drink. Half a drink later we were pumped (earplugs in), but had to finish our drinks because they aren't allowed on the dance floor.
What a wild time. There was maybe only one other female and we got some very excited guys wanting to dance with us. One guy did a whole body roll and landed on his knees in front of me. It was odd to say the least. We had a lot of fun.
Mid-song the music stopped. Hmm, wonder why? It was 1 am and the police had arrived. Some left, everyone else sat and worked on their drinks. We went outside to watch the negotiations and then went into the last club. It was full of youngsters, plates of food and glasses littering every table. We left in about 1 minute, but ended up back in about 5 minutes later because they turned on a song Durand liked. 1.5 songs later they ended the music. We went back to the 'strip club', hung out for several minutes, got bored and decided to leave. The front door had been locked, so they had us exit through the kitchen. Ha.
Headed home. Durand cooked grilled cheese (?) I think. Then zzzzzz.
Sunday was brunch with colleagues and Ed, an English guy I met in Leh through his friend Sarah, who seems equally as interested as I in not polluting. Yay. Before brunch we got our haircut at 10 by 10. I felt very 'cute' after which was an odd feeling. Getting to brunch was a pain in the ass. Our driver du jour didn't know his way around Delhi, but wouldn't admit it. He was going in the completely wrong direction. I tried to ask, but didn't want to offend should I be wrong. We ended up in Block D of New Friends Colony instead of Defence Colony (where Ed lives) because he didn't have a clue where Defence Colony was. We ended up having to ask Ed to get a cab else we would be driving in circles all day. I get doubly frusterated by these situations because I don't like getting annoyed at people, we have specifically asked for drivers that know Delhi and I feel that I can't get mad if I don't know the way myself.
Brunch was at The Clarridge's Hotel. It has some of the best food (besides the Oberoi, which is $$$$$). We ate in Jade, the Chinese restaurant which has better ambiance than the coffee shop, but access to the same food.
After Durand and I tagged along with John, who was visiting from the Dublin office. We drove by India Gate and then headed to Humayun's Tomb, which I just discovered is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, Rajghat, where Gandhi was creamated. It was packed as it is the week after his birthday, Oct 2nd.
On Friday night, a group of us went to dinner at Veda, my favorite restaurant. The interior is decorated by Rohit Ball. What a sight to see. It's dark and read with lots of lamps and mirrors.
Saturday was dance class at Rashid's (see the Oct 20th entry for a description). I started chatting with one of the girls I partnered with, who told me that she was going to a ballet class later that day and said I should come along. First though, we were going to eat khana (food). We ate at Pam's and shared a waffle and cheese omlette. Sounds like I could be in SF eh?
She has a car so I told Deepak he could go do what he pleased until 4pm. We drove towards the next class and stopped for gas on the way. It was a trip to be in someone's private car (a first?).
The next class was taught by a Domincan who lived in France for a few years before moving to India several years ago. She has studied Budhism around India and is currently in Delhi teaching Dance Yoga and related classes. The Saturday class isn't Ballet, but rather whatever she feels like doing. Today to mend an aching body, she did a full yoga class. It was great. So relaxing.
After I headed back to the Gurgs. Around 9:30, Durand and I decided to go dancing. The driver coordinator was quite surprised that we wanted a car for the same night. We headed out to Sahara mall (hadn't been there yet), one of the many on MG Road, and were surprised to find not 1, but 4 clubs. Not sure which to go into, we went to a restaurant that felt like we were on a cruise ship for a drink. Then after vetoing one based on the music we chose then next. The music was so loud (as expected) and dance floor packed so we headed for the 2nd room, not quite ready to face that. After a few drinks, we decided to try one of the others because 'Summer of 69' makes people 'act like that' according to Durand. The one we decided against was now closed so that left one which name sounded like a strip club 'Hot Sensation' or something like that or another. Intrigued we walked into the 'strip club.' We almost walked out because there was no one inside, but decided we could stay for a drink. Half a drink later we were pumped (earplugs in), but had to finish our drinks because they aren't allowed on the dance floor.
What a wild time. There was maybe only one other female and we got some very excited guys wanting to dance with us. One guy did a whole body roll and landed on his knees in front of me. It was odd to say the least. We had a lot of fun.
Mid-song the music stopped. Hmm, wonder why? It was 1 am and the police had arrived. Some left, everyone else sat and worked on their drinks. We went outside to watch the negotiations and then went into the last club. It was full of youngsters, plates of food and glasses littering every table. We left in about 1 minute, but ended up back in about 5 minutes later because they turned on a song Durand liked. 1.5 songs later they ended the music. We went back to the 'strip club', hung out for several minutes, got bored and decided to leave. The front door had been locked, so they had us exit through the kitchen. Ha.
Headed home. Durand cooked grilled cheese (?) I think. Then zzzzzz.
Sunday was brunch with colleagues and Ed, an English guy I met in Leh through his friend Sarah, who seems equally as interested as I in not polluting. Yay. Before brunch we got our haircut at 10 by 10. I felt very 'cute' after which was an odd feeling. Getting to brunch was a pain in the ass. Our driver du jour didn't know his way around Delhi, but wouldn't admit it. He was going in the completely wrong direction. I tried to ask, but didn't want to offend should I be wrong. We ended up in Block D of New Friends Colony instead of Defence Colony (where Ed lives) because he didn't have a clue where Defence Colony was. We ended up having to ask Ed to get a cab else we would be driving in circles all day. I get doubly frusterated by these situations because I don't like getting annoyed at people, we have specifically asked for drivers that know Delhi and I feel that I can't get mad if I don't know the way myself.
Brunch was at The Clarridge's Hotel. It has some of the best food (besides the Oberoi, which is $$$$$). We ate in Jade, the Chinese restaurant which has better ambiance than the coffee shop, but access to the same food.
After Durand and I tagged along with John, who was visiting from the Dublin office. We drove by India Gate and then headed to Humayun's Tomb, which I just discovered is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, Rajghat, where Gandhi was creamated. It was packed as it is the week after his birthday, Oct 2nd.
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