Subway Vindaloo

So there's not much night life here in India.... just in case you're wondering why I'm spending every night on the blog!

Visited the volunteer agency this morning which was really impressive. They've partnered with a bunch of NGOs in the area and really have their stuff together. They've set up volunteers to do everything from a three hour project teaching street kids how to brush their teeth to a year long internship helping women sell their handmade crafts. They're also doing a bunch of stuff that I never even considered, but could definitely develop into. I was buzzing when I left the place thinking of the possibilites. Plus the staff is very efficient and exactly the type of program I want to be working with. Best of all I felt like I was able to capitalize on the BA gift. The woman even said to me, as if cued, "How lovely to see a face and not be on the phone." Ha!

the rest of the day was an adventure in eating. We landed in a place featuring South Indian cuisine and had to share a table with a local guy. Wasn't too happy at first - I mean I already felt self-conscious enough not knowing what the heck I was ordering or how to pronounce it. But when he ordered before us, I just followed his lead and said I'd have the same - a little food roulette. Turned out it was some Thali thing that came with 10 pots of sauces on a banana leaf tray, a bowl of rice, 3 puffed bread and pompadon... yeah, right? What the heck?? Luckily this guy, Jaipal, saw my confusion and showed me how to eat it like a local. Next thing I knew I had chucked my cutlery and was mixing sauces and rice by hand on the banana leaf . (The leaf has some property that helps sooth the stomach, so he says.) Then he showed me how to properly pack the rice mixture in my hand and eat it. India's one of those countries where you onlyeat with your right hand and save your left hand for 'dirty' work. Dig it. Anyway, loved the whole processa nd the food was AMAZING - felt like a kid making mud pies... and so tasty! Just not so sure about the yellow fingernails....

The only problem with the food here is that it's all Indian. (That's meant to be funny.) Seriously though, breakfast, lunch and dinner is all curried something.... though not the holy cow. I love Indian, but once a twice a week is usually my limit - I know my dad and brother would say I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I caved and went to Subway tonight. I tried to stay cultural and got a chicken tikka sub, but they didn't warn me it was more like a hot, fiery vindaloo. The only Subway in the world that needs to add heat ratings to its food. We did stop in to look at the McDonalds menu too - not a beef burger in sight.... just chicken and veggies.

The other event of the day was my encounter with a palm reading fortune teller. He gave me some interesting info and told me I'd die in my sleep at age 85. Seriously? Are they allowed to do that? So with this new found confidence, I stepped off the curb directly into traffic....

So tomorrow we leave Delhi and head to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal and then spend two nights in Jaipur. Excited to get out of the city and see what the rest of the country is like. Keep you posted....