BOPPIN' IN BANGALORE

Okay we went to Bangalore this weekend...my primary goal was to get my hair braided. I was ecstatic that I could actually get my hair braided in India. I guess there is a larger African community in Bangalore, and after searching the internet, I found "Sasha's" which advertised African braiding. Well, Vendan ranted on and on how well he knew Bangalore...I gave him the addresses well in advance. Even thought about printing out directions to this place...(my lesson for today, always follow your initial instinct and never rely on anyone else). We were so lost for so long...(oh well). We piled into the car, and it was really nice to get away from Chennai for a few days. The mountain range was nice, the weather was considerably cooler. In photo number 1, out of boredom, Bree decided to melt a chocolate mint on John's forehead while he slept...

Anyway, I had everything timed out, from how long it would take to get there, to how long it should take to get my hair braided (like 5 hours in the chair). Our hotel (The Monarch, above), was right across the street. Definitely nothing to write home about, but it was in the right location, and had a tub, {We only have showers in our home, bummer}...free breakfast, and was...okay for a 3-star, if you know what I mean. (Yeah, we had to scream to get hot water, but it eventually came).

I'm racing into the hotel after an hour or so circling around, trying to find this place...I call Sasha, tell her I'm checking in and I will be right over....AND THIS WOMAN HAS THE NERVE TO TELL ME, WHOOPS, THE STYLIST SAYS SHE IS SICK TODAY, COME BACK TOMORROW AT 2:30. YOU KNOW I AM SEEING RED. DOES SHE REALIZE WHAT IT COSTS TO STAY OVERNIGHT IN THIS PLACE, OR THAT MY HUSBAND HAS TO BE AT WORK THE NEXT DAY, OR THAT COMING IN AT 2:30 PUTS US DRIVING BACK ON THE ROAD AT ABOUT 9:30 OR 10:00...AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS FOR NIGHT DRIVING HERE... YES, I AM LIVID. I HAD CALLED A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE TO VERIFY THAT THE APPOINTMENT WAS STILL "ON"...AND NO ONE CALLS ME BEFORE I COME THIS FAR TO ... I GUESS YOU GET IT.

I'm still mad about this. Then to top it all off, after starting at 3:00, I didn't get out of this chair until 8:30 p.m.; rather than risking life and limb trying to get home dodging cows and heaven only knows what else is in the road...we just decided to stay another day.

So, was it worth it...I really wanted my hair braided. No, it's hard to find the same quality that we have in good ol' Decatur. (One braid thick, one braid thin...) And then they charged me an extra 1,000 rupees over what was quoted before I came. Yeah, Merry Xmas. I hate being "taken", and I suppose I need to just become more adamant, aggressive and demanding over stuff. Yeah, that's my New Year's resolution. I need a good assertiveness class. I told this woman this was not the original price quoted...

Yes, this was a very expensive hair do; not sure I will do it again. Guess I will just wait to get to the State's next time.

We found the Hard Rock Cafe, (Poor Vendan couldn't seem to get directions right...I told him to just pull over, pay a rickshaw guy to guide us there, and let it go...but NO...he would find the way). Anyway, the important thing about this venture was....

I SAW THE GUITARS FROM "THE CARS" ON THE WALL. This is my favorite rock group. When I was a freshman, there was a girl on the floor who blasted the cars non-stop, like 24-7. I hated this music...but maybe after the zillionth time, you kinda get the songs in your head, and you start groovin' to the bass and rythms...yeah, I now confess, I really love the cars...Candy-O and all. So much for trippin' back to 1979.

We made it back to Chennai...and now we are bracing up for Amsterdam. Ashley and Bri will be running amuk, and I'll bring you up to speed on what's happenin' there later.