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For those of you just tuning in, here is part 2
of my visit to India. I'm the bestman for my
friend AJ's wedding.

Quick Back Drop: Ajay-my friend of nearly 10yrs,
Pardeep-His younger brother, Manju-Sister,
Aarti-Youngest Sister

See Part 1 at:
http://www.justsayhi.com/topic/show/42470
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AJ swings by to get me around 11am - Today we are hand delivering formal Invitations.

He insists that we go grab brunch at a particular chipati place. This particular chipati place is famous because it makes crispy chipatis. Who am I to turn down chipati? This place is literally a hole in the wall. You'd certainly think "no way I'd eat THERE" based on the appearance. Across the street is the Mariott hotel in Amritsar. We sit at a dirty table, the waiter smears the dirty table mess around with a dirty rag. There's no menu, they serve only one thing. Its only a question of "how much". Ek ('one'). Simple enough. In a minute you get a waffle-crispy chipati with two small bowls of "dipping stuffs". The first one is a chick-pea stew, and the other is an onion-stew. You rip the hot chipati, scoop up stew, and sling it into your mouth before it spills. No need for utensils. This was FANTASTICALLY tasty. Really hit the spot. As we ate, AJ told me that the Marriott across the street is actively trying to close this hole down because it draws so many of its guests out of the hotel to eat these tasty chipatis. These were so good, that I can really see that happening. We ate, had mango-juice to wash it down, and were out of there for under $2. Keep the change mate.

Afterwards we made the rounds to invite various professional people to the wedding. First we went to the bank where his sister Manju works to invite her boss (previously, he was the boss of AJ who eventually out ranked this boss). Manju was there and was smilling proudly as an expectant mother. It struck me as very odd, how life can change so dramatically and unexpectedly. Three years ago she was at the wrong end of the ****ty-stick-of-life. Very sweet lady, got stuck with an abusive husband who abandonded her after the dowry money ran dry. She was terribly miserable, and the sweet family realized they had been taken for a ride. But today, I am sitting here at her job watching her smile and laugh as she and AJ make butter-talk with her boss. Her husband of a year is a great guy, very warm and friendly, charismatic but doesnt project it [met him the previous night]. Nice to see that prayers wind up being heard.

The invites are fairly informal, yet all done in the same format. You simply walk into the place of business and worm your way to the boss' desk. If a customer is there, you ignore them. The boss shoo's away the customer. A round of cold water is barked to the Gofer kid. Banks have an on-staff "Go-fer" kid. Who knew? Small talk ensues. A box of sweets and a wedding invitation is presented to the boss-man. A round of chai is barked. More small talk. After chai the boss shakes hands and we depart - onto the next stop.

Late in the day we goto AJ's office, which is another bank. Afterwards I see the "ATM" sign, and realize I'm running low on cash, better get some. ATMs are a wonderful thing - and how they've improved over the years. Remember how nasty the old ATMs were - you'd put your card in, do your business, and the card would be returned at the end of the transaction? How many times would ppl forget their card in the ATM? I so much like the newer ones where you insert, or swipe, and it burps the card right back out. Anyway, ATMs work here in Amritsar - just as quick and easy as back home. Even gives the balance (in rupee's of course). Only thing I dont like is that they are the "old" style ATMs where you insert your card, and it holds it till the end of the transaction.

Eventually we go to get a replacement hubcap for his car. There is a "hub cap" shop. It is next to the car radio shop. It is next to the car-battery shop. There is a small, particular shop, for each speciality. Each shop is a 10x10x10 shack, no lighting, no facilities. Just 3 walls. Why bother with so many tiny shops? Because you dont throw anything away here in India. Everything can be fixed. Repeatedly. I watched a guy open up a car radio, used electronic gear to diagnose, and then painstakingly repair a defective electronic component. Perhaps it took him 2 or 3 hours end-to-end. Maybe another to put it back in the car? In the US, its a joke to even THINK of repairing a car-radio. Just throw it out, buy a newer one with more features for less money than it would take to just diagnose the defective unit. For all his labor, he got $5 or thereabouts.

As we stood watching AJ got a phone call from his bank. He looks shocked. He quickly grabs me and we rush out of the parking lot. "You left your ATM card in the machine, a lady brought it to the manager, who is a colleague of mine. He has your card. Otherwise, you would not have a card". Christ did I feel stupid.

OOooooooooh can you imagine the world of hurt that would cause? I dont like the "old style" atms, they should be banned world-wide as carbon-producing death monsters.

I want some Chipatis. Mike, make sure you get some good recipe's and for the dipping stews. Please hurry and write more about the wedding and your interesting experiences in India. I wanna go wander around eastern Mexico!! Write more soon. *always leave em wanting more*

Hey Mike;

glad to hear you are having a good time.

Make sure you try rus mali. It is the best and even better than chapatis.

I spent 3 months in Karachi and know just how you feel. I remember when I went, we went out and things were so bad there that the children picked up what we did not eat for themselves. There certainly is a lot of hunger in that part of the world.

I cooked Indian food for about 20 years back in my married days.

Wait til you experience the actual wedding dinners! You will love them. The sweeet rice was one of my favorites.

Hmmm lots of ppl commenting on the food! No shortage of tasty food . (no shortage of less-than-tasty food too...)


More to come gentle-readers!