The Life of Daniel and Natalie: September 2007

Saturday, September 15, 2007

The Dolphins

6/10/2007

We decided that although it's cool to see the dolphins and be dry - next year we want to go scuba diving with them!

We'll let you know how that is...

6/10/2007
We were watching the tigers during feeding time and some of the workers asked us if we would like to feed them. The workers handed us a large metal fork loaded with juicy meat. Then we stuck it through a hole in the window. The tigers attack - you can really feel their strength!

Ocean World

6/10/2007

We went to Ocean World today. It's just down the street from the Sun Village Resort. The birds are such vibrant colors.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Mr. Incredible

6/9/2007
Ryan and Daniel at dinner. We aren't sure what Ryan is so excited about. Sonya pointed out how much he resembled Mr. Incredible - I agree

Our First Dance

6/9/2007
We're just hangin' out down by the beach.

Daniel, Natalie, Sonya, and Ryan

6/8/2007
Just a couple pics of the property...

Welcome Home

6/7/2007
After a long flight - we were "Welcomed Home" by the Elliott's. This is the walk way to the welcome dinner.

The Dominican Republic

6/7/2007
After India - we went home long enough to wash our clothes and re-pack our bags for the DR!

Thursday, September 6, 2007

The ISCKON Hare Krishna Temple

5/31/2007
Unfortunately we couldn't take any pictures of the temple. But, our friends Suprabha and Mumtha were so kind to take us on a tour of this amazing place.

As you look up on the temple you see 100 granite steps. At every 10 steps or so, people stop to pray. Also, there are idols placed along the path where people stop and pray. Each idol represented a different attribute, one was for health, one for wealth, and many other things that I cannot remember. These idols are made of all gold and the monks change the clothing on the idols everyday.

Once you get inside the temple it's awesome! I saw more gold there than anywhere in my life! Inside the temple is where Lord Krishna, his brother, and his wife are at. At sundown a monk takes a conch shell and bellows a tune, then sings the prayers. Everyone in the room at the time is on the floor bowing. This is really amazing!

After the prayers - it's time to eat a "sweet" or desert. As we walked out we were handed something like apple flavored tapioca pudding, served in a palm leaf. It was pretty good.

Of course we purchased a book and Daniel read it the next day. He could tell you a lot more about Krishna and his family.

If you want to see what it looks like here's a link to the temple site. Watch out - make sure if you are at work that your speakers are down...because you get to hear the chants as soon as you log onto that site!

http://www.iskconbangalore.org

The Leela Palace

That is exactly what this place was...a palace. When you first pull up, there is a man dressed in an all white suit, including white gloves, who opens your car door. Everyone calls you by, "Sir" or "Madam". Then, after the doorman opens the

door, you smell the rose pedals which are in the fountain, and the fresh flowers just above on the table. As you walk to your room there is a string quartet playing in the lobby, they're playing beautiful classical music. People are washing walls and baseboards, and polishing fixtures all along the way. In the room there is a bowl of fresh fruit, and a chocolate for each of us on the bed. This is wonderful - finally away from the bustle of Bangalore, India. In the spa, there is fresh squeezed apple juice at the juice bar, a personal trainer, and yes - even whitening baths. Now, I don't need the whitening bath - I am way too fair for that. But this hotel, I mean, Palace was spectacular.

5/26/2007

I got this a little out of order...oops.

This is a picture of a government building in Bangalore. Notice all the people and the bright colors everyone is wearing. I loved seeing all the color. Earlier in the week I went shopping with some girls from work and they were telling me that I need more color, no more classic black, especially since I am so white!

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

5/30/2007
My first day there I was going to work with my driver. My window was down because it's super muggy. We were stopped and I look over to see a man's hand inside my window on his handle bar of his motorcycle. When the traffic master said "GO" this man had to lean over and pull his handle bars out so he could get around our car.

I think this video will explain why it took us what felt like 5 minutes to cross a street.

India

5/20/2007
What a crazy place! I am just so glad that we both arrived in India alive and made it out alive. The trip to Bangalore is a total of 39 hours on a plane. After that the airport has a total of two terminals. Which just means that there are two places where you can get off the plane. After that you walk down some stairs and try to find your baggage. I waited and waited my golf clubs came...then a small man carrying a paper sign walked by, I noticed my name was on that sign. That meant I needed to go into an office and talk to some other people. My bag with my clothes missed the flight to India. At least my important bag came - the golf clubs! By this time everyone has left the airport and it's around 1am. I (this is Natalie) walk out to find my driver. As soon as I walk out the airport doors I am totally bombarded by people. Everyone wants to give me a ride. I found out why later. I walk down the sidewalk, looking for my name on a sign, it's nowhere to be found. So, I ask a stranger if I can use his cell phone to call the hotel to ask for my driver. He was okay with it - so I try to dial...completely fail. I can't seem to dial out. Anyway...I ended up getting a ride with some other guy. We agreed upon a price, and we started off on my trek to the hotel. About 20 minutes into my ride (which might I add should have been less than five minutes from the airport to the hotel.) the driver tells me that I need to pay him more money to go the rest of the way to the hotel. I didn't have anymore money - I told the driver. So he drove me to an ATM. ATM's in Bangalore have armored guards standing outside. That sort of freaked me out...but then...I walked inside the ATM, and stepped down and then the ground underneath me moved...It was a PERSON sleeping underneath the rug! I so just wanted to jump back on the plane and head home. Anyway...I ended up with $40, gave it to the driver and he took me to The Leela Palace. I go to check in, didn't have a reservation, but they gave me a room anyway. I go up to the room, and the minute I put my bag down - the power goes out. I try to dial on the phone but can't figure out how...Now I really wanted to go home! Anyway...I called home, talked to Daniel, and felt much better. The next day was much better!