Gotta Get the Dood.

What seems like the simplest of tasks can actually be a bit more complicated in India. Drinking milk is a great example. Because there isn't a guaranteed 24 hour power supply in most places here, the concept of buying fresh, refrigerated milk in the grocery store doesn't really exist. But, as with all things here, there are always unique alternatives.

The most expensive option is to buy milk in a box. Essentially "irradiated" milk, it comes in whole or skim varieties and the brands range from Nestle to our local Amul. I have to say though, that because it can sit on the shelf at room temperature (read as anywhere from 50 degrees to 120 degrees Fahrenheit) the taste is less than spectacular. When chilled though, Audrey and Evan seem to like it despite the altered taste.

The second option (and least expensive ) is having a guy deliver your milk at your doorstep each morning. This stuff is straight from the cow. It's still warm and carried in a classic aluminum milk jug. He ladles it out from the jug and into your container of choice. Probably costs about 20 cents for a quart (litre) of milk. Because we aren't sure where this milk actually comes from and how its collected we haven't tried it out.

Here at ATS, the best option for buying milk has materialized in the form or Mr. Tyagi. Or "Tyagi-ji, the "Doodha-Walla." "Dood" is the Hindi word for milk. As I've noted before, the word "walla" means, "seller of." In this case, Tyagi-ji is a seller of milk.

He is set up in our complex every morning at about 6am with milk crates filled with varieties of fresh, homogenized milk. The milk is cold and has been sealed in 500ml plastic bags. Skim Milk, toned milk, double toned milk and milk with vitamins A and D added are all available. The word "tone" has to do with the fat content of the milk.

Each bag costs 13 to 15 rupees (about 30 cents) depending on the kind you want. Although it is supposedly processed for safety, everyone here boils their milk and serves it hot. Even breakfast cereals, many of which are the same as what we get back in the US, exclaim: "Goes great with hot milk!" We chill the remains of the boiled milk in our refrigerator so the kids can have a little cold milk the following morning.

It's a lot to go through for a glass of milk, but Lesa will be the first to tell you that freshly brewed coffee with fresh, boiled milk delivers the best morning cuppa- joe you'll ever have.

My only only complaint about this whole "Dood-thing" is the boiling of the milk. It's normally my job to do it each morning and I tend to get sidetracked... Boiled-over milk is a mess to clean up.

American Summer

The kids' school closes for the heat of the Summer in the months of May and June each year. For the past two summers we have taken advantage of this fact and headed home to visit Grandparents, family and friends. We miss out on some of India's intense summer heat and get to see a bit of the American road...

This year our travels took us to the mountains of North Georgia, the Native American "Mounds" of central Alabama, the hills of Austin, Texas. We then traveled northeast through the plains of the midwest and up to the cool breezes of Buffalo-Niagara and back down to Georgia again - over 4,000 miles in a Jeep.

We return to India with memories of good food, beautiful, green countryside, and lively conversations. With smiles on our faces, we look forward to our final year in India which brings with it some big changes... We'll be moving into New Delhi after living a year and a half in Noida; the kids will attend a new school; and of course there will always be our on-going and often unpredictable adventures from living.... or rather, "swimming" in India....

Outside Gate No. 2

Despite the heat and the dust, most Sunday afternoons I head out the backside of our complex to the local market... Across the road that borders our complex is a neighborhood called, "Geja Village." The market in Geja is in full-swing on Saturday and Sunday evenings. I took my camera today so I could share some of my weekly routine with you.

Geja Market is dusty and dirty but there are very typical India sights to see... The first one is the outdoor barber. You can find these guys everywhere. They do pretty good job - although I can't vouch for the cleanliness of the comb, scissors and razor. The going rate is about 15 rupees (about US $.30) per cut and another Rs15 for a shave. The omelet boy is here everyday cooking over his hot skillet. He probably works from 11am-11pm every day. Hard and soft boiled eggs, and omelets with white toast are made to order. Just up the road are the meat stalls. These are usually operated by men of the Muslim faith because they are non-vegetarians. The chickens they sell spend their last hours here in mesh cages before winding up as Tikka, Butter Chicken or Murgh Keema (ground chicken). The murgh-wallas don't smile a whole lot, but they do a brisk business.

I am a regular customer with Raju. Raju tells me he was born in the state of Bihar, but now lives here in Noida. He is definitely my vegetable guy. His prices are fair and it helps that Raju knows a little English. We always shake hands and exchange pleasantries. Raju has the widest variety of veggies in the Geja market - even broccoli and zucchini on most days. Broccoli and zucchini are definitely not on the radar in a typical Indian kitchen.

My favorite character in the market is the guy I call the "hip spice man." He sells a variety of Indian masalas and chillies in beautiful colorful piles, wears a turban and has nicer sunglasses than me.

The local market never disappoints.