Ooo can it be? a picture!

Ok ok...finally we're settled and i'm trying to figure out what photo sharing site to use...right now it's a debate between flickr and picasa/google. Well, i'll do some photos for now and see how it works out, but hey look, it's at least one picture up of us along the Hong Kong skyline. Yay!

We are currently in Darjeeling for the next few days. I think unfortunately that Sikkim might be out of our trip due to time constraints...ah well we'll go on our next trip here! We took the #2343 train up, the Darjeeling Mail, which was an overnight 8 hour train ride, Garrett's first! We rode in 3 tier AC, while the baller shot callers rode in First Class! We hung out with them in their posh James Bond style car before heading back to our bogie (that is, train car) and climbing up in our bunks to go to sleep. Garrett really is to tall for India. He didn't really fit on the top bunk, but he made out well. After our arrival to a gloomy New Jalpaiguri, we hired out a jeep to take us up up up and away to Darjeeling, which was about 75km away. It was a bumpy curvy foggy ride, and we saw our first automobile accident in India? Ok, so it wasn't too bad, just a few broken headlights that was easily taken care of by one driver paying the other after a bit of a heated argument...although it was our driver's fault as he refused to back up to let those vehicles coming down the road to pass. We arrived safely nonetheless, and after a refresher at Keventers ("sausages" anyone?), we found the Bellevue hotel where we are staying in doubles priced at Rs. 550/night. We have a pretty sweet room overlooking the main gathering area of town, where one of the competitors for Indian Idol happened to be performing. I guess he's a local who made it onto the show and the town was having a moral booster/sms your vote for him type event. It also happens to be that Jeremy's family is also staying at this hotel, so it was nice to see them again and hear about their time in Darjeeling.

We have the next few days here to sightsee. Hopefully the weather will clear up so we can see the stunning peaks of the Himalays. I guess if this never happens though, I can post an old picture of Kanchenjunga, the world's third tallest peak, from my last visit here. Now where are those momos...?

Hello to all the ballahs and shot callahs.

India!!!
-Full of people, color, life and smells (both incredibly good and incredibly bad). We have been learning to adapt and except the unexpected. I thought driving in Trinadad was trecherous, I have now learned that there are places where people prefer to risk their lifes in order to save time on a trip. The hospitality has been unmatched, the people have been very kind and thus far we have been acclimated to the culture. We are looking forward to showing you very soon the sights and sounds of India. Until next time, much love, GB.


-We are heading to Darjeeling tonight....via first class!!!! i guess there were no seats left...it shall be interesting, 007-style. We'll only speak in British accents during the entire trip. Salt Lake, where Durba's (the bride) grandmother stays, is a nice place. we've wandered into the city proper, to go to a few clubs thanks to this film producer a friend of a friend met. we were treated like ballers and the cover fees were waived. we also went to new market to see the hustle and bustle...it was interesting with very persistant "coolie's" always at our side making suggestions of shops for darjeeling tea, silk scarves, spices, you name it. It also ended with myslef and a few others feeling quite ill after dinner (that quick 20 minute onset of nausea) but I think i'm ok now. Again the hospitality is amazing....we met some very wonderful folks, and it was almost a teaful goodbye...ah well. we'll definitely come back soon. see you in darjeeling!

conGRADulations!

He made it! Garrett walked this morning at the College of Biological Sciences Commencement Ceremony, held at the Pavillion on campus today (and thank goodness it wasn't outside in the 98º weather). We celebrated Thursday night with a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant called Biba in Sacramento, and with an urban picnic this afternoon in our apartment. It was really great to see family this past week...thank you for the love and support! Well...I guess we'll see you all stateside in about 5 weeks! We'll try to give you updates at least once or twice a week :)


*Oops...our pictures aren't quite uploading correctly, and it's much too late to start...so, I guess we'll put the graduation pictures up in August!

The festivites begin...

This weekend Andy and Patti came down for the weekend to celebrate Garrett's graduation. Paul and Eileen also came into town for dinner on Friday night. Our weekend included a visit to the farmer's market, a visit to campus, dinner in Winters, and the morning in Napa Valley.

After dinner at Seasons with Andy, Patti, Eileen, and Paul.

Pretty red carrots at the Saturday morning farmer's market in Downtown Davis

Barrels of wine at Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga, Napa Valley

Dad and Patti took Garrett to their summer home in Napa Valley. Their home is the new castle over Patti's shoulder.

Epic Quad Battle

we will put our video up soon, apparently it is having problems with YouTube. See another here for now

Sylvia's first hat

Last night I finished my first hat, although I got a little lazy sewing up the seam. Next project is learning how to increase, which should result in a nice little kerchief.

Now we can legally go!

Yay!

Garrett finally got his super patriotic new passport! We also picked up our visas from the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. We were able to get our "endorsement" to visit Sikkim for 15 days-- that is one less hassle we have to deal with in India.

On the way home we had a nice visit with Genesis, going to a local coffee shop on Piedmont Ave, and eating at Barney's, a nice burger joint. Afterwards we hung out a little more at G's place where we hung out with Anakin and talked about Patagonia. So much for the proposed man date...