Part 2 India visit
On May 26, after a late night's sleep, we all woke up early in Indore. I noticed that this might be a common syndrome throughout India. The day typically starts around 10:00 a.m. compared to the USA, where most companies and work schedules begin at 6:00 a.m. and office hours start at 8:00 a.m. So, our days in the US are much earlier than here in India. In Indore, people often sleep until 8:00 or 9:00 a.m., and many shops don't open until 10:30 or 11:00 a.m.
Joisy, my wife's sister, had a doctor's appointment at 10:00 a.m., so her father and I accompanied her to the doctor's office. After the appointment, on our way back, we stopped at JNB, one of the famous street food restaurants. We ordered the popular dishes of poha, jalebi, kachori, and samosa. Bringing everything home, we had a delicious breakfast. By the time we returned home, my mother-in-law had also taken an appointment due to knee pain. So, my father-in-law, wife, and her sister went with her, while my son and I stayed home, planning to watch some TV or a movie.
However, when we turned on the TV, we realized that the cable plan they had purchased was not sufficient for us to watch any good movies or interesting programs. Despite having the TV on, we both ended up falling asleep. When the rest of the family returned, we woke up. Later in the day, we went to visit a couple of family friends' houses.
On May 27, my son had been experiencing a persistent cough, prompting my wife to take him to see Dr. Thampi, a family friend of my in-laws. Around 11:00 a.m., we arrived at the doctor's office, conveniently located in front of St. Raphael's High School.
While my wife and son were inside the doctor's office, I decided to take a walk outside. During my stroll, I stumbled upon a canteen and decided to indulge in a cup of tea. In India, tea is typically served in small cups, resembling bathroom mouthwash cups, with a capacity of about 3 oz. Despite its modest size, Indian tea is remarkably refreshing.
After my family finished their doctor's appointment, we made a stop at a street tailor to have my son's pants, which we had brought from the USA, shortened. On our way to Jose Travel, we quenched our thirst with some sugarcane juice.
The purpose of visiting Jose Travel was to convert our dollars into the local currency. Upon reaching the travel agency, we checked the current dollar conversion rate. They quoted a rate of 82.40, which was slightly lower compared to Friday's rate, as it was a Saturday. However, I was taken aback when they mentioned different rates for new and old currency. This was the first time I had heard of such a distinction. According to their policy, the conversion rate for new currency was 82.40, while for old series currency, it was 7 rupees less. The significant difference surprised me, so I decided to postpone the currency exchange for another day.
Next, we proceeded to a store called Aakash Kurthe Pajame, known for selling men's kurtas and pajamas exclusively. As we entered, my attention was drawn to a newspaper clipping displayed on the wall. It was an article from a few years ago by Hindustan Times, highlighting the store's specialty in the new trend of Modi jackets, formerly known as Nehru jackets. It was a dream come true for me to finally have some of these types of kurtas. We purchased a few for myself, my son, and even some for his friends. Spending time in that shop was a delightful experience. The shop had been operating for 30 years, consistently offering the same products. My father-in-law had known the owner for 25 years, which led us to visit. Overall, it was a memorable experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in purchasing Nehru or Modi style jackets, kurtas, and pajamas.
By the time we finished at the store, it was already 3:00 in the afternoon. We returned home and enjoyed a leisurely lunch followed by a nap. Later, we visited a few jewelry stores in search of bangles for Joisy. She had specific requirements for the design and wasn't willing to compromise. Unfortunately, the two stores we visited didn't have what we were looking for in terms of size or design, making it an unproductive evening.
As dinner time approached, we decided to try Krozzon, a European-style cafe known for its waffles, pizzas, sandwiches, pastries, and desserts. While the place had a pleasant ambiance for families, it was relatively expensive, and personally, it wasn't my preferred type of restaurant.
After dinner, we returned home around 10:30 p.m., concluding our eventful day.
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