pinku

I cracked....

and bought Rowan Mag 35.....

I wasn't even planning on buying it. Actually I was going to buy 'It's a tape thing', but then I saw PIA - made by both Jenny and Sharlyn. Don't they just look fantastic and it just happens to be perfect 'tank' weather here in Tokyo. So I popped down to my LYS during my lunch break and bought it. The store is tiny though, so they don't carry any Rowan summer yarns, which means I was forced (yes forced) to purchase the yarn of the internet. This is my first Rowan yarn purchase so it is very exciting. I am going to make Pia in lilac, and I also accidentally (?) bought the yarn for Lola - the really cute crochet poncho from Rowan 35. I'm going to make it in red. I also really like Iris (see photo below). Gotta have one of those too.

Arm warmers for Spring??

I finished these before I went to India. I saw a picture of something similar in a Japanese pattern book and thought they were very cute. I didn't use the recommended mohair and instead substituted with this yarn by Patoche (70% wool/30% linen). The thickness varies wildly from uber thick to ultra thin, which was relatively difficult to knit with. It really is just a long scarf with two side seams. It's kinda cute and might be fun to wear with little summer tops in the spring. It was hard to work out how to take a photo without looking stupid and totally capturing the entire garment. Tricky.

Right now I am working on a cute top with cap sleeves from a Japanese pattern book.

Delhi & Agra photos!!

Hey I am back to the land of blogging and sitting in front of the computer for too many hours of the day. Where do I start really...India is hard to put into words. Well I actually only saw a really small snippet that encompasses New Delhi and Agra. For the first four days I worked night and day seeing very little of the outside world. I made a decision not to eat any spicy foods until my work was done. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love Indian food, but sometimes it just doesn't seem to love me. For the next two days I toured around Agra and Fatehpur Sikri visiting the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the abondoned city/palace in Fatehpur Sikri. The last three days of my trip were spent relaxing, shopping and hanging out with my friend, Husain (who I know through Jitty). There were times when I felt like was at home in Australia - hanging out in a shopping centre, eating McDonalds (except there are no beef burgers of course, only chicken, vegetarian and fish burgers!!), and going to see a movie. Here is an excerpt from site on the Internet about India and it pretty much sums up it up (kind of):

With a growing population of more than 1bn people, India is a mind-bogglingly large, loud, busy country of the most overwhelming proportions. Around 2m people visit each year; walking down the street is enough to send some rushing for the first flight home while others go with the flow. No matter what your reaction, a visit to India will stay with you for a long time. Alongside Mughal palaces and Raj era forts and temples are heart-breakingly impoverished slums, disabled beggars, sadhus in religious stupors and free-roaming sacred cows.

I was only in India for 8 days, so I can't make any sweeping generalizations about the place but it is truly an experience. I've been to China and a few countries in South East Asia, but India is truly different. I did feel that if you are going to spend any length of time traveling there that it would be vital to study up and be prepared (seriously). It is hard going. The dust, the heat (unless you are in Northern India in winter time), the beggars, the touts, the unfinished roads, the toilets.....but I loved the colour, the excitement, and the people.

Highlights included the Taj Mahal, hanging out with Husain and his friends, getting an awesome pedicure from a middle-aged Indian man with a pot belly and buying lots of cool stuff at Dilli Haat (arts and craft market in New Delhi).

I was also in a minor car accident (no-one was hurt....just the car - see the pic in the gallery) - New Delhi traffic is C.R.A.Z.Y!!!

Click on photo to view all photos:

Agra

Well here I sit in a little internet cafe in Agra (it's actually more like the front of someone's house and I actually had to wake the guy up to let me get online). Work is finished and the travelling has begun. I left New Delhi yesterday afternoon and arrived in Agra with just enough time to visit the Taj Mahal. I stayed until the sun had set and just laid on the grass gazing at that most beautiful building. Pictures when I get back. India (delhi and agra that is) is crazy. I have seen nothing like it -not even China comes close. There is definitely a unique smell, it is very noisy and it makes me sad to see such an obviously high level of poverty. On the way to Agra I saw a man with a bear on a leash, a totally naked man walking down a road, lots of camels and cows on the street, and of course elephants. It really is a very unique place. Got up this morning to check out Agra Fort at 6am and I was the only one there. The view of the Taj was amazing and it was quite eerie to be the only one there except for some monkeys.

Anyway am off to Fatephur Sikri this morning and then am heading back to Delhi to meet up with a local friend. Actually there is a man weaving a carpet right beside me, which reminds me I have to look for some shops that sell yarn - can't wait to do some shopping.

Dusty, smelly, wonderful India

Greetings from the land of delicious curry and dangerous tap water! Am sneaking in a quick blog before bed. Work has been hectic, but things should ease up a little by tomorrow afternoon. India is hot and tonight at the most beautiful outdoor dinner (in someone's amazing backyard with green, green grass - there's not much of that in Tokyo you know - citronella candles, a pond, a big white tent, and gorgeous brilliantly coloured flowers) I discovered that Indian mosquitos love my blood just as much as Aussie mosquitos. If anyone knows why some people get bitten and others don't let me know. It was funny though as our hostess noticed that I was scratching my legs like a crazy woman (not very ladylike in heels and a dress, but hey can't be helped), she brought me some aeroguard that was made in Australia - ahhh, just felt like home! Apart from tonight I really haven't seen much of India except from an airconditioned car and hotel window. I love seeing tall, strong men in turbans - there's something very manly about that. I love seeing a family of four riding on a motorcycle and more than anything else I love seeing people living outside - i.e. eating outside at street stalls, chatting over a beer or just plain standing around.

Tonight I was also very lucky to listen to a speech by India's national security advisor, Mr Brajesh Mishra - he was very softly spoken, but so smart and eloquent. He carefully weighed his comments which were balanced, fair and obviously based on a lot of life and work experience. It was a true pleasure.

Anyway, I'm going to bed. More updates soon and maybe even a photo.

The answers!

Man you guys are smart! Of course I knew you all would be - makes me proud!! Here are the answers (from Wikipedia):

The Wonders of the Ancient World list, with the Lighthouse of Alexandria, is medieval in origin. Antipater's list had the walls of Babylon rather than the lighthouse. In chronological order, they are:

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza - serving as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu, in present Egypt. Estimated date of completion: 2680 BC.
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the walls of Babylon - both built by Nebuchadnezzar around 600 BC in present Iraq.
3. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia - carved by the Greek sculptor Pheidias, 5th century BC in present Greece.
4. The Temple of Artemis - 350 BC, at Ephesus, present Turkey.
5. The Mausoleum of Maussollos - the Persian satrap of Caria, 350 BC, at Halicarnassus, present Bodrum, Turkey.
6. The Colossus of Rhodes - a huge statue of Helios, 280 BC, in present Greece.
7. The Lighthouse of Alexandria (or Pharos) - built by Sostratus of Cnidus, 3rd century BC, in present Egypt.

Two each of the wonders were within the territories of today's Egypt, Greece, and Turkey, and one in Iraq. The only surviving wonder is the first built, the Great Pyramid of Giza. The wonder with the shortest life span was the Colossus of Rhodes, which kept its erect posture for only 56 years before being brought down by an earthquake.

As I said though, this is the OFFICIAL list and there are seven other ancient buildings that are often included in this list and they are:

1. Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
2. Stonehenge (England)
3. The Acropolis (Greece)
4. The Great Sphinx of Giza (near the Great Pyramid, in Egypt)
5. The Great Wall of China (Northern China)
6. The Chichen Itza (Yucatan, Mexico)
7. The Taj Mahal (near Agra, India)

And the trophy goes to......all of you for being so smart, funny, cool and of course for visiting pinku - she really does love you.