Polo - the sport of Kings - aka - getting a little culture

We finally made it to a Polo match!! I say finally, because the first time we tried, despite having talked to someone at the Polo office and gotten a time for the match, and driving all the way to Delhi, there was no actual polo that day. (typical) The guy at the (padlocked) gate told us to come back another day for the semi-finals. So we did. We were early. So early that the chairs weren't set up yet. Not a big deal, no people came to sit in them anyway!! This was a Saturday, and apparently all the famous, rich and glittery people came on Sunday for the Finals. I did see an article in the paper about it, and the stands were ALOT fuller that day!

The field is HUGE. When we arrived, there were a whole bunch of people out putting divets back in (we think). Then this group of golfers had to play through. Yes, the polo grounds seem to be part of the golf course. They played right thru the middle of the field! With horses warming up and galloping around them.

This is a ref.

This is the scoreboard. The team scores are marked with those blocks of colour-in this case black and white. It is the second "chukkar". The score is 1/2 to 3. We don't know why the half score. We even googled on the Blackberry but still could not find out. There is a guy that hangs the score signs, and they are HUGE.
In the last 2 minutes of the last match, a player got hurt. So everybody and their brother went out onto the field. Not a medical professional? no problem. Not related to the injured player? so what. Have absolutely no reason to join the mob on the field, blocking the medi-van and impeding the work of the paramedics? don't let that stop you! even this gang of KIDS felt the need to join the throng. It's a bizarre culture thing - way common.

Miranda lost interest and went to sleep.

Like the really private urinals?







This is near the end. See how many people came??!!

I really enjoyed myself. To see live polo is frankly something I never imagined I would be able to do. It was very exciting when they thundered by near the short rail in front of us, or even better, when they were all fighting for the ball right near us. Unfortunately, the field is large (maybe I mentioned it) and it seemed like they spent alot more time on the far side. Also, we really didn't understand the finer points of it all ( aside from the obvious hit-it-between-the-posts) so that was too bad. But, it was very impressive to see these guys going full-tilt, leaning way out and swinging that long thing to connect with that tiny ball. I couldn't get over how complicated it looked. I would have had to spend all MY time focussed on not falling off, so I was impressed! Too bad it was the end of the season - I could have gone again. Oh yeah, and did I mention it was free? so Randy liked it too!

Here are a few videos for your viewing pleasure. The announcer didn't start until the second match - we couldn't decide if he was helping or not!

Stuff I saw today - Tuesday Jan 27 2009

OK, so I haven't posted for quite awhile, and looking at the sheer numbers of photos we take (about 800 each in Dec and Jan!!) makes me feel completely overwhelmed. Also, I am taking photos like crazy, because we are now in our last 4 or 5 months here and I am scared I will not get pictures of everything insane I see. So, today I made a trip to the bank, and took photos as I usually do. Without making any extra effort to notice the crazy stuff, this is some of what I saw...

construction is everywhere - never ends - is not organized or planned. Sohna Road (the main road that goes by our apartments) has been re-paved twice since we came, and now they are making plans to widen it. They are also finally putting sewer and water lines in (thus the huge pipes) after they rip up the new paving to lay them.

Kids get out of school early here - generally they go for a half day. And when they let out it is so cute to see so many little uniforms running around.

The dichotomy of all those skyscapers behind all those pieced together tents never fails to get me. Notice the bed the woman and kid are on - they are woven ropes on a wood frame. There is one in front of the other tents too. Usually there is someone on them. She has these pots to sell.

washing his clothes



wild pigs are everywhere, altho we don't usually see them running across the road!

These rickshaws pick up the garbage. When you see them out of the colonies and neighbourhoods it is because they are full, and heavy.
This is a garbage truck, with sorted garbage.

A weird truck-thing.

Every street corner looks like this, all the time, every day. I have said it before, and I cannot over-state it - there are people EVERYWHERE. everywhere. all the time. you can NEVER look anywhere and not see people. so wild.

A guy taking a ride with barrels. Ok.

I took this photos to show all the bikes parked under this tower. The military guy with his gun was a bonus. We see it pretty often, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for where and when they are stationed, and they don't seem to be actually doing anything. Everywhere guys are doing manual labour you see so many bikes, because of course that is the most common form of transportation.

Shave and a haircut, two bits. Ok, actually about 4 bits! but look at the open-air salon and deluxe surroundings you get for that!

This is along MG Road - the main drag past all the posh malls and many expensive apartments. This is sewage. Nice, eh?

Get cozy!

Tractors are commonplace. These giganto loads are not rare either.

Lohri - another Indian holiday

Lohri is a Punjabi festival on the winter solstice to celebrate the harvest and the end of winter. It involves a huge bonfire. The kids in our neighbourhood (including Miranda) went around door to door and collected snacks and treats for themselves, and also donations of used clothes etc or money for the poor. This is a tradition to honour a Punjabi "Robin Hood" type who lived many years ago. As everyone gathers around the bonfire, seeds and nuts and small vegetables are thrown in. Our neighbours told us it symbolizes throwing away your sins, and being cleansed for a new year. There was a table with all kinds of stuff and we did throw some sesame seeds and peanuts into the fire. The Indian ladies were all gathered in a group to sing songs. (everything in done that way - men over there, women over there. even the dancing. weird)

This is at the Eldeco Mansionz clubhouse.

the French Farm

This is the French Farm - a farm owned and established by...wait for it...a French guy. He raises all sorts of fowl and pigs and produce for hotels and ex-pats in the Gurgaon area. We had heard about him long ago but never tried to find out more. When I wanted a turkey for Thanksgiving, tho, we decided to check it out. Randy and I and Christelle and her kids went out there, to the sticks. Our kids didn't want to come, but they should have, it was fun! He had chicks that he let the kids hold, and baby pigs, and HUGE pigs too. It's all free-range and organic, and they went to some trouble to explain how they feed and clean up and all that. The only thing I care about organic is that is costs more!

Looking in at all the critters.

He has geese, turkeys, chickens, Japanese quail, ducks. Turkeys are UGLY! we didn't really pick the one we wanted, we just told him how big of a turkey we wanted. Most of the biggest ones were spoken for already, so we ordered 2 that were about 4 kg each. Total cost, 3400 rupees, about $75 USD. ouch. But hey, it's organic right?