Annie's writing

Corruption

2012-01-28T15:08:00.000+01:00

Right now, at this moment. I hate India and the corruption.
We have a nice man working for us. Since we are moving to Nepal we need someone we can trust here in India.
He is very bright, polite and is studying at college.
Yesterday the police took him to jail because he was talking to some friends in Main Bazar.
They took all his money, some is ours, and his phone, that we bought for him.
The police say they do this actions to protect the tourists, but the truth is that they do it just to fill their own pockets.
The police, all over the world, are meant to protect and serve the people.
I hate corruption and I will tell them in their face!

Leya at LifePositive Magazine's Expo 2012

2012-01-27T16:22:00.000+01:00

Sewage bath

2012-01-26T17:27:00.002+01:00

Today Angel fell down in the sewage when she was playing with her friends.
She was covered in a disgusting mud, but fortunately our neighbor have a water hose outside, so I didn't have to drag her all the way through the flat to our bathroom.

Fire

2012-01-26T17:17:00.002+01:00

Next to our house they use to light up a little fire in the evening and Leya and I use to sit there and watch the frozen people coming and going.
Mostly they are Nepalese men walking around selling blankets and big carpets, so we have the opportunity to try the few Nepalese words we've learned.
A cozy and nice way to say thanks to another day in our life.

Happy Republic Day

2012-01-26T17:13:00.003+01:00

Today we are celebrating Republic Day here in India.
I borrowed this photo from internet, since we stayed at home.
It's a parade on the big street between the Parlament and India Gate.

Mirror

2012-01-25T18:42:00.001+01:00

A beautiful wooden mirror.

Furniture factory

2012-01-25T18:36:00.004+01:00

Lovisa, from Sweden, came to India to buy furniture and we visited our furniture supplier in Saharanpur, six hours by car single way, north of Delhi, on the bumpiest road ever.

Loft bed

2012-01-25T18:32:00.004+01:00

Leya and I stayed in a hotel in Pahar Ganj, Delhi, for two nights and the room had a loft bed that Leya loved.When we were checking out Leya cried and refused to leave the bed.
It took some convincing before I could make her let go of the bed.

So tired

2012-01-24T14:21:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we went 12 hours in car on a very bumpy road, so today we are really tired.
Back home in bed already.
I will update you tomorrow.

Cold

2012-01-21T16:56:00.002+01:00

I have a terrible cold and tomorrow Leya and I are going to our old neighborhood to stay in a hotel for two nights.
Tomorrow evening we will meet up with Lovisa, a Swedish customer, interested in furniture. So on Monday we are going to our furniture supplier in Saharanpur.
About four hours drive with car. They say we have a bumpy ride ahead of us.

Fran

2012-01-21T16:52:00.002+01:00

Yesterday we had a most welcome visit from our nail mat agent in Argentina, Fran.
We met in Delhi more than a year ago and it was so nice to finally meet him again.
Nicholas made a delicious dinner and Fran and I took our time to talk about religions and philosophy.
As always a very stimulating conversation!

Cute baby

2012-01-19T13:42:00.003+01:00

On Facebook there are a lot of nice and funny pictures circulating.
I just had to share this cutie with you.

Crocs

2012-01-18T19:57:00.003+01:00

I bought good quality crocs for Leya today.
I'm tired of cheap shoes that breaks after a few days.
She was so happy and grateful for the Princesses.

Garden

2012-01-18T19:48:00.007+01:00

Today Leya and I visited a friend who lives in Gurgaon with her family.
They have a small, but peaceful garden with lovely plants, statues and blue furniture, my favorite blue shade.
A heavenly mix!

Tricia Guild

2012-01-17T13:29:00.005+01:00

I love Tricia Guild's designs!
She actually manages to combine colors with white in a way that works for us who loves colors and for people who loves white and shabby chic.

Life Positive Expo

2012-01-17T13:26:00.002+01:00

I can also recommend the Life Positive Expo here in Delhi next weekend.
More info here.

Yoga conference

2012-01-17T13:13:00.002+01:00

I want to go to the Yoga conference in Bangalore in February.
Read more about it here.

Bat

2012-01-14T18:13:00.002+01:00

Nicholas has told me about a bat attacking him at night when he is outside smoking.
Today he told me that the bat only does his fly overs on Saturday nights.
Maybe the bat is working hard during the week days and scaring Nicholas for fun is his weekend relaxation.

Today's catch!

2012-01-14T18:06:00.003+01:00

This sweetheart accidentally bumped into Nicholas in the living room last night.
I wonder who was most afraid. Frankly, I'd guess Nicholas.
Now he is happily running around on a dump.
The rat that is, not Nicholas. He is watching football.

Fridge

2012-01-14T15:25:00.001+01:00

Our fridge seem to be alive again. Mysterious!

Chicken

2012-01-14T15:16:00.002+01:00

Today Nicholas bought a chicken for dinner and it was some guts left, so I had a biology lesson for Leya about the heart, lungs and other vital organs.
Nicholas was not amused, but Leya was as curious as only kids can be.

By the way ...

2012-01-13T16:03:00.000+01:00

Have I told you that we are moving to Nepal in March?

A simple life

2012-01-13T15:55:00.002+01:00

I've also learn to enjoy the simple things in life.
Today we went to the neighbor street and I had two puppies sleeping in my lap, Angel was playing with her friend Johnny, Leya was playing badminton with a boy who lives in the street and the sun was shining just perfectly.
At that time I enjoyed life enormously.

Think positive

2012-01-13T15:45:00.002+01:00

After 5,5 years since my massive breakdown I have worked hard to see positive on life.

Today's issues to handle:

1. The fridge is broken.
Lucky it's winter and as cold indoors as in a fridge.

2. Nicholas' computer is broken again even though we have repaired it four or five times the last months.
Lucky we at least have one computer.

3. I have to pay a large amount of personal taxes in Sweden in March.
Lucky it's only January and a lot can happen in two months.

PS! This is not irony.

Dog killers

2012-01-12T17:55:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I yelled at a boy that hit a dog very hard with a stick over the back. I was furious!

Today I saw an old van that looked like a prisoners van, but on the side it said something about dogs and I saw two men getting in the van with long sticks with ropes meant for catching dogs.
I realized immediately it was a government van going around the city to catch and kill street dogs.
I ran into the van och there sat five chocked men. I tried English, but no one understood and then I said dog in Hindi, one of the few words I manage, and they said No, so I assume the people in Dwarka Mor was warned and hid the dogs.
Very good!

Yoga clothes

2012-01-12T13:48:00.001+01:00

I've got an assignment to design clothes to an international growing yoga company.
I'm so excited!

Sponge cake

2012-01-10T17:22:00.001+01:00

Today Leya made her first sponge cake.
Homemade sponge cake is a traditional Swedish cake.
As you can see in the background we have a pet baby gorilla.

Stock sale of furnitue!

2012-01-09T18:01:00.007+01:00

Our furniture supplier needs to clear his warehouse, so he is selling these top notch quality furniture to good prices.
I have more photos if you want to see.
Interested! Email me at nero@ilmaofsweden.se for more info.

Coconut

2012-01-08T22:27:00.002+01:00

Our coconut smasher! We love fresh coconut!

Shivachittam

2012-01-07T17:41:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I met Shivachittam and showed him the Prana nail mat.
Very exciting!
Read more about his activities here.

A dead rat

2012-01-07T17:35:00.002+01:00

A very proud Angel just after killing a huge rat on my side of the bed.
Rats are not my favorite animal.

LifePositive

2012-01-05T19:32:00.002+01:00

Today Leya and I visited the office of LifePositive magazine that has an edition of 120 000 magazines every month.
Hopefully they will write an article about Prana nail mat. Keep your fingers crossed!
Read the netmagazine here.

Saris

2012-01-04T19:14:00.000+01:00

Leya in vintage/recycled sari heaven!
Talk about all the women's energies flying around in this room. Love it!

Banana leaf fiber yarn

2012-01-02T16:12:00.008+01:00

Tara, one of my Nepalese sisters, are selling this cool yarn made of banana leaf fibers and is handspun in very remote mountain villages.
Now we have contacted the US market. Keep your fingers they like this different yarn.

Angel is playing

2012-01-01T17:01:00.000+01:00

This is heartwarming moment for a mothers, to see your baby dog playing and having fun with her friends.
The puppies are just watching their mom and dad running like crazy.

One more

2012-01-01T10:53:00.000+01:00

The second party popper we were smart enough to launch outdoors.

Party popper

2012-01-01T10:40:00.000+01:00

Pure happiness after a party popper full of glitter and glamor.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T14:36:00.003+01:00

Long time go! But now I'm starting to write again.

We wish you a Happy New Year with photos from the daily walk with Angel in our neighborhood in Delhi.
We have found two adult dogs and a bunch of puppies that Angel loves to play with.

Nepalese birthday celebration

2011-11-22T16:56:00.000+01:00

Balloons

2011-11-21T17:30:00.000+01:00

Three days of birthday celebrations

2011-11-20T12:19:00.007+01:00

Check out my album at Facebook here.

Hospital

2011-11-17T10:52:00.000+01:00

From the travelers guide Lonely Planet:
Bir Hospital (4221119) Government hospital where terminally ill Nepalis come to die; not recommended.
Good to know!

Soap bubbles

2011-11-17T10:18:00.001+01:00

Soap bubbles on the roof top on Leya's 5:th birthday.

Meditation cave

2011-11-07T15:43:00.003+01:00

I hope no one is in there, since it's locked from the outside.

Sleeping beauty ...

2011-11-07T15:37:00.002+01:00

Lamp shades

2011-11-05T11:55:00.002+01:00

Here in Nepal they have such a beautiful paper lamp shades that you can't find in Delhi.

Waste

2011-11-05T11:48:00.000+01:00

The waste workers here in Nepal have a heavy and difficult work.

Happy Diwali!

2011-10-26T17:59:00.001+02:00

Happy Diwali dear friends all over the world!
Here in Nepal we celebrate the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi.
She stands for wealth, prosperity (both material and spiritual), light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.
We are doing Puja in Tara's shop. Puja is a ritual when you worship the Goddess, give some money and eat sweets.

Money attack

2011-10-25T16:09:00.004+02:00

We wish!
It was a monkey attack and someone wrote this on a pillar at one of our favorite restaurants, Metro.
Hilarious!

Monkey attack

2011-10-25T15:38:00.002+02:00

Monkey attack! 1-0 to Leya!
The monkey had no chance snatching her new bag.Then she borrowed a slingshot and tried to get even, but it was more dangerous for us than the monkeys.

Pashupatinath temple

2011-10-24T13:10:00.006+02:00

We are visiting the temple and river where the Nepalese people are cremating their loved ones.
For us this is very different since, at least in Sweden, death is not a natural part of life.
We seldom talk about death and because of that the sorrow is even worse.
Most people don't even believe in a life after this and because of that the death is very definitive.
When someone dies we have a ceremony in church and then the body is either cremated in a special house with no one present or buried in the graveyard.Leya and I are watching how family and friends are saying their good byes and the temple people are preparing the old woman.At this temple they are not cremating pregnant women or children below the age of five.
Everything is handled very dignifying and even we find the cremation like a part of life.

Leya Pari Maiya

2011-10-10T08:11:00.001+02:00

Just a nice pic of Leya Pari Maiya, that means cutie pie in Nepali.

Pastery

2011-10-10T08:08:00.001+02:00

Nepal is truly the heaven of pastery.
Not good for the body, but for the soul!

David Steele

2011-10-07T15:26:00.001+02:00

Leya and our new friend, the Bollywood super star David Steele, brother to Remington Steele.
Bollywood here we come!

Ritual slaughter

2011-10-06T09:02:00.003+02:00

Yesterday it was a huge holiday here and they had some kind of religious slaughter of bulls and goats on a square.
We didn't go because it sounded so awful and that was a wise decision.
Today we met a friend who was there and witnessed it and he's still in shock.
It was like old time hangings when you brought your children, laughing and taking photos.
Awful!

Information about Nepal

2011-10-05T09:43:00.004+02:00

If you are interested in learning more about Nepal please read here.

Universe

2011-10-04T15:15:00.001+02:00

Today it feels much better. I suppose universe has a purpose with our visit here in Nepal.
Leya loves her new green felted hair and red Nepalese shoes.

Two months

2011-10-03T16:32:00.002+02:00

Today we went to the Indian Embassy again and I humiliated myself to some cold hearted Indians.
There is a rule that you have to stay out of India for two months when you extend your Visa, but I thought that we could talk to someone sensible enough that understands that we are providing Indians work and that we are determent to live in India permanent.
If we had been a liability to the society I would have understood their attitude, but we are doing what ever we can to be a part of the community.

Today we are completely devastated and I'm so worried about our dog Angel that has to spend two months in a shelter.

Please if someone of you reading this has any idea of how we can solve this situation, please email me at nero@ilmaofsweden.se.

Our arrival to Nepal

2011-10-01T12:27:00.002+02:00

The plane was a bit late due to bad weather in Kathmandu, but we arrived safely and managed to go to the Indian embassy 1 minute before they closed for the weekend.

The man behind the counter said we have to stay out of India for two months. I know the rules are like that, but we have to go back as soon as possible.
Managed to get an appointment on Monday at 11 am.

We stayed at one hotel last night, but shifted to another that was half the price and at least twice nicer.

Nepal

2011-09-29T22:18:00.003+02:00

In a few hours we are going to Katmandu in Nepal to extend our Visa.
Cross your fingers that everything is going smoothly!

Biker

2011-09-27T16:14:00.003+02:00

There is an old three wheeler in the house shared hallway.
She cycles round, round laughing.

Visitors

2011-09-27T16:11:00.003+02:00

Yesterday we got Swedish visitors, Alex, Frida and Kicki.
Nicholas made a pasta dinner and I had bought different pasteries from Wengers for dessert.

School

2011-09-27T15:53:00.004+02:00

Yesterday I tried to admit Leya to a public school here in Dwarka Mor, but after the 31:st of July you need permission from the government to admit your kid to school.
I went to the other side of Delhi to meet with the government people of education, but since we are here on tourist Visa they couldn't give us the required papers unless we got OK from External affairs.
Called External affairs on several different numbers, but they couldn't help us.
If we had admitted Leya before the 31:st of July they would admit her without any problems, but now we are stuck in the system.

Wooden horse

2011-09-25T17:01:00.002+02:00

Anyone interested in buying a hand made, shabby chic wooden horse?

The new flat

2011-09-24T18:28:00.004+02:00

Finally we arrived to our new flat in Dwarka Mor and everything was of course a mess.We invested in a second hand red, cool fridge.And an electric stove with oven. A must for a Swede. Hopefully Nicholas will make a lot of cinnamon buns.
Because the stove is standing on marble it is electrifying if we don't wear shoes or stand on a cloth.

Leya and Kalia

2011-09-24T18:25:00.003+02:00

Leya and Gabi's baby Kalia, our last evening in the flat in Pahar Ganj.

Newspaper

2011-09-23T17:39:00.005+02:00

When we went to the Anna Hazare meeting Leya ended up in the newspaper.
Cool!

Kalia

2011-09-19T19:40:00.001+02:00

Gabi rescued this little baby Kalia from Friendicoes animal center a few weeks ago.
He is so tiny, but Gabi is his mom now and when he is not eating she is making him a smorgasbord.
But she never invites us to these feasts.
I mean. Smorgasbord is Swedish, yar.

Christmas

2011-09-14T16:14:00.004+02:00

Soon it's Christmas!

Hood shawl

2011-09-14T16:11:00.002+02:00

Love this hood shawl. Both practical and nicely designed.

Visa

2011-09-13T17:56:00.002+02:00

In the beginning of October the Visa expires again. This time we are going to Katmandu in Nepal. Exciting!
But they only extend it for three months, so we have to go Sweden over Christmas.
I hope we can afford it.

Water colours

2011-09-09T18:47:00.003+02:00

Leya is doing water colour painting and she loves it!To mummy!

Wood block prints

2011-09-09T18:36:00.002+02:00

Today we went to the old man's wood block warehouse.
You can buy wood blocks on Gabi's website here.

Beads

2011-09-08T15:55:00.004+02:00

Gabi was like a kid in the candy store in the bead shop at Turkman gate.

Dog leashes

2011-09-08T15:52:00.003+02:00

One of the animal shops at Connaugh Place are selling my recycled dog leashes.
I hope the customers like them.

New flat

2011-09-07T16:30:00.006+02:00

In two weeks we have to leave our flat, so we have decided to move to Dwarka Mor, about 35 minutes with the metro from where we live now.
We really liked this flat, but it needs some painting.Here we have a possibility to make a outdoor space. Something we have missed.

Photo shoot

2011-09-06T09:46:00.006+02:00

Yesterday Leya had a photo shoot all day long.
The kids were so great!
The label and the clothes are a secret until the end of October.

Photot shoot

2011-09-04T19:18:00.001+02:00

Tomorrow Leya are going to shoot winter jackets for a kids catalog.

Swedish newspaper

2011-09-03T14:19:00.003+02:00

A Swedish newspaper are going to write about our life in India compared to Sweden, so we sent them this photo of our family.

Rodeo

2011-09-03T14:08:00.002+02:00

Went to the Mexican buffet restaurant Rodeo at A block at Connaugh Place and we just loved, loved it!

Anna Hazare

2011-09-01T18:52:00.006+02:00

The other day Leya and I went to the area where Anna Hazare was hunger striking against the corruption in India.
Anna is a simple man without family prepared to die for the cause, 74 years old and has worked as a social worker.
Leya and I dressed upp in the colours of India, green, orange and white and we got a lot of attention since we seemed to be the only foreigners there.
Hundreds of people took our photo and Leya even ended up in the newspaper.
I was interviewed by a TV channel and it felt important to be there and give him our support.
The bill is now accepted, if I'm not misinformed, but I'm skeptic.
The importance with this bill is that even the premiere minister and his entourage can face charges if they are bribed, but we just have to wait and see.

Greed is the one of the sins that is going to ruin the human life.

Parvati Valley

2011-08-31T12:28:00.005+02:00

After we closed the cafe we decided to take a vacation in the mountains and that was a very bad decision.
Rain, cold and hours and hours of power breaks.
For a few days we tried to stay at a guesthouse in the mountain village Kalga, but that was too much for us city people.
I managed to snap this photo during two minutes of sun shine.Then we stayed a few days in Kasol, since the road was closed because big rocks had fallen on the only road there.
But Leya and I did some nice shopping and ate good food so it was OK.It was actually a disaster vacation and it got even worse when Leya poured half a bottle of water in to my laptop, so it died forever.

The cafe

2011-08-30T16:35:00.002+02:00

Sorry for my long silence, but I had to work with myself and my energy after the owner of Cottage Ganga Inn forced us to close the cafe.

Almost a month a go Nick had a group of French women, traveling with a travel agency staying at the hotel, that wanted to spend the last night before going home in our cafe.

Before we had served beer a few times and always ordered via the manager in the reception, but this time Nick bough some beer of his own and that was a huge problem that we never thought would end in closing the cafe.

When we ordered beer from the reception the manager put the whole profit in the his own pocket, but this time he didn't get a rupee.

The manager of the hotel told the owner of the hotel to close the cafe and so he did. Because of this! And the irony was that almost no one drank beer since the flight was leaving so early.

We were told to close the cafe on the spot and we and our guests were in complete shock.

Now I've seen the ugliest side of greed and from being in shock and sad, I'm so angry. So, so angry. We put our heart and soul in to this cafe and our guests loved it.

Jealousy and greed forced us to close and nowadays I call myself a warrior against greed.

I've found my place in the world and my naive eyes have been opened and I can never go back.

I'm sorry

2011-08-29T18:10:00.002+02:00

I'm so sorry for my abrupt silence. I had to recover and think for a few weeks before I felt prepared to continue my blogging.

No worries. We are all fine, still in India and still married.
I will start telling about the last months journey tomorrow.

Beautiful photo

2011-07-31T18:10:00.001+02:00

This is Leya's first photo for her portfolio.
Taken by Christina Schneider.

Catmoss ad

2011-07-30T14:22:00.001+02:00

We found this ad in today's newspaper.
I've saved it so we can make a painting of it.

Nuria and Alberto

2011-07-30T14:01:00.003+02:00

This is Nuria and Alberto from Spain.
They are spending their summer holidays in Indian and are off to Rajasthan in a few minutes, but they will be back in mid August again.
We say Buen Viaje and love to see you soon!
Read their Spanish blog here.
They write about us.

Today's special

2011-07-29T16:37:00.002+02:00

Kumar made this delicious pizza with his special tomato-garlic sauce and real Indian Cheddar cheese.Nityananda made this brownie before he went with his friends to a tick tack dance event.
Oh, heavenly mother, it's good!

Tobias and Ida

2011-07-28T17:32:00.002+02:00

Tobias and Ida from Sweden.
Ida has been working at an orphanage for a few months and her Tobias came for three weeks during his summer vacation.
Tobias left for Sweden yesterday and Ida goes back to the orphanage tomorrow morning for her last month in India. For this time.

Daniel and Walter

2011-07-28T17:26:00.005+02:00

Daniel and Walter from the Netherlands are waiting for their luggage that took it's own rout to India.
As soon as everything arrives they will go to Varanasi and then Katmandu.Andy is showing Walter how to book a train ticket online.
I was so happy when I saw them because that is one of the purposes with our cafe´. We want people to meet and help each other.

Guest baker

2011-07-28T17:03:00.004+02:00

Today we had a guest baker, Nityananda.
He is also a masseur, yoga instructor and crystal healer.Apple pie with vanilla sauce.Eggless choclate-banana cake with caramelized apples.

Actress

2011-07-28T16:57:00.003+02:00

Gabi got a commercial gig about a herbal medicine and they recorded her scene in her living room.Then they asked if I was interested in making a scene about a memory herbal medicine and I said why not.
Maybe I'll never get the opportunity again. It was great fun!

Vintage saris

2011-07-27T21:54:00.000+02:00

I put up some beautiful vintage saris with heavy embroidery in the doorway.

Sleeping beauty

2011-07-27T21:48:00.000+02:00

This is the way to run a business. The princess is sleeping and we are working.

Birthday

2011-07-27T21:22:00.005+02:00

Monday we celebrated my 41:st birthday and after been woken up with presents we went to the cafe´ for some cake.Then Nicholas had rented a taxi to Saket Shopping mall to see the movie Cars 2, but the info on the internet and the reality didn't match, so we went to TGI Friday and had lunch.Next to the cinema was a tattoo studio and since we had the time I got the tattoo I've wanted for such a long time.
The Buddhist wheel, that is more about my life journey than of religious reasons.
Ended our evening at Hard Rock cafe´ with this cool waiter.

Swedish summer

2011-07-24T17:43:00.002+02:00

This is what I miss mostly about the Swedish summer.
My sisters boys are swimming and fishing in the lake.

Andy's travel blog

2011-07-24T17:33:00.001+02:00

Follow our regular guest Andy's travel blog here.

Norway

2011-07-23T09:23:00.001+02:00

Our thoughts and prayers goes to the friends and families of the victims in Norway.
One persons insanity has destroyed millions of peoples lives and believes.
Please join me in a short prayer for love and peace.

Andy and Tang

2011-07-22T18:19:00.002+02:00

Andy, with Swedish ancestry, and Tang from Canada.
Andy is going to Manali and Tang has gone to Vietnam to visit friends and family.

Christina

2011-07-22T18:15:00.001+02:00

Christina from Russia is driving around on her motorbike, living in India since two years now.
She is a graphic designer and is working on our logo and signs.
It's so beautiful and she is doing that for us because she has such a good heart.
We are so blessed meeting these wonderful people!