10 (pretty) good excuses as to why I have not blogged in over 3 months...

10. Taco Bell, Bangalore consumed my thoughts for over a week. I'm not gonna lie, it wasn't as good as what they cook up in the good ol' USofA but it was definitely worth the 1000 Rs. transportation cost to get to and from the Tbell and 600 Rs. of deliciousness including (but definitely not limited to) chocolate quesadillas, crunchwrap tacos and FOUNTAIN DRINKS! By the way, yes there were auntys in saris there, too.

9. Meggie, Farber & Lauren did South India. They visited Chennai, it was hot. It was also so great to see them and take them around the 'Nad and Kerala! Look out for a guest post soon :)

8. One month in Rajasthan during the hottest time of the year! I spent one-month on a pilot study in Northeastern Rajasthan (May-June) studying consumer preference and household decision drivers to purchase (or not purchase) filtered drinking water, in partnership with Sarvajal, a social enterprise based out of Gujarat. Um, yeah. I also drank a lot of really bad water, went to the really gross Rat Temple outside Bikaner and wore a bindi everyday. 

7. I'm really bad with directions. Much of my time spent on my scooter is spent asking for directions from random auto-wallahs or, more recently, paying auto-wallahs to follow them to my desired location with them continuously checking to see if the crazy person who owns her own vehicle is still paying to follow an empty auto. I am. That being said, I think getting lost took away from my blogging time. There, I said it.

Okay, actually Sunil is from Rajasthan, but I wanted to include this picture because he's like the sweetest.guy.ever and also, coincidentally has the best.mullet.ever.

6. My mean flatmate made me move out. Check my FB statuses from the month of July and you'll know what I'm talking about. That is all.

5. The World Cup! Even though games were at midnight and India, with its 1 billion+ population can't put together a team that can qualify (don't even get me started), the world cup was still a celebrated event in Chennai. We managed to watch at least a dozen games...favorite one hands down was watching Germany vs. Spain at the Indo German Cultural Centre when I was supporting Spain. Awkward turtle. Least favorite was when I had to leave the snowy TV with awful reception at the International Airport in Chennai to catch my International flight to Germany where I asked the first person I saw in the morning who had won the final and was given a deathly stare. 

4. Karma Bar & Lounge. I'm not sure if they know this, but they have revolutionized Chennai's late night scene. Open until 4 (or 5) am, Karma offers bottle service for (1500 Rs.), has pleather booths, a stripper pole in the middle of the dance floor and plays awesome Bollywood & Hip Hop. Does it sound like I'm working for them? Cross your fingers and maybe I will be...DJ Rani? Also, it pays (literally) to have a friend who works for Chennai Live who gets free passes from Karma like all the time. Ah-mazing. Thanks, Pooja Cutiepie (that's her name err email address).

3. The triple jump. Worst.decision.ever was my ticket home from Chennai through Frankfurt AND Washington DC. Aside from the 4 hour wait on the tarmac in Frankfurt (due to broken AC, missing part, low fuel, lack of snacks/water, no terminal available to park, etc. etc.), I was sitting on a flight that was like from the middle ages without a working reading light and a video screen that only showed 4 movies that had to be rewound every 3 hours. WTF?!

2. Chennai Round two. Yep, believe the hype. I'm going back to Chennai and continuing my stint with IFMR. Bring on the Rhapsody happy hours...and clean drinking water projects and fresh fruit and design work and scootyin and, and more!

1. Pooja Does America. In the words of Ahicks, I am doing America. Toledo to DC to NYC back to Toledo to Las Vegas (tonight!) Catch me if you can...! :)

Amazing bus trip from DC to NYC...almost like many of bus rides in India. Um, not. Wifi, free water and bathrooms on board = heaven.