Swede in Delhi

Summer holiday 2011

2011-09-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

On request some pictures from summer holiday Sweden 2011. Beautiful weather and lot's of sunshine!!

Fun with cousin A!

Sailing!

Picnic with Mum & Dad

My husband arrives in Sweden and now we get some champagne!

Grandfather Arne Berglund with one son and four grandchildren.

Uncle C with sister's children!

My daguhter sailing Laser!

Midsummer table!

Klapperstensforsen, close to Grundfors!

Mountaintrip for three days. me, C and husband!

We found snow to C delight!

We lived in a tent. Really scary hearing noise outside. It turned out it was only reindeers.

Carl found an antler from a reindeer.

We were tired after carring to much weight. Me and my husband didn't remeber we were 50+. Next time.....

Picnic!

Hard work putting up a small cabin !

Carl at sailing camp, outside Stockholm for nine days.

My brother in law giving my sister a surprise on her birthday - a new flagpole.

Swedish beautiful flowers!

C with friend A!

Cousin P's children having fun with C.

My lovely aunt Gretilde enjoying life!

What are you looking for?

My lovely parents at the summerhouse far up north in Sweden on an island !

We also managed to see cousin A in Knivsta.

I am looking forward to next summer already!

Thank you for reading my blog!

2011-09-25T01:59:00.000-07:00

On request here are some photos of our summer holiday!

We are living with my lovely parents during the summer holiday on a beautiful island far up north in Sweden.

Swimming, sailing, racing, canoeing, having picnics, seeing old friends and realatives and just having fun.

Carl enjoyed a sailing camp just outside Stockholm for nine days.

Holiday in England!

2011-08-16T05:14:00.000-07:00

Back in Delhi!

Thank you to everybody that made our stay in England, Farnham nice and fun.

Carl enjoy seeing his old friends!

Pia also enjoyed seeing her old friends.

Thank you MONA for letting us stay at your house!!

Carl is impressed by the old Mercedes bringing us back och forward to London - Farnham!

Carl seeing lot's of friends in London.

We did see the Imperial War museum and this time managed to experienced the Blitz. Quite scary!

As Carl just seen the movie of "Lawrence of Arabia" he did recognized the bike at once.

One day we went by bus seeing London for several hours.

Of course we paid a visit at Hamley, the biggest toy shop in London.

Indeed fun to see some old friends, isn't it?

Trip to Sweden

2011-05-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

Namaste!

Sorry I haven't been writing for a long time. I am busy starting a business here in India. Very
exiting! I will soon tell you more about it!!

Carl and I went to Sweden for 10 days in the beginning of April. Nice seeing relatives and friends!

A must in Ornskoldsvik - to swim with friends and take a ride on Magic Eye, Sweden's longest water slide!!

Nice and cold!

It's snowing!!!

My sister, brother in law, my Mum and Carl taking a walk over the ice to visit our summer house.

Nice meeting my oldest friend C and her parents. They bought my parent's first sailing boat many years age and a long friendship started. It's nice to have friends that had been at your side for a long time and follow you through your life. C is a wonderful and loving God mother to Carl.

A proud uncle Carl with his sister's children in Bjorna, 30 km outside Ornskoldsvik.

Of course we had to celebrate Modo, our ice hockey team that won a very important game.

Now it's the end of the school year for Carl in Aes and there are many farewell parties. One of Carl's best friend in school are leaving New Delhi and moving to Quatar. It's sad, but there will also be many people moving to Dehli and you'll ending up with even more friends. Every meeting with people you meet has something to tell and teach you. I always try to remember this.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Carl 11 years old......soon

2011-05-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

Namste!

Carl decided to have his New Delhi birthday party this weekend. We took 6 boys to World of Wonder, amusement part. Good fun! Lot's of fun! It's great having this parties seeing your children having fun. When we bought the candles for the cake both Carl and I just bought one packages with 10 candles , but realized that we had to buy another packages.......My son is turning 11 years old this summer!!!!!

Beginning with birthday cake and birthday song at our house in Vasant Vihar.

One driver took the kids and one driver took the adults.

They tried the tough rides.....

but surprisingly also the less tough one

Close your eyes and remember how it was when you celebrating your birhtday as a child!

When taking my sister's dauhghter from Helsinki to Stockholm on a cruising ship she told me:

This is as nearly as good as when I am having my birthday party!

Thank you for reading my blog!

India closed

2011-03-30T02:16:00.000-07:00

Namaste!

Do you remember when Sweden closed because Ingemar Stenmark was skiing? Today it's the cricket match between India & Pakistan. I will be all alone on the road soon when I am off to Swedish school. We have about 30 children and I am in charge for three children between 12-14 years old studying Swedish through Sofia Distans.

Tomorrow I 'm going to Sweden with Carl. Hope to go skiing!!

Thank you for reading my blog! GO INDIA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holi

2011-03-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

Namaste!

Holi is the traditional celebration of the first day of spring for Hindus and a day of licensed mayhem. People throw colored water and powders at one another, Carl had blue hair for two days even though he washed his hair twice on Sunday!!

Thank you for reading my blog!

Performance in school!

2011-03-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Namaste!

American Embassy School's integration of literature, music, art and dance in a wonderful adaptation of a fantastic book called WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. Carl did enjoy this joyful performance, and so did his Mum. Enjoy the pictures and

Can you find Carl?

Here he is - at the left in this picture. Not an easy task to find him. All children participate in this performance and they have made all costumes by themselves. Carl danced, sang and played two instruments during this show.

It was 320 children altogether!! Amazing!!

Only two weeks to go and after that Carl and I are going to Sweden!
Hope there will be some snow left.....

Thank you for reading my blog!

Corruption

2011-03-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

Namaste!

Sometimes it's hard to life in India.

Last week Carl saw young begging children (3&5 years old) and then a young boy (18 years old)coming toward the children and talking. Our driver confirmed what I was thinking - this boy takes all the money from the begging children. After informing Carl he asked why the police doesn't do anything. Our driver told carl that this young boy is giving money to the police so he will be allowed to stay in this trafficlight with his group of begging children.Carl looked very confused but after a while he understood and a new experience of the word CORRUPTION was made.

Salaam baalak trust - yet another fantastic organisation!

2011-03-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

The last trip with Mum and Dad we decided to do a city walk with salaam balaak trust. This is a organisation for begging children living at the train station. These children comes from villages and believe that they will have a better life in New Delhi. Often they end up in prostitution, begging, stealing and doing drugs. The organisation pick up children from the railway station and give them two options:

Go home
Stay in Delhi under one condition - study

Our guide is a formal begging child. He talked about the city life for the children living on the streets of Delhi.

The school filled with children. Can you see all the blankets?

One small room and 40 children!!

Our guide! This organisation is doing a great job.

Tomorrow (Saturday) my Mum and Dad leave New Delhi. I will miss them!!!

On Sunday morning new guests arrive.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Birthday at Taj Mahal

2011-03-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

Finally we made it to Taj Mahal,one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

We saw the sunrise in Taj Mahal. Beautiful!

My mum celebrated her 80th birthday at Oberoi hotel, Agra overlooking Taj Mahal from the window. Fantastic!

Taj Mahal in daytime!

Thank you for reading my blog!

2011-02-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

NAMASTE!!

Today we joined the 7 cities group with 45 other people interested in the history and culture of Delhi. It has been a pleasure going with this group to discover the treasures of Delhi. So many nationalities and fun people.

This weekend we had a wonderful trip to the Golden Temlpe in Amrtisar.

We saw the temple in the evening and.....

... in the morning.

We had to wash hands and feet before entering the temple.

...and to cover the head.

It was lot's of thing to look at and things happened all the time around you. We saw the temple, people taking a bath in the holy water, the kitchen were the prepared food for 40 000 people every day, bakery and more.

If you going to New Delhi I would suggested you take the train to Amritsar and you will have an extraordinary expericence.

The modern New Delhi

2011-02-21T19:17:00.001-08:00

Namaste!

There are some nice shopping malls very close to where we live. My mum wanted to show my Dad Louis Vuitton bags. Nice bags and awful expensive!!

We went to Vasant Kunj shoppingmall with our friend P and had a cup of coffee/tea and a "little" to eat. My Dad loves sweet things! He is eating apple pie almost every day at home. Some day both for lunch and dinner!

QutabMinar - 379 steps to heaven.India's highest stone tower with five-toryede red ande buff.

My Dad is enjoying his visit in India!

Horse polo

2011-02-15T05:11:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

We were inivited to horse polo by our lovley landlord.

Carl introduce his grandparents.

Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet. The traditional sport of polo is played at speed on a large grass field up to 300 yards in length, and each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts.

Gerd Westman on the red carpet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our kock had made a quiche on Valentine's day!

Sorry for the poor quality of photos!!!

Thank you for reading my blog!

Surajkund mela & shoppingmall

2011-02-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

NAMASTE!

Tughluqabad, the third of Delhi's early capitals, is dominated by this spectacular fort. We passed on our way to Surajkund mela.

\Surajkund mela a place filled with handicrafts.

Would you like a coconut drink?

My dad always talking with the kids.

My Mum and Dad felt like superstars as lot's of people want to take their pictures.

Showtime!

My dad eager to participate.

Dad and his new buddy!!!

Lot's of apes when we went home. This is closed to the jungle.

Om our way home we saw this little girl living in the slum area. No shoes and no under pant!

In the evening we went to pick up Carl from school. He has been on a school trip to Ranthambore National Park. They had a fab time and saw three tigers and lot's of other animals. They stayed in a hotel for three nights and had three safaris. Sometimes you wished you were a 5th grader!!!!

We had to show we also have some modern shopping malls in Delhi. Here my mum outside Dior. We didn't find anything we wanted........

..but a makeup is really nice....

..and this is the result. My beautiful Mum!!!

and her photographer!!

On our way home we saw camels.

Thank you for reading my blog!

What you can do and see in one day in New Delhi!

2011-02-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

Dad's birthday cake!

Begging children that are well organized. Dad can't stop smiling och waiving to them.

A mother is looking for fleas in her child's hair.

A walk in our park just in front of our house. Spring is here!

As usual women working hard but with a smile on their face.

My Dad can't stop trying to communicate with all the staff.

We went shopping with the cook to I N A market. My mum couldn't stand the smell, the sight and the scream when the butcher beheaded the hens!!

Fish for dinner today!

Lot's of things to look at here!

My cook Mutthu in white clothes and my Dad in red t-shirt.

This fish was 1 meter. My cook told me it is a sole.

Do you see the blood from the bucket? The butcher is working.....

My mum found this shop much nicer.

My driver waiting to bring us home with all our shopping.

Men peeing everywhere against walls. It smells awful!!

When we drove home we saw these two elephants.

PLUM POINTS:

Pia 6
Dick 4
Gerd 2

Thank you for reading my blog!

From luxury to not luxury!!

2011-02-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

I am enjoying the company of my parents. It's nice to show them my life here in India that is impossible to describe. You have to experience this! The first thing my Dad asked me on arrival was if I don't ever drive the car. After half a day he realized why!!

We have to see Hyatt, a famous high quality hotel in the middle of New Delhi. The flowers change every single day. Before letting us pass with the car they are having security check (even under the car).

Kahn market - the expensive market where you see lot's of expats and where you want to be seen.

Mum bought shoes in this busy shop. It was very NOISY! But good service - they helped you put on the shoes. Good when you are turning 80 years old!!

First time ever Mum and Dad went to AFTER WORK drink and then home to Per & Caroline where we had some nice desserts ( and drinks)!

Old Delhi - crazy place- people, animals everywhere. Lot's of things happening. My Dad went quiet for the first time - just looking at everything.

Animals, motorbikes, tuk tuks, cycles, and people at a small street in Old Delhi. We visited a Jain temple. It was incredible beautiful with lot's of gold. Don't miss it if you are in Old Delhi!

After a tough time in Old Delhi it was heaven to come to Australian High Commission that hosted a spring fair. Many stall selling things. My dad found playing card in gold!!! We also found nice food.

Nice with waffles and ice creams!

When we came home Dad watched the construction at our neighbours house. They have been building for 5 years!!! This lady is working hard and strained sand.

My Dad is very interested in the things around him. Everything is new. My Mum is overwhelmed with the food and good service. They are 80 years old and I am so happy they are able to come and visit my here in this increadible country.

Tomorrow my son is going on a school trip to Ranthambore national park. Maybe they will see tigers!

Thank you for having wonderful parents!

Thank you for reading my blog!

Sarojini Nagar market - everything and more

2011-02-01T23:46:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

It was time for the the cheapest market, a haven for bargains Sarojini Nagar market. Mum find several shirts paying 100INR, 15 SEK, 1,5 GBP for each of them. Here you will find leather bags, t-shirt, Indian clothes and everything really. This market is kind of mad fun place. Several shops doesn't open until 11.00 and it soon becomes crowded.

Early morning in the market. Children playing and having fun.

Opening at 11.00. Construction work everywhere in New Delhi.

Woman are working very hard!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't it nice displayed?

We tried to find Indian clothes for Carl. Aes school has an Indian week soon. All children will dress in Indian clothes and focus on India.

Soon it became crowded in the streets.

My Dad is very social and always having a big smile on his face. This attract the sellers. I have never been surrounded by so many as walking here with my Dad.

We found this beautiful Hindu temple in the middle of all the shops.

Lemon drink. No thank you! Not for us! You can get very sick. The water is our worst enemy here in India trying to stay well.

My driver Pradeep opens the door for Mum. He and his family (wife and a daughter) lives in a quarter at our house. It feels good to know he can drive me and my family if someone seriously ill. We still haven't got our Indian driver licenses but maybe soon....

Don't ever drink from the tap water. Ask my Mum what happens!! She spent a whole day at the toilet and in the bed. When my cook came with something that looked like wall paper past she finally got well again.

Thank you for reading my blog!

First weekend in India for Mum & Dad

2011-01-30T03:26:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

The first week ended with the first pedicure in my Dad's life. He enjoyed it...

..almost all the time.

This salon offers haircut, pedicure and manicure. Dad & Mum's pedicure cost 124 SEK , 12 GBP. Great to live in India!!

Do you see the tree behind my family.It is a banyan tree (the national tree of India) Older banyan trees are characterized by their aerial prop roots that grow into thick woody trunks which, with age, can become indistinguishable from the main trunk.

Any one need a sari?

Tuc tuc ride . Mum holding strawberry that we bought from Priya market today. This market is close to our house. It's walking distance.

Traffic is caotic here but on Sundays it's better.

Mum and Dad feeling sorry for all poor people living in primitive conditions....

....close to very busy roads.

Friday night we watched a musical at AES ' The fiddler on the roof'

The actors were staff from AES.

It was good fun.

Plump points:

Pia 4

Gerd 2

Dick 1

Thank you for reading my blog!

2011-01-27T03:41:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

Today we went to Connaught place to a jewellery shop.

The shop owner are the fourth generation owners.

We had a nice cup of tea. No hurry in India!

Photo of the shop when it was situated in Old Delhi 1937.

Jacqueline Kennedy's sister and Margaret Thatcher has been shopping in this shop.

Mum and dad at Connaught place, the British built shopping complex. It opened 1931 and named after the duke of Connaught. It has stuccoed colonnades and Palladian archways.The central circle of Connaught place has now been renamed Rajiv Chowk and the outer circle Indira Chowk.

You can find Reebok, Adidas but we find this old shop selling cards. The shop owner was 81 years old and had been there for 35 years! Mum bought a paper pad, 10 cards and 1 big card for 30 SEK or 3 GBP.

Getting water for the plants! We are looking forward to spring. I don't like this place because of all the young men trying to get you in to specific shops. They are all over the place. Four American girls tried to get advice how to get to Fab India. I told them to go to Khan market instead. The boys tried to talked with my Dad. He is always nice and wanted to talk to everybody. Maybe it's good he can't speak English.

Indian people buy this thing that they chow. They all look very red around their mouth. After finish....

they spit it out in the nearest corner....

Two lovely little girls trying to beg by playing and dancing in the middle of the street. Our driver told us she had a golden ring in her nose. WHAT!?!? When I pointed at her golden ring she became very nasty. Please, don't ever give anything to these children. If you do, they don't even get the money. There are always someone behind.....

They children should go to school.

First time since September we had mango.Yummi!!

Plump point:

Mum 1

Dad 1

Pia 2!!!!!!!

Thank you for reading my blog!

Republic day

2011-01-26T05:07:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

Today it was Republic day. It is India's birth as an independent republic. We saw a colourful military parade held at Rajpath ( street between the President palace and India Gate. Unfortunate we were not allowed to have any cameras with us.

Mum eating dal . Dal combines lentils with a heady mix of onions, garlic and spices. It is considered and India's "soul food".

Dad liked the apple pie!!

After lunch we played card on the balcony. After a while Dad took off his shirt and had only shorts. Dad is the family's sun lover.

We have a beautiful park in front of our house.

Chicken and potatoes! Our cook managed to make this food taste continental and not Indian.

Desserts every day!

Thank you for reading my blog!

First guests 2011

2011-01-24T19:18:00.000-08:00

Namste!

Our first visitors 2011 are my mum and dad. It's great having them here in India. Carl was so pleased and happy meeting them. They arrived 6.25 in the morning, slept for 3 hours, playing card ( mum first, me second and dad last) and then off to pick up Carl in school. Straight from school to......

..Dehli golf course where Carl and I played 9 holes. This beautiful tomb is at the third hole on peacock course. It was sunny and about 18C degrees. Lovely!

Carl and our caddies tried to feed the peacock but he wasn't hungry today.

At home our cook Mutthu had prepared a very nice dinner with beef and rice. For dessert fruits!

Look at that piece of banana! Our cook did lots of things we'd never seen before. For lunch he also made muffins. Daddy took three of them!! Some things never change.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Christmas 2010 India

2011-01-21T05:24:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sorry I haven't been writing my blog for a long time. My daughter visited me in India and we had a lovely time together in Delhi and in Goa.

It was easy and quick to make the Christmas dinner this year. Our daughter brought some goodies from Sweden and Mona & Anders sent us some glogg previous year. Decorations from Celina & Christian ( they left Delhi and moved home to Norway). Thank you all for making our home look like Christmas. We danced around the table. Can you see you Christmas tree? All our four children are always with us in our heart, especially on Christmas. The picture of Jessica, Asa, My and Carl is taken in Ornskoldsvik nine years ago. Time flies! We got two Christmas card and made our own ginger cookies. The didn't taste like Swedish "pepperkakor"

Every day our towels were fold in different ways. Lovely! I have never seen it before.

Our view from our balcony in Goa. There were two swimming pools.

It was a private beach. No beggars. You see them all the time in Delhi so it was nice to have some peace and quiet from all hectic life of Delhi. Wonderful Goa food! Lot's of sea food! We liked it a lot!

The whole family in front of the enormous Christmas tree.

Belly dancer. The boys were impressed but not the girls.

Christmas party was big och fun. Santa Claus found his way to us. I am impressed!

Dance competition! We didn't win but our children did. They won an accommodation at Mahindra resort in Kerala. Well done!!

Christmas decoration in a palm tree!FUN!

Beatiful? Much better in the night time!

A trip to Old Goa , visiting Basilica de Bom Jesus. It is revered by Roman Cahtolics all over the world since it houses the mortal remains of Goa's parton saint, Francis Xavier. Oterhwise it was not much to see in Old Goa.

Anyone want to have some treatments in this beauty parlor??

We went to a famous hippie beach and how awful it was! Crowed with people, cows, dogs and other animals. Crazy place!! We want to go "home" to Mahindra resort now!

The boys had games of paint ball and the girls went to have spa treatment and facial treatment. Arne in action!

Happy boys! I don't know which of these guys thought it was better. The younger one or the handsome one!

Carl and My (Elisabeth)

One day we went to a yoga lesson which was quite an experience of life. Why do you need holiday? The yoga man thought that we are looking and chasing for things that we don't need. He just earned food to have lessons on the resort. He didn't need any more..... Why do you need holiday? I need holiday. To be away and realx with my family.

Sorry no time for doing the layout any better. Only read and watch the photos, Mona Craven! Better next time! Just coming home from playing gofl. I hit 200 m with my driver. That was FUN!
Thank you for reading my blog! Next week my parents our coming. I am looking forward to that.

Lucia in India? - Yes indeed!!

2010-12-17T03:53:00.000-08:00

Namasté!

Lucia with Swedish children living in India and Indian children which parent´s are working at the Swedish Embassy. It was three years since Carl experienced Lucia.

Carl reading so good and loud. It´s such a great feeling to be a mum standing there and just feeling so MUCH!!!!

Glögg and wonderful Swedish Christmas food! Yammi!!! It tasted good!

Our cook Raju making saffron buns with the children. It was worth the long journey to get the saffron,seeing these children celebrating "advent".

Ell/My (my daughter) is coming tomorrow morning and Arne (my husband) is coming tomorrow night from the mountains.

I have bought a new heater that was damaged, so I just sent my driver back with it. I need to have it by tomorrow otherwise my daughter will be very cold. It is 24 degrees in the daytime but very cold in our stonehouse in night time. We have heaters in all our bedrooms in night time.

Next week we will celebrate Christmas in Goa, India.

To all of you a

Merry Christmas

& Happy New Year

from me!

See you next year!

Thank you for reading my blog!

British Dellhi

2010-12-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

Namasté!

Welcome to tour "British Delhi"!

I am sure the drivers thought we were all mad! They had a good time!

Lady Pia(Sweden), Lady Mette(Denmark, Lady Meenu(America) and Lady Sarda(Australia)

"Akbar the great!"

Me and Meenu talking about history of British Delhi.

Sarda talking about St James church

Serving cucumber sandwiches, Pim´s and GT 10.00 in the morning!!

Mette takling about Vice Regal Lodge.

Vice Regal Lodge

Happy group having lunch at Oberoi Maidens.

Thank you for reading my blog!