Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Kite Museum Photos
The beginning of the recent kite obsession started after watching the 'Kite Runner'. Keyur from my office took me to Ahmedabad's Kite Museum which has a collection of kites formed over the last 100 years. I will post some pictures of the kites after Keyur and I pick them up.
Pictures
Pictures
Friday, July 3, 2009
Today I was impressed
I just came back from my final fitting for the suit. I was telling people in the office that something miraculous needed to happen. The last time I was there for the trial fitting I was not impressed one bit. The tailor came a great way in one week but more needed to happen. The jacket fit decent that time but the pants were not even close. I'm sure it is a sight to see me with pants that are painted on but it is not my cup of tea. I left him with instructions how they needed to fit. The idea of the final suit was scary thought to me. I thought my money was wasted for sure.
Today I went back and in the fitting room the pants felt great! I brought my dress shoes and belt so I could put it on as an outfit. Everything about the fit for the pants were good and they even survived the extreme squat test. When the jacket went on it looked amazing. It has a nice slim tailored look. I am really happy with how the whole thing turned out. I ordered a backup pair of pants as well as a dress shirt to go with the suit. I have a wedding to attend the week I get back the US. While I was looking at shirting material I saw a light lime green linen material so I ordered one of those as well! It should make a nice light summer shirt.
I feel so much better. I was seriously dreading this experience. But everything worked out in the end. While I was outside waiting for my driver the tailor came out and offered me tea. I accepted and while we were drinking I asked how long he's been making suits and he said he is 50 and has been making suits for 35 years. His dad was a tailor and so is his son. I told him I will convince Randy to get his made because I really like mine.
Today I went back and in the fitting room the pants felt great! I brought my dress shoes and belt so I could put it on as an outfit. Everything about the fit for the pants were good and they even survived the extreme squat test. When the jacket went on it looked amazing. It has a nice slim tailored look. I am really happy with how the whole thing turned out. I ordered a backup pair of pants as well as a dress shirt to go with the suit. I have a wedding to attend the week I get back the US. While I was looking at shirting material I saw a light lime green linen material so I ordered one of those as well! It should make a nice light summer shirt.
I feel so much better. I was seriously dreading this experience. But everything worked out in the end. While I was outside waiting for my driver the tailor came out and offered me tea. I accepted and while we were drinking I asked how long he's been making suits and he said he is 50 and has been making suits for 35 years. His dad was a tailor and so is his son. I told him I will convince Randy to get his made because I really like mine.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Where's my monsoon at?
There still has not been any significant rain in Ahmedabad. I'm not gonna lie, I want the rain. More days are cloudy and the wind picks up but everything is still very desert-like. Who knows what's going on? I only have a month left so every day passes is one less day I will have to deal with it.
Randy and I went to Vimal's to start our suits. Vimal is the premium brand for Reliance Industries who owns just about everything (they are basically the same as Tata Industries). When Randy and I left Vimal's the last time we thought we had a pretty good understanding of how this suit process was going to go. Naturally when we came back it very quickly turned into a cluster***. We apparently did not ask the right questions about cost because the price seemed like double from last time. More people got thrown into the mix (too many cooks in the kitchen) and now statements about what they CAN and CANNOT do are going around.
Last time we were told the suit material was about Rs.2000 and stitching is Rs.3000 (Rs.5000 is $100). When we came back it was Rs.2000 PER METER and it'll take 3.25 meters to suit me. So after settling from the shock of the suit doubling in price I regrouped and decided to start haggling. I say, "Well, this guy and I are buying at least two suits with the possibility of two more depending on how well you do with the first. What discount can you give us on the stitching?" They say, "it doesn't how many suits you buy. You can get 10 suits and price is the same." I look at Randy and say that I guess I'm only getting one. Randy's out entirely. He needs to check if he can get the same thing done in the US with less problems. This is when the salesman jumps back in and says, "But we can give you a discount on the material." Haha, of course, I was putting up a fight over the wrong variable. They gave me a whopping 10% discount.
I bought a Super 120's 100% merino wool medium brown herringbone fabric. I gave them a picture from this month's GQ so let's see how they do with the pattern. My trial fitting is next week. Frustrating experience.
Randy and I went to Vimal's to start our suits. Vimal is the premium brand for Reliance Industries who owns just about everything (they are basically the same as Tata Industries). When Randy and I left Vimal's the last time we thought we had a pretty good understanding of how this suit process was going to go. Naturally when we came back it very quickly turned into a cluster***. We apparently did not ask the right questions about cost because the price seemed like double from last time. More people got thrown into the mix (too many cooks in the kitchen) and now statements about what they CAN and CANNOT do are going around.
Last time we were told the suit material was about Rs.2000 and stitching is Rs.3000 (Rs.5000 is $100). When we came back it was Rs.2000 PER METER and it'll take 3.25 meters to suit me. So after settling from the shock of the suit doubling in price I regrouped and decided to start haggling. I say, "Well, this guy and I are buying at least two suits with the possibility of two more depending on how well you do with the first. What discount can you give us on the stitching?" They say, "it doesn't how many suits you buy. You can get 10 suits and price is the same." I look at Randy and say that I guess I'm only getting one. Randy's out entirely. He needs to check if he can get the same thing done in the US with less problems. This is when the salesman jumps back in and says, "But we can give you a discount on the material." Haha, of course, I was putting up a fight over the wrong variable. They gave me a whopping 10% discount.
I bought a Super 120's 100% merino wool medium brown herringbone fabric. I gave them a picture from this month's GQ so let's see how they do with the pattern. My trial fitting is next week. Frustrating experience.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Monsoon is almost here
I expected the monsoon to begin the way it in Forest Gump - instant downpour. It first dizzled a week ago and every other day the clouds roll in at night and storm for a couple hours. It happened again last night but earlier than usual. The staff tells me that will become more frequent until there is no break at all between the rains. It has cooled things off though.
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