houstongal has left 4136 comments

houstongal comments on I am formerly WidowerfromCanada & I am getting married in 2 weeks and 4 days..

Best wishes to you and your family CanadaMan. I hope you make each other very, very happy! :-)

houstongal comments on State Dept. Travel Warnings India (Nov. 28, 2008)

The U.S. State Department is known for being ultra-conservative with its security warnings. It's always good advice to be cautious in a foreign country and aware of your surroundings. I walked around my Mumbai neighborhood all weekend and didn't feel any different than the prior weekend. Even saw a few foreigners out shopping. Hopefully security warnings won't stop those who were planning on visiting India in the coming months.

houstongal comments on Muslim militants attack and kill Westerners in India

I'm feeling just fine. It looks like the last standoff is over...or almost over. This is good news.

houstongal comments on Muslim militants attack and kill Westerners in India

IMg, reading PBH, sending emails, keeping up-to-date with the terrorist situation. I gave up doing work.

houstongal comments on what do colombians eat on Thanksgiving??

turkeys are mean birds. i wouldn't want to be chased by one.

houstongal comments on can anybody please translate this????

That's hysterical gamm2! She must've copied and pasted. I noticed the CAPS went to small letters.

houstongal comments on Muslim militants attack and kill Westerners in India

GS...my streak will extend if I go to Thailand in January! Hopefully things will settle down in that country by the time I have to go there. What luck I seem to have!

houstongal comments on Muslim militants attack and kill Westerners in India

Thanks guys. To be honest with you, the last thing I want to do is to be on an airplane with all the foreigners who are trying to escape. That's a big target. I'm scheduled to fly out in 2 weeks. I'm hoping that by then things will settle down. One hotel is under control as I type and the hostages were released. Rumors in the city are flying like crazy of terrorists who escaped and are shooting, but apparently they're just rumors. Yet my office took the rumors seriously enough to send us home this afternoon (Friday). Clearly the residents of Mumbai are afraid. The mood was quite somber at work today. The streets are less crowded than usual. Some stores did not open. I'm planning on staying in the apartment for now. My cook made dinner so I have no need to go out. :-)

houstongal comments on capitan_centella

Hi Capitan! Nice to see your return. I hope you're enjoying yourself in Australia!

houstongal comments on happy thanksgiving, all............................

Thanks Douglas! You have a good one! I am quite thankful to be safe and sound. I don't think I've ever felt more thankful during this holiday than I am today.

houstongal comments on Zara Home

Now now douglas....these are extremists we're talkig about. I don't see myself in a predicament. I'm fine. Life here continues.

houstongal comments on Lasik surgery in New Delhi

Just walking my neighborhood in Mumbai and seeing the buildings that advertise various services, including Lasik, I wouldn't get such a procedure done here. These are your eyes that you're talking about! I would consider getting it done in the Philippines. Cosmetic surgery there is rather reasonable and Manila is a nice city with US trained doctors.

houstongal comments on Cheap Air Fares??? To Bombay

I flew Continental from Houston to Newark to Mumbai a couple of weeks ago. Nice flight. I can't tell you how much it would cost as my company allows me to fly business class. Sure beats connecting through Frankfurt. I'd rather fly direct for 14 hours in the middle of the night and sleep than to change flights in the middle. Good luck!

houstongal comments on Terrorist attack in Mumbai

Yeah, they'll call me. I've been bombarded with emails and phone calls all night and day. My company is ultra-safety conscious.

houstongal comments on Zara Home

Thanks Douglas. I'll come home when things are safe. Right now, I feel safe. I'm far removed with what's happening in the city. I appreciate your concern.

houstongal comments on Anyone Hear How PBH Poster Scotty is doing These Days?

Guys, I've sent him another email and included a link to this post. I hope he responds.

houstongal comments on Muslim militants attack and kill Westerners in India

I'm in Mumbai and I have been holed up in my apartment all day because of the attacks, yet I cannot paint a broad brush against all Muslims. This country is 80% Hindu and 10% Muslim. Yet there's nothing on TV showing any type of retaliation against Muslims. The terrorists are just that - an extreme group of Muslims, most likely from Pakistan. There are still lots of other Muslims in India that have nothing to do with this kind of activity. They're not cheering. Pakistan and India have been in conflict for years. Everyone I've spoken with believes that India will pick itself right up and continue where it left off. They will not let this stop their growth. Tourism will probably drop for a short term, but it'll bounce back. Businesses will still continue their growth here. Labor is so incredibly cheap that it's a bit hard for them not to take advantage of it. As I am holed up in my apartment (as mandated by my company), my cleaning lady shows up as if it's just another day. She's happy that there was no traffic and was going shopping after she finished. Life appears to have returned to pretty much normal outside. Indians are resilient much like Colombians. The positive is that security in this country will be heightened and hopefully they will be better prepared for the next assault.

houstongal comments on Terrorist attack in Mumbai

Best not to be a target and stay at big hotels here. I sent Peter an email during the evening when the news started to make headlines. I learned about what was going on through phone calls from local colleagues telling me to stay in my apartment. Security should be heightened by the time Peter gets here....much like it was in the US after 9/11. Ahhh...the joys of being a world traveler!

houstongal comments on Oh yes we just bought a TICKET!

I'm grateful that I'm not staying in a hotel full of tourists. I walked the area of where the Taj hotel is located this weekend. I stayed at the JW Marriott the first weekend I was here. Amazing that all of this is going on. The positive is that security will be much greater by the time Peter arrives in January.

houstongal comments on Zara Home

I love Zara. Great store.

houstongal comments on New moderator

Good for you CG, although I didn't think you had the time now that your wife is with you!

houstongal comments on TO LIVE - COLOMBIA OR ARGENTINA???

I would second Uruguay. Nice country and good weather. Very affordable and Buenos Aires is a short ferry ride away.

houstongal comments on I'd like to teach English in India and live there for a while

Although everyone is supposed to speak English, many still do not. The doormen at the 2 apartment buildings I've been in don't speak it. My driver's English is not good and he's currently taking a class to improve his English. He keeps on telling me that in a year, his English will be much better, but I need his English to be better now! Of course the ones who can afford to pay for English lessons already speak the language. The ones who don't aren't paid enough to be able to afford them (salaries in India are low, although they are slowly creeping upward). Fercho100 - It's funny that you want to live in India. A waiter the other night politely asked me (in perfect English) if I could tell him how he could get a visa to work in the US!

houstongal comments on Oh yes we just bought a TICKET!

Too bad! I have hope that we'll run into each other at some point.

houstongal comments on Oh yes we just bought a TICKET!

Congratulations Peter! When are you going? I'm currently in Mumbai and will be here for 3 more weeks. I made it through my first week (the apartment and my driver were the biggest headaches) - hooray! I'm starting to enjoy living here. I'm off to my first yoga lesson with a private teacher. She's located a few blocks away so I can walk there and she costs about $5 for an hour lesson. What a bargain! By the way, it was tough finding a yoga teacher to accept me. I've been practicing Ashtanga for 3 years, but apparently teachers here aren't into taking short-term students. Yoga studios are difficult to find in some areas (like Bandra West where I live). PM me if you have questions.

houstongal comments on Anyone Hear How PBH Poster Scotty is doing These Days?

I know you were Mitch.

houstongal comments on Anyone Hear How PBH Poster Scotty is doing These Days?

It's been awhile since he last surfaced Mike and no family menber has updated his CarePage in awhile either. I've sent emails, but he hasn't responded. He should be finished with chemo by now I would think.

houstongal comments on My first trip to India

OK...I've been in Mumbai for 5 days now. First impressions....dusty, people are everywhere especially walking on the side and acrossthe road, incessant honking, and no-holds-bar driving. My first smell off the plane - insecticide. So far I'd have to say this has been an adventure, especially living in a corporate apartment. First I had no electricity and had to get security to turn a switch, then he figured out the switch in the apartment's breaker was set to OFF. Then it was trying to find the various switches to turn things on (they have a ton of switches and they're located everywhere in the room). Then it's figuring out which switch turns on the hot water for the shower (2 days of room temp showering, but I think I've figured out the trick). And finally there's grocery shopping (no large grocery stores like Carrefour...just little teeny stores that carry limited items, but fruits and veggies can be bought on the street outside the apartment). The first day in the apartment I felt like I was Goldilocks as I determined which bedroom to sleep in. I could figure out the lights in one, but the A/C didn't work very well (or I can't figure out how to make it cooler). In another, the A/C was cranking, but the lights wouldn't turn on. I settled for the third bedroom in which both A/C and lights were operational. I'm sure in the days to come I'll settle in nicely. I look forward to venturing out and seeing what the city has to offer.

houstongal comments on Gringos, dont tell me you use Plastic Gloves to eat your pollo? LOL!

I did see a couple eat their hamburger at El Corral in Bogota with disposable plastic gloves on...while many others were eating with a fork and knife. Did they bring their own gloves or did the kitchen give them those disposable gloves? I always wondered about that.

houstongal comments on Nominate Best PBH Contributors from Present to Past

Holy cow you guys! I step away from PBH for a little while and here I am sitting in Mumbai and chuckling over this post. You all are the best! GL - I think your memory is fouled up dear. But Pod and I missed having you and ManTequilla to accompany us at dinner. He's doing well, although he works too hard b/c there's a billion little things always going wrong. And speaking of ManTequilla .... no one mentioned him? He's got a great sense of humor and is very knowledgeable about Colombia.

houstongal comments on houstongal

GS - I'm just hoping I don't get sick, but given the length of time I'll be there, I think it will be difficult to avoid.

houstongal comments on Mongo

I leave for India on Friday. I'll be there for 4 weeks, mostly in Mumbai. You mean I need to watch where I step even moreso than in Buenos Aires where dogs poop everywhere and the owners don't clean up after them?! Thanks for the wishes. If interested, I have a travel blog. The link is on my profile.

houstongal comments on Jewelery less expensive in Bogota or USA

Sam Salmon - I beg to differ. I love the design of the emeralds I purchsed in Bogota. The setting is unusual for the necklace. The earrings are set in heavy 18k posts. I like knowing that I probably won't see these items on anyone in the U.S. I get a lot of compliments on both.

houstongal comments on My first trip to India

Gee Peter, I guess I'll be able to add my impressions in a few days. I fly to Mumbai on Friday. I'll be there for 3 weeks and 1 week in Chennai. Everyone that I've known who has gone from work either loves it or hates it. I'm hoping I'm in the "love it" category.

houstongal comments on For some newbies and maybe some oldies, too: travel to Colombia:

Yup, GS...that's how it usually works. I've gotten cheaper rates by flying from San Antonio than initiating the trip in Houston. I assume you're going to Colombia over Thanksgiving? Have a good time! Unfortunately, I won't be in the country this year for turkey day. I wonder if I can find a turkey dinner in India?!

houstongal comments on 250,000 comments

I can't believe that you got the answer to this....a year later! ;-)

houstongal comments on HG's blog

Don't know GL. I sent him an email yesterday and it didn't bounce back as undeliverable so that's good. Hopefully he's doing OK with the chemo and the cancer is in check.

houstongal comments on HG's blog

After almost 5 months (wow...it's been 5 months since I last traveled outside the US?!), the blog will be revived. I leave for Argentina on Friday and staying at Podborski's hotel for a week. Lucas Freley will be taking me on a tour on Sunday so I know I'll have material to add. Checkout http://honhi96825.blogspot.com/ for my latest adventure. Hopefully Scotty is feeling better and will read it!

houstongal comments on Undecided

Funny that you posted this sloop because I saw David Sedaris last night and he read this piece. He even said that the original version, which he read, used the term "human shit" instead of plain old "shit." He had to change it because his New Yorker editor said that he couldn't use "human shit". He also didn't know what the New Yorker ended up titling the article. "Undecided" is perfect.

houstongal comments on All things Colombian in Houston

Cool Chingon. Maybe we can all get together in November when I'm back in town. ColombianoGringo and I have been trying to schedule a time to hit a BBQ place. You're welcome to join us when we finally pick a day and time.

houstongal comments on All things Colombian in Houston

Ayjaybee - I saw that empanada place when I was driving on Hilcroft a couple of weekends ago, but didn't stop in. Mi Pueblito is good - http://www.mipueblitohouston.com/ Alegije is OK - http://www.alebrijerestaurant.com/ Gee, is it time that we coordinate a Houston meet-up? Chignon - how long are you in town?

houstongal comments on nueva york bombero

How sweet of you to check in! Enjoy your vacation in Brazil!

houstongal comments on CLEVER WOMEN

Pretty amusing Huskie!!! Thanks for the levity!

houstongal comments on Say it ain't so, Joe. Joe the "Plummer" that is...

LOL! That's all I heard about this morning on NPR...the 26 mentions of Joe during the debate. So his 15 minutes of fame is expanding?

houstongal comments on Abortion pill in colombia?

FYI - There is a difference between the morning after pill and the abortion pill (some of you may remember the controversy about the legalization of RU-486 in the US). RU-486 (also known as mifestone, or Mifeprex) terminates pregnancies. Morning after pill is effective within 72 hours of unprotected sex.

houstongal comments on 30 60 90 for credit cards why ask?

Good to know. Thanks!

houstongal comments on Why was the "HOME INVASION" post deleted?

If he was outed on the post, that would explain why he wanted it deleted.

houstongal comments on 30 60 90 for credit cards why ask?

Paisa/Calena/Luver: A effectivo price and a tarjeta price.. This is a very common practice they try to use to offset C.C. fees.. This is an Illegal practice in the States but very common over there. Are you sure this is illegal in the US? I've had this happen a few times in the US....lower cash discount price. I've also seen places in the US that charge an % fee for paying by CC, usually to cover the merchant fees the banks charge the vendors.

houstongal comments on huskie

Hoping to go next year. I have one girlfriend who goes annually and I'll most likely tag along the next time she goes. But she's also trying to talk me into going to Brazil with a bunch of friends.

houstongal comments on kat1

Your photo is great as well Kat! My guess is that you too will look like you're in your thirties when you're in your forties!