random

looking for an apartment has become really frustrating. with so many people crammed into a too-small area, space is precious and in great demand. which naturally translates into incredibly expensive rent. some places are asking for a year of rent in advance! it's friggin insaaaane. we've met with 3 different estate agents and have seen a LOT of crap. i have a feeling we're going to have to head further out in the burbs to get something decent.

we are getting to know the hotel neighborhood pretty well, which is great. we've discovered where to get wine by the bottle not far from the hotel ... but have yet to find an indian wine that we really enjoy. actually i should clarify that. we have yet to find an indian wine that we enjoy AT ALL. we've had a couple and they've been shite. there's also a tiny shop on that same street that is stocked ceiling to floor with american beauty products. thank god.

had dinner at sparkle's apartment last night. she's a canadian writer m met online through the ex-pat community. she cooked a pot roast and potatoes, bread and salad. it was awesome. a home-cooked meal! and neither of us got sick! total bonus. apparently the stomach issues are inevitable, but we've both managed to avoid them so far. knock on wood.

felix (estate agent #3) is late. which we should have expected. everyone is late, all the time, no exaggeration. and they usually don't find it necessary to call ahead to let you know that they are running late. people seem to get out of bed around 11 or 12 (obviously we have yet to meet any office-working people who are rumored to keep 'normal' business hours) and don't eat dinner until 9, and take their sweet-ass time getting anywhere. i'm guessing it has something to do with the traffic and the issue of simply getting around. or it's just another cultural difference to add to the list.