What the...? Strange questions for India experts

vireya · May 5th, 2008, 08:20

Methylated spirits

federica · May 5th, 2008, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by vireya

The mirrors look good, but surely those "reflections" are photoshopped in? Just how well does the mirror really reflect?

Oh, it reflects like a normal mirror. The only difference is: If you put your finger on a "normal" glass mirror, there is a gap between your finger and the reflection in the mirror. On this mirror, there is no gap.

Aishah, now I think the kavi powder is for cleaning the brass parts of the mirror, not for the mirror itself!

freenote · May 5th, 2008, 19:54

and what is the surface of the reflecting part , not the glass , the most common used is mercury , maybe silver ? Both are metallic .Jewellers rouge is the best for "polishing a metallic surface " Nope ,you will just have to go back to kerala !

federica · May 5th, 2008, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by freenote

and what is the surface of the reflecting part , not the glass , the most common used is mercury , maybe silver ? Both are metallic .Jewellers rouge is the best for "polishing a metallic surface " Nope ,you will just have to go back to kerala !

A "normal" mirror is made of silver/mercury coated glass. This mirror is made of polished metal, don't ask me what kind of metal, but no glass... it is unbreakable

kristinm · May 14th, 2008, 16:52

This might be just decorative - or it could have some sort of significance..or it could be some way of infusing the chilli into the lemon. it was, I think, in a village near Jodhpur.. Anyone know?

shashank.aggarwal · May 14th, 2008, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristinm

This might be just decorative - or it could have some sort of significance..or it could be some way of infusing the chilli into the lemon. it was, I think, in a village near Jodhpur.. Anyone know?

It is used to keep away the 'Evil Eye', I guess it is changed every Saturday..

kristinm · May 14th, 2008, 17:22

Well you certainly wouldn't want that in your eye - green chilli and lemon juice! It looks so great I love the colours and the sculptural look,

vireya · May 14th, 2008, 17:30

They look great, don't they? Here's some more info about the nimbu-mirchi (lemon-chili):

http://cybour.50webs.com/elimbu/what_is_elimbu.htm

kristinm · May 14th, 2008, 17:34

Oh my god - e-limbu??? I think I'd rather have the real thing - that's a classic website isn't it? It's charcoal at the bottom.. I was wondering.

machadinha · May 14th, 2008, 23:59

There's this older thread on it, too: 7 chilies and a lemon

vireya · May 15th, 2008, 03:26

And another one:

Lemon & chiles

kristinm · May 15th, 2008, 04:44

I did do a search - but the spelling difference foiled me!! My husband's step-grandfather used to have a mediaeval witches ball hanging over his front door (a beautiful coloured glass ball) - just in case, he said, my husband's mother (his stepdaughter) made an appearance!!!!! Fortunately she is no longer with us, and our house is not the enviable kind, but I'm sure I'll find a use for the lemon and chilli if I think hard enough!

snonymous · May 15th, 2008, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristinm

This might be just decorative - or it could have some sort of significance....

This is to ward off evil. You will see roadside hawkers vending these on Saturdays when people discard the previous weeks chilli lemon and replace it with a new one. On Saturdays you will also notice discarded chilli lemons all over the place. I have also noticed plastic chilli lemons being sold as key chains nowadays. They look quite cute as a cheap souvenir. In Mumbai you see a lot of these. Not sure how popular the concept is elsewhere.

puchoo · May 15th, 2008, 11:23

Delhi has them as well....

Quote:

Originally Posted by snonymous

I have also noticed plastic chilli lemons being sold as key chains nowadays. They look quite cute as a cheap souvenir. In Mumbai you see a lot of these. Not sure how popular the concept is elsewhere.

kristinm · May 15th, 2008, 12:58

I'm not sure about plastic substitutes for things that ward off evil!!! I think evil knows the difference between plastic and the real thing...... M..NYA HA HAAAA (that's supposed to be a Dr Evil type laugh... in case you couldn't work it out!)

May 5th, 2008, 19:54	#108
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,475	and what is the surface of the reflecting part , not the glass , the most common used is mercury , maybe silver ? Both are metallic .Jewellers rouge is the best for "polishing a metallic surface " Nope ,you will just have to go back to kerala ! __________________ eyes ,eyes that have seen all , come back to the white chrysanthemum (Basho)

May 14th, 2008, 16:52	#110
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,280	This might be just decorative - or it could have some sort of significance..or it could be some way of infusing the chilli into the lemon. it was, I think, in a village near Jodhpur.. Anyone know? Attached Thumbnails

May 14th, 2008, 23:59	#115
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,369	There's this older thread on it, too: 7 chilies and a lemon __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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May 5th, 2008, 08:20	#106
vireya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 202	Methylated spirits

May 14th, 2008, 17:22	#112
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,280	Well you certainly wouldn't want that in your eye - green chilli and lemon juice! It looks so great I love the colours and the sculptural look,

May 14th, 2008, 17:30	#113
vireya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 202	They look great, don't they? Here's some more info about the nimbu-mirchi (lemon-chili): http://cybour.50webs.com/elimbu/what_is_elimbu.htm

May 14th, 2008, 17:34	#114
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,280	Oh my god - e-limbu??? I think I'd rather have the real thing - that's a classic website isn't it? It's charcoal at the bottom.. I was wondering.

May 15th, 2008, 03:26	#116
vireya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 202	And another one: Lemon & chiles

May 15th, 2008, 04:44	#117
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,280	I did do a search - but the spelling difference foiled me!! My husband's step-grandfather used to have a mediaeval witches ball hanging over his front door (a beautiful coloured glass ball) - just in case, he said, my husband's mother (his stepdaughter) made an appearance!!!!! Fortunately she is no longer with us, and our house is not the enviable kind, but I'm sure I'll find a use for the lemon and chilli if I think hard enough!

May 15th, 2008, 12:58	#120
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,280	I'm not sure about plastic substitutes for things that ward off evil!!! I think evil knows the difference between plastic and the real thing...... M..NYA HA HAAAA (that's supposed to be a Dr Evil type laugh... in case you couldn't work it out!)

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