I meant this to be about paintball, but it's actually about fast food in India.

Happy Friendship Day. Yes, that's a real holiday here. I don't really know the details, but I guess it's traditionally a holiday that little kids celebrate together, or for college kids to get drunk. I guess it's like Indian Halloween. Except instead of costumes, bracelets are exchanged. Since I got no bracelets, I'll take this to mean I have no friends. To celebrate Friendship, we got a group together for paint ball at the Mariplex, the most American place in Pune. In addition to paint ball, they also have a McDonald's and KFC. I was expecting a McDonald's in India, but I was kind of surprised to find a KFC here. The KFC is super popular as well. I think it's become more popular abroad than it is back in Boston. The French and Germans who tell me over and over how much they despise McDonald's secretly admit to liking KFC. Go figure, right?
While I haven't had any, fast food here is pretty similar to how it is back in the States, except there is no beef. Instead, it's all chicken burgers. McDonald's even sells a vegetarian chicken burger here. Wrap your mind around that one. McD's and KFC are the only only two actual chains that I've seen around here. There is a Burger King, but there is no relationship to the American counter part. I tried it out today. It was pretty bad. It's incredibly cheap, and the only place I know of where you can get actual beef hamburgers. At least, I think it was beef. I'm not really sure. It wasn't anything to write home about, but I guess it is notable enough to blog about.
I haven't really found a reason to eat fast food here. First off, there is nothing fast about India. Everything takes a very long time. Secondly, food here is really cheap. A good meal at a decent restaurant costs Rs. 150, about 3 American. A good lunch can be had for about Rs. 50. People eat out here usually five or six times a week. The places that I've gone to have all been amazing, despite my roommate contracting pretty horrible food poisoning a week ago. Lesson learned: don't drink the milkshakes. Milkshakes are kind of weird here, they're insanely popular, and available in any flavor you could desire. Mango is very popular. In fact, most things are available in Mango flavor in India. I'm becoming pretty partial to Mango corn flakes.