Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tweets from India
Here I've gathered together all my tweets from during my India trip (www.twitter.com/cybersooz). Here are the highlights of the 5 weeks in tiny snippets:
Fantastic send-off party at work with rasmalai, doi, and Indian music... think everyone's trying to put me in an India mood! Thanks, CUE!
10/15/2009 10:47
Cool: Free wireless in the Emirates terminal at JFK! (1st free wireless I've encountered in years! And so the journey begins!
10/17/2009 21:56
Emirates flight attendants wear red pillbox hats and diaphonous scarves that drape from hat to neck: http://bit.ly/1Fqgtc
10/17/2009 22:01
Why don't airlines put outlets in seating areas? Vexes me every time! Why can't travelers have wireless and power at the same time?
10/17/2009 22:04
At ultra-swanky Dubai Aiport after 12.75 hour flight from JFK... phew. 777 is pretty comfy for sleeping, though... One more flight to go!
10/18/2009 12:42
Dubai Airport has free wireless + "Life is Good" battery charging stations = life is good, indeed!
10/18/2009 12:42
Didn't have time to get back online in Dubai, then net access wasn't working 4 me in India till now... will pick up tweets where I left off.
10/19/2009 15:35
Impressive Latte Macchiatto at Dubai Airport, bought Arabic lounge CD, browsed camel-themed & other Arabic handicrafts: http://bit.ly/sVh7a
10/20/2009 01:36
Posted bunch of new blog entries: http://bit.ly/1WxUn (Will start India posts today; too little time!)
10/21/2009 23:58
3am Monday: arrived at Ahmedabad, India after ~16 flying hours + 25.5 hrs total travel time
10/22/2009 04:50
3-4am: Had to pass an H1N1 screening by medical personnel & get thru Indian customs & wait long time for luggage - then taxi to Hotel Ginger
10/22/2009 05:02
4:30am: Met NGO coordinator; received Indian cell phone & Internet instruct'ns; got to sweltering room & couldn't figure out A/C or Internet
10/22/2009 05:04
11am Monday: Met my international team of IBMers (Team Rangoli); had orientation by our NGO coordinators + team-building exercise
10/22/2009 05:05
Mon.PM: team learned to hire rickshaws; death-defying rides to restaurant for traditional "Gujarati Thali" - small dishes on metal platters
10/22/2009 05:16
Mon. PM: Rickshaws to Old City: small spaces, 1000s people, traffic chaos, street markets, sweltering heat... sensory overload!
10/22/2009 05:18
Mon. PM: Team removed shoes & went into a temple (half the group guarded shoes while other half went inside - we've seen Slumdog M. :-)
10/22/2009 05:19
Friendly, inquisitive people in st markets; sometimes women/children beg "dollar dollar rupee rupee"; others fascinated by our foreign group
10/22/2009 05:22
Animal survey, 1st 2 rickshaw rides: stray dogs, mini-donkeys painted w/ pink spots, camel, group of sacred cows eating garbage, 1 elephant
10/22/2009 05:29
Gujarat is celebrating Diwali (Festival of Lights, big as Xmas for us) + Gujarati New Year -- lots of shops closed & people off on holidays
10/22/2009 05:29
Mon. PM: Went w/ Annamari (Finland) & Mapje (Holland) 2 Himalaya Mall next 2 hotel; Mapje bought stylish Indian outfit (her luggage is lost)
10/22/2009 05:54
Mon. evening: team took rickshaws 2 'Law Garden' - checked out colorful Gujarati clothing markets on perimeter, saw camel & donkey rides
10/22/2009 05:56
Mon. evening: temps cooled off to ~90; huge Punjabi Thali platters at "Honest" restaurant chain for < $2; toured handicraft fair + carnival
10/22/2009 05:58
Huge Mystery: Ahmedabad = 9.5 hr later than EDT, yet I DON'T have jetlag?!! Why? I always have jetlag when I go to Europe (6-hr diff)
10/22/2009 06:39
Tues.: 9-person CSC team met our 4 diff. NGO clients: Sewa, Indicorps, Ashoka, Tribal Dev't Dept. of Gujarat - great intros to their visions
10/22/2009 17:42
Tues. PM: Colleague Per (IBM Denmark) & I talked to our client, Tribal Dev Dept of Gujarat, on their vision for a rural ecotourism program
10/22/2009 17:43
Our task this month: Develop plan for a rural ecotourism program involving Gir National Forest (last abode of Asiatic lion) & tribal Siddhis
10/22/2009 17:45
Tues. night: IBM team walked to Vastrapur Lake (hotspot w/ street carts & ppl strolling); ate dosas at restaurant w/ outdoor seating
10/22/2009 17:49
Locals fascinated by us 9 foreigners: 2 US, 2 German, 1 Dutch, 1 Hungarian, 1 Finn, 1 Malaysian, 1 Dane - esp. tall blond Stefan & Annamari
10/22/2009 17:52
We're an oddity: Women tell their children to touch us, man hands Dominik his baby for a photo opp, little girl offers Stefan & Per cookies
10/22/2009 17:54
Wed.: 1st day at our office in Ghandinagar, govt. district 1/2-hr away - met w/ Secretary of Tribal Development (a top official of Gujarat)
10/22/2009 18:28
It's a festival week in Gujarat: Diwali (Festival of Lights) & New Year; many ppl are on holiday & newspapers don't print for 3 days
10/23/2009 13:53
In car on way to Gir Forest in India - several days of research in the lion park & surrounding tribal villages! Not sure of 'net access...
10/25/2009 03:29
@pbeaulieu Check http://bit.ly/1WxUn (slow with the posts/photos though) - very little time to keep up, but trying!
10/25/2009 03:33
Wed. 10/21 AM: Commute to office via highway: Chaos of cars, rickshaws stuffed w/ 7 ppl, motor scooters, water buffalo herd crossing street!
10/26/2009 10:58
Trying to get caught up w/ my time-lagged tweets (from the Gir Forest of India) - let's see if I can bring y'all up to date!
10/26/2009 12:34
Wed. 10/21 noon: TDD driver took me + proj partner Per to S. Indian Sankalp rest'nt; check Per's Super Paper Masala Dosa! http://bit.ly/S1Yx
10/26/2009 13:53
Wed. 10/21 PM: Our Team Rangoli went to another Sankalp rest'nt in Ahmedabad; this time I had Super Paper Masala Dosa: http://bit.ly/2g3r7D
10/26/2009 14:05
"Paper Masala Dosa" = crepe-like cylinder w/ spicy potato filling. Menu has 4' version! Sankalp holds Guinness record: http://bit.ly/269X3v
10/26/2009 14:17
Thurs. 10/22 AM: Driver picked us up in SUV 4 commute 2 TDD office, Gandhinagar. Saw leafy neighborhoods, posh homes (likely guv officials)
10/26/2009 14:28
Ghandinagar, where I work, is the capital of Gujarat and the 2nd planned city in India.
10/26/2009 14:30
Thurs. 10/22: Driver took us to InfoCity: cappuccino @ "Cafe Coffee Day" & Chicken Tikka sub @ Subway - American sandwich, Indian filling!
10/26/2009 14:37
Thurs. 10/22 PM: Our TDD client, Pallavi, is arranging for us to travel to the Gir National Forest next week on a fact-finding mission!
10/26/2009 14:38
Thurs. 10/22 PM: On ride home, traffic worse than I've ever seen; ppl say it's because holidays are over & people have returned to the city
10/26/2009 14:41
Thurs.10/22 PM: 9-IBMer team met to recap our days w/ clients; then Arjun (local pt person) took us all to 'FabIndia' for clothes shopping.
10/27/2009 21:47
Thurs. 10/22 PM: Almost whole team bought nice Indian clothes except for me (even most of the men)! I'll have to keep looking...
10/27/2009 21:48
Thurs. 10/22 PM: Arjun took us to outdoor restaurant specializing in Parathas (filled flatbreads) - delicious! Whole team is into lassis too
10/27/2009 21:49
Fri. 10/23 AM: TDD door guard greets me w/ grin & "Good morning Miss Susanne"; think I made a fan when I snapped his photo the other day!
10/27/2009 21:51
Fri. 10/23 AM: Meeting w/ Secretary of Tribal Dev. Dept. re: Siddhi ecotourism proj; met woman pitching him handicrafts to empower villagers
10/27/2009 21:54
Fri. 10/23 AM: Sec'y sent us to meet head of Gir Foundation (bio/eco research); discussed nature interpretive training for Siddhi tribals
10/27/2009 21:59
Fri. 10/23 noon: Lunch at the Sankalp South Indian restaurant in Info City again; this time I had a flat kind of dosa - yum.
10/27/2009 22:00
Fri. 10/23 PM: Treat: VIP tour of Indroda Nature Park: crocodiles, aviary w/ parrots, amazing Bengal tigers + leopard, impressive dino park!
10/27/2009 22:03
Fri. 10/23 PM: Team ate dinner short walk from hotel; 1st time we've had meat dishes in heavily veg Gujarat. Can't say I've missed it.
10/27/2009 22:04
Sat. 10/24 AM: Big team-building day! Up at 4am; team met at 4:30am: private driver/van to Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary 60km away by dawn.
10/27/2009 22:05
Sat. 10/24 AM: Met by dozen lake boatmen; Annamari negotiated them down a bit on boat prices; they rushed us to boats, saying "hurry hurry"
10/27/2009 22:07
Sat. 10/24 AM: Serene tour of lake; saw flamingos, egrets, and sunrise. Our boatman let me "drive"! http://bit.ly/2H296o
10/27/2009 22:47
Sat. 10/24 AM: Asked driver to stop @ village: villagers faced w/ 9
foreigners suddenly dropping in; may as well have been aliens from Mars
10/29/2009 15:19
Sat. 10/24 AM: Village: nice Hindu temple, primitive dwellings. Kids excited 2 have photos taken; invited into home to see woman bake bread
10/29/2009 15:20
Sat.10/24 AM: At the village: http://bit.ly/1JRSmn
10/29/2009 22:12
Sat. 10/24 AM: Toured Sarkhej Roja, ca. 1451 Islamic tomb/palace/mosque near Ahmedabad; kids followed, kept asking for 'ball pen'
10/29/2009 22:14
Sat. 10/24 AM: Delightful mother & child at Sarkhej Roja; the woman
asked my name. The pretty little girl is Aminah: http://bit.ly/2kxn8c
10/29/2009 22:15
Sat.10/24 PM: Visited Adalaj Stepwell - gorgeous uniquely Gujarati architectural phenomenon blt by Queen Rudabai 1499: http://bit.ly/HkfP5
10/29/2009 22:17
Sat. 10/24 PM: Team next went to Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, Gandhi's home base for many yrs: http://bit.ly/2OiNsQ
10/29/2009 22:31
Sat. 10/24 PM: Bought some Indian tops @ Himalaya Mall next door! Next: team dinner across street, then collapsed after long, full day
10/29/2009 22:32
Sun. 10/25 AM: Typical Indian breakfast @ Ginger Hotel: papaya, Nescafe instant coffee, dosa with sambar dipping sauce, lentil pancakes
10/29/2009 22:34
Sun. 10/25 10AM: Driver & TDD consultant Ajay picked up Per Jorgensen (DK) & me for 7-hr journey to Sasan Gir, last home of Asiatic Lion
10/29/2009 22:37
Sun. 10/25 AM: Well-paved 4-lane hwy went thru pharma high-tech triangle, then out to flat countryside - farmland for crops & cattle grazing
10/29/2009 22:38
Sun. 10/25 PM: Stopped at Chouki Danni, a Rajasthani-themed vacation park, for lunch -- part of our research into ecoparks/attractions
10/29/2009 22:39
Sun. 10/25 3PM: Stopped at roadside near Junagadh for fresh coconut water from street vendor: man hacks top off coconut & sticks in a straw
10/29/2009 22:40
Sun. 10/25 PM: Near Junagadh, the flat Gujarati landscape transforms into an area of some high hills/mountains with temples at the top
10/29/2009 22:40
Sun. 10/25 PM: Last half-hr of journey is harrowing: farm vehicles, trucks, motorbikes, livestock, villagers on road after dark w/ no lights
10/29/2009 23:12
Sun. 10/25 PM: After 9 hours, arrived @ Sinh Sadan Forest Lodge @ entrance to jungle. Built 1911 by a Nawab. Spacious, but quite dirty.
10/29/2009 23:16
Sun. 10/25 PM: At reception, heard lion roar! Lodge ppl say it's ailing lioness kept in enclosure - not expected 2 survive. Heartbreaking.
10/29/2009 23:18
Sun. 10/25 PM: Sasan Gir main drag: stalls, few restaurants, cows. Found place 2 eat but cows doing cow stuff outside = nervous re: food.
10/29/2009 23:21
Sun. 10/25 PM: Gujarati Thali was good. Still nervous about livestock doing their business right up to open-air restaurants though!
10/29/2009 23:21
Sun. 10/25 PM: In the jungle, the mighty jungle The lion sleeps tonight... A-weema-weh A-weema-weh....
10/29/2009 23:28
Sun. 10/25 PM: Sasan Gir Forest is last abode of the Asiatic lion. Once found across much of Asia (& used by Romans at Coliseum), 359 remain
10/29/2009 23:28
Mon. 10/26 around 5AM: Awakened by sounds of jungle concert: Birds heralding dawn, insects chirping, and the lioness roaring/growling
10/29/2009 23:30
Mon. 10/26 AM: Met with Forest Lodge officials; talked to influential community leader Ami Doshi who set us up with a guide to the area.
10/29/2009 23:30
Mon. 10/26 PM Our guide, Bharadbhai, takes us around to many hotels/safari camps in area so we can survey owners re: tourism
10/29/2009 23:31
Mon. 10/26 PM: Saw ~15 monkeys hilariously romping around lodge grounds! Now I know why parents say "stop monkeying around." A joy to watch!
10/29/2009 23:32
Mon. 10/26 PM: Took monkey photos until one menacingly bared his teeth at me - made me back off, fast! One baby monkey was a real clown!
10/29/2009 23:34
Mon. 10/26 PM: The monkeys were a delight - could have watched them monkey around for hours! Lounging monkey: http://bit.ly/3ySGe8
10/30/2009 01:08
Tues. 10/27 6 AM: Stood in line to get permit for Gir Forest & to arrange jeep. Foreigners pay lot more than domestic (2K Rupees vs. 400).
10/30/2009 01:09
Tues. 10/27 6:45 AM: Open jeep safari through Gir Forest, home of last 359 remaining Asiatic lions (up from 15 in early 1900s b4 protection)
10/30/2009 01:31
Tues. 10/27 AM: Peacocks, birds, Chital (spotted deer), horselike Blue Bulls, termite mounds, Maldhari (cattle herder) village- but no lions
10/30/2009 01:36
Tues. 10/27 AM: Male Chital (spotted deer) in Sasan Gir Forest: http://bit.ly/4vrIyN
10/30/2009 02:07
Tues. 10/27 AM: Maldhari woman (Maldharis are cattle herders who co-exist with the lions, inside the Gir Forest): http://bit.ly/28axVb
10/30/2009 03:47
Tues. 10/27 PM: Continued survey of budget hotels, farm lodgings, high-end resort & upscale tent safari hotel. Lunch @ Amidhara resort.
10/30/2009 03:49
Tues. 10/27 PM: Fishing port Veraval: colorful, chaotic, smelly, rough (w/ stray sickly dogs): http://bit.ly/1ba6yl & http://bit.ly/2KehTg
10/30/2009 04:37
Tues. 10/27 PM: Also saw huge ship-building going on; large vessels being built of teak wood: http://bit.ly/1RIi6c
11/1/2009 11:59
Tues. 10/27 PM: Drove to Somnath to see famous Hindu temple on the coastline; my first time seeing the Arabian Sea: http://bit.ly/Y5UQ4
11/1/2009 12:06
Tues. 10/27 PM: Met w/ woman who's Mamlatdar (officer in exec charge of a taluka, collection of towns) to discuss rural ecotourism vision.
11/1/2009 21:23
Tues. 10/27 PM: "Kathiawari"-style thali dinner @ remote, generator-powered, safari-style farm hotel w/ tents -- part of our research
11/1/2009 21:23
Wed. 10/28 AM: In wee hours, heard footsteps. Woke w/ fright & wondered if there were intruders. Then realized it was coming from the roof!
11/1/2009 21:24
Wed. 10/28 7AM: More noise; ran outside 2 see monkeys running along roof & grooming each other: http://bit.ly/3vBSmb & http://bit.ly/ycnvg
11/1/2009 21:48
Wed. 10/28 AM: Met w/ AKRSP NGO (Aga Khan Rural Support Programme) re: livelihood enhancement programs they are doing w/ Siddhi tribal ppl
11/1/2009 21:51
Wed. 10/28: AKRSP guys went w/ me & Per to 2 pure Siddhi (descendants of African slaves) tribal villages & 1 mixed village to interview ppl
11/1/2009 21:53
Wed. 10/28 PM: At Jambur, met town matriarch Hirbai Lobi - inspiring leader, many awards 4 her efforts 4 her tribal ppl: http://bit.ly/Hv4wf
11/1/2009 22:07
Wed. 10/28 PM: Hirbai gave tour of her Siddhi village: mud homes, mosque, schoolhouse, water tower, preschool, even computer center w/ 2 PCs
11/1/2009 22:15
More about this impressive village matriarch Hirbaiben Lobi:
http://bit.ly/3ihgHD
11/2/2009 06:13
Wed. 10/28 PM: Next stop: Siddhi village Sirvan. Poorer. Mud huts w/thatched roofs - but some have satellite dishes! http://bit.ly/2QBveH
11/2/2009 08:48
Wed. 10/28 PM: Next, Surwa which has some Siddhi families. Met man who rec'd/improved 2 acres, took us 2 see his fields http://bit.ly/1NQH3P
11/2/2009 16:34
When going pt A to pt B, one sometimes faces water buffalo horns
http://bit.ly/2N2xaP, sometimes water buffalo butts! http://bit.ly/2WfWH5
11/2/2009 16:37
Thurs. 10/29 AM: Open-window bus thru Devalia - 16km 'zone' inside Gir Forest where 15 lions kept - saw 3 lionesses! http://bit.ly/2kOlzA
11/2/2009 22:30
Thurs. 10/29 PM: 7-hr drive from Gir Forest to Ahmedabad. On way, our driver was hit in face by 2 policeman 4 crossing ambiguous barricade!
11/2/2009 22:33
Thurs. 10/29 PM: To pass overturned truck on your side of hwy: cross median 2 wrong side, drive wrong way for 2 km, then back to your side!
11/2/2009 22:34
Fri. 10/30: Work-from-hotel day, writing up Gir Forest visit notes. Break for lunch at Himalaya Mall McDonalds: Chicken Maharaja Mac!
11/2/2009 22:37
Fri. 10/30 PM: CSC team of 9 left in van w/ private driver for Udaipur in Rajasthan for weekend trip. Took about 4.5 hrs.
11/2/2009 22:39
Fri. 10/30 night: Team relaxed w/ drinks on rooftop terrace overlooking Lake Pichola, w/ illuminated floating palaces. http://bit.ly/4CvISy
11/2/2009 22:45
Sat. 10/31: Hired English-speaking guide: Hindu Jagdish Temple, City Palace complex, boat ride on lake to Jagmandir island, Nehru Garden
11/2/2009 22:48
Sat. 10/31: Udaipur = nice change from Ahmedabad: much less traffic & chaos, breathable air. Only downside: lots of touts hard-selling wares
11/2/2009 22:51
Sat. 10/31 PM: Lake Palace hotel features in Bond film 'Octopussy'.
Beautiful sunset from rooftop terrace, Tiger Hotel: http://bit.ly/CoVC7
11/2/2009 22:58
Sat.10/31 PM: About half the team went to a "Haveli" near our hotel for a fabulous Rajasthani folk dance show: http://bit.ly/3ASMis
11/3/2009 22:34
Sun. 11/1 AM: Explored Udaipur on foot, then drove N to temple complex ruins @ Eklingji - like out of Indiana Jones! http://bit.ly/4kE6BX
11/3/2009 22:46
Sun. 11/1 PM: More walking exploration of Udaipur (photos/shopping); got pooped on by pigeon & team had to clean it out of my hair (thanks)
11/3/2009 22:48
Sun. 11/1 4 PM: 5-hour ride back to Ahmedabad; arrived late at night
11/3/2009 22:53
I've had a cold for several days, so has Per. Eva also not too well... and 4 members of team have had 'Delhi Belly' (I've escaped so far)
11/3/2009 22:54
Mon. 11/2: TDD Client holiday today, so Per & I worked all day from hotel.
11/3/2009 22:55
Much progress encapsulating lessons from visit 2 Sasan Gir & forming recommendations. Learning LOT from Per re: consulting methods.
11/3/2009 22:58
Tues. 11/3: Worked today at TDD office in Ghandinagar. Lots to do for next week's final deliverables.
11/3/2009 22:59
Tues. 11/3: I was shocked to find this little guy using the toilet at work as his personal swimming pool! http://bit.ly/k72G8
11/4/2009 14:28
Tues. 11/3 PM: Rangoli team indulged its meat cravings at BBQ Nation -- after eating all-veg-all-the-time for weeks: http://bit.ly/4DWrjn
11/4/2009 14:34
Wed. 11/4: Lizard still in toilet @ office; offered him rescue twig when I realized he couldn't get out. Think he made it outside again ok.
11/4/2009 14:37
Wed. 11/4: Interim reviews w/ Tribal Dev Dept client. Here are 2 lovely ladies, Pallavi & Aashiya, from TDD: http://bit.ly/3TbSkL
11/4/2009 14:42
Wed. 11/4 PM: Sari, anyone? Huge selection at handicrafts/clothing emporium: http://bit.ly/v4A25
11/4/2009 14:57
Very good thing I'm taking my malaria meds faithfully; the only night I opted 4 sandals (in Udaipur) each foot/ankle got 20++ moquito bites!
11/5/2009 02:02
Saw monkeys on the commute to work today! The driver stopped so I could snap a couple pics: http://bit.ly/3myoCo
11/5/2009 22:13
Traditional Gujarati dinner w Team Rangoli & Arjun - sat on ground, ate food on banana leaves: http://bit.ly/1av6NC and
http://bit.ly/3IgAY8
11/5/2009 22:44
Laptop is not liking the heat in India... had spontaneous shutoffs 3x now (I think due to overheating)... unhappy laptop = unhappy Susanne
11/6/2009 11:48
New blog post re: my CSC India team: http://bit.ly/4miR9S
11/6/2009 11:49
Long day of work today: deliverables due to clients next week + final presentations + 2 IBM PR-related presentations = lotta work!
11/6/2009 11:50
Presented @ IBM India Press Conf today re: CSC projects; waiting to see if articles hit the India press tmw. ~1 million photos shot of team.
11/9/2009 07:33
Our IBM CSC work for Gujarat Tribal Dev. Dept. made it to front page of Times of India! http://bit.ly/1Udkm
11/10/2009 05:07
David Letterman is on Indian TV at 1 am; wonder how well his humor translates?
11/10/2009 14:33
Made it nearly a month w/ no stomach issues, but now hit w/ Delhi Belly & fever (and a flight to Bangalore tomorrow).
11/11/2009 11:54
Friday daytime: Toured various cool IBM labs in Bangalore, which are right next to Microsoft & Yahoo.
11/14/2009 13:07
Fri. PM: IBM India threw big CSC wrapup party/event in Bangalore. Had to give an intro to our team. Our Rangoli Team's video was a HUGE hit!
11/14/2009 13:09
Today, flew Bangalore to Delhi, met private driver for 5-hr drive to Agra. Saw grey ghost of Taj Mahal in the dusk/fog/smog - incredible.
11/14/2009 13:09
Super-excited about visiting Taj Mahal! Weather here in Agra is bad though (grey, might rain), so there won't be real good pics :-(
11/14/2009 13:11
Visited Taj Mahal at dawn yesterday -- breathtaking... words simply cannot do it justice. Taj slowly vanished into mist/fog like a ghost.
11/16/2009 13:26
Also visited Agra Fort (incredible) and Fatehpur Shikri, fascinating abandoned town built by Emperor Akbar ~1570
11/16/2009 13:31
In Jaipur, Rajasthan today... rode an elephant uphill to Amber Fort -- not as easy as I expected!
11/16/2009 13:33
The elephant sneezed twice -- spewing big sneeze drops all over me, my glasses, my camera lens - yikes!
11/18/2009 08:05
Jaipur's Amber Fort was amazing: red sandstone battlements, courtyards, mosaics, mirrored palace rooms.
11/18/2009 08:17
Had huge Rajasthani Thali (stainless tray with little dishes, from soup to dessert) for lunch: http://bit.ly/33D0NN
11/18/2009 08:27
Explored bazaars of Jaipur afternoon: kilometers of stalls with aggressive vendors -- have to steel yourself for the experience beforehand!
11/18/2009 09:09
'Madam, madam, pashmina, wall hanging, saree? What you like? Come inside, just 1 minute, free to look. Give me 1 min" (Repeat 500x = bazaar)
11/18/2009 09:11
Tues.: Drove to Jodhpur via Pushkar -- spiritual town popular w/ hippies. Lots of flies, touts,& 'priests' wanting money for blessings.
11/20/2009 14:32
Wed.: Day in Jodhpur - amazing medieval Fort of the Maharajas - spectacular!
11/20/2009 14:33
Thurs.: 10-hour train ride on Indian Railways back to Ahmedabad. Very tiring, but not as bad as we had feared.
11/20/2009 14:33
Today: Last day in Ahmedabad, last day in India! Lots of shopping! Fun and stress. Looking forward to being home, but not the 24+-hr trip!
11/20/2009 14:33
See y'all back in the good ol' US of A!
11/20/2009 14:34
At Dubai airport: 2.5 hrs behind me & about 15 hrs of flight time ahead of me. 30-or-so hrs of travel time in total! On no sleep :-(
11/20/2009 22:44
The wall clocks here are Rolex brand! That's Dubai Airport for you....
11/20/2009 22:45
Thought I could spend a flight delay browsing flickr, but UAE disagreed: http://bit.ly/5aWThx
11/20/2009 23:01
Wondering which of these categories UAE considers Flickr falling into: http://www.etisalat.ae/assets/document/blockcontent.pdf
11/23/2009 08:06
Missing my daily zoo fix: no camels, monkeys, water buffalo, cows or elephants around! So quiet too: no millions of ppl or blaring horns!
11/25/2009 10:36
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