The End of this Blog -

This is the last post for Running with Scissors (post #132).

I started this blog to stay in touch with family, friends and coworkers while on my temporary work assignment in India. Now that my trip is over ... so, too, this blog comes to an end.

I had thought of continuing it ... I've kinda got hooked on blogging a little bit ... but doing so would only dilute this particular blog's purpose. So, when I decide to blog agaiin - it will be a different name and such.

Explore this blog - take a look at all the pictures and adventures. Look at the archives ... and use the tag cloud in the right margin to view posts about a particular topic.

a Final Group Photo

Right before leaving Pune (and after the rooftop bon voyage celebration), we took a group photo of the team ... this was shot in the lobby of the office.

Categories: Pune_team

Pictures from Pune

My last day with the Pune team ended with a little rooftop celebration of our time together. They got some sodas, sandwiches (you'll be able to see me feeding my face in one of these photos) and some sweet mango treats ... YUM ...





This is me with the Pune team's leader here ...



(Always feeding my face ... )

Categories: Pune_team

The Long Flight Out (Part 4) - I'm Home

The layover in Frankfurt was fine (just wish I had some toiletries, though) ... and was back on the plane heading home on time.

After another eight hours or so, I'm landing in the US ... meet up with the Mrs. ... and we're heading home.

First order of business: a nice hot shower!

Then dinner and unpacking and sleeping.

I'm home ... and all is well.

Categories: journey, home

The Long Flight Out (Part 3)

Thankfully when flying business class you have your own "special line" ... just makes it a whole lot easier.

I get up to the counter ... and am told that I am only allowed one carry on ... "But this is my carryon and the other is the laptop." ... This was the rule of the airline (I checked their website before heading to Mumbai just to be sure) ... but NOOOOOO ... flying out of Mumbai, everyone is only allowed one bag and one bag only.

AND ... I was told that passengers were not allowed any (none, nada, zip, ziltch) toiletries or toothpaste in any of the carry on baggage ... At least when I was flying out I was able to carry one small, clear ziploc baggie that had small sample sizes of toiletries. Not when flying out of Mumbai ... it ALL has to be in the checked luggage.

So, I have to go all the way back to where the x-ray machines are for the checked luggage ... I swap some things around between the two bags making sure that I have a change of clothes with me just in case ... and proceed to check a third bag for the flight home.

Go through security (which is a serious pat-down job by a very serious looking military officer, who is flanked by another officer dude weapon at the ready) ... and I am at the gate ready to get onboard.

The flight to Frankfurt is about 8 and-a-half hours ... I manage to get some sleep (FINALLY!), watch a movie (White Christmas, the one with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye), and get to Germany without any problems.

Now it is a four-hour layover in Frankfurt.

Categories: journey, Mumbai, baggage, Frankfurt

The Long Flight Out (Part 2)

Taking a flight out of an Indian airport is ... ummm ... interesting, to say the least.

As we pulled up to the curb, three guys come rushing toward the car - open the doors - get a wheeled cart - load up my suitcases onto the cart - and they're off taking me to the entrance. I really should have expected this ... but with it being nearly midnight (and after a full day's work) and a bit bleary-eyed and foggy-headed, I just didn't realize until too late ... these three guys were not airport employees. They rushed the car in order to make a couple of bucks.

They stop by the door to the terminal ... one of the three guys wraps his arms around the cart containing the suitcases; the other one stands right in front of me; the third one (off to my side) tells me to pay them in euros. (I don't have euros ... only a couple of dollars and a bunch of rupees).

Sizing up the situation, I reach into my pocket and pull out a 500 rupee note (about $10 US), give it to the guy on my side, bump the guy away from the cart and call for the security officer in a loud voice ... and I'm pushing the cart away from these three characters. Sheesh! ... Okay ... I'm in the airport now.

Before heading to the counter, all passengers must have their baggage screened (only that which they will check for the flight). I went through this once before when going to Delhi ... you put the suitcase onto the belt and it gets xrayed. When it emerges, two security officers wrap a belt around the suitcase and secure it tightly ... the idea is that you cannot open the suitcase without breaking the seal on this belt. With my two suitcases ready to be checked I go find the counter to check into my flight.

Categories: journey, Mumbai

The Long Flight Out (Part 1)

Leaving Mumbai was an adventure ... to say the least. Arrived at the airport at midnight (local time) for a 3:25 am flight out to Frankfurt.

Getting to Mumbai was a little bit of an adventure ... I had a driver arranged to pick me up from the hotel at 8:00pm local time. So, with my bags all packed I'm waiting outside ... 8 o'clock ... 8:02 ... 8:04 ... hmmmm ...

A friend offered her cellphone for me to call the company the driver was coming from. "Ten minutes." was the curt reply.

8:10 ... 8:12 ... 8:16 ... still no driver pulling up. Called again. "The driver is there." ... he must have pulled into the driveway of the hotel right next to me (a common mistake). ... Sure enough ... I find the car ... BUT ... No driver!

Running around asking anyone who's nearby if they are my driver or if they know where the driver is ... Oh ... he went for some tea, I was told. I AM IN A PANIC. There's a car with no driver and I have a plane to catch to get back home ... this is not a good sign.

I'm sure it was only one or two minutes ... but it seemed like much longer ... My driver walks up the hotel driveway and the doorman of this hotel descends on him explaining and gesturing that I'm waiting for him.

We load up the car and off we go.

I notice that there is less than 1/8 of a tank of fuel. Leaning over I ask, "Do we have enough petrol to get to Mumbai?" The driver just nods ... this isn't a good sign ... "Do you speak English?" ... only very little. ... So, this time I don't ask; I tell him: "You will stop to get petrol." And each time I saw a gas station I would tell him to pull over to fill up the tank. He eventually did ... thank goodness ... I was having visions of running out of gas somewhere along the Pune/Mumbai Expressway with no hope of rescue.

The drive to Mumbai is little more than three hours ... along a twisty-turny, six-lane highway that moves through the mountains. I think this guy averages 100 kilometers per hour for most of the drive ... and then ... BAM! We hit traffic in Mumbai, slowing to a crawl.

We finally get to the Mumbai airport and get to the departures terminal.

Categories: journey, Mumbai

The Last Post from India

This is post #125! and it will be my last one sitting here in India. I've enjoyed writing about all of my adventures (and misadventures, too) ... this was a fun way to document my trip and the experiences I've had. I hope that you stalwart few who have been following this blog have enjoyed it as well ...

Things will be rather hectic for me tomorrow (Friday) as I wrap things up and pack and get myself to Mumbai for the long flight to home.

So, what have I learned from this experience ... ? ...

Way too much to put into one whole post, but here are a few parting thoughts ...

• India is a country of incredible contrasts - which can be jarring at times to this US-guy ... It is a place where things just sort of happen at their own pace - sometimes it is fast, bordering on insane (like driving), and other times it is quite slow and deliberate. Just take it all in stride; and as Douglas Adams says in The Hitchiker's Guide: "Don't Panic."
• Courtesy and good manners go a long way. Maybe we should all stand when others walk into the room or approach your table.
• Family is the heart of a person's life ... work hard, play harder and always make time to spend with your family ...
• Celebrate other's talents ... cheer, applaud, whistle, laugh and dance ... life's too short to be on the sidelines. Get in there and just dance . And invite others to do the same.
• Add a little spice by ... well ... adding a little spice. I've come to enjoy Indian food quite a bit.

All in all I've enjoyed my time here ... I am glad and grateful for this opportunity and experience ... I hope to put what I've learned to good use ... and I'm ready to go home.

Namaste

Last Night in Pune - And for Dinner I Had ...

Can you believe it?! ... I'm having a hard time myself - this 6-week assignment has come to an end. And this is my last night in Pune (maybe I'll return some day ... I really wouldn't mind at all ...)

I've come to enjoy the people here and this city ... it's a big city but it has a "small town" feel in many ways. Yet it is the people here who have made a lasting impression on me.

I know that I've mentioned this before ... and it bears repeating ... they all have been so generous toward me - generous with their time, friendship and human spirit. I will indeed miss them all - as I now count them among my friends as well as colleagues. THAT is definitely a bonus for me.

And what did I have as my last dinner here in Pune? ... Picture this scene ...

I'm in the hotel here and their special is named: Juan's Paella

Hokayyyy ... an Indian hotel serving paella ... you know I have to try it! ... and it was quite good, too. ... Sure, it had some distinct Indian spices kind of thrown in for good measure .... but hey! I felt so multicultural.

Categories: Pune, dinner, Pune+team

"A Day of Infamy" - December 7th - Memories of Dad

Today (12/7) is "Pearl Harbor Day" ... once so strong a part of the US psyche that now is fading into a distant memory ...

And once again, I am thinking of my father.

Yesterday, while doing a little shopping, I had remarked in passing to my friends accompanying me that my Dad was in India in 1945. And how it must have been an incredible experience for him back then ... as this has been an incredible experience for me today.

My journey home will begin tomorrow (Friday) evening as I leave Pune to go to Mumbai ... and then to fly back home. And OH! the memories I will cherish from my time here in India.

Categories: Pearl+Harbor+Day, Dad, home

Danged Pigeons!

The window sill outside my bedroom is cracked, and it eventually caved in. It's hollow underneath; and so a family of pigeons has taken up residence right outside my window.

All night long I'm hearing the cooooooo and chirps of these danged birds.

And tonight's dinner special was tandoori quail ... there's an odd silence outside my bedroom window tonight. ... ... hmmmm.

Maybe my noisy neighbors were actually ... well ... they looked like awfully large "quail" on my plate ... ...

Categories: hotel, dinner

Another Rooftop Birthday Party

Must be a tradition here ... have a birthday - go to the roof ...

Today was the birthday of another team member here in Pune. We go up to the roof of the office building (really cool view of the Pune skyline!) to have a quick little celebration ... with some snack food available for all.

One of the foods was a pastry puff filled with veggies ... I ask what its name is ... "What do you call this?" ... thinking that it's something like a samosa ...

"A veggie puff," was the reply. ... ... Needless to say we all had a good laugh on me for that one.

Categories: birthday, cuisine

I Can't Believe It ... Nearing an End

Has it really been six weeks since I've been here in India? Whoa Boy! ... what a trip ... what an experience ... it seems as though the time has just flown by ... of course, it has been difficult being so far away from home and family (at times it was rather difficult).

I really don't think that I would have been able to focus on my assignment and the work required here without the incredible, loving support of my family through all of this. I am quite a lucky man ... no question about that!

Today and tomorrow (Wednesday and Thursday) will be finishing up work here with the Pune team ... and then I have to pack ... and late Friday I'll head over to Mumbai to begin my journey home ... arriving in the US on Saturday.

Categories: travel, home, wrapping+up

Saying Goodbye to Delhi and Going Back to Pune (Part 10)

My Delhi tour wrapped up around 3:30-4:00pm local time and it was back to the airport there. .... now I'm thinking that since the guy here in Pune who had originally made all the arrangements - since he cancelled my tour because of the misunderstanding from the morning's conversation ... did he also cancel my flight? ... here comes that pit in my stomach again.

But all was well ... Whew!

Grabbed a snack at the airport, read a bit, then boarded the plane when announced.

Two hours later I was back in Pune and was taken to the hotel here ... arriving around midnight. ... Called home to tell them I was back safe and sound ... and made my confession to my wife about the Kashmir rug ... "Oh?!? (pause) Okay ... (another pause) Where are we going to put it?" ... I'm not in the doghouse (too much) ... "As long as you're safe ... and get home safely ... That's all that's important to me."

Through it all, this weekend's trip was a vast mixture of extreme highs and excitement and extreme lows ... with some awe, frustration, fascination and fun all thrown in for good measure. I'm glad I made this trip.

Categories: Delhi

A Visit to Kashmir in Delhi (Part 9)

The very last stop in Delhi was to a family-owned and operated "factory" in Delhi. The family is from Kashmir and they specialize in making rugs and pashmini ... based on the traditional way of doing it in Kashmir.

I was taken into their factory and showroom and they showed me how they make their rugs. Kashmir rugs are single-knotted (Persion rugs are typically double-knotted) ... made from wool or silk or both ... and the wool used is actually from Kashmir ... when it's sold in the US, the spelling gets changed to 'Cashmere' ... which is the softest around. ... What makes Kashmir wool so soft is that they'll only use the wool from the underside of the Ibex's neck and underbelly ... so it takes quite a few animals to collect enough wool to make something.

After learning how they make their rugs, then I was shown a wide array of the rugs in their factory ... that was a treat! ... I was sitting in their 'showroom' and they bring over some green tea that was infused with herbs and some biscuits (we'd call them cookies in the US) ... then the show began.

Each rug was brought out rolled into a bolt ... the man would stand at the opposite end of the room from me ... then he'd pause and then bow ... when he bowed he'd basically unfurl the rug so that it rolled toward me. So, rug after rug ... bow and unfurl ... one after another ... it was quite a show.

And My Goodness! These are beautiful works of art!

Okay - I bought one (had to make a confession to my wife back home) ... which although it was a little more money than I would have liked to spend ... it is just something that could never be bought back in the US (and if we ever did buy it back home it would cost many more times what I spent here). And through some arrangement with the Delhi government these cottage industries are free from taxes ... which could range anywhere from 15-18% ... and can be shipped overseas at no additional charge.

So in about two weeks time our Kashmir rug will be arriving at our doorstep back home. And I really think that we're going to hang it on the wall ... it is after all a beautiful work of art.

Categories: Delhi, Kashmir+rug, shopping

Hindu Temple (Delhi Part 8)

My second to last stop in my whirlwind tour of Delhi was a Hindu temple ... and there is a special story to this particular one.

It is the first temple to allow outcastes to enter it ... It was inaugurated and dedicated by Mahatma Gandhi ... and his stipulation for doing so was that the temple should be open to all humanity, no matter their class.

One man built this temple as an act of charity and generosity (sorry - don't remember his name) ... it seems that all the men in his family would die when they reached 45 years old. Believing that there was a curse involved, the man sought out a guru to find out if there was anything he could do. The guru instructed him to perform an act of pure generosity and charity for all people ... and so this temple was built.

It is actually an entire complex that includes the temple, a hospital, an orphanage, a school and a pilgrimage center. By the time all of it was completed and opened to the public, this man was 89 years old. He lived a little bit longer ... building more temples in other cities ... and he eventually died at the ripe old age of 97.

This man's family still maintains the temple and its precints to this very day. They set aside 20% of their income each year toward its upkeep and operations. The city of Delhi does not have to pay for anything ... and it remains open to all.





No photos are allowed inside the temple ... had to check my camera at the door ... but the experience was quite incredible ... there are intricate carvings all over the place with many shrines to the Hindu gods and goddesses. My guide spent a great deal of time explaining the symbolism of the statues ... why they were holding certain objects, why they were dressed in a particular fashion, and so on.

 

Categories: Delhi, Hindu+Temple

The Red Fort (Delhi Part 7)

Delhi is also famous for the Red Fort ... so called because ... ummm ... it's red. Actually made of red sandstone that was part of the Moghul empire (the fort, not the sandstone ... sorry for the confused sentence construction here).

Apparently there's a bit of competition between Delhi and Agra in that my guide in Agra would say things like, "When you see the Red Fort in Delhi you will see how much smaller it is compared to the fort here in Agra."

Unfortunately, I was not able to go inside to see for myself.

Two years ago there was a terrorist attack here, which has closed the fort to tourists. It is a fully operational military installation in Delhi to this day.



From this picture you can get a sense of the scale of this building.

 

Categories: Delhi, Red+Fort

Samadhi of Mahatma Ghandi (Part 6)

The RajGhat is a very sacred place in Delhi as it is the location of Mahatma Ghandi's funeral after his assisination in 1949. This park is probably among the best kept and manicured I've ever seen. The entrance is down a sloping road ... so you're actually entering the park at the low end of its slope. Among the hustle and bustle of a city like Delhi (15.7 million people live in the city!) ... this park was very quiet. Would never have known I was in the heart of a huge city.



This photo was taken from a walkway bridge looking down at the place where Ghandi was cremated. The black marble (with the floral wreaths) is the exact location. And there is an eternal flame right by its side.

Ghandi was, as you probably know, the father of India in that he led the Quit India movement through to her independence from British rule.




I have always been an admirer of Ghandi. And certainly one of the most wonderful parts of this trip was to come here - to this quiet place.

Here in Pune, at the Aga Khan palace, Ghandi's ashes are interred. I took a day trip to the palace my first weekend here ... so I felt that coming here to the RajGhat in Delhi was like completing a circle of some kind.

 

Categories: Delhi, Gandhi

The Lotus Temple in Delhi (Part 5)

The Lotus Temple - so called because it looks like ... well ... a lotus flower - is a temple of the B'hai faith. And it is a place of pilgrimage as well.



I, as a nonbeliever, am not allowed into the temple itself ... so I posed for this photos just outside the temple precints.

 

Categories: Delhi, Lotus+Temple

Delhi Peace Monument (Part 4)

Next stop was the peace monument in Delhi, which is actually a memorial shrine to the Janists - which are a small religious sect fashioned after Budhism. Entering the monument area - of course sans shoes ... and this time I had to remove my belt because it was leather - you walk through gardens that also contain marble plaques and such.

This bas relief is of a lionness suckling a calf and a cow suckling a lion cub. The symbolism reminded me a lot of Isaiah - where the lion shall lie down with the lamb ... a universal symbol of peace. And how appropos that that thought should come to mind given that this Sunday was the first Sunday in Advent.



The peace monument itself sits ontop of a hill. No photos are allowed of the monument because it is a holy shrine. The monument is a statue of a famous Janist prophet and teacher, sitting like Budha in the lotus position - to posture of peace.

But I was able to take a couple of photos from the hillside shrine looking out over the city of Delhi.



And here's the minaret I was just visiting, viewed from the peace monument hillside. You can really see how tall it is.

 

Categories: Delhi, minaret, peace+monument, Advent