I have been asked by other's if I would go again and I tell them I would go in a heartbeat. I loved India and most of the people we met. My favourite things were all of the different cars and other vehicles. I love driving the right hand drive car. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think the fact that the place seemed kind of messy and unfinished made me think that it wasn't too pretty to mess up or to leave my footprint on the carpet as I walked in. I could never handle the hagling with the shopkeepers without Ranveer, unless maybe I were to learn Hindi and possibly get a tan.
I think import/export of refurbished motorcycles, autorickshaws, and motorcycles would be a great idea as a business. They don't tend to keep private vehicles long and labor involved in tearing them down and building them back would be much cheaper than shipping them here and rebuilding here.
I am now looking for a traveling position with a company with an interational presence. If you hear of anything, shoot me a message.
Monday, June 29, 2009
April 4-5, 2009 Enroute New Delhi to Chicago
I had to settle on veg meal then veg snack on the plane. Kid sitting next to me is about 12 or 13 and he pretty much was on my arm the whole time he slept. His dad finaly came around and put a donut pillow on him which helped. I watched Story Time for 2nd time, Valkarye, Yes Man, 2 different 30 Rock episodes and all but thelast 20 minutes of Marley and Me.
We got to Chicago on time and had to exit thru customs (they checked our passports and boarding passes), get our bags, turn in our customs forms, turn bags back in around the corner without ID or tickets, get on the train to domestic terminals and back through the metal detectors.
We ate at Chili's. We didn't really want breakfast, but that's all anybody had until 10am.
We got to Chicago on time and had to exit thru customs (they checked our passports and boarding passes), get our bags, turn in our customs forms, turn bags back in around the corner without ID or tickets, get on the train to domestic terminals and back through the metal detectors.
We ate at Chili's. We didn't really want breakfast, but that's all anybody had until 10am.
April 3, 2009 Noida, India
I got up and took shower and cleared out eamils and inbox and called Tracey at 930. I think I woke her and she didn't want breakfast so I went down by myself and had tea, juice, some fruit, and uttapan, which is like fried pancakes with onions and peppers on it. I went back up and finished packing and called Ranveer. I don't think I woke him, but he said he had just gotten up and said he would be here in 1.5 hours.
It's now 3 and he's still not here. We are having a second Tiger Beer with some humus with crips bread "chips". The bartender at my request, soaked the label so I could keep it. He also showed us how, if you fill the bottle wth water just upto the neck, grip the neck tightly over the trash and pop the top with your other hand, it breaks the bottm out of the bottle.
It's just before 3 and Ranveer just got here and now we have to wait for snacks we ordered. I thought we would just bring our bags with us since we ha them down there anyways, but for some reason, Ranveer wanted us to leave them and come back for them.
We left to go shopping at JanPath which means public street and is a small street flea market. I bought some silver bangles- whether they are for wife, or her daughter I don't know. They had jewelery, but I don't think anything wife would like. I bought pink and purple reversible (not) skirts for girls and never saw the colorful everyday clothes for girls - At leat in their color or size. We should have stopped by street venders the several times I saw them. I got a t-shirt for $1 that has Goa on it - which is someplace that we did not go, but "holiday in Goa" was part from the movie Outsourced. We walked around outside past other shops. I saw the magic bracekets with a street vendor - they were the same price only thicker metal.
We went across the street because Ranver was hungry and wanted to go to McDonalds "family restaurant". I didn't need anything other than french fries, but he ordered vegburger meals for all of us.
Next to a mall. Still no kids clothes. I thought to look for calendar, but all they had was stuff we could get at home.
We went by and got old monk rum for each of us. It was $6 per bottle.
Once at the hotel, I wrapped mine in clothing to prevent breakage.
It took about a half hour to get our luggage and they kept asking about our luggage tags which they never gave us.
We made it to the airport and after they checked our passports, got boarding passes, went thru metal detector, got wanded twice, then waited in the hallway outside of the jetway for about 1/2 hour, standing just after our carry on hand searched and getting wanded again, we finally were allowed to get on the plane. We really didnt have much time from being dropped off to getting on the plane.
It's now 3 and he's still not here. We are having a second Tiger Beer with some humus with crips bread "chips". The bartender at my request, soaked the label so I could keep it. He also showed us how, if you fill the bottle wth water just upto the neck, grip the neck tightly over the trash and pop the top with your other hand, it breaks the bottm out of the bottle.
It's just before 3 and Ranveer just got here and now we have to wait for snacks we ordered. I thought we would just bring our bags with us since we ha them down there anyways, but for some reason, Ranveer wanted us to leave them and come back for them.
We left to go shopping at JanPath which means public street and is a small street flea market. I bought some silver bangles- whether they are for wife, or her daughter I don't know. They had jewelery, but I don't think anything wife would like. I bought pink and purple reversible (not) skirts for girls and never saw the colorful everyday clothes for girls - At leat in their color or size. We should have stopped by street venders the several times I saw them. I got a t-shirt for $1 that has Goa on it - which is someplace that we did not go, but "holiday in Goa" was part from the movie Outsourced. We walked around outside past other shops. I saw the magic bracekets with a street vendor - they were the same price only thicker metal.
We went across the street because Ranver was hungry and wanted to go to McDonalds "family restaurant". I didn't need anything other than french fries, but he ordered vegburger meals for all of us.
Next to a mall. Still no kids clothes. I thought to look for calendar, but all they had was stuff we could get at home.
We went by and got old monk rum for each of us. It was $6 per bottle.
Once at the hotel, I wrapped mine in clothing to prevent breakage.
It took about a half hour to get our luggage and they kept asking about our luggage tags which they never gave us.
We made it to the airport and after they checked our passports, got boarding passes, went thru metal detector, got wanded twice, then waited in the hallway outside of the jetway for about 1/2 hour, standing just after our carry on hand searched and getting wanded again, we finally were allowed to get on the plane. We really didnt have much time from being dropped off to getting on the plane.
April 2, 2009 Noida, India
We wanted to go shopping today. That didn't happen. So we were going to try after we had given gifts to trainees, but Ranveer had to run a report that kept us til 830. Before that we had verbal quiz and handed out gifts and shirts then took a bunch of pics.
Mohit and Gagan wanted us to come have tea and coffee so that took an hour until 8. Then we waited for them to go to the party with us. That put us at party about 1050 and supposedly they stopped serving drinks at 11. By then the class had been there about an hour and was partying hard. Of course when we got there, they drug us up on the floor to dance also. I danced almost the whole time up until the end. I had to rest and I was soaked with sweat. We all sat at several tables all pushed together and had dinner. Gagan asked every one to tell what they had gotten from us that was not related to work. They all seemed sincere. Himanshu in a bout with his drunkenness, kind of babbled on about things not related to the question. Then Manoj stepped in and made his brown nose rant about his appreaciation of Gagan, Mohit A and Mohit S (or to Gagan, MA and MS).
Back to hotel at about 3am. Ranveer drove us and I asked him if he wanted me to drive since he was slurring pretty good and a couple times was veering towards the raised median. He said no.
I got on the computer and it was 430 pm in the states. I figured wife was either wrapping things up at work or already on her way to get girls so I didn't bother calling.
I worked on the torrent of emails and a couple of end of shift IMs from India workers.
I slept for about an hour before I heard the IM bing that told me wife was on. We IMd a little, then I went to sleep til 9.
Mohit and Gagan wanted us to come have tea and coffee so that took an hour until 8. Then we waited for them to go to the party with us. That put us at party about 1050 and supposedly they stopped serving drinks at 11. By then the class had been there about an hour and was partying hard. Of course when we got there, they drug us up on the floor to dance also. I danced almost the whole time up until the end. I had to rest and I was soaked with sweat. We all sat at several tables all pushed together and had dinner. Gagan asked every one to tell what they had gotten from us that was not related to work. They all seemed sincere. Himanshu in a bout with his drunkenness, kind of babbled on about things not related to the question. Then Manoj stepped in and made his brown nose rant about his appreaciation of Gagan, Mohit A and Mohit S (or to Gagan, MA and MS).
Back to hotel at about 3am. Ranveer drove us and I asked him if he wanted me to drive since he was slurring pretty good and a couple times was veering towards the raised median. He said no.
I got on the computer and it was 430 pm in the states. I figured wife was either wrapping things up at work or already on her way to get girls so I didn't bother calling.
I worked on the torrent of emails and a couple of end of shift IMs from India workers.
I slept for about an hour before I heard the IM bing that told me wife was on. We IMd a little, then I went to sleep til 9.
April 1, 2009 Noida, India
Wednesday
We had agreed to have lunch with Ravinder today at 130. He had the cab pick us up and drive us to downtown Noida to pick him up near his office there. It was right by another section of the elevated train track construction. This piece had a very large rectangular piece which I presume is a station. We waited for him for about 10 or 15 minutes. He directed Paren to take us to a hotel called Obroi. It is a very nice and expensive hotel in an area not unlike the area where our hotel is except they had more property in which to grow more greenery behind which to hide the noise and sights from the outside world. We had buffet, but just barely because waitress said it closed at 3 and it was 250. Food was good. Very little difference in food at Park Plaza. We left Obroi around 4 and went back to Ravinders office to take a tour and get some more logo gifts for the class since we didn't quite have enough for every one in class. This building is newer and much nicer than the one we are training in. The part of the company which supports our company, only occupies 1/2 of one small floor. Ravinder explained that if the workers at the site where we are training would show more value, their building would be on a level with this one.
We asked about the building under construction next to where we are training and he said that is another company and that at one time their company had plans to at least lease it, but have not grown as fast as expected.
On the drive from his office back to the hotel, I saw an old American car from a distance and guessed that it was a Buick. When we passed it, my suspicions were confirmed but I just saw Buick and 8, so will have to look up '50s Buicks to see what model it is. It was right hand drive.
We didn't get back to hotel to change and grab bags until about 6. Nothing new about work. We left at 1 for car-o-bar.
Manoj brought home made veg dinner that his mom made for us. Ranveer propped his hood up to make it more level for our "buffet" table. Food was great! We drank citrus Smirnoff with Limca (citrus pop).
Got back to hotel around 430. I worked some on computer and texted wife when I saw her online. I was very tired so chatted a little while and went to bed.
We had agreed to have lunch with Ravinder today at 130. He had the cab pick us up and drive us to downtown Noida to pick him up near his office there. It was right by another section of the elevated train track construction. This piece had a very large rectangular piece which I presume is a station. We waited for him for about 10 or 15 minutes. He directed Paren to take us to a hotel called Obroi. It is a very nice and expensive hotel in an area not unlike the area where our hotel is except they had more property in which to grow more greenery behind which to hide the noise and sights from the outside world. We had buffet, but just barely because waitress said it closed at 3 and it was 250. Food was good. Very little difference in food at Park Plaza. We left Obroi around 4 and went back to Ravinders office to take a tour and get some more logo gifts for the class since we didn't quite have enough for every one in class. This building is newer and much nicer than the one we are training in. The part of the company which supports our company, only occupies 1/2 of one small floor. Ravinder explained that if the workers at the site where we are training would show more value, their building would be on a level with this one.
We asked about the building under construction next to where we are training and he said that is another company and that at one time their company had plans to at least lease it, but have not grown as fast as expected.
On the drive from his office back to the hotel, I saw an old American car from a distance and guessed that it was a Buick. When we passed it, my suspicions were confirmed but I just saw Buick and 8, so will have to look up '50s Buicks to see what model it is. It was right hand drive.
We didn't get back to hotel to change and grab bags until about 6. Nothing new about work. We left at 1 for car-o-bar.
Manoj brought home made veg dinner that his mom made for us. Ranveer propped his hood up to make it more level for our "buffet" table. Food was great! We drank citrus Smirnoff with Limca (citrus pop).
Got back to hotel around 430. I worked some on computer and texted wife when I saw her online. I was very tired so chatted a little while and went to bed.
March 31, 2009 Noida, India
Tuesday, we went in at normal time.
We went to dinner and decided on "drinks" too. Tried a couple liquor stores for vodka, but no luck for brand that would not give smell on our breath. So we endd up at a building with a restauraunt on the third floor. The had a very large patio that was uncovered and it was very nice weather. Wehad drinks, snacks and soup outside and moved inside for main dishes. Once again, very good and very full afterwords. We went for a walk back over by office. Then, unfortunatley back to work.
We had a meeting with Mohit who is, I believe, a project manager just below Gagan who is director (lookingback, Mohit is 2 below Gagan). It was tuff staying awake. Back to hotel as usual and called home and IMd for awhile, then to bed.
We went to dinner and decided on "drinks" too. Tried a couple liquor stores for vodka, but no luck for brand that would not give smell on our breath. So we endd up at a building with a restauraunt on the third floor. The had a very large patio that was uncovered and it was very nice weather. Wehad drinks, snacks and soup outside and moved inside for main dishes. Once again, very good and very full afterwords. We went for a walk back over by office. Then, unfortunatley back to work.
We had a meeting with Mohit who is, I believe, a project manager just below Gagan who is director (lookingback, Mohit is 2 below Gagan). It was tuff staying awake. Back to hotel as usual and called home and IMd for awhile, then to bed.
March 30, 2009 Back in Noida, India
I called home on computer phone and basically said goodnight. We worked some on computer from hotel before going to office. nothing special about this day. For dinner we went to the same mall where we ate Pizza Hut last week. first we went to bar type restaurant where the music was loud. We saw a cockroach on table next to ours and the host looked at it and said nothing, so we left and went to another bar restaurant. It was called strings - like strings on a guitar. Music was loud, but Ranveer had no problem getting them to turn the volume down. It played separately from videos playing on flat screens hanging on the walls. Videos were mostly of models wearing string bikinis in various states of bendover. Food was Indian and very good. Manoj and I had non-veg - chicken in spicy dark red sauce. Tracy and Ranveer had veg - paneer, beans, and one other dish plus "salad" which is cut up vegetables. Plus curd. Of course we were all stuffed after that.
Short walk outside of mall afterwords, then back to office. Work til 4 or 5, then to hotel. I called home and talked to wife and kids on video.
Short walk outside of mall afterwords, then back to office. Work til 4 or 5, then to hotel. I called home and talked to wife and kids on video.
Sunday 3/29, 2009 Jaipur, India
Up at 830. Tracey and I went down to have breakfast and Monoj and Ranveer joined us soon after.
Finally off from hotel. We found liquor shop and got Old Kingfisher strong. Manoj explained color of bottle means nothing (his was green, ours brown). Just different color glass.
Police on foot on side of road had Paren pull over and they spoke for a little while in car and then he had them get out and go into the breezeway. It turns out he pulled us over because Manoj didn't have his seat belt on. But then he also saw open beer bottles and that is not allowed in taxi. So they came back after about 5 minutes and explained they had to pay 300 rupees and made a friend in police in the meantime. It would have been 2500 rupees if it had gone to "paper".
We've taken a passenger (sharing front bucket seat with Manoj). I presume he's a guide for next destination. He directed us to government store RTD corp that sells clothes, jewelry, and other stuff at set prices - no haggle. I bought girls 2 dresses each. They ended up being $35 each and also got an outfit for wife which was $50. I had to charge on my MasterCard because debit card was declined (most credit cards tack on 3% or more foreign exchange fee on purchases out of US. Debit card does not- I checked before leaving home).
On to Jeweler. I saw all sorts of stuff but so hard to choose. I bought 3 silver bracelets for 4100 rupees or $78. Then next door for bangles for girls. 2 sets each at approximately $1.50 = 650 rupees.
Next stop is Jantar Mantar - solar observatory built 1728-1734. There were several different size sundials and other large instruments in order to give solar altitude, time, constellations etc.
Next on to shop for shoes. I got some black leather flip flops and some raj shoes that curl up at the toe and have gold thread on the top. Renveer had em at 700 rupees, but they didn't take credit and all i had was 600, so that was Ranveer's opportunity to get the price down to 650 rupees.
We left the guide at shoe store and Ranveer paid him there.
We left new Jaipur and passed by forts we saw yesterday.
Now stopped at shop 4 something. They picked up kachon (some sort of round fried balls) and pakora (green chili with flour and deep fried). They were delicious and not spicy- even with curry dipping sauce. We also had corn bread sticks called namkeen - these were very spicy. To go with all, we had orange Smirnoff Vodka and Miranda orange pop. They also bought uncle chipps from Lays which are spicy. We stopped roadside to eat and drink. Several kids stopped by to have pics taken. Lots of people drove by staring or waving. An elephant driver came by and they tried to find out price with goal of 100 rupees for ride. I don't know how far they got, but he did let us take pics while petting the elephant. We were by a tree and twice the elephant reached up and broke branches with leaves and brushed itself with the branch and then stripped the leaves in its mouth. I touched it's ear and I think it must have tickled. I asked if he owned the elephant and Monoj said no - just drove it for the owner. He said it was very har to own an elephant. As he was leaving, the driver motioned with fingers - 3, 2 which of course was still too high for the 100 rupees requested.
Back in the car and on our way back to Noida. We made it back around 11 or sometime shortly after.
Finally off from hotel. We found liquor shop and got Old Kingfisher strong. Manoj explained color of bottle means nothing (his was green, ours brown). Just different color glass.
Police on foot on side of road had Paren pull over and they spoke for a little while in car and then he had them get out and go into the breezeway. It turns out he pulled us over because Manoj didn't have his seat belt on. But then he also saw open beer bottles and that is not allowed in taxi. So they came back after about 5 minutes and explained they had to pay 300 rupees and made a friend in police in the meantime. It would have been 2500 rupees if it had gone to "paper".
We've taken a passenger (sharing front bucket seat with Manoj). I presume he's a guide for next destination. He directed us to government store RTD corp that sells clothes, jewelry, and other stuff at set prices - no haggle. I bought girls 2 dresses each. They ended up being $35 each and also got an outfit for wife which was $50. I had to charge on my MasterCard because debit card was declined (most credit cards tack on 3% or more foreign exchange fee on purchases out of US. Debit card does not- I checked before leaving home).
On to Jeweler. I saw all sorts of stuff but so hard to choose. I bought 3 silver bracelets for 4100 rupees or $78. Then next door for bangles for girls. 2 sets each at approximately $1.50 = 650 rupees.
Next stop is Jantar Mantar - solar observatory built 1728-1734. There were several different size sundials and other large instruments in order to give solar altitude, time, constellations etc.
Next on to shop for shoes. I got some black leather flip flops and some raj shoes that curl up at the toe and have gold thread on the top. Renveer had em at 700 rupees, but they didn't take credit and all i had was 600, so that was Ranveer's opportunity to get the price down to 650 rupees.
We left the guide at shoe store and Ranveer paid him there.
We left new Jaipur and passed by forts we saw yesterday.
Now stopped at shop 4 something. They picked up kachon (some sort of round fried balls) and pakora (green chili with flour and deep fried). They were delicious and not spicy- even with curry dipping sauce. We also had corn bread sticks called namkeen - these were very spicy. To go with all, we had orange Smirnoff Vodka and Miranda orange pop. They also bought uncle chipps from Lays which are spicy. We stopped roadside to eat and drink. Several kids stopped by to have pics taken. Lots of people drove by staring or waving. An elephant driver came by and they tried to find out price with goal of 100 rupees for ride. I don't know how far they got, but he did let us take pics while petting the elephant. We were by a tree and twice the elephant reached up and broke branches with leaves and brushed itself with the branch and then stripped the leaves in its mouth. I touched it's ear and I think it must have tickled. I asked if he owned the elephant and Monoj said no - just drove it for the owner. He said it was very har to own an elephant. As he was leaving, the driver motioned with fingers - 3, 2 which of course was still too high for the 100 rupees requested.
Back in the car and on our way back to Noida. We made it back around 11 or sometime shortly after.
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