Ahhhh. The Park Hotel!

Thank goodness that I was finally was able to move to Hyderabad. Moved out here on the 27^th of January. It's been hard waiting this long. So far my initial impression is good. The city and air quality are much cleaner, and there seems to be quite a bit more greenery as well. The Park Hotel, where I'm currently staying, is very nice; 7 star rating and I believe it. The Park Hotel is huge and is built in a horseshoe design with the opening overlooking one of the lakes here. I checked out the lake and it's better to enjoy the view from the hotel! Yeah.....there is no way I'm jumping in that water. Thought about renting a boat, but the thought of capsizing into that water scares me. Anyway, the hotel has 8 floors, I'm on the 6^th, and I look into the horseshoe courtyard area. They've set the courtyard up nicely with decks and patios, and lounge areas overlooking the little pool and distant lake. There have been some people that have actually swam around in the pool, but mostly it's occupied by the pigeons. They sit on the railing and take turns hopping into the shallow end; splashing about and drinking. It's nice to just sit there and relax after a hard day of doing nothing!  If you want to visit and stay here it's only 9000 rupees plus tax.  What a deal, and they'll even throw in breakfast.

Had my first observation flight on the 29th. It was really fun to get back into the aircraft and do some flying. I've sure missed it. The flight staff was very nice, pleasant and happy to see you. The whole of process of actually getting to the aircraft is a little laborious and time consuming, and will take some time to get used too. It is what it is, so I'll just adapt. No problem. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 06:15am, so we left the hotel at 04:15am. We catch a cab ride to the dispatch/medical office which takes about :40 - :50 minutes. The dispatch office is not at the airport, but about a :05 minute cab ride away. So we go into the dispatch office; check the paperwork; sign for the paperwork; and pre-order fuel. Then we head over to the medical office to have the premedical check. Basically it's a breathalyzer test and signing the logbook stating that we are fit to fly. After this, we head outside, grab a company cab and head over to the airport. I was going to include a detailed account of the steps and process that you have to go through to enter and get to the airplane, but I thought better of it. After I had it all written out, I changed my mind about posting it. Sorry, but I would probably have to send someone to kill you if you knew our secrets! Nothing personal; it's just business. So, basically, it's sufficient to say that it's an involved process of getting permission to enter the airport, go through security, and get to the airplane. It takes about :30 minutes from airport drop off to arrival at the airplane. Not bad.

Rostering scheduled me for 4 flights or “sectors” as they like to say. Two round trips from Hyderabad. I was hoping for clear weather, but it was cloudy and hazy everywhere we flew too. The First Officer told me that it's normal weather this time of year. Some of the procedures are going to take some time to get used to and the radio communications are going to be the hardest overall. I'm sure I'll get familiar with most of it, but for now I'm taking notes like crazy! The majority of the First Officers are young and don't have much flight time, but they are good pilots and are extremely helpful. It's going to be fun, I can already tell. Times of maddening frustration will pop up from time to time, but I think I can take it all in stride.

Scott and I check out some apartments the other day and settled on one today. Should be able to move in the first part of February. We both have to head off to Delhi tomorrow for a little more training, but should be minor and back within two days to move. The hotel is nice, but being in your own place is nicer. Being able to get away from the noise and bustle is going to be hard, so we looked at several places before deciding on this one. We'll see how this goes. The lease is pretty easy to work with, so I don't anticipate too much trouble should we have to move. I know, famous last words, right!

It's quite a bit warmer here than in Delhi, so riding might take some planning. Morning and evenings are going to be the new riding times, because there is less traffic and heat.  I've peddled a little bit, but it's crowded around the hotel and I'm not sure that it's too safe during the day.  Safety meaning that I might get squished on the road by one of these crazy drivers.  Motorcyclists are some of the funniest ones.  They can't stand to have you in front of them, so they pass only to slow down!  If I just maintain my speed then I can pass them again and then they speed up and pass me.  This cycle goes on forever.  Or until I reach a hill.  My bike and I are supposed to have a date later tonight.  We'll see about that.  

Another thing that I've noticed is that there more cows here, but less pigs. The pigs love to root around in the garbage that is dumped in empty lots, so I think that there might be less garbage areas here. Maybe just more concentrated areas of garbage. Seems that way. The shore of the lake is full of garbage and there is a landfill looking area about 4km from the hotel. Most of it might go there. Not sure and I really don't have an interest in finding out! There are plenty of areas that I would rather go check out. So that's my plan.

Visited Golconda Fort yesterday. You'll have to do your own research on this one, I'll just highlight the interesting things. The ruins of an old palace are there, so I walked around and checked that out. The palace sits on top of one of the hills and has an impressive view of the area. The outer city walls are still standing, most of them anyway, and encompass the palace for miles in each direction. Some of the inside rooms of the palace are still intact and, although not as nice as when they were in use, still impressive. The acoustics in some of the rooms are designed to magnify sound and noise, so that you can talk softly in one corner and hear everything clearly in another corner! We tried it out and it works like a top. It's crazy that they had this technology a 1000 years ago. No secrets in these rooms for sure.  Amazing.  It was really funny, cause while we were there we were constantly pestered by the local to have our picture taken with them. Not sure why it's a big deal, but apparently it is. Our photo groups ranged from one individual to groups of 20 or more. Finally, we had to start saying no, but people still asked. I think that if we would have started charging them, we could have made some serious money! Some things just crack me up.

Things are definitely getting better over here. I wake up feeling bad and homesick often, but as the day wears on it gets better.  It's really nice knowing someone here that you can hang with. Didn't realize how important that was until it was gone and back again. Plus I miss Jeannette like crazy!  Hopefully I can start having more fun around here. I miss all of you and appreciate the photos and emails that you send me. Keep them coming. Thank you.

"Excuse me, Sir....."

This should be my last night in Gurgaon, India, for awhile. None too soon, if you ask me, which you didn't, but I know that all of my loyal readers are aware of the difficulties that I have been facing here. Wednesday night, which was last night, there they lot next to me cranked up another party at 10pm. They were having a great time till about 1am. Or at least I think so, cause that's when I finally went back to sleep. Yes, back to sleep. I was so tired yesterday that I crashed early in the evening; about 5pm. It was much needed and appreciated sleep.

Today was the 60^th anniversary of India's independence from the British rule. It's a big holiday. There were people and families out in the parks playing and relaxing. It was nice to watch everyone mill about. The weather was great too, so I took advantage of the reduced traffic and nice weather and went for a bike ride. The ride was most excellent and the air wasn't too bad today. Every now and then I would peddle through a smelly spot, but overall it was very pleasant. Pleasant until I realized that I couldn't figure out how to get back home! Seriously, I couldn't. Don't tell anyone, but I had to stop and ask directions back to Sector 29. I knew my sector, but that was it.

Sectors over here are like little puzzle pieces; they are funny shaped and you really don't know where they fit in the whole puzzle until the end. The sectors over here aren't numbered sequentially either. Noooo, that would be too easy. I think they used a dart board to assign the numbers. Hang the map on the dart board and then throw a dart with a sector number attached. Where ever it sticks, that's what the sector will be named. I was ridding through sector 21 and then I popped out in sector 1! What! No street signs either. I think they get stolen or maybe they just don't exist. Anyway, I got lost. Peddled around for about 4 hours and finally found my way back. I finally saw a big building that I recognized in the distance and peddled for it. It was a fun ride though. I really didn't get worried; since I had plenty of daylight. There are little markets scattered all over the place. People selling all kinds of things. I peddled though quite a few.

So here is my tentative plan of attack for tomorrow. I say tentative cause I know how these things work over here. My plan is liable to go south, and probably will, but it's something to start with. In the morning, I shall go to the ops center, get my ID badge that they have been working on for the last 3 weeks, and get my copy of the FATA results. Then track someone down to talk about getting my bank card, and talk to the boss about a Visa letter for Jeannette. Catch a cab back to the hotel, pick up my stuff, and then go to the airport. In the states this would take about an hour; over here I'm planning till about noon. Maybe latter. Actually, I'll consider myself lucky if I'm on an airplane by 5pm tomorrow night.

I'm off to shower, eat and then pack. In that order too. Hope you guys are enjoying the winter weather over there. I miss the NW winters. Not much; just a little! Stay safe and I'll talk to you later taters.

Charge it, please.

Couple of the guys and I went on a tour of Delhi yesterday. It was very nice. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there are some clean and green parts of India. I've seen these mysterious places from pictures on the internet and television, but not in real life. So, it was good to have some first hand experience. One of the guys was able to rent a driver and a car for the day, 10am to 10pm, through his hotel. It only cost us 4000 total, not each. In Rupees of course, so about $30 per person. Not bad. I can swing that. Anyway, we had a good time.

The first stop was the Qutb Minar and ruins of the Quwwat-Ut-Islam Mosque. It was quite impressive. The Qutb Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, was built in 1199, stands 238 feet tall, and took 21 years to build. The remainder of the complex was started slightly earlier, but finished later. The walls and smaller structures were vandalized over the years for building supplies to construct other buildings.

Our next stop was the Lotus Temple. It's construction is similar to the Opera House in Sydney, Australia. We just walked around and didn't go inside. The line was a couple hours long, so we just observed the outside. OK, sorry, I have to reverse course for a second here. On the way to the Lotus Temple our driver decided that we should go to a “textile market” to just look around. OK. Not really knowing any better or having any choice in the matter, we drove around some dirt roads until we came to this old building. Hmm. Just one building? I thought this was a market? When we were herded inside, we were targeted and immediately latched on by an Indian salesman. I tell you what, those Indian salesmen are worse than any salesman in the States! We were ushered from one room to the next, and shown metal statues, fabric, jewelry, you name it. I realized, too late, that if you display any interest in anything they have, I was doing it to be nice, they will hound on you till you cave in! It's amazing how many different and creative ways they will suggest in order to get your money. I didn't cave, to their dismay and frustration, but it was brutal. Finally, after about :45 minutes there, we peeled ourselves away and went out the car. As we were leaving, out driver got a phone call, and I could tell that he wasn't too happy with it. I think it was from the shop we just left. Toward the end of the day, after our last tourist stop, our driver again suggested that we go into another one of these shops. He wouldn't even consider leaving until we did. It was almost a hostage scenario. I stepped in and then went right back out! It was the same set-up! I figured the little game out at that point. Our driver more than likely is making a cut from our purchases or it's family related somehow. Basically, they are just tourist traps and the little game is to get the tourist into the shop and pressure them to buy stuff. I think our driver gets a little cut from what we buy. Clever!

Anyway, after the Lotus Temple we went out to lunch and then tried to get to the Gate of India, but it was closed. Something to do with the security for the 60^th anniversary of their independence day. There were guards with AK-47's in little sandbag bunkers all over the city. I wanted to take a picture, but my common sense kicked in before I could do anything. I would probably be writing this from my State accommodated room had I clicked the shutter. So then we went to the tomb of Gandhi. That was pretty anti-climatic and packed with people, so we took off for the Red Fort.

The Red Fort is impressive! It just boggles my mind. I think of the little forts in the States that we visit and are all proud of, but this just blows my mind. It's huge! By the time we got the Red Fort, it was just about to close for the night. There was only an hour of visiting time left. My two friends, one being Philippino and the other Croatian, were of darker skin and were able to slip in unnoticed and without a ticket. However, yours truly, being of fair skin and the only person in the city wearing shorts, was stopped and asked for a ticket. Discrimination I say! Oh well, I wouldn't have had time anyway to really enjoy the inside, so I walked around the outside taking pictures, and having my picture taken, until my “friends” came back out. I plan on going back when I have more time. I imagine that I would need a good portion of the day to explore that fort.

Oh, another thing I forgot to mention. If and when you go to buy a ticket to get into these places, be ready for a little discrimination. Some places require a ticket, some don't. The Qutb Complexe and the Red Fort required a ticket, the other places didn't. Don't be surprised to see an “Indian” line and a “Foreigner” line for ticket purchasing. The Indian's pay about 10 Rupees for each ticket. However, the foreigners will pay just a little more; 250 Rupees per ticket! It's only $5, so it's not the end of the world. But the price difference is extremely common over here. Don't say that I didn't warn you.

It was really nice getting out and finally seeing a beautiful part of India. I felt relaxed and in a good mood all day. It recharged me a little bit, plus gave me some future incentive visit more of India. The area we stay in has just terrible in living conditions and really depresses me sometimes. We were also able to find were the metro train will drop you off in Delhi. The metro station is in a nice area and close to more tourist places. From my hotel I can walk about 15 minutes and then catch the metro into Delhi. I've been told that it only cost about 30 Rupees for the trip. Maybe more for foreigners though!

The sun goes up, then back down.

Most of my classes are done now. I'm just waiting for the approval from the DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation) to fly now and then I can jump back into the saddle. There are a couple minor classes left to do that are to be scheduled later. A ditching class; jump in the water and swim around for a bit. A fire safety class; where we get to put out a fire, but not all the way or they will have to relight it! Then later, within 3 months, I have to take a written test called the Air Law Exam. So, I'm doing a little studying for that. Emphasis on little!

My motivation level has been rather low lately. Could be that I haven't been feeling well or that I'm just lonely and slightly depressed. Either way, I'm doing what I can to break out of my little rut. The antibiotics are kicking in and working nicely. My health issues are almost gone. Just a few more days and I should be back to normal. My bike has been pestering me to go out these last few days. I keep saying no, so he goes and pouts in the corner. Just stares out the window for hours at a time. I feel badly for him, but it's been smoggy and haven't wanted to aggravate my sinuses.

Went into New Delhi yesterday for a fitting of my blazer. Round trip was about 3 hours of driving and we spent all of 15 minutes in the shop getting measured. I was hoping to stay in town a bit and cruise around sightseeing, but the day wasn't the greatest. So we just came back. It was nice to visit another part of town. I'm hoping we can do a little more soon. It gets rather boring around here.

I've been doing more soul searching. This is surely the perfect time for it. All this free time with nothing to do, what an opportunity. C.S. Lewis and I have become good friends lately. There are a lot of conclusions that I have come to; some are new, some are just revisited The one that sticks out the most to me lately;

…....and the works of the Lord are for His Glory alone.

There are times when I forget this and attempt to take some of that glory for myself. Always ends in disaster for me. And then I wonder why! As I sit in my little hotel room looking out the window and listening to the most excellent album, Freedom, by Mr. Smith, I am reminded of the truly important realities of life. Our lives are so short and temporary, yet we rush around and waste it. In the grand scheme of things our lives are just puffs of wind; tiny wisps of smoke. But I think God has given us lives to be important and very valuable. We should consider our lives to be gifts and treasures to be used wisely. Be great ambassadors and representatives for the only person who really matters.

I miss all of you very much and can hardly wait to see you all again.

"More bread, please"

Good news! My cold and sore throat are getting better. I'm excited. It's the little things that I have decided to focus on and start ignoring the things that drive me crazy. Or at least try too. I'll share some more stories about that later in this article. But now for some fun stuff. Oh, before I do that, my last couple of blogs have been a little on the negative side, sorry. It's been a little miserable the last couple of weeks and I'm sure I will have my moments later on, but I'm going to try to be a little more positive. First; because I believe that I'm here because God wants me here. Second; because I don't like to be negative. Onward.

I decided to just laying low this last Saturday; try to get over my sore throat. But after being cooped up my little room I started to go a crazy. It was actually a really nice day outside. The sun was out with high clouds, the smog/haze was thinning out, and there was a nice light breeze blowing. Nothing like the NW, but the nicest I've seen so far. Of course people were freezing! Cracks me up! Scares me too, cause in the summer I'm going to fry like a slice of bacon. Anyway, nice day, so I decided to cracked open my bike box and reassemble my bike so I could go for a ride. It took about an hour to put everything together. Surprise, surprise; nothing was bent or broken! Made me very happy. So anyway, got it all together, took it downstairs in the elevator, and went outside. The elevator dumps you off right in the lobby and I was a little afraid that the hotel might have some objections to me dragging my bike around in their 5 star hotel (seriously, 5 stars! I stay in style). Just the opposite! I could barely get out the door. I was mobbed! I felt like a rock star. So, once I fought everyone off and got out the door, I peddled around for a bit and then came back. Everyone was waiting for me when I came back! I rolled up to the door midst the crowd and flashbulbs going off. It was awesome! I later found out that I was the first guest to bring a bike into the hotel. Not sure why more people don't. Just makes sense to have a bike over here. Out on the road, I am able to keep up with the majority of cars and actually pass the tuc-tucs. I'm glad I didn't plan on buying a bike over here. So far I haven't seen anything but older, single-speeds. They are OK for in town, but not what I want or need. My bike is light years ahead of everything in sight. Might be a market for good bikes over here.

Had class on Sunday. Wasn't sure if the schedule was wrong or not. Nobody does much on Sunday. When I got to the ops building and nobody was there, I became a little worried. But someone showed up and we had our little safety equipment class with a few of the flight attendants. About 12:45 we took a lunch break and were told to come back at 2pm. OK, I'd rather come back earlier, but OK. At 2pm we spun back up and went for a total of :15 min, which is when our instructor said; “OK, Captains, you can go now. You guys are done now!” You've got to be kidding me! I almost started laughing at that point! Oh, these guys kill me! So I went back to the hotel, switched rooms, and then went for a bike ride.

My new room is just like the last one, except that it's on the 4^th floor and in the middle of the hotel. It's quieter and that's nice. I get a new view too. Last night there were fireworks going off from about 9 to 11pm. If I had stayed in my old room I could've had a great view of the show. Oh, well, this will be better in the long run.

Not sure what I'm doing in class this week. More of something valuable I guess. I do know that one day is spent in the pool. Or rather, about 30 seconds is in the pool practicing our swimming with life-jackets on and then the rest of the day we do nothing. That's efficient. Oh well, more time to bike ride!

The tea is really good over here.

So last time I told you that my voice left. Well, it came back. Wasn't gone long, so that was a relief. I figure that I needed to bump my water intake up a bit, like double, and that's been well received by everyone involved. I'm changing my diet over here too. At first I thought that I'd never be able to give up the craving for a big, juicy hamburger or a nice thick, cut steak. But I'm starting to think that I am wrong. Actually, I don't crave any meat at all. Funny, cause back home I was a carnivore. The food here is so good and most of it's vegetarian. They just say “veg” or “non-veg”. You need to learn the lingo. Every once in awhile, I'll have a small piece of chicken, but that's it. In the long run, I think that I will just go “veg” completely. Even when I come back to the States. It's healthier in the long run. The breakfast in the hotel is a buffet and it's wonderful. They always have different foods out, but always fresh, sliced fruit. Mango, pineapple, watermelon, some other kind of melon, and various things that we have back home. It's nice. I'm in love with the mango! Mmmmmm! The dinners are great too. I have decided to try everything local that's on the menu. They have local (Indian) and then “traditional” items. The local food is just fantastic. Most of the time it comes with rice or this yummy flat bread. Can't think of the name right now. They make about 4 different types of bread. It's always hot and fresh when I get it! It pays to be nice to the hotel staff. They treat me so much better than anyone else. I pester them about food, the local stuff and playing cricket. They seem to like it.

It's about 7am, couldn't sleep last night, so I'm writing and drinking delicious tea. About time to go get ready and pester the hotel staff some more.

I write a lot and I enjoy it, but I would love it if you guys would just write what's going on over there. You don't have to write a lot, but it's nice just to hear from you. It's very encouraging when I get something in my email box that I can save. Just mundane stuff for you is exciting for me. Just a thought. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes.

I love you all, Darin

Settle down eveyone.

Couple of things happened last night. First, you know that I have been complaining about my throat being sore and scratchy. Well, as I explained to the throat earlier, I guess I should probably say the “throat community” to be more precise, it's out of my control. Obviously they haven't agreed with that statement and have taken it upon themselves to separate into little factious fighting groups. My voice, being good friends of the throat, finally had enough of the abuse and left during the night. I thought we were on manageable terms, but again, as usually, because I'm married and have prior experience here, I was wrong. Alas, the underlying and smoldering grudge that my voice held against me for my actions of breathing the noxious air were just too great for it to stay. It was early this morning when I heard the door open and then close softly. I couldn't do anything about it. Sometimes these things take time to sort out. Hopefully we can come to some sort of mutually beneficial arrangement. Currently, I'm in negotiations with my taste buds right now. Apparently they decided, amongst themselves last night too, that they would go on strike until their demands are meet. As I tried to explain to them, using sign language of course cause my voice left, it's out of my control. But like any good Drain, they are stubborn and willful in nature. I think I can starve them out, so that's my plan for now.

The neighboring body parts are split in their support of the throat. I'm just waiting for some of them to revolt and join up. For now, the border parts are just watching with great interest in how the scene will unfold.  No one is making big moves, so as to keep everyone guessing.  The head was making a little fuss and whining about the mistreatment of the throat, so I bribed the ache department with some Ibuprofen. That seemed to do the trick for now, but I realized that once you start with the bribes then they come to expect it and want more and more.  I might regret that decision later.

So anyway, second thing happened last night. I decided to move from my hotel room. The room that I'm in is great; first floor (not ground level, but one up from that), right on the end, OK view to the back, away from the street. But there is a semi vacant lot right next to me that is used for parties, wedding receptions, and things like that. Great! Or so I thought. Last night the party went until after 2am and the triple pane windows in my room were rattling! It was so loud that I had to have ear plugs and my headset on just to keep some of the noise out. I stayed up and watched movies, cause there was no way I could escape the noise. Bummer thing was that I couldn't even join the party. Something about black tie and an invite. I didn't understand him. But he was bigger than me and he had a couple of his friends around, so I didn't want him to loose face when I tossed him to the floor. The movies were OK without sound, cause I had the closed caption going. I just used my imagination with that part.  It's slightly harder to read the caption when it's displayed in Chinese and Hindi.  I used my best guess. 

Yesterday's ground school class was so frustratingly funny! I'm not telling you too much, lest the Indian Special Forces hunt me down, but it was basically a dangerous goods class. What can we carry and what we can't. In summary, we can't carry any dangerous good and are not responsible for any that magically hop on our airplane without permission. So, that took all of 6 seconds to say, right? Well, we were in class from 9am to 5pm learning just that! Time management is not in the vocabulary. Not at all! All the instructors like to teach the same way too. They start “teaching” us stuff in the morning and then about an hour and one half before we are supposed to be done and take a test, they realize that they have only covered about half the material. So then it's a big panic and rush to get the remaining info out to you. They don't care that you don't learn squat, just get it done! So then when you take your post instruction test and have a question about something you covered at mach. 3, they just waggle their head and say “I told you Captain! We already covered that. You should remember!” Yeah, right. I just laugh now. If they want me to pass, it'll happen. If not, I'm repeating the course.  

Yesterday, we were supposed to get 1 hour to do the test, but she said that we could get an extra half hour. Thanks! When I got the test, all 7 pages of material that we were supposed to fill out exactly verbatim from the book, I just started laughing! I told her that there was no way on God's green earth that we would ever finish in that time. I was right. I finished first in just over 1.5 hours, but I doubt they can read my writing! One guy took 3 hours! We left the ops building after 8pm. Oh well.

I'm off to see the market. Later taters. Darin

The bottom isn't so bad.

India finally cracked me. I've been holding and treading water, but this last week the undertow got me and sucked me down. First thing to reach bottom was my spirit and overall desire to continue. Next, was my health. As of now, I am alternating my sitting area between the desk chair and my throne room! My evening was actually going great and I was talking to Jeannette via Skype (great invention, by the way) and then out of no where I had to take a quick trip to the throne room. During my quiet time of reflection in my alternate office room, I think I am able to narrow down the cause of this illness. Are you ready? I live in India now. Shocker huh! Took me all of about 2.5 seconds to come up with that one. Actually, it's slightly more complicated than that.

The food is great and I don't think that it's the main cause. Nor the water, because I am very careful about only drinking my filtered water. REI assured me that the filter would take out any nasty stuff. Bacteria and viruses! No, I think it's a combination of lack of sleep; time zone change; the poisonous gasses they call air around here; stress like you wouldn't believe; the change in diet; and the evil Costco truffles that sneaked into my luggage when I wasn't looking! Those things will kill you faster than all the others put together. They lull you into just having one more. Just one more; it wont hurt.  Not then it doesn't. But just wait about 15 minutes after eating the 27^th piece! Yeah! I can hear the remaining 3 pieces chuckling to themselves in that golden foil bag they call home.  Trouble makers.  How come Costco doesn't put warning labels on those things.  They should have to print and paste warning labels like those on cigarette packs!

Went out by myself today! Scary. Came home in the dark too. Even scarier.  No actually, it was easier in the dark cause no one noticed that I was white. No beggars or little kids following me asking for money or food. The dark does bring out the evil plastic fires though. The dark, winter landscape is dotted with these little devils.  Because it's winter over here, temperatures dipping into the low 60s, people think that they are going to freeze to death during the night. So, they build themselves fires to stay warm.  Problem is that most of the fuel for the fires is nasty stuff like plastic and garbage. The acrid smoke lazily curls up and hovers a couple feet off the ground; choking everything in sight. Combine the plastic fires with the 2 million, environmentally non-friendly, three-wheel taxi's and you have yourself a nice thick cloud of noxious gasses. My throat has been burning for the last couple of days.

Oh, the power just went out again. For the 9^th time tonight.

So as I was saying, I went out. Bought an “internet dongle” as they call it in India. Basically, it's a wifi card that slips into the usb port on the computer. Gives me internet access anywhere I go!  Cool huh!  Kind of like a smart phone with internet, except my 'smart phone' (computer with Skype) now weighs in at around 10 pounds (about 4 kg)(I'm starting to learn things in kg now) and the battery life hoovers at 3 hours. But my screen is huge!  I just pay someone to carry it around for me.

Power's back.

I'm getting used to the way people operate around here. The learning curve is incredibly step. I feel like I'm not make any progress, but I am. Once I can relax a little bit and shed some of my fears and stress, I think India can be an OK place. Not heaven on earth like my little home in the NW, but nice. Need to do some more paperwork, so later everyone. Take care of yourself and your clean part of the world. You have no idea that the air you breath on a daily basis is so luxurious until it's gone. Don't loose it. Protect it.

Darin

The Arrival!

Well I made it here!  It was a long trip and was harder than I thought.  The long 4 hour layovers in Dallas and Chicago were the hardest.  The flight from Chicago to New Delhi was about 13.5 hours.  We were told that our tailwind component was stronger than normal, so our flight time was shortened by about :45 min. 

The Customs process was easy and fuss-free.  I zipped through the customs line, no questions asked, picked up my two bags and my bike box and out the door.  Nobody looked in any of my bags or asked any questions about my belongings.  I had people just staring at my bike box, like it was some sort of alien creature.  It was funny. 

The air quality is bad over here.  Really bad!  Visibility is about 1 - 2 miles.  Seriously.  It's smog pollution too, not just fog and haze.  The smell of burning ______ (fill in the blank for whatever) hangs in the air and just seeps into everything.  There even was a smog haze inside the baggage pick-up area!  Once outside then it's very strong and inescapable.  

My Hotel driver was there and ready to go as I stepped out of the terminal.  We walked about 20 minutes to the car and then crammed everything into this little car!  Then the driving adventure began!  Oh man was it crazy!  I can't describe or give the chaos justice with words, but I'll try.  First thing to remember:  keep one hand on the horn at all times.  The application of the horn was mandatory anytime a lane change was required; someone was changing lanes in-front of you; someone was too close; you want to thank someone for moving in front of you; pedestrians or bicyclists crossing or walking in the freeway; if there is 2 seconds of silence; the list goes on!  You get the point.  Pedestrians just walk in the road, crossing whenever they want.  Motorcyclists are darting and weaving in and around cars.  All while talking on the cell phone!  Three people on a motorcycle is common place down here.  The lines are just for decoration and distraction of the driver.  No-one uses them.  I counted 6 cars a-breast with 3 lanes showing!  Intersections are insane.   I wanted to close my eyes, but couldn't!  I can't figure out how there are not more accidents. 

My Hotel is nice.  Internet spotty and I only get 3 minutes at a shot.  Power has gone out about 6 times since I've been here.  I was in my room all of 5 minutes before the first outage.  In the shower this morning, it went out again.  Doesn't stay out long, but there are no emergency lights in the room.  Interesting. 

I woke up this morning to find water all over the floor.   My water filtration system that I brought was leaking.  I was slightly irritated until I realized that the clean water bag cap wasn't sealing properly.  It just needed a little O-ring adjustment.  Fixed.  All is well, except for the clothed that are hanging everywhere drying.  Ahhh, the little things!  All is well.

So, in short, I'm home-sick already, feel all alone, the learning curve looks like Mt. Everest to me, and I'm hungry.  All seem to be insurmountable obstacles!  Well, not really, but things will take some time to get used to over here.  I'm off to breakfast, then over to the ops building, unless they forgot to send a car.  In that case........don't know.  I find something.

Pray for me, I need it!  Love you all.

Darin