"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.