Steinbeck's got nuthin
Stage 1:
Follow the signs from the highway to the Toronto airport. DO NOT follow MapQuest or you will spend 45 minutes wandering aimlessly through a maze of streets with no signs, within walking distance of the airport terminals but with no way to drive there.
In Toronto, Continental informed me that I would not be leaving Newark, ever. So they re-booked me on a KLM flight through Amsterdam. KLM is niiiiiiice, super-swank. Economy class is like first class on other airlines. I was way pampered.
Toronto did not make me remove my shoes at security. Don't those crazy Canucks know there are TERRORISTS out there? With SHOES???
The in-flight movies from Amsterdam to New Delhi were Blades of Glory and a Hindu action movie called Dhoom 2, which were about equally coherent. They both featured a fairly non-sensical plot periodically interrupted by song and dance numbers that were even more incomprehensible. I slept through most of both movies, but Venky assures me Dhoom 2 is one of the finer action movies of our time.
Stage 2:
I arrived at Gandhi airport in a lightning storm and torrential downpour. "Customs" was a snap; they barely glanced at my passport and were most uncurious about my visit or bags.
I was met outside the security area by Roger, who I think is the house manager for the company's Delhi guest house. He is a great guy from Nepal who doesn't speak much English, so our communication was fairly limited. Also, it is weird having a servant and I wasn't very comfortable being hovered over, but I tried not to let it show.
I enjoyed the rain and lightning storm on the porch of the guest house, which I highly recommend. It is a wonderful view and quite refreshing after 18 hours of sitting in planes, even disgustingly bourgeous KLM planes with overly attractive Dutch stewardesses.
Stage 3:
After about 2 hours of sleep on a good hard bed (I want one! stupid soft mattresses) I was faced with a bathroom containing the following amenities: a bar of soap, a hot water heater, a bank of power switches, a bucket, a showerhead, and a showerhead for Mini-Me. Notice the conspicuous absence of toilet paper; I did. It's like solving one of those logic puzzles, but with 2 international flights worth of poop trying to get out. I eventually figured out how to use Mini-Me's shower, and took one myself for good measure.
Breakfast was made for me, eggs, toast, and coffee provided upon request. It was like a hotel, but a hotel with real service and not day-old donuts put out with Folgers. That's not "continental", it's crap, and you don't fool me! After enjoying the morning sky on the porch, it was time to grab my pack and go to the airport.
Oh yes, did I mention I had a driver? Venky wins big time.
Stage 4:
India also does not make you remove your shoes at security. It's a country on the brink of chaos!
Delayed but uneventful flight to Bangalore with absurdly attractive Asian-Indian mix stewardesses. Finally I saw Venky! We did lunch with our hands, and it was spectacular. I highly recommend the homemade yogurt.
New Delhi reminded me a bit of New York, while Bangalore reminds me of Rome.
Next up: Traffic report
Follow the signs from the highway to the Toronto airport. DO NOT follow MapQuest or you will spend 45 minutes wandering aimlessly through a maze of streets with no signs, within walking distance of the airport terminals but with no way to drive there.
In Toronto, Continental informed me that I would not be leaving Newark, ever. So they re-booked me on a KLM flight through Amsterdam. KLM is niiiiiiice, super-swank. Economy class is like first class on other airlines. I was way pampered.
Toronto did not make me remove my shoes at security. Don't those crazy Canucks know there are TERRORISTS out there? With SHOES???
The in-flight movies from Amsterdam to New Delhi were Blades of Glory and a Hindu action movie called Dhoom 2, which were about equally coherent. They both featured a fairly non-sensical plot periodically interrupted by song and dance numbers that were even more incomprehensible. I slept through most of both movies, but Venky assures me Dhoom 2 is one of the finer action movies of our time.
Stage 2:
I arrived at Gandhi airport in a lightning storm and torrential downpour. "Customs" was a snap; they barely glanced at my passport and were most uncurious about my visit or bags.
I was met outside the security area by Roger, who I think is the house manager for the company's Delhi guest house. He is a great guy from Nepal who doesn't speak much English, so our communication was fairly limited. Also, it is weird having a servant and I wasn't very comfortable being hovered over, but I tried not to let it show.
I enjoyed the rain and lightning storm on the porch of the guest house, which I highly recommend. It is a wonderful view and quite refreshing after 18 hours of sitting in planes, even disgustingly bourgeous KLM planes with overly attractive Dutch stewardesses.
Stage 3:
After about 2 hours of sleep on a good hard bed (I want one! stupid soft mattresses) I was faced with a bathroom containing the following amenities: a bar of soap, a hot water heater, a bank of power switches, a bucket, a showerhead, and a showerhead for Mini-Me. Notice the conspicuous absence of toilet paper; I did. It's like solving one of those logic puzzles, but with 2 international flights worth of poop trying to get out. I eventually figured out how to use Mini-Me's shower, and took one myself for good measure.
Breakfast was made for me, eggs, toast, and coffee provided upon request. It was like a hotel, but a hotel with real service and not day-old donuts put out with Folgers. That's not "continental", it's crap, and you don't fool me! After enjoying the morning sky on the porch, it was time to grab my pack and go to the airport.
Oh yes, did I mention I had a driver? Venky wins big time.
Stage 4:
India also does not make you remove your shoes at security. It's a country on the brink of chaos!
Delayed but uneventful flight to Bangalore with absurdly attractive Asian-Indian mix stewardesses. Finally I saw Venky! We did lunch with our hands, and it was spectacular. I highly recommend the homemade yogurt.
New Delhi reminded me a bit of New York, while Bangalore reminds me of Rome.
Next up: Traffic report