Surreal moments in India

Hearing a muzak version of Chicago's "If you leave me now" and other hits from the 70's while waiting for take off and landing on Air Deccan.

Watching the Sound of Music on Indian television because everything was closed for Republic Day this past Saturday; watching old Seinfeld reruns; watching the indian media go crazy speculating whether Sarkozy's girlfriend was going to show up on this state visit and accompany him to the Taj Mahal.

More to come...

Top Ten India Faux Paus

Did I spell that right? Well here I am in India at an Internet cafe at the lodge I'm staying at (Omkar lodge). I lasted ten days at the ashram; it was definitely a worthwhile experience, but I got tired of the vegetarian food and getting up a 5:00 a.m. to meditate for two hours, and then two hours of yoga in the morning and the afternoon. All that said, I feel that I finally learned how to do yoga the "right" way and I plan to continue doing yoga every day when I return home. Plus, I met people from all over the world: Israel, Iran, Poland, Ireland, Germany. The scenery at Neyyar Dam where the ashram is located is beautiful. I would recommend the ashram experience to anyone who is looking to recharge their batteries and get a fresh perspective on their life.

So I left without having a room booked and the place I was able to find a room on short notice was here at this hostel. The rooms are spartan and as described in one of the guide books, "cramped but clean with noisy traffice from the street," but having Internet and phone access at reasonable rates makes up for the lack of other amenities.

So what was the topic of this blog again? Top then faux paus...using the ATM across the street and getting trapped in it until I figured out that I needed to press a switch to open the door (an auto rickshaw driver was gesturing at me to see if I needed a lift and a policeman thought he was harassing me and approached him). Over tipping and getting strange looks from the guy who brings the bug night light at night and the coffee in the a.m.; finding out that not much is open on Monday; going to the beach at Kovalum and not realizing that I had to pay to use the beach chair; wearing my blue indian blouse with sweats (I got some weird looks from Indian men and women on the street, but I was trying to adhere to the more conservative dress code), taking a picture of the intricate ceiling at the museum in Trivandrum and not noticing the signs forbidding photos in the museum; they nearly took my film away. That's only six; I have to come up with four more...

Well that's enough for now. I leave Wed. for New Delhi.

Breathe...

When I'm nervous about doing something new and different, whether it's an interview, the first day at a a new job or assignment, or leaving on a trip to India, sometimes I just tell myself to "breathe." I'm not saying that it always works, but it's better than just giving in to my pre-interview/job/flight jitters. Another strategy I use is to tell myself over and over again that "half the battle is just getting yourself there." When I was in college, I remember reading that someone famous used to tell people "just showing up is the hard part" or something to that extent and I have to say when panic strikes, just focusing on "showing up" is doable for me.

So I depart for India on Friday. Can I really believe I'm going? Is it starting to sink in? I guess so. I've almost done packing and my suitcase is bursting at the seams (one of those black ones with rollers). My purse is going to feel like it's carrying weights - well the book that I'm planning to read on the plane and the folder with all my print outs of hotel confirmations along with a couple of magazines...I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say I had to move the umbrella to my suitcase.

I broke down and borrowed a bunch of guide books on Southern India as well as "The Rough Guide to India" from the library, and am attempting to speed through them before Friday. Better late than never, I guess. I'm taking one book on the plane to read (it's not due until I return). I never thought I would be such a pack rat, but I have managed to stuff so much into my suitcase that there will barely be room to bring anything back.

I discovered earlier this week that my cell phone won't operate on the frequencies in India. It's funny how the prospect of not having a working cell phone made me feel somewhat helpless. Then I had to remind myself that I survived at least 32 years without one. (I'm taking it anyway so I'll have it when I return to the U.S. if that makes any sense.) The helpful T-Mobile guy did tell me that I could check my cell phone messages from any phone using an 800 number. No I'm not getting a commission from T-Mobile, but I was happy to hear that.

On a related note, I bought an international calling card last week only to discover that it works in Indonesia, the Netherlands, Europe...just not in India. So plan B is to buy one in the New Delhi airport. If someone happens to stumble upon this blog and actually read it, maybe they will learn from my mistakes.

On a positive note, I have confirmed my arrival with the hotel in New Dehli. Fingers crossed that someone will be there to meet me, but it's looking extremely promising. So to wrap up, I hope to update my blog somewhat frequently. We'll see if that holds...