As if things weren't bad enough

So just to make things a little more interesting the big man upstairs has decided to through a loop hole into my trip.. I'm starting to have a Gout attack (it's Bubba's fault, appearantly I'm a closer relative of his than anyone else) Whoever says it's diet and red meat that are the cause is nuts. I haven't even seen red meat in 10 days. Just an annoyance so far but we'll see how it goes.

The girls going to Delaware has nothing on me

That annual Delaware pilgrimage is for sissies.. Real shoppers kick it old school in downtown Mumbai. Maybe I should have realized there would be some issues when after the driver trying to communicate how everything was very safe the first person who approached the car trying to sell us fruit the driver yells "Lock the doors". It wasn't unsimilar to going to New Hope or South Street except all the merchants were on the street and very aggressive. Speaking of aggressive the beggers would follow you for blocks pulling on your hands and clothes, funny at times, scarry at others, and always annoying. It's usually kids that have been trained to do it.. some of them real young (maybe 2) Not a pretty site.. Didn't really get any good pictures though.. I did come real close to buying Brian a nice Demi bra with some lace and fake jewels.. I had the guy talked down to 40 Rupees (about 90 cents) but they didn't have his size (maybe next time). We are heading to The Gateway of India today it's about 45 minutes south then another 45 minutes on a boat. Supposed to have wild monkees. A big tourist spot so we'll see.. I do have a couple of photos to post: Sorry about the quality of the shots but all but one were taken from the car at high speed and I don't dare put the window down:
We should all be embarrassesed about shot 1.. They build scafolds here out of nothing but bambo and rope and they through them up in minutes.. Flanders is still working on the design of the one on the side of Bubba's house and that was 25 years ago.
Shot 2 is hard to make out but it's my favorite thing I've seen so far.. Driving around here is just nuts. It honestly reminds me of us driving the go carts in Deep Creek. No lanes, No rules. Well this one is of a motorcycle with 2 people and a dog on it.. Just killed me.. I did see a whole family, 2 adults and 2 kids riding on one but couldn't get the shot.
Shot 3 is why you should never use public restrooms.. This is the bathroom in the office building I'm in.. One side has the toilet and about a foot of space then this, Needless to say, I'm HOLDING IT..
Shot 4 is a driveby of the slums.. You really need a wide angle and some ground level shots to do it justice.. The crazy part is I was talking to our contact here and he says alot of the people there aren't even poor.. They just live there because it's all free (they steal water and electricity from the city, he tells me some of them even have flat screen TV's in them and there is no crime in them).. Sis you should start working on a house for Mumbai 2011.. Heck we can just send Bubba over to build our on.. We could have he nicest shanty on the block.

Now it gets Interesting

It's Saturday, Actually was able to sleep in today. Was up at 3:15. Had to be in the office at 7:00 but the day is ending at 3:00 so we are going to venture outside of the Hotel tonight.. We plan on trying to do some street shopping (how much would you all pay to watch Bubba negotiate a price with and Indian street vendor, I'm giggling just thinking about it.) My contacts here tell me it's plenty safe but he people will be in your face the whole time so this could get interesting. I'll see if I can find Brian that same speedo the guy in the picture has on (of course the pouch will need to be smaller) We have talked about walking through the slums (we drive by them each on the way to and from the office but can't get any good pictures.) I could not begin to try and describe it so I really need photos. Not sure we are really going to do it but who knows. Still doing fine with the food. Haven't touched the sun flower seeds and haven't been to kfc. All the food I've had has actually been real good. I just don't have much to select from. That's all for now. Hoping to have some good shots to post later tonight (Saturday morning for you) Peace Out.. Jugdesh

Technical Issues

OK, I'm still alive. I've had major computer issues so Blogging has been out of the question. Hoping I get it sorted out today but who knows.. If not email will be the best I can do.. Trying to settle into a routine but right now that routine is I wake up at 2:30 and go to the gym come back take a shower and try and occupy myself to breakfast at 7:00 (not doing too well with that.) Work at 8:00, back to the hotel by about 5:00 done with dinner by 6:30, get mad at the computer not working until 9:00 and go to bed exhausted. Wake up at 2:30 and start over again. The best I can do on TV is Sportcenter but it's from asia so they lead with cricket and hockey (that's field hockey to us) Never thought I'd be happy to see soccer come on the news. The food choices aren't plentiful but I can't really complain about the dinners as they have been fine. The hotel is nice enough and i don't dare leave it. Might try some tourist stuff on Sunday but will lay low until then. Will try and post some photos of all the elegance... Photo 1 is of guys getting some form of coconuts out of the tree, right after the shot the guy on the bottom had one dropped on his head. they gave it to guy with me and he drank it, wasn't good. #2 random guy waiting for MT at the pool. #3 is the throng of people waiting to give people rides at the airport. #4 is the building outside my window, all day the roof is filled with people hanging out I really think it's all they do. Might acutally be their home. #5 is the training for the security staff on hand to hand combat. You know in case we are stormed.. which is nice..

Monday March 1

First full day but I didn't have to work because it was holiday (Holi, celebration of color) basically people smear themself with colored poweder and go around looking like zombies from some movie. very odd. You have to be careful that people don't through colors on you as you walk around. I put it as some weird version of mischief night. Didn't really do anything else. There is a breakfast buffet each morning that they will make you eggs (the do have sausage and bacon but it's real bad) they say they also do pancakes and waffles so they might be in my future. Lunch was a buffet too because of the holiday.. white rice and some form of chicken for me.. then it was chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner. Imagine almost all the eating will be here in the hotel at the same restaurant (there is absolutely nothing around here and downtown is a car ride so i won't be there alot.) Having a hard time sleeping.. got up at 4 am yesterday and got up at 3 am today (I feel like T.) Start with work today so hopefully i can get into some routine. I believe i got 2 nice photos yesterday, i'll see if i can upload them after work. That's all for now..

Well, this was just the kind of thing I never see in Hopewell. It's nothing more than a glorified golf cart and these things are taxis buzzzing around everywhere. You can see he was over joyed with me taking his picture last night. I think this guy might have Caddied for Terry at some point.