TravelStream™ news feed for member bnbfsu on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/bnbfsu en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:33:54 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/2/1118017440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/2/1118017440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/2/1118017440/tpod.html Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:33:54 -0400 Iceland - a week in the Land of Fire and Ice

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New York City, New York, United States

It is just about 10:00 pm (EST) and Sue and I are finally off to Iceland. We are currently somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean with the East Coast of the United States somewhere off our lefthand side.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1209220020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1209220020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1209220020/tpod.html Mon, 19 May 2008 21:28:39 -0400 Asia-2007/2008

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New York City, New York, United States

Well, I am back in the Big Apple for good this time and this will be my last entry in this travel journal. So, first I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to keep up with me on my travels and have kept in touch. It really meant a lot to me. I spent a lot of time alone over the past seven months and certainly did not need all of that time for self-reflection. ha-ha.

This trip has certainly been an eye-opening experience and one that has truly changed who I am and the route I plan to travel in the future. I will never forget first stepping off the plane in Delhi, utterly alone and 10,000 miles away from anyone and anything I knew. I had no idea where I was going or how to get there and was going on blind faith. That is what much of this trip has been based on - blind faith but also finding faith within myself that I could not only handle this but thrive in the process. Seeing the Taj Mahal was not something I had ever planned on doing in my lifetime and spending a Saturday afternoon strolling the promenade on the Arabian Sea was something I had never really thought about but now I have done both. As for being so far away and all alone on my birthday, I can't imagine making the best of it any better than I did at the Coconut Lagoon in Kerala, India. Landing in Singapore and that first cab ride to the hotel was like being transported straight into all those novels I have read about this region and the British colonial influence (welcomed or not). Sitting at the Boat Quay having a beer and chicken wings on advice from a friend who had been there too, alleviated some of the loneliness that had settled in over the past 6 weeks. Flying home to see my family for Thanksgiving and being greeted at the airport by my Dad with a big hug and both of us realizing I had just flown around the world was a complete mixture of emotion I hope to feel again and again and again.

Heading back out after the Holiday, I was feeling like an old hat at this traveling thing because I was going straight back to the familiarity of Singapore. To be accosted by all that is Hong Kong a week later was exhilarating and strangely not terrifying at all, though I was in the same position I had been in in Delhi only a short time ago. Being alone and stepping on the beach of the South China Sea off Lantau Island was a defining moment in my life simply because it was unexpected. That feeling of having your world and life change by something you never had imagined is something so amazing that you can't help but cherish it. Taking a catamaran to mainland China the following weekend was more than I had dreamed six months earlier and the skyline of Hong Kong is something you can never get tired of looking at. Riding up to the top of Victoria's Peak, even on a cool overcast night is something hard to forget. Only than to be back in the States with my family for Christmas and in New York with someone special on New Year's was all I could have wanted at that moment.

Kicking it in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia and drinking a Dunkin Donuts iced mocha latte (ridiculous I know and I was trying to be all authentic but I guess that is authentic KL these days) while taking pictures of the Petronas Towers will always make me think of that crazy peacock chasing me down and the fabulous foot massage I had at the central market, not to mention the good laugh I had at the national museum. I really hope they get that together because the history of this place is really interesting and truly amazing. Speeding through Victoria Harbor in a jet-foil on my way to Macao for the weekend made me feel free and reckless, with such a sense of abandonment I wanted to just keep going. Not to mention getting lost on the streets (figuratively - mostly) and feeling the history of the island come alive to the point I could almost touch it.

Heading back to India because I had to, because something in me told me I wasn't done with the place yet. Spending a weekend in the land of Maharajahs and riding an elephant to the to top of the Amer Fort was a childhood fantasy fulfilled that had never even had been imagined to be a possibility. Heading to Aurangabad and spending time in a place so ancient and so beautiful you literally stop and thank God for letting you see this.

I have realized I am not a restless spirit and do not need to roam the planet looking for anything other than all the beauty it has to offer. I do not feel any need to tuck myself away in some far away corner of the globe to prove to myself or anyone else who I am. I want to explore and travel and taste and smell and experience, simply for that, the experience. I want to continue to meet amazing and interesting people but also be reminded of those already in my life and that I am so grateful for. Like anything else in life, travel has its ups and downs. But I must say, I would gladly take the downs to be able to have experienced the ups on this trip. I have so many pictures and so many memories wrapped up in them, I don't even know where to start with organizing them. Luckily, I don't have to as I can be just being and all of a sudden something randomly comes to me and I remember and mostly I smile.

Thanks and until my next adventure..........Brandy
New York, NY
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1206423180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1206423180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1206423180/tpod.html Fri, 09 May 2008 12:52:02 -0400 Asia-2007/2008

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Singapore, Singapore

So here I am back in Singapore aka The Garden City and what appears to be the last work destination of this Odyssey that started back in October. I will be here for the 3 weeks give or take and plan to just stay put and relax and see and do everything Singaporean, but you never know, I could get restless and head to Bangkok, Bali or Langkawi next weekend. Right now staying put sounds like a good idea but I fear I will grow restless and want to get another stamp in my passport before all is said and done. I am awaiting word from my boss as to the 2 weeks vacation I requested at the end of this whole expedition, however given my track record on this trip I good easily go for the 2 weeks and than just show up and no one would be worse for the wear. Sad, but true. My growing complacency withstanding, my girl scout, do-good, compliance driven brain will not allow this and I will dutifully put in my request with the caveat, "if I don't hear back from you I will assume my request has been approved.See you back in NYC!" Seriously, this is the case. Whacked I know but what is a girl to do.

I elected to try out a new hotel this time given my new obsession with hotel and flight points and am kicking back at the Sheraton Towers this time. It is in the Orchard Road area, an as yet unexplored region of this island. Given the size of this place and the fact this is my 4th trip in 5 months, I find that hard to believe that there is anywhere I haven't been yet. But I still have quite enough left to do that will keep me busy and in trouble for the next 19 or so days.

I decided to stay in Singapore for the weekend after-all and just chilled at the pool all day Saturday. It was quite festive at the pool and everybody was throwing back the drinks, so I joined them and had a few coronas before heading out to Orchard Street for dinner. I guess the sun really got to me because I was exhausted and just went back to my room and watched a movie. It was probably a good thing because I was planning on heading out to Pulau Ubin, an island off the North Eastern coast of Singapore the next morning and wanted to get an early start to beat the heat, a very hard feat. It is supposed to be laid back and not built up and a great day trip. So I paid my $2 (Singapore) and took the bum-boat ride over. I decided to rent a bike and use that as my mode of transportation around the island since this looked like the thing to do and bonus I would get some exercise and not have to go to the gym when I got back to the hotel (aka beers after bike ride). A little exercise? 2 1//2 hours of uphill, downhill, walk the damn thing, can a person sweat this much and not pass out - later, I was having a blast and was so glad to just be outside and free of the urban crawl of any city and not stuck in an outpost in India where you are at the mercy of someone else and unsure of everything.

It was very hot and very humid and it only took a matter of minutes before I was covered in sweat and I mean real sweat, like the kind that runs down your leg and drips off your nose. But everybody else looked like they were as hot as I felt so we all suffered together. There were a lot of stops along the way and so many signs advertising "cold drinks" that I figured it was probably really hot here a lot. It was a laid back place that once you got away from the ferry dock there really wasn't much around. I didn't see any of the animals listed in the pamphlet I picked up at the information booth but did see a lot of dogs wandering around and acting like locals. I guess I would have had more of an opportunity to see some of the birds listed if I had slowed down. I started to make another loop of the island and was about half way through when an "abort plan" option suddenly opened up to me with a path that headed back to the "village" and my common sense got the better of me. I made it back to the ferry dock and kicked back and had a couple of cold ones on the water and just relaxed and watched the rhythm of the island as boats came and dropped people off, leading to a momentary rush at the bike rental shops, exhausted visitors getting back from the hot trails sitting down for something cold to drink and maybe some of the good seafood you couldn't help but smell, to finally boats picking of weary travelers and heading back to the mainland. After spending about 5 hours out here I too became one of the weary travelers and headed back to the bum boat and hitched a ride back to the mainland and my hotel where I dropped into a dead sleep.

It is now Tuesday afternoon and I am at the office planning on how to spend my time away from the office. I will let you know how it goes. Talk to you soon. B
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1207712520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1207712520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1207712520/tpod.html Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:54:42 -0400 Asia-2007/2008

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Singapore, Singapore

Wrapping up my travels before heading back to New York for good this time. It will be over on Monday April 21 and I to be honest I can't wait. This leg has been particularly hard on me on the work front and I am simply ready to go home and get settled and get back into my life. I plan on waiting a bit after I return to actually reflect on this trip before making my final entry because I don't want it to be jaded by these past few weeks.

So as I said previously, this time I have elected to stay in the Orchard Road area of SP, which is known for it shopping and come to find out... its "ladies." Ha-Ha. I have been spending time on Orchard Road, as it intersects with Scotts Road where my hotel is just a short walk away. I have a beer or glass of wine after work or do some shopping/looking and grab dinner or have a coffee and people watch. This is a great place to people watch. After a while you can categorize people and there seemed to be a particular type of woman that kept popping up. Very typically, hanging out with a Western looking man or men that are decidedly "non-locals." Now, these are not the kind of ladies that hung out in East Stuart near the crack houses or who call Times Square home and say Sugar. No, they are different and not really noticeable, unless you take the time to notice them. Apparently there is a place called Orchard Tower that is known as Four Floors of Whores. I personally, have not made it to this venue. I stick to my sidewalk cafes and watch "The Ladies of Orchard Street" and think of the Missy Elliot song "Work it" - girl, girl, get that cash. If it's 9 to 5 or shakin' your ass. Ain't no shame, ladies do your thing. Just make sure you ahead of the game. Ha-Ha. Who knew. Nobody told me about this. But it is a perfectly safe, hip, upscale neighborhood, the kind Eliot Spitzer is used to hanging out in I am sure. =).

Sunday April 13, 2008 - After being a bum much of the day Saturday and drinking beer and reading Into the Wild while chilling at the Boat Quay, I decided to take the Singapore River Cruise today and headed out via subway to the Boat Quay again. I had lunch at some Italian joint on the water and than jumped on the bum boat and cruised up and than down a span of the river in a 45 minute canned recorded presentation. But it wasn't crowded, just me and one of couple, and the day was nice (sunny and hot) so I just enjoyed being out on the water and taking in all the sites that I had seen from land or hadn't had a chance to get to yet. Mostly things similar to Boat Quay or Clarke key that centered around Singaporeans two favorite past-times of shopping and eating.

Read: Eat, Pray, Love (come on I almost had to while I was in India), couldn't put down Into the Wild after I saw the movie and am finishing up the Last Concubine - just something I picked up at Borders, while shopping on Orchard Street.

Eating: The food is so good here. I am trying to sample as much of it as I while still being healthy. I have given up my ethnic breakfasts and am back to my western ways, except I have a salad with my egg whites. Yes, a salad. I have gotten particularly used to this custom. I think it is just "hotel" because salad is not a staple over here (see next sentence). I wonder if they will put that on the breakfast menu in the cafe at work when I get back? I have a feeling that might prove difficult. Lunch is a bit harder as my co-workers will not have "lettuce" with me, so I have whatever with them. Luckily we dodge each other a few times a week and I can grab a salad or get sushi from this place that I like.

Listening to: Accelerate -the new REM album..woo-hoo, going to see them in June at Madison Square Garden. It has been a long time, both since I have seen them live and since they put out a kick-ass album. Jessica Sonner's new CD, All We Need. Oh, and my new workout play-list on my Ipod...enough said on that one.

Friday April 18, 2008 - It has come upon my last weekend in Singapore and I must play tourist and do all/some of the things I have put off until the last minute. I was going to work through the end of the month and tack on some vacation over here but have decided it is time to get home. So that being said I started off the weekend by taking out the girls from my office for lunch. I have encroached on them for over a month and they were gracious to say the least. So we headed down to the waterfront and lunched on pepper crabs (a Singapore signature dish) and some interesting desserts (the prime word here being interesting). I was brave and tasted them. I have become particularly fond of sago, refreshing little beads of, uh something I think flour, that is usually served with fruit in some format. Today it came with 3 fruit sorbetish kinda concoctions in varying electric shades of red, green and orange. I must admit it was very good and probably preserved some part of my body for all eternity. After work I was so tired that I just headed back to the hotel and had some beers at the bar and listened to Jenny and Fredo sing some songs. They have been here since I got here and have been belting out elevator music every night in the lobby bar. We have met over the course of the past month, as I tend to stop in now and again to have a drink and relax after work or a weekend adventure. Now every time I am there they play some New York related song (New York, New York, New York State of Mind etc) and dedicate it to "our dear friend Brandy so far from home." ha-ha. Hey at least I am making friends.

Saturday started off with a subway ride to Chinatown. The subway here is clean and cheap and very easy to get around on. I have put off Chinatown on my previous visits because well, I was going to China. So knowing I was finally headed to the Chinatown in SP, made me realize that my trip really was wrapping up. I took a trishaw tour, which is a bike with a sidecar thing on it, very similar to the ones in India, except the bike is on the side which makes it easy for them to talk to you while touring. It was only $16 US and I got to see not only the novelty section that has been restored and maintained for tourists, but all the surrounding land that has given over to growing commerce and changing demographics. I must admit when I saw my driver Elton ride in with his Ipod blaring hip hop I was like Hell No. Thank heavens he turned it off because it was a site in itself to maneuver this trishaw through the narrow and crowded streets of the touristy sections. It was enough with him blaring his horn at these poor people. I could not imagine it with Snoop Dog's Ego Trippin or Ray J's Sexy Can I blaring. It was cool to go to the Thian Hock Keng Temple, which is where the first Chinese immigrants landed and erected a temple as thanks for allowing them a safe journey. This was the exact spot they landed but now across the street instead of the sea (which I was kinda expecting, some odd fantasy that you would be able to stand there and imagine them landing etc. etc. forgetting you in the oh so modern city of Singapore where there is nothing left in its original form, not even the shoreline), there were office buildings. This is part of the reclamation that Singapore does/did to expand its land. I joked that soon they would be able to walk to Malaysia and FINALLY Elton my trusted Trishaw driver got my joke and here it was my last weekend. Ha-ha.

Elton and I got out of the Trishaw and walked around the Temple. He explained some of the stuff to me and pointed out things including the bats overhead. There were two gods in particular, who were best friends but died in a storm (one waiting by the bridge for the other, who got detained and later committed suicide over the death of his friend)...now I have seen offerings of many things on my travels including orange fanta and canned coffee, but never cigarettes. Elton explained that these guys were apparently big partiers and also liked a fag now and again. So people came and prayed to them and brought them their favorite vices. After my tour of Chinatown, I found a Hawker Center and sat down to what I must admit was one of my favorite meals on this whole trip. It was so simple and so cheap but it was just amazing. I sat in the street and slurped my noodles and meat and sweated and just soaked up being in the moment knowing there is a good likelihood I will never be here again. If I do make it back to Singapore for work, which despite this leg of the trip I hope I do, my weekend(s) will be spent exploring other spots of SE Asia (Bali, Langkawi, Borneo, Cambodia, etc) and not spent hanging around here. After that I spent the next few hours shopping and got myself a bunch of souvenirs and just took everything in. Sunday I headed to the Botanical Gardens and just spent some time hanging out taking in the sites and sweating (this place is hot) and than headed back to the hotel to pack. I somehow had to figure out how to get all my stuff into my bags. I drank a beer, called downstairs for a 5am wakeup call and went to sleep.

See you back in New York to wrap things up for good. Thanks. Brandy
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1206185700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1206185700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1206185700/tpod.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:35:56 -0400 Asia-2007/2008

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Aurangabad, India

4:00 am Mumbai - I am wondering exactly why I decided to catch the 7:15 flight to Aurangabad. Coffee is at the door and I am headed to the shower. On my way to the airport I see Mumbai as never before, quiet. No horns blaring, no traffic, no nothing. It is a great way to see the city. Today is Holi, part of the 4 day Hindu celebration of Spring and it is a good thing I am headed out of town. Today is the throwing of the colors....basically all sorts of dye and water balloons are thrown at everything and everyone for hours. I am missing this due to my early departure and as my co-worker said, "Oh, Good." That said I found the 4 am wake-up call not all that bad. That plus I didn't realize I got booked in business class (woo-hoo), so I got the lounge and more hot coffee while I waited for the plane. Now, here in India getting to the plane involves a bus ride and after a while and what felt like we were half way to Aurangabad I was like come on boys, let's keep going..why fly? But no the plane was in site and off we were. Bye Bollywood...

After a brief..very brief flight the adventure begins. I am staying at another Taj property that is amazingly cheap and turns out to be a little oasis in this place. The grounds are totally relaxing and my room comes with a terrace and a swing....a swing! I leave early to hit the Ellora Cave Circuit, which consists of the caves, a fort and two mosques. These caves I have come to see are listed as World Heritage Sites by the UN-ESCO and are among the wonders of the ancient world. They are over 2000 years old and incorporate the practices of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. When wandering around you have to keep reminding yourself how old they are and the fact that everything was done by hand. That being said even the most humble of them leaves you contemplating why you bitch about doing the dishes or having to walk to the laundry mat (though I do not do the later instead I simple walk to the cleaners and drop everything off but still the concept). The sun was scorching and the salesmen more annoying than the sun. But the caves were worth putting up with both. After this I went to the Daulatabad Fort, which was built in 1187 by a Hindu King. Supposedly there were 650 steps but I must have missed a good bit of them because it didn't seem to bad to me. Honestly this place is a real fixer upper but the surrounding views of the mountains and the clear blue sky were quite impressive. It was still part of the 4 day festival and there were packs of boys wandering around. Me? When we were off from school we headed to the beach. But I guess with no beach in site this Fort makes a good alternative..huh? But whatever. They were quite annoying but rather comical and added to the whole experience. I mean a few times they were really irrating and I gave 'em the universal "hello" sign and I don't think they had ever seen a white chick or someone flipping 'em the bird before...ha-ha. I wound up going to two other sites that were awright but after being to the real Taj Mahal, one is not really in the mood for a knock-off.

Plus it was really hot so I headed back to the hotel to relax and have a couple cold ones, when much to my HORROR I was told due to the holiday the entire country was dry for the day. Well that was a new one for me but I managed just fine and decided to have an early night to get an early start for the next day where I was going to the Ajanta Caves. They were about a 2 hour drive that was in and of itself an experience..a near death experience. I don't know if the driver was trying to impress me or just didn't want to see all the poverty lining the roads or was just "airing it out" but I was so grateful to get to the caves that I would have kissed the ground if I was not afraid of catching some unimaginable disease that has yet to be discovered. So after taking a bus ride for 5km to the site, where I was the only non-Indian and quite the tourist attraction in myself, I heaved myself up the stairs to the beginning of the caves. There were a lot of stairs this day and I was so grateful that it was actually overcast and a bit on the cool side (for India that is) and got to the business of exploring the caves. Now, Aurangabad is not a big place and people come here for ....the caves, so I kept running into people who were staying at the same hotel as me. It almost felt a bit like summer camp...all eating together, hanging out at the pool and seeing each other at the same sites. To say the caves are impressive is an understatement and it just amazing to walk around and think that thousands of years ago monks and whatnot lived here and built this. It must have been so isolated and I am quite sure they never saw a white chick from New York City. Driving back to the hotel I passed a Hindu wedding procession where the guy was all dressed up and riding his horse to the temple and two other weddings in progress. Not to mention all the people walking towards the Temple for the Holi Festival with some processions having horses, others with cows and still others with rickshaw with loud speakers. It was quite the festive day and served to relieve the bouts of sheer terror my driver continued to instill in me on the 2 hour drive back to the hotel.

Today was not a dry day, so I treated myself to a couple of beverages in "the bar" and commenced to making some new friends. That was pretty much all for this trip. The next day I slept in and hung out by the pool until it was time for my flight. I got on the plane. Now I had to fly back to Mumbai to head to Singapore due to Aurangabad not being an international airport. This place is as ass backwards as the rest of the country and I waited an hour to catch a bus to go from the domestic terminal to the international terminal, which was quite a haul itself. I mean we got on a highway...what? And when we did stop the door was on the wrong side and we had to exit into oncoming traffic...what? Even with a 2 hour window I was worried that I would not have time to check in, clear customs and make my flight. Apparently some others were not as lucky as I and we ended up leaving almost an hour late due to having to wait on these poor folks. But once I finally got on the plane and didn't have to worry about transfers and buses and speeding cars, I promptly fell into a fast hard sleep and to my dismay missed dinner. I don't know if I was just that out cold or they thought I looked too cute in my sleeper socks and blanket to wake me up but I reclined (gotta love business class, which in this case was "premiere class" because they didn't have business class - there are days when I love my job) and blissfully slept the rest of the flight.

So good-bye India and Singapore here I come. See y'all there. Brandy

p.s. it would be great to hear from you!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1205760480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1205760480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1205760480/tpod.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:09:54 -0400 Asia-2007/2008

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Mumbai (Bombay), India

Welcome to Bollywood. Everybody comes to Bollywood got a dream. What's your dream? What's your dream? Hey, Mister! Hey! What's your dream?...........

Well, I managed to get everything here but still don't know how. My luggage was actually over the limit..the first time ever, but the check-in guy took pity on me and didn't charge me any extra. I left my checked in luggage and somehow managed to get all my carry-ons to the plane without my shoulders popping out of the socket. The flight was fine and I forgot I was booked in business so that was a nice surprise. However, things are never lined up that good and once I got to Bombay my meet and greet was not there. Why? I don't know and I didn't care. It was hot and I needed to get all my crapt into something and to the hotel. After going back inside and back through departures and in some creepy back alley, I found an ATM and got money to take a taxi. Luckily the Kingfisher Airline guy was very sweet and communication issues were kept to a minimum and he helped me secure a taxi. NOW, I should have protested when I heard the grunt and groan of this thing pull out..but I held my breath and hoped that it was all part of that incredible Indian ingenuity and we would get there intact. No such luck. That damn thing grunted and groaned all the way to a complete stop. In my humble opinion, it sounded like a serious transmission problem and we were going nowhere but I kept my mouth shut as the driver tried over and over to get it going. Now, here I had more crapt than I could carry myself, the temperature had significantly risen since I left Jaipur and we were on the side of the road. However, Krishna was looking down on us and he was able to hail another taxi and I was off again. Gosh, the hotel was far from the airport and with no a/c, my face started turning all shades of pink. But I slid my shades on and sat back and before I knew it (not really) we were there. Now, I am going to cool down, unpack and get ready to go to the office tomorrow (I checked and the person I am here to see is actually going to be there tomorrow..a small victory in this vast war). To celebrate this not-so-small feat as I have discovered on this journey, I am off to find some green beer even if it is only a green bottle..Happy St. Patrick's Day to all.

Well, I arrived to the office and found that in fact my luck has not changed on this trip. I was informed that the office was closed for 4 days due to a holiday. Why I would care it was closed on Saturday and Sunday is beyond me because I do not work on weekends. But, I was a bit distressed when told they would also be closed Thursday and Friday. I am like and you couldn't have told me this via e-mail when I wrote to make sure this would be a good time for me to be in the office, your schedule is free and I will have a productive trip. Not only that but the person I came to see neglected to tell me he would be out of the office Wednesday as well. Needless to say my time in India has not been well spent and I have decided a few things about this people who work for the same company as I do (I refuse to call them co-workers as that would put us in the same category) but will refrain from writing my real thoughts on them in my blog as this is a fun, happy place to talk about my experiences (good, bad, indifferent and downright comical) not to discuss some less than worthy adversaries who wouldn't last a New York minute. That said I suddenly had 2 free days on my hands. To be honest, Mumbai or Bombay or whatever you want to call is not really a site seeing city. It is more a stopover on getting out into the real India and a place where you relax and regroup and move on. It is cosmopolitan and has great restaurants but the sites aren't much and can easily be done in a day (especially if you have my driver Rajeesh from my last visit) so here I am wishing they had told me about the holiday and I would have left for Aurangabad a day earlier.

I dutifully took my computer and work out to the pool, where I got so enthralled in the book I was reading - A Thousand Splendid Suns - that I must admit I didn't get much work done and got way too much sun. So a bit fried (and not the way I used to get "fried" in HS), the next morning I set out to do some site seeing in The Fort district, which is where my office is but where I didn't do much more than get into and out of a taxi right in front of the office. All in all, a walk I could have done after work but interesting enough. I watched some cricket matches being played in the local park and reflected on the architecture and marveled at how the British buildings stand proud and sturdy, while the other ones stood in crumbling ruins. There is so much crapt everywhere in this country it is amazing. I want to shout "pick it up, put it away, clean your room" but know that as soon as it is moved, somebody will just come along and dump more crapt in the same spot. It seems like it is just part of the social make-up here and a consequence of 1 billion people living on top of each other without the infrastructure and mentality to support it. It just goes hand in hand with the peeing in public mentality. Men in this country from the poorest vagrant to a wealthy, educated, dressed in a suit businessman has absolutely no problem with just pulling off the road and peeing on the spot...anywhere, anytime. I bet if they started fining people for this, they would have enough in the kiddy to clean up all the crapt lying around.

So it is getting time to wind up my time here in India. All the business is out of the way and I have one final weekend getaway before heading out again. I can't say I regret coming back but I have to say I still feel like I am lacking the experience that I came seeking. I was told by everyone how gracious and hospitable the Indian people are and how I was going to enjoy my time here so much. Well if the invitations were sent, they got lost in the mail. Now I don't doubt this is true for a minute, I unfortunately just wasn't a part of it. It was kinda like being that kid in the playground that nobody will play with and you can't really figure out why. Luckily I was never that kid or if I was I don't remember it so it couldn't have been too traumatizing ... at least until now. I have to say, my time in India both this time and the last was some of the loneliest and hardest time I have ever spent my life. I suppose it gave me some time to think and contemplate and all that crapt, but in reality all I thought and contemplated was how freakin lonely I was. My sense of humor is lost on everyone over here and though I spend a fair share of time cracking myself up, it would sure have been nice to share my thoughts with someone who would get it right along with me. But that said, I wouldn't change my time here. I got to see and do some amazing things that I will never forget and am so grateful to have been exposed to. This time last year I would have told you that I doubted if I would ever see the Taj Mahal in my lifetime. Now..been there..done that =). That and so many other things. This being said as I head out for my last Indian adventure. I am now off to tie a chili pepper and lime (a good luck charm) to my suitcase for my trip to Aurangabad and the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, considered wonders of the ancient world. Til then.....Brandy
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1205481900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1205481900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1205481900/tpod.html Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:50:07 -0400 Asia-2007/2008

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Jaipur, India

Decided to take a detour on my way to Mumbai and stopped in Jaipur, the capital city of the state of Rajasthan. I couldn't decide which city to go to in Rajasthan..Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and knew Jaisalmer was a bit out of the way for a weekend, so I stuck to my new found foreign travel plan, especially if traveling alone...go to the capital city of the state/country you are visiting if you can only get there for a weekend. It will have an airport and you won't spend your time traveling to your destination but get the maximum time in the destination. Plus there is always plenty to do, a good range of hotels for any budget and the same with restaurants and shopping.

Given you can spend a month at least exploring this wonderful state of Rajasthan, I thought sticking to my plan was a good idea. Jaipur is known as the Pink City and is located in the state of Rajasthan, the land of the Maharajas. I am so excited to be here I could spit...which in this country would not be rude at all! All those old movies, not to mention the exhibit my sister and I saw at the Met a few years ago (one of the most amazing things I have seen...I want a sword encrusted in rubies and emeralds with a gold hilt). I have secretly harbored strong feelings for all things Maharaj related - though I feel it is my grown-up (sorta) civic-minded feminist duty to state, women are NOT objects, animals should not be painted and dressed up like dolls and why so much violence, it truly is too hot to fight here boys. So, I checked into the Sheraton Rajputana Friday night. Wow, this place is beautiful. The attention to detail is great and the breakfast buffet (included) is great. I have been trying all sorts of new Indian foods (at the bright old hour of 8am) and they are explaining them to me and how to eat them and what to eat them with. That with an omelet tossed in for safe-keeping is keeping me going through out long hot days of site seeing.

There are a LOT of big tour groups here and many start in my hotel. Most of the clientele appears to European and communicating with them is not really an option. Plus they seem really focused on not keeling over with heat stroke. I decided to hire a car through the hotel for a half day's adventure on Saturday...if I wasn't alone, I would have been more adventurous but...since it was really cheap (God, I hope my conversion is right!) and that way I didn't have to keep worrying about getting a taxi or rickshaw. Plus I also kept my poor mother in mind after last Sunday and the fact she thinks I have contracted the plague. First place I head to is the Albert Museum. It is closed. Huh? And my driver didn't know this?? I was starting to get a bit worried how the rest of the day was going to progress but tried my new technique of breathing in, breathing out and moving on..thanks Jimmy Buffett for the great song! And off we were to the old city and City Palace. After being accosted with guys wanting to be my guide, I extracted myself from them (I have done my reading and prefer to explore the sites by myself unless I would totally miss the experience - like Jantar Mantar - it is much easier (for me) and 100% more relaxing). They have their pre-planned speech and course and tend to move fast. Plus my guide book is good and actually gives you a walking tour through these bigger monuments. So I wandered and enjoyed. Beautiful..and they had a museum that would have made the women of the Upper East Side of New York City pea green with envy. There was a baby swing that was made of sandalwood and gold, though I had a hard time finding any sandalwood. Talk about being set up for failure when your baby swing costs more than your first house! The current Maharaj still resides here in a private section and is affectionately (I presume) known as "Bubbles."

After this, I walked across the street and headed to Jantar Mantar an outdoor observatory built in 1726 by Jai Singh II. I took one look at it and decided I needed a guide to explain how all the stuff worked. It was really interesting but I know why my guide book says not visit it at noon..whew. After this I headed to Hawa Mahal, a house built on the main drag so that the women could hang out and not be seen but see what was going on. It was undergoing a major renovation but was still worth a stop and there were vendors outside so I could get some much needed cold water. I had completed my site seeing agenda and the next thing on my list was shopping. I didn't get as much done the last time I was India so this time I am going all out. Unfortunately my driver took me to those one stop for everything government owned tourist places that I hate. Still, I thought I would give it a try..not. I didn't even make it in the door before I turned around. Not having names of specific places (my fault) I tried to explain what I was looking for. I didn't think we communicated all that well but he did come through with the local market I was looking for and I spent the next hour or so walking around the Bapu Bazaar. I got a few things and headed back to the hotel. I spent the next bit at the hotel bar rediscovering my love of the local beer that I had discovered the night before - Cobra. Then it was on to watch some local dancing and having dinner at Peswhari, the hotel's Tandoori restaurant. Oh my...I had the best dinner (see live, love, laugh ...eat) of tandoori shrimp. I was pretty beat after this and just chilled. I had plans to get up early..really early for a Sunday to get to the next destination on my list.

Sunday 6:30 am (see I told you it was early) - I am on the move again. I arranged another car and headed to see the 3 Forts of Jaipur. I got an early start due to the heat and the fact that I wanted to take the option of riding an elephant up to the Fort. By noon it is too hot for them and than you have to hoof it. If it is too hot for the 'phants it would be too hot for me! I got to Amer Fort & Palace right after about 500 tour buses and the line for the elephants was long and already surprising hot. The amount of "outdoor salesmen" was shameful but eventually, I made it to the front of the line and got my elephant ride. Muna was my driver and my fearless stead was Chumpa. We climbed and climbed all the way to the top of the Fort. Amer Fort & Palace was built starting in 1592 and is amazing as are its breath taking views. I spent the next several hours there and opted for the audio tour I had read about in the Time Out Jaipur magazine, while enjoying my new found Cobra beer in the hotel bar Friday night. After fending off more guides than I care to mention, I knew my decision was correct. The audio guide (150 rupees) was great. Complete with period music and "friends" it was great , extremely easy to understand and really guided me through the huge fort.

By the time I was done (and after I purchased a nifty hat), I realized I had no earthly desire to go look at 2 more forts and instead decided to go shopping and for a snack. Today I was prepared and super excited to have seen the very shop I wanted to go to on the way to the Fort. This region is known for its blue pottery and being a pottery lover, I knew I was going to have to get me some. After spending 4000 rupees on pottery and having an anxiety attack as to how I was going to get this to Mumbai tomorrow and anywhere after that, I decided to hit this lassi spot on the way back to the hotel. Kisan lal Goving Narayan Agrawal Lassiswallah is supposedly the spot in Jaipur to get a lassi and no visit complete without one. So, I put aside my fear of street food (only due to all the problems I have had with my stomach in India) and decided I would take one for the team. The place was easy to spot among the line of lassi shops and with the help of some guys also buying lassis I secured a small sweet lassi for 10 rupees. It was my first and was so good. I drank it out of the clay cup it came in in the blazing Jaipur sun. An experience I will not soon forget.

After this, I headed back to the hotel to regroup and relax by the pool. This place is like an oasis and I intended to take advantage of this since I have no spot in NYC (at least that I can afford) that would give me this opportunity. I am off to Mumbai tomorrow...see you there. Brandy
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1199935980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1199935980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1199935980/tpod.html Sun, 16 Mar 2008 07:38:18 -0400 Asia-2007/2008

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Singapore, Singapore

Okay, so I am creating this entry to start documenting some of the fabulous food I have eaten and intend to eat for the rest of my travels. If you are not interested, just skip this entry altogether. However, to all my foodie buddies out there, this is for you. I will update this section periodically, so check back. You can tell when I have updated it because it will say in red next to the entry "recently updated."

In my attempts to bring you glorious food reports, I need you help to encourage me to get to the gym! Nothing bullish or anything but a fleeting, "I sure hope she is going to the gym today" thought as you are reading this and I am sure the food gods will whisper it into my subconscious as I am sleeping. And yes, my friends I have realized that my green curry shrimp with the premade paste and other attempts of "Asian" cooking will no longer suffice when you come over for dinner in the future, so I am paying attention to what I am eating as well as just enjoying it with the hopes to duplicate them in my cramped NYC kitchen when I get back. Just remember to bring the wine and an open mind!...lots of wine =)

Here we go.....

Thursday January 10, 2008 - Indochine Waterfront, Historic District, Singapore
Started dinner with a saviognon blanc from France and the Vietnamese spring-rolls with prawns. The wine was spot on and I could have drank a whole bottle but I refrained (I know, don't fall off your chair). The spring-rolls were okay...a little too much lettuce a little too little flavor, but the fresh mint was nice. Main course: scallops and prawns with lemon-grass puree. I am not sure what was pureed but the dish was light and I enjoyed it after I picked out all the bell peppers. I skipped dessert, though some sounded really good. Control. Service was great and the atmosphere was relaxing and chic. Cost: $45 US. Overall on Trout the wonder fish's scale, I would give it a thumbs up.












Saturday January 12, 2008 - Copper Chimney, Little India, Singapore
Spent the day bumming around Little India and decided to grab a bite. Right off the subway was a street that reminded me of 6th Street in the East Village in New York City, a solid row of Indian restaurants. I chose one because I read its menu and it had black daal, one of my favorites (I have to learn how to make this!). It did not disappoint and the garlic naan I used to eat it with was so fresh and right from the oven. I rounded it out with lime juice, something I developed a fondness for while in India. Cost: < $10 US.








Numerous Cheap Eats - Imperial Treasure, Marina Square Mall, Singapore
Wandering the malls of Singapore is a national pastime and you can find good food mixed in with the fast. I found this gem playing hookie one day and stopping in for lunch. Their noodles are fresh, as you can see the guys making them in the kitchen, and absolutely yummy. I fell for the hot and sour soup with noodles...along with some dim sum and they have a scallion pastry that rocks. I am going to have to figure out how to make that as I can already tell it will become a signature dish for me in the future. So don't be shy in checking out mall eating in Asia, you really don't know what you will find.


Sunday January 20, 2008 - KoR yo-Won, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Took the advice of my travel guide and hit the Feast Village in the Starhill Gallery mall on Jalan Bukit Bintang, where I was starting my site-seeing for the day. The basement is set up like a small Malay village with stone and timber walkways and restaurant after restaurant of Asian cuisine. I strolled around and decided on a Korean BBQ joint. I looked over the menu and couldn't decide so asked the waiter, who was so helpful. I ended up getting a traditional beef BBQ set-up and a Korean honey & ginger tea. The condiments were amazing as was the whole meal. I am feeling a dinner party coming out of this one. =). Cost: $30 USD. Overall on Trout the wonder fish's scale a hearty two thumbs up.



Wednesday January 23, 2008 - Grappa's, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Since my office was connected to my hotel with the fabulous Pacific Place mall, I headed to the Italian restaurant Grappa's on my way home. Settled into a nice modern place that didn't seem like mall dining (this a VERY upscale mall). I started with a nice glass of Hooley Dooley Mclaren Vale from the land of Oz and ordered the clam appetizer. It was SO good with the wine sauce and fresh garlic slices. I moved onto whole wheat penne with scallops, calamari, shrimp and fish with a fresh tomato sauce. I refrained from the desserts and another glass of wine and instead went home and watched the Oz Open and American Idol. Overall on Trout the wonder fish's scale...I want to go back and have another glass of wine =)



Thursday January 24, 2008 - Zen, Admiralty, Hong Kong

A rainy day caused me to walk through the PP mall again and hit the Chinese joint Zen. I settled in with a glass of Marlborough Savuignon Blanc from New Zealand and skipped the appetizers. I headed right for the braised chicken with shallots and black bean sauce in a pot(this is fastly becoming my ALL time favorite dish on the planet) and a side of rice. The wine was so good I had two more glasses and well the dinner, just see the parentheses...oh. All in all it was a nice dinner with hip surroundings and very nice staff.




Sunday January 27, 2008 - A Lorcha, the Southern Peninsula, Macau, China
After a brisk walk and site seeing at the A-Ma temple and Museu Maritimo, I had killed enough time to get to this gem right after it opened at 12:30pm and glad I did..this Portuguese restaurant was already packed and I was able to get the last table before reservations were essential. The fresh hot Protege' bread was amazing and the simple kale soup perfect to fight off the chill. The bacahlao gratin couldn't have been more welcome (cod fish with onions, potatoes and a cream sauce) and delicious. I would have liked to try the wine and I am sure it would have been perfect on this cold day but I did not want to get distracted and opted for a cappuccino. I had a full day of walking the sites in mind before heading back to Hong Kong. On Trout the Wonder Fish's scale...I can't wait to Portugal for a full week of this food!





Tuesday January 29, 2008 - Sushi Hiro, Henry House, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; Decided to check out a shushi joint on my way home from the office and selected this one based on my guide book. Now I love sushi but after tonight figured out I am not only a novice but more along the line of sushi lover as someone who claims to be a vegetarian by giving up "red meat." ha-ha. I don't eat the California Roll so I thought I was a sushi person. Yeah, right. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere and I was one of the first to arrive and got to sit at the sushi bar right in front of the chefs. It was cool to watch them get everything ready but I advise against it if you are trying to be adventurous because you are RIGHT in front of the chefs and it is hard to disguise your reaction to the food. The appetizers and appertif were both delicious, as was the shrimp tempura (some of the best I have had). So, I opted for a "chef's selection" of assorted shushi. Basically everything I tried was new and stuff I had stayed away from previously. Yes, it was great quality..yes, the head sushi chef was making it for me but hell, it was some of the grossest stuff I have ever had. I don't know what most of it was and one literally was a contest of my will to get it down without gagging. I really wanted to spit it out but the chef was right there. Needless to say I would not be a good contestant on Fear Factor and I will stick to my tried and true routine in the future. But this trip is an adventure and dinner tonight was definfitely an experience. I don't think it would be fair for Trout the wonder fish to rate this one =)....



Saturday March 15, 2008 - Peswhari, Jaipur, India
Went to dinner in the hotel tonight. I had read about it before hand and I love tandoori but haven't been able to enjoy as much as I have wanted. So tonight I opted to try this place. So glad I did. I was tired and alone so no long dinner with drinks and friends. I ordered the Tandoori Jhinga and onion kulcha (onion and herb stuffed naan). I was sitting next to the open kitchen and watched them make my food, which was so fresh and delicious. The bread was some of the best I have had and the shrimp were perfectly seasoned and like minature lobster tails that I got to eat with my fingers! They also brought over some dal..the black one that is my favorite and loaded with butter and cream. I opted for bottled water as opposed to a bottle of wine as I had an early morning to contemplate. I actually dreamed about this dinner. (about $50 USD but I ordered the most expensive thing by almost 2x) Overall on Trout the wonder fish's scale - I say EAT HERE.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1204915320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1204915320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1204915320/tpod.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:39:40 -0400 Asia-2007/2008

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Delhi, India

Arrived back in India for the first time since early November. It is just as I remember, which is oddly comforting, a little nerve racking and always exhilarating. I arrived at the Gandhi Airport to find out the my meet and greet was not scheduled and my phone wasn't working. So I had to brave this one on my own. After being in New York for the past month, I could feel the steamy heat surround me and I gladly welcomed it. Getting through customs was easy, as was getting my luggage. After I passed the throng of drivers and did not find my name on any card, I tried to call the hotel but my phone hadn't kicked in yet. So, after breathing in and breathing out for about 5 minutes I moved on and found a prepaid taxi stand and bought a ticket. I hadn't had a chance to ride in a taxi the last time as I had a car and driver arranged by my company. I guess they didn't get the message that I was arriving this time. Not a shock given my experience on this trip, so I did not let myself get alarmed or upset. After all, I had spent a month in this country on my own and managed just fine. Back to my taxi ride....I was actually pretty excited because I had wanted to take a "real" cab the last time but didn't' get the chance. As my driver strapped on his seat-belt, I looked to do the same only to find that only the driver was lucky enough for that safety feature. Taxis here are different from New York but my driver was polite and even in his frayed uniform neat and professional. I slipped right back into the crazy traffic that knows no lanes and puts the NYC taxi drivers to shame. Oddly enough, this time I barely noticed the constant horn blowing that is the common and polite way of driving here in India.

I got to the Shangri-La New Delhi around 10:00 pm and after a quick check-in headed to my room to just relax, unpack and get oriented. I have yet to explore the hotel but the lobby was opulent and my room, though small, is nice and cozy is kinda what I need this week. Alot of changes are brewing at work with the change in ownership and I am looking forward to a week of relaxing, some shopping and good eats (oh yeah and hopefully lots of productive work at the office). I did most of my site seeing last time so am looking forward to getting away for the weekend before heading to Bombay. But I must be nimble and I must be quick, because I am here on business after all and things can change in a heartbeat. But at least I know, as long as there is no rain tomorrow, my plans to veg by the pool are secure. Until then my friends...good night.

Saturday turned out just like I had planned, with a snooze by the pool and a pedicure at the spa. I decided not to go too crazy bar hopping since I wanted to try to get an early start the next day for some sight seeing and stayed in and watched a movie. After much contemplation with my guidebook, I decided to hit Old Delhi one more time and get in the rest of the sites I missed last time around. Old Delhi, as you know from my previous rants and raves, is a bit of an old man compared to New Delhi. He is always a little bit behind with the latest fashion and always keeps a wary eye on the young upstarts in case things get a little crazy (here in India...nah). I hired a car from the hotel and headed out..even though I knew having a car did not necessitate easy travels in Old Delhi, especially on a Sunday. Which I tried to explain to my driver is my day off TOO. After attempting to see 3 of the 4 sites I had on my list, I was about to give up..that is until we met Bablu. After parking the car and explaining that you couldn't get the rest of the way to Jama Majsid via car, we met Bablu, who was to take me the rest of the way to the Mosque, which oddly enough I could see plainly and would have preferred the exercise. But somehow, I instinctively knew that a bicycle rickshaw ride would prove more interesting (how could it not) and yield a more interesting tale for you my friends, my peps and my otherwise-sane-unless-I-try-to-drive-her-to-drink-which-I-se cretively-thinks-she-enjoys- Mom.

We were about halfway to the Mosque when "traffic" became too much and Bablu deemed it better if I walked the rest of the way - huh - and he would wait for me - huh huh - a skinny, dark-haired Indian with a rickshaw would not be difficult to find. Blue shirt with vertical while stripes, blue shirt with vertical white stripes became my mantra, my chant, my dear God let me find him when this is all over with. After taking in the Mosque and a couple pictures, not to mention almost getting into an argument with a mute indigent, that I assumed lived at the Mosque's equivalent to a homeless shelter, about why I should have to pay him to watch my shoes while I was in the Mosque and the throngs of other "less fair" people did not and marching away in protest, shoes in hand, only wind up feeling foolish...10 rupees is like .30 cents but it is the principle right? yeah, I know not my best moment.

Of course Bablu only showed up after the "local merchants" had time to charm me with their wares and off we went. Now over the next hour and an half, I saw the rest of Old Delhi I missed before. My previous brief ride and look around the Red Fort on the eve of Eid, shopping detour and faux snake charmer, had nothing on this. We drove around in that rickshaw and saw the jewelry district, the garment district, the vegetable district, and every district you could think of all leading up to the spice district I had asked about in the first place. I was on a mission to not forget to look for the cracked nutmeg my father had asked about. No such luck with the nutmeg today but I did get some nice tea and a few bags of stuff I am sure I will never figure out how to use when I get home. This lead to the tour of the Chili district that would have made my poor mother's blood run cold (blame it on Dad and the nutmeg Mom, I would have never been here except for that). I actually stood there and thought this as I was God only knows where (along with Bablu of course) and realizing my driver had no idea where I was and wouldn't know how to find me if I was gone a long time - and how long is too long after-all I was gone over 2 hours looking at a Mosque that was 10 minutes away and closed at 12:15 and he didn't blink an eye when I got back at 1:30.

Back to the spice district - at this point we were on foot and I was following Bablu through narrow alley ways of old decrepit homes, storefronts closed because it was Sunday and piles and piles of chillies, everywhere. After making our way back to the rickshaw, we magically appeared in front of a storefront (loosely named) in a narrow alley that had a couple of goats keeping watch. Inside was a pashmina store - I felt a set-up coming but was prepared and spent about 20 minutes looking at absolutely beautiful shawls from Kashmir. The man was explaining it came from his goat in Kashmir where one of his brothers lived and took care of the "goat." Being an animal lover myself and seeing what beautiful product the "goat" put out, naturally I asked what was this hard working goat's name. He didn't find the humor in this and I decided it was time to find the car. After negotiating a fee that was higher than my original offer - naturally - I had had enough of Old Delhi and was thinking about the pool back at the hotel.

Once I got back to the hotel, I was suddenly overcome with exhaustion and thought I would take a quick nap before heading to the pool and than dinner. I awoke 6 hours later and realized something was "not right." I will not bore you with the details - for some reason they always sound funny when a guy talks about it, our grade school mentality I guess but never the same when it is a chick - except to say that I woke with the feeling of a baseball bat giving me a whack across my stomach and did not leave my room for the next 36 hours and only called housekeeping for more bottled water and toilet paper. Luckily, it seemed to pass pretty quickly and Tuesday morning I was up and running...at about 65% which for this trip is good, I 'll take 65% at this point, 65% is good for me on this adventure.

So I headed to the office Tuesday morning, knowing my hotel is real close by..and this is where I sit at 2:30 pm still waiting for my co-worker to come get me for our 1:30 lunch or at least for him to show me the general direction of the restaurant. My office is in Connaught Place, in the heart of Delhi or is it the heart of all that is commerce in Delhi. It is a sprawling wheel of a thing with an inner and outer circle and endless shops and businesses. It is easy to get lost and overwhelmed in. And that is exactly what happened to me the last time I was here, but fast forward five months and about 80,000 miles of travel and I realize I am only beginning to experience the changes I have made since I left New York City on October 7, 2007. I realize what a gift I have been given to retrace the very footsteps of this trip one time beginning to end to experience and appreciate it all as the person I am today while remembering who I was when I started. One thing that comes to mind, funny enough is that 5 months ago almost to the day, I took another rickshaw ride through Old Delhi on a Sunday with the same abandon and equal amounts of fear. So maybe this trip hasn't changed me all that much, but is showing me who I have been all along.

So today, I don't get lost or overwhelmed and took a walk around the inner circle (my co-worker did show up and walked me to the restaurant before heading back to the office) instead of having lunch since I wasn't hungry. The walk took about a 1/2 hours, with the temperatures bearable to the point of pleasant, I sat outside to just take in Delhi until I had enough of people trying to sell me stuff (maps this time), get me a rickshaw (I am across the street from my office in a suit!) or beg (funny how the old women turn nasty when you say no in Hindi - kinda like a slap in the face I suppose - been there, done that, later dude) And it just makes me laugh now as I realize this is India. Welcome back Brandy.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1204821060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1204821060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bnbfsu/asia-2007/1204821060/tpod.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:41:00 -0500 Asia-2007/2008

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New York City, New York, United States

I know I have been mighty quiet the month of February. And, I apologize for the flying below the radar behavior. I was waiting to see if I was in fact going back out on the road and if so when and where and for how long and it kept getting delayed and postponed and rescheduled. And, I was in the process of going through the sale of the division of my company to another Bank. Not to mention I got a killer cold that put the trip off for another week. Through it all I enjoyed my boys in blue taking home the Superbowl Championship and got to see them live an in person at the victory parade in the Valley of Champions. It has also been nice to reconnect with my friends, though I didn't get to see as many as I would have liked, though the fault is my own, and am going to miss hanging out with everybody I was fortunate enough to see.

So, I am adding a quick note to let you know I am finally headed back out on the road to wrap up this trip. I am leaving tonight and should arrive in Delhi tomorrow. I will keep you posted on my whereabouts and hopefully a little adventure along the way =). Keep in touch.

Brandy
The Traveling Nole
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