Good morning. I tested positive for Covid last night, after being vaccinated & receiving a booster before Thanksgiving. We are keeping Eleanor home until we can get her a PCR test to come back to school, even though she is vaccinated & not showing symptoms. It thought it would be better to be cautious. I emailed Lauren Taverna but I haven't received anything back, yet.
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Friday, December 17, 2021
Saturday, July 24, 2021
Monday, June 7, 2010
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Two Indias Side by Side
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/world/asia/09gated.html
I'm not sure if anyone is still paying attention to this blog, but I just found this article in the NY Times that talks about the huge division in worlds between rich and poor in India. Very timely for me, and does a good job explaining some of what I saw there.
I'm not sure if anyone is still paying attention to this blog, but I just found this article in the NY Times that talks about the huge division in worlds between rich and poor in India. Very timely for me, and does a good job explaining some of what I saw there.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Home again home again
I'm back at home, and getting ready for my return to work. The trip home was long and tiring, and not much to report on. I did see Ringo Starr in the London airport, and followed him through it to help kill some boredom. I didn't take his picture, since no one realized it was him, and I was afraid it would draw too much attention to him. I came home to a heat wave, hotter then it was in India, so I've been busy getting the house cooled down with some projects. Miles is happy to see me, but o man, he joined the torrential twos while I was gone. Already had a few timeouts as we get him back on his schedule and rules. He's seemed to expect them and accept them as something he needed to have happen, and immediately bounces back to his good side. Pretty funny.
Thanks for reading, and the words of support from everyone while I was gone. Now back to the day to day life. I'm sure you don't want to read about that...
Thanks for reading, and the words of support from everyone while I was gone. Now back to the day to day life. I'm sure you don't want to read about that...
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Siteseeing and Shopping
I'm all packed and ready to go. Leaving for the airport around midnight, I guess to sit in airport and kill time for 2 hours. Hillary Clinton is walking on stage to end her campaign. Good news to end my trip. Anyway...
Ravi and Vaibhav picked me up from the hotel around 11am this morning. They both brought gifts. A very cool jacket for me and something for Anne (I don't want to ruin the surprise). We went down to the driver and started out on our site-seeing and shopping trip.
The first stop was Charminar, a landmark building in Hyderabad.
We parked and bought tickets to walk inside and up the steps to see the view. There is a foreigner increase on the tickets (what I kept calling the white guy tax) Their tickets were 5 ruppies, but mine was 100! The view was incredible, and the square and markets that surround it intense. Words cannot describe:
We came back down the steps and then walked into the market. My hosts keep asking me for my shopping list, and I was not doing a good job of describing what I was looking for. They keep relating to the good available in the terms they are familiar with. Bangles should be worn a certain way, fabric has certain methods of wear. They keep telling me that I don't really want what I'm saying. I finally just pull them into a store and start getting the shopkeeper to bring stuff out. They also are confused about who the gifts are for. I'm getting more then just for my wife. Finally I get the pile of goods on the counter that I want, and then the haggling begins. Ravi goes back and forth with the person helping us, and then eventually with the owner. He gets the price down by more then 1400 ruppies for the whole deal, and the argument stops and everyone is all smiles again. I really wish I understood what they were saying. I know some of it had to do with selling to an American.
We continue on and end up in a fabric store and repeat the same. After putting a pile of goods, the argument starts. The interaction between people here is uncanny. Again I get a great deal, paying pennies on the dollar for the same stuff back home. The girls are going to be happy when they see what I'm bringing home.
I probably would have gotten more had I not been so confused and overwhelmed with the whole thing. If I ever come back here, I have a better idea of what to do, and what do get. I could have spent the whole day wandering around here, but I could tell that neither of my hosts liked the market very much, and we were starting to get hungry, so we headed back to the car. I took some video of the walk as well:
While we waited for the car to come get us, I took a bit of a longer video as well:
I never got a good picture of a baby on a motorcycle, but here is a pair of bikes with some kids:
We went to get some lunch (will you be surprised that it was good?) and then we stopped off at a store where I bought more random Hyderabad specific goods. The place was a bit overpriced, and they would not haggle here. They also sold rugs that were incredible, but pretty expensive (albeit cheaper then the US) I'm happy with what I got here, but it was a bit disarming getting a bill that was 5 figures!
From here we went to Golkonda Fort. This is part of the old city, and big fortress that is over 500 years old. The heat was out at this point, and the steps were steep. Poor Vaibhav, who never walks anywhere outside the office, was out of breath and sweating. We forgot water, and they didn't think we should drink the water that was provided at the top. It was very cool though. It sits on the highest point around, so the view of the city was pretty impressive.
Pics from the Fort:
Next stop was Qutb Shahi Tombs, another very old location nearby the fort. After getting tickets, this time not only paying a white guy tax, but a ticket to take pictures we went inside. Lots of people that were important were buried three. It was cool, but we were hot and tired. We walked around for a short while then decided it was time to go. We had been in the sun for hours - I was getting sunburnt and Vaibhav was dying. I got V to take a picture of me there:
On the way back we went thru some villages and saw many cattle and poor people.
This village gives way into Hi-Tec city, the IT center that I had been thru a few nights before. I was able to take some snaps (this is the Indian term for pictures) Good to get a visual of what I described before, buildings and buildings being built and young people with laptop bags.
I can't resist a camel picture. Everytime I'm explained why there would be a camel in town (most people tell me there will NOT be a camel in town) I see a camel in a place that goes against what I'm told. Too bad I wasn't able to ride one, it does look fun.
All around the construction sites there are shanty towns of people and families that are working on the sites. Look for the tents/tarps in the image, and the building is a live apartment complex for more workers in the area.
We stop back thru the office for a few minutes and I took a picture of one of the office people that get everyone coffee and water.
Once I'm back at the hotel, I take a quick shower and then run over to the shopping mall I have been starting at for the week from my hotel. The shoppers stare and scowl at me somewhat, and the shopkeepers at first didn't speak to me. Once I started carrying bags, they started coming up to me more. I bought tons of stuff, shirts, shoes, belts and toys. It was really fun, and the goods are so cheap I felt like a really rich guy. Three nice shirts for $60, good shoes for $25. I finished up and then packed it all in my two suitcases and ordered room service. The girl that took my order giggles as I order the exact same thing as a few nights ago. Those that know me wouldn't be surprised.
In twenty minutes my cab should be here. The trip home is going to be torture, but I'm glad its time for it. Vaibhav is going to see me off. I'm glad I decided to do this blog, been getting lots of emails from everyone about it. It's been good for me to keep my thoughts of it all together and share it with everyone. I may sent a post of two on the way home - it does pass the time. In 30 hours I will be home, I really can't wait!!!
Ravi and Vaibhav picked me up from the hotel around 11am this morning. They both brought gifts. A very cool jacket for me and something for Anne (I don't want to ruin the surprise). We went down to the driver and started out on our site-seeing and shopping trip.
The first stop was Charminar, a landmark building in Hyderabad.
We parked and bought tickets to walk inside and up the steps to see the view. There is a foreigner increase on the tickets (what I kept calling the white guy tax) Their tickets were 5 ruppies, but mine was 100! The view was incredible, and the square and markets that surround it intense. Words cannot describe:
We came back down the steps and then walked into the market. My hosts keep asking me for my shopping list, and I was not doing a good job of describing what I was looking for. They keep relating to the good available in the terms they are familiar with. Bangles should be worn a certain way, fabric has certain methods of wear. They keep telling me that I don't really want what I'm saying. I finally just pull them into a store and start getting the shopkeeper to bring stuff out. They also are confused about who the gifts are for. I'm getting more then just for my wife. Finally I get the pile of goods on the counter that I want, and then the haggling begins. Ravi goes back and forth with the person helping us, and then eventually with the owner. He gets the price down by more then 1400 ruppies for the whole deal, and the argument stops and everyone is all smiles again. I really wish I understood what they were saying. I know some of it had to do with selling to an American.
We continue on and end up in a fabric store and repeat the same. After putting a pile of goods, the argument starts. The interaction between people here is uncanny. Again I get a great deal, paying pennies on the dollar for the same stuff back home. The girls are going to be happy when they see what I'm bringing home.
I probably would have gotten more had I not been so confused and overwhelmed with the whole thing. If I ever come back here, I have a better idea of what to do, and what do get. I could have spent the whole day wandering around here, but I could tell that neither of my hosts liked the market very much, and we were starting to get hungry, so we headed back to the car. I took some video of the walk as well:
While we waited for the car to come get us, I took a bit of a longer video as well:
I never got a good picture of a baby on a motorcycle, but here is a pair of bikes with some kids:
We went to get some lunch (will you be surprised that it was good?) and then we stopped off at a store where I bought more random Hyderabad specific goods. The place was a bit overpriced, and they would not haggle here. They also sold rugs that were incredible, but pretty expensive (albeit cheaper then the US) I'm happy with what I got here, but it was a bit disarming getting a bill that was 5 figures!
From here we went to Golkonda Fort. This is part of the old city, and big fortress that is over 500 years old. The heat was out at this point, and the steps were steep. Poor Vaibhav, who never walks anywhere outside the office, was out of breath and sweating. We forgot water, and they didn't think we should drink the water that was provided at the top. It was very cool though. It sits on the highest point around, so the view of the city was pretty impressive.
Pics from the Fort:
Next stop was Qutb Shahi Tombs, another very old location nearby the fort. After getting tickets, this time not only paying a white guy tax, but a ticket to take pictures we went inside. Lots of people that were important were buried three. It was cool, but we were hot and tired. We walked around for a short while then decided it was time to go. We had been in the sun for hours - I was getting sunburnt and Vaibhav was dying. I got V to take a picture of me there:
On the way back we went thru some villages and saw many cattle and poor people.
This village gives way into Hi-Tec city, the IT center that I had been thru a few nights before. I was able to take some snaps (this is the Indian term for pictures) Good to get a visual of what I described before, buildings and buildings being built and young people with laptop bags.
I can't resist a camel picture. Everytime I'm explained why there would be a camel in town (most people tell me there will NOT be a camel in town) I see a camel in a place that goes against what I'm told. Too bad I wasn't able to ride one, it does look fun.
All around the construction sites there are shanty towns of people and families that are working on the sites. Look for the tents/tarps in the image, and the building is a live apartment complex for more workers in the area.
We stop back thru the office for a few minutes and I took a picture of one of the office people that get everyone coffee and water.
Once I'm back at the hotel, I take a quick shower and then run over to the shopping mall I have been starting at for the week from my hotel. The shoppers stare and scowl at me somewhat, and the shopkeepers at first didn't speak to me. Once I started carrying bags, they started coming up to me more. I bought tons of stuff, shirts, shoes, belts and toys. It was really fun, and the goods are so cheap I felt like a really rich guy. Three nice shirts for $60, good shoes for $25. I finished up and then packed it all in my two suitcases and ordered room service. The girl that took my order giggles as I order the exact same thing as a few nights ago. Those that know me wouldn't be surprised.
In twenty minutes my cab should be here. The trip home is going to be torture, but I'm glad its time for it. Vaibhav is going to see me off. I'm glad I decided to do this blog, been getting lots of emails from everyone about it. It's been good for me to keep my thoughts of it all together and share it with everyone. I may sent a post of two on the way home - it does pass the time. In 30 hours I will be home, I really can't wait!!!
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