so Im finally in India...Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, boredto death (as my boss predicted, unless I know many people here, which I
dont). Im staying at a big hotel suite with all the amenities
including a jacuzzi and steam sauna, but the moment I step out of it,
there is mess and chaos everywhere. This place is like Shanghai 20
years ago.
Yesterday I arrived in the morning, about 6 hours
late (btw I was impressed with the Emirates on-flight equipment, and
the Dubai airport in general). A company car and driver picked me up
and even gave me a 3 hour city tour, which culminated in a shopping
session at the "central government run pashmere and silk store" that
basically cost me some dollars that will hopefully please my wife and
mom. Btw this has Suzhous Silk Research Institute written all over
it...
Knowing that people shouldnt have to work on Sunday, I
told the driver to leave me alone for today, Sunday (hes a Christian
and goes to church on Sundays, one of the minorities in India, about a
quarter of the population). After breakfast in my room (again some
spicy Southern Indian food, partly neutralized by plain yogurt and
freshly squeezed fruit drinks), I decided to venture out on foot. The
result is, in a nutshell, that after 30 minutes in total, Ive
exhausted all 4 directions from the street intersection, walking no
more than 100 meters in each. I saw stray dogs, a well maintained park,
a KFC with a Pizzahut upstairs, metro train track construction, and a
bull wandering around, slowly. To bad I didnt bring my camera cable
with me, or I would have uploaded the photos here. Now I have to wait
till I get home.
More to come later...