Week 1: India

I have a pounding headache. It's easy to forget, once you get used to things like personal space and quiet tree-lined streets, that there's a whole other world out there, where traffic rules don't exist (the Rule of the Honk reigns supreme) and the cars on the road send dust into the far reaches of one's throat. Only a few days later, and the quiet is just as odd.

We've been from one market to another, indoors and outdoors, and even to an Indian mall. It's the season of festivals here, which means lots of shopping opportunities and even more pujas. There are festivals every day, celebrating at least one faith. The biggest event culminates today, the end of the 9-day Navratri festival and celebration of the destruction of Lord Ravan, during the *original* epic hero's journey / love story, the Ramayana. For another 2 weeks, dancers will perform the Ramlila ballet, shoot off firecrackers, and generally revel during the cooler weather. It's magic like I've never seen...

Gold's Gym and Silk Soymilk

So, after hitting the jewelry stores, we headed to the mall near Bandra today. Turns out, though Mumbai has really changed, it really hasn't changed at all. There are still markets (in a sense) and hawkers all up in your face trying to sell you their goods...except now they are in an air-conditioned mall and dressed up, rather than on the street. Though those are still there too.

The booming economy pretty much stares you in the face here - lots of good things going on. Including, and you read that right, a Gold's Gym. Actually about five in this city alone, one right around the corner from here. If they can turn around a culture into believing that working out isn't just a pursuit for the ladies of leisure, the place will be better for it. I think it's great because it's (a) too damn hot to do anything active outside really, and it's October, and (b) too damn hot to wear workout pants even if you wanted to do anything active outside and since shorts are out of the question, well... the privacy of a gym sounds refreshing. Now, more than ever, I've gotten used to all the space and anonymity in the world. That's been nothing but a memory as soon as I stepped off the plane last night and entered the world of people. everywhere.

And despite a plethora of delicious Indian food, we managed to find some pretty amazing Italian (with a touch of Indian) food for dinner tonight. Jalapeno pizza? Check (also: yum!). Tiramisu? Check. Mmm... I think that the eating may be my favorite part of this vacation. So far.

Looking forward

Is it vacation time yet? Well, supposedly two days ago, but for yet another cancellation. If the flight cancellation = a butterfly flapping its wings, what will the impact be in 50 years, of my fellow passengers and I not arriving in London early this morning?

Now, though I'm not one to shout my opinions from a rooftop, or a soapbox, I did start blogging, so I must want my voice heard by someone, right? Here it is: if you, or anyone you know is a billionaire, I urge you to start a competing airline based not on turning a profit (because you know it never will) but serving customers. Don't worry, as long as you offer government discounts you'll probably get plenty of kickbacks to keep you going. And, if you base it somewhere in the Southwest (may I suggest Austin?), even better. C'mon!