First Day in India

Woke up to a very hazy day after getting about 5 hours of sleep.  The haze is actually  smoke and the air smells like burning wood.  I would guess the smoke is so thick that visibility is less than one mile.

After a nice buffet breakfast at the hotel, I arrange to have a car take me back to the airport. Today is Diwali, a major festival celebrated throughout India.  All of the hotel staff wished me a "Happy Diwali".

Just getting the airport is an ordeal.  There are multiple security checks and speed bumps on the approach to the terminal.  To get into the terminal, passengers must show their passport and boarding pass to soldiers standing outside the entrance. Although the line to get a boarding pass was only 8 or 9 people, it took about 1 hour just to get to the counter.  Not sure why it takes so long.  The Delhi airport is only about 3 years old and very large.   A good pair of shoes comes in handy for the hike from security to departure gates.

Same for security.  The line was very short, but it took a long time to get through the scanner.  Not only do passengers walk through an x-ray machine, they are also subject to a pat down and hand-carried metal detector.  My carry on backpack also went through extra screening:  although I had already removed my computer from my backpack, security had me take out my camera and all of the cords in the pack.  It was not too much trouble but a little unusual. 

At least I got to keep my shoes on.

In India!

After being in transit for about 24 hours (see photo to right), I have made it to India.  All of the flights were on time and smooth; no problems at all.  Even on landing in Delhi there were  no problems at immigration, no problem exchanging money, my bag was waiting for me at baggage claim and a driver and car from the hotel were waiting for me.  

The hotel I am staying at is only 3 kilometers from the airport, but there is no direct route.  So cars have to drive about 15 kilometers to get to the hotel from the airport.  I looks like the grounds of the hotel have a nice garden and I may have a chance to see them before I head back to the airport in about 7 hours for my flight to Dehradun.

Time to get some sleep!

Inside the Hotel Room

Halfway There

Sitting in the airport in Narita (Tokyo) right now, waiting for the next flight to Delhi.  The flight into Japan was problem free.  I was on one of the new Boeing 787s which was quite nice.  Lots of legroom in the economy section.  The plane also has windows that tint with a small button.  Of course, I had to give that button a try.

The older woman sitting in the seat next to me started a conversation with me.  She was on her way to meet some friends and they would tour Japan together.  Somehow we got on the topic of animals and she mentioned that she was afraid of lizards.  In fact, she was so afraid of lizards that she has had to change hotel rooms when she saw one on a recent vacation.  She was not afraid of all reptiles, just lizards.  I did not think it would help if I told her the name for a phobia of lizards is "scoliodentosaurophobia," so I did not mention it.

Trip Begins

The beginning of my trip is off to a good start.  It is still early:  I am sitting in the Seattle airport waiting for my flight to Tokyo (Narita).  I'll change planes in Tokyo for the flight to New Delhi.  But check-in at the airport was quick and the TSA security lines were short.

I have packed somewhat light with few supplies for the workshop.  Many supplies will be available in Dehradun and there is a town nearby where additional materials can be purchased if needed.  My bags do include my camera, computer, I-Pod, various chargers, electrical water heater and some snacks such as granola bars, coffee and peanut M&Ms.  You can never have too many M&Ms.

Weather Report

Weather for the first week of my stay in Dehradun, India, looks good:  warm during the day, cool during the night, no rain.

 

Trip Plans

All travel planned for the upcoming trip next month to India.  On my first trip to India in 2011, I went from Seattle to Amsterdam to New Delhi; in 2012, I went from Seattle to Paris to Bangalore.  For my upcoming trip, I'll fly over the Pacific Ocean with a stop in Tokyo (Narita) before landing in New Delhi.  The total transit time is about 22 hours either way, so it's a long trip! 

 

Returning to India

I've been asked to participate in the Science for Monks program again!  So I will be returning to India to teach neuroscience to a new group of monks and work with other monks who are constructing teaching boxes.  The trip is planned for Fall, 2013, in Dehradun, India.