Thriller

How the east meets west in high-class style.

Photos from the early monsoon season...

Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Dolphin's Nose Look-out point. After an intense death-defying journey through tea plantations (sounds contradictatory? Tea Plantations equal peaceful relaxation, no?) we ended up pearched precariously high above a beautiful lush green valley below (again, Tea Planations were involved) with nothing but dual weathered steel bars to contain us. The view was amazing, the Indian tourists were plentiful, and I didn't even notice the monkey in the photo until after I arrived back home. They're that ubiquitous.

One of the reasons why I claim the journey in Coonoor and the Nilgiri's in general was so terrifying: we are going close to 40 km on a one-lane windy road with a sheer drop off to our right, sheer rock face to our left. And conveniently, there was oncoming traffic (also speeding) to battle.

Scott and I visited his friend from Georgetown Nirica who has the nicest most generous family ever. Never had I been plied with such vast quantities of rich, delicious food (gigantic crab seen here) and perfect wine. I honestly don't think I've ever eaten and dined so well in my life. Thank you, Nirica!

Train Station, Bombay. Taken from the inside of Nirica's car since I was chauffered and toured around Bombay the entire time. Only set foot on the monsooned soggy road maybe twice.
A laundromat. Time # 1 I stepped out of the car.

Easter Sunday. After we got Masala Holy Watered in the face, a Poltergiest-like little old lady led the congregation in a screeching rendition of "hail mary" for ten minutes after the priest left. Then we had brunch.
The emaciated adopted puerto rican refugee child, the creepy one, the smarmy one.

An afternoon on campus

To provide a stimulating visual element to spice up the briefing packets going out to the new round of foreigners coming to work in India, we spent an hour today under the midday tropical sun having our photographs taken.

The super energetic girl in HR, who is in charge of compiling information to send pre-departure to the Company's newest American victims, accompanied us for our lunch break to carefully document our exciting lives. We strolled the campus with the cute-yet-hyper HR girl snapping away, our awkward smiles a half-hearted attempt to banish all doubt from the new hires' minds how much they too also would be enjoying themselves in India.

At the expense of my integrity, the tacky factor was so outrageous I had to share them.


Up at Building One, coincidently a part of campus I had never been to until noon today. The infamous golf course mentioned in the first few pages of the World Is Flat is behind us. A note to all the Friedman fans- he made most of it up. Contrary to popular opinion, you do not, in fact, aim to the IBM logo towering in the sky to sink a Birdie on hole 8. There is no visible IBM sign, nor any other garish MNC signage in the sky to aim at. Sorry.

We were going to jump into the Pond, but took the bridge instead. Again, another first- I had never used the bridge until today, at the behest of the giddy photographer.

Scott captured in his prime, injecting his endearing aloofness into everything he does. Despite the many conclusions that could be drawn here (our ability to blend in), the last would probably be his considerable experience in competitive cycling.

Cafe Coffee Day (behind us) is India's Starbucks, but with lower quality beans and lower prices. Not much of a trade-off, although their addictive frappe drinks have more random and oddly appealing names, such as "Tropical Iceberg."

An facetious impromptu demonstration of the corporate team spirit. "Yay Indian multi-national IT services and global consulting firms!" We are classy employees.

An awkward moment with soda and lots of perplexed onlookers.

A moment of deep contemplation. We find eternal peace and joyful meaning meditating in the sweltering sun, pondering the trials and tribulations faced by the noble fish.

A review of lunch items: Masala pizza, Masala croissant, Masala Chinese noodles, Masala pasta... followed up with none other than Pepto Bismal and a healthy dose of antacid.

Despite being HR's photo clowns, we finally got some photographic evidence of our daily life. Next time, possible postings of the bus ride to work in all its glory.

The Past 7 months...

Buying bananas in Dehli by the kilo and by candlelight.
Our guide in Rajasthan, who after a sweaty day shuffling us from palace turret to gilded royal greeting room, saved his best lesson for us. After a passionate sermon pleading for us to use all of our "seven eyes" (2 in the heart/chest, 2 in the forehead, 2 in as the real ones, and one in the stomach) so we could perceive the world "in its true splendor"... he began to pound on his chest in order to drive his point home.

My Camel in Rajasthan! Sure, he spit profusely, had thousands of flies as his close companions, almost threw me off while kneeling down... he was a magnificent desert beast. Didn't even try to steal my water.
The event which I've been working on. The Stage at the Alumni Forum in Mumbai, with the Chairman of the Company following my script...
And the pre-event Press Conference at the glitzy Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. Left to Right- the Marketing Department Head, Professor, Company Chairman, B-School Dean, Industry Expert, S.Korean Winner (Jury Recognition- Enterprise), S.Korean Winner (Enterprise), Indian Winner(Individual).
Sports Day at Lovedale, the orphanage with the most energetic kids in the entire world. Basketball came right after the disasterous three-legged race, and right before the wheel barrow race and spoon race (A spoon is tied to really, really long string. Spoon goes from the botton of one pant leg up to waist. Spoon continues into shirt, coming out opposite Arm Hole. Spoon continues into the next child's pant leg. The process of tying a dozen rambunctious children has begun, racing against the other competing SpoonString team of wildly jumping/cheering children...)
And the day comes to a close, with every kid getting a special prize ranging from pink Dove soap to a sparkly bangles to a stuffed lime green bear. (The little boy who was awarded the pink soap graciously accepted his prize and sat back down, eyeing the race car pencil holder of his neighbor. We secretly exchanged his perfume scented prize with a more desirable Cricket pencil set. It was the highlight of the day)

Here we go...

finding the treasure.