Precise

My dad gave me a great idea this morning. He said that I should probably put the time and place of my posts because with all my moving about it's a little difficult to keep it in perspective. I should actually have been doing this all along. So beginning today I will start each post with where I happen to be writing from and the local time. This blog is set to PST so it will read that I am posting in the wee hours of the morning most of the time. Today is Wednesday, February 13th, 2008. It is about 11 am.

This afternoon at 3:00 I am off to Ahmedabad by train. I believe it arrives at 8 am tomorrow morning but I get a lower berth. Because there is only one berth above me it is higher than the 3-ply berths I have been on to date and so I should be able to sit up anytime I choose. Cool. I found out this morning however that I have to go across town to the OTHER train station (Old Delhi). Glad I checked.

I went out last night after a dinner of pizza and beer to photograph some of the goings on that stretch into the evening. Although I only have a Kodak Easy Shot or whatever the heck it is I was shown it can actually take descent pictures so long as you understand its limitations. So off I went.

I am staying in the main bazaar so there is shop after shop after shop after shop for blocks and blocks and blocks around my hotel. Each shop had someone standing inside the door inviting you in with some greeting or another. Some of these guys even fake accents to lure your attention. It's funny. I have been up and down the street enough just in this past day that I recognize many of them and they me. I told a few I am not interested in talking to them and this fact comes up again whenever I walk past. This morning I told one guy he is up early. He told me early is good and that I didn't want to talk to him. Not stopping there however, his rant continued long after I had rounded the corner.

Back to last night. Anyone who knows me well knows I cannot find my way out of a 7/11 after dark. If I have to find some place after sunset it's a sure bet that I will only get more lost. This talent sparked last night blazing into full splendor. Following the bazaar I rounded a corner and walked down another street. Taking a few snaps I decided to head back to where I had come from. Alleys here abound and a shortcut had to be around. Taking a path between two buildings I found myself in a maze of walkways going off into every direction. Some were dark. Some were dead ends. Some were filled with men around a fire. I saw a cow warming itself beside a fire a group of men had built. Of course one couldn't know where the path lead unless won walked that path to its conclusion. Once I followed a family threading through, left, right, left until they came out onto an unfamiliar street. Once a dog was not happy to have me in its vicinity and growled menacingly effectively communicating this fact to me. I backed away slowly as it barred its teeth, sniffing the air. It was walking toward me so I didn't want to make any sudden movements. When I was far enough I turned and walked hurriedly toward the far end of the particular maze I had happened into. There was something following me. I didn't check to see what it was, I just kept walking. Fast. At the street I turned and two dogs shot past, probably sentries sent by their kingpin to make sure I wasn't coming back.

About an hour later I saw a hotel I had checked out earlier in the day so I knew I was close. Walking toward the big red and white 'Lord Krisha Hotel' sign I spotted the glorious 'Hotel Shelton' and knew I was safe.

This morning it was a different German bakery. The usual didn't have coffee. Not certain why. At the other one I ordered what they call a large pot - a little more than a Venti probably, and a small cinnamon roll. This for about $2.40.

Okay well I wanted to add a map so anyone could pop it up and see where in the country I happened to be. I tried to edit it and put arrows on it but it did not convert correctly so you're going to have to look for the places. I started out in Mumbai (Jan 31 - Feb 6) about halfway up on the west coast. Then I took a flight to Delhi and took a bus down to Agra (Feb 6 to Feb 8). Then the train east to Varanasi (Feb 9 - Feb 11). The train yesterday back to Delhi (Feb 12-13). Today the train the Ahmedabad (Feb 14-15). Then off once again to finish up in Mumbai on Feb 16 and flying home Feb 20th.

See you all in Ahmedabad!