Safe Arrival

After 26 hours traveling, including an hour delay in Amsterdam, feeling nauseous, and an hour of circling before we could land, I arrived safely in Mumbai early Saturday morning. Unlike last time I came with one suitcase and my laptop bag, breezed through immigration, and helped one confused fellow American find the exit at the airport. After calling home, e-mailing the folks at work, showering and downing a couple of Tylenol PM, I basically hit the bed and passed out.



I am again on the 17th floor at the Taj Land's End, but on the opposite side of the hall. As you can see from the pictures above, I have an ocean view as opposed to the inlet view this time. While I am enjoying the ocean view, it does come with one negative: beeping cars. Unlike at home, using your car's horn in Mumbai is not a sign of anger or frustration and the driver being honked at is not likely to flip you off. It is more of a respectful, "Hello. I am behind you and am trying to pass. Would you kindly get out the way?" During all the time spent in a car last time and how crazy the traffic is, I never saw an accident or anyone with Road Rage.

The picture above is also part of my view: The former SeaRock Hotel. From what I understand, the hotel was bombed. Don't worry. It wasn't recent. The only residents now appear to be birds and security.

I keep thinking that if this was at home, by now the building would have been demolished and a shiny new one built in it's place. By any standard, this is prime real estate. If nothing else, if I were a member of the Tata board (owner's of the Taj Hotels), I would recommend buying it, knocking it down and cleaning it up for a more open view of the ocean. Maybe that is just me. In my opinion, there is no better view than an open view of the ocean or, in our case at home, one of the Great Lakes. For anyone making the argument that small inland lakes have nice views too, sorry, but growing up so close to the Saginaw Bay has spoiled me.

It is now Sunday afternoon. I stayed in yesterday and worked a bit. One person at Vista (the restaurant we eat at a lot as they are open for breakfast and when we get back late) recognized me from last time when I went to lunch. This morning, one of the greeters (I am bad getting names) smiled and said, "Mrs. Nutt, you're back." I thought that was pretty cool even though Mrs. Nutt is my mom.

Valerie from South Africa is here. She called last night about dinner and this morning about breakfast, but I had already eaten both times. Frederic was to meet her for breakfast. Today, I will most likely work again as I have some outstanding issues that I want to clear up before going to the office tomorrow. This time around, I may not have time to write much as this PCE run (the reason I am here) is compressed and I will be working next weekend.