What I Did With 72 Hours in India

Most people do not make whirlwind three-day trips to other continents. And of those who do, I would guess that most of them do not make these trips to get married. I did just that - went to India for what felt like one very long day to get married. I was slightly busy, so not many BlackBerry photos on this trip, but here are a few of (in order) - my beautiful friend from Mexico who lives in London yet somehow made it to my India wedding getting her henna, my hand and foot post-henna, some awesome sign I took a picture of because it reminded me of a friend from work, and the champagne KLM gave us even though we were in the cheap seats (I guess the flight attendants on the Delhi-Amsterdam flight are pretty aware at this point of how recent Indian brides and grooms are decorated):

Orange Fever

Ever visited a country when the national soccer/football team is about to play for a spot in the World Cup Final?

You see things like this everywhere (yes, I know the photo is sideways. But you get the idea. ORANGE FEVER):

Then after said team wins this game, people go crazy and party in the streets. I took this poor-quality photo from up in my hotel room, because I was alone, and somewhat afraid to be by myself in a bar with a bunch of drunk Dutchmen just in case the team lost. I really wish I had video here - the noise was just unreal:

Timing on this trip was impeccable. I was heading to India the next day for my wedding, and husband and I would be coming right back to Amsterdam on our way back to the US, just in time for my birthday, which ALSO happened to be the day of the final World Cup match against Spain.

Delta = Devil

Wow. Delta managed to screw my booking up so badly that it caused a KLM agent to actually curse me, then make me cry (Delta jerks had actually cancelled my booking on the flight to India) then fix everything and waive some fees she wanted to charge me. Dealing with other airlines makes me realize how much I truly love Southwest Airlines. Heck, Delta has even made American Airlines seem appealing!

Now just killing time here at the airport. Lots of orange shirts today...Hup Holland!

Sent from my BlackBerry

Back to India

On the second leg of the long journey. Made it to Minneapolis, now on to Holland. Awkward seat but nice neighbors. Here's to sleeping the whole flight!

Sent from my BlackBerry

Arizona Week

Spent much of this week in Arizona, for a work conference, but the true incentive to be there was getting the chance to tour Taliesin West and the Arizona Biltmore (FLW was a consulting architect here, and his influence is pretty obvious, at least to me). My slight obsession with Frank Lloyd Wright has now grown into a full affliction. Sure, he was a cad and perhaps not the nicest guy, but with that much genius crammed into his brain, there couldn't have been much room left for morals. Below are some BlackBerry photos from the trip.

Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ

  

 

 

 

 

Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ

Airplane party that never ends

I am going to create a diagram of my flight paths from the past 36 months or so. That will be one nasty spiderweb of lines.

Just so tired, but yet can't sleep. The plight of the business traveler (or, at least this one).

Breathing in New Delhi

Is not the easiest thing to do! Imagine a very, very old car. Now put your face into the exhaust pipe. Breathe. This is what it felt like.

Like most people would probably say, India is a land of massive contrasts, great beauty and great sorrow, and really - the food? Amazing.

Heading back to Texas on Sunday - I'm already kind of looking forward to coming back (though nervous, of course, too, since the next trip will be for my wedding).

Here are some miscellaneous BlackBerry photos from my time in India (Bombay, Ahmedabad, New Delhi).