Kaush needed to spend most of today preparing for a job interview that he just found out about yesterday afternoon, when we went in to his office; it's with the biggest player in the industry, and apparently there will be a lot of competition.  Adish couldn't meet because he just found out yesterday (his first day back at work) that he needed to ( Read more... )

I knew, by the time we arrived to the last station before I went to bed last evening, that we were running about two hours behind schedule. I finally got a compartment-mate at that station -- if only for a few minutes. He disappeared just after saying hello (in very good English) and dropping off his bags, then a while later the conductor ( Read more... )

Had to throw off my blanket in the middle of the night because, I think, they turned down the air conditioning.  Consequently did not need my jacket this morning but, as the day has gone on and the A/C has pumped away, I have needed to add it back ( Read more... )

I never got a fresh rose nor a aloe-and-mint-oil facial wipe when traveling Amtrak. And the train attendants -- some of them -- their uniforms, oh my!  Then came a hand towel.  Then a bottle of water.  Then dinner:  tomato soup starter, with breadsticks, then rice and chapatis with dal soup, paneer, and mixed vegetables, followed by strawberry ice ( Read more... )

My annoyance at Snig boiled over today, in my generally quiet and understated way.  We arrived Rishikesh 3 pm after a very tiring bus journey.  Snig gets in heated words with the bus ticket/baggage handler, then runs off to hire a tri-wheeling taxi ("auto-rickshaw").  All I can get out of him is that we need to get to the other side of the river ( Read more... )

Striking my tent this morning (still wet, nothing to do), I discovered that the tent bag had been torn, likely abraded by the ropes holding it onto the mule.  I was thankful that it was the bag not the tent, still.  Ramesh offered to hand carry it once Snig explained the problem to him -- indeed, he looked quite downcast! -- but I thought it ( Read more... )

Back in Ruin for the night.  Weather has been generally trending toward clearer most of the day -- with notable exceptions! -- with occasional periods of bright, hot, welcome sunshine.  Snig says though that there's a monsoon red alert for this region, with high flood risk ( Read more... )

Snig did stay in the guide's tent -- officially because it was "cozier" there with the heat from the stove.  I didn't think that the stove gave off much extra heat, but I was worried about carbon monoxide, even with the open tent flap.  Perhaps not surprising that Sning complained of a headache this morning and wanted to know if I had something for ( Read more... )

Woke around six and made a mad dash for toileting.  Came back to a cup of chai, then coffee, and curried cauliflower and pancake-type things for breakfast.  Last night's cook and the might-be-son both said goodbye -- turns out they were only along to get the luggage as far as the first night's village.  Snig paid them and they headed off to Jumma, ( Read more... )

Woke when Snig got up, 7:15 -- two minutes before the alarm I set for myself.  Snig was afraid that the guide would come, so he didn't want to leave to get breakfast; I didn't want to on my own, as I don't know what I'm ordering, and most people here don't speak English.  So I had my last two Swedish apples and we waited.  The guide called; he was ( Read more... )