12 hours in london and I do that following.
1. Go to the National Gallery and stare at paintings
2. Traditional English breakfast with tea
3. Walk to buckingham palace, trafalgar square, picadilly circus, and leicester square
4. Fish and chips with a pint of beer
5. Tea at Fortnum and Mason
Generally be amazed by how beautiful, efficient and stylish everything just feels in London.
The latter part actually amazes me the most. London is expensive. But to make up for it the food tastes fresher, the buildings look cleaner. The employees seem nicer and less disgruntled. The airport checkin, security services and customs is automated and streamlined so I'm not dying going through all sorts of lines. I'm actually sort of happy to be spending my last few hours in London between primitive JFK/LGA/ORD as opposed to going straight to the chaos of India.
Might as well enjoy it I guess. Sigh, will miss the order and comfort... now if only I could live in London for a bit...
12/30/2008
12/27/2008
Just in case
Pakistani officials have sent troops to the border of India and Pakistan and for the first time in my life I'm actually listening. With two days to go I am about to embark on a three week trip to India. I talk to my friends, family and experts and here's the consensus.
Father: my company's income for next year heavily depends on my going to India/Mumbai so I'm going.
Mother: this is my third time trying to go to India and I keep cancelling. I'm not getting any younger and I'm going to see the Taj Mahal.
Official Experts: War breaking out between India and Pakistan is highly unlikely.
US consular: No mention telling travellers not to go, just extreme vigilance.
Indian friend in Delhi: Its like flirting/foreplay, India and Pakistan do this all the time. Nothing is going to happen.
Indian friends in Chicago: anything can happen to you anywhere you go. Just go and have fun, you'll be fine.
Sister #1: Just go and be prepared to run fast and far away when noises happen.
Sister #2: Register with the US consular.
Brother in Law #1, Impersonating Jewish Mother: "ARE YOU CWAZY?"
Brother in Law #2, Phd in Political Science: Well they have always been playing this game with each other.... no comment.
Sister#4: Please come back alive.
Friends: oh Vow. be safe. Maybe it will be safer now then ever considering its right after a major attack. Are you going to Mumbai?
Conclusion:
Unless war breaks out in the next 36 hours I'm heading to India with my Japanese passport, registered with the US consular and Japanese consular, and a long list of phone numbers from various friends. I will not be going to Mumbai and will not be staying at fancy five star hotels or be traveling in big groups. I am packed light and ready to run where necessary. Have got my shots, my cell phone, my carryon and paperwork. If something breaks out in the next 24 hours, I will be spending twelve hours in London so I'll just turn around and go home after I eat some fish and chips.
But just in case if anything does happen...
It was nice knowing you all.
When ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Hope that its not my turn and that fear is taken over by joy as I enjoy the splendors of India. I have been planning this trip for seven months, scrimping, saving and planning. Here's hoping everything turns out well.
Father: my company's income for next year heavily depends on my going to India/Mumbai so I'm going.
Mother: this is my third time trying to go to India and I keep cancelling. I'm not getting any younger and I'm going to see the Taj Mahal.
Official Experts: War breaking out between India and Pakistan is highly unlikely.
US consular: No mention telling travellers not to go, just extreme vigilance.
Indian friend in Delhi: Its like flirting/foreplay, India and Pakistan do this all the time. Nothing is going to happen.
Indian friends in Chicago: anything can happen to you anywhere you go. Just go and have fun, you'll be fine.
Sister #1: Just go and be prepared to run fast and far away when noises happen.
Sister #2: Register with the US consular.
Brother in Law #1, Impersonating Jewish Mother: "ARE YOU CWAZY?"
Brother in Law #2, Phd in Political Science: Well they have always been playing this game with each other.... no comment.
Sister#4: Please come back alive.
Friends: oh Vow. be safe. Maybe it will be safer now then ever considering its right after a major attack. Are you going to Mumbai?
Conclusion:
Unless war breaks out in the next 36 hours I'm heading to India with my Japanese passport, registered with the US consular and Japanese consular, and a long list of phone numbers from various friends. I will not be going to Mumbai and will not be staying at fancy five star hotels or be traveling in big groups. I am packed light and ready to run where necessary. Have got my shots, my cell phone, my carryon and paperwork. If something breaks out in the next 24 hours, I will be spending twelve hours in London so I'll just turn around and go home after I eat some fish and chips.
But just in case if anything does happen...
It was nice knowing you all.
When ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Hope that its not my turn and that fear is taken over by joy as I enjoy the splendors of India. I have been planning this trip for seven months, scrimping, saving and planning. Here's hoping everything turns out well.
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