J's India Trip

Always have at least 3 hours for international-to-domestic transfers at LAX.

I had two hours scheduled, but the flight from Hong Kong was 30 minutes late, I got flagged at Customs because I'd been in pastures in Nepal, the inter-terminal bus never came, and I was in the slowest TSA line ever.

I made it and even had time to fill my water bottle, pee, and get decent coffee, but that was only because I gave up on the bus and ran from Terminal 10 to Terminal 6, and the Seattle-bound flight was running late.

But, I got 8 hours of sleep on the flight from Hong Kong, ate decently, and feel pretty well adjusted to the time zone.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 4:23 PM 0 comments

Cathay Pacific gives their first class passengers really nice pajamas. I saved mine from my flight to Hong Kong and just changed in to them. I have to say, I feel a little ridiculous walking through the airport in pajamas, but they're so comfortable and it's much easier to change in the nice bathrooms in the business class lounge than in the cramped bathroom on the plane.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 9:17 AM 0 comments

Is playing in the Delhi airport in the magazine/sundry shop. And it's not one of his 'clean' songs (if he even has any). I'm confused.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 7:17 AM 0 comments

At the restaurant Pluck at the Pullman Hotel in New Delhi Aerocity. Contemporary Indian food, tasty and interesting. Wish I'd taken more pictures!

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 4:48 AM 0 comments

Preparations are done and guests are arriving. It seems elaborate in terms of set up, but the guests are not all dressed up (some are in jeans). Which seems unusual for an Indian wedding. It's also on the small side with only 64 guests and 12 wedding party (based on the number of chairs).

I wonder if I could crash?

PS not sure what is up with the owls (if you look closely at the tables, you'll see that the centerpieces are owls made out of flowers). I tried googling owls and Indian weddings and didn't come up with anything, so I'm guessing that its some idea/obsession of the bride/groom.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 11:41 PM 0 comments

Very elaborate preparations happening in the courtyard at the hotel

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 8:23 PM 0 comments

It's really really bad

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 7:38 PM 0 comments

To a national obesity epidemic.

While the US might still be #1, many developing countries are heading in the same direction.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 11:12 PM 0 comments

I'm on the wrong side of the plane, but I was able to get this picture using zoom. It's a spectacularly clear day with low clouds. It's pretty amazing when you're flying at the same height as the mountains you're next to.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 9:45 PM 0 comments

On the plane to Delhi! Fight number three of six for me, and three of five for Dad.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 9:45 PM 0 comments

We went out for Chinese food last night. Apparently Dad, John, and I had never previously experienced Sichuan peppers and it took us most of the meal to figure out why our tongues and lips were tingling/burning.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 6:07 PM 0 comments

It was raiding the garbage can. And then paused to masturbate. :)

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 5:55 PM 0 comments

Resting by the lake on Pokhara

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 1:23 AM 0 comments

"That's our plane," I say, pointing to the Tara Air plane on the runway.

Dad responds, "I thought we were on Yeti Airlines."

"We are."

"Got it."

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 10:11 PM 0 comments

I wonder if there are also Nepali-style or French-style flavors.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 9:08 PM 0 comments

When I went to move the chair this morning, it was already occupied. :) I got to snuggle with the cat for a little while. Since we displaced her from her warm spot, I felt obligated to keep her warm for a bit. :)

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 7:21 PM 0 comments

That there are a bunch of prayer wheels outside the Jomsom airport?"

Dad and John respond, in unison, "yes."

But seriously, they take safety and weight restrictions very seriously.so I'm not particularly worried. Although, since the snow level is currently only 1000 feet above us, we're exploring contingency options if we can't fly out tomorrow. Dad and I don't leave for Delhi until the 31st, so we have some slack.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 4:45 AM 0 comments

This is Jarkhot and looks very much like rural Nepal used to (according to Dad and John). The leaves are changing on the trees, and Tek(our guide) thinks it's snowing in the upper elevations.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 2:16 AM 0 comments

With very pretty drinks

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 2:14 AM 0 comments

There is a spring that someone decided was holy at some point. The spring is diverted in to these baths and 108 water spouts. Pilgrims walk under the spouts and through the baths to cleanse their karma. The water is just above freezing.

There's also a *giant* Buddha and an eternal flame of sorts (I'm guessing methane).

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 5:36 AM 0 comments

These are all over the place in Muktenath. Clearly an NGO had a project here asst some point. But it does seem like people are using them.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 5:33 AM 0 comments

Drying in the sun. Lots of garlic!

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 5:32 AM 0 comments

John climbing up a sketchy.ladder to a sketchy roof to take a picture. Dad and I declined to follow.

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 5:31 AM 0 comments

From several hundred feet above ( maybe more)

# posted by Disease Cowgirl @ 5:31 AM 0 comments