Indian Drivers are Crazy!

Since I posted last, Bows and I have been to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford. We are now in Hyderabad, India. So far I have been very entertained with my drives in a cab to and from work each day. The approach to driving here is completely chaotic. It's just crazy. I almost had 4 heart attacks in the cab today. Horns are used as signals, constantly. Everybody drives every which way, pulling out in front of each other, coming within inches of smashing each other, yet I haven't seen one accident yet. I can't put anything into words that would describe the chaos. It's amazing.


In Hyderabad I've learned that this city is well known for it's Pearls. I would like to go shopping for some. I'm also told by several Indians that the food in India is spiciest in Hyderabad. They have one mixture of ingredient they use and it's call gun powder. I like Mexican food and that is spicy but I can't hardly eat the Indian food here. I cough after each bite.

I taught my first 8 hour class today and it went well considering it was my first presentation to a large group of people in a looonnng time.

London - Days 2 and 3

I have to say the internet connection I have at the Easy Hotel is horrible. It sucks actually. I am not posting as much as I'd like because of it. Maybe I'll have a better connection at the hotel in Paris or India. I've just spent several hours trying to upload photos and more than half failed. I need to get to bed now because I am getting picked up for my trip to Paris at 4:45 a.m. tomorrow. I'll be staying over night in Paris, getting back late Saturday night. I don't know when the next time is that I'll be able to post.

Yesterday I toured the British Museum and took several pictures there (that I haven't been able to show yet). I also toured the West End of London which includes the theater and Soho districts. This is my favorite area in London. After a really nice supper at the Criterion at Piccadilly Circus I attended Mamma Mia at the Prince of Whales Theatre. ABBA is one of my favorite bands so I really enjoyed the performance.



Don't know what these horses are but this photo is only one of a few that I am in so I thought I would share it. Some stranger was kind enough to take it for me.

Today I did the Westminster walk and then went back to Soho and did some shopping. Picked up some really cute things at the Octopus which does not have a website yet but when they do I will be sure to share the link because they have the coolest stuff!!! The person who worked there told me that there would be online shopping.

I have posted more pictures on facebook.

And just so you know, Lydia, Bows is having a great time too. Here she is at Big Ben...
...and at Parliament...

...and at the London Eye on the Thames River...
...and finally relaxing after a long day.

I love you Lydia!

London Day 1

It is 2 a.m. London time. It's been a long but fun day. The flight wasn't so bad because there was an empty seat next to me so I was able to lay down and sleep for 4 or 5 hours. I found my way to my hotel pretty easily via the Underground (tube). Today I saw the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. I didn't take the tour of the Tower of London though because I arrived 30 minutes before closing. I may go back to do the tour. I also took a 2 hour London by Night sightseeing tour which was worth the 15 p.

Some things I noticed today:
1. People in London walk really fast and there are lots of steps everywhere! I'm a fast walker, or so I thought, and had a hard time keeping up.
2. Pop comes in 2 Liter bottles vs. 1
3. They hand out free newspapers all over the place
4. No washcloths??

I took 111 pictures today. Too many to post here. I will get them up on Flickr or something like that soon. I'm here and safe and hitting the rack! Good day for now...cheerio.

My Travelin' Pal

Lydia has sent me off from the Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee with "Bows" the bunny. Bows is the purple gal you see on top of Lydia's head. Bows will be my travelin' pal and you will see a lot of her. Right now we are doing some people watching at the O'Hare Bar & Grill.

Leaving for London Tomorrow

Here's the scoop. When I started with IBM in July of '99 (my first real job after graduating from college at the age of 27....I was a non-trad), EVERY IBMer I met would break from their polite, welcoming chit chat and in a very serious, concerned tone warn me to be careful because IBM would work me into the ground if I let them. Following that they all said that IBM would give me amazing experiences that I could get no place else. Ten years later I'm here to say that these folks haven't been proven wrong yet. I work hard at my job and there are times I need to draw the line but I also work with some of the brightest, talented people in the world and the work we do every day is important, challenging, and keeps me on my toes which is something, when it really comes down to it, I need to keep me interested in my job. I am one of twelve IBMers being sent around the world (Mexico, Phillipines, China, Argentina, India, Brazil) to mentor other Project Managers. I will be traveling to India for 4 weeks and to Argentina for a total of 7 weeks. I'm stopping for a vacation in London and Paris for a week before I arrive in India. I have a 7 year old daughter I am leaving home with her dad. That is turning out to be the hardest part of this whole adventure so far. I'll be logging my travels on this blog. I leave for London tomorrow. I'll be in touch soon.