What a start

We landed in Mumbai 9 something tonight. Sailed through immigrations but our bags took a long time to come. Then we got stuck in customs. They did not like Lynne's huge case with camera equipment. They wanted us to have some documentation that we would be taking it with us when we left and not selling it. We don't have anything that guarantees that. The officials actually tried to extort us. He wanted $2500! We kept arguing and then he tried for less and less money. Then said leave it hear overnight and your local office people can come with the guarantee tomorrow. We declined. Finally we showed him our visa letter for Thailand to prove we were taking the equipment on for additional shooting. He let us go. It was a little scary. We found our driver Mandal right away and he got us to the hotel in 10-15 minutes. Wall to wall people on the streets (all men). Hot and muggy. Mosquitos (have Deet on already). Lots of honking like everyone says.

So far we haven't figured out to use our phones here although they're set up for international roaming. I'm not getting a signal to make calls or there's a recorded message I can't understand. Text is working great though. Also challenged with adapters/converters so I might run out of laptop battery any second.

Also experienced a different kind of bathroom in the airport. It was a hole in the ground and there was a hose involved. Oh my.

15-hour flight was OK. Tough to sit for that long and tough to sleep, but I did at some point because I was dreaming. I watched three movies, all ones I've been wanting to catch. The Artist, the Hawaiin one with George Clooney (sorry, tired and not thinking well) and the Muppet Movie. Was starting Tin Tin when I had to put it away.

We meet up with the Mumbai office manager and assistant and our driver tomorrow at 8 a.m. to tour and shoot. We have a lot of questions for them. Haven't figured out tipping yet either and what amount/when is appropriate. Feeling very unprepared at this moment. Hope to get a few hours of sleep now.

Visas arrived on Tuesday, so we're flying out tomorrow. First to Newark and then straight to Mumbai a short 15 hours later. We hit the ground running on Sunday with our driver meeting us at 8 a.m. to video shoot the sites of Mumbai. Hope jet lag doesn't hit until that night. I'll post pictures as I can.

Count down is on

Still no visa for India. Please pray it comes in time. Found out late last week that in Thailand the King's sister died several months ago but the funeral will be when we are there. We've been asked to wear black, gray or white for those days. Might be a little freaky to film the sites those days and only see people in black.

My friend Kelly (sorority sister) connected me with a Black & Veatch professional and his wife who are working in Bangkok. Kelly is related in a round-about way via stepfather's cousin-in-law, which I can't quite figure out. We've already connected with Mark McDermott and his wife Jamie and hope to have drinks or dinner. They recommend we spend more than two days in Bangkok because it's so cool vs. staying in Pune or Singapore, which they called Overland Park with palm trees. We might have a little wiggle room to make some travel adjustments, but we're still waiting to see if we can visit a humongous project site in India, which will take an entire day. Would love to film it but it means we'll have to pack steel-toed boots. Bummer. So far I have 12 pairs of shoes in the "take" pile. Think I'll at least try to cut it in half. Hate to give up flip flops for steel toes.

Newbie

I'm a writer, but this is my first blog. With an upcoming international trip that is sure to have lots of fodder for hilarity, I thought it was time. I'll be leaving soon for India, Thailand, Singapore and the UK. I've lived in London before so not too worried about it, but the other locations will be fascinating and a little frightening. I'm traveling with coworker Lynne and she is cool and fun, thank goodness. We'll be shooting video of our employees, showing what it's like to live and work there for marketing needs.  

Just getting ready has taken way more time than I ever dreamed. Need visas for India and Thailand, and if we're lucky we'll get them the day before we leave (our passports are making their way around the world with the visa forms). Needed immunizations (I went with typhoid, polio and hepatitis A) and prescriptions for potential stomach issues (please, no) and anti-malarial tablets (please, please no). Have to fill out security forms, up credit limits on corporate cards and still need to plan all the video shoots, book hotels, etc.

Lynne and I know we'll both get cranky, immature and unreasonable on a three-week trip.  I think we need a safe word that when said tells us to shut up and relax. Any suggestions?