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.