India

5/20/2007
What a crazy place! I am just so glad that we both arrived in India alive and made it out alive. The trip to Bangalore is a total of 39 hours on a plane. After that the airport has a total of two terminals. Which just means that there are two places where you can get off the plane. After that you walk down some stairs and try to find your baggage. I waited and waited my golf clubs came...then a small man carrying a paper sign walked by, I noticed my name was on that sign. That meant I needed to go into an office and talk to some other people. My bag with my clothes missed the flight to India. At least my important bag came - the golf clubs! By this time everyone has left the airport and it's around 1am. I (this is Natalie) walk out to find my driver. As soon as I walk out the airport doors I am totally bombarded by people. Everyone wants to give me a ride. I found out why later. I walk down the sidewalk, looking for my name on a sign, it's nowhere to be found. So, I ask a stranger if I can use his cell phone to call the hotel to ask for my driver. He was okay with it - so I try to dial...completely fail. I can't seem to dial out. Anyway...I ended up getting a ride with some other guy. We agreed upon a price, and we started off on my trek to the hotel. About 20 minutes into my ride (which might I add should have been less than five minutes from the airport to the hotel.) the driver tells me that I need to pay him more money to go the rest of the way to the hotel. I didn't have anymore money - I told the driver. So he drove me to an ATM. ATM's in Bangalore have armored guards standing outside. That sort of freaked me out...but then...I walked inside the ATM, and stepped down and then the ground underneath me moved...It was a PERSON sleeping underneath the rug! I so just wanted to jump back on the plane and head home. Anyway...I ended up with $40, gave it to the driver and he took me to The Leela Palace. I go to check in, didn't have a reservation, but they gave me a room anyway. I go up to the room, and the minute I put my bag down - the power goes out. I try to dial on the phone but can't figure out how...Now I really wanted to go home! Anyway...I called home, talked to Daniel, and felt much better. The next day was much better!