Grand TAJ (India) Lypse - NOVEMBER 12-21

I seem to be feeling OK with my summer clothing, and a bit of 'thick skin' right now ! And, next 10-15 days shouldn't be drastically different, hopefully.

The guy at the airport (whether it is Sabir, or our Hotel CityMark fellow) who will be there to pick-you, will carry just the following placard :


 
If there is any delay in your meeting with our pick-up man, please use any of my phone nos. provided at the following page :
http://www.indialypse.info/contactus.htm
BTW, have you guys seen the new INDIA photo-albuum at our web site ??
http://www.indialypse.info/IA1.htm

Having been here almost a full week, I'll share some info that may be of interest.


Have a supply of bottled water with you at all times - these cost RS 12-15 most of the time


Adapter plugs are in lots of stores here, I think I paid around RS 70 for one - it takes all plugs, US/UK/Eu etc


Sim cards - not as easy to obtain as I'd been led to believe. In the shops, they want a b&w photocopy of your passport page, your visa page and a recent passport photo of you. In addition, they want an address in India and some form of written document from that address (bill etc). I found this all rather unnecessary but they wouldn't budge on it. Eventually I found a roadside stall that were 'happy' to dispense with the last requirement. My indian cell number is 7738315913.


I spent 4 my first 4 days in Mumbai (meeting up with Jimdslr a couple of times) and am currently in Goa for 3 days. I leave for Kerala tomorrow evening before flying up to Delhi on Friday.


Indians' idea of cold and Europeans are measured in different units I went to a Bollywood movie last night in an a/c theatre. I wore just a short sleeved shirt and was comfortable throughout and walking arounf=d in the rain shower after midnight.


Gary


 

Beware folks ! Don't accept the EASIEST route to obtaining a SIM card ! You may land up procuring a USED card - even one that was used and disposed off unlawfully !!

Oh oh! May not get to meet you all after all!


Mine came in the sealed packaging in which you had to snap out the sim from the plastic card as usual. Could be a dodgy I suppose ..


Works though!

That seems to be quite OK then. I just tried your number ... it seems your phone is OFF right now ! Cheers, Pradeep.

Absolutely beautiful images on the Web site Pradeep.

Thanks ! Just some quick, stray samples ... I didn't even have time to orgianize them into any themes or categories ... still something better than nothing. Cheers, Pradeep.

After so many months of just planning & planning & more planning ... it all seems to be becoming so real. I spoke to Adamkaz earlier this week, and to Silvia (already in Delhi) and Gary (already in India - Bombay, Goa, Kerala). 12th of November was never closer ! Cheers, Pradeep.

Yes, november 12 is coming closer and closer, and i am glad that i am already here, as i am getting older, i need more time to adjust to time and clima chage, and too me, it is not chilly at all.


Will meet Pradeep tomorrow.

OMG...those are incredible images!!! Did you take all of those Pradeep?...simply breathtaking. I'm really psyched now! Oh and congratulations on the more than likely commission of the Coffee Table Book. What an incredible honor!!! What an amazing trip this shall be.


I'm getting all my batteries charged...last minute items together and will be boarding a plane tomorrow! Yippee!!! Can't wait to see everyone.

Yup Terry ! This sure is gonna be a damn amazing trip ... even if things work out just about 30-40% as well as I want them to be. If we score about 50-75% success - the content team at the HQ will just be astonished - and if by any remote chance we hit the 100% button - I bet the content team will put a blanket ban on any more imagery from India !

President Obama's entourage has already hit Delhi, and the first spot they have chosen to visit (after the US Embassy) is the magnificent Humayun's Tomb. Incidentally, as we return to Delhi from Agra on the 19th of November, we too will be heading straight to Humayun's Tomb. Obama's team surely knew that evening light simply lights up this magnificent monument beautifully !

Had just a look at the new images, great!


 

hope the cyclone doesn't affect travels etc. hoping it misses the areas for your lypse. I can't wait to see all of your photos.

Hi folks !

Some last-minute flight changes are sure causing us definite concern now. Please realize that we are just 4 days from the D-Day. If we have anymore of such changes we are going to run into terrible losses even before the programme is underway. Even if 5 of the 30 members change their flight schedules, it will literally be a financial catastrophe for us. There is less than a week to go now, and we have already paid all the hotels the dues for accommodation booking - no refunds will be possible for any change of dates.

I know some last-minute flight changes do occur in big international programme like this, but, then, I'm not a commercial tour operator and we just don't have any financial margins to play with. I will be constrained to add any/all losses to the concerned members' participation fee.

Anyone requesting any flight changes now MUST be prepared to bear 100% losses that we have to incur on account of such changes. Members may have bought individual travel insurance for their participation, but we haven't not purchased any insurance against any losses that we may have to incur on account of sudden flight changes (howsoever legitimate). It was just to facilitate your participation that we didn't charge you 100% upfront. But the facility that we granted you all shouldn't put us at any losses for no fault of ours, or of most of the other members !

Sorry to be sounding so rigid or harsh, but, then, a line HAS to be drawn somewhere so that the programme doesn't suffer when most of the members are not at any fault at all.

Thanks for your continued cooperation.


Best regards,

Pradeep.

Hopefully not, as the cyclonic disturbnace would be along the southern coastal area - far remote from our area of operation. But weather may be somewhat disturbed in our area too - may affect the available lighthours somewhat.

Thank you for posting everyone's picture who is involved with the event with their phone numbers. Most helpful!!! Less than 24 hours and on a long journey!


See you soon!

Sitting in Hong Kong, waiting to connect to Bangkok, LAX to Hong Kong was over 14 hours, amazingly long.

Very excited about the diversity of our itinerary! Each location on it's own seems to have enough amazing photo opportunities to make it stand alone worthwhile. Not sure which I am most excited about.

Just wanted to say have a blast everyone! Can't wait to see the photos that result from this amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!