HKG - SEA - LAX - SJO - ATL - SEA - HKG - ICN - PVG - DEL - IXC - BOM - CJB - BOM - HKG
Started the month off with a trip to Costa Rica (planned long before knowing I would be living in HK) with a roommate from college and her family.
It took a lot to get there an back, but was totally worth 7 days of sand, sun and relaxation. Getting me ready for the rest of the month.
The rest of the month was work - and I am only hitting the fun highlights.
Flew Thai airlines for the first time - very colorful airline - kept me awake 😊
Next fun surprise was a gift from my US team - Taco Cats and Hula Cats
Spent Easter weekend in Shanghai and visited the Yuan Garden - still just a beautiful as before.
Found some Easter decorations in the Waldorf Astoria.
One of my colleagues celebrated her birthday in Shanghai and found the coolest place for drinks - Yongfoo Elite - the way we described it was that it was previously the house of a rich person. Really laid back atmosphere. In the picture below you can see the house cat hanging out with Buddha.
Sunday in Shanghai, we took a cooking class - it was dumplings. We started buying key ingredients at the wet market then going to an apartment to prepare. We made and ate 3 types of dumplings - soup dumpling (xiao long bao), vegetable fried dumplings, and shrimp steamed dumplings.
Last stop in Shanghai was the famous (or at least famous with my friends) Dragonfly Spa for a foot or a foot and shoulder massage before the night flight to New Delhi.
Landed in New Delhi at 2:20am and made it to hotel by 4am. We had planned this to be a rest day. What does rest day mean - head to Agra and see the Taj Mahal.
Lunch was at a traditional Indian cuisine - Peshawri at ITC hotel. The exciting part was the family size Naan (or maybe Roti) we ordered - it was enough bread for all 7 of us. Made sure I had people in the picture to give context to the true size.
The beginning of this trip in India we stayed at the Imperial in New Delhi. It was, as always, an amazing hotel. My personal highlight is the breakfast buffet with homemade granola.
They always have the most beautiful flower displays in the lobby. This time was loofah with carnations.
From New Delhi my trip went more local for the rest of next week. We went north to Chandigarh. On the way to the mill, we had some unusual (but normal for India) traffic obstacles.
Later the same day we headed to Mumbai. I had another experience I don't think you would find in the US. I boarded my flight, a Boeing 737, from the rear of the plane.
After some more work on Saturday, I got to explore Mumbai. I took India's version of an Uber (Ola) for 4 hours and checked out Gateway of India, Juhu Beach and picked up some Alphonso Mangos, which were in season, for my colleague to take home to his family.
One of the fascinating parts of cities is transportation - I missed taking pictures of the tuk tuks in New Delhi, but I got pictures of them in Mumbai - they look much safer in Mumbai.
Sunday night we headed south to Coimbatore. Continued to spend a lot of time on the road. Here are some highlights - more local Tuk Tuks
New road hazards
We determined we traveled approximately 1,400 km (870 miles) in cars visiting 4 facilities. I learned a lot about horn blowing. In the US I feel when you use your horn there is some emotion behind it (get out of my way, hi, etc). In India blowing your horn is part of driving etiquette - telling other drivers you are passing. I saw a lot of larger trucks with signs actually telling people to "please blow horn" so they know they are nearby or preparing to pass.
We had another traditional south Indian lunch - Thali. I have had this meal many times before in HK, but it was so much better here. Few notes - as I was obviously the only westerner in the restaurant - they brought me a spoon so I did not eat with my hands. Also the cost is amazing. In HK this meal costs ~ US$11 and local here is cost ~US$1.70.
Two highlights of the facility visits. Each day a symbol is drawn in chalk on the street in front of factory entrance. Some were very elaborate and beautiful.
And I became a celebrity. At an inspection location the ladies all wanted their picture with me.
My last highlight of the India part of my trip was in intense Ayurvedic Oil massage - no pictures. Two girls used a lot of oil to release tension. There was very little English, but they did tell me my skin was beautiful and wanted to know if I liked their brown skin. I realized they have not seen many westerners.
Ended this adventure on a flight leaving Mumbai at 1:20am with a little sleep before HK. But when I returned to HK - I had a new roommate move in.
Patrick arrived in HK a week before I got home and started back in the Target Hong Kong office on the raw material quality assurance team.
More adventures to come.
