It's day 3 of India Part 2.
FYI: Just because the ticketing agent says your luggage has been put through to your final destination does not necessarily mean that you and your luggage do not need to meet up BEFORE your final destination. Thankfully, someone in London filled me in. I will remember that that will probably be the case in Brussels as well.
I actually took some notes so I wouldn't forget things I wanted to tell you. Col. Babu did send a woman friend to the Mumbai airport to see if she could find me. Apparently they even made announcements, but, as I think I said, I couldn't understand the loudspeakers 99.9% of the time so I wasn't aware. Col. Babu contacted the airline in Mumbai once he found out I hadn't arrived in Kochi. If you can believe it (because this would never happen in the states), they actually told him that I had been in London and had come into Mumbai, but had missed the flight to Kochi.
They also told him I was booked on the 5:45 AM flight to Kochi. An Individual trying to get this information in the States would get a big lesson in frustration thanks to Homeland Security. He then called the 22 hotels closest to the airport and found out I wasn't at any of them. He went far and above the line of duty as far as I'm concerned!
Spending the night in the Mumbai airport, I became acquainted with a rat who was obviously quite comfortable foraging for food in the airport. I also met an older couple leaving for Toronto to visit their daughter for FIVE months. The mister said he was 76 years old, although he didn't look like it. We had quite a long conversation before they left to catch their flight.
On the way from Kochi to Zamorin's I noticed definite signs of economic growth. I saw several gas stations with multiple gas pumps although no convenience stores. Didn't see that before. There were several car dealerships--among them an Aston-Martin (?), a motorcycle dealership, several restaurants that a Westerner would consider a sit-down restaurant--not a hole in the wall. Pretty much the whole way there was billboard after billboard. I had forgotten about the traffic. It was much heavier than I experienced going from Zamorin's to Kochi last June. Horns constantly honking to let people/vehicle know that our vehicle was near them or to tell us to move over (and vice versa). Everything from pedestrians to bicycles, Motorized tricycles, motorcycles, cars of various sizes, minivans, huge buses and trucks from delivery size to road-work size and small tanker trucks. I saw two vehicle with Driving Schools placards on top. In one, a man was trying to teach a woman to drive. When I looked down into the car, there wee FOUR hands on the steering wheel. Moreso even than Driving Schools in the States, these instructors truly put their lives out there. I saw a sign advertising Sesame English. Haven't had a chance to find out exactly what that is. Sesame Street English?
And, last but not least, I saw a highrise like the ones on 31 leading up to the 465 bypass in Indy. Already Several stories high with a crane sitting on top. Next to it, it looked like a housing development (rich houses).
Between the schedule and the Internet, I have been having some trouble with Internet so hang in there if I miss a couple of days.
The Royal Mother is in attendance--since last August. Sounds like there is no way she will return to the States although all of her children live there. Since returning, three of the four have visited her and the 4th is due in August. She has a daughter who is an engineer married to an engineer living in Iowa. One daughter--a lawyer lives in Tenafly, NJ, with her husband who is a world renowned gastroenterologist. The other two live in New York and, I believe, are lawyers. At any rate professionals. I'm sure the lawyers have attained US citizenship and I think the others have as well. Imam (what everyone calls her) is nearly blind and also has a hearing disability. She's interesting to talk to although it can be difficult at times.
Tomorrow, I will talk more about what is going on here at Zamorin's.
Love,
Mom/Granny/Peggy
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
India 2nd time around
May 14, 2010 Friday
How I managed to get this website is well beyond me, but here I am.
Bob, Keagan, and Tom dropped me off at O'Hare sometime around 5PM Chicago time on Monday, May 10, 2010. On the way, Keagan and I were talking about air travel. I started a sentence with "They say you are safer up there than you are down here" and Keagan finished with "in an earthquake". Out of the mouths of babes.
Arrived in London at 11AM London time. Had to travel west of Ice4land and then north of Iceland to avoid the volcanic ash. Took more fuel than normal and approximately an hour longer than normal--just going by what the pilot said. One of the stewardesses said they didn't know if they would get back to the state at all the previous day due to the volcanic ash--smller planes which could not take on enough additional fuel were grounded from going from London to the US. I took my courage in both hands and actually went on the tube to Picadilly--downtown London--and took a 2 1/2 hour bus tour of London. The weather was damp and 46 degrees so, besides the fear of getting loost and not making it back to the airport for the flight, I wasn't any more adventurous than that. Found the tube, found the Picadilly line and returned to the airport with no problem at all. Score one for the MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was notable to me how very many people of color were in London. There was a one day festival of many, many artistically decorated elephant statues throughout the city. You could purchase them with the money going to a fund to save the Asiatic elephants. You don't know until after purchase what artist decorated your elephant. The man didn't say whether the elephant statues were then delivered to you, and I forgot to ask. Good thing I didn't purchase 6 of them!
In this London tour, we passed by Trafalgar Square no less than 4 times. But also on the route were many of the sites visited when David and I visited Kevin in London many years ago. It was notable to me that I actually recognized many of the sites and remembered them.
Apparently all airports have their own system, and all are different from the US. I had plenty of time when I returned to the airport Sufficient time to twice end up at the wrong gate in the wrong terminal. Not to worry. Someone appeared to be looking out for me, and, unlike later in this story, I was pointed in the right direction. Nevertheless. There aren't screens for departures posted well ahead of time in London. One of the workers found a board for me, and I just stood there waiting until the gate was finally posted (well past the Boarding time listed on the ticket). I had already scoped out who in the group watching the Board looked like they might be going to Mumbai and kept an eye on them to make sure I wasn't left in the dust.
Slept maybe an hour on the plane to London and maybe another hour on the plane to Mumbai.
Ah, Mumbai. Although I had reset my watch according to the time on the airplane communications device, it apparently wasn't the right time. I kept going from one boarding area to another boarding area--being sent from one to the other--committing the cardinal sin of asking for direction. I had forgotten the guidebook advice that Indians will give you directions even when they don't know them! At any rate, by the time I finally arrived at the correct area and the correct gate, the plane to Kochi was long gone. I guess you don't need/want to know all the ins and outs. Suffice it to say that the Boarding agents weren't really interested in getting me on another airline--also explaining I would have to pay extra. Finally, it was too late to even get on another airline. So I opted for the 5:45 AM, which I think would have been Thursday morning. Rather than risk missing another flight, I spent the night in the airport reading, watching people, and catching very few winks. I couldn't check-in until 11:30 PM and couldn't get into the secure area until 4 AM, but no one bothered me, and there were a couple of places I could get diet pepsi (!) and safe water to drink. (Interesting sidenote: Bathrooms had both western-style toilets and eastern style--ceramic holes in the floor as well as the sprays.
Nothing was open on the secure side, but there were toilets and safe drinking water. Yet another airport system for departures. I could never fully understand the loudspeaker, which was anxiety producing. If one is lucky, one's arrival city is posted whereupon people line up, get their tickets and passports checked for the umpteenth time, board a transporting bus, and taken to the airplane. Many, many airplanes are lined up on the tarmac, side by side. All passengers departing for domestic flights are apparently bused to their airplane. Miss the bus, woe be unto you! It had to take multiple buses to fill up the plane. When everyone is onboard, the plane taxiis and takes off. Kochi was no problem at all. Arrived, deplaned, boarded a bus, had my luggage, found my driver--Peggy Frick-spelled correctly this time, and was gone in under 30 minutes. Amazing. And this was a large plane.
Will sign off for now. Am safe and sound and being well taken care of.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
How I managed to get this website is well beyond me, but here I am.
Bob, Keagan, and Tom dropped me off at O'Hare sometime around 5PM Chicago time on Monday, May 10, 2010. On the way, Keagan and I were talking about air travel. I started a sentence with "They say you are safer up there than you are down here" and Keagan finished with "in an earthquake". Out of the mouths of babes.
Arrived in London at 11AM London time. Had to travel west of Ice4land and then north of Iceland to avoid the volcanic ash. Took more fuel than normal and approximately an hour longer than normal--just going by what the pilot said. One of the stewardesses said they didn't know if they would get back to the state at all the previous day due to the volcanic ash--smller planes which could not take on enough additional fuel were grounded from going from London to the US. I took my courage in both hands and actually went on the tube to Picadilly--downtown London--and took a 2 1/2 hour bus tour of London. The weather was damp and 46 degrees so, besides the fear of getting loost and not making it back to the airport for the flight, I wasn't any more adventurous than that. Found the tube, found the Picadilly line and returned to the airport with no problem at all. Score one for the MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was notable to me how very many people of color were in London. There was a one day festival of many, many artistically decorated elephant statues throughout the city. You could purchase them with the money going to a fund to save the Asiatic elephants. You don't know until after purchase what artist decorated your elephant. The man didn't say whether the elephant statues were then delivered to you, and I forgot to ask. Good thing I didn't purchase 6 of them!
In this London tour, we passed by Trafalgar Square no less than 4 times. But also on the route were many of the sites visited when David and I visited Kevin in London many years ago. It was notable to me that I actually recognized many of the sites and remembered them.
Apparently all airports have their own system, and all are different from the US. I had plenty of time when I returned to the airport Sufficient time to twice end up at the wrong gate in the wrong terminal. Not to worry. Someone appeared to be looking out for me, and, unlike later in this story, I was pointed in the right direction. Nevertheless. There aren't screens for departures posted well ahead of time in London. One of the workers found a board for me, and I just stood there waiting until the gate was finally posted (well past the Boarding time listed on the ticket). I had already scoped out who in the group watching the Board looked like they might be going to Mumbai and kept an eye on them to make sure I wasn't left in the dust.
Slept maybe an hour on the plane to London and maybe another hour on the plane to Mumbai.
Ah, Mumbai. Although I had reset my watch according to the time on the airplane communications device, it apparently wasn't the right time. I kept going from one boarding area to another boarding area--being sent from one to the other--committing the cardinal sin of asking for direction. I had forgotten the guidebook advice that Indians will give you directions even when they don't know them! At any rate, by the time I finally arrived at the correct area and the correct gate, the plane to Kochi was long gone. I guess you don't need/want to know all the ins and outs. Suffice it to say that the Boarding agents weren't really interested in getting me on another airline--also explaining I would have to pay extra. Finally, it was too late to even get on another airline. So I opted for the 5:45 AM, which I think would have been Thursday morning. Rather than risk missing another flight, I spent the night in the airport reading, watching people, and catching very few winks. I couldn't check-in until 11:30 PM and couldn't get into the secure area until 4 AM, but no one bothered me, and there were a couple of places I could get diet pepsi (!) and safe water to drink. (Interesting sidenote: Bathrooms had both western-style toilets and eastern style--ceramic holes in the floor as well as the sprays.
Nothing was open on the secure side, but there were toilets and safe drinking water. Yet another airport system for departures. I could never fully understand the loudspeaker, which was anxiety producing. If one is lucky, one's arrival city is posted whereupon people line up, get their tickets and passports checked for the umpteenth time, board a transporting bus, and taken to the airplane. Many, many airplanes are lined up on the tarmac, side by side. All passengers departing for domestic flights are apparently bused to their airplane. Miss the bus, woe be unto you! It had to take multiple buses to fill up the plane. When everyone is onboard, the plane taxiis and takes off. Kochi was no problem at all. Arrived, deplaned, boarded a bus, had my luggage, found my driver--Peggy Frick-spelled correctly this time, and was gone in under 30 minutes. Amazing. And this was a large plane.
Will sign off for now. Am safe and sound and being well taken care of.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
Sunday, May 9, 2010
On the road again
Sunday, May 8, 2010--Mother's Day
I am leaving tomorrow (May 9) to return to Zamorin's for a month. Bog, Keagan, and Tom are taking me to O'Hare on their way to a Cubs game. Fortunately, my plane leaves at 8:15 PM so I will get some sleep on my way to London. I will just play it by ear whether to do a little sightseeing or to just stay in the airport. Then it's on to Mumbai (better known to us foreigners as Bombay), Chennai and, finally, Kochi, where someone will meet me for the drive to Zamorin's.
I am excited to be returning--as much for the culture as for the treatment. I want to renew my commitment to getting healthier with continued weight loss, additional help with the sciatica, which continues to be 100% better than when I went to India last year, and whatever else occurs to me. I will be returning in time for the first pickup from the Community Supported Agriculture folks. Between now and then, however, they will be contacting Jenny for an asparagas pickup as that will be coming in in the next couple of weeks.
David suggested just continuing this blog rather than start another so you could flip back to last year if you wanted. If it gets too boring, please keep me on your short list of people to email. Sundays are especially quiet so those are the days I will most need a lift from people in America.
So, until we meet again, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I will keep all of you in mine.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
I am leaving tomorrow (May 9) to return to Zamorin's for a month. Bog, Keagan, and Tom are taking me to O'Hare on their way to a Cubs game. Fortunately, my plane leaves at 8:15 PM so I will get some sleep on my way to London. I will just play it by ear whether to do a little sightseeing or to just stay in the airport. Then it's on to Mumbai (better known to us foreigners as Bombay), Chennai and, finally, Kochi, where someone will meet me for the drive to Zamorin's.
I am excited to be returning--as much for the culture as for the treatment. I want to renew my commitment to getting healthier with continued weight loss, additional help with the sciatica, which continues to be 100% better than when I went to India last year, and whatever else occurs to me. I will be returning in time for the first pickup from the Community Supported Agriculture folks. Between now and then, however, they will be contacting Jenny for an asparagas pickup as that will be coming in in the next couple of weeks.
David suggested just continuing this blog rather than start another so you could flip back to last year if you wanted. If it gets too boring, please keep me on your short list of people to email. Sundays are especially quiet so those are the days I will most need a lift from people in America.
So, until we meet again, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I will keep all of you in mine.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
Friday, March 19, 2010
more
March 19, 2010
I decided about a week and a half ago to return to Zamorin's in May for another month. Although I am up to 77 pounds lost, I feel like I need a booster shot. I am cheating more and more often, and I don't like it.
I also would like to kick the Diet Coke habit this time.
And I would like to experience the peace I felt while I was there again. Remembering that that last week was BORRRRRRRING, I will take plenty of reading material this time. And, of course, I will either update this blog or start a new one. Maybe I'll be able to upload pictures with this one.
I would love to have a companion for the trip if anyone wants to go????????????????????
Thanks for all the love and support in the last ten months. It has meant a great deal to me.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
I decided about a week and a half ago to return to Zamorin's in May for another month. Although I am up to 77 pounds lost, I feel like I need a booster shot. I am cheating more and more often, and I don't like it.
I also would like to kick the Diet Coke habit this time.
And I would like to experience the peace I felt while I was there again. Remembering that that last week was BORRRRRRRING, I will take plenty of reading material this time. And, of course, I will either update this blog or start a new one. Maybe I'll be able to upload pictures with this one.
I would love to have a companion for the trip if anyone wants to go????????????????????
Thanks for all the love and support in the last ten months. It has meant a great deal to me.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
February 17, 2010
February 17, 2010--Nine Months out.
I seem to be hanging around the 75 pound mark, and, as good as that is, it's somewhat disappointing. I am, however, 100 pounds off my all-time high. I've been exercising 4 to 5 days a week. Received a tip on another place to exercise after this year is up. Depends on cost.
Bob will be so proud--I now have my very own speed-o bathing suit(s).
I'm seriously considering a return to Zamorin's to finish the job and, perhaps to get off Diet Coke.
Heard from Amelia. She is currently on an island in or near the Arabian Sea which some Sheik has set up as a preserve for wild animals. The first email had a picture of her. She looks good.
Her second email included pictures of a tiger, giraffs, and a couple of other wild animals.
I've been teaching at Ancilla. I was offered a class for each of the two summer sessions--3 nights a week for 3 1/2 hours each night. I told the Division Chair I would take the one starting June 28, but to please try to find someone else for the Social Psychology in the 1st summer session--trying to leave my options open.
Take care. Be safe. And know that I love each and every one of you.
Mom/Peggy/Granny
I seem to be hanging around the 75 pound mark, and, as good as that is, it's somewhat disappointing. I am, however, 100 pounds off my all-time high. I've been exercising 4 to 5 days a week. Received a tip on another place to exercise after this year is up. Depends on cost.
Bob will be so proud--I now have my very own speed-o bathing suit(s).
I'm seriously considering a return to Zamorin's to finish the job and, perhaps to get off Diet Coke.
Heard from Amelia. She is currently on an island in or near the Arabian Sea which some Sheik has set up as a preserve for wild animals. The first email had a picture of her. She looks good.
Her second email included pictures of a tiger, giraffs, and a couple of other wild animals.
I've been teaching at Ancilla. I was offered a class for each of the two summer sessions--3 nights a week for 3 1/2 hours each night. I told the Division Chair I would take the one starting June 28, but to please try to find someone else for the Social Psychology in the 1st summer session--trying to leave my options open.
Take care. Be safe. And know that I love each and every one of you.
Mom/Peggy/Granny
Thursday, January 14, 2010
January, 2010
Good morning. I am eight months from the beginning of this journey and 74 pounds lighter. The holidays didn't present much of a problem, thank goodness! I am back in the swing of things with regard to exercising. I can now do 3 miles on the treadmill in under 60 minutes. I am trying to boost that up. That doesn't mean I can or will walk that fast anywhere else, however. I wore my Turkey Trot shirt to Knollwood yesterday. And I can swim 3/4 of a mile without touching.
I checked into a rumor about treadmills adversely affecting one's hips. DEBUNKED. The treadmills at Knollwood are padded so they are actually better for you than walking outside.
I've been advised not to try any of the 3 types of Stairmasters/ellipticals due to past sciatica problems. Walking or biking are okay. Being able to listen to music or watch any one or more of six TV stations makes the time go faster. Apparently aggravated my sciatica--but not by exercising--so I am taking today off.
I looked at one of my shirts on a hangar and thought "Boy, does that look small." Put it on and it fit!!!!!!!!!!! Halleluja! Ihave a trashbag full of underwear to put out for the trashman. Have taken several bags of clothing to Goodwill. Incentive to continue this path.
If you have not read THE CHINA STUDY, I recommend it. Also, Amazon has a book titled "Eat This Not That", that Kathy Beiler gave me. Very interesting. Guides you in better things to eat when you are out and about. It's amazing. Did you know that a Dairy Queen Classic Banana Split is 500 calories and 27 grams of fat better for you (at 530 calories and 12g of fat) than the Baskin-Robbins Banana Split???? Or that a Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Role has 813 calories and 32g of fat???? That Panera Sierra Turkey sandwich has 840 calories and 40g of fat?One more: The worst fast-food Chicken meal is the Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips from McDonald's (5 pieces) with creamy ranch sauce.--830 calories, 55g fat and48g carbs. Add fries and regular nondiet drink, and it's 1,710 calories. 20 Chicken McNuggets have the same impact. Suggests that McDonald's 6 piece with BBQ sauce will save you 530 calories.
Ok. So I've gotten on the soapbox. Only thinking of you and your health and sharing what I am learning.
Also wanted to tell you that Amelia reported having some tumor markers in her bloodwork in December. But we've emailed back and forth several times this month, and she isn't coughing up blood. She's doing a lot of meditating, and her belief in God wanting her to be healthy is very strong. She's an awesome woman!!! Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Love you all,
Mom/Peggy/friend
I checked into a rumor about treadmills adversely affecting one's hips. DEBUNKED. The treadmills at Knollwood are padded so they are actually better for you than walking outside.
I've been advised not to try any of the 3 types of Stairmasters/ellipticals due to past sciatica problems. Walking or biking are okay. Being able to listen to music or watch any one or more of six TV stations makes the time go faster. Apparently aggravated my sciatica--but not by exercising--so I am taking today off.
I looked at one of my shirts on a hangar and thought "Boy, does that look small." Put it on and it fit!!!!!!!!!!! Halleluja! Ihave a trashbag full of underwear to put out for the trashman. Have taken several bags of clothing to Goodwill. Incentive to continue this path.
If you have not read THE CHINA STUDY, I recommend it. Also, Amazon has a book titled "Eat This Not That", that Kathy Beiler gave me. Very interesting. Guides you in better things to eat when you are out and about. It's amazing. Did you know that a Dairy Queen Classic Banana Split is 500 calories and 27 grams of fat better for you (at 530 calories and 12g of fat) than the Baskin-Robbins Banana Split???? Or that a Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Role has 813 calories and 32g of fat???? That Panera Sierra Turkey sandwich has 840 calories and 40g of fat?One more: The worst fast-food Chicken meal is the Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips from McDonald's (5 pieces) with creamy ranch sauce.--830 calories, 55g fat and48g carbs. Add fries and regular nondiet drink, and it's 1,710 calories. 20 Chicken McNuggets have the same impact. Suggests that McDonald's 6 piece with BBQ sauce will save you 530 calories.
Ok. So I've gotten on the soapbox. Only thinking of you and your health and sharing what I am learning.
Also wanted to tell you that Amelia reported having some tumor markers in her bloodwork in December. But we've emailed back and forth several times this month, and she isn't coughing up blood. She's doing a lot of meditating, and her belief in God wanting her to be healthy is very strong. She's an awesome woman!!! Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Love you all,
Mom/Peggy/friend
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
December 16, 2009
Six months out (since June). 71 pounds. No craving for chocolate. Just for sugar cookie dough. I would like to lose 25 more pounds. More, if possible, but I will be happy with just 25 more. Received my new 6 months worth of medication last Monday. It was wrapped in a muslin bag with hand stitching and wax (like on letters in the olden days) at strategic points. Cool.
Forgot to mention that David, Kevin, Raechel and I did an 8K (5 miles) race??????? called the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Actually, Raechel ran and then came back to join us for the end of the walk, bringing bottles of much-needed water. Kevin, David, and I received a standing ovation when we crossed the Finish Line. The people were already standing, but they did applaud for those of us who finished last. The point, again, isn't that we finished last, but that I FINISHED!!!!!!!!!! We didn't get a free pair of shoes, but we did get T-shirts. Had a good time. And all of us know that I probably would not have finished 5 miles this time last year!
My second semester of college teaching has ended, and I am busy getting ready to teach Abnormal Psychology as well as one General Psychology course next semester.
Amelia told me that she has cancer markers in her blood again so please be thinking of her and praying for her. She is an amazing woman and is trying spiritual healing now.
Take care. Merry Christmas. Please have a safe, healthy New Year.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
Forgot to mention that David, Kevin, Raechel and I did an 8K (5 miles) race??????? called the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Actually, Raechel ran and then came back to join us for the end of the walk, bringing bottles of much-needed water. Kevin, David, and I received a standing ovation when we crossed the Finish Line. The people were already standing, but they did applaud for those of us who finished last. The point, again, isn't that we finished last, but that I FINISHED!!!!!!!!!! We didn't get a free pair of shoes, but we did get T-shirts. Had a good time. And all of us know that I probably would not have finished 5 miles this time last year!
My second semester of college teaching has ended, and I am busy getting ready to teach Abnormal Psychology as well as one General Psychology course next semester.
Amelia told me that she has cancer markers in her blood again so please be thinking of her and praying for her. She is an amazing woman and is trying spiritual healing now.
Take care. Merry Christmas. Please have a safe, healthy New Year.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
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