Ha Ha Ha, April Fools? No.... Lifeinarentalcar Meets the Hotel will begin shortly.

The question is, do I stay up and begin my jet lag a day in advance? Ah, Beijing in just about 29 hours.... that is, if we (my colleague and I) can get from Boston to Newark by 11AM to make our connection to China. As the fool's would have it, a nor'easter is working its magic up and down the North East and there is a solid white coating of snow on the ground with more on the way. An option is to make use of my jet lag inducing status and get in the car and drive to Newark to avoid any flow control delays.... just the thought of which is triggering PTSD from my Philly commuting days. Yes, the idea definitely has its limitations..... Now I recognize that there are still at least 5 days of India unaccounted for and you have my utmost apologies for that.... someday the tale of the potential hijacking, shopping extravaganza, and India wrap up will be shared, but for now, we are on to Beijing after yes, yet again, 20 years! Its been 20 years since I stood in Tianamen Square with my Semester at Sea pals and listened as our guide denied the uprising. I also remember buying Cheerio's in a grocery store within the basement of the Hilton hotel, vaguely recall a foray into an oddly lit nightclub. Gungoll, do you remember that? And finally remembering the banners in English sharing the message with us that Socialism is Good. In any case, my Great Wall of China t-shirt still hasn't worn out or stained- high quality poly cotton, so I'm not entirely certain I'll negotiate for another- whew, actually I remember the t-shirt negotiations too- they drive a hard bargain! Now, Lifeinarental car returns, from potential to professional and this time, to meet the hotel. The only bus we'll ride is to the Wall on Wednesday....

Potentially India's greatest challenge? Which one!

ipaidabribe.com

So yesterday I learned that "the IT story in India is dead." It was just the shining star that set transformation in motion. Instead, dawn rises on a new age of Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Mellons. Infrastructure is the future of the Indian economy. Everywhere we go (in the bus) we see evidence of change- construction, and new buildings. Fascinating stuff. Yet, 80% of India's population live in slums and then, others roll into the middle class. And when they roll into the middle class, consumption multiplies, retail evolves, homes are built and bought, higher education is engaged, medical demands increase, transportation evolves, oil and energy demand increases, sectors are born, and finally these people want to have fun, so there is a cultural revolution in store- the likes of which has ONLY JUST BEGUN.

And another fascinating stat-- 20% of the worlds teenagers live in India. Ponder that one for a minute.

Yet-- for every step forward there is a cultural relic or artifact, a little something, sometimes big, that holds things back, or makes it slide sideways. According to a university professor, many Indians believe that all this progress is only temporary. This stuff runs deep.

By the way, I rode on a different bus today, twice. Needed to switch things up.

Bangalorian talks about traffic

The Bus!

A local take on traffic

The goggle mishap

Calf

Meeting the bus...

Its easy to feel a bit fraudulent when you're living behind gates, metal detectors (both the kind that sweeps all vehicles for bombs and an airport style walk through xray machine), you travel in a bus complete with a security dude, a parking assistant, as well as the driver, and you have a personal butler back at your room who brings you bags full of delectable miniature bananas (vital part of safe stomach campaign) and cocunut macaroons, when just down the street is the local milk station. Yes, the milk station, kind of like a walk up, drive up, moto up, petrol station for your milk containers. Milk of the fresh, unpasteurized variety- the kind that Massachusetts and a number of other states have banned for fear of duh, dun da na..... bacteria! Sheesh, the threat of a little bacteria has definitely never stopped an Indian from enjoying one of life's true gifts. Fresh milk, from a milk station- that's right, 5 cows tethered to a hitching post hanging out waiting to deliver their goods.

We're looking at small businesses here, and it strikes me that this one, clearly has a lock on the market until the infrastructure improves enough for everyone to have their own cow. And yes, India in particular Bangalore is a land of contrasts. I have seen only 2 wandering cows, 1 calf and 1 ox cart-- in fact, the site of an oxcart in Bangalore these days is a rarity I've been told. But get this- the town planners have proposed eliminating rickshaws in exchange for a taxi version of the mini Tata vehicle. Guess Tata has some powerful lobbyists... but who doesn't and I hear they aren't selling well and are definitely "not good." So why not replace the time tested and honorable 2 stroke rickshaws?

128,000 people are joining the Indian middle class everyday. Can you imagine? Well, that is a good question as I've yet to see (from the windows of our bus) a single slum, beggar, street child (OK maybe 1) or leper. Quite a contrast to 20 years ago when it was 100% onslaught of organized chaos at all times. The sad part is, I know they exist, just around the corner, from somewhere. Only from the bus our perspective IS limited.

Now I'm not complaining as my primary responsibility is to return all executives to their homes without a scratch- so if this is a strategy then let it be. However, let us all be mindful that while what we experience feels a bit like Disney India, there is a mad level of suffering still out there, just beyond the shiny apartments and fancy office parks- I think.

For those of you wondering, Monday was shopping day, so we had some time to stretch our legs before meetings began in the afternoon-- silk, heritage crafts and a marathon bartering session- Sir, I would really not like to insult you but I will only pay $10 for this while you have suggested I pay $300. We settled at 40. I've eaten off campus once with one of my coachees who lives here in town, and we went to BBQ nation. The hostess was Chinese. Oh the land of contrasts.

I'd mentioned that it takes a lot of people to do a lot of things here, and well they have the benefit of lots of people at the ready- For example, we had an army searching for Cassandra's bag. For our Sunday sight-seeing mission, they'd arranged two cars and we all fit into one. After we'd driven off and were about 10 minutes out of the hotel, a twin to our vehicle pulls along side. Hmm, that's the other car I thought... we arrived at our destination the Palace here in Bangalore, where that portrait posted on my FB page was only the tip of the iceberg of potentially the worlds quirkiest art collection, and realized that we had no rupees. But ma'ams that is Ok, I will send the second car to an ATM- at which point, his brother drives up along side of us and screeches to a halt only to receive directions via mobile phone, returning swiftly in 5 minutes time to grant us access to said quirky art collection. thank goodness for car # two and well yes, ma'am in case we have a flat tire, then we will not loose any time.

Then there is the matter of protocol and process. For example, today, at our luncheon buffet, I picked up my dinner plate from the desert line. When I arrived at the lunch line, the nice server recovered the clean plate in my hand and replaced it with exact same item from the lunch plate line. So excellent. How could I have been so silly?

Its late-- must get some rest. Photos and video is a real nuisance to upload in these wee time stretches but there are some good ones on the way.