Preparation

I preparation for the trip, some cultural research was in order, or at least lots of movie watching.  After watching one, I got hooked and ended up watching: "The Story of India", "What's Your Raashee?", "Bachna Ae Haseeno", "Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year", "Pyaar Impossible", "Jab We Met", and of course "Slumdog Millionaire" a few times.  It was interesting to see the difference in length compared to Hollywood movies, and the content allowed by culture.  All of the movies were 2 hours and up and most had intermissions, and no kissing, except for Slumdog, which was not Bollywood.

Besides movies, I also started reading "The Elephanta Suite" by Paul Theroux.  His other travel books have been great, and so far I'm enjoying this one as well.  I've come to find out, I know more people who have been to India than I thought, and a few others that are planning on going.  Hopefully I can go again, and can avoid any trouble with a tourist visa.  Currently for those traveling to volunteer, they have to technically apply for work visas.  Not fun.      

Health wise I stopped by Passport Health to pick up some Malarone for Malaria.  Pretty uneventful visit, but I did learn I should check my shoes for insects, spiders, and even scorpions.  That would certainly be a great way to start a day and a great story, finding a scorpion.

Holly... I mean a Bollywood start

Tick, tick, tick, still waiting for pass ports to arrive.  At this point it feels like something out of a Hollywood movie, the timer is counting down, emails are still flying around, and everything still appears in a state of quagmire  until that very last second.  Only 5 more days until departure....