India part 2 – R.K. Market
Besides working, and driving between work and my hotel, I haven’t had much time for sight seeing. I’m still looking for good Indian food…or good food of any kind, I just haven’t had anything exceptionally tasty yet. Quality of food is a big player here, as some of the less commercial restaurants can be flavorful but questionable. I did have Raj, my driver, take me to one of the big markets and we walked around for a couple hours. It reminded me of KC’s City Market, but about 100 times larger. In our two hours we covered only 1/4 of the area. Raj tells me this is where most people do their shopping, and bulk wholesalers have shops intermixed with the retailers – so which one you choose depends on how much you want to buy. I’ve added some pictures from the market to my India album.
2 guys 1 bike
India part 1 – I'm here!
Hello from India! My company has sent me to our office in Bangalore, India to train some new System Engineers on the tasks that my team in Kansas City performs. I’m working with a team of 12 very dedicated associates, teaching them the tips and tricks of our processes. I left Kansas City on Dec 1st, touched down briefly in Dubai in Dec 2nd, landed in Bangalore on Dec 3rd, spent a couple days jetlagged, working, and sleeping. Now that I’m finally adjusting to the 11.5 hour time difference, I’m getting out into the city more. I visited a church and a Christmas Bazaar last weekend (and of course didn’t take my camera), and I’m heading to a large market tomorrow after work. My company has provided me with a dedicated driver for transport to work and wherever else I need to go, which is very nice since Bangalore has such heavy traffic. I’m planning on visiting the Taj Mahal this weekend, and a large palace in Mysore next weekend (and maybe even a jungle!). I’ll write a few more times while I’m here, and post lots more pictures.
Pics
A government building with offices for elected officials, that's all my driver could tell me :)
Shorts in November
 Me, Ryan D, and Garrett in front of my car |
This weekend has been perfect 70s, so a couple friends and I went biking on the Lawrence River Trails. This place is like a roller coaster – lots of ups and downs with banking turns. The trails were in perfect condition and you can see the river next to you for most of the ride. |
Wind Tunnel
While Kate and I were in Colorado, we stopped by Skyventure and spent some time in their wind tunnel. I was practicing my turns and Kate was along for a fun ride.
Colorado…again!
This time it was solely to visit Kate’s parents, no matter how hard I tried to go rock climbing 
We spent three wonderful days talking, eating, hiking, and even a canoe trip around the local lake. Very rarely do I not take my work laptop with me, and I’m glad I didn’t.
Pics
Emma's Point!
Quixotic
The local performance group, Quixotic, presented a “site specific” show last weekend at the Nelson Atkins Museum. They used the front lawn as a stage, projected animations onto the side of the building, and spun from a rope in front of the white lighted Bloch Building. The Kansas City Star has a good article about the event.
Quixotic:Surface, a site-specific performance
Couch Freaks 2009
I survived Couch Freaks 2009! I spent Labor Day weekend skydiving at quite possibly the best boogie anywhere, hosted in Ft. Dodge, Iowa by the Des Moines Skydivers. I made 11 jumps total, including a 2-way, 3-way, 4-way, 5-way, 22-way attempt, 46-way tracking formation attempt, some free flying, and a kick ass last jump with my coworker where we flew 1000′ through a cloud. I even got to hang off the tailgate of the Skyvan (looks like this) as some other people jumped out over me! Sorry for the lack of pictures, but what happens there stays on other people’s cameras!
Two jumpers prepare to land as the speakers play on
KC Roller Derby
Kate and I went to the Kansas City Roller Warriors game Saturday night after the Air Show. I tried to take some cool action pictures and videos, but my little camera isn’t fast enough to capture them without blur.
Pics
Calling the Jam
KC Air Show 2009
On Saturday, I went to the Kansas City Air Show with some friends from work. It was pretty cool seeing all the planes so close, and who doesn’t like seeing a B2 Bomber fly overhead? The Golden Knights started Saturday’s show with some very cool smoke effects from their canopies. Click the picture below for an album with more comments on the various planes.
Pics
The Golden Knights spiral down with 35' of smoke attached to their legs
Lake Tenkiller
For a belated celebration of Dad’s birthday, we went to visit Dad’s cousin Paul and see his houseboat on Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma. Pics from the trip and a virtual tour of this amazing boat can be found on his newly created website, TheLazyLou.com. I’m working to gather more info about the boat and stories of how it was made.
