Last Day Bombay

Well, I have survived my week and a half long visit to Mumbai (provided that I make it through this one last day). I am happy to report that I have mastered the technique that I came here to learn (okay, mastered may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I can manage just fine) so the trip was a success. I only got to see a bit of Mumbai, but from what I saw it seems not too different from Bangalore but appears to have better infrastructure. The downside of Mumbai is the weather, it is just too hot and humid to get out and enjoy yourself. I met with a a friend of a friend on Sunday to see some of the city and I was only able to walk around for a bit at a time before I felt as though I was going to melt. I visited the Gateway of India which I am sad to report was slightly underwhelming, it was under construction and was surrounded by scaffolding but even without the construction it would have been a bit of a disappointment. I expected something bigger and a bit more impressive I guess. One of the big differences between Bombay and Bangalore is the traffic; there are many fewer motorcycles and scooters in Bombay (maybe because of the hot weather?) and autorickshaws are not allowed in the main part of town. The effect of this is astounding, traffic is much more calm and orderly and you feel a little less like a spectator in a fast-paced game of bumper cars. To be fair though, Bombay instead has these really old-fashioned taxis and the taxi driver that I took back to TIFR on Sunday night seemed to think that we were in the Indy 500, he was nutters. The other great thing about Bombay is that there is no haggling over the price of a taxi ride, they all use their meters without any argument and are willing to give you your change, in fact, they are expected to give you your change. This is totally different from Bangalore where auto drivers will nearly never use their meters and almost always try to cheat their customers (both locals and foreigners). It was refreshing to catch a ride without having to first mentally prepare yourself for the battle over the cost of the trip.

As I have not had much outside of the lab to do this past week and a half, I have been going to the gym as often as I can. The gym here at TIFR (as compared to the gym at NCBS) is much bigger with a lot more equipment, but it is all older and there is no air conditioning (running 3 miles in 90 degree 90% humidity weather is a real challenge since I am a running weenie). In fact, some of the equipment is so old that they are pieces that I have only seen in old movies and old TV shows. Do you remember those machines that have a band that you put around your waist or your butt, you turn the power on and it jiggles away your fat? They have that machine. They also have a machine that you are supposed to sit on and it jiggles away your butt and thighs (I wish). Too funny. I am pretty sure that the utility of these dinosaurs have been disproven, but here they are regardless. Here are some pics in case you have no idea what I am talking about.

Another very strange thing that you find (or rather don't find) at the gym are shoes. Most people work out barefoot which, I am sorry, I find disgusting. People have no problems using cycles and treadmills without shoes and I just can't help but to imagine the fungi proliferating on the pedals and tread, yuck! I actually forgot my running shoes one day at the gym at NCBS in Bangalore and ran without them (but with socks) and I will NEVER do that again, my ankles, shins and calves killed me for at least a week. Anyway, this nasty no-shoe phenomenon is at a whole different level at the TIFR gym as they require people to wear shoes on the treadmill but the gym provides common shoes that all of the treadmill users SHARE..... I guess that I shouldn't over-react as this happens in bowling alleys across the US, but I see two major differences which, for me, make all of the difference. First, running on a treadmill in Bombay's heat and humidity is a vastly different activity than chucking a few balls down a lane in a temperature-controlled bowling alley. My socks are soaked after my 30 minutes on the treadmill, not so much after bowling a few frames. Second, the disinfectant spray used in bowling alleys. I put full faith in that stuff and am certain that it kills 99.9% of all icky nasty foot germs. Or maybe not. Anyway, you are not going to catch me padding around a gym without shoes on, or worse, using a pair of shoes that some dude just sweated in for the last hour, gross!

My trip to Mumbai has been educational, at the least, but I can't wait until tomorrow when I am back in Bangalore, back to beautiful weather, back to Eric, Mira and Chaya, back to the craziness, but familiar craziness of my Bangalore. Cheating auto drivers, shoeless gymmers and all.......

A pet's view

Excerpts from the Dog's Diary:

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing

Excerpts from the Cat's Diary:

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are
fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for
the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in
order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it
clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.
Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However,
I could hear the noises and smell the food.

I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I
must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try
this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and
seems to be more than willing to return He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with
the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My
captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell,
so he is safe, for now...

Blogging from Bombay!

Hi everyone, this is my first post written in Mumbai (aka Bombay). I arrived this morning to begin a 12 day visit to learn semi-sectioning so that I can get better images and more accurate counts of degenerated photoreceptors for my experiments. The trip here was totally uneventful and really quick and easy. My first impressions of Mumbai (compared to Bangalore) are that it is actually much more orderly; the infrastructure seems to have been planned and executed much more sensibly than in B'lore and the roads and traffic are much better (based on my one hour taxi ride from the airport to TIFR). The airport seems nice, I honestly wasn't there long as my suitcase beat me to the terminal (maybe the first time ever for that). The downside to Mumbai is that is also seems much older and the buildings are typically much shabbier and dingier. In fact most of them literally seems to me moldering away, this is probably the result of a much stronger monsoon and much more rain but many of the buildings would make GREAT haunted houses ('tis the season after all). TIFR (the institute that I am visiting) is much older than NCBS but sits right on the Indian Ocean which mostly makes us for it. I have already settled in, I am staying in an air-conditioned guest house room which is okay looking but has satellite cable and unrestricted Wi-fi! Yahoo! I may never leave! I have already made it to the gym which is not air conditioned and I think that I may have lost about 5 pounds in water weight. It is hot and humid here so I will be sweating it out at the gym but thank goodness I have an A/C room to come back to. Hopefully I will get a chance to get out and see a bit of the city this weekend so I will keep you posted. The great news is that there are several resident dogs and cats at TIFR so hopefully I can make some animal friends while I am here (I miss my fuzzy Mira and Chaya already). Okay, I need to replenish some fluids and get some food into me so good night!