JC in India

My last post was a kind of intermission – a reflection on my most prominent observations after over a year living here in India, and was primarily written onboard a flight between Delhi and Bangkok. I often find flights a good way to relax and to think, hence the reflective nature of that post (of which I am quite proud in a poetic kind of way!). One of my happy places is a longer flight with a nice glass of red and a cheeseboard. It is a great way to watch the world go by and to put the world to rights in my own head!

That flight was one of many these last few weeks. Prior to that Thailand trip I was in Paris with our shareholder and having a few airline meetings in Europe at the same time.

It also afforded a whirlwind one day visit to the UK. Although self-connecting from one of the front seats on Oman Air (one of my new favourite airline products – highly recommended), to an easyJet flight to Luton was a bit of a come down. Nothing against easyJet to be clear, but nobody can deny it is not quite Oman Air business class comparable…

Then the subsequent week, following less than 24 hours in Delhi, I hit the road to Thailand for an airline/airport networking conference (“Routes Asia”), one of the cycle of 5 core events each year which I prioritise attending. This included a 7-hour layover in Bangkok, along with a bit of a baggage fiasco (“It won’t be connected to the next flight, so you need to collect it and re-check it.” “It’s not there.” “Oh, actually it had connected, we’ll get it for you.” One hour later…). Still, that passed the time!

So, I got to spend nearly a week in Chiang Mai, a new destination for me, and I was certainly impressed, as it could be described as a much more chilled Bangkok. Carrying the charm of Thailand, with the vibrancy, the street vendors, and the backpacker vibe, but without Bangkok’s seedy side.

While it was mostly work, these events (if you schedule them cleverly) can allow time either side to get a glimpse of the local area and it was good to spend time with friends also there and do just that. Plus, it was a really strong event from a work perspective too.

Then back to Delhi for a week of ‘normality’ in the office. January had primarily been an office based month, so the Paris/Thailand double header kind of kicked off the years travel schedule, and getting back on it so to speak. As much as I am enjoying the stability of staying in one spot when the chance allows, I cannot deny I do still enjoy the travel life. It is just good to find the balance, and I am certainly tending towards savouring lesser mileage now. As much as it is nice to see places, the pressure is on when travelling on business, and it can mean intense work focus while on opposite time-zones and with little sleep. I am a bad sleeper at the best of times, and I rely on a tried and tested concoction of a Melatonin and Benadryl combo if travelling and when I really need to sleep. When my business in Chiang Mai was over I had a spare day at the end, and following a few drinks and a later night than my age would tend towards (!) I slept way later into the following day than I should. But my body was just wrecked after a week in Paris then flipping to Thailand, and the high intensity of the workday and evenings as these events require. But at least I caught up on my sleep finally even if it was at the expense of some tourism time!

Following the ‘normal’ week back in Delhi, I returned to the UK for a week’s leave, optmising time to the full with an overnight Delhi to London flight on the Friday night, and an overnight London to Delhi the following Sunday. Maximising my time at home was great but tiring, given it was a self-funded trip, which basically translates to ‘Premium economy’. However it was so good to be home and was a quality trip to just enjoy being home and immersing back into life there. I do look forward to the eventual proper return, when I won’t be leaving again on a jet plane.

But now to the future, having been back in Delhi for a week following that time at home. It has been a more unusual week admittedly with Holi festival being this last Wednesday – as ever the vibrancy of the event being great fun. Myself and Gordon (“the guy from work” as he likes to be known 😉), got ourselves invited onto stage at the office festivities as the two non-Indian’s on the leadership team in the crowd. Can’t beat a 1 minute warning for such!

On Holi itself I did not do the walk around thing this year, other than walking to Thibaut’s for lunch (another expat friend). Although I did see evidence of the colours being thrown while walking there… Holi Cow!

Then the last couple of days this week were big days for me at work as I assembled my team together in Goa for a strategy and planning session for the coming financial year. It is the first time I have been able to get them all (well, nearly all) together in one place for such a session. You cannot beat the benefit of in person meetings as the collaboration was much smoother and I do feel like we have made some good strides forward as a result. Plus, we have had some good team wins recently with new airline launches etc. Love it when a plan comes together…

The session would have been better though had I not been absolutely hanging with a rough cold which struck me heavily the Wednesday evening of Holi, meaning I got virtually no sleep before my 5am alarm for the flight down to Goa (reference my earlier comments on being a bad sleeper). It meant the two days were a struggle physically to say the least, but despite this it went well and my mentor at work who also participated (a retired v senior exec from the industry) gave me gold star comments for the way it went. Phew! I could not have been much happier though to get back to Delhi and my bed about midnight last night I must say. I still cannot properly hear out of my right ear though – the disadvantage of flying while congested. Not pleasant.

And so, onto the next few weeks. Jen is inbound on the BA flight at the moment arriving later tonight, and then on Thursday I welcome my best friend from my Uni days and former travel companion Will, his wife Helen and their two kids to Delhi for a 3 week stay as part of their worldwide adventure sabbatical. My apartment will certainly be a bustling little spot for the next few weeks! 

Combine that with the fact that it seems every other business contact I have is passing through Delhi over the next few weeks and hoping to catch up also. It will mean I will not be bored for a while for sure. When it all quietens down early April, I will have a couple of weeks to myself until the Jet plane will be beckoning again for a steady stream of trips over the subsequent couple of months.

It is a good time to have visitors. The season here in Delhi is turning, with warmer temperatures now arrived and the jumpers have been packed up until next winter. The pollution is beginning to wane, although frustratingly still hanging around longer than it should. But an AQI of just over 200 (“Poor”) is much better than it has been. So, the terrace of my apartment is now open for business, and we can make the most of it for the next month before the heat will get too oppressive. Visitors beware, as beer on the terrace is obligatory for the few weeks it is actually possible!

Having visitors has also prompted me to get my house a bit more in order. I have acquired ‘Mr Chair’ to ensure the lounge area is more conducive to having more people here.

I have also re-orientated the seating to face the terrace which I quite like now it is done. Admittedly it means the sofa faces away from the TV, but I never watch it anyway – my iPad with VPN connection is my TV.

And to provide the finishing touches I have got some plants; Hugh, Pugh, Barley McGrew, Cuthbert and Dribble. Admittedly Barley McGrew is not in the best of shape but I guess that is what you get from ordering plants from Amazon…

I am hoping Jen and her green finger capabilities may be able to save him. The rest of the plants on my terrace are all pretty much dead already. I am not known for my ability to keep plants alive, put it that way… Probably should be better at it given my Grandfather was a gardener, but it is what it is!

So, the next few weeks will be a real balance of work and play. I am really looking forward to having Jen and the gang here, while at the same time there is some quite significant work stuff going on. But all good, as I have spent the last few months at work defining and mapping the plan for the coming year and these last few days have been getting the team fired up and setting them off on the mission. Now it is about pushing them to deliver and bringing it all to life. So not difficult, just busy. And interesting and fun too. I am thankful to be in a job field I enjoy, so I do not really feel like I ‘go to work’. I just live my life doing what I do as a lifestyle really.

And yes, this Indian adventure continues to have its challenges, and yes, I do look forward to my ‘Knaresborough’ times at home. But the adventure remains just that; an adventure. If I wasn’t here, I wouldn’t be talking of hosting visitors in this challenging but vibrant land, I wouldn’t be experiencing the lifestyle of an expat, and I wouldn’t be writing these scripts. 

Anyway, myself and Hugh, Pugh, Barley McGrew, Cuthbert, Dribble, the Lizards on the terrace, the Pigeons, the street Dogs, and the Cows outside, have an evening ahead of us tracking BA143 as it wings its way to Delhi.

Happy days.