My trip to VU-land

[N7YA]

I am scheduled to leave on the 10th of this month for Chicago...the easy flight, then a non-stop to Delhi, India for three 45 minute sets of music, then a couple of days to roam the place before the long trek home. The problem is the difference in urgency between our American way of thinking, and our Indian hosts, who seem to feel withholding our flight itinerary until the last minute is ok...considering we have a corporate gig the night before. We need to know this stuff! We cant readily complain since the host is the third richest man in India. They also approved the set list my boss sent them, with all sorts of crazy shit from ABBA to Sinatra to Martha and the Vandellas to Nora Jones...they just sent back their own set list! Bugger that! Regardless, i am totally looking forward to this trip.

Please help me! Has anyone else made this trip? What can i expect and do you have any suggestions? The longest time in the air for me previously was 9 hours, Alaska to CA in the back of a C-141. I understand this to be twice as long. I will sleep in increments and spend the rest of the time drawing, reading and studying songs on my iPod. But this will be like living in a diving bell for a day. I know we have some experienced travellers out there who have been there. The flight is not really a concern as i have a game plan, but i have no idea what im getting into in country.

[kf0rt]

Never been there, but those who have tell me the worst part is the food. :vomit:

[N7YA]

All of us are expecting to shit our brains out most of the time. I will NOT eat anything out of the Ganges river! And its bottled water only from landing to take off. Going to be rough on the gastrointestinal system.

[kb2vxa]

Oh dear, a culture clash. You just may get what you expect mainly because customs are quite different from Western culture all the way from eastern Europe to Japan, likely you can't stick to the bottled water either. There is no such thing as a "no, thank you" because even a what we think of as a polite refusal is an offense, that is to say one must accept that which is given or the giver loses face.

Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take,
I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?
I say, Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take,
I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?
Now let me get this straight,
Put the lime in the coconut, you drink them both up.

[W5GA]

Never been there, but I've heard from those that have that some of the smells are "unusual".

[WØTKX]

I've heard the food is great if you are a little adventurous (especially the vegetarian dishes), and you're OK if you watch the water sources. I'm jealous, and would want to get as far up into the Himalayas that I can.

Some of those Bollywood chicks are hot.

[NQ6U]

There's a Himalayan cuisine restaurant not far from here. Just walking into the place and inhaling deeply is like entering into another world. Indian food can be delicious when properly prepared and I would assume that someone with enough money to fly you in from Vegas for a one night gig would have enough money to provide you with the Good Stuff.

[WØTKX]

Saffron is amazing stuff.

[kb2vxa]

"Just walking into the place and inhaling deeply is like entering into another world."

I've been to my share of smoky places... (;->)

[K7SGJ]

Indian food can be rather spicy, but when done properly, it is quite good. I'd probably stay away from goat eyes and monkey brains on the half skull. They use a whole gaggle of different spices and herbs, some that I've never heard of. As mentioned above, Saffron is really good. If you can bring back a couple of kilos of it, you can pay off your home mortgage.

You may also want to include some Maria Muldaur, or Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in your set.