Atmosphere

Friday, May 2

Finally had some traditional Indian food. We had food brought in for lunch today since the cafeteria was closed for International Labor Day. For some reason they thought I wanted pizza. So we got Pizza Hut. I don't even eat pizza at home much anymore let alone Pizza Hut pizza.
The guys though ordered chicken with rice and curry and said they had to eat off by themselves because they eat with their hands.

I ate the pizza so as not to offend but then went over and asked if I could try the chicken and rice. It was delicious. A little bit spicy but not much. The chicken and rice and curry are all cooked together. The chicken is on the bone. I ate with my right hand as you are supposed to keep your left hand on your lap.

The canteen in the basement sells American Sweet Corn. If Dave MacKenzie sees this, he will be so jealous.

We worked late as usual. The taxis in MindSpace are just for the call center workers and you generally cannot hire them on the street. So Luis and I have been walking out to the entrance to MindSpace to try our luck at getting a ride. We had been real lucky either convincing a call center taxi to take us or a driver from one of the hotels take us. These vehicles have been air conditioned. Last night there weren't that many taxis out. I was up for taking the three-wheeled motorized rickshaws. They are open air but have a roof. Basically it is a motorcycle with three wheels and generally two passengers but you see them with a lot more riders than that.

The driver was great and weaved in and out and around traffic. We made it back to the hotel in no time.

In the evening there is a smokey dusty haze and smell of open fires. I think it is a combination of the tent dwellers and some open-air eating areas that have fires for cooking. The haziness, odors and dim light along with no wind give the city a completely different feel than it has in the morning under the blazing sun and almost constant breeze.