You say Calcutta, some say Kolkata... I'm here! Jan 31, 2007

Hi All,
Wow... it's amazing how many adventures and experiences seem to happen to me over here - I feel it would take 3 weeks to tell all that I've seen & done in the mere 3 work days I've been in Incredible India (and considering how much I can say in a week, trust me -- I've got alot to tell!).

Anyhoo, for now I'm checking in to let y'all know I've made it safe & sound to another new city - Calcutta (it appears to me that the "new" name for this city really hasn't stuck yet). I'm especiallly happy to report that my first (and hopefully only) domestic connection experience, through my fave, the Delhi domestic airport, was a success on all counts - -namely my bags and I both made the connection with no delays. Of course, there was a great episode of mayhem regarding my "expedited" transfer from one terminal to the next which I can scarcely begin to describe coherently but it involved a comandeered taxi, 2 guys that didn't speak english, a guy that looked like he might be a pilot, and a wild ride down the wrong side of the road around the terminal... it worked, but I still can't really explain it -- I'm just grateful that I asked for some help!

So, just a little bit about the last 2 days before I go down to have Kingfisher in the bar and do some catch up stuff (expenses & business card data entry). In sum, my presentation yesterday at the CII offices in Chandigarh went quite well -- so well that I found myself covered as "news" in all of the local newspapers -- complete with a really horrifically embarrassing photo! I will attach the articles as soon as I get the scanned copies -- but just for fun here were the headlines:
1. "Seminar on Advantages of Virginia in CII" - Chandigarh Tribune
2. "Virginia can be ideal business destination" - The Tricity Times of Chandigarh
and, of course, my favorite
3. "Virginia best bet for business: Weir" -- Correspondent Chandigarh

And, to give you a feel for the coverage, one of the guys that attended sent me a nice follow up saying "I really appreciate the way you delivered the lecture on your lovely state Virginia and every body in the meeting was very impressed." and letting me know he'd posted a briefing about my seminar on HIS blog(s) -- and here are the links.

http://www.chandigarhcity.com/blog/2007/01/31/virginia-is-best-place-for-chandigarh-business-to-start-in-us/

http://blogs.indiabook.com/2007/01/31/virginia-is-best-place-for-indian-to-start-business-in-us-ms-kimberly-weir/

All in all it's pretty neat -- and hopefully my boss will read this and decide that despite how much fun I'm having over here, I'm also making some decent progress on the "awareness raising" side of my job.

The hotel here is wonderful (but still no molton brown!), I'm happy to get to unpack for a few nights. My day today was also quite amazing -- I got a complete tour of a true blue BPO firm and and Indian textile factory which was all really quite amazing (and my host from the Taj Mahal trip is the president). Plus last night I was officially the "Guest of Honor" at a dinner party at the lovely home of one of the most prominent families in Chandigarh -- I met all sorts of interesting people... and the city of Chandigarh is truly a FABULOUS place -- it's slogan is "City Beautiful" and it really is. Just to challenge everyone's ideas of what India looks like, I'm attaching the above photo of the Rose Garden in Chandigarh -- one of the many parks that the city is famous for, and I think I heard Neeru tell me there were several thousand different varieties of roses in this particular garden.

I am still so sad about Barbaro, but I'm thankful for the nice notes from everyone letting me know you're sharing my thoughts. That's all for now -- I miss you all, but I'm happy & healthy! K.

Beloved Barbaro - A Heartbreaking Hero

http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2007/01/30/news/sports/sports05.txt

Today began with a terribly sad shock as I learned the news of Barbaro's final chapter from a friend who very thoughtfully sent me an email to let me know she was thinking about me...and unwittingly broke the news to me with her kindness. While today has been a perfectly pleasant, successful, busy day -- including a much better 2nd visit to the Delhi domestic airport (the business lounge made a huge difference) -- I am really just so very sad and of course it makes me feel very far away from home to not have anyone to share my grief. Much to my surprise, and disappointment, there hasn't been a word about Barbaro on any of the international news stations and it seems that horseracing is not a sport that the Indians follow. While we all knew he was fighting against the odds, it just seems so cruel that he'd come so close to going home to have things go so wrong, so quickly after he'd fought so valiantly for so long. It may sound weird, but I really feel his absence. Today's photo is from the lobby of my hotel here in Chandigarh -- I probably would have snapped it anyway but it sure felt like a memorial when I walked in this afternoon.

And I’m telling you….. (Dehli – Jan 29, 2007)

the most crazy fun things happen to me in Delhi!!!

Once again, my first full day in Delhi has been a doozie (in a good way!)… and while I didn’t see the President or the biggest Bollywood star, I did have a whirlwind of good meetings followed by dueling invitations to either see one of my new friends in a play (he was in the newspaper this AM) or to join other friends to go to a Hindu wedding! Decisions, decisions, but despite a pretty low quality night of sleep and a serious consideration of a “jet lag recovery massage” (something about that 2nd night seems to get me)… I rallied and opted for the wedding – which was here in the hotel – the same place I’d been to the fashion show last time. This is definitely the “happening” hotel – make a note: Taj Palace, the place to see & be seen! So, with yet another wonderful Indian family adopting me as the long lost blond daughter… I had a lovely time gawking and being gawked at. My hosts were the delightful Choudhary family – and they are close family friends of the bride & her family. I thought you’d enjoy both photos of me with my hosts, and the gorgeous, regal wedding couple. For those of you scoring at home, there were probably between 400 – 500 people at the wedding and the bride and groom met each other for the first time in September 2006!! OK, off to bed – tomorrow is a big day – traveling to Chandigarh with a seminar in the afternoon and a dinner with Partap and his associates tomorrow eve. Love y’all! Me

Kim & Friends at the Taj Mahal - Jan 27, 2007

Hi All,

WOW -- I saw it, and it's amazing! As proof here's one (of about a zillion) shots I snapped yesterday during my wonderful adventure to Agra. In this photo you'll see my fantastically kind hosts Partap Agarwal, his wife Neeru and her sister, Nina.

I'll write more soon -- but for now I'm back in Delhi (Sunday evening) and need to get ready for dinner with Neeru, Nina and her husband Pam and son Arjun (both of whom I met with Partap on my first trip). I feel honored and fortunate to have been adopted by this very kind family. I'm healthy & happy and I'll write more soon.

Arrival in Delhi - Saturday the 27th, 3:15am

Hi Loved Ones,
Just a quick note to check in and tell you that I've made it back to "incredible india" -- my trip was very easy, pleasant and uneventful -- and very happily all my luggage made it with me! I read 2 magazines, started a new book, slept & ate, and even did a little work on one of my presentations -- and no medical mishaps on the airplane! ;-)

I'm at a different hotel this time, same chain just a different location (in fact this is where I attended the fashion show last time). Room is very nice, but I have to admit that there is a bit of a difference from the fancy "club level" where I was spoiled last time -- no molton brown, but still very lovely.

I'm going to take a shower and a tylenol pm so I can get some sleep (it's 3:15am here) so I can get up, dressed and repacked for my trip to Agra! My newfound friends (who I met last time) are picking me up at noon and it should be a 4 hour drive to Agra, we'll stay there overnight, and tour the Taj Mahal and other fun things before coming back here tomorrow.

Oh -- I actually made a phone call on my blackberry (and left a message for Bobby on his cell phone in Vegas!)-- as I've been tasked with testing all of our technology tools in advance of the Governor's visit. So, it appears that if you really need to get me you can call my work cell 703 424 3888, but now that I know it works I won't be using it much as I have to guess the calls are super expensive. I'm planning to rent a local cell phone for my 2 weeks here so I can communicate with all my contacts without the long distance issue.

So, here I am -- thinking of all of you, and looking forward to this new adventure!
Love,
Me

Kim's Return to India - January 2007

Hi Loved Ones,

I'm setting up my first blog on the eve of my departure for a 3 week trip to India & Australia. In hopes of bringing you all along with me, and to share my experiences with you, I'm going to give this new-fangled communication tool a try!

I depart tomorrow, Jan 25th, at about 10pm from Dulles to Delhi, via Frankfurt. I arrive in India about 1am on Saturday morning and the fun begins at noon when my friend Partap Agarwal's wife, Neeru, will meet me at the Taj Palace Hotel to begin our journey to Agra -- and the Taj Mahal!!

Wish me luck with the last 24 hours of getting-ready frenzy!!