Event Filled 2014 Year

2014 And eventful year.

January - My first trip to Delhi and Jodphur India. In addition to a layover in London on my circumnavigation of the globe. First Full month in apartment.

February - Sarah's 15th Birthday and our 12th Father Daughter Gala at St. Luke's Methodist Church.

March - Camping at South Mountain with Troop 1 Hickory. 7th Anniversary at Bernhardt Furniture.

April - Make offer on New House and prepare for purchase.

May - Purchase house and move from apartment. Close May 23. Big move May 30. Previous owner moving out basement as we move in first floor.

June - Start research on kitchen remodel. No kitchen for 6 months.

July - Trip #9 to Asia - China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam. Troop 1 at Camp Bud Schiele. Mother-in-law living with us. Kitchen demolition.

August - Both In-laws in hospital. Student Life camp, HHS Band camp, Start kitchen remodel.

September - Ford Mustang show in mountains. Myrtle Beach trip with Chris. Visit other BSA troops.

October - Move to BSA Troop 351 Hickory.

November - Chris's first BSA camp out without me. Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. Christmas Show and Trans Siberian Orchestra concert in Charlotte. Cabinet install begins.

December - Floor tile install. Appliance install December 8.  New kitchen.

January 2015 -  Trip #10 to Asia. China, India (Delhi, Moradabad, Jodhpur, Udaipur), Vietnam via United Airlines Charlotte - Chicago - Hong Kong.  

London Arrival

I was able to spend time in London on my circumnavigation of the globe. Upon arrival at London's Heathrow Airport I was going to get a black taxi to the hotel. I asked the cabbie "How much?" He replied "70 pounds" or about $125. I just could not spend that much for a cab ride. So, back into the terminal to find transportation. I go to a hotel booking desk and a young lady sets me up with a Oyster subway pass, map, and directions for 21 pounds. Off to the Tube and on to Marble Arch station. Rolling two pieces of luggage was awkward, but manageable.

An announcement over the PA confused me. I thought the train was headed back the airport. I hop off and check my location. Luckily this station had several lines and I changed lines and made it to my final destination. Walking up to the street level there was my hotel across the street.  

First's

Sarah drove for the first time ever behind the wheel. She drove the blue Buick around the empty Lowe's Food parking lot on Highway 321. She did fine.

Chris was asked by Pastor Bob during the sermon, "What does a scout do if he gets lost in the woods? " His response, "Hug a tree." Or in other words stay put. It was Scout Sunday at Corinth Church for Troop 1. Troop 1 is 100 years old.

Jodhpur Day 2

We have 3 appointments today. One place is a salvage company. They make furniture from rail road ties, window frames, ornate ceiling panels, type set boxes, Coca-Cola boxes, milk cans, wooden bowls, etc., A interesting place. It is probably not a place my company would do business, but it certainly had some unique items.

We were done by 130 pm, so I had the rest of the day free. After checking with the concierge, he sets me up with a driver for half a day. He drives me the Maharaja of Jodhpur's palace. It is a huge red sandstone palace overlooking the city. It has a large center copula with minarets. Beautiful building. The palace is part museum, hotel, and residence. The king during the first half of the twentieth century was forward thinking and generous to the people in the area.

The second stop is a memorial to all the marharagas of the area. The cremated remains are in small ornate structures surrounding a large "temple". A guide explained how the large building was there for quite reflection and meditation. You are required to remove shoes before climbing the stairs. My 80 rupee guide offered to guard my sneakers. He got me at the ticket both. He offered to tell me all about the place and take my picture. For $2 it was worth the experience. He had been doing this job for 40 years. The guide did not look old and he explained he ate no pizza or burgers and that kept him young.  He offered to tour the fort with me, but I politely declined.

Off to the fort, There were bus loads of tourist here. After walking through a minimum security check you walk up to the ticket booth. 400 rupees for the visit, 100 rupees to take photos, and 30 rupees for the elevator. All total less than $10. The fort offered audio tour with headphones. Walk from point 1 to 33 and hear all about this and that. I don't remember a lot of details but it is an huge place. It has been built on over the centuries. It was used as a fort and royal residence until the 19th century. Lot of palatins for carrying royals in, art work, weapons, and colorfully decorated rooms for royals.

The driver offered to take me to the market, but I decided that was enough for the day. It is fun and I am blessed to be able to see such sights in my travels. But it would be better to share it with my loved ones.

I do have photos on my Google+ page.  Try +ScottPropst 

Jodhpur Day 1

I travel from Delhi to Jodhpur via India Air and with a Indian gentleman. The flight crew was diverted to another airport and the flight is delayed two hours. Some locals get very irate over something that can't be fixed quickly. Such is traveling. I have learned it well this trip. Two cancelled flights and an unexpected overnight stay in Atlanta to start the trip.

Seating in Economy is new. My very super terrific company flies us business class. It makes thing so much nicer. But for a one hour flight, no big deal. I get the window and my traveling companion sits in the middle seat. The outside is open. Yippee. But wait a guy gets in the empty seat before we leave. Oh well.

Jodhpur is a small airport and it is down the stairs to the tarmac and a short walk to the terminal. I take a few quick photos of the plane and the building. But there is a gentleman who does not like it and encourages us to the terminal. The luggage conveyor is just inside the door. We watch the mail be delivered first and then some passenger luggage. Funny how people crowd the conveyor to grab there luggage. Its like they only get one chance to grab it.

Through the building and out to the parking lot. My colleague spots our driver and we are off to the factory. Jodhpur is smaller and seems easier to navigate than Delhi. The roads are better. We go to our first appointment. Our host offers me a Indian lunch. It has several spiced vegetables. The califlower was most familiar. Rice, flat bread and a large crispy chip. It was OK.

We go from a showroom to the factory. The men factory workers are the same as in other factories. Usually young males and a lot of them. The female workers dress in the traditional colorful dresses and have jewelry. It seems the lowly workers dress very colorfully. The middle manager females dress western.

We reschedule one meeting until after factory working hours of 6 PM. The proprietor shows us his wares in a showroom. All goes well and we are ready to leave. I am understanding how we get a ride from one place to the other. Instead of having a hired car or taxi. We are having our host get us to the next place. Very hospitable but a little disconcerting. Just not use to it. 

India Wow

Wow is the only expressions able to convey the India experience. There are so many things going on it is difficult to comprehend. My travels begin at a western hotel near the Indira Gandhi International airport. I am picked up in a local cab with two guys from a buying house for the company. Witnessing Delhi from the back seat of a taxi.

In many ways Delhi is like the other Asian cities I have visited. A lot of abandoned building line the roads. Falling down or partially pulled down in disrepair. The next area may be new construction. Blue tarp housing pitched in corners and beside the roads. Fruit and food sellers along the roads.

Trash is everywhere. Not a little here and there. It is piled along the roads. There are large dumps in site of the highway. I suppose the people come to overlook the mess. Just as they are not conscious of the animals wandering the trash and streets. I expected to see the cows wandering the streets. I had seen pictures of cows. But there was much more. One area had at least a hundred monkeys hanging out. They were in the road and in the trees and on the wall and everywhere.

I was warned by a friend to watch out for pack of dogs. I saw many large dogs together throughout the city. Only one appeared in bad shape. They must be able to scrounge enough to survive. Also seen, horses (pulling carriages, but also ridden). A herd of burros grazing beside the off ramp of a highway. Hundreds of large black birds on roof tops. There was one pig with a group of cattle.

Then there are the people. A lot of people. I saw several folks getting a haircut or shave beside the road in a makeshift barber chair. Most people were walking or standing waiting for bus or something. There were bicycle, bicycle rickshaws, 3 wheeled auto rickshaws, motorcycles and many tiny cars.

That's all I can describe now. 

Indonesia

Saigon to Singapore 681 miles (10644 miles total)
Singapore to Surabaya 850 miles (11494 miles total)

My second stop in in Surabaya, Indonesia. We work with several factories in the area.

Normally my stay is at the five star Shangri La Hotel. My company leases a four bedroom house. So, this trip is spent at the House. There is a housekeeper who cooks and cleans. She cooks western style food. During my visit we have Shepherd's Pie and Pork Chops with boiled potatoes.  The country manager is a Brit.

The day begins with a hour plus ride on some very rough roads to the factory. The ride is similar to Vietnam with more time spent in the country. Horrible traffic. Indo is aggressive driving is required. Motorcycles, cars, and trucks take whatever portion of the road is open and go. We spend the day in factories working with samples and production issues.

Saigon motorcycles

Manila, Philippines > Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Vietnam 1001 miles (Totals 9963 miles)

Saigon makes me think of traffic. It is everywhere. You see everything. from chickens to families. Motorcycles are everywhere.

Chickens

Bags of stuff.

 An assortment.

 New TV. 

Manila

Narita / Tokyo > Manila, Philippines 1891 miles (Total 8962)

Manila is a Delta airlines hub in Asia and the place I pass through most often. This time is like most, arrive late and leave early. Arriving at the hotel at midnight, then back up at 5 AM to catch a 7 AM flight to Saigon. This way I don't get to see the sunshine in Manila. And the is trip is different, because I won't be coming back through this time. 

Finally

Third time is the charm. After being stopped at Check-In on Sunday then being turned away at the boarding gate my circumnavigation begins. Staying out of the frigid north and traveling via Atlanta. Glad to get started.