A Great Birthday...

I always tell my wife what I lack in a close family I make up in great friends! Tonight they proved it. I knew Adam had something planned because he was obviously sneaking around a lot but I had no idea what he had planned. At dinner he gave my my gift starting with a travel guide to India but he quickly topped it with a collection of funds taken from all my friends to help with my trip!

I just stared at they envelope of money in disbelief. What do you say in that situation, I can't even remember even what I said but i know I said something to break my speechlessness. The truth is i was truly touched and now I wish i said more, or did more... When I got in my car to head home I had tears in my eyes..

Great birthday. Thank you.

Full steam ahead...

Monday night i was planning on asking Amit if he could lend me the money to purchase the plane ticket to India. I was feeling guilty even asking being his wedding and all but before i even got the chance to ask he told me that he would offer but couldn't because of his wedding expenses. Obviously, i understood completely and we spent the rest of the night online looking at places to visit during our stay.

So I had to break down and ask Wendy if she could lend me the money. Surprisingly she was completely for it! So thanks to her we are full stream ahead. My passport is currently in processing, I dropped it of at the Concord post office Monday afternoon. So once that comes back i need to get my Indian Visa.

So my goal for coming weeks is to put aside as much money as possible from now till then... it's going to be quiet the budget trip. Sad really to fly halfway around the world to have no money to spend! Better than nothing and i'm still very excited!

Started to compile a list of thing to bring back for people. Granted, this is a budget trip so some items may need a deposit! lol

1. Mom wants a handmade wooden bowl
2. Brittney wants to search the net
3. Wendy wants anything

That's all for now..
जेरेमी
Jeremy

Anticipation

I can not believe that I might be going to India. It wasn't two weeks ago that I found out that my friend and co-Worker Amit Savant was getting married! Amit is from Pune India where he owns a house and resides. He's here in America for the last 8 years as a Consultant working for NIIT Technologies. His current post is embedded in the Department of Safety for the State of New Hampshire. To make a long story short, he has extended an invitation to his wedding in India! I just need to find a way to get there. Currently tickets are about 1200 for round trip. Not a bad price considering you are literally flying halfway around the world!

There are a couple problems with plane tickets. The price increases as you get closer and closer to the date of the flight. Amit already has his tickets but i don't have the money upfront for them right now and obviously I want to take the same flight so we can car pool to his house. Well, that and I might need a translator! I was thinking Amit if he would purchase the ticket for me and allow me to pay him back with my money i get from guitar lessons. But that is a HUGE question to ask someone else. The second problem is that I need a passport and visa before we go.... If i don't get it in time the tickets are NON REFUNDABLE! but I don't know if i have much other option then to ask him. My only backup plan at this point is to ask a friend of mine, Wendy. Either way I feel horrible asking anyone!

In the mean time to take my mind off the stress of trying to organize this trip I started to compile a list of location i want to go when I'm in India। Here's what i have come up with so far: Koregaon Park, Osho Ashram, Trek up to Sinhagad Fort, Shaniwar Wada Palace Fort, Parvati Hill and Temple, Torna. But I'm sure Amit will keep us very busy while we are there!

Well I will have one other American with me, Ryan Horn. I have only met Ryan a few times before through a mutual friend that i know from work Bill Bryer. Ryan is a big hiker so i think he will be into seeing all these sites with me. This means I'm going to need a backback. I have been shopping online for one but I found out Kendra has already bought me one for my birthday! :) She's all nervous now that i won't like it. I'll bet that i get it before my birthday!

I've also been thinking about all the things that i should bring with me. I have to keep my cost VERY low. When I'm in India will pretty much be depending on Amit and his family for food so just a little necessity money is all i will have. I want to bring a camera and a laptop to keep pictures and blog the experience to reflect on later! Besides that i want to bring my headlamp, batteries, bug spray, and books to read on the flight!