Could the Taj really be the rave that everyone says it is? It is exquisite beyond measure – in its scale and PRESENCE. It’s hard to describe or capture in words or photo. Ya have to go if you are fortunate enough to have the chance. We arose at 5:30am in order to see the rising sun make the marble gleam that just-so-yellowish tinge, and I’m glad we did! (yeah, ME!)

At work we have a framework for communication that involves getting a diversity of opinions / points of view — the analogy being that “every stripe on the beachball” should be represented.

This trip has provided an incredible array of beachball stripes. It started with corporate IT India in Hyderabad & Bangalore….engaging with the westernized, progressive, educated India we so often engage with in the States. It migrated to the rural and working class India in our exploits in rural Rajasthan….the hotel attendants, the people who take care of the camels, the bathroom attendants, Asif our driver and his family, and the myriad of people we see on the streets. We also saw a rising wealth in the home of the tour agency owner, Anil. Then in Delhi we’ve seen the Gupta home, B9 and the exquisite shops and life in Haus Khas village – and learned what that entails from a social perspective as well through Anna’s stories about Amit’s upbringing at Dune School and such.

I’m sure I’m forgetting many more stripes too….

What a blessing to be able to see Anna (and Sam!) here…in India! Having coffee at Barista or dinner at Ploof transports us all from the rough, relentless harshness of life here to a “metro-anywhere” feeling – we could be anywhere in the world (and not Delhi ;). It’s so wonderful to be able to see Anna doing some of her favorite things: having coffee, eating chocolate cake, buying shoes, or dressing us up in Saris. It’s so hard to imagine that bright flashy smile not coming out as it does so often when we live in SF; I’m glad it is coming out this week. What a treat!

(it’s still weird to be shooting the breeze withher & Sam in Choko La, the yummy cafe in Basant Lok, and look around & see women in Sari’s and remember, “hey, we’re in India!”)