First full day at work

Security is everywhere. Cannot drive onto the hotel or business parking lot until the car is checked. Hotels x-ray incoming luggage, briefcases are opened, must walk through a metal detector and get patted down even if you're simply eating at their restaurant for lunch. Cannot purchage a telephone without a background check to confirm who you are.

One apartment complex in Mumbai was in the news for implementing a rule that all overnight guests must be pre-authorized and the names of any spending over a week will be given to the police for review... all over suspicion / concern of neighbors housing terrorists. The police were willing to run the identification checks if it is the desire of the housing society. Headline reads, "Folks coming to visit? Get police verification done." Response has been they've gone beyond security and are now in the land of insecurity.

I had lunch with a small group of people at work who brought their lunch from home. Mine was delivered by a local hotel. When I arrived I specified a preference for vegetarian meals yet the going assumption was non-vegetarian. It will take a while for the meal plan change to get implemented. The curry was delicious!

We chatted about many things. Some of the guys have been wanting to go hiking and now they have a good excuse. They're looking into a nearby hiking area with waterfalls, an old fort and includes a short train ride... perfect!