Executive Summary

It has been almost two weeks in India now and I wanted to make a post updating everyone on what I have been doing and seeing in this time.

London - In retrospect thinking about London what satnds out most is how orderly and clean the city is compared to anything in India! Plus the weather was so cool!
Mumbai - I really loved the Marine Drive in the evening, with the cool sea breezes and everyone out walking or sitting and relaxing. I also took a boat tour out to Elephant Island where monks carved temples out of the rock and was solicited to play as an extra in a Bollywood filming (although I was unwilling to commit an entire day to the effort).
Pune - I got to stay with a group of MBA students Imeet on the train and get insights into the aspirations of young Indians. They all want to be rich and have cars and travel to the US. I had to ride on a motorcycle through crazy traffic (now I know why Peace Corps bans this form of transportation!). Unfortunately we spent a lot of time watching action movies, fixing computers, and taking naps.
Hyderabad - Another mega-city, with a lovely hilltop temple and planetarium/science museum with Griffith Observatory type views. The old town is a huge Muslim street bazaar with a Mecca Mosque capable of accomodating 10,000 worshipers.
Bidar - A chance to get away from the big cities and walk a huge deserted fortress inhabited only by wild peacocks.
Bijapur - Dominated by a large faux Taj Mahal, which they claim is the largest space enclosed by an unsupported dome (the acustics are incredible, you can hear your hand clap echoed at least 12 times); best of all, you can climb up on top, spectacular views! This town has a serious Muslim population, which had mixed feelings about my participation in the Hindu Holi celebration.
Badami - An incredible medeaval mud brick town in a cliff setting surrounded by many many temples. I love this place!
Hampi - Where I am writing right now, the epicenter of India backpacker culture (see earlier post).