Website & Writing
Copyright protected Piper Selden
All rights reserved.
Copyright protected Piper Selden
All rights reserved.
Greetings and aloha all,
We made it back home, safe and sound. We flew straight through with no stop-overs: Bangalore to Bangkok, then to Narita, Honolulu, and finally... into our little hometown of Hilo! It was a long trip back, but there were a few benefits along the way.
Todd spent his last week working at Synopsys in Bangalore. Theo, Lauren, and I spent our last week lounging at the swimming pool, but we did manage to take in a few sights. We took a hair-raising trip through a tiger reserve in a "cage on wheels." The tour buses were recently fitted with thick metal screens after a tiger snatched a five year old from her mother's arms, dragging the little girl deep into the brush and to her death. Our driver told us the story, not skipping any of the graphic details.
Theo and Lauren also enjoyed Bangalore's snake zoo, but I found it creepy. Most the cages were labeled in Hindi and English with smart tags like, "Cobra Snake. Deadly Venom. Found Everywhere--wild and in captivity. Extremely Dangerous Snake." I watched my step. Near the back of the zoo, we came across a deep open pen with no sign. Inside were dozens and dozens of white, nervous-looking rabbits and mice.
Lauren was too small to see in the pen. "What's in this cage, Mommy?" she asked.
I swallowed hard. "Sweetie, I think its snake food." I said, trying to sound matter-of-fact about it. I lifted her up to see the animals huddled in small groups. Theo climbed up on a fence rail for a better look.
Theo asked, "Are snakes veg-en-tarians?"
"No, Honey. I don't think snakes are vegetarians."
We waved goodbye to the captive food pen. "Goodbye, rabbits!" Lauren called. "Goodbye, mice!" Theo yelled. "Goodbye, guys. Good luck." I whispered to the snowy animals staring up at us with round pink eyes.
Lauren turned 5 on July 12th. Todd's colleagues from Synopsys came to our hotel, just outside of town, and threw her a small birthday party by the pool. We shared a nice lunch: cheese pizza, potato fingers (french fries), and chicken burgers. Later, we had cake and ice cream, but the ice cream didn't last long in the 90'F heat. It melted, almost as soon as it touched the plate, making big lakes of vanilla around chocolate cake islands.
On our last day in India, we treated ourselves to a nice Italian dinner at the Leela Palace and drove to the Bangalore airport, dodging cows along the road for the last time. We were anxious to get home, but practiced more "Hurry up and wait!" Indian style. Time passed like slow drip molasses at the airport. We waited, breathing into our shirts, for three long hours in a thick, acrid mosquito killing fog. It was awful, but I asked myself: DDT or malaria, which would I rather be exposed to? Lungs burning, we boarded our plane (finally) for Thailand and took off into a charcoal Indian sky.
Secret Clubs:
Our plane arrived at Bangkok International Airport around 4am and for the life of us, we could not wake the kids. Dead tired ourselves, we carried Theo and Lauren like wiggling 50 pound bags of potatoes through miles and miles of empty airport corridors, desperate for a place to sit down. At that moment, I would have been happy to lie on cold concrete, to put my feet up and be horizontal for a few minutes.
"Let's see if we can find the Secret Club," Todd said.
I was totally exhausted and couldn't answer, but nodded in agreement. Lauren was heavy and limp in my arms. (When did she get so big?) Putting one foot in front of the other was the only thing that occupied my fatigued mind and body.
Thankfully, Todd is a top level flier in the United Airlines Mileage Plus program. This status grants him access to what we call "the secret club." And when we travel with Todd, we are permitted into the secret club too!
The Royal Orchid is "the secret club" for Thai Airlines--almost every major airline has a club for their "special" members. And since Thai Airlines is a partner of the global monopoly--oh, I mean global alliance--with United Airlines, we were able to use their secret club.
Theo was still in dream-space when we approached the well dressed Thai Airlines security guard. Shifting Theo from one shoulder to the other, Todd produced our boarding passes and his United Airlines Mileage card. After confirming the secret handshake, we were ushered inside with a wink and a smile.
Executive airline clubs are like islands of oasis in airports all over the world, providing comfort and refreshment to the flying elite and weary saps who call themselves frequent fliers. Documentation certified, we walked through a frosted glass door which read, "Members Only." To be honest, I felt like Charlie Bucket walking into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Room. The gray astro-turf turf carpet near gate 43 was instantly transformed into rich polished hardwood floors. Plushy area rugs peppered the room, defining each of the many living areas, while soft music lulled us into believing we were anywhere but the airport. Attendants buzzed here and there, catering to travelers. "May I bring you a blanket? Shall I bring you something to drink? Please check out our complimentary no-host bar."
We claimed an empty spot, put the kids to sleep on a long sofa, and covered them with warm blankets. Smiling, I removed my shoes, dug my toes into the soft pile of the carpet, and collapsed into a cushioned recliner. Ah! So this is what it must be like to be rich! I was in heaven! The airport's hard plastic chairs outside the club became a distant memory--aqua and mustard yellow madness.
I thought about napping, but heard the distinct whir of something wonderful--an espresso machine. Cups of stale, lukewarm-warm, over-priced airport coffee were replaced by free piping hot cappuccinos sporting caps of perky foam. The lounge attendant sauntered over, anticipating my request. "May I bring you a coffee?"
"Yes please. I'd love a cappuccino."
"And would you like a sprinkle of freshly grated cinnamon?" she asked.
"Sure."
Before she left, she pointed out the croissants and Danish pastries in the dining area. Later, I discovered a whole assortment of hot and cold treats. Even the tiny sausages kept warm in their own hot tray looked tasty--surprising, for a vegetarian. Everything in the room was wonderful: the expensive and tasteful decor, the soft, cushy furniture, the pleasant background music, the food, the drinks, the....
And then I considered how my life might be if I decided to take up permanent residence at The Royal Orchid.
While Todd surfed the Internet, drinking can after can of Diet Coke (with ice!), I checked out the massage room. Decorated in teak and rattan, the room was dimly lit and a perfect place for napping. I sat down for a minute or thirty in a heated, vibrating chair and studied the Oriental painting that was hanging nearby. It was a lush pastoral scene. Violet mountains with cascading waterfalls were pictured far in distance and a leafy forest was on the left. Village women worked, doubled over, in a rice paddy while a man in a pointy straw hat plowed a neighboring field with a team of oxen. I closed my eyes and flew off for a dream visit, walking knee deep in the mushy wet paddy, harvesting armfuls of waving green rice stalks. Serene.
All too soon, a soft-voiced attendant came to let us know our plane would be boarding. She had printed up our boarding passes and called ahead to make sure there were no delays. Reluctantly, we collected our sleeping children and left our little airport haven for Narita, Japan.
Japan: The Red Carpet Club is the "secret club" for United Airlines. Being a new connoisseur of "secret club" life, I took note of my surroundings. Although it was busier than The Royal Orchid and not as swank, there were two features I especially enjoyed at The Red Carpet Club in Narita. The first was the automated beer on tap dispenser--complimentary for Red Carpet members. Simply take a frosted glass from the fridge, put the glass in the dispenser, push the button and it fills the glass with ice cold Kirin, topping it with a foamy head! (I need to get one of those!). The second thing I enjoyed was a free hot shower. The kids were awake, finally, and joined us for a brunch of cheese, crackers, juice, and free soda pop. We played hand after hand of card games, mostly Uno! and Scooby Doo "Relp!" We took showers and headed, quite refreshed, for our flight to Honolulu. From there, it was a quick hop and skip to Hilo. We flew home on Aloha Airlines, but didn't have time to visit The Ali`i Club. Yes, even little Aloha Airlines has a "secret club."
Culture Shock: Back home!
Verna, my mother-in-law, greeted us at the Hilo Airport with kisses and orchid leis. She enjoyed her time in Hawaii, house-sitting while we were away, yet confessed to being lonely at times. The air outside was warm and moist and smelled of sea foam and blooming flowers. I was so happy I nearly cried.
Bear-bear lived to see another month. My geriatric calico cat celebrated her 19th birthday while we were away. Although she moves like a cat half her age and is my purring lap pet, she continues her piss and vinegar relationship with Todd. He was less happy to see her than I was.
Dash survived too, but just barely. Theo's brown and white mouse, a creature Bear-bear finds absolutely fascinating, stayed with Theo's friend, Patrick. Apparently, Patrick's mouse was recovering from a skin rash when Dash came to visit. This condition was passed to Dash, of course. When we picked up Theo's mouse, he was bald, red, and scabby, but Theo was still thrilled to see him. Dash gets a nice Betadine bath everyday and the rash is improving. I think his hair will eventually grow back. But maybe not.
Someone asked me if I experienced culture shock on our trip. I did, but the culture shock came when we arrived back home. As I look around me, I am amazed at what I see: abundance everywhere, water you can drink from the tap, hot water available twenty four hours a day if I need it, clean streets, sane and civil driving, and no cows in the road.
If I could change anything about the trip, I don't think I would--the good, the bad, or the heat. I hope you enjoyed my travel "rants" as much as I enjoyed writing them. I hope that someday, you too might travel to India. It really is an amazing place. Although I tried, words can't paint the full picture of the magic and mayhem that is India. In all its spastic splendor, it is a place like no other.
If you would like to see a few pictures, there is a slide show on my website. Follow the link below, go to the "Miscellany Fun" page and click on "India Trip." Thoughts, comments, and/or questions are gladly appreciated.
Namaste!
Piper, Todd, Theo, and Lauren
We made it back home, safe and sound. We flew straight through with no stop-overs: Bangalore to Bangkok, then to Narita, Honolulu, and finally... into our little hometown of Hilo! It was a long trip back, but there were a few benefits along the way.
Todd spent his last week working at Synopsys in Bangalore. Theo, Lauren, and I spent our last week lounging at the swimming pool, but we did manage to take in a few sights. We took a hair-raising trip through a tiger reserve in a "cage on wheels." The tour buses were recently fitted with thick metal screens after a tiger snatched a five year old from her mother's arms, dragging the little girl deep into the brush and to her death. Our driver told us the story, not skipping any of the graphic details.
Theo and Lauren also enjoyed Bangalore's snake zoo, but I found it creepy. Most the cages were labeled in Hindi and English with smart tags like, "Cobra Snake. Deadly Venom. Found Everywhere--wild and in captivity. Extremely Dangerous Snake." I watched my step. Near the back of the zoo, we came across a deep open pen with no sign. Inside were dozens and dozens of white, nervous-looking rabbits and mice.
Lauren was too small to see in the pen. "What's in this cage, Mommy?" she asked.
I swallowed hard. "Sweetie, I think its snake food." I said, trying to sound matter-of-fact about it. I lifted her up to see the animals huddled in small groups. Theo climbed up on a fence rail for a better look.
Theo asked, "Are snakes veg-en-tarians?"
"No, Honey. I don't think snakes are vegetarians."
We waved goodbye to the captive food pen. "Goodbye, rabbits!" Lauren called. "Goodbye, mice!" Theo yelled. "Goodbye, guys. Good luck." I whispered to the snowy animals staring up at us with round pink eyes.
Lauren turned 5 on July 12th. Todd's colleagues from Synopsys came to our hotel, just outside of town, and threw her a small birthday party by the pool. We shared a nice lunch: cheese pizza, potato fingers (french fries), and chicken burgers. Later, we had cake and ice cream, but the ice cream didn't last long in the 90'F heat. It melted, almost as soon as it touched the plate, making big lakes of vanilla around chocolate cake islands.
On our last day in India, we treated ourselves to a nice Italian dinner at the Leela Palace and drove to the Bangalore airport, dodging cows along the road for the last time. We were anxious to get home, but practiced more "Hurry up and wait!" Indian style. Time passed like slow drip molasses at the airport. We waited, breathing into our shirts, for three long hours in a thick, acrid mosquito killing fog. It was awful, but I asked myself: DDT or malaria, which would I rather be exposed to? Lungs burning, we boarded our plane (finally) for Thailand and took off into a charcoal Indian sky.
Secret Clubs:
Our plane arrived at Bangkok International Airport around 4am and for the life of us, we could not wake the kids. Dead tired ourselves, we carried Theo and Lauren like wiggling 50 pound bags of potatoes through miles and miles of empty airport corridors, desperate for a place to sit down. At that moment, I would have been happy to lie on cold concrete, to put my feet up and be horizontal for a few minutes.
"Let's see if we can find the Secret Club," Todd said.
I was totally exhausted and couldn't answer, but nodded in agreement. Lauren was heavy and limp in my arms. (When did she get so big?) Putting one foot in front of the other was the only thing that occupied my fatigued mind and body.
Thankfully, Todd is a top level flier in the United Airlines Mileage Plus program. This status grants him access to what we call "the secret club." And when we travel with Todd, we are permitted into the secret club too!
The Royal Orchid is "the secret club" for Thai Airlines--almost every major airline has a club for their "special" members. And since Thai Airlines is a partner of the global monopoly--oh, I mean global alliance--with United Airlines, we were able to use their secret club.
Theo was still in dream-space when we approached the well dressed Thai Airlines security guard. Shifting Theo from one shoulder to the other, Todd produced our boarding passes and his United Airlines Mileage card. After confirming the secret handshake, we were ushered inside with a wink and a smile.
Executive airline clubs are like islands of oasis in airports all over the world, providing comfort and refreshment to the flying elite and weary saps who call themselves frequent fliers. Documentation certified, we walked through a frosted glass door which read, "Members Only." To be honest, I felt like Charlie Bucket walking into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Room. The gray astro-turf turf carpet near gate 43 was instantly transformed into rich polished hardwood floors. Plushy area rugs peppered the room, defining each of the many living areas, while soft music lulled us into believing we were anywhere but the airport. Attendants buzzed here and there, catering to travelers. "May I bring you a blanket? Shall I bring you something to drink? Please check out our complimentary no-host bar."
We claimed an empty spot, put the kids to sleep on a long sofa, and covered them with warm blankets. Smiling, I removed my shoes, dug my toes into the soft pile of the carpet, and collapsed into a cushioned recliner. Ah! So this is what it must be like to be rich! I was in heaven! The airport's hard plastic chairs outside the club became a distant memory--aqua and mustard yellow madness.
I thought about napping, but heard the distinct whir of something wonderful--an espresso machine. Cups of stale, lukewarm-warm, over-priced airport coffee were replaced by free piping hot cappuccinos sporting caps of perky foam. The lounge attendant sauntered over, anticipating my request. "May I bring you a coffee?"
"Yes please. I'd love a cappuccino."
"And would you like a sprinkle of freshly grated cinnamon?" she asked.
"Sure."
Before she left, she pointed out the croissants and Danish pastries in the dining area. Later, I discovered a whole assortment of hot and cold treats. Even the tiny sausages kept warm in their own hot tray looked tasty--surprising, for a vegetarian. Everything in the room was wonderful: the expensive and tasteful decor, the soft, cushy furniture, the pleasant background music, the food, the drinks, the....
And then I considered how my life might be if I decided to take up permanent residence at The Royal Orchid.
While Todd surfed the Internet, drinking can after can of Diet Coke (with ice!), I checked out the massage room. Decorated in teak and rattan, the room was dimly lit and a perfect place for napping. I sat down for a minute or thirty in a heated, vibrating chair and studied the Oriental painting that was hanging nearby. It was a lush pastoral scene. Violet mountains with cascading waterfalls were pictured far in distance and a leafy forest was on the left. Village women worked, doubled over, in a rice paddy while a man in a pointy straw hat plowed a neighboring field with a team of oxen. I closed my eyes and flew off for a dream visit, walking knee deep in the mushy wet paddy, harvesting armfuls of waving green rice stalks. Serene.
All too soon, a soft-voiced attendant came to let us know our plane would be boarding. She had printed up our boarding passes and called ahead to make sure there were no delays. Reluctantly, we collected our sleeping children and left our little airport haven for Narita, Japan.
Japan: The Red Carpet Club is the "secret club" for United Airlines. Being a new connoisseur of "secret club" life, I took note of my surroundings. Although it was busier than The Royal Orchid and not as swank, there were two features I especially enjoyed at The Red Carpet Club in Narita. The first was the automated beer on tap dispenser--complimentary for Red Carpet members. Simply take a frosted glass from the fridge, put the glass in the dispenser, push the button and it fills the glass with ice cold Kirin, topping it with a foamy head! (I need to get one of those!). The second thing I enjoyed was a free hot shower. The kids were awake, finally, and joined us for a brunch of cheese, crackers, juice, and free soda pop. We played hand after hand of card games, mostly Uno! and Scooby Doo "Relp!" We took showers and headed, quite refreshed, for our flight to Honolulu. From there, it was a quick hop and skip to Hilo. We flew home on Aloha Airlines, but didn't have time to visit The Ali`i Club. Yes, even little Aloha Airlines has a "secret club."
Culture Shock: Back home!
Verna, my mother-in-law, greeted us at the Hilo Airport with kisses and orchid leis. She enjoyed her time in Hawaii, house-sitting while we were away, yet confessed to being lonely at times. The air outside was warm and moist and smelled of sea foam and blooming flowers. I was so happy I nearly cried.
Bear-bear lived to see another month. My geriatric calico cat celebrated her 19th birthday while we were away. Although she moves like a cat half her age and is my purring lap pet, she continues her piss and vinegar relationship with Todd. He was less happy to see her than I was.
Dash survived too, but just barely. Theo's brown and white mouse, a creature Bear-bear finds absolutely fascinating, stayed with Theo's friend, Patrick. Apparently, Patrick's mouse was recovering from a skin rash when Dash came to visit. This condition was passed to Dash, of course. When we picked up Theo's mouse, he was bald, red, and scabby, but Theo was still thrilled to see him. Dash gets a nice Betadine bath everyday and the rash is improving. I think his hair will eventually grow back. But maybe not.
Someone asked me if I experienced culture shock on our trip. I did, but the culture shock came when we arrived back home. As I look around me, I am amazed at what I see: abundance everywhere, water you can drink from the tap, hot water available twenty four hours a day if I need it, clean streets, sane and civil driving, and no cows in the road.
If I could change anything about the trip, I don't think I would--the good, the bad, or the heat. I hope you enjoyed my travel "rants" as much as I enjoyed writing them. I hope that someday, you too might travel to India. It really is an amazing place. Although I tried, words can't paint the full picture of the magic and mayhem that is India. In all its spastic splendor, it is a place like no other.
If you would like to see a few pictures, there is a slide show on my website. Follow the link below, go to the "Miscellany Fun" page and click on "India Trip." Thoughts, comments, and/or questions are gladly appreciated.
Namaste!
Piper, Todd, Theo, and Lauren
Exerpt taken from India, 2005, an email travelogue to friends and family.
Piper is not currently under representation, but looking. If you are interested in her writing, please contact via email
Piper is not currently under representation, but looking. If you are interested in her writing, please contact via email
Travelogue: India 2005