Bangalore
HollyMinkowski
Posts: 1,398
Looks like I will get to travel to Bangalore to visit some
defense plants and sit in on some group discussions.
It's all to do with some joint projects that are being considered.
It has been suggested that I act quickly to start my enlistment
in The IDF. It seems they think it would be nice if I could wear
a uniform while in India. I fall under some special rules and would
actually spend almost all my time at work doing my job because
I'm designated as a critical defense worker.
Anyone here ever been to Bangalore?
If I go I have to leave my cell at home and take an ugly one
they issue you. It's big and you have to go outside to use it.
It's called a Secure Iridium and has a big antenna you pull out.
No camera in it but it at least has texting.
defense plants and sit in on some group discussions.
It's all to do with some joint projects that are being considered.
It has been suggested that I act quickly to start my enlistment
in The IDF. It seems they think it would be nice if I could wear
a uniform while in India. I fall under some special rules and would
actually spend almost all my time at work doing my job because
I'm designated as a critical defense worker.
Anyone here ever been to Bangalore?
If I go I have to leave my cell at home and take an ugly one
they issue you. It's big and you have to go outside to use it.
It's called a Secure Iridium and has a big antenna you pull out.
No camera in it but it at least has texting.
Comments
A guy at work suggested that if I married him I would not
then have to serve in the IDF.....he was serious.
(and 40'ish and balding and a bit fat..... just ewww)
I can put you in touch with my friend Arie if you want to get out of it without marrying someone.
If I'd been born a year earlier I'd have had to do my British National Service.
We will be there a little less than a week.
We will fly down in a Gulfstream G5, a kind
of miniature airliner.
http://www.crazyengineers.com/forum/forum.php
The discussions will be mostly about proposed
modifications to some anti-tank missile systems.
BTW the main British tank is the hardest to destroy
using a missile, some sort of special secret armor.
Maybe I can find a dinner date who
can speak English. There was a poster
over there named CE- Maniac, his avator
makes you tired to look at it LoL
I think that's Chobham armour:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobham_armour
When I worked for Racal I spent a day with the Royal Tank Regiment, it was very interesting. I've never understood why people want to serve in tanks, they must be mad.
The Russians have always been keen on reactive armour which explodes when it's hit. I see that reactive armour kits are available for the Challenger 2.
Hello!
I certainly hope so! :jumpin:
Incidentally the average M1A1 (or M1A2) weighs in about the same as most members of the pachyderm community, elephants. And can zoom past at the same rates. The advantage of the M1 family is that they can fire on the run, and have greater range then anything out there. During the First Gulf War, there was a decidedly crude game going on, the tankers would bet the helicopter gunship pilots who in turn would bet the Thunderbolt II pilots to see who'd "tag" more of the other guy's armor.
However the tanks would always take a strong lead at first.
Yes, Holly do what you need to do best, and enjoy yourself as much as possible.
The Good
India is amazingly different. Cows walk in the middle of the road and no one blinks.
People are much more religious than in the West, so you'll see things like a giant Shiva statue in the middle of a mall ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sivakempfort.jpg ). There are a lot of temples which are really strange to Western aesthetics but interesting to see anyway.
There's a zoo outside of Bangalore which has elephant rides for 50 rupees (about a dollar). I never road one before, so that was fun.
If you get even a bit off the beaten path things are really cheap. I had some of the best Indian food I've ever eaten for only a few dollars. I never would have thought of having curried potatoes for breakfast, but it isn't half bad.
I had the same driver for two weeks who helped me out of a few jams. So I tipped him a twenty at the end of my stay which was a huge amount of money to him. I told him it would count more for him than for me. He was a big help to me.
Go to Mysore and tour the palace if you get a chance.
The Bad
The traffic is insane and the one rule is that there are no rules! Do not try to drive yourself! I repeat, do not try to drive yourself. Most hotels can hook you up with a driver which is like a taxi only you hire them by the day.
The auto rickshaws do the job of what cabs do here. They look neat but don't have the kind of safety gear a car has. Given the nasty traffic I avoided them.
All prices are negotiable and at some stores the prices are marked up 100% over what you will pay. The haggling is a pain.
Caveat emptor! Ethics among merchants can be low. For example you'll buy a sandalwood item and it might be the real, or it might be a look alike wood sprayed with sandalwood sent. Jewelry is likewise a total risk to buy even though some of it looks really good.
The Ugly
There's a lot of poverty and people begging who look like they will be dead the next day.
I'm a 6' 3" white guy who stood out like a sore thumb. I drew attention where ever I went, some of it harmless, others were people wanting to "help" and then hassle you for a tip. My driver helped me avoid problems.
There can be some weird sectarian tensions which is scary to read about, although the risk to any one person is low.
Holly,
considering how you love bargains, don't get cheap with your safety there. Take a proper cab (a car) when you need to go places. And don't wander alone down side alleys, etc.
-Phil
My information is a few years old but, the M1 was governed at 55 mph and had a top speed that is much, much higher.
Rich H
I remember a harrowing night time bus ride down from Mt Abu many years ago. Our driver was passing everything, including other buses, driving into oncoming traffic, playing chicken and forcing them to the side of the road. He was more than doubling the posted speed limit down the narrow and twisty road.
People were being tossed from one side of their seats to the other. When I ventured up the isle to the front of the bus the people would reach out to keep me from falling over. Up in front the driver's area was separate, something like a little lounge area with a small sofa type seat. I planted myself firmly and videotaped in disbelief while Indian music was blasting from the speakers.
Ever see one of those movies where people run out of the way of a fast moving vehicle - looking over their shoulder? That is literally what happened when we passed through a small village. I thought to myself, this is why we hear of so many bus crashes in India.
The entire time not one passenger seemed to notice, or care. Seeing the Jane temple was worth it though.
Rich H
There is just no way that we would be allowed to
drive ourselves about. I think our hosts will provide
transportation and probably some sort of security
personnel for us. From what I'm hearing it is unlikely
that sightseeing will be on our itinerary. :-(
I just hope I can get somewhere that I can purchase one
of those beautiful outfits Indian women wear...
I live in Sandhurst
Her prefrontal cortex, maybe?