Just got the call to get my go bag ready

[smorris]

This should be interesting, they want to send me to Bangalore India for some sort of problem. Now I need to go get shots and they are trying to put together all the visa paperwork.
I looked up the visa requirements and being in the infosec field it seems that India classifies me in the same group as weapons designers for visa requirements. 2 weeks lead time to get a visa, guess it takes 2 weeks to bug the room and arrange a tail.
When they sent me to China last year I had a friend who seemed to be everywhere I was and I assumed my room and internet connection were bugged. Strong crypto is your friend.

From the India Visa site:
US Advanced Technology Workers: Individuals working in designated U.S. agencies or technology areas (Conventional Munition; Nuclear Technology; Missile/Missile Technology; Aircraft and Missile Propulsion and Vehicular Systems; Navigation and Guidance Control; Chemical and Biotechnology Engineering; Remote Imaging and Reconnaissance; Advanced Computer Material; Advance Composite Material; Information Security; Laser and Directed Energy Systems; Sensors; Marine Technology (submarines etc); Robotics; Advanced Ceramics; High Performance Metals and Alloys and or with establishment engaged in Defense, Research, Nuclear, Space and Missile Technology) are required to submit their application at least two weeks in advance to enable timely process of their cases. In addition, the following form (https://www.indian-visa.com/pdf/Tech...nformation.pdf) must be submitted along with the visa application.

[cabinetman]

That might be very common now. It could be anybody keeping track of you.
.

[phrog]

Will our woodworking secrets be safe?

[smorris]

Will our woodworking secrets be safe?

When the electrodes come out I'll give up 2 secrets.
<ZAP>
FESTOOL
SAWSTOP ICS
</ZAP>

And so ends the economy of India.

Actually, before anyone gets after me for dissing either of them, I wish I had the money to afford both, or either for that matter.

[crokett]

Have fun! Sounds like an interesting trip. It is a very long shot but I might be going to Australia in the next few weeks. My guess is they will figure out a way to do what they need done remotely.

[Ed62]

If you don't wind up a political prisoner, have a great time.

Ed

[Kristofor]

So, the Bangalore folks were outsourcing their IT/Info Sec. needs to an American?

Have they given you a working name like Raji and told you to pretend you're working in Delhi, or Mumbai yet while commenting on the local Cricket teams?

[JR]

I've been to Bangalore. It's a real eye opener. China is a garden spot by comparison.

JR

[buckeye95]

Enjoy your trip - I spent 6-weeks in Chennai (Madras) and Mumbai in 2003. Definitely an eye-opener.

Here is my best advice:

1.) Keep up on your meds. I had shots beforehand, and had Malaria and Typhoid pills to take, which I was very careful not to skip.

2.) Watch what you eat and where. The best advice I had before going was that you will most likely not get sick on the hotel food if the hotel is high-end and caters to Westerners. Drink bottled water and ask for it to be served with the cap sealed (I heard stories of them being refilled). Only eat at outside locations that others have verified are OK. I had a couple of good friends that threw caution to the wind when they got there in regards to food. One guy spent 24 straight hours in his bathroom not knowing which end of the "pipeline" would strike next. The other one had to delay his trip back a couple days after the bright idea of sampling some roadside food.

3.) Be wary of getting too far off the beaten path. When I was there, I was careful to only visit the main areas close to the hotel. I was not concerned about personal safety, but more with getting sick or in an accident and not knowing where I would be taken. I had locals who wanted me to go visit some sites a few hours away in the middle of nowhere, and the last thing I wanted was to be 100 miles form the nearest hospital with a bad injury from a car accident. No matter what happened, I wanted to be able to get back to the hotel where I knew they spoke English and could get me good help (see below).

4.) If you have a health issue, etc, the hotel is usually a good resource for help. When I got sick over there with a bad throat infection, I asked the hotel front desk for help. An hour later I had a house call at the hotel from a UK trained Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon who took care of me, all for $24 US . If the hotel is high end and caters to Western travellers, they will not steer you wrong. Major cities like Bagalore WILL have good medical facilities available if necessary. I would not trust the recommendation of a random cab driver to set you up with a clinic somewhere.

Take care,

Pete

[footprintsinconc]

if you have never been there, you will love it. its nothing like you have ever seen, felt or experienced.

as for english, a lot of people speak english in banglore (that is what a friend told me). you will notice that southern indians will speak english even among themselves a lot, but you wont find that among northern indians (in general).

as for shots, they dont work for the first few weeks anyways. i believe they only start working after week three or four. the body takes time to build immunity. so let the visa process be as long as possible

i bet you will have fun. so how long is the trip going to be for? i will be expecting to see a full report when you get back. it should be interesting to read.

[jackellis]

Please do tell us about your trip. I may never get to India but I am very curious about it, especially after walking through the Indian (or maybe it was Tamil) quarter in Singapore.