Looks like I was able to beat Wisconsin winters in a big way. While it’s snowing in Madison, here in Mumbai it’s tropical. Life in Mumbai is pretty relaxing. Initial few days were rough as folks around me couldn’t figure how to help me in the best possible way. I too was bit tired and jet lagged during that time. But now things are very smooth. A typical day here for me includes video chatting with my daughter and visit from my old friends.

My mom and father want me to try homeopathic treatment while I’m in Mumbai. I’m not sure if it’s going to help me, but I’m going to give it a shot. Who knows if it will help.

My father made sure that the house is completely accessible for me and my power wheelchair. My wheelchair can easily go around the house without any problems. Getting around Mumbai is completely different as most of the city isn’t for physically challenged. Since I love Indian food, once a week we rent an accessible minivan to go out for dinner. As most of the restaurants are inaccessible for me, we just stick with restaurants in luxury hotels as they are designed with accessibility in mind. Anyway the food is good and I enjoy the time out. I like the veggie burger which McDonalds serves in India; just to clarify this veggie burger is not same as what McDonalds serves in USA. Since most of the McDonalds are inaccessible, my father gets it for me once a week. With so much food around I just need to make I don’t gain weight.

PS: My mom’s surgery happened yesterday (12/9) and she is doing fine. She will be back home sometime early next week.

There isn’t any noticeable change in my condition from last month’s update. My jet lag from the trip is still there, I sleep from noon till 6 PM daily and then am awake thru the night. I’m trying to change it, just hoping that change comes soon. Last week I completed thirty two years of existence and to mark the occasion we celebrated. The party wasn’t huge, it was just few of my cousins, parents and myself. We went to a restaurant to celebrate.

On the family side, my mother needs to get a surgery done to correct her hernia. Surgery is not yet scheduled, but most probably it will be next week. Post surgery she will have to stay in hospital for about seven days. I will keep you all posted on her condition and recovery too.

After two trips to the airport, three airplane rides, and more than twenty fours of travel I finally landed in Mumbai on the night of Nov. 10^th. I was supposed to fly out of Madison on Nov. 8^th, but the airline crew refused to let me board the aircraft. They had their reasons, the aircraft was turboprop and only way to get in was through stairs as it was too small for a jet bridge. I don’t know how this happened because I called Continental Airlines multiple times about my needs and they assured me that it will be ok. We had to wait on the airport for another four hours as the airline staff worked on my reservation. Finally they booked my mom and me on bigger planes for the next day. We returned from airport by late afternoon, but we left our luggage and my wheelchair at the airport as everything was nicely packed and we didn’t want to carry them around.

Next morning we were back at the airport, and this time there were lot more people at the airport to help us out. We boarded our first flight out of Madison at 10 am to St. Louis. The way boarding works for someone like me is by means of two transfers. Initially airport staff wheels me in a regular wheelchair till the aircraft door. Then I’m transferred to an aisle chair and wheeled into the aircraft and then transferred to my seat. The first couple of transfers were rough, but we got better at it with each transfer. We then boarded our second flight to Newark. By the time of boarding the third flight from Newark to Mumbai, I was so exhausted that I wanted to cancel my trip. Anyways I boarded my sixteen hour flight around 8:30 pm. The moment I was transferred to the aircraft seat I felt a sense of relief. It could be because the first class seats were wider and more comfortable or because I knew I can now finally take rest. After the aircraft took off I had some food and then slept for about 10 hours.

I reached Mumbai on the night of Nov. 10^th and was really elated to see my dad and three cousins who were there to receive me. In the end the pain and exhaustion that I endured was worth it as I knew this was my only chance to meet family and old friends. As the mastercard tag line goes:

Cost of flight tickets: $$$$, Total travel time: more than 24 hours, Pain and exhaustion from the trip: enormous, Joy of meeting family and old friends: priceless!

I recently found this T-Shirt online which says “Avid Indoorsman”. From the website:

Your ability to fish (a remote out from under sofa cushions): Legendary. Your knack for hunting (chips) and gathering (beers): Outstanding. Wear your couch potato camo with pride, in our navy T-shirt is 100% cotton.

I liked it because it so aptly reflected on my current condition, and ordered one! I’m actually an “Avid Indoorsman” myself these days. Most of my time is spent on three activities: browsing the web, playing with my kid, and watching TV/Movies. it’s been a year since I stopped driving and about six months since I stopped commuting to work. In short I’ve been home bound for a long time. But do I miss outdoors? Depends on what outdoors mean. Do I miss going to shopping, dinning, or parties? Definitely not. I do shopping online, I get dinners ordered and if needed bring parties to my house. But I do miss travelling. Till last year I ensured that I take a week or two off to visit parts of US. I just love the forests and mountains that this country has to offer, my favorites The National Parks. My love for all things natural/historic isn’t new, as a kid I travelled a lot throughout India. My father made sure that my brother and I learnt about Indian history and geography not by reading books but by seeing the country in person. Needless to say, I never found Indian history & geography boring in school. Instead world history was boring as I just couldn’t connect with it.

Anyways coming back to the topic of this post, two reasons that being at home doesn’t hurt that much. First, my friends stop by my place regularly and Second: my family, they just keep my spirits high. I don’t know how life would have been without them.

I just finished updating look and feel of my blog. You like it or hate it? Any feedback/comments?

Things are as usual, the only major change is my left hand is getting weaker. As a result I have started using text to speech or speech recognition for controlling my computer. Last week I sprained my left ankle, and that took away my ability to stand on my own for few minutes. I’ve tried lot of stuff but it still pains like hell. If it doesn’t get better today I’m going to call my doctor tomorrow. I want to ensure a pain free travel next week.

This past Monday I attended Communication Aids &Systems Clinic (CASC) at UW. There therapists showed me how to use a computer with limited fine motor skills. I knew about most of the stuff, but it was nice talking to someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in that area. They showed me communication devices which I might need and future. All of these devices start around $8000, and can go anywhere around $15,000. It all depends on the options that user chooses. The new ones coming out have a technology called EyeGaze. It allows users to control the device just by eye movement. I asked them if I can just by the communication software and not the device. They told me that it’s possible. There’s a company called Eye Response Technologies, which markets the software called LifeMate. Sweet! That’s what I was looking for.

Yesterday my daughter dressed up in all bumblebee costume for her preschool. The costume was for a Halloween party at her preschool. She was all excited to be in a bumblebee costume, and was running around the house flapping her hands. After some time she comes to me and looked disappointed. I asked are what happened, and she said “I can’t fly”! But she later got over her disappointment.

For now I am busy preparing for my trip, I will be flying out next Sunday.