Working in Mumbai, vacation to Ooty, COMING BACK TO THE US!!!

First off, let me formally announce my first trip back to the US after disappearing into the dark continent:

New York City: Feb 21 - 24

Chicago/Milwaukee: Feb 24 - March 8 (Maybe a trip to LA somewhere in there)


Anyway...What's going on? Sorry about the lack of posts this month, I've been traveling a lot and to tell you the truth, other than work I haven't been doing too much.

Work Stuff in Bombay:

So I was in Mumbai (Bombay) for about 5 days running some media relations and a press conference for the Wharton Alumni Forum. IndiaIT has a partnership with Wharton and they give a few awards away each year, nothing too groundbreaking. It was great for me, however, because I was able to meet some incredible members of the business community, not just in Asia but also in the US, as well as many Wharton alumni, students and faculty...including Dean Patrick Harker. Yeah, Dean of the Wharton School. He told me I should go there. We'll see what happens. I also hung out a lot with Esther Dyson, Director of CNET and one of the leading authorities on emerging technology around the world (she was on the jury for the award). Here are a few more pics of business stylin' Nate.

Stresin' Nate

My first press conference

From L-R: Srini (head of IndiaIT Marketing and my boss); Dr. Harbir Singh, Director of the Mack Center for Technological Innovation at Wharton School; NRN Murthy, Chairman of IndiaIT; Patrick Harker, Dean of Wharton School; Esther Dyson, Director of CNET; CEO of Ohmy News (Korea); CEO of Cyworld (Korea); Kiran Mazumbdar- Shaw, CEO of Biocon and richest woman in India

There were only supposed to be 5 people at the table, but Dean Harker and Dr. Singh asked to be involved 5 minutes before the conference started. Can't really say no to these people.

Press mobbing my spokespeople.

Esther Dyson speaking with the Chairman of IndiaIT in front of cameras(also my boss)

Vacation in Ooty:

We got a few days off last week so Winnie, Peter and I went on a weekend hike to Ooty, which is in the Nilgiri Mountains in South India. We drove about 6 hours to get there in an air conditioned bus and then spent a few nights at Jungle Retreat where they had GREAT food, good drink and a beautiful view of the mountains and an unbeatable sky at night. Reminded me a lot of Colorado in the summer.

On the way to our hotel in the back of George's jeep

This was view from our rooms...very Brokeback Mountain


Starting our long hike

The peak of the first, out of two, mountains

Crazy view

Tea plantations at the end of our trek

Me, George (safari driver), Sidhan (our guide for the trek), Pete

Winnie was also on the trip, as a photographer. Thanks, Winnie for giving Pete and I a hand.

It should be noted that we saw a family of elephants as well as some deer hanging out with monkeys, but maybe the monkeys were just there to watch the deer... who were screwing in the jungle!!! One of the funnier things I've seen, but, alas, no picture to prove the event took place.

You know this is the first time I've been up to date on my blog? Talk to you guys soon and get in touch with me if you're gonna be around when I'm back 'Stateside.