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INDIA
January 2007

I started in the North and Saturday evening I decided to stay for the Sunday (21.01.07) at the Taj in Chandigarh I wanted a relaxed day and was a bit disturbed when at around 15:15pm some people knocked very strongly and impatient on my door. I opened and they told me to leave the room immediately because of a fire in the hotel. Now a realized that the corridor was full of smoke and I got into my shoes but had to leave without any belongings, even my coat I could not grab. We found our way down the, smoke filled, emergency stair and reaching outside I noticed a lot of activities. The fire brigade was in full action and attacked the fire, which broke out in the banquet hall. There where many bewildered hotel guests roaming around and wondering what is going on. After a while I realized that it was quite cold but I was not allowed to go upstairs to get my stuff. After a while with little information about our feat I decided to get to my room anyway. With the help of a hotel boy (which I bribed) I got up the smoky staircase, reached my room, grabbed my belongings (did not forget the safe where my passport and cash was laying!) and went out again. Later we where brought to the Mount View Hotel, my preferred hotel at the time. I was very happy to have all my belongings with me. The others struggled to get it eventually!

I continued my trip to the South and than to Mumbai. A positive highlight was the conclusion of the big deal at Alok Industries Ltd., Silvassa (with Rahul Joshi and some help by Jörg Büchler) and an emotional fare well to Mr. Ravichandran.

EAST TURKEY
April 2007

A typical tour with Onur Coruh: Adana, Kharamarash, Gaziantep,..., Kaysery. The standard one week trip. Every day another hotel. 6 - 8 customers a day. With Onur Coruh no problem, even fun! In Kayseri we where lucky to have fair weather and could see the Mount Erciyes with its summit reaching 3,916 m (12,848 ft). Kaysery has also the best Kebab Restaurants, so at least I was told!.