Itinerary

Tomorrow is the big day! 

I just have a few more things to cram into my suitcase 

and then I think I'm ready to go! 

 

Below is my itinerary for the trip. I figure there might be a few days here and there when I don't have internet access.  This way, you can see what I'm doing and where I am.  I think my flight leaves tomorrow at 2:45pm out of Charlotte. Then I connect with the rest of the group in Newark. After a 3 hour layover, we'll fly from Newark to Mumbai, India (approx. 17 hour flight). This will surpass the longest flight I have ever been on by at least 11 hours!

India Professional Development Program July 2013 Itinerary

Friday, July 5: RDU or Charlotte / In-Transit

Depart for Mumbai, India

Saturday, July 6: Mumbai, India

9:10pm: Arrive & Transfer to Trident Nariman Point  (Arrival flight info: UA 48 EWR/BOM  9:10pm)

Internet Rates for this hotel:  In room INR 600 plus taxes for 1 hour, In business Centre INR 200 for 15 mins, INR 350 for 30 mins, INR 700 for 1 hour.

Sunday, July 7: Mumbai, India

7:00am-10:30am: Breakfast served at Hotel Restaurant

9:30am: Meet in hotel lobby (will receive introduction to tour from Ravi)

10:00am-4:00pm: Cultural Tour (may included dependent on weather: Gateway of India, Regal Circle, Prince of Wales Museum, NGMA, Police Headquarters, Kala Ghoda Art Precinct, Bombay University and cricket at the Oval Maidan, Flora Fountain, Town Hall, Victoria Terminus and the Municipal Building, Crawford Market, Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach, Mani Bhavan, home of Gandhi, Malabar Hill, Dhobi Ghat and lunch at Copper Chimney)

7:00pm: Meet in lobby to depart for group dinner

7:30pm: Group Dinner hosted by SAS at The Cricket Club of India

Attire: Casual during day / Business Casual for Dinner

Monday, July 8: Mumbai / Pune, India

7:00am-10:30am: Breakfast served at Hotel Restaurant

8:00am: Meet in lobby to depart by bus to Pune (must be checked out with luggage ready at this time, ~4 hrs travel time)

12:00pm: Arrive in Pune & Transfer to Hotel Sagar Plaza (complimentary internet service available here)

1:00pm-3:00pm: Group Buffet Lunch at Hotel Restaurant

3:00pm-6:00pm: Orientation to Education in India & Village Visit Prep with Armene (Mazda Hall)

6:30pm: Walking Tour of Pune

Evening: Free / Dinner on own

Attire: Casual

Tuesday, July 9: Pune, India

7:00am-10:00am: Breakfast served at Tangerine Restaurant

Morning/Afternoon: School Visits (departure and arrival times, transportation method and lunch will depend on specific school visiting, should have enough cash to cover your lunch and taxi with tip to/from)

Evening: Free / Dinner on own

Attire: Business Casual

Wednesday, July 10: Pune, India

7:00am-10:00am: Breakfast served at Tangerine Restaurant

Morning/Afternoon: School Visits (departure and arrival times, transportation method and lunch will depend on specific school visiting, should have enough cash to cover your lunch and taxi with tip to/from)

6:30pm-8:00pm: Odissi Dance Performance at Mazda Hall

Evening: Free / Dinner on own

Attire: Business Casual

Thursday, July 11: Pune, India

7:00am-10:00am: Breakfast served at Tangerine Restaurant

9:00am: Meet in lobby to depart for either Door Step of Blind School Visit

Morning/Early Afternoon: Visit to either Door Step, Poona School for Blind Boys, or Blind School for Girls/Vocational Training Center for Blind Women (lunch included)

3:00pm-6:00pm: Debrief at Mazda Hall

Evening: Free / Dinner on own

Attire:  Nice Casual

Friday, July 12: Pune, India

7:00am-10:00am: Breakfast served at Tangerine Restaurant

9:00am: Meet in lobby to depart (must be checked out by this time – can pack weekend bag to pick up for home stay later and store additional luggage at hotel over the weekend)

9:00am-5:00pm: Village & Ashta No Kai Visit (includes lunch in family homes)

5:00pm: Return to hotel

~7:00pm: Meet host families & transfer with them for home stay (Armene recommends bringing several bottles of water to have on hand for your home stay visit)

Attire:  Nice Casual (please note the villages are more conservative than urban areas in India)

Saturday, July 13: Pune, India

Day/Evening: Host Family Time

Sunday, July 14: Pune, India

Morning/Afternoon: Host Family Time

Evening: Arrive back to Hotel Sagar Plaza to check back in

7:30pm: Group Dinner at Poona Club with Host Families (in walking distance from hotel)

Evening Attire: Business Casual for dinner

Monday, July 15: Pune / Delhi, India

7:00am-10:00am: Breakfast served at Tangerine Restaurant

9:00am: Check out of hotel (must have luggage ready at this time) & depart for company visits

10:30am-1:30pm: Company Visit to Tata Consulting Services (TCS) or SAS (both will include lunch)

Afternoon: Visit to the Serum Institute (will include High Tea)

Late Afternoon: Transfer to airport

6:50pm-8:55pm: Flight from Pune to Delhi (Flight Details: Indigo 6E 406 / Pune-Delhi / 6:50-8:55pm / 2 hrs, 5 mins / Nonstop)

8:55pm: Arrive in Delhi & Transfer to Oberoi Maidens Hotel

Internet rates for this hotel: INR 190 plus taxes for 1/2 an hour, INR 250 plus taxes for 1 hour, INR 375 plus taxes for 2 hours, INR 1000 plus taxes for 24 hours.

Attire: Business Casual (may want to bring something more comfortable to change into for flight)

Tuesday, July 16: Delhi, India

Breakfast served at Hotel Restaurant

TBD: Meet in lobby to depart

Morning or Afternoon: Meeting with Dr. Shashi Tharoor

Morning or Afternoon: Cultural Tour (includes Lotus Temple, Qutub Complex and lunch at Lodi Garden Restaurant)

Evening: Free / Dinner on own

Attire: Visit with Dr. Tharoor is Business Casual and Cultural Tour will be casual .

Wednesday, July 17: Delhi, India

Breakfast served at Hotel Restaurant

TBD: Meet in lobby to depart

10:00am-12:00pm: Meeting with Fabindia (confirmed, waiting on time)

1:00pm-2:00pm: Lunch at Navdanya Slow Cook Organic Restaurant & Meeting with Dr. Vandana Shiva

Afternoon: Cultural Tour (will include time for shopping at Dilli Haat)

Evening: Debrief & Group Dinner at Magique

Attire: Nice Casual

Thursday, July 18: Delhi, India

Breakfast served at Hotel Restaurant

FREE DAY

Evening: Free / Dinner on own

Attire: Casual

Friday, July 19: Delhi / Agra, India

Breakfast served at Hotel Restaurant

7:30am: Meet in lobby to depart for Agra by bus (~4 hrs travel time, must be checked out with luggage at this time)

11:30am: Arrive in Agra & Check in to Trident Hotel

Internet Rates for this hotel:  INR 150 plus taxes for 1/2 an hour, INR 250 plus taxes for 1 hour, INR 800 plus taxes for 24 hours.

Lunch at Hotel (pay on own)

Afternoon: Visit to Wildlife SOS & Mother Theresa Charity Mission

Evening: Free / Dinner on own (restaurant recommendation: Pinch of Spice - http://www.pinchofspice.in/)

Attire: Casual

Saturday, July 20: Agra / Delhi, India & In-Transit back to U.S.

6:00am: Meet in lobby to depart for Sunrise Tour of Taj Mahal

9:30am: Return to hotel for breakfast

10:30am: Meet in lobby to depart for Agra Fort Tour

12:30pm: Return to hotel to check-out

2:00pm: Depart for Group Lunch at Pinch of Spice and to travel to Delhi by bus (will do final debrief on bus)

7:00pm: Arrive to Delhi Airport / Flights back to U.S. from Delhi

Attire: Casual

Sunday, July 21: In-Transit back to U.S.

Flights arrive back this day