Reasons to shave, vol. I

My last week in the U.S. was spent showing my friend Shoy around Seattle before heading to San Francisco for a last hedonistic bite of America. I came back early on Saturday the 23rd to finish packing before a Sunday flight to Chicago. The other passengers were almost exclusively Washington Army National Guard troops heading to Iraq; needless to say, their year in the desert promises to be even more exciting than mine. My clean-shaven mug, apparently rare in these days of sexy stubble, meant I fit right in, and the unknowing flight attendants extended to me the attention they lavished on the soldiers.

There was a short delay in Chicago before our sunset departure, and 14 hours later we were on final to Delhi. Indira Gandhi International Airport has always been one of my favorites; in between the two main runways there lies the enormous burned-out hulk of an abandoned plane. Stepping off the airway, I was greeted with a 35C blast of humidity. Bharat mein aapka swagat hai.