I finally made it to Ahmadabad, India to visit my friends from Gateway Technolabs. I could write much about their merits as an offshore software development & outsourcing company – and I probably will at some stage.
But what has struck me the most is how incredibly friendly, hospitable and informal everyone has been – and the food. It has been amazing! Ahmadabad seems to be a city of great food. Even with about 60-70% of the population being vegetarians they also seem to serve a great variety of non-vegetarian dishes. And Niraj – one of my gracious hosts – has a theory which actually makes sense: All the flavors and spices of the local food actually work as a substitute for alcohol – which makes people forget the prohibition (no alcohol in the state). After having gone from one feast to the next – I tend to agree. Today I had the most amazing lunch with my other friend and host, Inder, in a small local restaurant. I would go as far as to say that it has been one of the gastronomic highlights of 2008 – and considering I’ve had my fair share of business dinners & lunches, that says quite a lot. Incredible!