NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

SEATTLE

ATLANTIC CITY

BOSTON

AMSTERDAM

Wild Wild West

Took Jet Airways in Chennai to reach Mumbai. From there, took North West (NW) Airways. The NW flight is really good, but it got delayed in Mumbai by 4 hours. I was waiting in Mumbai arport for more than 6 hours. And a person has to go undergo lot of check ups in Mumbai and need to change places from domestic to international. We need to literallky do lot of shuttling from one place to the other and from one gate to the other. And a person has to take care of all the documents, like immigration forms, passport, tickets, boarding pass, itenarary. One has to be really very alert.

Then, reached Amsterdam. The flight journey is strenous, but this place is really really very beautiful. Its pretty cold there. The temperature was around 1 degree centigrade.
Took some photographs and waited again for 3 hours in Amsterdam. The airport is really big in Amsterdam. Need to switch to gates as fast as possible. Took again the same NW flight.

Reached U.S. In U.S., they did not ask me anything during immigration checkup and the happiest part is that they did not do any custom check for me :)

Took a cab and reached my hotel room. Started exploring everything in Redmond, Seattle. The temperature was below Zero. I walked down in the cold weather for almost 4 kms and found some good indian restaurants and malls. Also, i went to Radio Shucks to get an adapter for my laptop.

Most of the taxi drivers here are punjabis :)

Just went out with my Accout manager and had a cup of coffee and banana cake at Safeway.

Today, the weather is very very cold here. Its raining as well, but i could see the sun too :) I walked almost 4 kms up and down to catch up with the good indian Restaurant "Mayuri Restaurant." Pretty good. Had a tomato rice and a cup of Madras coffee hmm...wow. the cost is very low when compared to U.S. pizzas. As of now, decided to go for indian food ;)

In the next few hours, i have to catch up with my Subject Matter Experts.

Oh....I forgot about my laundry. Going for it now :)

Must watch these movies:

Mr and Mrs. Iyer

15 Park Avenue

The Russian Connection

Six years later

After the hectic work, rushed to the Railway Station to board the Hyderabad Express train at 4:45pm. The train departed. Was in the train reading some books related to my postgraduation. Had a small chat session with my neighbour who is a student of IIT-M. Then, ate apples and slept.

Soon realized that I have arrived at the destination station. When got down the train, I met my friend. The moment I saw him, I could feel the comfort and cherish the moments that we spent in the past.

Six years ago

I know him from 9th grade. We had spent our time together in tuition classes (Maths) discussing about various things -future, aims etc etc... Non-stop speakers on earth. Though the time spent was too too short, the moments were still in my minds, well I should say, in our minds. We planned to pursue our graduation in the same college, but we ended up doing it in different colleges. Soon he flew to Russia to pursue his graduation. I continued to do what I should not be doing ;)

We were in touch. Our life demanded a lot from us. We lost touch.

Memories of my friend do come into my now and then, but frankly speaking not very frequently. Neither he nor I had the time and earnest to know what were doing.

Days passed by...........

Six years later

Still the same old freind, very warm, very comfortable to be with. But with one change, Yes, he is now a "DOCTOR." Absolutely brilliant Doctor on earth. Not just that, a great Singer and an amazing photographer.

We had wonderful time in hyderabad. We talked nothing but about medicines, music, movies, world events, books etc etc....yack yack...still the non-stop speakers on earth. I really dont have words to describe more about our moments in Hyderabad.

Yet another sweet and wonderful memories to store in my mind for rest of my life.

My life demanded a lot again and I had to come back. It was a very difficult moment indeed when I left the place hoping that we would meet again some day, somewhere, some part of the world.

Definitely, for sure, my friend will become a world renowned Doctor. Ofcourse, a Singer and a Photographer :)

Here he is!!

After a year or so, I will definitely blog about the real Russian Connection ;)

Bee day

Jan 08, 2007 10:30pm

After my work, I rushed to Rex Fashions to buy a few clothes to drape myself the next day. Took a pair of blue jeans. The offer of getting a free pair of jeans if I get one more pair of jeans attracted me. Took some time to get another one. Was wondering and wandering for a long time to buy a trouser or a shirt. I could not decide at that time. Found a Designer wear, dirty grey and green Denim Jean Jacket. It was too heavy for me, but i always wanted one like that. Decided to replace free trouser with this Denim Jean jeacket for which i have to fight with the Shop Owner. After a long fight, he decided to give that as an offer ;)

Jan 08, 2007, 11pm

Felt hungry, so, went to FoodNest and grabbed a Doughnut. Also, had a pomegranate juice. Sounds American, but thats what I am ;)

Jan 08, 2007, 11:15pm

Reached home. Got a call from my friend an hour before the actual day starts. I really thank my friend for caling me amidst the busy schedule. Thanks a ton!!!

Jan 09, 2007, 12:00

Another friend of mine called me. Thanks to him too. Then, recieved so many calls my friends and sisters. Also, recieved SMS. Was over the phone and reading SMS till 2:30am. Its been ages since I slept well in my life.

Jan 09, 2007, 8:00am

Woke up. Took bath. Went to temple and then reached office.

Jan 09, 2007, 10am

Had a surprise conference call with my 3 friends. I thanked my friends and colleagues.

Jan 09, 2007, 2:00pm

There came a surprise. Here goes !!!!!




Yes, It was my Birthday. Thanks to my friends who gave me this wonderful, amazing, awesome chocolate cake with walnut. Thanks a ton. Also, I thank them for gifting a fabulous Shirt.

I thank my sisters too for gifting me shirts and giftvoucher from Westside :)

I really do not know how to express my gratitude towards people (200 in number) who flooded orkut and my inboxes with their wishes. Thanks a bunch!!

It was a beautiful and memorable day in my life.

This was my last birthday celebrated in India :)

In Hyderabad, with my friend, "Munch."

The rain slashed chennai last night. It was a heavy downpour that lasted for more than 6 hours. I got stuck in the Petrol Bunk near my Office around 10pm. Tried taking up an auto to reach home. None of the auto guys were ready to drive me home. It was getting very very cold and drenched badly in the rain. Finally, an auto guy agreed to drive me back home for a whopping amount. :)

Unfortunately, someone met with an accident and the road was completely blocked. Was stranded inside the auto for 1 hour....Saw our policemen flying to the accident spot in a car, a white Hundai Car, instead of a jeep. That is a new face of Chennai police.

After they cleared the road, started the journey. Half a way through, the auto had to literally swim across due to water logging on the roads and the auto broke down. I somehow tried taking up another auto to reach home, but no one was around as it was around 11:30pm. Not even a single person on the road. Somehow, I managed to walk down home in that heavy rain. ;)

When I reached home, the clock struck 12.

Today, the weather is pleasant and asusual came running to my office. Listened to the theme song (Khabhi Alvida Na Kehna) of the movie "Khabhi Alvida Na Kehna." A good one. But believe me i am totally against the concept of "not to say goodbye."

At somepoint of time in life, you or I have to leave many people or say goodbye as people come into our lives for a reason, season, or lifetime.

Such is life.....