Nirvana @ Traffic

While everyone hates traffic, I love it most of the times of course only if inside a car/bus. The precision to keep the car just behind the person in front begs lot of concentration and perseverance. As a byproduct, you can’t be driving fast and even if you hit someone at that pace you are not hurting. I can even call and complete the talking at a signal without breaking any rules.

The day I am working from home, I don’t have the luxury of unwinding in the traffic and instead spend time staring at laptop and end up being not very productive. The concentration on road diverges the mind from the next 8-10 hours at work and is a stress buster. By the time you are in office, you know there can’t be a thing slower than traffic and you are at peace with yourself. This daily dose of enlightenment is what the doctor ordered.

The other benefits include (not limited to) watching the life from close quarters, getting to know flora/fauna of the city etc. I am amazed to see few birds, which I have not seen at any place all my life. You have ample time at your disposal to observe a happening to its logical conclusion. Isn’t it so peaceful to know the outcome of a fight between two motorists and then move on, than wondering what happened at the scene through the day?

And yes, if you have forgotten to “smell the roses” and be happy of the small things in life, the situation is perfect. I for one like to read the punch lines behind an auto-rickshaw and all of them have at least one. The common theme looks to be LOVE and invariably it’s about the faithful boy and discarding girl. They also have cautions to be taken when in love and suggestions on what are good for a couple.

The list of things that can be accomplished while driving are endless, let me name a few. There are hawkers selling everything from pin/ear bud to apartments. You can keep track of birthdays of local politicians through hoardings. The sales/promotions are in your eye. Count the number of Gulmohar trees to work and re-count the next day and verify. Count the number of signals to work and the average time at signal. Listen to the radio and sing along without being commented on singing skills.

If you are still not convinced, try to take a ride to work on Sunday and see the difference. You will miss the hustle bustle and the sense of achievement of reaching the office on time. The roads seem deserted and lifeless to add to your misery. And when you reach office, you don’t have a goal against which you can set your pace.

Though not on par with Buddha who had to forgo everything before achieving Nirvana, my enlightenment is not a mean feast. Add it to that all worldly pleasures are still yours. Though most of us rue about the traffic, inside we do look forward every day for the traffic and the bliss to go into a different world. To put it in a nutshell, “Monday Morning Blues” is applicable to office not to traffic if you have attained that Nirvana.

Kashmir Travelogue, Part-II - Kashmir

Day5 (Tuesday, 23rd October): Srinagar

And, we were in “Heaven on Earth” by 12:45PM. We got the first taste of what’s it going to be like with a temperature of 14 degree centigrade. Mr. M was our driver, and the best part was we got a Chevrolet Tavera as our drive for the next 7 days (Make My Trip says Tata Indica if its 2+1 people). Our booking was in Peacock Houseboat for the first day, which was in Nigeen Lake. On the way we told our driver to stop at a good restaurant and the result was one more culinary delight, some of the best Roti/Naan. The restaurant (forgot the name, mostly it’s called Streams/Trendz or something like that…will update when I get it correctly) was on the sides of Dal Lake. At around 3PM we were in the Houseboat.

Nigeen Lake is connected and a part of Dal Lake and more serene. Dal Lake is beautiful but bursting with crowd during tourist months. In local words “Foreigners stay in Nigeen Lake”. The houseboat was cozy with a calm Manager who made us comfortable in the next 30 minutes or so. Kahwa (Kashmiri Green Tea with Cinamon, Clove, Cardomom, Ginger and Kesar!!!) was the welcome drink and I fell for it. Sipping a hot cup with a surrounding/weather like that is true Nirvana.

We went for a Shikara (a small boat, with roof top famous in this part of the world. If you have seen any old Hindi movies shot in Kashmir, you can’t miss them) ride (Fixed price, Rs. 300 per hour) and it was as amazing as it can be. On your way, other Shikara’s called as mobile shops will come to you, with a thing or two to sell ranging from Tea/Kesar to Pashmina shawls. These may not be the best buys, but good enough I would say. Also we saw few vegetable being grown on lake in few patches (My Analysis – at few places, its little shallow and you have few water plants grown thick. Over that these vegetables are grown) and people call it floating gardens.

Back to the boat house and it really started getting colder by 5:30PM and we confined ourselves in the boat. As suggested by our host we took bath in the evening itself. His rationale was as it’s our first day in the valley, next day morning we will not be able to get up early and get ready. Next day it was Sonmarg and we decided to start by 8AM. The original itinerary was Kashmir sight-seeing, then to Pehalgam and back by 26th for Sonmarg. As 26th was Id, Mr. M wanted to be at home if possible and we re-arranged a bit to accommodate. Dinner was planned in Houseboat, which had a makeshift kitchen outside. Another simple but awesome dinner of Pulkas, Paneer, Dal/Chawal and Veg. Gravy. Is it the food that we are stumped by or the warmness of it in the cold? Answers later.

Night was pretty cold with around 4-5 degree centigrade. We saw a new technique to fight the cold here. The boat manager gave 2 temperature sealed bags with boiling water. You need to keep them inside blanket!!! which keeps you warm.

Day6: Srinagar/Sonmarg/Pehalgam

We thought we will be ready by 8AM. I got up at 6:30 and out to see how the lake looks. All I could see was thick cloud of snow, which only got less by 7:30AM. Now I know how tough it is to get up at that hour and get ready.

A nice breakfast of Parota and curd plus 2 helpings of tea, we were ready to start by 8:30AM. Sonmarg is 45 KMs from Srinagar. River Indus is with you for some distance. Sonmarg was uneventful except for my son puking everything out on the way. Altitude sickness sets in and you need to drink lots of water consciously to avoid it (This realization from blogs about Ladakh). Few minutes of rest, re-hydration and son was lighter and ready to start. We were in Sonmarg by around 10AM. Sonmarg translated in English is “Meadow of Gold”. It’s on the way to Ladakh, through Kargil.

What a nice place and we could see the snow though from a distance, for the first time. There are Pony rides available to the glacier, jeep rides till half distance to the glacier (Thajiwas Glacier); but need to bargain a lot for the deal. You can’t take your vehicles (even if it’s JK registration) up to the point, only the vehicles from Sonmarg are allowed. We chose to walk to the distance as per the advice by few blogs/people we visited in KB. The walk of around 4KMs is easy and worth the effort as we get to appreciate the surroundings. The jeeps take you only half distance.

As this was only the start of winter, glacier had receded back and the pony people were taking the tourists where ever there is a little snow. We also went till we got a bit of snow to play and came back walking again. Though exhausted, it felt good and my son was also able to do it. We were back by 3PM.

Next destination was Pehalgam, where we were to stay in Pine Palace Resorts. Sonmarg, back to Srinagar and 90+ KMs to Pehalgam from Srinagar. On the way, in the dimming light we could see the saffron fields at Pampore after Srinagr, Cricket bat making units near Pahalgam, but pushed them for the return journey. Food was at a small place near Srinagar, which as usual was TASTY!!!

At the hotel by 9PM, to our dismay we found it to be sub-standard, but a little bit of shouting made the manager to change our room to a deluxe one, which we were really entitled to. Pahalgam was really cold and colder than Srinagar, night was -2°C. As per Kashmiris, “If Kashmir is heaven on earth, Pahalgam is Jewel of Kashmir”. How true…

Day7: Pehalgam

Breakfast was fried kind of Parota’s and we wanted to take it slow. Baisaran (which is called Mini Switzerland) and Betaab valley (where the movie Betaab was shot) was selected. Baisaran is uphill and taking the Pony is the best option. Started by 9AM, took 2 Ponies for Rs. 1000 and the up/down journey was done in 3-4 hours. The ride on ponies here makes you a believer, the valley is so steep and I was able to remember nearly 100+ gods from all religions. Jokes apart, it’s an experience for lifetime.

Baisaran was like the golf course at Ooty with Himalaya in the backdrop. Son enjoyed the Zorbing.

Next was Beetab valley and we had Lidder River with us, which looks rustic and nice along the way for some distance. A walk on the banks of the river is highly recommended. Betaab valley is good but just like Baisaran (My view - So many places, are all valleys and look one and the same). Chandanwadi and Aru village are the other attractions which we didn’t visit. Like Sonmarg, to visit these places, you need to hire local taxi. The rates are fixed and displayed at all places and it’s on higher side. Take taxi for a place and then bargain for other places with the driver, it works. Betaab valley is 7+ KMs, Chandanwadi is another 5 KMs from there and Aru is 10+ in a different direction.

Some shopping at Pehalgam and the day was closed.

Day8: Pehalgam/Srinagar

The day started lazily with better Parota’s and then it’s time to head back to Srinagar. First was was an apple orchid on the way. Few orchids charge an entry fee and charge some more to take photos. Usually drivers will know few orchids where they get a free entry ask them and go there. August/September is peak apple season. For visitors like us who come in October, orchid owners keep few trees untouched. At the peak season, you can also pick the apples yourself (around Rs.100 per Kg, as per Mr. M). If you taste the apples here, you will never eat one in Bangalore. The best of the apples are usually exported or go to cold storage for off season marketing.

Avantipur ruins are also on the way, a compound of around 2-3 hectares and were done in 20 minutes.

There are many cricket bat making industries on the way and we get amazing willow here. The tree is cut in sizes and kept for seasoning for years. Then once its seasoned (7+ years?) they make the bat/fix a handle and fancy stickers. Kashmir willows come after England willows in terms of reputation. We got a bat for my son at Rs. 200 without bargain, which is around Rs. 500+ in any shop I have asked in Bangalore. Again depend on your local driver for a good place to buy.

Near to Srinagar, on the way there is a place called Green Tunnel where we have trees bent on the road on both sides, which looks like a tunnel. As the time of the year was Autumn/Winter, the tunnel was more red/yellow than green.

October is the time of Saffron and we visited saffron fields at Pampore, some 10 KMs before Srinagar. Saffron flowers are purple in colour and the saffron is the stigma of the flower. There are so many shops on both sides which sell saffron and other dry fruits.

We then checked in at Centre Point hotel, which is at the heart of Srinagar, near Dal Lake and the markets. The hotel looks old fashioned from outside but once you are inside, it’s a nice place with nice people around. We were made comfortable with 2 room heaters, electrical blankets (blankets that are with heat pads, run with electricity and make for a cosy sleep).

Evening was devoted to shopping with Lal Chowk and other markets with a walking distance of 1 KM from the hotel. The markets are nice places to spend time around with no clue of which is a genuine product and which is not.

Dinner was Rice/Rajma. Till date this is the best Rice/Rajma combination that we had. Rajma is grown in Kashmir and the variety is different (It’s little small). In the word of cook, it’s the water of Kashmir which makes the Rajma’s that tasty.

Day9: Srinagar

The day was to be taken easy in the morning and to end with Srinagar sight-seeing in the evening. Roamed around a little bit for the morning and started after lunch for the sight-seeing. The itinerary was Shankaracharya Temple, Chasmashahi Garden, Nishath Garden and Shalimar Garden.

Shankaracharya Temple is a small one with a serene atmosphere with heavy army presence. The gardens are with the Mughal architecture (Different levels with different theme and flowers). The flower varieties in the garden were amazing and I could only guess the bloom months of May/June/July. Tulip Garden was missed as this was off-season, May-July being the season.

Again some more shopping in government approved shops (courtesy Mr. M), where the prices are little steep, but you get guaranteed materials with a proper explanation of what’s hand woven, what’s machine made. One more interesting thing there was : all the guys in that shop had “Mungaru Male” movies “Anisuthide” as their ring tone and could talk few words in Kannada. The reason? The owner was getting married to a Kannada girl in November!!! As we were Kannadiga’s and the last customers for the day, we were given few percentages off on the purchase. The world is small indeed.

Dal/Rice/Pulka’s and end of the day.

Day10: Srinagar/Gulmarg

The last on the list was Gulmarg. We were off by 8:30AM and Gulmarg is also around 50 KMs. Translation of Gulmarg is “Meadow of Flowers”. Jhelum River gives us company along the way. The last 12 KMs to Gulmarg are the most scenic with hairpin curves. Gulmarg doesn’t have people settled there and is mostly an Army settlement with Ski Resort and the like.

We have cable cars to the peak called “Gandola” which takes us to the glaciers (Affrawat Glacier) in Gulmarg. It’s in two stages (Rs. 300+Rs. 500), second stage ending in the peak covered with snow. The weather there is unpredictable and most of the times in the evening the Gandola rides are stopped for the second stage. The rides start around 9:30-10AM and the chances of getting to peak is more if you are early.

We checked in Nedous Hotel which was started in 1920’s. We met a couple from Bangalore there who were enjoying the bright sun. The sad story was Gandola’s were closed from last 2 days for Eid. The suggestion from the couple was to take ponies to the peak as weather was clear. Got a recommendation from them of Mr. J and went ahead with the ponies (2 ponies for Rs. 1500). Went to the peak, played in snow for an hour and returned as happy as possible. There are many people on peak helping with “crash course on skiing”, but don’t fall prey (We didn’t as we got few stories from tourists we met in KB).

Back by 3PM, had Palak Paneer and Roti’s in the hotel. The Paneer is homemade and fried in ghee to give a very different flavor. We also got to talk to the hotel people and were amazed to know few of them are in that hotel from 40+ years. The top ticket item to stay for that time was the hotel treats them as one of their family. They showed us hotel Highland a few yards away where the movie “Bobby” was mostly shot. One of them when came to know that we are going back the next day and didn’t get to ride Gondola’s, offered a stay at their home!!! We reasoned him that it’s the call of duty and the bookings back home that’s making us to leave that place. His constant appeal to us was to stay a minimum 3 days to soak in the serenity of Gulamrg.

Gulmarg is full of flowers (They grow everywhere in different colours) in May-July. November to February is Foreign Tourist season as per the locals when the place is covered in snow and Skiing activities are at the peak.

Day11 (29th October): Gulmarg/ Srinagar/Mumbai/Bangalore

The last day on the tour and it all ended in a jiffy. Started from Gulmarg at 9:30AM, reached Srinagar at 11:00AM, went through 3-4 rounds of security checks and checked in at 12:30AM. (After check in of luggage, you need to identify them once again before putting it in the plane and you get some more tokens) The flight (Indigo) was at 2 PM to Mumbai and reached Mumbai by 4PM. The next flight was at 8PM and my son’s questions kept us busy all the while. One word of caution, Mumbai domestic Airport is the worst if you want to eat something there. Don’t have much choices, Srinagar was better. (We learnt it the hard way as we were not hungry in Srinagar)

The taxing on the runway was 15 minutes and the pilot was very jovial about it (He said something like I will take you for a jolly ride for about 15-20 minutes on the ground as we have to cross few terminals before the runway). The best part here was we almost started 30 minutes early as all checked in early. The takeoff was 10 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Reached Bangalore at 9:30PM and home at 11PM. What a journey it was!!!

I know you are as interested to know the political scenario of Kashmir and about the people there, and I am more interested than you to tell the story. It’s the subject for my next blog...

Kashmir Travelogue, Part I - Prelude and Delhi

If words are not your forte, please move here for pictures. Kashmir Photos

It started as a thought when I was changing my job in May. The idea was I will take an off of a week or two in between. The short list? It varied from Bangalore sight-seeing to Timbuktu. Singapore, North India, South India in car, Mauritius etc. were in between and feasible. But then the off happened to be in July and only I am free and couldn’t afford that many days. What’s the solution? Look at son’s school holidays and decide a place for the season.

The guideline is setup and that’s half the job done. I went ahead joined new place, got settled blah..blah. Now the million dollar question of where to go. Car trip was ruled out as options will be limited, Rajasthan/Ladakh (It is in the list, a drive) ruled out for lack of “that many” days. The idea centered more on Kulu/Manali and Nainital and the like. In this meanwhile Delhi was fixed as we had my wife’s friend Mrs. SJ there, who told she will get a pass for us to Parliament and Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

Then the research bit when I went through travel agents and asked for the itinerary, myriad travel blogs, trying to understand the weather. Then came the best help, when I talked to Mr. JV who is from Delhi and my new colleague Mr. DB who is from Nainital (Thanks PI for making me know of this fact). Few iterations of talk with them and the suggestion was why not Kashmir? The rationale was Kulu/Manali is much commercialized and full of tourists in this season. Nainital is not that great for spending that lot effort from Bangalore. Kashmir will fit all the bills of snow, House Boat, Boat ride (Shikara), Cable car at Gulmarg, Himalayas, nice places and add to that the fact of farthest point in India.

The place is selected and our research was now focused to people who travelled there. Had a discussion with Mr.SP and got to know about the places and one more round of Travel Blogs and getting itinerary from travel agents. Decided against Vaishnodevi as it will be a hectic itinerary and the rush during Navarathri. Final decision was to book tickets on our own to be able to finalize the dates and book through Make My Trip for Kashmir. The tentative dates were 20th October to 28th or 29th October as son’s holidays were from 20th October to 1st November. It was Delhi and then Srinagar as we needed to visit Parliament and Rashtrapathi Bhavan on either a Monday or a Wednesday.

We wanted to spend the most in Kashmir and a 7 day package was decided with the places Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam. Then Delhi/Agra needed 3-4 days for all that we wanted to see. The dates were finalized as starting on 19th October, flying to Srinagar on 23rd and starting back and reaching on 29th.

Day1 (Friday, 19th October): Delhi Local Sightseeing

The flight (Indigo Airbus A320) was at 6AM and we were in Delhi by 8:45AM. While getting down from the plane, we were the last ones and my son was invited to cockpit by the Airhostess. As usual my son had zillion questions on zillion plus instruments/switches in the cockpit. (From then on he was invited to cockpit other times as well but he was not interested as he knew it all). We were in Karnataka Bhavan (KB) at Ansal Plaza (Thanks to Mrs. SJ) by 9:30AM. Initial plan was to take it easy and just go to Akshardham. But the dozing off in plane and the rejuvenating breakfast of idly/vada (2nd time for the day) at KB made us realize we have a full day at hand. My wife met her College Principal there who was on a visit to AICTE. We don’t see much of him in my wife’s place where he is few streets away.

Talked to the taxi operator at KB and decided for a full day trip in Delhi for the day and Agra/Mathura for the next day. We were able to cover Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, Red Fort, Akshardham, India Gate. Lunch was at Haldiram’s in Lajpat Nagar after Lotus Temple. This was on the insistent of wifey, who was told by her colleague Mrs. SS that you get the best Kachori’s there. It may not be the best, but food at Haldiram’s was good and start of our culinary delight for the days to come by.

I always thought Qutub Minar to be small and the actual was a big surprise. Lotus temple was an Architects delight. Our driver told Red fort was taken over by CRPF and my thought was we will finish it in 30-45 minutes. But it was huge with a big H and the walking around made my son sleep in the car after Red fort till Akshardham. We waited for son to get up and then stood in the queue for Akshardham. It was an hour long wait and we needed to deposit camera/phone etc. Only money and water bottle allowed inside. We were in by 6:30PM and late for the Movie and sound shows inside. We did watch the Swaminarayan temple, musical fountain which was good. On the way back, visited India Gate. Had dinner at KB which was little spicy but good.

Day2: Brindavan/ Mathura/Agra

The day was supposed to start at 5AM to avoid traffic to Agra, but after a little confusion started at 6AM. The National Highway to Agra is a chaos with everyone coming from everyway and our driver was one of them. For breakfast we stopped at a Dhaba near UP (Ulta Pradesh according to our driver who was from Jharkhand) border. There we had one of the best Parota’s which was dolloped with a lot of butter. These Parota’s at 8:30AM carried us till 4:30PM and that became the norm throughout our journey.

Brindavan was the next stop and our driver told us to just visit Banke Bihari temple and come back and not to talk to any tout. We didn’t understand much at first and then through the gullies to temple, we realized that the whole town is full of touts who will show you 5/10/100 temples. The temple finished in 30 minutes, we were off to Mathura. At this point, I really didn’t want to go there but the driver told the Mathura Temple (Birth place of Krishna) is under CRPF. Yes, it was under CRPF and hence no touts!!! At that point I wanted to plead the Govt. of India to get all places of public interest under CRPF. At Mathura at the place of Krishna’s birth, we met our layout neighbor. We were wondering whom are we meeting tomorrow, but meeting known people stopped here.

In Agra we hired a guide who was known to our driver. He took very good pictures, but that’s about him. Better to read on net and go about on your own than hire a guide. Only good thing he showed was the semi-precious stones set in marble. I have a rather strong opinion on Taj Mahal being built out of blood for a ruler’s whims and fancies out of tax money, but the structure makes you go “Wah”. No wonder it’s one of the “Wonders of the world”. Our guide denied marble being a little pale now, but it’s definitely pale with all the industries that were there before. The guide told us there is a Rs. 500 entry on Full Moon day to see the Taj in moonlight. He was also telling they let you see only half portion, as, if you stand there for long, you will become blind because of reflections (This is a pure folklore). Yamuna is dried and dead, there is no romance left in that anymore. So much for the callousness we and our present day Badshah’s show for the environment.

After a quick lunch at a hotel not too great (shown by the guide, he would have got his part) but good enough, the guide took us to a government shop and wasted 20-30 minutes there.

Next stop was Agra fort which again is now under CRPF and we were late by 2 minutes. Ticket counter was closed and as always touts were there with tickets for Rs. 200 (instead of 25 for three of us). After a bit of talking/pleading to the security guards there, a CRPF Jawan Mr. Rajat Singh saw us talked to the security and took us with him (literally escorted us till inside).

We started back at about 6:30PM, bought some Agra Peta on the way (1 Kg of it, finished by next 1.5 days). The softer ones which stay for a week are the best and the yummiest. There is a Peta shop every 10 meters and there is no point searching for the authentic. I guess it’s more Mass Market Product now. We hit the Yamuna Express way at 7:00PM and were at the end of it by 9PM. That is 200 KMs covered in 2 hours on a Maruti Ecco. Apart from a minor incident at the start when someone threw stone at the car, which hit at the back; the ride was peaceful and perfect. Dinner at KB for me and then a peaceful sleep.

TIP: Taj is closed on Friday. Enter Taj from the south gate / worker’s gate / worker colony gate (if on a Saturday when there is lot of rush because of the closure on Friday. Auto to that place will cost Rs. 30-40) which is usually less crowded. No need to wear the white socks (Rs. 10 per pair) over shoes; you can conveniently take off the shoes before going for the tomb inside. The fort entry closes at 5:30PM and then they allow around 6:30 for a light show.

Day3: Delhi Again

The plan was to see the left over places in Delhi and try Metro and then the much needed shopping therapy. We started to Humayun’s tomb which was around 3-4 KMs from KB and took an Auto as going to Metro station and then taking a Metro will be more tedious. This fact was also validated by the Sardar Auto Driver who suggested taking Metro only when it’s more than 5-6 KMs or in a crowded area. Our own experience later was for 3 people it is lot slower to go in Metro if the next point is nearby.

Back to the places of interest, we did Humayun’s Tomb (Humayun’s tomb has a Sauna like bath tub which amazed us), Purana Quila (Old Fort), Boat Ride near Purana Quila and Akshardham (to complete the movie stuff). The movie experience was good in Akshardham and worth it for the idea and the pain taken to maintain things. (Note: It’s about Swami Narayan and the heritage of India). Akshardham was done in Metro and it’s faster as the place is little far from South Delhi. One will appreciate Metro at this point when it’s faster to reach places like this. Again a losing feel, our politicians didn’t want the service of Sridharan; Bangalore Metro or Monorail as suggested by him would have been different.

Then it was shopping time at Sarojini Nagar market. It’s a nice place for the ones who are into street shopping (I am not into shopping itself). The place is Chikpet, Commercial Street, Gandhi Bazar clubbed into one and crowded. My take for this place is you will find things at cheap that you don’t need; need is created here.

Day4: Rashtrapathi Bhavan/Parliament/Shoppin

Half of Delhi (or more than that) is closed on Monday. Except for Janpath Market and Dilli Haat (Not my research, its courtesy other half), all shopping places are closed. We started little late as the program was only to cover RB and Parliament. We had a VIP Pass (can get from an MP) courtesy Mrs. SJ.

What I expected was to get in and have a look around. What was in store was better than expected. Both the places we got security officer’s in the role of a guide.

RB was 200+ acres of real estate for a guy (as said by Mr. JV) and huge but not well maintained. The museum in RB was amazing (gifts received by previous Presidents from other countries). The Durbar Hall and Ashoka Hall were magnificent but not clean. We also had a look of Mughal Garden, which was void of its splendor because of autumn. Mr. President was away that day and hence no flag hoisted on RB.

The next step was parliament. The kids (mine and Mrs. SJ’s daughter) were hungry and with them we got the permission to use the Parliament canteen. (Rs. 18/meal, Rs. 1/extra Roti, awesome) We were shown the LS hall, RS hall, and Common hall for joint sessions. There was a net in ceiling of LS hall and the reason for that is….the ceiling is little weak now, and few pieces have fallen off sometime hitting MPs. So, instead of making any change to the structure, they have put a net. The guide told us that after the attack to parliament, the security here is tight (2500+ people). As per him, we were at the second safest place in India after the atomic research centers.

A quick light moment: A kid was leaning against the gallery and our guide told “The structure is 90 year old and anything may break any time. If you fall off, as the sessions are not going on, to get the key to the hall, it may take 2+ hours after all clearance….(and he doesn’t know that protocol)”

Janpath market was next and nothing much to talk about. Dilli Haat was for the evening shopping and its little upmarket. The stores/food courts from all over the country are located here in a neatly laid out format. It’s not too crowded but a little costlier. You can still bargain here at some shops. Thumb rule is start at 50% of the ask and you will know the shop owners appetite for bargaining.

A hearty dinner at Mr.SJ’s house, 2 hours of chit chat for my wife with Mrs. SJ and the day ended with excitement.

Day5: End of Delhi and start to Srinagar

Day 5 started late, with a bit of re-arranged packing and we were waiting for the Cab. The flight was at 11:30 (Go Air, again a A320) and we were in Srinagar at 12:45.

Srinagar in next post…….

Software Dinagalu Page-2 : Training days of Infosys

I have the subject in hand and the content is very much there, but motivation to write is missing. I am trying to keep the promise I made to myself. 

Training days started off with a week of "Finishing School" (I understood the meaning of this word few years later), where we had many fun activities and personal improvement sessions. These sessions and many other personality development programs in Infy, indeed were good and after these many years, I have started to appreciate that.

The second week started with basic courses and again the brain washing started here. They always said as Infy takes freshers from all streams, they start with the basics. This week again was fun, as we needed to read just few pages and write the exam. Most of us got "A" grades. 

Here comes the twist in the tale, the third week started with C and UNIX. We were supposed to learn UNIX in 3 days and C in 5 days flat!!!, that too with the projects. In the class room, we were taught basics and then phew....we were told to design and implement a Library system in 2 days. We did everything, coding/code sharing/code smuggling etc...etc..Finally most of the teams had the same code underneath and UI was different with people putting their group name, name and likewise.

After C and UNIX, all electronics students were taken out to work for a OSDC (Off-Shore Development Centre). 1 month training started there instead of normal courses like VB, Oracle etc. This is the only training till date, which I have attended without interruption. Now, after 8 years if I try to sit in a training either my superior tells me not to attend or invariably I get a 

call which assigns me a more important work; Blame it on easy accessibility because of mobiles or may be people have forgotten to be slow and steady.We used to have sessions for the whole day and many afternoons I used to sleep peacefully. Many of the things used to bounce over the head. 

The best part came after training. Around 10-15 of us didn't get any project and they made us sit in a big conference room with each one having a phone and computer. We used to play computer games and even cricket in that room. 

We all sat in that room for around 1.5 months waiting.........

Software Dinagalu Page-1 : Initial Days of Infosys

For who are "differently abled" in Kannada, Dinagalu = Days. 

I am keeping up my word and back with a post in the first week itself. The series starts!!!

As a software professional (this word doesn't have any literal meaning here), i should stick with version control and my posts will have different "Pages". And I am allowed to have page numbers in decimals.

The first Page is all dreams and enlightenment. If there is a hint of sarcasm, that's called reality.

The story starts on a chilly, foggy winter day in December 2000, 4th Dec to be precise. I was all set with a thought that I am going to change this world forever. Joining Infosys was a dream come true (not entirely according to me but according to Infy HR and PR), which only 1 out of 50 or 100 could achieve. Now after 8+ years I know that I am not going to make a difference out of the blue and 1 out of... is another number of the game called BUSINESS of any IT/ITES company in India. 

The first things that strike to me when I think about Infy is, TIE and formal SHOES. We had to wear the tie on Monday, then it became Monday and Tuesday. But the Off-Shore centre I worked was casual enough, so we used to remove the tie once we enter the building. Few people used to have a spare sandal in the cubicle for use inside the office!!! If you cant brake the law, try to bend it.

Catch the bus at 7AM from NR Colony and be in Infy by 8AM was the usual routine. Classes used to start at 8:30AM. We were all thrilled with the conference room and in the first session they announced that we are the biggest batch in Infy history till now, and we were thrilled even more. This was the beginning of my "Number Crunching" experience in IT.

The first 5 days were all fun; games, passwords/mailboxes/bank accounts, preaching about Infosys ethics and more number crunching. The best part here was I made friends with Avinash and Vivek. We three went for lunch/snacks together till I was in Infy for the next four years. Avinash died in a car accident in 2007, which I am yet to understand why; and for vivek, he is the best friend of my son (and mine too).

We were "trained" for 3 complete months and our instructors kept on telling that 3 months of Infy training was equivalent to 3 years B.S degree in UK. Crash Course, how amazing!!!

More about training in the next Page.

Work and the aftermath.....A quick Prelude

Finally, I have hit upon a subject to write for this year (infact, next year). I will write about my work life.

Some P.S at the beginning. This is not going to be any masala story and I will make sure I will hide all my incompetency, embarrassements and use this forum to vent out all my frustrations.

I hit upon this subject when I was thinking about the R&D spend of the company I am working in. To me it looks like R&D spend is mostly cost of Travel, Cab expenses, Food reimbursement etc. If companies give the actual breakup of R&D spend, we will have negligible money spent on few useless equipements and tools other than the things mentioned.

And even we employees are not far behind, work for 7-8 hours (half of the time reading/writing mails and making reports), lunch/coffee breaks for 1-2 hour, travel for 2-3 hours and then curse everyone on earth how busy we had been. Lousy Loosers!!!

Back to the topic, the next posts (not sure how many) will take place from 2000 decemeber onward till date and will not have a sequence, I will take all the liberties to move around time.

Resolution for year 2009

I will write more blogs. 

I need to keep up this promise before adding anymore. Will review this end of Q1. ;-)

Basanti...Teddy...

How can I forget you singing first two lines of "Piya Basanti Re..........". Your smiley face and that slight hint of dimple will haunt me forever.

It's not fair......

What to write???

Actually, I have few many things to write. Only that I couldn't get a suitable title, which will go well with the content.

The day starts on a happy note, thanks to my son and as usual all day long "I keep adding someone to the list of people who piss me off".....and then there is this bike tyre which got punctured. I came to office to read a mail which tells me how to get motivated and keep it going....Yes, today's my bikes 6th birthday (or is it anniversary...she would have born few days before right) and I treated her with a brand new front tyre.

Can't think of anything else........

Happiest moment of the day

Son wakes up and calls "Appa".....in his own sweet way...

Everyday of my life, I am forced to add another name to the list of people who piss me off

Calvin can never be wrong...

I am adding few to my list today (mostly they are adding me to their's). Irritating is mutual.

It's so funny that these people can be anyone and everyone. It's your near and dear ones (Ofcourse, you forget them and move on), colleagues, bosses (they are the most likely and you have to put up with them), a rash driver on the road, neighbour; the list is endless. They come in all shapes and sizes.

The reasons: as diversified as species on this planet. It can be the bike guy who keeps honking or your boss who keeps talking crap completely aware of what he is doing.

I can't think of a conclusion to this post. May be there is none. If it has one, it's definitely going to piss off who is reading.

Virus of the Planet Earth

May be we, the human of the species are not born for this planet. Unlike all other species on earth, we....consume every other resource and calculate that these resources will last only these many days. Oh human, greediness thy name....

Mail Musings

It's a wonderful day, a wonderful day gone bad. I am searching for that one elusive mail from hours sraining my eyes.

e-mails have become a part and parcel of our (Software Engineers) life. Every conversation ends with "Ok...see you...mail maadu". But the conversion rate is very less. Though it takes hardly few seconds, most of us are lazy to write even a reply. Reply and Reply All are intended only for "Official mails". So, we check mails more often than we get them.

Mails are a best way to kill time when there is no work assigned, but you wont get any mails. And when there is work, you keep getting more mails, which assign you more work. Murphy's Law can best be explained for mails.

In my carrer of around 6 years I have seen two type of mails. Junk mails and Junkest mails. 99% of the mails I have got till now could have been avoided. The mails I got around 5 years back are in circulation still....

Yes, there are happy moments, mails which made me think, made me laugh like mad, made me mad etc. So, its a wonderful day...

Travelogue

Travelling from India to US was easy and the journey back needed little thinking !!!

If you are travelling on International carrier, you can check in till the port of entry in US.Check with the carrier, sometimes they have tie up with the domestic carrier in US so that luggages can be collected at the destination. There will be a stamping at Immigration counter at the the place where you board International flight. At US, the place you enter will have a stamping done and the immigration officer will staple a I-92 to the passport. Never loose this.

If there is a domestic travel involved in US while returning, make an International baggage check-in.So, no need to collect the luggages till you reach India. In India, if there is a domestic travel, make sure to coleect the luggages. While returning, I-92 should be given back to the International Flight you are travelling. Make sure the carrier collect I-92 while giving the boarding pass. Also at the gate of boarding the plane, there are "US Visit" kiosks where you need to follow the instructions. These steps make sure you are out of USA legally.

Be attentive to the announcements, when ever there is a landing. Immigration forms need to be filled while entering a country. when in doubt never hesitate to contact Information desk at the Airports.

To avoid jet lag, try to get as much sleep as possible. Eat a lot and drink lot of fluids. Juices arebetter and try to avoid Alcohol. After reaching the destination, go to sleep immediately or sleep only during night times. For 2-3 days avoid sleeping in the afternoon.

Thats all......

End of Plano Days: Is this the Beginning or the End?

"I am gonna be serious"

Avinash Vasudevan finally made a resolution to be serious.......

Chap. 4.01: Plano Dairy-3a Movie Marathon

Adding little complexity to chapter numbering. Version control. But anyway its hapazard. May be more complex and nobody is going to understand the rationale behind it. Even me!!! But we need to have version control and process in place for the smooth functioning of things, let it be.

Did nothing but watched movies on a strech. Watched Matrix, Matrix Reloaded, 6th Day, K-PAX, Beast Man, Forest Gump and many other 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 .....(frankly, I don't remember the names of all those mostly Tamil one's...from SUN TV) movies. And at the end of it I am talking more of the dialogues from the movies than my own.

And we are planning to tell these dialogues and make everyone crazy tomorrow, i mean today (its 12:30 AM) at the office....

My biological clock was tuned to US time when I was in India and now it's tuned to Indian time. Feel like sleeping in the morning and not feeling like sleeping at the nights.

I am going crazy.......

Chap. 4: Plano Dairy-3 Emotional Blackmail

Went to Chettinad Restaurant for lunch 23rd Afternoon. Food was good. So, my enlightenment place was Chettiand Restaurant (oh...for this blog...for other things I am already an enlightened soul...and you can't re-enlighten one)All these crap I am writing because I am watching Matrix and Matrix Reloaded back to back at Avinash's place with Raajeev.

Now finally to the subject. This whole world looked like a business and Emotional Blackmail at it. You feed a "customer"with food from his place with some old music turned on. Make him nostalgic and turn in a "customer" who can cook a far better thing and make him feel inferior in the process.

By the spirit of Matrix, we are all programs chosen to do certain things. By the way we have already made the choices and we don't have any more choices left!!!!

The ONE

Chap.3: Plano Dairy-2

Hmm...time to go back in time. In the second Plano Dairy, I will mostly write about the initial Plano days. Reached here on 25th August midnight local time and checked in at Days Inn. The manager was a Gujju guy and asked me which part of India I am from (He was wearing an Indigo Nation Trousers....) First dose of what I was going to get in here. Slept till 8 in the morning and then started calling people one by one...Raajeev told they will be playing Volleyball and will take me. My manager Jitendra told I can call him for any help. By that time went for the "Bitti Thindi" (Complimentary Breakfast.....) The context of Bitti Thindi will follow in the next episodes...A way for reader to keep guessing....

At 11, Raajeev and Avinash were there at my room and they told volleyball is cancelled as people didnt turn up. Second thing which I am going to witness for 3 consecutive weeks. Then met Saurabh, Akkals & Family, Shashi & Family. Had lunch, dinner and then packed back to Days Inn. On Sunday it was Ganesha Chaturthi and we all went near the Lake for a gettogether and heavy lunch...(cook and bring....). Went to a Ganesha temple in the evening. The poojari there was chanting the mantra in Sanskrit and talking in English...yo...man...

Ok...let me keep some more things for the next blog and take a leave....

Chap.2: Plano Dairy-1

It's weekend!!! Every other Software Engineer worth his salt is bound to wait for that "weekend". Woke up early at 9:00 AM and played volleyball. After lunch it was time for my favourite hobby, sleeping.

Woke up in the middle of sleep and started changing the look and feel of my blog page and then its time for another blog. I need to write some serious blog instead of just writing my dairy. Anyway Slow and steady wins the race (Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin are bound to laugh)

It's been cooking, eating, sleeping except for the office hours.

I will keep my promise of better blogs from next one....and may be I can delete all the old ones to prove, I was good from the first one.

Keep waiting.....

With my Son Vishruta....