www.BPODigest.com i-Vortal

Dallas --> Newark --> Paris --> Mumbai --> Bangalore --> Hyderabad

Well this my first travelouge. Sirhari drove me to the DFW Airport. DFW is one of the major airports and it has a heavy traffic. When you drive to airport during peak time, you can actually see flights lined up in the sky one after the other waiting for landing clearance. Its is such a beauty to watch, well I could not take any pic today b'cos I was not going on the peak time. Anyway got checked in into American Airlines easily, no hassles and passed security arround 1:00PM. Plane is at 2:59PM. Previous night I was deprieved of sleep so just sat on the waiting chairs and slept I guess about 1:30mins of really deep deep sleep. Never do night out before travelling, Its crazy really, in the morning while driving I almost ran into a truck, but woke up in the last split second and slammed the breaks. Plane took off at arround 3:00PM, and this time I took a window seat and started observing arround. Exactly while my fight is taking off, in the next runway parallel to us, North West plane started landing, It is so cool to experience the phenomenon. Then I started observing carefully the earth from the sky. Dallas is a recent city and it is really well planned and you can see all the houses along with blue swimming pools arranged nicely in a perfect fashion, a nice view to watch. Suddenly I felt all clouds arround the plane as the plane is cutting through clouds. Some info about clouds according to my observation, cloud groups are actually stacked one over the other in layers and there is a space between each layer. When you are in between the layers, what u observer is that there is a stack of clouds below you which look so fentastic like the whole sky is a milky ocean, just like what u used to see in the old mythological movies. You will see another stack above you, in between you can see clear skies until the horizon. When the plane starts gaining height, it will try to cut through the clouds and you can see a lot of turblance with your own eyes. And I guess you know clouds are there only upto certain height, if you don't know, learn it now. As long as you are in the cloudy region you will not be able to see the earth. But as gain height and reach a considerable height, you can see the clouds layer that is spread until the horizon with boundaries being colored like red/pink/etc.. shades based on the amount of sun light that is there. One more thing you observe is that as you gain height despite the coulds you will be able to see the ground as there will be gaps between clouds groups. If clouds are really densly populated, you will not be able to see the earth. After a while you get bored and start sleeping as pressure/height differences start taking over you. I slept immediatly, as I was deprieved of sleep previous night. For a change AA had some food, basically a turkey sandwich and it was so cold, can't believe how can we eat. kya kare, bhook to lag raha hai na.

Then arround 7:00 PM reached over the NewYork skies. I started observing the ground from arround 6:30 PM and what a stark difference between south and north. In dallas we have 85'F and here its all ice/snow on the ground, you see white snow everywhere on the ground and you feel as if you are watching ocean,not ground. Anyways, once we entered NY airspace, I realized that when ever you fly to NY make sure you can reach while there there are night lights. Its so amazing to see scores and scores of lights just lying arround until the distance what your eyes can see. You can see beautiful brooklyn bridge. the towers of NY, ofcourse WTC missing. At the same time plane is moving very slowly or sometimes not moving at all, it is just occupying a little space in the air and waiting for the landing signal. You can observe that the plane goes like a snake with in a short space, in NY even air space is sarce and costly I guess, as plane descends you will feel as if you are going down in a lift, b'cos it just goes down in a very limited space, can't afford more space and as evening time is ususally peak time, probabaly we have waitied for about 30mins in the air for the landing clearance. All the while I was enjoying the scenic beauty of NY lights, its is an awestruck view which you should not miss if you get a chance to fly over NY. And finally I reached notorious Newark, airport where almost every desi that comes to US should have gone to, as this is the gateway for NJ. For me this is first time that I flew to Newark airport. I actually took a pic of the entrance.

When I entered the airport, i guess the temp. here is about 25'F or something and damn cold and my mind stopped functioning, i was having sleep deprivation and bad weather fluctuations made it worse. I had to literally ping my brain to get out coherent words and sentenses, As I started asking for directions to the security people in the airport, they are looking at me as if I am a dumb guy, lost and desperately seeking help. Well, I has to find a restroom and rush there and get my face freshen up to avoid strange pitiful looks. Only after sprinkling hot water on face, I could come to proper senses.

Then asusual security check, and I saw an old couple being almost strip searched, what a pity, old people always become victioims of this security as they usually have difficulty comprehending things, they forget to declare some stuff like belts, coins in the pockets and they go through the pain. There was one Andhra aunty and the security people were actually acting to show how to spread her hands legs so that she can uderstand, it was funny and pitiful to watch that.

Then enered plane and gosh Air India plane feels as if its a bhooth bungalow. Even the wall paper is so old and never upgraded. Air India badly needs to be privatized. Now I am writing this stuff from plane and I will have to switch this off in a moment. Later.

I was expecting that old airhostesses, but for a change most of them are young and they look pretty good(Am I gettign old ??). The plane is scarcely occupied and I am feeling as if its like a business class travel with almost a personal airhostess, which kind of makes me feel to consider flying Air India again. The most pathetic service I have seen is in Lufthansa, they just don't care atall. Except for the plane looking very old, rest of the things looks pretty good. Well, forgot to tell you, before taking off, there was some sound from the aircraft, like they are trying to start some engine and its kind of giving sounds like dadadadaaaaadadadaaaaaaadaadadadadaaaaaaaaa, gosh, I was so scared to hear that sound from aeroplane, imagine an aircraft which has to fly across the oceans making sounds like a Ashok Lyland lorry to start up, pretty scary huh. Anyways, I guess they successfully started engine and its going smmothly now and while taking off, I had the pleasure of watching the NY area lights which are soooo awesome.

Well,now coming to plane, the food served is so excellent, gosh desi food is desi food, it gets to your brains and I am just thinking about flying Air India again. Well, when I fly mom/dad here I need to book Air India, they will not be deprieved of food. Now heading towards Paris, I guess they will stop there for replenising fuel. I will have to take some pics at Paris. When I flew to USA for the fist time, I flew via Paris and it was such a nice airport.

Pheww, cannot get down the plane, have to stay on the plane at Paris. Anytime time I fly over Paris, its cold, well last year there was a severe heat wave during August. In western world Summer starts after Indian summer ends. And this time I am making trip during Indian summer and missing western spring, I guess I have an urge for wrong time, wrong place thing. I tried to get some snaps through the window. They cleaned the plane while while we are onboard, basically they vacuummed and cleaned loos. But after a while I realized that 1/2 of the restrooms are out of order and no paper, will you fly Air India again ?

There was a scary moment when I realized that my passport is not there in my coat or laptop bag. It was simply scary, the scariest part was, will they allow me to enter India, and then I will have to wait until I get my new passport and visa stamped for me to fly back to USA. My boss is going to scream about that. After a frenzied search, I found it lying on the floor, looks like it dropped down from the coat. Thank god, I am still on plane, if I had gotten down, I would have been in a big mess.

For a change as the whole plane was almost more than 1/2 empty, I got chance to actually sleep lying down on seats, feeling free just like bed. In between Captian was anouncing the cricket score and was delighted to know India won against Pakistan. Saurav and boys got the first ever one day series win for India on the Pakistan soil.

Got down at Mumbai at arround 12:30 in the night and it took about 1 1/2 hrs. to through immigration. Once I came out of airport, bought prepaid taxi to YMCA. As I appoached taxi stand, I felt as if I am entering a war zone, all the guys over there want my luggage, finally 3 gusy surrounded me and one guy was able to grab stuff from my hand convincing that he is the cab guy, all the three folloed me to the cab and put my luggage in the cab, before they asked for money, i gave 20 rupees and they are like after me for more money asking as if I am a culprit working abroad and they need to get paid for stalking me at airport, I didn't give in and after about 5 mins the actual cab driver came. They obviously have connections and the whole episode left me with frustration and just imagine what is the condition of a foreigner who comes to India, he is going to go crazy.

After all this stuff, I realized that I am not sneezing anymore, looks like Indias air is so sweet for me, actually people go abroad and gain color(fairness indian terms) and health, for me its reverse, immediately after I landed I am all fit and energitic.

Today Mumbai's weather is very very good, according to comments from people, its almost 3 weeks that they experienced a nice day. There is no hot sun and it is not sultry at all. Met Atanu and Suhit over the dinner and had some nice time chatting. Atanu gave some interesting points regarding sheep grazing in california when I mentioned about my dad's effort towards raising export oriented sheep breeds. Suhit has some interesting points regarding BPO space, need to look into his ideas and see if we can work together. I am sure its going to exciting.

You will know a pesons/place value when you actually loose them. For me India is like that, I miss it so much, I need to make all kinds of efforts to be able to gat back in a very good shape as an entreprenuer. I just can't wait for my new ideas to click and for somebody to come to me with loads of money and ask me to do some cool stuff.

Going to Bangalore in Jet Airways. All flights of jet during day seems to be over booked, no tickets huh! Way to Jet Airways, I wish Indian govt. opens up international airspace completely for Indian carriers, that will let Jet Airways go global and with a wonderful airline brand from India. Waiting to see that happen.

Stay In Bangalore/Hyderabad.

My bro Ganesh came to pick me up at Bangalore airport, I tried to call the hotel that I booked, but my bro is like 'Anna, I have kept my place really clean, stay with me and give me the money that you are gonna spend on Hotel, so that I can buy a mobile', make sense right, he is entreprenueric now itself. I decided to go with him, I don't have to do any more tipping or calls to reception or depend on anyothers for any kind of info. Well, I went to his place and I was apprehensive of his place as I still remember the really bad smell in his house as all of the guys who stay there are college going kids and you know how they keep their house. As I reaced his place, to my surprise he kept it really clean and I was relieved.

Had a nap for a while and went to Leela Palace, a 5 start hotel to meet butterfly, and we had a blast. I got attracted to her for sure, she got a great smile, I will post her pics later if she permits me. The whole ambience at Leela Palace was so beautiful, I really had a wonderful time talking to butterfly over lunch by the artificial wterfalls that are created there. I liked the gifts that she gave me, who doesn't like gifts :D, Just spent a few hours with butterfly and then flew back to Hyderabad.

Once reached hyderabad, mom/dad were behind me asking me about Butterfly, I told them about her. Later they asked me to see a couple of more girls as usual desi style. And I had to do it, and what a funny story it turned out to be like. Went to meet a girl next morning and I was trying to explain her that I am also a victim of system and just feel free and easy and talk to be as a friend kind of and she was kind of like not responding to anything. I was kind of started feeling embarassed and apologized to her and at tha point of time she told 'I am not interested in getting married now!', there you go, got the catch, hehehe. I was so releived and asked her - 'Do, you have a story to tell me? Any sweehearts?'. She smiled and said 'Yes'. Gosh, it was like all kind of things that I don't want to happen, happen to me. Funny heh! Anyways there ends the story and I said good luck to her and ran out, told my mom/dad and laughed a lot.

After that, mom asked me to meet someother girl, i said nooooooooo way. Finally towards the evening, they convinced me, dare I say emotional black mailing, and I went to meet this girl really relutantly and there u go some really pretty/cool girl comes and I was so relieved talking to her. She is also very practical and we kind of had nice conversation. So, what do you think, she is short listed, lol, gosh can't believe this is happenning.

Here does not end the matter, after that, mom/dad asked me if its an YES for her. I was like 'mommmmmm, give me a break.' Let me think over it and let you know later. Ok, do you think here ends the matter, nooo, they want me to meet one more girl, ailaaaaaaa, I am exhausted, they told if I don't meet her today, I will have to comeback again and meet her, i was not ready to travel all the way to Hyderabad from Ongole just to meet this girl. So, we went to meet this girl at her place and I had a nice talk with her, her sister and brother. She is just 21yr. old and I felt as if she is a kid and so gave some advice on MBA related stuff etc and they liked getting some expert input/advice, I guess. Then we rushed to Ongole, and finally back at home by next morning, what a relief.