Woah!

“The warden threw a party in the county jail.
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The band was jumpin and the joint began to swing.
You should’ve heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
Let’s rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock.” 

Woke me up from my sleep, I found my mobile phone singing in Elvis’ voice, I picked it up and answered the call.
“Wake up, you sleepy log… kitna soyega (how much would you sleep)… mera kaam karna hai na (you have to do my work)…” blurted my friend, I was not in a mood to listen to him at this moment, I had just woken and my eyes felt weak towards the sunlight pouring down the window in my room.
“That is to be done on Tuesday, tomorrow; the bank is closed on Mondays…” I gave him a dose of his own medicine.
“Oh hello. Today is Tuesday and if you don’t do this right now, you would not be able to finish it in time and would be late for work” he retorted back.
“What the hell”, I snapped back, “Today is Monday and I am on leave today and FYI, I am going back to sleep” I was just about to cut the call when he started laughing out loud.
“Dude, this is no April fool joke, I am damn serious, today is Monday and I am going back to sleep, if you wish to laugh your minds off it, you are welcome to do that, bye” and I angrily cut the call.
I looked at the date come on my mobile phone screen; it showed 11-Sep-07. I wondered what was wrong, why is my phone showing a date in the future… nervously I crawled out of the bedroom and into the living room to switch on the TV, I scanned for the news channel, it too showed the 11th of September, 2007 and were showing a re-run on the 9/11 bombings. I was out of my mind at that point of time, wondering what was happening, totally confused, I called in my cousin to confirm what I was experiencing, was that a dream or a reality, she told me the same thing, it was the 11th of September, 2007 a Tuesday and not Monday as I claimed to be.

Freak, I lost an entire day, I have no recollection of the day prior to this, a day was completely deleted from my life and that too my 24th birthday! I just sat there on the couch wondering was it still a dream or what was happening to me. How could I loose a day? How come? I was confused. I realized that the only thing that would actually solve this is trying to recollect all that happened before I went off to sleep… happy with that realization, I sat down on the couch trying to remember my last memory, but my memory kept failing me, I simply couldn’t make out any thing that could cause such a huge calamity, I felt like loosing my 24th year of existence that to on my birthday! Surely friends and relatives must have met me on that day, called in or sent sms wishes to me, frantically I grabbed my phone, it was the new one I purchased last night I thought, or was it the night before, my other mind was trying to live in the present while one part firmly believed that it was indeed Monday and people are playing very dirty tricks on me, but then my reasoning mind said that my near and dear ones can play such tricks but what about the TV channels, they are no friend of you. So frantically I searched for any call records or sms’s that might have been through my cell phone, there were no entries for the day, it seemed that the date 10th September, 2007 was vanished from the world and my mobile phone. For once I felt that I was going mad, but then suddenly I tried to recollect what I had done on the Sunday evening.

So, I met a few of my friends in the evening at around 7 – 7:30, and then I had gone to that mobile shop to find out if the phone that I wanted had arrived in the shop, the shopkeeper told me that it was on the way and was expected sometime soon, relieved I walked back home and started preparations for the dinner that I was treating my family to. We were going to this restaurant for the first time and we were made to wait as all the tables were full. After around half an hour we were led to a small table that catered for four and we sumptuously ate the food served there. On the way back home, I went in to the mobile shop to find out if the phone had arrived, the shopkeeper felt relieved on seeing me. He said that he tried once too many times to call me and let me know that the phone had come in. he gave me the phone, just the one that I wanted, I was happy, so were my parents and my brother, who would now get to use my current phone for which he has been longing for long now.

I then purchased the phone using my debit card and got back home. I then used my brother’s SIM card in my current phone and entered all my contacts into the new phone, carefully not making any mistakes; this took me quite some time enough for me to realize that I had a decent number of contacts on my cell phone, so once I had entered the last of the contact I set the alarm for me to get up early and go to the church for mass. And I slept.

That was all that I could remember, and no further, suddenly I was woken by Elvis asking me to do some Jailhouse Rock. I still wondered what went wrong, how did I end up loosing an entire day and that to an important day like my birthday. So I sat down frustrated and had a look at the time, it was almost time for me to get ready to go to work, but some how the feeling of missing an entire day was not settling in to me. I called up my colleague and told her that there might be a chance that I might not be in office today, she resented and told me that she had faced a lot of hardships yesterday when I was not in office and she counted on me coming to office today to solve some pending issues. I said that I’d definitely try to be in office today then, just would be a little late. I told her as I was coming to terms of this unusual feeling that had taken over me.

Just then my friend again called and I told him the entire story about loosing a complete day, he laughed at my story and told me that I would make a very good story writer, “Don’t you remember that we were at your place in the evening, you lazed around all day doing nothing at all!” I told him that I tried to remember it all but just couldn’t. He then told me to forget all about it and get to work as it was already getting late.

I am wanting to finish off this, I need some suggestions, please let me know if you have any. Let me tell you that this is actually a dream that I had on Monday and was wondering what it would be like to loose an entire day of your life… and that too your birthday!

Back Home

So finally after a tiresome 13 hour journey from Dublin to Frankfurt and finally landing at Mumbai. Lufthansa treated me very well, the food was fantastic but there was a serious shortage of leg space. I being a little on the taller side felt a lot cramped to sit in those seats in the 747 jumbo jet. There was also an obvious difference with my experience with Swiss that the in flight screen was a large common one right in the front, as in the Swiss plane, this was behind the seat rest, so individual screens.

Again the in flight entertainment had a great movie to be watched
‘Pursuit of Happyness‘. I was impressed with the story and the screenplay with really superb acting by both Will Smith and his real son Jaden Christopher Syre Smith. For now I can say that Will Smith can act and his son is a real Oscar winner. The story touched my heart and the main aim that is portrayed in the movie that happiness is always chased for and you will never find happiness unless it is striven for.

As I reached the Mumbai Airport, I already began to feel the heat, it was 30 degrees C with heavy rains that lashed just before we landed. I quickly went through the necessary immigration and custom checks before I spotted my parents waiting for me. I ran towards them only to be brought to a halt by my brother and friend. Soon mom and dad were there and the first thing from mom’s mouth, “You appear to have lost weight.” Quickly I asked them to get on the road and get some wind blowing in my face, I was already wet with perspiration.

We came to Manickpur in about an hours time only to find out that there is no electricity across the village. The shedding was from 09:30pm and now it was almost 3:30am and still no sign of the electricity. I took a cold shower and sat on the swing in the gallery only then I felt relief.

I was not in a mood to sleep even after a tiresome journey just because of the sheer euphoria of getting back home. Anyways I did catch up on some sleep before getting over to places I wanted to visit and was back home in the evening when my fiends caught up on me.

The Time has come…

Tomorrow, I would be flying back to Manickpur, India, the place I call home. It has been more than 2 and a half months here in the land of leprechauns and their pots of gold, Ireland. I am very happy to get back home bit at the same time am feeling a little sad to leave such beauty behind and perhaps the dream of this wonderful country, one question lingers in my mind at the moment – would I ever come back here? I haven’t got a clue about this.

I have always believed in destiny. You are always lead to the place you are supposed to be. May be for the better may be for the worse. But if you try to change it then there could be problems created for you as well as the people around you. It is bit like changing the course of history. You can always go ahead and make history, but you cannot change history.

Anyways, I guess I was destined to travel to this beautiful country and meet so many interesting people that have already touched my heart that I am feeling so sorry to leave them.

So tomorrow a Lufthansa airplane will take me to Frankfurt and from there Mumbai and home. I am to fly early morning and would take me early morning the next day to reach home. I am already thinking of all that I want to do as soon as I reach home – eat food prepared by my mom, sleep, take a haircut, meet up with all the friends and just enjoy the feel good feeling till I get back to office on Monday.

I have experienced a lot here in Ireland that would stay cherished in my mind always. I wish I would come back here again.

So see you all after I am back home…

Shift+Home

So finally I have shifted from my original apartment to a swanky well furnished 3 bed, 2 living and kitchen house. The people whom I was originally staying were expecting their relatives to come over this weekend, so I had to shift houses and more so because I had my stay extended so I had to change the house I lived here in Ireland.

I bid an emotional farewell to my earlier apartment mates, and headed to office with my luggage, after work I was taken to the new place that was 15 minutes away from the office by bus. I was there given all the necessary instructions and was guided through the place. There was one bad luck in there, the place was a new one so there was still no television set over there, so I had no means of entertainment and I was expecting a friend to come over from Mumbai only on Monday so there were 3 nights that I had to spend with out any entertainment except my books – which were a bunch of entertainment.

Now to the house, this has been taken by my office for the people who come in from offices worldwide to Dublin – for training or co-ordinating. I was the first one in the new house. There are arrangements for 5 people to stay in the house comfortably; there are 3 bed rooms where 2 of them have 2 beds. 2 living rooms that are spacious, a kitchen with all that is needed – utensils, fridge, freezer, oven, microwave, amongst other things. There is also a washing machine and an iron to take care of the soiled clothes. The house is in a part where it is very relaxing especially after a hard days work.

So here I am shifting places and having a ball of a time and enjoying the Celtic hospitality. What more can I ask for. And by the way, a television set is due on Wednesday

A Month Goes Past…

Hey what do you know… It has been a month in a foreign land. But seriously I have enjoyed every bit of it. There were many things here that I did or experienced for the first time ever. Flying in an airplane, travelling in a metro and watching the earth from an altitude of 11000 ft., standing on a cliff almost 250 ft high, watching strange rock formations, sheep grazing in green pastures, wild horses, beautiful cottages and even snowfall (even though it was a little harsh on me) Whoa!

I am going through the most amazing time of my life. I never did have a feeling that I would be in a different country away from my own people – the people whom I grew with and shared most of my life with. It feels like I have started a brand new life over here – all over again.

The people here are really friendly. They always have a smile on their face even though they do not know you… life is slow here compared to the busy life that I used to live. Manickpur, being close to Mumbai has become a part of the fast lifestyle. Hence you do not make out any difference. But here, people really do have time for you. If you appear lost, they themselves will come and ask if you need help. Even if you hesitate, they calm you with their smile and help you out.

I had a chance to experience the biggest festival in Ireland – St. Patrick’s Day. The parade was mind blowing – it really is a big thing in how much goes in to planning and executing such a huge parade and the festivities. I missed out on the fireworks display though since the weather God was having a bad day. But I did experience my first snowfall, even though it was more like a blizzard, it was snow falling on me. I was ecstatic on watching snow or rather crushed ice.

Back to the parade – it was a mixture of myriad colours. I got an experience of being an Irishman as an overjoyed volunteer painted a shamrock on my face. Then I had a blast in a local pub where they were celebrating the feast of their patron with traditional Irish music.

In the month I have been to the west and the north part of the country sightseeing. And believe me I have seen most amazing wonders on this world. The Cliffs that hang over 200ft over the ocean and the hexagonal stones at the Giants Causeway. It was a huge risk going to Belfast, as it is a part of the British rule in Ireland and not a part of the Republic of Ireland, but the risk taken was worth all of it. I explored the regions of tension and also the place where the biggest ship of the world – the Titanic was built.

Work wise, I am handling a completely different thing than what I used to do. But the process of understanding the concepts and the how the work goes is slowly getting in my head. So there are no problems that I face while working. I take it as a challenge that I must overcome to live.

My hosts here – they are a bunch of the most helpful people here. Themselves being not from this country, they have given me a place in their home and made me a part of it from the very first day. I have never experienced such hospitality.

In short I am having the time of my life.

One Week On…

It has been roughly one week since I landed up in Dublin. My experience on the plane was great and most amazing. I slept most of the Saturday and on Sunday I explored the Dun Laoghaire bay area of Dublin. Watching the office building from the ground gave a very different feeling. I would be working there for two whole months! And then again I continued my walk to the pier in Dun Laoghaire bay area, clicked some photographs (Flickr!) and retreated home. In the evening, I went up to the local church for a mass. A mass without any songs or music was so different than what I had experienced so far in my life.

Monday was an early start as I had to get to the Dublin office of my company! So breakfast was a quick one and I was off to the office. I was taken on a tour of the place by the person I report to and was given a brief input as to what I was going to do in Dublin. Quickly I met with people who I had worked with from the Mumbai office and exchanged pleasantries. Pretty soon the day was over.

Soon the week has flown past with me feeling that I was always a part of this great Irish culture. I felt that I do belong here and am no different from the person walking down the street. The people are very friendly; and they always have a smile on their face.

Well St. Patrick’s Day is coming, so be ready for a detailed report of what I was up to this weekend.

First hand at flying

As I boarded the Swiss Airbus, I got nervous by the sheer size of the aircraft and to add to that I was told that the flight was jam packed. I found my seat and luckily it was a corner seat and not somewhere in the middle. 20G – that’s towards the end of the middle passage.

At exact Swiss precision, we began for take off at 1:40. There were so many thoughts and feelings running through my mind at that point of time. As we got on to the runway and the speed suddenly shot up, I was pushed towards the seat, almost nailed to it. Then suddenly the feeling that I was in the air – I was flying! All my nerves were calmed down when we started to cruise at an altitude of 11000 feet. The twisting and turning of the aircraft was a truly amazing experience.

The in-flight entertainment screens started showing clips about air safety and other important tips. As soon as we were stable in the air, the PA announced that we would be served a small snack. I was not really hungry and wanted to have some sleep, but the person sitting besides me was already asleep and snoring away to glory! Shattering all my thoughts of a peaceful sleep. So I browsed through the in-flight entertainment and listened to various music and finally watched ‘Déjà vu’ and a documentary on ‘Pierre Cardin’. I tried to sleep in between the movie but simply couldn’t. It was a 9 hour long flight without a trace of sleep but I did manage to get a few winks.

Just before landing at Zurich, we were served breakfast – a choice of an Indian or Continental one, I took the Continental oneJ. Then the process of landing started and funnily I never felt a thing that we were going down, just a feeling that I am travelling in a lift and going to the ground floor. Before the landing process, we were given a brief walkthrough of the Zurich Airport. It was 4 degrees C in Zurich while I left Mumbai at 30 Degrees C!

At Zurich Airport, I had to get to another terminal, to board the connecting flight to Dublin and I had 3 hours to spare. There is a metro rail service to transport passengers through the two terminals at Zurich. So there I was taking a metro rail for the very first time. Soon I was at my boarding gate, but still 2 hours too early! So I roamed around and clicked pictures of the airport and the planes and browsing through Swiss magazines.

I had a small bout of racism while boarding the flight to Dublin. I was kept waiting by the ground staff and all my papers were checked again and again! He doubted my Indian origin – he went by the name! Convinced that I was harmless, he apologised and said that he was just doing his job, I said that was OK and left for the plane.

The connecting flight to Dublin was a terrific experience in itself – I had the window seat and was just near the wing and the engine. The flight was delayed by 25 minutes as the schedule at the airport was heavy. But very soon we were in the air and I was mesmerized by the sights that I saw.

We passed right through the clouds and were above them in no time, I could see houses and cars that looked like small toys then the snow covered Alps, with a huge blanket of clouds. It was Heaven! We passed though France, England before finally landing at Dublin Airport.

At Dublin Airport, again I was made to go through the immigration and I gladly showed them all my papers. And was off to get my baggage, I had to wait to get the baggage but it was worth the wait. I took the bags and looked for a phone to call home, but all that they said was to call from a Credit Card and I had a Global Calling Card, so I too a taxi to the place that I was supposed to stay. Richard was there to receive me in his house as I got there. He showed me around his place and also gave me a set of keys to his house. I was touched by this. Since I was tired, I took a warm shower and was in bed fitfully asleep. I slept for almost 4 hours before realising that I haven’t called home, so I requested Richard if I could use his phone, he gladly said yes, so I called home and started to miss home already!.. I wandered around the house and then slept again only to wake up the next morning.

Load Unload

Vasai is still a developing town and hence there is this notion for the Government that it can apply all the loadshedding that it can on it. The problem of shortage of electricity has been created by the government and now it is haphazardly imposing the loadshedding on soft targets like Vasai. We are currently facing a loadshedding of 7 hours daily. There would be more hours added to the tally soon as per the government notification.
But the question still arises in my mind – “Why us?”. Mumbai by far has escaped the lot of places facing this power cut and when we see big flashing lighting and all the electronics running without any one to attend them, feel so frustrated like picking up a stone and hurling at the lights and mouthing some really foul words at the MSEB (Maharahstra State Electricity Board) that supplies the power to the state.
This is the new schedule for loadshedding in Manickpur are with effect from the 14th of February, 2007.

Day	Time
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	06:30am – 10:00am & 01:30pm – 05:00pm
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday	10:00am – 01:30pm & 05:00pm – 08:30pm

But then the time is not bounding to the people at MSEB, they can cut the current any time they wish.

My First DigiCam

Well, today I bought myself my first Digital Camera – a Nikon Coolpix S9.

Its a 6 Mega Pixel Camera with a 3x zoom. This is an account of how I got about buying it.

I was intending to buy a Sony Cybershot DSC W50 or a DSC W55. I visited the Sony Word store on Marine Drive, but the salesman there told me that these cameras are still not launched in India. That was the end of my dreams. I called up my friend informing him so and my idea of returning home. But just wanted to try once more, so I got off at Dadar and headed off to JJ Mehta’s shop. I asked for the same Sony, but here too I got the same reply. Somehow wanting to buy a camera, I asked for either Canon or Nikon and lo there was the S9 sitting right in front of me. I asked him to show specifically the cameras with lithium ion batteries. He showed me the S9 and an other model, but with my kind of a budge, I settled for this one. Do let me know if you have noticed any issues with this camera. I dont want to regret buying this.