Touring Chronicles -2

To continue from where I left…I headed towards the terminal A18 to catch my connecting flight to Stuttgart. After taking directions from a good number of people, I found my self running to make it to the terminal before my flight leaves. I some how made it there panting and puffing just to learn that the terminal has been changed and now I had go to A23 which is a bit at the further end. I had a good amount of physical exercise. I ran for almost about 2.5 km to 3km nonstop. This was my first taste of an international…oops sorry truly international airport.

So finally after all this was again welcomed by the cold German climate. German climate could come out very harsh upon somebody like me who never had to step out of the comforting southern India’s tropical climate. This was my first taste of cold climates. Thank god, I am not a part of Russian rollout or a Siberian rollout. I would have definitely died of the cold. After all this the true fun was the flight. This was an early morning flight and I had a pretty good chance of seeing out of the window. But this time it was just a 20 minute flight. It was more like a take off and landing for a test. But the feel itself is no less. The flight though not an international one, was more comfortable than my previous. It had a fair amount of leg space unlike my previous one.

But the best part of the flight was my first aerial view of Europe. Can’t say it is a love at first sight, it was even before that. Europe has a breath taking landscape. I decided, this was the place I will settle down and lead the rest of my life. How was I to know then that I was going to change that pretty soon? Landed out in the Stuttgart air port. Was really fascinated to see, the Daimler Chrysler Aviation hangar in the air port. Later I learned that DC was into aviation before. A sense of pride came in involuntarily. This was a dream come true. I always wanted to work for a company like DC. Though I am not directly working for them, in some indirect way or the other I am with them. So, one mission accomplished. A sense of satisfaction followed by some other feeling. What was it? My first sense of loneliness? May be…

Tried collecting my luggage at the baggage collection point and at the same time was looking around as to see if somebody had come to pick me up. KC had already informed me that as it was a working day, he would try to send someone but if I don’t find any one I had to make it to the office directly by hiring a taxi. After some 5 to 10 minutes of search, I was able to make out a familiar face. Mannu bhai was standing there and was waving his hand. Thank god and thank KC and thanks mommy. I felt relieved. Later I learned that Mannu bhai was here just by a chance. His flight to Amsterdam had got cancelled for some reason and he waited for some more time to pick me up as he knew I was coming. Thanks to Mannu bhai for that. So, reached office with nothing eventful. Had my first taste of an European Merc taxi ride. That was only my second time in a Merc and my first in a Merc taxi….

Touring Chronicles - Part-1

The 18th of December goes down as one of the most eventful days in my life. Eventful because I got a German business visa that was long evading me. Eventful because I was asked to travel to Spain via Germany at a short notice of 7 hours. Yeah, I do agree that I was preparing for this for more than about a week but 7 hours is very very less in any case. I had to run around collecting my Visa, collecting my travel tickets, collecting my Forex and every damn thing that is needed. Also had to inform my friends and family about this. Called up a couple of close confidantes to inform them the news, but I did not even have time to speak at length with my family members. Granpa and ma were right here in Hyderabad or else would have faced even more troubles.

Before all this I pleaded with my manager to give me an extra day, so that I could prepare myself better for the trip. So with all the futile efforts and rather a stupid advice from Raghu, I started on a journey to the far off lands with no knowledge of what life had in store for me. Deeps, Budds and Prasad came with me to the airport to see me off. Thanks to these guys, I started off with a smile. Met Kishore a fellow infoscion who was on his way to Philadelphia on the same flight. Got a couple of very valuable insights on travel and a lot of other things from him. Life is a great teacher. It throws avenues for learning at every end and shows larger avenues to pass for the willing. After a long long wait of almost 2 hours, came the call for boarding. Was almost dying for taking a first look as to what an airbus looked like from inside. Went in and was thoroughly disappointed at the way the flight looked like. The business class was good but the economy class was like a zammed up city bus with seats crammed up to fit in as many as possible.

For all they guys who are going to take an international flight for the first time, here goes my two cents. Do not even expect the flight to be comfortable, if you are taking a economy class. Ok…to move further…wait wait…did I mention before that, I was taking a Lufthansa flight? I was really surprised to see more than 90 percent of the people on the flight were parents going to visit their children in the US of A and students flying to the land of opportunities to pursue their higher education. Was questioned by many as to which university in the states was I headed to. Even the immigration officer was a bit surprised when I said that I am not headed to the states and rather was flying for some business meetings with the client. Lufth has become the best partner in taking out people to the far off shores.

Thanks to my stars that shone on me on this particular day…I did not have to share a three seater in the middle and rather was sitting in the two seater. Met Harsha one more fresh out of college engineer on his way to pursue his masters. After the initial jitters pleasantries were exchanged and we started talking. Slept for sometime and just got up to see what had really waken me up at that ungodly hour. The air hostesses were serving food and drink. Had a bite and went back to sleep. After that again woke up. This time got to see an edited version of Krishh…Great to see an edited version….Finally after flying over a lot of places, the flight was about to land in Frankfurt….. To be contd

Things that I fail to see

Things that I fail to understand
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I have always wondered why I fail to see a couple of simple things that come to my notice. I can also give you a simple example. I have a friend and as usual I never ever keep my tongue in check. I always felt that people around me are really ok with my behaviour. I always was and always will be a very open person. I never believed in being something that I don’t feel or rather in short being a hypocrite. If I like I say I like it and if I don’t I am the first person to say I don’t. and I believe people around me to be in the same way. But that friend felt otherwise. As I understand now, she was never ever comfortable with me around and It took me an year to understand that. So Mr. Tentative grow up buddy grow up…and thanx sandy in making me see a couple of things….

My day started with waking up in the morning
To the bright sunshine shining upon my face
I am always a game for an innocent teasing
Leaving the day ahead with a happy trace

I expect the world around me
To see things the way I do

One fine day I started on a new phase in life
I started living
I made a couple of friends..or rather so I thought
But never was I to know, they never felt so…

I joked around and moved around in a frenzy
But I understand now, that was a dream.
No body around had ever liked being so
And I was there to end up in a tow

So for all the lives that I made miserable,
I offer my sincere apologies
Please do accept and let me settle the scores.

I am here not to leave any thing bitter behind
And I always believed in being a happy mind
So people to me just be kind
And let me move on in search of innocence I am yet to find

Thanks for being patient guys and gals
And in case our paths cross again
Just let a smile come to your face unforced
And let me leave feeling happy

I am off to live my life on terms I believe
Here I am to just take a leave….