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Amrut
Jul. 11th, 2009
07:57 pm - Some thOughts on a Saturday Evening
Welwyn garden city has been a very calm and serene place. Life has been cool and not very exciting. Had been to London a couple of times. Buckingham palace isn't very great. I would say some choultries in Bangalore are better than this palace. May be it could be better inside. The Gaurds seem very very trained. They stand like statues and i really admire them for this. It needs a lot of strength and patience to do that.
The subways are very good in London. May be as good as in New York. I wonder when Blore is going to get such public transport service.
Madame Tussauds is on of the best attractions in London. For me, it is the best. It is better than in New York and some of the statues are very real. I didn't like the Aishwarya Rai's statue as it doesn't resemble her very much. Ash is much more beautiful than the statue. Jennifer Lopez statue was a good attraction with her features highlighted.
We had pizza in a Pizza Hut near Madame Tussauds and by end of day I had a headache. May be because of indigestion.
Tower Bridge is good and London Aquarium was just ok. All other attractions didn't entice me so skipped them.
Have I lost interest in such attractions? Or are they really not worth? I now feel that they aren't worth with the experience I have had past few years travelling all around.
Sep. 28th, 2008
10:49 pm - Cruise Party in Chicago Downtown
we had a party to celebrate a milestone in our company goals. It was arranged at Chicago downtown on a cruise. The cruise was on Chicago river. The view of chicago downtown from the river was amazing.
http://picasaweb.google.com/amrutsk/Cru
Chicago downtown has been one of the most beautiful and organized downtowns I have seen. Though I feel, NY downtown is one of the most happening types.
The party wasn't all that great. Food was just okay and we played housie. Party seemed a little dull though.
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blankSep. 19th, 2008
01:36 am - Throw up to Fresh'n Up
I have had a few experiences when I have had a headache and it turned out so bad that it gets chilly within with a heavy feeling in the head. Then not feel like doing anything and I wouldn't get sleep as well. At this time,I just throw up completely and in about an hour I am all fresh and normal. I was wondering as to how this works so fast.
Anyways, body has it own ways of fixing itself.
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satisfiedSep. 9th, 2008
10:19 pm - Har fikr ko dhuen mein Udaata Chala Gaya
I have heard this song n number of times and I like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wm7FsZ4
But I don't understand how one could not worry about anything or just forget about them so easily and maintain such a carefree life? Sometimes things linger in the mind for days.
Sep. 3rd, 2008
02:52 am - Hmmm...Back to Wheeling
People say life's like a circle. Things repeat and one goes through a cycle.
I am back at wheeling again on an assignment. This being my third trip to the same place in 2.5 years time, I feel a little too tired travelling such long journey hours.
The flight was good but I had a neck ache by the time I reached Chicago. The food wasn't that great but okay, better than earlier flights. With the hope of better food and stewardess;), I prefered to travel by Jet but no seats and hence had to take the British.
The interesting thing about this trip was I would have missed the flights even though I was at the gate more than an hour early. Courtesy - Sleep ;)
Luckily, I woke up for the first flight from Bangalore to London 15 minutes before departure when they were looking for me. And they woke me up 10 minutes before departure at London probably seeing the tag on my bag. Thanks to the lady. I almost fell down when I tried to run to the gate due to my numb legs.
On reaching Chicago, I saw very happy to see my friend waiting for picking me up. I met a few others on reaching home and shared the sweets that I had got from India.
Jun. 10th, 2008
07:52 am - Back to India -
I am back in India after a 2 month assignment at Chicago. It was a pleasant travel experience. Made a few friends whom I don't know If I would ever meet again.
An interesting drunk guy was on plane who irritated quite a few people.
The new BIAL airport is pretty good. Big and very much organized. It took me about an hour to reach home covering the 45 Km distance. I don't know how much time it might take during peak hours.
May. 24th, 2008
01:18 pm - Memorial Day Week-end 2008
I was reminded of the activities that I did during the last memorial day week-end as I had a look at my blog- Chicago Downtown, Wisconsin Dells, Chain of lakes.
Days seem to fly by too soon. Today is first day of this year's memorial day week-end. I have no plans and I feel so lazy. But the highlight is that my roomie is preparing Idlis and amazing sambar has been prepared. It's smelling great.
Fuel prices are rising everyday, Food items are getting expensive, especially rice and wheat mostly due to stop of exports in India and China. Also, the recent pay hike doesn't entice me.
Things happening back at home town. Counting for the assembly elections would start today and it won't take long to know the results but speculations have it that it might take long to know who will come to power in Karnataka. "How would it matter?" questions my mind sometimes.
The new Airport (BIAL) has some issues which I read about in news. I hope it all settles soon before I return ;)
May. 18th, 2008
10:33 pm - Busy Week-end - Ghar Shifting and Shopping
It was a busy week-end which drained out quite some energy. It was a hectic saturday helping my friend shift his stuff from one house to another. Also, shift mine to a new place. We rented a U-Haul truck and stuffed it with everything - Sofa, Dining Table, utensils, bedding etc. I got a chance to drive this truck and certainly wasn't very easy. It was a new experience which I liked. The vehicle creaked and made all sounds, making sure that we know that it isn't well-maintained. We hoped it doesn't break down somewhere. My friend was all frustrated commenting on why he never saw a good moving truck all this while. Finally we made the journey to the new house which was about 4miles away and the download was nearly as time consuming and strenuos as the upload.
Sunday was for shopping. One of my other friend was travelling back to India on a vacation. As usual, he had to buy gifts, chocolates etc. We left for the mall at about 12Noon and came back home at 8:30 PM. I was just wondering if we overdid it. I used to feel that it was not in the nature of guys to shop long. My friend's disproved it. They spent time trying out a lot of apparels, trying to choose the right color and match it with what they have. Is this a feature of a metrosexual male? One of my other friend who wanted a break during this week-end joined us as he felt that the shopping activity would only be about 2hrs. I couldn't see the frustration on his face when he was waiting for us to complete the shopping.
One of the highlights of this day was me posing for a snap holding a Albino Burmese Python. I was nervous at first but mustered the courage as I always wanted to do it. Python was a little heavy, smooth on the skin (seemed like it was waxed), trying to escape from the hands holding it. It was white in color with yellow patterns, unlike the brown patterns in commonly found pythons and probably the reason why it is called Albino.
May. 16th, 2008
03:22 pm - Some thoughts...felt like putting it down on blog
Soccer's only getting hotter as days roll over. Also the weather is getting better. The good thing is we have a good number of enthusiasts who come in regularly to join us.
I just got reminded of a game that we played with a college group over here. There were Asians, Latin and American boys many of the, I suppose, younger than us. We started the game with a feeling that they might be pretty good at this game.
They turned out to be beyond our expectations. We could hardly get the ball and if we do, it would hardly stay with us for a few seconds. Every member of their team was so fit and athletic that none of us could catch them running. Goal after goal, started pouring in.
I can now imagine as if we were spectators watching goals being scored left and right - one sided game. People were exhausted running all over the ground with a hope of getting the ball to their feet sometime. This flashback always reminds me of how good we were at the game and how fit we were in comparison to them.
On the other hand, due to busy days, days seem to get over and week-ends seem to come by too soon. No plans for week-ends and all we do is sit at home watching TV, movies and chit-chatting with friends.
How about reading a book? This question always comes to my mind which is on a regular basis overruled by the sheer laziness that has creeped into me over time.
With a lot of effort in trying to focus, I did read through a simple book 'The Monk who sold his Ferrari'. A good read. The philosophy mentioned in the book made sense. It didn't just say leave all your desires, materialistic goals aside and embrace a dejected life - a life of a sanyasi
The interesting things mentioned were to have a good life style, stay young, focus on the goals, understand wht is a obstacle for it and go around it which I feel applied to this modern society.
May. 15th, 2008
10:46 pm - Cold Springs in Chicago
I traveled to Chicago after a good 4 month break in India between Dec07 and Mar08. I was hopeful of a good spring - temperatures in 20s, colorful flowers all over and lots of outdoor activity. Though it was colorful all over, I could feel that the winter was still on.
Flashback to my days in Bengaluru - Dear city , dearest of all. Even though the ever increasing traffic is a growing pain, not being addressed at the right pace, the city was booming with energy. Big malls with vibrant shades and bright lighting, people everywhere from different walks of life, very cosmopolitan, more and more business enterprises setting-up their centres, sky-rocketing real estate values - these are some of the things that make this city comparable to the big cities of the world.
My daily routine was a big change after a long stay in the US. Daily travel to office in bus took about an hour crawling through the traffic to cover a 11 km distance. Newspapers, magazines and FM entertainment were company to me during that time. People always stayed strangers, none interested in striking a conversation with the person sitting next to him. The bus stand connects to the office campus through bridge which always trembles, owing to the march of hundreds of people most of the time. Multiple ID scans to make sure who came in, at what time gets recorded. I was surprised as to how could they make it work!!!
My interests within the campus had been the foodcourts and the fresh faces ;). With a limited variety of food that I had in the US, all kinds of food in the foodcourt was a treat to the senses. ooooo...dosas, idli vada, cholle bature, spicy curries, chats and the tea to name a few.
On the other hand, quite a few recreational activites are organized in the campus - Fashion shows, DJ Nights, Dance Competitions, Singing. These are such a treat to watch and have lotz of fun.
Chicago Days: When I landed here, I felt the chill which I didn't expect. I had to borrow a jacket from my friend as I hadn't got one hoping a good weather. The same monotonous life style started with office at 8 and back by 6, wash vessels, watch TV-same old comedy shows on TBS, may be cook something if my friend hadn't. Things changed with people, who were frustrated by a very sad winter were ready to come out and play. Soccer was the first choice and we had friend of us who took the trouble of calling up people on phone regularly and getting them together. hatz of to him for his perseverence ..With sun not setting before 8:30PM, it gave us a lot of time to play. The initial days were a little tough with the body trying to scale up to the soccer energy levels and stamina. It has been pretty good till date, though we have had a few people who have suffered injuries from bruises to fractures :) Hopefully the rest of my stay during this trip just gets better.
Jun. 10th, 2007
11:59 am - Memorial Day Week-end - 2007
On the first day 26th May, We planned for the Science and Industry Museum near Downtown. we rented a car only to park it in the train station. Then we reached downtown, hired a cab to the museum turned out to be expensive as the museum was not in Downtown.Museum was okay, got to spend time to learn and enjoy.
On May 27th, We headed for Wisconsin Dells, Kingdom of waterparks, but did not get into any due to cold weather. But then we did go-karting and boating on the wisconsin river. We had pathetic Indian food there. Then we headed to Devil's Lake which looked beautiful due to the hills surrounding it. Generally I do not enjoy regular lakes.
On May 28th, we headed for the chain of lakes, spent some time playing football on the lake shore. Overall, it was a relaxing trip.
Snaps in the following link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/amrutsk/Mem
Mar. 19th, 2007
01:47 pm - On Vacation in India
It had been a long time away from home and lotz of personal work pending here in India. So planned a vacation for 2 weeks looking for a good break from the chilly weather of Chicago and also from work.
Found that the traffic has increased which was as expected and also it has become more cosmopolitan. I realized that I had not been to some hot places even though I was a Bangalore resident. The 'Forum' near Koramangala, with the lighting, escalators and the expensive non-indian food gave me the feeling of an American mall. I met a few friends in Forum, had a little chat with them.
Feb. 17th, 2007
10:44 pm - Long harsh Winters
Chicago has turned out to be harsh on us with it's chilling winters. Chilling is an understatement. The temperatures over the last one month mostly has been in the range of -10C to -20C.
Sep. 24th, 2006
12:34 am - Crazy Tradition ..
Where did the birthday bums tradition originate? Isn't it insane? Friends have fun at the cost of th birthday boy? They also top it up with smearing cream over the face and head and in some cases cracking an egg on the head. I think there are other things that could make the occasion memorable!!
Aug. 26th, 2006
10:46 am
Yesterdays game was very heated. People were pushing one another using their elbows, kicking the ball out and kicking it hard, marking opponents was to an extent that it seemed they stuck to him.
Just a thought, this has occurred to me many times before, some of them go to an extent which they shouldn't to win a game. They need to think that the game is being played to keep one fit and to have the team spirit up.They need to think twice before ramming into a person while running 'Is the goal important or the person ? '. What if people are injured?
All in all, a game not to be remembered.
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annoyedAug. 10th, 2006
08:54 pm - Fantastic Futbol Evenings
For the past 3 weeks, I have been playing futbol every evening for atleast an hour. We are having great time although quite a few of us have been injured multiple times. The most common and the most severe ones have been the ankle twists. I had it the very first day and had a very painful night where I was unable to lift my leg and I had to crawl to find some medicines. Finally was able to sleep at 4AM. So, took a day off for rest.But I was well set for the second day and there has been no breaks from then on...
Jul. 4th, 2006
05:39 pm - Celebrations in Chicago
Yesterday evening, I had been to Navy Pier, Chicago to watch the Independance day celebrations. This is a kind of a amusement park but not as big as 6 Flags or even not like the Theme parks (Universal or Disney). This is a place where one can watch the fireworks during the independance day celebrations. The place was full of people and music. It was pretty hot and humid.
We took a 30 minute boat ride on Lake Michigan where they showed us Sears tower and some more buildings with some info about them. The Chicago skyline looks very much like the New York skyline with a lot of skyscrapers.
The fireworks was great, fascinating, exciting, very colorful and creative. But I felt that itz almost the same whereever you go in US. It does get too monotonous. So, it wasn't so much fun as it used to be. So, I was checking how applause can be contagious, shouting 'OooOO'..'woooow!!' can be contagious :). It seemed as contagious as Yawning or the laughter track in comedy serials.
Jul. 2nd, 2006
05:44 pm - Boring Day
This was a day of lazing around. Had breakfast twice, spent the day on bed browsing, watching TV, had a leisure bath, called up friends.I have 2 blog posts on the same day..doesn't that say how free I am..
I need to get a car else most of my days are gonna be like this.
blah12:32 am - In Chicago
Reached Chicago yesterday noon for a new project. I noticed that I had done quite a bit of shopping here, mostly clothes.Had spent about 4hrs roaming from one store to another to find the right luggage bag for my stuff and finally bought one from Walmart. Feeling bored in the hotel.Just spent the day watching TV and sleeping. France did play very well.
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boredJun. 3rd, 2006
10:07 pm
26th May - Hartford - Montreal
My trip to Canada started on 26th May at 4:45 from Hartford, CT. We had a 300 mile journey ahead to reach Montreal. My friend had the route in mind and we did not take a map with us. At the border, Canadian officials checked our passport, asked us the purpose of the visit and let us in. Once we got into Quebec province, all of us were thrilled to have entered a new country. But then a little ahead we observed that all the boards were in French which we did not expect. My friend now got confused with the route. With no map, all new country, French speaking people around we had to find the way to my friend's aunt's place in Montreal. We then stopped by a Gas station and asked the guy at the shop for directions. Fortunately, he was ready to help us and speak to us in English. He could not guide us completely, but certainly he was of some help. We picked up a map from the shop and then started again with the help of the map. This wasted about an hour for us. So, our plan to roam around at downtown and see the nightlife had to be dropped. We reached the aunt's place at 11:30 PM while our estimation was 10PM. We had some great food and a good sleep that night.
27th May - Montreal, Canada
We all woke up pretty late, had a great breakfast (idlis, orange juice, coffee) and started for a church which is among the biggest churches in the world. It surely was very huge and magnificent. We spent about 2 hrs there and then we were back to the aunt's place for lunch. We had biryani. Then, we started for the Biodome and the Botanical garden. The biodome was closed but we just roamed around it. Then we went to the botanical garden but we did not get in as it was supposed to be closed in half an hour. Then we left for Old Montreal. Old Montreal is where the city was born. Characterised by narrow streets and old stone buildings, it's got a lot of tourists, great crowd, lots of restaurants and bars. Finding a parking space was very difficult. So, we parked in a no parking zone. We walked around on the streets for about 2 hrs and then came back to our car to find a parking ticket. Then we left for Montreal Downtown to see the nightlife there. Then we were back home by 1 AM. We went to sleep directly as all of us were tired.
28th May - Montreal, Canada
This was a great day though again we started late at around 11:30 AM. Same as the previous day we had a great breakfast and left for the Botanical garden. We got a package deal to visit the Garden , Insectarium and the Towers. But then the lady at the counter also told us that the Bio dome was open free for everyone. We went to the insectarium and then went straight to the Bio dome. Though we were warned about the waiting time to get into the Bio dome, we went for it as it was a good deal. The entrance tickets for the biodome are actually costlier than the package mentioned above!! We stood in the long queue in the hot sun for about half an hour only to find that the queue was even longer inside the dome. But we felt it was worth it. It was a good decision though. It was much better than the package combined. The dome is actually split into parts depicting the nature in various parts of earth. First we walk through the rainforest, with the equatorial climate, brightly colored birds and animals found in the rainforests. Then we get into the temperate region comprising of the trees like maple, spruce, fir etc. Then onto an aquarium, followed by the Antarctica with all the snow, ice and penguins.
We then went to the towers in the Olympic stadium and then the botanical garden
The garden was beautiful; I was amazed to see that a place with about 6 months in harsh winters can come out with such beautiful flora for the rest of the year. These are some things which make people stay in such places.
Came back home at around 7:30 PM, had our dinner, packed our bags and off to Toronto. I slept on the way to Toronto. It was a 4 hr drive, reached Toronto by about 1AM, checked into the hotel. Now I was ready to get out seeing what’s happening in the night for Toronto. But none accompanying me, not comfortable to go alone in an all new place, stayed back in the hotel, had a nice shower, scribbled the previous blog and then went to sleep.
29th May - Toronto, Canada
The day at Toronto started late again (I know it's repetitive). We went through the downtown to CN towers. It was very hot. Unbelievably 97F. Tickets for the CN towers are pretty expensive. They claim it to be the tallest tower in the world (I believe so). I could feel the pressure difference in the ears in the elevators. Felt I was on a plane taking off. On top we could get a good view of Toronto. They say that on a very clear day, we can see as far as the Niagara which is 123 kms from there. Though the day was clear, I could not even imagine Niagara on the view. A closed stadium next to the tower was host for the Toronto - Red Sox (Boston) baseball game. We could see the stadium open the top for the game. I told one of my friends that I would put my money on Red sox as I had not heard of Toronto playing any great. But I was wrong. Toronto beat Red Sox that day. We spent about 4 hours in the tower and we went back to the hotel room. I had a shower, and then left for Niagara to see the illumination. It took us about an hour to reach. (123 kms in an hour..amazing driver..who? Itz meeee..). Let me tell u. I had this dream to visit Niagara from my 7th standard after reading about it in my geography book. Finally it came true. It was more amazing than I had imagined. We were there for about an hour and then were back to hotel.
30th May - Niagara Falls, Canada
We checked out of the hotel at 12 noon and went to Niagara. We spent the whole day there. Had some pizza as brunch.
Niagara falls comprises of the American falls, Bridal Veil falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
Last one being the best of them all.Itz wild, noisy, huge ..We went for the rides. Behind the falls and Maid of the mist. Maid of the mist is amazing. They take us very near to the Horseshoe Falls. After all this we then left for Hartford, it was 6.5 hour drive to Hartford and we reached at 2 AM.
Some French learnings:
POnt - Bridge
Ouest - West
Nord- North
Sud - South
Est- East
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