Haunted by SERENITY

Not many time in my life would such experiences happen to anybody. If that happens then, let me ask as to how many have the luxury of experiencing it with another soul of similar nature. Well, if you are reading thru this and feeling jealous then, its my pleasure to accept your greetings. A well planned day of my life started @ 5:00 a.m. with me packing my camera kit. The day before I was bit upset with my sweet machine (thunderbird) for not providing me the luxury rides that she got me used with. After realising that it was my mistake to have disturbed her, I promptly apologized and got her back to life as promised. So, in the morning both me and my thunder machine were ready to fly-off before the sun sets its supreme rays onto the fields of Pune. Enroute, I picked up my friend who has a soul that earns for nature to soak in its beauty and rest on its lap. My odometer slowly started climbing as we passed thru the peaceful mountains and unpolluted air of Pune. After a 20 mins ride, we reached our most savoured lake of Sarovar. Though not cited at once, the birds in that lake will flock my memory for ever. After soaking oursevles in the beauty of kingfisher's colors, sun-bath bird's actions, Egrette's purity, Duck's discipline, tweeter's lazyness, and so on, we decided to explore a territory unknown (atleast for us). On completion of our mind-map charting exercise (based on instructions from our pal), we once again enjoyed the riding pleasure for another 5-8 kms on my thunder. What we finally embarked upon was a small dam which symbolized Serenity.

A place of ultimate peace and power. The dam was still being built and she was supremely beautiful even in her naive stages. Reflections of nature has been the most exquisite form of charm & refreshing energy. My partner soul suddenly was rushed with the photographic instincts which ensured the usage of another sweet machine that I brought with me - Nikon D70. After using 300mm f/4 from various angles, I was made to flex my muscles by carrying the same for some time. After all, my friend always longs for any chances to express her kindness. Our journey continued from there on to a friend's hotel where our energies got rejuvenated with authentic wadapav and misal pav. Finally, we reached our place to replenish our energies with some more authentic south indian food which, when failed to consume can result in unexpected finishes. (assured further with my friend's presence and ability to influence my parents on their wishfull thoughts)

Atlast, I could see that I found one more place where I can be myself for days to come. Lets reflect for a minute as to how many of you have found such solace in nature? and if not till now then, what stops you from doing it? Isnt it that the life is not only about how we meet challenges and become successful but also about redefining success has what we want to live with rather than what life provides us to compete with. Slowly and steadily, as my passion for living grows stronger, I could see the events unfolding themselves thru various channels to provide me directions. I am not sure of changes that might happen over next few months along various chapters of my life. Only thing that I have learnt and believe upon is that, the things unfold only to express more of myself. If you are reading this blog then, spend a minute to reflect whether you are still waiting to be haunted with Serenity or have you found one already?

As my experiences flourish...

Some more eventful weeks of life went thru as my engagements with it are growing stronger. Watching a Harry Potter movie on its release day between my 15-hour stressful business-day, Visiting a beach of fresh water and tried swimming on 0 degree water body on a bright sunny day of 84 degree fareheit, Night drive of more than 300 Kms in 4 hours, Driving on a busy business day to Chicago downtown and paid a lumpsum of $30 to park my car for 3 hours below SEARS TOWERS, Realizing 2 business opportunities, Receiving my dream 160GB USB hard drive at the cost of 40GB one, Spending 5 hours on a night-pub in Chicago with 2 glasses of Coke, Planning to visit 4 business locations along the same coast in one week - All in a fortnight. In the middle of everything, I could spend hours chatting with my friends on phone and internet. My recent engagements with my values & imposed search of synchronous souls have yielded me memorable additions to my list of friends. In spite of all these excitements, my batteries got discharged a bit due to stress caused from various dimensions of professional life. Lifting my spirits is only possible thru exciting learnings and knowledge improvements. Without knowing or analyzing the reason, I'm still enjoying the privilege of both these factors.

Recently, I got into a habit of questioning about my values & the final purpose of defining some as I move thru my experiences. As a result of the same, I did accepted the fact that motivation can only be from within and all the external aids are only factors of momentary deflections based on my experiences. As much as I love them, I equally force myself to stay away from truth. As tough it was to accept, so stubborn is its truth of existence. Recent addition to my favourite list of websites http://www.despair.com/ proves it with improved clarity and supportive reality. I should thank the kind soul who provided me with an option to re-validate my beliefs.

Next week is gonna be one helluva of business discussions and is no mean achievement for a veggie like me to encounter so much of travel within USA where my clan is prohibited from normal human consumption-ers.

MIGHTY HEART - Strong movie experience?

Can you imagine only 5 souls watching a much awaited movie in its first week of release when actual capacity of hall could span around 250 people? Yes, I had experienced this strange phenomenon y'day when both me and my friend decided to watch Mighty Heart (Daniel Pearl's story) @ 10 p.m. My 2 cents out of that movie : Very good 1-time see. Actors, expressions, dialogues - Good. Story - Somewhat emphasized for all wrong reasons.

If its not so good then, how the heck it made to my blog. Well... I watched it to see how Bhosale bungalow looks (remembering the entire jolie episode of pune). Hum rahe pardes... phir bhi dil hai hindustani !

Thank god for 2 ears and 1 mouth

Background : BA flight from London just landed @ O'Hare (Chicago) and resulted in adding large number of people to an already long-running Immigration queue.

Aiport security to BA flight attendant (walking down the aisle as the last offboarded person) : What is the capacity of your flight madam?
BA Attendant : Around 280 passengers
Airport security : How occupied was it for this trip?
BA Attendant : Completely full (leaves out a big sigh)
Airport security : Out of them ONLY 10 are in US Citizen queue and 270 are in immigration !!! Wow !!! Thanks for helping us so profoundly (with a typical US grim)

Passion & Persistence

2 key things that D2 (my current role - professionally) has taught me professionally and helped me transform more effectively in my personal life too. Is this a better way to start this blog? I may fear not. Having said that is there a reason as to why I did it that way? Yes. Until today I haven't met a comfortable # of people who would still be ticking & alive after a 10-Hour meeting spanning from mid-day thru mid-night. Co-incidentally, I have repeated experiences of having such a discussion productively when the audiences are matured, well-informed and facilitated to ensure focus. This has been quite a learning for me and yesterday I had one such discussion with excellent outcomes. It was quite an experience.

Returning to personal side of things, with the exception of having renewed my US driving license... life hasn't met any positive turbulences. Isn't it cool to be in a situation where the pace of our life seems to be in complete control?

Life in "City of CUBS and SOX"

Its Cubs V/s Sox - That's todays headlines all across the media of Chicago. This could very well get equated to DARAVI V/s DADAR if the same gets initiated at amchi mumbai. Hey, how about the idea of conducting world series - skating competition involving HP (India), Kashmir (India & Pak), Nepal and Tibet. Well, we can assign China the same status as South america. Even though good neighbours we dont consider them in world series competitions. This could very well put us on world sports map with more conviction than before. After all, I work for world's local bank and from that view its in perfect harmony.

Let me hereby close the chatterbox sports idea and get back to mainstream life amidst windy city's tracks. It is a SIN to not possess a driving license and still living. Life is yet to get interesting on this trip. A blog on the morning of first weekend in windy city could very well stand as a testimony to that fact. My hotel experiences so far could be summed up as a perfect 10 except for the horrible dinner experiences. Supposed to be chef's special and delicious veggie platter, unfortunately has only leaves of vegetables and NOT leafy vegetables - like broccoli, onion, lettuce and Olives. Veggie's are slowly being alienated in sam's land. Guys - That's the difference between being a citizen of 600 V/s 6000 years old nation.

Work is as usual and created some interest with the recent business meetings and client presentations. Yesterday's discussion helped me to shape up the visit quite standing upto my expectations. Very soon, I'd be visiting this page with more experiences.

Trip to my business land

Sam-o-business !!! After a long & well deserved patience here comes a vivid reproduction of my energetic journey experiences. In spite of planning this trip 2 weeks in advance, a later movement of schedule crashing excited me as ever. Having a well expected (& excellently enjoyed safari) vacation trip just before a week of US business travel never sounded intelligent. Having packed all my bags and meticulously following upon time, our company's associate support systems once again reinstated confidence in me of their last minute planned / post-poned executions. One can understand this statement only if he waits for 150 minutes just to be informed of a planned/no-surprise offer letters to make his business travel. Vaidy, as usual, served as a commendable trusted trip "memor-a-ndor" (word coined by me for one who helps his friend to remember all those things which are supposedly kept so secret that he himself forgets it:)). Having packed all my bags, I set up once again for sam-o-land which I left around 2 yrs ago. Pune's city traffic, as exciting as ever, reminded me of rushing to airport in last minutes in spite of starting with 180% positive buffer. On crossing the holy kothrud is when I was reminded of my self memor-a-ndor of missing my forex at home. This made me return to this beautiful place only to have ended up chasing city traffic once again in the hope of reaching Katraj sooner thru inner city circles. I picked up my friend on my way, who was supposed to be the most trusted "'listener" companion that I got in recent times. (Thanks!!!) As goes with scriptures around results / Karma, I did received lovely home made sweets in return on this friendly pick-up gesture.

Its hardly in recent years that I've made such interesting trips to Mumbai. Well, this could very well be the first time. For all that one knows, world is very small and one does meets synchronized souls - more often than expected. On reaching airport, I found myself among a set of NRI-hopeful enthusiasts, south-indo parento group members who are set on child-o-pilgrimage to sam's land & few friends of my own proud clan (software engineers) - both first timers and ethopian residents of sam's land. BA impressed me with its flight and on-board service for the first time. Impressive swiftness & thoroughbred preparations "on-board" really taught me the customer satisfaction received on a well-planned executions. Hats off BA!!! 1 episode each of FRIENDS & Everybody loves raymond, 2 quick meals and 5 hours of nice sleep is all what it takes to reach London from Mumbai. London doesn't stood upto my expectations & failed to impress me. Well, nothing more could one expect on a 5 hour walk-o-airport wait after a 7 hours journey when looking onward for one more of same strength. After walking thru each & every store of Heathrow's international terminal, I wonder as to why IT clients and business create a chaos over highly paid offshore associates. One look across Heathrow can give them the confidence that world has tooooooo much of money to spend. Unknown brands, High-cost products, Ladies (dressed to kill) playing the most-o-knowledge hosts on their store's products, Absolute look of a mall, 100+ manicure seats in the center, Every product seems to be free on its first sight for every customer, a typical ASTON-MARTIN on sale for $20 (for which even we cant check tyre pressure when u own one) - Heathrow has all ingredients to be a typical european airport. After a long due and an exciting sight of 11 flight take-offs from near distance, I was finally allowed onto the air bridge to board my final destiny vehicle. Just as we were seated after a confusing 15 minute wait (just before our final aflight), BA's flight commander gave a quick summary of what went on @ cockpit during this period in his own (typical to british) cynical PGWodehouse's style.

My 2nd journey was way too out of excitement for a person like me. Uncomfortable seats coupled with delayed service made me realize the fact that every coin has 2 sides and BA is no exception of that. Still, I quite couldnt hide my surprise when a Mumbai-London flight has been offered a 747-400 when a London-Chicago doesn't. Well... Either Uncle Sam or HRH is not quite catching up with our own sweet des-o-pardes. Have been served thru-out in quite a colonial master's style. Movies - Only saviour of restless hearts on crossing oceans - gave me some relaxations. Watched Music & Lyrics and Shooter - Good balance of action & comedy. Atlast, was quite happy on landing safely @ outdoors of O'hare. I still am not able to figure out as to what kindles an absolute sense of freedom and confidence on landing at this city's doorstep. For a minute, I was zapped by the length of queue that greets US immigration windows in Chicago. I was on a sixth lane which, in line with US business, already helped me set a clear expectation of atleast 2-hr wait before I'm on my way. Reshuffling of queues, Macho security personnels, Faces with utmost excitement as they wait for stamping, Well ordered numbering system, multi-lingual support & messaging - ingredients of a typical US immigration domain. While I was on the queue, I was gifted to overhear a conversation between 2 people who were standing behind me. One, a typical 1-timer s/w engineer girl from India and another, a german (with a non-germanian manners) who quite converses well in Hindi attributing the same to his 8-year monsoon holiday saga in Goa. Former loves hectic amchi mumbai while the latter loves India for its peaceful life in motion. But... Both love INDIA. Ma - Tujhe Salaam!!!

While as I reach my final due course discussion with energetic immigration officer, I'm quite surprised to find that my first name and surname were printed reversedly on my H-1B visa. Every south indian would have gone thru this experience of confusing names at least once in their life time. What initially starts as a fundamentally exam application form filling problem during school days quite grows as a monster with them during their life time. Names like YVSSR challenges brain muscles of any non-telugu-human to get segregated onto a mere 3 columns called first, middle and last names. One of recent comments from my colleague could summarize this entire drama better - "If we include ZIP code and telephone with south indian names then, there won't arise a need to store any of their demographic info in any systems with the exception of names". Immigration officer was more interested as to the venues of reaching my skill sets after his self-admitted interest in indulgence of high paying s/w jobs. After explaining me the confusion of VISA, he quite composedly took a pen and wrote on what is considered a holiest-than-gita kind of document, an H1B visa. At last, he quite sealed my excitement with a strong stamp of US Immigration on the corrections. This act could have made a first time asio-aspirant heart stop for minutes. Fortunately, Its not my first time !!!

After all dramatic excitements, I am heading to my hotel after a pack of friench fries and a coke from amchi McDonalds. Will see you soon with my hotel experiences in Sam's land.

Onsite rotation of parents

Well, quite as the title suggests, I would like to preserve memories of this (3 day) long weekend and hence these lines made it to my blog. Not all successful projects are well planned and executed as this long weekend clearly demonstrates.

It all started with a nice "End of day - Today" flag on friday. In spite of planning well, I could only make it to home by 7:00 p.m. To my surprise, my parents and sisters are yet to return from their "shopping around pune". Once they reach, the further 30 mins were spent in sharing sheer reverberating energies that flow out from a person on his proud display of shopping outputs. The "shop-let stigma" (similar to portlet) not only affects the shopper but also those who are at the receiving end. Further goes a calm sleep and a nice sunrise of saturday. My "House" has suddenly turned into a "Home", buzzling with activities. In spite of centrally revolving around "food feast menu selection & preparation" in line with typical "tam brahm" style, the experience was enjoyable and nostalgic. Myself, vaidy and Ramana - are all "set" to hog once again on our homely preparations. A bowl of rice, paruppu (dal), rasam, papad, chaas, sambar and as the list goes on, so does our ability to resist at the right time.

Following it was a regular journey of myself and vaidy to do "parento-shopping". (kind of purchases which one has to do on the final day of parents trip) My photo muscles tickled once again resulting in additions to my classical photo albums. I also worked on ramana's photos from CANADA trip which turned out to be too lovely. Our parento shopping list also includes an amplifier which when bought home has rejuvenated life to our speaker collection. Setting up a new electronic item at an indian-bachelor home is no simple task. By the time we completed it, our nostrils were sensitivized by a fragrance of a nice south indian sweet. After trying our hands on it, started our nice evening. In India, one can sense a childish happiness among family members when faced with the photo prints with gatherings adding spice to the same with their comments. That evening clearly promised that our family is not an exception in spite of tuning ourselves to 21st century. Further by 30 mins, we all found ourselves in a "Pizza shop". Italians must have been inspired by dosa during their earlier visits to east, which eventually, gave rise to this "Pizza clan". And after all these, our day ended with a new tamil movie which put our new sound system to maximum use.

Even a nice-calm-slumber sunday morning in a tam-brahm house takes a perfect U-turn when coupled with festivals. That's what our sunday demonstrated once again. Pleasure derived from 40-minutes of eating those food which got aesthetically prepared for 4-hours citing a 14-minute pooja can never be explained by words. As goes with shakespearian thoughts "A meal is a meal is a meal" - Only when its perfectly south indian. :)- Our dinner plans with sisters got a jerky start with rain god showing his face in a not-very-enthusiastic manner. As in tradition with any project change requests, we redefined our earlier requirements and were quite content with more realistic approach of visiting durga pooja @ congress bhavan followed by a rajasthani feast. I get a feeling a time-well-spent only when its associated with hearty laughs and striking conversations. This is the reason for this post's birth.

Hey... my maths is not so weak and I could see you quite wondering what I did on my 3rd day as this post comes to an end. Well, resisting excitements is not my piece of cake and I am blogging (all) this down on 3rd day morning. 3rd day would also serve as a last day of our parents onsite rotation program for this quarter and more such tam-brahm experiences will be posted in further months to come.