Vertigo…NOT

When I was in New Zealand recently, me and two of my friends David Kaplan and Urs Kemmann decided to do the Nevis Height Bungy. AJ Hackett who run these bungies…do a good job…It seemed a tad expensive on the wallet….but I guess I can it was worth it. The Nevis jump costs you around NZD 220/- it goes up in the busy season. The point is situated about a half hour drive from the city. But the cool thing all the packages are inclusive of pick ups from the city. The tour guide…called Ryan (with heaps of visible piercings) calmed us before the jump…but also fired us up to get the adrenalin rolling. He played two of my old favourite rock songs…”Take away my Anxiety” by Papa Roach feat Black Eyed Peas and “Blind” by Korn. That eased the nerves in the anticipation…once we were in a harness…it was almost as if…we were ready…It is a 134 m bungy jump….and the experience was exhilarating…Its a good feeling to do something….which you think you may not be able to do…and then you end up doing it…conquering your fear…is a good feeling…although I am sure I wasn’t scared….honest.

I have never been scared of jumping….into swimming pools…off trees…wherever…but then again..over the last few years..I have been a bit too “normal”….unlike my childhood days when I was wild without a fear in hell…may be its called growing up and being careful…whatever…So when I was at that height…looking down…everything seemed blurred….because they asked me to take off my specs…lol…I was happy to say I wasn’t scared….it was a cold day in Queenstown and I only stood there for a milli second…and jumped…I think it has been one of the most exciting things I have ever done in my life….

My friend Urs (who did a very one version of my ugly jump, plus a loud yeeehooooooo sound) shot the jump…here it is…Its not the most pretty jump you will see…my feet just didn’t go anywhere..and I just fell !!!I had a sore knee….lol…that jump is funny….enjoy…

Also…incidentally…as I ran out of funds, I could not manage to do the sky dive. But my best mate happened to do his first one recently… Take a look….Must warn you though…its a very elaborate video…almost like a film…edited and with a soundtrack ..A great experience if you want to relive it later though…Here goes..Check out his new found American accent…

A home…unlike home…yet a home indeed..

I went back home…with a strange sense of…excitement…and anticipation…thinking….brooding….and planning….every single moment….Its too much of an under statement to say..I was looking forward to this trip…more than anything I have been looking forward to…for a long time….as long as I care to remember….
After having a great time with my folks in Muscat….and feeling rejuvenated…and full of life…I wanted to come back home…A part of me…wanted to feel like Shahrukh Khan..in the movie Swades….a part of me wanted to stay back…a part of me…was longing to catch up with everyone…and feel “at home”….feel complete…I did not want people to throng around me…queue up to meet me…and be all excited and stuff…well….no…..thats not what I was expecting….after all I am not a film-star nor even a politician…

The first three days were fun…with Big Bro around…there wasn’t a moment without fun….As I waved him good bye…knowing I won’t see him for some time….I walked back to the house….climbed the stairs….they have never felt so long and unending…I opened the door….played with my neighbor’s daughter….and went about my life…meeting friends…relatives…doing chores…everything was all right….I missed him everyday since then….

There was so much to catch up on…..so many people to meet…..everyone seemed so excited to see me…I felt special….I really did…and then ….just like a “special offer”….it expired….Just like a soap bubble…which bobs and bounces…..reflecting a shiny rainbow of colors….and then just goes..POP….

I was never alone…….but always felt so….even when I was with my closest and loved ones..a strange feeling came over me…A feeling…I cannot put into words….I feeling I cannot explain…I feeling…which made me want to puke….it started eating me…devouring me…I don’t need to be more eloquent about it….I guess everyone feels it sometime or the other. I felt I did not belong….that I was an alien…that I was “unwanted” even. I do not wish to hurt all the friends I met and had a great time…this was something which was brought on by me…purely by my subconscious. I did not click even a single picture….I felt…this memory was not worth remembering…

I talked about this …. to two of my closest friends…..people I share everything with….and strangely…I felt…at that very instant…that a long time has passed….an ever widening gap…has been introduced….between us……that indeed a year has passed….that realization came too late….it shocked me … that time gone by…….changed me…changed them…changed….everything…and I felt let down…I felt hurt and alienated…unwanted…and I wanted to go back to Muscat or Sydney….even back to Sydney….One of them…said she went through the same things….and consoled me…the other…said that I was nuts…and I should learn to compromise…and give Pune some time….to come good…and that everything was the same….the only thing wrong…was the way I was looking at it….

It was one of those weeks where so much happens…and you don’t quite know…how fast you are going…but at night time….I would stay awake and ponder…and relive the good moments…but this feeling…did not let me be….it haunted me…gave me sleepless nights…

I guess “out of sight…..out of mind”…..is very very true….India…especially Pune…as I knew it…does not exist…I guess I am jumping the gun…after all….I was there only for a week…probably if I stayed for longer…I would have got over this feeling….but that feeling itself…wanted me to…in fact made me….leave….and made the departure so easy…and mundane…A tear-less good bye…means so much…it means you are glad…but it also means that you are parting on good terms….without any “excess (emotional) baggage”…

All this sounds very bad….and serious…but come to think of it….I spent ages thinking about this very thing happening when I went away….and thats what was holding me back…egging me to stay back…making every step I took harder and harder…I thought…I should not leave my home…..not because I didn’t want to break away and would not be able to….but because…of the fear…that I won’t have an identity any more….my existence…not literally…but apparently….will be lost…blurred, finished and forgotten….

This was my feeling of insecurity…before I left….and now…seeing it taking shape….right in front of my eyes…I wasn’t angry or devastated…as I thought I would be…I was relieved…and it … amused me more…I guess….it was like confronting your worst fear…and coming through…I felt….was the best thing about going back…it changed me…the way I look at things….it just changed everything…pronto….in a matter of seconds….I guess ….life is all about moving on…

Everyone needs a rock to hold on to…I have that in my family….I can always depend on them and go back….and feel “me”..and feel complete…I have friends and loved ones ….who are moving on too….but who I still love and who still do love me back….tougher winds have always threatened and loomed on the horizon…I came through battered and broken….but strong…and am better of…

Something that I struggled to accept… who wants their worst nightmares to come true….and yet..I was and am so glad it came true and that I came through. I am not bitter….neither am I devastated…or heartbroken. I guess I thought was too much of a weakling..a part of me is glad I am not….I thought I was immature….maybe I still am that…but I have a renewed sense of self esteem…and self respect…..and no one can do without it….ever….

I was desolate and started packing my stuff….three days in advance of departure….I wanted out…..I made it through…the two days which followed….always feeling…something was lacking…..my smile, plastered on my face….didn’t fool me….not one bit…..

On the final day…As I opened my old cupboard…it had my pair of my old jeans….I practically lived in those jeans….that jeans was much more that a piece of denim cloth and stitches, buttons and straps….it was comfort personified….it was my second skin…I anxiously tried it on…and it fit me…better than before….as I had shed a few extra kilos around the waist…but it wasn’t the same. I happened to glance at my reflection in the dusty mirror…wondering if it was me…wondering…if I had changed too….my reflection smiled back at me….and in spite of myself….I was smiling….I was at peace….

I hold no grudges…no sour memories…my trip to India…was great…a much needed “shot in the arm”…in the literal sense of the word….I felt a high….like a drug…..running through my veins…. It taught me “moving on ” is a part of life…that change is inevitable…I didn’t want my trip back to be any different…I spent quality time with my loved ones…and loved every minute of it….I made a vow to myself….”I am not coming back to India”…..Well…I am not….not to the India…which I left a year ago….I will go back to the India….which would have changed and aged with me…and I will take things with a fistful of sugar and a pinch of salt…. !!!I am and will always be Indian. I will always be “me”…but like I have said so many times before…”Why be yourself, when you can be better” ???
Cheers..

Elk_Jr.

My sincere thanks to my best friend Aaditya Bhat, Devayani Abhyankar, Vinayak Murgodkar, Surendra Barshikar, Sandeep Amdekar, Gaurav Satalkar & Yogesh Kulkarni…Dentist Behere kaka (uncle) ….they made my visit worth it….and of course…I thank my Bro Rishi, my cousins Aditi & Priya Lakhe (and their mom, Madhuri Lakhe) and Avantika Sonak, my sweethearts – Richa Modak, Amruta Bapat, Madhura Gadre, Manjiri Sonavane, Manasi Patvardhan, Snehal Patwardhan & Sayali Kale, my dear friends Snigdha and Dheera Akolkar…the rockers….Ketan Avalaskar, Rahul Arvikar and Vijay Desai…..Amita Deshpande (met her after a long long time)…..Friends from MCOE who came to see me…..in particular Aashish Bhutkar, Pranav Godbole & Aditya Deodhar…

I whole heartedly apologize to the people I could not meet….

Most of all…I thank….Harshavardhan Dixit, a father now…..the one guy….who wanted me to come back the most…who wanted me to stay back the most…and who made me feel special…and never let that bubble pop…a true friend…

The long trip back home (part 1)

On the 17^th of June, I left the land down under. I was heading for home. I was earnestly looking forward to it to say the say. I was both happy and sad…Happy to know I was heading back, sad knowing I would have to head back once the vacation ended.

I flew with Qantas (QF 123) which was scheduled to leave Sydney at 0935hrs. I spent most of the night before working on my final submission and handed it at 0330!! After getting just a few winks…cramped between a guy who slithers and slides like an agile serpent and a guy, who goes through phases of peace and quiet and of snoring. I slept soundly. The two hours of sleep I got, were decidedly better than most of the long hours of sweet slumber, which I have experienced before. I guess it was because I was home. Don’t know about that, but then may be I guess I was free…free of worries, tensions, pangs of anxiety and unnecessary thoughts. I woke up with a start got ready, headed for the Kingsford Smith Airport, Sydney, with the feeling of breaking away with a hope and a zeal…which was missing in my life for the past few days, may be months.

Rohit D (a.k.a Despo) and Prasad B (a.k.a Lamba kameena “Tall rascal”) escorted me to the airport. The cabbie, a very talkative guy called Farooq, an Indian from Fiji, added his bit to the drama which was to follow. And it was a drama all right!!

After having got to the airport and checking through my luggage I had a sumptuous meal at Subway, followed it with a coffee, it felt good. I was full. I met Rohan Karnataki an acquaintance from my grad school in Pune (MCOE). We braced ourselves for the flight and knew that it was going to be a rough ride. The weather had been very vengeful for the past few days. The heavens were spitting and were looking very ominous. It was raining heavily in Sydney and it was pretty cold. Rohan, looked perfectly at ease in his shorts and singlet. When we asked him about his attire, he simply replied…”Canberra recorded 3deg Celsius yesterday, this is very pleasant!!” He got to Sydney the night before and was to board the same flight to get to Mumbai. We then found out that the flight was to be delayed. This was for the first time, they announced it. I got 1050 as the ETD while Rohan got 1120. It then was further delayed to 1140. Finally we left at 12 noon. We got a bottle of Glenfiddich (Single malt whisky) each, presents for people back home. A got it for a friend, he got it for his father. We spent some time looking at other luscious bottled bliss – VODKA, Liqueurs and Single Malt liquor. With some crazy mix up, the airport authorities announced that all the passengers were to return ‘any liquids, exceeding 100ml, purchased in the duty free. It was one of the most ridiculous announcements ever made…and it got a lot of people scurrying back, eager to avail the refund they were all entitled to. In a mad scurry, everyone returned the huge amounts of ahem…liquids, they purchased!!

We boarded the plane. I was squashed in the aisle seat. Crap. But there were two beautiful chicks next to me. Sweet. Score. And then a guy got in on the 4^th seat. Damn. Too crowded. We all had to elbow each other for the entire flight. The air hostesses took a disliking to us. We got the meal 40 minutes after my pretty counterparts. I guess the air hostesses on our side, were a little slow to say the least.

I don’t know what comes over me sometimes. I always felt that I am good with people, at least strangers who don’t know me at all and I have a decent sense of humor. All of my humor was Marathi (my mother tongue) or Hindi (national language of India) based. And this proved a huge hurdle for me, when I moved into a house with foreigners. I guess it opened newer avenues and now I can have them into splits as well. Anyways..I say this here …as I was on a roll in the flight. The lasses next to me were damn fine, so I did turn up the charm and was hilarious. I guess you had to be there for most of my gimmicks, but one of favorites gags that day came when the pilot announced “we are going to shut down the right engine, to test for failure (seemingly perturbing) “, he followed it up by “ there is no need to panic as this is a routine test, we are simply going to shut it down and restart it a couple of times (a test….for failure? Duh…)”. He then announced that we should brace ourselves for take off and the flight itself was going to be a turbulent one owing to the weather. I seized the opportunity as the plane was all set to take off….”I hope he remembered to switch the damn right side engine on!!” Hehe…may be you had to be there…it was funny..and who cares about any one else, the joke was directed at my neighbor and she was into splits. This prompted me to be funnier.

I was careful not to over do it, which I am guilty of at times. After all “funny” should be just that…not boring. I am glad I didn’t cross the line, or so I think, I got some polite smiles….but largely guffaws. I was pleased with my effort.

Another noteworthy joke was the one that followed, as I ordered my first drink (Qantas has full points for that, they did not refuse me a drink at any time). I asked for a Bundy-Coke, the standard Oz spirit. It comprises of Bundaberg Rum (a dark rum, a lot like Old Monk that most Indians are used to) and coke. The hostess was lavish and poured me a generous peg. To be honest, it was a very stiff drink. The pretty damsel next to me, was busy sipping her Oj(Orange Juice) and was engulfed in the Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. I was searching my brain to recollect the plot, as I too read it a long time back. Shit….didn’t come to me. She noticeably frowned at the revolting odor of my drink. And I saw a chance to hit another joke home. I said..” Yeah tell me about it, the drink is so stiff. I hope they are not trying to kill me, I am under age you know and not legally allowed to drink!! (She raised her eyebrows and gave me a mocking look, I went on, knowing I had her attention). I guess I didn’t have to put any hair gel on today…this drink is gonna do that for me. Have my hair been like this all the time? God is it hot in here? Or is it just the drink? Is the smell bothering you? Good thing I have a breath mint. I just have to coax the glass to take one!!”…Hmm…reflecting, I think it wasn’t all that funny. She liked it. Probably she was bored “stiff” from reading the book. I said, “wow, Ayn Rand huh? Tough book to read on the plane”…she nodded. We chit chatted for a while, then I began to muck around with the weird head phones they gave us and realized they had an amazing Video on Demand list. I started with one of my favorite sitcoms, Everybody loves Raymond. It’s a good thing, the video on demand. I saw as many 9 films during the flight. I am quite a TV addict I must confess. But the flight was turbulent, the lass was asleep, I was bored, and well, entertainment was right there, the VOD. Bring ‘em on I said.

My other neighbor and English dude, was asking for a Bloody Mary. I think that’s a girl’s drink. I asked him to have a B n C. He did. I think he almost fell over. The peg they gave us, could have brought a horse to a standstill. It threw my bud right off. I was “sitting under influence” and did the stupidest thing, when he asked me to have a Bloody Mary next, I said “yeah sure, why not”. Eww. Gross. Tomato juice with Vodka. Egad. I am never having it again. I don’t know why I did it. Like I said, the first drink threw me off a bit.

The ride was bumpy, the food (Lamb curry) was disgusting, so I was grumpy. I kept myself busy with the movie “Namesake”. I thought that it is a very well made film and I really liked it. I napped for a while, and awoke with one word, which was floating around in my mind all the time “Gogol”. I knew nothing about this guy…what the heck. I raised my hand. Got a B n C and forgot about Gogol. I decided to Google Gogol later.

We had a sketchy flight and a bumpy landing at the Darwin airport. It was 1630 local time (Darwin is GMT + 0900hrs, while Sydney is GMT + 0930hrs). Damn, the four hour long flight couldn’t even get us off the Oz continent.

Here I ran into Steve (Satyadev Mehta, a character, from a Hindi movie called Dil Chahta Hai or was he some other guy? Seemed a lot like Steve to me!! Incidentally my boss’ name is Steve too…..yeesh). He is a chimney with smokes. It was stifling hot in Darwin. It was fairly cold in Sydney. As I walked out on to the porch, I realized that Oz land has a very vast difference in climates. Rohan had come from 5 deg C climate (Canberra) to Sydney which was at a windy and chilly 12, while now it was 36 and humid. Crap.

Darwin airport was a bit of a let down. A very…how to say…ill stacked cellar, didn’t impress me at all. After some deliberation, we picked up a bottle of Chivas Regal each…seemed something like a destiny. My friend was to have Chivas … and nothing else would have measured up. Well…it seemed so. The Gujjus lined up here as well. Each of us got something, for more than what we would have paid in Sydney. But at least they got the plane back in the air in less than 45 minutes.

The flight to Mumbai was a better one, I must say. There was a mix up with a guy…Ram Krishna…supposed to go to Pakistan. It was funny as the air hostesses were running to and fro trying to spot him. As fate would have it, there were two guys with the same name and…yes…you guessed it right, they got the wrong one and were repeatedly saying that he has to go Pakistan and would have to board the Etihad flight one hour from our arrival in Mumbai. It was a cacophony as the two guys, one very Indian, the wrong guy, refused and was agitated about being asked to go to Pakistan, had no clue in the world what was happening, the other, was up from a nap and was fairly irked by the whole drama as well.

Meanwhile, enhanced by “spirits”, accompanied by good food and entertainment and mostly by sleep, I managed to make it to my home…my country…..India

There was a strange sense of excitement. I was back…I was home. I was…

(to be continued)

My tryst with the land down under….part 1

SOME PARTS HAVE BEEN OMITTED TO ALLOW A BROADER AUDIENCE THE PLEASURE OF READING THIS ARTICLE !!!

The whole thing began on the 22nd of July. Actually being a number 4 according to numerology, ( born on the 31st of Oct) 4 should be my lucky number.Up until now, I didn’t think of it like that, as in it never registered that I got my Visa on the 22nd of July 06. I was to leave for Sydney, for my Post graduate studies. A new country, a new experience and a new challenge. I was prepared mentally, to take this giant step in my life, as I had been contemplating it for a long time. As soon as i got my visa, began the lobbying for an early airplane ticket, packing and last minute shopping.The ticket I got, was scheduled on the night of the 24th.

I don’t know if there is a thing called fate…but it is funny to notice somethings…if you pay enough attention.They will definitely surprise you to say the least. I just remembered that Gauri M,my neighbor in Pune gave me a statuette of the Laughing Buddha as a going away gift….and when I told a good friend of mine that I had my visa..and was elated that I could make it in time for my course..he had only on thing to say…..”so the Buddha has smiled…and has brought you some good luck”….The fortune cookie that day read…”you will travel abroad”…I mean I don’t know if this is a freaky coincidence or…anyways…we each have our own convictions and beliefs…one should leave it at that.

After a rushed “good bye”….leaving behind my whole life, centered in and around my home place (Pune), I began my journey, bearing in mind that it was going to be a LONG one.

Since I was running late, my dear friend Devayani, the sweetheart that she is, offered to drop me at the Bremen Circle where the KK travels cab was waiting for me.

I got into the Cab which was to take me to the Sahar international airport, Mumbai at about 1430 on the 24th. Lets call it the DAY ONE.With this journey, I had to learn to move on, let go and start afresh. I was hopeful that I will be able to make it.I am yet to find out if I have or if not then,do I stand any chance !! The cab ride was fine. That was a bit strange since Mumbai had been really “explosive” that fortnight. Riots, bomb blasts, rains, flood warnings, you name it….So I started early. Anyways, I made it to the Airport fairly before time, at about 1830.Then began the first part of my LONG JOURNEY. Not only was the journey a long one…it was accompanied with a really long wait as well. Having made it to the airport 5 hrs before take off, I called a a couple of people, had a brunch and then I made for the THAI airline gate.The only thing that I can remember about the Cab ride, was the fact that this could be the last time I “see” INDIA, for some time to come. And it was beautiful as it has always been. It was drizzling at times, at times the sun came out and it was hot…the funniest part was when we entered the tunnels, and it was leaking inside !! I mean we come in an enclosed space and there is rain !! Or water falling..whichever way you prefer to look at it!! The beautifully green, lush mountains and hillocks that we crossed, looked really breath taking.And there was this bell chiming in my head…going this is the last time…for a long time that you can see this…going on and on…..All and all the whole experience was fun. I had a little nap as well … knowing that I will be needing one to last the whole journey ahead. The cabbie was fun too, a guy called RAM. That was funny in a way, that the whole thing began on an auspicious note… “Ram”.

On reaching the gate, just about the time of check in, I was in for my first shock. Here too, the WAIT continued as the Thai airways took forever, nah actually they took 45 mins to open the check in counters. I was one of the first people in the queue, so that I could get away with a little extra luggage. But then when I checked it in , I was declared over the allowed 45KGs and was asked to unload some excess baggage or pay for it at INR 1100/kg. Yeah right, as if I was going to do that. I talked to the lady in charge, I believe her name was Shammi or something. I asked her if she could help me in any way…she said that I had to reduce the weight I was carrying and that was that. I was a little tense and rummaged through my luggage to sift through some stuff, which was expendable.Some stuff, dear, but I had to be cruel and practical. Out went the bakarwadis, the stationery, the books…..the floaters, a couple of tees….jesus…I had to leave this all behind ???But I had do what I had to do…this was the first test…I had to learn to let go and move on…… Anyways my luggage now weighed a neat 40kg, as per the allowed norm and Shammi, the darling she was, saw my whole tussle with the bags and then came by and said softly, “you can rearrange that in your hand baggage and go through, there will be no problem”.Actually I was so thrilled that it didn’t register with me…that I was going to have to drag that EXCESS weight on my shoulders !! But anyways, it was my own stuff…so I wasn’t shy of SHOULDERING the responsibility …. ouch…my shoulders were very sore !!

Thai airways is well known for their food and all the rummaging had made me hungry.But that was delayed too !! As our flight was delayed from its previous location and was thus late in arriving at Mumbai. Thus we were delayed by about 30 minutes or more. We took off at about IST 2150, instead of the scheduled 2125. That was fine, since I was to wait at Bangkok for 12hrs, I didn’t care as much.

Another notable anecdote that I can think of sharing is that, in the GATE 14 where we were supposed to board the flight….the keys got misplaced !! Hehe…they couldn’t open the gate !! Man that was hilarious !! A bunch of Gujju people were making quite a din, this being there first foreign visit. They were playing “Lakshya” on Sahara Filmy. And I don’t know whether that too was a sign…”lakshya” after all means “goal” or “destination”…well may be it was. Another thing that kept me busy was a bunch of guys, flying off to join on a ship. They were from merchant navy and their “kissas” were fun. I was eaves dropping of course !!!Another sign came in the form a song…incidentally one of my favourites from the movie was playing….”Kitni baatein yaad aati hai”….and then for the first time, since I left Pune, I actually thought of the things back home. I wondered about how people must be doing now, that I am no longer there…well it only had been lke 5 hours…but anyways…and it made me a little sad, but then keeping my “lakshya” in mind, I was concentrating on the things to do…and things to look forward to…FOOD. The food actually was pretty good. I enjoyed it…but that came late..before that came …. ahem..a can of chilled beer….which was called “Singha” (the lion) …another sign ?? Snigdha ?? Would you like to answer that ?? Hehe….now you shall be called SINGHA BEER !!! Hehe…I was thinking about it….and what would your reaction be, when you found out !! I was sleeping for most of the journey. My neighbour was a sorry fellow, he was having a fight with the air hostess every time…..It lasted for about 4 hours. I reached Bangkok at 0545 local time. Then there was a little mix up with the immigration,for I went straight into the queue, twelve hours before, and thats not allowed !! The lady politely asked me to come back in 10 hrs !!!! I soon found a lounge to park myself….as I was now to wait for another 12 hrs until my next flight…to the land DOWN UNDER…Sydney !!Now for some place to crash….

How many of us have spent 15hrs on an airport in 24 hrs ?? And I still was not through. Here too…loads of sleep…head on the trolley…then feet up on the chair, getting comfy, then full on horizontal..I mean at first I was worried about what people might think….well PEOPLE weren’t awake to think….so I slept off too. Here came another sign, this time in the form of a guy. A Pakistani, called Syed Tausif Sawar Hashmi, from Lahore.I call it a sign as I was a bit apprehensive, you know, since UTS has many students from Pakistan and they had been trashing some of the new guys on the online UTS blog service…..But he was a nice guy, who too had to wait around for his connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur. We took turns in helping each other out….one used to be up while the other dozed off, and we took turns to visit the loo as well….all under an unspoken agreement. We couldn’t not stumble upon the topic of our interest CRICKET !! But I kept the talking to a minimum….for reasons, that I would classify under one broad category….SLEEP…..ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

After three or four bouts of the above “dose” I was pretty fresh and relaxed. It was then, that I actually took a look around. The Bangkok airport is busy.Since it is a stop over destination as well as a pretty good tourist spot in itself. It was for the first time that I got to see so many “chinkies”!! I was told that I will find myself alone in alien surroundings. But it was a surprise to see so many chinks like I said. And I am not being racist…all I want to say is that, there were many many “oriental” people…does that help ?? And its very hard to distinguish between them…so Chinese, Japanese (still pretty different), Malaysian, Singaporean,Thai, Phillipino and the like are all under this category !! So they clearly out weighed any one else there !! After all that was home territory, for them anyway !! I went around the duty free, ofcourse starting with the liquor joints !! Hehe…its always nice to see a lot of liquor stacked neatly…not so much when u glance at the prices…gosh !! Ofcourse, a visit to the toilet too was on the cards…so I had to ask for some help from the Paki bhai. We made a deal….and I did so later to help him out. The currency in Bangkok is BAHT ( to be read as Baat). About 30-40 Baht make one US$. And I then hunted for something to eat. I got a chicken sandwich and a coke to wash it down. The meal was pretty filing. Next on the list was calling up people. I could think of calling so many people. But the thing is, the time there, was GMT+730. So it meant that it was the wee hours in the night back home. It then dawned on me that I had my laptop and could start writing something like this. So I started with it….but slept of very soon….But then I stuck at it. I tried to get onto the Wifi, but didn’t have the access…so I had to search for a WLAN card. You would think that it would have been very easy !! It wasn’t. I was disappointed to find that not many of the Thai people understand English. And then again…after searching for some while….I found out that they sell all kinds of calling cards and LAN cards on the level above. So I had to get a move on. Here there was another issue…I couldn’t carry my Trolley up…so I had to haul all the stuff with me….and the Duty free is huge !! Its pretty expensive too !! They offered internet access for 250 Baht/hr. I got a calling card…for about US$9. I tried calling my Dad, didn’t get through. So I called my Bro thinking th would have just finished his stint at the Shangri La. He had a off, but was up partying. So I talked to him. It felt nice to talk to someone after a long time. And after our usual exchange of insults we hung up. Then I called Rohit, my lifeline back in Sydney. He was attending a lecture so I left a message on his voice mail. Then I made the dreaded call…MOM !! Hehe….I kept a few Baht balance on the card to call Ro again….to be on the safe side, but I never got through!! If he wasn’t going to make it to the airport, i would have been sunk !! So I told my Ma to call him and let him know again !! Hehe…There was nothing much to do….I couldn’t carry all that stuff on me anymore…so I made it back to the lobby lounge. It was still 2 hrs to the flight. I thought about and got in another nap !! I knew I had to get in as much sleep as possible….then I checked in. I made sure that my luggage from Mumbai was checked through, it was. Then I made to the Gate no 11 where I was to board the plane.

Here came my first encounter with the Aussies. I didn’t think before that I would have a lot of problem with the accent..and I didn’t… There was a huge pool of them, going back to their homes, after a good shopping and realxing tour to Thailand. The first thing that hit me about them, is that some of them are HUGE !! And by that I mean HUGE. There was this couple….tattoed all over and getting cozy…ahem…the dude must have been 6′5”. And he was built like a bull. I don’t know why but the moment I saw him, a old line from my Balbaharti text flashed in my mind, ” imagine a battering ram 7 ft from the ground, ready to strike in an instant”….or something of the sort.It was used to describe “Ka” the Serpent ( Anaconda) from Jungle book. It was an eerie thought…..and then again…the girl reminded me of Ozzy !!! Ozzy Osbourne !! Imagine that !! Ka and Ozzy !! Funny pair to say the least !! The guy next to me in the lounge was BIG too….it was then I woke up to the fact that I shouldn’t do this….so I decided then and there…Oz people are HUGE….period !! This aged couple…both must be in their sixties…was a treat !! The guy was a true OZ….which means he was HUGE, however apart from that…he had a huge belly and beard..and no prizes for guessing who he reminded me off…..SANTA CLAUS.He was …how do you say….I don’t think there is a word for it in English….may be we would call it “Tharki” in our Hin-Eng-Mar Slang…..or even fitting “hirawa”…in Marathi !!! He would pass comments on each and every passerby…and it was hard not to burst out laughing…he was damn good….The other thing to note…was that all of them were very casually dressed…as in 3/4ths or jeans and tees….thats it….I thought that Sydney was going to be cold…and it was….may be for these FOREIGN – Hommies…it wasn’t !! This flight too was long…..8hrs 30 mins to be precise !! This time…it was bigger plane….a 3-4-3 seater…and as my luck was running really high…(I am being sarcastic !!!) I got a seat in between….two people…thank god it wasn’t one in between !! But I was stuck in between a Greek fellow ( who I be-friended later ) and a Thai chic.She was damn cute….but aloof…and I found out later that she has a real bad breath….Thai food as always…was great . This time especially the breakfast comprising of Egg Quich ( I hope that its the right spelling ) was really good.Its an egg preparation which had olives and stuff and it was great. Also a sausage and some salad came with it. The pastry that they served both times was great too. Of course they were offering drinks as well…I had some red wine and beer…not together tough….in separate meals….and some orange juice as well.

The first part of the flight that it from AST 1015-0415 was really boring. However the only highlight was the music they played.About 25 songs over and over…but they had 5 of my favourites. So I was waiting around till they played on of them and then heard them on full volume. The Thai chic was really damn cute but boring….and it was as if she was dumb…not a word out of her mouth. One thing that caught my eye was that since the Thai people served lots of liquids…..there was the biggest queue for the toilets that I have sen in an airoplane …ever….it was almost as if we had reached the destination and everyone was getting ready to dismount !! It was that big….no exaggeration. A Thai air hostess too was really damn nice…..although it was hard to follow “her” English. They actually changed like 4 outfits. The pursers changed twice I think…but the air hostesses changed 4 times. And each one of the outfits was smart and trendy. The one I liked…hehe….looked really pretty. Ahem..anyways…Its a very demanding job….the Oz folk got a little high !! And then the it was harder for them as these fellas turned on their “flirtatious” behaviour !!

The second part of the flight, like I said before, began when my friend Konstantions Lavranos, the Greek fellow, had to pee. It is necessary to mention this act as that made him really uncomfortable…and when he couldn’t hold himself back anymore….he asked me to wake up the sleeping beauty from Thailand and pronto !! I did as he asked and was surprised to know that the loos were free then..I guess most people were asleep. I too helped myself….ahh….relief !!I hadn’t been into an air plane loo in a long time…its one of the most cramped places on the plane….hello claustrophobia!! Naah…I am just kidding…
The flight was getting pretty turbulent and by the time we both made it back to our seats…dear old sleeping beauty was asleep !! hehe….so I got another chance to talk to her…..and thats when I found out her aforementioned trait…..bad breath !!! She was sniffing some spray which smelt a lot like the “kanthil tablets ” my Ma keeps popping every now and then. I popped one breath mint too…fearing the worst hehe…As they served our breakfast…(now the crew in their fourth smart outfit )…the guy next to me broke the ice…he said something and that was the basis of a long conversation that followed..much to the discomfort of Miss Sleeping Beauty who gave us irritated looks a couple of times….only to doze off….and then was further irked when the breakfast was served….hehe….she just didn’t eat !! And this was the second time that she was doing this and since I was hungry…I got pissed at her…hehhehe….well not so much !! hahaha…

Konstatinos came from Athens. He had been on a flight from Athens to Bangkok and then was on my flight to Sydney only to take another one to Melbourne. He had an eye on the ETA as he wasn’t sure if we would make it in time. He was thrilled to know that I came from India. That is because he had a lot of questions to ask of me. We talked a lot …about a lot of things too….ranging from the population explosion, to the poverty, to the holy Ganges, to consuming meat ( beef in particular ) , the tourist attractions in India and then the conversation drifted to the India Pakistan rift and the constant tension between the two nations. He was very surprised to hear my views…..actually my views….surprised me as well !! hehe..I never knew that I actually “knew” so much about India.I guess being an INDIAN helps..also the fact that we studied ECO, GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY in school !!! hehe…He also talked about similar issues with Greece and Turkey. He told me that he would like to see India…and I suggested some places…..and he too advised me on what to “see” and which places I should visit,if I had the opportunity to visit Greece. He was a Major in Physics and he too advised me that AI was a tough subject and that I should be really serious about it…..ok…..from tomorrow !! hehe….The three hours since he had to pee….passed really well and it was actually landing time….The beauty was up and less grumpy…she really was something. When I boarded the plane….I saw her sitting smugly…and I knew that given a chance….I would have really had a nice time with her…..and dismissed it…thinking …”yeah…like she is going to be your neighbor !!”…She was…and I was…well I was…..well ummm….ahhhh….tongue tied , period !! I guess I will learn ….. the sooner the better !!!

Konstatinos rushed away when we landed as he had to get on a connecting flight…..he must have been jet lagged as he was about 18 hrs…ahead in time !!! It seems a little childish but that made me think of the movie …”back to the future”….as I was taking a trip….ahead….in time……literally but not in entirety…yeesh….moving on…

To be continued….