How did I end up on a Trip to U.S. ? ( Quick Recap )
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Abstract got selected.
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Finally, I ended up entering the Flight :)
I got indications of what to expect when they told me that Standard Meal ( Food Preference specified in the Ticket ) translates to Chicken or Beef in their language. I replied that I was a Vegetarian. As the Flight was not completely full, they were able to arrange for a Vegetarian Meal fortunately.
My Flight Itinerary was Bangalore to Dubai – 4 Hours, Dubai to Los Angeles – 16 Hours. Bangalore to Dubai Flight was a breeze. By the time you finish the food served, sleep ( Had to as the Flight started around 4 A.M. ), explore the In-Flight Entertainment System, you can hear an announcement saying that the Flight is about to land in Dubai !
I spent short intervals in between peeking through the window ( I still remember How much I strained my Neck during my First Flight ). If its Night, you could see the Roads & Street Lights combining to appear as Lava from a Volcano. If its Morning, you are in the clouds.
I got indications of what to expect when they told me that Standard Meal ( Food Preference specified in the Ticket ) translates to Chicken or Beef in their language. I replied that I was a Vegetarian. As the Flight was not completely full, they were able to arrange for a Vegetarian Meal fortunately.
My Flight Itinerary was Bangalore to Dubai – 4 Hours, Dubai to Los Angeles – 16 Hours. Bangalore to Dubai Flight was a breeze. By the time you finish the food served, sleep ( Had to as the Flight started around 4 A.M. ), explore the In-Flight Entertainment System, you can hear an announcement saying that the Flight is about to land in Dubai !
I spent short intervals in between peeking through the window ( I still remember How much I strained my Neck during my First Flight ). If its Night, you could see the Roads & Street Lights combining to appear as Lava from a Volcano. If its Morning, you are in the clouds.
I have a doubt.
Why does every Light look Yellow when seen from top ? Or Is it only Me ?
I watched Mountains covered with Snow for the first time. Excitement wore off very soon. May be too much of anything is also bad. What do you say ?
I came back to the In-Flight entertainment system. I was able to clear 5 Movies out of my backlog of 50. I watched Good Movies like Shrek forever after, Despicable Me, Toy Story 3 and Prince of Persia. In-Flight Entertainment includes Multi-Player Gaming. Sadly, no Age of Empires.
You might be knowing that Beverages are complimentary in Flights. I watched in amazement as a fellow passenger emptied 8 Pegs of Vodka in a 3.5hr Flight and stocked 2 more for future !
Do you believe in Beginner's Luck ( Principle of Favourability ) introduced in The Alchemist ?
I came back to the In-Flight entertainment system. I was able to clear 5 Movies out of my backlog of 50. I watched Good Movies like Shrek forever after, Despicable Me, Toy Story 3 and Prince of Persia. In-Flight Entertainment includes Multi-Player Gaming. Sadly, no Age of Empires.
You might be knowing that Beverages are complimentary in Flights. I watched in amazement as a fellow passenger emptied 8 Pegs of Vodka in a 3.5hr Flight and stocked 2 more for future !
Do you believe in Beginner's Luck ( Principle of Favourability ) introduced in The Alchemist ?
Seat beside me is vacant in all the Onward Flights ( Mind you, all the 4 onward Flights ).
All the Return Flights are packed completely ( Mind you, all the 3 return Flights ).
How about now ?
After reaching San Jose ( My Brother's place ) Airport, I had some tense moments as my baggage didn't arrive at the Carousel and I don't even have a phone to call my Brother.
After reaching San Jose ( My Brother's place ) Airport, I had some tense moments as my baggage didn't arrive at the Carousel and I don't even have a phone to call my Brother.
However, Beginner's Luck prevailed.
I found my baggage inside Airline Office ( I went there to lodge a complaint of missing baggage ).
A fellow passenger gave me Phone to make a Call !
First day, We ( Myself, Brother and Vodina ) went for a Trek. Treks here look completely different from India. Paths are well marked and well connected.
First day, We ( Myself, Brother and Vodina ) went for a Trek. Treks here look completely different from India. Paths are well marked and well connected.
No chance of singing Songs like
Right O' Left O'
Left O' Right O'
ముందుకో వెనకకో పై పైకో కిందకో
అసలు ఎందుకో ఎక్కడికో
Lets Go Go Go Go Go
Its called Matt Davis Trail. ( Basically Trek with Sea in the backdrop )
Beautiful View from the Trek Path.
I felt like saying,
Sea or Sky – How does it matter ? - Both are endless, look empty and beautiful. Isn't it?
My Brother and Vodina trekking along.
Hurrah, I did it !
I reached the End of the Trail. ( End of the Trail is unfortunately not the Peak of the Mountain. )
I couldn't stop comparing U.S. with India.
Though People say,”Be a Roman when you are in Rome”.
Some of the observations, I made.
- Clear Skies - You can see the Stars unlike in Bengalooru.
- Empty Roads - You can call them deserted, unless you have a super natural ability to communicate with a species commonly called Cars.
- Closed Houses - All Houses look similar but Beautiful.
- Cold Climate, Cold Food, Cold Water with Ice Cubes added - This left me wondering. How can they manage with Cold Food in a Cold Climate ? I recollect an incident. During the Conference, they were serving Cold Water with Ice Cubes. I asked for Plain Water. Can you guess What happened ? They served Cold Water without Ice Cubes.
- De-caffeinated Coffee - Its possible only in U.S. Why drink Coffee without Caffeine ?
- Obsession with Right Side - Driving on Right Side of the road. Steering on Right Side of the car. I can accept. However, I was amused when I found that in American Flights, you need to strap the seat belt from Right Side unlike from Left Side in other Flights.
- Capitalism at its Best and Worst - I didn't take a Laptop along. When I reached Los Angeles, I thought of sending an e-mail to my Brother and Father that I reached Los Angeles safely. I went to a Computer Kiosk and started Browsing. However, on checking the rate at which I am being charged - $5 for 10 Minutes, My Heart started racing along.
- Water is sold, while Ice Cubes are complimentary :)
- Nothing is fixed. All rates are floating - The Conference, I attended is at Tucson. TI wanted us to book Hotels in advance so that we get best deals. ( Don't know whether its best deal for Hotel or for us ). When I checked the rates 20 days in advance, it was around $150 per day. With TI's discount coupon, it was $99. Once I reached Tucson, I was curious to know the rate if I book then. Believe it or not, it was $89 per day without any discount coupon. Even TI got fooled :)
My Presentation was on the last day of the Conference. Though it went well, I was little unhappy that there were only few people. According to my calculations, 50% of participants bunked the Conference that day !
Fennighan's Restaurant inside the Conference Venue.
After much discussion and deliberation ( I would like to say ), we decided to go to Universal Studios at Los Angeles for the week-end. Flight from Tucson reaches Los Angeles at 7 A.M. We have a shuttle to Universal Studios at 7:45 A.M. from the Hotel. If we miss it, the only option left is travel by bus & train for 2 hours.
We reached LAX ( Los Angeles Airport ) by 7 A.M.
We waited for the Baggage at the Carousel for almost 15 Minutes – 7:15 A.M.
15 more Minutes for the Shuttle to Radisson Hotel – 7:30 A.M.
Reached the Hotel at 7:40 A.M.
When we went to the Reception for Keys, we overheard a Tour Guy saying,”Star Line Tours. Star Line Tours. Anyone here?”
Bingo !
Forget going to Room, we dropped the Baggage at the Luggage Storage Counter. Ran to the Shuttle. What a Luck I would say.
Finally we reached Universal Studios. Round of Applause, Please :)
Start Camera Action...
We took All you can Eat Pass for $20 under the assumption that we shall eat big time. However, the Rides are so good that we kept running from one ride to the other till the closing time eating just only once !
The Ride that I liked most was called King Kong 3D.
They took us in a Bus inside a Cave. Closed the Entrance and Exit. We realized now that the Cave was actually a Screen. Gave us 3D glasses and started screening a 3D Movie. The Plot was King Kong trying to save us from Godzilla.
What with Special Effects like Spraying Water while going through Water Fall and 3-Axis Bus Movements according to the script, it was made close to real.
Do you remember me in Shrek Movie?
Picture Perfect. Isn't it?
Next day, we went to Manhattan Beach.
The day was Cold. I was shivering from top to bottom. It was my own folly. I didn't wear a sweater. My reasoning was that you should experience the actual weather :)
I couldn't place my feet in water. I tried once and covered my feet immediately with sand to reduce the cooling effect !
Thats all Folks.
One interesting Info, I gathered - I worked for only 8 days in November excluding last week. Keep it secret. Don't leak to anyone :)
