Friday, December 11, 2009

Highlights...

Some of the most interesting things of this trip so far...in chronological order. There were so many things I did this time that I had always wanted to do! And others were additional bonuses.

1) The plane I was in took off while my seat was more or less, completely reclined, and I was flat on my back! Now that was a first, and it better be the last!

2) Landed in Pune instead of Mumbai or Delhi. Being home within an hour is priceless!

3) Finally getting to meet my colleagues in India. Working formally through emails and conference calls is just not the same as brainstorming something and sharing gossip over tea and coffee! The ice-breaking was SO important and beneficial to everyone. Am glad I got this opportunity. (The length of this bullet point says it all I guess! I really enjoyed my time here)

4) Another road trip with my school friend, Sona. We had gone to Hubli by overnight bus earlier to surprise our very close friend. This time, we went to Mumbai, to surprise our school teacher. She was stunned! We met her after 20 years! She was still the same loving, Didi! This was an amazing experience!

5) Finally getting to meet Ria and Princess Mia. This was a huge one too! We connected instantly (at least I felt so!) and I wish we had more time, and more blogworld friends (Ella, missed you for sure!) And throw in Anuraag Baasu as a bonus! Right, girls? He took a picture of the three of us, and we didn't even realize who he was!

6) Watching a Gujarati play after a long long time!

7) Meeting Tabbu (yes, the actress!) at the foot massage place at Mumbai airport. No, I didn't bug her for autographs or photos or anything. We just exchanged smiles and went back to enjoying our massages. Yes, she is absolutely lovely in person too!

8) The BIGGEST thing ever on my wish list, I saw the Pyramids of Giza! I touched them! I climbed up on one of them too! Oh, I am so happy, you can't imagine!

9) Another first for me, I traveled alone. All the way to Egypt and back. And enjoyed it!

10) I won a belly dancing competition in Egypt. Against Columbian and Jordanian girls! How cool is that, huh?

11) I danced with a whirling dervish! That's even cooler, no?

12) I have actually been taking the bus to and from work. Not everyday, but some times. Another first for me!

13) Met my first "best friend" ever. Met her after almost 18 years. Yet another experience I am utterly thankful for! And Sona was with us too.

14) This one's weird, for me at least. The bus driver asked me to jump of the moving bus :) Ok, so it was not moving full speed, it was not completely impossible (thinking of the Mumbai locals!), but I still find it amusing.

I have another month or so to go before I return home. Hope it brings me some more pleasant surprises!

10 comments:

Rho Tau GWIS said...

All sounds awesome! Glad you are having such a great time!

Veens said...

what???? all the mails u sent me and u forgot to mention that u r here?! oh my! Aner... you are so getting it from me!!!!!!!!!!


i m so happy u r enjoying your trip! I wish i was in BBay now :( would have loved to meet you :)

aneri_masi said...

CG, yeah, am having a lot of fun!

Veena, oh, I thought you knew. Now I see, you are not on Facebook, that's why you are out of the loop. Baaki everyone knows. You need to get onto FB...

Rià said...

wow!!what a post...i was waiting for it. And lol at what happened with Anurag Basu :P Poor guy!!

It was wonderful meeting u, although i agree tht it wud hav been nice if v cud spend some more time. :)

aneri_masi said...

Ria, I know, "mood" nahi ban raha tha to write anything down. Then all of a sudden at midnight, I just had to pour it all out :) Will send you the pic, didn't want to post it here on a public blog.

Cinderella said...

Ah, now this is what I was waiting for, a complete circumnavigation of all things done until now.

I woulda probly asked her for an autograph. :D I hope you dint disappoint her. :P

Anurag Basu....hmm..was he gud lookin? Glad you girls caught up.
Need I say one more I am sad big time? :(

Pyramids have been on my wishlist since firs yr grads when we were being taugh about them, the whole engg marvel of it. Pix were lovely. You looked gr8 as always. :)

YOu knw belly dancing ?!! Thats so cool! I so wanna learn that!

How the devil the bus guy asked you to jump off?!! Why?! Weird!! Did you jump btw? I hope not.

aneri_masi said...

Ella, arey the poor thing was half asleep. Aur jaate jaate itna sweetly she smiled at me, she almost looked grateful!

Belly dancing...a little bit, baaki I just did what I felt like. I was the first contestant, the rest refused to dance after I was done!

Nope, didn't jump, could not have done it! He stopped for like 2 seconds and I hopped off.

Cinderella said...

@ CG & Veens : OMG! Its so good to see you girls after so long!

You girls are back on the arena are ya?

Leeza said...

it sounds like a beautiful place, nice to meet you too! Can I add your blog so I may follow it?
leez

aneri_masi said...

Leeza, welcome to my space :) Of course you can add me :)