Onwards to India

Trip to India

So, its been about 10 months since I came to france. I have learnt many new things and forgotten few old habits. Now, this section of this blog is not about that. This piece is dedicated to my trip to India. So here she goes..

It all started many many months ago in the mind of a very educted young man, ironically called Adithya ;).. Well, to be honest with you, I have checked the prices to go home during the holidays time and again and kept myself away from checking for months on end by telling myself that if I keep seeing the prices, I'll keep feeling like going home. But, one particular day, when I was feeling super duper down, I worked on the old budget sheet I was talking about to earlier. I worked out that I could afford a trip to India if it costed about 600euros and then there was no stopping my imagination. In the span of about four hours from that point, thanks to mordern technology and available finances, I had a ticket to India with my name on it.

That was the easy bit, the hard bit was waiting for the date and I told myself(again) that I spend time with day dreaming about the day that I leave to India and meeting the Who's who of my life. Not to forget, the amazing food. And so, I worked twice as hard on my internship search and other things important to my career, but I'd be lying if I said I spent anything less that an hour a day with Mysore on my mind. I think I was slowly beginning to drive my friend Anshul crazy, although he was kind enough not to mention it.

That said, all logistical arrangements made, which included transport to and from nantes to Paris and Chennai to Mysore after careful consideration that I wouldn't be able to carry my heavy luggages through the Paris Metro and that TGV's can sometimes be late etc. Then, the gift department taken care of by an amount equivalent to this poor man's monthly grocery bill. I, Finally, on the 13th of december 2009, at 530pm, left my little room. Now, many will know that 13 is not a very lucky number in this side of the world, and so far.. Sitting in a crowded little place, surrounded by baggage with no seat number on my ticket. I report that I would like to confirm that 13 is in fact a bit UNlucky.

Let me explain, all was going well until I arrived at the Le Mans station to change trains to reach the Charles De Gaulle airport of Paris. I had a waiting time of about 1.5hours to my train and I waited without watching the information board which did not have my train on it. With about 10mins to go before my train was supposed to leave, I went ot the information desk to ask what was going on and the man very nicely told that the train was canceled. And then I remembered what I read at the train station in Nantes, there's a strike going on. Thankfully no trains were burnt(you can't burn something which can go fast enough to extinguish itself I guess). So, with something like 5 minutes left for the train leave, the man took an eternity to explain the alternate tickets which I had chosen. I then had to run about a half mile to the train to discover I was in a stuffed train with many like myself and now am writing on my computer with the space I was able to lease on top of a suitcase.

So, memories of India already.. Or is my appetite for strikes and other such uncertainities which I was used to for a long long time reduced?! I dunno, will keep you informed though..