27th September 2011..........

The day started with me getting up after a lot of effort. That's usual, me getting up from my sleep is a challenge I face everyday. I reach office, spoke with Mom on the way. I reach office and the security guard asks me to show my identity card. I said I am not getting into the office and hence there is no need to show the same. He stuck on to the request and I became a bit restless. I show him the card and ask him to not waste time hereon. S called me at the same time and explained how wrong I was? While I was in Gym I continued to think about and concluded I was completely wrong. I came out to apologize to this guy and I realize he was not there. I felt terrible as here I was on the wrong side and I could not do my bit to apologize. The day continued with meetings, discussions and conversations with S.The morning incident with security guard taught me a zillion things. Trust I will find ways and means of improving myself.

September 4th 2011: Got up late on a Sunday Morning. Went for breakfast with Lokesh to a local Mall. It has lot of options including Indian food. I ate my favorite Burger King Veggie. Lokesh then showed me the apartment complex he stays in. It has a lovely pool table, swimming pool and other facilities. At this point, Aruna & Family picked me up from there and we reach their home. Had food and good time with kids at her place. We went to an Indian store in the evening for buying some groceries. NJ seems to have lot of Indians or perhaps this is just the locations I was in. All these Indians looked as If they are in two minds, they love the comfort which USA offers but miss the crowds/people to people contact back in India. No bargaining in the shop for example.Once back I felt sleepy again. This morning, I get up and did not even realize when it was time for me to take train from NJ to Bridgeport. The train I must say is a disappointment when compared with similar options in Europe. It costed me much more for similar distance with much less comfort. It was 17 minutes late as well. Got down in Bridgeport and took a Cab to the Hotel.
Shelton felt as If its a wonderful, small little town which brings together nature's best with modern day comforts. After a dinner at Ruby Tuesday, Shelton (which by the way was completely packed) here I am penning down my thoughts. One mistake I have made till now is to not take any pics.  

America and Me....

I always wanted to visit USA, not sure why, I guess multitude of reasons and somehow this country evaded me. I finally reached this place this morning and at the end of first day, I am glad that I am here. The visit started with a long immigration queue in JFK. I am told this is usual at JFK. It was 8 AM in the morning and most of us were tired and wondering when we would be out of Airport. Called up S as soon as I landed, to tell that I have landed with loads of headache. Advise for me was to have lot of hot fluids to get rid of headache and I was wondering how to get the same in the queue. S of course as usual helped me with loads of info and other imp stuff. Had this interesting pair of girls in the queue who talked as If that has an autocatalytic effect on their energy levels. The more they talked, the more they seem to be wanting to talk. I was amazed and frustrated with them (because of my headache). When their turn comes up I had to ask them to go as their attention was focused on talking about something to do with shopping I believe. One of them goes to this immigration officer and she starts talking to him, at this point of time I was thinking of how to cultivate/get some of the energy that girl had. As all things this ended and when they move out, my turn comes up. I go to the officer, he is more interested in my notebook than anything else. He checks it out and asks me about my background and finds it difficult to connect it with my job in Unilever. Neither can I, I thought in my mind. He looks at some scribbles in my notebook and says that was calculus. He adds on saying he never understood it. I was wondering If my Physics Prof from college would have been here he would have certainly lodged a complaint against this guy. Managed to go out and realize that I do not have the car which is supposed to have picked me up there. A quick similarity between JFK and CSIA (Mumbai), as soon as you walk out of the airport, tens of taxi drivers would ask you If you need a Taxi some even in Hindi. I with all my India experience quickly said no and landed at Emirates helpdesk (which was at some god forsaken place and Air India helpdesk helped me get there), and the lady there politely tells me the car can wait for only 90 minutes and its 110  minutes now. I argued saying that I did not know, did not help and I must say my thinking as Emirates Airline to be one of most caring airline disappeared. Managed to book a Cab to Penn Station in Manhattan. Walked to Path Station in which looked like a very old station (later confirmed to be more than 100 years old) but it looked to be in robust working condition. Enjoyed my ride from there to Newport. Lokesh picked me up and the first thing I did was to sleep at his home for 4 hours to get rid of my headache.
By 4 PM all my headache was gone. Left for WTC, saw some people explaining the Jewish conspiracy in WTC attacks and I thought this is wonderful as an example of free society.
Walked from Broadway to Battery Garden to Times Square to Brooklyn Bridge to Christopher Street. New York is as busy as Bombay but has lot of breathing space.
Had a Gyro near NYSE, its yummy street food based on Chicken. Must eat there. Walked to Battery Gardens for a wonderful view of the hudson river. Subsequently walked to Times Square (stopped at a garden in between) and loved the energy of the place. Giant screens there are wonderful. Went to Hells kitchen thereafter for Turkish food. Could not finish it fully as it was heavy but as usual I loved the turkish kebabs. Thereafter we took a long walk and I enjoyed every second to Christopher street. We took a train back to home and here I am back. Hope this wonderful trip continues to thrill me. It would have been better with my S and others here.