After a hectic 3 years in the field, returning to India in
2010 had always been a well-planned and carefully thought through decision. The
first few months had been tough adjusting back to the hectic pace but then,
once we found our feet, it felt great to be back with friends and family. In the 3 years from 2010 to 2013, thanks to
my new role, I’d hardly traveled within the country leave alone tour abroad so
when the opportunity to make a quick 2 week trip across 4 cities came earlier
this month, I was quite keen to go back in time to revisit old haunting
grounds. Come Dec 3rd, despite having to work till around 5 hrs
before I flew out (crib crib), the overwhelming sensation was one of eager
anticipation coupled with nostalgia.
Cut to today - It’s been a whirlwind 2 weeks on the road and
as my trip winds down, I cannot wait to get back to India. Phew. All said and done, home is where the heart
is. So what did I miss in these last 2
weeks? On the professional front, I realized how much my regular 9 to 6 routine
meant to me and I must confess that I yearned for the chitchat with my team, having known faces
around me at work & the adda sessions during lunch. On the personal side, it was really tough
having to leave India within a week of Dee coming to Bangalore and despite the
mild trauma of spending my first week with a full time bawling infant, I missed
her. Besides that, ghar ka khaana was
never more appreciated than in these last 2 weeks…..and so here we are.
Highlights of the
trip
London
·
Commuting by the tube, reading the free Metro newspaper & then rushing through the turnstiles to walk briskly towards
your destination has to be one of the simplest things in life which has given
me greatest joy
·
The sumptuous English breakfast at the Copthorne Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge – one of the few times I wished I was not
pure veg
·
Much as I hate the menu, having Lebanese at the
Sheldon Square restaurant Massis with some truly wonderful company on a cold,
blustery, winter’s night
· The festive spirit captured best by the public
Christmas lighting – you see it everywhere
Reading
·
Grabbing a (sandwich + drink + crisps)-to-go
lunch at Pret a manger and then coffee at Starbucks later in the evening
·
Riding the elevator all the way up to the 1st
floor at Sportsdirect, checking out the Football jerseys and then returning
back without buying the latest Arsenal kit (till we win a trophy)
·
Window shopping at the Oracle mall – doesn’t
matter if many of my favorite shops have wound down and things have changed a
bit, it’s still a magical place
·
Meeting Vinod and his 2 lovely daughters, Shreya
& Sonia, at Woodley and feasting on the hot, delicious Poha made by Vasudha….
Manna from heaven !!!
New York
·
Traveling by train from New Brunswick to Pennstation – watching snow soaked landscapes whizzing by
·
The amazing 4 hr walk from Madison Square Garden
to the UN complex and then from Central Park to the Empire state building –
whoever thought one borough would pack in so much punch
·
Finally living the dream – saw almost all our
RCT logos in real - a Chipotle
restaurant, a Macy’s store, a CVS Caremark pharmacy, a Coach and Estee Lauder
outlet – a consumer’s paradise.
·
The super cool FREEEEEEEEEEEE ferry to StatenIsland which affords nice views of the Statue of Liberty
·
Every skyscraper in Manhattan
·
The sense of freedom all around
Chicago
·
The most awesome Hotel stay I’ve ever had in a
business trip – take a bow Staybridge Suites at Oakbrook Terrace. It’s not
posh, it’s not flashy but it’s still awesome. The warmest chef, the kindest
reception desk, the absolutely brilliant shuttle driver, the social dinner menu
/ conversation, the yummiest cheese pizza ever, the mind-blowing muffins, the
awesome room, the super-fast Internet…. I could go on…. Do not regret for one
bit not staying at the Courtyard…..If only the Chicago weather had been kinder J
