Train # 6526 - Island express

"Island express" a name which allways to come with a sweet travel plans. I am back on this train after 10 years I guess. I am quite sure that This is name is known to every Malayalee guy in Bangalore since its connecting link for thousands of bangaloreans to kerala:

I can't stop wondering (flashback ) of the plans we used to make..

• -Counting days as 'after 2 days I will be on this train.
• -Imagining the unique vibration (cradling of train) which will make as fall asleep.
  
• -Wondering if any cute girl will be their in the compartment.
  
• -Awaiting the sweet fried banana breakfast at palghat station.
  
• -Watching the bharathapuzha river flowing alongside early in the morning.
  
• -Sitting firm when the train passes over the ottapalam bridge( to avoid the train loosing balance and falling into the river).
  
• -Musical thump of the train.

Guess I will goto sleep now. Hope I can capture the Bharathapuzha river early morning and railside kerala beauty.

Some other characteristics :

• Need to book the seats 45 to 90 days in advance.
• Has more than 20+ bogie's
• Guess its one of the most profitable rail routes

-some history from WIKI..Click here

The day I almost miss 2 flights...

Its obvious from above that, I miss the first one. Where do I start. Do i start with... How did I miss the first one or my Figments of my imagination or wandering thought or should I say insights or winsonomics.
Today I had to travel from Bangkok to Delhi on work. My flight was at 720hrs. People who know me already would have guessed the reason for missing my first flight. Now I feel I was late(as I have gold card and have been checking in 30 to 40 mins before departure) thought there should be any issue today as well. Some thing about me is that I love to be a JIT person; that is I love to be Just In Time(more accurate is I don't want to wait. With the negative aspect added: Others can wait for me but I can't. The JIT thing is like a close one day cricket match, with mix of suspense & thrill and once I accomplish; the feelings is as great. If I remove the negative aspect its very disciplined system. Just like an ATC managing a Runway. So I miss my flight(for the first time in my life) for which I am solely resposible. Since I have no meetings today I was safe and I manage to change to the next evening flight. Offcourse I was feeling bad and took a taxi back home and while getting down gave my finger between the doors. God its hurts like hell. It still aches but at that time I could see stars in the day. Not to waste my time I went was back at office. I have this case of inertia. Cant stop if I am loving it. Sleep in the morning! offcourse I love.

My next flight was scheduled at 1950. I leave office at 1715(again,..inertia effect), thought I shall leave at 1700). As per my calculation, i can be at the airport by 1800 being frequenter. I take a taxi near my office to goto home to pick my luggage and then off to airport. Guess what! It's the turn of the Bangkok Traffic Jam. I reach home at 1750,and in a moment was on my way to the airport. I ask the driver to take the expressway. The expressway starts smooth and within couple of minutes I find myself back of pile of cars.

The bottom line is I manage to get the flight. Thanks to checkin staff , my loyalty card on TG and no crowd at immigration. I check in at 1925 and was in by 1945. This was first time I ran inside airport and with my new shoes my legs were in an ordeal.
Coming to the musings; I wonder why do people take the car(looks like baggage of ego, personal space). I also suspect countries esp.. car making companies funds infrastructure project for. Roads & expressways. Why there are one or 2 skytrain when you have so many roads. I begin to admire the paris subway system so complex and roads with wide walkways with coffee terraces. Shouldn't we be spending time relishing the evening sun with a cup of coffee and reading your favourite author than slogging it out waiting to jump on the next piece of road. I guess traffics jams are not unique to bangkok alone.. But why the mass transit system like BRT in Delhi proposed by Sunita Narain are scrubbed off. I think we need to figure the thin line between personal indulgences/space and common good. I wonder will we be proactive or get into tight spot like today to decide.
I guess if my bosses read this blog I might get fired...by god: I decide to be 2.5 hours before at airport and i must start making use of the lounges. Now I guess I am half way between BKK and DEL.

I have one resolution decided 22 day ahead of 2010 ; That is ;
To be present in Airport 2.5 hours before a takeoff...

My Job is also about

Advise....Want some???

I am sure you know the old joke; what is it in this world that you get for Free(Apart from Smile)...Advise...from colleagues, friends, almost everyone around you(esp if you are an Asian)...and if you have to pay for it..its called consultancy...

Wonder why it so easy to Advise to others and Advising self is complicated... Guess the reasons could be when we are in problem..... the issue could be the problem shows it self as a jigsaw with many interconnected complication...or is it difficulty in prioritizing the complication ....The advisors most often see one complication and not to live with implication of choice; guess that makes it easier!!...but one silver lining is positive gesture of Help/care...

Guess i goto bed a bit smarter tonite...

Living in Intoxication

Definition Intoxication: "overpowering exhilaration or excitement of the mind or emotions."
Definition Drunk "being in a temporary state in which one's physical and mental faculties are impaired by an excess of alcoholic drink".

Ever wonder why people want to get intoxicated with Wine, Love, Work or anything...A state of indecision, a state of loosened controll over self... a state of letting go and leting one self to be controlled by destiny, others or a state of fearing of letting go!. Wonder if i should call it stress release or lack of guts for decision , pure pleasure. The pleasure aspect is strange combination of fire n Ice....guess, i am cranky already to write this post at 2:13 in the night... Intoxicated with ....

Winsonville

Few days back, I joined Farmville( Game on Facebook). Normally i am not a gaming guy(yet!), i just joined this to get a feeling of farming since i am into similar industry. The concept of the game is you have virtual farm where you grow vegetables/fruit/grains as well as have cows/chicken!...You do the normal chores as plowing/seeding/harvesting/milking associated with maintaining farm...

Initially my Winsonville(as i name it) was break activity and to transforming your day dream of what i could do with my farm, Imagining walking into my farm with fruit trees around(idea from My Girl and Gladiator) with small 3 block of plowed land... it was nice to imagine having a farm ,simple life, growing some trees and flower and rest in your small tent reading your favorite author...Invited some friends, who could be good neighbours... life seem to be good..

But now, i have been bitten by the competition thing..now want to attain new level, extend my farm size and have been taking my steps as, inviting anyone to be the neighbours, buying up machinery, looking to grows crops which are profitable interms of coins,experience,levels in shortest time... why am I getting pulled into a futile rat race???

Common , I dint join this for territorial expansion, competing with anyone...why cant i be a simple farmer with few neighbors(to gossip), small cultivation of my favorite fruits and Veggies of my choice and have creative farm...I wonder!

The Sky & The Tree