India diary, Dec 2011

Yes, the long awaited India trip finally happened. Writing this post while sitting at Dakra, about 80 kms away from Ranchi.  The following are a few noteworthy instances which were worth remembering.


1. Bangalore airport entry. I was bringing two macbooks, one personal and one office one, and as per Indian rules you can only bring one laptop. I was prepared to pay the duty that if they ask for it, i will pay the duty. One was in my hand bag and other was checked in. I see that the checked in suitcase has a big X marked on it with chalk. Interesting! I walk out and duely the checked marked suitcase is noted and i am asked to go to the screening section, they screen and whoa there is a laptop.  Here is the conversation after that -

Him: How many laptops do you have?
Me: Two.
Him: Ok, please come with me to the next room. (I walk over there)
Him: Please show the two laptops.  (I pull out the two laptops)
Him: Only one is allowed as per Indian rules.
Me: Ok, One is office one and other one is personal. I need both here.
Him: (Look at me)
Me: What should we do now?
Him: How old are these laptops?
Me: Office one is three years old, personal one is one year old.
Him: (Again looks) Ok, dont worry about it, you can take these with you.
Me: Thank you sir!

I bet that this would never have happened at the Delhi airport (ask Gurshi who had to pay duty) , only in bangalore is such a thing possible.

2. Wallet got picked up while boarding Delhi metro at Rajiv chowk. Was trying to catch the yellow line and along came a train which was jam packed, and at Rajiv Chowk all those people came out with all the push-pull and there was also a crowd who wanted to go in. And in that moment, my wallet was picked which i realized instantly but whom to catch. Lesson - Carry wallet in front packet. Loss of about  6000 rs but more issue is the painful process to get new cards and stuff.

3. Dilli-walla - In one way Delhi has been totally cosmopotalized/metrolized but there was a time when Delhi was about Dilli-wallahs - people who spoke sweetly, were friendly to others and used to live life happily. It is rare to find Dilli wallahs now a days but one fine Sunday morning, i took an auto rickshaw from Harinagar to District center and the driver was a typical dilliwallah. In those 20 mins, he told me about his childhood,  the day his bike was stolen and he was sad but his dad without saying any word bought a new bike, the day he bunked from school etc etc.  I think these people need to be sought out .

4. Delhi T3 airport - Quite impressed by the delhi T3 airport. Not because of its size but because of its art, in particularly the mudras depicted on that giant wall when one lands. The Dilli chat in the food court on first floor is also quite impressive.

5.  US returned. There was a time when i first landed in US, every dollar amount was back translated into indian rupees to judge its value. It has been only 4 and 1/2 years and now when we come to India, every Indian product's price is back translated into US dollars to judge its value. Inflation has been quite dominant in India but the lack of context of prices four years ago is hurting big time.