Swiss Alps, One of the many heavens on earth!!

Yo!! Sorry for blogging my experience so late. I was very busy and could not catch up with my blog; however, wanted to make sure I blog our Swiss trip before I leave on another trip and I'm fresh with a new set of memories. :)

Yeah! It was Saturday, the 20th March of 2009. We took the early morning Easyjet flight from Brussels to Geneva. It was a trip Kusuma and I had been planning since we came to Brussels. A long awaited trip and we were very excited. More, when the flight flew over the Alps, the scene from the window was enchanting!!



We'd booked the stay at Cristal Hotel. With an Ibis hotel experience at Paris, to be honest this was 1000 (yes thousand) times better. The rooms were spacious and well maintained. More importantly, they did not STINK. Good View from the room as well. And 2 mins walking distance from the Geneva Main station. Its very much a budget hotel.

We landed by 10 AM and then took a train from the airport to the Geneva Central. By now, we had realised we had done a mistake of not withdrawing enough cash in Euros. All in all, with 4 of us, we had just over 500 Euros. Coming to Geneva, tats quite less for our shopping, food and other expenses for 4 of us.


Geneva as such is a small city. We had all the time in the world to go around the city. Visited the UN office at Geneva. It was a moment of pride to see the Indian flag at the UN office after a long time. Yeah, people get more patriotic when they are not in their home country. :)


We had our lunch at an Indian Restruant "Gandhi" and set out to the other part of the city.


We were unlucky that day. It was quite windy, hence the Great Geneva Jeton was turned off. Its one of the "must see" spots in Geneva. Nonetheless, we took the ferry and had a view of the huge structure that spurts water to that great heights.

We shopped quite a bit. Swiss is said to be famous for watches and yes, Geneva is supposed to be the home for those watches. But believe me, they're VERY costly. Did not find any good one for less than 600 Swiss Francs. tats like 400 Euros. Arun badly wanted to buy a ROLEX. He started with a budget of 500 Euros and finally was ready even for 1000 Euros. But the prices were very very high. He did not get any "good" Rolex for any price less than 2250 Swiss Francs; tats like 1500 Euros!!!

Geneva is certainly not a place for a 2 day stay given tat the shopping malls are closed on Sunday all over Europe. By evening, we started making plans to get to the Alps next day. It was not possible by Train, coz by the time we got to the train station, counters (including information) were closed. Arun and I went around the station to see if we could rent a car for the next day. Finally, got connected to Europcar and we decided to rent it next day morning from the Airport.

Kusuma was tired and she caught up some sleep when we 3 guys roamed about to find some "swiss dish". When I checked with the hotel, they suggested "Fondue". We went to a nearby "Swiss Meal" and had them. We were surprised that they even served Indian Samosas. Back to the hotel to hit the sack as we had to get up early next morning as well.



Sunday (22nd March 2009) we got up early as scheduled and left for the airport to rent a car. We went in search of Europcar counter; we found none there and finally rented a car with Sixt. We went in search of a basic car to accommodate 4 of us. However landed with a Mitsubishi SUV. The Sixt executive suggested Iterlaken. The drive was just ecstatic. Everytime we saw a snow capped mountain, we thought we are heading towards that. Little did we realise that by then we were already climbing the mountains. We went by so many tunnels and some of them were atleast 2000 mts long. finally after 3 hours drive we were in Interlaken and now confused where to go.

We got some help of the locals and then asked the GPS to take us to Lauterbrunnen. Within half an hour drive we were at the foot hills and in no time boarded the train from Lauternrunnen to Wengen. Wengen is a small village; but one of the very famous skiing resorts in the world.


Oh!! Did I forget to mention, Arun left his wallet at the tickets counter at Lauterbrunnen and only realised of tat when we were half way in the train to Wengen. Once we got to Wengen, we went to the counter there and were told tat the person at the base had picked it safely and would return to us when we returned to the base.


We then settled for an Italian lunch at Wengen. Just the thought of "4 Indians from Bangalore and Hyderabad in Swiss; travelled from Brussels on easy jet; then driving a rented car (US Car rental company) to Swiss to get to top of Alps to Eat Italian Lunch" describes the extent of Globalisation. :) The Pizzas were too good. Then we headed to the nearest Cable Car to get to the top of the 2nd Peak Mannlichen.

The cable car travels 1900 mts over the cable to take us to the top of 950 mts from the station. Acrophobic that Vinod and I are, we were very apprehensive while in the cable car. We had a gala of a time at the summit. It was different to be there for the fact that we were the only 4 in that place who were walking tourists. We were surrounded by skiing people. People also asked us why were not skiiing. :)


It was an amazing experience sitting there at the top at a restruant and sipping coffee. Afterall tats why coffee is on earth!! What say? :)

We spent more than 2 hours at the top and then decided to descent from the summit as we also had to drive back to Geneva :). If it was not for he was the one to drive, it would have been very difficult to get Arun return to the base. We collected Arun's wallet and then it was a long 4 hours drive back to Geneva.


We had a tough time locating a fuel station to refuel the car as we were supposed to return it full tank. After about 1 hour circus finally refuelled the car and returned it at the Car Rental Parking and returned to the hotel.

When I was in NY, Srivatsan and I had once been to have "Burritos". So, I suggested people we try Mexican that night. Ah!! it was very very heavy with so much of cheese. Not to forget to mention that all 4 of us just had one portion of it and left the 2nd one untouched. What I had in NY was more in a bowl and not the ones wrapped in flour tortilla.

Finally an accomplished day on the Alps and we went to sleep with lots of good memories.

Next morning, we had to get up early by 4:30 to get to the Airport to get to Brussels by Easyjet again. Reached Brussels airport by 8 AM. Kusuma left to office from there as its halfway to Leuven. Arun caught up with Prem at airport and they left together. Vinod and I reached our homes by 8:45 and off to office by 9:30. Back to the same POOL OF SHIT. :(

Flight: http://www.easyjet.com/
Hotel: Hotel Cristal, Geneva (http://www.switzerlandhotel.net/cristal_hotel_geneva.html)
Car Rental: Sixt (http://www.sixt.com/)

Cost:
Flight + Hotel - €175 per person
Kharcha/Pani - €143 per person

Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/kusumasharma/Switzerland#

Jumbo calls it a day!!

If anyone around the world is following cricket; JUMBO is surely not anonymous.

November 2nd 2008; Day 5 of the 3rd test between Indian Australia; the Gavaskar Border trophy, Kumble calls it the end of his test career. 18 yrs is a very long time. yes it is. From the time i started to understand cricket and follow cricket as a religion as most of them in the subcontinent, Kumble has been a star bowler and will live in the minds of all of them for some very good reasons other than his wicket taking ability.

Ofcourse that I hail from the same city as he; if in Bangalore my daily route to office or anywhere usually involves me going by the "Anil Kumble Circle" or the "Chaussee de Anil Kumble". So he lives in the daily lives of millions of people in this huge city. Every kid who has started watching cricket now and goes by this junction will the obvious question and an enduring answer from his/her parents.

I had met Anil Kumble just once when I was in school. It was the events in ChinnaSwamy Stadium for schools if I remember that all the school cricket teams play for. One of those Sundays when my parents permitted me to go with my cousins(as Spectators). I think I was in my 8th grade then. We were all late to the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Just when we are entering the arena; Anil is behind us on his way hurriedly. He says.. "Excuse me.. I am gettin late" and he lifts a guy next to me to make his way. Taaaaalll that he is for our age then. We all had to lift our heads almost 90 degress to see him. He smiles and says to me "Nice Shirt" and walks off. I remember that proud moment. Don't I? :)

Then after that moment, i picked up Leg Spin bowling. Trying to emulate him. exactly his hops. 1, 2, 3, 4 and deliver. Only thing being that I held Shane Warne's grip :). When I used to play for Telelogic team; I used to prefer bowling Slow Medium. But in one of those practise sessions at Joseph's grounds, I bowled "Anil Kumble Style" after a long time and oh my!! The Ball turned a long way and i decieved the batsmen in flight to "emulate" the pride moment for any leg spinner to have the batsman stump behind. Then, Ramesh our department Director who used to come with us to practise was stunned at my delivery and asked me to master that "art" and called me "Anil Kumble of Telelogic team". That is history now and its been a good 2 yrs from proper leather ball cricket.

So tats how a great bowler Kumble has been and an influence in my life. If anyone were to survey the whole of India of our Generation; you are sure to get millions of stories like this.

Today when I got up; even though 4.5 hours behind IST, first thing that I did was to check cricinfo. I was stunned when I saw "Anil Kumble announces retirement". I am one of those who is over-expressive and emotional. At once, I told the news to my wife and she knowing of me to calm me down said "Yeah! Everyone has to retire at one point of time. Good decision". Believe me, that rang bells in my ears and in no time, my BP was normal.

But I did not wanna miss Kumble bowl his last few overs of his test match career. At once googled to check which site is giving live streaming of the cricket match. I was surely not surprised to see him start the bowling for India with just about 20 overs left for the end of 5th day's play.

I hoped I could be at Kotla, Kumble's fav ground to see him bid farewell. But yeah!! Even if I was in India, I could not have planned this as Kumble did not give time for any of his fans to plan for a good farewell as Ganguly rightly did.

Yes!! There are a lot of crazy guys out there who would like to send off their fav sportsman. You better believe me!!

Nonetheless; an end of a fruitful long career with all the lows and highs that one could experience on the cricket field. From broken jaw to a stitched finger. He has done all of us Indians proud with his diplomatic and Charismatic personality. If you wanted proof; Rarely does any batsmen before taking strike of the innings comes down and wishes the bowler the best for his last 10 test overs of his life. Hayden and Katich did it. :)

All the best JUMBO for tne 2nd innings of ur life after cricket. Wish you all the success and good luck for your next venture(s).

Following the India Australia Series Back home

Its not incorrect when the media and people say "India Aus is as big or even bigger than Ashes". Believe me; It is!!

For me; its sure that it will be a good contest on hands and nice cricket over the next month or so.

So happens that whenever India has played Australia; I have stayed less at home in the past 2 yrs.. Hyderbad then.. and now Brussels...

So internet has been my only saviour. Hyderbad was atleast much better as in I would follow the score from day start to day end. But now; by the time I get up and on the PC; its -1 session for the day.

Indian Australia series is now comparable to the India Pakistan series that we used to enjoy as kids. Not that we do not enjoy India Pakistan now; We do.. WE WILL FOREVER!!

But yeah I agree; you miss the charisma and the enthusiasm following it on the internet. But I have found other ways and believe me I have enjoyed each and every day of the testmatch in Bangalore and in Mohali.

BLOGS!! SO many blogs everyday all over India sharing their experiences, views. Not to forget the cricket specific websites.

Especially: The one by Allan on Cricinfo

Thanks guys!! To all of you whom I follow!! Keep writing more!!

India – How can it prosper? Change currency to Ruppaiya instead of Rupee

Last weekend was amazing. I caught up with a lotta Indians in Belgium and we had hell a good time. Friday evening was wonderful. My frnds coming over from Leuven and we went around Brussels Central. Went to an authentic European Bar which serves 2000 types of Beers; one the most unique Bar in the world. People from all over the world visit this to taste the many kinds of Beer. I tasted STRAWBERRY BEER (It has 0.01% alcohol. For only the 2nd time in my life, I tasted alcohol. I tell you, it was very very bitter.)

And Sunday, 2 of our frnds came home and we had a nice time cooking Indian food and spoke a lot! That’s when this topic came in. How can India Prosper?

The social security that the western people have is totally not a viable solution in India. India cannot even dream of it in the near future.

Just a small example was that Pankaj’s and his frnds completed Masters from Paris. One day one of his frnd suddenly fainted in a train while traveling. He was immediately rushed to the hospital. Treated and all done. He was not around for 3 days and that’s when Pankaj and his other frnds got frightened and infact even called his home back in India to mention that he is missing for the past 3 days. He has neither come home nor gone to college.

Later in the day, they were confronted by some cops visiting their home, who told them that their frnd had fainted in the train and he was immediately rushed to the hospital and taken care of. As they were students and not tax payers yet, he was then later asked to repay 10% (90% coverage for students and 100% coverage for students) of the total expenses at the hospital; which that guy more than happily repaid working part time in an Indian restaurant.

Imagine if this had happened in India. Would it be such a good full stop to the story? Certainly not!

There was a recent survey done which studied why people save more in the east than the west. Japanese, Indians saved more. Wondered why? More than 80% of the people saved money for emergencies, weddings or some crap ceremonies. Very little people saved money to buy new gadgets in the market. This shows the lack of Social Security in India. If you take your wife to a hospital for her labor pain; you will not be allowed to see the baby until you bribe the nurse even when you are the one who is bearing the whole expenses of the hospital for your wife. So, bribing gets in to the veins of the people in India.

Will Social Security be an answer to this in India? Maybe! It could work. But will people not take advantage of this? Social security includes paying the unemployed and the senior citizens for their livelihood. Free education to the kids. Free hospitals to the citizens. Many many more.

What all do you want to include in the package of Social Security in India? Imagine the state of Govt. Schools in India as of today! Infact, Private schools itself has become a huge commercial business minting a lotta money. The same is true even with the “hospital industry” in India.

Why would the cabinet approve free education and free hospitals to the citizens in the country when most of the people sitting there have one of the other in atleast one part of the country?

Lets imagine a hypothetical situation that the Indian Govt. with all these difficulties, “thinks” of implementing this. But it is not possible in India.

Why does India does not have this social security? To implement the concept of Social Security in a country,

1. Each and every citizen must be at the “hand’s reach” of the Govt.
2. Each and every working citizen of the country SHOULD PAY TAXES. Otherwise where will the Govt. get the funds from?

The above listed 2 are just the first of the many few such limitations. Maybe, if we could satisfy these bare minimum 2, I guess, the Indian Govt. “may start thinking” about Social Security in India.

We also continued to talk as to how to practically to make this a possible task? Immediately Pankaj said that they had conducted a similar study when they were doing their MBA. And one of the probable ways of doing this is

CHANGE THE CURRENCY IN INDIA

Just study the effects of changing currency in a country like India. The very thought of this makes me run a chill down my spine. Amazing!! This could be one the most amazing things to happen for a country like India.

Imagine!!! Within no time of declaring this and starting this process of changing the physical currency, taking back the old currency notes and replacing them with the “new currency”; making it mandatory that everyone in the country SHOULD get it exchanged on or before SUCH AND SUCH DATE. After which THE OLD CURRENCY STANDS VOID.

The effects are amazing!! I guess India would be far a richer country and could well be badged as a “Developed Country”.

When you want everything to be Indian. Why have the currency as RUPEE. Change it to RUPPAIYA.

Give this noble endeavor a thought. If there is anything noble or sacred that you can do to this country of yours by becoming a cabinet minister/Prime minister/Financial Minster, CHANGE THE CURRENCY OF INDIA.

Aussies, do not play india again if you have the 17 tests win in mind

Aussies, do not play India again if you have the 17 tests win in mind.

It will remain as history that India stopped the Aussies twice when they were supposed to win their 17th Test match. Once in India and once on their own soil.

All the 4 days of the match, Aussies never seemed to be have an upper hand except for the last hour of play. If Aussies showed the same courage and determination that they showed in the last one hour of play the whole of 4 days, they would have had their 17th Test win in their pocket.

Right from the time that they let the Indian batsmen score on the 1st day to the last min when their batsmen did not do their job for them; Aussies never played like they had won all the 16 tests they had played earlier to this.

Coming to Perth from Sydney which was one of the most unfair test match in the history of cricket, Indian cricket team was all pumped up. Wonder who actually helped the team to put in all the agony and pain on the field instead of just showing it off the field. Whoever it was; Hats off to him/her/them.

It was a team performance. The score card was distributed. No big hundred; 93 from Dravid being the highest score of a batsman in the match; no 5 wickets next to any bowler. Everybody chipped in. Be it runs or wickets.

Last but not the least. Coming to Perth from Sydney; it was good to see no sledging from both the teams; except for some stares that's always healthy. India showed character letting down the complaint on Hogg which was setting an example of modesty, sportsmanship and helding up the tradition of leave the things on the field on the field and move on.

India have everything to play for going to Adelide. The last test match that they played there; India wrapped up Steve Waugh led Australian team pretty comfortably. As in Kumble's words "It would be good if we can square the series".

If India win at Adelide; it will not be a mistake to tell that the Indians won the Gavaskar-Border trophy of 2007-08 2 (India) - 1 (Australia) (Keeping in mind that the Sydney test was one sided against the fairness of the game).

Overconfident Aussies at Perth

Overconfidence is bad for anyone. Be it the best person in that field/sector. It is better to get into any assignment with little expectations and an open mind to give it your best shot.

As of now, when I write this blog, the Aussies are all out for 212 in reply to India's 330 in the 1st inings. With still an hour's play remaining for the day; India would want to play safe and see off the last hour making sure that they do not loose any wicket.

The build up to this Test Match at Perth has been absolutely Terrific. The whole lot of drama after the Sydney Test Match, the comments from one team to/on the other. The ICC, CA, BCCI getting involved and pushing many things and claiming it was in the interest of the game and to be played in the best of the spirit; all of it and now this test match which once was not sure if the Indian team will continue the series.

The Australian Cricketers Ponting, Gilchrist, Clarke all talking about the 17th win; how helpful it will be for the Aussie bowlers. It made many wonder if India will ever stand a chance in this test. But the game as it stands now, India surely have the upper hand.

The pitch was talked about so much. I read one of the articles mentioning "Only fumes are not coming out of the pitch"; told to be so fierce and RED HOT Wicket. The wicket was laid afresh. It promised some true bounce and some awesome pace. It surely is living up to the expectations.

But maybe as it stands now, Indians made use of the conditions in favor of them; as compared to the Aussies. If it was not for the drop catch by Sachin; Symonds being dismissed on score of3; Aussies would/may have been stuggling to get to the current score.

Again a couple of decisions against India pushed them to the backseat in the 1st Innings. Sachin and Dhoni adjudged Leg Before by Rauf without he able to gauge the bounce in the pitch. Well!! Hope that it doesn repeat in the 2nd Innings.

Off to the scoreboard to see the match again!! Keeping my fingers crossed!!