Thursday, November 22, 2007

Industrial Visit - Part II

It’s been long overdue but here is the next part of the trip.

So I saw the fat sausage of a Scrooge and though I wanted to stay and see him. I was not able to do so. We went on to the hotel, where we were supposed to be given lunch. The point was that all of us were so damn hungry that as soon as we reached the hotel, we smelt the food and drifted towards it. At least I did. That evening, the fellas discovered a native amongst them. “Sparky” started it and then everyone joined in. Anyway, led to more pics of myself!!

Anjuna and Vagator were beautiful. Living in the south, I never realized that there were beautiful beaches in the north of Goa as well. One had a small rock to climb at the top of which was, no points for guessing, a crucifix! But the pictures taken up there were good. What I did like about the place was that it inspired Vidya and Pooja to climb up…something they would have never done back home! The other was just too much fun. There was a rock against which a really rough sea was splashing its waves. And since we were standing near the rock, we all got drenched. It was so much fun. While we were at the beach it started raining. Everyone scrambling to shelter was worth watching. I almost lost my bag in the process.

Since all of us were soaked till the skin, we decided to head back to the hotel, change, eat and go for the next round. Next was Fort Aguada. Nice…but nothing compared to Cabo de Rama. That is the best fort ever. What a view before you die. Breathtaking. Later it was Miramar, where none of us got drenched but there was a lot of water splashing. And I specially cannot forget the JC and Pooja dancing video that Fishy took!

Oooo…that night was supposed to be disco night. All our class Romeos and Juliets enjoyed themselves. There is a nice pic of Vidya and Sat to prove it as well!! Lol!! She’ll kill me when she reads this. Sriram apparently had a really good time that night. I think he was the only one to dance with almost all the girls.

Next morning at NIO, it was a short but useless (yes, I said “useless”) visit. The only useful thing that happened there was that I met my aunt. Not really talkative but, I guess I have some of her traits!!

Dona Paula next. I did a lot of explaining, because I knew the story behind the place and its name. The others found that story quite interesting. Of course later on stupid Sparky started asking useless questions and bugging me!

Have you ever collected shells at Dona Paula beach? I almost missed this small little beach. It is extremely dirty but the shells that you find there are the most beautiful. Its difficult not to want to sit there. Different colours, different shapes, half broken, some with holes in them…but they are all unique, one of a kind. They are really pretty. I collected quite a few, and then Sparky stole them from me.

Vasco was only for shopping. I got sweets (which, by the way, I didn’t get to eat myself at all). Then we were off to Bangalore. We were there only half a day. I met one of my seniors there. It was really sweet of him to take me and my friends around that place. I ultimately lost my friends who wandered off somewhere. But in the mean time this other friend of mine took me to these sweet little places, like the coffee house, and later for dinner. I was under the impression that I would be very bored in Bangalore, but he kept me quite entertained. I can’t thank him enough for that.

Well, all good things have to come to an end. I boarded the train with a heavy heart. My first and last IV was over and I had the maximum fun there. After coming back, we would all get back to the same old life. Same old professors teaching us the same old subjects in the same old way. I was sad, yet happy that I was a part of the tour, and a part of the class. I’m gonna miss all of you.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Industrial Visit - Part 1

I have just got back from a one week first and last Industrial Visit that I think all of us will ever go for. When I say “all of us” I mean me and all of my friends in college. Whatever happened in this one week was good. I think its one of the best holidays I have had. First of all because there was no “adult supervision”! And secondly, when you are with your best friends, I think you can survive any place, and Goa and Bangalore are not exactly places where one would say “Oh my God! I don’t know how I survived there.” Somehow, I can’t imagine anyone saying that!!

The train journey was good. A train journey to Mangalore and then from there by the Konkan railways to Margao. By itself the train journey was quite exciting. During my first year, I had was a part of the National Cadet Corps. Naval wing, and for the camp I went by train. There was this job called “sentry duty” that all of us had to do. It was annoying then, but now if I think of it, it was one of the best parts of the trip. It was fun to walk the rather quiet compartment in the night. Occasionally you could hear someone talking in their sleep...during which they revealed some of their innermost desires!! LOLJ!! It truly was fun. Anyway, I started remembering those days because while I lay on my berth in the night, I had the strange urge to get up and start walking along the compartment!! Couple of my NCC Navy friends had a good laugh when they heard that. Well, I soon fell asleep only to be woken abruptly by Gunjan, who shook the sleep out of me when we reached Mangalore. He kept saying that the station will come soon, it took me some time to realize that the train was NOT moving. I later realized that we were already there!! All of us got off the train in time, after which the train was taken to the shed/depot (whatever its called).

It was a long wait for the Konkan railway train. I kept jumping from dream land to the real world. Twist of fate – the train that we were supposed to board was the one that was right in front of me!! And I could have boarded the train and slept in it all the while!! Teeheehee. My worst experience at Mangalore station was as follows – PUBLIC BRUSHING OF TEETH!! People who know me well would understand why that is the most harrowing experience of Mangalore!! I wouldn’t even brush my teeth in front of others at home. I don’t like to brush in front of others and I get no joy out of seeing others brush their teeth. I had to face both these problems at Mangalore, moreover, I had to face them at the same time!! I survived...

The journey to Goa was full of lush greenery on both sides of the train. I stood at the train door for the very first time in my life!! It was great...there isn’t too much fun sitting near the window as there is standing at the door!! Unfortunately, some people have proof to show that I was standing at the door – which may be used against me in the future!! I got off at almost every station. It was actually funny to see everyone scramble for the door when the train’s whistle went off just before it left. Fortunately no one got left behind. Of course there was loud howling every time we went through a tunnel, which was fun again. I had a sore throat by the time we reached Goa!!

By the time I reached Goa, it was nearing 1500 hrs. I was hungry and smelly. I smelt like the train...and of nothing else!! I had to cross Nuvem to go to Calangute from Margao. On the way I saw my aunt’s place but couldn’t get down coz every one was in a hurry to get to the hotel and eat, freshen up, sleep. I did, however, see the fat sausage of a dog, Scrooge!! Sigh... how I wish I could’ve got down.

Saturday, August 18, 2007