Another visit to Delhi and Bangalore

After an aborted attempt to visit the team in Gurgaon in June due to my passport running out of pages for the Indian visa, this trip went off like a breeze (with some very strong odors in the winds - sometimes!).

For the past 6 months, the New Delhi airport has been a mess. It seems like they have constant renovations going on and it never seems to end. My arrival on 6th July was no different. several flights landed around the same time and that was a guaranteed recipe for near disaster at the immigration checkpoint.

Those who are familiar with the layout of the airport knows that after you deplane, you need to go down the stairs or use the escalator to get to the immigration checkpoint. With the crowd building up rapidly, it was just a matter of time before the exit from the escalator was blocked because the crowd could not move further. Then the people at the foot of the escalator started stumbling and falling over, even as the escalator continued to deliver its load. Local security people just stood and watch as more people fell over until someone hit the emergency switch to cut off power to the escalator. Unbelievable!

Contrast this with the new airport in Bengaluru. Where you ask?? Bangalore lah. Bengaluru is the Kannada word for Bangalore. And Kannada is not the same as Canada. Kannada is the language spoken in the state of Karnataka. One of many languages. The Bengaluru International airport is truly the first airport in India which has a look and feel of a modern airport. They have been operational for the past 40 odd days now. Delhi - I reserve my comments until their endless renovations can be completed.

The week that I am in Gurgaon - it rained 2 days out of 3. And when it rains - it has heavy downpours for half an hour to an hour. Then the roads floods - inside the Agilent compound and the road outside. Then traffic starts weaving left and right to avoid the deep potholes caused by heavy trucks movement in the area. Unbelievable!!

During my visit, it was Nisha's birthday on the 10th. I took the team to Barrique (pronounced as Barrick) near the Microsoft building in Gurgaon. I had my favorite - Murgh Tikka Masala with Naan. Nisha had this eggplant (which was very mushy!!). And here is the birthday cake for Nisha.

Sorry Nisha - you are now ONE year older - you need to behave!!.