Once when I was taking a flight to Amsterdam from New Delhi, I was filling some form and took the passport out to fill the passport number. And then I went to exchange some currency. In the line for currency exchange there was a gentleman ahead of me and the young lad at the counter asked for his passport. A bell went in my head and I immediately realized that I had left my passport at the place where I was filling up my form! I ran back and I had panicked quite badly. I stood at the spot desperately trying to locate my passport but could not find it. Then a kindly voice called, saying “Are you by any chance looking for this?” and he was pointing a finger to the passport that was lying exactly at the same place where I had left it, right in front of my eyes and yet I was unable to see it! Imagine if that happened at a foreign airport!
When in Rome … A Few Things that Scare Me!
I have been abroad only a few times and every time for work, I don’t think we have the courage (nor do I have a big salary) to spend that kind of money on a vacation. So, I never know when will I manage to land up in a new/foreign country next! That probably keeps the charm alive but I wonder if I traveled abroad often would it ever become routine for me?That reminds me of a friend who was made to travel so much that he told his manager “you are moving me around like a piece of luggage” and he was complaining about being sent to Hawaii again!
So to put the record straight I love to travel a lot and I also like to travel abroad if I get an opportunity even if it is for work. But then there are some aspects of foreign travel that feel so strange!
London Underground
I am so used to the hustle and bustle of the Indian railway stations that when I encounter a platform like the one in the picture above, I used to freak out. I remember waiting for a train in Bologna that would go to Venice. I read the information board and proceeded to the platform at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time only to find it completely deserted. I was so confused that I actually went and rechecked if I was at the correct platform! When the train finally arrived not more than 10 people would have boarded it. So, now when I encounter a scene like the one above I do not get dazed but calmly wait for the train to arrive and it always does.
Tower Bridge, London, UK
Hanging on to the passport is another thing that becomes an obsession with me. I mean even in really beautiful areas (I liked the Tower Bridge area) you hang on to the hand bag that contains the passport with all your might.
🙂 Your post made me smile!Traveling for work sucks period. Its like going to a chocolate factory and not being able to taste even a tiny bit of it. Brutal!Secondly the crowds (or the lack of them), well, they have their own charm 🙂 Fortunately for me, Toronto is a big and crowded city 🙂
One of my cousins wears a waist-pouch specially for carrying his passport, inside of his trousers, while going abroad!:D
I know travelling on work is a painful experience..we went to srinagar for a conference and was stuck in the boardroom and the CEO’s room only..we hardly even left the hotel..same with Goa..never been abroad on work though..now that Im on a sabbatical, I wouldnt mind that 🙂
Priyank, the first time around I really freaked out when I saw the nearly empty platform near the departure time!Sidhu that is some story!Lakshmi I do not mind traveling even for work because after hours I often manage to explore a city and some places I know only my work is going to take me. But if I would be stuck like you were in Sringar I too would hate traveling for work!
I lived (and worked) in Delhi for six years and spent 2+ years in New York city – I loved big city crowd, crowded and smelly subway (underground trains known as Tube in UK); and halla-gulla on the streets – but, not anymore. If you want to experience extremely crowded subway and some action of dhakka-mukka and pick-pocketing (during rush hours), you should visit New York City. I moved away from NY and east coast 12-13 years back (and, I am glad that I did). Last year I went to NY City on a business trip and my first reaction was – how the heck I lived in this city for more than 2 years. BTW I clicked on Mammoth Mountain ad on your page, made hotel reservation and visited this place over the weekend. Photos are here: http://atulks.myphotoalbum.com
Atul I too like peaceful places and take vacations in such spots. But it was kind of a cultural shock to see two people on the platform! I really do not like hustle but my idea of quite took a different turn that day.