Visit to the oldest city in the world

Standing in a 2 kms line at the airport check-in at 2 in the night is not happening… but then doesn’t matter much when u r excited about visiting a rather interesting yet scary place which you haven’t even heard off until last week. Yemen, a country in Middle east, was recently in news for some terror issues. I however was there before that new broke out.

Lost my connecting flight from Dubai to Sanaa, capital of Yemen, long wait at the Dubai airport without any night sleep, Starbucks coffee did help a bit J.

The airport of Sanaa was BAD, the airport being built in smallest of places in India would be better…. I don’t mean to put it light but come on no announcing system, no displays for the arrival departure.. its like Bus station... you have to keep asking meri wali bus aae kya.. From Dubai Airport to Sanaa is a huge difference… The attire of people at sanna was weird, all women in burkha and all men wearing kinda lungies with pants inside..weird it was..and weather was chilly as well going to minus 2 in the night..

Thankfully after a long tiring journey the hotel was quite good, five star infact.. i wonder what do these guys use to make these soft beds.. at our houses we never seem to get those kind of beds..like hotels have

Meetings and all happened fine and usual , some stuff about Sanaa I wana share.. which were quite interesting..

Sanaa (Yemen)

• Is one of the oldest inhabited city in the world..
• The oldest written reference to its existence is found in inscriptions which date back to the 1st century AD.
• It is the only democratic country in the Middle east with people having right to vote and choose their government
• It was declared a World Heritage City by the United Nations in 1986
• Efforts are underway to preserve some of the oldest buildings, some of which are over 400 years old.
• Even with all this one could see one of the best cars driven on roads but yes only with the Super rich people.

City View from Hill

“Soukh” The oldest market in the world

I did visit the oldest market in the world and buy a nice stone based pendent which was told to be unique … (do we get similar stuff in Colaba Causway in Mumbai? Or may b palika bazaar in delhi?) may b we do.. but I would like to believe that this is one memory of that old ancient market.

After two days in this nice city I was back to Mumbai via Dubai (this time not missing the flight.. lol)..back in my bed at 12 in the night.. I was wondering how different is life at different parts of the world.. and this one can know only when you have experienced one.. so whenever you get an opportunity grab it with both hands J ..

Keep Exploring and ya.. most of them in Yemen would speak only Arabic.. so I couldn’t get a word.. only few I could understand because they are same as Hindi

Chai is called chai .. and Shukriya is called “Shukran”

So Shukran for reading me :-)

Keep smiling :-)

New Years Eve

I have always wondered why people relate new year eve to Drink and Dance only… if not all .. lot of us do think that ways.. for me it has always been house party with friends ..

Last year I was in Canada for the new year eve and it was very different .. we went to this pub and listened to this rock music in which I hardly could understand anything.. lol.

This year for some reason I wanted to be alone on new year eve…. But at the same time didn’t want to sit at home…. Anyone who knows about Mumbai will be thinking “being out of home and wanting to be alone without many people around u.. is never possible in Mumbai” … that’s true..

My evening started with a Maggi preparation … (wonder if this will count on those Maggi moments) … then I drove on bike to Marine drive .. closest and best place to be at… 2 strange THINGS happened to me that evening .. will tell u .. read on..
Went to Sukh Sagar which has one of the best “Idli Chutni” preps, enjoyed that.. they give unlimited chutni and nice warm idli which will melt in ur mouth. ..

1.First THING:
I walked to the near by Café Coffee day (one of my fav places to be when I am alone).. surprisingly it was quiet with not many people,, started reading news paper and sipping coffee (Devils Own)… As I was reading MID DAY, one girl came n

Girl: “I am really sorry to disturb u , but can I sit here n talk to u for a min.. actually my friend gave me a dare” I was thinking to my self “ yaar ye mere saath pehli baar ho raha hain” ..
Silly Me: “ uummmm ok “
(Silence for 30 seconds)
Very Silly Me: “What do u do?”
Girl: “ I am doing CA final, what abt u?”
Proud Me: “ I work.. I have done my engg then worked for few years in india and UAE.. (saying UAE much louder than India).. then went for my MBA in “CANADA”.. (calling Canada loudest of 3)
Girl: “Nice, I have a cuz in Canada bla bla..”
(Me still feeling proud abt Canada)
Girl Again: “I guess u r expecting someone”
Me: “ No actually I am on my own”
Girl: “Oh that’s nice way of celebrating new years eve”
Me: “ Yes quiet n peaceful” (smiling but thinking not sure if I shld feel good abt being alone or bad..

She wished new year and went off and I went back to my news paper..




2.Second THING:

After I came out of CCD I still didn’t want to go home… had heard of some nice fireworks around Trident hotel on marine drive so I decided to drive there.. as I was driving I got stuck in the traffic..
Once when I saw on my side there was a car with two girls in the front seat. The girl who was driving looked at me and smiled… I felt kinda awkward .. I just looked around and away.. then I saw in their direction again..
This time the girl driving and the one next to her both were giggling and looking at me.. .. … as traffic eased I went ahead .. and they came n stopped their car just on my side… it was now getting weird..
Going forward whenever I would move ahead in my lane and they wld be fall back.. she would keep honking the car in front … (which I assumed meant she wanted to come forward n keep her car on my side… guys am I thinking right?.. atleast that’s what I thought.) Well this went on for some stretch of marine drive….. something like this had never happened to me before..


Well after reaching trident .. I parked and walked alone on marine drive.. and an amazing painting exhibition put up there.. on the walk way.. I wana share some of those pics..

Have a year 2010 full of smiles

Rahul


Nuclear Power Station at Saint Laurent Nouan on the Loire river, France








Tulip fields near Lisse, Amsterdam Region, Netherlands