los angeles diaries

A taste of hollywood

2011-12-22T19:42:00.000-08:00

You have not experienced Los Angeles until you have had a taste of Hollywood. We had our first taste of it over the last couple of weeks for the first time after our return to LA.

First, was a performance of Iris produced by Cirque Du Soleil at the absolutely awesome Kodak theater in Hollywood. The company spent $40,000,000 just to redo the stage for this performance. The show had the usual combination of amazing visuals, great characters and music created by 100 orchestral musicians. It was a breath-taking show produced in true Hollywood style. It was nice to be back in Hollywood and the kids got a real kick out of seeing the stars of their favorite celebrities. The Mann Chinese is as magnificent as ever.

A few days later, we went to see Steven Spielberg's first animated movie - The Adventures of Tintin. The motion capture animation in 3D was totally realistic and the characters really come alive. This was quite a treat for Mona and me who grew up reading Tintin comics but Aanish and Ayaana loved it too.

A living tree comes home this holiday

2011-12-11T11:37:00.001-08:00

Mona and Ayaana working on the tree

It's December and the holiday season is upon us. This is our favorite time of the year and it is great to be back home in Los Angeles this year for the holidays. It is a perfect time for meeting friends and family, entertaining and be entertained. The house looks festive as all the holiday decorations come out. Ayaana has her holiday scene setup on top of her piano and gift stockings are hanging on a mantle.

Some months ago (while we were still in Bangalore), I read about this company, The Living Christmas, that provides live christmas trees. I tracked them down and turns out that they are local. So we decided to get a live tree this year. The tree comes home in a pot with it's roots intact. At the end of the season, the tree is picked up and replanted instead of drying up and going waste. If we choose to, we can adopt the tree and we would get the same tree each year. I thought it was a brilliant concept.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-27T10:30:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays of the year and we are happy and thankful to be back home to celebrate it with family. Mona and I have enjoyed putting out a spread for this holiday and this year it was no different. In fact it was bigger and better than before.

We had nearly forty people (families are big where we come from!) over for a traditional Thanksgiving feast. The menu was massive and included the usual special sides such as mashed potatoes (cooked in butter milk this year), chipotle sweet potato casserole (a new twist on a traditional dish), the green bean bake (Mona's specialty that is always a hit), cranberry sauce (a must-have at the table but nobody really likes it) and a green salad with an Asian flavor (Seema's culinary contribution to the dinner). The centerpiece of course was the 18-pound turkey - dry brined for 3 days and cooked with a mixture of herb butter and cayenne pepper! Mona made her classic stuffing to go with turkey. And then there was the gravy to accompany the turkey and of course a generous serving of a variety of bread rolls. Dinner also included ham (a traditional American favorite), Armenian chicken (from our favorite take-out - Zankou) and Tamales. Yes, it is an American holiday but these dishes are essential to reflect our multi-cultural identity! No Thanksgiving is complete without a pumpkin pie and we had three (enough to feed eighty, I think) along with ice cream.

It was lots of work before and after the party but all of it was well worth it. Ayaana was a huge help and served as the sous chef for Mona and me. We even put the reluctant Aanish to work (taking out trash and other stuff requiring manual labor).

The party was a hit and will go down as another one to remember and hopefully beat next year.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Occupy Los Angeles

2011-11-21T19:39:00.001-08:00

No, no, the title here does not refer to our return to LA. I am talking about the very interesting Occupy Wall Street movement that is going on at the moment all over the United States. It is a movement that started in mid-September in New York and has rapidly spread all across the country. These protests are against high unemployment and corporate greed especially within the financial sector. The movement has no leader and has not outlined a specific agenda as yet but it is continuing to grow as we speak. Neither bad weather or strict law enforcement has slowed the spread.

Last week, I experienced the spread of this movement to Los Angeles. A group of Occupy protesters gathered outside the Bank of America building in downtown Los Angeles (just a couple of blocks from my office). Morning traffic was completely disrupted as the group marched through downtown.

Occupy Wall Street highlights the frustrations that Americans are feeling in the aftermath of the biggest financial crisis that the country has faced since the Great Depression. Joblessness is still hovering around 10% and there is no sign of a strong recovery. Corporations meanwhile are continuing to post profits and the administration has not prosecuted any Wall Street executives as a result of the financial meltdown. All of this reminds me of the Anna Hazare movement that we experienced in India just a few months ago.

Migration blues

2011-11-12T08:08:00.001-08:00

It's been a crazy couple of months! I thought that the move to Los Angeles would be a fairly simple and easy one. Coming back to the house after nearly five years involved a lot of work and change. First, there were a series of repairs (leaking faucets, broken blinds, car repairs etc.) that had to be undertaken. Second, there was a lot of stuff in the house that had become old and had to be discarded (old couches, cookware, appliances). Third, we had to make room for our stuff that was being shipped back from India (weeks of reorganizing closets, emptying boxes, discarding more stuff). Fourth, a lot of technology had to be retired and replaced (imagine a desktop with no wireless access or a fax machine!). And finally, there was the massive clean-up required to get the house back in shape.

It was a lot of back breaking work - moving heavy furniture, lifting boxes, driving large loads of recycling material to the recycling center etc. etc. It was also a lot of administrative work getting the utilities back on, starting services such as water, cable, internet etc. In the midst of all of this, Aanish moved to his dorm and started college, Ayaana started a new school and a host of activities and I started my new job at Impremedia.

But at the end of all of this, it feels that all the effort was well worth it and more. The house looks beautiful. Our new routines have been established. We have reconnected with friends and family. It is great to be back home.

I was planning to wrap up this blog after we moved here since our Bangalore journey has ended. But moving back here has been interesting and full of experiences that might be worth writing about. So I decided to continue writing for a bit longer (until the reverse culture-shock wears off). I have also enabled access to this blog via mobile for those of you are not tethered to a desktop or laptop but can't get enough of my jottings. Also decided to rename it (since we are no longer in Bangalore) and give it a newer look.

So stay tuned!

The countdown begins ...

2011-08-30T18:31:00.001-07:00

It is my last day in our apartment in Bangalore. The place is completely empty, with the exception of two chairs, a table, a phone and a mattress. My bags are almost packed up.

This has been an incredible journey and one that we will never forget for the rest of our lives. I had the opportunity to live the dream - of coming back to India, starting and building a company and catching up with all things Indian. Mona created a vital role for herself in the Bangalore society and in her own inimitable style made an impact to many lives through her charity work. Aanish and Ayaana had a memorable experience at Indus International School which helped them grow in more ways than they realize today. Hopefully I have also regained some portion of my Indian-ness that I may have lost during my 20 years in America.

It was wonderful to be closer to family during these few years. We had a blast traveling to interesting destinations in this part of the world. The food here has been just amazing. And the conveniences (car wash in the building, laundry service at your door etc.) really help in making life much simpler out here.

Most important of all, the people here are one of a kind. Open, warm and welcoming. Always helpful. Kind. We have met and connected with many wonderful people here and will really miss them when we are back.

Obviously, this is not a goodbye to India as we will be back many times in the future. I will continue posting for some time on our experiences in re-settling back in the US. So stay tuned!

End of the journey

2011-08-22T03:10:00.001-07:00

Nearly five years after I landed in Bangalore (October 2006), we are packing up and getting ready to move back to Los Angeles. Our exciting journey in India is coming to an end. We plan to be back in the US by the end of this month. And as most things happen in India, this one also just happened, without a lot of notice and planning. In fact, our move became a reality for me last week when I returned from work and walked into the apartment to see most of our stuff packed up in nice big brown boxes. Five years of our life in India = approximately 70 boxes and packages!

We have mixed feelings about the move. We are excited at the next chapter in our lives and are looking forward to moving back into our home and reconnecting with friends and family. We are sad to leave India (the second time in our lives for Mona and I). We were closer to our immediate family. We made new friends. We loved traveling and rediscovering India. The food was absolutely magnificent. Bangalore has become home over the past few years. We will sorely miss all of this.

But one thing is for sure. This will be a memorable time of our lives and we will always remember this time with great fondness. And hopefully we have made many strong connections that will remain in place for years to come.

Highway signs in Ladakh.

2011-08-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

The Border Roads Organization (Indian army) has the responsibility for building and repairing roads and bridges in the Ladakh region. Somebody out there has a real sense of humor. This is evident on the road signs scattered across these perilous and difficult to drive on mountain roads. We started noticing these signs after a couple of days and started compiling a list. Here it is for your reading entertainment:

- Be gentle on my curves
- I am curvaceous but go slow
- Feel my curves slowly
- I love you dear but not so fast
- Better mister late than late mister
- You are not being chased by anyone
- This is a highway, not a runway
- Driving risky after whisky
- Safety on the road means safe tea at home
- Drinking and driving makes a lethal cocktail
- Drive like hell and you will soon be there
- All will wait, better too be late
- Don't mix driving with alcohol
- Speed thrills but kills
- If you are married then divorce speed
- Life is short, don't make it shorter
- Have another day by being safe today

Reading these signs got our creative juices going. So during one of our long drives (returning from Pang Gong lake), we started making up our own road signs to augment the above list.

- Speed up and you'll be in time for your own funeral
- If you can read this sign and translate it in mandarin using google translate, then your driving speed is just fine
- Slow down; where you are going will still be there when you get there
- CRASH! Boom! Crunch!! Sounds you will make if you don't slow down
- Slow down - this is not the highway to hell
- Keep driving fast and I guess we won't see you again
- Where there's a will, there's a reckless driver
- Congrats! You are now qualified to fly a broom
- Road of the brave leads to the grave
- Faster than a speeding bullet? Leave that to superman
- Your undertaker called. Drive faster.
- Calm down … nobody likes an early comer
- Leave the racing to the pros
- Stupid People Ending Everyone's Days (SPEED)
- There's a reason the monk sold his Ferrari
- Drive too fast and this will be the last thing you will see
- Life's not a rehearsal - so no do overs
- Speed is better as a drug
- Enjoying the curves? Take your time
- If we were meant to go this fast, we would have been given wings
- To prevent unwanted accidents .. use protection
- Enjoy Leh … it's ok to be late
- If you overtake, then death will take over
- There is no need for speed in real life

There were a few more but unfortunately they were unsuitable for publication.

Hamlets & Lakes tour to Ladakh

2011-08-02T03:41:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a memorable trip to Ladakh and what an experience it was!

Getting to the capital Leh was a bit challenging. Our flight from Delhi to Leh left Delhi at 5am and we landed in Delhi around 11pm. So we had to spend the night at the Delhi airport catching a few winks in the waiting area. i expected all of us to be completely exhausted during our flight in to Leh. But within 15-20 minutes into the flight, we found ourselves flying over gorgeous ice-capped mountain ranges that provided a glimpse of what we would experience over the next nine days.

Leh is situated at an altitude of over 10,000 feet and you feel it from the time you step out of the airport. The thin and dry air can lead to severe altitude sickness and we had to take steps to acclimatize ourselves. These included drinking lots of water and eating well during our entire visit and minimizing sleep during the first full day. All of us did fairly well and barring a few headaches we got adjusted to the altitude by the second day.

The landscape of the Ladakh region is magical and you feel that you have been transported to a different world. You are surrounded by gigantic mountain ranges with mostly brown sandy and rocky mountains with occasional patches of greens and lined with the taller snow covered mountain peaks. The mighty Indus river cuts through the mountain ranges and is usually within sight as you travel through the region. Deep patches of green within the valley create an extraordinary contrast in the landscape. The sky was a clear blue during the week of our visit.

During our trip we visited several Buddhist monasteries including Hemis, Thiksey, Diskit, Alchi and Lamayuru. Most of these are over a thousand years old and each one of them is unique. Our favorite was Alchi - one of the oldest monasteries and the only one that is built on flat ground. Another highlight was a visit to the world's highest lake, Pangong - a magnificent salt water lake that spans India and China.

A trip to Ladakh is not complete without the appropriate dose of adventure and we had our share. We bicycled down 14 kms from a point close to Khardung La (claimed to be the world's highest motorable pass). We did white water rafting on the mighty Zanskar river. We trekked through the 12,000 ft high pass called Prinkti La. Another highlight was a ride on double humped Bactrian camels on sand dunes in the beautiful Nubra valley.

Here's another one off the '100 things to do before you die' list!

Walking down memory lane

2011-07-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

We were in Hyderabad last week for a couple of days. For those of you who don't know, I was born and grew up in Hyderabad. I lived there till I was 21 and before I moved to the US. As always, I get the "coming home" feeling when I arrive in this city. It was even more special this time because my brother, Nawaz, and his family were also in town on vacation from Saudi Arabia. On Sunday, we had a family reunion when my sister, Masarrat, and her family joined us at my parents' house.

Another highlight of this trip was a visit to Mir Alam Mandi - the oldest vegetable market in Hyderabad and located in the old city. My grandmother used to live here and I spent a lot of my childhood here. We went there to visit a couple of relatives and it was quite nostalgic. My grandmother's house is still there. The place looks the same. The streets were a bit cleaner than I remember (but then maybe it was because it was a Sunday and the market had not opened yet!). But I have to say that there is no feeling like some old memories coming rushing back.

Food is usually another important part of any visit and this one was no exception. I had my fill of all my local favorites (Nihari, Biryani etc.).

Unaccompanied Minor

2011-06-27T22:33:00.000-07:00

Ayaana traveled last week from Bangalore to Los Angeles. This is the first time that she has traveled alone and needless to say, Mona and I were in a state of heightened anxiety for weeks. British Airways has a special escort service for unaccompanied minors and we signed up for that. So we knew that she was going to be taken care of throughout the journey. But we were still having nightmarish visions about lost passports, missed flights etc.

I went to the airport to drop her off on her day of departure. Check-in was smooth. A BA agent was assigned to escort her through immigrations and security all the way to the plane. Her flight was scheduled to depart at 6:30am and I was scheduled to travel to Chennai on a 7:00am flight. I was promptly chided by the BA agent for scheduling my flight so close to the departure time of Ayaana's flight. As per the rules, the person coming to drop a minor off MUST be available in the airport until her flight takes off. I begged the agent to call me as soon as Ayaana has boarded the plane.

I started to worry as 6:15am rolled by and there was no call. By 6:30am my flight had started boarding. I was in the coach headed to my plane - no call. I could see the British Airways flight moving on the runway - no call! Did Ayaana make it on the plane? My heart is pounding and I am on the phone with Mona every few minutes in case they called her. I was in my seat in the plane when the call finally came. Ayaana's plane had taken off and she was fine. What a relief!

After another 26 hours of high anxiety, she called from Los Angeles - safe and sound. Phew! Can't wait to go through this cycle again when she returns in July.

A travel companion named Murphy

2011-06-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

I am almost at the tail end at my 2-week trip to the UK and US and have had pretty good luck with most of my travel until yesterday. It was Murphy's Day as far as travel was concerned. We had a meeting in New York on June 9th and had to leave for Boston in the afternoon. Our flight to Boston was booked out of Newark (Mistake #1). Our flight was scheduled to depart at 4:50pm. We were done with our meeting by 2pm and decided to grab a bite to eat before heading out to the airport (Mistake #2).

We had a heck of a time trying to get a cab. It seemed like all available cabs in New York city had disappeared at that time. Those that we did manage to stop were not interested in going to the Newark airport (which is why this was Mistake #1). We walked around for 45 minutes searching for a cab and finally picked one up at Penn Station (Mistake #3 - should have taken a train to Boston!).

The cab ride was painful because by now rush traffic had started and we were stuck getting through the Lincoln Tunnel. We finally made it to the airport by 4:20pm. We might have arrived half an hour earlier if it wasn't for Mistake #2. Our scheduled flight had not departed yet but we did not think that we could make it (Mistake #4). We got ourselves booked on a later flight scheduled to depart at 6pm. We thought we could still make it to Boston at a decent hour and treat ourselves to a seafood dinner. But Murphy was hard at work. The 6pm flight was delayed and delayed again and delayed yet again to 10:30pm. The 4:50pm flight meanwhile took off at 7pm (remember Mistake #4?).

Our delayed flight did not take off until midnight. Needless to say, there was no seafood dinner that night. Murphy triumphed yet again!

Home sweet home!

2011-06-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

I am back in Los Angeles and it sure feels good to be home. It's been a while since I have been away. The warm sense of familiarity and comfort descended on me as soon as I stepped off the plane at LAX. The feeling of belonging and ownership that comes out of spending twenty years in a place is indescribable. As I drove home in a taxi on the 110 freeway, I reconnected with the city. Passing by Staples Center, Convention Center, Dodger Stadium fired up the "I've been there and experienced that" neurons in my brain.

I always look forward to the first sight of our home as the car drives up on Esmeralda Drive and this time was no different. It takes me about 10-15 minutes to walk around the house, step onto the deck, peek into the garage before I am fully reconnected with the place. Old habits resurface and I quickly slip into my old routine!

Home sweet home! Oh - what a feeling!

Page 4!

2011-05-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

Page 3 is typically the page that features A-list celebrities and high society movers and shakers. The women in my life did not quite make it to page 3 but nevertheless achieved celebrity status last week when they made it to page 4 of the Times of India weekend supplement.

Ayaana was performing again in the annual musical performance of the William Joseph Music Academy. This year, media was present and a Times of India photographer took a picture of Mona and Ayaana. None of us expected it to make it to the paper and did not even bother to check it next day. But soon friends who saw the picture in the paper started calling in.

I had an additional copy delivered to the office, flipped through it and there they were!

The king is back!

2011-05-06T23:51:00.001-07:00

No, Elvis was not spotted in Bangalore. I am talking about the return of the mango season in India. Mango is commonly referred to as the king of fruits in India. It is a seasonal fruit and makes it appearance in early May. The season will probably last for about 3 months. We had the first mangoes of the season this week and .. yes, it is confirmed. The mango is undoubtedly the king of fruits!

We generally consume our mango in two different ways - you eat it and you can make a thick juice (ras) out it. To eat it, you slice it into pieces around the hard core. Then you suck the soft pulp directly off the skin. Die hard enthusiasts will even suck the pulp of the hard core. If you are having it in the liquid form, it is best had with hot, fried pooris or special thin rotis.

It is a not-to-be-missed experience!

The eagles are ready to fly

2011-04-16T01:16:00.001-07:00

The students at Indus International School in Bangalore are referred to as eagles because when eagles fly high when the skies get cloudy. Yesterday was graduation day at Indus for the 12th graders and a new batch of eagles are now ready to fly. The school believes in leadership, whole development and being prepared to adapt to new situations quickly. This was illustrated yesterday when rains came down in Bangalore yesterday and put a damper on Indus's plan to hold the graduation ceremony in the open air amphitheater. But the school administration reacted quickly and the program was moved to the indoor sports complex and started only 15 minutes late.

The CEO spoke about embracing failures and learning from them quickly. The principal encouraged the students to become lifelong learners. The chief guest urged them to consider teaching as a profession and the IB coordinator reminded them to respect teachers and parents.

As each student was awarded the graduation certificate, their profile flashed on a large screen. It was amazing to see young and confident teenagers ready to rush out into the world and explore the vast array of opportunities ahead of them. These 50 or so students are setting out to be journalists, designers, oceanographers, entrepreneurs, engineers, doctors and lawyers. By next year, this group will be spread out all over the world - China, Singapore, Dubai, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Korea and India.

Needless to say, it was a proud evening for Mona and I to see Aanish in his green cap and gown receive his graduation certificate and an award for excelling in Economics. We are getting ready to see our young eagle leave his nest and fly out into the world to define his own destiny.

India wins World Cup 2011!!!

2011-04-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

28 years is a long time to wait! Last time India took the world cup home was when Kapil Dev's devils beat West Indies in 1983. Yesterday was a return to cricketing glory for Team India as MS Dhoni's Dashers beat a strong Sri Lanka team in the exciting final match of the tournament in Mumbai.

The entire country had been in the grip of cricket fever for the last several weeks as 14 countries battled it out for the cup in a tournament hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangla Desh. India met Pakistan in a thrilling semi-final a few days ago and won the match to move into the finals.

The excitement around the World Cup is virtually impossible to describe. You have to live it and experience it. It is amazing to see an entire country and Indians around the world (over 1.2 billion as per the 2011 census!) get behind a single team. The mood was electric all over the country yesterday. For both the semi-final and final matches, the home owner association in our building had setup a large screen in the outdoor amphitheater. A live stadium environment was recreated and the residents responded with complete enthusiasm. We had over 100 people show up for the match with Indian flags, whistles, signs etc. to create a stadium atmosphere.

As Dhoni hit the final match winning sixer, the skies erupted with fireworks and the parties kicked off on the streets. What an amazing tournament it has been.

Congratulations, Team India!

Digital De-tox

2011-03-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

We just came back from a short 3-day vacation at Kodaikanal - a beautiful hill station in Tamil Nadu. Had a great time doing absolutely nothing for 3 days. I was determined to take a complete break and managed to pull it off. I did not carry my laptop and switched on my Blackberry just to set the wake-up alarm! The kids could not manage a complete withdrawal from their digital toys but lost their music and games within a day when their iTouch devices ran out of power. True detoxification from the digital world!

We were staying with Marsha - Mona's childhood friend who teaches at the international school in Kodi. So we were practically living on the beautiful campus. The only intellect-challenging activity we did during the 3 days was to address a group of high school students at the school who wanted to learn about the university education system in the US. Rest of the time we spent strolling through the charming town, taking a boat ride in the lake and hiking a small but beautiful Coakers Walk.

We also had a couple of brief encounters with wildlife. Returning from Coakers Walk, we were chased by a couple of cows who appeared to be seriously interested in the roasted corn that I was eating. A neighbor's dog tried to steal Mona's sandal which I valiantly rescued! Ayaana was attacked by a bee and I jumped to her rescue.

So I guess I can categorize this one under the nature adventure tour - right below the Tanzania safari that we did last year.

Angry Birds!!!

2011-03-25T04:05:00.000-07:00

No, I am not talking about the best selling, highly addictive game about birds, pigs and slingshots. Rather I am talking about the nasty pigeons in our building that insist on resting, roosting and romancing on the windows and balconies of our apartment. These guys have become a real nuisance over the past few months. Mona and I tried multiple ways to get these pigeons to stay away from our apartment without much success.

We tried covering the windows with newspapers and plastic bags. We hung old mops over the balcony thinking that these might scare the persistent pigeons. I even installed a mask on the balcony - sort of a scarecrow! But guess what - the pigeons found the head to be a convenient place to hang out.

After a few frustrating weeks of battling with these birds - Mona came up with a brilliant idea of covering the open windows with a mesh. We managed to install one today and SUCCESS! Just goes to prove - where there's a will, there's a way!

And as far as the actual game is concerned - yes, we are all addicted to it.

Moving closer to the cup

2011-03-06T19:47:00.000-08:00

India played Ireland yesterday in the 2011 world cup tournament at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore. Mona and I were guests of our friends Ritu and Alok (Managing Director, ESPN Sports) at the ESPN box and got an opportunity to see a live cricket match ... after nearly three decades! And it was worth every minute.

The atmosphere in and around the stadium was electric. Street vendors selling Indian flags, t-shirts, posters etc. added to the festive look and feel of the event. You could get an Indian flag painted on your face as you stood in line to get into the stadium. But despite thousands of fans arriving to watch the game, everything was well organized.

It was a treat to watch cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar, on the field. The match itself was a lot of fun. When India bowled Ireland all out for 207, it appeared that this would not be much of a contest. But after the quick and steady loss of a few Indian wickets, the teams looked evenly matched for a while. There were no explosive batting performances but Yusuf Pathan provided some entertainment towards the end with a few big hits.

The crowd was awesome! And you quickly realize why all the teams love to play in India. Their enthusiasm is infectious and they will not hesitate to cheer the visiting team and boo the home team if required. Great music and a huge hosted dinner spread made the evening a memorable one.

India won and moves to the top of the table!

Fight On in Bangalore

2011-02-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

The world is getting flatter by the day! A high power delegation from our alma mater, University of Southern California, completed a week-long visit in India. The broad goal of the visit was to build sustainable alliances in various fields such as medicine, engineering, arts, business etc. The delegation was led by president, Max Nikias, who was accompanied by the deans of various schools including Viterbi and Marshall along with a couple of trustees.

The level of mutual interest in deep collaboration at this level was evident from the fact that President Max met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during this visit. Ratan Tata, who is a member of the board of trustees of USC, played host for this visit.

We had the opportunity to attend two events in Bangalore. The first was a social event to celebrate the opening of a Viterbi office in Bangalore. This office will serve as a platform from which USC can manage it's collaboration and recruitment activities in India. The following day, USC hosted a panel on Innovation and Globalization. It as a fascinating discussion with an impressive list of panelist focusing on the opportunities and challenges for the world ahead and underscoring the need for greater collaboration in government, industry and academia across the globe.

A summary of the visit and photos have been posted here.

2011 World Cup Fever

2011-02-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

The 2011 Cricket World Cup started yesterday. We were here four years ago when the last world cup was held but we had been in India only for a few months at that time. Now we are able to fully experience the feverish pitch and enthusiasm around the tournament. Indians are probably the most passionate about cricket - so your experience based in India is unlike anywhere else.

India is also projected as the front runner this year. The country has not won a World Cup for 20 years. So there is a lot of pressure on team India this year. The media is going crazy with polls, predictions and analysis. Times Now (a leading TV station) is running a GLI (Good Luck India) campaign. Religious heads are performing rites and ceremonies for team India's success. And of course the fans are wishing and praying for the team's victory. It is a frenzy!

Teams from 14 countries are competing for the cup this year. The tournament is being hosted by and played in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. Yesterday, India played the first official match of the tournament against Bangladesh and won by a huge margin of 87 runs. Let's see if team India is able to maintain the intensity and focus to bring home the world cup this year.

A new bruin in our family!

2011-01-31T05:39:00.000-08:00

Today was a memorable day for Aanish. He received his acceptance letter from USC this evening. He has been working extremely hard on his college applications for the past 2-3 months. He applied to a total of 9 universities in California but USC (Mona and my alma mater) has always been his top choice. So there was major excitement in the house today when a courier from DHL delivered a package from USC. A loud cheer from Aanish confirmed what we were anxiously waiting for - the admissions confirmation letter.

A week later (I am editing this post after an interesting turn of events), Aanish received his acceptance letter by e-mail from UCLA. Along with his acceptance letter, he received multiple scholarships. Subsequently, he received scholarships from USC as well. But by then, he had decided to attend UCLA. All of a sudden, USC became the University of Second Choice!

It is a proud moment for Mona and I and we are relishing every minute of it. Just yesterday we were going through some old baby pictures of Aanish and Ayaana and now he is off to university. Don't know where the years flew by! But he is clearly ready for the big league.

We wish him the very best and hope that he will fulfill all his dreams!

Off with the training wheels ....

2011-01-30T04:15:00.000-08:00

You feel that you are moving one step closer to sending your child out into the world when he/she starts learning how to drive. The symbolism about preparing your offspring for life in the big world out there is unmistakable as you watch him/her get behind the wheel.

Our moment has come! For a couple of weeks now, Mona and I have been giving Aanish driving lessons on the weekend. Today, he managed to get most of the complicated steps right and was able to nail the basics down - starting, moving and stopping! It is like watching your infant take his or her first steps (except this one involves a big machine and a misstep could land you in a hospital). But we were lucky. No major mishaps.

The lessons are on the service road in front of our building. We try to do them early in the morning when the traffic is light. We were pleasantly surprised to see a couple of other beginners learning to drive a car and felt the unspoken bond among us.

This is probably going to last several weeks and the experience is one of mixed emotions - pride and sadness!

The Big Fat Indian Wedding!

2011-01-20T08:00:00.001-08:00

Over 6000 (yes, I meant six thousand) guests, a dozen different rituals spread over a week, hundreds of out of town guests, choreographed dance performances and more! Move aside, Toula Portokalos. This is the real big, fat wedding.

We just returned from the wedding of Mona's niece, Shivangi, in Anand (Gujarat) and what a wedding it was. I had been wanting to attend a family wedding since we arrived in India over four years ago and we got an opportunity to do so last week. It was a unique and memorable experience for all of us.

Weddings are huge family affairs in Gujarat and this one was no exception. I met several of Mona's cousins and their families for the first time ever. But it seemed like we have all known each other for decades. The incredible warmth and the hospitality by all was overwhelming. We had a really good time getting to know each other and became really close during the days we spent together. This is a real boisterous and fun-loving family. The very first evening, we got together for what turned out to be a talent show. Everybody's (including mine) hidden singing talents were discovered that night.

The other fascinating aspect of the wedding were the number of interesting rituals that took place. These rituals are full of detailed tasks assigned to people with specific relationships to the bride and the groom. I couldn't imagine how somebody could remember all the details. But strange as some of the rituals seemed, all of them had a meaning and purpose.

There is lot of singing and dancing at a Gujarati wedding. These range from traditional Gujarati folk music and tribal dances to modern bollywood music and Bhangra! The bride and the groom along with a few dozen of their close family members also performed choreographed dance numbers during one of the events.

The other striking thing about this wedding was the medley of colorful outfits that everyone was wearing. The women looked stunning in their bright and colorful dresses while the men sported a combination of traditional suits to ethnic men's wear. All of us got into the spirit and were well equipped with special outfits that we had bought for the event. Ayaana probably had the best time of all as she really got into it and went all out to get dressed up and made up - all of 14 going on 18!

It was four days of unbridled fun and excitement. I can't wait for the next one!

The day the sky bursts into colors!

2011-01-17T00:32:00.000-08:00

If you have not celebrated Sankranti in Gujarat, put it on your "100 things to do before I die" list! This is a must-have experience. For the uninitiated, Sankranti or Uttarayan, is a festival to celebrate the harvest season. The highlight of the festival is the flying of kites by thousands of young and old, women, men and children all over the city. Residents of the state of Gujarat are serious about this festival and we were fortunate to spend it this year in the cities of Anand and Baroda.

We spent the day of the festival (January 14th) in Anand with a number of Mona's cousins, nephews and nieces. The day was mostly spent on the terrace of an old house in Mona's ancestral neighborhood. The sky was dotted by thousands of kites of different colors. It looked like the entire population of the city had found it's way to every inch of a terrace of every building. Many of them had even setup their music system and were providing free entertainment for everyone. Of course, food, snacks and drinks were in endless supply.

None of us had much experience with flying kites but Ayaana seemed to have a natural talent for it. But all of us tried our hand at it and had a blast doing it. As the sun started to set and it began to get dark, paper lanterns with a small flame started to float in the air. We set out a couple from our terrace as well. As night time rolled in, the sky started to come alive with spectacular fireworks. It was an awesome sight and a fitting end to a memorable day.

We were fortunate to replicate this experience in Baroda on the next day. This time we were on the terrace of Ami (Mona's cousin) and Mayur's (Ami's husband) house. This time we had lots of their friends and neighbors for company. We spent a few hours flying kites and releasing paper lanterns in the sky.

Some Khaana and lots of Gaana

2011-01-06T23:34:00.000-08:00

A group from Mumbai puts up a musical show each year in Bangalore called Khaana (food) and Gaana (songs). The show features live performers singing songs from the Golden Era of bollywood music (40s, 50s, 60s - hey, I was born in the 60s and 70s!). Mona and I attended the show last night and it was a blast!

First - the food! The food was organized by type (chaat, snacks, south indian, chinese etc.) and was being prepared and served at different stations. You could sample anything that was being served out there and almost everything was delicious. Snacks ranged from Mumbai's famous vada pav to Gujarat's fafda with green chillies. Since this was in Bangalore, there was an extensive selection of south indian offerings. Several options were available in the buffet for a full dinner. The dessert selection was extensive ranging from hot jalebis and kulfi on a wheel (!) to interesting selections like tawa mithai etc. You could top the dinner off with hot badam milk (served with style and flourish) and a paan (served straight into your mouth by a live paan-wala!).

The show itself was awesome! It started a bit slow with songs that were unfamiliar to us but soon picked up as the artists started to sing popular numbers. The singers were all amazing and their rendition of songs by the yester-year greats like Mukesh, Rafi, Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, Shamshad Begum, Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar and Aasha Bhonsle were on the mark. The 30+ member orchestra was a masterpiece. The show was supposed to conclude by 11pm but it was still going past midnight when we left.

Quite an evening to remember!

Pay per use toilets next?

2010-12-25T03:10:00.000-08:00

The airline industry in the US earned over $4B in fees from "extras" last year. I realized where this was coming from when I was traveling with the country a couple of weeks ago. The industry claims that it is simplifying the fare structure by unbundling various amenities that were included in the fares. This gives greater flexibility to customers who can pick and choose the services they want in proportion to the fare they want to pay.

We all know that we had to pay for peanuts and soft drinks. But now, there are fees for check-in baggage, pre-boarding (yes, for an extra $10, you can board early), headsets and premium seats (nope - these are not bigger seats with more space. Some of the regular seats are now designated as premium seats, such as ALL window and aisle seats!). It's a pretty creative pricing structure and the possibilities are endless. Consider the following possibilities:

1. Choice of passenger sitting next to you: $20
2. Experience level of pilot: $75
3. Watch the in-flight movie: $5
4. Watch the final 10 minutes of the in-flight movie: $25
5. Newspaper: $5
6. Water: $5
7. Cold Water: $10
8. Pillow: $5
9. Reading light: $5
10. Usage of toilet: $10

In the winter wonderland

2010-12-10T03:09:00.000-08:00

"From the frying pan into the fire" is the thought that went through my head as I walked out of the Dulles international airport in Washington DC. Weather seemed to be as cold or colder than London. Thank god for the pair of gloves that I picked up in London and my ski cap! But I have to admin, it felt great to be back in the US. There is something about the familiarity of a place built over two decades. Plus Washington DC - the seat of power! As Todd and I were driving to the city for a breakfast meeting, we passed by the Pentagon. I have been to DC before but have never seen this legendary building (is it the largest office building in the world?). Quite a kick!

I am in Rochester, New York now, where the temperature is several degrees colder and there is white cold stuff all around us. Can't wait to get to Los Angeles (78 degrees on the weekend).

Feeling exhausted and still struggling a bit with jet lag. But having a blast eating my favorite food. We stopped in at the Five Guys in Washington DC. This is the burger joint that hit the headlines when Obama stopped in to pick up a Cheeseburger (video). I tried one here and I can see why the Prez favors this place. Had great ribs last night in a barbecue joint in Rochester. My favorite Cheese Cake in London and Mexican at a new hot chain - Chipotle! Boy, packed quite a bit (literally!) in a couple of days that I have been here.

What is COLD? London in December.

2010-12-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

You have not experienced cold until you have spent time in London in the month of December. I am in London at the moment and am experiencing the coldest weather that I probably have experienced in my entire life. We are talking about bone-numbing cold, you-can't-feel-your-fingers-within-minutes-of-being-outside cold! It is so cold out here at the moment that the code to access wi-fi at the hotel is ... you guessed it right ... COLD!

I can't write anything more on this as my fingers are frozen.

Bangalore - I miss you!

A confluence of cultures

2010-11-28T03:28:00.000-08:00

Last week, the Overseas Women's Club of Bangalore hosted their annual India Night event at the Taj West End. This is the second year that I have attended this event. Nearly 200 people from different parts of the world come together to experience and participate in all things Indian. It is absolutely fascinating to see this confluence. Men and women, old and young from Canada to Indonesia arrive dressed in the most elaborate and beautiful Indian outfits and taste a slice of India through various cultural, culinary and entertainment experiences. Of course, I got yet another chance within the last few weeks of going ethnic again!

A wide range of activities were organized for the guests including Mehendi art, palm reading while artists in traditional Indian costumes mingled with the guests and provided photo-ops. Food was a variety of the finest Indian cuisine with some international fare thrown in for good measure. Entertainment included a medley of local tribal dances. And no such evening is complete without a Bollywood influence. An instructor from a dance studio was on-hand and led a group of international guests in a dance session set to popular Bollywood songs.

What was most interesting to observe was the enthusiasm with which everyone participated. There were no cultural barriers and people were open to new experiences. Clearly a key to understanding and appreciating different cultures, celebrating differences and finding ways to collaborate!

Obamania in India

2010-11-14T04:16:00.000-08:00

US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrived in India for a 3-day visit on the eve of Diwali. While there seemed to have been limited media coverage for his visit in the US, the Indian media just could not get enough of the first couple. Most TV stations virtually carried his visit live round the clock. Talking heads went nuts analyzing every word spoken by Obama and every action taken by the first couple.

At the end of the day, this 3-day visit seemed to be primarily a sales visit. A growing economy and a rising middle class is turning India into a desirable market for companies in the West. Obama was accompanied by CEOs of large US companies including Boeing and announced deals valued nearly $10b. He sent a strong message back home about the positive impact of these deals (50,000 new jobs).

What was interesting was that the first couple spent a lot of time with children and young adults during their visit. Given that nearly 60% of India's population of 1 Billion is below the age of 30, India has an edge in the upcoming decades due to a large and growing workforce. Clearly the youth will be shaping the future of this new global power in terms of innovation and consumption and Obama was attempting to reach out and connect and engage with them.

It was fascinating to observe all of this from this end!

Festival of lights brightens another year

2010-11-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

India celebrated Diwali this weekend. This festival of lights has become one of the biggest festivals in the country and is celebrated by all regardless of age, state or religion. The evening skies are lit up by fireworks as friends and families get together to celebrate in unison. Buildings are lit up around the city, sweets and gifts are exchanged and blessings of goddess Lakshmi (symbolizing wealth & prosperity) are invoked.

But as with everything in India, the festival is about building connections and strengthening relationships. Diwali brings families and friends together in a joyous celebration. The association in our building had organized a two-day celebration. The first day was celebrated by the residents by bursting firecrackers together. Nearly one hundred residents, old and young, got into the spirit of the festival by lighting up sparklers, rockets, ground wheels and ear-deafening bombs. Day two was another fun-filled evening that started with a cultural program organized and presented by the residents. Only in India can you find an hour-long program where you get to see a table recital, kathakali dance performance, a bollywood dance number and a rendition of Shakira's FIFA theme performance, Waka Waka! The program was followed by dinner and dancing. This gave Mona and me an opportunity to go ethnic!

India had a special guest this Diwali. US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are in the country and celebrated Diwali with children at the Holy Mary school in Mumbai.

With the country registering a 9% growth, there is plenty of other reasons to celebrate and celebrate we did!

Mr. Mom - part deux - DISASTER Strikes!

2010-10-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

48 hours left for Mona to be back in town. We had almost made it through the month without any major mishaps. All of us were starting to lose it a bit but the end was in sight. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Finally on Saturday, disaster strikes.

I took Aanish and Ayaana out for brunch and we left the apartment without taking a key with us! Had a good brunch, stopped by the library, picked up some groceries and came back when we realized that we had no way to get back in the house - 2PM. Well, not such a big deal. Mona had left a set of keys with one of the neighbors (bless her - she anticipates the impossible). But luck was not on our side. The neighbors were not home. They were away at a resort and were not going to be back home until 7PM. OK. Our housekeeper, Pushpa has another set (thank you, Mona) and she has to be in the building somewhere. I head to the security to find out that she has already signed out and left the building. Mona had left her cell phone number with me so I called her - turns out that this was not the correct number (and given the state of the things, probably I was the one who took it down incorrectly!). I know Pushpa also works in apartment 401. They must have her contact number. Guess what, nobody's home. I rush to the Home Care office to see if they can help us get in the apartment from the roof - no such luck.

So now we are stuck outside - with no options left. I have bags of groceries that need refrigeration and a couple of cranky kids. Ayaana came to the rescue and tracked her friend down in the building who volunteered to store the groceries in her refrigerator. We decided to head to the mall for a movie. We had to kill time until 7PM. I realized that I did not have sufficient cash for movie tickets but had my ATM card handy. No problem. Stopped at the bank but could not remember the pin for the life of me. Wait, wait. Before you pass any judgment on me, I don't use this card very often. Well, I had my American Express and figured we can get through this.

We get to the mall fighting traffic along the way, make our way through a long line of cars making tight turns in the parking lot at the Forum (my favorite activities, all of them) and get there. There were no English movies playing at any of the theaters around that time. Our only choice was the Tamil movie, Enthiran and nobody voted for it. So we killed some time at the mall (eating cookies & popcorn, browsing at Landmark, shopping for a laptop cover) before we decided to head back - 5PM. Drove back to a Coffee shop near the apartment and hung out for an hour - 6:30PM. Tried reaching our neighbor but no luck.

Came back to the building and spent an hour in the game room playing table tennis with the kids until our neighbor called announcing that he was in the building. Hallelujah! Finally got into the apartment around 7:30PM, ordered some pizza, started watching Harry Potter 6 with the kids and passed out.

As it turns out, it was actually not a bad day at all!

Transformation?

2010-10-29T05:51:00.001-07:00

It's been nearly four years since I have been living in India and finding the right balance between my desi-self and American mindset continues to be elusive. These years have helped me a lot to get back in touch with the Indian in me. Two decades in the US (especially during my 20s and 30s) had made a complete American out of me. As Americans, we value our individualism and personal freedom. I love the ability of Americans to be self-critical and laugh at themselves. We also tend to be direct and to the point. We are focused on execution and getting things done. We like order and structure in our lives.

India on the other hand is defined by relationships. You can't help but not be connected to the larger whole (whether you like it or not!). As Indians, the feelings, needs and emotions of others are very important to us. Indians have a sense of humility and an amazing yearning for knowledge. The journey is more important to us than the destination. We thrive in chaos and make things happen inspire of lack of order and structure (the 2010 Common Wealth Games will stand as an example).

Yesterday, I moved a step closer to my Indian-ness. A couple of colleagues at work helped me in this shift. Somebody remembered a comment that I had made at a recent event about the elegance of a South Indian outfit for men - Pancha Katcham. It is white/cream in color. It is a 5-yard strip of cloth that is draped around the waist and sort of looks like a skirt. It is knotted in five places (for safety?). This is worn with a white shirt. My colleagues not only purchased a complete outfit as a gift for me but helped me put the outfit on (believe me, you need help doing this). It was a fascinating experience for me and I was touched at their thoughtfulness. They were as excited to see me in this new outfit as I was to put it on.

A symbol of transformation? Maybe.

Trojans in Bangalore!

2010-10-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, you heard it right. USC has opened offices in India - Viterbi in Bangalore and Marshall in Mumbai. Few months ago, the dean of Viterbi, Yannis C. Yortsos, was in Bangalore and an event was hosted for the alumni resident in Bangalore along with prospect students. I couldn't believe the number of Viterbi alumni who showed up for the event. I had no idea that so many alumni from USC were living in Bangalore.

Last weekend, associate dean Raghavendra hosted a dinner for the alumni at the Taj West End. Saw a lot of new faces, met a lot of interesting folks and made a couple of new friends. Raghu ran us through a brief presentation on recent changes at the university. The place looks nothing like it did in '86. It has also moved up in the US News and Word Report rankings (even beat UCLA!). His presentation was followed by introductions of the alumni. I was asked to talk about an interesting anecdote from my days at USC, which I did (not fit for print!).

BTW - I was the second oldest alumnus ('87) at the event! Hard to believe that Aanish is now applying at USC for his undergraduate program. My, how time flies!

Being Mr. Mom

2010-10-16T04:25:00.000-07:00

Mona's been gone almost 2 weeks and I am playing the role of Mr. Mom (a lot better than Michael Keaton did in the 1983 film if I say so myself). Managing the house and kids has really not been that bad. Aanish and Ayaana are old enough so I don't really need to worry about them getting home from school and making themselves a snack and perhaps even order pizza for themselves.

What is challenging and continues to amaze me is the number of little stuff that one has to keep track of - such as turning off the water heater, leaving the bag & coupons for milk outside the door, watering the plants, remembering the schedule of music classes etc. etc. Multi-tasking at work just does not seem as challenging but my brain seems to morph into jello the moment I arrive home. Luckily there hasn't been a major disaster yet and I hope it stays that way for the next couple of weeks. We seem to have managed fairly well and have not blown up the house yet.

But I do miss Mona - especially dumping my woes on her after a particularly challenging day at work. It's not the same without her :(

Incredible India!

2010-10-04T08:41:00.000-07:00

India pulled it off!

India is hosting the 2010 Commonwealth games in Delhi this year. For the past several weeks, the media has been speculating about India's ability to pull it off. There was a constant stream of media reports about shoddy construction, filthy conditions around the stadium, security concerns and criticism about the games anthem composed by A. R. Rahman. All of this coverage created doubt and anxiety in the minds of most Indians while games officials did their best to assure everybody that things were not that bad. The cost of the 2010 Commonwealth games is estimated to be a staggering $2B USD and everybody expected a world-class show for that investment.

Yesterday was the opening ceremony and everybody's fears were laid to rest. India put on a magnificent show and proved to the world that it can. The show was spectacular with amazing pyrotechnics, thousands of performers and an incredible sound and light show. 7000 athletes from over 70 countries are in New Delhi to take part in the games. All the last minute glitches were sorted out in a manner that is uniquely Indian and order has emerged out of the chaos as it can happen only in India.

Urban Backpacking

2010-09-25T22:58:00.000-07:00

Last week, as I was returning from work and driving into our building, I noticed a couple of other folks returning from work carrying their backpacks. I suddenly realized that I see a lot of folks carrying backpacks to work. And this is not limited to engineers and programmers. Managers and heads of division seem to prefer the rugged backpack to a sophisticated briefcase or a laptop bag. In fact, judging by the rapidly expanding workforce, India must be the largest market for backpacks in the world.

I began to wonder about the reasons behind the popularity of backpacks in India. Clearly, one of the main reasons is that they are a much more practical alternative when you consider that the primary mode of transportation for most young workers here is a motorbike. It is a lot easier to travel on a 2-wheeler with a backpack than it is with the alternatives. Most of the knowledge workers in India in the BPO, IT and ITeS sectors are young men in their early twenties. At this stage in life, you are not exactly the most organized individual. Once again, a briefcase forced you to be organized and manage clutter. But a backpack ....! Throw a bunch of stuff in there, zip it up and you are on your way. Finally - the typical young worker in India is a workaholic and probably works 12-14 hours a day. Most of these guys are young, single and living with friends and roommates. You need a bag where you can carry not only your laptop and notebook for work but also your gym shorts, old socks, a toothbrush etc.

Analysis complete. Mystery solved. The versatile backpack has made its mark in India.

Paradise on earth

2010-09-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

We decided to celebrate Mona's birthday by spending a weekend at the Orange County (not the California one ...) resort in Coorg. Coorg has been a destination on our must-visit list and this seemed like a good opportunity to check this off our list.

Coorg is a five-hour drive from Bangalore and once you get out to the Bangalore/Mysore highway, the drive is beautiful. A mandatory stop on the way is Kamat Lokaruchi - a restaurant that serves authentic Kannada cuisine and the best tiffin (idly, wada, dosa). We stopped ... and we were not disappointed! An hour or so before you arrive in Coorg, the landscape changed to lush greenery sprinkled with paddy fields - very picturesque.

We stayed at the Orange County resort - without question one of the finest resorts that we have lived in. We had booked a villa (see photo) that was constructed in an authentic and traditional architecture of the region. The place is serene, quiet and peaceful. The resort is part of a coffee plantation and has been rated as the top eco-friendly resort in Asia.

Activities during the weekend included a plantation tour (ask me anything you want to know about coffee) and a forest trek (yes, you are really hiking through dense forest). We rented bicycles and explored the resort on our own. A coffee lounge overlooking paddy fields was a perfect late afternoon retreat. There were local cultural shows in the evening followed by games that served as a great ice-breaker among guests.

The best part - food! There are three restaurants in the resort that serve different cuisines. All of them were terrific and the biggest decision we had to make each day was to select one of them for lunch and dinner.

Brahmin's Coffee Bar - who would have thought?

2010-08-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

A name like Brahmin's Coffee Bar can leave you wondering about this tiny unassuming little food joint in Bangalore. But don't let the looks deceive you. Brahmin's has been voted as one of the best idly restaurants in Bangalore and is regularly featured on the list of top places to eat in the city.

As you can see in the picture, this is a tiny place at a street corner. Standing room only (on the pavement and sometimes on the street!). The place only serves three items - idly, wada and kesari baath. The idly and wada are served in a deep dish with a generous helping of liquid chutney. An elderly gentleman stands near the entrance with a huge pot full of chutney for those who must have more of this delicious stuff.

We went there on a Saturday morning and the place was not hard to find. You can spot the cars parked on the street and the thick crowd of people jostling to place their order from a mile away. Chaotic as it may seem, Brahmin's has a highly efficient system of order placement, cash collection and order delivery. Wait time is minimal - which is good, because you want to dig into the delicacies as soon as possible.

And the verdict - Yummmm!!!

Independence Day

2010-08-13T23:48:00.001-07:00

India celebrates it's 63rd Independence Day on August 15th. The world has been reading the India Shining story for the past few years. Tom Freidman's book, The World is Flat, shines a spotlight on the rapid pace of development and growth in India and has put India on the radar of global business leaders. Bangalore and Hyderabad have become household names as companies like IBM, Microsoft and Cisco have setup large development and research centers in these cities. India's GDP growth has been immune to the global meltdown and continues to register impressive increases.

Being on the ground, the effect of growth and development is very much evident to us. But you can't miss the fact that a large number of Indians continue to live in poverty. Lack of education and malnutrition for millions of children is still a serious problem. The gap between the rich and the poor continues to increase giving rise to discontent. Local governments continue to remain oblivious to serious development issues. Cities are bursting to accommodate growth and the infrastructure can barely meet the current demand. India has more billionaires today than it has ever had but philanthropy is sadly lacking.

As we sit here and watch the two different Indias, we wonder where things will be in another decade. Which path will the country choose as it moves forward? Will the development remain chaotic or will it be managed effectively for long term sustainability and prosperity?

Lost & Found?

2010-08-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Those who remember the hit Hindi movies based on a lost and found theme from director Manmohan Desai will appreciate this. These movies typically had a plot that involved two brothers who are separated in childhood, grow up to become rivals (either in business or one becomes a criminal and the other a police officer etc.), meet under dramatic circumstances and then re-unite.

Last week, I met an old school friend (chaddi-baddi!) of mine after three decades. Sultan Mazharuddin and I were best friends through primary to high school in Hyderabad. We lost touch after leaving school. We attended different colleges in Hyderabad. After college I moved to the US. He stayed back in India for a few years and then moved to Saudi Arabia. We finally connected last year after 30 years and met last week in India. It was a thrill to meet an old friend after such a long time and our meeting was one of the highlights of my recent visit to Hyderabad. Amazingly enough, we picked up from where we left off and caught up to present time in a couple of meetings.

And how did this reunion happen? You guessed it right ... Facebook!

The airport experience!

2010-07-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Am back on the road (air?) this week! Living the airport life again. When you travel as much as I do, you start to see and experience airports very differently. Since I am visiting multiple cities and doing meetings at different times, I end up spending a lot of time at airports waiting for my flights. Over the past three years, I have probably spent hundreds of hours at over twenty different airports in the US.

There is some amount of comfort in the homogeneous look and feel of a large American airport. The tan/beige/brown carpets, the incredibly uncomfortable chairs, the flat screen monitors displaying flight status, the large steel trash cans, the consistent signage - ah! Feels like home! Even the people look the same. You have your high flying road warriors in suits with a bluetooth phone stuck behind their ears barking instructions to no one in particular. There are the power hungry laptop/cell phone junkies that manage to find the rare power outlet that is typically hiding behind a large pillar for the much needed charge for their electronic gear. You also get your share of the noisy families with yelling and screaming children fighting over pizza, burgers and shakes.

Window shopping is another way to kill time at airports. Most airports now double as malls and you can buy virtually anything at an airport. You can see high end stores like Mont Blanc at the bigger airports like Chicago. But the shops that are more fun to browse are those that sell quirky souvenirs.

If you are hungry at an airport, do not panic for there are usually options available for everyone. Of course these options depend on the airport you are at. Wendy's may be the star attraction in Binghamton but don't be surprised if you see Wolfgang Puck or other gourmet eateries when you are passing through JFK.

The Safari Experience

2010-07-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

An African safari is an adventure of a lifetime. The starting point of ours was the small town of Arusha. We started daily by 8am and usually returned between 3pm and 4pm. The safari vehicles were customized and specially outfitted stretched Toyota Landcruisers that seated seven adults. The hard tops can be pushed open upwards creating enough space for one to stand upright in the jeep. Our driver cum guide during the entire safari was Paul - an experienced, knowledgeable and highly enthusiastic fellow who added to our overall experience.

Once inside the national park, we would open the hard top and get ready with our camera and binoculars. The jeeps drive on trails, which are rough dirt and mud roads through the plains. It can get dusty when you have other vehicles directly ahead of you. There are a few designated spots in the parks where the vehicles will stop and we could get down to take a closer look and shoot pictures. Lunch on a safari is usually a box lunch and we stopped at various picnic stops along the way for a lunch break during the safari. The weather in June was not bad as it was approaching winter in Africa but it did get fairly hot in the afternoons.

An animal crossing is always an exciting event during a safari. This happens when an animal or a group of animals cross the trail in front of or behind your vehicle. During our safari, we had zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, elephants, antelopes, baboons and cheetahs cross the trail in front of and behind us.

We also went up in a hot air balloon in the Serengeti during our safari. This is usually an early morning affair and you must take off just after sunrise. Viewing wildlife and the landscape from a hot air balloon is an exhilarating experience and offers a completely different perspective.

Blogging from the bush

2010-07-03T05:40:00.001-07:00

We just returned from a 12-day trip to Tanzania that included a 6-day safari. What a trip! This was our first visit to Africa and we were eagerly awaiting it for many months. We knew it was going to be an amazing vacation and it was.

Our African safari was an experience like none other. While all of us are urban folks, we love nature and wildlife. We spent almost a week traveling through the major national parks in Tanzania including Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Serengeti and visited the Ngorongoro crater, which is a conservation area. It is impossible to capture the safari experience in words and photos.

We spent days in the midst of thousands of migrating wildebeest, racing mindlessly across the plains. We encountered families of elephants within twenty feet of our jeeps. We came across several muddy lakes filled with hippos and occasionally sighted crocodiles at the banks. Thousands of zebras and different types of antelopes dotted the horizon wherever you look. Majestic giraffes were always an exciting sight. We managed to spot a pride of well-fed lions sunbathing on the plains and a leopard relaxing on the branch of a tree. A couple of cheetahs crossed our path (literally!) in the Ngorongoro crater. And there is an incredible number of species of birds and we had a lot of fun bird watching.

Spending a week on expansive savannahs and grassy plains and encountering magnificent animals in their natural habitat is quite a thrill. You experience a range of emotions together - awe, fascination, curiosity, humility, anxiety and wonder! You are reminded of that you have been given an incredible gift of this unique planet full of life!

Mumbai Meri Jaan

2010-06-15T03:58:00.001-07:00

I am back in my "adopted" home - Mumbai. I love and remain nostalgic about Hyderabad where I was born, grew up and did my schooling. Los Angeles will hold a special place in my heart as this is where I became an adult, fell in love and built my career. Mumbai (Bombay in the good ole days) is where Mona (the person I fell in love with and subsequently married) was born and grew up. I never cared much for this city when I was growing up. Over the last twenty years, I have come to love the place and it has become another home for me.

We are in Mumbai for a few days on our way to Africa and I am enjoying every bit of it. The famous monsoons are just about to begin and there are bouts of heavy rains every few hours. And these are not just heavy rains but a serious downpour. But the city keeps moving on with gritty determination. I am amazed to see Mumbaikars taking a walk on Marine Drive in heavy rain. I was on the road early today (around 7:30am) and had the chance to see this beast rising and it is quite an experience to see this city come to life as millions of people begin their day.

Food is always an important part of the Mumbai experience and this time is no different. I made sure that I had the famous vada-pav. The street vendor has now managed to get a small stall on a street corner and is busier than ever. I have yet to learn to be more aggressive and push and shove my way through to get my food. Yesterday, we dined with Vicky, Jehangir and the kids at Mahesh - a sea-food lover's paradise. And we made our customary visit to Delhi Durbar for traditional Mughlai cuisine.

We leave tonight for Africa but I know that I will be back again soon to do it all over again.

Now you see me ... now you don't!

2010-06-05T01:07:00.000-07:00

I have been having trouble with my vision for the past couple of months but have been resisting a visit to the optometrist. Guess did not want to face the inevitable! I did end up getting an eye exam last week and my worst fears came true. I must now wear bifocals! I got my new pair yesterday and am still trying to get used to them. I am sure it's quite a sight watching me trying to keep my head straight while my eyes are pointed down trying to read a newspaper.

This has been the year where I have really started to feel the passage of time. My body is showing signs (aching back, sore ankles, pain in the joints etc.) of age, while my mind keeps telling me ... "hey, am not quite ready for this!". Need to increase the level of exercise and get back into shape.

Gotta run ... have a yoga session to attend followed by a game of squash and a swim.

Looking Down and going across ...

2010-05-30T22:39:00.001-07:00

If any of your crossword buffs, the meaning of the title of this post may be quite clear. One of the joys of being back in India has been the excitement of solving the daily crossword puzzle in The Hindu. For many of you, this might not rank close to dining in a gourmet restaurant, traveling to an exotic locale or spending the evening catching a musical at Broadway. But the Hindu crossword fanatics (and there are many) will know what I am talking about.

The competition to complete the crossword used to be intense when I was in engineering college nearly twenty-five years ago. I remember competing and collaborating with my fellow Osmanians to get the puzzle complete before mid-day. I can still feel the pleasure of completing the puzzle or the intensity of disappointment when we could not complete it.

This experience has been recreated over the past couple of years. The competition is now between Mona and me as we keep an eye on the score (who got the most words) while solving the puzzle during the day. Even when I am not in town, we collaborate and compete using SMS, e-mail etc. Who knew solving crosswords could be so romantic?

Nourishment for the soul

2010-05-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

I am back in the US and the usual highlight of my trip is the pursuit of comfort food. My first stop was New York and I was staying a block away from Times Square. So a hot dog and kebab in a pita at a roadside food cart was a must. And it did not disappoint one bit. I had to get my regular dose of Mexican food and the following day found a Baja Fresh in the area. It is of course the best of best in Mexican fast food.

The following day, I was in Des Moines, Iowa. It was late at night (around 10pm) and most restaurants in town were closed. Luckily, Doozies - a sports bar in the hotel that we were staying in was open. They serve one of the best baby back ribs (or maybe I feel that way because I haven't had one for ages). Regardless, it was enjoyable.

When I arrived at JFK for my flight to London, I hunted down the classic Chinese joint in the food court where your choices are 2 items or 3 items with rice or noodles. You gotta love it!

I got my dose and am good for the next few months! Back to the land of masala dosa, butter chicken and biryani.

Will you marry me?

2010-04-26T02:10:00.000-07:00

It is very well understood in many parts of the world that the question above represents the ultimate commitment by one human being to the other. A commitment to a lifelong relationship however does not seem to be a major problem for most Indians (as evident by the number of marriages in a month or the growing population). The problem is with day to day commitments to each other.

Let me illustrate through a recent example. Bangalore has been quite hot (the weather!) in recent weeks and there has been an increase in the population of mosquitoes (if people can do it …. ). A slat in one of our bathroom windows broke a couple of weeks ago and there has been an invasion of mosquitoes through the gap. Mona reported the issue to the Home Care office in our building. This office was established by the developer of the complex and is designed to quickly respond to any issue related to the care and maintenance of the homes in the complex. But turns out that the office does not fully understand any part of the phrase "quick response".

Despite repeated calls and visits to the office, the problem remained unresolved for over a week. And these guys have a full time maintenance staff consisting of a carpenter, electrician and a plumber. It wasn't until Mona and I confronted the manager and virtually had to yell at the top of our voices to finally get heard. The problem finally got resolved yesterday after we went and bought a mosquito net and the carpenter installed it over the bathroom window. We are relieved that this issue has been taken care of but we remain disturbed and disappointed at the lack of commitment of the maintenance staff.

IPL 3.0

2010-04-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

The third annual edition of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament is currently underway and cricket fever has once again gripped the country. The tournament is back in India this year after moving to South Africa last year due to security concerns. In three short years, IPL has become one of of the most significant sporting events in the world. It has also become a money making machine for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - the governing body for cricket in India.

The revised and shorter format of the game along with player auction and the entertainment components have fueled the popularity of this league. The brand value of the IPL is in excess of $300MM and the value of the individual teams are inching close to $50MM. New teams (Pune and Kochi) have sold for over $300MM.

The franchise is set to expand in the fourth edition. Meanwhile, the semi-finals are scheduled to begin this week and most Indians are looking forward to more cricketing action over the next couple of weeks!

My story

2010-04-03T22:55:00.000-07:00

Last week the senior management team of 2adpro spent a couple of days at a leadership development boot camp. One of the activities that the team had to engage in required each one of us to write a story in eleven minutes. I used to write short stories when I was a teenager but I don't think I have written one in a couple of decades. But I did come up with one and was quite proud of it and wanted to share:

Love Story

He sat next to her, as she lay comatose on the hospital bed. Her bruised and injured body and her labored breathing filled him with grief. He couldn’t help but reflect back on the decades of togetherness and hundreds of joyous moments they had together. He couldn’t imagine being away from her and living life without her.

The accident was a painful memory in his mind. He couldn’t believe that he missed seeing the truck speeding towards him on the highway. Perhaps they were lost in each other’s eyes and locked in conversation at that time.

His heart leapt as he saw her eyes flutter and he noticed some movement in her limbs. As she started mumbling, he began to lose the sensation of her hands in his. As she started to gain consciousness, his own started fading away. Sadness filled him as his life and soul disappeared.

Trojan Night

2010-03-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

Yannis Yortsos, dean of Viterbi school of engineering at USC was in Bangalore this week and a dinner was organized for Viterbi alumni on Wednesday. It was great to attend a USC event in Bangalore and I was amazed to see so many engineering alums living in the city. We were greeted by a group of youngsters who have applied to USC for fall 2010 and have been accepted by the school. There were probably close to 20 alumni at the dinner. There was a fairly large group from USC accompanying the dean. Plus some USC supporters and sponsors were also in attendance.

It was good to see old friends Ashok Das and Ashok Gopinath at the dinner. Ashok Das and I were roommates during our days at USC and now we are living in Bangalore. What a trip! Another old roommate Pradeep Hiremath is somewhere in Bangalore but did not make it to the event.

I was assigned a seat next to the dean by chance. Aanish had coached, coaxed and begged me to put in a good word for him as he is aiming to attend USC in 2011. I hope I didn't hurt his chances too much. Yannis gave a short presentation about USC and it was good to hear that the school was doing well and doing some interesting things in the engineering program.

Hope that this is a beginning of a thriving Trojan network in Bangalore which will definitely grow in the coming years.

Fight On!!

Up in the air

2010-02-24T14:17:00.001-08:00

Or at least I wish I was. Is it just me or has air travel in the US becoming more difficult and unpleasant? I am back here doing the usual 10 cities in 10 days bit. So I have the pleasure of experiencing the worst. Thought I would share some of my misery with you.

I was on my way from Raleigh to West Palm Beach via Charlotte. When I arrived into Charlotte, I discovered that the flight from Charlotte to West Palm Beach has been cancelled. The next flight is oversold and so is the one after that - which happens to be the last flight of the day. The US Airways agent suggested that I fly into Fort Lauderdale and take a train to West Palm. It was unlikely that my luggage was going to follow me - but that was ok. I reached Ft. Lauderdale to find out that the last train for the day had already left for West Palm. So I now needed to rent a car ($100+) and drive an hour. Usually this would not be an issue but after you have flown over 24 hours and are still recovering from jet lag, it is not a cool thing.

As expected, my bag did not make it and I asked the airline to deliver it to the hotel, which predictably they did not. I checked out of the hotel in the morning and called the baggage handling call center to request that the bag be sent to the West Palm airport where I would pick it up in the afternoon as I was leaving for Nashville. I arrived at the airport and go to the baggage office. My bag was sitting there but none of the staff was available. I could not track anybody down for 10 minutes and my flight was scheduled to leave in 35 minutes. I simply walked out of the office with my bag and NOBODY STOPPED ME! That should give us a lot of confidence in the security system at our airports.

Of course, my travel blues did not end there. I am now sitting at the Nashville airport where my flight to Atlanta has now been delayed twice. Oh .. how I wish I was up in the air.

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-13T20:44:00.000-08:00

Valentine's day is here again! This is the third valentine's day in Bangalore and I am literally seeing this day of love evolve in front of my eyes. It is fascinating to see new traditions take hold in a culture in real time.

I am not sure when Valentine's day became mainstream in India. Twenty years ago, the concept was non-existent here. Today - it is completely integrated into the traditions and festivals of the country. The collective marketing genius of commercial business was probably the source and catalyst for the introduction, acceptance and adoption of Valentine's Day in India. This is a perfect event to popularize in a country where the population of the young in their late teens and twenties is in the hundreds of millions. Most of these young work in the high growth sectors of industry and can boast of high disposable incomes. Perfect consumers for romantic dinners at Rs. 2000/- ($50) per head, dozen roses starting at Rs. 1000/- ($25) and a host of other gifts ranging from jewelry to chocolates. For those who are willing and able to indulge more, choices range from spa vacations and massages to personal barbeque chefs and vacations to Paris.

In the media, the spotlight is on love. All aspects of love and relationships are being written about in every major newspaper and magazine in the country this week. Interviews with relationship experts and movie stars on the topic of love cover the pages of today's papers.

And of course, you have the anti-Valentine's Day campaign that is also in full swing. This includes the traditionalists who feel that such a commercial and public expression of a private emotion goes against the strong culture and traditions of the country. On the extreme end is the moral police who is ready to find young couples out celebrating love and send them home packing.

Meanwhile, love rules and continues to march on!

Attack of the Clones

2010-01-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

No, I am not talking about the next generation of George Lucas's Star Wars series. Rather I am referring to the occupation of Bangalore by the IT worker. Thanks to Thomas Friedman, all of us know about the flat world and the IT services boom in India etc. etc. But when you are on the ground in India's Silicon Valley, you really get to experience this phenomena.

The boom in the information technology sector in the city of Bangalore has brought every IT major around the world to the city. Local players like Infosys, TCS and Wipro vie for space for their sprawling campuses with IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Accenture etc. With mass recruiting and long orientation periods, these companies are creating armies of IT workers. Employees of these companies have started looking like clones. It struck me one day when I was taking a stroll in my building that there is a distinct profile of these employees.

As the business day starts to wind down, I can see hordes of them coming back home. They have their security badges with photo IDs slung around their neck. A blackberry, iphone or a regular cell phone (for the less fortunate) is hanging on the holster like a revolver ready to be drawn out. ALL of them wear spectacles (the years in engineering and management schools do take their toll) and a majority of them carry the SAME laptop bag. The remaining carry a backpack. And of course they are all wearing a collared t-shirt with the name of their employer embroidered on the chest! Feels like the invasion of the geek squad!

You have to see it to believe it!

Aanish on the move!

2010-01-23T05:09:00.000-08:00

Aanish took his SAT exam today. I went to drop him off at the exam center, which was packed with over a hundred high school students aspiring for admissions to universities in the US. I watched the kids walk in to the building ready to take the exam and was thinking to myself ... "here go a batch of leaders who will be taking over the world from us". I watched Aanish with some mixed emotions. Proud at his accomplishments, ambition and drive and sad as we move closer to the day that he will set out to create a life of his own.

Earlier this week, Mona and I were attending the investiture ceremony at Indus. Aanish has been elected as the Student Editor and will be part of this year's student council. It was another moment of pride for both of us to see him standing among future leaders - looking smart in their student uniforms and marching with a purpose. I nearly choked when we went up on the stage to pin the badge on him.

Our little boy has grown into a young man and is ready to chase his dreams!

It's not a movie ... it's an experience!

2009-12-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

This was the consistent theme in the headlines for the reviews of James Cameron's new movie Avatar. The movie was released a couple of weeks ago and I have already seen it twice. But this post is not about the movie (which was truly awesome!). Rather I wanted to write about our movie watching experience itself.

There is theater chain in Bangalore called PVR, located in the Forum mall. They have a class of seating called Gold Class. Tickets sell for over $25 each. We decided to see Avatar in the Gold Class at PVR - our first such experience. A typical movie ticket in India in a regular theater sells for about $3-$4. So we were curious what $25 would buy us.

It starts to become clear the moment you walk in to the theater. Gold Class is actually a separate mini-theater that seats about 30 people. The theater lobby resembles the lobby of a 5-star hotel with plush couches, reception and courteous staff. Each seat in the theater is a fully reclining lazy-boy couch. A hostess is available to take your food and drink order and bring you pillows and blankets if you need them. The food menu contains the usual fare such as a bucket of popcorn and nachos to a full range of items such as hot pizza, kababs and sandwiches. Food is served in real china and is brought to your seat when you ask for it.

We have been in Bangalore for three years and can't believe that we have not discovered this earlier! Can't imagine watching movies any other way.

End of School Term

2009-12-18T02:19:00.000-08:00

Aanish and Ayaana have been busy over the last few weeks with their half-yearly exams.

Aanish made a first attempt at his SAT exam in November. He studied intensely for several weeks and was rewarded with a score of 2090. Pretty decent score, which should give him a decent shot at tier 1 colleges. He is not totally satisfied with his own performance and wants to make another attempt in January. He will be taking special SAT classes starting tomorrow for the next several weeks over the winter break.

This week, I attended the parent-teacher meetings for both of them in school. Both of them have done well in most of their subjects. Big area of focus for Ayaana over the next few months (and years?) will be the avoidance of distractions of the early teen years and remain focused on her academics. It will be a bit of a challenge trying to control the usage of computers, limit TV viewing and staying away from iPod and facebook. But she seems up to the challenge and is determined to improve.

Aanish needs to overcome laziness when it comes to writing and needs to avoid careless mistakes. He seems to know his stuff but if he can address these issues, then he can really excel.

An interesting tidbit ... as we were leaving school after Aanish's PTM meeting, the security guard at school stepped up to the window of my car and mumbled something that I could not understand. I could not understand what he was saying inspite of him repeating it. But Aanish understood the guard's accent and responded!

Building with Celebrities

2009-11-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

Many celebrities around the world are connected with Habitat and act as the organization's brand ambassador in every country that Habitat operates in. These celebrities help Habitat in increasing awareness of the global housing crisis, recruit volunteers and raise funds. This week was no exception.

Celebrity-in-Chief was none other than past US president, Jimmy Carter. Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter participate in a Habitat build each year - alternating between the US and an international destination. This is a special build for Habitat and is labeled as the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project. The president was building house #40, which happened to be right across the street from our house (#27). Mona and I had the privilege of meeting him at the site. He chided us about the slow progress being made on our house but we countered by comparing the number of volunteers on his house versus ours!

John Abraham (popular Bollywood actor) is a spokesperson for Habitat India. He visited the site for a few hours but was unable to participate in the build due to illness. Another popular actor, Madhavan, spent a day building with us and sweated it out along with the rest of us. There were a couple of other Bollywood actors - Pooja Bedi and Jacqueline Fernandez in attendance.

Celebrities from other parts of the world were also in attendance and included Jet Li.

With all the celebrities in attendance, the media wasn't far behind and of course the president had an entourage of secret service and other staff present with him.

The Build

2009-11-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

The build was divided into three phases. The pre-build was the phase were the land was acquired, prepped and the foundation was laid for all the homes. We did not participate in this phase. Phase 2 involved the construction of the complete structure of the house. This was the part that got done during last week by us. The final phase would involve patch up work, installation of electricals and final plumbing work, which is expected to take another 2-3 weeks. When we arrived at the site, the foundation was in place along with a wall that was about 8 concrete blocks high.

The Wall

For the first day and a half, we were working on building the wall. The wall was made of interlocking concrete blocks of two sizes - a full block and a half block. There were two types of blocks - a regular block and a channel block. Regular blocks were used to build the entire block and the channel blocks formed the top layer of the wall. Concrete is poured into the channel which allows a structure to be installed on top of the wall. Building of the wall involved creating a section of the wall about 7-8 blocks high by laying the blocks and leveling them both horizontally and vertically as we went along. We had plumb lines and levels to help us measure and correct as we built. Once a section was created, we had to mix concrete and pour it into the holes in the block. The concrete then hardens to form a pole that holds the blocks in place and adds strength to the wall. After a wall has been put up and the concrete poured, a cement and sand paste was used to plaster the walls from the inside and outside. This helps to weatherproof the wall and also provides a smooth finish.

The Doors & Windows

Door and window frames were pre-built and ready for installation as soon as the wall was about 20 blocks high. The edges of the walls were the frames were installed had channel blocks. This created additional space for the frames. Nails had to be hammered on the outside of the frame at an angle about 10 cms apart. After that, the frame was gently lowered into it's designated space on the wall. After the frames were in place, concrete was poured into the channel. This eventually dried up and held the frame in place.

The Roof

Building the roof involved two different processes. First - we had to install the three trusses that would form the base of the roof skeleton. These are three triangular metal structures (extremely heavy) that are bolted on top of the walls. The bolts were installed atop the channel blocks and are held in place by the hardened concrete. Once the trusses are in place, long strips of metal (I forget the technical name) are bolted on top of the trusses. The roof tiles are then bolted to these strips to finish off the roof.

Organizing and Managing the build

2009-11-22T04:01:00.000-08:00

Bringing over two thousand volunteers and workers to Chiang Mai for a week long construction project is a complex process. Habitat did a phenomenal job of organizing this event. The event took over a year to plan and organize and you could see the results. One of the reasons that we had such a great time was that a lot of attention was given to details and the Habitat team had gone the extra mile to ensure that all of us were comfortable during our stay here.

The build site was about 30 minutes from the city. Volunteers were staying at several different hotels. Several buses departed from each hotel every few minutes depending on the number of volunteers staying at a hotel. A police escort was available for the buses to ensure that we reached the site within 30 minutes. There was an army of Thai students who were available as a support team for the volunteers. It seemed like they were everywhere and always available when you needed somebody for information or directions.

Habitat went to great lengths to ensure the comfort and safety of the volunteers. For example, they knew that everybody would be dead tired after the first day of the build. Hence, dinner was scheduled at the hotel where we were staying at so that we did not have to travel after a long day of work. For the rest of the week, they had planned different experiences for dining and entertainment. There was something for everyone during each day of our stay in Chiang Mai. Breakfast at each hotel was served beginning at 5:30am in order to accommodate our work schedules. What was amazing was that somebody went to the trouble to make sure that breakfast was served at 5:30am on Saturday as well so that volunteers who were scheduled to depart early in the morning could have their breakfast at the hotel before leaving for the airport.

During the work day, there was an unlimited supply of water, cold drinks, sodas and snacks. A massive dining tent was setup to handle 500-600 diners simultaneously. All of us were assigned a different shift for our lunch breaks. Habitat had even setup a separate tent for social networking to allow volunteers to blog, tweet or update their facebook pages with latest news and photos.

Thanks to Habitat's careful and meticulous planning of the build event, every volunteer had a safe and fun experience.

The Final Day

2009-11-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

I really meant to post an entry at the end of each work day. But I was completely beat by the time the day ended and we invariably had some event that we had to attend in the evening. So I will be posting several entries over the next couple of days summarizing our experiences during the week.

Friday was the last day of the build and we are now on our way to Bangkok. By the end of the week, our backs were aching, fingers were hurting and legs were throbbing with pain. There are blisters on our hands and our bodies are sore. But there is one thing for sure - we will be back on another Habitat project whenever the opportunity comes up!

The past week was one of the most wonderful, fun and memorable week in our lives. It was a week during which we toiled like never before. Mona and I spent over nine hours each day moving and laying heavy cement blocks, mixing concrete and mortar, pouring cement and gravel, grouting walls, installing doors and windows, assisting with the installation of the roof, building walls etc. etc. For somebody who struggles with changing bulbs and hanging picture frames - I would say this was pretty impressive.

During the week, we met some amazing people and have made lifelong friends. On day one, we were a group of strangers from different parts of the world who traveled to Thailand with a common goal. By the last day, we were a tight group of friends who helped each other throughout the week and shared a little bit of ourselves with each other in the process. We came from different cultures and different backgrounds. We spoke in different languages (those who spoke English spoke in different accents!). But we all came together to build and help create a new beginning for a young Thai family. About twenty of us built a new house in five days. Two thousand volunteers created a community of eighty two homes. We can change the world and make a real difference. All we need is the desire and will to do so.

Project Habitat - Day One

2009-11-16T03:23:00.000-08:00

Over 2000 volunteers started the build for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work project - the Mekong Build 2009 at 7am this morning. Buses left from respective hotels between 6 and 6:30am for the site escorted by the police. We arrived at the build site and met the team at house number 27. Our team included members from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and United States. Julie - our team leader, incidentally was from Los Angeles. The partner family (the family that will be the recipient of the house) also joined us for the build along with several volunteers from Thailand. House number 27 was located across the street corner from House number 40 - the house that Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were working on.

It was a fascinating experience! Today, the primary chore was masonry. The task was to build the walls on a foundation that was already in place and install the frames for doors and windows. We worked in intense heat. We were well taken care of in terms of supplies (caps, suntan lotion, tools, snacks, drinks etc.). At the end of the day, we were exhausted but had a sense of exhilaration when we saw the result of our labor. Our team was a bit short on volunteers and we are hoping that additional volunteers will join tomorrow.

We have made lots of new friends from around the world - folks with whom we are sharing a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Taste of Thailand

2009-11-15T07:01:00.000-08:00

We arrived yesterday in Chiang Mai in Thailand. Mona and I are volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity build in this province of Northern Thailand. The project starts on Monday, so we have two days to explore and sight see.

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and is another foodie heaven - especially if you are a lover of Thai food. We had a great time eating awesome authentic Thai food. Our Lonely Planet guide had some great references for places to eat at and their recommendations have rarely been a miss for us.

Chiang Mai is a temple city with several old and new temples around the city built to honor and worship Lord Buddha (nearly 80% of the population is Buddhist in Thailand). Most of our sightseeing included visiting various temples.

Commuting is cheap, fun and convenient here with options ranging from regular taxis to tuk-tuks (a larger version of the India autorickshaw) and the red mini-bus (hop-on and hop-off).

This place is a shopper's delight and the Night market in town a must-see. A much larger and better organized version of street markets in India - you can buy practically anything in the Night Market at great deals as long as you have a stomach for bargaining with the locals.

Today was the opening ceremony for the project - a truly amazing experience. Over 2000 volunteers from over 30 countries have descended in Thailand to build 82 homes along the Mekong river. The Habitat for Humanity India contingent is about 20-25 member strong. Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter were present at the ceremony, which was opened by the Governor of the region. The ceremony was held in a beautiful botanical garden and included song and dance performances by local artists. One highlight was a food fair where all attendees could try local Thai delicacies.

Tomorrow - we wake up at 4:30am and set out for the build site by 6am. Stay tuned for live updates!

A tribute to Naweed

2009-10-23T00:48:00.000-07:00

My cousin Naweed lost his battle with cancer this week.

Naweed must have been four or five years old when I first moved to the United States in 1986. Their home was my first home in this country. Ever since that time, I have had a very special relationship with Naweed, his parents and his brother. I watched him grow up to be a smart, intelligent and sensitive young man. I was shocked when I heard that he had cancer about two years ago. The first time I met him after that was when he had just finished an intense course of chemo at UCLA. The treatment had taken it's toll on him. He had become weak, he couldn't eat and was unable to walk.

But Naweed fought back and fought back hard. Within a few months, he was on his feet, back at work, following his favorite sports teams and driving a new car. The cancer would not let go but he fought with determination and a can-do attitude. He researched his condition, explored new treatment options and debated them with his doctors. Throughout his ordeal, he maintained a positive attitude and never gave up his fight. He started writing a blog, became active in his community and became an inspiration for all.

Naweed has taught me many valuable life lessons - never look back, move forward, fight the odds and maintain a positive attitude. He never felt sorry for himself. He realized that he had been dealt a poor hand of cards but figured out a way to play with what he had.

He has lost his battle with cancer but remains a champion for me. He will live in our memories and his story will remain an inspiration for his family and friends for years to come.

Entrepreneurship is alive!

2009-10-05T01:34:00.000-07:00

I spent a couple of days last week in Delhi attending the TiECon - the annual TiE summit for the Delhi chapter. For those who are not familiar with this organization, TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is the largest organization of its kind with a mission to grow and foster entrepreneurship. It was an exciting and intellectually stimulating event. Speakers at the conference included India's home minister, Chidambaram, UK Consul General Richard Staggs, CEO of GenPact Pramod Bhasin and many others. There were nearly a thousand delegates including potential and successful entrepreneurs, investors, students and media.

It was heartening to see so many young and budding entrepreneurs with great ideas for solving real world problems, creating wealth and changing the world. There was unbounded excitement even in these tough economic times. In fact, the general theme at the conference was starting and running new ventures during difficult times. The current global crisis has not dampened the enthusiasm of these young business professionals in this part of the world. On the contrary, it is giving birth to smarter startups that will learn resilience and tenacity and some may grow up to be the next HP or Google.

Another exciting trend was the growth in social entrepreunership. There seems to be a complete eco-system that is coming up to fuel the rise of companies that will solve the problems of the poor and underprivileged around the world. Solutions include innovative and low-cost lighting, clothing and healthcare for those who cannot afford access.

Very energizing two days and I am looking forward to the next summit!

King of Pop

2009-09-07T04:01:00.000-07:00

"The ghost of Michael Jackson is here", informed Pushpa, our housekeeper in Bangalore. Michael Jackson had died while we were in Los Angeles. Mona and I belong to the generation that grew up on Thriller and Bad. We experienced the media frenzy following his death. But we never fully understood his global reach and appeal until we were back in India.

Our housekeeper seemed to know every detail about Michael Jackson's life. The Kannada TV channels broadcast every detail about Michael's life, his music, the Neverland ranch, his kids etc. and everybody was watching it with fascination. The employee newsletter at my company featured the King of Pop on the cover. Music stores are featuring his old and newly released albums (which are flying off the shelves). News items about the "ghost" of the king of pop appearing on TV did not go unnoticed in India.

Pop culture knows no boundaries and unites us all from Hollywood to Bangalore!

A proud moment

2009-09-06T02:52:00.000-07:00

Aanish completed his IGCSE (Grade 10) exams in June before we left for Hong Kong and Los Angeles. The results were expected in early August. The Grade 10 exams are crucial and the results will be an important consideration for college entrance. He had worked really hard for a couple of months leading up to the exams. Mona and I were feeling very anxious as the day of the results (August 10) approached.

On the day of the results, the scores are available on the internet at 5am IST. Mona was the first one to wake up and check the results. She woke me up within a few minutes. Aanish had done remarkably well. He received an A* in 6 subjects, an A in 2 subjects and a B in 1. The surprise grade was an A in Spanish. Just three months ago, he was struggling in the subject and his teacher had recommended that he take the simpler core curriculum instead of the advanced extended curriculum. He was unable to make that change since the deadline had passed. So he ended up doing his exam in the advanced curriculum and still scored an A.

Students must study a minimum of 7 subjects for IGCSE and must score at least 5 As and 2 Cs to achieve a Distinction level. Aanish completed his IGCSE math in 9th grade and had scored an A. He took Additional Math in 10th grade and scored a B on that. So, he ended taking 10 subjects and scoring 6 A*, 3 A and a B.

It was a happy and proud moment for both of us. We had seen him work very hard for many months and were it was a joy to see his hard work pay off.

Day of Pride!!!

2009-08-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

From: Sarojini Rao
To: Pervez Sikora, Mona Patel-Sikora
Sent: Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:08 pm
Subject: Indus Scholar Award

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sikora,

I take great pride and pleasure in informing you that your child Ayaana Patel Sikora has qualified for the coveted Indus Scholar Award, which is an acknowledgement of academic achievement of the highest order.

My congratulations to your child and to you, for making the journey of our teachers so fruitful.

My fervent wish is that she keeps on scaling higher peaks as time goes by.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Sarojini Rao

Principal

Indus International School

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Sarojini Rao
To: Pervez Sikora, Mona Patel-Sikora
Sent: Thu, Aug 20, 2009 12:26 pm
Subject: Indus Scholar Award

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sikora,

I take great pride and pleasure in informing you that your child Aanish Patel Sikora has qualified for the coveted Indus Scholar Award, which is an acknowledgement of academic achievement of the highest order.

My congratulations to your child and to you, for making the journey of our teachers so fruitful.

My fervent wish is that he keeps on scaling higher peaks as time goes by.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Sarojini Rao

Principal

Indus International School

Enough said!

Delicious Chaos!

2009-08-14T04:19:00.000-07:00

It has been exactly two weeks since our return to Bangalore. We are back in the midst of chaos, unruly traffic, noise, pollution ... and are LOVING it! We did not realize how much we missed Bangalore until we are back here. I guess you sort of get used to the nuttiness of the place after some time.

We knew that we were back in India when we got invited to a birthday party on the day we returned. Social life was back in high gear! Everything at the apartment was in order. Our next door neighbors had kept an eye on the place and our housekeeper had kept it nice and clean.

Past two weeks have been madness as we transitioned back into our life in India. Kids still had a week of vacation left. But both Mona and I were plunged deep into our work from day one. I had a ton of stuff to catch up in Bangalore and Chennai while Mona decided to add yet another task (membership to the Parent Advisory Committee at Indus School) to her already busy portfolio of projects.

LA Life - A synopsis

2009-07-27T07:31:00.001-07:00

All good things in life must come to an end! We have three more days left of our stay in Los Angeles and we are busy packing up and taking care of all the little details that must be tended to. At the same time, we are looking forward to our return to the good times in Bangalore.

Our time in LA has been a lot of fun. We did everything that we were planning and more. The best part of returning here was reconnecting with old friends and family. We met all our family and it was great to see folks that we have not seen in a long time. Ayaana's highlight was to see her new cousin Maliya - who is adorable. It was good to see my cousin Naweed, who has been bravely battling cancer for a couple of years. Aanish linked up with his old friends - most of whom are nearly 6 feet tall and have facial hair. We also had a great time meeting all our old friends and ex-colleagues from companies where we have worked in the past couple of decades.

No travels are complete without food and this one was no different. We came here with armed with a list of restaurants that we wanted to eat at and visited most of them. We did all the "comfort" restaurants (In&Out, Senor Fish, Acapulco - 3 times), the favorites (Yang Chow, La Serenata) and new ones (Hungry Cat). Mexican food topped the list! We have a couple more favorites left to go and a couple more days left!

Shopping was big during our stay. Ayaana got a new iTouch and a Wii-Fit - both of which she was eyeing for quite some time. No shopping is ever complete without a visit to the shopping mecca - Costco! We hit the usual favorites - Target, Best Buy, Macy's, JC Penny. I think everybody is now set with their clothes, shoes, games etc. for some time.

During our short stay here this summer, we managed to catch a couple of good movies out here (I think Aanish managed to see about half a dozen). We also managed to see a Dodgers game and a Chelsea/Inter-Milan foot ball match (once again - a huge treat for Aanish).

Returning back to the house also meant taking care of some routine, but must-do items - renewing Mona's drivers license, taking care of some banking and tax work, getting a new passport for Aanish, cleaning the house and making minor repairs. If you think this part is fun, I suggest you spend 4 hours at a Department of Motor Vehicle office or the Federal Building. Not a very stimulating experience but it does give you a good glimpse into how America works.

Balancing all of this with work was quite a bit of challenge for me. I could feel the strain of working with a team that is in a time zone that is twelve hours different than mine. I have a feeling that there will be lots to catch up when I return this week.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

2009-07-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

After a week or two back in Los Angeles, we couldn't help but reflect on our life here. We invariably get asked by everyone we meet about how it feels to be back. I will try to summarize this as best as I can.

We have lived here for twenty years and this is the place where both Mona and I entered adulthood. The place is an integral part of our lives. We have friends and family and a home here. We went to university in LA, met on campus, got married in Marina Del Ray, had children, built our careers, had a dog and created a life. We are proud when the Lakers and the Trojans win championships. We love the diversity here. We have traveled around the country and seen some of the most beautiful and amazing sites in the country. This is all good.

After living in India for over two years, we realize that what we miss the most from our Indian life is the feeling of connectedness. Communities, families and neighborhoods in India are intensely social. In a country of over a billion people, you would expect people everywhere. People are friendly, caring and welcoming. There is less pressure on Aanish and Ayaana to grow up into adults and they can be kids. Children enjoy much more freedom as the systems are not as rigid and constrained by rules as they are here. Another issue that becomes evident is that we are living in a culture of excess here. In India, resources are limited and hence valued much more. Within a week of being in the US, we can see the disproportionate amount of consumption that we have had between the two environments. This is bad.

One thing that has struck us hard is the impact of the bad economy here. The effects of the global meltdown are not as obvious in India as they are here in the US. Almost everybody that we know and have met during our visit has been impacted in some way. Stores that we used to frequent are out of business. Restaurants are no longer packed. There seem to be fewer cars on the road. Even the daily newspaper has shrunk in size and content. It's ugly out here.

So what does all of this mean? Who knows? You've got to enjoy the good, do the best you can to avoid or eliminate the bad and hope that the ugly goes away. Take each day as it comes and enjoy it to the fullest no matter where you are in the world!

Sweet Homecoming

2009-07-09T04:53:00.000-07:00

We are back in Los Angeles. Mona, Aanish and Ayaana have been away for nearly two and a half years and it was an exciting homecoming for all of us. Ayaana was giddy with excitement for a few days prior to our arrival and I could sense the excitement in Aanish. We knew we were in Los Angeles when we were greeted by an immigration officer of Indian descent!

It was exciting for all of us to be back together in our home. I have been traveling to LA several times during the past couple of years. I have lived out of a suitcase during these visits and the place never felt like home. Having everybody together, changed all of that. Of course, with Mona's intense focus on getting the house "operational" in a couple of days caused me to work harder than I have ever worked in my life. We spent a couple of days cleaning the place, unpacking, making minor repairs, shopping for groceries and essentials, getting the car fixed etc. But it was all well worth it! We were back in business within 3 days.

It has been a lot of fun reconnecting with family and friends since our arrival. We did not realize how much we missed everybody until we started seeing everybody again. All the children have grown up and it was exciting to catch up with everyone. Most of Aanish's friends are now taller than their respective dads and I believe one of them has started shaving. All the fifteen and sixteen year olds are now talking about college prospects, preparing for their SATs etc.

Food has always played an important role in our family and we came with a list of must-haves. We miss good Mexican food in Bangalore and have already been to several Mexican restaurants. You can't help it but love Armenian food if you live in Glendale and that has been checked off. Aanish and Ayaana are getting their fill of bagels, croissants, muffins, pies etc. We still have a way to go and hopefully we will get to everything on our list in the next few weeks.

We have a packed social calendar ahead of us and are looking forward to seeing all our friends - which has been the highlight of our homecoming.

Hong Kong Journal

2009-07-08T18:36:00.001-07:00

Hong Kong is now on my favorite city list. This is our first visit to this Asian capital and it is everything that I had imagined and more. An interesting blend of the modern and the ancient - Hong Kong is truly a rich and engaging experience for anybody. The first sight of Hong Kong are the tall and narrow skyscrapers densely packed together and reaching up to the sky. The other side of Hong Kong is on display as you start walking in the crowded markets with neon-lit signs and street vendors beckoning you with their wares.

The city is a delight for foodies. The best food is found on the streets of Hong Kong in tiny roadside stalls or small cafes. Streets are lined with noodle bars and cafes servings everything from traditional pan-fried noodles to the unconventional pig knuckles. We had a great time feasting on the traditional and not-so-traditional cuisine but staying away from the unconventional. Aanish was ecstatic to find Starbucks at every street corner and Ayaana had to have ice creams and cakes every couple of hours!

The place is also a shopping mecca (if you are into it!). We window-shopped at the high end retail outlets on Nathan Street but really enjoyed the packed markets selling counterfeit burberry bags and Arsenal jerseys. Hong Kong is not a destination for sight seeing and there are limited places of interest to see. We did make our way to Lantau Island to see the giant Buddha statue and took the night tram to Victoria Peak for stunning views of Hong Kong.

We will spend another day in transit during our return to Bangalore and eating good food will be on the top of the list of things to do!

The Big Fat Indian Wedding

2009-06-29T11:20:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that it has taken over a two and a half years before we got an opportunity to attend a traditional Indian wedding. The son of our landlord got married last week and Mona and I were invited for the wedding. The marriage was on a Thursday morning followed by a lunch. A large wedding reception was scheduled for Friday. We were leaving for Hong Kong on Friday and decided to attend the lunch on Thursday.

The wedding turned out to be a traditional south Indian wedding. The actual wedding ceremony started at 7:30am in the morning on Thursday and lasted about 4 hours. During this time, there were several different poojas (prayers) and rituals. Lunch service started at 11:30am. By then, there were about 3000 guests. No, I did not add a zero by mistake. I do mean three thousand guests. So naturally, lunch had to be served in shifts. This was quite an experience.

The dining hall consisted of long tables with folks sitting on one side of the table. Each table could accomodate about 20 people and there were at least 20 tables. So about 400 people were being fed in one sitting. We took our seats after one group of people had completed their lunch. An army of waiters and servers worked with speed to clean the tables, cover them with white sheets of thick paper and place a huge banana leaf on the table in front of each guest. The etiquette is to sprinkle a bit of water from your glass and wash the leaf clean with your hands.

The vegetarian meal consisted of nearly 20 courses and included a few different vegetable curries, roti, poori, pulao, plain rice, bhajiyas and a couple of different sweets and desserts. Servers made their way down each row serving each person. The food was delicious but the experience was truly unique.

We missed the wedding reception the following day but passed by the venue on our way to the airport! This one also looked like a grand affair with lights and decorations and probably a similar number of guests!

Now that is a big fat wedding.

Back in my favorite city

2009-06-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

In case I have not mentioned this before, London is on the top of my favorite city list. If I have already told you this earlier, then this is to let you know that nothing has changed. I still love the place and wish that some day I can spend 3-6 months living here.

Perhaps it is the international feel of the city that appeals to me. Earlier this afternoon, I was sitting on a bench in Kensington garden. In a period of about 15 minutes, at least 40-50 people walked by speaking in over a dozen languages! I like the crowds here - people are walking everywhere, there is hustle and bustle around the place. The underground tube (train) system is fabulous and makes getting around the city a breeze. Well ... today was an exception. There is a strike and the underground is not functional. So I got a feel for London traffic as I drove in a taxi from one end of the town to the other.

I have been quite fortunate with the weather. With the exception of one or two trips to this city, the weather has generally been perfect every time I have been here.

The only bad thing about my recent trips here has been the fact that I keep traveling alone for work. I need to come back soon with Mona, Aanish and Ayaana. Plus I have promised Aanish that we will come to London and take him to an Arsenals football match! Keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

Democracy at work

2009-05-22T00:31:00.000-07:00

India recently held parliamentary elections to elect a new government and a prime minister. It was a fascinating experience to watch the entire process from up close.

In a country that seems to thrive in chaos, order somehow manages to emerge at the other end. The ruling Congress party and the prime minister Manmohan Singh were handed a mandate by the people and returned to power for a second term. The verdict was hailed in both India and abroad as a vote for sustained growth and development. Stock markets reacted favorably and foreign investments immediately started accelerating. The common man seems to be happy at the state of affairs.

Several hundred million voters took part in this election. Stories of voting machines being dispatched to remote regions of the countries (deep forests and high mountains) to enable tiny groups of voters filled the newspapers. The entire process lasted for several weeks as the infrastructure required to conduct elections on a single day would be unimaginable. Despite fears of unrest, the elections were held in a peaceful manner. The media provided a huge level of transparency in the process. Popular movie stars participated in ad campaigns to promote awareness and encouraging people to vote. The massive young population of India was truly engaged in the process as was evident by the measures taken by each political party to connect to this segment of the population.

In the end, the system worked as it was intended and the result will make India a stronger nation in the coming years.

Moo On!

2009-05-13T09:37:00.001-07:00

It's been nearly two and a half years since I moved to Bangalore and I have assimilated fairly well. I have gotten so used to things that are typically Indian that I don't even notice them any more. But some days I try to consciously look out for those Indian experiences that have no parallel anywhere in the world.

This morning was one of those days. I was in the car stopped at a traffic light at a major intersection in Bangalore. On the opposite side, I noticed a bullock cart stopped at the intersection! This is in the middle of peak hour traffic with buses, cars, auto-rickshaws, scooters, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks etc. all trying to find their way forward and rushing to get ahead. Amazingly enough, I noticed that the vehicles around the bullock cart had somehow made way for it and were patient enough to allow it to make it's way at a lumbering pace.

No outrage! No drive by shooting!

What a country!

Doing business without technology?

2009-04-30T02:19:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine a company in this day and age doing business without using technology? No e-mail, computers, accounting systems, blackberries!!! Crazy, you say? That is what I thought until a tiny incident opened my eyes to a new way of doing business.

I was hanging out at home in the morning reading my newspaper when the bell rang. It was the Coconut-Wala delivering coconuts (in India it is quite common to drink tender coconut water during summer). He handed me our daily supply of two coconuts and asked for his monthly payment. When asked how much we owed him, he was able to tell us accurately how many coconuts he delivered during last month, number of days of missed delivery and total amount owed in a single breath! No excel spreadsheets, no calendar, no on-line delivery schedules, no inventory management .... no, sir (and madam!). He had it all in his head.

As I drove in to work, i started to observe and think about the other "Coconut-Wallas" out there who operate in a similar fashion. There is the guy who sells plants and pots across the street from us, the guy who delivers milk (different quantity each day), the guy who delivers newspapers, the guy who delivers DVDs .... . I have never seen any of these guys carry a notebook, leave alone a laptop! And they are all running small successful businesses.

So to all of you who believe that you can't run a business without technology ... have some coconut water!

The Art of Yoga

2009-04-18T05:09:00.000-07:00

It's been over two years since we have been in India and it was about time that I got involved in something that was totally Indian. So I finally signed up for Yoga classes a couple of months ago. Since my weekly visits to the gym had dwindled down to .... ZERO, I figured I needed an alternate fitness program. Of course, my recent painful misadventure with kidney stones have made me realize that the human body cannot be neglected for long. Yoga seemed like a nice relaxing, non-impact, low intensity workout and it felt like something that would suit my style. Best of all, a Yoga instructor was offering classes right in the building, so I would not even need to drive to class.

It's been over 3 months now and let me tell those that have never practiced Yoga - IT IS NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS! The asanas (postures) are designed to extend, stretch and pull every muscle in your body. An hour and a half of twisting and contorting your body, definitely gives every muscle the exercise it needs. But I definitely see progress. For the first couple of weeks, I would crawl back home from class groaning! It seems to be working now. I definitely feel like I have more energy and greater flexibility. Of course, the class is getting tougher as well. The best part of the class is the way you end it. The last pose is "Shavasana" - the dead man's pose. It is called that for a reason ..... you are nearly dead by the time you get there and you look forward to it. In this asana, you are lying down flat on your back, with your eyes closed and muscles relaxed for about 5 minutes. Absolute bliss!

Spring Break Log

2009-04-03T06:45:00.000-07:00

This year for Spring Break, we planned a trip to the Andaman Islands. This turned out to be a great choice. The place is a fantastic island destination with white sandy beaches, lush tropical greenery and water-based activities but does not have the throngs of visitors that are typical in similar destinations. The islands have yet to be discovered by vacationers around the world and are not totally developed and commercialized.

We spent a couple of days in Port Blair - the capital city which used to be a prisoner's colony during the British era. A prison (Cellular Jail) is one of the main highlights on this island. Several important freedom fighters were housed in this prison. Another destination worth a visit is Ross Island which is a 15-minute ferry ride from Port Blair. The British officers had established a colony for themselves on Ross Island and governed the region from here.

We spent the remaining four days at Havelock island - absolute bliss. We were staying at a wonderful eco-resort, Barefoot Resorts. The accomodations at Barefoot are designed in the style of traditional Nicobari huts. The resort is truly an eco-friendly destination. The use of energy is minimized, Solar energy powers most of the resort and they are big into reducing waste and increasing recycling. The surrounding were gorgeous - the huts are located in a forest. The beach is a 2-minute walk from here. The beach itself was one of the best that we have been in the world - warm water, white sandy beach and a spectacular landscape.

We got our fill of adventure sports. All of us tried our hand at Kayaking and Snorkeling. Snorkeling was a first for Mona, Aanish and Ayaana and they had a terrific time.

Of course, the major highlight was the food! The seafood prepared in traditional island style was finger licking. We did not have a single meal that would be average. Each one was better than the other. We had our fill of prawns, lobster and crabs! We took a break from "masala" seafood one day at Havelock and decided to eat at an Italian restaurant on the island .... simply superb!

Invasion of the Roach Coach

2009-03-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Food trucks (roach coaches?) are part and parcel of daily life in the US. The closest equivalent of those were roadside street vendors with pushcarts or small stalls that sold beverages such as tea, coffee, fruit juices to snacks like chaat etc. With a growing workforce that is dealing with increasing mobility, long commutes, extended working hours, it was simply a matter of time before the "mobile" food stall became part of the Indian daily life as well.

Last week, as I was driving to work, I realized that I had never noticed the number of mobile food stalls that were all around. Small vans with mobile kitchens are out in the morning churning out hot masala chai and south Indian coffee along with a full south indian breakfast. The vans are back during lunch with an assortment of snacks and full meals and catering to the hundreds of thousands of office workers.

The concept is pretty much similar between the Indian and the US roadside food services. The big difference is the highly discernible palate of an Indian. Indians are very choosy and selective about their meals and it is interesting to see the mobile food industry evolve to cater to the Indian market - with all the flavors and choices that a typical consumer might want!!

Holi is back!

2009-03-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated our third Holi in India. Mona left for Mumbai this morning so she was not able to join the celebrations and we missed her. There was a large turnout for the festival. As in prior years, there was enough color, water, music, dancing and snacks for everyone. There was an added element this year - Bhang!. It is a preparation made from the Cannabis plant and can be smoked or consumed as a beverage. Last time I had Bhang was over 25 years ago. This time, the concoction was probably a bit milder (catered to the 40+ generation) and all it did was make me pass out for a few hours.

And since Mona was not around this year, I had to figure out how I would get myself and two color and water soaked kids into the house without messing up the whole place. But as they say, necessity is the mother (well, father in this case) of invention. A few newspapers, old napkins, plastic bags and a mop did the trick. Place looks spanking clean!

Standing in the midst of swirling colors and spraying water, I was watching folks from the ages of 2 years to 60 years having a gala time. Festivals like these bring people from different backgrounds, ages, religions together in an environment of fun and friendship. To get a feel for Holi, check out this wonderful ad.

Leadership Camp Report

2009-03-02T00:26:00.000-08:00

Ayaana is back from her one-week Leadership Camp in beautiful Coorg. I am not 100% sure but it feels like she has grown taller and her self-confidence is higher! But then - that could be a doting father speaking.

Jokes aside - the camp sounds like a lot of fun. Coorg (also known as Scotland of India) is a resort in Karnataka near the border of Kerala. Almost 50 seventh graders spent a week at camp in a coffee plantation learning team and leadership skills. Activities ranged from trekking and rapelling to survival cooking and hanging around bonfires. One night, the students learnt how to pitch tents and spent the night in tents.

I have never been to Coorg but Ayaana claims that the scenery is out of this world. The pictures she took on her digital camera confirms this.

After a week of bonding with nature, the kids returned home on Saturday - after making a lunch stop at .... you guessed it - McDonalds!!!!

I can't live without .....

2009-02-14T17:21:00.000-08:00

I am on my fifth plane ride in four days. There are only so many movies that you can watch and only so many hours that you can work on your laptop (before it runs out of power). Bored out of my mind, I pulled out the Skymall magazine - the in-flight shopping guide.

I have never paid much attention to these magazines until today. As I was flipping through the pages, I was amazed at the stuff that you can buy these days. For instance, how can you live without a Sleep Regulating Sun Lamp that emits the wavelength of morning sunlight to ensure peaceful sleep? And can you imagine traveling without an anti-bacterial plastic cover for remote controls that will control the spread of germs when you are handling the TV remote in hotel rooms? Life can never be complete without a multi-function video pen that can record voice and video and yes amazingly enough can write as well!

And why would you ever want to deal with the hassle and mess of using real candles when you can buy a set of flameless candles that come with ... you heard it right - a remote control! And here's the item that is my favorite - a Barbeque branding iron - to help you personalize your steak, turkey and fillets with your initials.

It does make a statement about people! After all - we are what we buy.

Show me the money!

2009-02-10T05:03:00.000-08:00

I have been back in the US for less than 24 hours but the enormity of the economic crisis and the criticality of a stimulus plan is clearly obvious. This hit me hardest when I read about Starbucks plans to lower prices of its signature coffees and offer combo breakfasts. The news on TV and newspapers is full of tales of layoffs, shutdowns, closures etc. International travel is down! Cost-effective valentines day gifts are being promoted! None of this is a major surprise because we have been constantly reading about this - but being in the eye of the storm makes it much more real.

The senate is scheduled to vote on the stimulus package today. I have been hearing a lot of debate on this but really hope that it passes. The country needs a real shot in the arm (one on either arm and possibly a couple in the butt!) to get things slowly moving back on track.

Road Trip Log

2009-01-31T07:16:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, we set out on a road trip to the ancient city of Hampi. This post is a summary of the road trip. Look out for more on Hampi in a future post. This was the first time I was driving on a highway in India - and a looong drive it was! The drive to Hampi from Bangalore took us over 9 hours. The return trip was a bit shorter.

For all of you who are might be contemplating a similar adventure, please bookmark this post as a reference. I have advice here about how to enjoy a long drive on a highway in India while ensuring safety. Here are some of the key highlights of the journey:

Entertainment and Education
Yes .. you heard right! A drive on an Indian highway is highly entertaining and educational. The backs of trucks (lorries as they are affectionately known here), have visuals and messages that entertain and educate you. Messages include the spiritual kind (God Bless You, Jai Mata Di etc), the advisory type (Small Family - Happy Family, Don't Drink and Drive, Keep Distance) to pure entertaining (Highly Infal mable). Messages encourage you to maintain a party atmosphere by honking your horn (Horn OK, Sound Horn, Blow Horn). Signs on the highway encourage safe driving by advising you to avoid killing yourself as your family awaits you.

Safety
Driving on an Indian highway is no different from navigating an obstacle course. Constant vigilance is required because you have no idea where the next obstacle will appear from. Obstacles include a 2-wheeler, a metal road block, a huge rock, a tractor driving towards you on a one-way road and of course human beings.

Nature Experience
Wild life peacefully coexists with humans in India (even in semi-urban areas). So it was no wonder that we saw a variety of animals including dogs, cows, buffalos, pigs etc. Animals can also serve as obstacles.

Food
Highway fast food is not as widely available as in the US but a popular South Indian restaurant (Kamat) has started to open a chain of clean restaurants serving vegetarian food. Of course, you have the usual 'Dhabas' that are unique to Indian highways and serve rich and spicy food.

Craters and Valleys?

2009-01-17T20:38:00.000-08:00

Nope! I am not talking about a recent sightseeing visit to an exotic volcano site. Rather, I am referring to driving on Bangalore roads and specifically referring to the GIANT speed bumps that you would typically encounter every 100 yards or so. The sickening crunch that you hear every time your car navigates one of these gives you pictures of the battered underbelly of your shiny new vehicle.

After the millionth such crunch, I was convinced that there must be a solution to this. I googled Bangalore Speed Bumps and sure enough, found hundreds of discussions on local on-line forums on this topic. One of these forums had the answer. As your front wheels start to climb the speed bump, you turn your steering wheel to the right or left and drive over the bump at an angle. Of course, you have to correct course quickly as you are climbing down to avoid totally confusing the traffic around you. But it works!

Since then, I have not only managed to avoid damaging our car but have also dispensed this advise to all my friends who are plagued with this problem.

Couple of other useful tips:

Unload your heaviest passenger before passing over a speed bump
Heavier passengers should sit in the front seat
If you happen to be driving to the airport with heavy luggage, the passenger on the front seat (and even the driver if possible) should carry a heavy piece of luggage on their lap
If you happen to be going to dinner, eat less in order to keep the weight in the car low

Happy driving!

Out with the old, In with the New

2009-01-03T01:14:00.000-08:00

As we bring in a new year, it is but inevitable that one is going to reflect back on the prior year because history is the best teacher for the future! 2008 was a mixed year for us. We are now completely settled in Bangalore and this has become very much a home for us. The children are growing up into adults with their own personalities but with a very important skill - adaptability and flexibility. The worse effects of the global economic recessions have not been felt in India and even the most conservative estimates are predicting a 5% growth in GDP for 2009. Mona has never been busier in life both socially and professionally. 2AdPro is doing well and I enjoy most of my time there (there are always moments when you would rather be in a dentist's chair!). And then, this was the year that the US elected its first African American president. Way to go, America!

But this year has also been marred by many unfortunate events. Hate filled terrorists have continued to wage a war against innocents throughout the world. We experienced bomb blasts in Bangalore and Istanbul. The recent shooting and bombing incident in Mumbai left all of us cold and in a state of shock. Israel is attacking Hamas as we speak and a conflict is brewing in every part of the world.

My biggest hope for 2009 is that violence and terror will lose and peace will prevail. How is this going to happen? I feel that it has to happen from within each human being. We must all identify the hate in ourselves against anything and anybody and destroy it. No new leader of the free world or a prophet from the stars will solve this problem. We have to step up to this and each one needs to do his/her part in building a peaceful and tolerant world.

Happy New Year!

This too shall pass

2008-12-21T03:10:00.001-08:00

I have been off-line for several weeks now and this is purely due to health reasons. Couple of weeks ago, I was back in Los Angeles for a 10-day visit to the US. On Day 2, I felt an acute pain in the left lower abdomen. The pain was so severe that I had to contact a very good friend of ours who is a doctor. I was quickly diagnosed with a kidney stone and before I could say "Rock", I found myself on a bed in an Emergency Room with an IV in my arm. After a CAT Scan and blood test, I was prescribed strong pain medication along with antibiotics. On Day 3, I was a plane headed back to Bangalore.

I landed on early morning Friday after a very long and uncomfortable (due to the pain) plane ride. The pain was still fairly strong but I thought the pain killers would do the trick. I even headed to the office for a meeting. But then the pain increased so much that I had to turn right back and head home. If you have ever suffered from a kidney stone, my deepest sympathies are with you. If you have not, you are lucky and please drink 3 liters of water each day!

I was back in the Emergency Room (this time in Bangalore)! I finally passed the stone and life has since been limping back to normalcy. An ultra-sound test has shown that there are 2 or 3 more in my kidney and I have been prescribed a treatment called litho-tripsy by the urologist. And friends and family have been very kind and checking on my health and prescribing a host of treatment options ranging from homeopathy, yoga and ayurvedic massages to beer, stem of the banana plant and a host of other remedies. I am determined to try ALL of them!

Thank you all for your support during this time. And most of all, thanks to my lovely wife, Mona, without whose constant help and strong support, this would not have passed!

Terror in Mumbai

2008-11-29T20:26:00.000-08:00

Our past few days were spent watching in horror as the terror drama in Mumbai was unfolding. We are sad, frustrated and angry at the senseless killings of hundreds of innocents, the mindless violence and the destruction of an iconic building. The ordeal came to an end yesterday when the last of the terrorists was shot dead but it will take a long time for the city and the country to recover from this.

As the drama was unfolding on the television for over 60 hours, people in India and all over the world were watching in horror at the unbelievable turn of events. The terrorists targeted the heart of India's financial, entertainment and tourism capital by attacking Mumbai. A large number of foreigners were victims of the tragedy making this a truly global event that was covered in mainstream media around the world.

It is a sad commentary on the times that we live in when a group of less than a dozen individuals, armed to the teeth, can land in a major metro city in the world and generate such mayhem. This is a completely unjustified act of cowardice that serves no purpose. Many innocent lives were lost and families were destroyed as these young heartless terrorists continued on their rampage without any emotion or feeling.

We mourn with the families of those who died and were injured in this attack. We salute the brave men and women of the law enforcement force who risked their lives to save others. Several of them laid down their lives in the line of duty. Funerals are being held around the city for the victims of this tragedy. Memorial services are being held to honor the brave.

We hope that this incident will trigger action by the Indian government at the central and state levels to improve their preparedness in dealing with such incidents. This attack has exposed the inadequate level of preparations in major areas such as intelligence gathering, personnel training, upgrading weapons and equipment etc. Most importantly, the politicians must wake up to recognize the need for a coordinated response and leave aside their petty political differences to establish a strong anti-terror system that would ensure that such an attack would never happen on the country's soil again. Countries around the world must recognize that cooperation at a global level is required to combat and win this new "war".

Traveling on the Interstate ...

2008-11-21T05:35:00.001-08:00

This week when I was returning from Chennai to Bangalore, I decided to drive down with Mohan. While the Chennai to Bangalore flight is about 45-50 minutes, the driving distance from the Bangalore airport to my house is about an hour and a half. The drive from the office in Chennai to the airport is about an hour. Add an hour long wait at the airport and the total travel time is about five hours. The train ride between the two cities is about the same and so is the drive time. So I thought .. what the heck!

Driving on the interstate highways (NH -> National Highway) is a bit different than cruising on the Golden State freeway. It took us about an hour to reach the highway. The distance was probably no more than 10 miles but by the time you navigate through the typical traffic in an Indian metro and make your way around the numerous road construction projects, it takes that long.

The ride on the highway itself was quite interesting. The highway is a four-lane highway with two lanes headed in either direction. The road itself is very good with beautiful landscaping etc. One thing that struck me was the large number of trucks headed in either direction. These ranged from the traditional lorries that have been plying on the Indian roads for decades to spanking new 18-wheelers. When one truck is attempting to pass another, you can be stuck behind both these guys for quite some time.

Another thing that jumps out at you is the darkness. We were driving in the night and I realized that the street lighting is minimum. This starts to become a real pain when you realize that the trucks do not have or do not use their indicators and are not well lit themselves. So, how do they manage? Well, it takes two to drive these large monsters - there is the driver who is doing the actual driving and then there is his assistant who is hanging out the other window waving signs to the other drivers on the street in order to communicate the driver's intent.

Then you have the foot traffic - people crossing the highway at random points. I am not sure how Mohan was able to spot these folks and managed to avoid hitting anyone but I am pretty sure that I don't have this skill.

Signs along the highway keep reminding you of stuff such as "Speed Kills", "Go slow, your family is waiting" etc. But just as you start to feel good about these, you see a sign "Hospital Ahead. Emergency services for Accident victims".

Seat of Power and Monument of Love

2008-11-11T22:04:00.000-08:00

The day after we finished celebrating Diwali, we headed out to Delhi and Agra for a short vacation. It has been over 20 years since either Mona and I have visited the Taj and we have never visited this Monument of Love together. So this has been on our list of places to visit for quite a few years.

Delhi is the Seat of Power in India and you can feel it when you arrive. We were immediately impressed with Delhi - good infrastructure, clean and wide roads, well behaved traffic etc. We stayed at a B&B tucked away in the exclusive Golf Links neighborhood of Delhi - a charming place in a cozy little area of the city. Sightseeing in Delhi is an unforgettable experience. You can live the history especially if you have grown up here and studied Indian history. Humayun's tomb is a world heritage site and fully deserves the status. The Red Fort brings stories during the Mughal era to life. Jama Masjid is a grand old mosque - another example of the incredible Mughal architecture. The visit to the Bahai temple was interesting. This lotus shaped building is a must-see when you are in Delhi. Akshar Dham is a modern temple with a fantastic architecture, beautiful carvings and a musical fountain that would rival Bellagios in Las Vegas.

Food in Delhi was a major highlight. We ate a lot of street food - our best kind - the succulent kababs served by Khan Chacha in Khan market. We stopped at a Dhaba on the way back from Delhi to Agra and had the best vegetarian Dhaba food that you can imagine. Some of the best street food can be found on the streets of Chandni Chowk where we tried a range of food from hot jalebis to an assortment of parathas to dahi ballas! Absolute foodie heaven!

Our visit to the Taj Mahal was awesome. The Taj is everything that you would expect and more. It is an amazing monument and you are rendered speechless when you first lay your eyes on it (even though you might have seen it before). For a change, we had a guide accompany us and he was able to give us (especially the children) some good insights into the history of the Taj. Fatehpur Sikri in Agra is an equally impressive monument. It is the city that Akbar had built but it was inhabited for only a short amount of time due to lack of adequate water. We also visited Akbar's tomb which is a simple tomb inside a magnificent monument.

Festival of Lights!!!

2008-11-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

It is that time of the year again - the festival of Diwali is back! Last week, Diwali was celebrated all over the country including a big celebration in our building. The festivities began on Sunday, October 26th with a talent show. Ayaana performed a Bollywood dance number with a group of kids. As always, there was good food followed by music and dancing.

We went shopping for fireworks on Saturday and it was quite an experience for the children. We bought all our fireworks at a large makeshift market in a ground in JP Nagar. Huge crowds assembled on Monday and Tuesday night to burst the fire crackers. Aanish and Ayaana had a real blast. Flower pots, Sparklers, Snakes, Bombs, Rockets - there was enough for everyone. Ayaana had a minor accident on both days and ended up with a few blisters. But this did not diminish her enthusiasm.

Mona and I ended the celebration of the week with a fun dinner evening with friends. The day after, we left for a short vacation to Delhi. But more about that in my next post.

Entrepreneurship in high gear

2008-10-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

I was invited to participate in a networking event with students at Mahaveer Jain College. The goal was to create some interaction between entrepreneurs and students so that the students get some exposure to real-world startups and receive mentorship and guidance. The event was organized as a Commodities Trading game - complete with a trading floor. Each team comprised of an entrepreneur and a couple of students. Teams were given some cash and a portfolio of commodities. The teams then engaged in active trading in 4 sessions within an hour. At the end portfolios were measured and the winner was announced. Any guesses at who came in at first place .... yours truly!

The event was organized by National Entrepreneurship Network - a group focused on promoting entrepreneurship through education. It was an awesome event and I was impressed with the all the participants. Many of the entrepreneurs are creating interesting products and services that are likely to change how we live, work and play in the future. Level of interest among the students was extremely high and I can bet that some of those who participated in today's event will be successful entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

All things considered

2008-10-05T07:25:00.001-07:00

Live NPR in Bangalore? It was a dream come true. A few weeks ago, we were at a carnival in the building and came across a satellite radio service called WorldSpace. NPR was one of the stations on their list, which instantly had Mona and me sold on the service.

After we signed up, we realized that we don't have a decent music system. So we went a bought a new system. Installation of the receiver was a bit tricky but with help from the electrician in our building, the WorldSpace technicians were able to get it installed with a minimum amount of damage. But now as we sit back and listen to Fresh Air or Talk of the Nation, it all feels worth it. A bit strange to listen to the Morning Edition in the evening, but heck - we feel connected!

Voting from India!!

2008-10-01T00:38:00.001-07:00

The Bangalore chapter of Democrats Abroad started about 3 months ago and already claims a membership of close to 200 individuals. The chapter has been very active in mobilizing the Democrat expats living in Bangalore in supporting Obama/Biden in the upcoming elections.

Mona and I attended our first event over the weekend - a dinner party to watch the first presidential debate. The evening was a lot of fun. There were about 50 people from all over the US - some friends of ours and many new faces. I had already watched the second half of the debate in the morning but it was fun to watch the recorded version all over again with fellow Democrats. The stations were reported mixed results but in Bangalore - Obama's victory was undisputed.

Of course, in India, you cannot have any event without lots of good food and this event did not disappoint. It was a potluck event and there was a huge variety of great food.

A good friend Sean announced the next event at his house to watch the vice presidential debate. Unfortunately, I am traveling on business and will miss that event but I am sure it will be an equally fun and a bit more entertaining event.

Green Inc.

2008-09-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

The other day we received a flyer in the mail with some information on waste reduction/management and green practices in companies. As I was reading through the list of recommendations (reducing paper consumption, electricity usage etc.), I realized that companies in India operate in an environmentally conscious manner.

One thing you notice as you walk into large corporate offices is the lack of paper. Desks are remarkably clean and a majority of the work is done on-line. Also - you don't see much food waste (such as sandwich wrappers, cans, plastic bags etc.). Most companies have cafeterias where lunch is prepared home style for the employees and glass or steel plates and cutlery is available. Most restrooms in corporate buildings have electric hand dryers and power saving devices are installed to minimize power consumption by turning lights on and off based on motion detection.

As rapid growth continues, it is heartening to see that many of these companies are committed to responsible growth in terms of the environment!