Good bye Chennai

OMG

What an experience, truly life altering experience. It is completely a different world out here. I know the feeling of being lost but this is completely different. I had to attend an interview in Bangalore when I was 21, I went there in a morning train and reached bangalore around 11, and that day got wasted - the travel took a toll on me. I blew-up in an easy interview and that was the end of that. The next visit to Bangalore was in an air-con shatabdi express : life sure does change.

Now, here I was sitting in Jet airways air carrier getting on with my life. Beautiful stewardess hosting the show but can't help the butterflies in my stomach. The flight did a slow chicken dance before launching itself into air, felt more like a lift at the adventure rides in amusement parks. Felt as if Chennai was celebrating "Kaarthigai deepam" the amber street lights looked awesome from the sky. The kathipaara juction: majestic. The harbor kissed me goodbye, and the ships near anchorage winked at me while I was moving out from the east coast.Was a bit nervous throughout. "Eat light while traveling" should be something to learn from the trip, skip non-veg especially if you are traveling. I was worried all along on questionings and things that I can't control or plan, like luggage delay or something like that. All went well, I walked through a security gate, who gave me an entry card for ICA to verify. Here I got petrified since I could not find my ICA (Immigration control authority letter). I dropped my laptop in hurry and it prompted the officer to chirp - "so unprepared, silly boy". I got through that and got my luggage and found my friends(Ganesh and Babuji) waiting for me in the reception. Phew!, a big sigh of relief - now have to do a whole lot of procedures in my first day. Second advice:"Don't plan anything on the same day of travel, especially if you lose your sleep over it". I thought, well I got over this and I could manage - but no, it takes a huge toll on you mentally.

Got on a taxi, which were easy and plenty. The driver was a motor mouth. I don't know how they groom taxi drivers, my idea of Asians being shrewd and cold broke that day. He was so much fun, he had a good command over English and talked through a lot of things. Sooner than later, I was not able to wear my blazer with the sun doing its bling bling. I have to report at the university department, check-in at my allocated housing and also got to meet the folks at ICA. Well I was left with no other options but to travel on 6th, since all the flights were charging exorbitant rates and a few were full as well on 4th and 5th.

My session with Bee Mei at SDE(MS-department) was a quick process. She gave me my identity cards. I had to meet ICA staff shortly from there on. She said the location was walkable. Myself and Ganesh had a tough time walking up hill. Had a 6" sub near the student center, paid my hostel fees. Took a long queue to report with a few papers missing. The xray was supposed to be attached with a radiology report and I had to complete the formalities tomorrow which I was able to do. Singapore is a tight place with rules and I was told that the report would come after 1 week. The doctor was gracious on her side to push things faster to get it done the same day.

All these while I was totally lost in the midst of singapore, traveling. North-East-West-South all seemed out of place, the MRT is the best of its kind though. About singapore girls, food, places et al in the next blog.