Finally the day has arrived! phew!! got my tickets for going back and be with my husband :)
but as I got up today morning to pay one last final visit to the 'bridge over troubled waters' ...a small bridge on the sea, in the hotel I'm staying...I felt all senti!
Despite longing to go back...this trip was a great experience...an eye opener in many ways! This place is a melting pot of the entire world...I actually even met someone from Madagascar! :) before that only thought it is a place concocted for the famous animated series!
And God..how will I wake up looking at the concrete jungle now :(
I have so much to pen down more about this place...will try writing all the stories even after I'm gone...like the one with a shopkeeper asking me out for a date!!..no joking...exactly how they show in 'Freinds' :D ...next time I'm gonna get a bigger wedding ring that's hard to miss...is my husband listening?? I need a bigger diamond ..or else!! :D hehe ...I'm sure I'm gonna remember this adventure all my life! :)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Shall we dance?
Dance has secretly been my passion ever since I remember but apart from endless years spent in preparing the ideal dance for my sister's wedding...never really exhibited the confidence that I can dance! All this changed when I went for my MBA... to dance by seniors n peers alike..the hidden talent came out eventually :) so much so that all I remember now is dancing my way through MBA!
...hey but why am I talking about all that now? In a blog dedicated to my adventures in New Cal?
Well...this is just another story in my kitty that has made my trip and all the hurdles I faced here worthwhile :) ...the story of dancing to a latino dance without knowing anything about it..not even 1 single move!
I was invited for an official farewell dinner for some colleagues and later forced to join everyone else to a pub! I guess the last time I went to a pub it was the start of 18th century :D hehe I mean I'm not a pubbing person at all...and so was expecting to be taken back in an hour or so...but my client boss just wouldn't let me leave...constantly forcing me to have a drink, which I kept passing here n there...inwardly I was cursing him and trying to find ways to sneak past him...and then just as I was trying an escape for nth time...another colleague caught me off guard and just very casually started dancing...all he did was twist n turn my fingers n hands...and there I was...rolling, turning here n there without making any effort!! I guess it took me good 2 mins to realsie what was happening :) and then I was thrilledddd... it was like my dream come true!!
Was it really me? dancing like I never did before...on a Latin dance :) :) yeeee!!
I'm sure this German colleague of mine wouldn't have realized he was doing me such a big favor :D I had a great great time...and those 10 mins indeed made my trip here worthwhile!
I really had the 'Time of my Life'! :)
...hey but why am I talking about all that now? In a blog dedicated to my adventures in New Cal?
Well...this is just another story in my kitty that has made my trip and all the hurdles I faced here worthwhile :) ...the story of dancing to a latino dance without knowing anything about it..not even 1 single move!
I was invited for an official farewell dinner for some colleagues and later forced to join everyone else to a pub! I guess the last time I went to a pub it was the start of 18th century :D hehe I mean I'm not a pubbing person at all...and so was expecting to be taken back in an hour or so...but my client boss just wouldn't let me leave...constantly forcing me to have a drink, which I kept passing here n there...inwardly I was cursing him and trying to find ways to sneak past him...and then just as I was trying an escape for nth time...another colleague caught me off guard and just very casually started dancing...all he did was twist n turn my fingers n hands...and there I was...rolling, turning here n there without making any effort!! I guess it took me good 2 mins to realsie what was happening :) and then I was thrilledddd... it was like my dream come true!!
Was it really me? dancing like I never did before...on a Latin dance :) :) yeeee!!
I'm sure this German colleague of mine wouldn't have realized he was doing me such a big favor :D I had a great great time...and those 10 mins indeed made my trip here worthwhile!
I really had the 'Time of my Life'! :)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Shahrukh!.. my Saviour!
Haha...Never Ever Ever I could imagine what I'm going to witness today!! Something I'm going to remember for the rest of my life...and tell stories to my grandchildren :-P...
So here is goes...today, New Caledonia television is going to air...wait for it...nothing other than the movie 'Devdaas' in French!
Yes..you heard it right... a bollywood movie...that too of my favourite star on National television of an Oceanic island :-)
Ahh God is great...afterall SRK is my saviour!! ;-)
So here is goes...today, New Caledonia television is going to air...wait for it...nothing other than the movie 'Devdaas' in French!
Yes..you heard it right... a bollywood movie...that too of my favourite star on National television of an Oceanic island :-)
Ahh God is great...afterall SRK is my saviour!! ;-)
Being a Nomad...
I'm so excited and enthralled at the creativity of people! Just back from my trip to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre - an iconic landmark of the Oceanic region...created to celebrate art and culture...which indeed it does with great elan!
To start with, the building is an architectural marvel...don't know how the shape can be described but I haven't seen anything like this before!
The art display was Amazing...I never though contemporary art could manage to make me go WOW...and completely enagage my mind! I even got quite a few ideas that I'm soooo looking forward to implement when I have a house of my own :-)
It was my first ever solo trip to see any such places!! Not only here but I really haven't been around anywhere just by myself! and yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it...soooo glad I could gather the courage n overcome the inertia to do this! :-)
To start with, the building is an architectural marvel...don't know how the shape can be described but I haven't seen anything like this before!
The art display was Amazing...I never though contemporary art could manage to make me go WOW...and completely enagage my mind! I even got quite a few ideas that I'm soooo looking forward to implement when I have a house of my own :-)
It was my first ever solo trip to see any such places!! Not only here but I really haven't been around anywhere just by myself! and yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it...soooo glad I could gather the courage n overcome the inertia to do this! :-)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Muaah Muaah!
:D haha don't go by the title...I ain't offering any..it's just the local greeting tradition that has taken me by surprise! So this is how it goes - whenever you meet someone for the first time in the day, you greet that person by touching your cheek to the person's with the sound of a kiss...so it goes like muaah muaah :)
Two men greeting each other would just shake hands (I know it would be really weird otherwise! lol)...So it's reserved between women; or a man & woman.
After the fiasco I've detailed in my 1st post...when I reached office...this is the 'adventure' that was waiting for me to make my heart feel lighter! I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as one by one people stopped by my desk to greet me thence.
I'm not sure if it's a common way of greeting for most part of the world...but atleast it wasn't in all the places I've visited so far and is a complete No-No in my part of the world!
But I must say..1 week of practice and I'm already good at it! so much so I'm even offended if someone skips greeting me this way owing to my 'foreign' status :-D
hehe...my husband says I'm enjoying :-P ...what do you think?
Two men greeting each other would just shake hands (I know it would be really weird otherwise! lol)...So it's reserved between women; or a man & woman.
After the fiasco I've detailed in my 1st post...when I reached office...this is the 'adventure' that was waiting for me to make my heart feel lighter! I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as one by one people stopped by my desk to greet me thence.
I'm not sure if it's a common way of greeting for most part of the world...but atleast it wasn't in all the places I've visited so far and is a complete No-No in my part of the world!
But I must say..1 week of practice and I'm already good at it! so much so I'm even offended if someone skips greeting me this way owing to my 'foreign' status :-D
hehe...my husband says I'm enjoying :-P ...what do you think?
The rainbow outside my window
Ahh!! Am I in heaven?? Already!
It's been a stormy day and the panes of the balcony door have been pounding owing to the massive wind...a lot of rain and sunshine later, I decided to move out of my boring zone and take a walk...but by the time I was out..it was getting cloudy again and the wind was making it impossible to walk...may I add the presence of a huge Black dog also altered my decision :-P.
I stood on the parking porch for a while..trying to take in all of the maginificeint view! Back in the room it was tea time...and while I put the water on heat...stepped to the balcony to feel the wind again...and there right in front of me..was a broad bright Rainbow!! woaaa..its seemed so close..streching down from the sky to the small hill and I could even see a reflection in the sea!! Sometimes I wonder the immense beauty nature has to offer...and while I decided to savour this beatiful moment with the last bit of Mom-made snack I got with myself...the rainbow slightly faded away...for a while my eyes couldn't agree that it was really gone...but alas! it was!
It's been a stormy day and the panes of the balcony door have been pounding owing to the massive wind...a lot of rain and sunshine later, I decided to move out of my boring zone and take a walk...but by the time I was out..it was getting cloudy again and the wind was making it impossible to walk...may I add the presence of a huge Black dog also altered my decision :-P.
I stood on the parking porch for a while..trying to take in all of the maginificeint view! Back in the room it was tea time...and while I put the water on heat...stepped to the balcony to feel the wind again...and there right in front of me..was a broad bright Rainbow!! woaaa..its seemed so close..streching down from the sky to the small hill and I could even see a reflection in the sea!! Sometimes I wonder the immense beauty nature has to offer...and while I decided to savour this beatiful moment with the last bit of Mom-made snack I got with myself...the rainbow slightly faded away...for a while my eyes couldn't agree that it was really gone...but alas! it was!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The First week à Nouvelle-Calédonie
Well well...where do I start! Haven't seen a clearer night sky ever before in my life!! So much so, it pulled me lazy bones to actually start writing this blog as a first hand experience of an English speaking-vegetarian-solo woman on a vacation...nah...on work-assignment to New Caledonia. So this is what makes it a unique experience.
Coming back to the night sky... for the first time I've noticed with naked eyes the milkiness formed behind the prominent stars...for as far as my eyes can see! It's amazing and breathtaking for a while too....and makes me think afterall my situation isn't that bad :-)
Yes, it's a striking place in many ways... the first glimpse of the country outside the airport and I wanted to sigh 'Beautiful'!! The landscape is plush green with small nestlings jostled between seemingly black mountains...not to forget the view of clouds stuck to some of the peaks. It was a long 1 hr drive to my hotel and I was relieved to find a place to rest after all the sky-hopping from half way across the globe! The rest of the day was quite un-eventful unless I mention the conversation witht he receptionist for finding some vegetarian food! I actually thought it impossible and was pleasantly surprised to find quite many veges on my plate! Eureka! I'll Survive here!! :) This is what I thought before I realised the whoppingly high cost of apartments if I'm to stay here for short term ( long term isn't an option with my dear hubby waiting for me in Singapore...yes you guessed it! We have been named a globe trotting couple by our 'well-wishing' friends).
The next day brought more surprises...I can't open a bank a/c here for short term stay!! What will happen to the poor Euros lying idle in my bag since I left 3 days back and hoping to see the light of day?? How will I rent a place, eat or shop?? Didn't I say I don't want to be the first person from my company arriving here?? What was I thinking before taking this up? After the usual Status update calls to the organisers and assurances of things being sorted soon..I found myself at a completely unlikely place...brought out by the most devious karmic goofup! A PG acco with a middle aged lady...the thot seemed nice initially until the reality of the place stuck me... vast cultural difference and ahem..well I wasn't expecting a trouser-less uncle around :-P (lol...I can actually laugh at it now!). Endless emails and desperate conversations later I had the details of my compensation with me using which I could afford renting a decent service apartment. My husband urged me to latch the door n sleep...how could I tell him..there wasn't any! :-D The lady's mom and niece were adorable... good to know that even outside my birthplace some hosts do like to stuff their guests with food! I could actually make a conversation with my mono-syllabic French!
Huff! the tough night passed somehow with me catching up on sleep till my dozing mind realised where I was! I almost flew outside the door when the person incharge for me came to pick me up! Yes, I was scared...not because the people around me were not good...on the contrary they were exceptionally kind...but because the system was so alien to me that it left me insecure and out of place.
I finally checked into a hotel apartment that day...and woaaa what a view! opens directly to sea!!
Am I on my single-moon here? :) ....more posts to follow on my experiences in this Oh so beautiful country!!
Coming back to the night sky... for the first time I've noticed with naked eyes the milkiness formed behind the prominent stars...for as far as my eyes can see! It's amazing and breathtaking for a while too....and makes me think afterall my situation isn't that bad :-)
Yes, it's a striking place in many ways... the first glimpse of the country outside the airport and I wanted to sigh 'Beautiful'!! The landscape is plush green with small nestlings jostled between seemingly black mountains...not to forget the view of clouds stuck to some of the peaks. It was a long 1 hr drive to my hotel and I was relieved to find a place to rest after all the sky-hopping from half way across the globe! The rest of the day was quite un-eventful unless I mention the conversation witht he receptionist for finding some vegetarian food! I actually thought it impossible and was pleasantly surprised to find quite many veges on my plate! Eureka! I'll Survive here!! :) This is what I thought before I realised the whoppingly high cost of apartments if I'm to stay here for short term ( long term isn't an option with my dear hubby waiting for me in Singapore...yes you guessed it! We have been named a globe trotting couple by our 'well-wishing' friends).
The next day brought more surprises...I can't open a bank a/c here for short term stay!! What will happen to the poor Euros lying idle in my bag since I left 3 days back and hoping to see the light of day?? How will I rent a place, eat or shop?? Didn't I say I don't want to be the first person from my company arriving here?? What was I thinking before taking this up? After the usual Status update calls to the organisers and assurances of things being sorted soon..I found myself at a completely unlikely place...brought out by the most devious karmic goofup! A PG acco with a middle aged lady...the thot seemed nice initially until the reality of the place stuck me... vast cultural difference and ahem..well I wasn't expecting a trouser-less uncle around :-P (lol...I can actually laugh at it now!). Endless emails and desperate conversations later I had the details of my compensation with me using which I could afford renting a decent service apartment. My husband urged me to latch the door n sleep...how could I tell him..there wasn't any! :-D The lady's mom and niece were adorable... good to know that even outside my birthplace some hosts do like to stuff their guests with food! I could actually make a conversation with my mono-syllabic French!
Huff! the tough night passed somehow with me catching up on sleep till my dozing mind realised where I was! I almost flew outside the door when the person incharge for me came to pick me up! Yes, I was scared...not because the people around me were not good...on the contrary they were exceptionally kind...but because the system was so alien to me that it left me insecure and out of place.
I finally checked into a hotel apartment that day...and woaaa what a view! opens directly to sea!!
Am I on my single-moon here? :) ....more posts to follow on my experiences in this Oh so beautiful country!!
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