Category Archives: Travel

Drowning in work

Nothing official about it, Travel

With the end of project fast approaching (just 20 days more to go), days are getting longer and longer.

I start with an offshore call at 05h30. I got a status call at 08h30 on Monday and Tuesday. So I run to office after a quick breakfast at the hotel. Most of these days go on with Review meetings, now that the deliverables are ready to be reviewed. Following the meetings, usually I will have to update the deliverables. Or prepare the work for offshore.

My day continues even after I reach the room. As it happened now, I am on call with offshore from 21h30 until 23h30 providing input for them and setting expectation on what is needed next.

And this cycle continues. I worked this weekend too. I don

Wild Hogs

Books/Movies, Travel

I should accept the fact that I am touching the middle age and time to time wonder what the hell is happening with my bloody life. Do I have a purpose? Have I lived satisfactorily? Should I do something different in life to bring a meaning into my life? So on and so forth.

Well, this weekend I watched a hilarious movie of 4 gentlemen in their middle ages who attempt to bring some

Predictable weather; it sucks

Travel

Toronto WeatherIt has been tough weather; apparently it is one of unfair winter. Even Canadians are complaining. In fact as I type there is a snow storm crossing Toronto bringing in 5 cms snow already. They are predicting that it is going to get worse tomorrow.Top, you can see the weather forecast for another 14 days. Mostly it is going to be sub-zero condition.There is one striking difference in weather between Brussels and Toronto though. Despite all the snow, it is always sunny; it doesn’t get so grey as in Brussels.

Dinner at Hooters

Life is like that, Travel

Yesterday along with a Lebanese guy, I went to Hooters restaurant. It is an American concept and as with anything American, there is a subtle sexism in the concept – the chain employs only gal waitress, who are dressed in white tank top and a short orange runner’s shorts. Food is a regular American chips, wings and burgers.

It was just another dinner time.

Who will cry when you die?

Life is like that, Travel

Past three days I felt physically terrible. I felt like, I was drugged; I had lost co-ordination; I felt very weak; At times, I threw up.

Evenings went in bed; most of the times closer to blackout. I couldn’t go out and get dinner or even prepare something at room. May be I was hallucinating; but I thought of death quite often. (I thought I was passing…)

When I thought of death, I didn’t have a fear of death at all. Neither did I regret dying. Sure I had my ‘hell’ moments in life; but I had equally ‘good’ times.

I have had failures, disappointments, heart-aches, loneliness, sickness, mental torture, public shame and what not. But at the same time, I have had success, recognition, very good friends and happy times. I have done some social work that I am happy about; contributed to the growth of few.

So in totality, I have already lived my life in full. These thoughts passed by as I hallucinated my final moments and I was pretty much ok to say good-bye to this life. In fact I ‘thought’ (read hallucinated) I should be happy to pass life so happily.

An Indian proverb says, “When you were born, you cried and everyone laughed; Live your life in such a way that when you die it is the other way”. I don’t know if anyone would’ve cried, but if I would’ve passed, you would’ve noticed a smile on my face.

(One funny thing though: As I was lying in bed hallucinating my death, I realized my sister will come to know if I die; but what about LA or KD or AKN or other friends. Who will tell them? When I think about it now, I can only laugh to myself)

P.S: Later I realized that the doc has given a very strong dosage of antibiotic. Guess that caused all the hallucination. For the past two days, I have stopped the dosage and am recovering and getting stronger.