Yosemite Trip - Photographs

Yosemite is one of God's spectacular creations. I can't explain in words the beauty of the valley and the mountains. If you are in the US please visit this wonderland. If you plan on visiting the USA please have this as a place to visit on your list.

I am glad I went at the right time. The waterfalls were full of water and it was spring all around. A little bit of ice on the upper elevations (7000 feet and above). I had a great time with 3 of my cousins and their families, the inlaws of one of my cousins and also my nephew Balaji.

Enjoy the photographs. They start with Lunch at Taco bell on Saturday (May-28) and go down all the way to dinner yesterday (May-30) at Hotel Saravana Bhavan in Sunnyvale, California. Then at the very end it is me laughing after the wonderful trip.

Going to Yosemite

yosemite
Originally uploaded by venkitu.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Morning, I am heading to Yosemite National Park for the long weekend along with my family and three of my cousins and their families. We've rented a cabin for 2 nights beginning tomorrow (May-28-2005).

I'll be back on Monday Night and will certainly post some pictures of the beautiful Yosemite National Park.

Until then, 'See you all!’

வெங்கட் கண்ணதாசன் (Venkat Kannadhasan)

என் மனம் இன்று மகிழ்ச்சியில் திளைக்கின்றது.

என் மானசீக குருநாதர் திரு.கண்ணதாசன் அவர்களின் அன்புப் புதல்வர் திரு.வெங்கட் அவர்களின் BLOGஐ கண்டு புடித்தேன் - படித்தேன் - ரசித்தேன்.!

குருநாதர் நம்மிடையே இல்லை - ஆனால் அவரது புதல்வர் எழுதும் கவிதைகள் - அவரது தந்தையின் கவிதைகளைப் போலவே நம்மை சிந்திக்க வைக்கின்றன.

இதோ வெங்கட் கண்ணதாசன் !

For folks who can't read Tamil: One of the greatest Tamil poets of our times is Mr. Kannadhasan. He is infact my Spiritual Guru.

I feel very happy today that I found his son Venkat's Blog. You'll notice shades of Mr.Kannadhasan as you read Venkat.

Friday Photo - Somebody is going home !

Anglo-Indians

Layman's term - Hybrid - British mixed with Asian Indian. Here is an official explanation.

My primary school teachers ( Christ King Convent, Tambaram, Tamil Nadu, India) were mostly Anglo-Indians.

High school was different. No Anglo-indian teachers. But a couple of good Anglo-Indian friends. Same thing in college as well.

I've noticed that they were fun loving, hard working people with the added advantage of some British skin tone and better English than most of us those days.

Some websites talk about the vanishing Anglo-Indian community. Looks like they have migrated to Canada /Australia.

Those days, I used to see a lot of them as Guards in the Express trains. In Madras, I've noticed that most of the Anglo-Indian community is around Perambur or St.Thomas Mount.

I found this Anglo-Indian history website very interesting. I didn't know that these POP singers where born in India, until now.

1. Tony Brent (real name Reginald Brentagne) was born in Bombay
2. Cliff Richards (real name Harry Roger Webb) was born in Lucknow
3. Engelbert Humperdinck (real name Arnold George Dorsey) was born in Madras

I remember a joke on Anglo-Indians who live in Madras. It is centered around how they mix Tamil and English when they speak:

Mom - Son, Don't play in the வெய்யில் Son.
Son - No Mom, I am not, I am playing in the புளியா மரத்து நெழல்.

One of my best friends in Madras, Dev Anand Williams is married to a Anglo-Indian Girl, Sharon. I've met her and her family. Very nice people indeed. We used to make fun of Anand, calling him ' புளியா மரத்து நெழல்'.

Where are the Palaces of Kanchipuram ?

History used to be one of my favorite subjects in school. Even these days, when I go to the Barnes & Noble store, I'll pick a book on Indian History and read a couple of chapters.

As I grew up and read Kalki's novels especially Sivagamiyin Sabadham, I became even more interested in History. I was specially attached to the Pallava Dynasty, as Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram, the two important centers of the Pallava Dynasty were only a 1 hour drive from home (Perungalathur, a suburb of Chennai, India).

I was awestruck when the recent Tsunami uncovered a long gone 4th Century temple at the shores of Mahabalipuram.

One thing which always puzzles me is this: What happened to the palaces of the Pallava Kings. They just cannot vanish without a trace when the temples they built in and around Kanchipuram and the famous Mahabalipuram sculptures are still preserved. Whenever I went to Kanchipuram, I've looked around, asked the local people and browsed the Internet for any information on the palaces. Nothing has yielded results so far.

I am still continuing my research while my wife continues hers, looking for some wonderful silk sarees make in Kanchipuram.

Ganesh has taken my torch

While I decided that I'll take a short Tamil break, my brother Ganesh finally made up his mind to post his Tamil kavidhai's in Unicode. Please check his சீதையின் கேள்வி

Thanks again to Adengappa for his help with fonts and inspiration.

தமிழுக்கு பூட்டு

அன்பு வாசகர்களே !!

சிறிது காலம் என் தமிழ் திறமைகளை மூட்டை கட்டி வைக்க முடிவெடுத்துள்ளேன்.

இத்தனை நாட்கள் எனது கவிதைகளை பொருமையுடன் ரசித்தமைக்கு எனது மனமார்ந்த நன்றி!

வாழ்க வளமுடன்!

காலம் (தொடருகிறது)

===================================
அன்று
- வாழை இலையில் சோறு
இன்று
- வாழை இலை கூட சோறு ( Salad)
===================================
அன்று
- மக்கள் சேவை - மகேசன் சேவை
இன்று
- மகேசன் கோவில் - உண்டிமேல் பார்வை
====================================
அன்று
- படபடக்கும் கண்கள், சுட்டும் விழி சுடர்
இன்று
- கண்களையே காணோம் - Rayban Glasses!=====================================

School Teachers and Nick Names

God Bless our school and college teachers.

Today, I am what I am, thanks to all my teachers. And I am sure most of us would think the same way.

I would give tons of credit to the Middle and High school teachers in specific, as they are the ones who take a student during the important years of a student's life, I mean the teen years.

For me, my Middle and High schools were the same and we had excellent teachers. I see some of them even now when I go home. They are all old now...But memories of their teaching and spanking still comes back to my memories ( and their memories too, hopefully)

During those years I bet, most of us students, had nicknames for our teachers. Here are some of the ones from my school. I've given approximate English translations for those of you who don't know Tamil, my mother-tongue.

வாழக்காய் (Raw Banana)

Math teacher who would always refer to Bananas for examples. Whether it is Time and distance or Area of Triangle! Why not oranges or apples or grapes? No idea.

SIDER

Tight trousers and the obvious !!

அகோனி (UH-GOE-NEE)

History teacher. This is how he pronounced the word AGONY, while he read a poem , when he substituted for English one day.

ஆப்பம் (South Indian dish which looks like a bowl)

Bald headed Head Master.

அழுக்கு வேஷ்டி (Dirty Dhoti)

Our Carpentry teacher( Pity him now) who would always wear a dirty dhoti to school.

எறா மீசை (Lobster's Moustache)
This teacher has a big Moustache.

மட்ட ரகம் (Poor Quality person)

He would always use this word when he yelled at someone.

கிளி - (Parrot)

A lady teacher who had a peculiar voice.

( More tomorrow...Don't want to make this too long)

காலம்

அன்று - கிண்டல்
- நிலாவிலும் - நாயர் கடை
இன்று - கிண்டல்
- சூரியனிலும் - ஆந்திரா ஹோட்டல்
===================================
அன்று
- Trouserஇல் Button Missing
இன்று
- Salad உடன் Ranch Dressing
===================================
அன்று
- நாயர் கடையில் சிங்கிள் Chaai
இன்று
- Starbucks இல் Tall Chaai
===================================
அன்று
- மீனாவுக்கு மாமியார் பிரச்சனை
இன்று
- மீனாவே ஒரு பிரச்சனை மாமியார்
===================================

If I lived in 2500 AD ( A wild imagination)

I couldn't wake up at 5.30 this morning. The alarm chip in my brain failed again.This is the 2nd time in 2 weeks. I woke up when I felt the food in my stomach. Thank God the food chip didn't fail.

My blood details are with the Food chip in my brain. I am assured of a well balanced breakfast, low-fat, low-sugar, vitamin-rich high-fiber breakfast. The breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner times are all pre-programmed based on my health patterns. It is 8.30 now. Breakfast just went into my stomach via the food patch on my navel.

My wife and kids are gone. They couldn't put me in manual mode to wake me up ( I've taught them several times).

They have to just press the switch near the x-2-comm box. ( Each member of a family has a manual switch incase of malfunction of vital chips in the body) . I opted for a different brand for some advanced features like stress-handling and auto-exercising, which went against me today. My wife and kids, couldn't put me in auto mode and wake me up !

(Contd..)

சென்னை மங்கை

வடநாட்டு கங்கை
- கடல் தேடி ஓடுகிறாள்

தெலுங்கு கங்கை
- வறண்டு போய் வாடுகிறாள்

சென்னை மங்கை
- குளிக்காமல் நாறுகிறாள்

Crying for health

We all know that laughing is good for health. But I was surprised to read this in the internet about how crying might be good:




Like laughing, crying is stress relieving as the action of crying releases pain-dulling enzymes into the brain.

Once in a while, it is necessary to "exercise" your tear ducts.

Tears from crying, are the body's natural defense mechanism.

It helps to clean the eyes of foreign bodies.

That is why when you have something in your eye, they tear naturally.

Psychologically, crying has an uplifting effect on a person.

It is equivalent to unloading a heavy burden and petting something off your chest.

By the way, movies are good sources for laughing and crying. The most I've seen people cry is while watching the Tamil movie Mahanadhi 1994 (Kamal hassan). I joined the crowd as well and cried a lot! Very touching movie. I thought it was a shame that Kamal hassan didn't get the national award for his role in Mahanadhi.

I would watch a Jim Carrey movie to laugh out loud.! My favorite so far is DUMB AND DUMBER (1994).

Friday Photo - Home Sweet Home

Home is where your Heart is !

துளிகள்

================================

கடவுள் இருப்பது உண்மை -

கோவில் வாசலில் 100
பிச்சைக்காரர்கள் !

================================

பெண்களே!

நீங்களும் Microwave Oven உம் ஓன்று தான்

நெருப்பிலாமலே சுடுகிறீர்களே !

================================

Tehachapi Loop

Wondering what it is ? I did too, when my friend Andy Wetmore mentioned about it. The photograph above is courtesy Andy.

It is a world-famous railroad construction achievement of the 19th century.

Please browse this website for all the details about the Tehachapi Loop.

There are some good links at the bottom of the page for those of you who are interested in trains.

Please checkout Andy's Website for some wonderful photographs.

கடைக்கண் பார்வை

அன்று - நீ

கடைக்கண் பார்வையால்
என்னை மயக்கினாய்

இன்று - நீ

கடையை* கண்ணால் பார்த்தாலே
எனக்கு மயக்கம் தான்.


* Shopping
=================================

Here is an approximate English translation. Hope it helps Amrita.

Those days, I fainted whenever you saw me
With your beautiful eyes

These days I faint, whenever you see Shopping Malls
With your beautiful eyes

I know it sucks, but ...I am sorry.!

Money vs. Life

dollar
Originally uploaded by venkitu.

The other day I was driving to work. I merged into the Freeway and noticed that all the cars were going as a procession, right at the speed limit. Usually I see all kinds of motorists, some follow the speed limit, some just go in Jet speed, and some just crawl as though the road belongs to them.

As I was wondering why, I passed a few cars and went to the front and voila...there was a Highway Patrol car leading the group. He was right on speed limit. No one dared to pass Him. It was funny. I put myself in the Highway Patrol officer's shoes. He should have had a big laugh looking behind and seeing all the other cars following him.

A few exits later, he went away and all the cars just flew, like a flock of birds out of a cage. It was funny. It also made me think.

Left to themselves, people risk their lives and speed. But under control, they are afraid about a ticket and the subsequent rise in Insurance.

Is money really bigger than Life? I kept pondering and drove at 80 mph... And reached work 10 minutes early.

வானியல்

===================================

நிலவுப்பெண்ணே !

பூமிப்பெண்ணின் சூரியக்காதலின்
குறுக்கே வந்ததால்

அமாவாசை யைப்போல்
முகம் கருத்தாயோ?

===================================
சூரியனே!

நீ என்ன மன்மதனா?

இத்தனை கிரக கன்னிகள்
உன்னை சுத்துகின்றனவே?
===================================

The Art of Typewritiing

While I was growing up ( 70's /80 's) almost all my friends were learning typewriting and shorthand.

I wanted to learn typwriting hoping to get a better job ( Just like the rest). So I went and enrolled myself in a typing school. It used to be fun. One hour sessions in a small room with about 10 typewriting machines aka typewriter. The fee was 10 Indian Rupees a month ( Those days 1USD = approx. 15 Rupees).

Some of the famous brand names those days in India were Halda and Remington. Our typewriting Institute had a mix of these 2 brands. My favorite was a Halda.

The first typing lessons were A,S,D,F,G,F ;,L,K,J,H,J. The lessons lasted 6 months a piece for Lower and Higher grades.

I passed the Lower grade and Higher grade and I remember my typewriting teacher coming home to congratulate me when I got a I Class in the Higher grade. I think the test speed was 65 words per minute.

After Higher grade there was one more called 'High speed'. A few of my friends did try it, but I didn't.

Though I didn't end up as a typist, I am very happy that I learnt typewriting. It is helping me a lot in my profession.

Today, when I code ( I am a Computer Programmer), I can see my friends wonder how I can type so fast.

These days we have a lot of computer software to help kids learn typing. My daughter uses one.

But there is nothing to beat the fun we had while learning to type with my friends.

God bless my Typewriting Institute in Perungalathur, Madras, India (OM VIGNESWARA those days) and my teacher Mr. Raghavan and his wife for their dedicated work.

உண்மைகள்

========================================

கூண்டுக் கிளிக்கு - உண்மையில்
ஜோசியம் தெரிந்திருந்தால்

கூட்டில்தான் இருக்குமா?
அட்டைதான் பொறுக்குமா?

========================================
கற்க கசடற -

அன்று - தமிழ் பாடம்

இன்று - தமிழ் படம்
========================================

Swami Tirtha Maharaja lectures - Part-II

I thought for a long time about how to present the contents of the lectures. Finally I came up with this format. I apologize if you were expecting a detailed blog. I'll try and add a few more points tomorrow.

Krishna/Vishnu is the only God. Shiva etc. are all demi-gods. Pleasing the demi-gods might help one with earthly pleasures, but to attain 'Vaikuntam' (Heaven) one has to surrender to Krishna/Vishnu.

Gita is the only scripture where God says that he is God. Gita and Bhagavatam are the two top scriptures and each one of us has to atleast attempt to read it.

Why everything is India-centric - 5000 years back it was only India ( Bharath) and everyone followed the Vedic religion. The capital was Hasthinapura.

Creation Vs. Evolution - Hindu scriptures talk about creation of multi million species all on one day. ( Swamiji actually ridicules the Darwin Theory).

All the 'Geetha Saaram' posters/hoarding are not true For example - What you did is all good etc.

The first Veda to be created was 'Yajur Veda' actually it was the only Veda. When Kaliyuga came Vyasa got the help of Lord Ganesha and created the rest.

Lord Krishna says, don't be my servant, make me your servant.

Only Payatham Paruppu ( don't know the Hindi equivalent) is Satvik. Toor, Rajma, are all Rajasik. Masoor Dhal is Tamasik.

What we eat should be done with minimum kill. Cook and pray to Lord Krishna that it was cooked with minimum kill. Remember to first offer the food to Lord Krishna before you eat.

Killing plants is also killing, but it is minimum.

Can't question everything about scriptures / beliefs. Should accept certain things as hypothesis.

We should realize that life is a dream. And just like a dream in the night, we react to various happenings, without knowing that it is a dream.

To be born a human being is really lucky ( I thought otherwise).

Inquisitive people should talk to an authority. Being inquisitive is the first step. It shows that one is interested.

ஏக்கங்கள்

பால்காரி சத்தத்தில்
காலையில் கண் விழித்து

அம்மா தந்த காப்பியை
ருசித்து மெல்ல தினம் குடித்து

Hindu பேப்பரை
ஆர்வமாக ரசித்து படித்து

கிணற்று நீரிழுத்து
சுகமாக தினம் குளித்து

சூடாக வாழிலையில்
அம்மா சமையல் தினம் உண்டு

பஸ் பிடித்து, Train பிடித்து
இடிபட்டு ஆபீசுக்கு போயி

காய் வாங்கி பூ வாங்கி
வேர்த்து போய் வீடு வந்து

முகம் துடைத்து உணவு உண்டு
லுங்கியுடன் நடந்து போய்

அன்பு நண்பருடன் தெரு முனையில்
ஊர் கதை நிறைய பேசி

TV பார்த்து News கேட்டு
சந்தோஷமாக படுத்த காலம்

இனி வருமா? வராது...வராது!

Swami Thirtha Maharaja Lectures (Part I)

The first lecture I attended was on May-8th, Sunday in my friend's house. Since it was a Sunday and people had to go to work the next day the lecture was supposed to start at 6.00 pm. But people started showing up only around 6.30 pm. On hearing this ( my friend called the swamiji's group) the Swamiji said that he'll come a little late.

Soon, people started to come and they did come in all colors, I mean some with Sacred ask on their foreheads and some with the Vaishnavite Namams on their foreheads. Some came in dhotis and most women were in traditional Indian dresses. I felt a little out of place dressed in jeans and T-shirt.

The kids began to recite bhajans and soon the swamiji walked in ( really jumpy fast walk) and sat in the sofa turned into podium. He looked very fit, had a White Namam on his forehead which extended to his hairline. The Namam ended a little below his forehead on his nose in the shape of a leaf ( He lated explained that that it was 2 Tulasi stalks and a leaf). He had a book resting on a book stand and began to talk. He started with some prayers and jumped in directly.

I think the earlier day ( May-7th Saturday) there was already a lecture at the Atlanta temple. So he recognized some people in the croud ( around 20) and kept asking if they understood what he was trying to convey. He had some relatives too in the group and remarked about some Bhooma Mami, to a family in the group.

I had two elderly gentlemen sitting next to me. Both were visiting from Chennai. As expected they started to talk about the woes of Chennaites before the lecture and became very attentive as the group did, later on.

I think the Swami's team records all his lectures. So the video camera was on. The lecture was until 8.30 pm, close to one hour. His style was amazing. He was very fluent in English, Tamil, Hindi and Bengali. His voice was deep and very clear. Just around 8.30 he requested the audience to ask questions.

( Will Continue tomorrow)

Back Home

Finally after 10 days, I am back home. I'll write tomorrow about Tirtha Maharaj's lectures that I attended.

Too tired today. Left my Hotel at Atlanta at 8.00 am. Flight was at 11.00 am. Flew via Phoenix and reached Sacramento at 3.15 Pacific time. Reached home at 4.15 pm.

Here is a photograph of the beautiful Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Mountains , which I managed to click from my aisle seat in the plane.




I have to catch up with all your blogs, which I'll do tonight/tomorrow.

Friday Photo - Festival of Lights

Friday Photo - Golden Gate Bridge Aerial View

This is an aerial view of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. This photograph was taken from an aircraft a few minutes before it landed at San Francisco Airport. It is travelling North to South. You can see the Golden Gate bridge and at the North West of the photo is the City of San Francisco.

Photographer is my friend Bin Shu. Camera used is Nikon D-SLR D-100.

Meeting - SWAMI B.S.TIRTHA MAHARAJA

I'll be at Atlanta for 10 days beginning tomorrow. I have a feeling that I won't be able to blog until the 14th of May. If I get some time I will try.

I managed to get a private appointment with SWAMI B.S.TIRTHA MAHARAJA thanks to my Atlanta friends.

I am planning to talk to him about life and some fine aspects of living.

I look forward to it and will certainly post about what he says.

And while you are here why not BURST SOME BUBBLEWRAP and Enjoy !!

முதல் பெண்

வெள்ளை நிற 'Ambassador'
மெல்ல போய் நின்றது.

தலை துடைத்து - முகம் வாரி
பயத்துடன் நடந்தேன்.

மெல்ல கதவை
'டக் டக்' என தட்டினேன்.

'வாங்க வாங்க'
பொக்கை வாய் பாட்டி.

பின்னாடி சிரித்தனர் - அப்பா அம்மா.
அங்கே! அங்கே! Sofaவை காட்டினர்.

மெல்ல அமர்ந்தேன் - நிமிர்ந்து பார்த்தேன்.
TV ரிப்பேரா? படத்தை காணோம்.

Hello என்றாள் - பயந்து போய் திரும்பினேன்.
Hello என்றேன் - கொஞ்சம் வழிந்தேன்.

மெல்ல நிமிர்ந்தாள் - முதல் பார்வை.

லக லக லக லக லக லக லகா !!

Marine drive without lights

When I read this news in Yahoo today, my heart felt very heavy.

Bombay is the commercial capital of India. One of the beautiful spots in the city is the Marine drive (who cares if the official name is Nethaji Subash chandra Bose Road). I can't imagine the Queen's Necklace, as it is fondly called, without its lights!

India is not self-sufficient in power (besides several basic things). Bombay used to be one of the better cities as far as the power situation went. But, looks like even Bombay is suffering now.

India has a vision 2020 Program. I hope they choose the right prescription lenses to take care of basic necessities of life.

Wednesday Musings

****************************************************
*** தலைப்பு - Dr. ராமதாஸுக்கு சமர்ப்பணம் ***
****************************************************
நம்மூர் Dr. ராமதாஸ்
இங்கிலாந்தில் பிறந்திருந்தால்

Queen Elizabeth
- ராணி ராக்காயி

Prince Charles
- இளவரசர் ஏகாம்பரம்
=============================

கேப்பங்கூழ் குடித்த
குப்பனும் சுப்பனும்

நூறாண்டு வாழ்ந்தனர்
இயற்கை தான் எய்தினர்

Computer கறி சமைக்கும்
கலி கால உலகில் ஏனோ

பல கோடி வியாதிகள்
அகால மரணங்கள்.

=============================

செவ்வாய் சிந்தனை

==================================

பரிணாம வளர்ச்சி
- குரங்கிலிருந்து மனிதன்

விஞ்ஞான முயற்சி
- மனிதனைப்போல் குரங்கு

- Cloning

==================================

இதற்கொரு switch - அதற்கொரு switch
விஞ்ஞானத்தின் விந்தைகள்
ஏராளம் ஏராளம்.

இத்தனை switchகள் - இருந்தும் கூட அந்த
விடியலுக்கு switch மட்டும்
இறைவன் கையில் தானே ?

==================================

Sleep and Bananas

I read an interesting article on sleep patterns while I was at the local Barnes and Noble store last evening. The name of the magazine that carried this article is UTNE.

The article spoke about the importance of sleep and the problems due to lack of sleep ( a major problem here in the United States of America). It also carried some suggestions to improve sleep.

Here are a few which got into my head and made me think.

No hot showers before hitting the bed.

• I always thought a warm / hot shower will help us to fall asleep. But the article says that the body temperature has to fall to go to sleep. So a warm shower is a no..no.

Eat a Banana before hitting the bed.

• This is amazing. In America, banana is considered a breakfast food. But in India, bananas are eaten mostly in the evening just before retiring to bed.

Try some milk before hitting the bed.

• This is quite common everywhere but I didn't know that milk can help one to fall asleep.

I did some research and found that banana and milk have a chemical called Tryptophan that does the trick. As I browsed I also read this and realized that banana is indeed an amazing fruit!

So, the next time when you don't feel sleepy in the nights, why not GO BANANAS!

வணக்கம் திங்களே!

Tooth Brush

வாயெனும் சாக்கிடையை - சுத்தம் செய்ய புறப்படுமுன்
Toothpaste இளைப்பாறும் முள் மெத்தை.

===========================================
சாமிக்கு Vaasthu

கோயில் கட்ட Vaasthu பார்க்கும் காலமிது
ஆயுள் காக்க சாமி எதற்கு? சொல்லு கண்ணா ?

===========================================

Life in Riyadh - Part II ( Almost arrested)

Saudi Arabia calls itself KSA ( Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Do you see the American impact there. IBM Saudi is called Saudi Business Machines or SBM.

As you'll be aware Thursdays 1/2 day and Fridays are holidays in the middle-eastern countries. Saturdays and Sundays are full work days.

If you are arrested on a Thursday evening for any petty crime, you can be pretty much sure you'll end up in prison until Saturday when your employer can bail you out. And who knows under the Shari'a law what you can be accused of and what can happen to you. You can call yourself lucky if you end up being deported.

It was a nightmare among the desi expats in Riyadh. ( The Caucasians were treated better thanks to their skin color). We used to discuss it all the time and who would know that we'll come close to getting arrested!

Yeah, it happened on a Thursday evening. We took the local bus ( we made sure we carried our passports - Very important..!!) and wanted to go to a market called 'Batha' to have some South Indian food.

Sriram, Balu ( both super seniors to me) and myself, were travelling in a local bus, I was hanging on the foot-board ( My train experiences of Madras helped me), when all of a sudden a group of law-enforcement people stopped our bus. Turnsout it was a routine, trying to check for terrorists ( even those days - 1990). (Yeah, terrorists can't drive cars those days!)

The officer asked the ids ( everyone has to carry their govt. issued ids called 'Ekahmah') and everyone held theirs out. We were on a business visa. We didn't have an id, so we showed our passports.

We were asked to get out of the bus. All kinds of questions in Arabic was asked. We said we knew no Arabic and that we were from India. The officer didn't understand English and he was confused seeing our business visa.( I think it was the visa - maybe it was something else ).

So, he asked us to step out and waved the bus off. The bus driver gave a weird look, but moved a little and stopped the bus, waiting. Sriram, Balu and I could feel the butterflies in our stomach. We thought we were going to be imprisoned for no reason. I imagined ourselves with our heads tonsured and began cursing myself for the blunder of choosing to work in Riyadh.

We pleaded and finally after 10 minutes we were let go. All of us were shocked. The bus driver smiled and took us in (There are great people everywhere, thank God!).

He said to us in broken English 'Careful - don't take the bus again'. We didn't speak a word. We decided to call our Boss in Madras and ask him to fly us back.

(To be Continued)