The Small Voice

Creaking bones and aching muscles after Huangshan trek. Slept till 10 am. Went to shanghai clothing market for FILs suit, and bought one shirt for oneself too. Got a good deal for cloth and stiching for 100 yuans, equivalent of 700 INR which considering the poor Indian quality and overpriced stuff that malls dish out to us, seems to be a deal. Overall I notice that while we Indians may find things expensive in China (and probably other countries about which I don’t have first hand knowledge) , actually the truth may be different. For example, lets compare real estate prices of Mumbai and shanghai. While shanghai prices may be higher, compared to the excellent building quality, design, higher salaries, 100 times better amneties,open spaces in the city,immensely better law and order, it turns out that its actually Mumbai prices which are less value for money.

We Start via bus from shanghai south bus station to Huangshan. The Shanghai bus station is opposite to the curiously round shaped Shanghai train station. BIL is there to see us off and without him it would have been difficult since the ticket has only Chinese characters and almost everyone we met on the bus station was non English speaking. Nevertheless, we get in a waiting bus, which was going to Huangshan. The bus is similar to Volvo buses found in India and is comfortable. Judging by the high quality of roads and cities, both me and wife agree that it is flawed to put China alongside India in the developing country bracket. Not only the upscale city like shanghai, even countryside is absolutely clean and spotless, garbage piles are conspicuous by their absence. not only the praise should go to the people, I believe, the authorities and the government should also be praised for maintaining the high cleanliness standards in the country. Such a clean neighborhood would rightly in

Day 2 Started in the morning after a much much needed sleep at night. We decided to go to the shanghai science & technology center. The main objective was to get a feel of the "language barrier". BIL came up with a clever way to overcome this, we copy pasted the Chinese name and addresses on the ever handy Galaxy Tab. Now all we had to do was to show  the address to the cab driver, and the wheels set in motion. Shanghai city impressed us at night but we were completely bowled over during daytime. The city skyscrapers are beautiful and the construction quality is immaculate. A couple of towers (designs) have already been copied in Mumbai. I has never been to USA or UK etc but I am sure the city skyline can give ANY metro serious run for their money. I read someone that the "city unashamedly tries to prove it has arrived on the scene". Well that writer can eat his words. This city need not look for approval from western society, its good enough to set the b

We land at Delhi airport, and unexpectadly had to change the airplanes. Actually i was itching to see the magnificent New Delhi airport. And its indeed wonderful and HUUGE. However, the ground staff and management was tetering on mayhem. We were at the back of a long queue when some girl led us another way, only to later appologize that she only meant the business travellers. But what i really loved were the horizontal escalators. Made you feel flying while others on foot seemed to be waddling slowly. Loved it. So long for now. Ciao. Sent from my Nokia phone

Day 1: start Early morning international flight means sleep deprived flyers but lots of excitement. Faboulous taxi ride through the roads of Mumbai. The city that never sleeps was at least at rest at 3 am in the morning. The empty roads and streets do give one perspective. But now I want to be on time. Paranoia strikes: I check twice with the helpdesk about the departure terminal. 4.11 am We are well on time at the airport. The check in starts at 5 though. China odyessey starts. Will keep posting.

Day Zero: Preparations and packing Hectic day !! Meetings, traffic jams, shopping, fighting with the wife, running full steam, collecting things, ticking lists...whew.....and now am dead tired. Gotta get up early tomorrow...ciao

Jagjit Singh passed away today. Today, I must thank Ravi bhaiya, for he was the reason I heard the maestro for the first time in my life. Jagjit's ethereal Ghazals are as much a part of my growing up as my school or college. It was my dream to attend one of his live concerts, which alas, will now remain a dream. This is the day when billions across the world would join me in saying "...this is the day When the music died" Goodbye sir,your voice made the world a beautiful place. We will always remember you by your songs.