Completed Publising all my Blogs!

I have completed publishing all my earlier blogs in this website. Many of you are aware that Yahoo closed its blogging website during the recession. I had to save all my blog content and manually upload it in this website.

Not sure, how long this website retains my content. But once this decides to close, I have to shift all my blogs to another site!

Now, I have to open another site!!

Trees fallen to Glory: Published on 08 February 2009

Trees like this are remembered for the magnitude of devastation which was caused by Cyclone Nagris during May 2008. It is estimated that around 70% of the trees were destroyed by the cyclone in Yangon city.

The winds between 165- 210 Kmph shattered the whole infrastructure of southern Myanmar, and many trees and roofs are uprooted.

But the capital, Naypyidaw which is carved out of the jungle successfully escaped the disaster. Some people say that the reason for shifting the capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw is the prophesy by some famous soothsayer. They told the rulers that soon a political unrest, and a natural disaster will succumb Yangon. Both became true with the political unrest in 2007, and disaster in 2008!

Sule Pagoda, Yangon: Published on 08 February 2009

This is the first place I have visited after coming to Myanmar. As you know, Myanmar is famous for its Pagoda-studded landscape, and so rightly called as 'The Land of Pagodas'.

This 'Sule Pagoda' is said to be more than 2000 years old, and the British used this landmark to plan for rebuilding the city in Grid pattern during 1880's. It is believed that the Golden dome contains a hair given by Buddha to two traveling Burmese traders. This 48 meter dome is made by pure Gold, and is used as meeting place to design the big one- Shwedagon Pagoda. Sule Pagoda was built in the typical Burmese Mon style, with four entrances facing the four compass points.

As we went around, each and every corner of this octagonal monument represented a day in the week, where people offer waters! So, if you are born on Friday, you need to go to Friday corner and offer water. Yes, I know your question. Myanmar has a belief of having 8 days a week, where Wednesday is divided into two.

The area is covered with a number of small shops of various kinds, and in the entrance it looks more commercial than spiritual. You can keep your sandals at the entrance for a fee, or carry them around in a polythene bag.

I am trying to estimate how much Gold is required to make this Pagoda... may be around 10 Tons!

My 100th Blog: Published on 06 February 2009

This is my 100th Blog!

I have started this blog on 5th December 2006 primarily to write something about my work. But, as days gone by, this blog included a bit about my personal, family, work and friends. It's hard to separate all these parts of life lol!

Yes, it took more than 26 months to complete 100 entries, meaning each blog took an average of 8 days to write. It may be a pathetic performance, but a person like me, who can't sit and write, this should be a good beginning. Another factor to consider is consistency, which reflects on times where there is no blog for many months.

My blogs vary from work life to personal life, Technical stuff to reflections around variety of issues. There is a fine balance between various kinds of blogs and the detailed breakdown is as follows:

20 Personal Blogs
21 Technical Blogs
30 Work-life Blogs
29 Reflection Blogs

I also have visitors clock, and it took two months to get my first 100 visitors, roughly 1.5 visitors a day. The flow of visitors picked up subsequently and I had 1000 visitors with in 4.5 months, which averages to 7.5 visitors a day. As of now, the visitors clock is ticking at 8167, that means over all, 10 people are visiting my blog every day!

I don't know how popular this Yahoo blog is, and how long Yahoo hosts this blog site. My biggest fear is that what happens when Yahoo shuts down this blog site!

So thanks guys, who provided constant encouragement by reading and commenting on my blogs, and kudos for Yahoo for hosting my silly writings!!

I am in Myanmar now! Published on 13 January 2009

I am so excited to see that this blog site is not blocked. The first and the biggest shock for me after my arrival is that many of the websites are blocked in this country. But it takes a little while before getting adjusted to the system here.

I had a different view of Myanmar before I came here. Yangon, is the safest city in all of SE Asia. Though its the biggest city in Myanmar, Its clean and have no traffic jams. The airport is also very modern, though it has only four 'Aero Bridges'.

The city is full of skyscrapers, and the roads with in the city are very good. Since its very expensive to own a car, there are very few cars on the road, most of them very old. There is a good and reliable public transport system, both road and train with in the city and the suburbs.

As I begin to explore the country, I will try to share them with you all frequently as long as I can. As I will be using restrictive language, you might need to read between the lines.

A European Village in the Middle of Asia: 17 November 2008

I was not able to view the city from Doi Suthep but saw the city from the flight both in the day and night, have not eaten 'Kao Soi' but have eaten chicken delicacy, have not purchased an Umbrella from 'Bo Sang', but brought some toffees from Tescos for my kids.

This is Chiang Mai and I have instantly fell in love with the city. If I had an option, this is one of the cities which I would like to live. Just reminding of an European town with cool weather all round the year, its a clean city with lush green surroundings. Though less cosmopolitan, a charming city and a perfect place for an expatriate to settle down. Located 700 Km north of Bangkok, its the fifth largest city in Thailand and is also called the 'Rose of North'

The town is set in the plains, surrounded by beautiful hills on all the sides. But they say that its the town which was continuously inhabited since the 13th century when the ancient civilization if Siam is founded. People who come there, will never like to leave. You can walk in plain cotton clothes, and feel the cool and clean breeze touching the cheeks. I bet, your hair will stand, and would instantly cuddle, if there were some one near by.

The people of Chiang Mai speak Thai, but some times a dialect called 'Kham Muang' among themselves. They have their own script, which is not being used today expect by scholars. The people are friendly and cosy with pleasant lifestyle. They try to spend time in the parks, gardens and community centers. A blend of snow white skinned Chinese and brown skinned Thai, every body enjoys life there. The mothers are running around their kids, the young are learning break dance, the old are sitting quietly looking at the infinite greenery surrounding them.

I think, I visited there at the right time, to see candles floating in the air every where. Its so exciting to spot and count the candles, I stopped after 52....Locally called 'Khom Fai', these hot air lanterns lit the night sky, competing with the bright full moon. The locals told that its a festival called 'Yi Peng', but in Bangkok they are calling as 'Loi Kratong'. As I reached my hotel, the staff are busy decorating with variety of material, and told that they are looking forward to it. They have made small ship like containers with banana leaves, decorated it with some flowers and candles before leaving into the river 'PING'.

I love Chiang Mai................

Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International airport: Published on 17 November 2008

Sitting in the NSCBI Airport, Kolkata, I feel like I fell off in the garbage from a glass house. I have just flew from spotless RGIA at Hyderabad, which have set standards in Indian Aviation Industry. Just read a large banner which reads- 'Modernization of airports with out Privatization', and it seems that there is a conference in the second week of this month in New Delhi. Surprisingly, the hand written and hand woven white cloth banner is replaced by DTP printed rexine cloth. Why not, when Advani finally started his website?

The people are crowded every where in the airport, and there are endless long queues every where. It looks like people from this side of the world are more disciplined, while in other places there will be less chances to exhibit discipline. The queue started in the entrance itself, and near x-ray, check in, security check, Immigration, and on and on.. In every counter, grim faced pawn chewing 'Officers' look at you with a question mark- Why did you come here?

The toilets are stinking, and before I got out of toilet, I got used to. Its very powerful smell, making me impotent to get angry! Immediately after the wedding, we were changing trains at Kolkata railway station on our way to Bihar. The stink is so overwhelming, and my wife collapsed instantly and became un conscious.

After the immigration, there is only one coffee vendor for some 400 people who were exhausted standing in several queues. As I went to have coffee, the vendor is very busy, and along with others I asked again and again for coffee. He was annoyed and told.. one minute sir! Yes, I didn't realize that I have to patiently wait in the queue. The vendor finally placed a paper glass under the automatic vending machine and pressed some button. The he just jumped off and brought a milk packet from the fridge. Keeping his hands every where, he tore off the polythene milk packet with the same hand. While the milk spilled all over, he poured the remaining into the coffee machine.

Meanwhile a girl came and asked for a Tea. He looked at her grudgingly and told that there is no tea. On the other side he put a large spatula into an old sugar can and poured around 50 grams of sugar into a coffee cup. The cup is then put under a steam pipe which made loud noise. Finally, an espresso coffee is made in 660 seconds manually, using an automatic vending machine.

The finest Airline- Kingfisher: Published on 17 November 2010

First time, I have ever flown in Kingfisher Airlines, which is quite a good experience. Apart from fine red clad girls, the airlines is a true competitor to Jet Airways. There was no confusion through out my journey. I have booked my ticket online, which I have received an e-ticket. I also got an SMS in my mobile informing the confirmation of my booking. As I didn't take the print out, I just threw my mobile at one of the kingfisher counters at the airport. The staff smiled and gave a print out in flat 25 seconds, by which I have gained the entry to the airport after tallying with my Driving License.

As I went near the check in counters, the staff again escorted me to appropriate counter, where I have given my ticket to the check in staff. The staff are well groomed and I have also taken a frequent flyer form which was instantly entered in their system.

The cabin is clean, and each seat have personal TV system with around 6 channels to select from, including GPS location map. The excitement came when the cabin crew brought gift wrapped Pen and ear phones for every 'Guest'. There was welcome Juice, delicious Dinner and Coffee/tea. The flight left and touched down exactly on time, and we collected checked in baggage after landing.

The fare is quite reasonable at Rs. 7,712 for a single journey refundable ticket. Right now there are only three airlines Indian, Kingfisher and Jet Airways. As there are serious efforts to have 'close' collaboration between Kingfisher and Jet Airways, the quality and the price may not sustain for a long time.

Congratulations Obama! Published on 05 November 2008

349- 162, It's a huge margin! A clear majority both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. While Obama got 52.4% votes, Mc Cain was able to garner only 46.3% of the votes.

What is interesting is that Republicans won most of the impoverished southern and central parts (Except Florida), while Democrats won the affluent north and coastal belts. Is this means that the poor wanted Mc Cain to rule them, or the influence of Evangelicals in those areas?

Any way its clear that the US, in line with the whole world needs a change, a change of not only a person, but the system. Its a celebration for many who made this change happen, but lets remember, its only a beginning!!

Spanish Designs: Published on 13 May 2010

These days, we are quite busy with designing Pipe Bridge. Out of several options, we have finally selected 'Suspension' type bridge with steel cables because the span is around 25 meters. Bridge with H-beams are ok till 15 meters or so.

While we were collecting several designs, we got a design which is drafted in Spanish. First of all, I didn't understand whether its Espanol or Francis. So I went to one of my French colleague and she told that it should be either Italian or Spanish. I fixed an appointment with a Spanish friend who works in European Union office near by. I got it translated with him, and now in the process of finalizing the concept for the Pipe Bridge.