Traveling Tech-Savvy Tokyo

November 2010

While I was getting ready for yet another business travel – this time to Japan – my Japanese client told me – there are only 2 things that you will need to survive in Tokyo – Money and Bowing. We laughed it off and soon, I landed in the land of rising sun. And what I discovered, was that in addition to bowing, and loads of money, I will also need to-

• Learn how to use chopsticks. Yes, for real, learn to eat rice with chopsticks.
• Develop a fascination for hi-tech toilet seats. And learn to identify what each button means – from seat warmers to deodorizers
• Not pick up my cell phone in trains. And also learn to hold my breath in a full train.
• Not tip. People will feel insulted and come after you to return the money.
• Feel comfortable around people when they “slurp” their food
• Vend alcohol off a vending machine (yes – no kidding!)
• Appreciate wrapping is as important – not just for gifts, but also food items. The way they wrapped my croissant made me feel so very special.
• Appreciate and follow the order, even while you window shop. If you take an item out of a hanger, ensure to keep it back with similar cm spaces in between the two.
• Click the divas – ask them for their photo and they will oblige; and feel very happy
• Watch out the prices before entering a restaurant. It is not a norm to pay $10 for coffee or $80 for a cucumber shushi roll
• Saki can be hot or cold – I need to specify
• Roasted green tea is something to die for;
• And - be polite ( yeah, the most difficult one for me).

And – when I learnt all this, I loved very clean, super, uber cool and stylish Tokyo.

Some of the photos from my experiences there:

Akhibara – most frequented destination for electronic shoppers. Go to Akhibara for fresh sushi rolls, maid cafes, and of course if you want to buy electronics.

Asakusa – for the very famous Buddhist temple ( Sensoji), local shopping for Kimonos, chop sticks, local snacks and other souvenirs ( Nakamise) and Pullman rickshaws

Imperial Palace Gardens – for a very serene experience. The gardens are abundant with all the prime elements of a Japanese Garden (Bridge, Arbor or wooden sitting area, pagoda, stone benches, pebble path, water falls, tea houses, stepping stones, and bamboo structures). The water is so crystal clear that you can see complete shadows.

Shibuya  for popular shopping and entertainment. It has colorful and busy districts, packed with shopping, dining and nightclubs. Another place, especially for foreigners for shopping and clubbing is Roopangi Hills.

Shiodome –a redeveloped city district in Tokyo, with breath taking skyscrapers and a large variety of shops, cafes, restaurants, theaters, hotels and other attractions.

And, since nothing is ever complete without shopping – a heaven called The Ginza. It is famous for Sony building, upmarket shopping, dining, and entertainment, numerous department stores (I really liked Matsuya) boutiques and cafes.

Samurai - not the real one 

Beer Tower

Meiji Shrine – for experiencing culture, seeing little divas all dressed in Kimonos for various ceremonies, and simply strolling.

Tokyo tower – but of course  modeled on Eiffel Tower; taller by 13 ms, and red. It has a phenomenal observatory deck, and do take out time to sip coffee at the café on tower, and enjoy spectacular views. On a good weather day, you can actually see Mount Fuji from the observatory.

I totally loved the hi-tech modern and traditional contrast. And I would totally go to Japan to explore the other parts of the country.

Arigatou

Writer's Block!!

It has been a long time since I blogged... I have loads of excuses, but writer’s block seems to be the coolest of all. 

A lot has happened in the last 30-45 days – and I read today that penning down your lows and highs can be very therapeutic. So, i attempt!!

High points:

•     One of my very cool friends was visiting from US; and I got to spend time with her. We went visiting Delhi. She just cracks me up, and it is so pleasant to be around her.
•      I met with one of my really cool friends. We met after a year – almost, and catching up with her almost made me feel 5-7 years younger. Just sipping coffee and wine with her made me relax – after what seemed like a long time. I hope to connect with her more often.
•      I made a decision to travel to Dubai. A lot has happened this year, but I really feel that visiting Dubai will bring some positive air.
•      And I got a Schengen visa renewal for 2 years – yippee!!
•      I was told a few times that I should join back office soon, and I am being missed – that definitely made me special J.
•      Beating my own score in Brick Breaker; and catching up on chic-let type of books and movies and watching stupid soaps– yes, kind of a blessing when you are sick.
•      Calls and check-ins from a couple of old friends – makes you realize you are still popular ;)

And not so high ones: 

• Exhausting business trip to Switzerland… landed at a different hotel at 6:00 AM in the morning – and had to make a few calls, walk a lot and take a cab to reach to the right one. Then, meeting more than 18 hours a day, for four continuous days, and then and travel back – without a break. Voila… The two good things – OK 3 good things were meeting the team, a few productive meetings and sparkling wine with berry mix.
•  Another exhausting trip to Bangalore. And probably contracting sickness en route!
•   Working crazy hours to prepare for a BIG meeting, and falling sick a day before the meeting. I really missed not being a part of the meeting. For once, I felt really low about this. This also made me realize that I also have low points.
•  Being really sick, and missing work for almost 2 weeks. And then, getting into a flood of client, team, and people issues. Not happening.
•  Being appalled at the extent to which people lie to get what they want. It almost makes you question your intelligence. Worse is when you are being trapped with lies.
•  Getting into a murky situations – one after another -- knowing very well that I shouldn’t be a part of it. Realization – I am too emotional for my own good.
• Realizing that you start liking people – even when they are all that you should never want/ would never get and that you should stay away from.
• Feeling unsettled and old. I have never felt this unsettled and this has been driving me insane.
• Being too lethargic for my own good.
• Wasting another year of gym membership without even setting a foot in the gym – and realizing that you will be dead 10 years sooner if you don’t exercise anymore.
• Realizing i am still not so strong to share or pen down my real lows
• Feeling crazy for another good friend, but being too caught up to do anything for her -- makes you realize that there is just so much time or resources that you have to help people even if you really want to

Not sure if it was therapeutic, it definitely helped me blog today ;).

Cheers!!

Positive Outlook

This is what Jonathan Cainer wrote for Cancers for Sunday, September 16th, 2012

"Don't worry about what seems to be ending; consider what is beginning. You are moving away from an arrangement or an agreement that has been unsatisfactory for some while, even though it has provided a degree of superficial stability. Now there is uncertainty and a sense of tension. But this is helping you get closer to a much brighter and more helpful possibility; an understanding that goes very deep and proves most fulfilling. Forget how things were and don't be afraid of how things may soon change."

It is a pity that I am reading it today.. should have read it yesterday -- Last few days have been something that i wish i could format....I do need a change - for the positive!! Now!! 

Cheers!!

Dudes - you left primary school ages ago!!!

I am not a &^#$% by any standards… but some of these people –and their excuses and lies… yikes!!!

• You claim to be not able to come for a meeting because you are sick, and cant hold your stomach for 2 minutes. And there, you are spotted driving a car – 5 minutes later; stuck in a jam. Your car must stink.
• Yeah – if someone doesn’t respond to you – you come up with all the horrid stuff. If you don’t respond to someone – there’s always a silly excuse – much more silly than the last – car jammed, wife unwell, fire @ work, slept while responding …… next time, probably a dog would have eaten your mobile or laptop. Dude - you left primary school decades ago.
• Your uncle is seriously ill; your uncle passed away; and now your same uncle is on death bed again – really, are you a character in Ekta Kapoor’s episode? Don’t make a mockery of life at least.
• Lies… OMG – do you really know that you can’t even piece a lie together, and it gives on its own – you claim to be single, and then send a Facebook invite with your kids and wife on it – what is it – denial? Or can’t you remember what did you tell whom? Start keeping a log.
•  Picking your nose at all the odd places – not too sexy and happening – probably people associated with you never told you this.
• Always trying to get sympathy for something or the other – silly and not working.  Clearly you need to grow up.
• Circular conversations – probably you need some logic babes.
• Facebook- it is not an Aastha or a motivation channel. Go easy on your motivational/inspirational likes.
• Latest one -- someone lands at work @ mid-day, and says - Sorry. I woke up so late, and rushed to work. Did not even have time for coffee. Really dude... do you remember your facebook foot prints from the morning? Or was it sleep facebooking ;). 

I can add to the list because I am thoroughly amused – but I won’t. I also know that only some have such minds.

It Really Works!! The Garmin GPS Device in India!! Well - So Far!!

I have never been very fond of GPS devices. And even though I used one in the US, I always used to try to use my direction sense, or lack of it.  Moving back to India - the thought or talk of buying a GPS device in India was out of question – because of roads without names, detours, perpetual constructions, and what not. In fact, I used to get highly  amused when someone would talk about it. If you have lived in India long enough, you know that the best way to reach a destination is to ask the autowallahs, or bikers, or anyone. They would typically tell you all the twists and turns to get you to your destination.

One fine day, I was out to get a cup of coffee and saw these cool looking dudes trying to sell Garmin to all people who work at Cyber Greens, and go to the food court. Which, in fact, are many. In tune with my compulsive shopping ( you know how you always need to be connected with yourself – and I hadn’t shopped for anything since the weekend and it was mid-week), I randomly picked up the cheapest GPS device that they had been selling on the Kiosk. The only solace/comfort of the shopping was that I had picked the cheapest device, and for once, my brother thought that it would be helpful. To write a bit more about my brother, he actually draws maps, that are better than google maps for me- for all the random places that I have to drive to.

So – back to GPS -- there it was, the GPS device, in my car for over a week, and I hadn’t even opened it – till today happened. Having moved the office space recently – from the very hep New Gurgaon to the old Gurgaon- where traffic jams are the way to reach -- I was trying to explore a less traffic-y road at 10:00 in the night. That was totally insane of me, but I was trying to be Miss Know –It-All. I barely recalled what my brother told me once, and thought of exploring the route. So, predictably, I was totally lost on the deserted roads of Old Gurgaon – and I was really scared. I tried calling my brother - who is really Mr –Know-It-All routes, but his phone was not reachable. And suddenly, I remembered the INRs that I had spent on the device, the device itself, and plugged it in.

Guess What – I actually reached home – from I don’t know where – following the directions of a heavy American accent, trying to pronounce Gurgaon and Dakshin and Shankar C-H-O-W-K. Oh Well, the GPS device in India, actually work. So far!!

Some flora and fauna that I shot in Coorg

June 30th - 2012 -- My lens and I spent a weekend in Coorg, which is also known as Scotland of India. I don't know what Scotland looks like yet, but definitely loved Coorg. Sharing some photos... write up coming soon...

Eating Blue - Blue Decor, Blue Light, Blue Curacao Decoration on plate!!!

estia - Cuisines of the Mediterranean @ aloft Bangalore

I had the honor of sole dining at estia yesterday. Taking an early flight and going straight to a long work day, I was really looking forward to a nice meal. The name estia intrigued me. Legend has it that estia originates from the word Hestia; and Hestia was a Greek goddess of the hearth. Legend ( well aloft legend at least) had it that the restaurant was set in an alluring ambiance. Well don't people tell you that you need to pick a restaurant for reasons other than just ambiance? But people also tell you never stop learning :-). Anyhow, so, I make a stop at the restaurant - and decide to write on the experience --

• Probably alluring means shades of blue. The blue decor is nice; but bluish lights on the blue decor -- not happening dude!  Probably- you identifying Mediterranean with everything blue!!
• The four corners of the restaurant has four different type of table settings; and four different type of light; and four different types of tables. 
• The dress code for waiters is blue t-shirts. What a surprise. And how innovative that is.
• Now, even if you are alone, they want to seat you in the darkest corner. Probably because they don't other people to know that you are alone.Wait - you don't see many people in the  restaurant  anyways.
• Service also makes you feel blue. Unless you ask for it - they don't give you the menu -- probably inline with the theme blue. Or, probably they want you to wait longer so that people can come, thinking it is a busy place.
• However, they try to reduce the annoyance of waiting with nice, Greek music. 
• My order Falafel Wrap in Pita bread; Asparagus and Tender Peas Soup - served with truffle foam and healthy infusion ( essentially a carrot and orange juice); followed by Tiramisu

Now a quick review of the food

• What they call a Pita bread is actually a tortilla kind of thing. And they decorate the plate with a blue curacao syrup --- not happening, or appetizing. However, the taste of the sandwich was not bad at all. The vinegary onion in the wrap was actually a good customization.
• No truffle foam and a bit-too much salt in the soup. However, if you could get past the excessive salt, the taste of the soup ain't that bad.
• Healthy infusion might have been healthy; but nothing to write home about
• Tiramisu - way too much of Sugar - but after all, a dessert is a dessert; especially when you are overstuffed.

All- in- all, the plates weren't blue... probably because they don't want you to feel completely blued. All -in-all -- I might eat again at that place :-).