Thursday 24 April 2008
Tuesday 22 April 2008
Monday 21 April 2008
50 hours and counting
It's official, I haven't been to bed in some 50 hours now! It's after 1am and I've just started worked my UK/Ireland working day. San Francisco is just as I remember it. My hotel is right in the middle of the downtown activity. Nice. So far so good, but I should really get some sleep.
Sunday 20 April 2008
San Francisco
Well after a little bit of rest in Dublin, I'm at it again. This time I'm off to San Francisco, where I am due to talk at Interwoven Gearup 2008. I've very excited at this opportunity, but nervous, nevertheless, as this will be my first time to travel so far alone.
I'm currently sitting in the Airport lounge in Dublin, looking out at a very cold, dark (8am) and wet runway. I'm taking off in an hour and I need sleep. I really should have slept last nite, but I never got around to it. Don't ask!
I'm currently sitting in the Airport lounge in Dublin, looking out at a very cold, dark (8am) and wet runway. I'm taking off in an hour and I need sleep. I really should have slept last nite, but I never got around to it. Don't ask!
Sunday 9 March 2008
Not more curry
The last few days have hectic! Wednesday, Thursday and Friday where at least 15 hour days for me, heading into the office from 9am until 12pm. Thankfully I've moved onto the campus, perhaps this could be a contributing factor.
Now on the campus, food options in the evening aren't are great. Yes it has a Subway and Dominos Pizza, but both aren't very healthy and to be truthful I'm sick of curry. Everything is curried, I've love simple vegetables.
On both Thursday and Friday our dinner was delivered to our hotel rooms after 9am, but we didn't get back until after midnight, to cold dinner. Fingers crossed we don't get sick eating cold dinner!
This weekend was a massive turn around, we managed to get out of the campus and see some of India, well at least Hyderabad. We had hoped to fly out as far as Goha for the weekend, but decided to stay local. We had an amazing time, a day two city tour, really happy we stayed.
Saturday kicked off with some work in the office, all of the developers are working the weekend to meeting the deadlines. Our driver and guide picked us up at 12 noon. It's not safe to travel alone, and as everything is so cheap, it costs nothing to have a personal driver and guide. We covered the local one man collection museum, with the world famous Veiled Rebecca, leading onto the Chowmahalla palace, which was truly beautiful. Jody got alot of attention from the local schoolgirls, they were amazed to see a white person. It's funny really, but rather cute to see 10+ girls swarm her in affection and awe over her differences. This place is truly untouched. The afternoon was spent pearl shopping, this City is known for it's world famous pearls!
Saturday evening, we took one of the developers whos over from the UK, Smitha, out for dinner in the Tak Kristina Hotel, it's a 5 star hotel some 40 odd minutes from our campus. The food was brill, nice and western for our tastes. Midnight buffets are common in hotels here, great for us as we didn't arrive until after midnight. Deserts here in India are something else. They are usually hot, so accompanied with vanilla ice cream is usually the norm. We had hired a local at taxi man to drive us out. Its normal for then to wait for you, he did. We returned home some 3 hours later. The whole taxi and waited costed less than €20! Amazing!
Sunday was an early start, 10am departure from outside the hotel/hostel, guess what, Jody and I were late! We still need sleep! Our first port of call was the Golkonda Fort. This fort is the original fort for the king of the area. It has both mosque and Hindi Temple. The views from the top of the hill where the royal palace sits where breathtaking, the whole of Hyderabad beneath. The roads around the fort where something else, cows, goats and all manners of animals roamed the streets. So weird!
We took in Mc Donalds, yes I know I shouldn't have, but this in India, Mac Donalds doesn't serve beef! So no big mac. Lots of nice chicken and veggie options on the menu. Handicraft shopping followed where Jody was surprised with a birthday cake! Today was her birthday and our guide organised the cake! How thoughtful! Brill or what! All of the Indians in the store sang to her! How nice.
A visit to the center of the old town followed afterwards, taking in the charminara and bangle street (famous for it's bangles). A visit to the local mosque, capable of holding 10,000 was a must, but we didn't go any further past the inner courtyard. Lots of goats roamed the grounds, I was horrified to learn that these were owned by the mosque, and would be killed in scarifies to God! WHAT! They don't deserve that! As I'm currently a vegetarian during this lent period, I find this very hard to accept and modern day religion/church would perform such an act. Horrible.
Again, walking around the very busy streets, we stuck out. The only two white people in a massive crowd of 1000s. People touched us, talked to us, shuck our hands. It all really was nice, but very very strange. The kids are more inquisitive then the adults.
We need to book our flights home tomorrow, more then likely we'll be leaving on Friday. Heres to another week (or best part of) in India. Pics soon, not easy to upload as I'm on a very slow mobile broadband connection provided by the company I'm visiting over here.
Now on the campus, food options in the evening aren't are great. Yes it has a Subway and Dominos Pizza, but both aren't very healthy and to be truthful I'm sick of curry. Everything is curried, I've love simple vegetables.
On both Thursday and Friday our dinner was delivered to our hotel rooms after 9am, but we didn't get back until after midnight, to cold dinner. Fingers crossed we don't get sick eating cold dinner!
This weekend was a massive turn around, we managed to get out of the campus and see some of India, well at least Hyderabad. We had hoped to fly out as far as Goha for the weekend, but decided to stay local. We had an amazing time, a day two city tour, really happy we stayed.
Saturday kicked off with some work in the office, all of the developers are working the weekend to meeting the deadlines. Our driver and guide picked us up at 12 noon. It's not safe to travel alone, and as everything is so cheap, it costs nothing to have a personal driver and guide. We covered the local one man collection museum, with the world famous Veiled Rebecca, leading onto the Chowmahalla palace, which was truly beautiful. Jody got alot of attention from the local schoolgirls, they were amazed to see a white person. It's funny really, but rather cute to see 10+ girls swarm her in affection and awe over her differences. This place is truly untouched. The afternoon was spent pearl shopping, this City is known for it's world famous pearls!
Saturday evening, we took one of the developers whos over from the UK, Smitha, out for dinner in the Tak Kristina Hotel, it's a 5 star hotel some 40 odd minutes from our campus. The food was brill, nice and western for our tastes. Midnight buffets are common in hotels here, great for us as we didn't arrive until after midnight. Deserts here in India are something else. They are usually hot, so accompanied with vanilla ice cream is usually the norm. We had hired a local at taxi man to drive us out. Its normal for then to wait for you, he did. We returned home some 3 hours later. The whole taxi and waited costed less than €20! Amazing!
Sunday was an early start, 10am departure from outside the hotel/hostel, guess what, Jody and I were late! We still need sleep! Our first port of call was the Golkonda Fort. This fort is the original fort for the king of the area. It has both mosque and Hindi Temple. The views from the top of the hill where the royal palace sits where breathtaking, the whole of Hyderabad beneath. The roads around the fort where something else, cows, goats and all manners of animals roamed the streets. So weird!
We took in Mc Donalds, yes I know I shouldn't have, but this in India, Mac Donalds doesn't serve beef! So no big mac. Lots of nice chicken and veggie options on the menu. Handicraft shopping followed where Jody was surprised with a birthday cake! Today was her birthday and our guide organised the cake! How thoughtful! Brill or what! All of the Indians in the store sang to her! How nice.
A visit to the center of the old town followed afterwards, taking in the charminara and bangle street (famous for it's bangles). A visit to the local mosque, capable of holding 10,000 was a must, but we didn't go any further past the inner courtyard. Lots of goats roamed the grounds, I was horrified to learn that these were owned by the mosque, and would be killed in scarifies to God! WHAT! They don't deserve that! As I'm currently a vegetarian during this lent period, I find this very hard to accept and modern day religion/church would perform such an act. Horrible.
Again, walking around the very busy streets, we stuck out. The only two white people in a massive crowd of 1000s. People touched us, talked to us, shuck our hands. It all really was nice, but very very strange. The kids are more inquisitive then the adults.
We need to book our flights home tomorrow, more then likely we'll be leaving on Friday. Heres to another week (or best part of) in India. Pics soon, not easy to upload as I'm on a very slow mobile broadband connection provided by the company I'm visiting over here.
Tuesday 4 March 2008
Day 3/4: India
India, what can I say, well its unlike anything I've ever seen in my life. Arriving on Monday morning at 3am, Hyderabad airport is like stepping back in time. Immigration was slow, bag collection was messy and packed. Customs took us aside when we declared we'd three laptops between two of us. Apparently the limit is one per visitor. They were going to make us pay tax on one of them, but decided to let us off. Nice.
Outside the airport our driver picked us up, thank god, your going to get a normal taxi over here for love nor money. Crowds stood outside the, many of them local beggers, one followed Jody, stated he worked for the airport. He just wanted money, it was messy. We are being chauffeured everywhere here, for free. The company we are visiting are paying for all food, accommodation and transport.
The local money around 100R to 1.6Euro. We've no real idea of far 100R can take us. We opted to play it stay and take out 50Euro worth. Over the last two days we've been tipping our drivers anywhere between 200R and 600R. It was only from buying food out that we realised a coffee is less then 16cent and a full main course costs 1Euro. It's no wonder they love us, we're giving them a weeks wage in one tip! What can you do!
We're staying in hotel, some 45mins away from the Company Campus. The hotel is beautiful, but we've been so busy we haven't had the chance to use all of the facilities including a roof swimming pool. Temperatures reach over 100F/38C daily. Its HOT! But we're in air conditioned cars and buildings.
Work is long. Today, Tuesday, we've spent some 14 hours in the office.
The food is spicy. Monday lunch was had in hotel, due to my diet I only had boiled veg, but I'm getting more adventurous as time goes on. I'm still not eating too much, but getting enough juice and water to live! On the other hand, Jody is LOVING all the food, it really is a dream come through.
We've checking out of the hotel tomorrow as we're scheduled to move into the campus itself tomorrow evening. We'll remain there until we leave India next week. We're making great progress, but still have alot more to do. We've two other colleagues over here for the last week, they are moving on to another city tomorrow.
I'm going to head to bed here as I need to pack and check out in the morning. I'll update soon with pics and videos and some more impressions of India.
Outside the airport our driver picked us up, thank god, your going to get a normal taxi over here for love nor money. Crowds stood outside the, many of them local beggers, one followed Jody, stated he worked for the airport. He just wanted money, it was messy. We are being chauffeured everywhere here, for free. The company we are visiting are paying for all food, accommodation and transport.
The local money around 100R to 1.6Euro. We've no real idea of far 100R can take us. We opted to play it stay and take out 50Euro worth. Over the last two days we've been tipping our drivers anywhere between 200R and 600R. It was only from buying food out that we realised a coffee is less then 16cent and a full main course costs 1Euro. It's no wonder they love us, we're giving them a weeks wage in one tip! What can you do!
We're staying in hotel, some 45mins away from the Company Campus. The hotel is beautiful, but we've been so busy we haven't had the chance to use all of the facilities including a roof swimming pool. Temperatures reach over 100F/38C daily. Its HOT! But we're in air conditioned cars and buildings.
Work is long. Today, Tuesday, we've spent some 14 hours in the office.
The food is spicy. Monday lunch was had in hotel, due to my diet I only had boiled veg, but I'm getting more adventurous as time goes on. I'm still not eating too much, but getting enough juice and water to live! On the other hand, Jody is LOVING all the food, it really is a dream come through.
We've checking out of the hotel tomorrow as we're scheduled to move into the campus itself tomorrow evening. We'll remain there until we leave India next week. We're making great progress, but still have alot more to do. We've two other colleagues over here for the last week, they are moving on to another city tomorrow.
I'm going to head to bed here as I need to pack and check out in the morning. I'll update soon with pics and videos and some more impressions of India.
Sunday 2 March 2008
Day 2: Whistle stop tour of Dubai
WOW, Dubai is such an amazing city. We spent some two hours getting a personal tour of the city from a very friendly taxi man, Osama, it only cost us less then €35! Taxis are so cheap in this City. It really is Disney land in the middle east. I've so much to blog about, but it's after 5am and I've just arrived in Hyderabad, India. I need to get to sleep as I've to work in the morning. This place is a massive culture shock, I hope I can handle it, more tomorrow.
Saturday 1 March 2008
Day 2: Swim
Nothing better then starting the day with a leisurely dip in the hotel pool! The hotel has a great gym (strictly men only until 9:30am and again after 3pm, otherwise women only!) and great outdoor pool! I never thought I'd be in my speedos in a heated outdoor pool at the start of March! It was a great wake up to this days adventure in Dubai.
I finally got to sleep last night around 5am, to be woken by my phone alarm at 7, again at 7:30 by the room alarm (which I didn't set) and a final time by a hotel employee at 9am. He kept knocking at the door, I answered naked, he just wanted to know how many where sleeping in my room! I don't snore that loud do I?
About to check out of the hotel, check onto the flight in 12 hours time and head off shopping and sightseeing in downtown Dubai.
Day 1: Flight and arrival in Dubai
It's 4am local time here in Dubai, 11pm back home. I'm not tired. I should be as I'd only 3 hours sleep yesterday. Everything is happening so quickly, there is so much to take in, new experiences, new cultures new ways of behaving (well I'm not a changing!). I usually got to bed around 4am back home, so I should be getting tired at 9am local, not good really.
This morning was a little rushed, I'm never organised. Jody picked me up at 8:30am and we where in the airport for 9am checked in and sitting in the AerLingus Lounge soon after. Dublin airport is a scream. Anything goes, if you a chat you get a chat. We had great craic with one of the ladies in Duty free over the Airport security. Oh and I was over weight in my suitcase, allowance is 20kg, I'm 26.5kg, ops! They never charged me. Let's see if they charge me tomorrow when I fly emirates over to India.
The AerLingus Dubai route has been in operation for some two or so years now, leaving Dublin every other day. It's scheduled to be retired later this month with the aircraft being put into service on a daily Dublin to San Francisco route. Connections between Dublin and the USA sell more. It wasn't a fancy AerLingus plane, no in-seat entertainment. I wasn't expecting much. AerLingus do have one single modern Airbus, it must be on the LA or San Francisco route. We pre-checked in online in advance and picked the exit row seats. Lots and lots of leg room, very nice indeed. We experienced a little turbulence on the way over, one very bad drop, but overall a very smooth and quick flight (around 7 hours) taking us across Europe, Turkey, close to Iran then over over the Gulf.
Food on board wasn't too good. I didn't get to take breakfast, which I regret, so I was a little hungry on board. Unfortunately my vegetarian request didn't go through completely. I'd asked for no-wheat and what did I get pasta and cake with milk. Not good. This is only the start, I'm sure I'm going to really struggle to maintain a vegan (no-wheat) diet on this trip. The staff did however manage to provide me some fresh bananas which filled the spot.
We arrived in Dubai some 20 minutes early due to the tail wind, first thing that hit me was the heat. It's nothing like at home, so humid, too warm, and this is 10pm at night! I had to go to the toilet, I was shocked to find out the public loos in the arrivals hall of Dubai International Airport include holes in the ground - literately! They do provide shower hoses at each loo in case you need to clean down below. Yuk Conveniently a mosque is also located before passport control - just in case!
I must admin I was a little frightened approaching passport control, all of the staff where dressed in traditional clothing, white robes, sandals and head scarfs. That said they where extremely efficient and super friendly. I got myself a 60 day tourist visa, pitty I'm only here for 20 hours.
Something to note in future, I must look up the local currency and conversion rate before entering a country. Jody and I headed straight to the ATM to take money out. We didn't know what the currency was nor how much converts to 1 Euro. Total mess, but we did have a laugh at the ATMS involving more then one on-looker!
Taking a cab to the hotel was an experience in itself. The hotel was to provide a shuttle, but we couldn't find our man. The airport taxi rank is ran in military fashion. Some 30 cabs pull in, all taxi men get out and stand beside their cars, then, in file, we are let out and run to collect a car! Our taxi driver, a Egyptian native, works in Dubai 10 months a year then returns home for the remaining 2. He was a great character, had Jody and I in stiches. He thought we were an item, when find out we were not he offer to let Jody out at the hotel and to take me to a local Disco! MAD!
We checked in and settled for a bit before trying to head out to eat. Dubai appears to close early, around 1am. It was midnight and this stage so we opted to eat in the hotel. The menu is very friendly to my diet. But the portions are massive, and very cheap. From fresh boiled veggies for me to Arabian hummus delights, there was far too much food. We ate ourselves silly then retired for the night at 2:30am.
I'm planning on getting up at 7am for a swim on the hotels roof top swimming pool before heading off to explore the city and it's many shopping malls. 20 hours might not be enough in this city (which Jody thinks resembles LA!)
This morning was a little rushed, I'm never organised. Jody picked me up at 8:30am and we where in the airport for 9am checked in and sitting in the AerLingus Lounge soon after. Dublin airport is a scream. Anything goes, if you a chat you get a chat. We had great craic with one of the ladies in Duty free over the Airport security. Oh and I was over weight in my suitcase, allowance is 20kg, I'm 26.5kg, ops! They never charged me. Let's see if they charge me tomorrow when I fly emirates over to India.
The AerLingus Dubai route has been in operation for some two or so years now, leaving Dublin every other day. It's scheduled to be retired later this month with the aircraft being put into service on a daily Dublin to San Francisco route. Connections between Dublin and the USA sell more. It wasn't a fancy AerLingus plane, no in-seat entertainment. I wasn't expecting much. AerLingus do have one single modern Airbus, it must be on the LA or San Francisco route. We pre-checked in online in advance and picked the exit row seats. Lots and lots of leg room, very nice indeed. We experienced a little turbulence on the way over, one very bad drop, but overall a very smooth and quick flight (around 7 hours) taking us across Europe, Turkey, close to Iran then over over the Gulf.
Food on board wasn't too good. I didn't get to take breakfast, which I regret, so I was a little hungry on board. Unfortunately my vegetarian request didn't go through completely. I'd asked for no-wheat and what did I get pasta and cake with milk. Not good. This is only the start, I'm sure I'm going to really struggle to maintain a vegan (no-wheat) diet on this trip. The staff did however manage to provide me some fresh bananas which filled the spot.
We arrived in Dubai some 20 minutes early due to the tail wind, first thing that hit me was the heat. It's nothing like at home, so humid, too warm, and this is 10pm at night! I had to go to the toilet, I was shocked to find out the public loos in the arrivals hall of Dubai International Airport include holes in the ground - literately! They do provide shower hoses at each loo in case you need to clean down below. Yuk Conveniently a mosque is also located before passport control - just in case!
I must admin I was a little frightened approaching passport control, all of the staff where dressed in traditional clothing, white robes, sandals and head scarfs. That said they where extremely efficient and super friendly. I got myself a 60 day tourist visa, pitty I'm only here for 20 hours.
Something to note in future, I must look up the local currency and conversion rate before entering a country. Jody and I headed straight to the ATM to take money out. We didn't know what the currency was nor how much converts to 1 Euro. Total mess, but we did have a laugh at the ATMS involving more then one on-looker!
Taking a cab to the hotel was an experience in itself. The hotel was to provide a shuttle, but we couldn't find our man. The airport taxi rank is ran in military fashion. Some 30 cabs pull in, all taxi men get out and stand beside their cars, then, in file, we are let out and run to collect a car! Our taxi driver, a Egyptian native, works in Dubai 10 months a year then returns home for the remaining 2. He was a great character, had Jody and I in stiches. He thought we were an item, when find out we were not he offer to let Jody out at the hotel and to take me to a local Disco! MAD!
We checked in and settled for a bit before trying to head out to eat. Dubai appears to close early, around 1am. It was midnight and this stage so we opted to eat in the hotel. The menu is very friendly to my diet. But the portions are massive, and very cheap. From fresh boiled veggies for me to Arabian hummus delights, there was far too much food. We ate ourselves silly then retired for the night at 2:30am.
I'm planning on getting up at 7am for a swim on the hotels roof top swimming pool before heading off to explore the city and it's many shopping malls. 20 hours might not be enough in this city (which Jody thinks resembles LA!)
Friday 29 February 2008
Day 1: It's finally here.
I can't believe it, but in a matter of hours I will be taking off from Dublin airport to begin this adventure. To keep me company on this trip is another work colleague, Jody! We're leaving Dublin at 11am arriving in Dubai International airport some 7.5 hours later. Dubai is 4 hours ahead of Irish time, making just after 10pm when we land. Our connecting flight to Hyderabad, India isn't until the following night, so we've booked a hotel in the city to spend the night. All of this is easier said then done. We only have Indian Visas, so we need to queue up and hopefully get a tourist visa to spend the night Dubai.
I think I've packed way too much, my allowance is only 20kg for checked luggage, I'm going to be well over as I'm bringing food! My porridge alone is 1kg! Typical! This is going to be fun! I'm still nervous!
I think I've packed way too much, my allowance is only 20kg for checked luggage, I'm going to be well over as I'm bringing food! My porridge alone is 1kg! Typical! This is going to be fun! I'm still nervous!
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