US Diary : Part II, 1st Snowfall,1st Skiing experience, At Dodge Ridge, Pine Crest, CA

It was my very first weekend here in US, And with guarantee of Coming Busy weekends , We had to plan for something. What could have been better than Skiing. Thought, it could be really adventurous. and mind you, It was much more than just adventurous. We decided to go to a Skiing resort called Dodge Ridge, at PineCrest,CA. 159 miles from Santa Clara. Considering the roads in US, it was Hardly 3 and half hour journey.

We have hired two cars here for a month, one Cheverolet Traverse SUV and one Nissan Altima. So 7 of us, left at around 5 am in the morning for Dodge Ridge. (Feb 6th' 10)

SC to Dodge ridge, 159 miles

The Cheverolet Traverse,SUV.. At 5 am just before Leaving.

It was an usual chilly Saturday morning. SunRise is a rare site in US, at least in this part of the country. Lush green lands, amazing scenery and of course Awesome roads, thats wat you'll find everywhere in US. (Sorry,for mentioning roads again and again, but I just can't stop admiring them, This admimration will continue in the next posts too :D )

chilly saturday morning

1st snow sight, on both sides of the road

We reached Pine Crest in around 2 and half hours. Its last 10-20 miles when you have to slow down a lot as the road surface becomes too slippery. Cars skidding on such roads is common. For normal cars, they provide chains which are attached to tyres to avoid skidding. We could see snow on both sides of the road.

reminded me of Jab We met (Kareena-Shahid), song

Destination in sight

every possible thing covered with snow.

White Roof tops, its the common color here for any house:)

We reached there at around 9 am. That was the first time I saw SnowFall. Man ...... it was too good. Once in a lifetime experience. Its really weird /amazing /aweeeesome /something else,( can't find a proper word ) to see snow actually falling down from the sky. Its called "SNOWING" here. I heard a cute kid talking on the phone with his dad: "Hey dad, wasssss up?, I'm Kewwwl, Its Snowing in here !!!!"

Yeah thats the way they usually talk with their parents. I wonder what will be my dad's reaction if I say something like that to him :D.
We all geared up for Skiing. Skiing boots are so heavy man.. almost 10 kgs and above. Initially I had a hard time walking with them.

all geared up

We opted for initial training because it can hurt you real bad if not done in a proper way. Lessons lasted for almost 2 hours and we had started skiing on our own. There are these amazing rides here at Dodge Ridge, which take you up the hill and then you ahve to come skiing donwards. Initially looked too scary. but I and one of my friend Ankan went for it. It was worth the effort. We fell down number of times. but I was too excited to get tired :D

Skiing down -I

was about to finish it

Yes I have done it -----yes yes yes..

Finally after 3 hours of rigourous practise , I completed one ride succesfully. Felt a sense of achievement ,Don't know why. Here americans train their kids since childhood . We could see children of all ages 1-10, skiing fluently and skillfully.

after a Successful ride

We had food at the cafe out there and left at around 5 pm. In Parking, Our car was totally covered with snow. We somehow managed to clear it up. On the way back, it started Snowing heavily, And for those 10-20 miles visibility was reduced to almost 1 metre. but we managed our way out of it successfully and were back to full speed.

me,Naresh,Ankan and Jason

New born Skier-- AK :)

Yes thats me,

Dodge Ridge I'll never forget you

Reached home at around 10 pm. Was too hungry. What could have been better than garamagram khichdi. Cooked in 10 mins, finished in 5 mins :D and went to sleep. All exciting day was over :)

US diary : Part I,1st air travel,some amazing experiences and 1st day in office at SC

Left from India on 31st early morning.

A dream came true.

Since childhood whenever I used to see a plane, I used to dream that one day I'll travel by that and and 1st time I do that I'll go to US. After joining Nvidia , I knew opportunities are going to be endless and sooner or later I'll get a chance to go abroad. But in 6 months????? never thought about it. Working hard since I have joined and hardwork got paid off today.

Mumbai airport

Yeah so let me share some of my expriences with you guys.

Left from home at around 8 30 p.m on 30th and reached Chhtrapati Shivaji Bombay International Airport at around 12 30 a.m. Started all the usual formalities . It was all new to me.

After getting the boarding pass I headed towards the immigration check counter. and Guess whom I saw?????------ Kajol,,,,,,,, she was looking gorgeous, standing just 4 ft away from me. She was wearing a nice black top and blue denim. She was with some foreigner Taklu :D Don't know who he was. I wanted to get an autograph but my immigration check took some time and by then, She had already left. Bad luck.
But my bad luck continued when my fellowmates saw SRK at the airport and I missed it :( Wish I could meet him personally someday....I think both SRK and Kajol were leaving for some promotion of MNIK.
Anyways, Bombay airport is nice. One outstanding thing at the airport is iifa Buzz Cafe. Its juss too good, with stills from Sholay, Janjeer and many more + different achievements of bollywood listed out there ,its one hell of an attraction. It just has everything what a cafe should have and a typical bollywood ambience.

IIFA buzz cafe

Dubai airport

Screens showing the distances

First flight took me till dubai. Dubai Airport is unending and lavish too. To get to the next flight we had to walk almost for 3 to 4 kms. It had some awesome cars on exhibition like BMW , BUGATI ,etc.

Bugati

BMW

Then Boarded the next flight for SFO. Unending 16 hours of journey. But when flight was half an hour away from SFO I suddenly experienced an adrenaline and my fatigue disappered . You won't believe but SFO airport's runway is along the sea shore (Pacific ocean). Moreover EMIRATES have a front and down camera attached to each plane so that you can get pilot's view from your seat. It was just amazing. One more thing is when you are about to land and there is sudden decrease in plane's altitude, You experience immense pressure on your ears. I felt like a deaf for 15 mins.



Ice particles on window

View of SFO from Plane



Pacific Ocean and SFO, Amazing pic

Door se dekha toh

Pass se dekha toh :P

At SFO airport after landing

at SFO airport

Baki kuch nahi, Land karte waqt plane bhi PMT jaise Jhatke maar raha tha :P

Company had already arranged a cab for us till Santa Clara (SC). I'm staying in Hotel Sierra and its pretty good. Has all the possible amenities. Weather in SC is quite chilly these days

Hotel Sierra

One more important thing , You got to drive in US, no matter what.

If you are a true rider, you just can't resist US roads. They are simply amazing.

Today was my first day in office. Met all my colleagues, with whom I used to communicate only over phone. Work has already started.

Nvidia SC campus is hugeeeeeee.. You can't get its view in single sight.Now I'm back from the office. Looking forward to have great time as well as great work experience here . Only time will tell. Lets see.

NVIDIA HQ

Nth street cafe at Nvidia SC

raat mein

din mein :P

Havnt got over the JetLag yet . Feeling sleepy now. Ending the note here.Good night.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan - Dil To Bacha Hai (Ishqiya) Amazing song

Aisi ulji nazar unse hatt ti nahi

Daant se reshmi dor katt ti nahi

Umar kab ki baras ke safaid ho gayi

Kaari badari jawani ki chatt ti nahi

Walla ye dhadkan bhadne lagi hai

Chehre ki rangat udne lagi hai

Darr lagta hai tanha sone mein ji

Dil to bachcha hai ji

Dil to bachcha hai ji

Thoda kaccha hai ji

Haan dil to baccha hai ji

Aisi ulji nazar unse hatt ti nahi

Daant se reshmi dor katt ti nahi

Umar kab ki baras ke safaid ho gayi

Kaari badari jawani ki chatt ti nahi

Ra ra ra ..

Kisko ptaa tha pehlu mein rakha

Dil aisa baaji bhi hoga

Hum to hamesha samajhte the koi

Hum jaisa haaji hi hoga

Hai zor karein, kitna shor karein

Bewaja baatein pe ainwe gaur karein

Dilsa koi kameena nahi

Koi to rokey, koi to tokey

Iss umar mein ab khaogey dhokhe

Darr lagta hai ishq karne mein ji

Dil to bachcha hai ji

Dil to bachcha hai ji

Thoda kaccha hai ji

Haan dil to baccha hai ji

Aisi udhaasi baithi hai dil pe

Hassne se ghabra rahe hain

Saari jawani katra ke kaati

Piri mein takra gaye hain

Dil dhadakta hai to aise lagta hai woh

Aa raha hai yahin dekhta hi na woh

Prem ki maarein kataar re

Taubah ye lamhe katt te nahi kyun

Aankhein se meri hatt te nahi kyun

Darr lagta hai mujhse kehne mein ji

Dil toh bachcha hai ji

Dil toh bachcha hai ji

Thoda kaccha hai ji

Haan dil toh baccha hai ji

nAble event at nVidia, 21st Nov'09

Really wat a fabulous day it was!!
nVidia has this group called nAble which takes initiatives for noble causes. This time it was about donating substantial money to Jagriti Blind School of girls so that they can build a 'vocational training center' at their institute.

But a more innovative idea from nAble was not just to donate this money but also to invite those girls to nVidia to spend a day here!!

I initially thought not a big deal to invite them here. But when I actually interacted with them I came to know its a biiiig deal. Most of them were completely visually impared For them just to know that they were at the 12th floor of a building and to know that whole Pune's view can be seen from there, was one Wonder.I really appreciate nVidia for having something called nAble which most other software companies lack. I got the chance to perform here at the event and I'm glad that I performed here. It was one of the memorable performances. Wanted to keep this on my blog So Pasting down a mail which was circulated today in nVidia.

Hello All,

Nov 21 was not one of those Saturdays, which came and went just like that. It was the day, which is now considered as one of the most treasured day in the lives of ~30 odd NVidians and their families. That’s the day we spent with 46 students of The “Jagriti School for Blind Girls”.

It was a result of 3-4 days of continuous meetings and sync ups at various levels, including our invaluable facility and support team. The entire “planned” event went off without a hitch. A day of perfect team work and dedication for the cause!! Be it preparations, or arranging arrival for them – which meant arranging bus/receiving children/bringing them in lift to the venue, or to welcome them with drink-gazra-attar-gulab, or equally participating with them for various musical items or show, or to encourage them to win maximum chocolates during quiz time, or serving lunch, or helping them find a surprise star stuck in chair for a surprise gift, or just spending some time with them explaining musical instruments used or just singing with them => we had full enthusiasm visible all across. The performances were no doubt exceptional from the students side. Our NVidians also matched it with equal claps from the audience. Dhiraj kept the atmosphere light with his witty comments and quizzing time. Neeraj playing drum set (with all the energy and style) was so effective, that the children couldn’t keep their hands off the drum set during free time. No doubt the performers Akash and Neeraj struck a perfect cord, to become their “favorite” bhaiya by end of day.

Post lunch, the girls had started to open up. Antakshari being a favorite across all levels, we formed 5 groups (with names!!), NV volunteers joined one group each – and we started with a round of songs, laughter and call outs. Amol’s “Identify songs from the music” round won loads of “oh no, it was simple” remark. We followed it up with a round of musical chair and passing the parcel – being played simultaneously. Girls showed their competitive spirit and made sure they tried hard to win. Two of the winners in each game, got a token prize. Many NVidians then got hold of places opposite some of chess players we had amongst the girls!! The special chess boards they brought (on special request) was a curiosity for all of us.

The students’ performances in the 1st half was judged by 3 of the NV volunteers. They chose 3 most talented ones from the lot, who were given prizes by end of the event. We also gave 5 encouragement prizes to some students. We also gave away the 5 surprise gifts, in exchange of the surprise stars. Last, but not the least, Jagriti Blind School was presented with a total (employees contribution and NV-Foundation match) funds of Rs. ********/-, which they would be using to build a vocational training centre classroom in their under-construction new model school building.

We parted with them after some snacks and few group photos, with a promise to ourselves to continue doing these little things for the society around us – which gives us great satisfaction and adds meaning to our lives.

I would like a special mention of the great care and help available from the facility and support team. They were there even before someone called for them. They were finished with the job, even before someone could think of it. They are a wonderful lot under Ravi, dedication and energy levels are extremely high – incomparable!!

Great way to take out some time off our busy schedules, and do our bit of responsibility for the community.

Thanks for the continued support.

Regards,
nAble Team

Another Heartbreaking SOLO from Sachin :(

Felt like writing today after a long time.

Reason is another heart throbbing Solo by Sachin... but the fact that his another solo turned out to be heart breaking.

India Vs Aus, 5th Nov, 5th ODI, Venue Hyderabad.

There has been a long lasting debate on whether Sachin is the greatest ever player, even in my office. FYI, I'm a die hard Sachin fan but the fact that after yesterday's game every die- hard Sachin follower was sad.

Now, there are those blind followers of Sachin whom will say that we expect Sachin to single handedly win the game, other players did nothing , no one supported him, even upto the extent that hyderabad's ground is so called manhoos ground for India.(India has never won a match in hyderabad).

Of course, he played like a maestro out there, tearing apart Aussie attack. When our so called batsmen were throwing away their wickets like fools , Sachin was coping up with the every single wicket's fall and keeping up the runflow going.

The almost impossible target of 351 came in the vicinity thanks to Sachin. His 175 was his 2nd ever best score in ODI's. When he was batting you could notice pressure on Ponting's face. He could see Australian defeat.. And how demoralising it would have been for Aussies to lose a match after scoring 350.

Man, his shots were a visual treat. But it has been argued since long that he is not the finisher of the game. Of Course u won't expect an opener to go and finish every game. But when it really mattered ,, when India needed 19 to get off 17..with 4 wickets in hand..

The GOD just had to make sure that he stays on the crease.. See India through. (For those who would say u cant expect him to single handedly win the match for india,-->) That moment wanted him to stay back.. Not for his greatest 200 or his 17000 but for his team to win... That moment it was not about scoring runs under pressure. Aussies were under pressure.

I really feel, Those true followers of Sachin were left in disdain after the match. The frustration of India losing has to be more than Sachin scoring 175 or 17000.. If he is the GOD, Gods don't leave their team in a miserable condition exposing the tale to get those odd 19 runs.

Yesterday's match refreshed the memories of that India vs Pak test match when Sachin got out with India to get 17 runs and we lost the match. It looked like the same miserable Team India of 90's where without Sachin the GOD they can't win, and GOD again proving that he is not really the GOD to save them in every situation.

Sachin is truly the greatest ever batsman where he might go on to score 20K runs in ODIs and 50 hundreds in each test and ODI's but arguably not the greatest ever cricket player who could see his team through when it really mattered.

On an optimistic note, I really hope that next 2 matches turn out to be good.

I really want Sachin to play 2011 world cup and win it for india, For the great player who has played 5 world cups, this will surely be a grand exit.

Dooriyan - Love Aaj Kal--- Amazing song

Music : Pritam

Singer(s) : Mohit Chauhan
Lyricist(s) : Irshad Kamilye

ye dooriyan..
ye dooriyan
in raahon ki dooriyaan
nigahon ki dooriyaan
humrahon ki dooriyaan
fanaa ho sabhi dooriyan
kyun koi paas hai door hai
kyun koi jaane na koi yahan pe
aa raha paas ya door main ja raha
jaanu na main hoon kahan pe
ye dooriyan
in raahon ki dooriyaan
nigahon ki dooriyaan
humrahon ki dooriyaan
fanaa ho sabhi dooriyan
ye dooriyan..
ye dooriyan..
ye dooriyan..
kabhi hua ye bhi khaali raahon pe bhi
tu tha mere saath
kabhi tujhe mil ke lauta mera dil ye
khaali khaali haath
ye bhi hua kabhi jaise hua abhi
tujh ko sabhi mein pa liya
tera mujhe
kar jaati hain dooriyan
sataati hain dooriyan
tarsaati hain dooriyan
fanaa ho sabhi dooriyan
kaha bhi na maine nahi jeena maine
tu jo na mila
tujhe bhoole se bhi bola na main
ye bhi chahoon faasla
bas faasla vo rahe
ban ke kasak jo kahe
ho aur chahat ye jawan
teri meri
ghat jaani hain dooriyaan
begaani hain dooriyan
hat jaani hain dooriyan
fanaa ho sabhi dooriyaan...
kyun koi paas hai door hai
kyun koi jaane na koi yahan pe
aa raha paas ya door main ja raha
jaanu na main hoon kahan pe
ye dooriyan..
in raahon ki dooriyaan
nigahon ki dooriyaan
humrahon ki dooriyaan
fanaa ho sabhi dooriyan
ye dooriyaan..
ye dooriyaan..
ye dooriyaan..

Useless Post II

Hi all,
sup? Got lotta time today to write.I must say its during this time of the year i have lotta time to write and not a very interesting topic to write on :D. So naming this as Useless post II. My fortune on orkut today says
Today's fortune: Good humor makes all things tolerable :D

So wat r the current happenings ..
Like How Chris Gardner says in The Pursuit of Happiness, I would say
This part of my life can be called as Transition.
Transition from being a student to being a professional.
Things are changing, may be they have to. Suddenly we start searching for weekends to do timepass, when actually just sometime back every day was like a weekend.

On weekends also somehow , everyone manages to sync up their time for 2-3 hours max.
Let it be.. Need to get used to it.

So the breaking news is I met with an accident yesterday. Got 3 stitches on my chin, thus losing the "Visiting hospital for the first time" virginity. [:D]
For all "the Losers", This has been the 3rd reported incident after Poo's and Hasan's accident earlier during the year.
Juss a weird idea came across my mind, If ever i get old, as old as a father :D, then these 3 incidents could be told to my children like a HIMUM's episode.

Wow !!!! u must have guessed now that how much time i have to think , to imagine and to write just any crap.

BTW company is going fine. Things are looking good. Learning a lot.
Giving my best.
We are moving to a new facility soon. All excited about it.
Haven't composed any new songs on my guitar recently. Wanted to do it this weekend, But now this accident. Have to discontinue gymming also for sometime now.

Got a book called "Maximum, Bombay lost and found" by Suketu Mehta.
Heard that its good and somebody is making a movie on it.
lets see how interesting it actually is!!