My First ever Yoga video

This 54 mins Yoga routine contains the full yoga workout in sequential order. For example the beginning pre-warm up phase where there are a series of breathing in and out steps followed by warmup stretches followed by more difficult stretches. The names of the asanas are not described, but if you simply follow the steps with controlled breathing, you are guaranteed to get the benefits you would otherwise get.  The background music is ocean sound. Enjoy....

How we shipped our stuff to India

This post is for those, who want to move back to India or any other country from USA and still want to carry some of your essential items with you the cheapest way. We booked our freight through AMID Logistics LLC. The web site where you can calculate your freight is here: Site

The next step is to calculate the fare. If you want to book a pallet (Pallets are nothing but a combination of boxes and other items bundled together into a cubic dimension), you have to decide on the dimension. For example, height, width and Length. Typically, small pallets are calculated in terms of inches. For instance, we booked something with Length 48 inch, width 40 inch and height 40 inch with an estimated weight of 600 lb. The total volume comes to about 1.26 cubic meters and the charges are $338. You can calculate this from their web site, and decide on what dimension you need and the price.

Packing Boxes into pallet:

We are busy sorting papers

Stacking boxes in the given area

Finally UHAULing to the shipping place

The next real big thing is to buy boxes that will fit into the dimension and the boxes should also be able to carry your items both big or small. We had few items we had decided to take, no matter what. And then there were bunch of optional items (we will take it if there is space and leave it otherwise). So, what we did was, in the corner of a room, marked the length and width and drew a rectangle. Then started arranging our essential items (In our case a chair, TV and printer and telescope). Once they were sitting pretty, we decided on the sizes of the boxes. Often, you will not be able to have all the boxes of the same size fitting into the space. Either you may overhang or you may waste space. So, we got boxes of size 14X14X14 from walmart and tried packing our stuff. Then there were a number of irregular space available. For that, we could not find the desirable boxes even though we hopped several stores. So, the best way to get irregular shaped boxes are from local walmart after 10 PM in the night, when they actually unpack their goods and throw the boxes. This process is tiring, but nevertheless a very useful one. We made 2 such trips and got hold of several boxes of different dimensions. Now like fitting puzzles, we started fitting those boxes into the given space. Once, we figured out which boxes fit in, then the packing step began. It took quite sometime for us to fit in the boxes actually. Since we had optional items remaining, we only decided on which ones to take only after they fit into the boxes. Since we chose to drop the boxes at the shipping place at 1220 Texan Trail, Suite 200, Grapevine, TX 76051 , we were in charge of arranging those into pallets. So, we numbered the boxes and took visual map of boxes by taking pictures and drawing maps on plain paper. Once that part is taken care of next thing was to rent a UHAUL and carry those things to the venue. 
Once taken to the venue, someone may come to help you with palletizing. There will be a wooden plank like structure based on your requirement and all that you have to do is stack boxes on them. We followed our map and did it efficiently. We took a lot of extra things such as comforters, pillows, towels, bedsheets, cushions etc. to provide extra cushion to the packing. Once, everything is stacked, we asked the person at the venue to wrap them with plastic wraps. Once they are in place, you can take it to the counter, where they do a final weight and dimension checking and given you a receipt. We did all this on Sunday, and got an email on Monday morning about declaring the items. Now the waiting begins.....

Our India Final move timeline - A years dairy

Here is the timeline for our quintessential India trip:

March 6th 2011 -> Applied for a position at IICB
April 2011         -> Heard from them that, I have been shortlisted and will be required to visit the institute for an interview.
May 2011          -> I confirmed my trip for July end
May 2011          -> Lined up for another interview with Amity University Delhi during July
July 28th 2011   -> Went to IICB, Kolkatta for an interview
August 2011      -> Asked to submit the application again along with reference letters
August 2011      -> Submitted application for Ramalingaswamy fellowship and Ramaswamy fellowship
August 2011      -> Applied for a position in BASF
September 2011 -> Undergone 3 preliminary interviews with BASF
October 13th 2011 -> Personal interview at BASF, RTP, NC.
October 14th 2011 -> Offered a job at IICB as principal scientist
October 2011         -> Began the IB processing with Govt. Of India.
October 20th 2011 -> Offered a job at BASF
October 25th 2011 -> Accepted job at BASF
End of Oct 2011    -> Began the tumultuous procedure for joining BASF, multiple trips for faxing/scanning etc.
Nov 2011             -> Pramod visits India, Modhumita arrives
Nov 2011             -> Declined BASF position, chose the position in India over BASF job.
Nov 2011             -> Began to make arrangements for house sale including painting kitchen cabinets.
Nov 2011             -> Vidya visits
Feb 2012              -> Awarded prestigious Ramalingaswamy fellowship.
March 2012         -> Told my exit plans to boss at Helen, GA project meeting.
March 2012         -> Submitted a proposal to Welcome-DBT, but somehow, it was caught within the software tirade, never got submitted.
March 2012        -> Aparna and Naren visit us - met Aparna after 15 years!!!
April 1st week 2012 -> Took pictures of our house after thorough cleaning. Listed our house for sale
Within 5 days (10th April 2012) -> Got the first offer
April 17th 2012  -> Finalized the offer
April end 2012 -> Mousumee hosted a farewell party.
May 1st week 2012 -> Alaka invited me for my farewell party.

May 11th 2012 -> Visited Denver, met Uma, Utkal, Selvi.
May 20th 2012 -> My car was sold
May 25th - May 31st -> Visited China/ HK.During this time my bed. washer dryer and all other big items are sold.
10th June 2012   -> We hosted a farewell party for ourselves at Pasand
15th June 2012 -> Mamuni hosted a farewell party at her house.
16th June 2012 -> Pushpa nani hosted a farewell party at her place.
17th June 2012 -> Suchismita threw a small farewell dinner at her place.
18th June 2012 -> Rays visits us.
19th June 2012 -> Rays leaves for Boston.
23rd June 2012 -> Community people will throw a party for us.
24th June 2012 -> We shipped our stuff at the shipyard.
24th July 2012 -> Anjalidi invited us for dinner at China King.
26th June 2012 -> Our house will be finally closed.
29th June 2012 -> Runi nani gave farewell to us. Met Nikki's new born.
4th July             -> We leave our house.
5th July -> I start for VA
6th, 7th July -> 6 workshop lectures.
7th July -> Chitti drives from Ohio.
7th July -> Both Dewal and Rana drive from DC.
7th July -> visit to Pandapa's pond.
8th July -> Memorable day in life. We(Dewal, Rana, Chitti and I ) made it to 7 miles hucklebury trail followed by cascade. That night we met Nishant, Nileshwari and their little boy. Nostalgic...
13th July -> I return back from VA
19th July -> going to NY.
23rd July -> Finally leaving US for Kolkatta.


 

My Hongkong Trip

My breakfast at Nanjing airport

On 29th May, I left for Nanjing airport to take up a flight to Hongkong. Nanjing airport is quite small and you have a separate route to enter to the international counter. Realized this after going through the queues of China Eastern airlines. All of the Chinese airports don't flaunt electricity, rather the AC usage is minimal, which I liked very much. The counters leading to international entry was swift, so went to the gate quickly,.managed to have some fruit breakfast at the gate. I was scheduled to have a presentation at CUHK, so worked little bit on my slides at the airport while waiting.

The flight to Hongkong was un-eventful, just 2 hours. Hongkong airport is flanked by mountains and oceans - makes a very pretty view. The immigration was also amazingly easy, just passed like breeze. One thing to note here is, for most of the residents of many different countries; if you are stopping at Hongkong for less than 15 days, then no Visa will be required. I hope India does something similar to boost tourism!

D's apartment complex.

At the airport, one of the students of my good friend D was waiting. In conversation, I came to know that he had come all the way 3 hours back. I felt bad because I could have managed to go by myself. But nevertheless, it was great and enjoyable ride. Reached at the CUHK campus withing 45 minutes. The stay was arranged at the University guest house. My room just overlooked the ocean and mountain. Began to wait for my friend D to arrive. She came at 12.30 PM after completing some of her meetings. It was ecstatic, meeting her after 7 long years!! I have had so many fond memories with her while we were in Blacksburg together, including our cooking sessions, nature walk, writing grants and papers together and facing failure:(. It was a big part of learning experience and growing up together. She was almost like a sister to me. She left for Hongkong, got married, had a job had a family and all was well for her. I was really very happy about it. We hanged around the campus like old times and giggled a bit. But at the same time it was really sad that her father was seriously ill, and she had to leave the next day. D was very effective in hiding her feelings and was in complete control of the situation. We took some pictures in the campus and finally the time came to meet her daughter. She is an adorable 4 and half year old, very cherubic lively kid. Loved her company. Met D's in-laws, they are every bit the Asian parents are. Hanged around and went to the Indian eatery. It was not very pleasant dealing with the agents that drives(read force you) to their crappy small eating joints. Food was OK. We went back home tired by 9 PM. I used to get up at 1 AM every night during my China and Hongkong stay. Listen to Cookoo at 3 Am and enjoy day light at 4 AM onwards. D came to pick me up to her department at 9.30 AM. She is every bit her as I knew 7 years ago. Her office can testify that. Amazingly calm(despite her fathers health), she took me around and we had the scheduled talk at the right time and she had to leave. I can't stop but admire her for her calmness and steadfastness during the difficult hours. She did not forget to fetch lunch for me with nice Indian tea.  To top it all, she also arranged for me return trip to airport. It was really very touching. I wished her father could come out of Coma, but that was just a wish. Came to know that he passed away after few days.....

Photos of Hongkong from my taxi

D and I: Don't look at me, I am dead tired after 5 nights of 0 sleep!

I ventured into the city all by myself on 30th afternoon. Took the subway, and got down at Shatin station. That is a big shopping joint in Hongkong. They have a very big Ikea store there with rooms decorated with delightful furnitures. I went to the other side of the train station and there was another equally bigger mall with a variety of stuff. Browsed along, shopped little bit. It was all nice. On may way back, I had really tough time locating the guest house. I went round and round and had no cell phone. It was difficult to walk because it was getting dark, and there were plenty of mosquitoes biting me around and the terrain was hilly. I was sweating profusely. But somehow managed to reach the guest house and it was end of a memorable trip. Hoping to get there again sometimes soon...

At D's office!

Subway station Hongkong.

At the guest House (Where I stayed)

A nice green house "like" overlooking from my room.

Outside of the science building - CUHK.

Do you Fancy blogging?!

Lately, I see a meteoric rise in number of people willing to blog and successfully blog. While this is a great trend, but what if your blog does not offer anything new? Is it just a waste of web space and resources?

 Lets see what are the contents/types you would like to see in a blog:

1. Someones perspective about anything.
2. A new information.
3. Some interesting stories.
4. Pictures.
5. Compilations.
6. Travel assistance.
7. Ranting etc.

This list goes on and on. Basically people tend to write in a blog about what they feel about a thing, a situation, share information, photograph etc. So, it boils down to sharing new information. But what if someone just copy pastes some random paper abstracts and shares a link through their blog and post it in social media sites? This is one of the behavior irritates me most. I come across this person often through my FB -  who posts links to his blog and you go there and find nothing but the copy pasted abstract of a paper!! If you have nothing new to offer, then don't offer. If all that you want to do is to share the abstract, then just copy paste the link to it from pubmed, don't copy paste the abstract and mis-lead the reader as though it is your own. Another thing annoys me most is, even if you do that, don't flaunt it through social media such as facebook. How can you be proud of a thing that is so discernible? I use to tempt to do that half a decade back and realized a while ago that it is not a great act. So, I dared to write a comment on that person's blog saying this is not a great act. It can be at best be left to your note books, not be flaunted around...

My Trips to China and Hongkong

I just concluded my trips to China and Hongkong and it is needless to say that it was amazing!!!! My Hiatus at the Sanghai airport for 10 hours was memorable. Only woke up to mosquito bites and security personnels waking me up on and off to see if I knew when my flight was. Drank water at the airport using their conical paper cups with cold water labelled at 50 degree C and hot water at 75 degree C. Browsed through some airport shops and man they were really expansive. I get cheaper tea bags in Texas Hongkong market than that of the airport. They quoted 200 RMB for a small tea box, which comes to around 35 USD. Left for Nanjing at around 9.30 PM and the funny thing was the flight attendants waited for 2 passengers that were running late. I had an over sized cabin bag(the flight was very tiny rather), so the flight attendant advised me to keep it on the seat. These were some of the good experiences I had. reached Nanjing at 11.30 PM to find 3 enthusiastic students waiting at the airport with my name on a placard. It was heartening, since the airport is about 45 mins from the meeting place. We stayed in a hotel called as Hanyuan Mansion right in the middle of the Nanjing Agricultural University. The hotel was beautiful and palatial. Welcomed at the reception with a nice welcome bag carrying a painting and meeting agenda in neatly arranged files with breakfast, lunch, dinner coupons.
Rooms are great but TV was most primitive. Rooms had no clock!
Breakfast was a mixture of greens(lots of them, with Amaranthus green, green cabbage etc.) and eggs soaked in coffee. Enjoyed breakfast in the hotel. Lunch, dinner was also equally good. We were on a guided tour to Mousolini and 2 other places. Had ice cream made up of green peas, pumpkins. The specialty of the Chinese sweets is that it is not very sweet... Next day browsed through the streets of Nanjing close to the hotel, shopped at a small super store, went on a group dinner, went on street shopping. It was all full of fun...

Hanyuan Mansion Hotel, Nanjing, China, 2012