From around the world!

I now post from halfway around the world. My plan of surprising folks at home was a hit. I had to face a locked gate at 12 PM when I arrived. I had to jump the compound wall, go to the window and wake my dad through the window! For a while, dad, mom and bro were totally shocked to see me and did not know how to react ! Operation success! If you are planning it yourself though, coming out of the airport in Bangalore and seeing al those eager faces waiting for loved ones, and having to go take a taxi yourself - its heartbreaking.

It does not feel like its been two years since I left home. Everything feels just as before, anna, amma, Viji, friends nearby, relatives. People have changed in subtle ways, and it is obvious that a long time has passed in everyone's lives.

The flight itself was rather uneventful. I bumped into a few young folks en route and we stuck together till Singapore. One dude was a Google base engineer, another was travelling from Boise and worked with Micron. We all went on the famous Singapore city tour (yes, again) although it was wet, rainy and humid. Pictures are in order.

Construction has been coming along superbly. I finally see all the intricate details that I had to mostly imagine all this while. Here is a full shot. It's now time for grilling, painting, installing the vitrefied tiles and the wooden cupboards and redoing the ground level.

Our architect is a young fella with bright ideas. He carries around a Razr V3 ( yes, same as mine) and gets calls every minute or so. Yesterday's talks centered around highlighting one wall with a dark color while the rest of the walls remain dull! Modern touch, he says. It's a shame though, how aesthetics has to take a hit for the sake of security. Folks are worried about the recent breakins and want us to be 'grilled' - if you know what I mean.

In other things, meeting relatives has been good. I have now formally met three cousins' wives and a new kid - all additions to the family I had only heard about. Met my next door neighbor Sudheer after 5+ years and we took a spin in his new Hyundai Getz. Pramoda now has a Scorpio, an SUV way too huge for Bangalore roads, but really superb in itself.

I am suddenly realizing that I have way too many people I want to meet, and too little time for it. Should I relocate to Bangalore ? I wonder......

Photos and more posts coming up shortly..