(click to open and zoom to see where I’m pointing)
- German cannot really be a hard language to learn. Even kids in Switzerland speak German fluently. (Yeah, I guess now you get the tone of this post)
- India and China seem to be the most prosperous countries and the ones least affected by the recession.
- More particularly Marwadis and Gujaratis seem to be the most prosperous communities. And everyone seems to live in Bombay.
- Switzerland as a honeymoon destination seems to have gone down well for second honeymoons rather than firsts.
- Playing in the snow isn’t that overrated after all. It is actually fun.
- Staying with the same, natural beauty isn’t that boring to look at. At times, watching out of the window can be more interesting than reading Angels & Demons.
- On books, in spite of being called the Rakhi Sawant of writers, Karan Bajaj’s ‘Johhny gone down’ was lapped up by me in 2 days straight; and considering that I was in Switzerland on vacation, where I didn’t really have a lot of time for reading a book, this just confirms that I love the Rakhi Sawant types.
- Indian food stalls are a hit wherever you go.
- And Indians remain their own selves while standing in a queue for a buffet lunch, wherever you go.
- And Indians remain their own smart selves buying their bottles of whiskey from the supermarket and carrying them in their pockets to restaurants, wherever you go.
- Despite being a supposedly Arabic originated snack, Chicken Shwarma is much yummier in Switzerland. It is called Doner.
- The bigger the group, the more the fun; NRIs are most welcome in Indian groups and Joint families. And small kids who blabber incessantly can be such ice-breakers.
- Dubai is still an enigma amongst westerners. For Indians, it is a colony somewhere in their neighborhood.
- If you think people in Switzerland don’t speak a lot of English, you should visit Turkey.
- When you’re drunk, you make a lot more and seemingly lot closer friendships.
- Turkish people are unbelievably sweet with kids. Unbelievably sweet.
- And finally, the officers and people at the Dubai Immigration have to be the best in the world. After a long trip and an exhausting night in the plane, it is good when they see you with a baby and make you jump the queue, the immigration officer greets you ‘Good morning Mr. Rakesh, You look sleepy’ with a smile, even do some small talk and also give your wife shopping ideas for your next vacation. This is the thing about Dubai that makes me feel like I’m back home even when I come back from a trip to India. Think about it, an Immigration officer is the first impression you have of any foreign country. Shouldn’t they all be like this?
LOL! That was one heck of a holiday account 🙂 Yes, India and China is most certainly untouched by recession 🙂 And we are out there helping other countries by spending all our holidays abroad 🙂
Did you not see groups of Indian with packed food, picnicing just about everywhere 🙂 In one of the trains in Switzerland, there was this huge family, who had brought their whole monthly provisions along with them 🙂 In that 2 hour journey, they demolished stacks of khakras and pickle, paranthas, and finished off with sweets 🙂 It made us feel very ‘at home’ 😉
So did you go to Switzerand and Turkey?
Dubai Immigration officers do seem wonderful. And yes, if only all the countries had people like this.
And loved that t-shirt 🙂 So did you save a lot of milk there?
me: Yeah, I did see groups carrying provisions for the whole day 🙂 Yes Switzerland and Turkey.
I did save a lot of milk there. Didn’t you read my realisation about making a lot of friends. 😉
U went on a holiday????? And here I was thinking u were delibrately staying away from my blog 😀
me: Why, Oh WHY would I stay away from Your blog??? 😀
Switzerland huh….cooool!!!!! Always wanted to go there!!!
me: You sound like my wife – even she always wanted to go there 😛
And wow is it some special day or what…we get a clear picture of u 😮
Hmmmmm…..u dont look least bit sarcastic in real life 😀
me: Now I’m confused – How do you ‘LOOK’ sarcastic 😛
And oh totally with u on Dubai Immigration 🙂
me: Seriously, this has happend with me not once but a number of times
How could you not know he was on vacation? Well, depends on if you are active on FB or not 😉
me: Yeah, next time I’ll have to announce it in Gulf News for Nancy 🙂
She only adds decent people like me on her FB account ok 😀
me: Oh Puhlease, I’m much descent than Yyyooouuuu 😛
LOL…..u guys are too much 😀
But honestly[actually sheepishly] I login to facebook once a week and add all the people who want to be friends with me and then log out 😛
And I’ve finally figured why people add me on FB…I think they want to see how I look 😀
me: he he, But I’ve seen how you look or at least how you looked long back. And if I’m not wrong, you’d added me 🙂
LOL .. U like the Rakhi Sawant types and u read that book when u were on a holiday .. awesome 😉
me: Yeah, it was an OK read, not very heavy but interesting.
Oh wow! I hv to visit Dubai atleast for those immigration officers 😛
me: Only for immigration officers? Even I stay in Dubai 😛
Arrey waah! How come I never came across those officers?
Sounds like you learnt a lot about Switzerland and Turkey…. now… photos please. And welcome back! How is Rajneeti? where is the review?
me: Photos on FB 🙂 and Rajneeti, well I spent my 2 cents in a comment on QI’s blog!
LOL, now is this a travelogue or are you writing your own version of Murphys laws?
Btw nice snap, but why is it tilted? to show an effect of the beer on the Tshirt ?? 😀 😀 😀
me: Who’s Murphy? 😛 Yeah, you get the hidden reason why the pic is tilted 😀
Haha.. seee some else also called u Mr.Rakesh!! 😀
me: Maybe he’d met you before, hence the respect 😛
And i cant say its the same situation in sharjah airport.Those guys r literally pigs!I have seen an officer who dragged a poor laborer ,who was first in the line ,straight to the last position
jut coz he was too nervous n scared whn they had to get his airport eye test.They were just shouting at him instead of giving him instructions on how to use it!
😦
me: I know, Sharjah isn’t that special. But in Dubai this has happened with me a number of times.
Secret Agent Sakshi just made an observation – Both the Mr. Rakesh’s are in Dubai…sobs…no wonder it is going through a bad phase at the moment…wail….
me: Wow, Einstien! As a politician would say, we are cleaning the mess caused by the previous government (YOU)
A swiss holiday? Wowie!!!! Btw, loved the post. Some of the thoughts therein were (unintentionally) profound 🙂 Like the one on Indian food, joint families and incessant jabber of children being a lovely ice-breaker 😉 And ROFL @ ‘………this just confirms that I love the Rakhi Sawant types.’
me: They were intentional 🙂 Well, if I’d known he was called that earlier, I wouldn’t have bought his book for the sake of appearing to be a serious kinda guy 😛
what a nice way to put it across! the travel series is sure shot hit here :0. I love the emphasis on Turkish people and children and when i get to Dubai i shall look for those officers 🙂 first time here will come back for more
me: Welcome 🙂 A lot of people in Turkey became friends with my son, total strangers bought him ice-cream, ladies in shops carried him, hugged him and kissed him (and he kissed them back). Was really sweet. I wish, I had that luck 😛
LOL..thoroughly enjoyed your holiday account with apt generalization & rationalization :D.
“And Indians remain their own selves while standing in a queue for a buffet lunch, wherever you go.”- but when do they stand in queue??? 🙄
me: he he, that was exactly what I meant – 1 family member stands in a queue and the rest join him when he’s reached the dinner table 😛
I’ve noticed even Doha immigration officers are quite warm and welcoming people..they are especially nice with children.
“Immigration officer is the first impression you have of any foreign country. Shouldn’t they all be like this?”..thats such a valid point, Rakesh! I wish our immigration department in India realizes this.
me: Our country??? I’ve always had such a lovely feeling when I return to India each year. On getting down, I just touch the earth to feel the presence and I’m in such a good mood every time I land but the long rowdy queues, people jumping queues, and the indifferent immigration officers, and even support staff at the airport, just don’t make me feel I’ve gone back home. And as soon as I’m done with immigration, porters walk up and start offering to clear my luggage for free from customs in exchange of some ‘tea coffee’. That’s the nail on top.
Oh yeah, when are drunk you certainly end up making a lot of very good friends! Luckily, I’ve made a number of them who’ve stayed on! Honestly, I don’t quite readily trust a person who doesn’t drink!
me: Exactly 😀
Good post Rakesh, very concise, softly candid and mixed with a healthy dose of good emotion! Enjoyed it!
And hey, what happened to your hair?
me: My hair, oh my hair, don’t remind me 😦 Had to cut it after a year and a half of my wife’s revolts. But its been 6 months since its short now.
Hi. First time on your blog and must say it’s neat and fun. Loved the point-wise post and interesting tidbits and snippets 🙂
me: Welcome Ajay! 🙂
You posted your generalisations on 15th and I am seeing them today!! I came here expecting a review (Rajneeti) but got to know how milk can be saved by drinking beer 😆
My favorite – “When you’re drunk, you make a lot more and seemingly lot closer friendships.” 🙂
me: So do you have a lot of close friends? 😛
Yay on your realization that playing in the snow is not overrated 😀 It’s so much fun ain’t it??
Hey you didn’t have Doner in Turkey?? after all it’s were the thing really came from in the first place. I think they call it Doner Kebab *slurp*
me: Yeah, I should’ve… But after 10 days, I just let go on seeing grilled chicken and grilled lamb chops…
Totally with you about Dubai airport. Ahem I have quiet a few friends working there you see and it’s always wonderful to spend a few hours there while traveling to US.
Ps: Should have worn your Jhakaas specs in this pic 😎
me: My wife thinks the specs make me look Old
Seems like somebody had fun! You should post pix of ur trip/s dude!
Completely agree with you on the immigration story 🙂
Photos on FB, u there?
Switzerland, Turkey and all… Nice. I have recently taken over as the admin of a collaborative travel blog. I would have asked to guest post for us but only write about places in India.
me: Cool, travel blog! So do you get to travel for free? Maybe next time, I’ll travel in India 🙂
Nope, it’s not a commercial blog. The guy who started the blog got together a bunch of friends and I have been adding contributors to it. No money changes hands.
Tussi te vade young lagte ho DUDE! 😀 *Rakesh puffs up with happiness* 😀
you love the dude word dont ya?:P
me: Absolutely 🙂 and that too double love it when coming from pretty
girlswomen, I mean…BTW that profound gyaan on your tee reminds me of this.. Alcohol doesn’t solve any problem but then neither does milk 😀
When you’re drunk, you make a lot more and seemingly lot closer friendships.
I know 😉
That sounds like a super polite outta this world immigration officer! I mean seriously? Great to read this. Coz cant imagine any such Indian immigration officer.
Yeah ideally they should all be like this. But then we being who we are…..
This one is really cool ..
Staying with the same, natural beauty isn’t that boring to look at. At times, watching out of the window can be more interesting than reading Angels & Demons
Cant agree more 🙂 ….
me: Hey, wassup! Yeah, was strange coz. I didn’t think I had eyes for green grass and flowers 🙂