DRC

I met a:

Brazilian- Japanese girl who works for PwC and currently working in Japanese embassy at Angola, came to the airport to see someone off. Added her on FB. She wants to do some crazy party. She thinks Angola is a better place to work than Japan.

A guy from DRC who has a business for electronic items in Angola, imports them from Singapore, going to meet his family in DRC. Asked him about clothe export-import business, took the contact card.

A guy from Japan who is a Structure Engineer, speaks very less English, going to meet his parents in DRC, asked him to write mine and fiancée name in Japanese. I wrote his name in Hindi. He made a beautiful sketch in the flight.

A couple from Belgium, they are traveling with their truck across Africa, boated it twice through ocean and river. Waiting on their visa to Angola and fixing the truck in the motel. They sleep in the truck and take a bath in the swimming pool. Full of life. Their website: http://users.telenet.be/domobiel/

A guy from Brazil, International Relations student, wants to learn French and working with the motel meanwhile. He is trying to make motel a better place for residents and has some difficulty with English. He had taken a French speaking course in Port Noir, now on an internship in DRC. Exchanged mail ids because he thinks networking is really important.

A guy from DRC who owns the motel, schooling undergrad in US, Hotel Management course in Canada and taking care of family business in DRC, talked about un cut diamond and US stock market, told him the Iraq- Halliburton controversy.

A road trip to western Australia

A family road trip to Western Australia sounds like a wonderful adventure. 

1. Stargazing at Pinnacles Desert: One of the highlights of our road trip was stargazing at the Pinnacles Desert. As we wandered through the otherworldly limestone formations, we were amazed by the clear night sky and the sight of the Milky Way above us. It was a truly unforgettable experience.

2. Lobster Shack visit: Another memorable stop on our trip was the Lobster Shack in Cervantes. We learned all about Western Australia's famous rock lobster and even got to sample some for ourselves. The fresh seafood was delicious and made for a great lunch break on our road trip.

3. Sandboarding at Nambung National Park: We also had a blast sandboarding at Nambung National Park. Despite a few falls and wipeouts, we had a lot of fun sliding down the towering sand dunes and taking in the stunning coastal views from the top.

4. Beach car trouble: Of course, not everything on our road trip went smoothly. At one point, our car got stuck in the sand on a beach. We had to work together to push it out and get back on the road, but it ended up being a funny and memorable moment from our trip.

5. Wildlife sightings: Along the way, we also had some incredible wildlife sightings. We spotted a kangaroo on the side of the road, as well as several koalas snoozing in the trees. We even caught sight of two rainbows at the same time, adding to the magical feel of our trip.

6. Lighthouse visit: We also visited a lighthouse along the coast, where we climbed to the top and took in the panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding landscape. It was a great way to stretch our legs and soak in some of the natural beauty of Western Australia.

7. Car trouble and BBQ: One evening, our car's battery went flat and we had to improvise with a BBQ for dinner while we waited for a tow truck. Despite the setback, we were able to make the most of the situation and enjoy a delicious meal together under the stars.

8. Winery and chocolate factory visit: Finally, we stopped at a winery and a chocolate factory near the Margaret River region, where we sampled some of the region's famous wines and chocolates. It was the perfect way to cap off our road trip and treat ourselves after a long journey on the road.

Here are some tips and advice you can include in your blog post, specifically focusing on how to budget for a road trip:

1. Plan your route and calculate fuel costs: Before you hit the road, plan out your route and estimate how much fuel you'll need to get from one destination to the next. Fuel prices can vary depending on the region, so it's important to factor in these costs when budgeting for your road trip.

2. Pack your own food and drinks: Eating out every meal can quickly add up and become expensive. Instead, pack your own food and drinks for the trip. This can include snacks, sandwiches, and drinks that you can keep in a cooler in the car. Not only is this more cost-effective, but it also gives you more control over what you eat and can be healthier than constantly eating fast food.

3. Camp or stay in budget accommodations: Accommodation can be a significant expense on a road trip. Consider camping or staying in budget accommodations such as hostels or motels. This can save you a lot of money compared to staying in more expensive hotels or resorts.

4. Research free activities and attractions: Western Australia has plenty of free activities and attractions that you can enjoy with your family. Do some research before your trip to find parks, beaches, and other attractions that you can visit for free.

5. Set a daily spending limit: To help stay on track with your budget, set a daily spending limit for your family. This can include a set amount for food, activities, and any other expenses you'll encounter on the road.

6. Keep track of your expenses: As you travel, keep track of your expenses to ensure you stay within your budget. This can include using a budgeting app, writing down your expenses in a notebook, or keeping receipts in an envelope.

7. Be flexible: Finally, be flexible with your budget and adjust it as needed. Unexpected expenses can come up, and it's important to be able to adapt your budget accordingly.

10 years ago this day -

'Dhyan rakhna apna' were the last words from my dad before he took the bus back to the railway station from GC. With a heavy heart he left and I felt insecure for the first time in my life. Standing in front of the library I thought how life was going to be at this place where I barely knew anyone. I was an 18 year old - never been left alone - always staying at home - not much know about the world - small town boy.

10 years ago, this day I left Kota to start a new life. Along with my dad I took Jaipur - Chennai Express on 27th July 2003 to Chennai to take admission in IIT Madras. I had no idea what so ever about how this place would be like, what people would be like or how life would be like. All I knew was I nailed the IIT-JEE exam - the only reason being it was highly competitive and that's what everyone used to prepare for in Kota.

I met few other guys in the train heading to the same destination. I figured out that few of them had been allotted the same hostel as mine - I actually met my roommate in the train itself. I used to know Gaurav from Bansal's. I met few seniors as well. All in all those were interesting 36 hours.

 

Dad bought me a bicycle and water cooler jug during the first week. I attended the orientation and the classes started from Thursday onward, I think that was 4th August. 

I didn't realize that I'd be all by myself until I saw my dad off at the GC bus stand, trying to control my emotions. 

That was the beginning of a four year long journey, I wasn't sure about my destination but I knew that the road I'd taken was right.

Before moving to new country, taking new assignment

So I had a lunch with two of my colleagues today. They both are in process to move to a new country with new assignment. 

A is from Russia staying in UK and moving to Norway, K is from Brazil staying in Norway and moving to UK.

A was more concerned about the stability of the assignment and business opportunities. He's relatively new with the company and was hence more insecure. He has a school going kid and that's a part of his considerations. He's quiet happy to know about the International School at Stavanger. 

Since he's in Business Development side, he was also considering the openness in the business community and how approachable are clients. 

K had concerns about quality of family and social life. Having spent couple of years in Norway now his expectations are high. He's thinking about having kids. It's not really him choice to leave Norway, he's kind of being forced for that. Konrad was rather OK to move to Aberdeen being English speaking country as his wife can work. She's a career oriented person, just like my wife.

All in all it was a good conversation at lunch, some bonding as well.

Another Ticket, another challenge

So I got another parking ticket during our glorious weekend at Edinburgh this weekend. Seems like it's not such a big deal here.

I had hazelnut caramel icecream as I complete my first 30 days challenge. It was sweet and hard earned.
The next one is no beer for next 30 days ie 9th Oct.

May the power with me.

That's one of the street performers at Prince Street.

Parking Ticket

I got the second parking ticket this weekend. This was bad, I have decided not to buy beer for next one month. This would be my next 30days challenge. I am about to complete my previous 30days challenge - no ice-cream on Sept 7th.

 30 Days Challenge

I got this idea from the Ted Talk, guess I am trying to following it for a long time.

Lost in Scotland

Yep, we are pretty much lost in Scotland. We almost have no time. Weekends we are busy driving and exploring. Weekdays we are busy planning the weekends. Just this last weekend we went to Isle of Harris and Isle of Lewis on a road trip. We drove about 700 miles in three days. It was fun.

These are the outer Hebrides.

Beautiful landscapes and friendly people ! We found some white sand - green water beaches.

Butt of Lewis Lighthouse was the highlight, Callanish Standing stones were great.

 We managed to locate some dolphins on the way as well !