To the extent I remember, the first time that I had been to an airport was in 2006. I was there to send-off BIL to the Deutschland. (Co-incidentally, it is also the first time I actually sent someone off.) The flamboyance of airports as described in most written works was something that was missing there, but hey, it was built ages ago! So considering that and the fact that it is maintained by the AAI, you really aren’t supposed to expect anything better. I had tied myself with some expectations for some things that I would experience/use for the first time in my life. As an example, my first wallet – I thought – should be bought with my own money (And I did that). I preserved the very first note I earned. I wished to travel in an aero plane for a major step I would take in my life – something like traveling abroad for further studies or to work, should I get a chance to – and many such things. Unfortunately, the last of the above said did not really happen for the expected cause, but well, it had its own specialty - better not be discussed here!
I am a caffeine buff. I love coffee and tea, though I have special requirements for the way they are made. The best of coffee I had to this day is the one that mom (or dad, occasionally) makes every morning. It tastes much better when you share the cup right in the morning with your family. Apart from the home-made-fresh-morning-coffee, I have a special admiration for the coffee at Minerva Coffee House, Himayath Nagar – and almost it is nowhere else. This precisely is the reason I almost gave up coffee for the two years of my Bangalore episode, save a few times when I had unbearable headache. I wanted to have a cup of it either in the best way possible or I better not have it. On the other hand, tea almost tastes good anywhere, except in sophisticated coffee shops like Barista or CCD or places with jazzy walls where they have Doors or Clapton singing in the background with almost incomprehensible menu cards that say a single cup of tea costs around 75 bucks (+ VAT). And all you get at the end is a *posh* teabag dipped in a mug of hot water and a small cup of thinned milk! I can literally count the instances where I had tea at such places. Coming to the best, yet again, is the evening tea at home and the one I make at workplace for myself. Nothing beats that when you have this strong desire to have tea. Also, a special mention of the Vanilla flavoured tea I used to have at Chaitanya’s (first mentioned here) home. The irony is that he is not used to having tea, but always made a cup for me. The second part of the irony is that he wouldn’t most probably read this post and know of the special confession I just made.
When I first traveled by air, May 18th 2008, I was in the Bangalore Airport by 5:30 AM. I have this cold desire to have a cup of really strong coffee soon after I brush, more because of the minty feeling that’s left out in the mouth after you are done. Before the dawn broke, as I checked in, I ordered for a cup of Cappuccino at the Airport’s CCD. Something was really special of the overall experience of having the early-morning coffee that day. In the lounge, or may be in that coffee or may be of the overall ambience – of that lightly dense airport in the early hours of the day or may be the enthusiasm of traveling by air for the first time. With the cup in my hand, I browsed through some stores in the departure section.
This morning, Non-Vej (first mentioned here) left for Sultan Bazar - fondly called California by most Americans. (A certain ophthalmologist that she regularly visits believes that California has more Hyderabadis than Hyderabad itself has. So as a token of respect he pet-named California as Sultan Bazar!) The reason why she has gone to California has more weight than anything else in this post – more than my love for coffee or airports. She’s gone to get her master’s from Stanford! Yeah, Stanford University! Something I would so proudly share with all the people I know! All the very major huge mega best lady! All of the world’s blessings and love over you! So this morning, along with her family, I go to the airport to send her off. I was in the airport at around 5 and I straight headed to CCD. Yet another morning in an airport and yet another cup of CCD Cappuccino. It reminded me very much of the experience in Bangalore – something special I thought. All the caffeine lovers should give this a try!
A special mention of another wannabe 'Master' - The Dada of Kingsville - Velcro Karukonda! Loads of all the best to you too dude! Earn more money than what your bro has till now ;-) How can I forget to mention the home visit of another PseudoAmerican - the one and only CS. CS was in India for a month. A couple of weeks in Hyderabad and a couple of hours with me and Vej. The first meet after a couple of years is definitely worth a mention - I was appalled to see this 'kid' in my office cafeteria - In a star spangled blazing sky-blue Superman tee and a tawdry shining yellow short. It was kind of out-of-place, you know, with people around him in decent-enough formals and acceptable casuals. For the kind of apparel that he had appeared in and the renegade that he has always been, I HAD to bow down to his wishes and treat him somewhere outside. This being another time, I won't (hopefully) dare ridicule him (for another year) on my blog. Despite all what I just said above, he has showered his kindness upon me by donating an 'I love NYC' tee and a monumental sack of Kisses! Well... Snickers, Hersheys, Nestlé and Ferrero Rocher too! Thanks bro!
Will see you all very soon!
Ravi
Before I forget, here are some pics of the RGIA:
Labels: Airport, California, Coffee, Life, Stanford, Sultan Bazar, Tea
