Mumbai Airport Terminal 2

My first arrival and departure has happened from the new Terminal 2. I came in early today as it was my first departure wasn't sure how much time it would take. But it was a pleasant experience Alhamdulillaah! In no time bags checked in, security check n immigration was all done. So I had almost over an hour to wait for boarding to start. So what shall I do while I wait for boarding. So thought lets blog the experience.  Some tips for first time travellers on the new terminal.

1. When you arrive or depart wherever you see the golf cart vehicle ferrying people, use it. Dont be shy, as there is ample amount of walking. Especially when you have kids with you. They are free. So dont worry. You may tip him if you like.
2. If your doctor has requested you to walk 30 mins a day. You wont have to do it again. The walk at airport would be enough for the day.
3. If you are looking for the prayer area, it is besides Gate 64.
4. The chairs near the gates are normal ones. If you want to use the ones where your lega get some support, they are near the stairs around Gate 68.

Time to board. So bye for now.

London In Kuwait

As we are entering into Winter in Kuwait, 2 days back we had a very pleasant weather. The pleasant winds were blowing, not the summer blazing hot wind. The rain was drizzling, the skies looked dark like in rainy season. It was a pleasant day Alhamdulillaah. And we all wish that Kuwait had such a weather throughout the year.

As I was in office, one of my colleagues who just entered commented about the Weather. "Its like London Out there!" Yeah it indeed was, and thats the only thing I love about London, the Summer weather. To be precise never been there in Winter, dont know what its like in Winter... Been there in Summer, when temperature is like 12-16, rains drizzling sometimes and everything around is soo Green!! Looks fabulous.

Had the same feeling the other day in Kuwait, same skies, cold breeze and being in Ahmadi, have a lot of Greenery around, yes no Mountains, like UK or India, but the Gardens around the street were enough to pacify the hunger for nice weather...

I think this is the best time to invite visitors to Kuwait!

Hoping God blesses us with more of such beautiful days.

After the Break-- The thoughts

It has been a long while since I posted on my blog. There is a reason for that, maybe not one reason but a lot of reasons. Procrastination, Being Busy or Pretending to Be, Writer's Block when you try to think all the aspects of what you will write leading to you stopping from writing, Kids, Family Life etc. etc. 

But now I want to kill the Excusitis and go back to Blogging Again! I remember those good old days when My Blog was such a good friend of mine. I used to pour my Thoughts, pour my Heart and get feedback from Friends, how bad a writer I was, How I managed to waste their time. And Yes, if the same friends are still reading it, i am going to get the Ranting... Awwab you cant talk negative, you are sending negative signals to your mind, even if you are trying to be Funny... 

Well after being a fan of reading on Positivity and trying to apply it, I think you need regular reading or Motivation to keep yourself positive and to get it into your Habits and you need to keep a watch on how you are getting affected by your surroundings... 

Yes I would not try to be doing regular posts, speak my mind out... But seems will have to be concise since the Blog is taking out of the Family time... Before my Wife starts complaining, that I spend too much of time on the blog, need to have a proper schedule to do it. Ok Can hear Hajar crying, Looks like will have to quit now... for today....

No Rains! in Mumbai

 In Mumbai, since more then 2 weeks. was looking forward to enjoying Rains... But unfortunately this year is dry. The situation is looking difficult as almost mid august has come. The newspapers are saying government has water supply for only around 120 days approximately. We desperately need Rains... There have been gatherings and prayers for Rains was just reading my old post when i posted pictures of floods in Mumbai from one of my previous posts.

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On the WaY

On my way to Bhiwandi, the town close to Mumbai,where both my parents were born. As I am in the car on my way thought will blog a little. Didn't blog since the last blog around a week back for 2 reasons. One being Eid and second being sick. Had some throat infection and bad cough and it being Eid I did not even look for a doctor and the coughing became so worse never experienced something like that before Alhamdulillaah feeling better today. So left for Bhiwandi as both my kids are there at their maternal grandparents place. Was missing them!

This sickness the doctors said was viral infection that they assume I caught when I went Goat shopping. Lesson Learnt: No Goat shopping for NRIs, their Immune systems are weak. As I know the local boys enjoy and visit the Goat markets often before Eid and they don't fall sick, Alhamdulillaah strong Immune system.

So how was Eid, Awesome, its always lovely to be with your family for Eid. 8 more days to go before I fly back. So the countdown has begun. Not very pleased to return since I have to return alone. The passport and visa formalities will take some time for my new-born son. Allaahul Mustaan. But it was my choice to have him delivered in India, so need to be patient.

Oopppsss I completely forgot one of the other reasons for going to Bhiwandi is to attend a second cousins wedding tomorrow on 11-11-11. Nice date isn't it? So should I book 12-12-12. No not for me, for my younger brothers wedding? Would be interesting!

Still on the way, why can't he drive faster... I am tired typing on my mobile in the car... More later.. Remind me to blog about the wedding

Mumbai Trip - Blog Again

"Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable."

Francis Bacon, Sr.

I copied the above quote from the Newsletter I keep receiving from www.positivityblog.com After being a blogger for long (and then disappearing from Blogging) and also trying to use OneNote on my Computer and a Task/To Do List on my Mobile to capture ideas/thoughts of today/things to do etc. The above Quote reminded me again, how it all began! It was when I joined Invensys, the good colleagues and friends I made who had an influence on me and got me to Blogging. I remember my good friend Vinil telling me, How over the years I will see my thoughts change and develop when I will read back my old blog posts. I can see that today after around 6 years of On/Off Blogging.

So should I start blogging again on a more regular basis.

Let me start with current events. I came to Mumbai over a week ago, What an amazing trip it is this time. Alhamdulillaah (All praises are for Allaah) We have been blessed with a Baby Boy. Its my second experience at enjoying Fatherhood. And Trust me, the Pleasure was not even a little lesser than the first time.. I think becoming Father is the same pleasure every time... May Allaah bless all those who haven't tasted this pleasure with it.

I came to Mumbai, this trip did a lot of different stuff. Met a few very close friends I had not met since years... It was a pleasure meeting them. Became father a second time. Went to Deonar after years, did some Bakra (Goat) shopping. We went on a bike this time. While riding on the way I was thinking when I used to come to Deonar as a kid, we used to use the local Transport bus to the Train Station Reay Road and then the Harbour train upto Govandi, then cross the Railway Tracks towards Deonar. Those were the simple old days.

I want a to visit a few relatives, its on my To-Do List from Day 1. And now the countdown to return has already started. but this time, I will not be missing this task Inshaa Allaah, whatever be the cost. Looking forward to a cousins wedding, where I am expecting to get to see all the relatives, hence procrastinating to go and visit them now. Dont know if this Laziness is right or wrong. Day after tomorrow is EID, and not sure yet what Am I going to wear.. Thats the height of Laziness and I sit here and Blog... Shunu Haadhaa....

Know Your Address

Is it Important? Ahh you may Ask me, is it possible that a person does not know his Address? Yes it is. Not In India, but maybe in a Foreign country it may happen. For example, I never knew or know now the Address where I stayed the first two years in Kuwait. Yes I know it, I can guide anyone in Kuwait how to reach there. But dont know the Theroretical addresss, what is that.

Kuwait has a very good addressing system, you can reach anyplace if you have 3 things: Block No., Street No., Building No. The maps and GPS systems can take you to any place if you know these 3 things, Even when you enter an area you can find maps showing where the Blocks of that area are.

So what I mean is, I did not know, the Block, street and building no. of where I was staying. Yes definitely I know the address after those 2 years, why? Because the first 2 years I was staying in Fahaheel, which is the market hub, you have all the restaurants Arabic, Indian, Chinese, Pakistani at Walking distance. So never needed my address to order anything. But after I moved out of Fahaheel to the more residential area's when my family was supposed to join me. I had to keep my address handy whenever I need to order any food, they would ask for the Block, Street, Building, Flat number.

So with these I realize when you are a Bachelor staying in Market area or bachelor accomodation, you may not know your physical address. But it can cost you.

I learnt this lesson from my friends, they were staying in their company camp. They had a nice way of telling we stay in the building behind this shop, near this medical center in this area. Quite easy for anyone familiar with the area to reach there. But they had an Issue when they had an emergency situation and they called the Kuwait Emergency Helpline. They could not mention where they were, since they never needed and knew what Block, street and Building they were in. The help to them got delayed because the emergency services had to trace out where the shop that they were mentioning was.

In case of any Emergency, Time is the most important factor. It can lead to bigger problems, if help does not reach in time. And hence knowing the Address is very Important.

I dont have to proofread this blog post, because my nephew Hani Hyder just sitting next to me is reading out every word I type loud enough to ensure I dont have any typing mistakes. And I guess everyone in the house knows what I wrote without even reading it, thanks to Hani ;)

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