recruiting translator and first journey to Daikundi

Indeed after lots of hassles, scared feelings, excitement and unpleasant experiences for few weeks in acquiring VISA and immigrating to Afghanistan finally I took over my duties in Punjab (a small town in Hazarajat area) .. Upon arrival Mr. Ian a nice gentleman from New Zealand the Program Manager / my line manager,  was present in the office when I arrived, usually, he was based in Bamyan (a big town 2 hrs journey from Punjab)  I will be responsible for leading the Punjab based/team...
I was welcomed and straight joined the ongoing meeting were Ian informed me about the plans for further assessment and the first task for me to select/appoint translator for me..

Ian and myself conducted interviews for 3 guys.. and finally, we chose one.. Mr. Quadarat...

[Qudarat 3rd from left]

a nice young guy, intelligent, sincere, and full of guts & common sense .. good thing was he was knowing Hindi language well... I immediately said YES to him and he started the job the same day.. what a simplicity isnt??  no staff requestions, no big panel, no recruitment decisions to write.. no need of big contract.. and other complicated procedures.... life was so simple and meaningful!!

Alrite and here we go the task is to visit 6 potential sites in Punjab and Daikundi provinces.. it was the next day morning and 3 cars with 7 engineers and one translator we started our journey...

and was I given a route map of the area? details of sites? whom to contact locally? set appointments?? wait... not more questions... NO is the answer to all... but yes I have had exact GPS locations of potential sites which we had to assess (for technical feasibility and other legal (!) matters.

So in a usual manner, just before we hit the road, in my compound I started a conversation with my translator asking him how far the first destination? he replied me with a flat face , no idea!!! I asked him to check with others and get back to me with details on route, distance and possible other details about the first site. well, well, result is zero he came back with a news that none of those team members (and drivers :) ) have a clue about the destination but they all have GPS and driver is confident to track the coordinates :)!! wow!! a good news finally :)!!

Anyways we started 7:00 am... all trucks loaded... the first stop was at Safed naour.. a place where we were supposed to construct a clinic... around 2.5 hrs drive from Punjab..

we passed by "pai konak" pass which is the highest pass in that area [3400 meter from MSL].. continued our journey... it was really a long and bouncy journey over mountain tracks... we kept passing over mountains after mountains... dusty rough trackss... in between some green valleys and small river lets.... barren mountains.. all mud houses and lots many farms full of wheat crop!! very few people we saw/met along the way... it seems life has come to stop aroud us.

our local afghan colleagues kept telling that "Nili" is not far... it was almost 6:00 pm.. we were reaching our limits of travel as per security operating procedures... we had to stop at some good/safe place... unfortunately, it was all mountains around.. no place to stay.. I realized that tent would have been a good idea but again thought of security .. no it is not a good idea to be on mountain during nighttime....

we were hopping to get some good shelter and kept pushing the cars.... finally we arrived to "Ulukan" where we saw ACF clinic with some staff quarters in back.... we took chance.. i went in and requested the head of medical unit to provide us shleter tonight.. he was kind enough to agree.. we got 3 rooms and furhter we were so lucky that they had kitchen... woww!! we good really good hot food!! it made our fatigue disappear... I took a warm shower and caught the bed!!

we decided to travel early in the morning..

we got up at 5:00 am and by 5:45 we were all set in car!!! we headed to wards nili... finally in 3 hrs of time we were in the capital of daikundi province "nili"...

[Nili -- main market]

.... ........... ................

journey - from bamyan to punjab

it was around 11:30 we started our journey to punjab... i had information that my drivers have seen the way and it will take around 3-4 hrs to reach to punjab... :)

[This is Bamyan, in background you can see a niche where famous Bamyan Budhdhha statue resided before Taliban destroyed it]

i was travelling with 2 cars... my engineer Mr. Naeem was following me in another car....

it was nice green and mountainous land scape around.. the life looked normal. i can see farmers working in fields..

i took sleep for 1-1.30 hrs... i woke up... the car was running... i was enjoying the ride.. after a while i cheked wrist watch.. it was 3:30 pm.. i asked driver how far we are from punjab? he seem confused.. he said he dont know.... i kep quiet ... again at 4:30 i started becoming impatient...

i asked driver to get down and check with local people how far punjab is??? he didnt like that... i forced him to do so.. he came back with more confused face..... i could sense some problem..

it was difficult for him to convey ... but i could understand that he missed a pass to cross the mountain and now we have to take different route to go to punjab!!! my GOD!!! it is never ending journey..

i decided to surrender to the situation... we kept on driving and driving and driving on end less mountain roads... some time we see some cars passing by... some farmers around.. it was around 6:00 pm.. drivers wanted to pray.. they did "vazu" and started praying... i called steve pantling [security advisor] and explained him situation.. he advised me to be safe and stop at better place.. he advised me to pass on coordinates of place where i am... i did it thru GPS.. he called me back and told me that i am far away from punjab.... so the hope was fading to reach to punjab..

i told him not to worry i will mange... if i need any help i will call him back. ..

we kept on driving... around 7:00 pm.. we show a townace car.. full of passenger.. my driver communicated to him.. i could partly understand that this is taliban area and it is not safe to stay in mountains... he advised us to drive as far as we can.. ..

i asked driver to drive.. he wanted to stay there in mountain.. he argued.. he didnt like .. i told him that i am firm and you should drive... he got out of car.. open the door and asked me to get down of car...he said he cant take me in his car.. i have to walk.. i was too angry.. we had heated arguments..

i said i have hired the car and i am the one who can take decision.. you cant!!! i forced him to drive...

we kept on driving till 9:45 pm... finally we reached a nice small town which driver inquired that it is safe to stay..

again i felt the same prob. of food... i could manage with boiled eggs and rice... yeah i could get pepsi.... once again.. i slept in car..... same situation.... scary night... restless night.....

what a nightmare!!!!

we woke up at 5:30 am... started our journey to punjab..... in 45 min. we reached punjab.. woww!!!!!!! what a relief.... ..... we could find CHF office on road.... i got down of car... too tired.. traumatised ... and upset with drivers with their behaviour.. especially when we were in taliban area he asked me to get down and walk....

i was at door step of our office.. i was welcomed by engineer mehmood.. i asked him to send administrator and immediately ordered termination for those two drivers...

the drivers were upset with me.. and i said you played with my security and life... so you are terminated immediatelly..

they were issued with a termination latter.. our adm/finance talked to kabul office about incidents too..

the bad part got over...

Ian was there.. he welcomed me and explained about the schedule of the site survey.....

i got settle.. i got a room in our office to stay.. a big bare room without amnesties...

[I am next to my office building!!]

.........

[This is what we call an Office in Afghanistan]

journey -Kabul to Bamyan

we started journey as per schedule.. the plan was first to reach to Bamyan by after noon and then next day join other staff from bamyan to go to panjab...

The journey to Bamyan was 7-8 hrs. from Kabul.. of course we had to pass one of the scary area

[taliban controlled] but the day time crossing was ok....

we started the journey with hope and excitement.. we just left Kabul and one of the car's [Toyota corrola] tyre brusted...

"pratham grasse maxika" ...

we wasted 2 hrs to replace the tyre.. then the journey on dusty road started...

the road seems endless... bumpy.. bouncing me out of the roof top..

The instruction from my office was not to travel beyond 6:00 pm... so i was pushing drivers to run fast .. it was scary journey.. the drivers didnt speak a single word of english.. i could not speak single word of "dari"[local language]...

they stopped at one of the restaurant on way for their choice for lunch...

the restaurant was a mud building.. the floor was carpeted with iranian carpet.. we had to eat lunch on floor...

there was no menu. the items are naan [local bread] -- the exact size was 3 ft x 2 ft x 2 inch :) mutton with lots of red gravy and rice [coocked with veg. oil]... :) being 100% vegetarian i could not find anything interesting.. i thought i can go for naan and tea [green tea without milk]..... i ordered...

the boy came with a big roll of tarpaulin sheet [2ft wide by 10 ft long].. he unrolled in front of us... he brought big plate of rice... 3 bowls of meat... and then brought some naan tightly hold under his armpits!!! :)..

he started throwing the naan on floor... we have to catch the one!!! :)

pathatic hygiene.. i had to adjust.... i decided to non-memorize what i saw.... :)

------

we completed the lunch... i was bout to get in car.... and realise... my GOD.... the driver had left the car keys in side and locked the door.... shiiiit!!!! the nightmare started...

he was angry on me... he said it is my fault that i asked him to lock doors before we went for lunch.. i was angry too.. i said you are the driver you should take the keys out before locking the doors... any ways.. we tried alot.. more then 15 min we were trying our level best to see how can be open the windows.!!!! we failed... it seems no way ahead....

ohh yea.. funy thing was driver left car engine running!!!!!

since we had 2 cars.. i suggested driver to go to Kabul and take the keys .. he seems not ready to leave his car at the restaurant and further it was running engine so it will eat up all fuel.. :) goooooooooooooood nesss!!!!!!!!!!!

i left the decision on driver .... he decided to break wind shield !!!! i said it is your call.. i am not going to pay for your foolish act.!!!! he was upset with me... he broke a glass... i was afraid that it might break whole wind screen.. surprisingly he could punch a hole.. rest of the screen was intact.. .... we headed to the destination with broken glass...

we kept on driving... the road seems end less... full of bumps... crossing mountains.. passing thru river lets.. river pebbles... mud, dust.... however the land scape was too beautiful.. full of green trees and green valleys .....

it was around 7:00 pm... we were still away from Bamyan... it was difficult for me to communicate with driver... he was not able to tel me either how far we are from bamyan...

as per the security procedure i shd not travel beyond 6:00 pm... ..

finally we stopped at a small village and a small restaurant... not different then the place where we took lunch... i went in with drivers... it seems too pathetic in terms of hygiene.. i could not trust food.... so decided to stay away and skip dinner...

i was hungry too... finally one of the guy from restaurant could arrange biscuits and milk creams..... biscuits were just like dusts.. it was ok... i grabbed the food to survive.. ...

driver decided to sleep inside the restaurent.. i could not trust the place.. so decided to stay in car.... i locked the car.... stretch the seat... pull over my sleeping bag. .and slept....

it was cold , quite and scary night... my first night in unprotected strange place... i could not sleep well.. every now and then i wake up and check the situation around to make sure i am not in trouble.....

finally 5:00 am.. driver woke up.. we took green tea [without milk and sugar] .... we started our journey.........

in 1.30 hrs.. we reached Bamyan.. i could see the place of famous bamyan budhdha..

we reached CHF office... it was around 7:00 am... Ian [PM] a guy from NZ welcomed me... he said he is scheduled to travel so leave me on my own.. and promised me to join in punjab....

I met another PM mr. terry lencashire and AUZ guy.

i relaxed a bit.. .. went to market bought some good food stuffs to eat as well as to take with me for next journey... i could buy some resins, almonds and cashew nuts.....

drivers went to town for repairs and some regular maintenance of cars....

First few days in Kabul Office and a journey to field

It was a warm welcome on airport.. i could not see CHF car or a pla-card ...... failed to see any one in waiting lounge with CHF sighn/t-shirt.... walked out of main building with my friend pradeep.... pradeep immediately found his organisation car... i requested him to wait for a while till i can find CHF car..... i walked around went to parking... an yeah.. Mr. Eric was there in the car.. going to Kunduz..... so i set in.. came to CHF office... a big nice building in kulla-e pusta ..

I was asked to see Mr. Mal ralston [Program director] , a nice gentleman from australia, he welcomed me and discussed some formalities.. including signing my contract etc.. i met Kevin streeter [Dy. program director] from USA.

i came donw to engineering room i met few of CHF collegues .. Slovek, Baseer, Keith, ali, adm and ICT staff..

[CHF office in Kabul]

[Ali and Kevin]

[from right Raghav, keith, ian, me , mal, terry, alex]

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i spend few days understanding program..

it was SCCRP [School and clinic Construction and Refurbishment Program].. we were suppose to build 120 schools and clinics in 4 provinces of afghanistan.. Panjab, Bamyan, Badakshan and Talukan.

i was suppose to go to Panjab and start my work of site selection sooner.

Our chief engineer Mr. Keith is very knowledgeable and experienced engineer from Australia.. a RedR.

Finally the day came when i had to travel to Panjab.. i was suppose to fly but some how the flights were irregular so management decided to send me by Car.

we didnt have our own CHF car because of custom etc prob. so we were running on hired cars..

i was suppose to go by one of the hired car but join one of the srilanka guy who was director of micro finance -CHF.. he was travelling by 2 cars. [in afghanistan all NGO follows 2 car policy..... if one car fails you continue your travel by second car but dont stop at unknown places..]..

so th hired car was parked in my guesthouse compound and the driver went home promising me to pick at 5:30.... I was littel bit more excited so i loaded my luggage in the evening itself to make sure that i dont have to waste time in the morning....

the srilankan guy came sharp at 5:30 am... my driver was unavailable.. srilankan waited for 15 min... lost his patient and left me on my luck.. i was upset and very angry on driver..... he came at 7:00 pm.. we fought.. we cancelled his contract.. and i had to postpone my trip.

finally next day Mr. Kevin and Ms. Colline [logistician] arranged 2 cars for me..

i had to take one of the afghan engineer Naeem with me...

Back to Ahmedabad and on the way to Kabul!!

finally i am in ahmedabad.... got the AUTO and straight to Passport office.....

wow.. so now new and bigger challenge.. how to get ECNR revoked sooner...?? i suddenly remember th at my brother-in-laws cousin is working in PP office.. i called my BIL and took his address/phone etc.. the good thing was he was living in same campus.. i just have to walk 50 mt. ..

i knocked his door.. he was obviously not there.. his father [paralytic but with good mobility] opened the door.. i introduced and explained.. i said i need to meet him soon... he was so nice to walk with me till office and handed me over to him.. i thanked old man for taining pain of climbing stair with left half of body is paralyse .. he was so kind and generous.. he smiled nad said.. it is a good exercise... anyway i have to do some more exercise..

i explained gentleman the problem and he said it can be done in one day!! wowwwwww first time the tight muscles of my face relaxed and a big smile appeared.. ..

i had all necessary doc... i submitted application.. he asked me to wait.. i waited till 5:00 PM in evening... i was the last one to get my turn..to go and see passport officer face to face.. i went in .. he was relaxed.. he asked me some questions and satisfied with my docs and answers.. he stamped my passport ECNR revoked:)

I felt "haaaasssshhh" this is like wining IInd world war :)

i was sooooooo relaxed.. had gone thru so much of ups and downs in one week that it has .. .. sucked all my energy out!!

well now only thing to do is go back to Rajkot take rest for some day and start my journey to Kabul.. the unveiling journey of hindukush mountains.. exotic terrin, iced roads.. and many more which i was unaware of!!!

so i got bus at around 6:30 and 11:00 in the night i was home... the feeling was just like coming back from a war!!

my parents too were relaxed as they too witnessed my struggle......

when i reched back i decided not to go by train :) this time i will catch the flight...

meanwhile... i came to know that Pradeep my friend who is working in Afghanistan is going to Kabul too.. so he said yeah it would be good that if i can go to his place and then we can go together.. it was so relaxing .. my parents and i was freed of tension.. as pradeep is already there..

hey by the way i have to write a separate chapter on pradeep.. so wil elaborate later on..

so pradeep helped me to book domestic flight from ah

medabad to

delhi.. he insisted me to reach to his place previous night because the flight to Delhi was morning 7:00 am

I reached to his place.. very warm welcome by his family .. and especially the figure i could never forget is his father.. his father was working with state police as Dy. commissioner of Police.

such a nice and light hearted man to talk with.

so i slept at his place and next day morning we went to airport and it was my first instance to board the aircraft.. i was so excited.. i told pradeep that this is first time i am on plane....

we landed at delhi airport.. we had to go to hotel start which is Pradeep's favourite hotel.. Our flight to Afghanistan/ kabul was next day early morning..

we took some rest and went to the city for pradeep's work, went around common markets and all.. came back and slept early as we had to wake up early.. we woke up at 4:30 got ready by 5:00 and reached airport in 10 min.

as the Hotel is just in the out skirt of airport premises..

this time i was confident .. i had pradeep with me.. which boosted my confidence and a good moral support....

we walked in the lounge.. checked-in ... no hurdle... no ECNR prob.. no emigration problem...

everything was smooth like butter... ... the flight was on time..

it was my first instance to board international flight..

pradeep was cool.. he was continuously briefing me about the services of aryana afghan... he said these flights are like local bus..

i too could see that... the aircraft was almost empty.. who will go to kabul in war time???

most of the passengers were NGO wokers...

the aircraft was huge with 320 capacity boing 747.. we were hardly 100 in it..

so it was looking specious..

we took off.. there was instruction of not taking pictures in flight or indian territory.. but some people took picts and pradeep also told me yeah ppl takes... so i too was encourages to take pict in aircraft... i didn take picture of indian territory though!!!

[Pradeep and myself in Ariana Afghan Flight]

Ariyana Afghan flight with pradeep

aha.... the journey was good.. the food was somthing very very different then i have ever tasted... a long afghani naan [a local bread] and some vegetables.. [you never get good choice as vegetarian in Afghanistan].. but it was ok.. it was just 1 hr. flight so i didnt bother much about food...

the flight was good.. we could see hindukush on our right.. a huge dignified object on earth.. woww.. amaizing ..

and 1 hr is over.. the aircraft lowering down.. woww.. i am excited to see afghanistan especially kabul from top.. i never had any imagination of kabul so with eyes wide open.. i was grabbing as much as my eye and mind could grab..... it looked.. just brown.. brown and brown.. hardly any other colour could be seen.. as most of the houses were made of mud and not painted with any other colour..

here are some pictures from air and kabul airport:

[Top View of Kabul] [Kabul Airport -car parking]

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I am refused to board the plane

I was so excited on sunday night ... i booked a taxi to pick me up from hotel at around 4:00 am..

i packed up.. called friends and relatives.. [well not much money [cash] left.. but still had enough for some emergency fund... this was another stupid mistake.. i haven't had ATM card and didnt bring travellers cheques with me.. so entirely depending on the cash i had...]...

Boarded the taxi... came on airport... this is my first instance to enter airport in my whole life... that too start with international.... bit nervous bit excited....

i was guided by policemen on gate and entered the hall.. went to scan my luggage and headed to Aryana Afghan airlines counter...... just following the procedure by watching other ppl doing... reached the counter.. the lady on counter welcomed me with smile and took my passport and VISA.. she looked some confused.. nodded her head.. i missed my heart beats.. she called a manager... manager checked the passport and asked me to come out of queue.... i followed him..

he said i cant travel.. i was shocked... i said why? i have ticket.. VISA allll.... he said but your passport says "ECNR" [Emigration Check Not Required] is deleted.. i was shocked to know that fact. . and was surprised.. one: how come i didn't check that before? and two: i already have send passport office my degree certificate so they should not delete that line from passport...

my GOD!!!!!! so i asked the manager.. what could be the solution? he said... get "ECNR" deleted - deleted.. or go to emigration bureau and get the clearance..

i was stuck.. !!! got dis hearted.. the land land below my feet was missing!!!!!!

i slowely with out energy started moving towards gate..... policeman at gate stopped me and said i cant go out!! i said why? he said you already checked-in.. i said yeah but now i have to check out as i dont have sufficient documents to fly out..... he was not ready.. asked me to bring the airline manager to the gate to ensure that i am genuine case.... i went back.. the manager accompanied me i was out on the road again!!!!! with no direction which way to head?? i took an auto [cheaper option] to go back to same hotel.... i checked in again.... set quitely.. took a cold shower....

now it was time for strategic planning..

i thought i shd go to delhi passport office/ immigration department and check..

I went there .. there was a long queue... finally my turn came..

i explained the problem to the officer in charge..

he asked me to submit documents like.. original job offer, company audited financial report, company registration copy etc.

this was again a big task to mobilise all these...

i asked the officer is there any other short cut? he said yes better you go back to passport office where you have got this PP and get ECNR activated.. you will only required your degree certificate..

I was excited and said heyy man i have it with me right now.. could you do it for me? he said no this is out of our jurisdiction!!!

fuShsSSSSSS all my air was out.. i was deflated!!

so next plan is to go back Ahmedabad [ahaaaa back to square one!!]

the best way to get back to place is by train [of curse i had no money for flight!!! neither i used any context to borrow!! as i know next flight is on Tuesday which i cannot catch at the same time.. wed look too close.. so best possible departure will be 14th june...]

so i came back with clear direction in my mind that step.1 Email my bosses and inform them the mess i am in:)

step.2 go to Aryana Afghan office and change the departure date to 14th :)

step.3 go to Ahmedabad ASAP and get my passport ECNR activated..

i followed 1. and 2.

the next challenge was to book tickets of train...ohhhhhhh GOSH!!! impossible in central railway station delhi.. mmmmmm i have to go thru hell!! i knew.. i was prepared..

by the time i reached to booking office.. it was already 5:00 PM.. all booking for nextday closes by 7:00 PM and in no case i can miss next day train which is 3:00 PM train.. and ofcourse in morning i could not get the ticket for sure....!!!

we have to fill up the form for booking.....the misery was... there was no form available,,,,, ..o hh god!!! frustrating... tooo much.... my brain was out of my head!! how come? why cant these people have forms in place??? anyways... i had to buy a form form one of "agent" standing outside.. who cares!! i had to....

i filled and went in.. biiiiiiig 4 queues.. i going tooooo slow.. i thought by 7:00 i dont think i can get the ticket...

so i started exploring out of box options.... i was seeing here and there.. who can help? who can???

my eyes sparkled the joy.. i saw a family a gentle man his 15-17 years daughter and wife.. they were in ladies queue and the line was too short... i saw gentleman stood aside and his wife went in.... i slowly creep closed to gentle man explained him i need to go to Ahmedabad in any case.. could his daughter help me to get ticket for me? his wife and daughter were listening to me..

the man dennied.. said "no" i cant help.. his wife asked him in his language "bengoli" they discussed and seems wife told his daughter to help me.. i gave her money and form.... the girl was brave.... she did buy ticket for me.. i was soooooooo thankful to the family. i greeted them and walked to hotel..

the whole day was full of happening since morning.. as such it started at 3:30 so i was drained off... no energy to keep my eyes opened!! i slept .... woke up late .. 9:30... took my tea, read news paper... talked to parents.... re leaved... good and calm day started..

ohhh yeah my tickets were confirmed but RAC [Reservation against cancellation] ... means i can get confirm birth[seat] if some one cancels the ticket.. .. my waiting number was 173... my GOD.,. it is not possible that in vacation time 172 ppl get their tkt cancelled!! oopssSSSS

i knew what i wd be up to???? wel......... i had no choice.. there were million people looming over the "waiting/ confirmation list" it was impossible for me to read and get the number which is my boggiie number? any ways i knew there will be no allocation as i m too far behind in queue....

well i gathered courage and jumped in one of the compartment.. grabbed the first seat.... train started.. a guy of my age came in.. set near me.. smiled.. i askd him is this is place? he said.. yes.... i was ok..

he was looking outside the window.. waiting for some one... train was slowley going out of platform.. he murmured something.. i said what happen? he said his boss was suppose to come but couldn't see him... i said.. ok!!!

finally after next staion it was confirmed that boss is not coming!! i was delighted.. i told him i have no confirm seat.. but have ticket.. can i grabbed his boss place?? he said no prob...

i was tooo happy i had full birth.. i stretched and slept till morning...

I am in Delhi -- got the VISA

I decided to take train route.. and My town RAjkot is not well connected with Delhi by train.. so I have to come to Ahmedabad [nearest place where i can get train or flight to delhi it is 4 hrs drive away] ... i took a bus to Ahmedabad and evening 5:45 pm train to Delhi which reach delhi next day morning..

my friend Bhavesh promised me to drop me off to railway station.. :) so he came to pick me up where bus dropped me .. we went to his house to get freshen up and then he came to drop me to railway station..

(Bhavesh in the pict :)

This time i has reservation in IInd class sleeper so i had better seat and confirmed birth to enjoy comfortable journey..

so here i go...... bumping on train whole night... finally i am in delhi .. no idea where to stay? cant think of costly accommodation!!! the first thing came in mind as Gujju was to go to "gujarati samaj" in delhi... where we can get gujarati food and a reasonable stay..

i guess it was a stupid decision of going there as it is far from railway station and very very far from Embassy area... so unthoughtful decision to go there... further stupidity was ... i never confirmed where there i a place to stay??? huh!!

so i reached.. contacted on counter.. the manager regretfully said sorry man we have no vacant room!!! the people who are going to "amarnath yatra" [The holy most ;sacred journey for hindus to climb mountain 4 days to worship "lord shiva" ..] have occupied whole "samaj"... not even dormatry is empty... so that was the first hurdle for me to cleared up... i wanted to stay for 6 nights.... the manager looked at me strangely and denied simply ... I requested him to allow me to take shower ..... he was nice enough to permit me for that..

Now choice left for accommodation.... so i decided to go to embassy and apply for VISA first and to think about accommodation later on..

so here i go.... with a BIG bag like an idiot i am at the Embassy door step.. guard stopped me.. i said i wanna apply for VISA.. he called some one from inside the guy came and told me to leave all my luggage outside.. i had a bag and a small waist pouch ... i asked guard to keep the bag under his hut .. he dinned... i had no choice... but to tie my bag with one of the electric pole near embassy gate and request guard to keen an eye on it!!! huh... what a pity!!

i went in the guy on windonw could find the "fax" .. i handed him over my passport and VISA form.. everything finished in 45 min of time.. i ma relieved.. the guy on counter asked me to come and collect my VISA on 4th June..

I came out with a victorious smile... my bag was "safe"... i was laughing on my unplanned venture..

i decided to go to central delhi and find accommodation near central railway station as it is central, cheaper and local food is easily available.. markets are close by..

i found a nice palce to say "surya palace hotel" 5-7 min walk from railway station "pahadganj" area.

i drained off.. took a nice hot shower again .. went out for late lunch came back and slept liek a log..... very relexed...

evening was allocated for connought place [a central market].. .. went around small bookshops... souvenir shops... came back around 7:00 PM and had a nice dinner at local "dhaba" [road side restaurant] .... took a nice sleep..

again the whole day . .. nothing to do except going around the market.. ... just passed leisure time hanging around..... meeting few friends....

here the day came for collection of VISA.. I got ready.. reached the embassy on time.. Got my VISA by 3:30 PM .... i was the most happy person on the earth.. immediately came back to hotel.. went to internet cafe.. wrote mail to my bosses that i am done and coming..

this was a BIG step forward..

I was relaxed as my flight was on 7th june 7:00 am. I had few more days to go around and meet people..

i met Dr. Pooja, Mr. Chaddha and having had two nice evenings with each of them.

i was on 9th cloud.....

.......