Trip to Austria

Ppl involved: my friends Ranga, Badri,Rakesh, Pradyut and me.

Aug 15' 2008 was 61st independence day for India.It was different sort of independence for me though, away from work for 3 days after a pretty long time ;-)5 of us planned for the trip and we left Brussels. We left in a cheap flight on Aug 14 from Brussels.

As aug 16 was Avani Avittam, I was receving inst from my parents and grand parents on what to do for the day. I never bothered about what they said :-)

I was so excited as it was my second flight of my life.We left around 8.20pm in the evening and reached Vienna around 9.35 pm.Suddenly I was surprised to experience natural sweat after many months. I once thought I was in Chennai :-)Then I realised that the temperature outside was a little above 25 :-)Such a notable change in me after coming to Brussels.

So back to our topic: We were searching for the route to hostel and finally boarded a bus at around 10.20pm and reached Hostel by 11.00pm.We had a troubled sleep as the weather was very hot (25 C :-))

Aug 15'2008:
All 5 woke up at around 4 am and started to pack our bags to Salzburg.We boarded the train around 5.30 am and reached Salsburg at around 9.00 am
From there, we went on a tourist bus to Salt Mine and Ice cave.
Salt Mine was situated 50 feet under the earth and the temperature was around 10-15C.We were taken inside in a mini train. It was wonderful as it was a open train and it took us thro a tunnel.I was very very excited.There we saw salt lakes and crystal rocks full of salt. We travelled in a boat to the otherside of the salt lake.
Overall, it was a thrilling experience....

Ice Caves:
It was a fantastic trek up hill and then through a winch which took us in an angle of elevation of around 80 degrees :-)
The climate was oppostie to Vienna. It was quite rainy and cold, nearly 10C or below.
We still managed to climb uphill. There we had a admirable sight of seeing the cave which had natural sculpture of ice.
It was similar to Badrinath(though I never managed to go there, but still I have seen some photos :-))
Overall it was a good, exciting energetic day.
Aug 16' 2008:

2nd day of the 3day weekend.

Avani Avittam - Woke up quickly , took bath and then changed my cross belt (poonal ;-)) and prayed GOD and spoke with home.

We got a bit late than the previous day. We started the day by visitng some palaces and gardens and museum.It was almost the half day over and then we had lunch in an Indian Restaurant.
Then we went to tricky fountain. The history of which goes like this:
"In those days, Bishop and his ministers used to dine together. The ministers used to get drunk so often that they need to woken up.So Bishop had a control where when he uses that water splashes all over the dining table except over himself.It was designed in a superb manner. We had a nice time there.
The same night we went to Vienna and this time I was surprised that it was damn cold.But still, since were there to roam, we decided to go for a walk at 11.45 pm ;-)
We roamed and came back around 1am :-).
Then we slept.

Aug 17'2008:
Last day of our exciting trip :-(
Woke up and visited the parliament first. Then we went on a walking tour covering as many places as possible.The notable places include 2 palaces, garden, fountain etc...
Then in the evening we caught the flight back and we found that the flight was delayed by more than an hour.We reached Brussels around 9.25 pm.
An exiciting trip came to a sleepy end. :-(
On the whole, it was a satisfying trip.
If the same type of trip have been put in Chennai or Tamil Nadu, I wud have sweat all day losing my energy.
The climate and surroundings made the trip highly exciting and not to forget of my flight journeys to and fro :-)

What India lacks

Recently I moved to Brussels. I have become a globe trotter here. Whenever I get a chance, I go wandering around.
I have been to only 3 countries in Europe as of now, but everywhere I observed a commonness among them.

1) Discipline
2) Infrastructure
3) Free of Pollution

Discipline - This was one thing which was absent in most of my people back home (including me to some extent)
Where does this discipline come from? If I say, this comes from the brought up, then I am lowering all the parent communities back home :-)
The actual reason is they conduct themselves. They are highly conscientious and ethical.
We make fun of their habits, but I dont know how many of us realize that we are no where near them?

All these people drive very very safely. Pedestrians are given first priority. Back home, MTC buses, Engg Coll buses in OMR, some S/W
company buses rule the road. No respect for signal, no respect for pedestrians or old people. Rules are meant to be broken.
Even if caught, everybody will be slapped with money and the issue will be buried.
When its a govt employee, its a just a 2 month LOP leave in the name of suspension

Remedy for this: As in a MGR song, there is a famous line "Thirudanai paarthu Thiruntha vitaal, Thiruttai Ozhika Mudiyathu"
Until or Unless our people, realize their self and change, nothing can be done. We have to watch helplessly.
As far as there is bad politics in the state, this will continue. Or, the rules need to be tightened without loopholes.

Infrastructure:

This factor is inversely proportional to corruption. The higher the infrastructure the lower the corruption.
I have been stumped with the life style of the people. No wonder, these are developed countries since there is almost no corruption.
Corruption might occur in the form of bribe here too, but that occurs for non - performance.
But in our place, for a gove official to do his daily job,Bribe needs to be given.
As, Rajni movie shows the extraction of black money, we must find a way to get all the black money from all politicians and GOVT staff like
sub registrars who have made it a habit to take bribe.

I don't know, how effective is the Vigilance in all the govt dept is working?

Only a saint can question these people as almost no govt official is even next to perfect.
Probably, since this is the 21st century, people might find a way even to bribe him :-(

Pollution:

This is the one thing, I have ever wondered. In Chennai, in heart of the city, where I lived, there is '0' mosquito.
Reason: Many VIPs stay near by. But that is not the case when you go to Suburban like Villivakkam or Korattur.
You will find only mosquitoes and insects.
Here,wherever U go, U wont find any such things. In fact, there are more trees, more greeneries, but still no such nonsense.

Drainage system is perfect in Europe.

Is there any drainage in Chennai suburbs?? It is a big NO.

I personally went and checked with the counsellor whether there was any chance of Korattur getting a drainage. His reply was "No Sir.
It doesnt come under the city limits you see, there are a lot of formalities". I wanted to ask him back "Then why the hell am I voted U".
Afraid that I might get beaten up, I came back dejected without uttering a word:-(



Again dont ever think that I am comparing my motherland with a developed country. NO, I am analysing whats missing back there.
I am still an Indian and Chennai is my paradise.


GOD knows when I will be back. But I would love to see a refreshing change to my place.
I can only pray GOD to save India.