Finally, it happened....The wait was over. My sojourn to San Francisco got confirmed. I was very excited at the opportunity to work on a project in the Travel Domain. But not so fast. Since I had been keeping my fingers crossed since May 2005, it was more apt that God didn't want to give it to me on a platter. So, the TravelDesk guys were His instruments and had me on tenterhooks until the last moment by confirming that I would be travelling to SFO only on Friday evening. I could collect my tickets only at 6.20 pm Friday 19th August, when I had to board the flight the following night.
To top the suspense the previous evening, I was feeling sick with fever, sore throat and a blocked nose. (Thanks to Arun for passing on the bug to me!!) As usual, I passed my parents' offer of seeing me off at the airport. I have never been a person who would prefer to be seen off at the airport. Somehow, the thought of turning my back on my near and dear ones always makes me emotional. (Even if the trip is short) I have always found myself getting emotional, whenever I left from Chennai...even if it were for a domestic trip, say to Bangalore. To avoid all the mushy stuff and to keep my folks from sleeping early, I said no thanks to my parents' offer.
The drive in the call taxi to the Chennai airport was uneventful (well, not totally...because I had forgotten my jacket on the couch and had to return to pick it up!!). I went through the security and emigration formalities uneventfully. As usual, my shins turned on the alarms when I went through the metal detectors and had to show my surgically repaired shin and that there is a steel rod inside my leg.
The flight from Chennai to Singapore was uneventful. Singapore Airlines started on time and reached early. Just about 3.5 hours duration. I didn't get to sleep properly because of the short flight and besides, I was cramped for space. I got down at Changi airport and was told to reach the Rainforest Lounge for my 10 hour stopover. I must admit that Changi airport is really a marvel. Great lounges, duty-free shops, restaurants of all kinds (including Indian food) and not-to-forget the availability of free Internet browsing for passengers. My throat started acting up and I had to take tablets and not-to-mention Hot Chocolate to keep my throat warm. I watched a sci-fi movie in a huge tv in one of the lounges, before retiring on a sleeper. I could finally spread out my legs fully and sleep in normal position. I slept fitfully, though, for 4 hours. When I woke up, it was time for lunch in Singapore and I helped myself to another hot coffee from Starbucks just to ease my throat. Finally, after spending a little more time in front of one of those huge wall-mounted televisions (almost like theatre) and watching the F1 Grand Prix qualifiers. (Unfortunately, Narain had trouble with the car and could not even begin the qualifiers). Finally, it was time to board the 5 pm flight to Hong Kong, en route to SFO.
I tried the technique of trying to keep my sleep/meal cycles as per the destination time. This time too, it worked successfully, as I had very little jetlag and had recovered pretty quickly in just abt day or two. I watched several movies on the flight as it was a really long 18 hour flight to SFO. I watched Alien vs Predator, a little of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and a little of Mumbai Express. Also, played Super Mario after a long, long time. By the time, we were 3 or 4 hours from SFO, my throat got really bad and I really had to shout, to make myself heard to the stewardess. This was the time I was thanking my stars that I did get back home to pick up the jacket. I wonder how worse it could have gotten, had I not gone back to collect the jacket.
Finally, landed in SFO airport and as usual, ran to the Immigrations with all the I-94 forms and agriculture check forms in hand. I selected a counter which had a Chinese-looking officer. I went in and greeted him and was out in a breeze without being asked a single question. I guess, my trip to Chicago and my previous stay in the US helped me sail through without any problem. No problems anywhere in the agriculture check too. As I came out of the gate, I was accosted by a limo driver and I agreed with him to take me to the Holiday Inn in downtown SFO for $45. Apparently, he was a Hispanic from Mexico with his family being there.
At the Holiday Inn lounge, I found all my colleagues who would work on this project ready to go for dinner. I declined their invitation because of my bodily condition. I was in no situation to go out for dinner. I checked in to my room on the 6th floor and found that it was pretty much ok. Atleast for now. I unpacked a little and found myself something comfortable to sleep in. I had a busy day because the next morning, I had to start work. At first, I wanted to call my sisters to inform them. But then, it was already 10.30 pm at SFO, which means it is pretty well late into night for my sisters staying closer to East Coast. I tried calling my folks in India to inform them of my arrival. But the hotel phone would not let me do that saying that I have to pay $25 deposit to even use the phone for local and toll-free 800 numbers. I was very frustrated. So, I thought I could atleast mail someone in India and ask them to inform my parents of the same. Then again, what I thought was free wireless Internet turned out to be $10/night to use the same. This was on top of the $100/night that I was paying before taxes for the room. No microwave or fridge. It was really strange that these guys could get away charging this much without any facilities, just because they are located in downtown. I just drank a little water and went to bed thinking of all the work that lay ahead of me in the next few days.
