The Incredible India
The Incredible India. Hmm..are they? I don't how to decide. Most probably because I didn't go to the incredible places.
When the first time I knew that I will be sent for training to India, I've got mixed feeling. Excited but at the same a little worried. Excited because I never been there and the expenses is sponsored but worried because I have to travel alone. I heard about a lot of bad things. Knowing that I will not be alone at Mumbai made me feel better. But still, little worry does have.
Kolkata Airport
Due to some changes, my training had to be rescheduled few days after the initial date. I flew to Kolkata by AirAsia from LCCT on 2nd July 2013 around 3.30 pm. I was my 2nd day of employment at my new workplace. It took about 3 hours to reach Kolkata Airport. From the air plane, I could see the greenery view of Kolkata.
India is 2 hours and 15 minutes behind Malaysia. Therefore, it was 5.30 pm when I arrived there. It is a new airport and bigger than the previous one. The old airport is just next to the building. My flight to Mumbai is scheduled on 8.00 pm. I had more than 2 hours to wait for the flight. I was trying to reach any coffee house like Starbucks so that I can get free Wifi. None! I walked out from the airport and try to search at the old airport but it was no longer opened.
I'd met an Indian guy, very friendly but chewing betel leaf and split it all the time. He works with Air India. We were standing outside the airport and had talk. He said my face looks like local. But, only the way I wore made me looks like a foreigner. I wonder why he said that way. Am I really looks like an Indian? However, he was very helpful when he accompanied me back to the airport and sent me to the departure hall.
One thing I notice about Indians, they don't smile. I don't know how to describe. But maybe as Malaysian, sometimes we just smile to anybody even we don't know them. I've tried to do the same thing to a security lady at the airport, but she just stood with a weird face and starred at me.
I had some doubts about the food. I hesitate to buy anything with meat because I didn't feel confident about the Halal status. So, I just took Vegi sandwich and a cup of coffee while waiting for my flight to Mumbai.
Mumbai
I arrived at Mumbai almost 12 am. There was one man awaiting for me with a sign "Sarah Binti" on his hand. I met my colleague, Linu for the first time at the airport. The driver brought us to our hotel at Mumbai. It was not a hotel actually. The name was Goregaon Sports Club located in the middle of Malad West, Mumbai.
Our first training will be held on the next day at Pune. Pune is located 80 km from Malad West and it will take 3-4 hours driving. The training will start at 10 am and we have to depart from Mumbai as early as 7.00 am. While waiting for the taxi, we went up to the cafeteria to have breakfast. I didn't know what to order. So, Linu suggested me to try Masala Dosa. Once I tried, then only I noticed that it was called Tosai in Malaysia. But this is much better, with potato inside it.
Pune
On the next day, the taxi driver that the organizer hired had lost when he tried to reach our place, but did not turn up after that. Quick change plan, they called another driver but he reached only almost 8.30 am. The journey to Pune took more than two hours to reach the destination. It was raining in the morning but I enjoyed the greenery view very much.
The company is located at Technology Park where most of the big IT companies are located. The training was held for the whole day. The training was about RFID product and not so advanced as what I thought. I've seen a lot of things like this in Malaysia. Now I wonder why I have to go through this training. We left the place around 5.00 pm and reach Goregaon about 8.00 pm, but we were stuck in traffic for one hour.
Mumbai Training
In Mumbai, the training location was nearer to our stay. According to the security guard, it was only walking distance. 15 minutes to reach the place. We tried to walk, but we found it very far actually. Although it was still early, we were sweating before we reach the office. I promised I will take Auto after this. Lunch time, they brought us to a Beriyani restaurant. It is Halal as what they said. In fact, there are a lot of Muslims in that area too. My concern is only when it comes to food. Sometimes they did not really understand what is the true understanding of halal. It's the whole process of preparing food, not only the way they cut the animals or by not serving pork. Anyway, the food were great. As a person came from Hyderabad, which is famous with the best beriyani in India, Linu felt that the taste were nothing. Even the worst beriyani in Hyderabad was better than this one, said him.
Once the 1st training is done, we didn't go back straight. We wanted to do some shopping. Linu heard about this place, a street mall. That area called Borivali. We took Auto, a common public transport in India. There was a mall next to it also. We managed to find some shirts and pants for ourselves and also for our family. We went to the mall to find Salwar Khameez, an Indian traditional dress other than Sari. Salwar is actually a dress together with the pants and shawl. Most of the colours and designs are too fancy for me. I am a simple person, so I wanted to find something simple. We found a shop selling simple and casual Salwar. I bought multiple colour for me and my sisters. All are simple and casual and we can wear it with jeans if we want to. We left when the time almost 10 pm.
Gateway of India, Mumbai
Same training on the next day. But this time, after the training ends we went to the Gateway of India. We kept our things at the club house and took an auto to Malad West Train Station to Churchgate Station. The fare was only 50 Rupee for class 1st. Linu paid for me, hehe.
We faced difficulties to find the counter because there was no proper signboard at that station. The train arrived quite frequent, about 15 minutes I guess. I thought the 1st class was really 1st class, but the difference is only the fan. It was an open air coach. But no so many people in that coach, maybe because of the price difference.
Churchgate Station is the last station at the town. It was already 8.30 pm at that time. I don't think we can go to many places. But, soon after we arrive there we took a cab to Gateway of India. Here we go, babeh!
We left Mumbai on the next day. Linu was leaving to his place, Hydrabad and I was leaving to Kolkata before back to KL. I reach KL almost 1 am and luckily my mom did not complaint when she fetch me.
When the first time I knew that I will be sent for training to India, I've got mixed feeling. Excited but at the same a little worried. Excited because I never been there and the expenses is sponsored but worried because I have to travel alone. I heard about a lot of bad things. Knowing that I will not be alone at Mumbai made me feel better. But still, little worry does have.
Kolkata Airport
Due to some changes, my training had to be rescheduled few days after the initial date. I flew to Kolkata by AirAsia from LCCT on 2nd July 2013 around 3.30 pm. I was my 2nd day of employment at my new workplace. It took about 3 hours to reach Kolkata Airport. From the air plane, I could see the greenery view of Kolkata.
India is 2 hours and 15 minutes behind Malaysia. Therefore, it was 5.30 pm when I arrived there. It is a new airport and bigger than the previous one. The old airport is just next to the building. My flight to Mumbai is scheduled on 8.00 pm. I had more than 2 hours to wait for the flight. I was trying to reach any coffee house like Starbucks so that I can get free Wifi. None! I walked out from the airport and try to search at the old airport but it was no longer opened.
I'd met an Indian guy, very friendly but chewing betel leaf and split it all the time. He works with Air India. We were standing outside the airport and had talk. He said my face looks like local. But, only the way I wore made me looks like a foreigner. I wonder why he said that way. Am I really looks like an Indian? However, he was very helpful when he accompanied me back to the airport and sent me to the departure hall.
One thing I notice about Indians, they don't smile. I don't know how to describe. But maybe as Malaysian, sometimes we just smile to anybody even we don't know them. I've tried to do the same thing to a security lady at the airport, but she just stood with a weird face and starred at me.
I had some doubts about the food. I hesitate to buy anything with meat because I didn't feel confident about the Halal status. So, I just took Vegi sandwich and a cup of coffee while waiting for my flight to Mumbai.
Mumbai
I arrived at Mumbai almost 12 am. There was one man awaiting for me with a sign "Sarah Binti" on his hand. I met my colleague, Linu for the first time at the airport. The driver brought us to our hotel at Mumbai. It was not a hotel actually. The name was Goregaon Sports Club located in the middle of Malad West, Mumbai.
Our first training will be held on the next day at Pune. Pune is located 80 km from Malad West and it will take 3-4 hours driving. The training will start at 10 am and we have to depart from Mumbai as early as 7.00 am. While waiting for the taxi, we went up to the cafeteria to have breakfast. I didn't know what to order. So, Linu suggested me to try Masala Dosa. Once I tried, then only I noticed that it was called Tosai in Malaysia. But this is much better, with potato inside it.
Pune
On the next day, the taxi driver that the organizer hired had lost when he tried to reach our place, but did not turn up after that. Quick change plan, they called another driver but he reached only almost 8.30 am. The journey to Pune took more than two hours to reach the destination. It was raining in the morning but I enjoyed the greenery view very much.
The company is located at Technology Park where most of the big IT companies are located. The training was held for the whole day. The training was about RFID product and not so advanced as what I thought. I've seen a lot of things like this in Malaysia. Now I wonder why I have to go through this training. We left the place around 5.00 pm and reach Goregaon about 8.00 pm, but we were stuck in traffic for one hour.
Mumbai Training
In Mumbai, the training location was nearer to our stay. According to the security guard, it was only walking distance. 15 minutes to reach the place. We tried to walk, but we found it very far actually. Although it was still early, we were sweating before we reach the office. I promised I will take Auto after this. Lunch time, they brought us to a Beriyani restaurant. It is Halal as what they said. In fact, there are a lot of Muslims in that area too. My concern is only when it comes to food. Sometimes they did not really understand what is the true understanding of halal. It's the whole process of preparing food, not only the way they cut the animals or by not serving pork. Anyway, the food were great. As a person came from Hyderabad, which is famous with the best beriyani in India, Linu felt that the taste were nothing. Even the worst beriyani in Hyderabad was better than this one, said him.
Once the 1st training is done, we didn't go back straight. We wanted to do some shopping. Linu heard about this place, a street mall. That area called Borivali. We took Auto, a common public transport in India. There was a mall next to it also. We managed to find some shirts and pants for ourselves and also for our family. We went to the mall to find Salwar Khameez, an Indian traditional dress other than Sari. Salwar is actually a dress together with the pants and shawl. Most of the colours and designs are too fancy for me. I am a simple person, so I wanted to find something simple. We found a shop selling simple and casual Salwar. I bought multiple colour for me and my sisters. All are simple and casual and we can wear it with jeans if we want to. We left when the time almost 10 pm.
Gateway of India, Mumbai
Same training on the next day. But this time, after the training ends we went to the Gateway of India. We kept our things at the club house and took an auto to Malad West Train Station to Churchgate Station. The fare was only 50 Rupee for class 1st. Linu paid for me, hehe.
We faced difficulties to find the counter because there was no proper signboard at that station. The train arrived quite frequent, about 15 minutes I guess. I thought the 1st class was really 1st class, but the difference is only the fan. It was an open air coach. But no so many people in that coach, maybe because of the price difference.
Churchgate Station is the last station at the town. It was already 8.30 pm at that time. I don't think we can go to many places. But, soon after we arrive there we took a cab to Gateway of India. Here we go, babeh!
We went to a restaurant nearby that area. It was a Pakistan restaurant I think, Badamiya. They served Kebab as their specialty. The Kebabs were very nice to eat with roti. We ate a lot that night.
 |
| Bademiya Restaurant |
We left for sightseeing after the dinner with the same cab. Enjoy the pictures.
We left Mumbai on the next day. Linu was leaving to his place, Hydrabad and I was leaving to Kolkata before back to KL. I reach KL almost 1 am and luckily my mom did not complaint when she fetch me.
~End of Trip~
I study kat india before this. N ots actually quite nice. U need to try to go to udaipur, jaipur, n agra. Taj mahal is a must. Seriously cantik. Try to go there in the morning for a better view. Taj is in agra. Other than taj, they hv other place also. But i cnt remember the name. Goa is also very nice. But as u said, halal food is quite hard to find. I diarrhea lagi time travel. Lol. Anyway, u really should try travel to india again. It suits someone who love adventures n backpacking.
ReplyDeletehi..i admit that India is a beautiful country. Too bad i went there for a business trip but didn't have much time to explore other places. Will definitely come again but maybe to rajastan or kashmir. tp tak tau la bila..hehe
Deletekikiki, Somany places in India why did they choose that place ??? Worst place with dirt and rubbish
ReplyDeletethis trip is not bad for you
as i know its not costly come India from Malaysia most of airports have visa on arrival
so just need to choose the place you wanted visit enjoy with your friends
open this link you may get a picture all the places in India not look like Kolkata
Place : Kerala, Airport Kochin , Tourist places : Munnar,Alappuzha,Vayanad,Gavi,Trivandrum,Kochi and more
Deletehttps://www.keralatourism.org/pictures/