India : Amul ad

Amul is the largest dairy company in India. They produce various types of milk product, ice cream, butter, cheese, yogurt and the whole spectrum of dairy products. You can see Amul ice cream cart everywhere in Delhi. 

The word amul is derived from the Sanskrit word amulya, meaning rare, valuable (source: wikipedia).

I watched this ad 10 times in average, everyday in India. The song sticks in my head until now.

I love this ad because it tells a lot about India - their culture, food and community.

Delhi : Missing happy hours

During my tenure in the office in Delhi, I went back at 4.30pm (by 5.00pm it started to get dark) every day. I had my dinner, solat, rest for a while - whether lying on the bed looking at the ceiling or replying emails from KL office. Really, nothing interesting on TV. 

We were not allowed to go out of the hotel by ourselves due to security reason, except with the car and driver assigned to us, which the service ends at 5pm everyday.

After relaxing, I went to level -1.

I went to the spa. To access the gym.

I LOVE THE HOTEL's GYM.

Weeknights, usually I will be the only one in the gym. Weekends, will be a bit crowded (4 people at most).

Westerners loves to run realllly fast on the treadmill or lifting weight.

I noticed Koreans and Japanese really love to read in the gym. That's exactly what I was doing too! (here)

After completing this book, I downloaded a few ebooks, enough for a couple of weeks' working out sessions in this gym.

I usually used 3 machines (treadmill, stationary bike and a cross trainer) until 9pm or whenever the gym boy getting restless and keep checking on me every five minutes because he supposed to close the gym at 9pm. lol.

If no one is looking, I will do a bit of weight lifting.

This is what I missed the most in Delhi.

My gym time. 

The sweet smell of the spa next door. The loud music the gym boy played for me whenever my handphone was out of battery and I cant read the ebook.

I lost a couple of dress sizes in Delhi but I gained it back a few weeks after in KL. Go figure.

Delhi : Topological toys

I bought these for my sons, niece and nephew in Delhi. It is an ancient collapsible wire toys that could transform into (I dont know) 12 different shapes? or more. 

It can also be used as bracelet or hair accessory. My sons use it to hold stationery, fruits, glass, milk bottle and a bowl. It allows them to be creative. 

Although the wire shape was claimed as a symbol associated with other religions, but let's not go there. For me, it is just another topological toy.

India : Road trip

India is not a safe place for ladies. I got a lot of reminders on that. But, it is okay if you have a trusted driver to drive you around.

When I told my friends that I am planning a road trip, against all odds, with a lady companion, from Delhi to Jaipur in Rajasthan state (nearly 270km), overnight there and travel to Agra in Uttar Pradesh state the next day (another 240km) and back to Delhi (210km more), I received a lot of objections. 

Well, I LOVE YOU GUYS too. 

There were ups and downs. but overall, it was a memorable trip. I should do this more often with my adventurous friends.

Delhi : Good morning

My favourite view everyday.
Good morning cold Delhi! The sun rises at 6.30 am.

I usually made myself a breakfast at 7.00 am and finished my uncompleted report before departed to the office at 8.00 am.

I am going to miss these. The weather, the routine, the healthy breakfast.

But not the loneliness.

Delhi : Cold

Oh yeah, it is cold here!
It is getting colder.

Delhi : India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2014

I have received an invitation for IITF 2014. It was officiated by the President of India, Mr. Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

It was held in an open area but the draping work using golden coloured fabrics done by the Indians to create the tent-like interior, brings a majestic feel to the event. 

There were thousands of booths selling products from all Indian states - millions of products, from socks to an aircraft - most of them are sold at a very competitive price AND also hundreds of booths from 22 countries, including Malaysia. This is the International Pavilion.

We had a privilege to visit the whole area FOC. BUT we only have one hour plus since we need to rush to another meeting venue. 

I bought a file made of jute. 

Since we were not allowed to bring in handbag, so my pockets were full with passport, security pass, handphone, pen, paper and tissue. Buying the file has put me at ease. It just cost me around RM12.

I will blog on the state pavilions on different entry.

Delhi : Interactive Session

I had a chance to attend An Interactive Session on the Current State of Indian Economy and Future Prospects with Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Professor of Economics and Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy, Columbia University on 13 November 2014 (Thursday). 

The session, held in conjunction with the FICCI Higher Education Summit 2014, focuses on India’s challenges in developing the country’s economy.

Scanner at FICCI.

Delhi : Newspaper

I read the newspaper everyday in Delhi because:

1. They hanged it to my door every morning;

2. I tried to look wise carrying a newspaper to the office everyday. No;

3. I need to understand their economy; and

4. I didnt understand their news in the TV.

I love the Page One Plus. It is a small strip of paper glued to the rest of the newspaper that contains the editor's picked summaries of interesting news inside. Great idea.

Delhi : Counting days

This mark my 2nd week residing in this hotel. An interesting magazines, delicious cookies and chocolates. Thank you, Hotel.

For the 3rd week, I received the same cookies and chocolate. But different magazine.

Staying at the hotel for the first few days is interesting. After more than two weeks went through the same routine, it doesnt feel the same anymore.

I started tuning my biological clock to Malaysia's time so I wont have any problem going to work on time when I back in KL later this week (yay!)

It is now 9.30 pm in Delhi and 12.00 midnight in KL.

I am sleepy like crazy although I still need to do economic reports on Jaipur and Agra.

Delhi : Water

People warned me that water is not clean here. Not even in a five-star hotel. You will get diarrhea and itchy skin. So they said.

My super-sensitive skin is OKAY here. Alhamdulillah. 

The water supply in the hotel is clean. 

I even cooked it and drank it, just to prove that it is fine for consumption.

For drinking, I downed two or three bottles of mineral water everyday.

Delhi : Ayurveda

There is an Ayurveda spa (Neo Veda) in our hotel. I went to the spa everyday - to access the gym. lol.

We have endless supply of Neo Veda products in our hotel room - bath gel, shampoo, hand wash, body lotion and their OH WANGI GILE green citrus glycerine soap (left). Last week, I bought that pink box:

I guess I will go to the newly-established Ayurveda centre near my home once I am back in KL.

Delhi : Breakfast

My breakfast every morning. Oat cluster, almond and honey AND darjeeling green tea. It's perfect. 

India : Too much - I cant digest

India has a lot of historical monuments / old buildings / forts / structures / UNESCO sites and some of them dated from 300BC, 1st, 2nd century (ok, what year is 2nd century? - it is like year 10, 11?), 5th, 6th century.

This is not even their historical site. This is the Government office building. See how rich architecture there?

As an architecture graduate, of course I am intrigued by these precious works of art. It is like every inches of Delhi is filled with historical structures. I usually will come back to the hotel and start google-ing about any structure I came across that day. Until I decided to stop doing it today. 

THERE ARE TOO MUCH OF THEM HERE. I CANT DIGEST ANYMORE.

INDIA IS RICH < that is the fact.

India : Visa Application

(This entry)

I am done with my visa application at Straits Trading Building KL.

All Indian visa applicants are now required to provide finger scans and a full-face digital photograph as part of the application process (right).

(Credit: Ms Saedah, the model)

Now I just have to wait for the approval.

In the mean time, I AM GONNA SPEND EVERY PRECIOUS MOMENT WITH MY FAMILY.