Flying trans Tasman over the Pacific in the day is a good experience as you get to see the varied landscape of New Zealand starting from nicely organized cultivation fields to mountains with the rivers flowing in between, bending and stretching out along their course, the snow capped peaks come into view after some time the spongy looking milk white clouds hugging the shoulders of these magnificent mountains. To me, the mountains look as if they are alive and conscious. I look startled at the majesty and strength they display.
crossing the Land, we enter the endless ocean. Water, water everywhere....I doze off on my seat listening to Ilayaraja on my ipod as the flight heads towards Sydney. As we approach Sydney the beauty of nature grips you again. Sydney is a beautiful harbour city. Sea finds its way to the center of the city. The natural harbour is one of the great gifts to people here i suppose. The flight takes a turn on the sea and prepares landing and it looks as if we are landing on the sea when just just before touching ground the patch of land with runway comes into view.
After airport formalities I headed to the railway station. I was not expecting Sydney to be this big. I had always imagined cities outside India to be very thinly populated and slow and my imaginations were confirmed in Christchurch where you hardly find more than five passengers in a normal city bus and you could find no one on road after 9 pm.
I was taken aback to find a striking similarity of Sydney to our metros. People looked very busy, most of them had mobile phones in their hands seriously grazing through stuff even when they were getting into train. It looked as if everyone was in a race. I thought "oh! This is another mad city where people keep running not knowing where they are heading". I saw three storeyed metro trains full of people. this was the thing I was afrais of. Big cities! the run! the rush and competition! Ok...I reached Chethan's place...wonderful young couple who are taking care of me very well.
the conference (for which I had come) was in Manly. manly is a beach area and the hotel where the conference was happening overlooks the sea. I was captivated by the beauty of the sea and beach when I reached Manly the next day morning. The bus services are good and i again find it similar to Chennai. Buses are a lot lot better. But again, this is another city. City which adverises about call girls and escorts for two full pages in local newspapers, city where ferry is one of the public transport system to got to job everyday, city where i find more asian faces than white faces!
The first day of the conference was good..workshops from various companies...new devices good things! Met Mr.Hong and he is happy taking me for his fellowship in Hamilton. Let's see how it works out! I have this problem of getting up early coz at Christchurch we are two hours ahead!
tha's why i am writing this
may be i'll write more in the two weeks I am goin to stay here.
bye!
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