I'm Not Bar-Coded or a Sticky Wicket in Chennai

I'm Not Bar-Coded or a Sticky Wicket in Chennai

Airport Arrival in Chennai

"Some day I'll laugh about this!"

Actually I did even while it was happening and many
times later in the evening with new Indian friends.

Once again I realized I am highly intuitive while also
needy for and dependent upon WWWWWH
Who, What, When, Where, Why and How answers.

Who? 
Prakash by cyberspace friend and promoter in Sri
Lanka and India

What? 
What to expect once I made it through
Immigration and Customs checks with my bags

When? 
8:55 am arrival

Where? 
Chennai International airport

Why? 
to be picked up by Prakash who was going to help
me find a hotel

How? 
I am have become so spoiled by my hosts, hotels
with their vans and staffs to pick me up whenever 
I first arrive in a new country.

I did not have a reservation for a hotel.

There were no simple phone banks just for hotel
arrangements.

There were no kiosks with people selling tour packages
and arranging hotels

What I had was a promise from an email friend-Prakash.

I walked in and out, in and out...5, 6, 7 times
through the departure passengers exit nervously trying
to find Prakash or so he could find me. I looked at
every face for a light of recognition or a sign in
their hands with my name on it, even spelled wrong. 

I was trying to analyze and synthesize the situation
and generate a workable solution...
almost any solution. 

Consciously I did not sit down (no seats to be found) 
and work on the Osborn-Parnes CPS process.

Unconsciously, sub-consciously. Actually I was doing a
mix of all.

I didn't let the Moses Syndrome condemn me.

I asked every one of the employees, police, taxi drivers
swarming around me.

Telling the same taxi drivers over and over "I DO NOT
WANT NOR NEED A TAXI SOME ONE IS PICKING ME UP!" 

They were like a swarm of thousands of house or "blow" flies. 

Actually the majority of them did wait behind
the established barriers. Only a few came back and
back and back.

I found an ATM machine after asking the same person
and finally understanding exactly what he had said in
the very first attempt to help me. Got some Rubles:
all in 100s and 500s. Then off to find a way to
change to coins so I could use a phone to call
Prakash. I had his business phone.

(many things deleted for brevity here)

I returned one more time to the spot where I had stood
several times already looking for or hoping to be seen
by Prakash.

Viola

As I was rethinking Plan Q, a smiling face, a wave of
a friendly hand, Prakash, 6 ft or so tall,
distinguished gray hair and a moustache appeared
across the drive.

Off to town.

Second hotel he negoitated a very fair rate for me.

I had made it.

We talked for awhile in the hotel bar about our work,
backgrounds, families, etc. Then made plans to meet
that evening with two of his friends.

Off to rest, to sleep for a couple hours.

Around 3:00 off I went to the streets to explore:
find an ATM machine, food, grocery store, simply see
what I could see and get acclamated to the area of
Chennai my hotel, Serva was located in.

At 7:00ish IST (Indian Stretchable Time) Prakash
appeared in the lobby just as I exited the elevator.
As I approached him two gentlemen approached, one, one
of our dinner party.

Off to the ANNA ALUMIN CLUB for our dinner and fun.

As Prakash ordered course after course plus drinks his
friends: "Bud" S. S. Bhattacharjee (Primesite outdoor
advertising manager) and V. Somasundaram (regional
manager for The Hindustan Times Ltd) tried to explain
cricket to me that was on the television hanging from
the ceiling in the bar.

We had many laughs and talked about many things.

Including bar coding. We decided that Indians do not
bar code so that they can negotiated. That is when I
decided that we are not "Bar coded" and are willing to
negotiated. Then I said to Prakash that I prefer to
be "Bar coded" with my speaking fees....ha ha.

Harry the meal reminded me of our meal together with
Kostas (the scientist Kostas) at the base of the
Acropolis Spring 2000. Lots of courses, all
different. Some actually not real hot in spice.

Tangri Kabab, chicken tikka, fish fingers, keera vada,
peanut masala, wafers (potato like chips), spring
rolls. Plus we had pomegrande (spelling) fruit juice
and they had me try an Indian Beer: Golden Eagle.

After a very comfortable sleep I had breakfast at the
hotel:

Idly (rice patties)
vada-donut
chutney (coconut and ginger (spicey))
pesarattu-pancake
semiya uppuma-spicy noodle with cashews
sambar-spicey veggie soup
cereals (like in an boring American chain restaurant)
lime juice
grapes juice
breads
tomatoes
sausage

Then off to the Business Centre where Kenny Ghee was
playing "Love Me Tender". 

Now as I finally finish this it is Vivaldi who is
setting my typing pace.

Ciao yall

Wandering Alan

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