Work up and looked outside its going to be a sunny hot day! Woke, went to breakfast had pancakes, simple and plain, but couldn’t resist idle and Sāmbhar again, so I had a little with a butter parantha. Too much good food. I had some stomach issues today so a little late to the office. It is a hot day!
Lots of stomach issues today, and I left my meds at the office, so I was very much under the weather today.
First met with Manish and he explained his role with TLM a new product that I support. Then we had lunch more local foods, which were all good. We meet the head of security, Sandeep. He took us for a campus tour outside on a golf cart, the new builing will be about 1.5 in size of their current building, totalling about 8K seats.
Then we had two meetings with two Managed services groups. The first talked about a open source dash board developed and now supported offshore. This is something we need to look at closer as we are looking for something similar and this might be an alternative. The second stop implemented and supports with a full rollout of Remedy. We talked about upgrading Magic, so this was a great view into the future. There were many dashboards which I can see the new technology providing lots of benefits.
Then I spent lots of time in the clean room, we had a RTM issue that I worked with the team. I went to the hotel after 6PM, and did not feel very good. I took lots of meds and lots of sleep. I woke up a couple times, but did not do much till the AM.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Miscellaneous Items
Western dress is more prevalent in the Greater Noida and Noida areas – I saw that in the mall on Saturday, very refreshing to see native wear on Sunday in Delhi.
Roads and traffic are much less hectic in Greater Noida and Noida too, in Delhi it reminded me of my last visit but less traffic as it was an off day.
I noticed this on Friday but there were guys with colourful – neon rackets, I thought maybe racquetball, squash or badminton rackets – with the hotel having some courts, but these were for the flies and mosquitoes, they were best control – during one meal they much have got a big bug as it scared me a bit with the noise of the electric shock.
Noida and Greater Noida is rapidly building many and I mean many new high rise residential and commercial complexes which are in progress, about 10-15 between the two cities and many more in each. Also much construction in Delhi with the continued building of the metro, they still need to connect many communities to reduce the traffic. They work without impeding the traffic and often on pillars over the cities, homes and traffic, pretty interesting. So to say there is lots of construction would be an understatement. I feel every year many new attractions and features will be added to these cities, pretty exciting.
The food at the hotel is very less spicy – Joydeep would be right at home. I noticed this during the first couple means, but with comparing my weekend away meals it was very apparent. It was good to have a mix though. Not sure how my stomach will hold up to the barrage of different, spicy and good food.
Last Friday night I was awoken by a call to my cell after 3 hours of sleep and the plane ride. It was my dad looking for Lowe’s, he must have hit redial as I called when I got to the hotel, so I had some choppy sleep that night and had to convince him I was not at Lowe, but his son in India. I unfortunately got revenge, on Saturday morning, the taxi was delayed with a flat, so I thought I would give a call it was 10AM here and thought it was 7:30PM in the US, but it turned out to be 12:30AM in the US, so I woke both my parents for a brief call but got an early happy mother’s day greeting in too……
Roads and traffic are much less hectic in Greater Noida and Noida too, in Delhi it reminded me of my last visit but less traffic as it was an off day.
I noticed this on Friday but there were guys with colourful – neon rackets, I thought maybe racquetball, squash or badminton rackets – with the hotel having some courts, but these were for the flies and mosquitoes, they were best control – during one meal they much have got a big bug as it scared me a bit with the noise of the electric shock.
Noida and Greater Noida is rapidly building many and I mean many new high rise residential and commercial complexes which are in progress, about 10-15 between the two cities and many more in each. Also much construction in Delhi with the continued building of the metro, they still need to connect many communities to reduce the traffic. They work without impeding the traffic and often on pillars over the cities, homes and traffic, pretty interesting. So to say there is lots of construction would be an understatement. I feel every year many new attractions and features will be added to these cities, pretty exciting.
The food at the hotel is very less spicy – Joydeep would be right at home. I noticed this during the first couple means, but with comparing my weekend away meals it was very apparent. It was good to have a mix though. Not sure how my stomach will hold up to the barrage of different, spicy and good food.
Last Friday night I was awoken by a call to my cell after 3 hours of sleep and the plane ride. It was my dad looking for Lowe’s, he must have hit redial as I called when I got to the hotel, so I had some choppy sleep that night and had to convince him I was not at Lowe, but his son in India. I unfortunately got revenge, on Saturday morning, the taxi was delayed with a flat, so I thought I would give a call it was 10AM here and thought it was 7:30PM in the US, but it turned out to be 12:30AM in the US, so I woke both my parents for a brief call but got an early happy mother’s day greeting in too……
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sunday 5-12 - India Day 3
Happy Mother's Day to all and an overseas happy monther's day to my mom.
Also happy Birthday to my oldest neice, Bella, she turned 7 today.
Today started early with a 7AM wake up and my eagerness for my first Indian breakfast. They had my fav - Idle and Sambhar, I had plent of this to eat. I also saw Chole, which I thought was a meal, but found out it was a nothern breakfast dish, I learned something new. They did not have Puri - bread for Chole - I wanted to compare it with Seema's as she makes this very tasty. Instead the had Kuchta , which was a fluffy but plain tasting, stil was good with the gravy dishes. they had the typical eggs, pancake and bacon too. Again lots of good food, rested a bit for my sightseeing outing. The taxi was delayed as it had to change its flate tire, so we began a little late. Anwarul came with the cab on my journey and we met Ashish in Delhi, many sites were very familar, as we past the Akshardam - bad spelling and the Oberi hotel I stayed during my last vist, We were on to the Lotus temple/ Last trip the sightseeing was on the weekend so there was limited queues, we waited for about 15 mins to get into the temple, then had a lengthy walk, needed to remove our shoes, so I keep my socks on. We walked up to the temple on a mat, I saw many foot prints as I walked and noticed i was making foot prints too, my feet were wet as the mat was watered due to the temp. I remove my wet socks. We lined up to get into the temple and they gave a brief into in Hindi and English, no picutures or talking in the temple. It was very cool and a unique bulding, we sat for a bit, then left for some pictures. While taking pictures, two young kids approached me and asked for a picture, I said not problem. I stick out a bit as I am so big and fair skinned. They family appreciated it and the one ran away saying his name was Rohit, i responsed as mine was Jeff. The kids were happy - it was very strange to me and odd....
We left the temple for the Otob Minor, I thought it was going to be just one tower, but was I wrong, they had a small qeue but no too bad, it was 1PM and getting a little hot, not very sunny so I lucked out a bit here. We stopped for a couple breaks, but overall very good weather, better than I expected. The had one completed tower and one completed walk way, the others sites were buiding and beginings of anothe tower and more walkways, It was similar to the other fort I visited last trip, every turn had a new bulding with unique features, This was really old and cool. There were three difference attempts to complete these buldings starting the 1700s. pretty old.
Then we went for dinner in Connaught place, QBE, it was on the third floor, very nice, we had the buffet, and half way through the electicty failed, so it was a candle light meal. Food was very good and a little more spicier then the hotel, which was good too. We left by candle light too as nohting was working, there seemd to be a major outage. This area is known for shopping and eatings. We looked for some store to get an indian dress but as it was Sunday all were closed.
Then we went to India gate, all the roads to were closed do to some demonistration and lots of police presence. We got left off, near the park on the India gate and took some close pictures, lots of food, panni puri and ice cream and lots of picnic lunches. this is the closest I got as last year we were prevented even to get this far. very nice view. We travelled around India and all the government offices and officer house, lots of good views, then headed home. two sighing were golds gym, they are very global now, interesting. I also saw many american cars - Ford, which was odd, toyota has a bigger presence too, bigger and SUVs are poplular too. Heading back to the hotel it started to rain, we got some, which was unexpected. Got to the hotel and rested had dinner and watch the Channi and Ragistan, spelling if off match, which the underdog Ragistain team won in Japur their home town, now updating the blog and heading to bed - good night.
Thanks Anwarul and Ashish for a great day!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Saturday 5-11 India Day 2 Trust Release
Got up at 5AM, early to watch/help offshore support the upcoming Trust release, met the driver in the lobby by 6AM, office at 6:10. It’s a nice cool morning. Got to office, release is in full swing, I was introduced to more members of my team. Took a break and an outside tour of the NIIT campus. They are building two more buildings to complete the campus. it was very nice and the weather was cool with a breeze. Breakfast was order Alo parahta, another favorite. The release was completed with great success, the team did an excellent job as usual, thanks! Going to the hotel for lunch then some travels with Hitesh and Suvrata in the evening. I had lunch at the hotel and asked for a favorite bread - Romali Roti - it is a very thin tasty bread they indicated they dont server it but my regular server indicated he had some special for me and retuned with two slices, this is some really great stuff. The servers cooks and mgmt all know me now and are extremely friendly and too acoomodating.
Got picked up by Hitesh and off to Noida, to the IPL mall, it was huge lots of activity going on inside and out. Got in the budiling through a security check and it looked very similar to KOP, except for the names of the shops and the people. I was packed. We met Suvrata and walked a bit, saw Hallmark, TGI Friday, KFC, Pizza Hut, Staples, Dunkin Dounuts too. Many home town offerings. Lots of people and I stick out very much. I started starring back and smiling just to see if I got any reactions, and did...so it was fun. We look at a couple clothing shopes but they dont have a big and tall shop for me here, hope for some luck tomorrow in Delhi. We went to a sport bar, I think it was called the sports bar to have some drinks and snacks and continue to watch the cricket match. We had some Indian beer - very good, and snacks, Paneer, mushrooms and chicken. all very tasty and we had some good talks.
We walked some more and hit the food court, we were looking for a restraunt proiving Romali roti, and stopped at on but did not offer this bread. I was almost full with the snacks, but it was dinner time. We had 3 types of bread - mint parntha - very good, thought it was taste link mint, but only a hint of that, layered parnatha - again good, this a crusty crispy chapta, very good but plain, we had another paneer dish and dal. Again more talks and eating, very nice. We had desert - Kaffe, I think Inidan ice cream - very rich and tasty it had a nut flavor and some cold noddles, which was odd, but added great tecture to the ice cream and was overall very good, I woudl have never guessed this and probaly would have avoid the paste altogether. It was a late night headed home after 11PM. A great night.
Thanks Hitesh and Suvrata for a great evening!
Got picked up by Hitesh and off to Noida, to the IPL mall, it was huge lots of activity going on inside and out. Got in the budiling through a security check and it looked very similar to KOP, except for the names of the shops and the people. I was packed. We met Suvrata and walked a bit, saw Hallmark, TGI Friday, KFC, Pizza Hut, Staples, Dunkin Dounuts too. Many home town offerings. Lots of people and I stick out very much. I started starring back and smiling just to see if I got any reactions, and did...so it was fun. We look at a couple clothing shopes but they dont have a big and tall shop for me here, hope for some luck tomorrow in Delhi. We went to a sport bar, I think it was called the sports bar to have some drinks and snacks and continue to watch the cricket match. We had some Indian beer - very good, and snacks, Paneer, mushrooms and chicken. all very tasty and we had some good talks.
We walked some more and hit the food court, we were looking for a restraunt proiving Romali roti, and stopped at on but did not offer this bread. I was almost full with the snacks, but it was dinner time. We had 3 types of bread - mint parntha - very good, thought it was taste link mint, but only a hint of that, layered parnatha - again good, this a crusty crispy chapta, very good but plain, we had another paneer dish and dal. Again more talks and eating, very nice. We had desert - Kaffe, I think Inidan ice cream - very rich and tasty it had a nut flavor and some cold noddles, which was odd, but added great tecture to the ice cream and was overall very good, I woudl have never guessed this and probaly would have avoid the paste altogether. It was a late night headed home after 11PM. A great night.
Thanks Hitesh and Suvrata for a great evening!
Friday 5-10 India Day 1 Clean Room
Got some sleep, woke around 10AM. This was the best hotel shower I ever had seen. No bending over to get under the water or squeezing close to the wall. The shower head was on the ceiling and it also had a shower wand – great refreshing shower! Got to the lobby around 12 noon, no time for breakfast but not hungry after late diner. I am craving idle and Sāmbhar though. Met Pranay at the lobby, drove to the office about 15 minutes. The new G Noida office stands out and is represented by the NIIT colours, - building looks very modern. Guards let us into the campus, then walked to the door, more guards, sign in to get badge – met Sona. Went to the 1st floor for SEI, past the clean room. I was shown around a bit – they have mural paintings and picures of the SEI office on the walls – going to my desk or meeting room ran into Hitesh. Had a meeting with Sachin, Pranay, Sona, Sachin, and Anwarul to review my travel plans, all is good. Then met with Rhonda, she got me up to speed with many SEI – NIIT projects. She recommended some travel changes which we will work out the details next week. Then the long awaited entrance to the clean room. It was just another room, nothing fancy. Just lots of people working hard. Was introduced to many team members from the RTM, RTO, SW, Mobius, ODR teams, it was nice to put a name to a face. Went to lunch, a couple pasta dishes, rice and fish, Suvrata attended, good to see him. Then back to the office and ran into many other old faces, Ashish, Sachin and Bala. Good time catching up. Back to the clean room to catch up on emails and as others came in I was introduced. Left office around 7PM, back to the hotel, I had a buffet dinner bottled water, roti and naan, pasta, okra, eggplant, Dal, lots of good food, had some old favourites and tried a couple new plates. Desert I had my favourite carrot dish! There was entertainment too, I was watching them cook the breads – it was very entertaining and educational for me……as I like making pizza dough from scratch…..this was an experience – then off to bed for a quick night of sleep as it will be an early morning to the office.
Thursday 5-9 Travel to India
Got up, finished packing for my second flight and trip to India. Checked out, got a taxi to the airport, pleasant trip and driver. He talked about not liking to fly – I too feel this way. Got to the airport stopped at the club, continental breakfast – had some muffins and asked when I should leave for the flight. They told me leave at 10AM for a 10:20 flight. At 10AM , I checked the board it indicated final call, so I got a little nervous, then walking to the plane, I say that the status was changed to closing – I panicked a bit more and started running – got to the terminal and they indicated I had plenty of time – it was a scare tactic which worked for me--- I think they were laughing at me too…so calmed down and had a long walk to the plane. Not looking forward to this as the last plane I could not relax and sleep. Got on the plane – it was different and bigger, I was happy! I was able to lay back and strech out a bit. Caption spoke a lot this time before takeoff, he was boasting that he hasn’t needed the emergency details yet and not planning till retirement – pretty confident.
Lunch was provided, salad, Indian chat, rice dish, with chocolate mousse – good a bit spicy – they provided samosa for dinner snack – very good –crust was very light! Watched a few movies – Argo, taken 2 and something else – to let the time go by – flight was very good. They had an update flight monitor, which was cool - we traveled through Europe above the middle east and thru russion to India. When we arrived it was only 40 degrees and hazy – I quickly learned to convert temp – double and add 30, so it was 110 – HOT! Got to the lobby – ears finally popped – used gum during the landing this time. Long walk to get to immigration and customs – started sweating a lot – not much AC at the airport. Got through Immigrations and customs no problem, got to the exit and saw Sachin waving. Got out of the Airport and got greeted with the heat – walked to the cab and started our tip to Greater Noida – about a 2 drive to go – saw the newer roads and infrastructure – in Noida an G Noida – lots of construction – residential and business – lots! Got to the hotel, security check before entrance, arrived around 1AM – very nice, got to the room , then went for dinner – 24/7 they opened it for me – got some Dal dish – lots of very good food, went to bed around 3AM after winding down a bit. – good day
Lunch was provided, salad, Indian chat, rice dish, with chocolate mousse – good a bit spicy – they provided samosa for dinner snack – very good –crust was very light! Watched a few movies – Argo, taken 2 and something else – to let the time go by – flight was very good. They had an update flight monitor, which was cool - we traveled through Europe above the middle east and thru russion to India. When we arrived it was only 40 degrees and hazy – I quickly learned to convert temp – double and add 30, so it was 110 – HOT! Got to the lobby – ears finally popped – used gum during the landing this time. Long walk to get to immigration and customs – started sweating a lot – not much AC at the airport. Got through Immigrations and customs no problem, got to the exit and saw Sachin waving. Got out of the Airport and got greeted with the heat – walked to the cab and started our tip to Greater Noida – about a 2 drive to go – saw the newer roads and infrastructure – in Noida an G Noida – lots of construction – residential and business – lots! Got to the hotel, security check before entrance, arrived around 1AM – very nice, got to the room , then went for dinner – 24/7 they opened it for me – got some Dal dish – lots of very good food, went to bed around 3AM after winding down a bit. – good day
Wednesday 5-8 UK Day 2
Another early day, but no team line was needed and no new issues were reported. The RTM release was going very well after lots of long, hard and good work by many people. Hopefully the rest of the week going well and the team can rest up and have some outside enjoyment. On the other side we are ramping up for the big semi-annual Trust release so another couple teams are putting in long hours to make this release very successful too.
Today, I was catching up on emails over the last week and setup time with the teams to work with each of them. I had time with Ops team – Helen to resolve yesterday’s eroded message and show here how to triage in the future. I sat down and she reviewed and performed her day to day processes – very manual intensive and lots of information was with her and not documented, so I can see how this process takes a long time, very error prone and hard to train. We talked about GTX benefits, concerns and improvements, and the whole team provided some improvement suggestions, which I will review with the team onsite. This time provided me with lots of insight into the business users world which will help me support this in the future. Secondly I sat with the recon team to provide insight as Chris was training them on the GTX product so they could use to search and independently perform research. They asked many questions and I got some additional insight on how this app will be used. I have a few follows on user set and searching.
Today, I was catching up on emails over the last week and setup time with the teams to work with each of them. I had time with Ops team – Helen to resolve yesterday’s eroded message and show here how to triage in the future. I sat down and she reviewed and performed her day to day processes – very manual intensive and lots of information was with her and not documented, so I can see how this process takes a long time, very error prone and hard to train. We talked about GTX benefits, concerns and improvements, and the whole team provided some improvement suggestions, which I will review with the team onsite. This time provided me with lots of insight into the business users world which will help me support this in the future. Secondly I sat with the recon team to provide insight as Chris was training them on the GTX product so they could use to search and independently perform research. They asked many questions and I got some additional insight on how this app will be used. I have a few follows on user set and searching.
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