Perspectives and perceptions

As we’re all coping with the recent Covid-19 / coronavirus related changes to our lives, thought we’ll share a brief note on some of the things we’ve learned having been living this reality for nearly 2 months now in the hope that it’ll help you get better prepared for what’s coming (as much as we can be). Things to be prepared for / Practical Tips: Purchase your regular medications + basic first aid over-the-counter medicines that you or your family members might need. Keep some cash at home for any emergencies just in case ATMs are inaccessible, etc. Important IDs - As a reminder, check to ensure that you have all the right IDs and documents and bank accounts (setup for online banking) are in place including any govt. services. Place a hand sanitizer bottle near the entrance of your home for easy access for yourself as well as visitors (when you don’t have time to wash your hands) If you are / know someone who is part of your building or society management, do check on the...

I told myself this year that I'd start blogging again on a regular basis. What a better blog topic to blog about than my fun december holidays! After all the (read: three) new year celebrations that I've had in Hong Kong for the last three years, I wanted this year to be something different. Have a new experience, visit a new place, try a new cuisine, anything! And so it's not a surprise that weeks before I'm supposed to be leaving for my holiday, I find myself packing for two climates, because my friend's figured out a plan for a group of us to be in Vietnam for a short trip! :) Waiting for the long queue at the boarding gate for Vietnam Airlines The flight to HCMC is as expected, but the visa process isn't! :/ The rule for entering the country is that you are granted a visa-on-arrival provided you have a stamped letter from some registered websites. While we had that letter, we assumed that the next procedure would be to simply walk up to the counter, ...

Yes Cricket is a religion in India, and every citizen is a devout follower. Somehow you just can't get away from it. There's no place to run to. Yes maybe you can follow other sports too, but you can't get the cricket out of an Indian. Me included. I wasn't following cricket for the past some years, except some IPL matches here and there. This world cup thanks to our office I managed to follow some matches because the enthusiasm of a hundred odd colleagues is just hard to ignore! :) I came to Hong Kong the day we played against Pakistan and I had to leave I think when half the innings was over. I came to the airport and was having my dinner while I could hear people shouting in bits and bursts! I kept asking the waiter the score, and since the airport was practically empty, after serving the few people in the restaurant, he'd run to the screen and then come back to tell us the score. And then suddenly there was this huge cheer, and I knew we'd won the semis. ...

So after 3 years of my passport being issued, I finally got a stamp on it. I didn't get a visa (unfortunately) because HK doesn't need a visa if you're staying for The city is beautiful. After the first few days I realized that I was clicking all photos in the portrait modes because clicking in landscape mode wouldn't accommodate the tall buildings at all, and ALL buildings are TALL! Really! The roads are spick and span, like my kind of roads, people throw the trash in the dustbins, and in the right dustbins. There is a separate thing on the top for cigarette butts. There are bins at most signals, and on most streets. The traffic signals work and show you when to cross the road, and all people patiently wait and abide. Thanks to this, taxis, cars and buses zoom between signals in the middle of the day at speeds like 70 - 100! This is unheard of on roads in Mumbai where you have to keep an eye out for the people crossing, animals crossing and the silly drivers. People d...