The first few days in Istanbul were mostly spent idling, getting bored in office but picking up a smattering of Turkish - which, by the way, sounds like a cross between Arabic and French, and quite pleasing to the ear (easier on the eye actually ;o)).
But I seem to be getting ahead of myself.. (though that's like sayin' a snail overtook a slow-moving lump of tar)... so 'lemme' go flashbacking.... (picture those weird squiggles going round and round and the screen going B&W)...
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Day #1 (or Night #0): Up, Up and Away!
Last minute rush, (as always :D), Addy and Nidz saw me off (felt nice actually - considering I made them drop me to the airport :D). Expectedly, my bags were quite overweight, even my cabin baggage... but the suprisingly ridiculous, not to mention bloody irritating bit was that stupid Turkish Airlines refused to accept card payment - "Only cash" - the jacakss manning the check-in counter said with a smug smile.
But I seem to be getting ahead of myself.. (though that's like sayin' a snail overtook a slow-moving lump of tar)... so 'lemme' go flashbacking.... (picture those weird squiggles going round and round and the screen going B&W)...
***
Day #1 (or Night #0): Up, Up and Away!
Last minute rush, (as always :D), Addy and Nidz saw me off (felt nice actually - considering I made them drop me to the airport :D). Expectedly, my bags were quite overweight, even my cabin baggage... but the suprisingly ridiculous, not to mention bloody irritating bit was that stupid Turkish Airlines refused to accept card payment - "Only cash" - the jacakss manning the check-in counter said with a smug smile.
Anyway, the ATM was just round the corner, completed check-in and reached Emigration... feeling like such a gavaar - hadn't filled the Emigration form or some such crap, and the Airport Authority jackass was the next I encountered - who btw, also splendidly managed to misplace one of my receipts, finally made it through security check, was also asked to come side mein - to be interrogated by an overacting all-powerful Jackass #2 (ya ya, the counter [ctr++] is still at 2 for Turkish Airlines).
Then I was to spend one of the most painfully boring waits ever for a flight; a delay of almost two hours, and me not having slept for 2-3 nights, had me nodding off just after take off...
The flight being half-empty, people were sprawled across as many seats as they could fit in... which I always think looks ajeeb... but anywayZ, exhaustion took over and I had a comfortable 80 winks in my 2 seats. And I have no clue what they served on the plane, just remember waking up twice - for juice and some stuff once and then some almost edible stuff in greater quantity... and oh..2 other times to make outgoing nature calls :D
Landed at Ataturk Airport around 12:30 pm India Time (10 am in Istanbul). Alighting (wudja prefer 'disembarking'?!) from the plane, I thought of how I'd remember this moment later, mark it for posterity (or postcardity if you will) - and all I could think of was - not too tired to go to office, need to shave and get the slumdog stink off me...(if possible).
Then I was to spend one of the most painfully boring waits ever for a flight; a delay of almost two hours, and me not having slept for 2-3 nights, had me nodding off just after take off...
The flight being half-empty, people were sprawled across as many seats as they could fit in... which I always think looks ajeeb... but anywayZ, exhaustion took over and I had a comfortable 80 winks in my 2 seats. And I have no clue what they served on the plane, just remember waking up twice - for juice and some stuff once and then some almost edible stuff in greater quantity... and oh..2 other times to make outgoing nature calls :D
Landed at Ataturk Airport around 12:30 pm India Time (10 am in Istanbul). Alighting (wudja prefer 'disembarking'?!) from the plane, I thought of how I'd remember this moment later, mark it for posterity (or postcardity if you will) - and all I could think of was - not too tired to go to office, need to shave and get the slumdog stink off me...(if possible).
And then Immigration check took forever, then finding the luggage belt took another eternity, and then getting a trolley was a task in itself... then the effervescent saviour Yours Truly sprung into action to help some Punjabi old uncles-aunties party who had tons of luggage and no trolley...
By the time I reached the hotel all I wanted to do was sleep, but then thought wouldn't be able to - with the excitement / apprehension. One look at the room and I was appalled, too much of Indian 5 stars (not the chocolate) had raised my benchmarks for hotels... but this made a Mumbai flat look like a Dilli ki kothi... "Ah well, off to office!!" I said to myself... and de-haired and de-stenched, hopefully proceeded ad meliora (towards better things).
Reached office around 2 pm or so, surprised the client (pleasantly, I hope) by reaching unexpectedly early (which may also astonish people who know me to a certain extent)... and spent most of the day just meeting people and realized I need to note everyone's names down if I harbour any thoughts of remembering 'em. 6 o'clock struck and everyone just vanished! The bonded labourer that I am, do not have that luxury of apparating within Hogwarts (read: normal office hours') boundaries. Eventually left work (stretching the term, but whatever) around 7, then went to a nearby mall, ate some sandwich hoping it wasn't beef... and then retired to bed wondering which shirt to wear the next day...
***
By the time I reached the hotel all I wanted to do was sleep, but then thought wouldn't be able to - with the excitement / apprehension. One look at the room and I was appalled, too much of Indian 5 stars (not the chocolate) had raised my benchmarks for hotels... but this made a Mumbai flat look like a Dilli ki kothi... "Ah well, off to office!!" I said to myself... and de-haired and de-stenched, hopefully proceeded ad meliora (towards better things).
Reached office around 2 pm or so, surprised the client (pleasantly, I hope) by reaching unexpectedly early (which may also astonish people who know me to a certain extent)... and spent most of the day just meeting people and realized I need to note everyone's names down if I harbour any thoughts of remembering 'em. 6 o'clock struck and everyone just vanished! The bonded labourer that I am, do not have that luxury of apparating within Hogwarts (read: normal office hours') boundaries. Eventually left work (stretching the term, but whatever) around 7, then went to a nearby mall, ate some sandwich hoping it wasn't beef... and then retired to bed wondering which shirt to wear the next day...
***
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