Another weekend of color full pictures… We (Biju, Binoj, Jijo, Navas, Shiju & Sreeju) started from Bangalore by Friday morning(3.30AM) and reached there in Coorg by 9.30 AM. Stay had been arranged in a house, located in a coffee plantation estate. I have seen some estates in movies, but this was beyond my expectation. A self-sustainable system, where we can get everything. By 11.30AM we started Irpu falls journey. Falls was good, but my expectation level was too high :(. After lunch, our destination was Nagarhole Wildlife National Park. We took the safari riding, could meet some deers, bulls, peacocks, monkeys and one pig. We couldn’t meet any tiger s & elephants, they might be sleeping after their lunch.

Saturday morning went to Thadiyandamol, highest peak (1750 meters) in Coorg. When we reached the hillside, just thought about “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. Two roads; One (left) to forest and other one to hill. Another fellow told us “don’t take the left route”, but we took the left route since others preferred some adventures. We end-up in a small forest with a creek. Thought of finding origin of creek and took a route through forest. Some point of time, pathfinders (Biju & Binoj) couldn’t find proper route and we moved out of the forest and later joined forest. We had noticed footprints of some animal, later others told leopard used to come there to drink water :). After 3.5 hours, we reached there at top of the hill, where normal route takes only 1 hour. Finished all food items except lunch (which we took later in a forest nearby hillside). By 6.30 we started back to Bangalore. I have uploaded some snaps here.

Yes. I was out of station for last 2 days. We (eight Indians) started the trip by Friday after noon. We took train from Vastertas to Stockholm. Btw, I am still youth, since I got youth concession for train ticket:) Reached there at Stockholm harbor by 4.00PM. Viking Line, Mariella was waiting for us. I had a cruise trip (less than 1 hour) some time back in US, from Whidbey Island. So I had already set my expectation about Mariella too.

Once I step into the ship, that was amazing. I would say like a 4-star hotel in India. With reception, conference halls, tax free shops, restaurants, casinos, disco club, auditorium, car parking etc. We got two cabins, mine was cabin 5720 (Fifth deck). Total 8 decks; hope you remember Titanic had only 9 decks Journey started by 4.30PM. Announcement from crew, “..will be reaching Helsinki by 8.30AM..”. ie 16 hours we had to spend. But time was going like any thing.. music, dance, casino, disco, shopping etc more than enough. My 5 hours sleep started by 3AM. Btw, we were crossing Baltic Sea. We landed Helsinki by 10 AM (Finland time). Kept our bags there in cabin, and landed Helsinki.

Helsinki is on a peninsular on the south cost of the Finland. Finnish and Swedish are national languages. Currency – Euro (still some shops accepts Swedish Kronor). We took city tour bus and visited most important places in Helsinki city. The city’s best-known building is the Lutheran Cathedral on Senate Square, Olympic stadium (The 1952 Olympics were held there). Till evening we were visiting near by places. By 5 PM, back to Marriella. Return trip was tired and sleepy. Still activities were there. But I was too sleepy. Back to Stockholm by Sunday 10AM. I have uploaded some snaps here.

Yesterday we (myself & Rattan Singh) visited Stockholm. I have uploaded some snaps here.

I don’t care any thing other than location (room number) and time when I get a meeting reminder from Outlook (like to work with) or Lotus Note (I dont have other option) . But this is past!! Now I have to check one more thing, Language Meeting is in English Or in Swedish ?

Now I am in Vasteras, Sweden. Approximately 1 hour drive from Stolckholm, capital of Sweden. Vasteras seems like an industrial city, most of the buildings owned by ABB (www.abb.com), and spread all over the city, like Microsoft buildings in Redmond,US. I took Stolkholm-Vasteras Flybus from Stolkhorm airport, they dropped me near to Ta Inn hotel. I saw the hotel name board from the bus stop, it was not easy to carry my heavy bag. But there was no other way Reached there at reception, got the key - Room 102. Dont know any thing to do with this number, but I remember I had 102 during my stay in Leeds. May be European hotel prefer 102 to this Indian guy:) But room didnt meet my expectation. I was expecting one studio (room with cooking facility) with WiFi connection. I had taken some curry powder, noodles etc for first 2-3 days. Went to reception and asked them to change the room, unfortunately no vacant studio. Hopefully I can get one studio by next week.

Time nearly 3PM (6.30PM IST). Two things to do, had to get food and to check internet avaialability. Hungry won After bath, went to Central (near by town), with a Vasteras Map. It was sunny day, hence I found North & South (other wise map cant help me ) Reached near to Stadium, that I could locate in map too. Then things becoming easy. Located MacDonalds, ordered two MacChicken Sandwitch and sprite. I knew thats heavy, but I was to hungry. 84 Swedish Krones (SEK) . Remembered my old theory, never convert foriegn currency to rupees when your are at abroad Located another super store, bought some bread, banana, drinks etc, enough for 2 days. Back to room.

Time to check the internet connection. Took my laptop, inserted the Wifi card. Oops driver missing. Searched for LinkSys CD in all bags. Finally got and installed. But its not able to detect any Wireless connection Went to reception and told, she did some thing there and asked me to check the again. No luck. She told she is zero in computer and I have to wait till tommorrow. Then she allowed me to use the computer at reception. That was old Windows 98 system with g.r..r sound while booting. Oops thats Swedish version of Windows My intention was to check how its connecting to internet. Somehow managed to locate what ever I need. Thats not a wireless lan. Then back to my room, located one network point near to my bed. Connected Got my friends. Asked one of them to inform my parents about my trip. Yet to buy calling cards. Hopefully I will be getting one studio (without internet) by next week. Another difficult question. Which one I should take, Ineternet & Hotel food ? Or Cooking without inernet ?

…Microsoft is pleased to recognize you as a Microsoft® Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for inspiring excellence while helping people through your past recognized practical expertise and demonstrated willingness to share with peers in technical communities around the globe. Congratulations and thank you for your extraordinary efforts in helping peers in Microsoft’s technical Communities over the past year…….

News from Hindu Business line

An engineer working with the Technopark-based US Software Ltd, Mr Sreejumon Purayil, has been selected by Microsoft Corporation for the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award for proven competence in the MS.Net platform.

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