Journey to Japan

Dearest friends,

I finally reached Japan. I should say I finally reached Higashimatsuyama in Japan where I am commencing my work today.

It was a dragging process if you ask me. My avergence to leave my beloved team(this is a joke, do not take seriously). Then again my lack of interest to travel for a project which has been running for a long time. This short visit for two months is for some project which is going live in mid-Nov. Then finally when I got in terms with the impossibility of avoiding travel, the deputation team tried their level best-not in getting things done, but in getting things delayed. I finally got the VISA in the evening of the night of my travel.

My journey was spectacular. No hiccups. Well that's a joke again. Sanjay goes synonymous with blunders. All was well till I reached Hongkong. I was taking a transit through Hongkong to Tokyo. My baggage weighed lesser than the limit(19 kg only). Immigration was a breeze(I was surprised). Then when I landed in Hongkong I took a transfer to the new gate for my flight. After security check, I forgot my handbag, just took my laptop bag and went to next level. Now we are in a situation here guys. How difficult it is for an Asian to ask information in an Asian country. First of all, no one had been through this situation. So no one could understand what I was saying. In the meantime they were announcing – IN CHINESE – that there was one ‘unattended’ bag in security in level 4 and looked ‘suspicious’. Anyway, I never knew or understood anything and was just making some hasty inquiries. There was one security personnel who saw that I had checked two bags for security and left with one. This guy went to the security office and complained about my ‘looks’. Within 5 minutes there were several officers looking for a  guy with short hair, about 5’ 10”tall, on the heavier side, wearing a grey blazer, black t-shirt and carrying an HP laptop bag. No wonder they could find me in 10 minutes. Thank God they didn't handcuff me and take me to interrogation team. They just asked me to write a letter as to why I left the bag there. Secondly they wanted to totally empty the bag and search. When they were convinced, I was relieved.

After a boring and dull wait in the airport I boarded the flight to Tokyo. I reached Tokyo late and reached hotel in Ikebukuro(part of Tokyo) even later. So I could not meet any RBEI associates staying in the same hotel. Next day morning I resumed and took a train from Ikebukuro to Higashimatsuyama. It was a big task as all information was in Japanese. Ticket booking in most of Tokyo stations is ONLY through automatic machines. After buying tickets 2 times, I had to cancel and get it refunded as I had done some error. The 3^rd time I got lucky and went to 4^th level in the station and boarded the right train. The rest of the journey was really pleasant. Train reached on time. My apartment owner came and picked me up in his car, showed me around my fully furnished apartment, then took me around the city to show me the major super markets. Mind you, Higashimatsuyama is smaller than EC phase 1. So it took us exactly 2 minutes and 14 seconds to complete one big round of the city.

Anybody traveling to Japan, please contact me. It will be useful for you.

One main disadvantage in Japan is our phones don't work here. Getting a local phone is not so easy. Making personal calls from office is not at all entertained. So I have still not informed my family in person about my arrival here. Of course, Nisha has conveyed my message and thanks to her.

I am spreading my virus faster than I had though. My neighbour here is Moshimoto-san, a lady  who seems to be handling some tasks for production. She had no idea she could access yahoo news from office. HA HA HA. I have so convinced her that she has opened the site at least 10 times in last 2 hours. I have a bigger task. I have a whole country to reform. J

Ok, happy reading, will send more.