Air Travel Experience

I am travelling tonight to Chennai and thought i should reproduce my article on "My Air Travel Experience" which i wrote in February 2010. I will write a sequel to this very soon.

I first went to see the Madras Airport in Meenambakkam as a teenager when my father was travelling on official trip to Bombay. All of us went with my father to see him off at the Meenambakkam Airport. There was only one Aircraft in the Airport and we could go to the Viewers Gallery and wait till the plane took off. This episode was a half a day affair for the entire family. This first trip to an Airport is still green in my memory though it is more than 30 years old. When my father came back from Bombay after few days he explained to us about how the Aircraft takes off and how it lands. What I saw and heard was very fascinating and I started dreaming about having such experience when I grow up and become an Officer like my father in a big Organization.

I did not wait too long to make my first trip by Air as it happened in 1984 when I was pursuing my Chartered Accountancy Course.

It was the same old Meenambakkam Airport and I went to the Airport with my brother-in-law (my sister’s husband) as he was travelling to Cochin from Madras and I had to take a flight to Mangalore via Bangalore. He cautioned me that the Air Hostess will give a drink before take off and it will be a horrible drink. He left before me as his flight departed 45 minutes earlier than my flight. I was able to look through the glass and see two aircrafts, which was an improvement from the days when my father was travelling to Bombay with only one aircraft in the entire Airport, as there were two of them.

I waited in the small waiting area in the Airport and there were about 20 -30 passengers with me who were taking the flight to Bangalore. I got into the Indian Airlines flight and was quite fascinated by the interiors. All along I was curiously watching whatever I could see through the window. The Air-hostess suddenly appeared on my side with a tray full of some juice and I instantly accepted one glass and drank it. After drinking it I realized that I have been warned by my brother-in-law that the drink will taste horrible (sweet and sour). I did not like the taste of the drink and told myself that I should avoid it in the next flight and also during my return journey.

I enjoyed the flight from Madras to Bangalore thoroughly and the best thing I liked about my first air travel is “the visit to the loo”. I was astonished to see such a cute small toilet and was more fascinated by the way the flush out works.

I kept talking about this for several months to my friends. The flight to Bangalore was very comfortable and smooth though I felt it was too short. The next flight from Bangalore to Mangalore was very turbulent and once the Aircraft dropped all of a sudden (may be by a 1000 feet). It was a frightening experience but luckily lasted only a few minutes.

Bangalore Airport and Mangalore Airports were also very small and there was only one aircraft in both these airports (the aircraft in which I travelled).

I travelled on International Flight for the first time in October 1990 and that was Madras to Singapore by Singapore Airlines on a Jumbo Boeing 747. I landed in Changi Airport at 6 a.m. and was thrilled to see so many aircrafts in the Airport. I would have seen at least 20 Aircrafts in one row when I landed in Changi Airport. One month later I read in the newspaper – Straits Times – that Changi Terminal 2 has been inaugurated.

I travelled several times over the next couple of years to Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Dubai, India, Malaysia and was thrilled by my experience of seeing both Changi 1 and Changi 2 in Singapore . The Airports in Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur were really huge airports with all facilities. Whilst I continued to wonder how Madras Airport remained the same with small airport and very few aircrafts in sight.

I travelled to Dubai in 1992 and was quite surprised to see a small airport – fully crowded on all sides with kiosks, shops and Cars/Motorbikes on raffle draws. There were airport staff yelling “passengers to Singapore please proceed for boarding”. This was in total contrast to what I saw in Singapore which was much more organized and much larger in scale when I compared with Dubai.

In 1992 I had the wonderful opportunity of travelling to Russia. I travelled on Ilyushin Series Aircrafts throughout the trip except one flight from Moscow to Vladivostok which was on Airbus. That was a wonderful travel experience because I travelled on a 12 hour non-stop flight from Moscow to Vladivostok. This flight covers a distance of nearly 1/3rd of the length of the earth and it crosses six time zones.

When I travelled again to Dubai in 1993, 1994 and 2001 I was astonished to see the improvements in the Airport and the facilities. I was particularly thrilled by the Duty Free Shopping Experience in Dubai Airport.

I left Singapore in 1993 and returned after six years in 1999 and found that the Airport has become even bigger with much better facilities.

My trip to USA in 1999 which was decided all of a sudden was truly a magnificent experience. Myself and my friend Sam travelled to several places in the US and because we chose Continental Airlines for our internal travel (VUSA ticket – Visit USA) we ended up visiting more cities. Continental has three hubs in USA – Newark, Houston and Cleveland. If they do not have a direct flight you end up going through the hub and that is why we visiting Cleveland and Houston Airports though it was not part of our itinerary. Every second day we were in a plane and it was a truly amazing experience. We visited Los Angles, New York, Atlanta, Orlando, San Francisco during this visit. When we landed in Atlanta the aircraft was early by 10 minutes and hence the Pilot announced that we will be in the waiting area before we get a proper arrival bay in the Airport. While the Aircraft was parked in one corner of the Airport I was totally stunned to see so many runways in the Airport. I told Sam that the Airport must have been renovated for the Atlanta Olympics. When we reached the information desk I checked with the staff and was totally shocked when she said “this airport is 30years old and is now due for renovation”. I was immediately thinking about Madras Airport which has remained almost the same for the last 15years 1984 – 1999 (with small changes and expansions).

I visited Singapore and Kuala Lumpur again in 2006 when I went on a short holiday with my family. I was astonished to see the improvements that were made in both the Airports. The waiting lounge, duty free shopping and other facilities in the Airport were far superior and made us feel very comfortable. It was much better than what I have experienced in some of the five star hotels.

In May 2008 I went to Europe with my family and had the opportunity of visiting Paris, London, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Switzerland. As we were travelling from Chennai on Lufthansa we had to go through the Frankfurt Airport both ways. It is a huge Airport with several terminals and several hundred Aircrafts.

In January 2010 I travelled from Madras to Dubai and realized there were five gates in the Anna International Airport of Chennai. There were only two Aircrafts in the Airport and probably a few more in the Domestic Airport. The number of Airlines operating to/from Chennai has increased manifolds and the number of aircrafts has also increased manifolds over the last 25years . But still Chennai Airport looks very small and tiny in comparison many other Airports around the world. Dubai Airport has three terminals with several hundred gates for the departure and arrival of flights. Now in 2010 Dubai Airport has expanded a lot and has all the facilities and probably it is better thanSingapore Airport in terms of the facilities and Duty Free Experience.

Chennai Airport has only one terminal with 5 gates and of course one Duty Free Shop which sells about 20 varieties of Alcoholic beverages and 5 varieties of Cigarettes.

In the last 25 years I have travelled to several parts of the world – except Australia and Mainland China. I have really had some very memorable and wonderful experience and each time I landed in Chennai I could not help but compare Chennai Airport with other cities around the world. I thoroughly enjoy Air Travel and love to see different cities around the world and hope that someday Chennai Airport will also be a huge Airport with two or three terminals and lot of activity with full facilities.

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Mobile Phone & Radio Technology

The mobile phones are basically working on the radio frequency.  I have seen emails being forwarded on how small petty shops in Bombay in India provide repair solutions to mobile phones.  They brag about 18 year old youngsters providing repair solution to complicated mobile devices like i-Phone, Blackberry, etc.

30 years back we had only Radio - i remember as a small boy, we used to call a big set connected to direct power as "Radio" and a small set which is hand carried and works on battery as "Transistor".  We used to follow cricket matches by listening to "Radio Commentary".

In those days if the boys fail in SSLC (which is the final year at School) they will be sent to Rajagopal's Institute of Radio Technology (behind Hindu Office in Mount Road) which is in Chintadripet in Chennai.  After studying the one year course the boy will be called as a "Radio Mechanic" and he becomes eligible to set up a small shop to repair "Radio" "Transistor" "Tape Recorder" etc.  I have seen quite a few who graduated from this institute and set up their own Electrical Repair Shops..

The technology is very simple in a Radio and thus was easy for a school drop-out to understand and absorb.  I have seen transistor radio being assembled and sold on pavements in Delhi (Chandni Chowk area).

The advent of Mobile Phones is a big boon to those "Radio Mechanics" as the radio transistor concept is what works in a mobile phone "Radio Frequency".  However the present day mobile phones are much more complicated compared to a transistor of those days.  The present day mobile phone has a Phone, FM Radio, MP3 player, Camera, Organiser, Alarm Clock, Watch, Calendar, Calculator and many more packed inside the unit.

The so-called "school drop outs" are able to easily learn the technology and with regular practice and interest they become experts in providing repair solutions for the mobile phones.  It also helps youngsters who are not able to afford Engineering Degree and end up doing diploma or certificate courses in Electronics and Communication.

When new technology comes we all get excited but it is actually the same old technology which gets improvised.  I am happy that there are millions of mobile phones being sold in India.  This would mean job opportunity for thousands of youngsters who could provide the repair solution to customers at every street corner all over India.

Why I stopped watching TV Serials

Yesterday was the first day that i consciously avoided watching TV Serials.  I took the decision last week when i was watching "Thendral".  The amount of sufferings that "Tulasi" is made to undergo is really too much to digest.  Added to that the mother-in-law character and the way she speaks.  I have never heard such sharp dialogues in my entire life and i do not know how the director chose to show such dialogues in a TV serial.

The story line in almost all the TV serials is almost similar.  There are two families who are at logger heads.  There is a constant hatred for one family and its members.  Within that there are so many twists, angles, problems, police cases, extra-marital affairs, family separations, family squabbles, etc.  Whether it is "Thendral" or "Thangam" or "Chellame" or "Idayam" the underlying story is that of sorrow, revenge and ill-feeling.  The extent of sorrow and problems they show is sometimes unsurmountable.  People who have heart problems should never watch any of these TV serials as they will end up in the hospital, after watching 3 episodes in a row.

I am feeling totally relieved because i dont have to worry about "Tulasi" or "Chellamma" or "Ganga" anymore.  I have stopped watching the TV serials from yesterday and i think i have finally made a wise decision in life.

DAILY ROUTINE

Every day when we get up in the morning we are opening a new leaf in our life. It gives us a great feeling when we get up in the morning and start thinking about what is in store for us during the day.

As the day progresses we confront some unplanned activity which happens on most of the days. The execution of the planned as well as the unplanned activity during a day depends entirely on how well or ill organised we are.

It is good to follow a daily routine list so as to structure our day to day living.  This structured approach will also help in executing both planned as well as the unplanned activity during the day with the best of our abilities.

The daily routine also paves the way for defining our lifestyle which is very important for a healthy and happy living.

I have been visiting Dr.Gandhi Murugan in Dubai for regular BP Checkup as I am under his treatment for Hypertension since 2006.  He advised me to change my lifestyle and I took his advice very seriously in August 2010.

We have only 24 hours in a day and out of that 8 hours are spent in sleep.  Out of the remaining 16 hours 3 hours are spent on shower, shave, nature's call, dressing, reading newspaper, having morning Tea/Coffee and having food (breakfast, lunch and Dinner).  Out of the balance 13 hours we need about 11 hours for going to work (including commuting time).  We are then left with only 2 hours for ourselves.  We have to pack so many things in that 2 hours - Exercise, Self Improvement, Family, Friends, Personal emails, Phone Calls, Chats, etc.

Packing so many activities in that 2 hours which is the prime time in the evening is the challenge faced by many of us.  We end up doing some compromise or the other and we also end up postponing things.  If we give priority for family then we cannot spend time with friends.  If we give priority for emails, phone calls and chats then we cannot have time for exercise or self improvement.

It is a huge task to manage the time and rank priorities in life.  The things that are paramount in staying healthy and happy with a positive mindset are Physical Exercise; Attention to Family; Personal Time to Think/Introspect/Stay positive.

Luckily the above crunch for time happens only on Weekdays and the weekends are the days to spend quality time with family and friends.  We get 11 hours on each weekend as free time as we do not go to work.  This time needs to be entirely devoted for Family, Friends and Self Improvement.



Time flies and we cannot control the movement of the clock.  The best way to control our activities and fit into a cramped day is to regiment.  Nothing works better than regimentation.

Going to bed at 10 p.m. is the key to success.  Most of us have difficulty in this as we tend to extend the day beyond 10 p.m. because of phone calls or internet browsing or chatting or watching Television.  It is extremely important to cut out the activities and defining the timelines for each activity so that the day definitely ends at 10 p.m.  Unless we fix this we will not be able to start the day the next morning at 6 a.m.  Hence I feel the most important daily routine should be to go to bed at 10 p.m.

The first alarm should be at 6 a.m.  After a beautiful dream filled night sleep the most irritating thing is the first alarm.  It is inevitable though irritable and hence have the first alarm at 6 a.m.  The second alarm should be at 6.05 and the third one at 6.10.  The second alarm brings us to reality that it has dawned into the next morning.  The third alarm will help us to prepare for the rise up in the morning.  By 6.15 latest we should be out of the bed.  The next 30 minutes can be spent on brushing your teeth, attending to nature's call, having the first morning coffee/tea and going through the newspaper.

6.45 to 7.30 should be devoted for Physical Exercise.  It is extremely important to do the physical exercise in the morning preferably on empty stomach.  The first coffee or tea in the morning should be taken ideally after the physical exercise.

After the Exercise we can devote another 45 minutes for shave, shower, dressing up and breakfast.  By 8.15 a.m. we have to leave for work.

It is always better to start the day at work with a plan - make a "things to do" list and provide time for unplanned activity which will come your way from your boss.  The regimentation at work will help to finish all the tasks by 6 p.m. and leave the office latest by 6.30 p.m.

If you reach home by 7 p.m. you should spend a good one hour with the Family.  Sharing your day's experiences and getting to know theirs is a great way of spending time with Family.  Watching TV with the Family is certainly not considered as time spent with family.

Dinner should be finished before 9 p.m.  If you are able to strictly follow this practice of having dinner before 9 p.m. then it will be very easy to go to bed by 9.45 - 10 p.m.  Ideally 15 minutes before sleeping we should sit and think.  Thinking is very important part of the daily routine as this keeps us focused on top priorities; it helps to introspect on what has happened during the day; it helps to plan for the next day and above all it will help us to stay positive.




I have been following a regimented daily routine for the last over 8 weeks.  I get up at 6.15 a.m. in the morning and go for a brisk walk at 6.45 a.m.  I get back home from morning walk at 7.30 a.m.

I reach office before 8.30 a.m. and plan my day's work.  I take a heavy lunch at 1 p.m. and follow it up with a nap for 20 minutes.  The short nap in the afternoon really helps me to keep fresh in the post lunch session.

When I get back home in the evening I get busy with dish washing, cooking and cleaning which is a good way to relax and unwind.  I finish my dinner before 9 p.m. and the next one hour is spent on telphone calls, chats, emails, sudoku.  I go to bed by 10 p.m.

The change in my daily routine over the last 8 weeks has really made me feel healthy and fresh throughout the day.  I am able to think better and focus better on both personal matters as well as the official matters.

T.P.ANAND
DUBAI, U.A.E.
Article written on 14th October 2010 and published in www.sathyamurthy.com on 18th October 2010.

New Beginning

I have made a new beginning today by creating my own blog "TP Talks".  I love to talk and express my views and hence chose the name "TP Talks".

I have been pondering with the idea of creating a database where i could store all my thoughts and views.  I have also been thinking of writing down the various incidents, experiences that i have encountered in the past.

I have been writing articles in my friend Sathyamurthy's website for more than one year now and I will publish those articles here through my blog.

"TP Talks" will act as a dashboard for me and the rest of the world to see my views and thoughts from time to time.

I request all the readers to send in their comments and suggestions.