16th-Aug 2008

Hmmm … The title date is my b’date but this blog is not about my B’day or how did I celebrate it or something related. Infact, This post is indeed about a day which I have spent and with amusing coincidence, the day turns out to be my ‘Happy B’day’ too

I have been planning to visit the city since the day I turn up to States. Fine, I have other big plans to go to California to visit some of my relatives, to go to Philly … to my friends, to Canada but one is expected to atleast see his city before moving out. I have been searching about Atlanta, places to visit, clubs to spent some time, other area of interests every Friday night with a promise that I would be moving next day morning, and if I can’t find anyone then I’ll go alone, but next day, I got up at 10 and start making new plans. This plan thing sucks :- )

Anyways this historical account is not needed and I should say that it was a great day that I spent. I went out with one of my hotel friends to deposit money into the next-door bank. I was wearing Pyjama, simple loose t-shirt and chappals (not even sandals!). Unlike India, Bank took only 4 mins to complete my request and we went on for a long walk and then we found that we have come to one of the big bus stations. Me and My friend were talking about going to Downtown next day but when we have come there, we both say together that should we go now? And next min, we were in some Bus. My God…all my plans, tons of information and maps print-outs were at my desk and I was not needing them at all. Believe me, it’s not that easy .. like here, the road names have always confused me, e.g., I can find Riverside Parkway, Riverside Road SE, Riverside Road NW and so many Riverside things and that too, all are quiet far apart … It’s really a pain to be here without car and having a car without GPS.

So we were in Bus and my companion was pretty confused at the stop in which we have to get down. He use to ask the same question to everyone sitting on all his sides and it’s so embarrassing. You ask someone something, she explains you and then you ask the same thing to the person sitting next to her. Anyways, he is like old married guy and must have had his bad share of experiences before but for me, it was awkward but okie! Awkward things are interesting

We reached to Downtown and it was really good. For the first time after coming here, I have seen so many people together. There is an area ‘Olympics Park’ which is like the centre of the city and all the major attractions like Aquarium, Coke Museum and CNN etc are 1-2 blocks away from each other, so that makes the place more happening. Hey, I have forgotten one thing to mention … as soon as we get out from the Metro station, I find a huge-huge public library and my dear old fatty ass- friend was in no mood to go and I forced him inside and spent around 30 mins after that he had become unmanageable and so we had to leave. Now, I have found my Saturday-pastime, I am going to go to that library, will spent entire day there … great, it sounds so pleasing! Then there is one ‘Underground Atlanta’ which makes me remember the ‘Palika Bazar’ of New Delhi. You can find all sorts of people, be it astrologer or guy painiting faces, cheap items with so many small restaurants and people around, it’s like any typical Indian market.

I don’t wish to dwell in the details of the places, which I have seen, there is always a better description available over internet. The funny part is I have been visiting these places of interest in my sleeping dress without even cleaning my teeth, forget about bath etc. Coming to room after a long tiring day, when I was lying on my soft bed, I was recalling my good old college days where such days were so common. I had gone to Agra from Gwalior without any plan, on my bike in scorching heat with no money in pocket. Another time, my friends put me into the cab while I was asleep and I opened my eyes on a national highway and I was like ‘What, When and How’??

My b’day was special this time because it gave me an unplanned day of my increasingly going routine life.

How is it going to be?

Hmmm … not like one of my actual posts … just some swift words, sometimes these arbitrary scribblings are as good as the painting on the canvas itself ; -)

Today i got up at 5:00 in the morning and that too without any apparent reasons. Yup, I understand that many of you out there might not understand the importance attached with waking up at 5:00 as it may be that you can get up anytime, but yeah it’s something i have always wished … and just wished… never tried : D Hmm .. after getting up, I browsed through news sites and that too just for 15 mins. I always wonder about myself why the heck i spend around 1-2 hrs on the newspaper… i should not behave like media dustbin, I don’t need to know every crap piece of information that’s published. Anyways, no cribbing, it’s still morning : ) So finally, one advice to me: One should not spend more than 15 mins to the newspaper in the morning.

It was by then 5:30 and i felt like jogging : ) Yeah, i felt it so strongly that i got up from my cosy bed and searched for my sports shoes, they were found in the deep corner beneath the bed. I put on socks, cleaned the shoes and then put on them too. Another idea clicked by then. Someone has rightly said that mornings give you great ideas, it’s me only who prefer the dark nights rather than sunny mornings. The idea was like, i should jog with music! I got super excited and started looking for my headphones … but this search was not that easy as that of shoes search. How can things can get lost in my 20X10 ft room, i still have to figure out? But finally after 5 mins of honest search, i could find headphones in one of the long opened drawer! God helps those who help themselves.

It’s so good this far and better onwards. I put the music on, locked the room and literally started running from my room’s gate. I had revised ‘Goal’ yesternite so might be adrenaline was rushing inside … not sure! I then had a long jog, obviously, i could not keep running the whole while, nor i expect myself to be. I have practical expectations : ) but wandered for around 45 mins and came back to our dorm’s central reception.

I smiled at Receptionist, she smiled at me and i have NOT fallen in love, though my mood and settings were prompting me to. I sat with one Business magazine, read only the optimistic India columns, avoiding all negative stuff. Browsed through the whole magazine and then took another general current affairs one and browsed that too completely. It felt good, that I completed two magazines, one news-papar in just 45 mins. Cool guy

So after this, I took a juice tetra pack and now am sitting in front of this laptop, sipping, enjoying and blabbering. Let’s see how this whole day is going to be?