Life in fast lane

I witnessed the following recently -

04:15 AM - get up and get ready for a day-journey to get visa
05:00 AM - leave room to catch a train to airport
05:08 AM - catch the train to airport
05:50 AM - arrive at airport train station
06:00 AM - get to the check-in counter
06:07 AM - enter the security check queue
06:20 AM - reach the boarding gate
                 buy a coffee and drink it, rather, hurriedly
06:35 AM - board the aircraft
07:00 AM - flight departs
09:19 AM - flight lands at the destination
09:25 AM - take a taxi to embassy
09:55 AM - reach embassy building
10:00 AM - get the visitor pass done
10:05 AM - reach the counter and submit papers
10:16 AM - finish paying fee
                 sit in the lounge and work on Social Impact presentation
11:20 AM - collect the visa and passport
11:26 AM - hail a taxi for airport
11:51 AM - reach check-in counter and ask for an early flight
11:55 AM - run towards the gate as flight is about to depart
12:04 PM - reach the gate just in time to board the aircraft
12:20 PM - flight departs
12:50 PM - flight lands
01:00 PM - reach airport train station and catch the train
01:05 PM - train leaves
01:52 PM - get down at a train station near office
02:04 PM - reach office

Phew !!! what a day? I don't know how people do similar stuff almost every day or weekend :-?

Too good to be true?

While traveling to London from Bangalore, recently, there were many firsts which happened with me. I didn't realize that there were so many of them, until I listed them down -
(a) During the flight, I could sleep for a while, at least ! Typically, I just can't sleep during flights and that's why long flights are very tiring for my system. Even on this flight, I think, I must have slept for 1.5 hrs only, out of long 9.5 hrs flight, but then, something is better than nothing, right?
(b) For the first time, I saw a celebrity on an airport - Mr N R N was at Immigration counter at Heathrow airport in London. I think, he was accompanied by his wife, but since I couldn't see her face, it is a wild guess.
(c) It was the first time, when my checked-in baggage arrived early in the cycle. When I walked towards the conveyor belt, mentally prepared for a long wait, I saw my bags coming in, which was such a joy, as my luggage typically arrives towards the end.
(d) The very first day, I could sleep for 10 hrs and got up at the normal hour as per the local time. Otherwise, typically, I end up either waking up too early in the morning and then fall asleep during the day :)

Wondering what to read into so many "coincidences" happening; but then, is there a need to do so? Wondering ...

Visa Ordeal

Recently, I had to visit Chennai to get a US visa for myself. My appointment was at 9:15 AM, so I was little relaxed thinking that since it is early in the morning, I won't have to wait for long. Well, very soon I learnt how wrong I was.

When I reached the consulate at 8:40 AM, already there was a long queue outside, anyway, I joined in. By the time, I could step inside the building it was already 9:50 AM. The worrisome fact was that there were some people who had 8:15 AM appointment and they got in just before me !!! Nonetheless, inside there was another queue for form / doc verification purposes. It was much more orderly thanks primarily to one gentlemen who was managing the whole thing very carefully. Post this, there was another long queue to go to visa appointment hall. By the time, my turn came it was already 11:00 AM.

Inside visa hall, applicants were queued up in front of visa counters depending on what kind of visa they are applying for. The turn of an applicant was determined by the time of appointment and the category of visa. To my surprise, I saw that people who had their appointment at 8:30 AM were still waiting for their turn. While talking to some people and overhearing some conversations, I learnt that some people who had 8:30 AM appointment and have come from outside, had booked 2 PM return flights. Now that they were stuck inside, and that too w/o any mobile phone, they were struggling to make changes in their travel itinerary. By the time, I stood in the queue and reached the counter it was 1 PM. Finally, at 1:15 PM I finished my interview and walked out of the consulate.

Guess what - a day later, Times of India Bangalore has a story that the visa issuance wait time which is only couple of hours right now, will be reduced even further with the opening of virtual US consulate in Bangalore. Wondering if they know what is happening on the ground and worst part is that none of the interviewees even take this problem up with VFS and/or US consulate.