After long time I found some time to continue my trip to Calgary ….
Here again, I almost lost this file on my PC. Thanks to Mr. Sreeram Potluri, a friend of mine, who helped me retrevie this file from corrupted disk. Well, I believe that finishing off what I have started is the right thing, however, it’s definitely not an easy task, especially when there is lot of time gap. So, here is what happend once I landed in Calgary.
Finally, on that day, the flight landed in calgary and clear through the immigration process. I was told by my friends that there are more Sardars in Canada than in USA. I could not beleive that until I came across Cab drivers 3 out of 4 are Sardars. Even my cab driver is a Sardar and he started talking in punjabi, as usual, and when I told him that I don’t know punjabi in Hindi, he responded back in Hindi. We chated for a while discussing whatz around to visit. The one good thing that he suggested is hiking on Canadian Rocky mountains, Banff National Park. After 20 mins drive, I got down at Days Inn and checked In.
Days Inn is pretty nice and well maintained and most importantly it’s on the same street as U.S. Counsulate office except that it’s 30 blocks away. On that night, I saw one of the Hindi DVD’s that I was carrying with me and slept after it. The other day, I woke up early in the morning went to gym located downstairs. After 45 mins, I got back to the room had my morning quick bath and got ready for the main event. I was told that Days Inn also provides morning break fast, so had some cereal and fruit juice. I was also told my the same team that there is a train available to my destination just a block away from my place. So kind of them.
Well, being a kind of new guy down there, the rest of passengers in the train station looked me as stranger. My skin being brown and they being whites is the obvious reason. Ofcourse, who cares. I approached a lady standing near by and asked her which train I need to talk. She is so kind enough to let me know that I am on wrong platform, where to buy tickets and which stop should I need to get down. I am not new to the train system down in Newark, NJ, however whatz new is that, unlike in Newark, NJ, there is no device to restrict the passenger to get into the train station without a ticket. May be everyone down there would buy the tickets and get onboard.
After 10 mins wait, I got onto the train and got down at the right stop. The wierdest of all is that nobody, I mean none of the canadians know where the US consulate building is. 9 out of the 10 said they don’t know inspite of me showing the address too. But 1 guy showed me the directions as well. I followed as he said and it lead me to unknow area. Obviously he doesn’t know either, but gave some dumb directions. Nothing to loose, having realized that I have pleanty of time for the appointment, I walked 2 blocks on all the 4 directions and guessed that it should be right by train station. Finally, I found it right behind the train station as that street is also know by the some other name.
Got into the building, gone through the security check up etc and most importantly right on time. I came across an Israle, forgot his name. He was standing ahead of me in line. I introduced myself and so did he. We chatted for a while, and came to know that he is working in Canada for a while and wanted to come U.S.A to take an Exam related to his field. I was called by the counselor next to him. And I answered all the questions posed by him. And guess what, I am through the interview and was approved for the Visa. Wow, that’s nice and cool. I was directed by the counselor to next for payments etc and there I was told to pickup my documents later in the evening.
Well, the most important reason for being there was successul. Cool. Now, I have to hang around for 6 more hours. Didn’t know what to do, so started walking through down town. It wasn’t as good as New York down town, but what impressed me is that there wasn’t much crowd and we need not walk fast as we do in NYC to stay in sync with the traffic lights of pedestriants. Feeling a bit hungry and found Subway near by. Had my sandwitch and soda. The lady working at store is helpfull in providing the information of the place to visit around.
She gave me 4 options 1) Get onto Tower, 2) Go to Zoo. 3) Go to Museum. 4) Hang around in downtown. Options 1 and 4 didn’t sound better when compared to Empire State building and NYC downtown. Haven’t been to Zoo for more than 6 years. Moreover, since checking with animals in Zoo, will take alot of time. Obviously, the best option I got to spend time and get to know about Canada is Museum. I got into the museum, gone through two floors and to my surprise I almost passed all the time. I headed back and picked up my documents. Gone back to motel, saw the other Hindi Dvd.
After a while, I have realized that I need to purchase flight tickets. Well, I got the tickets from Newark, NJ to Calgary, CA for 250$ incl tax. But the return trip shows no less than $550. I cheapest i got is from North West for $380 incl tax available in another two days. Hmmm, thought for a while and remembered the CAB drivers suggestion to visit Canadian rocky mountains. So, I reserved the tickets and gone to one of my favorite website, mapquest.com. Got the directions to Banff National park from the Inn and decided to start to the very next day.
The next day, I made a quick search for the Rental Cars. I found Avis near by my Inn. So, I went there and rented ‘Ford Taurus 2005’ car for 2 days. to my surprise the New Jersey dirving license is valid in Calgary, Canada. First it seemed wierd, however, when I started move on roads it’s pretty much same as in U.S. Later I went back to Inn, had my breakfast and vacated the room, all in 20 mins.
It was nice & long journey (some 250 miles) and a perfect weather. I was carrying my digital camera, as usual, it ran out of batteries. I saw staples down the hill and went to purchase batteries and additional XD memory (XD = 156 CAD). When I got onto the freeway, it was nice country weather out there. I almost forgot to play some music until then. So, I popped in the Linkin park CD’s I got, then got over the Telugu CD’s – guess Once more NTR, Gharshana (New), Aarya. I kept driving for long time, when all these CD’s where done playing, thought of switching to some radio. Obviously, it’s as crap as I expected, and not worth comparing with NY’s – Z-100 and KTU radio stations. So I played the CD’s again as I have no choice.
– Shyam K. Arjarapu