I'm not sure about the reason...but due to some unavoidable circumstances, the second country I'm visiting outside India is also in middle east pretty much similar to my first country (Doha). I'm about to share my experiences in Riyadh (Capital of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
Journey Begins from the point I joined TCS (Tata Consultancy Services - India's largest IT firm) on 17th March 2010 in Hyderabad. I was recruited for STC (Saudi Telecom Company) project for which TCS is the System Integrator. I was told to move to Mumbai on deputation as the entire team is sitting in Mumbai. I took a flight to Mumbai on 24th March and reached the same day in the mid night. That was the first time I'm visiting Mumbai pretty excited. Frankly not that great as I expected it to be. I was given accommodation in a hotel in Thane.
Next day I took an Auto and reached TCS office in Powai. To my surprise I was the first one to reach office even at 10:30 AM. I had to wait for another 30min when one of the team member came office and took me inside. Donno anyone over there. Then met the program director by whom I was recruited. He introduced me to the team and got a desk. Spent 3 weeks in Mumbai. Went to few malls and movies. Frankly done nothing in the office for 3 weeks apart from applying visa for Saudi. Got the Visa and booked the travel to Riyadh on 16th April 2010.
Took a Taxi to Mumbai Intl. Airport. Took a flight to Riyadh. Saudi Arabian Airlines. Flight is pretty much empty.
Not pretty much excited about this trip. Landed in Riyadh. Heard that if you are an Asian you have to wait for Ages to clear the counter. Fortunately for me as there is no crowd, I managed to clear it in 30min. I have to tell one thing which pretty much irritated me. The immigration officers are smoking under the no smoking board. Misbehaving with some of the passengers (of course not vth me) but felt they are sense less idiots. Anyways, I took my luggage and came out. Company arranged a cab. The airport is pretty far from the city. Driver took me to a hotel. Felt the place is bigger than Doha during the drive. Hotel guys allocated a room to me which is worst. But I have to leave with that as it was already 2 am. Went to STC office the next day in the cab. The only thing that really exicited me is the STC office. It is a huge campus with more than 100 buildings and huge security at the entrance gates. Never imagined a single office in that huge area. People commute via vehicles and cabs inside the Campus. We went to one of the buildings where the other TCS colleagues sits. Met the team. Got the place and started the regular work.
Most of the colleagues are from north India. So I started speaking Hindi as I never did in my entire life.
In a week I moved to a different place in Riyadh. It's not a hotel but a group of apartments leased by TCS. Pretty good in this kind of place as we will be free inside the complex. No restrictions unless we go out.
Coming to the places, tried visiting few malls. Unfortunately, so called biggest malls in Riyadh don't have anything to see for men. Malls are fully filled with locals wearing traditional dress and I felt alienated.
Pretty much boring place due to lots of restrictions. Spending most of the time in office during weekdays. Weekends with movies in the room.
వీళ్ళకి పిచ్చి పట్టి మనల్ని హింసిస్తున్నారు... రోజుకి ఇదు సార్లు పూజ చేస్తారు ... కాని ఆ టైం లో బయట షాపులు అన్ని ముసేయాలి ... నా లాంటి వాళ్ళు ఆకలి తో చావాలి... వీళ్ళ గురించి చెబుతూ పోతే ఇంక ఈ బ్లాగ్ సరిపోదు .. బూతులు వస్తున్నాయ్ కాని బ్లాగ్ కాబట్టి వదిలేస్తున్నా ....
ఈ సారి ఐనా మంచి ప్లేస్ కి వెళ్ళాలి అని ఆసిస్తూ ....
signing off.... ఇక సెలవు...खुदाफीस
