Bedhu’s Blog

I started from India on 22nd Jan. After a 22 hour flight I landed in Philadelphia. It took time to convince the immigration officer that I needed 6 weeks for this business trip to attend a conference. It was not fun, this guy got pretty worried about it.

Once I convinced I came down and started waiting for my baggage. Its just natural that yours would be the last to come on that serpentine baggage queue, especially when you are so worn out after 24 hours of travel. The plates on the queue move lazily like audience after watching avatar in 3d imax. I tried to grab a trolley so that I can carry both of  my humongous suitcases  at one shot. It need 4 $ to relieve itself from the stand. Can you believe it, 4 bucks for the trolley!! Hats off America, you sure know how to make money. Ok… my card doesnt work even if I am ready for paying that kind of money. Hell with it. I dragged my luggage and moved over to step out of Philadelphia Airport turf.  I was not sure if I have to take my rental car. Its been two years I am used to driving in Bangalore. So, by nature I am accustomed to follow no rules. Over and above, this is a right hand drive and over a freeway. But I checkout the rental car anyway. So, I boarded the “National” rental bus which took me to my car office. Other passengers were giving him tips. I was in the Indian Catch -22. I know a dollar means much more to me that it does to him. But, you got to go by the rules and I gave him a 2 euro coins and that is all the change I had at that time. It was damn cold.

I went into the car office and after pleasentaries and the shock she had after seeing my cardboard drivers licence from Govt of India, she asked me my credit card. Credit card.. are you kidding? There is no way my credit card limit would accept that kind of money!! So, I am down here not knowing what to do after 2o+ hours of brain dead journey. I called the authorizing company from phone at the car rental and told that it has to be directly billed. It was Friday evening and the lady taking the call was in no mood to go through this. But she sprang up to life and contacted all people she can to get an approval. Meanwhile, I traced the clock’s path for 15 minutes. I called her back and she told that it has been converted to direct billing. And my hotel is direct billing too. Thank God, I dont have to figure that out after reaching there. So, I took the car, which is a fantastic Subaru and got going. Drive was not fun as I forgot to adjust mirrors and seat to my convenience. So, here I was, driving at 45 on 55 mile speed limit highway, straining my head like a giraffe aiming for helicopter flying above and bending in all directions my seatbelt would allow me to have a glimpse of traffic. All the cars are zooming past mine, and drivers were giving that last look of  ”dude, are you 90 years old?” before they zip off. I am helpless, reminding myself of the “right hand drive ” stuff and so on. This is height of multi tasking, driving, reading maps and figuring out the controls.

Checkin into hotel was easy but I got pissed off to walk what appears like infinite road with all my luggage. However, I finished that task and retired for the night. I dont even remember I ate anything.