Brisbane Blues - 1.Take off and Landing

Ok whats this now??

I have finally reached here. Here in Brisbane.Its been a month and a fortnight since I landed.

So technically it took me this long to get settled, but in real - I still haven't.

I'm gonna give you a quick recap of all that happened from the moment I said bid adieu to my hometown

So here goes....

11th July 09 8:30 PM IST (+0530GMT)

Its pretty strange when you leave your home, knowing that its going to be quite long time untill you return, leaving family,friends,simba - my li'l doggy, herbie-my car-she's been with me in all my endeavours.. Senses become numb..

I didnt feel strange about moving to a different place.. It all happened in a hurry .. infact no time to feel strange about the fact that am gonna be missing my family. And to top it all, Indians being attacked in Aussie was so much hyped in the media. Poor doggy didnt know that he'll not get to lick my face every morning.The image is frozen in my memories - unfortunate instance of unusual tears rolling down nitin's cheeks.. Never missed him before.. So did he..

Moving on to the check-in and boarding - accompanying me Sush & Danny - nothing great happened until landing..Except for sridar's last minute gift - the swiss knife - which I had in the hand luggage being X-rayed at bangkok.And I had to lose it to the trash reluctantly.

12th July 09 1:08 AM EST (+1000 GMT)

I was the last to clear the customs.Still wondering how I got through customs with all the pickles and papads and chilli powder...But there I was...I had made it. I came out looking for these guys and found them with the guy from the Uni pickup service who had come to receive us.Cold...cold....cold...I arrive in Brisbane and get out into a biting cold night. Its about 11 deg celsius. An inviting cold blast of air too sarcastic to mean that its not a warm welcome.And so- as I got into the station wagon...my new journey begins...

As we get out in Gailey road, we find the keys to our room in a mailbox just out side the motel - "St. Lucia Gardens".....All instructed beforehand through email. But still it was so weird to do this in the middle of the night on the deserted road. As I entered the room,I found neatly made beds and something to eat in the fridge.Then I called up home to say that, I have reached..and then I hit the sack..