After a nightmare of a return travel, been sitting at Heathrow for the better part of December 18th having landed at 11 am and with the next flight only at 2100 hours from London to Delhi and onward to Mumbai. Hopefully no more onward delays.

I'm never flying again!

Travel to different parts of the world opens new facets to ourselves. Things we did not know about ourselves but are very much part of us. Walking down the street in a different city, a different place among people unknown and still feeling like we're all part of the same world is a great feeling. Also an unsettling feeling to know that we are all part of the turmoil that exists everywhere. Its bizarre how similar life is looking for the average citizen whether it is India or the US. A sense of uncertainty on the horizon. 

Visits in D.C

Got to meet S and family. After a full decade. So very happy to see her. Many things have changed but she is just the same. Also ran into another friend at the conference unexpectedly. Such joy meeting old friends after years and decades and starting off exactly like before. People are awesome. :)

Washington 2016

Got to attend a spectacular WinterSim 2016 in cold, cold Washington D.C. Given the amount of walking I've done in the past three days, my left big toe has been blistered and I'm limping significantly. On the final day of the conference, post lunch, I needed to hobble down a few blocks to get to my hotel. I thought I was thoroughly lost after crossing a few streets but something told me to take the turns that I did, a left here, a right there, and boom, in front of me stood my hotel. There I was jumping with joy stunned to find my hotel standing right ahead. My phone battery had died earlier so there was no way for me to navigate my way around either. Also no cab stopped on the way, so I  kept walking, one painful step at a time till I reached the nearest main road to find a cab. But miraculously ahead was my hotel too. Surprised, grateful and happy all at once. :)