Escape to Goa 2

(If you haven't read "Escape to Goa" yet, please do before you proceed with this blog.)

I forgot to mention in my previous blog about something we discussed on the beach after dinner, in the presence of the sound of the waves. We actually thought, why not go to a pub the next night as we will be leaving the day after. The problem is that we do not have any gal friends. Well, something happened because of which we almost had company to go to the pub!

As planned earlier, we were ready to cover the North Goa on the third day. We woke up early and went for breakfast at the Blue Note Cafe where they served Anoop's favorite coffee. I ordered French Toasts. Then I had an idea (frankly, it was just an idea to tease Anoop!). I asked Anoop why not ask the waitress there out that evening! She was a pretty gal too. He hesitated in the beginning. I insisted. Then he got up walked up to her and started talking to her. I never knew but this guy is really good at talking to gals and I can see her smiling, then blushing for a while and then a strange look. Even though I thought she would agree in the beginning, that strange look meant something else. That look was because after impressing with his smooth talk, this idiot told her that since we are two of us, we can go to the pub if she can get a friend, that is for me! Dumbo... but he was concerned about me!

He gave her his number so that she can call in the evening if she is ready but that call never came. After the breakfast, we started straight to the Aguada Fort. The ride was cool and the fort had nothing much to offer. We were realizing that we are having the real fun on road and not at the destinations. When we reached there, there were only two of us but in a few minutes, a bus load of college gals arrived and the very quite fort till then was not quite any more. We soon started back in spite of so many gals there. The destination now is Tiracol Fort. This is the north most point of Goa. The Fort is on the other side of the Tiracol river on a small piece of land. And only that piece of land on that side of the river is Goa and the rest is Maharashtra. It was some 50 KMs away and we had a very good ride.

It is a strange feeling that I had after being on the road for four days. It wasn't very long but the feeling was strong. Some sense of freedom, adventure, and something else that I don't know. I knew this is what I want to do in life. What a feeble thing the wide screen, dual processor Windows Vista computer with 2GB RAM at my office desk seems to me now after riding the 200 CC bike for 500 KMs. There were quite a few villages that we passed through on our way to Tiracol. But the one I clearly remember is Arambol. On the coast, plush with trees, peaceful and not many tourists. If I were to live in that place, I would swim in the sea every evening, jog on the beach every morning, fish in the river every weekend (and then put the fish back in the water!), lay down on the beach and watch the stars for they are clearly visible with few lights around there. What would I do for a living? May be teach at the local school. I have certainly seen children there and I would love to spend time with children.

As we neared the Tiracol river the road ran parallel to the river with several twists and turns. The sun is right on top but the entire road is shadowed by the trees. Finally we reached the ferry. This would be our first ferry. We imagined very grand about it. We were wondering how much do we have to pay for it. And also wishing that the "voyage" should be very long. But the truth is that it is free of cost and the "voyage" will not be very long as the destination is only about 300 meters on the other bank. As for the grandness we imagined, it reminded me about all the vehicles that would be clogged at a railway crossing back in Nellore. The ferry is a free service run by the government for transporting the public across the river. The traffic is not heavy and the river is not too wide and so it will take about 5 minutes to cross it. I guess, ferry is cheaper than laying a bridge there! Even though not grand, I loved the ferry. Especially the location of the service: there is fishing going on one side and on the other, the river is joining the sea. Splendid view.

Once again, there was disappointment waiting for us. As we crossed the river and rode to the Tiracol Fort, we realized that it is not a fort anymore. It was transformed into some luxury hotel by the Heritage Group. There was renovation going on so we didn't need a reservation to take a look inside. There is a small chapel inside. The fort is not a big one; I guess it is quite small to be called a fort at all. But if you can afford to stay there, you would have a really great view. The fort is situated in such a way that you can see the river joining the sea and the beach all at the same place.

We did not waste anymore time there among the carpenters, painters and one pretty looking manager! We started back immediately and we were able to catch the ferry back, the same one that brought us to this side. These ferries are available every 30 minutes. That is very convenient I should say. We drove back the same way we came, only now it seemed to be not that long a road! Instead of going all the way to Calangute. We took a different route through Mapusa. We were planning to go to Bicholim and see what the Mayem Lake is.

A little before Mapusa, when we were riding through farms and green fields, we had a crash. Two roads were merging and a car from the adjacent road was taking a U turn right onto us. I was at the controls. The rear brake was no use and I had to use the front disk brake. Anoop did a very sensible thing by jumping off from the bike as it slowed down without making me lose my balance. However, the bike wasn't gonna stop that easily and just as I thought I was gonna hit the car I jumped too. Now the bike fell and stoped just inches before the car. All this time the people in the car were watching it like a movie. They were coming slow so, they were able to stop easily. Nobody was hurt but the bike took a little. The leg guard on the right is bent; apparently it was welded after its previous crash! And the front brake lever is broken into half. Now this is a matter of concern because we just discovered that the rear brake wasn't working at all. The bike was simply slowing down as we released the accelerator. With only half the brake lever to pull on, we had to be more cautious than we were. Especially since we decided to enter Mapusa to see if we can fix the bike. The traffic is like any urban one. We found a mechanic but couldn't find a spare lever anywhere. And also the leg guard had to be welded. We just decided not to waste any time there and go on with the journey and fix it if we find anyone on the way.

I experienced a moment of truth that day. I was a little shaken after the crash. Anoop took the controls. He rode to Mapusa and also upto Thevim where we stopped to eat something. We couldn't find a place to have lunch. We just settled for some tea and leftover breakfast near the Thevim railway station. With the shock from the crash all the excitement about the bike ride seemed to have been fading. The day started to feel hotter eventhough it has been hot all along. I started feeling very tired. I said to Anoop that we should just go to the beach and spend the day resting or something like that. He looked at me for a few seconds. He said we are here for the ride and we would be bored at the beach in no time. He insisted we should go on. He never said it but I know he can see me shaken by the crash. And whatever he said, he said it in such a way that I couldn't say no to him. This guy is a real buddy! And then I was thinking as he was busy munching. I had to tell myself that I should first admit that I was scared after the crash and I am looking for reasons to give up. And I said it. I wanted to come over it. And I suddenly said I will ride the bike from here. He just laughed, still munching! He never said anything but I would never forget that day. That was a real moment of truth. My hands were still shaking as I started the bike. But I rode it, all the way to Bicholim, Mayem Lake, Divar Island upto Old Goa! A day that I really lived.

As we started after the weird lunch we had, we found out that there is welding facility nearby. We went to him and he said he cant help. We asked him why not. He held the leg guard, shook it a little and seperated it from the bike. He put that piece in our hands and said that it needs arc welding and he got only gas welding. We didn't no what to say. We left the place with the iron piece in hand and after a while asked each other why would he had to break it off to explain that it needs arc welding! Pervert!

We reached Bicholim and searched for a welder. I don't remember but I think Anoop was at the controls in Bicholim. After many efforts no one is found. We continued to Mayem Lake. It was quite pleasant. But then it was just another place and the road didn't stop there. We found out that there is a small island on the Mandovi river called Divar Island, about 2 sq. KMs. On the other side of the island is Old Goa. That would be our route with a ferry to get us to Divar Island and then to Old Goa. The road from Mayem Lake was just awesome. Passing through some small hills, the scenery was picture perfect.

After riding through the Divar Island and ferrying to the other side, we entered Old Goa through an arch constructed by the Portugese and still standing. The entire city of Old Goa is a mirror to the culture and architecture left behind by the Portugese. Se Cathedral and La Bascillica are the "must and should" places to visit. This is also the place where we visited the places like the rest of the tourists. However, the sweat, stained clothes from the crash and the leg guard hanging from my backpack set us apart from them. At the end of the tour Anoop bought a cowboy hat that I put on on the way back to Calangute. Finally, at Betim, we found a welding shop who served our purpose. But we couldn't find a brake lever anywhere. We decided to pay for it.

It was almost four in the evening and also we were tired by the time we started back to Calangute. Anoop was at the controls all the way back. And also there was no call from the gal at the Blue Note Cafe. Never mind, we headed to a pub that had stag entry. This is a first and I didn't like it very much except that they play almost good music. Anoop did full justice to the tickets we purchased by eating and drinking all that he can for the money we paid. However, we did not booze. We left only after about 30 minutes. We just took a stroll on the beach.

We were tired and also we cannot forget that we are going to leave the next day. The bike ride is over! We sat in the beach and we didn't speak much. We have learnt a new language. It has a road, a bike and the elements. No words, no music. The wind on our faces when we do 80+ on the highway, the sharp turns on the ghat that reveal a new beauty after every bend, and when the road runs parallel to a river it feels like you are racing the water, and when the road runs straight and the bike steady you feel like you are flying, and the freedom you realize when you are not bound by destinations but have all the road you can, and then you know you are living!

My bus was at four in the evening and Anoop's at about seven. We just decided to spend the day at the Baga beach. However, we had to check out by 9:30 in the morning. And when we returned the bike, the guy didn't ask about the lever and we didn't mention it. Lucky us. So we put our bags at the reception and rented a Honda Deo and headed to the Baga beach. We swam and played and swam and played. Not much fun. Not after a 500 KM bike ride. So we wanted to try other things available in the beach. We went parasailing and speedboating. On these we spent more than what we spent on the three days we were there. And also we didn't have much fun either. Nothing tastes better once you taste the road, or atleast not until you did something more adventurous. We left the beach after having lunch there. We went to collect the bags and just changed clothes in the backyard as we did not have a room anymore. We took a taxi to Mapusa where I have to catch my bus. From there, Anoop took a bus to Panjim from where his bus starts. I waited there for the bus that would take me back to my cubicle, the little place with a monitor where the only window I can have is on the screen. I hated the moment but remembered all the ride and thought I would certainly come back for another ride...

... and I did. This time Rajeev and Muttu were also with us. And apart from the bike ride, we also did something that was more adventurous. I will conclude this in the next blog.

Escape to Goa

I love to travel! I make use of every opportunity I get to travel some place I haven't traveled yet. When I was at home (Nellore, my hometown), my only chance of traveling was with my family on the occasional tour that we could avail based on the time permitted by our parent's jobs, mine and my brother's school vacations and such other common stuff that you can understand. In that way, one of the most frequently visited place was Tirupati. I particularly did not like visiting the temple since I don't like crowds but this is one of my favorite places just because of it's scenic beauty. I still remember the view of the sunset over the eastern ghats from the top most point of Tirumala, Sri Vari Padalu. I wish I had a camera with me then! I would have loved to just go into the jungle and wander about looking for creeks, birds and waterfalls. But it wasn't to be. It has always been "sight seeing". I wanted to TRAVEL!

Now, I graduated, got a job, getting to know what kind of a life I am getting in to and all that stuff... and then one fine day, I was talking to my dear friend Anoop.

"Hey dude, why don't we just take a break and go some place? You know, away from the city, white collars and ties..."

He said, "Why not! I am game dude!". I know he always is.

And so we started thinking of which place to go. Then came the idea of the bike (must be from The Motorcycle Diaries I had just finished. Yo Che!). Then came the plan, Bangalore to Shakleshpur on a bike, trek to Rottikal, back again to Shakleshpur and then to Bangalore on the bike. Just splendid. But where can we get a bike from. Anoop exhausted all possibilities. No bike.

Ah damn!

Hey wait, why don't we go to Goa. We can get bikes there on rent!

And so we decided, Escape to Goa!

We started on a Wednesday night in October; myself from Hyderabad and Anoop from Bangalore. I already had a long day at work and my leave was in jeopardy until the last moment. And so when I finally boarded the bus I was relieved and excited, strange combination. But that was short lived because Anoop's bus is in an hour and he is just leaving his office and to add to it, it was raining cats and dogs there. He wasn't sure he can make it. I used some choosiest words with him and decided that if he is not gonna come, I am gonna have Goa all for myself! However, he came.

When I woke up in the morning, the bus was negotiating some really sharp curves on a ghat. It was beautiful and the guy sitting in the seat before me was puking in a paper bag he just borrowed from the conductor. Poor guy. I was still sleepy and I didn't take my camera out. Later, I found out that we were near Sawanthwadi in Maharashtra, about 50KMs from Panjim. After crossing the ghat, the bus stopped at a road side tea stall for refreshing and refreshments. I knew right then, looking at the hills behind me and the road that is spiraling in to the trees ahead, that this is gonna be one weekend I will never forget!

The plan was that Anoop would reach Mapusa around six in the morning and would get a room and a bike in Calangute and come back to Mapusa and pick me up. That would have been just perfect. But when I got down in Mapusa at about nine and almost no battery in my phone, I found out that he is still near Karwar in Karnataka, about 100KMs from Mapusa. His bus broke down. Well, there isn't anything I can do about it! I just got a hang of what was happening and all the taxi drivers flocking over the tourists. I booked my return ticket, I knew I have to go back and got into a taxi and rode to Calangute.

The taxi driver's name was Rupesh. He asked me if I came with my girlfriend. I said no but I am waiting for a friend from Bangalore. He started telling me about all the amazing booze that is available in Goa. I told him that I don't booze. He slowed down, looked at me all surprised or rather shocked. He asked if I smoke. I said no. He asked me one simple question and I still remember the look on his face.

"Why did you come to Goa then?"

I told him I came here because we couldn't find a bike in Bangalore. He was convinced that we are crazy enough to be in Goa even if we don't booze and smoke. He said he will take me to a decent place where I can also get a bike and he did. I insisted on a Bajaj Avenger and he got me this. The bike looked pretty fine to me but it was not so pretty after all. The kick start was not all that proper and the speedometer is broken. The battery was low and I didn't realize until after two days that the rear brake was not functioning! Funny, we didn't meet with any accident.

It was already past 10 in the morning and Anoop just told me that the chances of the bus being repaired are slim. So we decided to meet at Madgaon. I got the battery replaced, bought a map and started to Madgaon. It was a 50KMs ride and it was just awesome. Even though I was riding alone I enjoyed it nonetheless. I couldn't stop to take out my camera as Anoop was already waiting. It was around twelve when I picked up Anoop at Madgaon bus station. He took the controls for a while but he was too tired and so we stopped at a junction near Verna on the way to Panjim. We took a leak and stretched our bodies. Then we suddenly realized that we were meeting after a long time. We hugged and shouted, "We are in Goa!".

I took the controls from there and had the pleasure all the way to Calangute. We had our lunch at about four in the afternoon. Starting with that lunch until the dinner after two days we had to deal with strange looks when we said, "No, we don't want any drinks. Thank You.". The day was almost over and so we thought we will spend the rest of the day in Calangute itself. We went to the Anjuna beach. Well, it had nothing but rocks and we didn't find it any interesting. Then we went to the Baga beach and just about got completely wet when the life guard came shouting that the beach is closing. It was already six in the evening. We just went to the room, changed and started planning for the next two days.

First we divided Goa into North and South. We came to know later that Goa is in fact divided into two districts, North and South Goa! We decided to cover South Goa on Friday and North Goa on Saturday. Sunday shall be left for anything else around Calangute as we have to catch our bus in the evening. The planning continued for about half an hour or so concluding that it would be best to decide the places as we go. We had our dinner at a beach restaurant and sat on the beach for a while. After getting exhausted from abusing our jobs, we came back to room and slept as we planned to go to the beach early in the morning.

Surprisingly, we woke up at around six in the morning and were ready to go in thirty minutes. We went to the Baga beach and swam for a while. It was chilling and the waves were still strong. We had fun for a while but only for a while. We didn't go to Goa to spend our time in the beaches, did we? We started back immediately. Now, this is the weirdest bike ride I ever had. Since we were just out of the beach, we were just in our swimming shorts except for the sandals. I was riding the bike with Anoop on the pillion. Anyone who knew us in person can imagine how it might have looked for our body dimensions haven't changed much from college days. I am still the same thin guy with just a few more kilos and Anoop lost a few kilos but I rather not say anymore. So we rode half naked or rather three quarters naked. I could feel the morning wind almost all over my body. The roads were almost deserted because the tourists usually enjoy their day till late in the night and not many would start their day that early. Now we are ready to embark on the long ride we have been waiting for with camera and other necessary gear in the back pack, map in the hand and some of the finest breakfast from the Blue Note Cafe I ever had in my stomach.

We headed for South Goa as planned. We first assigned some checkpoints on the map to cover. We rode in the same way as I did to pick up Anoop the day before but not as far as Madgaon. We took a right at Cortalim and headed towards Vosco da Gama. We wanted to avoid entering the city like we avoided Panjim; we anonymously agreed to avoid all the urban areas even before we reached Goa. However, to reach Marmugoa bay, we had to enter Vosco and face some usual traffic. The city is no different from what any other city would be like. Anyway, we finally reached Marmugoa where we couldn't go any further in that direction. After spending a few minutes there we started back towards Cortalim again from where we decided to ride to a place called Big Foot at Loutolim.

The road that led to Loutolim sufficed to our intention of traveling. We wanted to travel, just travel, through places that are peaceful, plush with greenery and most importantly with people who are not in a hurry for anything. And we found it here. We savored every meter of the ride. I was too lost in the serenity that I just held the camera in my hands but forgot to click. But this is one view of the road that led to Loutolim. Quoting Einstein, "I love to travel, but hate to arrive!" The Big Foot was just a place where all the stuff that used to be about Goa is kept and you have to pay a ticket to know what it was. So we did. All the gyan we got from there was not all that bad. We left wishing if it were the same even now. But no, it isn't. Scotch and whiskey have long replaced the "Cashew Fenny"! However, we were content with some sugarcane juice. We had lunch at Loutolim, again without any liquor to the waiter's surprise. We had plans to go to the Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary in Ponda. But after talking to the waiter, who suggested us against it since we will not be able to cover the area completely, we started to look for other places on the map. My eyes caught a place called Cabo de Rama. What caught my attention is that it is farther from any other popular place around there. It would be the south most place in Goa we will visit. We estimated the distance to be around 70KMs from Loutolim. Little that I knew then that Cabo de Rama is going to be one of my most favorite places I visited.

The legend has it that Lord Rama had one of his sojourns during his exile at this place later came to be known as Cape of Rama. After a long time in history, this turned into a fort for the Portuguese who called this place Cabo de Rama. The fort as such had nothing to offer in terms of history or architecture. But it is it's geographical location that was worth it. We rode down the road from Madgaon on the NH17 and took the diversion to the right towards Betul. We crossed some villages like Velim and Assolna. Assolna, on the banks of river Sal was really a very peaceful place. It is a very small place but still, it had all the amenities of a town. On our way, we noticed a school with a really big ground, a church, a place for public gatherings etc. The road to Cabo de Rama was also equally impressive. We had to pass through at least three hills on the ghat road with some seriously sharp turns. This is the kind of a place that if you ever visit, you must do so on a bike! When we reached a junction looking for the way to the fort, we found another tourist who was also going there and lost. We saw some locals coming our way and confirmed that we were on the right way. The tourist stuck with us. When we arrived at the fort we knew, looking at the entrance, that this place doesn't have much to offer. However we did get off the bikes to stretch after a really long ride. We went inside and found some steps leading to a ruined watch tower. And the view from there was just splendid. While I was busy clicking away the beauty, Anoop got into a discussion with the tourist about religion, culture and such stuff. The tourist was from Israel who came to learn Sanskrit. Good for him. After sometime we got down the watch tower and started walking along the wall of the fort or whatever is left of it. It proved to be not so easy with no proper ground to keep our feet. It was more like trekking inside the fort. After walking to the western part of the fort with a clear view of the sea, we jumped over the wall and proceeded along a way formed among the trodden plants by the fishermen there. When we reached an almost vertical drop of a cliff, we could imagine how difficult it would have been to capture this fort if anyone had ever tried. However, this spot provided some real great landscapes for my camera. The Israeli left then since he had to return his bike in about an hour. He got more places to visit in India before he returned. Myself and Anoop continued in that path a little further where we found the path getting steeper and slippery. We were thankful that it was heading towards the fort . As we were slowly crawling and struggling on the path so that we don't slip and fall in the sea about 50 feet below us, we saw a fisherman coming towards us with as much ease as I would feel at home. We tried to talk to him asking if we could visit his home. He only spoke Konkani. Anoop tried a little and the reply came in a sign language warning that we can slip and fall to our death. That is exactly what he said with his tongue stuck out and his left hand crossing his throat! We decided to take the professional's advise and headed back to the fort. We climbed another watch tower to the southwest of the fort and watch the fisherman climb down to his home at the bottom of a hill by the fort and by the river. Looking at him, we had a lengthy and meaningful discussion. That is the kind of life I wanted to see, I sure wanted to visit his home. He was living with mother nature herself. He has beautiful sunsets everyday. And at night, I am sure he can see every damn star in the sky. Anoop too had his side of perception. He agreed to what I thought but also pointed out what kind of a hard work he must have been accustomed to. Fishing is not as easy as printing "Hello World!". He may not be earning everyday which means he may not be eating everyday which I doubt somehow because he looked to be aged above 50 but he was as fit as myself or Anoop! Anyway, we concluded with a consensus that if this is the kind of life one wants, then one shall also live with the cons of it. That is fair deal, isn't it?

It was getting dark and we started back to Calangute along the same amazing road. However, we didn't take the road to Loutolim after Madgaon but continued straight towards Panjim. We stopped near an engineering college at Verna and had tea. Looking at the college students in the cafe there, I couldn't help thinking about my college and I was suddenly missing it. However, Anoop didn't miss it much. He was busy with the nonsense on the TV. We continued the ride towards Calangute with me at the controls. It was already dark and it was my first time riding on a highway at night. It wasn't that easy but we made it. We had our dinner at the same beach resturant and had a stroll on the beach before we sat down at a place away from the smell of the liquor. Anoop told me then that he read somewhere that the sound of the waves stimulates our minds to have very intellectual thoughts and that it would bring the best imagination out of us. After that we started discussing several things like how stupid our job is and how much we hate it, the pros and cons of having a girlfriend and later we started talking about astronomers, I really don't remember how we reached there, and then we had a doubt. How do the astronomers take a leak while space walking? May be Anoop's theory wasn't correct after all, or may be it was!


To be continued....

I didn't like how it started!

I felt like crying out loud and so I did. I didn't open my blog after that day. Now when I read it again I feel I didn't start well. I started with complaining! Hope to make some nice blog next time.

Should I or shouldn't I?

It has been just over an year since I joined this so called IT industry. I was placed during my 6Th semester of engineering. Even though this wasn't my first choice, I was content that it would serve as a back up. The truth is that the money is good. I had no idea how the work is going to be, I only heard from my many cousins and brothers how I will have to adapt myself to it. This was the picture I had back then: I am required to work smart and hard to get sufficient recognition which is very important, then and at all times take up every opportunity that comes my way; this will help a lot in appraisals. This presumption is very vague as I see it now. However, it explained everything back then and I dunno how!

A lot of things happened in this one year of being a "Software Engineer" for one of India's most reputed companies. It included my training, bench and a project. My dissatisfaction and boredom at work increased with time. I found that the job was not at all challenging. People stay back late not just because of the work load but because they failed to communicate properly in the first place. This communication I am talking about is not just about how efficiently they understand the requirements (which are always constantly changing throughout the project) but also a communication with themselves, rather an introspection (I am aware that this point is very fuzzy. That is because I do not wanna get into details). For several such similar reasons, which I will not be able to list here, I have decided to get back to pursuing what I always wanted, to join the Indian Army. 

I have prepared a routine to fit my work so that I can spend some time in preparing for the CDSE and the SSB interview. It was hard in the beginning but gradually I forced myself to the routine. I started waking up at 5 and reach office by 6 to work out a little. I start my work by 8. I told my manager that I will come regularly by 8 and finish the job given to me and take care of all the dependencies and leave by 6. He said, well, he just said OK. After talking to him, I felt may be I shouldn't have as I know the calls and meetings with onsite will stretch the day. However, I kept surprising myself. I finished my module 1 week before the dead line and also took up other work and also helped my team mates in their work. The one week went on without much work. And after one week from the dead line came the review from onsite. I looked into it at 8 in the morning but my manager took a look only at 5 in the evening as he comes only after 10 and has several other things to take care of. I never complained and in fact I empathize. The discussion stretched until 7 in the evening. He then told me to do the rework. At this point I could no longer hold it and told him that I will do it the next day. He said I have to deliver it today. I answered that I will anyhow will not be able to complete it by 11 by which time it will already be after noon onsite. He was clearly and unpleasantly surprised at me. He then took me into a conference room. The discussion that followed is the reason for this blog!

Before saying anything else, I have to say that my manager is a reasonable guy and not just another jerk. However, in the conference room, after I explained to him why I think it is not worth the effort for me to stay back and work, he gave out some facts of this IT industry to this newbie.

1. Delivering the job is everything. (I agree with this point as this is what I promised I will do as an employee and I did.)

2. The day of the employee starts when the manager arrives.

3. If the onsite coordinator has no problem in taking calls at 2 in the morning when he is in deep sleep or actually waiting for the call, why should we have a problem in calling from offshore? (That guy has to get back to work by 8 in the morning!)

4. The values and ethics displayed in the ads by the company are bullshit. This is how it works.

5. I am shown to the client as an expert in several technologies that I am not. That is one of the reasons why I should be working late.

6. Work - Life balance is very important (What an oxymoron!).

The dialogue was very informal and he never threatened me or was even a little bit harsh (I suppose he doesn't have to be that way. If not me, he will find another resource). If you have read this, you might be thinking that if I am aiming for the army, why am I cribbing about working late here which is, in terms of stress and risk, a lot easier or something like that which one of my friends asked. This is why: There is a purpose behind why I choose to do something. If I want to join the army, I am willing to put those hours there as the purpose, which I will not specify here, is served. In contrast, in the current job, my purpose or at least what I expect is that I will have enough time to spend with my family, my interests to maintain the so called work - life balance. If not me, this is what all my colleagues want and expected before joining here. They do not have that time now but they do not complain or do anything about it. The answer I get when I ask why is that it is the money the company is paying them. However, when I asked them if they like this job, well, some even said that they hate it!

All these thoughts are my opinions. It is my perception. I have not yet come to terms with it. I am sure there are people who enjoy this work culture apart for the money even though I haven't met any. However, with all these going on in my mind, I am asking myself, should I or shouldn't I quit this job right now.