My destiny rocked me...:)

At last destiny targeted me to cross the Indian border. It was around 11AM. My PM called me to meeting room and I entered reluctantly worrying what’s in store for the day to listen! “Are you available completely for the 1st two weeks of Feb?” PM questioned. “Yes…” I responded thinking…Oh god! Some release or some training or some challenging (?) task is about to come on me. Before I could complete my thots…I heard…”You might have to travel to Helsinki, Finland. Hope, you don’t have any issues”. That was it. As expected, I responded positively and after few mins we walked out of room and after a few days I flied out of country :)
We were heading towards RADISSON SAS with a speed of around 70 kmph in a temp of around -10 degrees! Its Helsinki, capital of Finland. Suresh, my Tech Lead was also traveling with me. Sitting in the AC car, I was dumbstruck looking at the scenery. Snow covered every inch of the city: footpath, trees, roofs…what not? With a highly disciplined traffic it took just 30 mins to reach the hotel. Meet Shrini, called MAMA with love, who is staying here from past 2 months. He was almost familiar with important corners of the city and so saved our time of discovery :).
Going out every evening was the need of the hour. We(I, Suresh and Mama) used to get some juice, eatables and just roam around the place. The ice on the road was covered with crispy snow. We used to walk very casually till we met with a light casualty on our asses when we skid on the roads. In one scene Suresh and Mama had a hit on their ass in an attempt to save mine! while in another scene me and Mama saved Suresh from rolling down thru the steps outside of a church. And that was it. Never again we walked with long steps.
Wahl!! What a scene…passing thru a shopping mall I found a couple smooching. Well, it was for the first time I saw the expression of passion in public and so was that “Wahl!!” Days passed by and I got accustomed to reality show at staircases in metro, on footpaths…
My fortune complemented my air travel with a sea voyage. And the evening arrived on Friday. I, Suresh and Mama left the hotel at 5.15 and cruise was at 5.45. After a 5 mins walk I realized that I had left my passport in the room. In a split second I was all my foot heading towards Radisson SAS. Picked up my passport and was back with guys. It was 5.25. Only 20 mins left. “Could you please make it fast so that we reach by 5.45” Mama was requesting taxi driver. 20…15…10…5…4…3…there we were, like Leonardo in TITANIC, the last to run into the ship holding our bags. Entered our cabins, refreshed and lying in bed we rested for some time.
Solitude was at its best when I stood on the front side of the edge of our cruise and enjoying just being with myself listening to melodious and crispy sound of chilled air. But, that state of lovely loneliness was hijacked by nerve numbing negative temperature. I entered inside and there was plenty to enjoy for the itinerants…shopping mall, dance floor, restaurants, sauna, gambling games n’ many. Dancing floor was the place where I spent much time. It was an ambiance of romance while couples were dancing for salsa in each other’s arms. We three brownies were sitting single and ready to mingle. But, we saw only the butts; yes no one turned towards us :(. Well, why would they? And so nor did we :). B.t.w. how can I miss to write about the babe of the show?
White top with tight blue jeans
She entered the floor shaking her body and hips;
Music of the show got a dancing doll
Whose rhythm was the slave of alcohol
Our journey was to Stockholm, capital of Sweden. We visited Vasa museum. Vasa is world’s oldest ship which sunk in her first voyage during 17th centurary. It was discovered and lifted to sea shore in 1960’s and the museum was constructed around it. We were damn hungry and so entered Stockholm city and had some burgers before started looking for castles. At last we found them but by then we had lost much of our time. Without spending much time we started to port.
Helsinki team had planned to go to Espoo for skiing as a part of team building. We also joined them. By that time Prahalad, my PM, and Sujesh, my other colleague, had joined us in Helsinki. Espoo is 2 hours away Helsinki. Almost everyone in Helsinki team knew skiing and they usually start learning it from their childhood. They were quite eager to go for long skiing. This hilly place was covered with snow and using a raking machine it was leveled so that it is convenient for skiing. Jesper and Mika ( PM and division head respectively) helped us to stand on skateboard, gave some initial hints as how to skate. It was fun initially. We hired a lady teacher. She took us to a place which was suitable for a novice. There were 2 main sloping places which were separated by a slightly wide split in the ground. One side the slope was very less and we could manage to slope easily and after having few rounds we went to the other side. I and Suresh were accompanied by Jesper and teacher. We reached the top and now decided to ski down. Suresh went first and after moving few meters he lost the balance and fell down. Now, it was my turn!. I wasn’t very confident that I would ski this slope successfully. I started and “No….” in just few meters I also lost the balance and also control. I was heading towards Suresh!. I tried controlling my body and even before I could think what to do my skateboard had hit Suresh’s knees. “Sorry dude” I said. Suresh laughed “Don’t worry. We can’t help” :). The adventure was yet to begin! After few mins with help of Jesper and teacher we got up. Now, I decided to cover the rest half of the slope. I stood up and mentally prepared and started again. Not even a meter I was gone again, now in a deep pit of that wide split which separated the 2 sloping places. I was in snow upto my ankles. Everyone thot I have injured myself as there was an iron pipe nearby. Fortunately I hadn’t dashed it. Teacher arrived and tried to pull me up. I wasn’t able to hold anything for support as it was only snow over there. I was thinking…”now a big rescue team will come here to lift me up…” By then teacher found an ice cube and pulled me towards it. I grabbed it and lifted myself while teacher was pulling me holding my other arm. At last I was lying on the sloping ground like ‘ a heroine in well being rescued by hero in typical bollywood movie’. That was enough and sufficient for the day. For the rest of the time I and Sujesh were capturing the scenery in camera while Suresh continued his practice.
My excitement died just in a week and my tummy took up the management. I got fed up with the negative temperature, no good food, routine life style n’ all.
I started counting the days and at last sun set on Friday. My enthusiasm to return India was as good as while I was leaving India. Air hostess provided dinner.
I closed my eyes after having it. Few seconds passed by and I was hearing an announcement “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We are minutes away from Bangalore. I hope you had a great time traveling with Lufthansa airways. Have a nice week end. Thank you”. It was captain of the plane and I realized I have slept for hours!! “And it was all like a sweet dream“, I told Veena at 4AM after reaching home.