new delhi 1

i got involved this time with a more extensive renovation in new delhi, for a space gallery cum simulation centre. weather was chilly, that's good. this time, we were quite pampered in the sense of a more comfortable surrounding, cleaner environment. our gracious client even alloted a space for us to dine, all cooked by their inhouse chef. the sweetest thing was, the chef wanted to please us so much, daily he would come and ask what food we like to eat the next day. during the sametime, we had another group of colleagues constructing an exhibition stand elsewhere, their comment was....we are in heaven, they are in hell :) so, that sums it all up.

nearby our hotel, there's this small restaurant serving some fast food dishes, so we decided to try out the vegetarian pizza. no wonder, going vegan is such a huge number in india, most of their pure vegetarian meals are pretty yummy. i also stayed at metropolitan hotel, nearby to town centre, connaught place. it's a 5* hotel, almost resem

bling the outlook of our own istana hotel, jalan raja chulan. i must admit this is by far the poshest hotel i've stayed in for business purpose. i could get use to it :)

looks good? tastes even better. can't believe how good a vegetarian pizza can be

it's actually tosai but in a whole new style. love indian food done right

the beginning.....

almost there...some touch ups

final work going on....

afterall, the chinese says...hangman needs to take a breather too. bottoms up to our teh tarik, boys! 

new delhi 2

i have always wondered why india loves to organise their super airshows during CNY period. for obvious reasons, CNY does not affect them much, so i understand. this time, i am back to new delhi, for Defexpo 2010. for what seems to be simple, was made very complicated as my client wanted vast changes to the design of the pavilion. another tough time this round, as there was only 5days given to build the entire pavilion, not forgetting all the changes that's involved. we laboured till midnight, sometimes 3am for most nights, thinking we could finally have an early rest on the last day, oh how wrong i was!

we actually worked overnight till the show opens, which for the 1st time, i am not dressed prettily and smelling wonderfully as i do every show opening, instead, draped in that drab red sweater, hair messed up, face oily and you know what, actually by that time, deprived of sleep, i already given up on how i look and smell. thank God, the weather is chilly and not humid, so, basically, didn't smell bad, except for a musty kind of smell. ok, enough of smell.

india, i continue to tolerate your toughness on me. because you are worth it.

sorry, there ain't much photos on the new delhi generally, as i mentioned above, there wasn't even enough time to sleep, lest to even go gallivanting round town.

from far, it looks good. just don't look too closely, too many blemish 

looks grand at first sight, maybe because it looks so "vintag-y" it gives me the creeps sleeping alone at night.  not to mention, the sheets and blankets smell musty. they even send my breakfast to the room, that's because the cafe doesn't open till after we leave the hotel real early

me looking cheery still after the long nights, holding up some really traditional local indian dish. it's like briyani rice smoked in claypot. it's an acquired taste, as they put an overwhelming dosage of star anise spice. unfortunately, most of my guys couldn't stand it either. so, be careful what you order unless you are sure you can accept it. 

sauces to go with the dish. i give it thumbs up for presentation.

bangalore

india has never hit the top of my list for favourite places to be, still work brings me there at least twice a year. looking back, india has given me some of the best memories, i would never change anything. if you ask me, should you visit india, i would say yes. for the experience and exposure. you will never get anywhere else, just do not expect anything clean - air, water, streets, even hotel sheets. unless, of course you are staying in the 5* hotels. even that, just bask in the wonderfulness of the interiors, until you step foot onto the 1st step of the hotel entrance.

aero india 2009 and 2011 held in bangalore, india - always starting off the odd years with one of the biggest airshows. for season 1, i had the privilege to be with my beautiful colleagues, deana, kenix and adelyn. now, all of them having their own career pursuit elsewhere, so happy for you girls :) for season 2, with young sweet thing, lynette. her 1st time to india, i'd say well done!! it's not that bad afterall eh?

after this february 2011's trip to india, am not sure when the next trip (if ever) i will venture to the neverland again, maybe not so soon, maybe not even ever. since joining my current company, i've in total travelled to india 6times, twice bangalore and 4 new delhi.

oh india, how i will miss thee!

line up of beautiful colleagues

can't help myself, gotta "catch" the big plane in the background

bosses treating us to a nice CNY 2009 dinner, after all the hardwork of course

a nicer posh restaurant which we dine for our CNY 2009 dinner, 1st time away from home during CNY *sob sob*

under the hot sun for a month, indeed i came home very tan. took me awhile to recover, mind you

chung wah.....a local cosy chinese restaurant. very nice chinese lady owner, Mimi Chung, very accomodating. she's the one supplying all our packed lunches and dinners. highly recommended

man chow soup, thick broth with mixed vegetables and chicken bites. spicy if you bite into the chilli. very tasty. 

that's our host of the night, Mimi Chung, in the middle with light purple blouse. cute lil lady, ain't she?

a little free and easy time, day out shopping spree in town. yes, this is mid of town, selling me maps? do i look lost?

love how vibrant all the clothes make the shop, a must buy, good quality fabric

tandoori chicken. some things are best left to the experts. truly, tandoori chicken in india is the best, none in malaysia can beat em

how any regular street looks like

yes, it's urrgh, yes, it's yucks. but that's how it is in india. you will get use to it. oh, cows are everywhere, they are highly favoured, religious purpose

shopping civilization. feels familiar, don't expect too much in terms of fashion. it's an entirely different sense of style there

and finally.....end of aero india 2009. it was one of the toughest and most challenging job for me, the reward? vast experience, thumbs up to india :)

bangalore international airport. ALWAYS keep your flight itinerary with you, because it is compulsory to show the officer at the many airport entrances, before they allow you to enter the airport. 

season 2 begins with an empty hall. we were the earliest to arrive, hence got the entire place to ourselves. lucky us

empty skies. that's where the runway and action takes place during showdays

2011 CNY hosted by my boss, the one toasting but not getting too much respond though. everyone's hungry, hungry, hungry. same place, chung wah. told you it's highly recommended

oh yeah, indian brew - FOSTER'S

am so glad we stayed at this nice boutique hotel, Ramada Plaza. do not be surprised as the hotel rates in india is skyhigh, unreasonable even. 

told you it's comfy

bringing our own pots and instant noodles. you will not regret it, when having too much of indian meals for weeks on end. 

yup, we do not want to forget we were here

that's their regular transportation of daily goods, can be anything from vegetables, bulky stuff, even  cramping another human or 2 in there. yes, they have high ability to squeeze