In 2003, from September to November I was in Trivandrum for attending my job training. There are certain periods in our life, that stays fresh in our memory forever. My days in Trivandrum is one such period.
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To Training Center:
--------------------
I was staying in Aruvi hotel in Pattom, Trivandrum. On the first day I woke up early in the morning, got ready and came down to the reception. Many were waiting there, since almost everyone staying there were the ones who have come for the training. I was dressed in a light blue coloured format shirt, a dark blue pant, shoes, and tie. All of them were new and I was indeed looking funny. Until the van came I was watching the TV in the reception. A particular song grabbed my attention "karuppin alagu", for which two ladies were dancing - one was Meera Jasmine & the other one I didnt know. She looked pleasant and was younger than Meera Jasmine. Later I got to know that she was Bhavana, who later became famous in Tamil movies.
Around 8 o' clock the van, indeed vans came - they were the old light-green coloured Mahendra vans. We got into them in batches, and started our journey to the training center, which was in Technopark, Attinkuli. It was a ride for about 40 minutes, at the end of which, the van entered into a location, which looked exactly like a Jurassic Park, and we looked like goats taken there to feed some Dinosars there.
[Entry to technopark training center]
The training center was a beautiful white coloured building. As we entered into the building, it had a great grand interior, which I have never seen till that time. There was a big fountain and a waterfall inside the building. We were directed to go to the first floor and were made to sit a big hall there. Shortly afterwards the joining formalities started. We were split into batches, and I belonged to the batch T33.
[Training center in Technopark, Trivandrum]
A couple of people came one after the other, boasted about the company and their experience and position in the company, among whom I now only remember "Alby". She was an young enthusiastic HR there. One of her statement that I still remember now is "You all are away from you home, away from your comfort zones. And some of you might be sad about it. But the growth starts only when you are away from your comfort zones, and slowly things will fade in significance with time."
Instructors came one after the other, repeated almost what others said, and soon we all got bored with them. We were given tokens, which we were supposed to use for the month for tea, coffee & lunch. After the lunch hour, they conducted some games. In some of the games, we have to touch or hold the hands of our neighbours. Whenever there was a female colleague near me, I was embarrassed to hold their hand, but still we have go by the rules of the game and so I obliged.
During my training days, I had a hidden agenda, and as part of the hidden agenda, I tried to come out to make a phone call from a phone booth. In those days mobile phones were a novelty and only very few had them.
The day came to an end at 6, and we all came out, and found the same vans outside, got into them and our return journey started. Morning we were strangers, but now we know each others name. Thanks to those games.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evenings:
---------
Once we reached our hotel, we refreshed and roamed in front of the Aruvi hotel. Just in front of the road is the Pattom main road that leads to the Secretariat on the right and towards Sreekaryam, a shopping area, to its left. I had the habit of taking a long walk in the left till Sreekaryam, which was roughly about 2 kilometers from there. The intent of this long walk is to make a phone call from the phone booth of a grocery shop and to have a tea.
Around 7:30 or 8:00 will start with some of my new friends to the nearby woodlands hotel for dinner. Normally I used to have meals for dinner. Sometimes I went alone. Finding a browsing centre was a Herculean task for me. Finally I found a browsing centre where I used to go at times, for browsing, chatting and emailing.
Once back in room after dinner, will have a chat with other trainees, study for sometime and then sleep. In those days, I didn't have much to study, as during the training we were taught our grand-father's days technologies like C, C++, etc.
Soon it became a routine and I started getting bored with it. I started talking up random long walks to explore the city. Trivandrum was indeed a calm and nice city. I wished that I could come and settle down in this city in the later part of my life, ie. after retirement. But after 3 years, I was about to see another city about 68 kilometers from Trivandrum, which I liked the moment I saw it, mainly because it was very much like Trivandrum in many aspects.
Our training started in the first week of September and went on till the end of November. Diwali came in-between. It was almost military rule there and initially it was declared that there was no leave for Diwali. And we could plan for a visit to native only if were given leave for one more day. Also we should be allowed to leave a bit early on the previous day. Just a couple of days before, we were informed that we will be given leave. Immediately I managed to go the Majestic bus stand and book ticket for me in bus to Trichy for Diwali. And I think I asked Appa to book the return ticket for me in bus. So, all set to go for Diwali.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shoppings:
-----------
One evening I was just roaming in front of the hotel, when I was 2 of my lady colleagues in the reception. They were dressed in jeans & tops and appeared to be waiting for someone. I said "hi" to them, while crossing the reception. They smiled and replied. Immediately one of them asked if I could join them for a shopping. I was shocked and taken aback. I never got such an invitation till that point of time in my life. Going for shopping with ladies!!! Never... But it was a boring evening and at that time I was also worried about a couple of personal issues, and so I began to get into a dilemma. But they persuaded me saying that another Guy is also joining us. Then, I decided to join them. It was already around 7 in the evening. I quickly went to my room, got ready, and came back to the reception and we are set to go for the "Diwali shopping".
We came to the main road and went to the MG road. We got down in some place in the MG road. We were new to the city and we didnt know where to go. We just kept walking on the road. It was crowded and both sides of the road was beautifully lit. We saw a shop near the road where almost everyone going in that direction were getting into. Having no agenda in place, we also decided to go into that shop. It was "Parthaas", a textile shop. I had no plans of buying when I entered the shop.
It was big shop, and not much crowded. They did some shopping and me along with the other Guy followed them wherever they went, without any intent of buying anything. But after sometime I decided to buy dress for parents. So I first went to the saree section and bought a brown coloured saree for Amma. Then I went to the vesti(dhothi) section and bought one vesti for Appa. When I was about to complete the purchase, our lady colleagues saw the saree and they liked it and they too went ahead to that section to buy one for them. They both bought one each. Then we came out the shop. It was around 9:30 PM. We took an auto and went straight to one restaurant in Sreekaryam. On the way they called 2 more colleagues over phone to join us for the dinner. By the time we reached the hotel, those Guys(who were also from our batch) were waiting for us. We had a good dinner there and after that I back to my hotel by walk and they went in auto to their hotel. On the way had tea in a roadside tea shop and I enjoyed that late night walk.
On one evening I went to a shopping complex in Sreekaryam, where I like doing window shopping. There I bought some books for my sisters. Other than that, I enjoyed doing window shopping in almost all the shops in that complex. Hoping to go for such a shopping again in that complex.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One day during the training hours, we all were called to meet the HR. I went with my roommate to meet the HR. The HR’s bay was crowded and many were waiting to meet him. Later got to know that the HR is collecting our details, for opening the bank account where salary will be deposited. I go thrilled. In those days I have heard about the ATM cards, but never had one. He took my details like name, address, and collected 2 photographs, one of which will be used to print my photo in the ATM card.
We received the ATM card, check book and other related documents after 2 days. I was thrilled to see the ATM card. We were instructed to use the card after 24 hours, since it will be activated after 24 hours. But we actually had to wait for 3 days, since our salary will be deposited after 3 days. Till that time, we had nothing to do with the ATM card.
One evening when I was returning after dinner from the woodlands hotel, I found many of my batch-mates going out in groups. Almost everyone was going out at that time. It was around 9:30 and normally at that time the roads will be almost deserted. Got to know that salary was deposited and everyone was going to the UTI bank (now Axis bank) ATM machine to withdraw money. I had just Rs. 300 in hand, which was sufficient for 3 more days. And I was planning to ask Appa to send in money if salary is not credited in 3 days.
I also started walking in the direction where others went, as I didn't know where the UTI ATM was. After walking for about 15 minutes, we reached the building where the ATM machine was. There was a small crowd in front of it. My batchmates went in one by one and we didn’t know how to operate it. The security was inside the ATM and he was helping them in using the card in the ATM. I think almost all first times learns using the ATM from the ATM security.
When my turn came, I went inside. My ATM card is still stuck on the paper, in the same position in which it was given to me. I took out the card and gave it to him. He was so friendly and helped me in changing the PIN, and then I think I withdrew Rs. 300, it gave money and the slip. I retained that slip with me for many many years, until I eventually lost it. The account is not active now, but I still have that first ATM card with me, with my photo on it.
My expenses were very less compared to my other new friends there. But I was spending considerable amounts on phone, since STD calls were costly those days.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food items in hotels weren’t much costly in those days. Once I got used to the place, I starting trying out in different hotels, ate different varieties of food. I couldn’t recall the names of those dishes now, but would like to eat them again. Later I got an opportunity to taste those items again in Nagerkoil, after my marriage, no wonder that I liked those dishes like anything.
A new veg hotel by name “Saradha” was opened near the hotel that we stayed. As inaugural offer, they gave items at half the price. We all shifted immediately from Woodlands to that hotel. We had good meals at tiffin items at very low price. The quality and taste were very good. I tried many different items. September was the month of Purattasi. So, I was a strick vegetarian during that month. Once the day Purattasi got over, I started roaming even more for food. I walked to very long distances and had many varieties of non-veg dishes. This partly would be the reason for many intestinal dis-orders I got later in my life. I like parotta with chicken curry a lot.
Excatly 50% of my stay was at Aruvi hotel, ie. Till Diwali. After returning from Diwali, we all were moved to a much bigger three star hotel near the Training center in Attinkuli. This place is outside the main city and near the Technopark. The hotel was a three star hotel, but outside of it, there were no facilities. Even for making a phone call I have to go for a long distance and at times I took an auto for reaching a phone booth. Getting good food was
Will continue in Trivandrum Memories (2)...
- SPGR.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Training Center:
--------------------
I was staying in Aruvi hotel in Pattom, Trivandrum. On the first day I woke up early in the morning, got ready and came down to the reception. Many were waiting there, since almost everyone staying there were the ones who have come for the training. I was dressed in a light blue coloured format shirt, a dark blue pant, shoes, and tie. All of them were new and I was indeed looking funny. Until the van came I was watching the TV in the reception. A particular song grabbed my attention "karuppin alagu", for which two ladies were dancing - one was Meera Jasmine & the other one I didnt know. She looked pleasant and was younger than Meera Jasmine. Later I got to know that she was Bhavana, who later became famous in Tamil movies.
Around 8 o' clock the van, indeed vans came - they were the old light-green coloured Mahendra vans. We got into them in batches, and started our journey to the training center, which was in Technopark, Attinkuli. It was a ride for about 40 minutes, at the end of which, the van entered into a location, which looked exactly like a Jurassic Park, and we looked like goats taken there to feed some Dinosars there.
[Entry to technopark training center]
The training center was a beautiful white coloured building. As we entered into the building, it had a great grand interior, which I have never seen till that time. There was a big fountain and a waterfall inside the building. We were directed to go to the first floor and were made to sit a big hall there. Shortly afterwards the joining formalities started. We were split into batches, and I belonged to the batch T33.
[Training center in Technopark, Trivandrum]
A couple of people came one after the other, boasted about the company and their experience and position in the company, among whom I now only remember "Alby". She was an young enthusiastic HR there. One of her statement that I still remember now is "You all are away from you home, away from your comfort zones. And some of you might be sad about it. But the growth starts only when you are away from your comfort zones, and slowly things will fade in significance with time."
Instructors came one after the other, repeated almost what others said, and soon we all got bored with them. We were given tokens, which we were supposed to use for the month for tea, coffee & lunch. After the lunch hour, they conducted some games. In some of the games, we have to touch or hold the hands of our neighbours. Whenever there was a female colleague near me, I was embarrassed to hold their hand, but still we have go by the rules of the game and so I obliged.
During my training days, I had a hidden agenda, and as part of the hidden agenda, I tried to come out to make a phone call from a phone booth. In those days mobile phones were a novelty and only very few had them.
The day came to an end at 6, and we all came out, and found the same vans outside, got into them and our return journey started. Morning we were strangers, but now we know each others name. Thanks to those games.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evenings:
---------
Once we reached our hotel, we refreshed and roamed in front of the Aruvi hotel. Just in front of the road is the Pattom main road that leads to the Secretariat on the right and towards Sreekaryam, a shopping area, to its left. I had the habit of taking a long walk in the left till Sreekaryam, which was roughly about 2 kilometers from there. The intent of this long walk is to make a phone call from the phone booth of a grocery shop and to have a tea.
Around 7:30 or 8:00 will start with some of my new friends to the nearby woodlands hotel for dinner. Normally I used to have meals for dinner. Sometimes I went alone. Finding a browsing centre was a Herculean task for me. Finally I found a browsing centre where I used to go at times, for browsing, chatting and emailing.
Once back in room after dinner, will have a chat with other trainees, study for sometime and then sleep. In those days, I didn't have much to study, as during the training we were taught our grand-father's days technologies like C, C++, etc.
Soon it became a routine and I started getting bored with it. I started talking up random long walks to explore the city. Trivandrum was indeed a calm and nice city. I wished that I could come and settle down in this city in the later part of my life, ie. after retirement. But after 3 years, I was about to see another city about 68 kilometers from Trivandrum, which I liked the moment I saw it, mainly because it was very much like Trivandrum in many aspects.
Our training started in the first week of September and went on till the end of November. Diwali came in-between. It was almost military rule there and initially it was declared that there was no leave for Diwali. And we could plan for a visit to native only if were given leave for one more day. Also we should be allowed to leave a bit early on the previous day. Just a couple of days before, we were informed that we will be given leave. Immediately I managed to go the Majestic bus stand and book ticket for me in bus to Trichy for Diwali. And I think I asked Appa to book the return ticket for me in bus. So, all set to go for Diwali.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shoppings:
-----------
One evening I was just roaming in front of the hotel, when I was 2 of my lady colleagues in the reception. They were dressed in jeans & tops and appeared to be waiting for someone. I said "hi" to them, while crossing the reception. They smiled and replied. Immediately one of them asked if I could join them for a shopping. I was shocked and taken aback. I never got such an invitation till that point of time in my life. Going for shopping with ladies!!! Never... But it was a boring evening and at that time I was also worried about a couple of personal issues, and so I began to get into a dilemma. But they persuaded me saying that another Guy is also joining us. Then, I decided to join them. It was already around 7 in the evening. I quickly went to my room, got ready, and came back to the reception and we are set to go for the "Diwali shopping".
We came to the main road and went to the MG road. We got down in some place in the MG road. We were new to the city and we didnt know where to go. We just kept walking on the road. It was crowded and both sides of the road was beautifully lit. We saw a shop near the road where almost everyone going in that direction were getting into. Having no agenda in place, we also decided to go into that shop. It was "Parthaas", a textile shop. I had no plans of buying when I entered the shop.
It was big shop, and not much crowded. They did some shopping and me along with the other Guy followed them wherever they went, without any intent of buying anything. But after sometime I decided to buy dress for parents. So I first went to the saree section and bought a brown coloured saree for Amma. Then I went to the vesti(dhothi) section and bought one vesti for Appa. When I was about to complete the purchase, our lady colleagues saw the saree and they liked it and they too went ahead to that section to buy one for them. They both bought one each. Then we came out the shop. It was around 9:30 PM. We took an auto and went straight to one restaurant in Sreekaryam. On the way they called 2 more colleagues over phone to join us for the dinner. By the time we reached the hotel, those Guys(who were also from our batch) were waiting for us. We had a good dinner there and after that I back to my hotel by walk and they went in auto to their hotel. On the way had tea in a roadside tea shop and I enjoyed that late night walk.
On one evening I went to a shopping complex in Sreekaryam, where I like doing window shopping. There I bought some books for my sisters. Other than that, I enjoyed doing window shopping in almost all the shops in that complex. Hoping to go for such a shopping again in that complex.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Money:
--------
One day during the training hours, we all were called to meet the HR. I went with my roommate to meet the HR. The HR’s bay was crowded and many were waiting to meet him. Later got to know that the HR is collecting our details, for opening the bank account where salary will be deposited. I go thrilled. In those days I have heard about the ATM cards, but never had one. He took my details like name, address, and collected 2 photographs, one of which will be used to print my photo in the ATM card.
We received the ATM card, check book and other related documents after 2 days. I was thrilled to see the ATM card. We were instructed to use the card after 24 hours, since it will be activated after 24 hours. But we actually had to wait for 3 days, since our salary will be deposited after 3 days. Till that time, we had nothing to do with the ATM card.
One evening when I was returning after dinner from the woodlands hotel, I found many of my batch-mates going out in groups. Almost everyone was going out at that time. It was around 9:30 and normally at that time the roads will be almost deserted. Got to know that salary was deposited and everyone was going to the UTI bank (now Axis bank) ATM machine to withdraw money. I had just Rs. 300 in hand, which was sufficient for 3 more days. And I was planning to ask Appa to send in money if salary is not credited in 3 days.
I also started walking in the direction where others went, as I didn't know where the UTI ATM was. After walking for about 15 minutes, we reached the building where the ATM machine was. There was a small crowd in front of it. My batchmates went in one by one and we didn’t know how to operate it. The security was inside the ATM and he was helping them in using the card in the ATM. I think almost all first times learns using the ATM from the ATM security.
When my turn came, I went inside. My ATM card is still stuck on the paper, in the same position in which it was given to me. I took out the card and gave it to him. He was so friendly and helped me in changing the PIN, and then I think I withdrew Rs. 300, it gave money and the slip. I retained that slip with me for many many years, until I eventually lost it. The account is not active now, but I still have that first ATM card with me, with my photo on it.
My expenses were very less compared to my other new friends there. But I was spending considerable amounts on phone, since STD calls were costly those days.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food:
------Food items in hotels weren’t much costly in those days. Once I got used to the place, I starting trying out in different hotels, ate different varieties of food. I couldn’t recall the names of those dishes now, but would like to eat them again. Later I got an opportunity to taste those items again in Nagerkoil, after my marriage, no wonder that I liked those dishes like anything.
A new veg hotel by name “Saradha” was opened near the hotel that we stayed. As inaugural offer, they gave items at half the price. We all shifted immediately from Woodlands to that hotel. We had good meals at tiffin items at very low price. The quality and taste were very good. I tried many different items. September was the month of Purattasi. So, I was a strick vegetarian during that month. Once the day Purattasi got over, I started roaming even more for food. I walked to very long distances and had many varieties of non-veg dishes. This partly would be the reason for many intestinal dis-orders I got later in my life. I like parotta with chicken curry a lot.
Excatly 50% of my stay was at Aruvi hotel, ie. Till Diwali. After returning from Diwali, we all were moved to a much bigger three star hotel near the Training center in Attinkuli. This place is outside the main city and near the Technopark. The hotel was a three star hotel, but outside of it, there were no facilities. Even for making a phone call I have to go for a long distance and at times I took an auto for reaching a phone booth. Getting good food was
Will continue in Trivandrum Memories (2)...
- SPGR.
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