Monday morning visit into the main city

I had to go into Suzhou city to the Suzhou International Travel Healthcare Center to get my medical reports verified. I had gone through a checkup in Bengaluru before the visa could be processed, and they have a process to verify the tests or undergo them again if required. In my case, it turns out they wanted to do a Hepatitis C test (which had not been done in Bengaluru) so they took some blood.

The relocation specialist accompanied me, language is a barrier and obviously I didn't know the process or even where to go. She summoned a cab, with a lady driver, and I got my first taste of Monday morning traffic as we drove into the middle of Suzhou. Roads were still good outside of the SIP and the traffic wasn't really too bad, considering it was Monday morning (certainly much better than Blr). I saw some older houses, apartments - reminds me of old Mumbai flats.
Not many e-bikes out where we went, I've only seen them in the SIP area. They also have their own paths and don't seem to worry much about traffic signals.

Some of my observations: Extensive set of flyovers. Mostly disciplined traffic. Police boxes. New construction going on in a lot of places.

Delhi Airport

Waiting at Delhi now. Big airport = lots of walking. And it doesn't help that I've been awake since 2am in order to catch my first flight from Bengaluru. The process was pretty smooth overall, even though the person at the immigration counter was surprised that I am traveling for work.

Reached Suzhou

Bengaluru to Delhi to Shanghai to Suzhou. One day's worth of traveling. Not bad overall, though I don't sleep as well on planes as I used to.

Air India was OK, nothing to complain about. Food could have been better but I've never seen really good food on any flight. Always hate the cramped toilet but fortunately the flights weren't too long.

The journey from Shanghai to Suzhou was in a taxi, however the driver didn't speak English. He was very polite and efficient. Most of the road was very good and he was able to drive at more than 100kmph. Didn't get to see any of the city though, it was dark and raining and the road was mostly bounded by Walls and trees with not much visible beyond.

It's cold out here, nothing that we haven't seen in say, Noida but it was certainly noticeable coming from Bengaluru.

My temp accommodation is right on the banks of a lake, very modern and comfy with a good view. Spent most of the day half-asleep, have to take care of some formalities starting tomorrow.

Heading out

At the Bengaluru airport, waiting for the flight to Delhi. It's been a whirlwind few weeks, culminating with my last day at work yesterday.

Traffic woes in Blr

School bus stuck at one place for more than 45 minutes. This is at Panathur road, and it's a daily occurrence. Life in the big city, eh?

Upside down cat

Bad experience with Amazon Now

We have been using BigBasket and occasionally ZopNow, and then V switched over to using the local vendors for veggies and the bigger supermarkets for groceries. With the current cash crunch, we decided to try out Amazon Now for a few things that were needed urgently.

Now this is not the first time I've used Amazon Now, it's actually the second... The first time they delayed the delivery and then cancelled it without providing a reason. This time they did send out the order but most of it were different items than ordered! I'm OK with differing weights of fruits and veggies and BigBasket, for example, sends out another email with the changes and updated prices before delivery. Amazon (Hypercity actually) made a delivery with several packed pulses of different weights and also different brands. They also delivered a pack we hadn't even ordered. The total amount was way off from what I had pre-paid, and the delivery person and his manager were clueless when we asked him to take the wrong items back.

As of now, the Amazon site shows this order as not having been delivered. The delivery guy has taken the receipt back with him for reconciliation.

And we are back on the BigBasket app ordering the items we wanted yesterday...

Things. They are a'stirrin...

Haven't written anything in a very long time. But things are about to change.