Dedicated to Jaspreet Laly - RIP!! Once Balaji said he was visiting his in-laws at Bangalore for the weekend, i decided to join him on this small escapade. The booking for flights was all in the hands of Balaji himself, who reserved my tickets under indian resident status. This ensured a great reduction in price for the flight ticket, comparable to the extortionate prices accountable to NRI's (non-resident indians). The hotel reservation was also booked through Balaji. His university days in Bangalore would offer me a primely located area. Balaji himself, would inevitably be staying with hi [View Full Entry]

---

---

Dedicated to Jaspreet Laly - RIP!! On Wednesday, i met a final year Harvard medical student. This teaching hospital has a link with Harvard university, thus allowing for the Harvard students to gain credits through an elective visit here. The californian was called Moses, and he seemed relieved to see a UK based student at the same hospital. Moses is staying at the onsight lodgings, which appear to be quite desolate. Dr Sujatha did personal teaching rounds with Moses and I, where we saw numerous patients. After a short time, it became apparent that tuberculosis (TB) was the most common di [View Full Entry]

---

---

Dedicated to Jaspreet Laly - RIP!! Day 2 didn't live up to its ideal expectations, as the morning became another waiting game. I had to see my supervising Registrar, who would be coordinating my elective experience at the hospital. After being sent to a few varied locations around the Ramachandra Campus, with copius time available to review my inner sanctum, i finally got to meet the tutor! Her name was Dr. Sujatha, and she seemed very friendly indeed. I was basically told of the prospective routine that i would follow, as part of the General Medicine team. This would involve outpatient [View Full Entry]

---

---

Dedicated to Jaspreet Laly - RIP!! Not much actually happened here. I met the dean, and just seemed to wait everywhere for hours. Eventually, things started to flow...and then it stopped. Bureaucracy seems to halt everything in India; People take in information, and over-exaggerate it for no logical reason...just chill and use some common sense! I feel that Tuesday may be more prosperous. Fingers crossed. [View Full Entry]

---

---

The first day of hospital began with a 0630 wake up, and a visit to the gym with Balaji. Gyms in India are no different to gyms in the UK. There are the same stereotypical muscle flexor performers who constantly idolise about themselves in the mirrors. There are also the usual cardio freaks (i'm moderate), who run for an eternal something. I remained on my usual treadmill regime which is, just run reasonably quickly for a long time. Simple. There was also a trainer following me around trying to teach me the basics of stretching and fitness etc... I didn't understand [View Full Entry]

---

---

Dedicated to Jaspreet Laly - RIP!! I was ready. All suited and booted, with my hair slickly combed in a boffinesque type method, ready to tackle the high flying Indian doctors........However, the hair soon went fuzzy and lost its zest and impetus only 5 minutes into the rickshaw journey. It took 45 mins to reach Sri Ramachandra Hospital. The journey itself was quite pleasant. The only problem was my lungs being filled with the harsh diesel fumes from the endlessly roaring vehicles. The ceasing of movement becomes a dilemma for any rickshaw passenger. Suddenly, there is no air movement to co [View Full Entry]

---

---

Navtej left on Saturday morning for his flight to UK, so this left the apartment all to myself. The jet lag finally set in however, which meant that most of Saturday was reserved for some heavy sleeping. The wonders of satellite TV also brought me the usual Saturday Premiership football, which i could watch live on ESPN. Sunday was a day out with Balaji and his wife, Kiran, to the local shopping mall. This place was Buzzing! The car park was heaving to its brim which lead to a 'Park and Ride' affair. The 'Ride' was interesting...i felt the SUV was [View Full Entry]

---

---

After 8 months of work in Chennai, Navtej has become familiar with most of his surroundings. He has to leave for UK on the 3rd, for a weeks stay, where he will update the UK Aveva base on his Chennai Aveva set up (Navtej has a 2/3 year programme where he will direct a major office set up in India.) Navtej's absence in the forthcoming week meant that he had to be my guide for the morning. The supermarkets, fish mongers, shoe stores and beaches were shown by Navtej, as we continued to walk on the streets, basking in late winter [View Full Entry]

---

---

The first night in Chennai brought us firstly to a modern Spanish Tapas bar. The decor could easily have been mistaken for a bar in London Mayfair. There was a vibrancy which would also suit most modern cities around the world. A DJ was ever-present to mix some dubious songs however. These consisted of 70's pop music mixed into mellow funky house; random, i know! However, the people around the bar outshone the music selection. The modern, sophisticated and fashion conscious world of Chennai high flyers seemed at ease in this western lifestyle, merged into eastern trends. A few Kingfisher [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today i arrived in Chennai at 5pm, after flying from London Heathrow,via Mumbai. I was greated in Chennai by Navtej, whom i will be staying with, for the next four weeks. His work colleague, Balaji, was also present upon my arrival and drove us through the busy streets of Madras. We arrived in Navtej's apartment, which could easily be mistaken for a modern built 3-bed london apartment! The heavenly picture of satellite television was also presented by Navtej - Yes...you can't go wrong with Digital! We then commuted through the streets on a rickshaw, with the ever-present hustle and b [View Full Entry]

---

---