Toastmaster Speech # 1

A journey around the World

Madam Toastmaster, fellow members and guests

I was born in Mumbai, India in a family of carpenters. My grandfather was quite famous. His hand-made furniture traveled across borders to Pakistan, Afghanistan and even as far as Dubai. But he never got to visit any of those wonderful countries himself. My father, however, has worked and lived in many different countries across continents!

Every year he would come back home for his vacation. He would tell us vivid and exciting stories about his experiences. I loved to hear about the scenery, the people, and the culture of all the different countries. I was so fascinated that I decided to travel all around the world myself!

I started my journey with my Mother and Brother going to Nigeria in Africa. I still remember the day when all my relatives came to see us off at the Mumbai International Airport. I even remember my Uncle teasing me about my polka dot shirt and pants and telling me that they were girl’s clothes. So, I stripped naked and boarded my first international flight! (Don’t worry I was barely 5 year old!)

I learned my ABC’s along with my African friends with the help of Sesame Street. During recess, I used to run around the playground. Once, I even crashed into my friend and got my first black eye! After few more injuries and four years later my family moved back to Mumbai. Soon, I was busy with school and my journey around the world took a backseat to my education for 17 long years!

But life is full of surprises! One fine day I was applying for a US visitor visa to support the Y2K problem. My journey started again in Sunny California where I celebrated the Millennium New Year in an office cubicle in Cupertino. In one short month I fell in love with everything in California from the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge to the little water fountain in my apartment complex. I still enjoy driving on the scenic 280 Freeway from San Jose to San Francisco!

The next destination in my journey was London, UK where I enjoyed the yummy Fish and Chips and traveled everywhere on the London tube. The announcement in the subway trains “Mind the Gap” was music to my ears! I saw the great Kohinoor Diamond, stood on the London tower bridge, and crossed the famous Abbey road.

The next destination in my journey was Seoul, South Korea. Everyday our Korean manager took us out for dinner. Since I love food I enjoyed all of my dinners from hot BBQ to cold noodles! I even had multi-colored flowers for lunch! “It’s supposed to be good for your skin”. I will never forget Korean hospitality and their spicy Kimchi!

Two years ago I went back to India to get married. During my stay, I visited the pink city of Jaipur and saw the Royal Palace called “Hawa Mahal” in Rajasthan. I even took a ride on an elephant just like a royal King! For our honeymoon, my wife and I went to Cochin, Kerela. Over there we saw the famous Chinese fishing nets, took a boat ride on the beautiful Kerela Backwaters, and even enjoyed a traditional meal on a banana leaf!

My journey is far from complete. There are still many more wonderful places to visit. One day I hope to tell stories and inspire my children to start their own journey around the world just like my dad inspired me!

My First Bike Road Trip

Slowly and patiently I waited for it. And then finally one day the oppurtunity arrived. I wiped out my card and punched on the keys. Black and yellow leather jackets with vents. Plus additional armour for back and elbows. All just for $150 plus shipping and handling. Thanks to the clearance sale on newenough.com!!

Though I haven't got leather pants yet I was getting eager for my first freeway ride, my first road-trip on my bike. November 19, 2005 was when it all happened. My friend, who owns a Suzuki Katana 600cc, called me for a bike road-trip to Napa valley - the place of the World famous California wineries. I reached his place in Mountain View early in the morning at 8am. We filled up the gas tank of our bikes and started on freeway 237. Its a smaller freeway and not crowded at all on weekends. Started going on 65mph using 4 or 5th gear. Then we merged into 880N going to Fremont. And then the fun began. The two of us stuck with the rightmost lane and maintained about 75mph throughout. I had to very careful with the merging and exiting traffic all the time. Plus the lane had grooves at some places. My bike would give a little shake as I would go over them. A little scary. In the end reached a apartment complex in Fremont and I was so excited. I started talking like a little kid high on sugar. "Weee..." "It was awesome.." "Did u see I touch 80mph at one point..." "The bike was shaking and I was holding on soo tight..."

Then we met up with 10 more people who had decided to drive to Napa in a SUV and a sedan car. We decided to sync up with them at Napa directly as we would be going slowly and taking pit-stops for gas. The two of us hit the roads again. The route was 680N, 780E, 37W and then 29N into Napa Valley downtown. With a little confidence built up I start cruising at 80-85 mph and this time we were in the second to the leftmost lane. The sound of the air rushing through my helmet was deafening. Turning my head to check out blind spot felt like fighting against a marine who wanted to snap my neck. Every other bike rider was waving at me like we were old buddies saying "whaass up?" to each other. Only this was at 80 mph!!! Taking the gradual curves of the freeway was easy. But it felt good to have finally taken the freeway. When we reached the visitors center there was no sign of the SUV. Called up the gang and found that they had taken a little pit-stop. We waited for them at the side of the road and soon we were riding the streets of downtown looking for parking. All of the car people just kept calling us show-offs. Well its just the bike that makes them feel that way. I say they are jealous.

After our falafal lunch we started for Robert Mondavi winery. All the grape-wines had turned a golden color. It was a breath taking scenery with the California sun shining and the road passing between the wineries.


Here is a picture of the winery courtyard.






Here is the hot Ninja babe and me...




The pure gold wineries...











The return journey was even more exciting. We started at around 3pm from Napa. This time somehow the freeways seemed to be much longer. We made a quick stop to check if we were on the right track. The map said that it was all fine. Why? it didn't take soo much time when we going to Napa on the same road. Finally we get onto 680S and then the speedometer just kept moving up. Soon I was riding 90 mph!!! Suddenly going at 75 or 80mph felts sooo slow. We took one pit-stop for gas and stretched out our aching backs. My arms felt strained. The last pit-stop on this road-trip was at a starbucks for a tazo chai latte. When I reached home I was sooo dead tired. Called my best friend and told him to pick me for the dinner plans. I soo not in the mood to drive. I just wanted to sleep in the back-seat!!!

My friend Umesh and I at a starbucks on our return journey.

My Dad's email about his first bike

Hello Vipul,

Hi, how's the weather at your ends, and about your weekend program?

I think you must have had nice excitement riding Ninja 250 and having a fun. Of course, riding a motorcycle is a great thrill then riding a Bajaj Scooter. It is more comfortable and with more balanced vehicle then scooter.

When, I purchased my Jawa 250, theoretically I knew everything about bike like how to ride and keep balance, how to kick start the engine and change foot gears in synchronizing with throttle etc... But, when I took delivery of bike and they handed over the key to me at 5.00 p.m. I was bit shaken off how to ride a new bike without any practicing in a heavy traffic when offices are closing!

I had to request services of mechanic to deliver bike to our residence at G'tank. Next day, I read bike manual and gathered enough courage to ride the bike. In a fact, on very first day, I was thinking I might have made mistake in selecting such a heavy bike and if I do not able to ride it then I might have to resale it at loss!

After going through bike manual I gathered enough courage and kick the engine and got bike off the stand. I just prayed God to protect me and then practiced what I have rehearse theories and changed the gear into 1st and gave acceleration and I was riding bike! I took road to Haji Ali via Tardeo and then went to Mahalaxmi Temple and parked my bike safely. Visited the temple and prayed Mahalaxmi Mataji for her blessings and offered garland and prasad. Installing Mataji's garland on Bike, I returned back to home safely.

And in evening, I took Mummy, Atul and You to Fort at Mama's place!

So, this was my first encounter with Bike.

Have a Nice Weekend,

With Love and Blessings,

Dad

First Bike

This year I finally accomplished one thing on my to-do list. Get a motorcycle-license!! I was in the city of angels with all the Hollywood stars. One of the perks of working as a contractor at a client-site is that weekends are free. I signed up for a weekend crash-course at Motorcycle Safety Foundation, where many of the intructors are ex-cops. (http://www.msf-usa.org/)

Friday evening classroom session. Yawn!! Saturday morning road practise and I got a Suzuki 250cc. Wooo-hooo!! I never realised that a bike could be this heavy. I was used to 100cc or 125cc bikes in Bombay and those bikes do not over-welhm you. My Dad's first bike was a 250cc Jawa and it looked like a huge heavy machinery. But I did well and started liking the bike. Saturday evening another classroom session. Zzzzz.. Sunday morning last road practise session before the driving test in the afternoon. Guess what happened? I got a different bike and it was a honda 250cc. It had the same power but totally different sitting and gear position. I was comfortable with Suzuki and was confident about the test. But there I was sweating and trying to adjust to the new bike in a hurry. Didn't have much time to complain. The time of reckoning had arrived and despite all the struggle I did quite well. The exam inspector was quite impressed and I got my license finally. Phew!!

A few months later I was packing up and moving from Los Angles to San Jose in a u-haul with my car on a trailer being towed behind. After settling down in my new apartment I started my research for my first bike. Everywhere I looked one name came out, NINJA 250cc. A couple of phone calls later I went to look at a black beauty. The owner gave me the keys for a test ride. I was sooo excited that I missed the right turn and ended up in a residential area trying to make a three point u-turn. Hey, I was just trying to be careful. The bike wasn't mine then.

Next morning I was a proud owner of a no-decal all black fairing Kawasaki Ninja 250cc.
Here is my new girl-friend!!