Chapter 3: Prep & Shop - I

Countdown - 53 Days: 16 Hours : 20 Minutes

I figured out since we may not be in a position to view the action up-close, I should get something that can be bring me a notch closer to the cars/drivers/race track and so guess what I indulged myself in to? A Sony DSC-H50 digital camera, 15X zoom and 9.1 Mpl, the Zoom shots are incredible and it was just the kind I was looking for, complete with lens cover that made me look like a "PRESS" guy, the damage? 20K INR. Check it out here and thats a preview...

Countdown - 49 Days: 18 Hours : 59 Minutes

Just came back after submitting the docs for processing the Visa for my friend, back in the office for some work, listening to Bob Marley (No Woman, No Cry), hmmm so smooth...how about a trip to Jamaica? ;)

Countdown - 46 Days: 21 Hours : 10 Mins

The Tour Operator got back today and informed me that the pics submitted for the Visa for my friend is not acceptable to the Consulate (coz it was not Matte finish it seems) Aaaaargh!!! Does it sound familiar? It happened to me too, talk about deja vu. Well, no choice but to submit new pictures. I dont think the Visa will come this Week, as I had expected

Countdown - 44 Days: 17 Hours : 15 Mins

A very funny thing happened today. I got a package from ABN-AMRO Bank that had a Titanium Credit Card, it was an Upgrade for my Gold card. Hmm...well I didnt mind as long as 1 - Upgrade was free and 2 - the limit was Raised. The card itself was indicated as de-activated and had instructions to call their helpline and get it activated. I got on the phone and I got the shock I had expected, they said the Upgrade would cost me 4K and there was no limit raise. Bullshit!! I said take your card back when the person on the other side said, I'll get a 2 Nights & 3 Days FREE hotel stay at destinations in both India and Abroad. Hmm....well I thought now they were making sense. I headed to their Website for further details and the person was right, there was indeed a Hotel package offered for Upgrades like mine and then I saw something that was an icing on the cake. It said, besides this offer, if I travelled abroad and bought tickets to watch a Formula 1 Race and if I had a friend who bought tickets as well, I can get money reimbursed for one of us. Wowww...I couldnt believe what I read!! Is this really happening to me? Damage Repaired? 9K baby...muaaaawh!!

I immediately got the Upgrade done and got the card activated. Now for the FREE Hotel stay, I see the Foriegn options are for Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket (all in Thailand), have I found my plan for the New Years eve? Maybe :) I always wanted to visit GOA, maybe I'll choose an Indian trip after all.

Countdown - 38 Days: 12 Hours : 39 Mins

Just got an update from my friend in Singapore that he got the tickets with him in person and said it was "Walkabout" types. So what is a "Walkabout Ticket"?...

"Spectators in the walkabout areas can in some cases get closer to the cars than the spectators in grandstand seats, as walkabout spectators are standing about 3 or 4 metres away from the edge of the track. Whilst the barriers lining the circuit are over 4 metres in height, the concrete and triple guardrail that makes up the lower portion of the barrier are only a metre tall. The rest of the protection consists of a steel wire mesh fence that you can see through clearly. To ensure that spectators get a great view of the race, there will be a number of bleachers located along some of the prime trackside viewing locations around the walkabout areas"



Hmmm....I definately dont mind getting close to the cars as much as I can to get a perfect F1 moment captured on my digicam. The damage also seems to be less with this type of ticket, $ 168 SGD thats approx. 5K INR

Countdown - 36 Days: 18 Hours : 34 Mins

I'm at it again, I always heard about these Pre and Post crazy late-night parties after a F1 race and just wished someone will "GIFT" me tickets for one of these happening places. As you can guess, nobody GIFTS you, if you are a nobody and so I started to search the net to see if I can lay my hands on you know what....no fool....party tickets I meant. And BOOM immediately I see this....



Wow!! man, a "Racing Party" huh. Purrrfect! I hit the site and the moment I read this, I knew I wanted to be there, I just wanted to experience the craze, the people, the celebrities...oh la la. This party is going to be ON from 10PM to 6AM local time (right after the Qualifiers), trust me, Singapore is going to ROCK!!

"Large, loud and shamelessly lavish, MEGADANCE SINGAPORE the party of the year, will immediately position Singapore on the “party circuit” of the world. Targeted to be the country’s largest and most funky party set against the backdrop of the world’s first Formula 1 night race, the organisers, Blackjag Consulting, expect a turn-out of more than 4000 party animals"

How does that sound?? I know what you thinking but hold on, dont cuss me already, I still have to get the tickets, then you can crow at me ;) aiight? ;) I reached to my same friend in Singapore and send a mail directly to the Organizer, let's hope for the best. The tickets are priced at $ 100-$ 250 for standing and $ 300-$ 800 for Lounge Areas, I'm going to settle for the $ 100, if not, then this party is over for me even before it starts :( The damage? 3K

But if I was really really filthy rich, I would head straight to Amber Lounge, that's where the big bosses are going to come with their ladies on the eve of the F1, "anybody who is a somebody" in this world is expected to be there. The tickets range from € 500 to € 7,250, how do you like that for a night? Damn is that hot or what!

I went to the Tours guy to check on my friends Visa, it seems the consulate wont accept the application coz the travel departure is more than a Month away, they will be able to submit it next Week, so keep waiting...waiting...waiting...

I think I'll wrap this Post and start Prep & Shop - II...