Operation Saint Michel

Take the evening train to Lyon from Aix by the TGV, disguised as a weekend traveler.

To confuse anybody following you, wonder about Lyon train station and take the train to Gare de Lyon (station) of Paris instead.

On arrival at 11pm, do not ask directions from people, and do not take out the Lonely planet guide, for this will reveal the fact that you have arrived in Paris for the first time.

Follow the maps, and walk with the air of a Parisien, going home after long day at work.

Take the train to the metro station Saint Michel.

Its in the heart of the most vibrant student quarter, but ignore other pedestrians.

Wedged in between 2 shops,is 39,Boulevard Saint Michel guarded by a heavy dark green door.

Key in the code 421X7(all names and numbers in this post have been changed since this is a public post) at the keypad, and the door will open to a narrow dark corridor. Close the door on entering.

On your left,there would be plenty of mail boxes. You will grope in the dark and find an envelope on the top of the mail boxes with the name Paul BASCIGNARD written on it.

You can open it, and you will find the key of the mail box of the flat,
which is the one with the name ROUSSEAU on it, in which you will find the key
of the flat inside.

Since there is no light in the corridor, you are allowed to use your cellphone as a torch to find the envelopes, mailbox and keyholes.

You can use the plastic access key to open the door at the end of the
corridor.

Climb the flight of creaky wooden stairs without unnecessary pauses, which can cause suspicion.

The flat is at the first floor on the left, use the second steel key to open it.

To reach your room, you need to cross the entrance hall, the dining room with the big table on the right and the room is on your right.

Now switch on the table lamp, near the bed, and you will find a letter addressed to you, confirming your approach. If not .... ?

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This is not the first page of my botched attempt to write a spy novel. Its EXACTLY what I did to reach the apartment of my friend Olivier in Paris. The part of the operation starting from entering the apartment, was actually designed by his friend who had worked as a military officer.

With a beginning like this, my weekend to Paris had all the makings of an unforgettable adventure. When I demostrated the same procedure the following night to my classmate Praveen, he exclaimed " If it had been me, I would given up and taken a room in some hotel !"

But how many times have you lived through an experience like this ??

Running after one's bus..

For all those who have declared that weight-loss does not exist in my dictionary and that plumpness runs in the family-
For all those who measured my body mass index and put me in the 'mildly obese' category-
For all those who assumed that my weight is a monotonically increasing function of time -
And for my mom, who used to feel extremely happy of my achievement, whenever I said "I have NOT piled on any more weight" -

I weighed 70.2 kilos as on 04th September 2005, measured at around 2pm. That’s a solid 5 kilos lesser than previously set personal record of 75.6K when I was in S’pore.

It would be too easy to assume that this is due to the decreased intake of unfamiliar food in a foreign country. But I have been feasting on the vegetarian delicacies that French food has to offer, especially the liberal helpings of various types of fromage(cheese) and desserts.

Dieting is always out of question for a life-long glutton like me.

Even the attempts to move my mass around in the badminton court twice a week, cannot explain this effect well enough.

It has to be my new found passion in running to catch the bus!

‘Late-comerosis’ has been my disease all these years, and I unwilling supported the notion that “Punctuality is the art of waiting for others, who are late”. But today, it has led me to the discovery of a new sport which has all qualities of speed, endurance, thrill, strategic time management, humour and of course weight-loss.

It started in my first week in France, when I missed a bus to office, without knowing that it’s the last bus in the morning. After a series of misadventures, I reached office during lunchtime, 3.5 hours after starting from the hotel, alerting a number of my colleagues who took great efforts to get in touch with my hotel.

I tried to change. But since I could not wake up any earlier, I had to run faster, and for a longer distance to catch the bus. This was also the case in the evening, as my office is situated a good 435 running steps away from the bus stop.

Eventually I grew to like this jog-a-run to the bus, and didn’t mind spending some extra minutes at home or office than any sane person should. I could be seen Forrest Gumping my way to the bus stop, quite predictably on most of the days.

My friends traveling with me from Aix, often laughed when they found me sprinting towards the bus, and stagger into the bus puffing and panting. One even suffered a minor heart attack, when he found me WAITING for the bus one day! I may not be able to beat an athlete in terms of speed. But if the choice is between catching the last bus, and spending the night in office, I can easily surprise a few slow minds.

Having tried unsuccessfully the more dangerous sports of 'foot-board-traveler' , and 'jumping-on-and-off' moving buses in India, I suggest this game to all procrastinating souls, as a safe and exciting way to a healthy lifestyle.