Update on Hugo Boss the dog and the Ahmedabad Expat

Ahmedabad bids Hugo tearful goodbye

Vasundhara Vyas Mehta, TNN 29 August 2009, 05:47am IST

AHMEDABAD: A cage softened with an old rug, a bone to chew on, an old slipper as a reminder of the Ahmedabad home and some tears. That's what Hugo will carry to his new home in faraway Canada. This stray dog, rescued a month ago by a Canadian now based in the city and nursed back to health, bid goodbye to the city on Friday. When Lisa Warden sat at the Ahmedabad airport, her arms tight around Hugo, waiting for the flight out to Mumbai, it was an emotional moment.

Her moist eyes betrayed the deep bond that developed between the two in the four weeks Hugo spent in her house. Hugo, who will be put on a flight to Canada from Mumbai on Saturday, was off to Ottawa to his new home. A lady there, Sarah O'Neill, reading about Hugo on the Networking site” posted by Warden” has adopted him. It's only been a month, but he became special. It is like bidding goodbye to your own child. But, I did pray that Hugo gets a good home and I am happy for him now, said Warden.

The preparations to send Hugo to Canada began about two weeks ago. The Warden couple went through the rigours of paperwork, dealing with the bureaucracy, vaccination, sterilisation operation and the logistic preparation. The special cage, with puppy pads, was sent by an NGO helping stray dogs in Mumbai. After TOI wrote about Hugo last week, offers for help poured in. “People came up with donations to help the cause of stray dogs. As much as Rs 20,000 was collected which will be used for sterilisation programme for stray dogs, said Warden, who has three stray dogs as her pets.

Somethings an Ahmedabad Expat must endure...

SEEING RED

WHEELS OF DEATH

AMTS buses have turned killers on city roads as rash drivers continue their deadly run

Parth Shastri & Kumar Manish | TNN

Ahmedabad: On Sunday morning, driver of an Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) bus lost control in Ghatlodia when its front wheel came off and rolled into a house. Rajeev Shah of Chandralok society, in whose house the wheel barged in breaking the gate, refused to give the wheel back to the AMTS till the police intervened. This is one of the very tame encounters of the public with AMTS. The same evening a motorcyclist was hit by an AMTS bus whose brakes failed on Subhash Bridge. Fortunately, the biker escaped unscathed.
Over the last month, AMTS buses have turned into monsters on city roads, killing two persons in four accidents. The drivers of these buses have for long been accused of speeding, overtaking and breaking traffic rules with impunity. Bob Massa, an American working for a US-based company in the city, had a harrowing experience with an AMTS bus.
Massa recounts, “Recently, I was literally run over by an AMTS bus near Bopal. I was driving a two-wheeler with a kid pillion riding with me. The driver was driving rashly without any concern for fellow commuters on roads.”
“The bus knocked me down and I suffered ankle, knee and shoulder injuries. It was strange to see the driver speed off even though I had fallen from the vehicle. It was a narrow escape for me,” he said. Even traffic experts opined there is a dire need for corrective measures in running of AMTS buses. Member of Ahmedabad Traffic Consultative Committee (ATCC) Amit Khatri said, “Just like Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) drivers, the AMTS drivers should be trained properly while plying their buses on the roads. This can result in prevention of unnecessary traffic jams and accidents.”
Traffic police personnel deployed at various traffic junctions on city roads are also having a tough time controlling the callous drivers. Sub-inspector of traffic police KV Rathod said, “AMTS buses have created a ruckus on a number of occasions. On important junctions like Dilli Darwaza and Shahibaug that lead to the airport, even if a bus gets stuck, it can lead to traffic jams up to 15 minutes."
“The new AMTS bus drivers are sometimes caught driving rashly. Not many break traffic rules but it does not mean that they are good drivers,”
added Rathod. On the spate of road accidents involving AMTS buses, deputy municipal commissioner, AMTS, MS Patel said, “The recent cases of privately-operated buses under AMTS involved in road mishaps in the city is worrying. We have asked the authorities concerned to look into the matter. AMTS is also carrying out a modernization plan where these issues will be dealt with."
A senior AMTS official said, “One of the major concerns for us is getting qualified drivers for buses. AMTS authorities have been training drivers on proper driving skills, good behaviour with passengers and road discipline.”
FATAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING AMTS
July 24: Chhoturam Rajput, 21, a resident of Meghaninagar, was boarding a bus near Chandkheda Crossroads when it started off suddenly. Rajput fell down and came under the wheels. He was taken to Civil Hospital where he died.
July 28: Pratik Dudhela, 22, a resident of Naranpura, was passing by Gulab Tower at 1pm when an AMTS bus came from behind and rammed his bike. He sustained severe head injuries and rushed to VS Hospital where he died after primary treatment.
August 8: Abhishek Goswami, 19, a resident of Subhashnagar, was pedalling through Kotarpur water works when an AMTS bus on came from a diagonal direction and ran him over. He died on the spot.
August17: Geeta Patel, 40, a resident of Chandkheda was trying to board a bus bound for Chandkheda near RTO circle when she felt a shove and fell on the road as the bus started moving. Her legs got crushed. She was taken to Civil Hospital where she succumbed after two hours.

CRUSHING REALITY

An accident on Ellisbridge

Saturday Night Expat Night Out

Saturday night we are getting together for dinner and a movie. I already have many confirmations. If you are interested please let me know today as I am booking the tickets at 5:00 sharp. We are going to see The Taking of Pelham 123. Join us.

You can email me reasa@selph.name or call/sms me at 9909717032.

Cheers,
Reasa Selph

My Birthday!!! Just some thoughts...

I wonder if this will be my birthday cake?

I just want to say that I am by far the luckiest most blessed girl alive. I am living in India, get to travel and I am treated like a princess everyday, by everyone. It is amazing. I have so many wonderful friends that I can can count on anytime. This time in India (I have probably said this before) had changed my life, forever. I am the person that I want to be. I am happy and confident like a woman should be. I feel that I can handle anything with grace. I think that turning 31 will only make me stronger and a better person. I have realized over, the past year, so much about myself. I have learned that I am beautiful inside and out and that I am a very direct person. These things are appreciated by the people in my life, at least most of the time. You know, I pray that every woman (especially my niece) when they turn 30 begin to find themselves as I have and know just how wonderful they are.

8 days and counting........I am getting excited......

Today's events

Well today was an interesting day. I am now officially a licensed driver in India. Wow!

Also, tomorrow Bob will be in the Times of India for his accident that he had. I will be sure to post it.

I also, today got my first ever crowns on my teeth. I am going to take pictures of the dentist's new office because it is nicer than any dentist office I have ever been in. Stay tuned for those.

The last thing is that for my birthday my friends said we could go anywhere I want to. So, I am thinking of going to the Taj. Where do you think I should go?

9 Days and counting!!!!!!

Countdown to my BIRTHDAY!!

1o days.....and counting

More pictures.....We love taking pictures

Never said he did not have talent

He is worried about his feet being too big.....I tried to explain.

Turtles....

Ahmedabad Expats on Facebook

I want to encourage all of you Ahmedabad Expats to join the Ahmedabad Expats facebook group and feel free to post.

School Function....misc pictures

I know this is sideways but the other way mashed me together..

Ben being silly

He is scared of dark, sleeps with bathroom light on and his eyes covered..

ME

The Good Deed of an Ahmedabad Expat

A’bad ‘slum-dog’ finds home in Canada

Vasundhara Vyas Mehta | TNN

Ahmedabad: He presented a sorry image — scared, malnourished and covered in filth. He had lost his way and sat huddled in a corner, waiting for death.
All of a few weeks old, this tiny, stray pup had lost the battle to life, almost, when he met his fairy tale moment.
Lisa Warden, who had moved to the city from Canada about a year ago with her husband, was walking her dogs in her residential colony in Shilaj when she spotted this pup. She took him home, posted details on the web and had a lady from her country asking her if she can adopt the pup.
Hugo the “slum-dog” is now Canada-bound. Sarah O’Neill, a resident of Ottawa, will give him a new home. Warden too belongs to Ottawa.
“When I got him home three weeks ago, his rib cage was showing, he was starved and had tar and ticks all over him. It took me almost three days cleaning him up,” said Lisa.
“My husband and I have three pets, all stray dogs we picked up from the streets. So, we decided to look f or someone who could adopt Hugo. We put up posters in the city and uploaded his photos and videos on social networking sites,” she added.
“Recently, I received an email from Sarah, asking if she could adopt Hugo and that she would be paying his air fare,” she said.
The paperwork to enable Hugo fly to his new home is in process and he is expected to be on a flight next week.
“I have tried to find out the family Hugo is going to. They seem to be nice. But, I am going to miss him. He is wise, intense and loving dog,” said Lisa.

Lisa with Hugo

Ben says....

Ben says that I am better than a trophy.....

Me defying the widow maker....

Stay tuned for more of me cheating death and learn how I got my driver's license in India....

Pictures of Ahmedabad Expats on thier adventures

The Spinning Restaurant

Bob and Reasa

Ben

The river view from restaurant

Ben and his girl Killer V

This is a nice restaurant for the most part. The food was not that great. But, the dessert was great. The theme of the spinning restaurant is a great idea from TGB. Oh yeah, the bathroom could use a good cleaning. It is worth trying just for the experience.

More Thailand Pictures and Videos

All of these were taken at Safari World's open zoo.

Bangkok traffic

Just some pictures...

Bob on the Widow Maker

Ben wants to drive

Ben doing his part to combat swine flu

ME

Me and Killer V at 5 am ...We look spunky for that early...

This is what happens.....

This is what happens when you park illegally at the mall in Ahmedabad, India...

Another Embassy Warning For Ahmedabad Expats

U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai American Citizens Services Unit 78, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400 026, India Telephone: 91 22 2363 3611, Extn: 4306; Facsimile: 91 22 2367 7026 E-mail: mumbaiacs@state.gov Website: http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov Date: August 11, 2009 Dear American citizens: We bring this message to your attention so you can carefully consider the information it contains. Please pass along the information below to the American citizens in your area or put this information on your notice boards for dissemination. Thank you for your cooperation. Warden Message American citizens are advised to be alert to the continued possibility of terrorist attacks. There is a continuing threat from terrorism throughout India and the upcoming series of major holidays (including the August 15 Independence Day celebration) could provide terrorist groups an opportunity or pretext to stage an attack. The November 2008 attacks in Mumbai provided a vivid reminder that luxury hotels are especially attractive targets for terrorist groups. U.S. citizens are urged to always practice good security, maintaining a heightened situational awareness and a low profile. Americans are advised to monitor local news reports, vary their routes and times in carrying out daily activities, and consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites, or choosing hotels, restaurants, entertainment and recreation venues. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Americans are also encouraged to read the Country Specific Information for India, available on the Embassy's website at http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov, and also at http://travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information: -- The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407. The Embassy's Internet home page address is http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov. -- The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone +91-22-2363-3611; fax +91-22-2363-0350. The Internet home page address is http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov. -- The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2811-2027. The Internet home page address is http://chennai.usconsulate.gov. -- The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335. The Internet home page address is http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov. -- The U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad is at Paigah Palace, 1-8-323, Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet, Secunderabad 500 003; telephone: +91 (40) 4033-8300. The Internet home page address is http://hyderabad.usconsulate.gov.

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Pictures of Ben....and one of me...Oh the life of an Ahmedabad Expat...

Ben playing outside..

Ben at hospital getting ECG...He is being treated by a cardiologist from Michigian

Ben getting hair cut

Ben getting foot massage. He saves his 100-/ to get this done often...what can I say

Me with a fake smile

Ben

Ben at dentist

First real rain

Going to school

Having dinner with friends..