Rome - September 31st and October 1st

Yesterday, i took the metro train to Piazza Navona, which is the square where all the ruins are.... I also visited the Vatican, it was the most beautiful monument i have ever seen in my life. I wanted to go inside - however the line to enter was over 4 hours long. So i decided to go first thing saturday morning with Mattia and Ashish. I went back home and Mattia and I went on another long and adventurous bike ride. We rode to the Big Lake at Eur. It was a magnificent experience, as when we arrived, it was so lively. Teenagers and adults gathered around picnic tables drinking beer while listening to music.

Today i visited the Spanish Steps again, this time visiting the Keats Shelley Museum. It was amazing to see how much history has been kept alive. I also went to Villa Borghese, a park in center of Rome. This is where i sat down under a tree and wrote all my goals and desires for the next 6 months. It was so peaceful and a great place for me to do this. When i got home, i typed my goals up and created a small font printout, so i can carry it in my wallet wherever i go. In the evening, Giacomo and I went for a short bike-ride to the local park and then we came home and ate traditional Italian pasta.

Roma and UPW

I left London on Tuesday and arrived in Fimucino, Roma at 11:30p.m. Paolo and Anna, Mattia's parents, picked me up from the airport and took me to their house. Shortly after arrival, i fell asleep. I woke up in the morning and took a train to central Roma. Mattia was at school and Paolo and Anna were at work. The Metro station was a lot nicer than the tube stations in London. For example; the ones here play music through-out the station.... also, the cleanliness of the metro stations here out do the cleanliness of the stations in central london.

On this first day, i toured the colosseum, such a beautiful site.... shortly after, i ate a traditional italian lunch - Pizza with salad. I then moved onto the

Foro Romano, L'altare Della Patria, Piazza del Campidoglio. On the way back to the metro station, i ran across Michelle and Todd from the Anthony Robbins Foundation. It was so great to see them, they were also here for UPW on the weekend! When i got back to Mattia's house, he had arrived from school and we watched the Inter Milan vs. Naples.

The next morning, i woke up and took a train to Piazza de Popolo, this was a great place to shop, it was a street full of exquisite clothing stores. Shortly thereafter i took the train to Paolo's work where we both took the car and picked up Mattia early from school. We then drove to Fiera de Roma, the convention center where UPW was being held. We arrived 20 mins early, and had to wait outside with all the other crew members until 4pm. It was great to meet Loren and all the frequent crew members! The crew meeting lasted till 9pm. We drove back home and ate some tasty Italian pasta.

The next morning we had to wake up at 7:00am. Crew meeting commenced at 8am and registration for upw opened at 9. 5000 participants were registered for the event from 44 different countries. There were 4 language translators; Italian, French, German and Spanish! The registration process was unlike any other, It was very difficult to communicate with participants as most spoke italian. After 4 hours of registration, doors opened and Tony Robbins came on stage. This was my third UPW crewing this year.

Towards the end of the night, the crew prepared for the Firewalk, the crew members walked of fire prior to the participants. Due to the small number of crew members, we only had 4 positions on each fire lane. Under normal circumstances, each lane typically has 7 positions!

I was the First anchor, which is the person who stops the participant after he/she walks and yells " STOP, WIPE YOUR FEET AND CELEBRATE" This was the first time i did this alone and towards the end of the walk, my left arm was in pain. There were so many strong and fierce men who just run into my arms without stopping!

The next day was a little more relaxing as Tony wasn't present, Joseph was facilitating.

Tony was back on Sunday and the participants were going crazy - 1000's of participants were gathering around the stage on a regular basis asking for autographs!

Towards the end of the night, we had a huge waterfight, Tony had his waterguns and the entire room were throwing water around! Soon thereafter, all crew members were asked to come up to the stage while Tony thanked us for all our hardwork! We created a tunnel leading him backstage where he left for the night!

The following day was Health Day, which was led by Joseph, it started at 10 and we all finished at 5pm. It was upsetting to leave all the crew members but we assured each other to keep in touch via facebook and would meet up in Roma next year for UPW!

Today i woke up and met up with my friend from UPW. We went to Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps. I took the train back home and Mattia and I went on a 6 mile bike ride in Rome. We got home to some yummy italian fish with salad.

Thats all i have for you so far! I hope you enjoyed it

September 11th 2009

The morning of Sept. 11th, I went over to Varun's house in the morning and we both walked to the local gym for a work out! On the way, i sang the American National Anthem to honour those individuals who died during the terrorist attacks in the United States. After the gym, we ate at a local bakery, both ordering a veggie baguette (so delicious). We walked back home and i noticed a woman crying in her car. We walked past and i stopped and asked Varun whether or not i should ask her if she is okay. I said, lets step up, what would Tony Robbins do in this situation, after a couple minutes discussing whether i should change her state, she opened the door and wiped her tears away and told us she was fine. She heard everything we said from inside the car. She then closed the door and we walked back home.

I was dropped off at the Ilford station, on my way to Billericay. I normally never sleep on trains, however this time i was so tired i fell asleep. I woke up and we had just arrived at Liverpool Street. I soon realized this was where i needed to switch trains, i quickly grabbed my luggage and headed for the door. As i left the train, my suitcase got stuck in the closing doors. I panicked and forcefully pulled the suitcase towards me. Luckily i got my luggage before the train had departed. (Never again, i told myself, that i would sleep in a train)

I got on the National Rail to Shenfield. This journey was approx 25 mins. I also fell asleep on this train. It wasn't until 6 mins after the train had arrived, did i wake up to realize i was the only passenger on the train and i had arrived at Shenfield. I got off the train and asked a man which platform i needed to get on to take the train to Billericay. He told me it was on this same platform and also, if i hadn't of woken up, that train would have gone back to Liverpool Street.

I sat patiently for the next train to come, i saw school boys and girls wearing their uniforms running around in the station, they had just come back from school and it was a friday afternoon. Soon thereafter, i heard many passengers leaving the platform heading down the stairs. I wasn't sure what was happening. The conductor came up to me asking me where i was going, i replied with so much certainty; " I am waiting for the next train to Billericay on this platform." She looked at me as if i was dumb- she said " Dont you listen to the announcements, your train is departing in three mins from a different platform." I went so red, i grabbed my luggage and ran down the stairs like all the other kids. While i was walking down i saw Simran with her school friends, She and I were so surprised to see each other, i gave her a quick hug and legged it to the next platform.

I jumped on the train and it departed Shenfield momentarily towards Billericay. When i arrived in Billericay, i went outside the station and saw Anand just standing there, he had just got off his bus from school and was about to take a train to Shenfield. I told him i was meeting Ashish here and we are both going back to his house. So then Anand decided to join us. We all walked back to Ashish's house and watched tv.

Sachin came home from work shortly after and all four of us decided to play some cricket in the garden. Nothing was planned for the evening so we just relaxed and watched a movie.

What a day!

Slough

Monday morning, I took the train from Ilford to Slough and my Dadaji and Vishaal bhaiya picked me up from the station. After the two hour train journey, I was glad to have arrived safely with them. Slough is a very small town - once named the most boriest place in the United Kingdom - This is where my father went to school and spent most of his childhood years. I love slough and everytime I come, it always brings back so many great memories of when I was a young child. It was great to see Dadaji and Vishaal, even though he lives in orlando with me.....

Although there is nothing to do in Slough other than spend time with family and friends, it was great to be here. Vishaal Bhaiya and I took Dadaji shopping in Tesco's and had such an amazing experience. One interesting story that occured was when we were shopping for dishwashing soap; Dadaji wanted a box of 12 bleach packets and we advised him to get the bigger box containing 36. (which economically was a much better deal.) But his reasoning behind getting the small box was due to the fact that it would last him two years, and the bigger box would last him over 6 years and it was un-necessary. For Vishaal and I - it was hilarious because he was being totally serious, that small box of 12 would actually last him a little over two years of washing.

We went through his pantry and found food packets that expired in 2005. So we started throwing those away which inevitably triggered us to go shopping and re-stock his pantry.

We spent over 175 pounds of Food and Household products - which is typical for a family of four - but for Dadaji - he has never spent that much money in Tescos in over 20 years! BUT it had to be done because his food had expired many years ago.

Yesterday Vishaal Bhaiya and I went to Reading for his 1:45 Theory Test appointment. We got to the Slough train Station at 12:40, hoping to catch the 12:45 train and be in Reading at 1:15- giving us 30 mins to walk to the testing location and perhaps take the test early. When we arrived at the station, we had come to realize that the train Dadaji told us to take at 12:20 was over one hour delayed and our 12:45 train was delayed 30 mins. (This was due to a man getting hit by a train in Twyford.) We arrived at Reading Station at 1:40, and had to take a taxi to the Centre. We arrived at exactly 1:45 and he took his test. While he took his test, i walked to the high street and explored the area. - One hour later, we met up and took the fast train back to Slough. ( He passed his test by the way)

Today was a very relaxed day, I woke up at 10am and walked to the local shopping centre to get a haircut - best hair cut i have ever had - the man took 45 mins cutting it! After the hair cut i walked back to the house, took a shower and we all set off to Bagshot to view a nursing home. Soon thereafter, we all came home, ate lunch and I took a short nap while Dadaji went to the Mandir and Vishaal was on the computer.

In the late afternoon - Ricki came over and we spent an hour talking about his life here in Slough and his what his plans are for the future.

For dinner, Dadaji took Vishaal and I to Wagamama's - My childhood favourite restaurant. It was just outside the Windsor Castle.

Thats all i have for you tonight, i hope you enjoyed what you have read and continue reading my stories as a travel from city to city, home to home.

Coming soon...

to a webpage near you!