Skip to main content

The Fish on the Highway: Bookends of a Journey Home

If you have traveled to Hyderabad recently, you know the landmark. On the elevated expressway to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, there is a massive building shaped like a fish.

It is the National Fisheries Development Board, but for travelers, it is a milestone. When you see the fish, you know you are almost there. It is the bookend of the trip. Seeing it today, on my way out, marked the end of a journey "home" to India, and the start of the journey "home" to the US.

The view on the way to the airport.





The Break in School

There is an old adage that has been on my mind during these weeks of observation:

"You learn throughout your life, except for a short break in school."

We often treat a vacation as a break from thinking. But this trip was the opposite. It was a fresh look. When you step out of your routine, the contrast clarifies everything.

I watched India changing in real-time. I saw the seamless blend of technology and service, the preservation of old ways (like the nuvvulu customs) alongside the adoption of new ways (digital payments everywhere). It is a country that is rushing forward without letting go of its past.




Writing to Understand

You don't write to show what you know. You write to find out what you know.

I used this time away to dust off my digital shelves. I realized that different observations belong in different "rooms." So, I am returning with a revived commitment to my four platforms:

The fish building signals the end of the vacation, but the learning doesn't stop at the airport. I hope you will subscribe and join me as I continue to write, think, and learn from back home in Potomac.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How the World Measures Happiness (It’s Not Just About Smiling)

I recently read a fascinating piece by Maham Javaid in the Washington Post analyzing the World Happiness Report . The report, produced by the Wellbeing Research Center at Oxford and the UN, looks beyond GDP to find what actually drives life satisfaction. I've always held the philosophy that happiness should be a state of mind—something that shouldn't depend on others. But I admit, that is difficult to adhere to. It's hard to stay internally happy when you don't receive kudos for extra effort, or when you find yourself analyzing praise to see if it was just an afterthought. While my own philosophy has always been that happiness shouldn't depend on others, the data suggests that for most of the world, happiness is inherently social. Here is what the top-ranking countries teach us: 🇫🇮 Finland: Material Security Finland takes the top spot, but not because they are outwardly the "happiest" people. It's about anxiety reduction. "Researc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Philosophy of the Push: A Small Observation on Indian Doorways

The Philosophy of the Push: A Small Observation on Indian Doorways There is a specific moment of low-stakes confusion that happens when you travel. You approach a shop door, your muscle memory engages, you grab the handle to pull—and your arm jerks to a halt. The door doesn't budge. You look up, and there it is, often taped right next to a digital payment sticker: a sign that says PUSH. ❖ The Muscle Memory of Safety If you live in the West, your muscle memory is trained to "pull to enter" almost any commercial building. This isn't just a design quirk; it's usually a legal requirement born out of historical tragedy. Fire codes in the US and Europe dictate that exterior doors must swing outward—in the direction of egress. The logic is grim but sound: if a crowd inside panics and rushes the exit, their collective body weight should push the door open, not seal it shut. So, when I travel back to India, and I see doors like the one below, my Weste...
Post a Comment
Read more

You start picking clothes of a certain color, and suddenly, it becomes your uniform. Try to change it, and everyone hates it.

Who Decided Your Favorite Color? (And Why You Can't Escape It) What role does color play in your life? It is a strange negotiation. Somehow, either you decide, or someone else decides for you, what your “favorite color” is. It starts innocently. You pick a blue shirt. It looks good. You buy another. A few years pass, and suddenly, you are “The Blue Shirt Guy.” Then, the trap snaps shut: The moment you try to change—maybe you experiment with a bold new shade—your spouse or friends hate it. You have been branded. The Illusion of Choice I have observed that we have less agency here than we think. Clothing companies seem to act as a cartel, releasing the exact same “new” colors every year. One year, I was inexplicably fascinated by fluorescent green. It was everywhere, so it was in my closet. But my safe zone remains firm: Blue, Pink, and Red for shirts. But pants? I tried...
Post a Comment
Read more
ReadyThoughts.com

Connect with Shashi Bellamkonda

Quick thoughts, experiments, and digital musings from a marketer who likes to test in public and share what actually works.

Shashi Bellamkonda

Shashi Bellamkonda

Digital Marketing Strategist & Thought Leader

Advisor · Educator · Early adopter of social & AI marketing

Follow & Say Hello

On ReadyThoughts I share fast takes on marketing, AI, and experiments in public. If a post sparks a question or idea, I'd love to hear from you.

Shashi's Blog Network
Start here, then explore

ReadyThoughts.com is where quick ideas start. From here you can dive deeper into strategy, misunderstood marketing, and even food stories across the rest of the network.

💭 ReadyThoughts.com
Short posts, experiments, and reflections at the intersection of marketing, AI, and everyday observations.
🎯 Misunderstood Marketing
Frameworks and real‑world examples that turn confusing marketing into clear strategy and results.
🌐 Shashi.co
Independent analysis on AI, SaaS, and revenue growth strategy for builders, operators, and teams.
🍽️ CarryOnCurry.com
DC metro eats & beyond: stories, reviews, and recipes from a marketer who loves curry.