Destiny - Me & my three Fishes at Hong Kong!!!!

I would like to share this wonderful true story of mine ----- Me & my three Fishes at Hong Kong!!!! This is an old story probably when I was not on LinkedIn but I am sure it may inspire you and its about “Destiny” !!

"I had gone to attend my company’s annual sales conference at Hong Kong on 24th April09. I had to leave by 27th April09. After the conference ended on 25th April09 we have free time to do shopping!!!!I didn't know what to buy. Hong Kong is a city of buildings!! . People are nice there but they don't know English well!!! That was surprising to know as Hong Kong was a British Colony for a long time. Now it’s with China but its independent.

Yeah i was talking about shopping at Hong Kong. It’s expensive place. On 26th Night i brought only small gifts. I thought of an idea. I have a beautiful aquarium at home &came to know there is a very good gold fish market at Hong Kong. But i thought it’s practically impossible to carry these fishes to India.

But then i thought it could be the most priceless gift i had ever brought from overseas. The kid in me said it’s possible!!!

I decided to buy Gold fishes from Hong Kong & carry with me to India. Now i would like you to notice this step by step:

- I got up in the morning on that fateful day 27th April09 with only one thing in my mind i need to take few of these fishes for my aquarium.

- I got ready early only to read that the gold fish market there is almost 30min. away from where my hotel was & it would only open at 12:30pm (Hong Kong Time, Hong Kong is 2.5 hrs ahead of India). It gave me getters!!! As we had to leave for Hong Kong Airport at 2:00 pm (Hong Kong Time), my flight was at 6:00pm.

- I decided i had to do this. This could be the most unforgettable thing i had done in my life. So i decided to leave for Mong Kong market (where gold fishes are found at 10:45am.)

- I reached the market at 11:30am &searched for the market for 20 more minutes. By 12:00pm shops were opening up.

- At one of the shops i found beautiful Oranda lion Head, Black Morr, Carps, Red Heads ect(Gold fish varieties).

- I sat like a baby there looking at them. They were dammn cheap as compared to India. I simply couldn’t resist myself & brought three big ones, one Oranda Lion Head, One Black Morr, & one more i don't know this gold fish variety.

- I brought them at Just 35$ (Hong Kong). It’s almost Rs.250 (INR)

- Now the real challenge was to carry them to India. I was supposed to reach India at 10:30pm (Hong Kong ) time. There was a time gap from purchase to reaching India of almost 11 hours.

- Also there was a huge risk as i couldn't carry them in my hand baggage as liquid & live fishes were not allowed. In normal boarding luggage there was a huge risk of the fishes dying!!!!

- But the kid in me said i would do the impossible. To aggregate my problems there was a flight delay of almost1.5hrs at Hong Kong airport.

- I got the fishes nicely packed in a polybag with lots of compressed oxygen. Did a double packing & put it in my suitcase which was unfortunately made of hard cloth.

- When i reached Hong Kong airport my heart was pounding that the fishes would be caught in the x ray scan!!!But to my surprise there was a technical problem at the airport and as we moved into Hong Kong in a group of almost 450 ppl!!!! The staff at Hong Kong airport was lenient on us.

- The fishes passed the X ray w/o getting caught what a relief for me!!!

- Now the trauma started. The baggage in which i had hidden the fishes was thrown from one corner to another. I believed in my heart the fishes would be ok. Then there was a 1.5 hrs delay at Hong Kong airport. When i asked the airhostess she said there is some problem with baggage. My heart started pounding harder. I prayed to god that my fishes are not caught. Finally the flight took off & i was relieved. Only to be further more worried abt my fishes. It is generally dark & hot at Baggage cabin in the aircraft. I landed in India at12:30 am Hong Kong time / 10:00 pm India time.

- In the aircraft a form was given as a part of immigration formalities which asked if i was carrying any live meat/ Fishes!!! I said NO. I decided i flew alone to Hong Kong & i am now going to come back with my family of three fishes.

- My fishes had gone through an ordeal!!!I was v worried that i had killed three poor fishes!! They had almost completed12hours of torture

- In India again they had to pass custom clearance. Again i escaped. When i saw my baggage i was deeply moved. But the fear was still there "what would have happened to my fishes!!!!"I was very worried.

- As soon as i came near the taxi nervously opened my suitcase to discover that water had come out, oxygen was low!!!! I was dammn scared................did in my kiddishness i killed the fishes. The answer is NO NO NO.................

- Ohhhhhhhhhh my fishes were so happy to see me. They were almost kissing me out of the poly bag. I nervously took the polybag in my hand & rushed home where i kept these fishes in my Aquarium.

- All the three are extremely happy& healthy in my aquarium with the other 12 fishes i already have................................

For me life has taught a lesson..............if you work hard & believe in yourself & move to reach your destiny then you would surely reach it (This is inspirational message i learned from my fav. movie "Forrest Gump") like my fishes they survived all the throwing around in a fragile suitcase, almost 12-13 hours of journey in hot & humid conditions w/o any food & being able to escape scans at both Hong Kong & India!!!!. It was their destiny to live with me in a lavish Aquarium & give me immense satisfaction that i followed my heart not brain).

Everyday i look at them happy in my aquarium i feel v happy & the happiness is priceless. (this was in 2009)

I hope this true story of my life inspires you.

This True story got published in my company magazine where I was working and people had a good laugh about it."