The other day as I was waiting for a colleague of mine to board the bus a couple of things came to mind. They had me thinking hard on what can only be termed as commercial success. Well both the incidents require a lot of visualizing…. Think over it and you will get the drift.
The first incident can only be aptly caption as a space ship on six wheels. We were standing by the footpath when out of the dark night comes this orangey red light with a touch of green.. Illuminating the night in this strange color is this mode of transportation something one is expected to sleep in. Drawing closer to the curb we get a closer look of the contraption often called as an airbus. Airbus or not well it was a proper sleeper, as in one where the upper part of the bus is transformed to beds for passengers and the lower areas for sitting….
On seeing this all you can think of is the poor passengers who can only fall asleep dizzy. Faint First Sleep Tight….
The above incident was immediately followed by the next…
This get funnier… after the initial colourful distraction comes the second joke of the day a bus laden with so much luggage one will probably think the bus is actually a lorry with an exceptionally large cabin, a cabin made for 70 people. The bus looked like it would break even on the trip even without the passengers… my this got me thinking how weird could people get….
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
FIRST DAY ON A NEW JOB…. REFLECTIONS
First day of work in a totally new environment was WHEW… thud thud thud …..The steady pounding of my feet on the footpath in a mad rush to catch the bus to work was all I could hear. Not the strum of the guitar coming off a country song playing off my mobile. Waiting for the bus turned out a futile effort simply due to the reason everything was written in kannada! One hurdle down a few more to go. The next thorn was the beeline for a rickshaw…. OOF caught one and only to see that the guy was intent on giving me a tour of the city… the tour did have one good turn to it. I got to know of an alternate route to the office, thank heavens for that as I had come in handy once in a while… With a a lot of shakes and rattles I finally get to the office and to the place I went for my interview. Got introduced and was led to the section where I was to work.
Like all first days my first day was no different. Apprehensive. Tense and a bit worried, I step into the office followed by the person who introduced me to the rest of the staff…. Comprising of a few counts more than thirty. I get to know a half this number first all who came from different backgrounds. The funny part was that you had to converse in around five different languages if you wanted to get heard or communicate.
Sitting around doing nothing wasn’t suiting me right I guess because I got to work within hours after the orientation. Got myself assigned a computer to get set on booking tickets…. My I said to myself what have I got myself into? But was this just the tip of the ice-berg.
But this like so many first days on a new job I left a bit confused, wondering what I am to do and how will I be able to help the organization in its plans for growth and prosperity. Hopefully I think this will change for the better and I play an important link in this chain.
Like all first days my first day was no different. Apprehensive. Tense and a bit worried, I step into the office followed by the person who introduced me to the rest of the staff…. Comprising of a few counts more than thirty. I get to know a half this number first all who came from different backgrounds. The funny part was that you had to converse in around five different languages if you wanted to get heard or communicate.
Sitting around doing nothing wasn’t suiting me right I guess because I got to work within hours after the orientation. Got myself assigned a computer to get set on booking tickets…. My I said to myself what have I got myself into? But was this just the tip of the ice-berg.
But this like so many first days on a new job I left a bit confused, wondering what I am to do and how will I be able to help the organization in its plans for growth and prosperity. Hopefully I think this will change for the better and I play an important link in this chain.
Comprehending a change….
A new city…. A new job… A new environment… Apprehensive and tense but never-the-less adventurous.
But then as the saying goes ‘conditions improve with time’ – sounds really true. Once you begin to take in the culture of the city, be warned… they have absolutely none… the culture is kind of a mixture between a southern and a northern kind. Well to be honest the southern culture dominates over the original with the prominent one being Kerala, followed closely by Andhra and Tamil Nadu.
Another thing bound to hit you strong, is the influence of the Hindi language! You know Hindi well sit back and enjoy and for those who don’t better get out the old English to Hindi translators you have hidden up n the attic or find yourself a suitable company to teach you the basics, coz if not you are left with kannada. Believe me kannada is easy to an extent you kind of learn a couple of words and you are set for the customary greetings….. out of which ‘chenna idira’ and ‘oota ayitha’ being the most prominent. In kannada you basically have good morning good evening and good night all reduced to ‘oota ayitha’. Which by the way means, had food? By greeting standards this has got to be the ultimate.
Moving on from culture and language the next best thing you get in Bangalore is, believe me, is the climate. Whew there is a perpetual wind never ceasing ever blowing. At times on strong windy days you hear the chattering of teeth even with two over coats on you. But all said and done it’s a very good climate one you’ll absolutely fall in love with in seconds…
Speaking of the climate, I got into conversation with a couple of very aged but really cool people whose only regret with the improvements for the city is the traffic and the pollution. Well traffic is avoidable if you really put your mind into it but pollution is a totally different problem. What was pleasant weather eight years back is now reduced to smog (smoke + fog).
Although I came comprehending a change one this drastic yet funny in its own way is what life is all about….
But then as the saying goes ‘conditions improve with time’ – sounds really true. Once you begin to take in the culture of the city, be warned… they have absolutely none… the culture is kind of a mixture between a southern and a northern kind. Well to be honest the southern culture dominates over the original with the prominent one being Kerala, followed closely by Andhra and Tamil Nadu.
Another thing bound to hit you strong, is the influence of the Hindi language! You know Hindi well sit back and enjoy and for those who don’t better get out the old English to Hindi translators you have hidden up n the attic or find yourself a suitable company to teach you the basics, coz if not you are left with kannada. Believe me kannada is easy to an extent you kind of learn a couple of words and you are set for the customary greetings….. out of which ‘chenna idira’ and ‘oota ayitha’ being the most prominent. In kannada you basically have good morning good evening and good night all reduced to ‘oota ayitha’. Which by the way means, had food? By greeting standards this has got to be the ultimate.
Moving on from culture and language the next best thing you get in Bangalore is, believe me, is the climate. Whew there is a perpetual wind never ceasing ever blowing. At times on strong windy days you hear the chattering of teeth even with two over coats on you. But all said and done it’s a very good climate one you’ll absolutely fall in love with in seconds…
Speaking of the climate, I got into conversation with a couple of very aged but really cool people whose only regret with the improvements for the city is the traffic and the pollution. Well traffic is avoidable if you really put your mind into it but pollution is a totally different problem. What was pleasant weather eight years back is now reduced to smog (smoke + fog).
Although I came comprehending a change one this drastic yet funny in its own way is what life is all about….
IT we make IT happen
Reflecting back a few days, I remember a particular morning conversation that got me hooked no thinking hey that’s true…
Well have coffee with a couple of my colleagues, waiting for our anchor the conversation started on the very mundane things anyone would talk about over a cup of coffee. Conversations ranging from the very absurd facts of life to problems to be solved in the course of the day, costumes to dialogues and people to animals… over the course of this we started pondering over the usual commuting charge within the city. What do you know Bang all of a sudden we are zooming in on the various aspects of the rise in inflation in the city.
Over much reflection we zero in on the main industry that cause / caused this inflation. The IT industry. The IT industry is the main cause of the cities high cost of living. Imagine people making like 50Gs a month after all expenses… where does he go and spend this extra moolah in the city. This extra moolah has like kind of raised the bar on the common mans’ expenses. Well come to think of it IT has infact changed the face of the plight of numerous farmers. IT we make IT happen
Well have coffee with a couple of my colleagues, waiting for our anchor the conversation started on the very mundane things anyone would talk about over a cup of coffee. Conversations ranging from the very absurd facts of life to problems to be solved in the course of the day, costumes to dialogues and people to animals… over the course of this we started pondering over the usual commuting charge within the city. What do you know Bang all of a sudden we are zooming in on the various aspects of the rise in inflation in the city.
Over much reflection we zero in on the main industry that cause / caused this inflation. The IT industry. The IT industry is the main cause of the cities high cost of living. Imagine people making like 50Gs a month after all expenses… where does he go and spend this extra moolah in the city. This extra moolah has like kind of raised the bar on the common mans’ expenses. Well come to think of it IT has infact changed the face of the plight of numerous farmers. IT we make IT happen
Monday, February 26, 2007
A date with 140kmph
A bit apprehensive a bit cautious,
Thrilled at the site of an expanse of tar
10 feet by 20 kilometers,
An expanse every bit inviting as a Godiva.
The view from the cockpit of an Innova was every bit appealing so much so one would simply want to put the peddle down and accelerate down the expanse with every last bit of fuel in the tank. As the night blankets you with its dark veil and the soft strum of a guitar to keep you company and the road highlighted by the headlights only just giving you enough light to keep you inside the road the urge to go faster and faster is overpowering.
The smooth drone of the engine is but an invitation to unleash the brutal power of over a hundred horses. You can’t but fall for the bait and pull an amazing feat of cracking past the 100kmph mark in a jiffy. The first is but a trial, one that is taken just for the thrill the feel and preparation for the real thing. Very soon the traffic thins and the black expanse is all the more inviting.
Already energized and comfortable with the high speed controls I let my foot go heavy on the accelerator a second time. This time round there is absolutely no hindrance and ZOOOOOOOOOOOOM. Whooshing past the other cars trucks and Lorries you tend to think of them as stationary object that are hardly moving. The speedo has now climbed to a very conservative 140kmph and it is still rising.
While all this is going on you hardly notice the music which has now gone from the sweet melancholy of a guitar to the steady music of some weird hiphop band.
I know it is dangerous driving at such high speeds but ten you really must want to experience life on the fast lane … Well I am certainly not going to disclose the top speed in this I leave it to your imagination….
Till the next time CIAO.
Thrilled at the site of an expanse of tar
10 feet by 20 kilometers,
An expanse every bit inviting as a Godiva.
The view from the cockpit of an Innova was every bit appealing so much so one would simply want to put the peddle down and accelerate down the expanse with every last bit of fuel in the tank. As the night blankets you with its dark veil and the soft strum of a guitar to keep you company and the road highlighted by the headlights only just giving you enough light to keep you inside the road the urge to go faster and faster is overpowering.
The smooth drone of the engine is but an invitation to unleash the brutal power of over a hundred horses. You can’t but fall for the bait and pull an amazing feat of cracking past the 100kmph mark in a jiffy. The first is but a trial, one that is taken just for the thrill the feel and preparation for the real thing. Very soon the traffic thins and the black expanse is all the more inviting.
Already energized and comfortable with the high speed controls I let my foot go heavy on the accelerator a second time. This time round there is absolutely no hindrance and ZOOOOOOOOOOOOM. Whooshing past the other cars trucks and Lorries you tend to think of them as stationary object that are hardly moving. The speedo has now climbed to a very conservative 140kmph and it is still rising.
While all this is going on you hardly notice the music which has now gone from the sweet melancholy of a guitar to the steady music of some weird hiphop band.
I know it is dangerous driving at such high speeds but ten you really must want to experience life on the fast lane … Well I am certainly not going to disclose the top speed in this I leave it to your imagination….
Till the next time CIAO.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
The art of dipping – a vestigial issue…
The dark shadows of the age old tamarind trees beckons. The solitary road stretches endless as far as eye can see. Not a soul stirs unless absolutely necessary, quiet, dark and absolutely still the monotony broken only by the steady thumping of the cars engine married to the sweet strum of a guitar from the radio. And lo behold a blinding light all of a sudden blinding instantly heads in your direction.
Groping the light stem beside your steering column wildly trying to dim your lights, seeking for a venue of escape, from the blinding power of a thousand candles, at the same time focusing to stay on road. Whew it sure is a handful.
This is the experience any Tom, Dick and Harry driving at night on the Indian road faces. The seemingly endless flow of headlights from the opposite direction is anything but steady, coming at you with no consideration whatsoever. This case is all the more severe with truckers and long distances buses. Sitting cozily high above the glare of smaller vehicles they hardly even try to dip their headlights for cars coming in the opposite direction.
There was a time when motorist had the consideration of dipping their headlights when oncoming traffic was spotted. Any motorist traveling at night knows the importance of dipping their headlights. This simple action of shifting your high beam to low when another car comes at you from the opposite direction helps considerably in maintaining sight of the road.
Well unfortunately even as the world is progressing at an increasingly hitech world there are but a handful of motorist who still follow the age old traditions of dipping. Dipping a phenomenal action so very simple in execution all but forgotten, for what?
Groping the light stem beside your steering column wildly trying to dim your lights, seeking for a venue of escape, from the blinding power of a thousand candles, at the same time focusing to stay on road. Whew it sure is a handful.
This is the experience any Tom, Dick and Harry driving at night on the Indian road faces. The seemingly endless flow of headlights from the opposite direction is anything but steady, coming at you with no consideration whatsoever. This case is all the more severe with truckers and long distances buses. Sitting cozily high above the glare of smaller vehicles they hardly even try to dip their headlights for cars coming in the opposite direction.
There was a time when motorist had the consideration of dipping their headlights when oncoming traffic was spotted. Any motorist traveling at night knows the importance of dipping their headlights. This simple action of shifting your high beam to low when another car comes at you from the opposite direction helps considerably in maintaining sight of the road.
Well unfortunately even as the world is progressing at an increasingly hitech world there are but a handful of motorist who still follow the age old traditions of dipping. Dipping a phenomenal action so very simple in execution all but forgotten, for what?
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