Gandhigiri works!

GANDHIGIRI EXPERIENCE

Of course, Gandhism or Gandhigiri as it is now better known works even if it does not have anything to do with values!! (Thanks to Munnabhai)

My experience with Gandhigiri relates to chaotic traffic and driving on Bangalore roads especially on the IT Corridor. I used to travel from my home near Brooke Fields to office in Nrupathunga road. Driving on Airport-Whitefield Road means you are in the stream of white Indicas/Sumos/Qualis cars ferrying call center guys in a tearing hurry. Most drivers have absolutely no idea of lane discipline.

Now, suppose you are moving in the left stream of traffic and chugging at 10 kmph and find a parked car obstructing you then have to somehow get into the next right lane to move ahead and for this thrusting out your hand or signaling by indicator will definitely invite aggressive looks & honking from the driver behind.

The Gandhigiri trick, for taking a U Turn, I have now learnt from some clever cab drivers is to put on the indicator and at the same time stick out your hand but all the fingers have to be joined together facing the sky like how you would originate flying kiss from your lips! This is similar to the action some pedestrian would indicate to you that your mobike lights or on during daytime. Now open and close your fingers. This signifies to the guy behind "Hey, please man please" in an imploring way and if need be reinforce the action with a quick reverse peek meek smile and note that guy would definitely allow you to enter the lane in front of him!!

The Gandhigiri trick also works when you have to take a U turn at a median gap but the opposite stream is continuously streaming past not giving you a chance. Seeing you waiting will also trigger a slow driver behind in the stream to accelerate just to get the pleasure of not allowing you!! What you have to do is to keep inching forward and when you notice a slightly bigger gap just nudge forward sticking out your hand over the hood all the while with your fingers performing a double action of opening and closing. And when you finally make it just allow the guy to overtake you and flash a smile. In all probability he will smile back!!

The Gandhigiri trick is to convey somehow to the other guy that you are subjugated and the other car is more important!! Try it out man, it works!!

Thomas Cook Experience!

We left Bangalore on 4th Oct 2010 on a trip of Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore. The tour besides Pattaya, Genting, Batu Caves, KL Towers, Petronas Towers, Golden Buddha Temple,Reclining Buddha Temple also had a two day cruise on Star Virgo the luxury liner in Singapore. The entire trip was well conducted and we thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. In Pattaya we stayed at Hotel Nova Platinum. While shifting from there to Bangkok airport, we left behind a wallet containing Indian Rupees/International Credit Card & a few dollars. On reaching Kuala Lumpur, we noticed the loss and informed our Tour Manager of Thomas Cook, Mr Sean D'Souza.

I would like to share with all of you that he took great efforts to trace the wallet. He made sure that his contact at Thailand traced the wallet and ensured that it reached us safely in Bangalore with the contents intact! We have decided that whenever we go abroad our tour operator will only be Thomas Cook India (P) Ltd. 3 cheers to Mr Sean D'Souza of Thomas Cook! (in yellow shirt cutting birthday cake at The Hilton, KL)

Quit smoking cigarettes...

Quit smoking the easy way! From Passing Show, Panama, Cool, Berkeley, Number Ten, Wills King (all the varieties) Navy Cut, Camel, 555, Charminar without "filter",Charms, Scissors, Gold Flake cigarettes to beedies from Ganesh bidi, Sadhu beedies, & Cigars from Havana, I had smoked not forgetting the pipes i constantly experimented for variety! Oh yes, I used to roll my own cigarettes from a pouch for making a style statement!! When the tobacco pouch was not available at Spencers, I used to scout the whole of Bangalore on my Bullet! And over the years, I started including cartons of cigarettes in our monthly grocery list! My wife was scandalised . In the Bank where I worked ....I was a source for cigarettes and match boxes...later designer lighters!! And friends of mine who went abroad brought loads of cartons as gifts!It even went to the extent, that I would judge a guy by the brand he smoked!! How ridiculous!!!! I really spent a big fortune on cigarettes, cumulatively...Yes...you could'nt find a more refined and polished smoker than me...smoking more than 40 cigarettes a day and relishing it too!

There comes a time when the shirt you wear, however clean and white, stinks...and over time the whole house stinks of cigarettes!

You are aware of the negative effects of nicotine an addictive chemical which takes over our senses & plays havoc on our continued craving for cigarettes. Yes, cigarettes were such a relief for me. One for the morning loo, one after coffee, one after breakfast, one after this that and another & if you are the one who boozes in the evening you know better than me.

The inhalation of smoke as it descends into our lungs and the feel good factor it brings are the greatest inventions for soothing the frayed nerves and whatever "problems" we encounter.Even now, 18 years after quitting smoking...i can relive the days of euphoria while inhaling the smoke...but friends...the life after quitting is something u have to experience. Its like a new flyover opened up from your mouth to the larynx down to your lungs...and earlier it was clogged with the jams of the traffic caused by tar build up. Experience the new "breathe easy" highway!!

We have all been conditioned to believe that it is really really very difficult to stop smoking. AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM. Believe me, if you honestly believe that you can quit, you can quit! Please believe me even though I sound like a pompous self help Guru - YOU CAN QUIT -if only you ============================================================= the mantra which got me to stop smoking. Now in 2011, 18 years later after I quit in October 1993 smoking millions of cigarettes for over 27 years, I really feel nice & happy that I have to climb the stairs if the lift in our apartment is not working !! :) . Earlier with my heavy smoking habit, i was short of breath for everything...climbing stairs / light physical work / etc etc.....:)

Its quite easy to quit smoking, but I did not know that it was easy, because I had been conditioned to believe that it was very very difficult!!!!

I will share with you the nitty gritty nuances which will help you get over the habit. Frankly, I can take only 5 or 6 smokers at a time for full fledged counselling...for a period of 7 days. As of today...6th July 2011 there are 24 mails from pals/smokers/in inbox who have a desire to quit smoking. I will surely respond to each and everyone. Hundreds of my smoker pals all over the world have quit following my free simple method. I guarantee 100 percent that you can also quit smoking!! Just mail me with the subject line "quit smoking" to ajitlakshmiratan@gmail.com

The U.S-India Partnership: It Matters

The US - India Partnership: It Matters
It matters most because a happening country is partnering with a Country, which is suddenly taking giant strides in contrast to the slow cautious treads they were making all the while! While innuendos replete with diabolical and sinister moves thwart the coming together of technology and sharing of information for betterment of lives in this Universe-it is indeed a challenge to take up the matter and transgress the unique threshold shown to both Countries like a beacon of hope. And the bridging between the clashing of ideologies will come to an impasse when realization dawns that the ultimate aim is progression of progressing Countries thereby cementing a relationship devoid of any perceived hidden agendas.

Despite the global financial crisis, which began in 2007, impacting most emerging market economies, 7.1 per cent rate of GDP growth in the current year, makes India the second fastest growing economy in the world. There is undoubtedly no dispute that in the trajectory of modern economic history, each phase of global growth has been driven by a small set of countries…and India fits the bill of donning the colors of an ensemble resplendent with all hues. At this rate India is expected to pick up the mantle of global growth poles by its horns and demonstrate that these emerging growth poles will generate self-sustaining, internally-driven growth.

The GDP of US - the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 5.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, (that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to the"third"estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

India is also forging ahead and has emerged unscathed by the meltdown thereby indicating its strong financial position.A cross section of Indians not only spearhead big organisations in the US but also work for the Government. Similarly in India too many Americans are on the board of many organisations as advisors and key planners. Yes indeed, US- India partnership matters!

Corruption in BBMP, Bangalore

When the IT city is feeling hunky dory with rapid strides in making online property tax payments there are guys within the department who want a face to face dialogue. Because here lies the catch..on some pretext or the other you will feel greasing is better than paying more tax. I had a personal experience this afternoon while going to pay the property tax for a relative of mine. Since old pending tax can not be paid online I had to go personally and enquire about the dues/cess/penalty etc etc. But the guy who either was'nt pleased by my confidence in the office (I've lived in Bangalore for 42 yrs) thought that I was a recent entrant and hence made things difficult to pay the tax. He cited Khatha/owner occupied etc. He also filled up the form and mentioned that he has entered it as "owner occupied" so as to qualify for 50 % lesser tax (as a favour for me) But he wanted to see the Khatha which was immediately not available..I called up the Asst Revenue officers and all passed the buck around....until one officer (Shanker Rao, Marathalli) said ...if he does not accept the tax....ask him to give it in writing....it worked...the Government needs the money now more than ever before...BBMP is one of the coffers which the State relies on to augment relief activities.....guys like Mr V................of BBMP mobile 94486-----are a shame on society bringing disrepute and infamy to the positive initiatives of BBMP. I noticed a harassed tax payer shouting at an employee for demanding Rs 100 to fill up the application form..He wanted to pay Rs 50 which itself should not be taken....they refused to accept ...saying they are busy...CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT IN THE LOWER ECHELONS OF BBMP......Lok Ayukta is concentrating on the big fish now and the small guys are making hay when the sun is shining for them....while the flood victims suffer in untold agony and pain!!
..Pl let me know if u have been here...no need to sign the comments column...just send a blank mail to ajitlakshmiratan@gmail.com ur mail id will not be shared with anyone.

Niagara Falls & Thousand Islands holiday!!

A holiday in the US isn’t complete without a visit to Niagara Falls and Thousand Islands. Among all the natural wonders in this beautiful 'Country the Niagara Falls stand out tall attracting generations of sightseers from all over the world.(click on Photos for larger view) You’ll stand in awe as millions of gallons of water surge 300 feet over the falls in a roar of thrilling thunder and splash up in a magnificent mist going on eventually to form clouds. Average outflow of water from American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls varies from 60000 to 75000 gallons per second! The ride on the “Maid of the Mist” can only be experienced and no amount of words will truly convey the thrill of feeling the heady spray of a zillion particles of a drop of water all over you! The sheer velocity and volume of the thundering mass of water makes you marvel at the wonder of Niagara! The short movie at the Imax chronicles the hoary past of the Niagara whis is almost spooky! The visit to Horse Shoe Falls was spectacular with arc and strobe lights from across the Canadian side and the fireworks display was at its resplendent best!!

Our brief stay at Adam’s Mark, Buffalo-Niagara perfectly complemented the beauty and charm of Niagara Falls. With its other hotels in Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis and St. Louis ,Adam’s Mark sets its standard mark at a benchmark unparalleled.
Leaving Niagara, we drove over to Thousand Islands in Alexandria Bay which is a playground for the rich and famous. Here the waters of the mighty St. Lawrence and Great Lake Ontario meet. The native people called this region as the “Garden of the Great Spirit”. Each island of the Thousand Islands is a beauty spot complete with its bungalow or castle. “No man should be an island…but some people own one!”…said somebody!! Every celebrity in Hollywood or Who’s Who own an island here but they sure keep a low profile!!

So how many islands are there in Thousand Islands??….Three Governments came with three different figures……but now the official/non official figure is 1864 islands!! The biggest island is about 40 miles long. The rest are mostly small having a fairly large mansion with swimming pools / manicured lawns and neat gardens and of course with its own jetty for the luxury yachts.

We got to see a small island connected to another tiny island by a quaint bridge not more than 30 feet away. Well, according to our guide the bigger one is in Canada & the smaller is in USA!! It’s the smallest bridge spanning two Countries & the owner does not require immigration to go over to his small island in Canada! Don’t miss visiting Niagara Falls and Thousand Islands and enjoy thoroughly like we did.

The owners of islands here are stinking rich but do keep a low low profile!!

Small Bridge connects USA & Canada!!

Travel bug bytes!

Left Bangalore for Dubai on 24th July. The Emirates hospitality starts off at Bengaluru until Dubai. The immigration / passport control guys just mechanically do their jobs with no sign of welcome of any sort in sharp contrast to the Emirates staff! Dubai is a vibrant city thriving with the footfalls in its malls built with extragavance from the largesse of its bountiful oil wells. Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Batuta Mall & the largest of them all , the Dubai Mall are so spacious that a day would'nt be enough to explore them. The roads are a dream that we dream in Bangalore & the cars too are the ones we dream about! The one that stood out was the 6.0 Litre black beast of an SUV can qualify as truck - the Cadillac christened as Escalade (see pic above). Comfortably seating four across in the rear is actually a 10 seater & but the ample seats will keep you on its edge by its sheer speed & torque! The greening of the desert has been accomplished with a missionary zeal & the opulence going with it leaves you wide eyed with awe!!

Our long haul non stop 14 hour flight to New York again by Emirates was uneventful except to realise that the flight stewards were smiling and full of charm even while announcing landing despite the planeload of demanding kids and many first timers (me included). The JFK airport ,though not as posh as Dubai Airport was business like...even the trolleys costs a dollar. The immigration guys are'nt too welcoming either sizing you up by checking the documents with an eagle eye - you could be a potential illegal immigrant!

The place we stay (Manhattan) overlooks the East river & the Hudson ...New Jersey across and of course the Majestic Statue of Liberty stands tall in the distance. Wall Street, Brooklyn, West Street, Ground zero (WTC) are just a stone's throw from here. Bowling Green subway station is just below visible from the 34th storey apartment and so are the ferries , boats and luxury yachts jostling in the pier. The walking paths of Battery Park along side the pier are clean and replete with fitness freaks doing their own thing oblivious to the rest of the world. The visit to Ground Zero leaves you stunned with the enormity of the tragedy-but the ground realities are typical of the Americans--never say die -and from the activity going on at the site its just a matter of time that the new structure rises high symbolising their spirit!

The sights around Times Square especially in the evenings are fantastic. Each building has got to compulsarily light up the front facade with neons and strobes. Madame Tussauds and a whole host of upscale stores like Bloomsberg, Macy's , JC Penny are located here. An array of restaurants catering to every cuisine in the world you can find but never convert the dollar into the Rupee. We had dinner at Bubba Gump which has the theme of Forrest Gump in everything right from the furniture to the table mat! You also get gifted an exquisite glass if you order any speciality of the day! New York teems with cars of all sorts. Its a veritable treat for car lovers. Not only do you get to see the luxurious stretch limosines which are almost as long as a bus but the sleeker ones too. Its so surprising to see massive and gigantic 24 wheeler trucks maneuvering the streets of NY with such ease! The NY police are visible everywhere and in one of the taxi rides when the driver just overshot a changing signal he was issued a ticket. Neither the driver nor the cop exchanged a word!! New York city is an agglomeration of five buroughs viz: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island and Queens. Most of

the towering buildings are very old. Many of them maintain the original facade and only the rear has been reconstructed. Century old apartments have all been remodelled with the original facade! The interiors mostly have wooden panelling and are fitted with the most modern amenities. (to be continued)