Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views
Collection of Stories, Perspective and Ideas for Coffee Meets
Time does wonders, and often man is at the other side of the pain. Few days back I read a news on a research report which predicts that in 2020 half of American would be obese.
It’s nothing out of the trend, as it is evident from the going trends. You better get prepared for the fat world.
Departures are often kinky in terms of emotional outpour. But for a routine journey back to the new home it’s just come with any outburst.
This time my homeward journey was filled with all the thrills of meeting with old pals, visit to the nature and so forth. I love to have such home frills and looking back I felt I should have busted out more as a happy lot.
But often, many a minor distractions cause my mind to wander for unknown solace. Don’t know what it had buried itself in. Maybe some uncomfortable decision or the unforeseen or perceived worries about my future or just about my dwindling bank balance.
Time goes as we keep worrying for something that isn’t there or for nonexistent things that clog my. I’m just looking out ways to peal off such old fashioned thoughts and come out quick and fast with polished and glistened thoughts to an effervescent world.
After three days of house arrest with running nose and bad stomach, I ventured out to get some fresh air around Cambridge Layout. No sooner I kick started my gear less scooter , I became a part of the zooming Friday evening traffic.
My first stop was a recharge for Reliance phone and next stop was the food stop at FoodWorld. At the entrance of the building saw an announcement for vacancies for counter staff.
Qualification SSLC and Pay from 3.5 to 4.5k + incentives. Pay is not bad and I wonder on what grounds incentives are bailed out.
There was nothing unusual about the service about Food world. This time I saw new faces at the counter, a bit more energetic and a slightly friendly.
Date @ Cambridge Road Caf’e Day
Finally I parked next to the Caf’e Day at Cambridge Layout. It’s been days since I have visited this coffee bar and It was time for a renewal.
It was almost empty for Friday and I took a seat in the Smoking zone and sat at a vantage to see the whizzing traffic. Ordered Caf’e Latte and brought my thoughts on the road below. It was raining vehicles all zipping past this one way. All sorts of flashy cars and flashy ladies with wealthy looking husbands and lovers. All looked towards a heart full weekend..
After some 10 mts, a young couple joined in. The lady in her early 20’s with short hair and a equally smart young man. It’s nice to see such pairs in action @ new age coffee house. With lots of tales to trade, coffee & pubs are the ideal breeding ground for romance and for people to spend some quality time.
No soon as they settled down, I saw her pulling a cancer stick from her Wills Classic box and followed by a whiff of smoke. In Bangalore it all too common to see young girls bellowing puffs of smoke in these coffee joints and no one gives a second look. It’s a fad for them and I somehow like the way ladies carry themselves when they smoke.
Routine stuffs when it comes to Bangalore, but a big NO when it comes in Trivandrum,Kerala. It’s irony of sort, of how social habits changes across the border.
While nursing a hot coffee now turned cold, with the sweet Bangalore weather, I called up few of my acquaintances and spend my time thinking of my task ahead. As time grew late, I paid 50 bucks for the coffee and time well spend, I look leave of this pace. Reached on to my den with some fodder to think and write.
Started with a throat itch and now promoted to a full blown cold attack. Just as I left my home town I had all the symptoms. The day before I left, I met Dr Edwin Ross who stays behind St Joseph school. He stays in an old two storied house, and as I waked to his consulting room I could feel an old air inside. Big fat medical books lays on a settee and the furniture and other paraphernalia looks as old as his practice. He is a frail and thin looking doc, must be in his 70’s. I narrated my symptoms and he prescribed a small dosage of Anti biotic and paracentamol. Paid him Rs 100 as his consulting charges and which his assurance I left with a good heart.
Day 1
Once I landed in B’lore, I knew the cold has taken a strong grip over me. Promptly called my boss to give me a day’s leave. Running nose was rather too heavy probably b’cos it’s been 3 years since I got such a heavy attack.
Day 2
Now, it’s day two and I’m off from work. Boss is not very happy to hear about my leave but I can’t help with my tiredness.
All alone in this house, I had occasional relief when my wife calls and sooths me with kind words. But soon again, I’m engulfed by the lethargic feeling of being alone with no one to tend to. My greatest relief is my landlord and she come and gave me hot idli in the morning and porridge by noon.
I called the near by store and they brought fresh ginger. My lady says ginger tea is good for cold and I got to try it. I hope to be up soon, for I’m missing my work and the life that’s outside these cold walls.
Cold calling
It’s during such bed ridden times you yearn for friends who can come over and be a support. I wish I had someone who can come over and prepare ginger tea or other home remedies to take me out of these cold blues. But as it stands, I got to work it out myself to make this good hot beverage..
Vivid testimony of rebirth. So, u bet you ‘ll be born again as a human, or some other four legged predator…. no one came back to tell that tale…
Airport Destination from Cambridge Layout
For a person staying at Cambridge Layout, Bangalore, old H.A.L Airport is just a stone throw away. Auto fare for 30 bucks would take there and a similar return fare can hit you back at Cambridge or Domlur. After the airport shifting, the new Devanahalli airport journey has presented more challenges in terms of time and money.
Time, when it comes to travel 40 + 40Km and money for hiring the conveyance.
So far I’ve tried couple of taxi service and also used Airport Volvo bus. In my first trip, I was elated by the wide roads and the flyovers leading to the new airport. But disappointingly the new Bangalore Airport building didn’t have the AWE factor. It’s just a building block on that vast desolate space.
From Airport to Cambridge Layout, I would recommend BMTC Volvo bus, esp when you are stying close to the bus . In one of the trips to airport, I took Volvo bus from CMH road to New Airport. The ticket price was 150 and the ride was peaceful and it took around an hour to reach the BAL airport.
Cambridge Layout to New Bangalore Airport by Taxi
Last week I had to book a taxi service from Cambridge Layout to Bangalore airport. My brother-in law had to reach airport by 4:00 and hence we decided to take depart by 3:00. To get a competitive rate I called few taxi service in and around Cambridge Layout and Indira Nagar. The quotes I got for the trip form Cambridge Layout to BAL for a pickup and return was around. Rs 1100+.
After I got enough of these inquires from these Taxi sharks, I called Mr Prasanan, an Indica car owner. Got his # through a reference.
He agreed for Rs 700 + 150 late night bata. On the day, ie early morning 3: 00 he reached in time to take us to the . My Prasanan is a talkative chap, esp when we had a common language to speak. All through the drive he poured his wisdom and in turn I stayed awake all through the trip to Devanhalli Airport.
After seeing my relative at the airport, we left around 5:00. We had a short detour to drop a person and returned to Cambridge layout. The whole time spend for the Airport trip 3: AM to 6: AM . After we reached our house, I asked for the fare along with the new detour we had to make.
He asked for Rs 900 which I felt was very reasonable as per Bangalore standards.
To contact Mr Prasannan, Indica Owner
Since I had a good travel exp in terms of service and money’s worth I would like to share his contact details with readers.
Mr Prasannan stays at Jeeven Bhima Nagar. He is fluent in English and can speak Kannada, Malayalam and I believe Tamil too. And that makes it for communication and his prices are on the affordable side. He also takes orders for long rides esp, Mysore, ooty , kerala and other adjoining state
Any one who is interested in his services can reach him at this mobile number # 98450 29508.
Bye and happy riding….
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
-Mark Twain
Why it’s so hard to have a decent customer service in all these sprouting super markets? What’s the differential shopping experience you can get from Foodworld or Spensers or Relience fresh or any big time Mega mats like big bazzar. Can anyone carry home a different feel, an experience to be shared to other shoppers?
So far in my visits, I haven’t found anything different. All the red or blue or stripped attendees in these shops are just spastic. No friendly smile, no welcome gesture or even though I frequent these shops with frequent shopping.
Well, shoppers too are robots in their own way. No time to spare a second look at who’s at the counter and no exchange of pleasantries…
Today, I walked into the Foodworld at Cambridge Layout. It’s pretty close to my house and today I had to make a big purchase for a get -together.
As usual the young ladies didn’t give any nod of recognition, probably I didn’t cross their mind as a macho dude. After looking for my buying list I asked the lady for ginger and the buxom lady just pointed her finger to the counter other side.. L
After all the shopping was done, one of the ladies did my check out. I’ve spend close to 1.5K from my credit card but again it didn’t rattle their thoughts to thank let alone spare a good friendly look that can rock me…. : )
Well, am I wrong to expect something more from these plastic counter staffs? I think they ought to be more than food handler but must give shoppers a happy and a pleasant experience.
Why don’t the top dogs or big wigs from these big marts understand such simple customer service principles? Probably the text books they learned in their business school have gathered cobwebs in their attic or they fell there its not worth the pain to train and teach these counter staff to shell out a smile as a part of brand building.
Come what, business will thrive as we stupid customers are least bothered and don’t have similar feelings as I have shared here.
In the end, I didn’t have a happy shopping experience. But no matter what, I’ll keep visiting Foodworld at Cambridge Layout or any other freaky supermarkets just b’cos I’m just another face for them and all these shops give me the same SHI* experience.
Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views 