Are You Living in an Inland?

~ bjcharles ~ 1 Comment
Why should learning take all the time? Cut it down…an idea from Tim Ferriss, the author of The Four Hour Chef has to say.

On a different scale, you can expand your social life, increase human connection, get more dates. But how? Here’re few ideas in this direction:

1) Join any of the meetups in Bangalore ( passion, interest or hobby). Interact with people, become friendly with people in the group. Once they are comfy with you, start FISHING. For instance, join for Salsa, Yoga, or join a photography club if you have passion for photography, or join Enfield club, if you’re a Enfield, etc.

2) Post genuine profiles in online personal or dating sites. Locanto, Plentyofffish, Quikr and many more. Upload a realistic pic, with simple, clear cut profile. Here’s it’s important to use a catchy headline.

3) Are you a regular visitor of a pub, coffee house or a park? There’re zillions of places in Bangalore, like Hard Rock, Coffee house Bangalore, Tavern, Jimi’s, Purple Haze, Pecos, etc. As a regular, you will be a known face. Next, engage in casual chat with regulars. One may lead to another, hopefully.

4) Start a hobby and use it as platform to meet and share the skills with others in the group.

Hopefully, one of this help you make more friends in Bangalore, or lead an interesting life.

 Jive!

100 Ft Away from Obscurity

~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment
I live close to 100ft road, Indira Nagar, one of the most happening place in Bangalore. It’s a place nested on both sides by pubs, restaurants, branded showrooms, chic spas, fitness centers, dental clinics, Ayurveda parlours, and so on.

Usually on weekend’s I peddle around this locality or end up in any of the water holes. Each time I go around, I see a new restaurant or a shop.

Demolition Drive at 100 ft Road, India Nagar – Raising old houses
A friend of mine was telling of how 100ft road looked like a decade back. It was more of a residential layout, with houses. He remember the scene of kids playing cricket on this road. Well, how times has changed for many lives around here. Now, all those homely residential area is gone under the hammer. In it’s place are the glass and multi-storyed buildings. Corporations and big brands has taken up with flamboyant presence.

What has all these restaurants given to you?
Well a choice of facilities to dine, drink, relax and shop. Probably, modern people like you need it. But, as forty plus guy, I’m belong to the old school. I’m still the old fart who cherishes old cane chairs, friendly smiles and warm hug. It’s not that I don’t like these transformation, it’s just that it’s so quick that I can’t figure where I should stand.

Also, a grim reality of my shrinking pool of friends. In fact my social life in Bangalore is nonexistent. So, the choice is for me to build a new connection in this town. So, here, I go to meetup with people in Bangalore.

From Obscurity to Limelight!

Bangalore Night Life – After pub closes

~ bjcharles ~ 1 Comment
It gives a awful feeling to leave a bar/pub in Bangalore by 11:30. When it’s just the time to chat, catch up with old mates, or you got a rapport with a beautiful stranger, etc. But it’s Cinderella time in Bangalore. Most pub goers are pushed out of the pub..yes, you got no options by to oblige to the law of the land.

The last order for any day would be around 10:45, and then on bar staff will pressurize you to leave the premises. Can’t blame the bar or pub owners for their highhandedness. For, they have bigger trouble at their door. Cops with raw power, can do more havoc to your business.

Thanks to our pseudo democracy, short sighted law makers or king makers, we’re still slaves to these depressing rules.

More reasons why this law is ridiculous? 

1) City is dead by 11:30 and streets wears a eerily deserted look.
2) All restaurant’s down their shutters. It means, they’re no good restaurants open to have food after 11.PM. Pathetic!.
3) Streets are unsafe and a booming city is dead, except for for cab and vehicles. Life is sucked out of the system

So, the good news is that no Government can control a social behavior, esp of young people. They will find, more wilder, merrier and a back door entry to vent out. No wonder private home parties, or rave parties or close door parties are growing in Bangalore.

Next, where’s are the after parties in Bangalore?

Do You Matter to Them!

~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment
Ask Yourself…did you matter

Another art from Gapinvoid. And this one brought me to question my life, my affair with other and how much I matter to others. Sadly, I’m not happy with the impression I make … Now the question is what can be done? How to go from here ….

Why Customer Service Sucks in Kerala?

~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment
  • Have you felt or let down by bad customer service in Kerala? 
  • Why is this lethargic approach shown by shop owners, staff?

I’m a big advocate of customer service. Whenever I see exemplary customer service, I feel joy, I share it with my friends and peers. And when I come across stinking attitude from businesses, I become more vocal and talk to more people.

In today’s digital marketing era, there’s no choice for biz owners but to raise their customer service levels. Despite all buzz on customer service, I feel most small traders and biz owners are still primitive in showing a bit of concern to customers. Most sellers fail to show a good smile or show recognition?

During the time when I lived in Trivandrum, I was not bothered about customer service. Till that time, I have only seen one city. But after I moved to Bangalore and other cities, I see life in a different perspective. Now, I start comparing, sometimes I whine the service melted to me. Often, I get pissed off and I start thinking why the hell should I spend my dime on these sucker. Well, Trivandrum seems to the worst of the lot. Probably, due to our popular sakari culture ( govt office attitude).

Coming back to this topic, why are mallus bad with customer service?
Why do shop keepers talk very arrogantly? As one relative puts it, even the undeserving fellas are arrogant.
Well, this kind of attitude is not just in small  murukan kada (pan shop/deli), or margin free shops or in big electronic shops like (QRS).

  • Why is the attitude very bad in Kerala?
  • Why the show owners not bothered to train employees to smile, provide right answers, or every feel apologetic when things are wrong?

    Age of Digital – Change or Die

    With the arrival of ecommerce platform, like Kada.in, Amazon, Flipcart or Jabong, an average consumer is inundated with options and choices to buy goods and services. I feel soon the heat of the business going to ecommerce will make these fellas realize the importance of customer service. Hopefully!

Opportunity for You To Stand Out – Just Give Exemplary Service
Here’s your chance to make a great impression by treating customers as real kings. Make them special, treat your best customers with extra care, and make them come back to your business. Or at least, giving good service makes them talk good about your business.

If you’re running a shop or a small business, then here’s your chance to build a unique mark in this area. It’s so easy, as most shops suck at customer service.

Things to Do or Visit or See around Bangalore M G Road

~ bjcharles ~ 3 Comments
When an old acquaintance asked what’s there to see and do in Bangalore. This offhand request caught me by surprise as I struggled to give problem suggestions. After this incident, I thought to myself about places and experience possible Bangalore. So, with little research and soul searching, I came up with this list!

1) Visit Tandoor House at M.G Road, for super fine, North Indian cuisine (Kebabs or chicken tandoori food). This place is pricey. But, your wallet allows, then visit here to enjoy the culinary delicasies from North India
2) Visit #1 M.G Road, Food Hall if you like to purchase exotic fruits, cheese, frozen food, spices, etc.Also, you get to shop different Indian spices
3) For night life, try out Park Hotel or ibar at Taj Vivanta
5) Try your luck at Blossoms book store at Church Street. They have a good collection of used books for reasonable price.
6) Get a pedicure or manicure done ( Foot Spa at Brigade Road) or try Happy Feet if you’re lazy to leave your home
7) Try Pecos pub at Brigade Road to experience the feel of one of the oldest pub in B’lore
8) Enjoy a refreshing coffee at Indian Coffee House in Church Street
9) Try hot momos ( dumplings) at affordable price at Tibetian Plaza – Brigade road.
10) Go for bowling at Amoebae, at Church Street
11) Experience the eclectic vibe of Bangalore – Visit Koshy’s restaurant to experience the ambiance, crowd and food.
12) Buy branded clothes at reasonable price from factory outlets at Marathahalli.
13) Enjoy scintillating dance shows at various dance bars spread across the city
14) Buy memorabilia, handicraft and sandal wood sculpturs at Kaveri Emporium, located at the beginning of Brigade Road.
15) Step inside Hard Rock Cafe, Bangalore for a refreshing beer..
16) Visit Airlines hotel. An old joint which is likely to be close down soon
17) Go binge drinking – from HRC, Tavern, Church Street Social, etc)
19) Explore one of the oldest markets in Bangalore ( Johnson Market, Russel Market). It’s just 3 – 4 km from M.G Road
20) Visit Kairali, for Kerala handicrafts
21) Walk around MG Road and get a glimpse of old churches in this locality( St Patrick’s, Trinity Church, St Mark’s Church)

And, if you need someone to talk to or just take you around Bangalore, you can call me

What Will You Do If You Meet Me In Person?

~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

What would you do if you meet me in PERSON?
Why don’t you ask yourself this question? What could be the outcome?

Here’re some questions I found from the Facebook post and I added few:

1) I would have coffee, & talk to you
2) Say nothing
3) Hold your hand & sing my fav song
4) Look around to see who is looking
5) Exchange thoughts or trade stories
6) Connect with things we have in common
7) Look for topics to connect
8) Courtesy talk…nothing else and false smile 🙂
9) Hold hands and pass the good feeling of having met a friend in a stranger
10) Gossip
11) Talk about the weather, life and pastimes
12) Quietly have coffee
13) Sip beer and let it all go
14) Talk about the latest movie
15) Talk about profession and it’s high & low points
16) Share how your life is meaningful for someone
17) Goals in life ( personal, health, financial & social)
18) Discuss on the latest book you read
19) Think how future would be with all the technology
20) Probe on your life’s goals
21) Ask something that’s uncomfortable to you
22) If you’re a social drinker, then ask for your fav drink, and place
21) Ask what you fear most in life? Getting old, getting caught,
22) What was the lowest point in your life?
23) Do you lie often or do add masala to your talk?
24) Ask if you can be trusted and the proof?
25) How good are with you time management and finance management?
26) Did you cheat anyone?
27) Did you feel betrayed lately?
28) Which movie gave you a high-shot of emotions?
29) You favorite moments with your parents or spouse?
30) What’s the next year’s plan?
31) Find out if the other a vision statement or vision board?
32) Ask about your prayers?
33) Find what disturbs you the most?
34) Learn what you look forward during a travel?
35) What books do you read the most?
36) What is your fetish in life, which no one knows?
37) How is your first sex experience?
38) Find out – When was the last time you did something for the first time?
40) Ask – Do you know to juggle balls or whistle?
41) Tell me – When did you last help a stranger?
42) Are you in grief – Do you miss anyone in your life? Whose death touched you the most?
43) Do you give surprises to people around you?
44) Ask – What you think on how others judge you?
45) Find ways to brighten the social life
46) Do you really thank people for the help?
47) Mentally judge me. What kind of creep is this fella?
48) Talk about politics or the buzz in town.
49) Know the more thrilling moment in life
50) Find out what you do to kill the time?

I’ve another post on meetup in Bangalore

12 Hotels Lodges Around Kumarapuram

~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment
Kumarapuram was know for it’s proximity to Medical College and due to this many Doctors started living in this vicinity. But now, people stay in Kumarapuram for more reasons. One is set of folks are from Maldivian, who here for treatment or for their kids education. Another set of folks who work at Technopark, Trivandrum.

Kumarapuram junction is now has a mix of people from other states, and people from other countries like Maldives, Saudi Arabia, who come for medical treatment in Trivandrum. Due to the convenient location to hospitals and to Technopark, there’s a surge in the rent and real estate value of land in Kumarapuram.

In this post, you’ll find the hotels and lodges few kilometers around Kumarapuram

  1. Hotel Ruby Arena, Medical College, Trivandrum
    (M)93881 07474        Landline: 0471-2557474
    Website: http://www.hotelrubyarena.com/index.html
    (It also includes bar, restaurant and coffee shop. )
  2. Hotel Adrek, Kumarapuram
    Telephone : +91- 471-2442325
    Email : info@adrakventures.com
    Website: http://www.adrakventures.com/adrakhotel/index.html
    ( Has around 30 plus room, restaurant and Mint Cafe that serves tandoor chicken, etc)
  3. Biverah Hotel & Suites in Kumarapuram
    Tel:  +91 471 2447 333,  +91 471 4211 111
    Email: comfort@biverah.com
    Website: http://biverah.com/
    Price range (per night): INR 2,404 – 3,552
    ( Latest hotel that boast of fine ambiance, coffee shop)

What’s wrong with these hotel websites

All these website are just copycats. There’s nothing to make it stand out.

  1. Generic brand Image- Can’t make out from their website, what they stand for – No Unique Identity 
  2. No proper navigation ( Plain navigation) Nothing great for visitors
  3. Boring content on all these website ( Text are just a drab)
  4. Not fully optimized for Search Engines – 
  5. No blog  ( personal voice missing)
  6. Dull boring design ( run-of-the-mill design template) Why can’t these website be unique? 
  7. No engagement from Social Media ( Facebook, Google+, Twitter)
    I wonder if these hoteliers know the importance of online marketing or building their brand online. How are they differentiating themselves in the physical and online space? What is their selling point? Is it customer service or food or anything else? 
    Well, it wont be long before they see how competitors acquire more guest from online sources. I feel that hospitality sector needs reeducation and awareness program on online marketing? 

    As a content & brand specialist, I can impart my knowledge to build a unique brand online. In case you’re interested to learn more then email me at bcc2charles@gmail.com or give me a call. FREE 20 min consultation.  

 Graceful Home Stay – Definite Class Apart 
PHRA 20-21 Philips Hill | Pothujanam Road, Kumarapuram, Trivandrum 695011, India
Ph# +81 2913 7203

A friend of mine, told me about this homestay. Later when I checked online, I was overwhelmed to see the positive reviews. I bet all credit goes to the people who are running the show.

Graceful Home Stay is know for the quite location, away from the city noises. I came to know that Mr Giles, one of the owner is a polyglot. He can fluently speak multiple European languages.

Budget Hotels & Lodges around Kumarapuram

to be updated


Maid Of Honor – Ideas to Upgrade Life Skills

~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment
Q: Are you more happy, healthy, or knowledgeable than you were – say, last week, last month or last year?

At one time our CEO used to pack this punch during our weekly meeting. After hearing it often, I felt the need to share this concept with you.

When was the last time you did something for the first time …

  • What new did you learn during last weekend?
  • What are you bringing back to the table?
  • Are you just warming your ass on the office chair?
  • Are you just following orders, doing what’s being told?

When I see young boys and girls proudly sporting office tag, I reminds me of – Big yellow tags  clipped to cattle’s ears. I wonder if they are just like cattle working is some factory or are they innovators in their space.

On the same lines of BPO or IT employee, even house maids to some extend are just working based on orders. Sometimes I wonder how they can excel in life and EARN more!

How can Maids learn new Skills  & Earn More Money?
I stay in Domlur, Bangalore. It’s a thickly packed neighborhood where most BDA houses share common wall. It’s a typical middle class, where most of the residents have a car and park it on the road.

Also, these middle class residents have maids. And what do these maids do. Most of them take care of washing, cleaning and scrubbing. From morning 7: AM till 11ish, maids of all age group, shapes and color walk in and out of these houses. As a people watcher, I keep tab of maids, their physic, work, etc.

Describing four Maids In Our Locality – Domlur Village Maids 

Maid # 1 – She must be in her early 20’s, dark in complexion, with over sized bosom. She uses water to clean her owners’ white Honda City Car. Also does some errands.

Maid # 2 – Matured, hot lady in her early 30’s, with dark and oily skin. She falls under the super horny type, meaty one. Call her red hot blackie. She sweeps the courtyard and washes vessels

Maid # 3  A middle aged lady, working at the adjacent house. Nothing peculiar about her, she always sports a worried look. Her task involves sweeping the floor, doing errands, and lavishly sports her midriffs.

Maid # 4 – And last our maid, Mrs Valli, a timid lady and mother of three. She does vessel cleaning and cleaning the floors.

Now, I have these question for you and for them:

  1. Do they ever job satisfaction? What motivates them – Is it no work!
  2. Will they ever get enough money to save for a retired life?
  3. What are their aspirations? How can they improve their income?
  4. Do they save money to any pension fund scheme !

Now, the most important question for you – Will you care to show a way or teach your maids a way to upgrade their skills.

Here I listed out options that came to my mind.

  1. Learn Cooking & Become a Part Time Cook
    Upgrade skills by becoming a cook ( Part time or full time ( Learn different cuisines – North Indian, South Indian dishes or become a specialist in any particular cuisine ) Eg, fish curry specialist, chicken or biryani specialist. As a cook, you’ll double of what you earn as a maid. You can step into this domain by getting first into a job of cutting vegetables, mixing flour for chappati, etc.
  2. Take-up Beautician Course – Learn Beauty Treatment
    Beautician job is ideal for young, attractive and people who have liking towards grooming. You ans take a short course on beauty treatment or learn pedicure and manicure. Or you can work in a ladies parlour to pick free lessons from there.
  3. Take Care of Elderly People or Lonely People in BangaloreGet trained in geriatric care and take care of aged people, parents or individuals living in any apartment. With aging population, there’s a rising demand for trustworthy people.
  4. Learn Massage & Become a masseur
    Become a masseur – Give your memsahibs a feel good massage, starting with a leg massage. I think there are many lonely and bored housewife’s in Bangalore, who are reluctant to go out for a massage. Give that personal touch, and they will refer you to their friends and neighbours.
  5. Learn Gardening
    Gardening skills is also a possibility. Learn to replant or add manure, or maintain a lawn or clean the weeds or arrange the pots. If you’ve green hands, then this one is for you. Also simultaneously start a small nursery and start selling plants. Visit a local nursery for more ideas or just start with a minimal investment.Even you can start collecting cow dung, dry it and set it in packets.
  6. New Born Care ( Washing babies & Post Delivery Care)
    Can you good at taking care of newly born babies or do you take care of young mothers after their  delivery. All these skills can be learned by experience and it fetches more than doing housework.
Well, opportunities are endless, but most maids live and die as maids. What a waste of sheer talent, beauty or skills? This post is for you and me.

If you think it’s a practicable idea, then sponsor your maid for a higher studies. With this, you’re giving them an opportunity to excel, earn more and create more employment.

Will you be the mentor, guide or you just remain as a master?

Well, I told my maid about taking beauty course. At first she appeared interested, and went on to say that she is a fast learner. I got excited about this but when I asked about it after a week, then she said that her husband don’t like such jobs.

I wonder if she is telling the truth or is she was thinking that I had some other ulterior motive? I dropped the cause! So, who losses – Us!

Whatever, it is I keep telling people about such plans. I hope someone will work it out

Amen to them!

Fresh Resolution for 2013

~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment
During my 20’s and my 30’s I love to make resolution and break yearly resolution. And today on new year’s eve, I”m still contemplating on making resolution…

Let’s take away the word resolution, and think of something like me, in people around me…

  • Meeting more men and women ( widening my social circle)
  • Contribute something back to the society ( I like clean public toilet initiative)
  • Do public talk on content marketing 
  • Share my knowledge on web with younger gen
And 

today ( Nov 2013)…my resolutions are still on paper!