Sojourn at Lalbagh

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It’s, the nursery at Lal Bagh, Bangalore. It hosts wide varieties of flowering, ornamental, indoor, bonsai, palm and all kinds of plants for your garden. How I landed here. I attended the seminar conducted by siliconIndia at NIMHANS auditorim. Since I didn’t attend any of the high-tech seminar, I had plenty of time to spare. From the venue, I darted on the one way road, not knowing where it will lead… Further, I went along with the traffic, only to come to Lal Bagh junction. Now, it was clear where I was.
Soon, I found myself buying a ticket. Parked my vechile next to the nursery and walked it. I had no intention of buying any plants but my green instintcs took over me. I bought two plants. One ornamental and the other ivy kind.
Paid at the counter, where a bean counter did type in the details. Bought a tea from the next door counter and walked out with little hopes of a greeny future.

Scilicon india meet

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Silicon India organized this meet of techocratcs, startups in Bangalore.. I registered for this event and dashed to reach there early on Saturday..

I lazied around the stalls.. many of it was just getting ready for the act. Stoped at few.. and then breezed after most of them.

Lonely?

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Imagine spending a weekend with no single activity to pursue…. your wife/girl friends/friends away, or they are preoccupied!

yes, this similar situation haunted me for couple of weekends and I’m now dent on finding a way to kill my isolation chamber.

Lonely in Bangalore?
So far I’ve tried out different ways to find a activity partner in this city full of strangers, but it’s not working the way I had envisaged. I traveled to off-beat country routes, I went to flea markets to hunt down souvenir, went to used book stores to buy couple of fiction titles, and went to near by club to play T.T … so on…

But in-spite of my attempt to find a real passion to unwind a fruitful weekend left we with half-hearted success. When I look back I wonder what I lacked.

The sudden emptiness caused with the departure of my wife ( on work project ) took unexpected jolt on my otherwise busy weekend activity. One thing is sure, I had no back-up activities, I depended entirely on one person to full-fill all my life’s plans.

Coming days will be a testing time on how I can reach out to similar people, lock on to do or start a lively relationship. Sure, there are lonely people like me looking out to experiment, or expand their life beyond their existing realm….

Here’s a link on how well you can start talking to a stranger….

Time keepers – a fading business

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I’ve a freaky attraction towards small “watch repair” shops. Don’t know when I started this fancy towards the “men” in glass boxes. Probably, it starts with my fancy to collect used watches.

What’s unusual about their biz. Their work area is mostly littered heaping scrapes of dead watches of all imaginable shapes and sizes. In these no frill walls you can see the framed watch mechanic with his inseparable gadget – one eyed magnifying glasses. Most often these shops are run by second generation of repair folks who has inherited the skill and booty from his father.

Looking back, my fancy towards this biz started with my crazy idea of buying used watches from these shops.

It started my habit form the shops in Trivandrum. There was one shop run by man who is well past seventy . This frail looking man with a charming smile had his small shop in a small one room title shop adjoining a hotel. Every day on my way to work I pass by his shop. One day I stopped at his shop repair one of many dead watches.

He promptly did this repair work and in our regular deals I asked him for a used watch. I told him my kind of watch, something with a big dial, three button etc… He showed me few from his collection…

I choose one watch, brand “Tower”. It had a very big dial and it instantly catches anyone’s attention. Only the outer shell was the original, the engine was replaced by a cheap automated one.

I had pretty long dealings with his man, till I moved to a new work place. Later I saw that the shop was raised down for road expansion and later I came to know that he passed away..

Years passed on and recently I met another watch repair fellow. This time in Bangalore. He is relatively young, but he too has a tale to tell. He too has his glass box full of bits and pieces of watches of all shapes and sizes. Something that tells of his long tenure in this business. Probably he inherited this skill from his father…

I took a chance to capture a snap of him while he was repairing my watch.

More stories on my later blog…

Vechile insurance – Indira nagar

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Last Saturday, I ventured to the near by haven of vehicle agents, driving school at Indira Nagar. I had started my four wheeler driving class in one of the driving school and I wanted to get the tax renewal for my Thunderbird.

I had contacted few agents and the prices quoted started from Rs 550 to Rs 800 for a two wheeler. Somehow, I wanted to find a direct way to pay this tax. After going around the Indira Nagar BDA complex, I asked one shopkeeper who showed me the building at the old side.

This dull looking building behind the petrol pump was the office of new India Assurance. It was Saturday as was promptly closed for business. With no business in hand, I shot two pics from my Cannon S5IS. At least I can share this bit of info with other people who look to save a bit of money in this hard times…

New India Assurance ( Indira Nagar, opposite to BDA complex, Above Punjab Bank )

Timings

Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 5:30
cash counter open – 10:00 to 1:00 & 2:00 to 4:00

Saturday and Sunday holiday

A peek into high school memories – KV Pattom

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Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom, Trivandrum –

Old school group pictures hold treasured memories. Many like me cling to the old school pictures for short nostalgic journey through the black and white years of life.

This black and white picture belongs to the class of 83’ from Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom. This group picture was taken when I was in class 9. I rediscovered this old school snap in one of the magazines. This time I scanned so that I don’t loose it again.

This one picture brings backs fond memories of my alma mater, CENTRAL SCHOOL at Pattom, Trivandrum.

20 years or more has slipped by. My school mates at Pattom Central school have long graduated to different echelons of life. I heard that one fellow has become a civil servant, few are working as clerks in Govt offices but the vast majority has gone away in the mist of time.

At times, I wonder how they fare in life? What job they do for living? What dreams are they chasing, and how’s life treating them.

Our batch at Kendriya Vidyala Pattom was famous for many reasons. One thing, our batch produced the largest number of compartments. I still wonder how managed to scrape through the 10th exam, yes much to my relief and for my parents.

I remember many teachers who had made their indelible mark on all of us. English teacher, Sreekumari Madam, Sudha teacher who taught Chemistry, Late Chacko Sir ( Physical Education ), Pushkaran Sir who taught us to many funny looking hangers, Sarojani Mam who taught Hindi , Sanskrit sir who took extra pain to teach me during vacation….

With many years behind, I wonder if I can connect with any of these old timers’. Will they be able to recollect me from this group picture? I wonder if they will.

I would like to peek inside this sprawling school compound and retrace those golden moments inside this institution that shaped the fortune of many souls. Probably, I’ll take pics of old class rooms, the assembly area, top ground, Principle’s room etc that hold the sweet bygone moments of my childhood.

Can anyone get me the pics of the teachers who taught us, the science, arts and life?

Recession sales in Bangalore

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One of the vegetable vendor at Domlur market place


Gone are the good old days of frenzy shopping spree in the gleaming Foodworld’s Spenser’s or big Bazaar’s in Bangalore. Recession, layoff news, frozen appraisal has culled my usage of plastic cards. The compulsive shopper in me is all set for a long winter hibernation.

Reason for fewer trips to the mall
Apart from the bad economic signs, the poor customer service has prompted me to take a hasty retreat from these product aisles. As a customer, big Food World or Spenser’s or Big Bazaar’s offer no stimulus to shop or to repeat my shopping.

I used to be a frequent customer at the Food World store at Cambridge Layout, but there are no friendly nods from the busy shop attendants. Forget familiarly factor, but where is feel good factor during my visit in these glassy shops?

Discount signs every where in Bangalore
These days DISCOUNT signs are the only apparent signs at all shopping stores. I feel it’s a poor way to attract repeat business. Even though you get wide product choices, the soul of purchase in not about choice or savings; it’s also about feeling good about shopping and giving a better shopping experience.

I used to think that I’m alone to feel like this. But when I heard from an employee at an open forum in office, I felt that I’m not alone. He said he now prefers to shop from small time street vendors instead of the shopping blocks.

New shopping experience
Yes, that’s what exactly I’m doing now. I’m happy to buy from the ladies who sell vegetables from their wooden trolley or push carts. They are all happy to service you and very happy when you purchase more than Rs 20/-. (A similar amount spent at any shopping mall will get you a curious look from counter staff)

When I spend my hard earned dough at these small time vendors, I go with the happy feeling that it directly feeds her family and contributes to her little wealth.

Customer is the King
So, what are you waiting for? Now is the time for you demand better service and not treat you as one of kind in the store.

For these big Daddy brands, it’s time to take a change the defunct way of treating their customers. It’s better they try out ways to better shopping experience or else this recession phase is going to hit bad on the cash register.

Cambridge Layout views

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Picture of Sai Baba temple, Cambridge Layout. This is a famous landmark in this layout. Most often when I get into the auto I say this as a point to make it clear to the auto fellas. In spite of this, these auto guys used to take me around and charge for the round about fare.

Thursday is the most important day for SaiBaba temple. Devotees flock to this temple on this day and the whole area wears a busy look.

Chappal stand @ SaiBaba Temple

A Diamond is Forever

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Recently I was preparing a trivia question for my team and I came upon this slogan, “ A Diamond is Forever“.

Going deep about this De Beers ad, I found that it was Created by N.W. Ayer & Sons, Inc. and tis slogan has been in use since 1948.

“A Diamond is Forever” stood in time for De Beers, ever since Frances Gerety, a young copywriter, dreamed up the famous line in her sleep. Further this line has etched in our memory with the James Bond flick, “Diamonds are for ever“.

And taking of Diamonds, I’ve a promise to fulfill. I’ve promised my better half a diamond and by the way recession is heading, I fear for the worst.