Saturday Morning saw us heading towards Orlando, with tickets to the Sea World. Its a 2 Hour drive from jacksonville to Orlando. Florida can be so lush green that we were left wondering if this wasnt "Gods own Country!!".
Though this was my second trip to the Sea World, I still found it every bit as exciting as the first time. Its amazing to see how the trainers bond with the animals. Its evident that its not just a job for them, its a passion and a love for these animals that goes well beyond the calls of duty. And this is what makes these shows so special. Its simply a must visit place for anyone, kids especially.
We did see quite a few unexpected animals as well, a manatee - closest relative of an elephant apparently, an ant eater, a lemur , a koala, a kangaroo, a camel!!, foxes and cheetah's to name a few.
And ofcourse Shamu, sea lions and the dolphins. A fun day overall.
And do you know why Flamingo's are pink?
he he.. cos they eat shrimps.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Sunday, March 23, 2008
It happens only in India 2
Its a rat race out here. And you are a part of it whether you want to accept it or not.
If you are a small electronics shop owner by the street, with no big brand backing you, you'd probably relate to this incident. But it simply left me speechless.
I walk into a store marked Nokia Priority Dealer, to replace my almost dead phone batteries. The man at the counter certainly knew his business and one look at my phone and he says "Battery badalna padega!!", confirming my suspicion. The Original Nokia battery replacement would come to Rs 750 he said. So then i asked for the cheapest, most basic handset that i could get and apparently i could get handsets for nearly Rs 1200.
Following my line of thought, the man said "Saab yeh handset kaafi accha hai! Aap Battery badal lo". I could get local batteries that would do the job, just for Rs 200, he said. He also went on to point me to the shop next door, where i could get the local batteries.
Thanking him for his help, I proceeded to the shop next door to see if that indeed was an option. A boy sat at the counter, and once i explained my problem to him, he said he'll be right back. A few minutes later, the man from the first store (the Nokia priority dealer, who had redirected me here) walked in. In one swift motion he slid across the counter. Without batting an eyelid, in the most solemn tone asked me "kya Problem hai sir". I was speechless. He did not even pretend that he had seen me a few minutes earlier. In his now familiar solemn voice, he went to explain that i needed a battery replacement!!.
Well!! You have to do what you have to do to survive. But this was the best i have seen. Certainly an "it happens only in india moment!!"
If you are a small electronics shop owner by the street, with no big brand backing you, you'd probably relate to this incident. But it simply left me speechless.
I walk into a store marked Nokia Priority Dealer, to replace my almost dead phone batteries. The man at the counter certainly knew his business and one look at my phone and he says "Battery badalna padega!!", confirming my suspicion. The Original Nokia battery replacement would come to Rs 750 he said. So then i asked for the cheapest, most basic handset that i could get and apparently i could get handsets for nearly Rs 1200.
Following my line of thought, the man said "Saab yeh handset kaafi accha hai! Aap Battery badal lo". I could get local batteries that would do the job, just for Rs 200, he said. He also went on to point me to the shop next door, where i could get the local batteries.
Thanking him for his help, I proceeded to the shop next door to see if that indeed was an option. A boy sat at the counter, and once i explained my problem to him, he said he'll be right back. A few minutes later, the man from the first store (the Nokia priority dealer, who had redirected me here) walked in. In one swift motion he slid across the counter. Without batting an eyelid, in the most solemn tone asked me "kya Problem hai sir". I was speechless. He did not even pretend that he had seen me a few minutes earlier. In his now familiar solemn voice, he went to explain that i needed a battery replacement!!.
Well!! You have to do what you have to do to survive. But this was the best i have seen. Certainly an "it happens only in india moment!!"
Thursday, March 20, 2008
It Happens Only In India
India.. the land of mystics, the land of yoga, the land of meditation..
If this is the india you have read about and find intriguing, all you need to do is step onto one of our roads. In that single act you will have thrown yourself into the depths of indian mysticism, yoga and meditation...
After all after being thrown into the deep end of a pool, you have no choice but to learn how to swim.
Step onto an indian road and you would have learnt your first few lessons in Yoga. Ofcourse if you had bigger plans, it requires knowledge of extreme asanas and flexibility to navigate through the traffic on foot or a two wheeler. It is not surprising then that Yoga is given such importance in our country. Ofcourse the art of meditation and breath control are extremely essential to survive on a long term basis.
During one such session of yoga and meditation, stuck in an autorickshaw at a signal in Bangalore, I witnessed an act of extreme creativity and brilliance.
Ater about ten minutes of meditation at the signal, my auto walla got his turn to cross the road. To my dismay however, the signal did not seem to apply to anyone else on the road and vehicles kept coming in all directions. This is when it all happened. I saw my autorickshaw walla slip his hand into his pocket. A couple of seconds later i heard a shrill whistle, that caused the traffic on all sides to pause for a sec thinking it was a cop. My autorickshaw ofcourse continued and managed to cross the signal. And then i saw my auto walla pocket the whistle very calmly and continue as if nothing had happened. He must have slipped back to his meditation.
But he had me in splits for the rest of my journey. I am sure he had no clue why i was laughing.
Well, I suppose this is why we love this place so much, despite all the problems we have. This happens only in India!!
If this is the india you have read about and find intriguing, all you need to do is step onto one of our roads. In that single act you will have thrown yourself into the depths of indian mysticism, yoga and meditation...
After all after being thrown into the deep end of a pool, you have no choice but to learn how to swim.
Step onto an indian road and you would have learnt your first few lessons in Yoga. Ofcourse if you had bigger plans, it requires knowledge of extreme asanas and flexibility to navigate through the traffic on foot or a two wheeler. It is not surprising then that Yoga is given such importance in our country. Ofcourse the art of meditation and breath control are extremely essential to survive on a long term basis.
During one such session of yoga and meditation, stuck in an autorickshaw at a signal in Bangalore, I witnessed an act of extreme creativity and brilliance.
Ater about ten minutes of meditation at the signal, my auto walla got his turn to cross the road. To my dismay however, the signal did not seem to apply to anyone else on the road and vehicles kept coming in all directions. This is when it all happened. I saw my autorickshaw walla slip his hand into his pocket. A couple of seconds later i heard a shrill whistle, that caused the traffic on all sides to pause for a sec thinking it was a cop. My autorickshaw ofcourse continued and managed to cross the signal. And then i saw my auto walla pocket the whistle very calmly and continue as if nothing had happened. He must have slipped back to his meditation.
But he had me in splits for the rest of my journey. I am sure he had no clue why i was laughing.
Well, I suppose this is why we love this place so much, despite all the problems we have. This happens only in India!!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
10 ways the world could end : Stephen Petranek on Ted.com
An old speech, but still very relevant and leaves you with lots to think about.
Click here to watch the video.
Click here to watch the video.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
How costly is Outsourcing?
Well the success of India's outsourcing industry has been widely written about and discussed threadbare in almost every forum. It is something we as indians have found reason to be proud of and hope to better ourselves in. From basic call centres to actuarial work, reading MRI scans, financial consulting and ofcourse software. The journey has been great so far. And now we have taken the next step. The step that we think is going to take our country to greater heights. Manufacturing.
I read in a recent publication, that 'Many production processes are shifted to other countries, mostly developing countries. This is based not only on economics but also the decreasing acceptance of environmental pollution in industrialized countries, because policy makers and people in developing countries like India are unaware of or indifferent to long-term benefits and costs. They cannot see beyond the tips of their noses.'
This is not something that can be brushed away or taken lightly. Pollution and quality of life are taken seriously world over, and rightly so. After all, like someone said - "Life is not the destination, but its the journey itself".
These countries have been where we are now and are out full swing correcting their mistakes. We just need to learn from their mistakes, instead of repeating them. Just do it right from the beginning.
But thats easier said than done. In India its always been "chalta hai", "swalpa adjust madi".. or simply "I keep my house clean!!!".
While the government can be blamed for everything, from ineffective policy implementation, lack of farsightedness or not providing sufficient facilities, we as Indians ought to learn some self discipline. The government can provide dustbins, but people need to see some use for it.
And of course there is no dearth of argument's. "But the government does not empty the bins on time." will be the prompt reply.
For a majority of us Indians, this is life. It is probably because we have seen/heard no better. And having been in such an environment all along we dont realise what a mess we are in. Just today my parents, back from a train journey in a 3rd AC compartment, casually mentioned how the entire compartment was littered with the covers/bags in which the railways bed sheets are delivered in. The sheets were used and the covers were thrown, well, no place in particular. And people just walked around treading on these covers, least bothered. I guess that in a nutshell is what happens everywhere. There is a general lack of concern.
Only when we as individuals understand and respect the simple need for a clean public environment, can we think of effectively setting up safe, clean manufacturing units without damaging the environment.
I am all for development and more manufacturing work coming to India. But this should be done keeping in mind the impact it could have in the long run.
There is hope, and plenty of it. It is the emergence of the well read, well traveled bourgeoisie Indian, whose voice is gradually being heard above all the political hue and cry. Lots of NGO's are mushrooming all over the country helping these voices. I am sure very soon these voices will reinforce each other to drown out everything else.
It is important that people are given the opportunity to see something done right. And am sure it wont be long before they realize what they have been doing wrong.
Like someone said - " We have not inherited the earth from our forefathers but have borrowed it from our grandchildren."
And we owe this to them. So guys, its your turn to do your bit.
I read in a recent publication, that 'Many production processes are shifted to other countries, mostly developing countries. This is based not only on economics but also the decreasing acceptance of environmental pollution in industrialized countries, because policy makers and people in developing countries like India are unaware of or indifferent to long-term benefits and costs. They cannot see beyond the tips of their noses.'
This is not something that can be brushed away or taken lightly. Pollution and quality of life are taken seriously world over, and rightly so. After all, like someone said - "Life is not the destination, but its the journey itself".
These countries have been where we are now and are out full swing correcting their mistakes. We just need to learn from their mistakes, instead of repeating them. Just do it right from the beginning.
But thats easier said than done. In India its always been "chalta hai", "swalpa adjust madi".. or simply "I keep my house clean!!!".
While the government can be blamed for everything, from ineffective policy implementation, lack of farsightedness or not providing sufficient facilities, we as Indians ought to learn some self discipline. The government can provide dustbins, but people need to see some use for it.
And of course there is no dearth of argument's. "But the government does not empty the bins on time." will be the prompt reply.
For a majority of us Indians, this is life. It is probably because we have seen/heard no better. And having been in such an environment all along we dont realise what a mess we are in. Just today my parents, back from a train journey in a 3rd AC compartment, casually mentioned how the entire compartment was littered with the covers/bags in which the railways bed sheets are delivered in. The sheets were used and the covers were thrown, well, no place in particular. And people just walked around treading on these covers, least bothered. I guess that in a nutshell is what happens everywhere. There is a general lack of concern.
Only when we as individuals understand and respect the simple need for a clean public environment, can we think of effectively setting up safe, clean manufacturing units without damaging the environment.
I am all for development and more manufacturing work coming to India. But this should be done keeping in mind the impact it could have in the long run.
There is hope, and plenty of it. It is the emergence of the well read, well traveled bourgeoisie Indian, whose voice is gradually being heard above all the political hue and cry. Lots of NGO's are mushrooming all over the country helping these voices. I am sure very soon these voices will reinforce each other to drown out everything else.
It is important that people are given the opportunity to see something done right. And am sure it wont be long before they realize what they have been doing wrong.
Like someone said - " We have not inherited the earth from our forefathers but have borrowed it from our grandchildren."
And we owe this to them. So guys, its your turn to do your bit.
We have not inherited the earth from our forefathers but have borrowed it from our grandchildren
Now thats something we ought to always keep in mind!!
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