Taking the HINT!!

We were sitting in our office the other day when a client guest walked in and requested for a working place. He was shown to a secluded place where he would have got his space but instead he kept insisting in sitting amongst us. He could not take the hint and he there he was sitting creating an uneasy atmosphere in the room.

There are a lot of times when this happens to all of us where we refuse to take the hint. When a host says what would you like to have for an evening drink, would you think it’s better to ask what he has to offer and then pick your choice?

The other day somebody requested for borrowing an Asterix Comic Book from a host friend. Now this guy has a policy of not letting out these possessions. So when asked he hesitatingly requested that this be rather read inside the house. But this friend kept on insisting when I had to blurt out the policy on behalf embarrassing both him and the host. We could have avoided this.

Another quick episode that occurs almost everyday. Say, we are a group of four having a conversation. Suddenly two or three would break into their own mother tongue leaving the balance dumbfounded. You try and converse once or twice in the common medium but these guys would not listen. You have no alternative other than to bear it or walk away. They just don't take the hint.

So when you keep insisting on something, would you take a quick nanosecond moment to thinks if there is a hidden hint from the opposite side and then please take it. This character demonstration would also be known to show you as a polite person. I am sure you would like to be one!!! Sphere: Related Content

Media and our Voyeuristic Misdemeanor

Reality TV seems to showing everything these days. Relationships, behavior, morals, taboos are being discussed, enacted and shown live on different channels. The consumer is like a voyeur, without any self inflicting morals, digesting these, day in and day out. The Internet also helps. Video channels allow you to upload anything for anybody to see and comment. Now I am not here to judge societal values and morals and that’s not the idea behind putting together these words. But then perhaps there is a limit to how much we should give and conversely how much we should take.

I heard lately that Jade Goody (Big Brother Fame) wants to broadcast her death on Television. Now surely I am definitely not the one who would watch the proceedings and this does not have anything to do with my respect for mankind. When you die, no matter what you have accomplished in life, the dignity of the remains is supreme and would perhaps increase. But the process of death is inevitable and is a private one. The process per se of this natural sequence of events is surely to be kept for family and friends and medical assistants if needed.

The problem here is not Jade Goody herself. She is dying of cancer. Her only claim to fame is her Big Brother participation and racist comments and subsequent reversals in stance. She knows that she generates the ever ready hyena like media to get some footage out of her. Her wish therefore emanates from this understanding. She also knows that suckers are there to do exactly what suckers do.

Then we have another bombarding our brains from the media. Alfie Patten, the 13 year old father with his new born son on Youtube, print and everywhere else, communicate his part of the story. I wonder about the senses of the parents on both sides of the new parents and how degenerated they are.

This is not an attribute of the British (both of the above are British); rather it’s the sorry state of mind of “we the people” irrespective of countries and breed. Maybe tomorrow you would have people fornicating on the streets and then the media covering the event live(surely they would). Then while they broadcast the same we would munch pop corn and watch the thriller. This would be an orgasm and perhaps death on TV would generate the same voyeuristic hormones in our brains. Sometimes and these days a lot of time it feels that a significant percentage of us have been samples of the worst produce of mutation.

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My Kind of Pizza

No matter what the original looks like in Italy, I started having Pizzas way back and that too in India. Those days you did not have the large international chains and therefore were entirely dependent on the home grown pizza restaurants. In fact in Kolkata there was only one joint serving Pizzas somewhere in Park Street. When I was in Delhi, I was introduced to the Nirula's Chain of outlets and we used to wait for any sundry occasion to either visit of call for a Pizza. Later on the international chains started coming in and we started sampling the Pizza Huts and Dominos.

My maximum no of Pizza consumptions took place while I was in Korea and that too mostly from Pizza Hut. Then somebody introduced Papa John's and I thought that the latter was a trifle better. In Dubai I have had Pizzas from the international chains as well as local restaurants. Pizza Hut is quite common all over town, while you would find Papa Johns too. The other day I located Dominos in Deira but still do not know whether they home deliver or not.

Now back to the topic itself, the kind of pizza I like is quite similar to most of you. Should be hot and there should be lots of cheese. Now there are two more specifications that I look for and they are the quantum of hotness and how crispy they are. In fact I prefer thin crust pizzas with lots of jalapenos, pepperoni and mozarrella on a pesto base. Fried buffalo wings as accompaniment and a can of acid errr.. Coke would do good!!! The best Pizza I had in Dubai is from a restaurant named Garden and this is not the one beside Ravi in Ghusais. This is somewhere inside AL NAHDA 2. Next time I will remember to post the address and contacts of this place. Satisfaction is guaranteed. Do try their pastas too. Good Stuff. 8 out of 10!!! Sphere: Related Content

The Great Kabab Factory, Dubai

I still remember the first visit to the Great Kabab Factory in Delhi about 10 years back. The concept was novel, the food was delicious and the service was impeccable. Since then they have opened new outlets in Greater Delhi and all our sojourns to these places were fantastic experiences. So when we heard and read about GKF in Dubai, the brain cells processing food taste became active and we were looking for an opportunity to sample the overseas fare.

So we did a fair bit of review and then off we went to Dubai Mall on a Saturday evening. Let me explain the concept at GKF. Basically it’s a sit down Buffet that means food is served on an unlimited basis at a pace and sequence of your desire. So a typical offering would be six types of Kababs (Non Veg or Veg and you need to choose your stream upfront!!). Two types of Dal, a vegetable and Indian Breads would be served. There would be a Biryani and the evening would end with a dessert. In the beginning there would be some salad too. Soft beverages and water is charged separately. A meal for one costs about 125 AED.

We were served the following:

Salad : Lettuce, Pineapples, Cucumber with a tangy mustard dressing. This was good and we had a repeat at the end of the meal.
Kababs : First to arrive was the Galouti Kabab. This is made of Mutton Mince that would almost melt in your mouth. It was served hot and was delicious. I was not impressed with the Ulti Tawa ke Paratha(wheat flour dough pancake roasted with oil on a reversed flat pan). The taste was insipid and nothing to talk about.
Then arrived the Chicken Kabad which was napped in good Indian spices and this was nothing to talk about. The meat was not smooth and rather fibrous.
The third on the agenda was I suspect hammour napped in coriander and mint sauced and deep fried. This fish was exquisite.
` Next in line was a Garlic Chicken Boti. Small cubes of chicken breast marinated with Garlic, Yoghurt and other spices and then grilled. This was unimpressive too. I reckon the marination was not properly completed and therefore the chicken was not soft.
The fifth was a Mutton Burra which means marinated mutton chops grilled in a tandoor (An Indian oven). The mutton was not well done and was tough.
The sixth was a Chicken Seekh Kabab that was again insipid and underdone.
Breads: The variety of Breads that were served was:
1. I have already talked about the Ulti Tawa ke Paratha.
2. There was some Nan which was not bad.
3. The Sheermal was a disaster. I have never seen such terrible Sheernal being served in a restaurant leave alone our previous GKF experiences. (A special type of Kashmiri Roti, Sheermal is special sweet bread prepared using yeast. It is made of wheat flour, sugar, butter and milk, flavored with saffron. This bread is about 20 cm in diameter, 2 cm thick, and the crust is covered with sesame seeds. It is usually baked in traditional tandoor.) It was oily, and had no taste whatsoever.
4. The Saunf (Fennel) flavoured Bakarkhani (a Sheermal derivative-popular in Dhaka) was good. The first piece was hot and fabulous. The repeat was cold and underdone!!
Dal : The two lentil dishes were good. One was a Yellow Dal while the other was a traditional Dal Makhni.
Biryani : The first time I was served only rice and that was cold. On pointing out the flaw, the waiter had to get a proper refill with pieces of meat too. This was unpardonable.
Dessert: There was a choice of Mung Dal Halwa, Firni and Gulab Jamun. The Firni had not set properly and was not creamy. The Mung Dal Halwa was passable.


In the beginning as soon as we entered the restaurants a smart alec waiter tried to veer us toward this notice board where the menu is written and the concept explained. I did not like the way we were greeted in the sense that he should have politely explained us his objective for taking us in front of the board and then done the deed. Assuming that people are unaware, uneducated and unintelligent is not a good sign. Things can be done better. Perhaps when one sits down you could come to the table and explain the whole deal.


The ambience left much to be desired but I give the benefit of doubt since this was part of a food court. But then your charges are un-food court like and I would demand and expect a more cosy atmosphere.


Food needs to improve a lot especially compared to our Delhi experiences. Quality sometimes comes at a price but then when you pay that price you must get that quality. My overall score with the baggage of my older GKF experiences would be a 6 out of 10. If I remove the baggage I would add another 0.5 to the rating. Will I take a guest to this place for a meal? In the current circumstances it’s a No. If you are willing to pay and try out this place please do go ahead at your own risk. The bottom line has to change before I venture back here. Sphere: Related Content

Dubai Accidents

There isn't a single day these days when the morning news papers in Dubai are not without a report on some accident or the other along with some related deaths. Who knew that this would be their last day on Earth when they came out for work early morning.

I have been talking about Road Rage, Driving Etiqettes and so on and so forth but then a) nobody reads my blogs and b) even if they do would they change and c) would they really want to change.

Today morning on Emirates Road I saw a Toyota Corolla swerving from one lane to another at speeds higher than 120 kmph without signals and taking other motorists by surprise. In another occasion on Beirut Road today a Hummer was bullying an Yaris while the latter was driving at 80 kmph there which is the speed limit!!

We talk about authorities patroling the streets but that's only one part of the solution. Driving licenses when awarded must judge the skills rather than be dependant on the examiners mood swings!! To give you an example, a colleague failed his road test for the fourth time(what's new you would say..). But this is not about him. In the same car there were four examinees. One of them while starting the car had the hand breaks on. It took some time for him to realise this and then he released the brake with his feet on the accelerator pressed and the car jumped and tyres screeched. This is the guy who passed out of the four!!

Then comes of course your inherent respect for other fellow human beings. But that's being too idealistic I guess. History does not support this and I am sure the future would be pretty much the same. Prejudices, hatred and selfishness of human beings are the main risks facing the Almighty in HIS project named EARTH LIFE.

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Road Rage - Dubai

The other day I happened to visit Lulu Hypermarket in Qusais. I had already entered the parking lot and was slowly cruising to locate a parking slot. There was this T junction and a vehicle from the left was trying to barge in though it was my right of way. I went ahead and then found this gentlemen rolling down his window and uttering obscenities in a language that I don’t understand. I ignored him but then this fellow in a Hummer overtook me by swerving onto the footpath and then tried to bang his vehicle against mine. Luckily there was a lane that I could get into and I escaped the attention of this mad man. I think I did well to get off from his sight by controlling my own blood pressure in a foreign land where perhaps I may not get a favorable decree.

On the roads, people frequently try to barge in to your lane dangerously or even try to bully you from behind. The other day I was driving on Academic City road at 80 on cruise control (!) when this Nissan Patrol kept honking and flashing till I gave way. Now when the speed limit was defined why would I need to adhere to the whims of a fellow driver? But then again, road rage is something that I rather stay away from as a philosophy.

There is a lot of talk of driving safely by newspapers, columns, the authorities but then nothing seems to be working. The unruly drivers are carrying on with their stunts. Some talk about education. I tend to think that it’s all about upbringing, etiquette and culture. These qualities are not only about speech but also about how you lead your life at home and outside. The mindset of not caring about others is increasing among people and that’s a sad reflection of the society that we live in.

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A Fishy Experience - Bu Qtair, Umm Sequim, Dubai ( Opposite Fishing Village)

The catch of the day were Sherry, Black Pomphret and Jhinga(Prawns). Two fish and one Crustacean napped in Malabari/Kerala Spices all ready to be fried. We stood in queue in the small portacabin and waited patiently for our turn. You need to point out the fish and quantity in terms of the metric weight system and then patiently wait outside.

The tables are arranged for you on the sand. The cool sea breeze, the Burj Al Arab view and the hot fish…feels and sounds good. We were five of us and everybody enjoyed their fill.

My take was as follows:
a) The oil was toxic after repeated use and that’s an issue.
b) The fish were over fried and therefore became burnt and carcinogenic.
c) The spice was not spicy in terms of flavor and hotness.
d) Salt was not adequate.

If you really insist, I might take you there or accompany you but would like to try some excuses to avoid the sojourn. A lot of people do come to this extremely popular joint and who am I to judge their preference; but then I have some reservations as mentioned above. My ranking would be a 5 on 10. Suggestions could work wonders for this place but I might charge some consultancy. Till such an event I reckon you are on your own as far as Bu Qtair is concerned. Sphere: Related Content

Driving License in Dubai or Luck by Chance?

When I came to Dubai the most difficult task explained to me was of getting my driving license. For any resident in Dubai this is so very true. This is the toughest accomplishment you would perhaps achieve and that too, a lot without you having too much of control.
To start from the beginning, one of the first tasks would be for you to enroll into one of those Govt recognized driving schools. You would find that when you take a normal membership your turn for classes would not occur before 3-6 months!! Sp now they would try to sell you their VIP package where you spent a substantially higher amount. This ensures that you get your classes and instructor assigned. Whether you get a good instructor or not is entirely your luck and I have know people where midway even instructors change. The worst part is there are instructors who contradict on concepts and if you happen to be one of the guinea pigs, it’s better to watch out and clarify.
There are these signal and assessment tests that you should pass easily. The former is conducted by the RTA while the ;latter would be conducted by one of the School Inspectors. Once you are done with these and your quota of classes you happily wait for the D-DAY that is the Final Road Test DAY.
You are hardly asked to drive for 2 minutes or less and that too none of the road skills would have got tested. I have seen people go for multiple tests and fail each time without understanding what better to do next time. In my case in my first test where I failed the evaluation sheet talked about me not negotiating a roundabout properly. The fact was that I never drive past a roundabout!!
So my suggestion is, ensure that you pray to the almighty for a favourable result and hope that works out and if you are an atheist let me do the praying for you.

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Dubai Taxis: The UGLY, THE BAD and THE GOOD

The Ugly:
1. Empty Taxis refusing to STOP and pick up passengers.
2. Taxi Drivers not picking up passengers on a destination intent mismatch.
3. Taxi Drivers preferring females over males as passengers, especially single females.
4. Dirty Taxis with tattered seats and seat covers.
5. Rude Drivers
The Bad:
1. Rates are still high compared to the world prices given the cost of fuel and car prices.
2. Uneducated taxi drivers, not knowing roads and destinations.
3. Shortage of Taxis during peak hours and tendency to Taxi Drivers to concentrate only in the Jumeirah area.
4. The concept of multi emirates taxi where they cannot pick up passengers from a different emirate.
5. The messaging system is a luck based system rather than a good process. (Will elaborate on this later).
The Good:
1. There are individual sparks of goodness and that’s really dependent on the individual person than the process.
2. Dubai Taxis comparatively are better off than the Sharjah or Abu Dhabi ones.
3. The Bad and the Ugly are not applicable to say 50% of the vehicles running.
Will somebody explain this one to me?
I was waiting for a Taxi in Qusais. A taxi stops. When I get in the driver informs me that the starting fare should be 6 AED instead of 3 AED because he has a message flashing for a pick up. I look at the meter monitor and find that the pickup is for a passenger beckoning a cab from emirates hills a place about 35 kms from where I was.
I got irritated with this weird request from the driver and declined the ride. I fail to understand the technology and process behind. There was more to this.
Then I called up Dubai Taxi so that the call center could flash my requirement. I stood there for 20 minutes with empty taxis refusing me and then finally a decent fellow stopped. No he was not carrying my message. I ignored the whole process of calling up the Call Centre and got into this one. The one that Dubai Taxi call center was supposed to have organized---that did not materialize at all!! What happened to my call?

Ranking:

I have ranked Taxis of different cities as per the places I have visited. They are given below for you to agree or disagree!!

Kolkata, India 4/10
Delhi, India 4/10
Mumbai, india 6/10
Tokyo, Japan 9/10
Seoul Korea 8/10
Oslo, Norway 6/10
Dublin, Ireland 7/10
London, UK 7/10
Singapore 8.5/10
KualaLampur 8/10
Dubai 6/10
Paris 8/10

The RTA, Dubai better take steps to improve them rather than protecting the Taxi companies by banning car lifts!!!

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