Oil vs. NO Oil
Money vs. No Money
No Glitz vs. Glitz
Friendly Locals vs. Unfriendly Locals
More Educated vs. Less Educated
Bangladeshi Taxi Drivers vs. Pakistani Taxi Drivers
Fewer Restaurants vs. More Restaurants
Prohibition vs. Alcohol Availability
Less Criminals/Mafias vs. More Criminals/Underworld Dons
India Friendly vs. Pakistan Friendly
Fashionable Local Residents vs. Conservative Local Residents
More Traffic Accidents vs. Less Traffic accidents
Good winter vs. No winter
Pajero vs. Prado
Corolla Taxi vs. Camry Taxi
Take it easy vs. Efficient
Short Work Hours vs. Long Work Hours
Low Traffic Congestion vs. Traffic Jams
No Desert Safaris vs. Desert Safaris
No apparent prostitution vs. Open
No Night Clubs vs. Night Clubs
No Tourists vs. Tourists
Easy Life vs. Rushed
Dust Storms vs. Reasonable Dust Storms
Sphere: Related Content
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Unprincipled Me!!
In my first job with a corporate entity (a large IT company) I learnt how to sell their products and services. But that was only one part of the customer relationship process. The other part is coming to an agreement in terms of the commercial arrangements and that’s where I learnt about speed money or loyalty money. Speed Money is of course typically paid to grease the hands of lowly officials or peons to get your work done. Loyalty money is involved when your client would need to show special preference to your products and services.
I was specifically trained on these because a) one needed to identify the takers b) you needed to develop along term relationship and c) sometimes you are playing catch 22 in terms of the “taker’s” relationship with your competitor. Most Public sector companies that were my clients had the “loyalty money” concept as a given. In the pure Government departments it used to be a mixture of Speed and Loyalty money. This syndrome did not even spare the Defence(pure) and Defence allied departments and concerns.
Now this is like complaining about our clients but I am sure we were to blame too for the malaise .i.e. us and our competitors.
There were happenings inside the company too. Over invoicing, under production in the factory, empty product boxes addressed to customer names (who never placed orders in the first place) being carted out during sales target period ends, were all a matter of common accepted behavior rather than the exception.
Mind you, that these things were not restricted to my first establishment. I later was involved in Telecom and in Software too and they all did it and mind you still do.
So it is not about just Government and Public Sector being corrupt but the Private Sector is equally part of this hidden black system. In fact I would say that in terms of corruption the ways of the Private Sector is a bit more sophisticated and polished. That’s about it. They are equally corrupt. Now that does not mean 100% and I do not have the data to prove otherwise. But I know and you know too. In fact talking about Public vs Private one of the biggest Private sector establishments has one of the most corrupt Purchase Departments you could think of (no prizes for guessing). The money generated through Loyalty Money Process is used in reverse when you want work done from the Government or elsewhere. It’s a nice non-taxed black money generation system that helps run the hidden agenda and transactions.
These days the CWG is in the news and maybe other topics of corruption too. But please think twice even about the Press. In my telecom days I had to ensure that reporters come and write good things about us and the way to ensure that is Cash, Gifts and Spirits!! The PR firms I am sure do use a lot of creativity in whatever they do, but this is one other aspect that they have to learn and actively practice.
The first passport I made in Mumbai years back was without any documents, no address proof, etc. It was all about loyalty and speed money. The 50 bucks I paid to the Inspector when I crossed the red signal in Jaipur is the same thing.
It is obvious that I have been a contributor to the dark sin. Have you been? If the answer is no…I salute you…but heart to heart..between you and me..perhaps I will win the bet. Make me lose from now on!!! Sphere: Related Content
I was specifically trained on these because a) one needed to identify the takers b) you needed to develop along term relationship and c) sometimes you are playing catch 22 in terms of the “taker’s” relationship with your competitor. Most Public sector companies that were my clients had the “loyalty money” concept as a given. In the pure Government departments it used to be a mixture of Speed and Loyalty money. This syndrome did not even spare the Defence(pure) and Defence allied departments and concerns.
Now this is like complaining about our clients but I am sure we were to blame too for the malaise .i.e. us and our competitors.
There were happenings inside the company too. Over invoicing, under production in the factory, empty product boxes addressed to customer names (who never placed orders in the first place) being carted out during sales target period ends, were all a matter of common accepted behavior rather than the exception.
Mind you, that these things were not restricted to my first establishment. I later was involved in Telecom and in Software too and they all did it and mind you still do.
So it is not about just Government and Public Sector being corrupt but the Private Sector is equally part of this hidden black system. In fact I would say that in terms of corruption the ways of the Private Sector is a bit more sophisticated and polished. That’s about it. They are equally corrupt. Now that does not mean 100% and I do not have the data to prove otherwise. But I know and you know too. In fact talking about Public vs Private one of the biggest Private sector establishments has one of the most corrupt Purchase Departments you could think of (no prizes for guessing). The money generated through Loyalty Money Process is used in reverse when you want work done from the Government or elsewhere. It’s a nice non-taxed black money generation system that helps run the hidden agenda and transactions.
These days the CWG is in the news and maybe other topics of corruption too. But please think twice even about the Press. In my telecom days I had to ensure that reporters come and write good things about us and the way to ensure that is Cash, Gifts and Spirits!! The PR firms I am sure do use a lot of creativity in whatever they do, but this is one other aspect that they have to learn and actively practice.
The first passport I made in Mumbai years back was without any documents, no address proof, etc. It was all about loyalty and speed money. The 50 bucks I paid to the Inspector when I crossed the red signal in Jaipur is the same thing.
It is obvious that I have been a contributor to the dark sin. Have you been? If the answer is no…I salute you…but heart to heart..between you and me..perhaps I will win the bet. Make me lose from now on!!! Sphere: Related Content
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Letter post-Delhi Trip
The Eid holidays were a welcome break and since the family was already in Delhi it was a good opportunity to cross the seas. I landed in the new swanky Delhi aiprort( I hope they maintain it) and the ordeal of passport control was quick and fast. The conveyer belts reminded me of Brussels and were impressive. All this fine and then you come out and take a prepaid Radio Cab (they charge almost double since its prepaid - beyind logic though) and reach home safe and soun
The next few afternoons and evenings were full of Goat, Pig and Single Malt, the latter prohibited in Kuwait. I had to make up for the same and therefore that was the instruction to friends too.
The CWG coming up people were having mixed feelings. Given a chance most people would have liked to strangle Suresh Kalmadi while none had a kind word for the others. The sympathy wa sure for the sportsmen and given the intellect of Delhi nobody really appreciated both Mani Shankar Aiyar's jokes and the serious comments.
The press still behaves like pimps of sensational news and nothing else. Variety is the spice of life for sure but just like the public even the press suffers from short memory. In fact when did we last talk about Lalit Modi and IPL. Even Maoists are feeling the pinch. All eyes are now on Kashmir and a sham of solutions. I know all the "NO"s for that place. No autonomy, no giving in to anything, no nothing.
Delhi roads have become disasters. Unruly traffic, potholes, muck, et al.... the drawing room of India is throwing up. Terrible!!
I never liked Delhi. I hope I don't land up hating it. Sphere: Related Content
The next few afternoons and evenings were full of Goat, Pig and Single Malt, the latter prohibited in Kuwait. I had to make up for the same and therefore that was the instruction to friends too.
The CWG coming up people were having mixed feelings. Given a chance most people would have liked to strangle Suresh Kalmadi while none had a kind word for the others. The sympathy wa sure for the sportsmen and given the intellect of Delhi nobody really appreciated both Mani Shankar Aiyar's jokes and the serious comments.
The press still behaves like pimps of sensational news and nothing else. Variety is the spice of life for sure but just like the public even the press suffers from short memory. In fact when did we last talk about Lalit Modi and IPL. Even Maoists are feeling the pinch. All eyes are now on Kashmir and a sham of solutions. I know all the "NO"s for that place. No autonomy, no giving in to anything, no nothing.
Delhi roads have become disasters. Unruly traffic, potholes, muck, et al.... the drawing room of India is throwing up. Terrible!!
I never liked Delhi. I hope I don't land up hating it. Sphere: Related Content
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Fish with Bak Choy
A favourite fish dish that is a family favourite:
Ingredients :
500 gms of White Fish fillet(not thick) - (Pagnacius- Cread Dori, Sole, Hammour, Bhetki)
10 Bak Choy Leaves including a bit of the stem (PAK SOI)
20 Garlic Cloves
10-15 Green Chillies
Soy Sauce
1-2 Onions
1 Capsicum (Green Peppet)
3 tsp Garlic Paste
Oil
Salt
Process:
Wash the fish fillets and cut them into small pieces and put them in a marinade bowl. Apply the garlic paste on all the pieces. Then mix them with about 3 tablespoons of Garlic Paste. Cover the bowl and keep aside for 2-3 hours.
In the meantime you could do any other household chores or watch TV. To save time you could also decide to get involved in the arrangement for the finale.
Peel the Garlic Cloves and chop them or cut them into longitudinal pieces(I prefer the second one). Peel onions, cut them into cubes and then separate each piece. Cut capsicum into large pieces. Wash the Bak Choy and keep. If they are too big just cut them into two.
You are almost ready now for the final plunge, assuming that 2-3 hours have elapsed. Place a wok on the flame and pour some oil(about 3-4 tablsepoons should be good). Take cornflour on a plate. Pick up each piece of fish and put them onto plate of cornflour ensuring that both sides are covered white. Then put it in the pan. You might have to do this in two or three cycles depending upon the size of the pan. Once both sides of the fish pieces are crispy fried, transfer them to a plate.
You are done with the frying. Now I assume that your wok has still some oil left. You need about 2-3 tablespoons of oil and if that is still there in the wok you have saved yourself from pouring some more.
Heat the oil full flame and throw in the garlic. Stir till brown and then put in the chillies. The aroma emanating is part of the pleasures of cooking. Keep stirring and then put in the fried fish. Stir once andput in the bak choy leaves and the capsicum. Reduce the flame to medium. Stir for 30 seconds and pour about 3-4 tablespoons of soys aauce. At this point of time I pick up a p[ece of fish and garlic to taste for salt(Soy sauce is very salty). If required I would throw in some salt now. Continue to stir for about 2 minutes and you are done. Serve with steamed of fried rice.
The outcome is pure bliss!!! Let me if know if you enjoyed it. Sphere: Related Content
Ingredients :
500 gms of White Fish fillet(not thick) - (Pagnacius- Cread Dori, Sole, Hammour, Bhetki)
10 Bak Choy Leaves including a bit of the stem (PAK SOI)
20 Garlic Cloves
10-15 Green Chillies
Soy Sauce
1-2 Onions
1 Capsicum (Green Peppet)
3 tsp Garlic Paste
Oil
Salt
Process:
Wash the fish fillets and cut them into small pieces and put them in a marinade bowl. Apply the garlic paste on all the pieces. Then mix them with about 3 tablespoons of Garlic Paste. Cover the bowl and keep aside for 2-3 hours.
In the meantime you could do any other household chores or watch TV. To save time you could also decide to get involved in the arrangement for the finale.
Peel the Garlic Cloves and chop them or cut them into longitudinal pieces(I prefer the second one). Peel onions, cut them into cubes and then separate each piece. Cut capsicum into large pieces. Wash the Bak Choy and keep. If they are too big just cut them into two.
You are almost ready now for the final plunge, assuming that 2-3 hours have elapsed. Place a wok on the flame and pour some oil(about 3-4 tablsepoons should be good). Take cornflour on a plate. Pick up each piece of fish and put them onto plate of cornflour ensuring that both sides are covered white. Then put it in the pan. You might have to do this in two or three cycles depending upon the size of the pan. Once both sides of the fish pieces are crispy fried, transfer them to a plate.
You are done with the frying. Now I assume that your wok has still some oil left. You need about 2-3 tablespoons of oil and if that is still there in the wok you have saved yourself from pouring some more.
Heat the oil full flame and throw in the garlic. Stir till brown and then put in the chillies. The aroma emanating is part of the pleasures of cooking. Keep stirring and then put in the fried fish. Stir once andput in the bak choy leaves and the capsicum. Reduce the flame to medium. Stir for 30 seconds and pour about 3-4 tablespoons of soys aauce. At this point of time I pick up a p[ece of fish and garlic to taste for salt(Soy sauce is very salty). If required I would throw in some salt now. Continue to stir for about 2 minutes and you are done. Serve with steamed of fried rice.
The outcome is pure bliss!!! Let me if know if you enjoyed it. Sphere: Related Content
Lungi
This piece was posted by Shantanu Aditya in our Yahoo Group. The source unknown. Do read It. Before you do that some terms would need explanations:
Kerala: A coastal province in the Southern Part of Indis
Lungi: The lungi, also known as a sarong , is a garment worn around the waist in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Horn of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula . It is particularly popular in regions where the heat and humidity create an unpleasant climate for trousers.
Mallu; Mallu is a person from Kerala, A person whose mother tongue is Malayalam.
Just as the national bird of Kerala is Mosquito, her national dress is 'Lungi'. Pronounced as 'Lu' as in loo and 'ngi ' as in 'mongey', a lungi can be identified by its floral or window-curtain pattern. 'Mundu' is the white variation of lungi and is worn on special occasions like hartal or bandh days, weddings and Onam.
Lungi is simple and 'down to earth' like the mallu wearing it. Lungi is the beginning and the end of evolution in its category. Wearing something on the top half of your body is optional when you are wearing a lungi. Lungi is a strategic dress. It's like a one-size-fits-all bottoms for Keralites.
The technique of wearing a lungi/mundu is passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth like the British Constitution. If you think it is an easy task wearing it, just try it once! It requires techniques like breath control and yoga that is a notch higher than sudarshan kriya of AOL. A lungi/mundu when perfectly worn won't come off even in a quake of 8 on the richter scale. A lungi is not attached to the waist using duct tape, staple, rope or velcro. It's a bit of mallu magic whose formula is a closely guarded secret like the Coca Cola chemicals.
A lungi can be worn 'Full Mast' or 'Half Mast' like a national flag. A 'Full Mast' lungi is when you are showing respect to an elderly or the dead. Wearing it at full mast has lots of disadvantages. A major disadvantage is when a dog runs after you. When you are wearing a lungi/mundu at full mast, the advantage is mainly for the female onlookers who are spared the ordeal of swooning at the sight of hairy legs.
Wearing a lungi 'Half Mast' is when you wear it exposing yourself like those C grade movie starlets. A mallu can play cricket, football or simbly run when the lungi is worn at half mast. A mallu can even climb a coconut tree wearing lungi in half mast. "It's not good manners, especially for ladies from decent families, to look up at a mallu climbing a coconut tree"- Confucius (or is it Abdul Kalam?)
Most mallus do the traditional dance kudiyattam. Kudi means drinking alcohol and yattam, spelled as aattam, means random movement of the male body. Note that 'y' is silent. When you are drinking, you drink, there is no 'y'. Any alcohol related "festival" can be enjoyed to the maximum when you are topless with lungi and a towel tied around the head. "Half mast lungi makes it easy to dance and shake legs" says Candelaria Amaranto, a Salsa teacher from Spain after watching 'kudiyaattam' .
The 'Lungi Wearing Mallu Union' [LUWMU, pronounced LOVE MU], an NGO which works towards the 'upliftment' of the lungi, strongly disapprove of the GenNext tendency of wearing Bermudas under the lungi. Bermudas under the lungi is a conspiracy by the CIA. It's a disgrace to see a person wearing burmuda with corporate logos under his lungi. What they don't know is how much these corporates are limiting their freedom of movement and ex-pression.
A mallu wears lungi round the year, all weather, all season. A mallu celebrates winter by wearing a colourful lungi with a floral pattern. Lungi provides good ventilation and brings down the heat between legs. A mallu is scared of global warming more than anyone else in the world.
A lungi/mundu can be worn any time of the day/night. It doubles as blanket at night. It also doubles up as a swing, swimwear, sleeping bag, parachute, facemask while entering/exiting toddy shops, shopping basket and water filter while fishing in ponds and rivers. It also has recreational uses like in 'Lungi/mundu pulling', a pastime in households having more than one male member. Lungi pulling competitions are held outside toddy shops all over Kerala during Onam and Vishu. When these lungis are decommissioned from service, they become table cloths.
Thus the humble lungi is a cradle to grave appendage Sphere: Related Content
Kerala: A coastal province in the Southern Part of Indis
Lungi: The lungi, also known as a sarong , is a garment worn around the waist in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Horn of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula . It is particularly popular in regions where the heat and humidity create an unpleasant climate for trousers.
Mallu; Mallu is a person from Kerala, A person whose mother tongue is Malayalam.
Just as the national bird of Kerala is Mosquito, her national dress is 'Lungi'. Pronounced as 'Lu' as in loo and 'ngi ' as in 'mongey', a lungi can be identified by its floral or window-curtain pattern. 'Mundu' is the white variation of lungi and is worn on special occasions like hartal or bandh days, weddings and Onam.
Lungi is simple and 'down to earth' like the mallu wearing it. Lungi is the beginning and the end of evolution in its category. Wearing something on the top half of your body is optional when you are wearing a lungi. Lungi is a strategic dress. It's like a one-size-fits-all bottoms for Keralites.
The technique of wearing a lungi/mundu is passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth like the British Constitution. If you think it is an easy task wearing it, just try it once! It requires techniques like breath control and yoga that is a notch higher than sudarshan kriya of AOL. A lungi/mundu when perfectly worn won't come off even in a quake of 8 on the richter scale. A lungi is not attached to the waist using duct tape, staple, rope or velcro. It's a bit of mallu magic whose formula is a closely guarded secret like the Coca Cola chemicals.
A lungi can be worn 'Full Mast' or 'Half Mast' like a national flag. A 'Full Mast' lungi is when you are showing respect to an elderly or the dead. Wearing it at full mast has lots of disadvantages. A major disadvantage is when a dog runs after you. When you are wearing a lungi/mundu at full mast, the advantage is mainly for the female onlookers who are spared the ordeal of swooning at the sight of hairy legs.
Wearing a lungi 'Half Mast' is when you wear it exposing yourself like those C grade movie starlets. A mallu can play cricket, football or simbly run when the lungi is worn at half mast. A mallu can even climb a coconut tree wearing lungi in half mast. "It's not good manners, especially for ladies from decent families, to look up at a mallu climbing a coconut tree"- Confucius (or is it Abdul Kalam?)
Most mallus do the traditional dance kudiyattam. Kudi means drinking alcohol and yattam, spelled as aattam, means random movement of the male body. Note that 'y' is silent. When you are drinking, you drink, there is no 'y'. Any alcohol related "festival" can be enjoyed to the maximum when you are topless with lungi and a towel tied around the head. "Half mast lungi makes it easy to dance and shake legs" says Candelaria Amaranto, a Salsa teacher from Spain after watching 'kudiyaattam' .
The 'Lungi Wearing Mallu Union' [LUWMU, pronounced LOVE MU], an NGO which works towards the 'upliftment' of the lungi, strongly disapprove of the GenNext tendency of wearing Bermudas under the lungi. Bermudas under the lungi is a conspiracy by the CIA. It's a disgrace to see a person wearing burmuda with corporate logos under his lungi. What they don't know is how much these corporates are limiting their freedom of movement and ex-pression.
A mallu wears lungi round the year, all weather, all season. A mallu celebrates winter by wearing a colourful lungi with a floral pattern. Lungi provides good ventilation and brings down the heat between legs. A mallu is scared of global warming more than anyone else in the world.
A lungi/mundu can be worn any time of the day/night. It doubles as blanket at night. It also doubles up as a swing, swimwear, sleeping bag, parachute, facemask while entering/exiting toddy shops, shopping basket and water filter while fishing in ponds and rivers. It also has recreational uses like in 'Lungi/mundu pulling', a pastime in households having more than one male member. Lungi pulling competitions are held outside toddy shops all over Kerala during Onam and Vishu. When these lungis are decommissioned from service, they become table cloths.
Thus the humble lungi is a cradle to grave appendage Sphere: Related Content
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