So here is goes. I was in Mainland China over the past week. A lot has been written about the Chinese growth engine etc, which is totally true, infrastructure development is just immense and magical in the middle kingdom. High speed trains, easy access to flights, so many roads etc.
The one thing which I felt was missing was warmth. Chinese people, at least the ones I have met in the US/Hong Kong etc are very warm people, at least amongst their own. In Mainland, it just seemed that all the folks are so introverted that they are missing out on life. Life for a average Chinese is very tough, salaries for a University graduate is low around 700 USD per month, to 2k USD a month where as the big boss who runs the company/factory makes around 1 million USD (over 200k Audi approximately sells in China and 18.5 million cars got sold in 2010).
When ones comes to India, people are more warm, foreigners are more welcome and the average person on the street is helpful (barring a few scoundrels).
I think China over its growth has lost its soul and has become one big concrete jungle, where more and more people look sad and uninterested. I really hope this changes and China becomes more ecologically attuned, reduces it numbers of cars and the over-all happiness index improves. This I believe India is happy (even in the poverty of the slums, you can see smiling children)!!
At the end of the day, everyone wants to be happy!!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Marketplace in India
India is Happening!!
Typically one only hears about corruption in India and other issues that the 'Aam Junta' faces from day to day.
Well I want to write about the other side of things (after all coin has two sides). There are a plethora of companies coming around in India and they are all moving VERY VERY fast. At present these are small but in the coming years and times to come, they will become very big e.g. Just Dial, Flipkart etc. New business models, generating huge employment for people and fine tuning processes and services delivery model for the marketplace.
Indians are born traders and innovators. They are relatively simple people, who take others on face value, but the ability to build/trade and deliver is very high (think about it, you can buy all sorts of things in places in India where even roads do go to). Telecom companies provide network coverage even in places where government agencies cannot deliver water.
What India lacks is good management and decision making skills since for the most part since childhood all decisions have been deferred to elders and others, but this too shall change. We are learning how to build roads, bridges, internet backbones, new business models etc. One thing we have not learned yet is the ability to innovate disruptive technologies (e.g. Google/Facebook etc). My take is in the coming 15 years, this too shall start happening as more and more indians are exposed to newer ideas and concepts and the current leadership of 40+ something becomes 55+ something.
Over-all things are moving and I am very positive on the Indian marketplace, despite the corruption and lack of policy framework. Shortage force people to be innovate and think out of the box. That being said India is not for the faint hearted but if you want to live in the most exciting place (with the usual traffic pains/school admissions etc) over the next 15 years, India it is.
Typically one only hears about corruption in India and other issues that the 'Aam Junta' faces from day to day.
Well I want to write about the other side of things (after all coin has two sides). There are a plethora of companies coming around in India and they are all moving VERY VERY fast. At present these are small but in the coming years and times to come, they will become very big e.g. Just Dial, Flipkart etc. New business models, generating huge employment for people and fine tuning processes and services delivery model for the marketplace.
Indians are born traders and innovators. They are relatively simple people, who take others on face value, but the ability to build/trade and deliver is very high (think about it, you can buy all sorts of things in places in India where even roads do go to). Telecom companies provide network coverage even in places where government agencies cannot deliver water.
What India lacks is good management and decision making skills since for the most part since childhood all decisions have been deferred to elders and others, but this too shall change. We are learning how to build roads, bridges, internet backbones, new business models etc. One thing we have not learned yet is the ability to innovate disruptive technologies (e.g. Google/Facebook etc). My take is in the coming 15 years, this too shall start happening as more and more indians are exposed to newer ideas and concepts and the current leadership of 40+ something becomes 55+ something.
Over-all things are moving and I am very positive on the Indian marketplace, despite the corruption and lack of policy framework. Shortage force people to be innovate and think out of the box. That being said India is not for the faint hearted but if you want to live in the most exciting place (with the usual traffic pains/school admissions etc) over the next 15 years, India it is.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
A visit to Jharkhand and Bihar
This past week, I had the opportunity to travel to Deoghar / Banka / Kolkatta as part of a marriage party. Flew down from Bombay to Calcutta, took the cab and a ride to the howrah station, then to Jassidhi (Deoghar).
It was a really cool trip (someone like myself travels) all the time, but then it is more fun to travel interiors then maybe to Delhi. I had a chance to see interior india specially Bihar at close quarters. I was pleasantly surprised. The roads were really awesome like how Texas roads used to be around 10 years. Miles and miles of endless roads going from places to places. In south bihar population is limited and one thing that really strikes out is the sense of hygiene. No garbage or plastic bags or any tobacco / gutka packets. I believe Plastic use with little regulation is going to destroy India and some economic decisions towards the same should be taken (not ban plastic but mandate higher thickness such that it gets recycled).
Banka was a typical like tier 4 town of India almost close to a village but it was awesome, did not know so many people know about Banka, it is very close to Bhagalpur. Deoghar is a very religious place and is one of the cleanest cities I have seen after Connor in the South.
All in all, I am very bullish on Bihar and things are changing very rapidly. One thing that stands out is the coverage of Vodafone (telecom operator), they had network coverage in such remote places that it made me want to call up senior management at Vodafone and tell them you guys rock (heck it was better than what I get in Bombay) :).
There is huge potential in the eastern states and those who harness the high energy will make so much money from these areas is not even a joke. It is literally money waiting to be picked up from the street, what Americans feel about India, I feel about Bihar, a land of high opportunities and big marketplace.
More later,
Shiva
It was a really cool trip (someone like myself travels) all the time, but then it is more fun to travel interiors then maybe to Delhi. I had a chance to see interior india specially Bihar at close quarters. I was pleasantly surprised. The roads were really awesome like how Texas roads used to be around 10 years. Miles and miles of endless roads going from places to places. In south bihar population is limited and one thing that really strikes out is the sense of hygiene. No garbage or plastic bags or any tobacco / gutka packets. I believe Plastic use with little regulation is going to destroy India and some economic decisions towards the same should be taken (not ban plastic but mandate higher thickness such that it gets recycled).
Banka was a typical like tier 4 town of India almost close to a village but it was awesome, did not know so many people know about Banka, it is very close to Bhagalpur. Deoghar is a very religious place and is one of the cleanest cities I have seen after Connor in the South.
All in all, I am very bullish on Bihar and things are changing very rapidly. One thing that stands out is the coverage of Vodafone (telecom operator), they had network coverage in such remote places that it made me want to call up senior management at Vodafone and tell them you guys rock (heck it was better than what I get in Bombay) :).
There is huge potential in the eastern states and those who harness the high energy will make so much money from these areas is not even a joke. It is literally money waiting to be picked up from the street, what Americans feel about India, I feel about Bihar, a land of high opportunities and big marketplace.
More later,
Shiva
Thursday, October 21, 2010
India and its growth story
After a long time I m writing something. I guess nothing interesting enough happens anymore or just that I am going down the lazy path. Well life as a whole is just passing by, kids are growing up, wifey doing her things and prosperity is showing up around the waist. My travels have reduced, limited mostly to Delhi / Mumbai, which is good and bad, good in essence I dont have to face the headaches of travelling to random cities and settle in, and bad because I have not met many folks whom I would like to meet more regularly.
Currently I am sitting on a flight, going back from Delhi to Bombay after a week in delhi. It has been a while since I have done anything on the computer on the flight. Maybe a few years (last I remember did something on the comp, on a flight was in 2007). Challo, my laziness is gradually drifting away. I have started reading up on financial journals and decided to fix up my health (have already made some amends in these past few weeks), and also have decided to fix up my lifestyle. Just read a book by Khuswant Singh, very interesting chappie, hope I can survive as long as he has and seen and experienced so much of life.
The little boy is now learning the piano (yamaha), did not buy a casio, since all the folks I know who learnt on a casio, never grow up to learn any musical instruments, hence a yamaha. He has become a good chess player, beat me in chess (though cant say I am any good at Chess). Girl has started bharat natyam (Indian dance), did not get a chance to see her dance at her first class, but will make up for it on the next one. Wifey is running her childrens book shop, it is coming along well and slowly but surely mommies of other localities in Bombay are also knowing about it.
Last weekend, we along with my sisters family went to BOrivalli National Park, and I must WOW! Did not even know that such a place existed in Bombay and that too within 1 hour from home. It should be marketed better, but then I am selfish, maybe it is good that no one knows about it. Not many visitors to the park, I guess the malls in Bombay get more footfalls than the park. Over the coming year, I am going to explore India as it will be the last year, before my kids start getting into the full swing of things at the school and I should take them as many places as I can before studies / activities suck them into the vicious cycle.
Been reading lots of books these days and have also been watching a tonne of movies (almost 1 a day). Funnily enought I enjoy all sorts of movies, now I actually watch based on specific directors or actors. Maybe that is what happens with age. This month India held the 'Commonwealth Games', it is large sporting events covering around 74 countries. It went well and India won a bunch of medals.
By and large I believe India is doing well, and prosperity is increasing. There is more accountability and power is not being restricted to a few like it used to be 20 odd years ago. Media has become very powerful and the youth even though restless is asserting itself. Prices of everything is going down except food and real estate. Electronics, travelling, flying, clothes, shoes have all become so cheap, heck you can get a saree (Indian dress) for around $1 to $2, I love a free market economy. God bless Narsimha Rao and Manmohan Singh for allowing all this to happen. I wish to see India as one large gigantic country, which can flex its muscle on a global scale and where people dont die of poverty. I am very hopeful it will happen in my lifetime.
And 'Who Said Elephants Can't Dance??', when the elephant starts moving, nothing can stop it and it can cover VERY large distances. India is that elephant. Wait and Watch!!
Currently I am sitting on a flight, going back from Delhi to Bombay after a week in delhi. It has been a while since I have done anything on the computer on the flight. Maybe a few years (last I remember did something on the comp, on a flight was in 2007). Challo, my laziness is gradually drifting away. I have started reading up on financial journals and decided to fix up my health (have already made some amends in these past few weeks), and also have decided to fix up my lifestyle. Just read a book by Khuswant Singh, very interesting chappie, hope I can survive as long as he has and seen and experienced so much of life.
The little boy is now learning the piano (yamaha), did not buy a casio, since all the folks I know who learnt on a casio, never grow up to learn any musical instruments, hence a yamaha. He has become a good chess player, beat me in chess (though cant say I am any good at Chess). Girl has started bharat natyam (Indian dance), did not get a chance to see her dance at her first class, but will make up for it on the next one. Wifey is running her childrens book shop, it is coming along well and slowly but surely mommies of other localities in Bombay are also knowing about it.
Last weekend, we along with my sisters family went to BOrivalli National Park, and I must WOW! Did not even know that such a place existed in Bombay and that too within 1 hour from home. It should be marketed better, but then I am selfish, maybe it is good that no one knows about it. Not many visitors to the park, I guess the malls in Bombay get more footfalls than the park. Over the coming year, I am going to explore India as it will be the last year, before my kids start getting into the full swing of things at the school and I should take them as many places as I can before studies / activities suck them into the vicious cycle.
Been reading lots of books these days and have also been watching a tonne of movies (almost 1 a day). Funnily enought I enjoy all sorts of movies, now I actually watch based on specific directors or actors. Maybe that is what happens with age. This month India held the 'Commonwealth Games', it is large sporting events covering around 74 countries. It went well and India won a bunch of medals.
By and large I believe India is doing well, and prosperity is increasing. There is more accountability and power is not being restricted to a few like it used to be 20 odd years ago. Media has become very powerful and the youth even though restless is asserting itself. Prices of everything is going down except food and real estate. Electronics, travelling, flying, clothes, shoes have all become so cheap, heck you can get a saree (Indian dress) for around $1 to $2, I love a free market economy. God bless Narsimha Rao and Manmohan Singh for allowing all this to happen. I wish to see India as one large gigantic country, which can flex its muscle on a global scale and where people dont die of poverty. I am very hopeful it will happen in my lifetime.
And 'Who Said Elephants Can't Dance??', when the elephant starts moving, nothing can stop it and it can cover VERY large distances. India is that elephant. Wait and Watch!!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Just finished a road trip (Mumbai to South India with kids)
A recent blog posting of mine at Team-Bhp
_______________________________________________
Well, I am one of these lazy persons not really interested in doing anything, heck I dont even drive in Mumbai (use a driver).
So after thinking about it for a long time, I decided to go on a road trip. Not sure where to go, I reached out to Mr. HV Kumar (in short HV - Indian GPS). On his recommendation and net checking up, I decided to go south, more specifically Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu (have never been there before).
Next step was to convince the wife about the trip and be mentally prepared to take my 3.5 year and 5 year old kids on the trip. She acquiesced and off we prepared our Chevy Aveo for the trip.
Now I must declare, I work with MapmyIndia ( a gps navigation company) and had the added advantage of having a GPS tracking system embedded in my car, in addition, I had a GPS navigator and bunch of other equipments.
So the journey begins -
Mumbai to Kholapur (left on friday 14th May 2010 @ 6 PM)
Before leaving I decided to have a final look at the coolant after the car had come back from service. Saw that GM - National Garage had taken out the coolant and filled it with water!!!!! Luckily saw the same, drained the water and put in coolant (I ll deal with the same when I come back to Mumbai). Took forever to get to Panvel (evening traffic) and then got stuck at Hinjewadi (Pune). Its was bad traffic on the pune outer ring (lots of bikes and folks going home). Kept driving with halt at McDonalds post Katraj Tunnel, kids had a blast at the place (they were sick of being in the car for so long).
The little boy asked me "papa why are we driving and why cant we take a flight", so I went into a whole philosophical about driving and cars. Anyways, kept driving and reached Kholapur around 1 AM. Had booked at the Ayodhya Hotel (Have stayed here before), clean bed-breakfast place, and quite close off the highway.
Kholapur to Bangalore (Marathahalli) (left on Sat15th May 2010 @ 9:45 AM)
Finally was able to get some speed going on the car. Also since I am not the greatest of drivers (not used to driving on highways), the sun light was an added relief. Kids were more relaxed and the idea was to reach BLR as soon as possible before late evening.
Kumar and lots of other folks were tracking me with the GPS tracking. The link is available here
MapmyIndia - Vehicle Tracking
account id - mmi2051
user name - mmi2051
password - mmi2051
Family was very happy back in Delhi that they can track me and were aware of where i was. I never realized that parts of the golden quad has not been completed, it is a complete myth that the roads are rocking between BLR and Mumbai. Plan to reach out to the Union Minister and NHAI director and find out when the same will be completed. RTI here I come.
Got some lunch at the Genesys resort (again thanks to Kumar) who was tracking me and guiding me on the route. I kept pushing towards BLR with a break at a Kamats for coffee. I was recommended that I use the Yelahanka route to get into BLR, but I was too lazy to figure the same out and followed my GPS navigator, which took me into Tumkur road and here is when my nightmare started!!
I had reached Tumkur toll plaza by around 7 PM and thought I ll be at my friends place in marathahalli by 8ish PM, but I did not know that a road called Tumkur road was under construction and traffic cops were clueless about how to manage traffic (Mumbai/Bombay I love your traffic cops, atleast they know how to clear jams). We were stuck in traffic and the last 25 KM took around 3 hours!!!!!! Bangalore traffic sucks, not sure how people commute here, God help them (and I thought Mumbai and Delhi-Gurgoan was bad).
So Sunday was a rest day and generally chilling out at BLR and next day, I move onto Kodaikanal. Have never been south of BLR and Tamil is definately not my 1st language. Plan on visiting Meenakshi Temple on tuesday. Will post more and put up pictures.
Adios,
Shiva
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So this gets more tech savvy. I am using the mobile posting of team bhp as my great reliance data card is not working, for a change vodafone works.
Started around 7ish from blr for kodai and immediately hit the electronic city elevated road. It was nice. Speed down the way on NH 7 and landed up meeting Mr M K Stalin on the way. His convoy was ahead of mine and at each village till salem he was stopping. It was interesting to see the folks come out and cheer for him. Cut through salem and reached dindugul in 5 odd hours. Loved the roads, wish there were more roads like this in India. Straight highways, no population. Amazing, feels nice and good. Compare this from driving within bombay.
Near dindigul got a bit lost and the navigator came in handy. Took for ever to clim to kodai around 2.5 hours. Not used to ghat driving but am improving. Kids held up fine. Reached kodai and was to go to mahindra resort. Did not use the navigator, as maps for kodai not that detailed, but used police inspector guidance who sent me 5Km wrong way. Finally after much cribbing and crying reached the right resort. My son was excited to see grass and the resort is like nature as his teacher had told him. So much for nature from a bombay kids perspective.
So getting some rest here. Going to pray to the Gods tomorrow at Meenakshi temple. Supposed to be one of a kind.
In a few days will start for the drive up along NH 17.
Pictures will post once wifey gives them to me.
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18th May 2010 - Kodaikanal to Madurai (Meenakshi Temple)
So early in the morning, left with wife and kids for Madurai. It was a drive all the way back to main expressway and driving up and down the ghats is not fun. Reached the base of Kodaikanal and then followed the route to get back to the expressway. Got bit a lost on the navigator routing and landed up using one of the village roads to reach back to the main BLR-Madurai highway.
As I was driving to Madurai, some cops near the entry of Madurai (getting off the expressway), tried to stop my car, i just kinda whizzed past them, out of state number plates must be something that must have excited them to stop me. Drove all the way to the temple blindly following the GPS (though many one-ways were missing on the GPS), but using some common sense and I landed up reaching the east entrance of the temple. And ohh my, what a temple it is. One of a kind (I highly recommend all to visit Meenakshi at least once in their life). I had a local contact who helped me get a quick darshan (lakshmi works well in all parts of the country even when you dont speak the local language).
On finishing my darshan, drove up back to Kodaikanal without any incidents. It was a drive up and down the hill and was kinda tiring. Next day was a break day at Kodai with nothing to do. At night went to dinner at the Tibetean restaurant in kodai (near 7 road junction - opp tourist info bunglow). Decent place, and quite in-expensive.
19 th May 2010 – Local Kodaikanal
This was a lazy day as I had been travelling and driving for the last 2 days, so today just went around town. Took the kids around the lake (realized how un fit I am) and then some biking. Got Kodai Chocolates (which were promptly consumed), and had a good lunch. Post lunch, went about town to get to visit all the touristy points of interest (water falls – closed no water), observatory (closed – open only in morning hours), drove around the lake, checked out Kodaikanal International School (quite hep), Carlton Hotel (only 5 star hotel in Kodai). Generally did not do anything useful and productive , but heck that is the point of a vacation.
20th May 2010, Kodaikanal to Calicut (Kozikhode – Kerala)
Now this was a good drive, cutting across from Tamil Nadu to Kerala via Palani, bypassing Coimbatore, going through Palghat (Palakkad), Majeri etc. Stayed at the ITC Fortune (Again good old Kumar came in handy by suggesting a place to stay and the route to take).
Drive from Kodai to Palani is a easy drive if you leave early enough (which is what we did), you avoid all the local bus traffic and tempos etc. Road conditions are good (MH state, please go and visit TN and learn how to make roads). The navigator was missing this road and did not reconcile till I reached Palani boundary. Interesting sign was “Watch out for Elephants crossing the road!!!”, never seen that in India. So after crossing 14 hair bend turns, reached the base of the mountains and turned left towards Coimbatore / KL border.
Udumalai was interesting (both ICICI and HDFC were in the same building on top of each other), never seen that. Good fuel in the city. Drove on to Palghat, Manjeri and then finally to Calicut. TATA motors has really deep presence in this northern part of Kerala. It was one hell of a drive even for folks who live in KL, not too much traffic and passing state borders on non-trunk routes is very good, not much traffic jams.
Reached Calicut in one piece (again thanks to navigator which took me to the hotel). Honestly I was very surprised that the navigator GPS worked the way it did. For someone who had no clue of the landscape it is always comforting to see the information on the maps in a car (a good selling point to tell the car companies). ITC Fortune was a very basic hotel, not the ITC I have seen in Mumbai (the parel one is next to my house), though the staff was kind and helpful.
That night I went to Paragon (restaurant in Calicut for dinner). The food was JUST AWESOME. Mango-Fish, I can still relish the taste. Again very very highly recommended restaurant. Next morning started my worst driving day.
21th May 2010, Calicut (Kozikhode – Kerala) to Turtle Bay Resort (KA)
Started the day late around, 10.30ish AM (I have realized on long distance travels, one should leave by 6ish), before all the world wakes up and lands up on the road. It was a bi**h of drive via KL on NH 17 as it was full of local buses that ply along the highway (and do they drive like crazy).
Went and visited Kappad Beach (the place where Vasco Da Gama) landed in India in the late 1480’s, around 500 years back. Not much there except for a resort, so much for history and culture (I was under the impression that Vasco landed up in Goa and not KL). So we slowly but surely drove up the NH17 at a rate of 30-40 KMPH which was very frustrating. Finally after much cribbing and crying, I was able to cross over into Karnataka, where the speed picked up (at least the houses are a bit further off from the highway), but the over-all quality of roads deteriorated in KA as compared to KL.
Crossed over into Mangalore and saw NIT, Suratkal on the way towards Udipi. The high point was seeing a Café Coffee day around 7ish (had been driving for non-stop 8.5 hours). Jumped at the sight and went and laid out on the couch. Today I was truly exhausted with bumper to bumper traffic and tiring ride.
Late that evening I reached Turtle Bay Resort. Kids were happy to see the beach and kind off totally forgot all about the hard drive.
22nd May 2010, Turtle Bay Resort (KA)
Next day was kids day as they had been in the car for around 2100 km and had not really troubled me for the same. So off we went to the beach and checked out the crabs, little fishes and hammocks and according to my son (lots of coconut trees – “why are there so many trees here and why aren’t there so many trees in Bombay”.). Did not want to explain to him about Municipality and all its issues. We drove to Maravanthe beach (which was very pretty – sea on one side and back water on one side). All you folks who are reading this blog, please check out this place, here it is actually very non-commercial as most folks don’t know about it. Enjoyed local Mangalore food and next morning started for the long drive back home. Ohh by the way the Padukone village is near Turtle bay resort (Deepika’s Padukone’s ancestral village – the local folks were very happy explaining this to a Bombay walla).
22nd May 2010, Turtle Bay Resort (KA) to Parel, Mumbai (850 KM drive).
Left early around 6.30 AM, having learnt from past experience and stopped by at the Murudeshwar temple (run by the Shetty family – it seems they own most of the Maruti showrooms on the west coast – RNS motors). Very pretty temple and well maintained (clean). Stopped by for very idilis at a Kamat Restarutant (Honavar) near the turning for Jog Falls (missed this place , but will come back later it was 62 KM inside from NH17).
Drove up to Ankola (Salil Ankola’s ancestral village – my guess), and turned off onto NH63 towards Hubli. Did the drive in around 2 hours, around 138 KM, which was not bad ( I am getting to be a better more controlled driver on Indian roads). From Hubli to Kholapur, we drove straight up and man these were the best roads with little traffic (at least in the afternoon on a Sunday). Reached Kholapur around 3ish. Kids wanted to have McDonalds (Dosas and Rice meals does not excite them), so off we stopped at Kholapur.
From Kholapur to Hinjewadi junction was a painful drive took around 5 hours (lots of motor bikes, very slow traffic), and the toll plazas were irritating (huge queues), what a waste of time, you save time on the road and then lose the same at the toll plaza (on an average of 15 mins per plaza).
Pune to Mumbai was a straight drive, only found it very irritating with folks continusouly blinking (don’t know what pleasure it gives them), almost got into a road rage with another car and if I did not have family then would have really given it to the chappie, but cooler heads prevailed and finally reached Mumbai around 10ish. Drove for around 15 hours with 1 hour break and lots of idiotic toll time wastes.
So really enjoyed the trip. Can wait to do one for RJ and GJ in the winter.
_______________________________________________
Well, I am one of these lazy persons not really interested in doing anything, heck I dont even drive in Mumbai (use a driver).
So after thinking about it for a long time, I decided to go on a road trip. Not sure where to go, I reached out to Mr. HV Kumar (in short HV - Indian GPS). On his recommendation and net checking up, I decided to go south, more specifically Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu (have never been there before).
Next step was to convince the wife about the trip and be mentally prepared to take my 3.5 year and 5 year old kids on the trip. She acquiesced and off we prepared our Chevy Aveo for the trip.
Now I must declare, I work with MapmyIndia ( a gps navigation company) and had the added advantage of having a GPS tracking system embedded in my car, in addition, I had a GPS navigator and bunch of other equipments.
So the journey begins -
Mumbai to Kholapur (left on friday 14th May 2010 @ 6 PM)
Before leaving I decided to have a final look at the coolant after the car had come back from service. Saw that GM - National Garage had taken out the coolant and filled it with water!!!!! Luckily saw the same, drained the water and put in coolant (I ll deal with the same when I come back to Mumbai). Took forever to get to Panvel (evening traffic) and then got stuck at Hinjewadi (Pune). Its was bad traffic on the pune outer ring (lots of bikes and folks going home). Kept driving with halt at McDonalds post Katraj Tunnel, kids had a blast at the place (they were sick of being in the car for so long).
The little boy asked me "papa why are we driving and why cant we take a flight", so I went into a whole philosophical about driving and cars. Anyways, kept driving and reached Kholapur around 1 AM. Had booked at the Ayodhya Hotel (Have stayed here before), clean bed-breakfast place, and quite close off the highway.
Kholapur to Bangalore (Marathahalli) (left on Sat15th May 2010 @ 9:45 AM)
Finally was able to get some speed going on the car. Also since I am not the greatest of drivers (not used to driving on highways), the sun light was an added relief. Kids were more relaxed and the idea was to reach BLR as soon as possible before late evening.
Kumar and lots of other folks were tracking me with the GPS tracking. The link is available here
MapmyIndia - Vehicle Tracking
account id - mmi2051
user name - mmi2051
password - mmi2051
Family was very happy back in Delhi that they can track me and were aware of where i was. I never realized that parts of the golden quad has not been completed, it is a complete myth that the roads are rocking between BLR and Mumbai. Plan to reach out to the Union Minister and NHAI director and find out when the same will be completed. RTI here I come.
Got some lunch at the Genesys resort (again thanks to Kumar) who was tracking me and guiding me on the route. I kept pushing towards BLR with a break at a Kamats for coffee. I was recommended that I use the Yelahanka route to get into BLR, but I was too lazy to figure the same out and followed my GPS navigator, which took me into Tumkur road and here is when my nightmare started!!
I had reached Tumkur toll plaza by around 7 PM and thought I ll be at my friends place in marathahalli by 8ish PM, but I did not know that a road called Tumkur road was under construction and traffic cops were clueless about how to manage traffic (Mumbai/Bombay I love your traffic cops, atleast they know how to clear jams). We were stuck in traffic and the last 25 KM took around 3 hours!!!!!! Bangalore traffic sucks, not sure how people commute here, God help them (and I thought Mumbai and Delhi-Gurgoan was bad).
So Sunday was a rest day and generally chilling out at BLR and next day, I move onto Kodaikanal. Have never been south of BLR and Tamil is definately not my 1st language. Plan on visiting Meenakshi Temple on tuesday. Will post more and put up pictures.
Adios,
Shiva
-------
So this gets more tech savvy. I am using the mobile posting of team bhp as my great reliance data card is not working, for a change vodafone works.
Started around 7ish from blr for kodai and immediately hit the electronic city elevated road. It was nice. Speed down the way on NH 7 and landed up meeting Mr M K Stalin on the way. His convoy was ahead of mine and at each village till salem he was stopping. It was interesting to see the folks come out and cheer for him. Cut through salem and reached dindugul in 5 odd hours. Loved the roads, wish there were more roads like this in India. Straight highways, no population. Amazing, feels nice and good. Compare this from driving within bombay.
Near dindigul got a bit lost and the navigator came in handy. Took for ever to clim to kodai around 2.5 hours. Not used to ghat driving but am improving. Kids held up fine. Reached kodai and was to go to mahindra resort. Did not use the navigator, as maps for kodai not that detailed, but used police inspector guidance who sent me 5Km wrong way. Finally after much cribbing and crying reached the right resort. My son was excited to see grass and the resort is like nature as his teacher had told him. So much for nature from a bombay kids perspective.
So getting some rest here. Going to pray to the Gods tomorrow at Meenakshi temple. Supposed to be one of a kind.
In a few days will start for the drive up along NH 17.
Pictures will post once wifey gives them to me.
____________-
18th May 2010 - Kodaikanal to Madurai (Meenakshi Temple)
So early in the morning, left with wife and kids for Madurai. It was a drive all the way back to main expressway and driving up and down the ghats is not fun. Reached the base of Kodaikanal and then followed the route to get back to the expressway. Got bit a lost on the navigator routing and landed up using one of the village roads to reach back to the main BLR-Madurai highway.
As I was driving to Madurai, some cops near the entry of Madurai (getting off the expressway), tried to stop my car, i just kinda whizzed past them, out of state number plates must be something that must have excited them to stop me. Drove all the way to the temple blindly following the GPS (though many one-ways were missing on the GPS), but using some common sense and I landed up reaching the east entrance of the temple. And ohh my, what a temple it is. One of a kind (I highly recommend all to visit Meenakshi at least once in their life). I had a local contact who helped me get a quick darshan (lakshmi works well in all parts of the country even when you dont speak the local language).
On finishing my darshan, drove up back to Kodaikanal without any incidents. It was a drive up and down the hill and was kinda tiring. Next day was a break day at Kodai with nothing to do. At night went to dinner at the Tibetean restaurant in kodai (near 7 road junction - opp tourist info bunglow). Decent place, and quite in-expensive.
19 th May 2010 – Local Kodaikanal
This was a lazy day as I had been travelling and driving for the last 2 days, so today just went around town. Took the kids around the lake (realized how un fit I am) and then some biking. Got Kodai Chocolates (which were promptly consumed), and had a good lunch. Post lunch, went about town to get to visit all the touristy points of interest (water falls – closed no water), observatory (closed – open only in morning hours), drove around the lake, checked out Kodaikanal International School (quite hep), Carlton Hotel (only 5 star hotel in Kodai). Generally did not do anything useful and productive , but heck that is the point of a vacation.
20th May 2010, Kodaikanal to Calicut (Kozikhode – Kerala)
Now this was a good drive, cutting across from Tamil Nadu to Kerala via Palani, bypassing Coimbatore, going through Palghat (Palakkad), Majeri etc. Stayed at the ITC Fortune (Again good old Kumar came in handy by suggesting a place to stay and the route to take).
Drive from Kodai to Palani is a easy drive if you leave early enough (which is what we did), you avoid all the local bus traffic and tempos etc. Road conditions are good (MH state, please go and visit TN and learn how to make roads). The navigator was missing this road and did not reconcile till I reached Palani boundary. Interesting sign was “Watch out for Elephants crossing the road!!!”, never seen that in India. So after crossing 14 hair bend turns, reached the base of the mountains and turned left towards Coimbatore / KL border.
Udumalai was interesting (both ICICI and HDFC were in the same building on top of each other), never seen that. Good fuel in the city. Drove on to Palghat, Manjeri and then finally to Calicut. TATA motors has really deep presence in this northern part of Kerala. It was one hell of a drive even for folks who live in KL, not too much traffic and passing state borders on non-trunk routes is very good, not much traffic jams.
Reached Calicut in one piece (again thanks to navigator which took me to the hotel). Honestly I was very surprised that the navigator GPS worked the way it did. For someone who had no clue of the landscape it is always comforting to see the information on the maps in a car (a good selling point to tell the car companies). ITC Fortune was a very basic hotel, not the ITC I have seen in Mumbai (the parel one is next to my house), though the staff was kind and helpful.
That night I went to Paragon (restaurant in Calicut for dinner). The food was JUST AWESOME. Mango-Fish, I can still relish the taste. Again very very highly recommended restaurant. Next morning started my worst driving day.
21th May 2010, Calicut (Kozikhode – Kerala) to Turtle Bay Resort (KA)
Started the day late around, 10.30ish AM (I have realized on long distance travels, one should leave by 6ish), before all the world wakes up and lands up on the road. It was a bi**h of drive via KL on NH 17 as it was full of local buses that ply along the highway (and do they drive like crazy).
Went and visited Kappad Beach (the place where Vasco Da Gama) landed in India in the late 1480’s, around 500 years back. Not much there except for a resort, so much for history and culture (I was under the impression that Vasco landed up in Goa and not KL). So we slowly but surely drove up the NH17 at a rate of 30-40 KMPH which was very frustrating. Finally after much cribbing and crying, I was able to cross over into Karnataka, where the speed picked up (at least the houses are a bit further off from the highway), but the over-all quality of roads deteriorated in KA as compared to KL.
Crossed over into Mangalore and saw NIT, Suratkal on the way towards Udipi. The high point was seeing a Café Coffee day around 7ish (had been driving for non-stop 8.5 hours). Jumped at the sight and went and laid out on the couch. Today I was truly exhausted with bumper to bumper traffic and tiring ride.
Late that evening I reached Turtle Bay Resort. Kids were happy to see the beach and kind off totally forgot all about the hard drive.
22nd May 2010, Turtle Bay Resort (KA)
Next day was kids day as they had been in the car for around 2100 km and had not really troubled me for the same. So off we went to the beach and checked out the crabs, little fishes and hammocks and according to my son (lots of coconut trees – “why are there so many trees here and why aren’t there so many trees in Bombay”.). Did not want to explain to him about Municipality and all its issues. We drove to Maravanthe beach (which was very pretty – sea on one side and back water on one side). All you folks who are reading this blog, please check out this place, here it is actually very non-commercial as most folks don’t know about it. Enjoyed local Mangalore food and next morning started for the long drive back home. Ohh by the way the Padukone village is near Turtle bay resort (Deepika’s Padukone’s ancestral village – the local folks were very happy explaining this to a Bombay walla).
22nd May 2010, Turtle Bay Resort (KA) to Parel, Mumbai (850 KM drive).
Left early around 6.30 AM, having learnt from past experience and stopped by at the Murudeshwar temple (run by the Shetty family – it seems they own most of the Maruti showrooms on the west coast – RNS motors). Very pretty temple and well maintained (clean). Stopped by for very idilis at a Kamat Restarutant (Honavar) near the turning for Jog Falls (missed this place , but will come back later it was 62 KM inside from NH17).
Drove up to Ankola (Salil Ankola’s ancestral village – my guess), and turned off onto NH63 towards Hubli. Did the drive in around 2 hours, around 138 KM, which was not bad ( I am getting to be a better more controlled driver on Indian roads). From Hubli to Kholapur, we drove straight up and man these were the best roads with little traffic (at least in the afternoon on a Sunday). Reached Kholapur around 3ish. Kids wanted to have McDonalds (Dosas and Rice meals does not excite them), so off we stopped at Kholapur.
From Kholapur to Hinjewadi junction was a painful drive took around 5 hours (lots of motor bikes, very slow traffic), and the toll plazas were irritating (huge queues), what a waste of time, you save time on the road and then lose the same at the toll plaza (on an average of 15 mins per plaza).
Pune to Mumbai was a straight drive, only found it very irritating with folks continusouly blinking (don’t know what pleasure it gives them), almost got into a road rage with another car and if I did not have family then would have really given it to the chappie, but cooler heads prevailed and finally reached Mumbai around 10ish. Drove for around 15 hours with 1 hour break and lots of idiotic toll time wastes.
So really enjoyed the trip. Can wait to do one for RJ and GJ in the winter.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
A new year - 2010
It has been three years at MapmyIndia (www.mapmyindia.com) and it has been one helluva ride. Have helped the company enter the GPS navigation marketplace, involved in large mapping surveys, starting vehicle tracking and other related enterprise services, last but not the least, the kids are loving it.
I am all well settled in Bombay (again Mumbai for old timers), trying to learn Marathi (something I should have picked up when I was much younger), and have started enjoying the small pleasures of life in the neighborhood.
The little one has turned 5 and now debates about cricket with me, and the baby girl is growing up to be one cute brat (she loves to cry for everything, as she knows it works). Wife is working hard and is pushing for a new venture with her friend, called Treasure Books (www.treasurebooks.in), a quaint bookshop and activity center for small kids in Khar area (near Fab India off Linking Road). Hence all in all, life is hectic and fun.
I just went to Crawford market and checked out some interesting shops, which is something one should explore on a nice working day away from the headaches of office (btw suggestion to all, get rid of the blackberry and you will find life is more meaningful and interesting), check mails once a day or something like that.
Anyways, have to get back to some work, enjoy the posts, adios.
Shiva
I am all well settled in Bombay (again Mumbai for old timers), trying to learn Marathi (something I should have picked up when I was much younger), and have started enjoying the small pleasures of life in the neighborhood.
The little one has turned 5 and now debates about cricket with me, and the baby girl is growing up to be one cute brat (she loves to cry for everything, as she knows it works). Wife is working hard and is pushing for a new venture with her friend, called Treasure Books (www.treasurebooks.in), a quaint bookshop and activity center for small kids in Khar area (near Fab India off Linking Road). Hence all in all, life is hectic and fun.
I just went to Crawford market and checked out some interesting shops, which is something one should explore on a nice working day away from the headaches of office (btw suggestion to all, get rid of the blackberry and you will find life is more meaningful and interesting), check mails once a day or something like that.
Anyways, have to get back to some work, enjoy the posts, adios.
Shiva
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Bombay Monsoons
Well here I am sitting on the computer on a lazy sunday afternoon. Had gone for a movie (Ice Age 3) with the kids, it was a pretty good movie, kids loved it. It is gently raining outside and after a long time I am really enjoying the day without any committments, no emails, no phone calls, no parties etc. Life should be like this.
So what all have I been up to, for starters, went and saw the complete Entourage Seasons (not sure how many of you have seen it), it comes on HBO and is really good. Have re-started listening to ColdPlay, i.e. getting new music and am reading Dale Carnegie / Warren Buffett / Nandan Nilekani.
Over the past 3 months, I have again involved myself into the Mapmyindia GPS navigators sales and have been actively pushing the sales of our new products along with my colleagues, I can actually see the market coming around and it is nice to see the hardwork paying off. Things I had done 2 years ago is now paying off and we are actually in market making mode.
Outside of sales, I am going to start core engineering i.e. learn how to work and repair cars, have also started programming (coding) for the kicks of it. Over-all in a sweet spot of life.
This past weekend, I went to Pune and loved the city, it is small and kinda sweet, unlike the big bad metropolitan Bombay/Mumbai where I live. Family is doing well. Kids have started soccer, dancing, chess etc.
More till later,
Namaste,
Shiva
So what all have I been up to, for starters, went and saw the complete Entourage Seasons (not sure how many of you have seen it), it comes on HBO and is really good. Have re-started listening to ColdPlay, i.e. getting new music and am reading Dale Carnegie / Warren Buffett / Nandan Nilekani.
Over the past 3 months, I have again involved myself into the Mapmyindia GPS navigators sales and have been actively pushing the sales of our new products along with my colleagues, I can actually see the market coming around and it is nice to see the hardwork paying off. Things I had done 2 years ago is now paying off and we are actually in market making mode.
Outside of sales, I am going to start core engineering i.e. learn how to work and repair cars, have also started programming (coding) for the kicks of it. Over-all in a sweet spot of life.
This past weekend, I went to Pune and loved the city, it is small and kinda sweet, unlike the big bad metropolitan Bombay/Mumbai where I live. Family is doing well. Kids have started soccer, dancing, chess etc.
More till later,
Namaste,
Shiva
Sunday, May 31, 2009
So I have moved again, this time to the eastern and new up coming area of Mumbai. Hopefully this will be a move where I will stay here for a while, but then never say never. This place reminds me of our place in Newport Pavonia, Jersey City, where used to live on the 22nd floor for a year. This place is similar only i get to see Nava Sheva port instead of downtown Manhattan. This area is fairly under developed part of Bombay and right now I am in the process of finding different places from where I can order food (have found Indian Chinese and Mughalai).
Kids are growing up really so fast and time flies. The older one is 4.5 years and the younger one is 2.5 years. The boy has taught himself how to watch movies on the DVD (still do not have cable at this house) and is good at arts and crafts. He enjoys to paint. The little one follows her brother and wants to everything that big bro does.
On the professional front, MapmyIndia is doing well, we have moved into a new office in Delhi and are quite growing. Have raised another round of funding from existing investors and Qualcomm Ventures. Work is interesting and over the past 2 odd years, have learned quite a bit how to sell in India. It is an artwork. My personal professional network has become quite significant as maps are licensed to folks from all walks of life.
Exercise and gym etc are all history and have given up on that, so putting on tonnes of weight. Dont see that changing in the near future. Travelling has reduced but it will resume next month, when the rains hit Bombay.
More later,
Adious,
Shiva
Kids are growing up really so fast and time flies. The older one is 4.5 years and the younger one is 2.5 years. The boy has taught himself how to watch movies on the DVD (still do not have cable at this house) and is good at arts and crafts. He enjoys to paint. The little one follows her brother and wants to everything that big bro does.
On the professional front, MapmyIndia is doing well, we have moved into a new office in Delhi and are quite growing. Have raised another round of funding from existing investors and Qualcomm Ventures. Work is interesting and over the past 2 odd years, have learned quite a bit how to sell in India. It is an artwork. My personal professional network has become quite significant as maps are licensed to folks from all walks of life.
Exercise and gym etc are all history and have given up on that, so putting on tonnes of weight. Dont see that changing in the near future. Travelling has reduced but it will resume next month, when the rains hit Bombay.
More later,
Adious,
Shiva
Thursday, January 29, 2009
2 years hence
It has been 2 years since I moved back to India and it has been a journey, have shifted houses, cities, office locations but it has been well worth it. As someone says life is a journey.
MapmyIndia, where I spend most of my waking hours is growing by leaps and bounds and in general the atmosphere around mapping/gps/navigation etc is doing extremely well. Marketplace is coming around.
Kids have grown up, the little boy has started speaking Bambiya Hindi - local flavour of bombay-hindi, little girl goes a quaint playschool in Mumbai and adjusting well.
This past new years we went to Matheran (a little hill station near bombay around 2 hour drive), where you have to drive upto a point and then leave your car ( you need to go horse back or walk), no cars allowed into the town (one of a kind in India). Kids had a ball of a time, and it is so dirt cheap (the entire trip cost only Rs5,000/- around 100USD) for a family of 4 four with a baby sitter (eating/loding etc all), nothing can be cheaper than that.
This past weekend we went to Sariska, a tiger forest reserve near Alwar (Rajasthan - 3 hour drive from Delhi). It was a great reserver but all the tigers have been killed, some months ago, government introduced 2 tigers hoping to rejuvenate the population. This was my first experience to a national park in India, and I must say it is really cool, should do more of these.
On a personal basis I have put on lots of weight and have become really lazy, as there are servants and helpers for all sorts of things and one does not have to even lift a finger (bed tea is served on a daily basis and i have not ironed my clothes in 2 years). Yes India is irritating at times, specially traffic (it SUCKS!!), if someone has to live in India, his/her commute time should be not more than 20 minutes. All in all, it is fun and I look forward to travelling more around India, now that my kids are a little bigger.
Namaste till next time,
Shiva
MapmyIndia, where I spend most of my waking hours is growing by leaps and bounds and in general the atmosphere around mapping/gps/navigation etc is doing extremely well. Marketplace is coming around.
Kids have grown up, the little boy has started speaking Bambiya Hindi - local flavour of bombay-hindi, little girl goes a quaint playschool in Mumbai and adjusting well.
This past new years we went to Matheran (a little hill station near bombay around 2 hour drive), where you have to drive upto a point and then leave your car ( you need to go horse back or walk), no cars allowed into the town (one of a kind in India). Kids had a ball of a time, and it is so dirt cheap (the entire trip cost only Rs5,000/- around 100USD) for a family of 4 four with a baby sitter (eating/loding etc all), nothing can be cheaper than that.
This past weekend we went to Sariska, a tiger forest reserve near Alwar (Rajasthan - 3 hour drive from Delhi). It was a great reserver but all the tigers have been killed, some months ago, government introduced 2 tigers hoping to rejuvenate the population. This was my first experience to a national park in India, and I must say it is really cool, should do more of these.
On a personal basis I have put on lots of weight and have become really lazy, as there are servants and helpers for all sorts of things and one does not have to even lift a finger (bed tea is served on a daily basis and i have not ironed my clothes in 2 years). Yes India is irritating at times, specially traffic (it SUCKS!!), if someone has to live in India, his/her commute time should be not more than 20 minutes. All in all, it is fun and I look forward to travelling more around India, now that my kids are a little bigger.
Namaste till next time,
Shiva
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Terrorism and Living in India
So what is new, I have been lazy about writing. This past few weeks have been quite eventful for India, where a small bunch of people held the area of South Bombay (Mumbai) hostage. It was a sad event and most of the news channels carried the event live on TV for 3 days (non-stop).
Well, we do not have events at this level, but in the recent past, Naxals have killed many policeman in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. There has been brutal violence in Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir/North East continues to see some sort of bombing, violence all the time. So what changed this time??
The attacks came on Rich people in one of the most coveted neighborhoods in India. I happen to part of this society and most of my friends and families are shell shocked. How could this happen?? Well wake up folks, it happens all the time, only for the 1st time it happened in your back yard. Television channels loved it as their TRP were falling and this really helped them boost viewerships.
You cannot imagine but the kind of advertising that went on through the broadcasts, heck I even got SMS from insurance companies to buy insurance when the hostage crises was going on. Another interesting thing, was that when all ended, many of the policemen on duty, picked up valuables from the dead (diamonds, earnings, watches etc). Again nothing new, happens all the time in J&K.
So what did I learn from this event, be careful and you never know when you might land up (wrong place at the wrong time). As Narshimha Rao used to say - "This too shall pass", I am sure it will if the upcoming cricket matches between India and England becomes interesting. The current Chief Minister (Leader of the state), lost his job for no fault of his, this event could have happened in any state of India, but his political detractors lost no time in getting him removed.
Indian's specially educated ones have to start voting in large numbers to swing elections (only 3% votes makes the difference between losing and winning). I urge folks who read my blog, to visit http://www.jaagore.com/main.php (Jaagore - A great initiative), to register. Please go out and vote and find the right leaders who can get India out of the mess.
Jai Hind and Jai India.
Regards,
Shiva
PS: Folks thinking about returning to India, now is a good time as US/European economy is on the verge of tanking and shutting shop. India is still hiring.
Well, we do not have events at this level, but in the recent past, Naxals have killed many policeman in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. There has been brutal violence in Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir/North East continues to see some sort of bombing, violence all the time. So what changed this time??
The attacks came on Rich people in one of the most coveted neighborhoods in India. I happen to part of this society and most of my friends and families are shell shocked. How could this happen?? Well wake up folks, it happens all the time, only for the 1st time it happened in your back yard. Television channels loved it as their TRP were falling and this really helped them boost viewerships.
You cannot imagine but the kind of advertising that went on through the broadcasts, heck I even got SMS from insurance companies to buy insurance when the hostage crises was going on. Another interesting thing, was that when all ended, many of the policemen on duty, picked up valuables from the dead (diamonds, earnings, watches etc). Again nothing new, happens all the time in J&K.
So what did I learn from this event, be careful and you never know when you might land up (wrong place at the wrong time). As Narshimha Rao used to say - "This too shall pass", I am sure it will if the upcoming cricket matches between India and England becomes interesting. The current Chief Minister (Leader of the state), lost his job for no fault of his, this event could have happened in any state of India, but his political detractors lost no time in getting him removed.
Indian's specially educated ones have to start voting in large numbers to swing elections (only 3% votes makes the difference between losing and winning). I urge folks who read my blog, to visit http://www.jaagore.com/main.php (Jaagore - A great initiative), to register. Please go out and vote and find the right leaders who can get India out of the mess.
Jai Hind and Jai India.
Regards,
Shiva
PS: Folks thinking about returning to India, now is a good time as US/European economy is on the verge of tanking and shutting shop. India is still hiring.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Blogging on a highway
It is around 7 AM on a monday morning and I am on the way to Pune for a meeting with some really smart folks that run engineering services for a large automotive giant. On the way I am using my GPS Navigator and it is giving me the directions as to how to get there.
I am truly enjoying the ride, the driver is driving the vehicle at over 120KMph, which is a good feeling, because in bombay, most of the time you do not cross 20Kmph. Heck I dont think my cars 5th gear has been engaged in a many
months :)
Well getting driven is much better than driving, specially with so many trucks etc on the way, remind me of driving in Detroit Metropolitan area, when you had to drive on your own avoid heavy automotive traffic on crappy roads.
This is much better, plus I get to enjoy the scenary of the fresh green vegetation, rains just about finishing in India. Sometimes I think going out to visit a place via a car instead of flying is more fun and more interesting as
it gives you so much to see.
I am planning to visit the far east in detail and try to get to meet many more folks from the automotive, telecom and entertaiment industry (audio) for my navigation products. I am in touch with many but it does not hurt to meet more of them. I always enjoy meeting people from all walks of life.
On the personal front, the little baby girl of mine is becoming big and smarter, she is able to put on her shoes all by herself and when we are going out, she brings my shoes to me stating that I should get my lazy self going.
The son takes on after me, as he wants his 1 year old sister to help him get ready. He too has become smart and is learning all sorts of useful and useless things at school. Wifey is ploughing away hard at banking, (the world in her part is kinda of falling apart with many US banks going under). I think it is tough to convince people to put in money into things that most people do not understand. Investment banking is more about education than anything else (come to think of it, most investors do not really understand very many industries outside of banking, even if they do understand that).
Lots is happening in India from security issues to banking issues, but on my end life pretty much remains the same and as usual I am still trying to find my place in the system.
till next time.
Shiva
I am truly enjoying the ride, the driver is driving the vehicle at over 120KMph, which is a good feeling, because in bombay, most of the time you do not cross 20Kmph. Heck I dont think my cars 5th gear has been engaged in a many
months :)
Well getting driven is much better than driving, specially with so many trucks etc on the way, remind me of driving in Detroit Metropolitan area, when you had to drive on your own avoid heavy automotive traffic on crappy roads.
This is much better, plus I get to enjoy the scenary of the fresh green vegetation, rains just about finishing in India. Sometimes I think going out to visit a place via a car instead of flying is more fun and more interesting as
it gives you so much to see.
I am planning to visit the far east in detail and try to get to meet many more folks from the automotive, telecom and entertaiment industry (audio) for my navigation products. I am in touch with many but it does not hurt to meet more of them. I always enjoy meeting people from all walks of life.
On the personal front, the little baby girl of mine is becoming big and smarter, she is able to put on her shoes all by herself and when we are going out, she brings my shoes to me stating that I should get my lazy self going.
The son takes on after me, as he wants his 1 year old sister to help him get ready. He too has become smart and is learning all sorts of useful and useless things at school. Wifey is ploughing away hard at banking, (the world in her part is kinda of falling apart with many US banks going under). I think it is tough to convince people to put in money into things that most people do not understand. Investment banking is more about education than anything else (come to think of it, most investors do not really understand very many industries outside of banking, even if they do understand that).
Lots is happening in India from security issues to banking issues, but on my end life pretty much remains the same and as usual I am still trying to find my place in the system.
till next time.
Shiva
Monday, August 25, 2008
The month of August 2008
This has been a very slow month, with intermittent rains and broken roads. Heck I have barely traveled this month. India is burning in Inflation. We did great (better than before) in games, Cricket team is relegated to no where (did not watch even one match - even papers did not cover the matches in Detail), bomb blasts in various place, but on the personal front life has been slow.
I have made it a point to spend more time with family and better manage my time. I try and come home a bit early and am working from home from 10:30 to 12:30 in the night, catching up on mails etc. This is a good time as the kids are sleeping and there is no one to disturb. One thing that I still am not doing is going to the gym. Just have no enthusiasm for the same.
MapmyIndia (http://www.mapmyindia.com) is going good, we have made much progress in the enterprise world and are getting tonnes of traffic on our website. More and more people are becoming aware of the products that we have to offer. As long as we keen enhancing the products, we will keep growing in good numbers. Over-all the last 1.75 years have been rewarding, could have better managed the time, but then you move as the slowest person in your chain.
Little one is talking sentences now, the boy is learning marathi and has is keen to convince me that Bombay has gone and Mumbai has come and we should speak Marathi, which is not really a bad thing. The more the languages he learns the better. He was asking me what is Mandarin and how to understand the Olympics speeches??
We recently pest controlled our house and killed lots of cockroaches (yuck), the maid is very happy and she things her mission is accomplished (she had found the pest control folks). We have fired one of the drivers and it seems the other one is going the same way. Drivers are just so irritating in India even if you pay them high wages, they just cannot stick, not sure what to do about it.
At this point we are seeking our own place to move into (enough of renting been doing that for 3 years now). Wifey is gone beserk on the furniture and other items, I am like this too shall pass and we will get used to dirty walls :)
Anyways I am a bit tired and now think it is time to get some sleep. shall keep posting, in the meanwhile if anyone is in Bandra in Mumbai, they should try out Kakori kabab in the area, it is one of a kind and melts in your mouth.
thx,
Shiva
I have made it a point to spend more time with family and better manage my time. I try and come home a bit early and am working from home from 10:30 to 12:30 in the night, catching up on mails etc. This is a good time as the kids are sleeping and there is no one to disturb. One thing that I still am not doing is going to the gym. Just have no enthusiasm for the same.
MapmyIndia (http://www.mapmyindia.com) is going good, we have made much progress in the enterprise world and are getting tonnes of traffic on our website. More and more people are becoming aware of the products that we have to offer. As long as we keen enhancing the products, we will keep growing in good numbers. Over-all the last 1.75 years have been rewarding, could have better managed the time, but then you move as the slowest person in your chain.
Little one is talking sentences now, the boy is learning marathi and has is keen to convince me that Bombay has gone and Mumbai has come and we should speak Marathi, which is not really a bad thing. The more the languages he learns the better. He was asking me what is Mandarin and how to understand the Olympics speeches??
We recently pest controlled our house and killed lots of cockroaches (yuck), the maid is very happy and she things her mission is accomplished (she had found the pest control folks). We have fired one of the drivers and it seems the other one is going the same way. Drivers are just so irritating in India even if you pay them high wages, they just cannot stick, not sure what to do about it.
At this point we are seeking our own place to move into (enough of renting been doing that for 3 years now). Wifey is gone beserk on the furniture and other items, I am like this too shall pass and we will get used to dirty walls :)
Anyways I am a bit tired and now think it is time to get some sleep. shall keep posting, in the meanwhile if anyone is in Bandra in Mumbai, they should try out Kakori kabab in the area, it is one of a kind and melts in your mouth.
thx,
Shiva
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Long time no write
It has been a long summer and we are now into the monsoons, which are really nice and intereting and sometimes scary in Mumbai. Well so here I am in Mumbai or Bombay enjoying the rains and my work.
Recently I had a chance to travel to two unique countries Turkey and Singapore, both very different and are on two opposite poles of the spectrum. Turkey is a mix between Christianity and Islam and is literally sitting on the cusp of change, there are places where is it forbidden to wear the hijab (burkha). People smoke, drink in the open, it is a somewhat Islamic country with European winds. Compare this to Singapore, which is almost like a utopian country. I had heard much about Singapore but you have not understood the place till you see it. It is like Newport, Jersey City, NJ, USA except instead of it being a neighborhood, it is the entire country that has been sanitized. Perfect parks, perfect buildings, cheap food, expensive cars. Just about perfect, heck even the grass across the entire island is cut at teh same height. Traffic from point A to point B is teh same each day and take the same time each day. I have never seen anything like this and dont believe I will ever again.
I am enjoying Mumbai, have been trying out new eating joints. Love to work in this city, since the days are long and people are overall nice, it is good to interact with local bombayites/mumbaikars.
Kids are doing well, love to get wet. More till them.
Cheers,
Shiva
Recently I had a chance to travel to two unique countries Turkey and Singapore, both very different and are on two opposite poles of the spectrum. Turkey is a mix between Christianity and Islam and is literally sitting on the cusp of change, there are places where is it forbidden to wear the hijab (burkha). People smoke, drink in the open, it is a somewhat Islamic country with European winds. Compare this to Singapore, which is almost like a utopian country. I had heard much about Singapore but you have not understood the place till you see it. It is like Newport, Jersey City, NJ, USA except instead of it being a neighborhood, it is the entire country that has been sanitized. Perfect parks, perfect buildings, cheap food, expensive cars. Just about perfect, heck even the grass across the entire island is cut at teh same height. Traffic from point A to point B is teh same each day and take the same time each day. I have never seen anything like this and dont believe I will ever again.
I am enjoying Mumbai, have been trying out new eating joints. Love to work in this city, since the days are long and people are overall nice, it is good to interact with local bombayites/mumbaikars.
Kids are doing well, love to get wet. More till them.
Cheers,
Shiva
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
April - The Coming Heat
April is here and we are on the way into summer. Bombay gets really hot and humid (more so humid) in the summer months, where one sweats by just walking out of the house. Most people crib about it and find it annoying, but give me the sweat anytime and anyday over the harsh heat of places like Delhi and the harsh winter of places like Detroit.
So what is new and exciting in my life? Hmm nothing really much, only that the son has joined a proper school and is going there for a few weeks now and it is really an experience to see your children go to school early morning, small little kids crying, wailing at the school gates. It is an experience, which all parents go through and is difficult to explain. I had a recent chance to drive around Mumbai and visit the Manori beaches, gosh I loved it, so close to Mumbai but still such beauty, and the only reason these beaches are saved is because there is no bridge on the bay from the Mumbai side to Manori, heck great Indian infrastructure is actually being put to use.
Recently have gotten a new DVD player, the old one conked out (happens to those that do not research electronics before buying it), waiting to watch my Godfather collection on the same, time permitting.
Else life is easy and good, and interesting. MapmyIndia is doing well, and has in the last year become a brand. Our GPS products have become awesome (in a few years), it will supercede most western products (if telecom sector is an indicator).
That is all. Cheers till then.
Adios,
Shiva
So what is new and exciting in my life? Hmm nothing really much, only that the son has joined a proper school and is going there for a few weeks now and it is really an experience to see your children go to school early morning, small little kids crying, wailing at the school gates. It is an experience, which all parents go through and is difficult to explain. I had a recent chance to drive around Mumbai and visit the Manori beaches, gosh I loved it, so close to Mumbai but still such beauty, and the only reason these beaches are saved is because there is no bridge on the bay from the Mumbai side to Manori, heck great Indian infrastructure is actually being put to use.
Recently have gotten a new DVD player, the old one conked out (happens to those that do not research electronics before buying it), waiting to watch my Godfather collection on the same, time permitting.
Else life is easy and good, and interesting. MapmyIndia is doing well, and has in the last year become a brand. Our GPS products have become awesome (in a few years), it will supercede most western products (if telecom sector is an indicator).
That is all. Cheers till then.
Adios,
Shiva
Saturday, March 8, 2008
March Madness
Hi All,
Been a while since I have posted. I have not written any blogs for over 3 months. So it kind of feels good to be back to writing. We have now settled in Mumbai and have adjusted to the hectic pace of life, leaving at 9ish in the mornign and coming back at 9ish in the night. Kids have also adjusted and overall a bit of shanti (still have some outstanding items but those can wait).
I have finally started living like a true Indian businessman, who is seeking to position his company in the competative landscape. We have made much progress on the MapmyIndia front, by launching a pretty cool GPS navigator for all India, setting up a distribution network, selling via auto channels and retail stores. If nothing else, MapmyIndia is becoming a brand to reckon with. I tried the American way by being nice to everyone and being good and understanding, but in India, if you are not pushing, abusive and extremely demanding no one listens to you. You need to micromanage and in general people around you love that. They enjoy micro management.
So now i have two cars and two drivers, and they both suck, regularly trying to dupe you, so the best solution is to scream and shout and they all fall in line. Sad but that is the way India functions. People like to be treated badly and then only they produce. I think a bit of that applies to me as well :)
My friend in the US recently had a baby girl, it felt nice, as we are close and it was his first born, I have 2 friends standing still to get married and both are paranoid about the same, God bless them and hopefully they get married.
Overall otherwise, my sister and family have also moved back to India. I sometimes miss the US specially the toys for kids and ease of shopping (pain to shop in India), but other than that I am all set here in Bombay. Trying to expand the business and see if we can initiate something new (like mobile services with GPS mapping, etc). Let us see how that goes. Keep reading and hopefully I can post more regularly.
Btw, keep following the stock market, it has becoming really interesting and volatile, you can make lots of money on the volatility trading!!
Namaste till then.
Shiva
Been a while since I have posted. I have not written any blogs for over 3 months. So it kind of feels good to be back to writing. We have now settled in Mumbai and have adjusted to the hectic pace of life, leaving at 9ish in the mornign and coming back at 9ish in the night. Kids have also adjusted and overall a bit of shanti (still have some outstanding items but those can wait).
I have finally started living like a true Indian businessman, who is seeking to position his company in the competative landscape. We have made much progress on the MapmyIndia front, by launching a pretty cool GPS navigator for all India, setting up a distribution network, selling via auto channels and retail stores. If nothing else, MapmyIndia is becoming a brand to reckon with. I tried the American way by being nice to everyone and being good and understanding, but in India, if you are not pushing, abusive and extremely demanding no one listens to you. You need to micromanage and in general people around you love that. They enjoy micro management.
So now i have two cars and two drivers, and they both suck, regularly trying to dupe you, so the best solution is to scream and shout and they all fall in line. Sad but that is the way India functions. People like to be treated badly and then only they produce. I think a bit of that applies to me as well :)
My friend in the US recently had a baby girl, it felt nice, as we are close and it was his first born, I have 2 friends standing still to get married and both are paranoid about the same, God bless them and hopefully they get married.
Overall otherwise, my sister and family have also moved back to India. I sometimes miss the US specially the toys for kids and ease of shopping (pain to shop in India), but other than that I am all set here in Bombay. Trying to expand the business and see if we can initiate something new (like mobile services with GPS mapping, etc). Let us see how that goes. Keep reading and hopefully I can post more regularly.
Btw, keep following the stock market, it has becoming really interesting and volatile, you can make lots of money on the volatility trading!!
Namaste till then.
Shiva
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