UniverCell SYNC comes to Mumbai, brings deli-tronics smartphone experience

I had the pleasure of visiting the newly launched UniverCell Sync digital store due to indiblogger.  Here I pen out a few of my thoughts about the newly launched lifestyle smartphone deli-tronical experience I had with them. Though the store is situated in rather endish point of South Mumbai at UniverCell, Cecil Court Building, Next to Regal Cinema, Cause Way, Mumbai and quite far off from my residence but all the tiredness of driving all the way from Borivali to Regal was washed off at the sheer tech-seperience of the store.

The store deals in providing maximum smartphone tech experience and I just love mobile and mobile tech so the UniverCell Sync was a love at first site for me.  As informed by the staff, each of the stores have been divided into four clear zones with each zone offering a different mobile experience. 

For the selfie enthusiasts and the self proclaimed creativity experts there is a specialised camera phones zone.  Music lovers and music junkies get a music phone zone with the accessories like headsets and Apps blended in.  For the business consumer there is the work and play segment where one can be connected to work even at home.  And best of all and perhaps the one that would get most footfalls for them, the Junior Syc zone for kids.  This zone offers every mobile offering under sun for the kids which are preloaded with children only Apps and educationational content. The staff was courteous and store filled with all the right kind of mobiles, mobile accessories and tech stuff.  I jumped to my first love, business smartphones.   UniverCell has created the right ambience for a tech lover.  The arrays of products are set up beautifully in a eye catching manner.  

UniverCell Sync is a recent startup which started from South India and is slowly and steadily expanding into whole of India.  It already has a setup of 405 stores in South India and has entered Mumbai with a bang; virtually with 10 stores located at following locations :

1. Bandra Linking Road, Unit No.1, Kenil Worth Building, Linking Road, Bandra (W) Mumbai 50
2. Neptune Magnet Mall, Neptune House, Karma Stambh, Vikhroli(W) Mumbai 83
3. Cecil Court Building, Next to Regal Cinema, Cause Way, Mumbai 1
4. Grovel Mall, Grovel House, Akurli Road, Kandivali (E), Mumbai 101
5. Phoenix Market City, Kurla Market City, L.B.S. Marg, Kurla (W) Mumbai 11
6. Phoenix High Street, Phoenix Mills Compound, 462 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 13.
7. R Mall, L.B.S. Marg, Mulund, Mumbai 80
8. Saroj Furnishings & Carpets, Shop 5/6, Mira Mansion, Next to BoI, Sion Circle, Mumbai 22
9. Madhav Niwas, Shop No.2 & 3, Gokhale Road, Naupada, Thane, Mumbai 602

With these 9 stores it has probably covered Mumbai and the company says it plans to open 11 more stores in Maharashtra out of which one is in already operational in Phoenix Market City, Pune. Apart from above it is the only physical mobile store in India to receive a QC  ISO 9000-2001 certification. This certification assures buyers that the UniverCell Sync will deliver quality both product wise and service wise.  

Keeping in line with the certification, the company offers a to the doorstep service.  Called Sync Squad, it is the first mobile phone retailer to offer such a  device setup support at customers' doorstep. The company also offers dedicated 24x7 technical helpline for its patrons.  The staff said the the company plans to launch a dedicated 24 x 7 helpline smartphone App in near future, that completes the whole service setup.

UniverCell Sync is not just a store, it is a out of the box full mobile experience store where you get good value for money. It is the only mobile phone retailer to offer a multi-party loyalty program through Payback.  So if you are a Payback member, you gain lot of loyalty points which can be redeemed across channels.

The other zone to interest me was the complete musical setup smartphone zone.  It had all kinds of enviable accessories from headsets to docks. 

UniverCell has played a very smart and strategic move in this zone both from buyers point of view as well as marketing strategy. It offers a complete setup of music mobile with a bundle offer which includes high quality headphones and memory card plus phone cover.

Most smartphone users will agree that the service of all major makers sucks.  More so with users who own a iPhone or S5/S4. Waiting in that queue at the service centre till your number is called out is a headache and a resource strain.  UniverCell Sync has addressed this issues directly with the following plans:

This plans are intended to relieve the smartphone buyers of their obvious worry, the after sales service.  All in all, UniverCell Sync has got all the right ingredients in place for smartphone buyers. As I normally get smartphones to review, so I couldnt buy one but would definitely urge readers to give UniverCell Sync a try when you embark on your audacious smartphone buying journey.

Visiting Oman and understanding what beauty means, welcome to the world of deserts, sands, coffee with dates,ornamented doors, Bedouins and frankincense

Oman the country of deserts, sands, coffee with dates, unique ornamented doors of every house, Bedouins and frankincense trees. Oman is the oldest independent Arab country in the world.  I have been offered a chance to visit this beautiful land and I am preparing my itinerary for the trip.  Before I give my itinerary let be give you a brief glimpse of this beautiful country. 

Beauty has an Address

The Sultanate of Oman is ruled by Sultan Qaboon bin Said al Said from the Al Said family. As said above it is the oldest independent Arabic country which has never been ruled by alien forces and the Al Said family has been ruling it since 1744. You may have never heard any news of terrorist attacks or and riots etc. from Oman because Oman has been a peaceful country which follows Ibadi Islam and is tolerant to all other religions.  You may be shocked to know that even Hindus have been living in Oman since ages (not the migratory ones).  The people of Oman are very hospitable and they are good conversationalists.   As said above, Omanis have a unique custom of greeting guests with a pleasing combination of coffee with dates. Being a born coffee lover I find this fascinating. Omani Coffee is just superb and it is always served with dates.  If you visit a Omani host, he will serve you coffee in this beautiful little cups and dates.  These little cups are never full because traditionally Omanis drink coffee in a thousand little sips, each served separately.  So, this is the best time to strike a conversation with the hospitable Omani host.  You will find that they are as forthcoming as your own neighbour back in India.  

Trivia => House doors in Oman are unique, colourful and embroidered. And no matter what the whole house looks like, even a simple house has truly stunning doors.

Oman Tourism campaign #Beautyhasaaddress

So I prepare my itinerary for my visit to Oman.  I would start of my sojourn with Muscat and end it with Muscat.  Muscat is the capital city of Oman one of the most vibrant cities not only in Oman but the entire Arabian Peninsula. Omani culture has been beautifully preserved by Muscati residents and hence Muscat was declared Arab City of Culture for 2012. Muscat is divided into two parts, the old city and the new Muscat. Old Muscat is like our old Delhi, truly ancient and charming.  At the heart of the old city lies an ancient amphitheatre made of bare rocks.  This is a must see site not only from archaeological point of view but also from historic point of view.  Beside the amphitheatre are two imposing 16th century fortresses in Portuguese  design build when Oman was a colony of Portugal.  Oman has preserved their history so beautifully, because all the grand old mansions in the old city have been converted into museums.  These museums and forts tell a beautiful tale of what Oman may have been in the ancient times.  Coming to the new Muscat you will find Mutrah’s Souq.  Mutrah Souq is situated in Mutrah Corniche. This Souq and many like it sell you a mixture of Indian, Oriental and Omani artefacts among the usual textile, hardware and gold shops.

Map of Mutrah Souq of Oman

TRIVIA => Oman has the only all woman Souq in entire world.  Located in the city of Ibra, this all woman Souq takes place every Wednesday. Since its a all women affair, menfolk are not allowed anywhere near it.  Women traders sells everything from spices to jewellery and fabrics to women buyers. 

Next on the agenda is a visit to the magnificent and grand marble clad Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.  This great mosque is done in modern Islamic architecture. Next up is the marvel of nature, a Dolphin watching cruise alongwith snorkelling.  All hotels in Muscat arrange for the same but their times differ so book your appoinment before hand and be available 15 minutes prior to the trip.  You can also add a Dhow cruise if you are interested in knowing how the ancient ships worked.

Ancient Dhow preparing for tourists in Oman

Oman which has a long sea shore facing the Arabian Sea and it offers best best diving and snorkelling opportunities in the Gulf region. Many of the dive and snorkelling sites are within easy reach of Muscat.  Bandar Khairan, Fahal Island, the Daymaniyat Islands, and Al Makbara Bay (old Muscat), Al Jissah Beach and a much secluded Musandam Peninsula. The best months for diving and snorkelling in Oman are the period from April to July, but diving and snorkelling in Oman can be enjoyed at all times.

If you are a nature lover, Turtle watching is a must do activity in Oman.  Oman has many protected Turtle nest areas where you watch a turtle laboriously haul its way up the beach.  Oman is home to  five of the seven species of sea turtles,  the Green Turtle which nests at Ras al-Jinz, Masirah Island, Daymaniyat Islands, the Loggerhead Turtle which nests at Masirah Island, Dhofa, Daymaniyat Islands, the Hawksbill Turtle which nests at Muscat, Daymaniyat Islands; the Olive Ridley Turtle which nests on Masirah Island,  and the Leatherback Turtle which is found in Omani waters but does not nest in the Sultanate of Oman. Watching the kiddie turtles scurrying towards the sea is a spectacle to watch.

Beautiful and breathtaking views you get by visiting the Wadis of Oman 

Next in my itinerary is a visit to the Wadis and dry rivers courses. For doing this you have to book a four wheel drive vehicle. This trip will expose you to some of Oman’s most magnificent scenery. The narrow gravel tracks permit access to valleys with sheer steep-sided cliffs towering above the palm lined valley floors often offering a vintage exciting view. Some Wadis may have beautiful pools of blue or green water make idyllic spots for a picnic or cooling swim. This is a must have experience, visiting Oman because this are the backroads that offer the wild beauty of Oman on a platter.  

A typical mountain oasis in Oman with beautiful pure water

After driving the Wadis, I plan to visit the famous Omani Mountain Oases. Oman is a home to plenty of Mountain Oases which are situated in high mountains and are great contrasting greenery against deserts of Oman.  These oases boast of abundunt water in falaj channels where roses, grapes, pomegranates, apricots, and all sorts of wonderful fruits grow on steeply terraced fields.  Here too you get to meet traditional Omani people and understand their culture. 

Trivia => You can rarely find a Coca Cola in Oman. The most popular drink of Oman, most often called the 'Omani Alcohol' is Pepsi's Mountain Dew

Wahiba Sands offering mouth watering asymmetrical natural designs

After greenery, a bit of what I really want to see in Oman, the elegant rippling dunes of the Wahiba Sands.  In many a bollywood movies you may have seen the hero dribbling down the sand or singing duet a la, suraj hua madham in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum. Well here is my chance to do something similar.  Wahiba Sands are the first things that strike to a mind when some one says Arabia or desert.   Made famous by the explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger in the 1950s, and covering an area the size of Wales, this enormous sand sea with dunes rising up to 150 metres provides a feast of aesthetically satisfying geometrical designs which are natural creations.  I also plan to spend atleast a night or two in the wilderness and experience the peace of the desert and magnificence of the night sky in its full glory.

Frankincense tree growing in the wild

Oman is a the only place in the world where Frankincense grows in the wild. Frankincense is used extensively by the Omani's for religious rituals and its a vital ingredient in the perfume industry. It has also been investigated for its medicinal properties. It is becoming a very precious and demanded feedstock. It is a very special tree for Omani, is not a mere tree for them. It is an embodiment of culture, history, sociology and geography.  Visiting the Frankincense trees growing in the wild is also on my agenda.

Trivia => While Alcohol is allowed in Oman, you have to get permits from authorities for buying it.  The permit is issued based on your monthly income.  It is 10 percent of your basic salary. 

From there, I intend to visit Nizwa for its colourful livestock market just like over Jaipur Camel Market.  This livestock market is held every Friday morning the ancient city of Nizwa. Once the livestock market opens it becomes a hive of activity pretty much like our own fish markets with auctions of cattle, sheep, and goats. The real fun of  Nizwa's livestock market is that you can see Omanis coming out in their  elegant long dishdashas and distinctive kuma hats. Womenfolk of Oman too come along with bright dresses whilst some may wear traditional Bedouin face masks.  This is also one of the places where you get to know the real Omani culture first hand.

Livestock market in action at Nizva

Finally back in Muscat I did prefer to relax by the sea shore. Oman has a perfect winter climate for relaxing by the sea shore. All Omani top hotels like the Al Bustan Palace, The Chedi Muscat, and the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort  have their private on-site spas, infinity edge swimming pools, tranquil gardens, and superb service. Those willing to venture further will find a beautiful relaxation zone in the stunning Six Senses Hideaway at Zighy Bay. 

'Khanjar' the national symbol of Oman

Finally I have to come back to India.  But returning without shopping would mean disrespect not only to the beautiful Oman and its culture but an  insult to my friends back home. Oman offers a exotic blend of the old and the new for shopping maniacs.  On one hand you will find luxury brands and top designer labels in the luxury shopping malls and international boutiques and on the other hand you can buy old world charms in the atmospheric ‘souqs’ For souveniers, try the traditional Omani silver jewellery like necklaces, bracelets, ear rings etc.  One thing you must buy from the Souqs is the famous ‘khanjar’ which is national symbol of Oman. You can also buy wood carved doors and brass studded dowry chests (mandoos), shelves, and miniature reproductions of dhows, as well as various pottery items.

This post is written for a indiblogger contest organised by Oman Tourism.  I hope to offer a glimpse into the wonderful land from Arabia which has everything from ancient, exotic to truly modern for everybody.  You can watch this video put up by Oman Tourism to understand the surreal beauty of OMAN.

Kotak Jifi, a new zero balance account for the new age social networking generation, get a invite now with your Facebook id

At the onset let me be clear, I am a Kotak customer and am pretty biased towards them.  I like the personalised services they offer to every Kotak customer.  What do I mean by the personalised service. Let me give you an example of the personal services offered by Kotak Bank. When I opened a Fixed Deposit with them, I forgot to fill in the mobile number which is pretty important for them and me.  I left the bank without noticing it and headed straight to work.  When I reached home, a Kotak representative was waiting for me there just to get my mobile number.  Now thats what I call a personalised service.  Kotak has launched a new initiative called Kotak Jifi (pronounced jiffy as in quick).  Whats so different about Kotak Jifi, well it is the first initiative in the world to use the power of social networking like Facebook/Twitter and email to open a zero balance account.

The world has grown smaller and  more globalist with the advent of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, VK, Google+ etc.  It has become pretty easy to reach any individual situated anywhere in the world via these social networking Apps.  The power of Facebook and Twitter was seen in the Arab Spring uprisings which took place in Middle East which led to pro democracy movements across the Middle East toppling autocratic states.  The power of social media is so vast that it can be used for either betterment of mankind or to harm them.  Kotak Jifi uses the positive side of social media to harness this vast power of Social networking.

How does it work :

Jifi is a new age digital current account that offers unparalleled convenience. Easy & anytime access, hassle-free transactions and numerous benefits, that is what Jifi is all about. What’s more, banking is now social with it as you can receive banking account updates through Twitter, gain reward points for transacting online and adding friends to your Jifi network.

To open a Kotak Jifi account you need to have a Facebook account. Why Facebook, you will ask, well the Kotak Jifi is pioneering to be the world first socially powered bank offering and all your account intricacies are linked to the Social networking.  For example you get your account updates through Twitter, add friends to your Jifi network via Facebook and collect loyalty points and huge rewards by logging in through Facebook.  Kotak Jifi has a unique loyalty program. The Loyalty Club entitles you to earn social and transaction points, which can then redeemed for a host of lifestyle, shopping and dining offers.  Whats more you can transfer your social points to your Facebook friends as a birthday gift just through a click on "Trade Points" tab.

The Kotak Jifi is a zero balance, zero interest Current account however you need to initially put Rs.5000.00 for verification purpose.  Once the verification is done,  you can use this money later for online shopping, bill payments or other transactions. Added benefit with Kotak Jifi is that every time your account crosses Rs.25,000.00, the idle amount in your account is automatically swept from you account into a Term Deposit account giving you the current rate of interest on that amount.

Remember your current regular account will charge you everytime your Average Monthly Balance (AMB) is lower then the stipulated amount.  But with your Jifi bank account there is a no such thing. Kotak Jifi also gives you Platinum Chip Debit card for conducting your banking transactions with loyalty points.

The saddest part is that all Facebookers wont be enjoying Kotak Jifi as of now as Kotak Jifi is currently available in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Coimbatore, Jaipur and Lucknow. But trust me knowing Kotak, it will be available throughout India by the end of this year.  Kotak Jifi has also released mobile Apps which keep you updated about your balance, your loyalty points, shows you the nearest ATM through integrated maps, gives you heavy discounts available online/physically based on your tastes.  You can check their hottest discounts here.

Here is a video elaborating the uses and nuances of Kotak Jifi

I hope that Kotak Jifi becomes a kind of Paypal of social networking.  One day I hope to use Jifi to transfer money to a persons account just by giving his/her Facebook id.  Wont that be awesome!  Imagine transferring money at a flick of a button using Facebook credentials instead of filling in those drab 16 digit account numbers, IFSC codes, SWIFT codes etc.  Kotak has started a social revolution by launching this service and I hope that my above dream is realised in not so distant future.

This post is written for the indiblogger contest Kotak Jifi.  If you are interested in getting a invite for this INVITATION ONLY futuristic initiative from Kotak Jifi, visit their Facebook page here and click on Get Your Invite through Facebook or Email

My Zenfone with Intel Inside, my super mobile dream to beam up Idli Sambar and send it to Ranjith in Noida

Being a tech writer is fun, you get to know new tech gadgets before anyone does, stay in loop with whats happening in the techworld and best of all, get to use the latest tech gadgets in order to review them.  I have done many reviews  of many smart phones and tablets but now I have been asked a strange question!  I have been asked that if the mobile manufacturer gives me unlimited processing power in my tablet phone what will I do?   

Processing power is not just about running Apps, games or watching, editing movies and photographs.  Processing power is the core of a smart phone or tablet.  Its like the brain of the device like that we have on the top of our head. But processors are machines which run on logic where our brains can do pretty illogical things. But with the development of technology, specially nano technology, the day is not far when we can say 'Beam Me Up, Scotty' like Captain Kirk did  in the Star Trek of yore.   Only in this case we will tell our mobile device to tell what Captain Kirk told Scotty.  Only in this case the destination will be of our choice and the tablet phone will teleport us to that destination.  This may be a bit far off in the future but it will surely happen one day.

Teleporting humans is too far, but if I was given a super powered tablet phone, I did work on the project of teleporting food stuff.  I did write a code for the super mobile to reduce the food set in front of a type of scanner to reduce it tiny molecules and transfer these very molecules to the person having a similar super mobile.  He/she will receive these food molecules via the communication satellites to the supermobile just like we receive a mail in our Gmail inbox.  If he/she is hungry or likes the food I have sent via this teleport they can download it.  The molecules with then reform into the food stuff I originally sent and the person can have it.

This App will require mobile phone with quite a super power to perform but the end result is just as fascinating.  Imagine a hungry person 12000 kms away in a country like Ethopia and imagine we are having a Fat Indian Wedding where the food wastage is huge.  I can just scan the left over food and teleport it to the hungry person in Ethiopia.  With this kind of mobile, there will be no famines, no hungry people and world will become a much happier place.  

Is this possible? Yes it is.  Remember the days when there were no mobile phones or faxes.  Any tech writer arguing about us talking to anybody using a tech gadget without wires while walking, eating or doing anything was taken for a fool.  Same ways for FAX.  Imagine someone writing about a gadget which could send a physical copy of a letter 10000s of kms away without leaving the comforts of his/her home.  That tech writer was taken for a retarded soul in those days.

Once I develop such kind of a code with the use of the super mobile processing power, it would require testing.  For testing, I would send a plate of Idli Sambar to my friend working right now in Noida.  The lad from Hyderabad is just lusting for a decent South Indian meal.  If my test is successful, Ranjith will have his idli sambar and I will have successfully made an attempt to eradicate hunger from Planet Earth.  

This is what I would do if I had a Super Phone!  This would not only wipe out tears from millions of humans who die due to hunger every day, it would also wipe out the scourge of malnutrition form the face of the earth.

This post has been written for Zenfone with Intel Inside.  You can register your self today and get a chance to win the superb Zenfone for free.  Simply visit Asus website here and sign up today.

Me, My Tata Nano, My Carlogic and fun with Carconnect.in website

I always wanted to own my own car but my earning didn’t match my dreams for a long time.  Finally the, one fine day, Tata announced its budget car, the TATA NANO.  I remember the day very well.  I saw the advertisement in Times of India and called the dealer.  The rep called me for a test drive next day.  I couldnt sleep the whole night. Imagine my anxiety and happiness that night.  I was virtually driving through streets of Mumbai in Tata Nano. The next day I went to the dealer and the first thing I tried was the height of the car and sitting position.  I am a six footer and not all cars match my lanky frame.  But Tata Nano fitted the bill perfectly and I today, am a proud owner of Tata Nano.

The Yellow one is MINE

I thought I will gain attention among my friends after I became a proud owner.  But sadly pretty soon I realised I am no hero in my social circle. First of all because most of them owned a better cars than my budget Nano. Further nobody really seemed much interested to hear my exciting Nano buying story.  My friends used to end my excitement by  concluding the most happening story of my life, with mere congrats for new car.

My CarLOGIC

I may be a pauper, but I am good at cars and I know what exactly happening in car world.  In fact when I was a teenager and lived in South Mumbai, one of my favourite past times with my friends was to go to the Marine Drive stretch, sit on one of the benches, and predict the make of a foreign car that was coming.  Believe me, in those days of Amby's and Pammi's, only the Marine Drive stretch would throw up beauties like Mercedes, Chevrolot, Peugeot and a odd Audi on a regular basis.   And I did always win the predictions and a Kulfi as a prize.

Over the year I grew up not only in age but also wiser about my knowledge of cars.  I knew a thing or two about cars and their mechanics through the friendly neighbourhood mechanic who had owned a Standard and let me drive it once in a while.  In the meanwhile since my friends were mostly from the Malabar Hill area and rich folks they had already graduated to owning a Maruti or Ford Icon.  I used to share my Carlogic with them and suggest them new things.  But my suggestions and my car knowledge went vain as no one took me seriously just for the fact that I didnt own a car.

Coming back to my Nano, sadly though my Nano arrived and I was proud car owner still no one considered me serious as my car wasn’t the wannabe one. I was little upset as I didn’t get much attention as I thrived for.

But one day it all changed, thanks to carconnect.in. Like every other cars website available now a days, I thought this one too was one those, which lets you see, buy and sell used cars. I did that in my old days, venture out used car websites, ogle at the beauties, squirm at the prices of used cars and close the window as even the oldies didnt match my petty budget.

But Carconnect was different.  At first visit, I even thought its one of the data mining thingy as it expected me to login using my facebook Id.  I realised my mistake as soon as I joined and opened the website.  This is a true car lovers website!!!!

On carconnect.in, I met plenty of car-like-minded people who were interested in my Carlogic.  Pretty soon,  I had built up my car-minded-friends circle. I even found audience to listen my small car big experiences. My post got the genuine appreciation it always needed.

Let me share you all the best day of my life on Carconnet. One day, a Carconnect member asked me for a honest god forbidding review of Tata Nano, as he intend to buy it and like me he too was a pauper. I tell you all, that day, I felt like a hero. I advised him about why I loved my Nano and the intricacies of car buying.  To my joy, he also became a proud owner of a car.

Writing is my passion. I am tech writer but I can also write many things. I uploaded my long drive experiences in carconnect.in. Later one day I got a message on chat room from a person saying how my experience helped him to plan his long drive with his wife.

Not only that, the other time, one of my friends confided in me that he wanted to take his date on a long drive in his new car and wasnt sure about the destination. I smugly sent him a link of carconnect, and he has wed his date.  You can read the rest of the story on his Carconnect profile. Later he called me to thank me and now remains my BFF. After decades I became a hero in my friend’s circle!!!

Now this other time, I was at a all boys party celebrating a friends birthday.A friend of mine said that he had decided to change his car but couldnt decide on the new model he wanted to buy. I offered him help via Googling. He replied that Googling throws up fake reviews and he needs a honest opinion before investing on a new car. The guy wanted to buy a model which none of us, his friends had.  After the party, which was heavy, next day, like a true friend, I sent him carconnect.in link and asked him to venture out there. And now he and I are groupies on Carconnect and he is the proud owner of that car.

On Carconnect, I write about my every day car experiences, even update latest car news for my friends. I feel happy because carconnect.in provides huge audience who are craving for car news and updates.

What more can you expect from a car related website?

Friends, it’s a website which provides platform for all car lovers to meet many other car lovers around the globe. Its UI is very navigation friendly with additional bonus in other perks like winning medals and making it to home page under three categories :

1-Top Badge Owner

2-Most Popular Car Experience

3-Most Popular Long drive Experience

Go Login,write your experiences and be a hero just like me. After who doesnt like a bit of publicity and popularity??

This post is a honest to god review of my fav car website, the www.carconnect.in

Borosil glassware makes my Puliygare a super hit with my Marathi friends

Potluck supper with ladies circle

Like always Mum is stressed out

Coz her South Indian delicacy is no hit

As her Marathi friends’s taste buds are skeptical

Puliyogare is on her menu, but afraid she is

but I am with Puliyogare,

Coz tangy rice has always been a runaway hit

This time she wants to make it hit in her Marathi circle..

She all set in kitchen with gloomy mood

And I had a plan to lift her mood….

Went to the nearest mall

Started trolling in kitchenware stall

A pretty lady came for my assistance

Told her exactly about my intentions

She gave me a package with a bright smile

Back in home,aromatic tampered spices to welcome

my nostril flared up and eyes followed the aroma,
like a trained sniffer pug!

aweee, the Puliyogare smelled wonderful but looked shabby. 

But I had come prepared for this situation

Mums Puliyogare just needed beautification

Smugly gave the package to my mum,

Post opening all I saw,twinkle in her eyes

Magic concoction of rightly blended spices,tamarind paste,

Jagerry and roasted peanuts just to give a right taste,

served in the Borosil glassware, made it look like a chefs special.

I served it to my Marathi friends and lo and behold

All I saw was finger lickings and sounds of lips smacking.

I was smiling silently like a cunning assassin,
for I knew how I had trapped them with my flavoursome awesome Puliyogare with Borosil glassware from myborosil.com. 

Puliyogare served in Borosil glassware was double entendre for my Marathi guests.

Stop wars, spread happiness and cheer with a Cadbury 5 Star

This is a true story that happened last May.   You know how it at that time in the month of May, the temperature is hot, the air is dry, the climate is sultry and you wish you did get home at the earliest and start the ceiling fan or air conditioner and take deep breath to relieve all the heat you have faced. Well you are not the only one wishing to do the above, almost every Mumbaikar wishes the same in the month of May.

In my pursuit of understanding humans and their emotions, I reached to a ultimate conclusion the 'May Heat' as it is called in Mumbai is one the single biggest problems faced by Mumbaikars. Not only is the outside temperature hot and dry, even the Mumbaikars are pretty loose on tempers during this time of the year.  The climate plays a havoc on the frail nature of humans and we witness most fights between the citizens during the month of May.  Some of these fights may lead even to fist cuffs because neither party is willing to let go and both parties are really hot under the collar.  I may be given a Nobel for my ultimate thesis on life of Mumbaikars but that is not the point here.  I had to find a solution for this 'May Heat' only then would I be able to match the genius of Tesla, Einstein, Nobel and Freud and maybe visit Stockholm to receive the Nobel.

So ONE fine (sorry very very hot) day I started out with half a dozen bars of Cadbury 5 STAR in my pocket to search for a solution to the unseeming problem which Mumbai faces every May.  The climate that day was arid and the temperature was somewhere in late 30s. This was what I call a optimum temperature for conducting my research.  I decided to test my new found formulae on the hapless conductor of a BEST bus.

BEST as you all know is the lifeline of Mumbai.  It runs through heat and rain and cold.  In fact I have never seen a BEST not running on Mumbai streets save the time when their union boss decides to call a general strike.  Now this and every BEST bus has two human components working other than the Ashok Leyland engine.  One is called the Driver and he obviously drives the BEST bus, the other is called the Conductor and believe me, he really conducts the bus or whatever that means.  My test subject was this Conductor named Ganpatrao Sayajirao Shinde.

No I didn't know Ganpatrao, I had met him only today when I climbed aboard Route No.33 from to Goregoan Station.  As I said above, the temperature was hot and the bus was filled to seams.  Again a perfect setting for my little Nobel experiment.  I sat in the 5 row right in the middle and was hoping for some major fight to begin. The atmosphere in the bus was like a dormant volcano which would suddenly start erupting.  And I was waiting ! Now Mumbaikars are a very proud lot, they dont generally fight over non-issues like price rise, inflation, corruption or politics.  No they leave this fights to the TV anchors and political commentators, who by the way, do a superb job for them. They dont even fight over seats or rather politely offer them to the ladies and old persons.  But even the great Achilles had a weakness in his heel and Mumbaikars weakness is 'Change' or 'chutta' but they do fight over a petty thing 'Change' 

Mumbaikar may generally spend hundred or thousands of Rupees in a night on a party or on lunch or something but for his Rs.10.00 if the ticket is Rs.9.00 he wants his Rs.1.00 back.  He deems this as his constitutional right and believes that 'Change' is his fundamental right and he would die for it.  Now our Ganpatrao is a hapless Government servant working in the BEST and has to empty his purse everyday before the head cashier at the depot before leaving his duties for the day.  Any shortage in Ganpatrao's purse has to be met by his pocket.   And it will be stupid for any self righteous man to pay for the shortage from his own pocket and Ganpatrao is not stupid. So he deems it his right to take exact change from the bus traveller.  This is where the battle lines are drawn and a minor war could flourish. A la 'World War BEST'

Now this 'Change' or 'Chutta' becomes a paradigm shifting, cataclysmic object in a bus filled to seams in the month of May with temperatures hovering at 38 degrees.    The rush, the heat and over and above it the fundamental right to the 'Change' or 'Chutta' becomes a potent mixture which chemistry student would find hard to decipher.  The immediate cause for this 'WWB' is a person who nonchalantly hands over a Rs.10.00 note and asks ticket for next stop.  Ganpatrao, who is under control right up to this moment even more nonchalantly says Chutta de do (Give change).  Now the ticket for next stop is Rs.7.00 so either Ganpatrao has to give Rs.3.00 back or the rider had to give Rs.7.00 change.

Looks simple right, but both sides refuse to budge and soon the voice levels in the bus are crossing 110 dBs.  Like the WWII even this WWB has two sides, the Allies and the Axis.  The Allies are those who side with the traveller and demand Ganpatrao to give change and Axis are those who sympathise with Ganpatrao.  The war starts with minor swear words and starts to build on similar to a Aeroplane taxiing away.    Choicest swear words began to fly off from either side like the torpedoes and Messerschmitts  in the WWII.

The atmosphere is very volatile in the bust but thankfully it has not yet come to blows.  This is where I step in with my experiment of Mumbai May Heat and Cadbury 5 STAR.  In all the conundrum going on, I manage wriggle out two Cadbury 5 STARs out of my pocket and discretely pass it out to the traveller and Ganpatrao.  I have to be discrete because buying 5 stars for the full BEST bus would have been financially catastrophic for me.

I nudge, both the traveller and Ganpatrao with a 5 STAR each.  The moment I nudge it to them, the looks on their faces would have put a established bollywood actor to shame.  Both start giving out each and every frame of the 'Nava Rasas' or aesthetics. The features start with 'Raudram' or anger, turn to 'Adbhutam' or amazement and 'Bibhatsam' or disgust and finally turn to 'Hasyam' or comic relief with the other 5 rasas peppered in between.  The Hasyam or the laughter turns into a infectious one with all the parties joining in. Both the traveller and Ganpatrao deftly chew away at the Cadbury 5 STAR like there is no tomorrow and in the meantime, the other passengers manage to arrange for the 'Change' or 'Chutta' that was the cause of this 'WWB'

Now I am not interested in the Rasas or the Chutta but I get what I wanted.  A 5 STAR has truly and faithfully enforced peace and brought laughter to full BEST bus filled to seams in very very hot and dry Mumbai.  I stand proved that my theory is very very concrete and doable in rest of the world.  So world, here I come with my gamechanging solution for human emotions.

PS Sadly nobody has nominated me for Nobel Prize as of yet, but not to worry, I am waiting patiently for my number with plenty of CADBURY 5 STARS to keep me company.

This is a fun and humor article filed under #CONDITIONSERIOUSHAI and my attempt to cure Mumbai of some of its ills :P

Online Petition by Google Nexus KitKat Contest Winners

Last week, we reported how two winners of the Kitkat Nexus contest were unfairly rejected by Nestle India. And now other winners across the country are supporting Mayur Patil and Parimal Sen with an online Petition asking Nestle India to give them their rightful prizes.

The petition filed at Change.org is seeking 1000 signatures and is quickly gathering supporters with many winners signing it. The petition says the agency handling the contest (GroupM India) along with Nestle, has not managed the documents and wrappers properly which has ultimately led to Mayur and Parimal getting disqualified. Many have been supporting the cause and posting on Kitkat's Facebook page, but have received no response from Nestle India or GroupM so far. 

Through this online petition, supporters are hopeful that Nestle would take the right steps and quickly send out prizes to these two winners who have been anxiously waiting. ComboUpdates has been following this contest right from the start and we request Nestle India to be just and fair to these deserving winners.

You too can do your bit in helping them get their prizes. Sign the online petition on Change.org
Link: https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/justice-for-kitkat-nexus-7-contest-winners-of-india

Do your bit now !!!

Nestle and Kitkat mess up the contest again...two participants are denied their just and legal prize

The Google Nexus KitKat contest which started in India in September 2013, has still not been brought to its logical conclusion. Many Winners are yet to receive their Google Nexus 7 2013 as promised by Nestle Kitkat.  

It has been a extremely controversial contest right from the start, with its organisers facing a lot of complaints and to an extent even online campaign from winners who are extremely unhappy with the way the contest has been organized by Nestle India, Google and managed by  GroupM Media, Gurgaon.

As the readers must be knowing, Nestle in assistance with a organising agency called GroupM had organised a campaign to coincide with the launch of Android 4.4 KITKAT in India.

Now Nestle India and the KitKat winners team are gearing for another battle, where two winners of the competition, Mr. Parimal Sen and Mr. Mayur Patil’s contention and claim have been rejected after waiting for their prizes for nearly more than four months. When contacted, Nestle have said that “According to the  Terms and Conditions the wrapper of the winning KitKat bar must be included along with the documents sent by winners”.  Nestle allegedly say the wrappers are missing for these two winners and hence has cancelled the claims of the above two contestants. 

But according to Parimal and Mayur, they had sent the winning wrapper along with the documents as directed by Nestle in their Terms & Conditions, which have reached the Nestle /GroupM office as seen in Courier details below.

Mayur had a discussion with the Nestle customer care Exec and here is a Youtube video giving the audio transcript of the conversation which occurred.

Despite of the fact that both the contestants have proof of their respective packages reaching Nestle/GroupM, the organizers claim that they have not received the same and have been asking both these winners to send to all over documents again. This shows a lot of inconsistency on part of the organisers including the top Kitkat hierarchy, where at one end the winners are producing Courier Tracking proofs showing the documents have been delivered and at the other, the organizers,  Nestle/GroupM is allegedly not received their packages.   Rather than solving this problem amicably, the organizers, who have already faced a lot of heat on account of discrimination against Indians are persisting with their stand, thereby resulting in both Parimal and Mayur not getting their genuine prizes.

Both the winners also said Nestle made them wait for more than four months before informing them about the above package problems.  It seems that the organizers deliberately dragged the issue to such an end that they were sure other winners would have received their own Google Nexus 7 2013 and lost interest about the contest.  Nestle/GroupM informed both Parimal/Mayur only on 6th Feb of their alleged non receipt of packages, a whole 4 months after the contested was concluded,  A long wait as this for any contest winner can be frustrating,  especially when you come to know that you are disqualified only at the end.

Such a controversy is not the first to hit Nestle India during the Contest. Neslte India were previously giving winners a year older version of the Nexus 7, after winners came together and protested and the incident being reported by various Top blog sites including comboupdates, Android Police, Phandroid. Nestle took cognisance of the huge uproar this created and backtracked on its decision and decided that Indians would indeed be getting the latest version of the Google Nexus 7 like the winners in other parts of the world.

Another inconsistency noted is the very poor communication or sometime lack of it on behalf of the organizers.  Also the use of English language in the communication has been very horrible with emails coming from a not so professional id ‘nestlekitkat1@gmail.com’. See this for example:

The Facebook group created by the Google Nexus 7 2013 winners to fight against the discrimination pointed out above, is again up in arms for their comrades.  Comboupdates sincerely hopes that Nestle/Kitkat would heed to the requests of the two winners and despatch their prizes to them immediately.  It would be a great sorrow if Nestle were to disqualify these two by hiding behind the excuse of some stupid mistake on part of the desk clerk sitting at Despatch of Group M.