tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39762726080782589902024-02-07T07:57:32.257+05:30Life is an open road!!Shubham's blog..Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-69253156655374256022022-12-28T13:01:00.001+05:302023-01-04T12:19:28.955+05:30Catching up with fashion - Covid<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, I caught up. Or Covid caught up with me. The delay was due to the China Zero Covid policy, the lockdowns, etc. And when the country started opening up, we went to contribute to the <strike>wave</strike>/ tsunami.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Day 1:</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Symptoms</i>: Shivers, running nose, fever</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I shared (silly) views of the general population and thought it would not happen to me. First things first, it was so out of fashion. All my friends outside China had had it a year or two back. Moreover, our family had traveled to rest of the world where masks were clearly out of fashion. We had traveled with the assumption that we would have got it in those months, even if it were an asymptomatic case. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Also, we had dutifully worn masks, avoided crazy crowds, etc. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Zb2L5LH4FhhhbMDM_gRvd7DPs6UGSuj7it__OunssOZSSPiecetvpDnZkRbyBN7xVZrySl9AfMCxgobiG-ncElMxoCwtxI5QKnFMtu94ABAqM9cu406POEv6Sra1zuKRjtxRay4YWOHXBfOPSMbklMy-cwgs17kjDfi1HSnS78o4K6q0rthRlmvB/s167/fever.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="167" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Zb2L5LH4FhhhbMDM_gRvd7DPs6UGSuj7it__OunssOZSSPiecetvpDnZkRbyBN7xVZrySl9AfMCxgobiG-ncElMxoCwtxI5QKnFMtu94ABAqM9cu406POEv6Sra1zuKRjtxRay4YWOHXBfOPSMbklMy-cwgs17kjDfi1HSnS78o4K6q0rthRlmvB/w134-h131/fever.JPG" width="134" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, realization struck: this time it was the case of the environment being impossible. China has given up on on the zero Covid policy and it was too sudden for the population that had zero experience of Covid all these years.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The day was spent in preparing a room for isolation and the antipyretics were kept on standby. I did end up having two a day for the next two days.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Day 2</u></b>:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Symptoms:</i> Fever, Weakness, Shivers, running nose</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My friends are jealous of my eyes, in particular - their unique (and enviable) abilities: They can scout the nearest pub in the street, and 24 seconds later, they can find the cheapest drink in the menu. While the left eyeball is eying the menu, the right eyeball can already establish an eye-contact with barman/woman. The eyes - with these enviable abilities witnessed a dramatic change now. They were tired all the time and started scouting for all the heating systems at home (I never knew where the air conditioning vents were) and the hands, which in their days were good to pour beer, magically gravitated towards the devices scavenging for hot air or anything that could render them some warmth.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Day 3:</u></b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23iyUq1vfzA4g_ZOjUETU09xP6ts2JfJ9-OQdoHpxupC2aFe8OTISr9FyeM5iOcw5HLKkBLlGsMjkG4bSayd2gElmlXqZ46biWL4haby0Y-WiOKsD7MBRktfMl8FZOkT8v_ItxosH4ByillpuyxnlNuGbUSp2u5sAGi7aoxRj3SeCcEpvcHyLikbi/s260/Old.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="209" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23iyUq1vfzA4g_ZOjUETU09xP6ts2JfJ9-OQdoHpxupC2aFe8OTISr9FyeM5iOcw5HLKkBLlGsMjkG4bSayd2gElmlXqZ46biWL4haby0Y-WiOKsD7MBRktfMl8FZOkT8v_ItxosH4ByillpuyxnlNuGbUSp2u5sAGi7aoxRj3SeCcEpvcHyLikbi/w109-h135/Old.JPG" width="109" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Symptoms:</i> Fever (intermittent: 100F/38C), Weakness, Breathlessness (new guy here), running nose, cough, but the good news is that the antigen test started turning negative results.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Today I felt <b><span style="font-size: medium;">old</span></b> indeed. More specifically, I could recollect all the conversations with older generation and could better connect with their pain:<br /></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">70+ generation in my family complaining of joint aches. Today I understand how they feel.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">My mother's aunt's complaints about being breathless after walking a few steps. Check</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The senior generation's comments on how cold it was, and that the chill was getting to the bones. Now I understand what you mean.</span></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbfI4JDEc18UnWoRLfpFeoSrma-jxxSj6aubEGuqz75wN0R0s4GJA4Oo6AHaZDe5DPb-XpHFNKkgnvnhaC1UipkBHyg0ybAlPXkKNUv2xEDz9MoUFLvymxcLAfcO6_55jG8bOE5PnL--O0W7_MZ7Djzo6O4EtM5Y_K1Yke4j6kaHGFbC1VJlePF4F/s300/Navstokes.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbfI4JDEc18UnWoRLfpFeoSrma-jxxSj6aubEGuqz75wN0R0s4GJA4Oo6AHaZDe5DPb-XpHFNKkgnvnhaC1UipkBHyg0ybAlPXkKNUv2xEDz9MoUFLvymxcLAfcO6_55jG8bOE5PnL--O0W7_MZ7Djzo6O4EtM5Y_K1Yke4j6kaHGFbC1VJlePF4F/w200-h112/Navstokes.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Mind often wandered, making simple tasks tough. Pouring water required quite some concentration . Every element of work seemed to have been transformed to elements of the Navier Stokes' fluid equations accidently mixed with Hawking's radiation equation. Reverting to a mail as 'ok, regards- my name' seemed to be a mystic mathematical formula way beyond my intelligence.<br /></span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The day was a reminder to be nicer to the aged and lend a better ear to understand their pain. On the capitalism front - a reminder to invest smarter in the next year, and be an even better investor in the year after. And the one after. Old age is coming, and better be ready for your family and yourself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Day 4 and beyond</u></b>:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Antigen Test started turned negative but PCR gave a positive result. Blimey!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">PCR turned negative on day 5</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The body felt revitalized after the quarantine ended (my wife got it unfortunately - making this quarantine attempt redundant). This was more so because of the role the mind plays, and ability to move out does elevate your spirits a bit.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Weakness stayed for a couple of days, the running stamina had to be given time to recuperate.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">I do have a reason to believe those google stories for one or two long lasting side effects, including bloating etc., but I hope time will sort those bits out.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Lessons learnt:</u></b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">No use wondering how or <u><span style="font-size: medium;">why</span></u> it happened to you. Let me explain with some real life questions (from me and the general public) and possible answers:</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><i>Q: How could it happen to me when I was holed up in my home for X days?</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">A: Maybe you ordered something like vegetables, fruits or other essentials. The parcel may have carried the virus. Maybe the pipe length between your sink hole and your neighbor's is less than 15 meters, and the two converge to a common drain. The virus discovered this route and chose to attack you.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><i>Q: My colleague's husband's colleague has an aunt whose grandson attends kindergarten in which a kid got Covid last week, and the aunt had visited by colleague's home the other day. Is it safe for me to talk to my colleague?</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">A: Not at all. There is a probability of <b>0.083%</b> that your colleague could pass you Covid because of that close contact scenario you elaborated. There is also a probability of 23.2% that she could ask you to share her workload. Eyeing the two of you talking, there is a probability of another colleague could accost you and bore you to death (probability - 35%). So for your own good, stay put in your office, don’t talk and listen to Iron Maiden (if you are getting old) or Sabaton (if you are young).</span></li></ul></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">You see: the answers above do not make sense. And this is because the questions do not make sense at some point. While analyzing the responsible population: who have avoided social events, crowded places, etc. and have sworn by masks: we have found it tough to concretely pin point their infection source with a high confidence level.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There are many funny recommendations on recovery and prevention, and you cannot escape stories of how boiling a rare herb or keeping a cow helped your will wishers in their recuperation journey; which of course you must do. My advice is to keep antipyretics handy, keep a steady head, and the reduce unnecessary stress associated with heading to the Himalayas for procuring that magical herb. Rest, work or dance - do what you like.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Keeping the mind right can make a difference:</span></li><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNPTcgE3luOo8zlJ4e1xIb8nQTiaXpWSxRxK_i33FiwAsupurFRW0lpGpwdVPF9GqrVPAfeJsJDp4fFII-iqe3V3BL1dlINCofvI6opNDqpOlECdvOXsrNrl2xn8b_M4rS5n4xMyvvsNpNir4_2F67MR-curUcmhdIbeC5_4djTGZZfHw6iLYIykX/s358/GoCorona.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="358" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNPTcgE3luOo8zlJ4e1xIb8nQTiaXpWSxRxK_i33FiwAsupurFRW0lpGpwdVPF9GqrVPAfeJsJDp4fFII-iqe3V3BL1dlINCofvI6opNDqpOlECdvOXsrNrl2xn8b_M4rS5n4xMyvvsNpNir4_2F67MR-curUcmhdIbeC5_4djTGZZfHw6iLYIykX/w200-h133/GoCorona.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Once I knew I was infected, I headed to the internet. Everyone seemed to be talking about the internet these days and some website called google.com (or baidu.com, if you are in China). Searching for my fate on these websites led to some pretty dark pages - some confidently predicting my death or an impending heart attack, lung failure, etc. as a result of Covid complications.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">However changing a few keywords did bring some laughs and I found out some of the stars. Whatever makes you laugh:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GrFuV6eWaY7kkn7DIbGTWTdi1FLVsxXpd9iQNmDqbyY1JOELlqG2S4EpLKNWKSKueype68SxXNTOalsyJgCPuPCns3_1pNe-gdA_KSrAPQfTj3bIs28FbnppQ5hFxnoYXviWTs_51l_8kOJ_3nT5Klxp-1BaQ2Cxt_hEHsEnXoQKLeoc5tVS6bHJ/s413/CovidCrocodile.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="413" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GrFuV6eWaY7kkn7DIbGTWTdi1FLVsxXpd9iQNmDqbyY1JOELlqG2S4EpLKNWKSKueype68SxXNTOalsyJgCPuPCns3_1pNe-gdA_KSrAPQfTj3bIs28FbnppQ5hFxnoYXviWTs_51l_8kOJ_3nT5Klxp-1BaQ2Cxt_hEHsEnXoQKLeoc5tVS6bHJ/w165-h110/CovidCrocodile.JPG" width="165" /></a></div><br /></span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;">A politician eradicating Corona by chanting slogans:</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">A politician warning you against vaccine, lest : god forbid, you become a crocodile</span></li></ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;">In the end, it is just extracting humor, and promising not to be stupid in your own life.</span></li></ul></ul><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Every Covid story is different - ranging from extreme brutality by fate from a walk in the park situation for some. But we have to hang in there and do what the human spirit is notorious for: <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fight.</b></span></span></p>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-50968708388081750782022-11-22T12:30:00.002+05:302022-11-24T07:17:27.953+05:30The cycle story and lessons learnt on torsional rigidity <p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here is a tragic start to the story:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My relatively new bicycle was stolen!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Living in one of the safest city, it still happened - only to me. I parked the cycle, bought bread from the shop, returned 180 seconds later: And it was Gone!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I could not believe it; It took me a while to realize that there was some thievery involved. When talking to colleagues on the next steps, there were two factions: One camp advised to forget about the whole affair and buy a new cycle tomorrow. But I took the other camp's advice and headed to the police station to report the heinous crime. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sure enough, the police and other administration assured action. If someone likes the bright lighting outside Pushang fruits & vegetables, you can thank me & the municipality . Following my police complaint, the authorities installed lights and cameras at the crime spot to protect innocent bread buying people from dacoity.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I realized that I had become the talk of the town.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLwIVYXQYnouuX96_3_Z1wj14MyR7ZzL-QauH--c15q3eU32R9_CTJ8TrdWIvXVhIgP6zSeTWVTxeruFrKT1d9nPuxaNj3iA6oe2I0TUddJ9Pgn0eTheq34MpOkDJ2sRf13Z4GsdH6I39pmw03xzuf-lPqiBfKgqjhW7JqEAcx0d_Ts1rQydOG4ON/s591/Gossip.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="591" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLwIVYXQYnouuX96_3_Z1wj14MyR7ZzL-QauH--c15q3eU32R9_CTJ8TrdWIvXVhIgP6zSeTWVTxeruFrKT1d9nPuxaNj3iA6oe2I0TUddJ9Pgn0eTheq34MpOkDJ2sRf13Z4GsdH6I39pmw03xzuf-lPqiBfKgqjhW7JqEAcx0d_Ts1rQydOG4ON/s320/Gossip.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Aggrieved by the incident and the gossip around it, I started the task of finding the next cycle to buy. The daily rental bikes were fine. But: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(a) They were wretchedly slow </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(b) Clearly they are favorites of all the Shanghai billionaires and real estate magnates, for they are impossible to find in CBD area </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(c) Their seat adjustment mechanism often froze in rainy/ icy winter of Shanghai *</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Peculiar niche problem - but this was pushing the author to insanity</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My requirements were quite clear, my new bicycle had to satisfy the following requirements:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1. It should be the faster one in the lot</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. It should be cheaper than my stolen bicycle </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Point 2 was because of heartbreaking experience of being a victim of thievery, which had thrown my financial model of utilizing assets for X years into the bin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A colleague of mine recommended the following, and showed me his piece in the parking lot:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56io-sCU_FBZGlLNo7vPqDYqA0UA620nHv8msy4HKhOD04jCFasPkIiU1mIbi3ExUHhfxwSvRpdRq3DZ0HUNG9OzMrsUWaoBxmfnP6dbRRuw8tRq1BQKU34NP6NMZldRckhtmtpvc776rdISvtb5hhk95EzZfDvI8VoiPJhWgUsphUukl3MrUC_zB/s401/Parous.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="349" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56io-sCU_FBZGlLNo7vPqDYqA0UA620nHv8msy4HKhOD04jCFasPkIiU1mIbi3ExUHhfxwSvRpdRq3DZ0HUNG9OzMrsUWaoBxmfnP6dbRRuw8tRq1BQKU34NP6NMZldRckhtmtpvc776rdISvtb5hhk95EzZfDvI8VoiPJhWgUsphUukl3MrUC_zB/w174-h200/Parous.JPG" width="174" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Salient features of this bike:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- It weighed a few milligrams more than my wife's left earring (I have lifted both with my tiny finger and can attest the fact)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">- It cost a few dollars more than the Honda Accord</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Nyope..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My other sensible colleague showed his Specialized bike. I loved it, but then, it also involved a lot more money.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I gave up on my colleagues and turned to other strata of society for advice. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Now there was one name that was emerging as a serious contender amongst these conversations: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Forever</u>.</span></b> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">A China based manufacturer with a history of 100 years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our compound electrician and the plumber had decade old machines of this brand to get around for their jobs and swore by it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Forever: A local manufacturer with a legacy of a 100 years making bicycles for the masses. Incidentally, they were trying a new racing frame to venture into the road bike space.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well well well..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>We have a winner here!</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This was going to be the<u> Mitsubishi Evolution</u> or the <u>Ford Sierra Cosworth</u> of cycling. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This was the underdog that would teach the snobby rich a lesson.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNrI1ZfdyTOQNLmYbeBQkuQSyqtJ0w07Lmwj5LeIqIIz7VisqzvJuVJ7Qp-_0yN8qh9aVM9ZZsWn_1L4zUb5yHgvwEYxgRWJI7jkkaVW1-chn8oshS14epIKCNsqxYy9vOVaIOLJ9DCBtxy6vfdGdX6dIuY9MX_BqhKQkpKKNNjNN3jUITTp7coaJ/s4032/IMG-8759.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNrI1ZfdyTOQNLmYbeBQkuQSyqtJ0w07Lmwj5LeIqIIz7VisqzvJuVJ7Qp-_0yN8qh9aVM9ZZsWn_1L4zUb5yHgvwEYxgRWJI7jkkaVW1-chn8oshS14epIKCNsqxYy9vOVaIOLJ9DCBtxy6vfdGdX6dIuY9MX_BqhKQkpKKNNjNN3jUITTp7coaJ/s320/IMG-8759.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My new machine</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">So I went ahead and bought it. Sure enough, it rode very well. It did go faster than my previous machine, it had Shimano gears and a good frame. On paper, all configurations on number of gears, tire size, disc brakes, frame were equal or better than the other richie rich bikes.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Muhahaha.. <span style="font-size: large;">If only my other friends could borrow some wisdom from me</span> : it would have helped them buy faster and better cycles at a fraction of what they had paid for their brands.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well there were minor bits though, this was heavier than my friends' bikes and the paint job & finishing could not at all compare. But what the heck, remember the price?!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All that I installed was a cushion seat, tiny rear lamp and a bell (a must… to avoid killing the screen glaring addicts in Shanghai). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Cycling to office by the Huangpu river was fun and one day, it happened:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A gang of cyclists overtook me over a down slope!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2Fev2zEiDA639KBVsE73oC2qAxFET5bA4RMaQiBgKG-ZYh3KAP6pU3KU9fdgDO7TD-U5_CwjSGtML-luCoaMoJUaSSxTBfi-V3qyrZqTgL4PGquGaPmlznpEdbYsRyXZv9WZZhscBgMTu13YQyRD3ax7AOX21oT2wW2efsvxuocwZ9HALhTd73-A/s4032/IMG-8587.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2Fev2zEiDA639KBVsE73oC2qAxFET5bA4RMaQiBgKG-ZYh3KAP6pU3KU9fdgDO7TD-U5_CwjSGtML-luCoaMoJUaSSxTBfi-V3qyrZqTgL4PGquGaPmlznpEdbYsRyXZv9WZZhscBgMTu13YQyRD3ax7AOX21oT2wW2efsvxuocwZ9HALhTd73-A/w200-h150/IMG-8587.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I liked following them, initially because their machines were incredibly beautiful. There was a Canyon Aero, Specialized and Pinarello amongst the 3 guys, while a Specialized and a Cannondale served the two ladies. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While my lungs and my muscles were working hard in chasing the gang, my brain was getting its lessons in physics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Weight:</u> These road bikes are built for purpose and I could see the lack of weight doing wonders for the gang. With their effortless climbs, Newtonian laws showed that I was at a major disadvantage carrying excess weight.</span></p><p><u style="font-family: arial;">Rigidity and speed:</u><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As you lean a bike into a corner, many forces converge: gravity, which pulls you vertically downwards; momentum/ kinetic energy, which keeps you moving forward, and centripetal force, which pushes you outwards (to the left when turning right and vice versa). The game of the bike frame is to help you be stiff enough to balance these forces, while being lighter than a bundle of 28 feathers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All advertisements show that their bike's frame is stiffer, lighter, and more comfortable. From an engineering stand point, these are all opposite ends of a triangle. You could try pursuing one while sacrificing the other. And this is where the finesse, materials used and quality of engineering shows.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-hEJk65c3OV8fT5Ij3VE4BNljJ9dWj1ZeuJw7zFD3sUuNpT6ti5WK32lTRvKdTVAihptSmppyi_CXD7mb_BA_bfo2-wUaqQHsGvduJ4qxdZeFIaFHIMVxnmD-qx9j3KYKyPRkOWBcJylKIZTNqCNJ4m4KC8nLOqRN6Rpox67_WU74UH63LO-IRyL/s565/frame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="565" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-hEJk65c3OV8fT5Ij3VE4BNljJ9dWj1ZeuJw7zFD3sUuNpT6ti5WK32lTRvKdTVAihptSmppyi_CXD7mb_BA_bfo2-wUaqQHsGvduJ4qxdZeFIaFHIMVxnmD-qx9j3KYKyPRkOWBcJylKIZTNqCNJ4m4KC8nLOqRN6Rpox67_WU74UH63LO-IRyL/w200-h118/frame.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Though my frame had extra weight, the ones ahead were better <u>alloyed</u>.</i></span> At one point, you can figure that while I was expending more effort pedaling, my competitors frames were stiffer and making it easier. In my case, an iota of my pedal force was being lost in twisting the frame by one-millionth of a millimeter. Small number, but in a race, it meant a lot when every bit of energy needs to be transferred to the wheels.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All this meant that I was losing out broadly. On downhill, I could not compete. On uphill, I starting abusing my thigh muscles to make up for what my machine lost. While I did make some overtakes during the uphill, the gang effortlessly overtook me again on the downhill or the flats.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNeiEnl-Faotl7HwKUAdKZteRfqpoNEmiFO5KlxrgFgZggF5iFU_ZKODMhcQl78DloV5u9JKwwMq1lsfGdhSgibHbGbbSeq9sXg-rGNPz1sfRV7vKfuDrB8keswPITaskE0IdyZpFkK6t_HIeK7KdvSgIg1J7MsDhgZguHFAm2WnqOxEpbICHmqMX/s4032/IMG-8763.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNeiEnl-Faotl7HwKUAdKZteRfqpoNEmiFO5KlxrgFgZggF5iFU_ZKODMhcQl78DloV5u9JKwwMq1lsfGdhSgibHbGbbSeq9sXg-rGNPz1sfRV7vKfuDrB8keswPITaskE0IdyZpFkK6t_HIeK7KdvSgIg1J7MsDhgZguHFAm2WnqOxEpbICHmqMX/w150-h200/IMG-8763.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sure enough, I was losing to them. But yes, one of the girl on Specialized was tiring out and getting slow as well, falling back behind her gang.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I recalibrated my target and decided to race her.</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I followed her determinedly. Yes, that's the word I was looking for: determination. I had had my eggs in the morning but the aching muscles were managing to just keep up. I promised my old muscles that there would be one more egg added to the count for tomorrow's breakfast. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The situation became more of a determination contest: her's against mine. Determination to go faster.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A slope ahead again. Hell no, I was not going to let that work in her favor this time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ignoring the screaming muscles' revolt, I pushed harder.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I was catching up.</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipek0G2ic8iwtJc2oHQ-rh1xvNd-T9VGKDKOSXZkzE4AOzQ6kcLLaOlsR2PsB0VDHZ1B7TOALqTT96Py-yg11UFCtH80zkwDATBpXujkweN_eP-fD2S9cZ4_rvJP4FO1ppIle8eAac4WBbyq6jyGQMbWfNIW5pECEY2MpuLRNXtZ0NOsuwP2sCVxln/s4032/IMG-8768.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipek0G2ic8iwtJc2oHQ-rh1xvNd-T9VGKDKOSXZkzE4AOzQ6kcLLaOlsR2PsB0VDHZ1B7TOALqTT96Py-yg11UFCtH80zkwDATBpXujkweN_eP-fD2S9cZ4_rvJP4FO1ppIle8eAac4WBbyq6jyGQMbWfNIW5pECEY2MpuLRNXtZ0NOsuwP2sCVxln/s320/IMG-8768.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Catching up.. but watch out..</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">There was a turn at the end of the slope. I saw her lean in.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I followed suit - I leaned a couple of degrees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The turn was more severe, she dipped in a few degrees more. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I had not done such angles, but my eyes quickly analyzed her tires:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">They were slimmer than mine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hah.. If those puny tires could manage the tilt to that extent, then of course my broader tires could do as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I tilted a bit more. Now the realization struck: I could not make it..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While she dipped in a few degrees more, I knew I would definitely fall if I followed suit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Yikes!</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I was going to go off the track.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">At this speed, my bike could not turn to stay on track, the only option was to stop outside.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I jammed the brakes, lost some speed and the tires got into a skid.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF6cl8gNoH3ZAlP84VXenOf7xl3LQMeZaY5xZiTA4g4Fmpq5ShGe8lCphYZ1OHuvNVbLS2JRsANsFxUKdMihTKxqgL96sMzLnFPobout-hEAYL-azHPB-ZPeWbQcQ22y92A3dXIQGgy6IPZOzhBp1aHISUpPQRa50RsKlRPQoT9-i8KxOyQEIeV_a/s822/Tai%20chi%202.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="822" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF6cl8gNoH3ZAlP84VXenOf7xl3LQMeZaY5xZiTA4g4Fmpq5ShGe8lCphYZ1OHuvNVbLS2JRsANsFxUKdMihTKxqgL96sMzLnFPobout-hEAYL-azHPB-ZPeWbQcQ22y92A3dXIQGgy6IPZOzhBp1aHISUpPQRa50RsKlRPQoT9-i8KxOyQEIeV_a/w200-h126/Tai%20chi%202.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Early morning Tai Chi</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">At my current course, there was the beautiful Huangpu river at extreme right, a group of aged Tai-Chi practitioners at their morning ritual and ample vegetation to the left.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Checking the options again: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(a) Falling in the river (not sure if the barrier would hold); </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(b) Crashing into senior citizens, </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(c) Crashing into bushes</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Now whichever region, religion or culture you may hail from, you would perhaps agree with me that your society does not look up to killing or injuring the elderly. </span></i></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xc_6X-cF2UOIbbJIde5cT3Ud2OC4Kf2u-KkSSFDVOfmsJDucroPcz4j2kpRZjmTo_I1CKsEc09FbgRSgeulZ6iD51gfjlCd1ny-QrT2VBgYOnv8dzieykra9Obgz4Xz1naD04aITUBNbVcKuJwOjRWWFQc-ykDWRoV_bWp3kSuIKm_r-ggIpn3KN/s810/Tai%20chi%201.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="810" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xc_6X-cF2UOIbbJIde5cT3Ud2OC4Kf2u-KkSSFDVOfmsJDucroPcz4j2kpRZjmTo_I1CKsEc09FbgRSgeulZ6iD51gfjlCd1ny-QrT2VBgYOnv8dzieykra9Obgz4Xz1naD04aITUBNbVcKuJwOjRWWFQc-ykDWRoV_bWp3kSuIKm_r-ggIpn3KN/w400-h186/Tai%20chi%201.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Crash site.. Protect the aged we must..</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So option (b) was out. I decided to try to crash land into the shrubs and the vegetation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I was losing speed, but not enough yet. I veered right and jammed my brakes again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The bike stopped responding to me altogether and missed the foliage, shrubs and little plants by a fair margin. I looked in horror as I realized my last momentum would be stopped by those huge trees. All these years, I had loved the cool shade, but had never realized the enormity of these trees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>My knee hit a tree, </u><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>which seems to have been planted in ancient times, for this specific purpose only for this fateful dark da</u>y</span></i>. While the tree trunk showed its strength in whacking my calf bone, the bark did a wonderful job in scraping my knee.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>If I were a spectator</u> to this event in slow motion, <u>I would laugh out loud</u> while clapping my hands. Of course I would run to the accident spot, call the fallen rider a few names and highlight his stupidity, state that the outcome was certain when attempting such a silly race with a cheap bike sans gear. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And point my finger at the rider and laugh more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, the world is still full of good people and the crowd there did not share any of my thoughts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Aged tai chi practitioners, joggers and cyclists did rush to the spot and started helping to collect things at the crash site - a laptop (the office backpack had magically opened), cell phone, a glove, the cycle and me - all scattered a couple of meters away from each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">They were saying something:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Something Trrrrrrrrrr something tring tring..</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Trrrrrrrrr?</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As my ears stopped ringing, I recognized a few the words :</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Something.. 你的身体还好吗?Something?</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>医院? 120?</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh.. They were asking if my body was ok? Shall they call an ambulance? Noting that the tone of queries was bundled with genuine concern, I carried out a quick self-diagnostic. <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The head seemed to be in its usual place, the neck as well.</i></span> Most of the limbs moved, with a manageable ache in the left knee area. Since I could not take off my pants there, the knee bruise would need to wait to be discovered later at home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I assured the population that I was ok. Other than the fact I had lost a race recently, I was otherwise in very good spirits.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After helping me collect my stuff and seeing me off, the crowd disbursed leaving me in solitude again to meditate on the events. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A lot many engineering concepts (and philosophies) were getting clear to me now. A well-engineered frame can be rigid, and can sometimes let the torsion work in your favor. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Not to keep you any longer, let me summarize the lessons: </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPfcZU7B-olgXObhRP4skJtcOKVELMhmWs1qDxyxKwCpcVrPB8zO4H0HsyHiFUnr13X9FvLsWL806whq1DphRQ9FZFmnUIl4RhA6tmCqNUshtvvQZ5So539vnvuWlcoHXIf6K_4v33HWwFsA9zLtpD2Kpafl_BKCZETlbByWTfpUlm3o455bRDCEk/s750/mean%20machines.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPfcZU7B-olgXObhRP4skJtcOKVELMhmWs1qDxyxKwCpcVrPB8zO4H0HsyHiFUnr13X9FvLsWL806whq1DphRQ9FZFmnUIl4RhA6tmCqNUshtvvQZ5So539vnvuWlcoHXIf6K_4v33HWwFsA9zLtpD2Kpafl_BKCZETlbByWTfpUlm3o455bRDCEk/w200-h133/mean%20machines.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Lesson 1:</u></b> DNA is an important element in every aspect. Even in this case of engineering a fast cycle, I had chosen a workhorse-<b>DNA</b> bicycle, which was trying to be a racer. More foolishly, I was trying to challenge the race-bred DNA machines.<br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><u>Lesson 2:</u></b><span style="font-family: arial;"> Shanghai has a serious shortage of smart criminals at the moment. After a few months, the police called me to inform that they had heroically recovered my stolen bike! The police priorities in chasing a bicycle thief (and actually catching them) proves that there is an acute shortage of axe murderers and bank robbers in the city to keep the authorities busy. Just in case you are looking for an alternative career.</span></p><p><u style="font-family: arial;"><b>Lesson 3:</b> </u><span style="font-family: arial;">Rigidity to a frame can do you wonders in cornering. With the lesson learnt the hard way, the author has now bought a Germano-Slavic car and has a hearty time throwing it around corners, well ahead of Lexus-es, Toyotas and Acuras. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Acing with torsional rigidity this time.</b></span></p><div><br /></div>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-18172120908713726632022-09-06T18:37:00.004+05:302022-09-08T08:15:11.634+05:30Surprise charm: Lanka<p><span style="font-family: arial;">SL was always out of radar when planning trips out of India but as fate had it, we had few options of transit to for the wretched China route* and we chose this as the economical and geographically sensible option..</span></p><p><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">*A lot has been written about China zero Covid policy, but like everything about China, it is a see it to believe it phenomenon. While I harp about the good things the country has done for its people, I’m afraid this one seems to be taking it back in time.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I said, our core was China travel and it took up all if our resources: time, mental peace and money. Which meant we had nothing left to plan for Sri Lanka. The plan was to survive the China travel planning (scavenging flights), testing requirements and documentation load (1.3kg of documentation for 4 of us) and if alive, we see what happens in Lanka.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In midst of our tense time, Lanka turned out to be such a surprise charm. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQquuxIA3PGIwreVwr1Xurzz1bZnAzYtBVf44YmDYKzbGMVdYqc21l39yh_Lob_J3qq2TWuwBJ_xD7f0bwK3OkkUA6bamrQqOF157h1nEycy70tomhaNngjQ0cNXYiqH_lmZ1_m-vwWi2uBupz9bO-bwVOzIR6SAy7kH2pVVFjTaRH5Q779oWUHWFj/s4032/Galle%20Face%201.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQquuxIA3PGIwreVwr1Xurzz1bZnAzYtBVf44YmDYKzbGMVdYqc21l39yh_Lob_J3qq2TWuwBJ_xD7f0bwK3OkkUA6bamrQqOF157h1nEycy70tomhaNngjQ0cNXYiqH_lmZ1_m-vwWi2uBupz9bO-bwVOzIR6SAy7kH2pVVFjTaRH5Q779oWUHWFj/s320/Galle%20Face%201.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Sri Lankan air warmth glided in right at take off. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Ground reality: we were a really tense lot, with our codes from the Chinese embassy being delayed upto the aircraft taxiing, but the gin they serve was soothing for the anxious nerves. This comes from a non gin person. Don’t get me wrong, the aircraft is sans those jazzy screens or buttons that those Middle East carriers pamper you with, but the Sri Lankan hospitality is genuine. People are a jovial lot, the crew included, and you could perhaps invite them to join you for a drink as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqjo8-be2myJa4D59qscV8RdJRkHa8arLXtLGhDABLkqpDcYCTxyLkGxMIBNgsyItjuH56X-2QuRbgG5dezHVINEx8ovkiLVo2BWTOt_4FG1XxLz5TKZCn-cb24lv9_ouaAYXGjzIDXZSPO-gZHrgCq7DY8Jous8Ud2c4Vsc5D365OrB_oRiIil64/s1000/Ocean%20sunset.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqjo8-be2myJa4D59qscV8RdJRkHa8arLXtLGhDABLkqpDcYCTxyLkGxMIBNgsyItjuH56X-2QuRbgG5dezHVINEx8ovkiLVo2BWTOt_4FG1XxLz5TKZCn-cb24lv9_ouaAYXGjzIDXZSPO-gZHrgCq7DY8Jous8Ud2c4Vsc5D365OrB_oRiIil64/s320/Ocean%20sunset.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sunset @ The Ocean</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The hotels are a steal these days for international visitors, because of where the currency stands. Though our hotel was not the top star hotel, it had everything we asked for and more. The price reminded me of what I paid for a shoddy hotel backpacking 15 years back. Highly recommended: <b><u>The Ocean</u></b>: for its location, views, breakfast and restaurants around.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, regardless of the picture portrayed by media, there are no security issues or active riots to report on the ground.</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTDgRAB9FcACVyBxDB0ijoE_T_sb_X9qGSowh8LBzh6jO6gq3h-mL5RUsSSC0sp_JA8WRl_SkBxjEujvLLt3yTs4RHtwK7q4jfCC5Vq34xkjruPfc-r7_8KaSFLhuVvjKLya9E9rrHjr6vm-CWU7kk9JKMvdVBpMfDD5tAIZ-PfRfJyWji6sJ-Vzp/s4032/Lake.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTDgRAB9FcACVyBxDB0ijoE_T_sb_X9qGSowh8LBzh6jO6gq3h-mL5RUsSSC0sp_JA8WRl_SkBxjEujvLLt3yTs4RHtwK7q4jfCC5Vq34xkjruPfc-r7_8KaSFLhuVvjKLya9E9rrHjr6vm-CWU7kk9JKMvdVBpMfDD5tAIZ-PfRfJyWji6sJ-Vzp/s320/Lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">It took a while for us to gauge and come to terms with reality (and safety). While we had come with the mindset of : </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(a) Cocooning in the hotel to avoid the reported riots </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(b) Getting the 2 tests done for our China travel </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(c) Escaping as soon as we can</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As we saw more and came to terms with the reality, our confidence grew. In terms of economics, the country is in a wretched state, yet the spirit is still resilient. More than that, the citizens’ calm and maturity won us. Everyone knows that it is a dire state indeed and it is a tough road ahead, but they are overall a peaceful lot (Yes, I still say this after the adventure at President’s residence that we saw in the news and its history) . Battling inflation, fuel shortage and power cuts, people are still looking to put their best foot forward.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Said the gentleman behind me in the supermarket queue, who took me for a local and started a conversation on how the price of commodity X and Y had skyrocketed since last month. <i>'Corrupt or not, the political clergy may have done their bit, but lets forget all that: now it is the time to explore all options, and get to work'.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We had the weekend here, so thought to make use of it.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUEeswPRfBqNFGnZ4uvNkpTmD47d8GfqWInFqVQbZ2t53F4ksTuo5YTL8hhppl7MdhtbBVzZXjgf6HYXhuJ4gdtzocBwOZxv11QMTBS7Xv5_2oj6LhInUz5A_A73E2DDk6tJL9sGjktNwBfdEQRGN6kYHnLX3NLmvA-SPtsi4yebz-3Mq_0nxlOOC/s1080/Gangaramya%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUEeswPRfBqNFGnZ4uvNkpTmD47d8GfqWInFqVQbZ2t53F4ksTuo5YTL8hhppl7MdhtbBVzZXjgf6HYXhuJ4gdtzocBwOZxv11QMTBS7Xv5_2oj6LhInUz5A_A73E2DDk6tJL9sGjktNwBfdEQRGN6kYHnLX3NLmvA-SPtsi4yebz-3Mq_0nxlOOC/s320/Gangaramya%201.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Marvelous art: at Gangaramaya</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXdk4akXXCC0Oqe8jCvZ3g7bPe3qcLgC94afxR9LOsbr_w1HqHqVAIlMWZVtRGEaENl5NOO8jGpt47rZ1ihIjULylPEl4Ih23KkGnwU8Rj_VFG1Vvk2wjht6bTAdWSOgPUIuR_WU1CnaxmFnMyUm-RwrtoEuNRflfPj0GlTZqAeiDLmqFte6fWeKF/s1080/Gangaramya%202.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXdk4akXXCC0Oqe8jCvZ3g7bPe3qcLgC94afxR9LOsbr_w1HqHqVAIlMWZVtRGEaENl5NOO8jGpt47rZ1ihIjULylPEl4Ih23KkGnwU8Rj_VFG1Vvk2wjht6bTAdWSOgPUIuR_WU1CnaxmFnMyUm-RwrtoEuNRflfPj0GlTZqAeiDLmqFte6fWeKF/s320/Gangaramya%202.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Enlightenment</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />So over the weekend, disappointed when Barista could not give us coffee (power cut), we headed to Gangaramaya Buddhist temple. A serene place, the tree of historical significance does have a soothing effect on the soul. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Tucked next to it is the lake and the Colombo city center mall. Brand power is not that strong here, but the food court had ample to offer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Road Trip: Galle</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We did manage to get petrol, just enough that we decided to head to the city of Galle (~150 Km from Colombo). Kandy was rejected as an option due to the distance, we would be stretching both (i) our fuel supply and (ii) the 2 year old's patience. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXquMOzB6G3_6U66Qxwv2RrJETYOMDijdXKijeiLsUh51SjOuin9Vui0aSRIN1xJNjqCxEN-7-mxU_Z2ouI77CNiMlln-kCbMdRBnANzKOYF4QnvBc9tkWFLQP_jl78Fwjfr91Yc6b-Ph0ApynHAIRY84rZn3uNv7YSKNkYfZC9gBAtJRPMhaUqbO/s1080/Drive%20Galle.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXquMOzB6G3_6U66Qxwv2RrJETYOMDijdXKijeiLsUh51SjOuin9Vui0aSRIN1xJNjqCxEN-7-mxU_Z2ouI77CNiMlln-kCbMdRBnANzKOYF4QnvBc9tkWFLQP_jl78Fwjfr91Yc6b-Ph0ApynHAIRY84rZn3uNv7YSKNkYfZC9gBAtJRPMhaUqbO/w200-h150/Drive%20Galle.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Suzuki/ Daihatsu Every: careful with the fuel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">The highway is a breeze, built on Chinese debt of course but a good job done with execution. Not at all meant for highway sprints, the Suzuki Every/ Daihatsu did it's job well with its puny tires. Last we sat in its cousin Daihatsu was in Thailand, where these machines are strictly for city movement to gorge and disembowel drunk tourists to their hotels. But here, we were on the highway. However, the real strain was not pushing the Suzuki to three digits, it was restricting speed to ensure optimum mileage. Not surprising though - it was not just us, the bigger guys (Land Rovers, BMWs etc.) were cruising well 30% below speed limit. Evidently, fuel remains a problem for all classes. Lines at petrol stations certify this problem.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My initial advice for Galle: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(a) <u><i>Don’t</i></u> go to Galle </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(b) If you do go to Galle, spend time in the fort area only.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEL2lkBH36y84Az0_TKnn6aiB_ThU1P8_ng_CqUSwX5HJtB1lsRfqIHXTZDTUX7L0KovvkHsFEJSnQsMMzuvA-cevdAXAeaFRx7R9rR_UAozpoIrzJycC1kpfepvbo92jBIyj2Nl7X05UHASAIEU3v7MnePPTvKJ91z978w5sIWkIPCpY_Cdd-J2Mh/s4032/Bungalow.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEL2lkBH36y84Az0_TKnn6aiB_ThU1P8_ng_CqUSwX5HJtB1lsRfqIHXTZDTUX7L0KovvkHsFEJSnQsMMzuvA-cevdAXAeaFRx7R9rR_UAozpoIrzJycC1kpfepvbo92jBIyj2Nl7X05UHASAIEU3v7MnePPTvKJ91z978w5sIWkIPCpY_Cdd-J2Mh/w200-h150/Bungalow.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Recommended: </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The Bungalow </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">restaurant</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoKYBbToOHZO_u_svJN-KC0vxyZipLLtA1K16QA4yHtY_76EB_VmYC3dTrUb8F13DKVur1qUMhvey7xfiyZbNg0Oyda6QkB8YJoqrHPJjzaZ1NqYJcGastQvLqIADLzJj_A-unzHo0ksK44h8J46VwlTEgtriC6vtS3jaxnOnhgPERqwfSm6bqyMl/s4032/Galle%20Church.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoKYBbToOHZO_u_svJN-KC0vxyZipLLtA1K16QA4yHtY_76EB_VmYC3dTrUb8F13DKVur1qUMhvey7xfiyZbNg0Oyda6QkB8YJoqrHPJjzaZ1NqYJcGastQvLqIADLzJj_A-unzHo0ksK44h8J46VwlTEgtriC6vtS3jaxnOnhgPERqwfSm6bqyMl/w200-h150/Galle%20Church.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Protestant Church @Galle (</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Suzuki parked)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />While there seemed nothing noteworthy as we entered the city, and we saw the fort lighthouse etc., my perspective changed after we got lost in the lanes in the ancient fort area. The feel here is magical. As against my recent advice of not visiting Galle, I contradict myself and would recommend to spend some time, maybe a day or two to soak in the culture, beauty and character of the old town. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65uAcKqLEPs1r5GGd4SdL3GaPDtlGZ4ORvX590CNlkyypatsIwMYdtkx2dlC4Tz2mGyVMmOcWCxeJBXtcoS2D92barQiYLVQipbshauKJi_pyaybAGZXpFa1EBuHq7u-O5dQwby9tGWwehpOPE_AqErBD16nqLGyjgsjsOvUWTRchya8z8yBQcyZp/s1000/Galle%20Bunglow%202.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65uAcKqLEPs1r5GGd4SdL3GaPDtlGZ4ORvX590CNlkyypatsIwMYdtkx2dlC4Tz2mGyVMmOcWCxeJBXtcoS2D92barQiYLVQipbshauKJi_pyaybAGZXpFa1EBuHq7u-O5dQwby9tGWwehpOPE_AqErBD16nqLGyjgsjsOvUWTRchya8z8yBQcyZp/w200-h150/Galle%20Bunglow%202.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildhAZqa9PhStoL7Rc4BNgrgQdyDNf3zbScDRNScoeu5MWCRpr4dCiNJG0SYp3bFSfTjK0EkTufZEEW7YSVm88jQNbSco7WyMgj3YR-r46wj11vg_fUjXxNDQq2G19IFeKeY8Gi_0tTX7Psx27O83lCtGqK5KVXLT-n9R9As3mhJp8s8rGyKYyp8rU/s1280/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-09-03%20at%206.02.36%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildhAZqa9PhStoL7Rc4BNgrgQdyDNf3zbScDRNScoeu5MWCRpr4dCiNJG0SYp3bFSfTjK0EkTufZEEW7YSVm88jQNbSco7WyMgj3YR-r46wj11vg_fUjXxNDQq2G19IFeKeY8Gi_0tTX7Psx27O83lCtGqK5KVXLT-n9R9As3mhJp8s8rGyKYyp8rU/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-09-03%20at%206.02.36%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Fort@ Galle: built by the Portugese, Dutch and British in that order</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQd90QocX7RI5ii9LcmS9bRjTg3tVt11ry0sEfhYn_0CKhdpgQQM4NJlfp0Erga4IORTQoCZyDgthYsF2zO_uBy6DwIWlgiAoPm0BVM_1rAQFqsRs9U8dao8fA6OxyhiHl5SNaRc6D28CRg3haldWMWlePkNQfjEototORtyR2prLNI58NbU6nWMCu/s4032/Zoo2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQd90QocX7RI5ii9LcmS9bRjTg3tVt11ry0sEfhYn_0CKhdpgQQM4NJlfp0Erga4IORTQoCZyDgthYsF2zO_uBy6DwIWlgiAoPm0BVM_1rAQFqsRs9U8dao8fA6OxyhiHl5SNaRc6D28CRg3haldWMWlePkNQfjEototORtyR2prLNI58NbU6nWMCu/w200-h150/Zoo2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colombo Monkey business</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Then there was the zoo at Colombo. Not unremarkable, and lest the reader starts making comments on my intellectual capacity, I take the opportunity to remind them that we have a 2 year old in our midst who deserved entertainment before the start of his 10 day quarantine in China. Economic crisis be damned, the zoo is incredibly well kept, resilient and almost at par with the ones we have seen in the developed world. SAARC nationalities enter for 800 LKR only.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The country has character. Check out the way they keep their cars here:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3QGo5k7MO6TTuWjijjuFlExV3Y-bQWwb3vxHXb8gi8PuYr5JXsKfsjk6edjvOKlBDcFcY5pobduIT6EAXw2hcOVEaqYuw_CZDnxJuXLLZLTmRXUY6Ukez6TJisIRGZadj9Y8t5zLnqmnEGttNIC8lJIoeJ7H0DD7FrQr8GhZW7UIIQ-T3cwGCh8B/s4032/Car%20Mini.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3QGo5k7MO6TTuWjijjuFlExV3Y-bQWwb3vxHXb8gi8PuYr5JXsKfsjk6edjvOKlBDcFcY5pobduIT6EAXw2hcOVEaqYuw_CZDnxJuXLLZLTmRXUY6Ukez6TJisIRGZadj9Y8t5zLnqmnEGttNIC8lJIoeJ7H0DD7FrQr8GhZW7UIIQ-T3cwGCh8B/s320/Car%20Mini.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Beauty beyond age: Mini Cooper</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgD7SA_ZTLdBupI-YmBY_jJ5--KWZI1VG1AGIZazzjBk8_vt8mcz5muP37jpMRKHbU5U_GXaiBv2PUjjQKmU5nnHg7fW4F8drXE4BiLl2O_oDwQa95Xl12AkWXrnihPpkiWcfoUd5He8UhA52WF8O7XvfYzKOBb2dMKCXd9wf1Ee-aYIeLUVzw4EH/s4032/Car%202%20Toyota.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgD7SA_ZTLdBupI-YmBY_jJ5--KWZI1VG1AGIZazzjBk8_vt8mcz5muP37jpMRKHbU5U_GXaiBv2PUjjQKmU5nnHg7fW4F8drXE4BiLl2O_oDwQa95Xl12AkWXrnihPpkiWcfoUd5He8UhA52WF8O7XvfYzKOBb2dMKCXd9wf1Ee-aYIeLUVzw4EH/s320/Car%202%20Toyota.jpg" width="320" /></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And check out the local food:</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrM2LGJ0QQX9U_LnB69zf3P8zM-i3HY6UnINwqTic3kNcD9lwrzFtnXc1Pdfy1qU0PQBV232ok2s87TnoyfIXYDrLuf9wCKXnvxegCl5Ys-7w-TJZH-qgLR5zofkIEVEITTzgMC2KV85OkX6gLQhy-f4dxljm_TRt4htr8-pDDRtIQ6cVDm49OMOh/s1280/The%20Colombo.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrM2LGJ0QQX9U_LnB69zf3P8zM-i3HY6UnINwqTic3kNcD9lwrzFtnXc1Pdfy1qU0PQBV232ok2s87TnoyfIXYDrLuf9wCKXnvxegCl5Ys-7w-TJZH-qgLR5zofkIEVEITTzgMC2KV85OkX6gLQhy-f4dxljm_TRt4htr8-pDDRtIQ6cVDm49OMOh/s320/The%20Colombo.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Taster set @ Culture Colombo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Guess what Indira Gandhi, Scarlett Johansson and we have in common? All of us had an opportunity to dine at the iconic Galle Face. Again, the currency meant that the whole affair was almost at par with your pizza bill in your country. </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnz5C8G23l8S8bEvRtgm9k2qD4iFuQkbPBmW-NSHcgRw0CSPoBC1dtQ2QJpcLNkoXOJeyr4E_NvPEElR0q3g8R0Xxlq1LUJFkDIyMU2y7DOPO3mdp7yKIkLk_LITUqT6NoKBdzfCEm0yhnUTRbP7U8hAencLy-aHkWEYkTGUp4y_txscYoIx539q5/s1000/Galle%20Face.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnz5C8G23l8S8bEvRtgm9k2qD4iFuQkbPBmW-NSHcgRw0CSPoBC1dtQ2QJpcLNkoXOJeyr4E_NvPEElR0q3g8R0Xxlq1LUJFkDIyMU2y7DOPO3mdp7yKIkLk_LITUqT6NoKBdzfCEm0yhnUTRbP7U8hAencLy-aHkWEYkTGUp4y_txscYoIx539q5/s320/Galle%20Face.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Galle Face Colombo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While I was trying to summarize what worked well for us, I failed to pin point the reason why the SL visit turned out remarkable for us. As stated earlier, it was a God-send change from the China travel preparations and impending quarantine cloud and thus exceeded expectations by lifting our spirits from the depth of the abyss.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But it would be criminal to not attribute the good of the trip to The Ocean hotel and its staff. We got it for a steal, rooms & washrooms were nice, breakfast was good, the staff was incredibly warm, helped us with travel documentation and the view is unbeatable. I challenge thee for the view: we have never seen the road, rail and sea in confluence.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7FiMjP1gHlBvgiZ2tUaosFScBeIO4Ol4X6N1F-rG2rq3klnKKd-B03JiS0XL0-AmqxQNbrthfIa5LwdLgOSReaLmb0YSJof0U-iCgPBsFt06CZp-1Zd2z8gopj-Yu9HpzgsHI89F-nxROM-HL1UU5EQ6SkTjpkzuvqDvNA2wHhjZ26DXfCV0iG5D/s4032/Ocean%20rail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7FiMjP1gHlBvgiZ2tUaosFScBeIO4Ol4X6N1F-rG2rq3klnKKd-B03JiS0XL0-AmqxQNbrthfIa5LwdLgOSReaLmb0YSJof0U-iCgPBsFt06CZp-1Zd2z8gopj-Yu9HpzgsHI89F-nxROM-HL1UU5EQ6SkTjpkzuvqDvNA2wHhjZ26DXfCV0iG5D/s320/Ocean%20rail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Ocean: literally</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-26256508816040564332022-06-22T13:58:00.003+05:302022-06-23T09:26:04.524+05:30Finding a 6/7 seater<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><u>Problem statement:</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dear friends of ours have moved to a new city. Though they got the Nexon with them, they need to start looking at a second car: a 6 or 7 seater to add to their fleet. </span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7DnqArUlLQh6ztRQDz7qFuRtYh69QAP4zi4CZEqAekoUKgd3raJalcwVuCTvOmHOefWdqUqO0LZyTFW5Jp075X8Q6XlWsinGrTLWha-FuBIPYyn7LPpE-HX13GgJWyjsw2Zle17yZBg0RtHdqdN_CF0J1v1SDypb3loeDvH-plRRtQgShkZXf5L1/s804/Aditi%20Abhi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="804" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7DnqArUlLQh6ztRQDz7qFuRtYh69QAP4zi4CZEqAekoUKgd3raJalcwVuCTvOmHOefWdqUqO0LZyTFW5Jp075X8Q6XlWsinGrTLWha-FuBIPYyn7LPpE-HX13GgJWyjsw2Zle17yZBg0RtHdqdN_CF0J1v1SDypb3loeDvH-plRRtQgShkZXf5L1/s320/Aditi%20Abhi.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Aditi & Abhishek - with their top of the Line Nexon</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'll reveal a bit more: these guys have moved out of a city called Mumbai. Hence they are (i) spared of the ridiculous property costs and are coming to terms with their new found extreme richness (ii) Having escaped the wretched city, they are overwhelmed by that phenomenon called happiness. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We attack this problem statement after collecting requisite ammunition: the options available in the market and trying to match them as per the requirements of the couple.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We have with us the <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Tata Safari</b>, <b>Ertiga/ XL6</b>, <b>Mahindra XUV 700</b>, <b>Kia Carens</b>, <b>Alcazar</b>, <b><u>THE</u> Toyota Innova</b>, and the other niche guys</span>: all vying to be taken home by the lovely people.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If one has romanced with anything that closely resembles to 'work experience and execution' in life, experience recommends to <u>remove the garbage first</u>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And this is precisely what we will do for the first option.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Suzuki XL6/ Ertiga </u></b></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPp3OPgf40BTQeBAQE9MAHhrnwfViAKLoTJUn2_sizewLEF4x5xcyHTRYTiNot3QxAU9srAKUd_U6dGHE46zoH7IgVSJPDlmYQnU9DHYQhKMGnp09n073-bn8nJXQa7KAMxNuLj-J7bUveLvn6Juw3vEsU5vr5qmF79I9pCNUj7kfq4bsfw9zoJg5/s404/Ertiga.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="404" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPp3OPgf40BTQeBAQE9MAHhrnwfViAKLoTJUn2_sizewLEF4x5xcyHTRYTiNot3QxAU9srAKUd_U6dGHE46zoH7IgVSJPDlmYQnU9DHYQhKMGnp09n073-bn8nJXQa7KAMxNuLj-J7bUveLvn6Juw3vEsU5vr5qmF79I9pCNUj7kfq4bsfw9zoJg5/w200-h106/Ertiga.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Stretch the Swift = Ertiga</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">So XL 6 and Ertiga are out. No dear Maruti: You could offer cheap service, longevity of cars etc. But stop trying to rely too much on that and forgetting engineering, finesse and the need to stay abreast with technology. <span style="font-size: medium;">Though at a decent price, the <i>terrible engineering and obsolete components</i> make them seem extremely expensive to me</span>. Correction: replace that phrase '<i>terrible engineering</i>' with '<i><u>no engineering</u></i>': the first model was not even engineered - they started stretching the Suzuki Swift until it broke in the workshop; the end result was a longer Swift with new row of seats that could collapse at the slightest impact. <i><span style="font-size: medium;">On the good side: it would spare its occupants from prolonged suffering with the guarantee of instant death in case of an accident.</span></i> Also: Lets be clear: putting leather upholstery on a terrible product is not termed luxury, when the core design is horrible. In that sense, XL 6 should be charged with dacoity. And I will not let my friends be the victims here.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Tata Safari</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLdV9SU9xG8_PNFWD-pvfIFdkQCrVcEIyqq6IaBxjUnCzSUspmoxrojP4qPQLSEZSFxVAjdGHpZhwXREuCOMy6BlCDorhduj44N3RbmqIiVUKaZAYF6-sVXsVcoLve7rDY1ILBoA1o0d-fQqCk-2pvL4JiaIWhHjcQ_vo1JvzLXwgLChhbsy6dZnQ/s460/Tata%20Safari.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="460" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLdV9SU9xG8_PNFWD-pvfIFdkQCrVcEIyqq6IaBxjUnCzSUspmoxrojP4qPQLSEZSFxVAjdGHpZhwXREuCOMy6BlCDorhduj44N3RbmqIiVUKaZAYF6-sVXsVcoLve7rDY1ILBoA1o0d-fQqCk-2pvL4JiaIWhHjcQ_vo1JvzLXwgLChhbsy6dZnQ/w200-h159/Tata%20Safari.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />We do venture into the Tata Safari territory but as the family already has a cool Tata Nexon, maybe a brand change would be fun. But maybe it could reign supreme in terms of design and drivability.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">One more plus: in its current avatar, this is suspiciously more of Land Rover territory that Tata.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>XUV 700 and the Mahindra affair</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB87Wsxybl1MryzBvDOeWG1pPfhiN42l-foefoJk_e5BdablF7ij5bEl1quTBsGxgc8JZDs79AfTtHRUSVa1diKv_uSsXLoqCrVggiW97_1eFGHuFh-tl39gUzJVogzl7i3WLMd9m7CvNjzF4JWfIlqHp33smJXUXpwZd1XrIujpUkdveMqhBfSqdn/s846/M%20XUV700.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="846" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB87Wsxybl1MryzBvDOeWG1pPfhiN42l-foefoJk_e5BdablF7ij5bEl1quTBsGxgc8JZDs79AfTtHRUSVa1diKv_uSsXLoqCrVggiW97_1eFGHuFh-tl39gUzJVogzl7i3WLMd9m7CvNjzF4JWfIlqHp33smJXUXpwZd1XrIujpUkdveMqhBfSqdn/s320/M%20XUV700.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stunner: XUV 700</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />An imposing road presence, a ship load of electronics and screens: In short, XUV 700 is a stunner. But so are all new cars at any showroom. <span style="font-size: large;">The driving position and the height do give you that '<i><u>feel like God</u></i>' feeling and I have witnessed people on the road running in panic when I am driving a Mahindra spiritedly.</span> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Root Cause analysis of that to follow and it revolves around the critical role these cars have played in all nefarious activities. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHkrq5qeNf-BFsn38IEs6nz4rbACvJD4ZhZ5g2wmRT2HieUOjh9SP-JWDwct29_H6hu5RYAVEXrxXdNlYY2vVMxDK7Bldd7eDqz9ADdbXCysoS7uymTYMxYM28JSjMqw7gMRqpCM_t8Jwli7ZWxtuGWhu_mF55PstKODmWw0qjMLXWyC2poemEnMU/s473/Mahindra%20interior.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="473" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHkrq5qeNf-BFsn38IEs6nz4rbACvJD4ZhZ5g2wmRT2HieUOjh9SP-JWDwct29_H6hu5RYAVEXrxXdNlYY2vVMxDK7Bldd7eDqz9ADdbXCysoS7uymTYMxYM28JSjMqw7gMRqpCM_t8Jwli7ZWxtuGWhu_mF55PstKODmWw0qjMLXWyC2poemEnMU/s320/Mahindra%20interior.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stunner: inside as well</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCgbWh_Mw2U1VEOjEhwcBSBGRG2qWWOPtQPQnq94dOpqlT3iVkiVvaJrMK87PDThaYVUcQsw0XdFXZAhRaL4POhuGRqE7k_XzMzpQE9JXnt_J6U2lxYd1tIxsN7WgNUWwfxR30LVI8o7pcd1V-Q4fn9EIw4jFcnM4ymQPtYWCeG1b9DDibrLJkU13/s347/Mahindra-265-Di-2WD.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="347" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCgbWh_Mw2U1VEOjEhwcBSBGRG2qWWOPtQPQnq94dOpqlT3iVkiVvaJrMK87PDThaYVUcQsw0XdFXZAhRaL4POhuGRqE7k_XzMzpQE9JXnt_J6U2lxYd1tIxsN7WgNUWwfxR30LVI8o7pcd1V-Q4fn9EIw4jFcnM4ymQPtYWCeG1b9DDibrLJkU13/w200-h119/Mahindra-265-Di-2WD.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I have no qualms in admitting that I have little faith in these machines from our dear manufacturer which does a better job at tractors (fan of the 265 DI). Like everything else, all products look spectacular in the showroom, but their mettle is proven only with age. And Mahindra has not proven much to me here. 3-5 year old XUV 500s or Scorpios are incredibly rattly, have buggy electronics and I would rather pick up a 10 year old Japanese/ Korean over these machines. They serve me well to explain the concept of <b>'Cost of Poor Quality'</b> - with ample quantitative data at the spare parts bazaar: where at time of me buying a wiper blade or a polish for my Honda, I found many Mahindra owners desperately scavenging for turbo-chargers, electronic components, etc. for their stalled vehicles. Bolero being an exception here - though of a different league and for a different purpose.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">To give Mahindra a fair chance, I decided to have an unbiased assessment to gauge the candidature of the XUV700 for the suave couple.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvDSsakwm3FCRrW5D2pE0j1NqYfD2xOANbHUNCy0boX_KhRusWvvjRNtnmCOSPxAaHGdGIX0wP-JOI6egDV2GvYKuiXLpr91sUG616KIPxO8hYoqgKpMu4dNmV_T_A6RGF6NfYcsXqA6x6X3Beby7dMV8H8bgGYgraNwOwIUcENgcNUC-MXFnERI_/s162/Mahindra%20rural.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="162" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvDSsakwm3FCRrW5D2pE0j1NqYfD2xOANbHUNCy0boX_KhRusWvvjRNtnmCOSPxAaHGdGIX0wP-JOI6egDV2GvYKuiXLpr91sUG616KIPxO8hYoqgKpMu4dNmV_T_A6RGF6NfYcsXqA6x6X3Beby7dMV8H8bgGYgraNwOwIUcENgcNUC-MXFnERI_/s1600/Mahindra%20rural.JPG" width="162" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>XUV - the dream car for many</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />My inhibitions apart, the problem for Mahindra's candidature was a different one in this scenario. It was what they call a '<b><u>Fitment challenge</u></b>' . At the outset, my friends seemed far too sophisticated for a XUV700. <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>They seemed to have little in common with the paan spitting politicians throned in the rear or goons found in driver's seat in Mahindras.</i></span> While ruggedness of a Bolero has a purpose to it, that of the XUV is crass and reeks of deceit.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Still, to give a fair chance, I decided to dig for something dark in their life to have them qualify for a Mahindra Scorpio/ XUV700. Who knows: Maybe some part of their wealth was ill gotten, being on the wrong side of the law. <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>My scheme involved tricking Aditi & Abhishek to a dungeon, which had ample of those ancient torture tools in supply, tying their limbs and commencing my interrogation.</i></span> Here are the results:</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhju2syrd-Z1Q0EJpa_Q1bePXJu5tlqjuC_NCsvXno8L4e901HCTPUpexEIqpXm6YUxMDMODKJknpGbNhz2AQdn7fmMPpBMtFzhKsqbd94pA5dl4j5wWchEIMiDNozklu0IHci90VGdaQ_utwsZVWM-nE6FlxFqgDISXr2ydqK1246KPMUOODIHOrDb/s1711/Questionnaire.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1711" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhju2syrd-Z1Q0EJpa_Q1bePXJu5tlqjuC_NCsvXno8L4e901HCTPUpexEIqpXm6YUxMDMODKJknpGbNhz2AQdn7fmMPpBMtFzhKsqbd94pA5dl4j5wWchEIMiDNozklu0IHci90VGdaQ_utwsZVWM-nE6FlxFqgDISXr2ydqK1246KPMUOODIHOrDb/w640-h398/Questionnaire.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Mahindra fitment questionnaire</span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">https://gifs.com/gif/the-laws-of-physics-does-not-apply-in-bollywood-jROG1Y</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="165" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xkablCr4v6w" width="198" youtube-src-id="xkablCr4v6w"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sigh… Truth being told, we were personally invested in justifying the Mahindra fitment for these guys for our own little devious scheme. <i><span style="font-size: large;">A few minutes ago, Bugga and I had talked about the downward trend of the macroeconomic indicators these days and their degree of potential correlation (adverse) with our job security.</span></i> A Mahindra available to borrow from friends, could indeed help our kidnapping business take off if times called for it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">However, these guys were hopeless. Regret to note that my interrogation was a total failure. Not only did these guys check '<b>No</b>' for all the questions, they also mentioned words like 'please', 'pardon', 'thank you' during the interrogation!<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Data also revealed that they had passed their 10th (1st attempt) and I know their path to education has been marred with those premium schools that have too many 9s. (99.999999 percentile was it? Nope, I think i missed some 9s). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Mahindra is out for them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Toyota Innova:</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPHqbTtcBnHwce2Vur8-Wxr_qjBNlNgpGE0yyR-wJfsod5VP-1UR_a7xL5uCAgTEYaKUQgPLJzflUlj6hd4x9qp_wUj8l7lnOH0GMp5txabyvjBRWrqKbCzDDbnp-xVPMUYFWGgQ70jMrmYLAHlDUn9AhwtsYQ284uin041b6MTveCHjrqKYnziGR/s627/Innova.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="627" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPHqbTtcBnHwce2Vur8-Wxr_qjBNlNgpGE0yyR-wJfsod5VP-1UR_a7xL5uCAgTEYaKUQgPLJzflUlj6hd4x9qp_wUj8l7lnOH0GMp5txabyvjBRWrqKbCzDDbnp-xVPMUYFWGgQ70jMrmYLAHlDUn9AhwtsYQ284uin041b6MTveCHjrqKYnziGR/s320/Innova.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">MPV or an indestructible tank?</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />No point harping on the obvious. We all love the Innova and all of us have been ferried in it amply. In its latest avatar, the Crysta is a remarkable drive, gives you decent feedback of the road and makes its presence felt on the road. With angry eyes/ headlamps these days and some effort expended in hiding it's van-ish profile, it is a smart looker too. Though deprived of 4X4 option, it still does a good job when there are no roads. <i>Personally, <span style="font-size: medium;">I have featured in plenty of stories which involve an Innova gorging a large family inevitably late, their million pieces of luggage, zipping across roads and no-roads with supreme comfort, making up for lost time on way, finally disemboweling its passengers and their luggage at the airport, railway or bus station - in time, without drama</span>.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">But here is the problem: Toyota knows too well of the market's cognizance of the quality & unsinkability of this product, and they ask for a handsome premium for it. Well, with those dated interiors, the price, and their claim of indestructability, all the best to Toyota to try selling it to the Israeli ground forces to replace their Merkava tank battalions. But I wont allow them into conning my friends of their hard earned cash. My friends are a genuine moderate use family, with no imminent plans of getting into the taxi business. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Kia Carens</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygraS1Wc5eh0iSAmHLiO4wDXHi37BMfmjPjbMPaXerRgX6xM2m5Cb5ucnAV8KW23THLeQnUzO05TmdT507GdTZ5gnzRoCneo8am3jlD_QrRP4TdmCW9I95CPjKWjqmgviKTr8hPkk4SP46S5f_IBBqC-lR78cVwKKA-rpRp3vTH8-Tj2CSMms3j2Y/s1074/Carens%203by4.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1074" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygraS1Wc5eh0iSAmHLiO4wDXHi37BMfmjPjbMPaXerRgX6xM2m5Cb5ucnAV8KW23THLeQnUzO05TmdT507GdTZ5gnzRoCneo8am3jlD_QrRP4TdmCW9I95CPjKWjqmgviKTr8hPkk4SP46S5f_IBBqC-lR78cVwKKA-rpRp3vTH8-Tj2CSMms3j2Y/s320/Carens%203by4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kia Carens - the smart front 3/4 look</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As for the Kia, my experience is limited to a test drive only. All of us were happy when we heard the price of the Carens and had expected it to be (a) a stretched Seltos with scaled down features (b) Cheap Innova which could be floaty while turning & on highway maneuvers (c ) A flimsy build & structure, just enough to do its job of bettering the horrible Suzuki Ertiga/ XL6. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">A test drive allayed all these apprehensions, for this is something unique indeed. I tried to model it as a scaled down Innova or a stretched Seltos, but failed spectacularly. Of course, the interiors are Selto-ish, parts would be carried over. But when it comes to the drive, this one manages a distinct soul.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwCrnBPipIHtmuR9o4KVvlyUKynFxjDEUwQLQ0K6SMzYTuldxt3gQL5v01Bz7EtlgOPaWBXxlG9kJLEwZgSA8IzQnM22NWJ2AqhPliDbj_srXEpcqc8iUmXBIvKJtFAeLf34r5VILKpRnl0i7QLJx1qi3LkqsW5pWO_t_pe3dETSXjoqp9u5fTUaB/s1656/Kia%20interior.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1656" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwCrnBPipIHtmuR9o4KVvlyUKynFxjDEUwQLQ0K6SMzYTuldxt3gQL5v01Bz7EtlgOPaWBXxlG9kJLEwZgSA8IzQnM22NWJ2AqhPliDbj_srXEpcqc8iUmXBIvKJtFAeLf34r5VILKpRnl0i7QLJx1qi3LkqsW5pWO_t_pe3dETSXjoqp9u5fTUaB/s320/Kia%20interior.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Looks feature lower in my priority, but the word that strikes me upon seeing it in flesh and blood is 'exquisite' - there is a charm about this when looking from the front and three quarters view. The fresh front donned by unique lamps, the grill being given a miss gets it some degree of handsomeness . From the side though, it is sadly MUV-ish but the rear is fairly modern. To note that you have to look too hard at the silhouette to find its underpinnings common to the Seltos.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">On the downside, there is a lot of material inside which reminds you of the Seltos and the seating position - though very comfortable with an upright driving stance, is a faint reminiscent of the ol' king of kidnapping: Maruti Omni. Also, there is ample going around pertaining to safety issues and rating of the Seltos, assuming Carens' case could be similar.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><i>What finally tilts the balance in favor of the Carens is the price</i></u>. After test driving, I could not believe the number. A tad cheaper than its mate, it makes a Seltos purchase seem like thievery. Note: the author had spent money on the Seltos and had thought it to be the best value for money at that time. I am not alone with this perception: a nine month waiting list proves that the entire market feels that way, and we could expect a price increase sometime soon.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Hyundai Alcazar:</u></b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It is an incredible option and what we say for Carens ticks for this with a lot more. Though this has different underpinnings that the Carens, I just cannot come to terms in recommending this full heartedly at that price difference over its sister brand. Sorry. If the price difference between the Kia and Hyundai narrows, perhaps we may take a look very seriously. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Jeep Meridian</u>:</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuxzDqoc2NW-dknJKlLV7xzIVX5gEzN1LrC3tBJpa4U9tXG-bIhmSuVUEYCz7T1VeFDgYEWrAgj-OEpEdS5xm16IpT2ACQTivX3Rmbtr7Y72VbAWqLEagoUTRXHv75uoaw-ERVVUNxUYeBBx4rgDNJP3VPX_DYqvIoxrFV_Elpl5X3tLPOfGappRQ/s455/Jeep%20Meridian.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="455" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuxzDqoc2NW-dknJKlLV7xzIVX5gEzN1LrC3tBJpa4U9tXG-bIhmSuVUEYCz7T1VeFDgYEWrAgj-OEpEdS5xm16IpT2ACQTivX3Rmbtr7Y72VbAWqLEagoUTRXHv75uoaw-ERVVUNxUYeBBx4rgDNJP3VPX_DYqvIoxrFV_Elpl5X3tLPOfGappRQ/s320/Jeep%20Meridian.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Expensive. But more worryingly, we are scared about it aligning to its peers' strategy and escaping the Indian market. Chevrolet's and Ford's recent exits have rekindled this fear. Yet with its core SIV underpinnings, I believe it could have the potential to keep the Ford Endeavor (now defunct) fans interested. This is perhaps the only option left for them without needing to switch to the Japanese (Fortuner) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Skoda Kodiaq:</u></b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Lots of bling, good price, but no Skodas to buy in India please <span style="font-size: x-small;">(This line is carefully thought through and drafted by a Skoda owner)</span>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>MG Gloster:</u></b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vtczp2_cxnqz1lgeHvSMFSaDUDT0qVwmMc2qT2rgDH484_q6BCjaaP4py0n4MKdxG3gYtNjMMw7svoO6laeT4UL52vPd9vNF0pNQccXzpRXetuKAbd_vgePKVW8o5rn_m0KYbtadjDxUwaK2nOTew9VSJAEOKacjF4rLzddCMVafrtytRAqbVHfY/s602/MGGloster.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="602" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vtczp2_cxnqz1lgeHvSMFSaDUDT0qVwmMc2qT2rgDH484_q6BCjaaP4py0n4MKdxG3gYtNjMMw7svoO6laeT4UL52vPd9vNF0pNQccXzpRXetuKAbd_vgePKVW8o5rn_m0KYbtadjDxUwaK2nOTew9VSJAEOKacjF4rLzddCMVafrtytRAqbVHfY/w200-h99/MGGloster.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />Living is China, I can say MGs are firecrackers when it comes to avionics loaded for that much money . In India at the moment, I feel the prices are not that competitive yet. In its home market, there is a huge difference between the <i>Germans>Japanese/Koreans> MG/Roewe</i>. So thanks, but no thanks to this beautiful video game^. MG India - please stay true to who you are and give up that British brand deceit. I see Morris Garages motif getting larger and larger. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>^MGs have next generation tech at unbelievable price, giving max for the buck for the screen loving population of these times. But cant say that for sharpness in driving.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Verdict:</span></b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Those looking for a 7 seater to immediately book a Carens to start their waiting period, think hard in the first month and then: (a) Buy Safari, Alcazar or Innova as per logical analysis, then cancel booking of Kia or (b) Keep waiting for the Carens</i></span></div></div><div><br /></div>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-70895784785919087392022-06-02T13:04:00.005+05:302022-06-17T14:01:50.103+05:30Two supply chain disruptions: The reason?<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><u>Then:</u></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">1941 August: The German panzers, in absolute synchrony with Luftwaffe were unstoppable. The 4th panzer division was 30 Kms from Leningrad (erstwhile St. Petersburg). The heart of it was the Blitzkrieg strategy; having already proven itself couple of months back with takeover of western Europe, (France, Belgium, et all) and Africa. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxuKyQFXwCBC_2PdhUfD5Xkef9rlgkri7x52ArECb9zgTZEVpt_6NIemTWCXvF4bfR-8rKSWQqtbnM2ZqmCrfUaZwWK0hIM6uV6-o3VSztujB7xaFZGf-ktKnjhOYK4sd2QKstx0qUAA5SGd1Ww2VpxnKXh1cWGhX-DON8RBTekh68WXfHxS6DG7V/s4324/St%20Petersberg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3243" data-original-width="4324" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxuKyQFXwCBC_2PdhUfD5Xkef9rlgkri7x52ArECb9zgTZEVpt_6NIemTWCXvF4bfR-8rKSWQqtbnM2ZqmCrfUaZwWK0hIM6uV6-o3VSztujB7xaFZGf-ktKnjhOYK4sd2QKstx0qUAA5SGd1Ww2VpxnKXh1cWGhX-DON8RBTekh68WXfHxS6DG7V/s320/St%20Petersberg.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p></p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjmQg-wu7O9s59_fBgTv8aS2TlQ8d_-ChJZG_Ze9Sa9TfwnWlx7H27ArY_3kxllXkUZ97mPo6eafACfhRgGi4yX-f1hf_thR85FlVsH14sP0t7ngPF6z2FTwPIhwjkJHtQIvDE855LdJdnjJKSRMTMT6djn5CIZ6mW4-RjJDkbEPVk24_lzUGN9rO/s260/Guderian%20panzer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="194" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjmQg-wu7O9s59_fBgTv8aS2TlQ8d_-ChJZG_Ze9Sa9TfwnWlx7H27ArY_3kxllXkUZ97mPo6eafACfhRgGi4yX-f1hf_thR85FlVsH14sP0t7ngPF6z2FTwPIhwjkJHtQIvDE855LdJdnjJKSRMTMT6djn5CIZ6mW4-RjJDkbEPVk24_lzUGN9rO/w149-h200/Guderian%20panzer.JPG" width="149" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />General Heinz Guderian was the architect of the Blitzkrieg (Achtung Panzer : 1937), and attributable by many for nearly fulfilling the possibility of Germany taking over the world . Almost achieved, until Hitler's interference and obsession with fighting many fronts (especially the long one East at Russia), led to its collapse .</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24MbYXVjNAZfIr782nTvxwOsKVvOvA_hsoHt69ATB8LSBLDfg_EOklqeJYj4JnRmqPyMA4PlGpBpLEFZGhoM3f1pzYlE7mTDkQfHafkvR0yfydNYkyoa1Qh96oC-ueYDfai4xYhbxxadHGUYuYm0DFF450DYFQ6EfTm6FT7zz-LiA3gqQ8K8MnWZg/s376/4th%20panzer%20charge.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="376" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24MbYXVjNAZfIr782nTvxwOsKVvOvA_hsoHt69ATB8LSBLDfg_EOklqeJYj4JnRmqPyMA4PlGpBpLEFZGhoM3f1pzYlE7mTDkQfHafkvR0yfydNYkyoa1Qh96oC-ueYDfai4xYhbxxadHGUYuYm0DFF450DYFQ6EfTm6FT7zz-LiA3gqQ8K8MnWZg/w200-h153/4th%20panzer%20charge.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>The German onslaught..</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Under General Heinz Guderien in August 1941, the 2nd, 4th Panzer divisions (and the collaborative, vengeful Finns at the north) were calculating hours before they could take over Russia's 2nd most important city. With Luftwaffe ruling the skies, and the confusion across the Soviet command structure (some soldiers were taken prisoners even before they received communication that their country was at war with Germany), the prized city would be in German possession. With taking over the port and the cultural capital of Russia, the 4th Panzer division would be fulfilling one of the key German milestones of operation Barbadossa.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD4wjqEmQzcW8y9RcwWmWDOIs1COBVPxor5HEGBKhNBpNUqKW4B0439J5bHi6q0iqeetOAXNjKXiwWzbqWq8xYha1wr4NA5Xp6QnEvTscoLOtmmIUUwH90Jp3XRFPTkp-8j3deOfyoON0Hs7254hiQxbP-P334PiSxkIOBGGFPR1gqads0wUerBcj/s905/Panzer%20rest.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="905" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD4wjqEmQzcW8y9RcwWmWDOIs1COBVPxor5HEGBKhNBpNUqKW4B0439J5bHi6q0iqeetOAXNjKXiwWzbqWq8xYha1wr4NA5Xp6QnEvTscoLOtmmIUUwH90Jp3XRFPTkp-8j3deOfyoON0Hs7254hiQxbP-P334PiSxkIOBGGFPR1gqads0wUerBcj/w200-h100/Panzer%20rest.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All those miles: only to halt outside?</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Astonishingly, though Leningrad was well within his grasp, Guderian ordered a halt for the 4th Panzer division.</i></b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">His move caught his enemies by surprise as well. The Russians were being granted time to fortify the city, perhaps get reinforcements from Moscow and the vast Soviet interior.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Guderian was no fool. If we look carefully, these were his reasons:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KJ0v37KxLVdDieP8yBguIMesiNHuSYLSNc5wf2vhgbM__gTYHrVnGMhfe3PpGwaiW6ij-uqJNTrNHZKtUwu6xgD7fUZypu_jH97wnxY-jE_6vS2rlTuUM42ksUoqbKY3FEs-QqIzdxovHuCz9GAJrFB_izHb3CxDDO4OQ_Gvi2owHPgp5GB_kbys/s580/SH%20lock.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="427" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KJ0v37KxLVdDieP8yBguIMesiNHuSYLSNc5wf2vhgbM__gTYHrVnGMhfe3PpGwaiW6ij-uqJNTrNHZKtUwu6xgD7fUZypu_jH97wnxY-jE_6vS2rlTuUM42ksUoqbKY3FEs-QqIzdxovHuCz9GAJrFB_izHb3CxDDO4OQ_Gvi2owHPgp5GB_kbys/w148-h200/SH%20lock.JPG" width="148" /></a><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The Panzer tanks were so fast, that the infantry had got left behind. The panzers were at the risk of being cut-off from the main German supply chain</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The halt was applicable to 1st and 2nd Panzer division of the South as well, which had captured much of modern day Ukraine</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The Germans thought to avoid street fighting inside Leningrad. Instead, focus was on reaching river Neva and cutting off enemy's last supply chain rail link connecting Leningrad to rest of Russia</span></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUlCymEd_wfbVHKcxRosaoQufoshSY5l_Ul85gBcvd4RtRF__h7EX7f92ZBqY_oYjEfQ07XaV3Ty8_hiLIUsYHI8OuMuAn7ORwxJXEm1-cOOVhzUE5aSbnBebw4ueA2SrKAl9FP4BxOd5ZnhZC7loX9jOernjDgIjO0S_96kH8zyWq5PHalI9kU8w/s521/Supply%20chain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="521" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUlCymEd_wfbVHKcxRosaoQufoshSY5l_Ul85gBcvd4RtRF__h7EX7f92ZBqY_oYjEfQ07XaV3Ty8_hiLIUsYHI8OuMuAn7ORwxJXEm1-cOOVhzUE5aSbnBebw4ueA2SrKAl9FP4BxOd5ZnhZC7loX9jOernjDgIjO0S_96kH8zyWq5PHalI9kU8w/w200-h117/Supply%20chain.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Do note that in the above, '<b><i>supply chain</i></b>' features multiple times. And anyone with an IQ north of 0.027 can infer:</span><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">You ensure your supply chain remains intact, at all costs</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">You aim to annihilate your enemy's supply chain: it is too convenient a tool to kill or create havoc, without necessarily using your guns</span></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Which is why I am so upset with the Shanghai lockdown affair. While the world had its share of lockdowns, and not it’s Shanghai's turn, the measures here have led to cutoff of supplies for this majestic city and its people. The goal is Zero-COVID, the implementation of control measures is impressive, yet the situation depicts an unfair assessment of the problem and control measures that have gone astray.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b><span>Now</span></b></i><span>: <i><b>Shanghai</b></i> </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AgPAZ6XE0TV0WKHM07h-DRmR-ZqrGrrlb__F3GsZJGOt5V-BmOFEtdGhX5Kfmyi0Vd7wvpnxiMmXWQK9wPaO8GGsC7PsgHGPo-cteh90sszNdWvWT296v1g5U-DBGH4eM5gct3kS54uQrzBvZYLLngKafWoy8YhTSAoxirx5FW-i7yub8tnQ3fIJ/s459/Shanghai2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="459" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AgPAZ6XE0TV0WKHM07h-DRmR-ZqrGrrlb__F3GsZJGOt5V-BmOFEtdGhX5Kfmyi0Vd7wvpnxiMmXWQK9wPaO8GGsC7PsgHGPo-cteh90sszNdWvWT296v1g5U-DBGH4eM5gct3kS54uQrzBvZYLLngKafWoy8YhTSAoxirx5FW-i7yub8tnQ3fIJ/s320/Shanghai2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>COVID battle is fine, but not at the cost of leaving your people without basic necessities. Over this period, I have seen people (l stick to talking about locals, plight of foreigners is a different story) being denied minimum diet, medical emergencies and everything else. Irony being that this happens to be one of the richest regions of the planet.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-YvfCw_2Dx4L-TF50EtUJgIJEnPZD_QC_4uz3t6dLQc4gIWlIcMrTPkGTWOSB5FOZGUOytgSnLRL0rGfrIU9YAnsxIyTXXGCP0IVRr1Pg_JIqcdWdcq_7LK27X_KVwz4wk7tapmmzNxPkb-wzmpx4hpb6GB7Vjf2RGXXbZe4rW7PU9YFsVSq3DoM/s948/SH%20Lock2%20deserted.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="948" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-YvfCw_2Dx4L-TF50EtUJgIJEnPZD_QC_4uz3t6dLQc4gIWlIcMrTPkGTWOSB5FOZGUOytgSnLRL0rGfrIU9YAnsxIyTXXGCP0IVRr1Pg_JIqcdWdcq_7LK27X_KVwz4wk7tapmmzNxPkb-wzmpx4hpb6GB7Vjf2RGXXbZe4rW7PU9YFsVSq3DoM/w200-h113/SH%20Lock2%20deserted.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While I will ramble a lot, I will mention dear Ian's plight and the eradication of trust thanks to the fake positivity maintained over media.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The tale of Ian and the Red Lion </b></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLc-AsaBEhgQ5UTsJoYKvwxJGGix5_0Dz91jNeRIV6jkLnlawXIMS8DQRLuUKreQKJ0vA9LaNSoLsRx-WZXtFDTkY_bP3kFX1Kh7oSVzUPUzsXroGVV0hn7UvP8sJLmo1VKl85BYHkucDwT9XwmmNqcbg8bZUYP5P3wruz_CXjRcnH8Cr8csvWosn/s433/red%20lion%20entr2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="433" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLc-AsaBEhgQ5UTsJoYKvwxJGGix5_0Dz91jNeRIV6jkLnlawXIMS8DQRLuUKreQKJ0vA9LaNSoLsRx-WZXtFDTkY_bP3kFX1Kh7oSVzUPUzsXroGVV0hn7UvP8sJLmo1VKl85BYHkucDwT9XwmmNqcbg8bZUYP5P3wruz_CXjRcnH8Cr8csvWosn/w200-h114/red%20lion%20entr2.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Nope, am not starting a fable..</span><p></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ian is a person blessed often by one and all. His Red Lion pub is a serious British affair and a holy site in our neighborhood for those serious about sports or beer* or happiness**. <span style="font-size: x-small;">*The 2nd and 3rd elements are incredibly correlated.</span> Of the money the pub rakes in on any evening, my colleagues and I hope to be healthy contributors. Ian, a British Shanghainese, finds admirers not just in us as casual visitors, but he commands immense degree of respect from his fiercely loyal Chinese staff.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BWs3oXrVYwBHvMsijnJi6REItkf5X8vYl9GhfGuiPZ2umQkTBjPzgCM9eGSF7OeG3sOE5MOG_-rsNNJ3G9r5WDQiUQb20MjotufUk9hFJ2KtHngrfMZePYX9ZpR2qlOmc-HeqnLq_i8nGifwaiDPjpd11OHDOtwa8lsXcVTZuaKMSeFu2zaJzhLQ/s934/SH%20Red%20Lion2%20edited.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="934" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BWs3oXrVYwBHvMsijnJi6REItkf5X8vYl9GhfGuiPZ2umQkTBjPzgCM9eGSF7OeG3sOE5MOG_-rsNNJ3G9r5WDQiUQb20MjotufUk9hFJ2KtHngrfMZePYX9ZpR2qlOmc-HeqnLq_i8nGifwaiDPjpd11OHDOtwa8lsXcVTZuaKMSeFu2zaJzhLQ/s320/SH%20Red%20Lion2%20edited.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Red Lion - soldiering on until barricaded in blue</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">His staff had been providing skeletal food services in the lockdown period. Now while I call it skeletal, it was a heaven-sent option for all those locked down. Nothing short of heroic, procuring extremely scarce items such as vegetables, milk, meat, oil, an etc., converting that to food and achieving the impossible by delivering it to your residential compounds.</span><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">For some miraculous reason, the streetside shops were barricaded and the staff whiffed away to some location of no-one's liking. No infection, no close contact, no violation of rules and no explanation. One policy change overnight: it rendered the business as non-compliant in some peculiarly mysterious manner (we were operating for a month legally weren't we?).<br /> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">After 11 years, for the first time, Ian is seriously rethinking if this is all worth it. It pains me to see the exodus of great people from the city at such as scale.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The glorious city of hard working and wonderful people, caught in the cross hairs of a sniping rifles, gunning out some arbitrary measures in the cloak of pandemic response.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The effect from the investor community would be punitive, in the least. As they say:</span></p><p><i style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">'It takes ages to build trust, and a lot shorter time to eradicate it'</span></b></i></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Quick review of news:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>News</u>: Shanghai's market watchdog will strengthen supervision and management of group buying with combined measures, regulators announced on Sunday.</span></li><li><span>From <https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2204104204/></span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Reality</u>: Nope, you are not helping us. We were patient for days and have resorted to non-sensical group buys/ packages and black marketers . Don’t you dare meddle and cut supplies further - tampering with anything more. Focus on improving supply chain. In rest of the world - COVID lockdowns, wars, and whatever the problems were, bread does reach their citizens.</span></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><u>News:</u> New safety measures ensure food security</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2204104193/</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Reality: We all personally know of fellow human beings being inflicted. Tong Tong's (our dear Ayi) cousin is without food for 3 days, her daughter had only rice and oil for 14 days. Less of words, more of action please.</span></li></ul></ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">"Why China's dynamic zero-COVID approach must be sustained" (Xinhua - state publisher)</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Rationale for this may be substantiated by facts: (1) Overconfidence (my strategy triumphs yours) (2) Too much of uncalled for fear amongst people (3) Lower vaccination rate (linked to fact 1)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">In this article there is an iota of truth, check this fact: "The repercussions of lowering the guard could be disastrous for a country with 1.4 billion people, including 267 million aged 60 or above and more than 250 million children."</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Adding on to that: a healthy percentage (including aged) are unvaccinated. Again attributable to overconfidence (Our dynamic zero strategy will ensure we will never be exposed to the virus, and hence no need for vaccination - a common belief amongst many, until now)</span></li></ul></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNB-nskssc-kyNH_asWKZEQim5GRzAKoj72B0XJEYxtoRkmpwcuJFe35J_XTWOeZJKOEQ5HRJ_wZO85X1WEZAZ2LG-dZwjpYhEtOokeVEJswN4Rrfx-LARx43PB75AA0a8X8uQ8WHFRsFM86qZ5DuG3sDhkYTMh6dcVpOC27vBeaiihRiL0Yft-Bb5/s701/SH%20garbage2.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNB-nskssc-kyNH_asWKZEQim5GRzAKoj72B0XJEYxtoRkmpwcuJFe35J_XTWOeZJKOEQ5HRJ_wZO85X1WEZAZ2LG-dZwjpYhEtOokeVEJswN4Rrfx-LARx43PB75AA0a8X8uQ8WHFRsFM86qZ5DuG3sDhkYTMh6dcVpOC27vBeaiihRiL0Yft-Bb5/s320/SH%20garbage2.JPG" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><i>From our neighborhood group: Basics right. Really?</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The fact that I write this on the day Shanghai opens is no irony. For the 'open up' still remains fractured with real freedom of movement to be tested with time and onset of cases here and there. And yes, irony died a thousand deaths with all those talks and articles about why lockdown is good for the overall society. Economics and human cost: anyone? Any lessons from rest of the world?</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Have we said good bye to COVID forever at Shanghai? Can someone pin a number on probability of recurrence, and the lockdown thereafter?</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"></span>Excerpts from siege of Leningrad: "<i>On 21 September 1941, German High Command considered how to destroy Leningrad. Occupying the city was ruled out "because it would make us responsible for food supply". The resolution was to lay the city under siege and bombardment, starving its population. </i>"<br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The siege of Leningrad lasted for 872 days and is debated to be one of the largest loss of life in a major city during battle. </span></div><p></p>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-82847814914699199642021-06-24T07:44:00.002+05:302021-06-25T06:54:26.491+05:30An Indian motorcycle: saved by a British ghost<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i><<Based on a decade old true story from Mumbai days..>></i></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-3o0KVlBUwUiszRKMo8gk9n_GynvzGY3Qy_8bQZmX-6wDYVpkEp86VMcuuUDEwwhbc2lEPZK3fCOr2mkbF5rcUvNxxYDwono51iDvBZbwXzUEfstLz-Iza6-p_7MXNBXKD0C7pL5Ptw/s320/P200+mud.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-3o0KVlBUwUiszRKMo8gk9n_GynvzGY3Qy_8bQZmX-6wDYVpkEp86VMcuuUDEwwhbc2lEPZK3fCOr2mkbF5rcUvNxxYDwono51iDvBZbwXzUEfstLz-Iza6-p_7MXNBXKD0C7pL5Ptw/w140-h105/P200+mud.JPG" title="Pulsar 200: on one of it's mud rally earlier.." width="140" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">From archives: One of it's mud rallies</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">There was a mild 'klunk' when I had driven over that particular pothole - one more abuse added to the billion shocks my poor machine had withstood. Sometimes it was the poor roads, sometime it was me venting out my anger addressed to rest of the world unjustifiably directed to the machine.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Though it had taken more than its share of hardships, today I was a bit worried for my bike.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgkDAPfnmPihsEgnSAkqiuwhPM8kK97AhhTlQaHuQyleeIPuSbVIB1NSuGGAkQSoleFUu2dIIr8Vpno6AWluXflEKJba2jQUApu2pd0JO2eLxDkR6NkrVywy2gr-r8VECEZ_IQoj4IH4/s200/P200+mountains.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgkDAPfnmPihsEgnSAkqiuwhPM8kK97AhhTlQaHuQyleeIPuSbVIB1NSuGGAkQSoleFUu2dIIr8Vpno6AWluXflEKJba2jQUApu2pd0JO2eLxDkR6NkrVywy2gr-r8VECEZ_IQoj4IH4/s0/P200+mountains.JPG" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />And as I parked - the proof was there. The security guard came running to point out a trickle of petrol left in our trail. He shouted - 'Sir ji - kabse bol raha hoon. Nayi lo, ye bangar ko de do. Dekho khatra kar rakha hai iss building ke liye..' (<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>been telling you - get a new one; this one ought to be scrapped. This is dangerous for the building/ society</i></span>). </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The words hit me hard. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>When you love someone or something, you are so lost in that journey of love that you would fight wars to protect them</b>. But today, I was hit hard…. And was tired.. somehow I was not able to fight his words back..</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLSxE3-KYTvcyHYjb5D4OKjbXqUfdd5IR_KWiXkiaQNqKV7rXCSvShglS25wDPMgOf6ppgLMwyJTSyRaV6vb5K5_pinIZHPk-6hQ4cDhtFQrV3Dl2ftw5RE1-gz4WXG6KSdq3tPXjrJs/s1239/P200+company.JPG" style="clear: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1239" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLSxE3-KYTvcyHYjb5D4OKjbXqUfdd5IR_KWiXkiaQNqKV7rXCSvShglS25wDPMgOf6ppgLMwyJTSyRaV6vb5K5_pinIZHPk-6hQ4cDhtFQrV3Dl2ftw5RE1-gz4WXG6KSdq3tPXjrJs/w179-h98/P200+company.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Humbled in the parking</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A sense of helplessness engulfed me. Looking around - my old love was humbled by a Hayabusa, a KTM RC 390, a Kawasaki Z 650 and a modest Yamaha R15; a BMW 3 series nearby. I saw the security guy's point - <i><span style="font-size: medium;">an aging Bajaj Pulsar 200 was not exactly glamming up the scenario, but now it posed a fire threat to the whole place itself.</span></i> Hence his sharp words.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My casual analysis pointed to a fuel tank rupture. But I was tired because of all what the bike had been through:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD6xmpTAla_bMWxVj5hdlmmVKJEcq-sU9-TOqhxAhyphenhyphenArlzOsO8bFDQu6H9IB4_yemiNcWvg5M26IayRp159oIEWkulhG2FQbdgYqYCiaxHIZsI0tZpyvqsYMTttvMIuvBSw58K29_wV8/s774/Abuse+P200.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="774" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD6xmpTAla_bMWxVj5hdlmmVKJEcq-sU9-TOqhxAhyphenhyphenArlzOsO8bFDQu6H9IB4_yemiNcWvg5M26IayRp159oIEWkulhG2FQbdgYqYCiaxHIZsI0tZpyvqsYMTttvMIuvBSw58K29_wV8/w454-h298/Abuse+P200.JPG" width="454" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Maybe Mr. Manohar (our security personnel) was right, maybe I had abused it more than it had to offer. Maybe it was time for it to go..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Suddenly there was an alarming chill in the air... and I felt.. </b></span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Something ….</b></span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>something different..</b></span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I ran the facts again, it was a hot Mumbai evening, the security guy was sweating.. But yet, the chill was growing from a meagre nuisance for me to an intolerable ache in my body.. Increasing every second..</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5CIMuX8bru0q_P12lqOiKf5OaG_tUvBYnvzkoJFNcLsoRXiCbayiS0OxOL3RT64K9fHAsGllRYPvN9cXeulVAyYIKmScEY3Dbfh5IgssHnkgjpxtRz5xakjTY-kIMr3Uk8mvTSezvnU/s391/ghost.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="256" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5CIMuX8bru0q_P12lqOiKf5OaG_tUvBYnvzkoJFNcLsoRXiCbayiS0OxOL3RT64K9fHAsGllRYPvN9cXeulVAyYIKmScEY3Dbfh5IgssHnkgjpxtRz5xakjTY-kIMr3Uk8mvTSezvnU/w131-h200/ghost.JPG" width="131" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">While the body took its pain, the mind seemed to be in a precarious state as well. Some hazy hallucinations came up. Something like flashes of an airstrip, view of the sea from a high altitude, and a union jack…</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #666666; font-size: medium;">I never believed in 'Possession', ghosts or such mumbo jumbo that those cheap novels harped about.. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Until NOW</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: medium;">….<br /></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course we don’t like the idea of someone being in control of our body.. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The hallucinations became more strong. Forget Call of duty, this was way more real than a first person video game simulation. I saw a whirring fan, with dozen of instruments, experienced a negative g-force effect of climbing an air pocket, and a thud with sounds of wheels over a long tarmac..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaMxjizu2ar2_JMw3_hlRhyphenhyphentdP2tSzwJEHg68gyqW1VlUGz8weTIxyauCN8lkBELuOi32fy6WWNolj2CDk6GK2U_4Ym37NT5SaCIxoTWciaSg_34_yO7snofr42O2izbba3exyE73xYY/s265/gravesend+airfield.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaMxjizu2ar2_JMw3_hlRhyphenhyphentdP2tSzwJEHg68gyqW1VlUGz8weTIxyauCN8lkBELuOi32fy6WWNolj2CDk6GK2U_4Ym37NT5SaCIxoTWciaSg_34_yO7snofr42O2izbba3exyE73xYY/s0/gravesend+airfield.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763;">The helmet was taken off as the gentleman swung across the ladder to get off his airplane. We were at the <b>Gravesend Royal Air Force airfield </b>and the uniform name tag read 'James Harry Lacey' and with little knowledge of the emblems, I could not make out the rank. The mark on the aircraft he alighted meant that he was already a flying ace, downing at least 5 enemy aircraft. The aircraft seemed like one that I had seen in a book or a museum, but I could not identify it yet.</span></i></span><p></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Suddenly, there was shrill of sirens. <span style="font-size: large;">No mistaking the sirens - they were warning for an impending enemy air raid.. </span></i></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ioWYYvflgGJpDeFoCiDbfwXNrgKGJPmDjkH2_GP9Itbd6h5dwHgjbj0A7xXR1z9RQdUhsDFfz5Ihf_2oYyRgb5D_gQvt-0YBhyP4uC7_u-BOCCIU5UZRiF-Rew_FsfEQx4eFeKNTQ2A/s220/Spitfire+-+formation.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ioWYYvflgGJpDeFoCiDbfwXNrgKGJPmDjkH2_GP9Itbd6h5dwHgjbj0A7xXR1z9RQdUhsDFfz5Ihf_2oYyRgb5D_gQvt-0YBhyP4uC7_u-BOCCIU5UZRiF-Rew_FsfEQx4eFeKNTQ2A/s0/Spitfire+-+formation.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Sgt. Lacey's </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">RAF 501 squadron </span></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Lacey could not believe it. He had just finished a sortie and thought his 501 squadron had pushed back the <b>Luftwaffe</b>'s (German Air force) squadron over the English Channel. Pushed them back to France.. Or so it seemed.<br /></i><p></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Evidently, that was a decoy. The real attack was coming now! Lacey thought for a while. Logic and protocol demanded to abandon the aircraft and make a run to survive.</i></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">The future was pretty bleak. A quick fact check:</i></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><i style="background-color: white;">Regardless of what that ol' bloke Churchill said over the radio, Dunkirk had proved that the once mighty <span style="font-size: medium;">Britain was now embracing a retreat objective</span>, going back from an offensive strategy.</i></span></li><li><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">It was an open secret: Unless it got help from some allies (those Yankees perhaps?), the days of Royal Air Force and Britain were numbered. <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Luftwaffe ruled the skies now</span></b>. <b>Hitler had deployed 2600 fighters and bombers, to best Britain's meagre 640</b>. With France having fallen and most of Britain's European allies seemed to be following suit, it was only a matter of time before the Royal Air Force (RAF) would succumb with its dwindling number of aircrafts. General Goring and that funny moustache guy's <b><u>Blitzkrieg strategy </u></b>seemed to be working well, and our dear Lord Dowding for once seemed to be turning out a sod.</i></li><li><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Having finished a sortie and some intense gunning, his aircraft was already low on fuel and ammunition. The starboard wing had taken some fire sometime back and he had not yet checked the degree of damage.</i></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Wait.. I shook myself hard.. Why was I seeing all this? Experiencing things from history? 1940s perhaps.. The severity of emotions I felt made me convinced that this was not a movie, but a reality I was experiencing from a different era.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I remember the chill rising again, Manohar (our security personnel) looking at me in astonishment - </span><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">as if he had seen a ghost</span></b><span style="font-family: arial;">, and when my mind could no longer battle on, I succumbed.</span></p><p><i style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Sgt. Lacey</b> looked around. The orders were clear: <u>abandon the airstrip</u>, it was too late to scramble aircraft to form a defense for the onslaught of enemy fighters. Not to forget the Junkel bombers, which were surely bringing up the rear to create havoc on the airfield once the frontline fighters had done their job. It was a no brainer- abandon your aircraft and try to save your lives.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That feeling that Lacey had.... It seemed way too familiar for me... Well yes! - it was exactly the same mix of despair & helplessness what I was feeling like moments ago!</span></span></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Lacey fared better than me in getting out of that pit of pity and indecisiveness. He put his helmet on and made a dash for his Supermarine Spitfire.</i></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Jump in the cockpit and start up the engine。。。</i></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><i style="background-color: white;">Move all the wheel blocks。。。</i></span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><i style="background-color: white;">There's no time to waste。。。。</i></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCoMxkGF28dRsXRWtHBrKyifHiBU_Arl8MhOzaZiFMbjkjndHgqzrgbqexMxtBtIPXAYtomdLcG1Qz-MN31W29BVA6EgK_e23F804eRbEaPMk9ZP9Dv3xN2LFp3FoozSargqkRh4zpfw/s280/Rolls+royce+engine+Spitfire.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="280" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCoMxkGF28dRsXRWtHBrKyifHiBU_Arl8MhOzaZiFMbjkjndHgqzrgbqexMxtBtIPXAYtomdLcG1Qz-MN31W29BVA6EgK_e23F804eRbEaPMk9ZP9Dv3xN2LFp3FoozSargqkRh4zpfw/w200-h129/Rolls+royce+engine+Spitfire.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">A war hero: V12 Rolls Royce Merlin engine</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">The Rolls Royce engine roared to life and he turned the rudder to direct the aircraft towards the empty patch on the right.</i></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp3MyQjk1flYIyFOSmll5y6FWbKL4Yf0C5zFwdFWOaOQhhVpOreR9E_lzM7wCHF7tncURcnVl6BA0kqFkjZqfTm2AGBfS2Dqg7vPM-2sVQv1ibYU4dHYNKeA4-RTvoJBTpmPpnWy9MGs/s309/Spitfire+takeoff.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp3MyQjk1flYIyFOSmll5y6FWbKL4Yf0C5zFwdFWOaOQhhVpOreR9E_lzM7wCHF7tncURcnVl6BA0kqFkjZqfTm2AGBfS2Dqg7vPM-2sVQv1ibYU4dHYNKeA4-RTvoJBTpmPpnWy9MGs/s0/Spitfire+takeoff.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Got to get airborne before it's too late..</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><br /></i><p></p><p><i style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">T</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">he sound of the German aircraft changed from a buzz to roar, and he could see with his naked eye a formation of BF109s nearing in. Machine gunfire followed and he sadly saw them strafing the parked RAF fighters. </i></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Next, that notorious shrill sounded. His fears were reality now, it was those menacing German Junkel bombers going into a dive.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Soon enough, the first set of bombs exploded. The airfield was being annihilated into nothingness. </i><p></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><br />Too late for Lacey to change his plans though. The speed rose and he pushed the throttle to maximum and pulled the lever. The aircraft rose from the ground!</i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I was back in our time. Mr. Manohar was still frozen looking at me as if I was phantom. While I could see things, a new reality dawned to me: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">My limbs would not respond to my brain signals! </span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I had no control.</span></i></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkTd764l9NCou8PXmxe4N7HQvkNvj2r4tetBuTyeCFwSlDD9U_GEV2srz-UWAFGaLP4fUPJbw3acbQr5NNwbSQ1DCj2qyBNr9MmRemhE3bY4Fd1G2Xyab76lxgymsjxuPfTwuAJuJgWY/s275/Aces+High+iron+maiden.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkTd764l9NCou8PXmxe4N7HQvkNvj2r4tetBuTyeCFwSlDD9U_GEV2srz-UWAFGaLP4fUPJbw3acbQr5NNwbSQ1DCj2qyBNr9MmRemhE3bY4Fd1G2Xyab76lxgymsjxuPfTwuAJuJgWY/w200-h133/Aces+High+iron+maiden.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">However, the feet started moving to a jog. While I was not in control, someone else was clearly operating my body deftly. Now, my life seemed a movie: one which I could watch and experience, but without any control over the script.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Good God! It was possession indeed. <span style="font-size: large;">My body was in this ancient war pilot's control!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I saw helplessly as my hands started pushing the bike, and the legs started moving, to a run now. Out of the gate, to the road and to that slope. After gaining some speed, Lacey made my body jump on the moving bike. With some momentum gained..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Clutch</i>>>> <b>Gear 2</b> >>> <i>Clutch release</i>…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The engine sprang to life!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Smart egg - this Sgt. Lacey.. I see he avoided electric start and chose the momentum jump start method. Sans electricals, there is one lesser way to catch fire indeed. But what were we trying to do here? He still wont give me control of my body and was gunning the engine - increasing speed. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I grimaced: with a leaking fuel tank and a revving engine heating up, the bike and I were essentially a Molotov cocktail bomb - waiting to explode any second on the road.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As if he had heard me, Sgt. Lacey raised one finger to my forehead, picked up a drop of sweat. The bead of sweat was bent and put on the engine bay. I saw that the drop did not sizzle into steam, it flowed down. </span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIcaHyASy7pXUox0pcbpC_O35GCkVWHsyKgYzqeazYMMrlaVDaqbYltLmbHTMgWTccQygNP27H8KJP0UPKt-bai6lkVnxj9TsFTzMyMGzmtg95SJQGDs07jlhGfu2A1jTSJ0a-1-sZ38/s320/P200+highway.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIcaHyASy7pXUox0pcbpC_O35GCkVWHsyKgYzqeazYMMrlaVDaqbYltLmbHTMgWTccQygNP27H8KJP0UPKt-bai6lkVnxj9TsFTzMyMGzmtg95SJQGDs07jlhGfu2A1jTSJ0a-1-sZ38/w200-h150/P200+highway.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Point taken - engine was not that hot. Not enough to boil a sweat drop, perhaps not enough to set fire to the fuel trickle it was subject to. Yet…</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The bike and I were gaining speed. The engine was being gunned well, though never reaching the redline, and upshifts being moderated at 4000 rpm; perhaps to optimize heat generation and speed generation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As a mere spectator, I marveled at how my body and my bike were being driven swiftly with precision, under the command of Sgt. Lacey. Seeing the skillful operation, my mind (my own in this case) wondered why the spirit of a British flying Ace was out trying to help me here? As if a neuron of my brain connected with that of Sgt. Lacey’s, both the minds opined on the following:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Both of us had an indescribable love for our machines. We trusted them, and they trusted us.. Logic parked aside, this was a unique relationship of pistons, cylinders, and neurons.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">From a British ace swearing by his hand built <b>Rolls Royce</b> engine on a British masterpiece: ready to battle the technically superior German; to an Indian retaining his <b>Bajaj</b> machine as against that Japanese & German onslaught, there was a lot in common. I was particular happy to possess an Indian machine with an indigenous engine, built in my country, by my country(wo)men.. <span style="font-size: medium;">We both had superior competition, but still chose to stick to our country: being patriotic, in our own ways</span>.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Clearly, both of us were willing to risk it all for our machines. While Sgt. Lacey decision making was immediate, an external (or inter-dimensional/ ghostly) push was needed in my case. Live to fly, fly to live. Do or die..</span></li></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHW3dXVbzQQp36Qfyv64LfWMfaD0ccvJdyi8gPdEBRLdlg_F7sx3e6G_9xy7VtB9e1Ez2H7R7CXlmXa8iF661DIFP_oM0MlwLLSsWmnOrtcOwVBGnt8ZHjHynmPO2xo2Af_q8zO_snLo/s210/Traffic.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="210" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHW3dXVbzQQp36Qfyv64LfWMfaD0ccvJdyi8gPdEBRLdlg_F7sx3e6G_9xy7VtB9e1Ez2H7R7CXlmXa8iF661DIFP_oM0MlwLLSsWmnOrtcOwVBGnt8ZHjHynmPO2xo2Af_q8zO_snLo/w150-h142/Traffic.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">As I was contemplating the situation, another challenge accosted us. A massive traffic jam could be seen ahead at the Saki Vihar road. Our engine was still heating up, ready to set fire to the fuel and a traffic jam would not just increase the heat, but also have ample of other live human beings - being risked with a<span style="font-size: medium;"> makeshift bomb made of a heating bike and leaking fuel.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I was losing vision again.. from the present.. And gaining vision and senses: Of the British air, from another era, flavored with war scent of bombs, gunfire and aviation fuel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"></span></i></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7EVzCiSMGobHdDM-495bhTIs2e5GQO6U_qUo-jYXHIWlFuNGnVMyfewFn_zCfLRao_r-RFvI7Z6NVzfl-6LjaBUPjSs8vda7HAKcp6bREgUXP6IqG6iwlLQNhcOUu-NSmX9XD6dMKgw/s275/Spitfire+1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7EVzCiSMGobHdDM-495bhTIs2e5GQO6U_qUo-jYXHIWlFuNGnVMyfewFn_zCfLRao_r-RFvI7Z6NVzfl-6LjaBUPjSs8vda7HAKcp6bREgUXP6IqG6iwlLQNhcOUu-NSmX9XD6dMKgw/w200-h133/Spitfire+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As British as one can be: <br />the Supermarine Spitfire</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><br /><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">T</span><span style="background-color: white;">he Spitfire was in the air, increasing distance from the bombarding at the airfield. However, the sound of the Rolls Royce 10 cylinder engine that was not the only one to be heard. There was another. Lacey turned around. </span></span></i></span><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45_BmUJ6FFI4I2PlUTh7at876rpaNUDLdktGOdxULx0Dbp6fBBFI6SNReiuU1qTCwO8M4Q8ZpILONbE4GhEQl1TL35VBo1uSDhQcKvZTlhrr1YO1z58Ho_lXQ6BjJmS-8Mkv5_RidR78/s299/FW190.jpg" style="background-color: white; clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45_BmUJ6FFI4I2PlUTh7at876rpaNUDLdktGOdxULx0Dbp6fBBFI6SNReiuU1qTCwO8M4Q8ZpILONbE4GhEQl1TL35VBo1uSDhQcKvZTlhrr1YO1z58Ho_lXQ6BjJmS-8Mkv5_RidR78/w200-h112/FW190.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">BMW powered FW 190: Nazi markings et all</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><i style="background-color: white;">Sure enough, at his tail was a Luftwaffe fighter! No mistaking that wretched turbocharged radial <b>BMW </b>801 engine. Deutschland seemed to producing more of these Focke-Wulf 190 than what the Allied powers could shoot down in a day.<br /></i></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Though a rare phenomenon, I could sense fear building up in Lacey's blood. The chances were weighed, and they weren't bright - No Sir.. He was alone, low on fuel and underpowered form an engineering standpoint. If he went into a dive with the engine on, the negative G-force would flood fuel to his carburetor, choking and finally stalling his engine, while his enemy's turbo charger would have no such problem and dive in faster to gun him down.</i></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Blimey.. To hell with it. Our dear mate 'logic' should take a back seat for a while..</i></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">He shut off the engine and commenced his dive. His nemesis from the Luftwaffe followed and as expected, was gaining on us. The FW190 started strafing, but we narrowly escaped.</i></p><i style="color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody style="background-color: white;"><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EUb2SjtqooXI0MASnEzCTqlwv9n9pp10sPK8LMtBgja4fziBEkmgYSvO4fbR1JAZeeo7C1JcobgIC3OJCV0T19JSx_DeXPM-JAnW-P5XQLacDdTFa8Q2CVElkyjwxdgUhtqrK5q3iZE/s713/FW190+vs+Spitfire.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="713" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EUb2SjtqooXI0MASnEzCTqlwv9n9pp10sPK8LMtBgja4fziBEkmgYSvO4fbR1JAZeeo7C1JcobgIC3OJCV0T19JSx_DeXPM-JAnW-P5XQLacDdTFa8Q2CVElkyjwxdgUhtqrK5q3iZE/s320/FW190+vs+Spitfire.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1,030 hp Rolls Royce Merlin powered Spitfire,<br />with 1,530 hp BMW powered Luftwaffe on tail</span></td></tr></tbody></table></i><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial;">Now Lacey pulled the lever fully. I cringed upon experiencing the massive organ crushing G-force as the aircraft swerved hard right. While the German FW190 claimed supremacy in horsepower, it was not was not the same case in agility, where the tables turned in favor of the British Supermarine Spitfire . Bracing the extreme centrifugal force, Lacey completed a loop and was now successfully at the side of the German. The hunter had become the hunted! Why, he could also see the Hornchurch airstrip! As the war trumpet, he pressed down his guns at the German.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Poof.. I was back from the World War II and was now seeing my body mounted on the speeding Pulsar 200. Having just witnessed Lacey's tactics, a chill ran through my spine as I looked in anticipation what he was about to do to address this traffic problem ahead.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCafG_vk8nY58a7j5YzBbIN6-5eM2ZVO4VUegnxJT9TJ6bLqwtlvqOsLVjO4U7NLqp8yD-OKjLTqTDtFcnwLY4YOxiEsHAbsFJ0A3BB3tedY1UrrKFyhCCBbrbu7FWjqq3w5FvHtboj8/s320/P200+fog.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCafG_vk8nY58a7j5YzBbIN6-5eM2ZVO4VUegnxJT9TJ6bLqwtlvqOsLVjO4U7NLqp8yD-OKjLTqTDtFcnwLY4YOxiEsHAbsFJ0A3BB3tedY1UrrKFyhCCBbrbu7FWjqq3w5FvHtboj8/w200-h150/P200+fog.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sure enough, my wrist opened the throttle opened fully to gain as much speed as we could;<br /> and then I saw my other finger hit the engine kill switch. Just like the Spitfire and Lacey, the bike and I were coasting as illegal speeds, with the engine shut off (See - Lacey did think about not putting innocent people in danger) towards the traffic. I was a tad scared considering my worn out tires and the limited grip they could offer but by now, I had faith in Lacey (and his spirit). </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">That is the queer thing about </span><u style="font-size: x-large;">Trust</u><span style="font-size: large;">: </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Once one has won it, he/she could persuade the other bloke into anything, however absurd it may be.</span></b></i></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And this is precisely what Lacey played on with me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This time, I parked inhibitions aside, and let his spirit take full control of my hands and watched in awe as we leaned, swayed, bent the motorcycle - snaking nimbly through the crowd comprising of cars, motorcycles, autorickshaws, cycles, hawkers and everything else that Mumbai traffic has to offer.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYkSABBhMnUy3CZy4VDBnT3Fns7bI2xJebTgIE4qk4MjxV6zF6WEEancm1E0pXKSpkyKKgKgEAtinS9cAv2mUdPu2de0NLd4g7RxEYtY02kFkqmz_bY_d2iadpzFAiyhYv2dGD1A-AjI/s400/P200+synset.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYkSABBhMnUy3CZy4VDBnT3Fns7bI2xJebTgIE4qk4MjxV6zF6WEEancm1E0pXKSpkyKKgKgEAtinS9cAv2mUdPu2de0NLd4g7RxEYtY02kFkqmz_bY_d2iadpzFAiyhYv2dGD1A-AjI/w200-h150/P200+synset.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">As I was approaching the end of the road, the workshop was in sight. I was also beginning to sense control getting back for my limbs. The mind and the body were getting reconnected now. <i><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #073763;">With a cold shiver, I witnessed a sight from the other era: the aircraft landing safely on the Hornchurch airfield and Lacey's victorious grin. Also an emotion of goodbye. </span></i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Since I had control over my body again, and the workshop was 100 m away, I mustered all my energy and shouted: "Uday bhai! ***censored** tank phat gaya! Bachaao; aag pakad sakta hai".<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>{Help! Ruptured tank- fire risk!!}</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiH0B09x_eWIqbWPHr0z03kXhak1wdbWy2bclgkD7F5sHLx2ulrlPXk_s4jGst6QnjuvCW1Hi53PgIHFhZ2rvxQx_0pZ0ciyw-9I7dJzjLhbkLLaNkQ15gxNzJWljif3UggUIp5w8SZ0/s1365/Ruptured+tank.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiH0B09x_eWIqbWPHr0z03kXhak1wdbWy2bclgkD7F5sHLx2ulrlPXk_s4jGst6QnjuvCW1Hi53PgIHFhZ2rvxQx_0pZ0ciyw-9I7dJzjLhbkLLaNkQ15gxNzJWljif3UggUIp5w8SZ0/w164-h93/Ruptured+tank.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Petrol tank's end of life</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />If Kimi Raikkonen or Lewis Hamilton were watching, they would boil in jealousy to see the speed and sincerity with which Chandru and Uday heard my voice and ran to tend to my machine before I could even fully stop. Within seconds, my pit crew had taken over and dismounted the fuel tank, flushed the residual fuel and dumped the ruptured tank. Few minutes later, we were discussing if the fuel line and valvetrain could be augmented, to push more fuel; to make the bike go faster. And other things that could be repaired & augmented- now that the bike was at the workshop waiting for a new tank. The new tank; of course, could be scavenged at a fraction of the cost from the notorious chor bazaar.. </span><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamOuO7sl4gMNjHFeL7F-c1mvQ-c0kveWPbRE1Q8ZLr7nGecmjX1GYjhP6Q90hgwrjrc6bmSrwovW7fGesin1ppbiSGAcBKl52iQZdh1ZIk47PaEdcaGXrqfWrCoKRmTfvysGGfodSvfs/s320/P200+-+roads+or+not.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamOuO7sl4gMNjHFeL7F-c1mvQ-c0kveWPbRE1Q8ZLr7nGecmjX1GYjhP6Q90hgwrjrc6bmSrwovW7fGesin1ppbiSGAcBKl52iQZdh1ZIk47PaEdcaGXrqfWrCoKRmTfvysGGfodSvfs/w150-h200/P200+-+roads+or+not.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Roads or not, we keep going</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Moral of the story:</u></b></span><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Love your machine well, and it will love you back…</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Heavens forbid, if the spirit of Squadron Leader 'Ginger' Lacey pays you a visit, tell him to go easy on the clutch, lest like me - you end up with a slippy clutch after his aggressive drive..<br /></span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">PS: In an era where new, manufacturers introduce faster models every month, a special thanks goes out to Uday, Anthony, Ganesh anna & Chandru: who managed to keep this Pulsar 200 one of the fastest machine on the streets for a decade.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK0pzh-fVi-EST4DONBQwC3AFT3BI6fWsmMJNbPmcy-a3D234Y23yH3DdBEJ3sAlLQCY_HA4yijQ-lfqERtXdw9-EgHaN29XBHt707HTdOBNJubyfpQY1QyMGLOWnNZkye91NSnrYgZg/s320/P200+bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK0pzh-fVi-EST4DONBQwC3AFT3BI6fWsmMJNbPmcy-a3D234Y23yH3DdBEJ3sAlLQCY_HA4yijQ-lfqERtXdw9-EgHaN29XBHt707HTdOBNJubyfpQY1QyMGLOWnNZkye91NSnrYgZg/s0/P200+bridge.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-83794078190011914362021-04-30T12:28:00.008+05:302021-06-04T11:45:20.987+05:30Phebe: mysteries unraveled..<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://lifeisanopenroad2me.blogspot.com/2021/04/exceeding-expectations-huangshan.html" target="_blank">On HuangShan>></a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #999999;">Pre -read reference:</span> </span></p><p><span style="color: #999999;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>Shoo</u></i>:</span></span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> make (a person or animal) go away by waving one's arms at them, saying “shoo,” or otherwise acting in a discouraging manner </span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(source: <b>Oxford </b>dictionary)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Caveat: It's been a while that we've hit the club scene and maybe that’s why we may sound so excited here</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaIBbNJyhSObGAM_8oOzY4G4bJ-nuR-pNssO6Bx6JOruihr2rkJK7esgFrXwG3Lh0J-a_3p0tyAZJCcSjDKx8THnpQRJpESaOJglsbHq5ykIg_54gtccMcboUDyP3u3V-NqJJCknvLjM/s2048/IMG-3219.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaIBbNJyhSObGAM_8oOzY4G4bJ-nuR-pNssO6Bx6JOruihr2rkJK7esgFrXwG3Lh0J-a_3p0tyAZJCcSjDKx8THnpQRJpESaOJglsbHq5ykIg_54gtccMcboUDyP3u3V-NqJJCknvLjM/s320/IMG-3219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">We were so out of sync that we realized we were humming 'wheels on the bus' while starting off from the hotel. <span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Phebe</u></span> was chosen for the sole reason that it was near to the hotel and thought we'd be getting back quick. <span style="font-size: medium;">No there is no mis-spelling here, kindly refer to Sona's picture here.</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghXptOqFIldh8gxRuarn4y_8vgRWDQPgTIqLqZrl30rLufbp5LwTye2CE0bI2LmYsId3iqtgWYCrwqaVwTpLSoE9L7NPorMDdEYngM6t3FDn5CyqlHL-wOPdcqL7GfV4fDpjVw_35OdY/s2048/IMG-3218.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghXptOqFIldh8gxRuarn4y_8vgRWDQPgTIqLqZrl30rLufbp5LwTye2CE0bI2LmYsId3iqtgWYCrwqaVwTpLSoE9L7NPorMDdEYngM6t3FDn5CyqlHL-wOPdcqL7GfV4fDpjVw_35OdY/w200-h150/IMG-3218.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Once we got to the place, I was a bit skeptical. The place was huge; even from the outside. The car park was envious: A <b>Lamborghini Urus</b>, funky Beijing BJ 40, Cadillacs, <b>Porsches</b> and even a couple of <b><u>heavily modified Japanese</u></b> humbled our VW cab.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We darted in and started posting our enquiries: <i>was there an entry fee? Could we see the menu please? </i>(fact of life - always be prepared on what your bill in going to be) and so on. The petite lady would have none of it and shoved us inside. The interior was a different world. A lot more than what a Saturday party place should be.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCOSE9Pq7uMPLjbpte_6GBKoCK_QmqdK_J2ORtOIVjY1wz1ZiIWgoHSEklxLEeonLaKbaDCAtEg_Yr7rS8zef0o_hpv-z8kur_ykMxoVvfuMMC5126cLCfhBAY_2lSi8xMkST0Jo76Hg/s715/Phebe+DJ.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="715" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCOSE9Pq7uMPLjbpte_6GBKoCK_QmqdK_J2ORtOIVjY1wz1ZiIWgoHSEklxLEeonLaKbaDCAtEg_Yr7rS8zef0o_hpv-z8kur_ykMxoVvfuMMC5126cLCfhBAY_2lSi8xMkST0Jo76Hg/s320/Phebe+DJ.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The smarty lady led us to a table near the DJ, where many ladies were already seated. With a couple of shouts, she <b><u>shoo</u></b>-ed them away with sharp words. In a manner that would make a shepherd and his sheep grimace. She installed us at the table and started talking to us.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">However, I stood my ground. I would not yield without seeing the menu and being apprised of what a drink/ table would cost. I shouted, she shouted, and all of our words - regardless of the language, were drowned by the music. The smarty girl finally yielded and decided to hand us over to the master <span style="font-size: medium;">Shifu and the manager - <b>Mr. Bin</b></span>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A suave chap, he had us impressed with his stylish moves with his phone and with sign language - he managed adding us on text. Presto! Now we could type and communicate over translator! After some communication a short menu appeared out of nowhere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The situation was summarized as follows: the table that had been allocated to us (after <u>shoo</u>-ing those ladies) was a good one and we ought to order from that specific menu - with a minimum order being for couple of grands.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>I revolted vehemently. I explained my life's mission statement, my budgetary policy and expressed by willingness to exit and head to Liyang street pubs.</i></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-zXNL0s6_2fS_gGXkkaqMtO0PmVTlPq1gQG1if7TdiOL-blyy7OxSQs_8VzPnvi8r4SHq4JNPAIQHpMXJ3UphSHwh-wzF80nkc_KyRMuQxKmK6qTr1ywUNrAE3xJb-fvHI6EcSwa4Rc/s651/Phebe+1+rental+peopl.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-zXNL0s6_2fS_gGXkkaqMtO0PmVTlPq1gQG1if7TdiOL-blyy7OxSQs_8VzPnvi8r4SHq4JNPAIQHpMXJ3UphSHwh-wzF80nkc_KyRMuQxKmK6qTr1ywUNrAE3xJb-fvHI6EcSwa4Rc/s320/Phebe+1+rental+peopl.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">But our suave Shifu Bin would have none of it, he took us to another 'tavern' table which offered a different menu. Once we got here, he mouthed an earful to another group of youngsters seated - who hurriedly vacated the table, rushed to the stage and started dancing. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>This phenomenon of <u>shoo</u>-ing people was getting strikingly peculiar.</b></span> Sona later solved this one, but more on that later.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So for now we are at a new table and a different menu was summoned magically from air by Bin. The menu had something that was in line with what would not dent my retirement fund and I requested for two pints. Now, Bin was not convinced. He almost got cross at us at the prospect of two measly beers - they could only get one so much happiness and offered us a peculiar deal: for 20% more - we could get a 12 beer pack and a gigantic platter. This time, I got concerned about HIS financial model and bottom line; but took the bait.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We glanced around: The DJ had switched this time and people were gathering near the stage for another showman who was taking over. Guys and girls - all of them were having a good time, and we were also settling into the mood.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I got my eyes back to our table, I found another slim debonair guy staring at me. Bin had disappeared. The new guy's eyes conveyed a mystical determination and never left mine. I tried to look around but I could still feel those new set of eyes drilling at me. When I realized I was not going to be able to shake it off, I found the courage to look back in his eyes. <span style="font-size: large;">Our eyes met.</span> Without leaving his gaze, he pulled out a pint, opened the bottle and poured out in two glasses. His job, and stare done, he glided away into the dark.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Phew..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As our eyes were adjusting to the dark and quirky lights, and we were getting a better feel of the place. Everything was likeable. The debonair glided in again, emptied the bottle and opened another one with that stare. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For a while at least things were fine. Next, a towering and well-built figure appeared. No mistaking that uniform - he could have been from security or from an official authority. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8I9yYCG9cmO52fEndyg3fM_2op0i7U355ktLjQ1-qSQg9JP74bl668jtXXPEFGy5nJ_VoUSB5M8vNJ80M0kFauh3XNcT9IT0ARULAN8CWjkmeX3Ed0MjjV-fxMysqvWlc2TGIez7lIg/s466/Phebe+Guard.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="466" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8I9yYCG9cmO52fEndyg3fM_2op0i7U355ktLjQ1-qSQg9JP74bl668jtXXPEFGy5nJ_VoUSB5M8vNJ80M0kFauh3XNcT9IT0ARULAN8CWjkmeX3Ed0MjjV-fxMysqvWlc2TGIez7lIg/w200-h146/Phebe+Guard.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />He politely waved us to step out and we knew at once that this was not one of those situations to bargain or argue. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In my life's journey, I have been in trouble amply; and consider myself a decent judge of deciding on when to run and when to comply with the authorities</span>.</span> <u>The voice inside today leaned to the latter</u>. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Once outside, we were explained that in the mayhem of (a) we trying to figure out about the place and (b) the manager's concern to settle us in, we had skipped the security and the COVID-19 code check protocol. So we held out our devices and tried to get our government codes. Tsch tsch.. The club acceptable one was the provincial health code. Now came the problem: this particular one was not designed well for foreigners and we struggled to fill the online Hanzi form.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After a while, we realized we were not getting anywhere. We then flashed our hotel key - requested the security Shifu to call our hotel to fetch get the codes (which they already had from our check-in). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, as per his process document, this was acceptable as an exception, with the following condi</span><span style="font-family: arial;">tions:</span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">That we fill up a physical form and declaration, giving the details of our passport, train details, train time, hotel details, Shanghai address and our genetic codes.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Protocol also stated that we be given <u>fresh masks </u>lest our masks carry infections from elsewhere.</span></li></ol><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnG41NSugS4T3CLKu-kvYlYYfHTbdaGiHldj9LBPB44UBV7r5QlM0rPxJvBMAMxBWeIujeAxrD1fvNIhPpM-I9cz8wc8dMC9ieRBXChsucrLZzXuqmQAD2Yc3QyBr9Cfk6gsaB4dkgnU/s2048/IMG-3217.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnG41NSugS4T3CLKu-kvYlYYfHTbdaGiHldj9LBPB44UBV7r5QlM0rPxJvBMAMxBWeIujeAxrD1fvNIhPpM-I9cz8wc8dMC9ieRBXChsucrLZzXuqmQAD2Yc3QyBr9Cfk6gsaB4dkgnU/s320/IMG-3217.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Lambo Urus & Beijing BJ40</u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />For point #2, the macho fellow headed to his macho SUV - a modern day red <span style="font-size: large;">Beijing BJ40 </span>(not a fan but impressed by this barebones Humvee look-alike) and fetched two fresh masks. He made sure we disposed our old masks carefully in the designated bin in front of him. Now we could head back.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As we got back, the scene had changed again. The color theme was different and music had switched from English to local and club mix. Seeing us return, some youngsters meandering on our table were <b><u>shoo</u></b>-ed again by the debonair and we found our next glasses already readied. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The dance floor in front of us was a bouncy one (no kidding - a springy one indeed) and the people were filled to the brim and dancing in sync. Behind us, there were people standing on the platform above our heads and dancing. (Think of the YMCA moves done by Hard Rock Café staff on higher platforms/ bar counters). Some were moving to the music, some with fancy Chinese fans : an amazing blend of tradition and modernity.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69q-yJLYSy5QZjoZS-CDYXIfsaMmUwa1U_9vw7QcVPZjZpcJFmlgu5p9t649DnNqHP6ae2XIhNi4YxUmyQ1RPPMT7a7uK3-WuiBU1v1PYURT22lZbrpaJuQbdqbqgiMrQ47OWyyhbQAA/s669/Phebe2.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="669" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69q-yJLYSy5QZjoZS-CDYXIfsaMmUwa1U_9vw7QcVPZjZpcJFmlgu5p9t649DnNqHP6ae2XIhNi4YxUmyQ1RPPMT7a7uK3-WuiBU1v1PYURT22lZbrpaJuQbdqbqgiMrQ47OWyyhbQAA/s320/Phebe2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">This time, a woman manager of a different kind came by and shouted scathingly at two ladies dressed in red at the platform dancing behind us. They immediately got down and drove off to mix with people.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Now Sona hypothesized - some of the crowd could be hired. By Jove! It all fit and as the point drove home - I started seeing around with new lenses: One particular category - I could place as students, being called in to drive up the cool factor. One group of ladies in red, were clearly there to spruce up the glam factor and possible companionship for patrons. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTt_ZakWnuWSpfy0hI844Rp_r2mTQBFBgEm-5qLhnqzx4-QqST0yg_xlOFRTc_4nKiNGrUOAcjwpQSteLvJAmtHGPUbDi-jvgcHWUScKrYqJE1kEHUBdj3wBOPhxZ3FRR2WJqMXUhxNc/s745/Phebe+3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="745" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTt_ZakWnuWSpfy0hI844Rp_r2mTQBFBgEm-5qLhnqzx4-QqST0yg_xlOFRTc_4nKiNGrUOAcjwpQSteLvJAmtHGPUbDi-jvgcHWUScKrYqJE1kEHUBdj3wBOPhxZ3FRR2WJqMXUhxNc/s320/Phebe+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />As it struck to me, one of the red lady appeared next to me. A drink went by and I could still feel someone behind me. I hugged Sona tightly to make a point and stayed there until the threat passed.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We did not know the time, but our</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> debonair guy made sure we were never without a drink and kept the other round ready - to avoid any blasphemous scenario of we being kept waiting for a drink.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Between us, we have seen some places and could list some common factors between Vegas & Amsterdam, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore & Brussels, etc. However, this was an experience phenomenally <i>different</i> from what we had ever witnessed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Maybe we have been away from the scene for a while, maybe we are getting old. But there is no point thinking about the reason of our excitement. Phebe will remain an unforgettable place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p>More on HuangShan: <a href="http://lifeisanopenroad2me.blogspot.com/2021/04/exceeding-expectations-huangshan.html" target="_blank">http://lifeisanopenroad2me.blogspot.com/2021/04/exceeding-expectations-huangshan.html</a></p>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-1717284321130491412021-04-29T11:26:00.005+05:302021-04-30T12:36:58.532+05:30Exceeding expectations - HuangShan<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well we are used to this - where an institutional advertisement objective somewhat meets our emotional requirement. For instance, I am a big fan of the big yellow arches.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0VaiEcxNHoNJyTGXP8YLjrJ-lg-DmYfDzDBMp4iYVpeCBklNH4TWmKsYOELqne4KSH4znXiu0mcIjDjLF6b4ervKBPsFp39uKEqT6XcBMHODBYlIRUGTURIkWxqBDH_CuLLfVMNcPEs/s499/MC+Donalds.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0VaiEcxNHoNJyTGXP8YLjrJ-lg-DmYfDzDBMp4iYVpeCBklNH4TWmKsYOELqne4KSH4znXiu0mcIjDjLF6b4ervKBPsFp39uKEqT6XcBMHODBYlIRUGTURIkWxqBDH_CuLLfVMNcPEs/s320/MC+Donalds.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />When I see a Mc Donald's advert, it instantly makes me happy, for I know I will be able to try it our soon. It is usually to my taste, comes at an incredible price. However, there is an important expectation management for each one of us when it comes to advertisement vs. reality. <span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDb5nnPXZk1w_l_JpPbRXDYx5k1B9l1yob2dQSwKzZ9NY3Va2WXUmGw0Wwk1OpClsunKq2j4KP1Q7FkFNpJUh0CjAHM0UHKh_Uh5CPnpoDYg258GODS9MXWXzGk4V5kGoyGQDrgzwjhQ/s2048/After+bus+3.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDb5nnPXZk1w_l_JpPbRXDYx5k1B9l1yob2dQSwKzZ9NY3Va2WXUmGw0Wwk1OpClsunKq2j4KP1Q7FkFNpJUh0CjAHM0UHKh_Uh5CPnpoDYg258GODS9MXWXzGk4V5kGoyGQDrgzwjhQ/w200-h150/After+bus+3.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Over years, our minds have become tuned to accept this norm - of settling and being satisfied with something lesser than what is advertised.</i></span> The Economics curve intersection of expectations and supply perhaps?<p></p><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>With this mindset, when we saw the pictures of Huangshan (yellow mountains) - over the internet, the station, at the hotel & each time, we dismissed them. We were looking forward to be happily content with a pleasant impending future experience - a fraction of what was being picturized of course.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And the moment we boarded the cable car , it all went wrong. For once, life had thrown a surprise - no words, no pictures do justice, it is just the experience. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">This was way beyond expectations..</span></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAYehp8a8n_sxyiFpff6gLM-1MDD9o5Ma3I7W2K-Ep9wLicJZSqx7-APjmt2XMNVPIpLAYVYutcDL8I5Ar8X23S0F4st66VAl4z3ODldGfZoxGBV4NGr-RgiOu6tL4FkmwltYxX2hTaE/s3675/Panorama.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="3675" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAYehp8a8n_sxyiFpff6gLM-1MDD9o5Ma3I7W2K-Ep9wLicJZSqx7-APjmt2XMNVPIpLAYVYutcDL8I5Ar8X23S0F4st66VAl4z3ODldGfZoxGBV4NGr-RgiOu6tL4FkmwltYxX2hTaE/w400-h94/Panorama.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></i></b></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />For the <b><u>logistics</u></b> description, bear in mind the order: </span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Reaching Tangkou village</span></li></ol><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. Bus to cable car or elsewhere (multiple options-> Yungusi or Ciguangge)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3. Cable car to peak (two options)</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For phase 1, we took the hotel car to reach the Tangkou village. </span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT5cq_UFj35QkEAkzFEREuFT-e_ng-39rdRXSTcW3INAmq-9xw9K7OeWBPoXLDAsURmIztS9DVc7_ClQj4Dgus0RDv-whtcdgRvRSBTnNLX8OHIWHMOSn3Db1agro7JuplUFoEeQqP20/s2048/Bus.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT5cq_UFj35QkEAkzFEREuFT-e_ng-39rdRXSTcW3INAmq-9xw9K7OeWBPoXLDAsURmIztS9DVc7_ClQj4Dgus0RDv-whtcdgRvRSBTnNLX8OHIWHMOSn3Db1agro7JuplUFoEeQqP20/w150-h200/Bus.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The bus ride is again a scenic one and the driver was clearly under an oath to keep the vehicle in higher gear. Hence he did not stop building momentum on the straights (few) and when hair pin u-turns (plenty) came up ; like Goliath with his slingshot, he tried to hurl us around with all the centripetal and tangential force he could muster.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7rY2mJpzT7f8LNc1iPY4GOvxhHWZ_zTLXt4Nr32UW8p-bLvVMjYeaAMBLcjKh-K7_R-SWUm8AcgPi0z1rQ8d4lGIs4Prs21CZL3SV6cPxacOGWeGJg8AdGCtg_-rVseEur1pH8c9r1A/s2048/After+Bus+before+cable.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7rY2mJpzT7f8LNc1iPY4GOvxhHWZ_zTLXt4Nr32UW8p-bLvVMjYeaAMBLcjKh-K7_R-SWUm8AcgPi0z1rQ8d4lGIs4Prs21CZL3SV6cPxacOGWeGJg8AdGCtg_-rVseEur1pH8c9r1A/s320/After+Bus+before+cable.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">At the destination bus station, we were happy with the cloud cover, the mist, & the flora, and walked lazily to the cable car station. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ticket here again. Complex transaction, with two adults, 1 baby and 1 senior citizen ticket purchased at the right price ( I hope).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Once we boarded the cable car, it kept climbing and climbing. Lost in clouds, we actually lost sense of time! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV41nSrWwoPBy2T8ZwKpVIbwaFt5b3kD66K3lf2M-tcWFcCxw3oNy6m40rFS9nrU7X3kz2hoZISidjC91tOSJj_nUXzPrYbFghdEs5XEuZJs7U006-8HOgIcVeXiW9hPcQEtkccQZ01Fg/s2048/Soshu+Milk.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV41nSrWwoPBy2T8ZwKpVIbwaFt5b3kD66K3lf2M-tcWFcCxw3oNy6m40rFS9nrU7X3kz2hoZISidjC91tOSJj_nUXzPrYbFghdEs5XEuZJs7U006-8HOgIcVeXiW9hPcQEtkccQZ01Fg/s320/Soshu+Milk.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b><i>All that white - reminds me of: My fav drink! Shaken, not Stirred please..</i></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OYA__YuY06FFsqrR-oPYwECnFRQU-E0wwHugp8sIjYUZ9MWUFytGag4vZM83HuQsN2X6xjQTIECWbYqW8Z38EyyWABIJkSdv707yJ9mI6ckTU7Rd-QHTVlsILCXLJ5D08w6xF5Gdezo/s701/HSMountain21.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="701" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OYA__YuY06FFsqrR-oPYwECnFRQU-E0wwHugp8sIjYUZ9MWUFytGag4vZM83HuQsN2X6xjQTIECWbYqW8Z38EyyWABIJkSdv707yJ9mI6ckTU7Rd-QHTVlsILCXLJ5D08w6xF5Gdezo/s320/HSMountain21.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Up there, there are plenty of hiking places. You could spend hours or even couple of days. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As for the peaks to choose - I'd say not to bother if you are visiting for the first time. You cannot compare it to anything you would have seen; so experience whichever you like.. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Summarizing the unique bit:<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180;">Phase 1 (</span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Tangkou</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">): we had started at ground zero a couple of hours ago with clear view of mountains </span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Phase 2: Post bus-ride</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> had ascended to a misty place to meet the clouds </span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Phase 3: Post cable car, we had finally ascended above the clouds!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For sure - Every minute will present something unique here.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigdAGwzNoonlQeSgjJEIpd_hvpUtAdgUtKNVIQhspVxCnJN9PNI1YUU6stYX3V0TUzT4Gs23qf_LyAiD0KOicAeopAEeQYjfC-l2JpZMaeCTMaTXEQhhTPexFrQUKNOgB1zWFV1-d02Y/s2048/Hot+spring+2.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigdAGwzNoonlQeSgjJEIpd_hvpUtAdgUtKNVIQhspVxCnJN9PNI1YUU6stYX3V0TUzT4Gs23qf_LyAiD0KOicAeopAEeQYjfC-l2JpZMaeCTMaTXEQhhTPexFrQUKNOgB1zWFV1-d02Y/w150-h200/Hot+spring+2.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">On our way back, we did stop at the Hot Springs. This was a casual exploratory bit with the idea of visiting a natural hot spring. Our Mandarin illiteracy got the better of us. 'HuangShang Hot spring' turns out to have hot spring - yes; but this is actually a hotel that has developed this area and charges a separate fee for entry here. While views are spectacular, do plan visit here with the right mindset - time and dress for dip in your preferred spring (milk based, tea based baths, etc.) <br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELNz8gfTFI_AZ1_XPaXuqM1_TP6Y3XAS4tLngq8hZ5Rt35OKQVyg2HjYxWO2akKdoGemE1XHWFtDItVdrFU4FaOMtU7ttIf2WF4OGF8IJY6bd_bwk7C9eiaFCwwDN_ObpmjOpdriTl6I/s2048/Edge+1.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELNz8gfTFI_AZ1_XPaXuqM1_TP6Y3XAS4tLngq8hZ5Rt35OKQVyg2HjYxWO2akKdoGemE1XHWFtDItVdrFU4FaOMtU7ttIf2WF4OGF8IJY6bd_bwk7C9eiaFCwwDN_ObpmjOpdriTl6I/s320/Edge+1.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At edge of the world</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We decided to stay at HuangShang downtown as against Tangkuo village for the following reasons:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- We had a baby traveler</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- A vegetarian amongst us</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- We are only at HSK 1.5 level (Mandarin beginners)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Based on Tangkou experience, we can now say Sona and I could have stayed here. Though do note that we struggled immensely to conclude:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Complex transactions such as:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Communicating that we are tourists</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Buying water</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And more so with highly complex transactions such as:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Buying a ticket as a foreigner (fact alerts henceforth)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Replying to the ticket vendor on her query on specifying our destination </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Specifying that my mother 'bu chi rou/不 吃肉' (does not eat meat)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Canceling our ticket to Hot spring and rebooking again</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Modeling the correlation between Credit Default Spread (CDS) of Belgian sovereign and that of a Congo based oil producer (gibberish alert)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7mXeuKhyphenhyphenWFUdlMIL1fNM4punF9Cabinj_xZKjys2iXkPH6uvPHVNrsQUp4Jl-sjXKhcAeDjo_FyI-LzN3MCzPHZqfjLt7bAMM9Codyy8YmtxgcsxzaZXl00voKj6dam5y9luxbmrq1k/s2048/Hot+spring+1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7mXeuKhyphenhyphenWFUdlMIL1fNM4punF9Cabinj_xZKjys2iXkPH6uvPHVNrsQUp4Jl-sjXKhcAeDjo_FyI-LzN3MCzPHZqfjLt7bAMM9Codyy8YmtxgcsxzaZXl00voKj6dam5y9luxbmrq1k/s320/Hot+spring+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Tip: If you do not read Mandarin and still want to stay at Tangkou, please buy a map at the airport/ station, befriend someone there and try to finalize your itinerary - mark the same in the map in clear big circles (in red/ pink/ fluorescent green, etc.) very well to show later around in Tangkou/ ticketing areas. Jokes apart, people are very helpful, and you will eventually get by. English and Tripadvisor will be of little help of course.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A big factor for us was the Crowne Plaza Huangshan. With a baby and a vegetarian amongst us, we had decided to stay near the city as against the Tongkuo village. Crowne Plaza rewarded us phenomenally:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz6jphkL-_7YO2FXVXoC1vc7xbFD-VTul3l1ZzKWqlyD0FoQzzq4h3X4is5euaX394xbkXFIDfaxe6ZO9hkOeUxXQ6AhalmtmnLzXsagG9U8bDpIRPKTK0SDBSDg7q9KXk_DiNJZe0yY/s2048/Crowne+Plaza+1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz6jphkL-_7YO2FXVXoC1vc7xbFD-VTul3l1ZzKWqlyD0FoQzzq4h3X4is5euaX394xbkXFIDfaxe6ZO9hkOeUxXQ6AhalmtmnLzXsagG9U8bDpIRPKTK0SDBSDg7q9KXk_DiNJZe0yY/w200-h150/Crowne+Plaza+1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">A splendid property, grand swimming pool, lavish breakfast, IHG club benefits galore. Personal tit bit: This ranks 1st or 2nd in my experiential ranking (Nope not the Marriott, not the Ritz Carlton; the first place for me would be reserved again for the Crowne Plaza - the Bahrain financial district one with its squash court)<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><u>Oher things to do (near Downtown HS):</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Tunxi ancient street: </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We went with an open mind and all of us were really very happy. We went expecting the same ol' China street as is with any town, but soon realized each one has its own character. The food, artifacts and everything else at Tunxi was way different from our earlier experiences..</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetaAJOIhN0ITylOJf4MWHZffdQy6S-dS8gHQN4I4BnnLdDq-_52Yqn2xZPuVREdAMDrJahVTRAGXp6MbRjGZ-xxODtpVS8AN6VMVDij1u_h3Dm-mtUbrvzh5EcLyFuQqgDPt3Us1OfWY/s2048/Babies+are+the+bridge.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetaAJOIhN0ITylOJf4MWHZffdQy6S-dS8gHQN4I4BnnLdDq-_52Yqn2xZPuVREdAMDrJahVTRAGXp6MbRjGZ-xxODtpVS8AN6VMVDij1u_h3Dm-mtUbrvzh5EcLyFuQqgDPt3Us1OfWY/s320/Babies+are+the+bridge.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Mark my words:</i></span> Babies are a great way to bring nations together </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Liyang street: (Linyang Lao)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnc4e9ddYJqyVVR5W-F9e0dl0QcMsJpEgWlfI0KLmN6Td51GLKCFm2MyHJ6p3SxyogvHAxU_NkFF0O7LmiiMhRQ-K0jYv0AcVBokxFs4-TUB2vrFDzVqIW1ks-flKQjIfMJV-wdA5ePw/s2048/IMG-3194.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnc4e9ddYJqyVVR5W-F9e0dl0QcMsJpEgWlfI0KLmN6Td51GLKCFm2MyHJ6p3SxyogvHAxU_NkFF0O7LmiiMhRQ-K0jYv0AcVBokxFs4-TUB2vrFDzVqIW1ks-flKQjIfMJV-wdA5ePw/w150-h200/IMG-3194.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />This was one of the most spectacular affair of our visit. This features in one of the bottom 'to-do' list at Trip Advisor and turned out to be a hidden gem. A mix of medieval Europe, Oriental mysticism and fun in the air - I personally guarantee happiness for you here..</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpjqTa5bnT7rLNtbaiWhFzANzt25kFOkY7EjIL7JoaY7r2T8CI4Yaf7nsErsQKSqaBVMnENY1Z-uMNpqgh_izu2gOQ8BuHfCjxOtgwcbsAjMBZ9MszCnw7RVKhlrYhNJifpthLWa57q4/s2048/IMG-3140.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpjqTa5bnT7rLNtbaiWhFzANzt25kFOkY7EjIL7JoaY7r2T8CI4Yaf7nsErsQKSqaBVMnENY1Z-uMNpqgh_izu2gOQ8BuHfCjxOtgwcbsAjMBZ9MszCnw7RVKhlrYhNJifpthLWa57q4/s320/IMG-3140.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Cafes here will surprise you with their antiques and quirkiness.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The clubs deserve a separate mention , and Phebe adventure is out here..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://lifeisanopenroad2me.blogspot.com/2021/04/phebe-mysteries-unraveled.html" target="_blank">Sona & Shubham's adventures @ Phebe!!</a><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMuE985r753Olv24oyBINyZSOeA6TmfijVqTgu5OtVbjwvu4mEne5Tz05YhzPS8itq56XYHkm2gOE1V6IVAWk1YyUAMkYeJbiXHLaF8mfj0zGzmLIgY4Ay2H4qP7PvsIVLoZ8qL2Gg48/s4032/IMG-3146.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMuE985r753Olv24oyBINyZSOeA6TmfijVqTgu5OtVbjwvu4mEne5Tz05YhzPS8itq56XYHkm2gOE1V6IVAWk1YyUAMkYeJbiXHLaF8mfj0zGzmLIgY4Ay2H4qP7PvsIVLoZ8qL2Gg48/w200-h150/IMG-3146.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">By the way, did I not mention babies are social magnets?</span><p></p></div>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-25193487422831444162021-04-12T15:59:00.011+05:302021-04-21T12:30:47.256+05:30Searching for the God of Thunder..<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The condo we live in offers pretty good views; and the builder has been smart enough to install <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>glass panes that are robust to withstand typhoons</i></span> - something that nature has been hurling with ferocity at Shanghai over years. The typhoon withstanding ability of the glass is also complemented with a pretty good insulation which keeps out the horrific wind screams, occasional shipping air horns from the Huangpu river as well as the revving of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Mclarens (my personal favorites) by enthusiastic drivers around.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lKNsqr3NYNYmizscDfSkPPXovtBh5XPVotyEhStd4Gm1yMntvAC-ePH4YzE1rseh8iaMKzrGsk0I7nGegs7IRyOcM-E9U1Nprd7wE1JaYKGg9Q3htOEhxtf-wu8jLoZWbFumwdUVk4A/s74/Reading+book.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="70" data-original-width="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lKNsqr3NYNYmizscDfSkPPXovtBh5XPVotyEhStd4Gm1yMntvAC-ePH4YzE1rseh8iaMKzrGsk0I7nGegs7IRyOcM-E9U1Nprd7wE1JaYKGg9Q3htOEhxtf-wu8jLoZWbFumwdUVk4A/s0/Reading+book.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">I like it this way - the peaceful way. <span style="font-size: medium;"><i><u>The way life should be : A man/ woman ought to be at peace, ready to pursue his/ her area of interest.</u></i></span> Of course, the household chaos may drive you nuts; but as an option - I love the idea of living in a home which insulates external cacophony. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4Gnd4N7rWKKmfidF2VpryaqLO6KCRkaMgACdmt_vdGihxItOwiY9oynwXHfImVbCffmg388PnJkJwTPPXDJrpHDAJTyAvxuA0LfgVLAuLWmonzhsFKoNIAzqsZE5sxLNUauFbaDBUZo/s2048/Soshu.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4Gnd4N7rWKKmfidF2VpryaqLO6KCRkaMgACdmt_vdGihxItOwiY9oynwXHfImVbCffmg388PnJkJwTPPXDJrpHDAJTyAvxuA0LfgVLAuLWmonzhsFKoNIAzqsZE5sxLNUauFbaDBUZo/w200-h150/Soshu.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Li'l Soshu: Rain rain go away</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The glass does a good job - I see big ships bleating their air horns; I have witnessed relentless winds outside. However none of that is allowed to seep in and peace within our home is upheld.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">However, </span><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">there was one thrum that managed to wiggle through the insulation and creep into the home every morning</span></u></b>. The thrum was powerful enough to cause minor vibrations in the glass as well!</p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fQEyV8PO7sBUNTM1q-I-7ZZkCbmTcjoK76Ba8NhAQ3O4NB5JfZJE4SmQqmiWKPYqcCvRD95BGqFy2Efeq9kQt1dx4K31SdxXxvXNIrYI9fRzIYMM6cD4KGYpMPR4Lm5RWVmvBYqBh8Q/s410/Thor3.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fQEyV8PO7sBUNTM1q-I-7ZZkCbmTcjoK76Ba8NhAQ3O4NB5JfZJE4SmQqmiWKPYqcCvRD95BGqFy2Efeq9kQt1dx4K31SdxXxvXNIrYI9fRzIYMM6cD4KGYpMPR4Lm5RWVmvBYqBh8Q/w171-h200/Thor3.JPG" width="171" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Could it be <b><span style="font-size: large;">Thor</span></b>? Nah.. Avengers always spar aliens in US or western countries (barring that one off Wakanda battle). For some reason, none of the bigger issues like alien invasion, lost nuclear arsenal, demigods attack, etc. seem to affect Asia . </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Day after day, I tried to track the source by applying the science of logical deduction. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are my findings:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ships</span></b>: I see a 200k + tonnage ship bearing a Dutch flag - maybe it was bleating its air horn. Or its motor could have been too powerful. The next day there was no big ship or even li'l boats. The thrum was still there. So ships are not to blame.. </span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSVR4tdf_V-0dlWcyBFbskrGBKgtBrY2_ipY1MZYGrFD0LzCw3XsR0NIAbQ_L_uQq7N8HAJX-0I7BAM8z3iMtCIXtRc-1IC5Y0PCWyDGuwhDvWXGdq2Ef89e9cRZko0E6aLybhZSNHwQ/s1068/Real+estate+N.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1068" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSVR4tdf_V-0dlWcyBFbskrGBKgtBrY2_ipY1MZYGrFD0LzCw3XsR0NIAbQ_L_uQq7N8HAJX-0I7BAM8z3iMtCIXtRc-1IC5Y0PCWyDGuwhDvWXGdq2Ef89e9cRZko0E6aLybhZSNHwQ/w366-h225/Real+estate+N.JPG" width="366" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Screeching winds?</span></b> I have cycled back in screeching winds to enter our home with absolute peace. Windy day or not - that thrum comes in at 7:50 am. Nope, weather was even worse in the Fall & Winter evenings.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ghosts:</span></b> Nope - I have heard that the way HK & Shanghai's real estate prices have moved; most of ghosts have migrated west to more affordable places in New York and Paris <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Numbers courtesy: Statistica)</span>. <br /></span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The question plagued me for months - pushing me further towards insanity. More so because I somehow loved that modulated thrum and how it rose. The fact that I did not know what I loved sounded bizarre.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67bO6y6CKVtBFin4vg0bh8seBbzH8ovAtBr-aem6CdFcqSmYkdGNlkpLoCNI2ATjMYX01RrX6CdaMtcVSkYJWf5u_W7ItQfRbT_Z3rUgkqgMhJH6A_cbWRJUNr2WUbQ1w0seooobn0nQ/s2048/IMG_1109.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67bO6y6CKVtBFin4vg0bh8seBbzH8ovAtBr-aem6CdFcqSmYkdGNlkpLoCNI2ATjMYX01RrX6CdaMtcVSkYJWf5u_W7ItQfRbT_Z3rUgkqgMhJH6A_cbWRJUNr2WUbQ1w0seooobn0nQ/s320/IMG_1109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The answer struck me when I saw this green outrageous machine and loved the sound of it - <i><b>The Mercedes Gullwing- AMG</b>.</i> If you are a motorhead - you would understand the art of correlation - about cornering with the same family of chassis, listening to the same family of engines revving, etc.. In my case, the latter was a sudden connect.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sure enough, I darted the next morning - right at 7:50am. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The thrum yes, an AMG engine - maybe, visuals - no.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Failure to identify.. However, I'll live for tomorrow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The next day, clouds and winds played havoc. Though could not hear them inside. Then that thrum livened. I looked frantically.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Yes there it was!</i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFN5Y51GEbBQ8YWEzKQm5YGaapBP-mrtiTjZ0kSiQbzcASrHZPvwCQy3EYQMnJLOPHK8R2yT7zQKt5qCZNPWSUYB-E_dKUPvd6LLDJ4erJgEMHVOSSIchDBxCf0h2OeJnnFSdgGa6OpQ/s2048/IMG_2848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFN5Y51GEbBQ8YWEzKQm5YGaapBP-mrtiTjZ0kSiQbzcASrHZPvwCQy3EYQMnJLOPHK8R2yT7zQKt5qCZNPWSUYB-E_dKUPvd6LLDJ4erJgEMHVOSSIchDBxCf0h2OeJnnFSdgGa6OpQ/w640-h480/IMG_2848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Don’t see it?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Look again… Does that red square help?</i></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVRNliLvWJ96l1cly67mES0jgYcO25iQDLMlCmxAjjvdJ4lWTXQHQWryuwwcCuBJzTRDCXZsh6CtTV2bE3G4h2bq6zFOXpEHb3-Bu5OEQZeJjYwaXPNexWambDtFkIdIOu6pZCvfBQvM/s2048/IMG_2851.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVRNliLvWJ96l1cly67mES0jgYcO25iQDLMlCmxAjjvdJ4lWTXQHQWryuwwcCuBJzTRDCXZsh6CtTV2bE3G4h2bq6zFOXpEHb3-Bu5OEQZeJjYwaXPNexWambDtFkIdIOu6pZCvfBQvM/s2048/IMG_2851.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jtnoUZY3yuskn3USK0AskOUqbEqJd-TSRR5wlNvcGW1P5Y1W_pPlsnvz0dbu4osS46V5pK__BehxBLOmVsrTcdf4pJ0OWeQoIvohRJGFM2Gsna_hvzOUxSHC2tr-GNwB9gRQ39GS-RQ/s2048/Find+G63+P1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jtnoUZY3yuskn3USK0AskOUqbEqJd-TSRR5wlNvcGW1P5Y1W_pPlsnvz0dbu4osS46V5pK__BehxBLOmVsrTcdf4pJ0OWeQoIvohRJGFM2Gsna_hvzOUxSHC2tr-GNwB9gRQ39GS-RQ/w400-h300/Find+G63+P1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Yet again.. Let me zoom it a bit for you..<br /></i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnDtCKOG_HCbkBeBOkLKy8Vj83OdqeguLMPeUE_Gw66XvTyAPVRNt5_iXxAv9V3LxOUbRrI9miSNy0KMloLGRGxlWB2xWWUT-luesWHj5JTSrtBjvgQ7g0vmlyTVBc2Zod321YniC6RM/s2048/IMG_2852.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnDtCKOG_HCbkBeBOkLKy8Vj83OdqeguLMPeUE_Gw66XvTyAPVRNt5_iXxAv9V3LxOUbRrI9miSNy0KMloLGRGxlWB2xWWUT-luesWHj5JTSrtBjvgQ7g0vmlyTVBc2Zod321YniC6RM/w400-h300/IMG_2852.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>And some more (the max my phone can zoom)</i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8DdrV6Paje84NeV3zy8ErgGIFHR7pRmNsu3Aq7j9r8xJzGLGAHLWu63SKT5_vo1d_eP7oNeIEJHXl17-OKTz9VGlqZZmvDpUiRgY7E1kREzg7LkAtMqlrPz8bu-000TX8P0Z2aAPp_8/s2048/Find+G63.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8DdrV6Paje84NeV3zy8ErgGIFHR7pRmNsu3Aq7j9r8xJzGLGAHLWu63SKT5_vo1d_eP7oNeIEJHXl17-OKTz9VGlqZZmvDpUiRgY7E1kREzg7LkAtMqlrPz8bu-000TX8P0Z2aAPp_8/w640-h480/Find+G63.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">You see that pale golden dot - the one dwarfed by a Lexus van? That's the <b><u>culprit</u></b>: The <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mercedes AMG G 63. a.k.a. the 'G-wagen'</span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5Fb5A5Opscdsv6n2yYY7M1uTlt1hZb469E-UkhHgqNbQDsNDbp27vo5OV76izhJTVPi394fzSNqdKLbmEr3n1PRV9aZDZ1r2F5PSbV7t9C1gwIhvjvs3r3rOjt2kA2Aj2wTJGy3L_Ug/s1410/2021-AMG-G-SUV-GAL-009-G-FE-DR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5Fb5A5Opscdsv6n2yYY7M1uTlt1hZb469E-UkhHgqNbQDsNDbp27vo5OV76izhJTVPi394fzSNqdKLbmEr3n1PRV9aZDZ1r2F5PSbV7t9C1gwIhvjvs3r3rOjt2kA2Aj2wTJGy3L_Ug/s320/2021-AMG-G-SUV-GAL-009-G-FE-DR.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Look at the pictures above again to get an idea of the distance. Bear in mind the insulation job of the apartment as well. And now think about it - <i><span style="font-size: large;">how Mercedes and AMG manage to beat the ships, distance, winds and insulation to greet me!</span></i><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iuhwY8KZcab6i214Lg4bcF43kUFTcSD4s2EUETtVIxk-pE1GpEEEWVsGx8quQ93yU46JhY_LEwYVu7NPf5ebUaHNHTrXUMrX5aJPRaRxM0dA5Y114OzmKiYO9s7xigWiiZ8HDi2N2WE/s1200/mercedes-amg-v8-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iuhwY8KZcab6i214Lg4bcF43kUFTcSD4s2EUETtVIxk-pE1GpEEEWVsGx8quQ93yU46JhY_LEwYVu7NPf5ebUaHNHTrXUMrX5aJPRaRxM0dA5Y114OzmKiYO9s7xigWiiZ8HDi2N2WE/w200-h133/mercedes-amg-v8-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">So forget Thor. Yield to the thunder of that 4 L V8 spooling those Borg Warner twin-turbos.<br /> <b><u>The real God of Thunder is the AMG M-176 V8 engine on that 2 ton Mercedes beast</u></b>.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWBcEHxrT1o3qBbWNcJfft7bfTasdHWfbEwPfEQGNHEbhBbn6qFvISi8BmSTZPAOXlQefghsZNkwD8B0oQDD0rnfsEyOnexvG_c2MYrL2VplyJvQCSQDVXdSRIT-ojZ4-vYA6bqgK39E/s1410/2021-AMG-G-SUV-GAL-004-H-FE-DR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWBcEHxrT1o3qBbWNcJfft7bfTasdHWfbEwPfEQGNHEbhBbn6qFvISi8BmSTZPAOXlQefghsZNkwD8B0oQDD0rnfsEyOnexvG_c2MYrL2VplyJvQCSQDVXdSRIT-ojZ4-vYA6bqgK39E/s320/2021-AMG-G-SUV-GAL-004-H-FE-DR.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-7642835025127895832021-02-23T15:21:00.001+05:302021-02-24T06:54:42.669+05:30The Shanghai automobile museum<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalInkm-uEhyCRbCFLw6q2uFldS5mcHNbExp4iMluN7KeoQvKkFOyrOx-1-ajDW8LxbHkVeS7Ai397xFL3UJf-7Lz-BHNEIUkNgHEXOhcJIAY-3VPsOLoFu9F_Ccxv9VW68TPDz21RaIY/s2048/IMG_20200718_113552389_HDR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalInkm-uEhyCRbCFLw6q2uFldS5mcHNbExp4iMluN7KeoQvKkFOyrOx-1-ajDW8LxbHkVeS7Ai397xFL3UJf-7Lz-BHNEIUkNgHEXOhcJIAY-3VPsOLoFu9F_Ccxv9VW68TPDz21RaIY/s320/IMG_20200718_113552389_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The number of museums this city houses is simply spectacular. Even a determined traveler could spend years to cover the breadth and depth. The more astonishing aspect is the variety of tastes the city can cater to. I was hence very surprised to find this hidden treasure - which I believe is the city's attempt to catchup with the Deutsch and Japanese titans.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_3NUT-xwa9mYgZghG_jh9cKkoHX8Vb52z32XWUUPcLZyIBoyXB4wiCHEtxa5MD1RwN0V8H2Hh_pGSfjw2WJQgGET2z0KfVSkRk5RNTSuxabR5f5Op0KN4Oq_gnqoKh1hGo3o9D2wBUI/s291/Shimao1.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="291" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_3NUT-xwa9mYgZghG_jh9cKkoHX8Vb52z32XWUUPcLZyIBoyXB4wiCHEtxa5MD1RwN0V8H2Hh_pGSfjw2WJQgGET2z0KfVSkRk5RNTSuxabR5f5Op0KN4Oq_gnqoKh1hGo3o9D2wBUI/w200-h151/Shimao1.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking at Shimao Weifang rd..</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Shanghai treats you with the best of automotive world in a very natural and seemingly organic way.<span style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i>I Initially thought:<i> You don’t need a museum for cars here; if you want to meet the stars, we could stand at any intersection ( LuJiaZui, Jingan, Huaihai, or elsewhere), or: take the elevator to the basement of any residential parking (Proof from our apartment inset). I was keen to find out what a museum could do - in a city where perhaps the streets had more to offer.</i></span><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So off I went, like Alice - tumbling down the rabbithole. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Getting here: (a) Cab - ~50 mins from Lujiazui or (b) Metro line 11- Anting road station (some 50 minutes from the business district) + 2 min cab/ 10 minute walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe44sjVJY-J9tTZC9Xa_R4mBx2Dx6X_pbPEPRM_7-lC0aCqBjKNJZrnaTvJkkYM7ahxhnTNuscIghTXjfDXpM43ThWa3hnX9WEQjWUZoOt7x0tnC9Ed7OGkTonaZbeKvR1QcaV3cu8I-g/s2048/IMG_20200718_114250754.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe44sjVJY-J9tTZC9Xa_R4mBx2Dx6X_pbPEPRM_7-lC0aCqBjKNJZrnaTvJkkYM7ahxhnTNuscIghTXjfDXpM43ThWa3hnX9WEQjWUZoOt7x0tnC9Ed7OGkTonaZbeKvR1QcaV3cu8I-g/w150-h200/IMG_20200718_114250754.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cadillac M (1907</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The beginning.. Respect your CTS - it has a rich heritage indeed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaepDlvsFPtjgP4mrZrhz-Pno9lc1EuXQh_OXAZCyvt7FGvkKFlBqRdlZlttTep90dep7URndCFfchwPlX41pEsZqvGtrJ0UcMSsOBqUbev0iMKdRdY9k2fq2PBn8RQ97I0MxubP6ZXH0/s2048/IMG_20200718_115037487.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaepDlvsFPtjgP4mrZrhz-Pno9lc1EuXQh_OXAZCyvt7FGvkKFlBqRdlZlttTep90dep7URndCFfchwPlX41pEsZqvGtrJ0UcMSsOBqUbev0iMKdRdY9k2fq2PBn8RQ97I0MxubP6ZXH0/s320/IMG_20200718_115037487.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Toyota Corolla </u></b>- Nothing to say. Just thinking about the journey. From this to the becoming the largest selling automobile of the planet. Our family had one: Minus the boredom, it was one of the most dependable things that served us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwXFR9_oDxVkt6sAgc9syF4Uf0bz6qk5yBKzIfmgs2yGB_60_OXZ2fYGpQoDllGT1izbUVJJ0IorFz0ElLu5Dfyc7nubWo3v0qzvd5jgv4srmlPAKE_0SSf12sFHDU4W3hX1ulyH4Vk0/s2048/IMG_20200718_114629970.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwXFR9_oDxVkt6sAgc9syF4Uf0bz6qk5yBKzIfmgs2yGB_60_OXZ2fYGpQoDllGT1izbUVJJ0IorFz0ElLu5Dfyc7nubWo3v0qzvd5jgv4srmlPAKE_0SSf12sFHDU4W3hX1ulyH4Vk0/w200-h150/IMG_20200718_114629970.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />If you thought only the <b><u>Rolls Royce</u></b> of today's age looks classy; think again... You could walk around admiring this ancient but regal creature for hours.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrAIf-dqWByKScWDgfCxgpmHfv4jdE0c1Rs3zetwbKQ59dj72TNATG2IE0s37WY3ZPwSpBM8GVedqtTX8y2fJTgtqnJtFl4KjsfoGdS_YNNy7jzeSaPtbSRp3pDIm5X0kyp5ktpa7ZiY/s2048/IMG_20200718_120334266.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrAIf-dqWByKScWDgfCxgpmHfv4jdE0c1Rs3zetwbKQ59dj72TNATG2IE0s37WY3ZPwSpBM8GVedqtTX8y2fJTgtqnJtFl4KjsfoGdS_YNNy7jzeSaPtbSRp3pDIm5X0kyp5ktpa7ZiY/w200-h150/IMG_20200718_120334266.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The original <b><u>Land Rover</u></b>. Think of a modern day Discovery - Now we know why it is necessary to evolve, yet respect your heritage.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINeqTXK17hfBf7auBJKzvRr_hB2Nz6xvW9M0EplSUTz9PaGkFs9H7C4IgYwX8ZLnBFjrcaDXMqL4Fq2xg7fA7YrUnjm_SVsSKr6NAI4r7ve86KHZQqXGxUgZzlRlke2RSY1E8eCraLGU/s2048/IMG_20200718_121635748.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINeqTXK17hfBf7auBJKzvRr_hB2Nz6xvW9M0EplSUTz9PaGkFs9H7C4IgYwX8ZLnBFjrcaDXMqL4Fq2xg7fA7YrUnjm_SVsSKr6NAI4r7ve86KHZQqXGxUgZzlRlke2RSY1E8eCraLGU/w200-h150/IMG_20200718_121635748.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />When Mr. Bond needs to quickly make a dash for Martinis.. The <b><u>Aston Martin</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Breathe… Say a silent prayer - the way you do before thinking of your God.. </span>Good.. <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Now you may worship the two legends: </i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC9dZHGj2PJfHLk5vRBfQ5DzxQEQBQSNoiRdEgA0LO3uCP9yAmEscx3RtBH1iGElpekVhCk8sEmms6NjFlBQeS-M8bGypZ7AwW55E_oExrBemEoYfCbSHPIBKZkwbslSyhK67VwqLLJ4/s2048/IMG_20200718_114824745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC9dZHGj2PJfHLk5vRBfQ5DzxQEQBQSNoiRdEgA0LO3uCP9yAmEscx3RtBH1iGElpekVhCk8sEmms6NjFlBQeS-M8bGypZ7AwW55E_oExrBemEoYfCbSHPIBKZkwbslSyhK67VwqLLJ4/s320/IMG_20200718_114824745.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The revolutionaries: The <b><u>Ford Model T</u></b> and the <b><u>VW Beetle</u></b> in the background </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1HMakDRShZTuUFQNLVVZQlYzQa0EFTQrwew-y34LdmkBF0NqJLPerMjzYTQhTvPjONrJr6sVTODK_hT80dL0xahvpP9Nu_7DY4pUe-0mNiQK6eUkGpt6nRWp10GHzpbWMg3hxMk6obU/s2048/IMG_20200718_122305333_HDR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1HMakDRShZTuUFQNLVVZQlYzQa0EFTQrwew-y34LdmkBF0NqJLPerMjzYTQhTvPjONrJr6sVTODK_hT80dL0xahvpP9Nu_7DY4pUe-0mNiQK6eUkGpt6nRWp10GHzpbWMg3hxMk6obU/w200-h150/IMG_20200718_122305333_HDR.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />American Muscle is a tricky area for me.. Not sure if I hate them or love them, but regardless of my religious beliefs, I have to bow to those three letters: <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">GTO</span> (Pontiac)</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And then we have the flagbearer of American muscle - the <b><u>Ford Mustang</u></b> : in its original glory. Serving the American dream from 1964.... </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0i-RodD8zXJc3EXHIFj1Dvt29Tg_WWOYfhE9OQo1145YmwQ0NME08FAIbmR3AY4Mb-h8VL2rjYV0x8WpXkbrqqIZcn9N-04-lYKkHsBJY15s4GTiFVG2XvIT9CCN09JIr7RTgTBV_Us/s2048/IMG_20200718_122448043_HDR.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0i-RodD8zXJc3EXHIFj1Dvt29Tg_WWOYfhE9OQo1145YmwQ0NME08FAIbmR3AY4Mb-h8VL2rjYV0x8WpXkbrqqIZcn9N-04-lYKkHsBJY15s4GTiFVG2XvIT9CCN09JIr7RTgTBV_Us/w200-h150/IMG_20200718_122448043_HDR.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUy_LYI-Cnn8xIa2IXMNfgGx6w15fZis1AetYFpVV6M-bfkVupZGFqegpMJUb6hdxqg8iq9ruor8srCsy3p0KZHHNO7-nWMmrUlfpR__94IBsO3-h76DRx0mGSpNGmsSUszy2W0zisgw/s2048/IMG_20200718_122431152_HDR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUy_LYI-Cnn8xIa2IXMNfgGx6w15fZis1AetYFpVV6M-bfkVupZGFqegpMJUb6hdxqg8iq9ruor8srCsy3p0KZHHNO7-nWMmrUlfpR__94IBsO3-h76DRx0mGSpNGmsSUszy2W0zisgw/s320/IMG_20200718_122431152_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Now the God of three letters -<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"> BMW</span></u></b>. This piece deserves more respect as it is one of the earlier one of that genre '<span style="font-size: x-large;">M'</span>. Proud to note that my friend Varun and his family have entered that relationship with an X4 - M recently.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MS8CN77bPhKxYun0Im3pV5sE9YHfTRtE28rNUkG4V07kY_zgaayXUyt8Dhq4lSmt8UtrAHQUOSVFkJTdcZhmMUn9XyMWTiB62pQaiegjziqfZc5VwMatsZQneO9DBYCrClwg8I6cHrg/s2048/IMG_20200718_121844855.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MS8CN77bPhKxYun0Im3pV5sE9YHfTRtE28rNUkG4V07kY_zgaayXUyt8Dhq4lSmt8UtrAHQUOSVFkJTdcZhmMUn9XyMWTiB62pQaiegjziqfZc5VwMatsZQneO9DBYCrClwg8I6cHrg/w320-h240/IMG_20200718_121844855.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b><u>Datsun 240 Z</u></b>: This started the lineage of <b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Z</span></i></b> s - I maintain a personal bias here - The naturally aspirated Nissan <span style="font-size: medium;">350 Z</span> is one of the most exciting cars I have driven (from archives)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I-MCrZLg0MwATWfASI2g5F7c0mvHWFe17VxtO_KNNDIr-N4yibQHt6hnNdwSQX_232NihxjZHtBz4F5BmOiKpDvsh_DuFwlAtbw1BkVGlIO85Cr5hfo05epvGvRxU2fmJD99HeJIJ6s/s386/350Z.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I-MCrZLg0MwATWfASI2g5F7c0mvHWFe17VxtO_KNNDIr-N4yibQHt6hnNdwSQX_232NihxjZHtBz4F5BmOiKpDvsh_DuFwlAtbw1BkVGlIO85Cr5hfo05epvGvRxU2fmJD99HeJIJ6s/s320/350Z.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>As I was wandering through this magical place, a thought occurred to me. I computed the probability of a friend and you- my dear reader - of trying to own these pieces. For all I know, you could (a) take the billionaire route or (b) the thievery route. Just in case you are planning a heist on this place, and would be kind enough to spare a car from your loot for your dear friend - I ought to submit my preference in advance.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XxcYaiENz_umsZ49wuXNRy5S5ia7_OelJkJmJob2LHvjwN8n7Pz1mnmZ2WIzKji-I54bCnbkil2SUmWaeMvu53a9XLfQkABdhPap0s8DwiO-c8SgN70DHt0tvtwQxtxK3jiQ-AW0cYk/s2048/IMG_20200718_122646988_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XxcYaiENz_umsZ49wuXNRy5S5ia7_OelJkJmJob2LHvjwN8n7Pz1mnmZ2WIzKji-I54bCnbkil2SUmWaeMvu53a9XLfQkABdhPap0s8DwiO-c8SgN70DHt0tvtwQxtxK3jiQ-AW0cYk/s320/IMG_20200718_122646988_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Zhege (this one).. No no. Not the one on the left. The <b><i>Lamborghini Countach</i></b> - was indeed one of the most aerodynamic and aesthetically daring design in the history of automobile. While it has the naturally aspirated mid engine V12 mated to a perfect transmission, the Italian durability of those times scare me. Not the one on the extreme right either- the Honda NSX gets too much limelight and class. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So if you do agree to purloin one for me - it'd be the one in the middle - the <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><i>8th generation Nissan Skyline </i></u></span></b>please. Front engine, rear wheel drive - and the design discreet enough to bely the menacing intent of that 2.6 L twin turbo motor. This belongs to the right decade - where automotive engineering was still more about mechanics than electronics.</span></p><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u>Other tips:</u></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">- The top floor houses a kids area. Kids of all ages could easily spend an hour here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">- Cafe serves decent stuff inside the museum, and a McDonalds at the entrance. For a wider variety, hit the Jiating Hui life mall near Anting road</span></div>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-49868899251607255122021-02-20T11:25:00.004+05:302021-02-20T11:25:51.940+05:30The Swedish sophistication<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0HqHeMGp7Uv5AnRXQtnA9ExJiLym3FvG1JHbv-MiqNaK0TrpWjaK7hH_1bRWU0Aci6v6tzlZi1ALOT9sdA78wnF6ZqTd6_W_CGdVwYIY91BvN8vKxI3h2w1Et2AOxvyDTv-M47yzbhc/s1364/Sweden4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0HqHeMGp7Uv5AnRXQtnA9ExJiLym3FvG1JHbv-MiqNaK0TrpWjaK7hH_1bRWU0Aci6v6tzlZi1ALOT9sdA78wnF6ZqTd6_W_CGdVwYIY91BvN8vKxI3h2w1Et2AOxvyDTv-M47yzbhc/s320/Sweden4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Sweden</b> for me meant <b><i>Ikea</i></b>, <b><i>H&M</i></b>, <b><i>Volvo</i></b> (pre-Geely days), <b><i>Saab</i></b> Gripen. All signifying simple designs with supremacy at sophistication. If you want clarity, please check out a simple desk from Ikea - and compare it with an expensive regal furniture in a swanky showroom in your town. The latter: with its over the top design would be expensive as it promises heavy teak to last a lifetime. But you realize you want to dump it when you have it, as it has little to offer on the ergonomics front and at home - doesn't look like the way it did in the catalogue. To understand my point better- drive a Volvo S-60 or fly a Saab Gripen.<br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC7k7cs8WWudPtls2h65ygCJ2gMoFakiw-eNaVx0heeuq71SvBHTw_gUr663mzQvCRzdkD6N70QUJ_0BiyoJiSDBYN_BKjnfmwOW2urLv9tVQwsYn4DcNfGbPgcqA_V5Hi1-SH57dlT4/s1364/Sweden7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC7k7cs8WWudPtls2h65ygCJ2gMoFakiw-eNaVx0heeuq71SvBHTw_gUr663mzQvCRzdkD6N70QUJ_0BiyoJiSDBYN_BKjnfmwOW2urLv9tVQwsYn4DcNfGbPgcqA_V5Hi1-SH57dlT4/s320/Sweden7.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So in my mind, it has been etched long ago: <i><span style="font-size: medium;">Swedish = clean, simple and classy</span></i>. One of the reasons why I coaxed Sona into considering a visit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rdGj8UcFAmRreClW22-uV8avrRLZVkeceR148P0n7ZKrNNbGRNJ36Sdf-xQbuK_K7Bh4bhFrtyz36UCvNgv1HWosXPbweIOuFEJeb5NIsD_HuERONgdq6KT89XJJHYT2SZilCAaX7_s/s1364/Sweden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rdGj8UcFAmRreClW22-uV8avrRLZVkeceR148P0n7ZKrNNbGRNJ36Sdf-xQbuK_K7Bh4bhFrtyz36UCvNgv1HWosXPbweIOuFEJeb5NIsD_HuERONgdq6KT89XJJHYT2SZilCAaX7_s/w200-h113/Sweden1.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />To start with, the Swedish simplicity went into an overkill mode. We were silly enough to fly Ryan air, which did get us from Charleroi to Skavsta in one piece each, and then the Skavsta airport welcomed us with its bare bones. Clean, but very skeletal. The bus took around 1.5 hours to get us to Stockholm city center. Moral of the story - (a) Do check with experienced people before planning your trip, your best friend (google.com) cannot advise you on the 'experience' part (b) avoid being Scrooge.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPTqv6BSJJkzpUUvZIfk8H6I3Tj2sKV1hJcD3TUsgDdKfbHGvIkm3ubT27nSCy6AaDx6bX-IHlGhHkaykijtJuohos_bYx3_jXXThENEQQfuwQp3cJfufTY5rEA1HE_4DJ7uc79NeoYA/s1364/Sweden10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPTqv6BSJJkzpUUvZIfk8H6I3Tj2sKV1hJcD3TUsgDdKfbHGvIkm3ubT27nSCy6AaDx6bX-IHlGhHkaykijtJuohos_bYx3_jXXThENEQQfuwQp3cJfufTY5rEA1HE_4DJ7uc79NeoYA/w200-h113/Sweden10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b><u>Stockholm</u></b> turned out to be the biggest surprise for us in Europe. While neither of us can pin point the touristy points (no highest peak, the ancient structures were not the ancient-est, no Paris/ Swiss hypes), the city has a character which triumphs and will always remain stamped in our minds. To make it more interesting, we stayed at the Mosebacke hostel - and that turned out to be an interesting experience as well. Right in the heart of the city, it helped us move around quickly.<br /></span><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej1kDULInFbiLZkWnYQJlRwGYUz58WZVZSWldRSs1h1gmd9NeuXR_XKghCLn-c3GlCRSaVd6xWj1PDnVigB_fXFT2szWTVzXBPKxg60mk6cg0tOgNGIlLrVN_jShjH8hqe_Tgaa4s2_w/s767/Sweden9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="431" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej1kDULInFbiLZkWnYQJlRwGYUz58WZVZSWldRSs1h1gmd9NeuXR_XKghCLn-c3GlCRSaVd6xWj1PDnVigB_fXFT2szWTVzXBPKxg60mk6cg0tOgNGIlLrVN_jShjH8hqe_Tgaa4s2_w/w113-h200/Sweden9.jpg" width="113" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-align: left;">The palace, the museums, you could pick anything. If we had the time, we would love do that for a couple of more days - landing in old town/ Gamla Stan in the evening, exploring the alleys, drifting into any of the shops/ buildings (museum or not, all of them have such a rich history - check out this simple pub; the basement was older than several countries) and finally bidding the evening goodbye in the typical European way - in a pub.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAeX9-k8s516rvpg7QCsPg_Z8vbqrESCpXDB_HkUfpwiuBuTQ9to8z-FsIL2xG0Ls61DhZ5v5u9BKMjQfhZ70yQ87SBt1zc76wZxdvx1LrtVLjVPulZYubo2N_mENK0pcyhekYMidZVU/s1364/Sweden6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAeX9-k8s516rvpg7QCsPg_Z8vbqrESCpXDB_HkUfpwiuBuTQ9to8z-FsIL2xG0Ls61DhZ5v5u9BKMjQfhZ70yQ87SBt1zc76wZxdvx1LrtVLjVPulZYubo2N_mENK0pcyhekYMidZVU/s320/Sweden6.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">One good spooky walking tour we suggest is: https://www.stockholmghostwalk.com/en/</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Those words have a new meaning for us post Sweden: <b><i><span style="font-size: large;">class</span></i></b> and <b><i><span style="font-size: large;">sophistication</span></i></b>. Lets see if anything can dethrone Sweden's place there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8L169bSRSwDY3xenTU7S7O09A9-MWgNZ7cuvR5yyXUCK3-_cDBk2oo31m_gxN2Rb8zH5Fsp0lOzA9hSsI5DSceWhAWJIKOWz4WmmTzEQznbveo3iQn2D3umTKoafZkZiOQZshcUhCLSw/s1364/Sweden+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8L169bSRSwDY3xenTU7S7O09A9-MWgNZ7cuvR5yyXUCK3-_cDBk2oo31m_gxN2Rb8zH5Fsp0lOzA9hSsI5DSceWhAWJIKOWz4WmmTzEQznbveo3iQn2D3umTKoafZkZiOQZshcUhCLSw/w200-h113/Sweden+12.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJntpZdm7moBQXS2LTQyZMGztubB8Q75qCbqz50mDhVEXlopj9n9OHUCLNnoIv5Odim3ywtRy86uf94G7brOPZzkXQzSpNfCHAeIDSuTkr8ZhhW7ts5mfkFqEfdk3mt58oxvJMFeWmonQ/s1364/Sweden3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJntpZdm7moBQXS2LTQyZMGztubB8Q75qCbqz50mDhVEXlopj9n9OHUCLNnoIv5Odim3ywtRy86uf94G7brOPZzkXQzSpNfCHAeIDSuTkr8ZhhW7ts5mfkFqEfdk3mt58oxvJMFeWmonQ/s320/Sweden3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Nobel prize venue<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-52769704726364016912021-02-20T07:34:00.002+05:302021-02-20T11:29:57.120+05:30Netherlands: ingenuity and terror<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3bHejGD1W4MDWMRn4y6a-aRoGlrw-50ASQ1V_ghYmEVkKqdUsthyphenhyphenXpWlrsRU2wJBacgR4ustG-5v8z4UO-nTKj7F4bkpdDMvOa_hUFv-ew0QNd-Bdy-TM7tLu1YobiGS70HiPS1SCFI/s1515/Dutch+Eindhoven.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1515" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3bHejGD1W4MDWMRn4y6a-aRoGlrw-50ASQ1V_ghYmEVkKqdUsthyphenhyphenXpWlrsRU2wJBacgR4ustG-5v8z4UO-nTKj7F4bkpdDMvOa_hUFv-ew0QNd-Bdy-TM7tLu1YobiGS70HiPS1SCFI/w200-h113/Dutch+Eindhoven.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Having sampled Swiss trains, driving and walking in Europe, Sona and I decided to explore the bus option. The journey involved crossing Belgium and getting to Amsterdam. We boarded the liner and enjoyed the sights as we traversed through Belgian landscape. After Antwerp, our bus meandered through the border town of <b><u>Eindhoven</u></b>, the birth place of the conglomerate called Phillips. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6fo4wBjBrkfC9kL0wSUHLM1x6O3-BStFc90ww8ocWUmra5B1U5iD_0Dm-VIuQLVPlhagQ9mNolZAfkMZjw6lg4-1E0aNXNNpDtF9EGGrFBJdbNtXYqyKmHMavwP-tdwatMz3O_-6itE/s1364/Dutch+ams+4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6fo4wBjBrkfC9kL0wSUHLM1x6O3-BStFc90ww8ocWUmra5B1U5iD_0Dm-VIuQLVPlhagQ9mNolZAfkMZjw6lg4-1E0aNXNNpDtF9EGGrFBJdbNtXYqyKmHMavwP-tdwatMz3O_-6itE/s320/Dutch+ams+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: medium;"><i>The town got me thinking - the ingenuity of the little country. Small national icons that went on to reign supreme in the world</i></span> (think Shell, Unilever, Phillips). From use of pumps to drain water out of its cities to modern time leader in clean energy, the Dutch know how to lead on the innovation front.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We were woken out of our slumber by frantic activity and announcements in Dutch. Hurriedly, we picked up our belongings and got down the bus. As we were in the process of waking up, we figured that the place had little semblance to our intended destination - Amsterdam. Great snakes! We were at <b><u>Utrecht</u></b>!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmIJ3AfesLgk_erHK2MaysOXvlIdcwvoO68yaZF2GluCX5OSv88JfcoNW03JaCMG-C57YseGjuzovQdIDQR5uAEifMAEY0MvPeVovsWna2jVlhpmXnFFVhyphenhyphenQlUS5JCjJoWp8gAuz50fA/s1364/Dutch+ams+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmIJ3AfesLgk_erHK2MaysOXvlIdcwvoO68yaZF2GluCX5OSv88JfcoNW03JaCMG-C57YseGjuzovQdIDQR5uAEifMAEY0MvPeVovsWna2jVlhpmXnFFVhyphenhyphenQlUS5JCjJoWp8gAuz50fA/w200-h113/Dutch+ams+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, not much to write about the place; just that the largest cycle parking was visible (more on that phenomenon later); we spotted the station and purchased tickets for Amsterdam and reached by the evening.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3weTcO8FEwMaefNNDo6GqRqiRg2HQ86pACGw4viu-j2C4B4YGq1Gce-U3qzr4YZnwFRCRFNGccaIbFOnON34ZS0w9-0Q_tn-TKQuK27igsFpuCFq0Mgl6miJglIKmPRL3KCbnXd4hHs/s1364/Dutch+ams+7.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3weTcO8FEwMaefNNDo6GqRqiRg2HQ86pACGw4viu-j2C4B4YGq1Gce-U3qzr4YZnwFRCRFNGccaIbFOnON34ZS0w9-0Q_tn-TKQuK27igsFpuCFq0Mgl6miJglIKmPRL3KCbnXd4hHs/w200-h113/Dutch+ams+7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Amsterdam - I can say I was not at all disappointed. <span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><i>My former image of a wannabe town marked with sleaze had to make way for a city with a rich history, freedom, indomitable spirit, creativity and its byproducts. </i></span><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoso6uDkR2xMCZhNs40OGW538daOFbXYIymv37AOOCvesbiZYTP6EQWZqTO7708XgCEEFfdKuQVJhgulp2grAZj2FFcqLyu9lTWUo4_WnaeQsXQM5cFDqrstsexjA0WWVKHIysfZqLp4/s768/Dutch+2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="434" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoso6uDkR2xMCZhNs40OGW538daOFbXYIymv37AOOCvesbiZYTP6EQWZqTO7708XgCEEFfdKuQVJhgulp2grAZj2FFcqLyu9lTWUo4_WnaeQsXQM5cFDqrstsexjA0WWVKHIysfZqLp4/w113-h200/Dutch+2.jpg" width="113" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In Amsterdam, though our recommendations range from the river tour, red light area, etc., we recommend that you explore as much as you can. We have a feeling that whatever museum, alley you walk into - you will not be disappointed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6QFUpOFS19OXr3-2GIS8iQiWR-oj_5cGCeGW2LqKzVapq5PsZwHljr9i9AP809bU0JeaakHjjW4g2bHL8H4o9Zv3nazHzJ9C4PZ8AzzcgQfutlQ1S9igV4Qy33KGjk7x8Iag3utSZBE/s1364/Dutch+3.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6QFUpOFS19OXr3-2GIS8iQiWR-oj_5cGCeGW2LqKzVapq5PsZwHljr9i9AP809bU0JeaakHjjW4g2bHL8H4o9Zv3nazHzJ9C4PZ8AzzcgQfutlQ1S9igV4Qy33KGjk7x8Iag3utSZBE/w200-h113/Dutch+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Besides Amsterdam, the must visit place we recommend is <b><u>Den Haag (The Hague)</u></b>. Its claim to fame is as host of the International Court of Justice and a major host of other UN offices.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The multilateral aspect aside, it has a beauty and spirit of its own. We made a beeline for the sea front where the winds from the North, having melted their share of ice from the Arctic met us with full ferocity.<br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But alas, our travel sojourns will make way for a more immediate problem that is plaguing our times. Ladies and gentlemen, <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>I have to talk about terrorism and the Dutch connection.</i></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Kindly note that terrorism has taken many names and faces. Some of them are: Al-qaida, Lashkar Taeba and <span style="font-size: medium;">Cycling</span></i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The latter is the one whose origination and propagation may be attributed to Netherlands. Some statistics:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpugmeBAdbsGx1goDhpFHdYhvCsfFcE5JMlIJLjQIYph_ZXbXcQi_-2Lv_gg4wro_MoOZuAueVDt_OKPKoTZU1zFWVy9zXUE4mK4vW4adW3tigZ6b6d3UrbwgILXTblhIxIk1YZRIqKE/s461/Dutch+cycling+stats.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="461" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpugmeBAdbsGx1goDhpFHdYhvCsfFcE5JMlIJLjQIYph_ZXbXcQi_-2Lv_gg4wro_MoOZuAueVDt_OKPKoTZU1zFWVy9zXUE4mK4vW4adW3tigZ6b6d3UrbwgILXTblhIxIk1YZRIqKE/w400-h230/Dutch+cycling+stats.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;">While you may be conned into an image of suave, environment friendly and healthy cyclists; deeper experience lifts this veil to identify the peril to your life that cyclists pose.</span><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">These simple machines, at the hands of a well built European Meneer or Mejuffrouw can attain unimaginable speeds - posing grave danger to themselves and the innocent public in general</span></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IJBNxYE-JbUBmfD-jfxxHUZOUsfBmyHHfomPtC1oKmXiAIEVeS9NoS5MHRXL7X6mhmacXsRhOa0Ar2hqAHlnS8KYR7m9QqLFT-TlGkI1bZB5Btv0zENxkFoT6n8bPwbxMvngWEwF9yA/s306/Dutch+cycle+2.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="306" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IJBNxYE-JbUBmfD-jfxxHUZOUsfBmyHHfomPtC1oKmXiAIEVeS9NoS5MHRXL7X6mhmacXsRhOa0Ar2hqAHlnS8KYR7m9QqLFT-TlGkI1bZB5Btv0zENxkFoT6n8bPwbxMvngWEwF9yA/w200-h125/Dutch+cycle+2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Picturize your careless Shubham walking around in search of the Heineken museum and <span style="font-size: large;">poof </span>- a cyclist just whisked by. A lazy turn to answer to Sona's voice just saved him from being knocked off</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">He curls his arms by a couple of degrees and….. <span style="font-size: large;">Swish</span>…. A nano second's delay would have meant that his arm would have been ripped off by a speeding maniac</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Later in the evening - we saw a first - <span style="font-size: large;">Drunken cyclists!!</span> Later, there were high cyclists - connoisseurs of space cakes of Ams. While the police around the world does a good job to keep ineberiated motorists in check; I doubt if there is a law to protect us from such peril.<br /></span></li></ul><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTpSIwsM-2YXmoGQVMMEBZg9szvBrPeg8AQD0NahDt1Sf-y2aFHwX6YX7EeXVxfCgqIGfiQgCnofAysFpLOX9Mcrbg2-rq9lawbGAUN5GdEdl9qmVGR7MktmaPT5z342NKALKOsJsoTg/s783/Dutch+cycle+1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="783" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTpSIwsM-2YXmoGQVMMEBZg9szvBrPeg8AQD0NahDt1Sf-y2aFHwX6YX7EeXVxfCgqIGfiQgCnofAysFpLOX9Mcrbg2-rq9lawbGAUN5GdEdl9qmVGR7MktmaPT5z342NKALKOsJsoTg/s320/Dutch+cycle+1.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In Europe, I always drove with a dark cloud on my head. I was told that cyclists have the right to be reckless, but if I were to touch them in a car (even for no fault of my own), I had two options:<span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">1. Escape and wait for the legal system to catch me eventually </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. Get out of the car, burn my documents and head voluntarily to jail for a couple of decades</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I am told that the end result is not very different in both the cases.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u>Note: With no other option in sight, the author has joined the movement and now cycles to work every day.</u></i></span></p><p></p></div>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-68774547648494567752020-10-10T13:32:00.006+05:302020-10-15T07:02:15.724+05:30Dominar 400 - Answering the 'Why'<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z2iJXex8VZ53sBGxFwpsywIMg3SWZ4tnuHtHgWxJ8RiEVjhLK0-6dgZHvWYiMJDeGEWVFxdKJ73XfoP4cxrN5qp_Mrx3m0XK864tBazfN8KosAykTbdCLuT02JL176V0Ue2LunB1epg/s300/Bajaj+Logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z2iJXex8VZ53sBGxFwpsywIMg3SWZ4tnuHtHgWxJ8RiEVjhLK0-6dgZHvWYiMJDeGEWVFxdKJ73XfoP4cxrN5qp_Mrx3m0XK864tBazfN8KosAykTbdCLuT02JL176V0Ue2LunB1epg/w244-h137/Bajaj+Logo.jpg" width="244" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Bajaj Auto</b> screws up electricals, makes sure its bikes have the
worst gearboxes in the category, and has a horrid after-sales setup.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">So I went ahead and bought another one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Why?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, had a 10 year experience with a Pulsar-200 and was sure
that machines coming out of Bajaj stables are adept to take up Indian roads; or
lack of it. I’ve witnessed multiple cases of suspension failure across Hondas
(no kidding, I have seen monoshocks snap), and in contrast hold my previous 10
year old Bajaj mile-muncher as a testament to ‘adapting to Indian conditions to
survive’. Of course, you will figure out the real reason at the end of this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">So this time, I decided for go for the 400 CC they claimed
to be a game changer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For starters, <b><u>the Good</u></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdodQlE0KbOnzFGW5-IBhkC2k__1Bz8EjdzjgnFCFz7Hfu__nXfRT6HH23h_gR5BWp4ax4E0Ddh9E5Krpzodhx1QjMVG5EzrHWIXlfFsnD3a_w6nbI6r8d4Pkkdu7qywOI3MENB6PPG_o/s2048/IMG_20190112_112334799_HDR.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdodQlE0KbOnzFGW5-IBhkC2k__1Bz8EjdzjgnFCFz7Hfu__nXfRT6HH23h_gR5BWp4ax4E0Ddh9E5Krpzodhx1QjMVG5EzrHWIXlfFsnD3a_w6nbI6r8d4Pkkdu7qywOI3MENB6PPG_o/s320/IMG_20190112_112334799_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>The Engine</u>: This boasts of a very smooth engine-
certainly the best from Bajaj till date. Rev it hard, and it accelerates you
pointedly. Close the throttle, it gets down to a subdued hum. Note:
Accelerating and decelerating is an experience in itself, and as a very
cautious and well thought through exception, I put it ahead of the Honda
engines.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>The light (& the front)</u>: Mein Gott!! What a
looker this is.. Those fierce, unforgiving eyes- they have all<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the world’s anger wrapped within- radiating
it with those DRLs. Witnessing this machine approach is like … Is like. Its
like. Like…: Rocky Balboa sparring with Eye of the Tiger playing in the
background, or .. or Angry Vijay Deenanath Chauhan charging at you… with
vengeance.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>High speed cruise-ability</u>: A high speed cruiser
indeed. This machine is absolutely at ease at 120 kmph and can stay there for a
several hours without any complaint. When I say at ease- I mean the engine does not feel strained, and most importantly, you have confidence in stopping thanks to
those huge discs and tires (upgrade from factory rubber recommended).</span></li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u><br />The Bad</u></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nk4fTcfi_DWA0YVW7qo2E7mYgLFYSK63v01mwhK-Jsvxa-h6vRQDVZFtIT06XVSRz3khy2s26BJb2R7gBaYu9zcjNnLF1JbWwpmHydGSWtXwuPGlZa2hCgTFwe3vtYiNBBkG6ErUm1s/s2048/IMG_20180407_102136612.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nk4fTcfi_DWA0YVW7qo2E7mYgLFYSK63v01mwhK-Jsvxa-h6vRQDVZFtIT06XVSRz3khy2s26BJb2R7gBaYu9zcjNnLF1JbWwpmHydGSWtXwuPGlZa2hCgTFwe3vtYiNBBkG6ErUm1s/s320/IMG_20180407_102136612.jpg" width="320" /></a><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>Suspension</u>: Remember when I said that the Bajaj
suspension is solid? Well, here’s the thing- they took my feedback too
seriously and replaced metal in the struts with concrete (I think). The result
is a ride quality that tries its best to throw you off its seat at lower speeds.
Turning is not that comfortable and your arms and back may feel overwrought
most of the time in the city.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u>Putting it all together</u>/ Mating the <u>engine and
gearbox</u>: Getting you all back from that utopian dream of great components: the
solid body, etc. How can you screw it up? The answer is- putting it together.
The engine is great, but riding at anything less than 50 at constant speeds is
often riddled with shudders.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u>Looks</u>: Besides the aggressive front, rear of the
bike is more of a let-down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, impressing
ladies is not a priority. If it is for you, stay away from the Dominar..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u>After sales</u>: Remember how our dear Kurt Cobain
went out slamming a fan with his guitar, before getting on playing on at the
concert?? I have a feeling Bajaj takes Nirvana very seriously and are trying to
get there with the way they treat their customers/ product fans. Still in the first year of its life, my bike has to go begging to
Bajaj service stations for hearing me out. I have had a few complaints, with
regard to the low RPM shudders and softening the suspension, but Bajaj guys
couldn’t care less. When I requested for a check to the ECU, they assured me
that they have already washed the bike and that ought to fix the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now coming to the point why I bought one. For this, bear
with this little story:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">One fine morning while you cruise easily on your side- you observe
that the other side of the road is not that fortunate – an early morning traffic
snarl it seems. You also spot that guy on the other side at distance, sans helmet on
a Hero Honda Passion, with an open silencer, and a logo declaring his
association to a notorious political party.</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdM-43CXOTiRUd0g1H-T3yvhK6fOFCb-bSdC3Texl3mqqeLygcHAVgY8ToHWQ5BPfrX4Q5NbbEkS3pSGGkGIpntcSvj8PDbbHMROqieRnsKSATW3c8UxeVPSN07JTQ8e0djcGSc4qe2w/s524/Hooligans2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="524" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdM-43CXOTiRUd0g1H-T3yvhK6fOFCb-bSdC3Texl3mqqeLygcHAVgY8ToHWQ5BPfrX4Q5NbbEkS3pSGGkGIpntcSvj8PDbbHMROqieRnsKSATW3c8UxeVPSN07JTQ8e0djcGSc4qe2w/w212-h162/Hooligans2.JPG" width="212" /></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>The joker has come to cognizance of his imminent fate – a
possible delay of 2.50 minutes! ! He decides that a person of his importance
cannot put up with this.. He has just vandalized a few properties, and now has
to get somewhere quickly for his next assignment - to set few buses ablaze, or demolish some outspoken actress' home, maybe – urgently of course. Righteously, he comes on to the wrong side of the road and
starts coming head on - bleating his shrill horn and zig zagging in style at
the oncoming traffic head on, creating absolute havoc for other law abiding citizens.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>‘Jai Maharshtra’ – the maniac’s saffron sticker proclaimed. Mind you:
assembled in Pune, the Dominar checks the ‘<u>son of soil</u>’ theory as well and
started changing its behavior.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>While I was quietly meandering at 30 Kmph, the Dominar clearly did not like my calm. The Dominar decides to take the matter in
its own hands and starts assuming control. Machine over man this time..<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>Magically, my left foot slips to commence some clicks to
drop a few gears.. And then..<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">Gear 1..</span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><span style="color: #666666;">The throttle is opened and the front wheel
lifts up by a few degrees, while the rear tyre scavenges for grip on the
tarmac- a few slips cite victory of torque over the friction. The clutch still
in play, the engine revs with quite a distinct roar in the busy road and catches
the attention of the entire street.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMybVrRKlyrcI5QNQ4eo2gGcewtbOzd_9jAiFM3uANsiOv0Cj-PAPU76_e3xV-Yk24dc7353m7LvGkDAc5wAUXKKRfiKb4sf-DzcK8_tAuPCHbBjFkOO48DUBv6coP2RcvezB4sIxyHts/s218/Wheelie.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMybVrRKlyrcI5QNQ4eo2gGcewtbOzd_9jAiFM3uANsiOv0Cj-PAPU76_e3xV-Yk24dc7353m7LvGkDAc5wAUXKKRfiKb4sf-DzcK8_tAuPCHbBjFkOO48DUBv6coP2RcvezB4sIxyHts/s0/Wheelie.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">Clutch.. Gear 2</span><span style="color: #666666;"> . <o:p></o:p></span></i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>As the engine is mated to the transmission with some
of the clutch in play, the rear tyre screams for grip, and the front tyre experiences a lift-off again. The throaty engine whips out the 35 NM torque and equal number of horses for the road..<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>Now that the Dominar has transformed into a rocket, we do have
our maniac’s attention. You can see him watching you in confusion, slowing down
a bit, and see fear building up in his eyes, as you determinedly barrel towards
him.. Head on - collision course..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><i>Clutch<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5omPmx7h4fzDllvnZokaLy-VvK0WUyw0ZgDB3k3sA-NfdkZkURFDdw5mZfkBttIqaD2yWeDlnT-9jl3U-cCfDLBXnvtcK1z6bT6rjMsgNkglvAaS5-uq3d041zCj-tsZnDnJqWBtAaw/s275/Dominar+lamps.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5omPmx7h4fzDllvnZokaLy-VvK0WUyw0ZgDB3k3sA-NfdkZkURFDdw5mZfkBttIqaD2yWeDlnT-9jl3U-cCfDLBXnvtcK1z6bT6rjMsgNkglvAaS5-uq3d041zCj-tsZnDnJqWBtAaw/w172-h114/Dominar+lamps.jpg" width="172" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">Gear 3:</span><span style="color: #666666;"> We are
building the revs again. While the speedo determinedly builds up towards
areas where the third digit would be needed soon, the engine has not yet got to its redline (the rev
limiter kick in – in Dominar’s case). Noting that we have three more gears left,
we keep accelerating. As a final war trumpet, we activate all the DRLs. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1j8TDrJzxrVolyQ5Dm5nQDmlSfMQyySgrWeveWtfeQEr8yedZqnwPDLs3o8JjsjFphgYgp3AO3B2ZWw_xecgMuCQnrKnFnWAf0ACrXlgdDobFGs0YKIGRAEDO0iefi07vowspbiofsI/s552/Dominar+front.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="405" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1j8TDrJzxrVolyQ5Dm5nQDmlSfMQyySgrWeveWtfeQEr8yedZqnwPDLs3o8JjsjFphgYgp3AO3B2ZWw_xecgMuCQnrKnFnWAf0ACrXlgdDobFGs0YKIGRAEDO0iefi07vowspbiofsI/w162-h220/Dominar+front.JPG" width="162" /></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>Our nitwit is visibly troubled now. His miniscule brain gets
into overdrive, computing the probability of his survival after being rammed by
a heavy machine, with a crazy look, angry lights, possessing that kind of
momentum gained at that unmentionable speed.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>Noting that the Dominar may be out to annihilate him, he
sights the nearest opening in the road divider and darts to the stagnated
traffic on his (correct) side of the road.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>It’s job done, the Dominar switches off its lamps, engages
the brakes and glides back into its moderate civilian speeds.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><i>All this – from the downshifts, acceleration to braking back
to normalcy: abating aggression with aggression, was concluded in less than 20
seconds.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now lets address that earlier question: Why are we buying this? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">All that
aggression.. Or countering aggression - You could do all this at Rs. 160,000 ex-showroom (non-ABS). For any other machine to have undertaken such a feat, you would need
to shell out multipliers (BMW 310, KTM RC 390, Ninja?). The Bajaj propels Uncle Scrooge to that mid level sports bike category at a substantial discount. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Precisely why this fellow with a blue cover- 4
lion embossed passport bought this.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ76aYjaVnmU9oCrZA1ejuaA73OnqW3Z_X-wJclGrZ4_WduCtaujHLACeBQGdgQcAQr3XkXroCHIk_bdDXO0E7_4vj26KnOdOosQvUpvnHwzw8iDSUkcBIck_WANPwxdieHmfw0b6p0M/s245/KTM+RC+390.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="245" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ76aYjaVnmU9oCrZA1ejuaA73OnqW3Z_X-wJclGrZ4_WduCtaujHLACeBQGdgQcAQr3XkXroCHIk_bdDXO0E7_4vj26KnOdOosQvUpvnHwzw8iDSUkcBIck_WANPwxdieHmfw0b6p0M/w127-h107/KTM+RC+390.jpg" width="127" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>PS: Having said that, I plead all serious bikers not to
waver from the RC 390, no matter what other bikes claim to do, or the discounts
they offer. Regardless of whether you are highway king, stunt master, track
racer, chain snatcher or a criminal on the run, the RC 390 triumphs for all
your needs. Work harder, stop being a scrooge, beg or steal - and get the KTM..</i></span></p><p></p>Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-20121846557222978552019-10-05T16:10:00.001+05:302019-10-05T16:10:16.769+05:30Belgium: Ghent, Bruges & Brussels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZovrmBcD5HenNOCpxzboWzmNAcZXbhWvv6M0KByVUgFzxKdv3T7TI4Z02xh_OdLkU_4-_3BUh2Inb7P5K19h1st0CJxWjo1L_XmjsJstIwMVeThEwC_unuX6vLYk_GyEHLIgAEKq4dA/s1600/IMG_20170825_125339629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZovrmBcD5HenNOCpxzboWzmNAcZXbhWvv6M0KByVUgFzxKdv3T7TI4Z02xh_OdLkU_4-_3BUh2Inb7P5K19h1st0CJxWjo1L_XmjsJstIwMVeThEwC_unuX6vLYk_GyEHLIgAEKq4dA/s320/IMG_20170825_125339629.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Bruges - Belgium</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxviDAT9yX5MFNDLwB7iI6XFSySb0LCchHLjPdurJYU7HsWPldeukLwqIrelk66IsO975T6u8WpM5hKvxyGzVWGq3q4hddNLP_oRQZ3-uXkTouFCWDiPDYOEDvIXLR9uuUjdWZkJggfI/s1600/Tintin+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxviDAT9yX5MFNDLwB7iI6XFSySb0LCchHLjPdurJYU7HsWPldeukLwqIrelk66IsO975T6u8WpM5hKvxyGzVWGq3q4hddNLP_oRQZ3-uXkTouFCWDiPDYOEDvIXLR9uuUjdWZkJggfI/s1600/Tintin+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Tintin &the Gang</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There is
little contention that there have been many influences that have shaped us,
structuring the way we think and the way our minds behave. Admittedly, this
stands true for me, and amongst people, I have many to thank: my wife, parents, loved ones, Robert
Pirsig, Akio Morita, Gen. Rommel (Desert Fox), Keynes, Taleb, Our scriptures, the list is a
bit too long.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The list
above is pointless, but I cant help highlight the one queer outlying influencer
amongst the above- Tintin. The Belgian reporter created by Herge/ Georges
Prosper Remi. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAQxFIRbExB4umjzNrZO6KU5IjiG0ty7laYBzSiQMzrMlyEssxg0uT_0MsKn0geIUGg77ulR0WeUvgrtoj_eBZyjuA8AaAtzu32i0xlSJ-qxMuAmyucxs64dmMK_S9KsBxTMq-UJijzU/s1600/Tintin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="244" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAQxFIRbExB4umjzNrZO6KU5IjiG0ty7laYBzSiQMzrMlyEssxg0uT_0MsKn0geIUGg77ulR0WeUvgrtoj_eBZyjuA8AaAtzu32i0xlSJ-qxMuAmyucxs64dmMK_S9KsBxTMq-UJijzU/s200/Tintin2.jpg" width="200" /></a>Tintin
features here because the Belgian reporter brings back to me a memory and
mindset of a picturesque European background - and regardless of age, it takes
me back to that faint memory when as a child, I would experience Tintin's
world. So pristine, so perfect, where people were concerned<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about mysteries, adventures.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I use
that memory quite often, and it is immensely therapeutic. I see hunger, murder
for survival and treachery for miniscule awards in my world. Just as I am about
to lose faith in humanity, I go and touch upon that sweet memory - the world of
Tintin. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_gdxtzayCRMmCsLVzTKnMtz4-Mlonnam8sLutkvfwyKvq7EporaTPCCSk7zTCi4eKs84DgtLQXpLH_lNKH_jhDh6FZtJeyVADZIacP8pM_F3vOaP0WWnGJPSnTFb7ktl5oWCnZ4txOU/s1600/IMG_20170815_230102998_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="368" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_gdxtzayCRMmCsLVzTKnMtz4-Mlonnam8sLutkvfwyKvq7EporaTPCCSk7zTCi4eKs84DgtLQXpLH_lNKH_jhDh6FZtJeyVADZIacP8pM_F3vOaP0WWnGJPSnTFb7ktl5oWCnZ4txOU/s320/IMG_20170815_230102998_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Ghent - Belgium</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Needless
to say, Herge is no fool. The real Belgium was hardly different from that
utopian feel that I talked about - that is; if you stay away from the big
cities.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So with a
resolve to keep you away from Brussels and Antwerp, I wish to take you to
Ghent.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
There is
a fascinating history to the town. Which I forget. But what Gent is to me is
that perfect utopian world of Tintin. People are spotted laughing in merriment,
evenings are marked with slightly loud conversations in the city centers -
where it is difficult to find food, but you have a variety of 220 beers to keep
you busy and your volumes up.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
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<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaggoobPWT8r4mzPkmXuBkIKs-tFfbFxQJ8d_HWTirlg24OONGvjkImFZnu52CsNVBKHGn-8uzCPgCzUVizLvJH4EViJx46dBYRdaMidryNkeTDIZkWeE4l7_ZeUO9JxQXHA1-qUurRs/s1600/IMG_20170815_230928761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaggoobPWT8r4mzPkmXuBkIKs-tFfbFxQJ8d_HWTirlg24OONGvjkImFZnu52CsNVBKHGn-8uzCPgCzUVizLvJH4EViJx46dBYRdaMidryNkeTDIZkWeE4l7_ZeUO9JxQXHA1-qUurRs/s320/IMG_20170815_230928761.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Ghent Square</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mugs of
beer, hale and hearty conversations in the evenings, in the backdrop of
constructions of 650 BC. Don't get offended with the measly history, for Ghent
has archaeological evidence of human life from the stone age and iron age as
well.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
In the
city center, you park your cars well outside, and walk through the doors of
history, all for beer (be well fed in advance, hardly any food around) and a
conversation with your buddies. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Sounds
like a good plan? Imagine if you have to do this everyday!</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<u>Welcome
to Ghent</u>.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
At meine
bruder's place, couple of queer things noted:</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbbWhoxm7Jna0xWhUe699n3-FDuHmPTubM6H5AmArx3FcNEJtjI8A7klgThfcm4ox-V2CQlw7Kp4ddwhppFGgPbVVoqnOIDl-sGutd5pRa6EgcHnW35KfkVAq3lSQyGi2KJh3VtsGx30/s1600/IMG_20170825_131831768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbbWhoxm7Jna0xWhUe699n3-FDuHmPTubM6H5AmArx3FcNEJtjI8A7klgThfcm4ox-V2CQlw7Kp4ddwhppFGgPbVVoqnOIDl-sGutd5pRa6EgcHnW35KfkVAq3lSQyGi2KJh3VtsGx30/s320/IMG_20170825_131831768.jpg" width="180" /></a>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Magpies are not that big a
menace (remember Castafiore's emerald and havoc at Capt. Haddock's
Marlinspike?). The bubbly birds are cute and keep hopping around
harmlessly, with no stealing of silverware et all on their agenda.</span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A person dressed for office,
with a tie, etc. along with his office bag, is surprisingly crossing
the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>road carrying a canoe twice his
size. </span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Is it the 240 different
variety of beer playing tricks on me? I rubbed my eyes. No.. A canoe it
is. confirmed.... And a set of oars. Yes..</span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The follow crosses the road,
dips his canoe in the stream, hops in and pedals away!</span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">At this juncture, may I ask
how do you get to work? </span></li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u>Bruges</u></b></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
If Ghent
was not adequate to pique your senses, give Bruges a try.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
This is a
fairytale land indeed taking us back by a couple of centuries. With its cobbled
roads, the Flemish city can take you from the first century to present.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-f8fAiYwagKWcRPhpYJdS4WJAJ0xXdxYjAztOb_cmTLtFcOF4Qb0Whb_lc7xy_pUiwuqUXRMuIIpjBmAjdgVbXFuI9o4U08vs5GtLhSZXa05dwUUapIUyqu4dEgr3f8bbUYkJjCEhyI/s1600/IMG_20170825_125627647_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-f8fAiYwagKWcRPhpYJdS4WJAJ0xXdxYjAztOb_cmTLtFcOF4Qb0Whb_lc7xy_pUiwuqUXRMuIIpjBmAjdgVbXFuI9o4U08vs5GtLhSZXa05dwUUapIUyqu4dEgr3f8bbUYkJjCEhyI/s320/IMG_20170825_125627647_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a>Our
recommendation on must do:</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Belfry</span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Markt (square) - UNESCO
world heritage site</span></li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t0pQXBGFwtnGCZMrivXoT74arr-FxtAfqEawni-ATvTqZOtK3M0FN8Xu08uL_DLmI7L5YufYSgCkvpwbhGmqPYju-I6dLBLOgiIuNKqoAA7DdguDW3mepPQGCkTt7KDj_vDfJeNuDZI/s1600/IMG_20170824_200254844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t0pQXBGFwtnGCZMrivXoT74arr-FxtAfqEawni-ATvTqZOtK3M0FN8Xu08uL_DLmI7L5YufYSgCkvpwbhGmqPYju-I6dLBLOgiIuNKqoAA7DdguDW3mepPQGCkTt7KDj_vDfJeNuDZI/s200/IMG_20170824_200254844.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><i>Delirium, Brussels - Max Beer Q</i></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Torture museum</span></li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>Brussels:</u></b></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We came
here to meet Vikram, and that was our number one high for the city.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Thanks to
Vikram, we did get to see the palace, the Squares. Most important find was
Delirium - the only one on the planet to offers this kind of variety on beer.</div>
<br /></div>
Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-22591764395128186742019-10-05T16:08:00.000+05:302019-10-05T16:08:03.420+05:30Swiss adventures (contd..)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KEklKFVlf1wLO4egnXO7iz2uVCkSap1ZcvZiPfnkRxtwWEiKFtVXFIX1ObgFFyh8O8WDDbwaXHhTPQJpTqsAtVsh33Br01XWyKln_OdBCj4pxKGo92II6OPEAF43OV-OJzM_n3kUAlg/s1600/IMG_20170818_073237460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KEklKFVlf1wLO4egnXO7iz2uVCkSap1ZcvZiPfnkRxtwWEiKFtVXFIX1ObgFFyh8O8WDDbwaXHhTPQJpTqsAtVsh33Br01XWyKln_OdBCj4pxKGo92II6OPEAF43OV-OJzM_n3kUAlg/s320/IMG_20170818_073237460.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGk8f4bOeM4dh_Z4WspH6mLyIIpXvJULrVGRea_82eWxSEujYVmXmLennv5LdtIw_byKnAAznmLb8_iA9nktJYLT5EW7Sj1X3dPi0OsFQRqv98w39iFHyTJBslgIGaUwjIJEzQkNRWD5U/s1600/IMG_20170818_111537754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGk8f4bOeM4dh_Z4WspH6mLyIIpXvJULrVGRea_82eWxSEujYVmXmLennv5LdtIw_byKnAAznmLb8_iA9nktJYLT5EW7Sj1X3dPi0OsFQRqv98w39iFHyTJBslgIGaUwjIJEzQkNRWD5U/s320/IMG_20170818_111537754.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwbvCCroECefCJQzN5Z_pvXE8EFjvOCNhZ4FCS8DGkmf32MibQ93-fxlE7kC3o1ODbiTL0b7JbcZoq6jlbmfphHCIvLo33sCL_yBOLT5prAzs5B3bfqYki5fqg0JHdhJioute7gSv9os/s1600/IMG_20170818_112902690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwbvCCroECefCJQzN5Z_pvXE8EFjvOCNhZ4FCS8DGkmf32MibQ93-fxlE7kC3o1ODbiTL0b7JbcZoq6jlbmfphHCIvLo33sCL_yBOLT5prAzs5B3bfqYki5fqg0JHdhJioute7gSv9os/s320/IMG_20170818_112902690.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyYMMnjhM7nk2xq2vOd63tpcGlkTsIdjp0ENeKdl2W8zFt95ONPZBdVqi4R1UmLKqbDITtc0yoqhfyDQzS6JCvPXG5xPKcpRAwo3fLqi0EGo-cMYNktrshbmx2ajpjuslk6ITNoB8xck/s1600/IMG_20170818_114017401_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyYMMnjhM7nk2xq2vOd63tpcGlkTsIdjp0ENeKdl2W8zFt95ONPZBdVqi4R1UmLKqbDITtc0yoqhfyDQzS6JCvPXG5xPKcpRAwo3fLqi0EGo-cMYNktrshbmx2ajpjuslk6ITNoB8xck/s320/IMG_20170818_114017401_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a>Next two
days, we scoured Interlaken; or should I say Switzerland. Our hosts were kind
enough to provide us a local transport pass. (tourists- focus only on the rail
pass, don’t get conned into pre-book local transport passes remotely through
your devious agents - almost all hotels/ Air BnB will provide this free of
cost.). They say to see Switzerland, flock to the trains. Right they are; for
we North, South East or West. You can get anywhere to anywhere in a couple of
hours.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDAiRAVutKV9GClVSyEtwGFJ5YA53LINY41i9iLXrj9psksDNReSyT0NFi8HaGGwP3tqz_0G6TDnHp-3jEtc0Br83WXzsfGpNuVwJy6dB7ttBnrFnuvO6Ud0icITSXgkpJOuPOHvOV84/s1600/IMG_20170818_125838333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDAiRAVutKV9GClVSyEtwGFJ5YA53LINY41i9iLXrj9psksDNReSyT0NFi8HaGGwP3tqz_0G6TDnHp-3jEtc0Br83WXzsfGpNuVwJy6dB7ttBnrFnuvO6Ud0icITSXgkpJOuPOHvOV84/s320/IMG_20170818_125838333.jpg" width="320" /></a>Touristy
pressure means that you will have to go to either to Jungfrau or Mount Titlis
are a must. So off we went to Mt. Titlis. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It is a
picturesque ride in the train, with lake Breine and lake Lucerne (try to camp
here; as against more expensive and commercialized Interlaken).</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
At
Interlaken - not to be missed: the rail up to the top</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Our
recommendations:</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufKAKNcC9TzPtUFt1gHYgiXEnWNLFKc2uQF7OMi0sGD6VxIHIwEOptwUQceIER1ySEnng8MB9YIACD5gTIzcevhwjlzk0Y9kMPhPm1jnod3qJHQBHdSOGI6goccIEiZlYIfZHRcgd8Zk/s1600/IMG_20170818_183537021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="497" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufKAKNcC9TzPtUFt1gHYgiXEnWNLFKc2uQF7OMi0sGD6VxIHIwEOptwUQceIER1ySEnng8MB9YIACD5gTIzcevhwjlzk0Y9kMPhPm1jnod3qJHQBHdSOGI6goccIEiZlYIfZHRcgd8Zk/s200/IMG_20170818_183537021.jpg" width="112" /></a> </div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Harder
Klum:</span></li>
</ol>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
The affordance and convenient ride on an aging Funicular (gear
train) is a great experience in itself. The ascent is startling and the fact
that this simplistic machine does it many a jerks may get you anxious enough.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
The view from the top is something to die for. Pictures say better.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Any small
town outside Interlaken</span></li>
</ol>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
The lake is a good sight; but we fail to see the charm (and expense)
of Interlaken. Should one rather fan out to the surrounding villages? Cleaner,
cheaper? Any small village Lake Breinz, Sarnersee, Lucerne? If anyone is up for
the adventure.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-57517100809953849902019-10-05T13:11:00.002+05:302020-10-15T08:22:06.843+05:30Swiss Adventures - Zurichhhh... Ringenberg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><u>The most
beautiful place on Earth</u></i> - or so they say. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
With that
image-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was even conned into visiting
Khajiaar, which advertised itself the 'Switzerland in India'. With such hype
around the name, we were pretty excited to finally be here.. Here at the Zurich
airport. Pardon me, Sona says it better - Zurickkkkhh Flughghaffen (airport).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd3mBxTU7UfiHbr7RSY9sduddxVkSxMRGVfFb-T0mgOOXivb4og4qfCmwBs9etq42ASt10oBDAB50EOmwnY0nf_ST78zGSeL0GXWvQHeAIMCzjVKGcj0S_OzZ-ILcEXE02pEbKC9Ih3I/s1600/IMG_20170819_103159867_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd3mBxTU7UfiHbr7RSY9sduddxVkSxMRGVfFb-T0mgOOXivb4og4qfCmwBs9etq42ASt10oBDAB50EOmwnY0nf_ST78zGSeL0GXWvQHeAIMCzjVKGcj0S_OzZ-ILcEXE02pEbKC9Ih3I/s320/IMG_20170819_103159867_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Yes.
<b>Zurickkhhh</b> (<i>cough cough</i>)</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Switzerland.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Our
adventures began immediately. The car rental agency we were booked with plainly
declared that there were no cars available . Would we be fine to wait for a
couple of hours (without any guarantee of another car)? So much for Swiss
efficiency.<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
After
some wait, they offered us a Mercedes Vito. Growing up in<b> Ghaziabad</b>, I have
learnt 2 issues about the said vehicle category:</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLm0B0crPaJea0NsA76z6Q18G_cgZidhsQyIejygBpY9dHUTe_i0VHqBZH14TyD8nBaVxbR1T1psmNClIvEUv7yB6Ak6v1kNs6gDRoT5uxezRQekBOYUEg0zIaReM3Abj9fmgTomotxc/s1600/Vito.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLm0B0crPaJea0NsA76z6Q18G_cgZidhsQyIejygBpY9dHUTe_i0VHqBZH14TyD8nBaVxbR1T1psmNClIvEUv7yB6Ak6v1kNs6gDRoT5uxezRQekBOYUEg0zIaReM3Abj9fmgTomotxc/s1600/Vito.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Mercedes Vito - 2 big for 2</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal;"><b>They are a
major hit in the kidnapping business </b></span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Mileage of 12 seaters would
never be great.</b></span></li>
</ol>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Reason 1
was a major deterrent, as two of us would look silly in a twelve seater; plus -
the idea of being interrogated as suspected kidnappers at every check post did
not seem inviting.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
So we
fled back towards the trains. Now is when the real issue of Switzerland becomes
apparent. The place may be beautiful, efficient, whatever. But it is
ridiculously expensive.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
With a
heavy heart, I walked back from the ticket counter. I had just traded my
lifetime earnings for two sets of three day Swiss rail pass. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
In the
process to get to Ringennberg, we were supposed to change two trains with a
difference of no more than 3 minutes each. Initially the idea seems
preposterous, and to a seasoned Indian rail traveler, the following doubts prop
up:</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Average delay of a train will
certainly be more than 3 minutes, and you are bound to miss your
connection. </span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Also think of : will we get a
place in the crowd. What if platforms are so crowded that we are not able
to get to the train (We live in Mumbai)</span></li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
However,
the western Europe would have none of these problems. And over the next few
days, Sona had mastered the art of switching trains to transcend maps and
borders in couple of hours. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
In the
picturesque train ride, we did get to Ringennberg, just as sun bade goodbye.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Now
another set of problems waited to assault us.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: calibri; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Loneliness..
And darkness</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Getting
off in Ringenberg, we realized there was a pronounced dearth of humankind. Or
any other organism for that matter.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd6QV1CowB_ccV37NZZRrciZxd_LaXUmY9bBj__yTUKYipzFeAZ5VJRK3wPhoX84MzMC3wJ855szX1-KMIMZixHFCpKyRmw_ZmDPMPQxEVt0bmyroMaP5avtFuho1qhRanUdJ6HxnDJE/s1600/IMG_20170818_073248263_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd6QV1CowB_ccV37NZZRrciZxd_LaXUmY9bBj__yTUKYipzFeAZ5VJRK3wPhoX84MzMC3wJ855szX1-KMIMZixHFCpKyRmw_ZmDPMPQxEVt0bmyroMaP5avtFuho1qhRanUdJ6HxnDJE/s320/IMG_20170818_073248263_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Deserted Ringenberg (day)</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our plan
of living in the interior had raged its vendetta against us here.. Let me
elaborate the scene there.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
As soon
as the train left the station, there was pitch black darkness on all fronts. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
What Sona
was trying to explain a few days back, became very clear to me thanks to the
live example:</div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuvtscDySH7HRTdJLAshoEe9pVR_eWwQyGtAG3hy4vo1yI1zI2AXe700UIPg0r9AhNdIkFlyguJF5C870KQPSsdX-PyB7bGsyPNjfAMNrHiWq7piL162s5BkHL0M-AInRSC9yluMjWWI/s1600/Black+Hole.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="575" height="48" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuvtscDySH7HRTdJLAshoEe9pVR_eWwQyGtAG3hy4vo1yI1zI2AXe700UIPg0r9AhNdIkFlyguJF5C870KQPSsdX-PyB7bGsyPNjfAMNrHiWq7piL162s5BkHL0M-AInRSC9yluMjWWI/s320/Black+Hole.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Black Hole radiation power law equation</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The
outcome of the above equation dawned to me now - black holes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>do not let even light escape. Which was
precisely the case here. Darkness. Pitch black. Black hole..:</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
So we are
2 backpack laden tourists staring at black holes on all sides. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>Darkness</b></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>No
signboards</b></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
After
scavenging for our AirBnB host address, we were enlightened with the following:</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Claudia,
####</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Ringennberg</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
No
street, no area, no chowk/ nagar, near neem tree, etc.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
After
spending 10 minutes discussing our chances of survival, we decided to
start<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the left.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
We kept
walking on a meandering road with meagre lighting which seemed to be leading to
nowhere.. There were a few homes, one on that mountain, another on another
mountain. The question was, was it worth trekking up and knocking the door?</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
A modest
inn appeared and we rushed in the hope to make contact with humanity again.
Fortunately, there were was one aged lady at the counter. We were so relieved
to see a fellow homo sapien.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Another
challenge came up. The homo-sapien knew no English.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
In my
broken Deutsche, I tried to explain the problem at hand.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The Alte
Fraulein (Old lady) asked for the address and number, which I was happy to
share. However, she got really upset that she had never not heard of a 'Claudia
Ringennberg' (as stored in my phone)- in her little village. I tried to
reiterate that Claudia was our host and Ringenberg was the destination (both
mutually exclusive), which we were happy to be at, but she would have none of
it. Remember Amrish Puri asking his evil henchmen.. Mr India…? Misterrr India…?</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
We
witnessed a same trance here.. Claudia Ringenberg?? Claudiaaa …Ringenbergg??</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
She
hollered her husband, who knew some broken English. Between one broken English
speaker and a horrible German speaker, some communication commenced. The result
was assurance from the property-owners that though they knew of no Claudia
Ringennberg (Yes, even after killing minutes, I failed to communicate her
surname),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they would be happy to spare a
room -should we fail to find shelter tonight.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
That was
a big assurance. </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
The mind
dropped from panic state to a more measly troubled state. And we marched on in
an unknown direction again. Since the mind was working again, it reminded us
that we were carrying the Tom-Tom GPS device, purloined from my brother (we
were supposed to be in a self-drive - remember?). We immediately opened and
presto - it was alive. Fed in the address and after a few decoys, we did reach
our destination.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtk6kP0Zxa7uz15JDxIW81FoAYO6IpNhXT93u558-xnEN-PHP1Ym4sPN7g6EZlF1NfVlZ1V2THv4jOhtVef98-y_hGP6DOYh81na6HQolPorxNFeBVIvhQGLU-ivEFvNaae8joc2E3fNU/s1600/IMG_20170818_064238761.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtk6kP0Zxa7uz15JDxIW81FoAYO6IpNhXT93u558-xnEN-PHP1Ym4sPN7g6EZlF1NfVlZ1V2THv4jOhtVef98-y_hGP6DOYh81na6HQolPorxNFeBVIvhQGLU-ivEFvNaae8joc2E3fNU/s320/IMG_20170818_064238761.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The spectacular AirBnB stay @ Ringennberg</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Claudia
was not home, but thankfully her Musser welcomed us warmly and led us to her
abode. My o my - what a spectacular chalet!</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Recounting
our adventures for the day:</div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Car rental screw up</span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Forced to trade my lifetime
earning for Swiss rail passes </span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Passed one of the most
depressing cities - Bern</span></li>
<li lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Almost stranded at night on
the Swiss alps</span></li>
</ul>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Our only
achievement was that we survived.</div>
<br /></div>
Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-469425368894487452019-10-05T12:58:00.004+05:302019-10-05T12:58:44.030+05:30Bali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A trainer
by profession, my wife often coaches me on different personality types.</div>
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Conveniently
forgetting all the psychometric models I had been taught, I concocted my own. </div>
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Categories
here -</div>
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Apt Cat
(Aptivaa category) 1: Adarsh, Paras, Ashley, Jagan, Ganesh, Dinesh, Sreejata,
Satya: Their demeanor and confidence proved that they were in their home turf.
Looking at them you start pondering - nature is what maketh a man/ woman. One
look at their face, and you could see their minds screaming - "Good to be
home again"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4apbbXHOU6NXsTzRfxxwOdpe-ovKqNtEfB_S97uE1Qf7P2TSlyJwWfZ1HR9OdnccbIT_zJZI_zlTlG6CRgXgJGcTNabXiTVuObQTQr1aG4hXdxw6YfTEbkDMlw7EuMLhXNR6qEh44_M/s1600/IMG_20170808_122121351_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4apbbXHOU6NXsTzRfxxwOdpe-ovKqNtEfB_S97uE1Qf7P2TSlyJwWfZ1HR9OdnccbIT_zJZI_zlTlG6CRgXgJGcTNabXiTVuObQTQr1aG4hXdxw6YfTEbkDMlw7EuMLhXNR6qEh44_M/s320/IMG_20170808_122121351_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Apt-Cat
2: Vivek (BB), Sandip, Nyati, Sayan are the ones who were in the phase of
extending their relationship with nature from casual acquaintance to deeper
love .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Apt-Cat
3: Vibhor, Deepak: Though this was not going their ideal way, with the route*
decision overridden by Group 1, they were<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>enjoying the journey<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the
sights nonetheless. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Apt-Cat
4: Abishek- battling a sprain, Manish - warring perception and Shweta - cursed
with inappropriate shoes - battled on. When guessing what strength drove them
to fight all odds, one may conclude that their love for nature was perhaps
fiercer than Group 1<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5UCX0nnClkIAWUDgQQete6722KCCTykPwgIo9wVjG_gJt4IFeAn85Wk7dzSZfdI7mIovjk_Yl4rjWX4bAspum23ZXDqIBiq3xzhiVQnNdzZB6hvaTj1lw1XABtG97vw2ZppC7Gj96a0/s1600/IMG_20170810_095807932_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5UCX0nnClkIAWUDgQQete6722KCCTykPwgIo9wVjG_gJt4IFeAn85Wk7dzSZfdI7mIovjk_Yl4rjWX4bAspum23ZXDqIBiq3xzhiVQnNdzZB6hvaTj1lw1XABtG97vw2ZppC7Gj96a0/s320/IMG_20170810_095807932_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a>(Note:
Jagan could not be grouped here. A careful observer could decipher that his
seemingly boisterous exterior clearly belied a turmoil raging within… find out
why ->here)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
While a
psychometric professional could create better groups and model the
characteristics, what I am concerned within my framework of groups is the
common underlying factor amongst all humans - </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
respect
for nature </div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
and the
connect with it, </div>
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Be it in
varying degrees of intensity.</div>
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We had
seen quite a bit of Bali - some enchanting temples, the party places of Kuta
and even the beaches. But this is when we got our minds free.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The trek
offers picturesque views and the summit is a treat in itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up here, do savor the fresh eggs - boiled in
volcanic steam. </div>
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No money
can buy you cleaner air, or fresher views.</div>
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<div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
What this
did in the end was getting us understand each other better - with nature
playing the most important and equalizing catalyst here.</div>
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* There
are multiple routes to get to the summit, offering differing degrees of vigor -
upto you to select your own. Our travelogue documents one of the tougher
routes, based on Group 1 overrides and absence of a democratic process..</div>
<br /></div>
Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-47582224095807053262019-10-02T12:04:00.001+05:302019-10-02T12:06:48.626+05:30Bali- Conquering Fear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaHbzPNo8mCs2F-BVmfk_D6HdWW_pCmc-F9OGhDYtKcKbWJnRyI3Hkf3MmGz0NxWL04r7nSYkW01yxYIs-zarAdY6Te-sRGcEiGwykOI2k8iS5sqt4j26q03iYJTP2RSpCif6G3m-idY/s1600/IMG_20170808_152136503_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaHbzPNo8mCs2F-BVmfk_D6HdWW_pCmc-F9OGhDYtKcKbWJnRyI3Hkf3MmGz0NxWL04r7nSYkW01yxYIs-zarAdY6Te-sRGcEiGwykOI2k8iS5sqt4j26q03iYJTP2RSpCif6G3m-idY/s320/IMG_20170808_152136503_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
beauty of Bali is known for its mystic effects on the human mind. Cataloging
our experience, we would like to </span><i>share the curious case of our dear Jagan</i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, who
was redeemed by Bali..</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bfB96g6H-tYgS2uorHpTaRMn_INHXVw3E-bJFk7nyNVpOTZue_K8yBKVpU5wiX8-5BeLc1gLt4ohav7ZZHrDSYfT4vUclQRmOrQ-SXLzWYL1JhFmBPdA0PmQL6xaeqfrgr0mpVGmw0U/s1600/IMG-20170809-WA0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bfB96g6H-tYgS2uorHpTaRMn_INHXVw3E-bJFk7nyNVpOTZue_K8yBKVpU5wiX8-5BeLc1gLt4ohav7ZZHrDSYfT4vUclQRmOrQ-SXLzWYL1JhFmBPdA0PmQL6xaeqfrgr0mpVGmw0U/s320/IMG-20170809-WA0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVoyqxFoXNWIeHFkt09EHvPJW0JxUHO1wgwoFPO193sRK-O2Qe-WJjoXN3StyhOdZCHeEnHOZ6Qn8fFuyRxsQTP5XlYxK1LphQQfEE3OeViOBuwWi2XjySp1dAlFy-6gu-_NO3m9itXg/s1600/IMG_20170811_161306029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1570" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVoyqxFoXNWIeHFkt09EHvPJW0JxUHO1wgwoFPO193sRK-O2Qe-WJjoXN3StyhOdZCHeEnHOZ6Qn8fFuyRxsQTP5XlYxK1LphQQfEE3OeViOBuwWi2XjySp1dAlFy-6gu-_NO3m9itXg/s200/IMG_20170811_161306029.jpg" width="200" /></a>It
seemed like yesterday that they had landed. Couple of days earlier, the gang
had conquered Mt. Batu. They had seen the famed Tanah Lot, hit the hip
party place at Kuta (where the ghost of Michael Jackson
had possessed Kingshuk). Darn Vivek- the one responsible for conning
him into nefarious potions, which meant that the lot missed the whale watching.
Now, they were at the Uluwatu temple<span style="font-size: 11pt;">.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8YJ7XYCyWHpLnoCNa_bMboH6nZYXsIWGMja3sVgDccXAPAUURjiHfvNTpfovAaVesKHZCE6FJfbNEtZgfp7iXSm4Pxx9EOxtfPCEwtFavmMPpCK0_oif6OkiiU_Nltht2gnNNRz2PKo/s1600/IMG_20170809_164338731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8YJ7XYCyWHpLnoCNa_bMboH6nZYXsIWGMja3sVgDccXAPAUURjiHfvNTpfovAaVesKHZCE6FJfbNEtZgfp7iXSm4Pxx9EOxtfPCEwtFavmMPpCK0_oif6OkiiU_Nltht2gnNNRz2PKo/s400/IMG_20170809_164338731.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Uluwatu & the Ocean beyond</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
He
viewed the ocean. Those conversations with self started in his head.
Admittedly, this was nothing like he had ever seen before. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNaDY0QMOoUjwNbPSJ6lUnBVk5FFWxstH4CcT_P3Lh-yl4aq2otDhwyu3oYsIccMXoG_A3TrbqprRJwi6-AEZLeuMeXKRgm_jMqd5t4mR0WTGxOvD6s3h_SVBTvsoz8VI4xsfPNQvZLc/s1600/IMG-20170811-WA0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNaDY0QMOoUjwNbPSJ6lUnBVk5FFWxstH4CcT_P3Lh-yl4aq2otDhwyu3oYsIccMXoG_A3TrbqprRJwi6-AEZLeuMeXKRgm_jMqd5t4mR0WTGxOvD6s3h_SVBTvsoz8VI4xsfPNQvZLc/s320/IMG-20170811-WA0026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Jagan's boisterous exterior: belying the turmoil within</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
He was
glad to be here. Here in Indonesia, things were similar to the way it was in
rest of Asia (his beloved India included). Failure was not tolerated socially.
Precisely the reason why he hated some of the western civilization, where those
nitwits glorified failure in the name of calling themselves 'resilient'.
Although now, the failure to live upto his own expectations and timelines was
turning out to be a constant haunt.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The
beauty of Bali was on the verge of pulling him out of the overwhelming horror
weighing his mind.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Mind
you, </span><u>he was no stranger to fear or pain</u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.. Through the paths he had traversed in
his life, he had witnessed a range of emotions-</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI53c5nvEf4xQ70IaKxPquYlwWNK_ZizZzOZtPEH30JVoCkHWi68akbgXKvQPFDP-l0-LIHWmfKbw5qlnr2gv_y5M-4VlzBirc25JAMIb58QsIJod0t9WdwSJVRCl0KqelgPn4ms6P1zE/s1600/IMG-20170812-WA0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="495" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI53c5nvEf4xQ70IaKxPquYlwWNK_ZizZzOZtPEH30JVoCkHWi68akbgXKvQPFDP-l0-LIHWmfKbw5qlnr2gv_y5M-4VlzBirc25JAMIb58QsIJod0t9WdwSJVRCl0KqelgPn4ms6P1zE/s200/IMG-20170812-WA0028.jpg" width="111" /></a>
<li style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">He had endeavored fear of
failure, fear of losing everything, which had threatened to drown him. Yet he had fought and succeeded valiantly (until now)</span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>He had escaped from the jaws
of death 5 times</b> (<u>which incidentally; was precisely the number of times he
had driven pillion to Vivek on a motorcycle</u>). With those gravity defying
experiences, he was confident of hoodwinking death, should it loom again..</span></li>
<li style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Yesterday, he had been to the water temples, where Sayan had made him worship a snake.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">He had sampled the extremities of all human emotions - pain and losses on the love front [both on short term monthly Point in Time </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">PIT love</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;"> & long term Through the Cycle </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">TTC love</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">]</span> </li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But this
particular venomous fear paled the above emotions and was eating him from
inside since the past few months. Just reminiscing it made him shiver. He
pulled back to focus on the surroundings.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>He had
to let Bali help him conquer the biggest challenge of his life.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">There
was this infinite expanse of ocean in front of him. It was as if the
waters were calling him.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWuFUAEpxWF1m-2ZVsNVzcpdYWYHNuh9Jpw9qcZdgJ2ZVt1-IEWh7UcWDmnkVE5LJzinlOr6Bv1BPji-rnVPDfN1-ED-bwJFH99iRkSN0Rs7pBTYjvqQ301R3Hh6hGrCcDELSxSJt8hA/s1600/IMG-20170808-WA0022+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1177" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWuFUAEpxWF1m-2ZVsNVzcpdYWYHNuh9Jpw9qcZdgJ2ZVt1-IEWh7UcWDmnkVE5LJzinlOr6Bv1BPji-rnVPDfN1-ED-bwJFH99iRkSN0Rs7pBTYjvqQ301R3Hh6hGrCcDELSxSJt8hA/s320/IMG-20170808-WA0022+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u>Trying
to free his mind; An instinct within beckoned him to jump off the cliff and
start swimming.</u></b> If he were to remember his geography lessons right, he could
swim to the next land mass - Antarctica (or Australia perhaps, if he were to
meander to the east ). He was viewing the endless sea from an
advantaged height; a look to the sides presented the spectacular
cliffs - their steepness and ferocious ruggedness was intimidating.
Just as you got your focus back from the sea, you were greeted by the fauna
sprawling across the cliff edges, a few inches from where he stood - followed
by rich flowers and never seen before foliage of nature.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVN6F2EvLQNYUumwZ-R5EoeiJm9NjubSiTGsuStbRVuCfJ5AQ2u0aZ07PItIFHu05tqdDwPkyKBNv0pTUF9pWUmqH-JZIBalnHDtMU79s3p-mjV0QWt7eoNxC2q-T8mlep9inm0a9R78/s1600/IMG_20170809_163846113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVN6F2EvLQNYUumwZ-R5EoeiJm9NjubSiTGsuStbRVuCfJ5AQ2u0aZ07PItIFHu05tqdDwPkyKBNv0pTUF9pWUmqH-JZIBalnHDtMU79s3p-mjV0QWt7eoNxC2q-T8mlep9inm0a9R78/s320/IMG_20170809_163846113.jpg" width="320" /></a>He
shifted his vision to his immediate surroundings. He was at the ancient
temples, dating back to the 11th century. It was impressive what mankind could
do, battling the fury of nature, to have built the beacons of peace here.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">If our
ancestors could do so much with their will power, so could he.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Suddenly,
his biggest fear did not seem that big after all. . Not anymore.. Escape was
not his way, he took a deep breath. He was a spiritual engine, built for
greater things - and he would not let this drudgery hold him in its shackles.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
In the
midst of these surroundings, he suddenly felt liberated of those three dreadful
letters. He was willing to let go of this fear and decided to set to rest that
modeling splinter in his mind, that was driving him mad.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
He
wanted to express it in finality and bury it. Now was the time..</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
As the
current performers cleared the amphitheater stage, he purloined the mic and ran
to the stage.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoworVlWmv7yHNG5Sg5o3C-XY3JKIbz-Hp_Z-9TGoXmnwYfUJ_WVsszRIAWS15X9gT_Z6x5ixw_M1ZQqjbaE4B7oQRDOugW5eZlZQMo85pYFKiRqCZ9YqVUpJvtIkvnYCoT7PSdyTidKU/s1600/kecak-fire-dance.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoworVlWmv7yHNG5Sg5o3C-XY3JKIbz-Hp_Z-9TGoXmnwYfUJ_WVsszRIAWS15X9gT_Z6x5ixw_M1ZQqjbaE4B7oQRDOugW5eZlZQMo85pYFKiRqCZ9YqVUpJvtIkvnYCoT7PSdyTidKU/s320/kecak-fire-dance.jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The Amphitheater - readying for Jagan <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(courtesy - Mazurkevich)</span></u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
On the
stage, he fed his voice into the mic, so that the civilization at Uluwatu could
hear him.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I am
a <strike>boy </strike>man who walks alone</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>And when
I'm walking a dark road…</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>At night
am strolling through Solitaire park...</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>When the
methodology begins to change</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I
sometimes feel a little strange…</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>A little
anxious when it changes again….</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Fear of
the Observed Default Rate (ODR), fear of the ODRrrr</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I have a
constant fear that the ODR's methodology is going to change…</i></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<i><br />
</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Fear of
the ODR, fear of the ODRrr</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(He let
the Rrr's drawl to emphasize his Punjabi-ness)</span></i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I have a
phobia that my PD term structure is going to change</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwVD_UkVaHPS8fX2ifrQlqwkwlS1jV5fenohyphenhyphencx46PUIKUynLJY3rz-2rkiwbDLLbrcBwXUqTnrcABQngvi4alfTPia8N05uN3Sq0kedm-Qm51QOSHicqfmTAbQ_k7Y7ydiiI_g-Ee3g/s1600/W1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="600" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwVD_UkVaHPS8fX2ifrQlqwkwlS1jV5fenohyphenhyphencx46PUIKUynLJY3rz-2rkiwbDLLbrcBwXUqTnrcABQngvi4alfTPia8N05uN3Sq0kedm-Qm51QOSHicqfmTAbQ_k7Y7ydiiI_g-Ee3g/s200/W1.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Aptivaa on Stage</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
He
turned to look at Vivek and shifted his gaze to Sayan, Paras, Abishek, Yagnesh.
Not a word was said; the connect was instantaneous amongst the fellow
sufferers. The gang ran and picked the guitars, while Yagnesh made a dash for
the drums.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcRbIdE3JZfFQ1XsrkcmHSAu4HaSmHXqj7BUmYaiocAPF8GjnCKecb4BRkSPff0nRQ6dt62pDnR7WdJwZQ6cQxPX3hAdQudc7Wj2oSQU8aQa_zFEeCVoZ3KFXmha9RcWFsbjxPNfO7WM/s1600/IMG_20180416_154516155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcRbIdE3JZfFQ1XsrkcmHSAu4HaSmHXqj7BUmYaiocAPF8GjnCKecb4BRkSPff0nRQ6dt62pDnR7WdJwZQ6cQxPX3hAdQudc7Wj2oSQU8aQa_zFEeCVoZ3KFXmha9RcWFsbjxPNfO7WM/s200/IMG_20180416_154516155.jpg" width="150" /></a><i>Have you
run your fingers down the keyboard</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>And have
you felt your neck skin crawl</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>When
you're analyzing your R code… (Kya?)</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Sometimes
when you're scared to take a look</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>At the
core of your code</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>You've
sensed that something's changing in the data frame...</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">At this
moment, he looked at the crowd. Convinced that the pain in his eyes was
conveyed indeed, he paused, and turned the mic to the crowd and shouted:
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Your turn Bali…"</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The
crowd, which had forged a connect - encored..</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Fear of
the ODR, fear of the ODR..</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I have a
constant fear that ECL's gonna change</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Fear of
the ODR, fear of the ODR.</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I have a
phobia that ODR methodology's gonna change</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A
Yagnesh hammered the drums and the rest were at it with the strings, Jagan
dispelled his final fears..</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Have you
ever been alone at night</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Thought
you heard chimes of mails coming in with all might</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>And
turned around to find a new account in cross default…(Kya?)</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>And as
you quicken up to prepare the data set</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXN2F29xLjYxb8sHrCb_RCyLtaYqfGftJDISQmUbIinl2NkzwvnDtWM6moHnRaczH2Do_HtIcZdTlQy3EdyEaFKi_a-SXnugD-4aY_sGLWEn11CEITTrU1I3rKgM6w104PWjOLgiO1Opo/s1600/IMG_20180416_154434782_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXN2F29xLjYxb8sHrCb_RCyLtaYqfGftJDISQmUbIinl2NkzwvnDtWM6moHnRaczH2Do_HtIcZdTlQy3EdyEaFKi_a-SXnugD-4aY_sGLWEn11CEITTrU1I3rKgM6w104PWjOLgiO1Opo/s200/IMG_20180416_154434782_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" width="150" /></a><i>You
suspect that dplyr() is playing tricks</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Because
you're sure that ODR has missed 12 month survival ..</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Fear of
the ODR, fear of the ODR</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I have a
constant fear that ODR methodology is going to change</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Fear of
the ODR, fear of the ODRrrr.</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I have a
phobia that the ODR is going to change</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10.05pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>When
I'm writing the dark code</i></div>
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<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10.05pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>I am a
man who walks alone…</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYnzTse-F1ah9WIUFiPQF_wjY9OsephH78eu3_Tj6maKZOvhVAVmtuC-nqMdPCb8AgQl47bWUdlWYMKiryaDJlSqkq5SuEP5GJpNZKLjgxoLhg3XTS0BkQhCkA4u40nIX2ZWyXAMs0DM/s1600/IMG_20180504_165608261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYnzTse-F1ah9WIUFiPQF_wjY9OsephH78eu3_Tj6maKZOvhVAVmtuC-nqMdPCb8AgQl47bWUdlWYMKiryaDJlSqkq5SuEP5GJpNZKLjgxoLhg3XTS0BkQhCkA4u40nIX2ZWyXAMs0DM/s200/IMG_20180504_165608261.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoiHX9azZeQ"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoiHX9azZeQ">Original Video>>></a>:</div>
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Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-53707891616258353002019-03-10T20:44:00.003+05:302019-03-10T20:44:21.785+05:30To LA (on not..)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Enough
of me harping my stories. To make this more interactive for the readers, let’s
try to approach this topic with a Q& A session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vsep078Xr9aMR1SLozFkEL-_5uUEU85MsPC16SgKpIIPbRhbdo_8-BIgwe9W7bOAXGDLMTcqTD4P274UHklWlkAUihDpyj4r6LNrsKsCF_9B_Pu8v5VtX57jjFWNWUlq1fphGQ-PIo0/s1600/IMG_5467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vsep078Xr9aMR1SLozFkEL-_5uUEU85MsPC16SgKpIIPbRhbdo_8-BIgwe9W7bOAXGDLMTcqTD4P274UHklWlkAUihDpyj4r6LNrsKsCF_9B_Pu8v5VtX57jjFWNWUlq1fphGQ-PIo0/s200/IMG_5467.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Q:
Come on! LA can’t be that bad. Things could be worse..</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIbSgpicb0MIMT2jE1l1VTnxjhr2t6lIs3e9vWUhAz-ieI1-29aWqxLmT6cWSbn4JegSXbiu2qLCYnxrrYR6_KH0m8D1kv6OBiO0PyyEV7tRvtVqcz4g0ce_9OR4uIK6-rHLlBHhgZxQ/s1600/IMG_20160602_085208191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIbSgpicb0MIMT2jE1l1VTnxjhr2t6lIs3e9vWUhAz-ieI1-29aWqxLmT6cWSbn4JegSXbiu2qLCYnxrrYR6_KH0m8D1kv6OBiO0PyyEV7tRvtVqcz4g0ce_9OR4uIK6-rHLlBHhgZxQ/s200/IMG_20160602_085208191.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">A:
Well yes, a lot of things could go wrong. A scenario analysis of such an
instance:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 1. </span></span><!--[endif]-->You drive to Rodeo Drive and pay a parking fee more than your car’s
worth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 2. </span></span><!--[endif]-->You liquidate all your assets, submit all your property deeds to buy a small
bottle of perfume from one of the gargantuan showrooms here at Rodeo Drive of
those unpronounceable labels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-indent: -0.25in;">You reach the airport holding
the prized possession closely, only to be informed that it is 101ml/ 3.401 oz,
and hence you ought to dispose it before flying out.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Q:
You mentioned LA feels dilapidated. But I’ve seen LA on TV over the years,
through Street Hawk, Knight Rider, Jack <s>Bauer</s> Bawaal (of 24 fame). It
does not seem old at all.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A: See..
There you go- I expect you are still stuck in a time warp, with all those
series you mention are from the 80s-90s era. Did Neil De Grasse Tyson manage to
tutor you on space time after all? Sure, LA must have been growing when Arnold Schwarzenegger
Baba reloaded his shotgun with a ‘Hasta La Vista, Baby’ in Terminator 2. But
then, as soon as the battle of T-800 and T-1000 reached the final stage in
Terminator 2, LA stopped growing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">What
you see today are those age-old neon signs, roads and pavements in state of
disrepair, etc. I take great care when I say this: The buildings, shops, etc.
seem to be kind of broken dreams. Not been able to grow or change with times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT7FqaNPFeWNKBeC-p-FiIOudgwslJL4CTVeE5t3xL5l1Q0_SSCSTSUb-nN1YINRAPLogG8YaB9NfBQuPqsdERiSDfy-9UiCh1AlZExQePPescp7Xm2tmBzSpZfw8RDFTwvC1_s_jvrs/s1600/IMG_20160602_230225768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT7FqaNPFeWNKBeC-p-FiIOudgwslJL4CTVeE5t3xL5l1Q0_SSCSTSUb-nN1YINRAPLogG8YaB9NfBQuPqsdERiSDfy-9UiCh1AlZExQePPescp7Xm2tmBzSpZfw8RDFTwvC1_s_jvrs/s200/IMG_20160602_230225768.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">A:
Well, we stayed right in the heart of Hollywood. Griffith Park was nice to look
at, but all those famous streets- Hollywood Boulevard, Vine street, etc. failed
to impress. If you ask me, the real culprit could have been San Francisco. The
Griffith observatory does offer pretty good sights, though I must say- that
Hollywood sign is overrated. We had driven down from SF and thus LA just
couldn’t keep up with our expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Q: We
hear you went to Hollywood’s Universal studios? How was that?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A:
Ahh.. An early jog in the morning around Griffith park and Hollywood Boulevard
proved that there was nothing we could do out here in LA. Hence, we headed out
to Universal Studios, complying with my parents’ recommendation- when they had
heard about our LA plan. That was a treat for sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Q: Universal-
It’s kind of a theme park right? Isn’t that kid-ish?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMdVpeZdFMe9_VIeV4xV-39y4NN-YCGsOyvYGRS2HotSbN6EPM-0r-5JorkPNqcSZA2yJ6hT4mRSHVTSzQgMkzoFzY9875rQvb_DnIxaAdM4kbNHnEZS-VfrGPqd3_VZp532QVh2-kto/s1600/IMG_5472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMdVpeZdFMe9_VIeV4xV-39y4NN-YCGsOyvYGRS2HotSbN6EPM-0r-5JorkPNqcSZA2yJ6hT4mRSHVTSzQgMkzoFzY9875rQvb_DnIxaAdM4kbNHnEZS-VfrGPqd3_VZp532QVh2-kto/s200/IMG_5472.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A:
Bah.. Humbug. You know there’s the Water-world, where all those guys come jumping
around on these really fast water scooters and do jumping around and save the
girl. That’s so cool!! Then there’s the Minions-land where we join Gru and his
minions to save the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">And
the Harry Potter world- it’s like the best thing everrr!! Lots of places to
Chillax in Hogwarts places; with butterbeer and really cool candies..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfEeIpco6hVK7-UIT2knno4WAsJX81OhyG7o4SxFG6mbVhAX9pgKPXkeWDWn80Ku_eseOnTNa_wooLIyN6r0zOWpn8CHcOstnN2W3xORCFq0VBuL-MZSSEPOrOazVp3AY-peWoa8DOFA/s1600/IMG_5581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfEeIpco6hVK7-UIT2knno4WAsJX81OhyG7o4SxFG6mbVhAX9pgKPXkeWDWn80Ku_eseOnTNa_wooLIyN6r0zOWpn8CHcOstnN2W3xORCFq0VBuL-MZSSEPOrOazVp3AY-peWoa8DOFA/s200/IMG_5581.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">And..
and.. you know what? They’ve opened up the Fast and Furious portion- where we
team up with Dom in his Pontiac GTO, driving past bad guys and all. And in the
lower section of the studio, there’s the Mummy, Jurassic Park & the Transformers
ride. Isn’t that cool!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><yes a="" are="" can="" faced="" few="" for="" hours="" how="" kiddo="" life="" make="" matter="" no="" serious="" straight="" universal="" with="" you=""><o:p></o:p></yes></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Q: Did
you visit the Trump National golf-club out there in LA County? Which reminds me,
there is an intolerance issue back at your home as well, right?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-yfWC75gRGcZVVn71CtOIyAEeeE1CIP6udfJlf5HnHKbAISOtQqak5YTVfaMTjDCZDFoQvz1kTSFkrik_zOqyLh53hbv3S_ee72f1CP69EX76if9S3QY3qjz2Ro5CsVoTY5a-0kMDwE/s1600/IMG_5551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-yfWC75gRGcZVVn71CtOIyAEeeE1CIP6udfJlf5HnHKbAISOtQqak5YTVfaMTjDCZDFoQvz1kTSFkrik_zOqyLh53hbv3S_ee72f1CP69EX76if9S3QY3qjz2Ro5CsVoTY5a-0kMDwE/s200/IMG_5551.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>F&F: Dom Toreto's Charger</u></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is this term ‘intolerance’? I’m afraid I
can’t quite follow you. Intolerance? Alluding to such convoluted and perplexing
words mystifies me. Who is this Donald Trump by the way? Never heard of
him/her. Will ask this to the smarter person in the house: my wife and get back
to you..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Q:
Santa Monica is great we hear.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYWq7g01VMLzSIQ1JMwhncCYCqvdZR9IarX4RWnZq6AFY0VpzKlr4yKSabycY_c4lEn1YMWq0R7WydRF09AcAvMrZUNJQDaMBk__sFC28p1Y54keFYw5fhhY8trUaf0Ww3OTUGt7yzUo/s1600/IMG_5652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYWq7g01VMLzSIQ1JMwhncCYCqvdZR9IarX4RWnZq6AFY0VpzKlr4yKSabycY_c4lEn1YMWq0R7WydRF09AcAvMrZUNJQDaMBk__sFC28p1Y54keFYw5fhhY8trUaf0Ww3OTUGt7yzUo/s200/IMG_5652.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">A:
Correction. Not great, it’s awesome! This is where the legendary Route 66
starts. The pier is amazing. While Pier 39 and around in SF was more of a
carnival, this one here had a great lazy feel to it, maybe close to Europe as
well! A few stalls here and there, lot of street performers and people immersed
in the sound of the ocean, with their fishing gear. It was a treat to see some
live catch. The neighborhoods by the sea here radiate a pleasant charm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Q: I
am planning to cover downtown, Griffith observatory, the Hollywood sign and
Walk of fame in my trip? Is there anything wrong with my plan? </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A. Leave
the plan. The problem is you. You should not be looking up to LA for tourism.
You could go to Universal or Santa Monica though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-49361120476201725602018-04-27T18:53:00.000+05:302018-04-27T18:54:20.148+05:30Always want to get back to SF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">San
Francisco – What a city! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">No other city liberates your heart the way that this
does. If you want to witness beauty, head out to the pier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFuPjCoTJ2TVE6pRASqbG-jAb3iycZyBmI-j-kmOEtLqktijHOtR9SVxJvYwmUW_D-oSuHqk4ineBoQoLWxFCG_YwhmrZ-Fhw4-lh24SQ8G5HdujgWBwC8AdI8iVtw-mylczvnegHzg4/s1600/IMG_5176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFuPjCoTJ2TVE6pRASqbG-jAb3iycZyBmI-j-kmOEtLqktijHOtR9SVxJvYwmUW_D-oSuHqk4ineBoQoLWxFCG_YwhmrZ-Fhw4-lh24SQ8G5HdujgWBwC8AdI8iVtw-mylczvnegHzg4/s200/IMG_5176.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">The wind
was had those two traits- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">it
is always fresh and has a mysterious pleasantness about it. For those of us
used to living in cities where a nearby waterbody signifies dampness, dark
waters marked by industrial effluents, the freshness of SF’s bay and the air around
remains a mystery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFwc5gO0mUkk8-DQ_F81nxVp3sS7UtTYG6a-U7wxriV9SAwaPuC7SnSMNSencSXpcmkY6UlCsmBuTkXSwrkobHulKoK-p6RgzgeYNjSybesJnJAhaQcWMUC6Y3EddCz9zhQHP81Ht6Qk/s1600/IMG_20160531_080956448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFwc5gO0mUkk8-DQ_F81nxVp3sS7UtTYG6a-U7wxriV9SAwaPuC7SnSMNSencSXpcmkY6UlCsmBuTkXSwrkobHulKoK-p6RgzgeYNjSybesJnJAhaQcWMUC6Y3EddCz9zhQHP81Ht6Qk/s200/IMG_20160531_080956448.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Vanchi - the successful Cali entrepreneur & his BMW</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpTuPNS9QxzgEp1qgh8UM_XdXs9WLw8XukADjFy0oDCLfOr8lGTS8WnhHTWGZ-kyxA4YcCNt6pvZ-0hS_tvZwEEWJlD2O9ZJikNCdceC7YDGrK0Eu-V3gbaFqF7su5x_y8x2cTgOgnKw/s200/IMG_5286.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Territorial war at Pier 39 - the big guy won.</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">The
dynamism of the city does not cease to impress. One can already hear residents
of a lot of other great city proclaiming supremacy for this fact. However,
until I travel other places, SF remains at top for me. For starters, just see
the people around you: You see technologists, start-up folks of all genre,
design people, finance guys, junkies, and what not. The last two are of little
help to the society, as pointed out by a lady in the BART on our way to
Oakland. The fellow lay on the floor in a quite a queer manner: The only
normalcy about his stance was how his hind was seated. His buttocks were
planted on the seat as is the case for most of humans, and everything else
differed remarkably. The top of his head was planted on the train floor, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and was serving as an anchor supporting
majority of his weight. His hands, as lifeless protuberances, swayed as per the
direction in which the train traversed, staying true to centrifugal force and
associated principles of physics. “Is he dead?” is all what the commuters
commented, and after assessing that the creature was still inhaling and
exhaling, he was left alone. The incident portrays the other social aspects of
a free society. While SF does inculcate creativity like no other, the freedom
other tools (they call it ‘almost legal’ here) can put you in a fix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">The
cool wind was levitating. In the bay tour, an emotional story of the city was
told – ensuring you connect with the heart and spirit, that makes this city.
Though history is something that is very limited in the States, it was
beautifully recited for the city, from the era of the Spanish quests, to the
gold rush and the fire that burnt the city down. You seem to live it along with
the sights. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fa7TYw9ueUuRHe_VbRpOuq4PlYK7N45QoxtZfnSXtaRddgZ1fT0mJN_ITuFjmvXBQRuiTQkV1thhNCI_rsPM_FDVwOwdeVop6EZZAQJNndrh9y5230TS5oC9y2mME7Rjs_xoKnh_ayY/s1600/IMG_5329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fa7TYw9ueUuRHe_VbRpOuq4PlYK7N45QoxtZfnSXtaRddgZ1fT0mJN_ITuFjmvXBQRuiTQkV1thhNCI_rsPM_FDVwOwdeVop6EZZAQJNndrh9y5230TS5oC9y2mME7Rjs_xoKnh_ayY/s200/IMG_5329.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBW4DH0X6qe5_3dSCCHKwfUGQjmgu3GSbFIc4iT-I3sWIvmiVy3gREf-vGPvDJABrYwhPke9tyBmIGFz0mQTn6gIGAWH5VncFwXy5FvJuNmu2KMDQaXEmoLH_voltjeYeoMC4hGyx0H8/s1600/IMG_5191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBW4DH0X6qe5_3dSCCHKwfUGQjmgu3GSbFIc4iT-I3sWIvmiVy3gREf-vGPvDJABrYwhPke9tyBmIGFz0mQTn6gIGAWH5VncFwXy5FvJuNmu2KMDQaXEmoLH_voltjeYeoMC4hGyx0H8/s200/IMG_5191.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">Undoubtedly,
there would be problems with the city, part of a bankrupt state, poverty of a
sort rampant in some pockets. We are However, it is a living dream- this city.
I envy those who can call this city their home, breathe in the California air,
mixed with the air of the pacific, funneling through the bay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt;">I
looked at the woman of my life, and thanked my stars for making this possible-
to be here with her, for that promise well kept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-54999243027918043412015-08-13T17:03:00.001+05:302015-08-14T07:31:22.422+05:30From Saki Naka to the Parliament: A letter from a common man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saki Naka:</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the land of chaos. So is </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ghantaa Ghar of
Ghaziabad</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dadar station</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bakaara market of Mogdishu</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in militant era Somalia –
I am pretty sure you all have a list of places you dread all your lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I, for
instance would give a limb to escape this silly city and annihilate that hell
on Earth called Saki Naka. I don’t need cigarettes to kill me. For each time I
pass Saki Naka (which is twice every-day), my life reduces by a fraction. The
rowdy crowd, the filth of the planet and eternal chaos on whatever’s left on
the road: leads to a remarkably high blood pressure and mental agony – slowly
rotting my flesh and soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This had to be the most dreaded place on the planet, or so I
thought. Until today, when I happened to watch <b><u>Sushma Swaraj</u></b> soldiering her
way, to make herself heard in that place they call the Parliament of my nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Dear Ms. Swaraj,</u></b></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbjysvq9zbmRLLnuPI3HRIBXFLDWrJnJvgnWg-3iCn7I7_6Ixm2GCXaXg6S6hfF_INieigGnU43Z584rIWLfZyiUiVLnjO61Dq0_jYhL1y1CynW_gWFLYeOgl_cSOWyI5jcc7AaBHQXY/s1600/SS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbjysvq9zbmRLLnuPI3HRIBXFLDWrJnJvgnWg-3iCn7I7_6Ixm2GCXaXg6S6hfF_INieigGnU43Z584rIWLfZyiUiVLnjO61Dq0_jYhL1y1CynW_gWFLYeOgl_cSOWyI5jcc7AaBHQXY/s1600/SS1.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Respect. That’s the word for you. For having been a real
worker throughout your life, for maintaining a commendable work ethic and
surviving between maniacs. I salute you for braving those mindless morons
shouting slogans yesterday and managing to get your message across. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was let down a bit when you pulled up the Gandhi family so
blatantly, for fighting an accusation with an accusation was the forte of those
hollow ones. You - I see as a firebrand
fighter, who ought not to stoop to such levels. Come on! That “<i>Mumma,
Quattrocchi ne kitna paisa diya</i>” was too much for the Gandhi junior. Maybe this is the only way left for you to
work with these rogues; but I still expect you to be above this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I am so glad that you fought within the system,
right in the house, amidst that chaos and came across victorious. <b>Somehow,
maybe even unknowingly, you have set an example for the youth: <span style="font-size: large;">That this is indeed a country riddled with
scum of people</span> (as proven in the parliament yesterday), <span style="font-size: large;">and maybe we all need
to fight to make our own way rather than waiting for a fair & conducive
redressal system or a systematic way to proceed</span>. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">I have to say, Mr. Jaitley's speech was very impressive as well. How he calmly explained the issue in detail. I am happy to see the support you have within your own
party, which in these days, remains a luxury not many afford. Congratulations! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Dear Prince Pappu,</u></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuzd5KrcZXX7-_epQiuL5pnngmMSONp8C7mIkhNSW976PIKFSrFAOHlUOX5ONMul0CuYn3hjrnMaHeV5MzKrD-73JFpt6SQq355pav7qeJOFffKceNYQSRnMIQnSCMAx_syIPN6RRHRQ/s1600/Pappu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuzd5KrcZXX7-_epQiuL5pnngmMSONp8C7mIkhNSW976PIKFSrFAOHlUOX5ONMul0CuYn3hjrnMaHeV5MzKrD-73JFpt6SQq355pav7qeJOFffKceNYQSRnMIQnSCMAx_syIPN6RRHRQ/s1600/Pappu.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(#pappu.. While I expect a person of Ms. Swaraj's stature to maintain
dignity and limit her mudslinging, I have the luxury of slinging mud behind the
veil of a common man, who in some limited way is empowered to express
him/herself freely by our constitution :) )<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are certainly not ready for what has fallen in your
hands. Please explore the world and get back once you have proven something. My
recommendation to you is to embrace an environment (preferably in India) which
mandates <b><u>struggle</u></b>. Pick your stuff: sports, business, journalism, baba-ism & spirituality (quite in rage these days), services, acting – whatever you like.
<b><i>Struggle is what characterizes the way of life (and possibly some success) in
our nation.</i></b> How a commoner manages inflation, feeds his family, how a middle
class wars to get his family a scrap of so called luxury of electricity, food
and a home (otherwise a basic amenity in many countries I am told) and how a
businessman struggles to keep his enterprise afloat in this hostile environment
– You have a lot to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would be great if your dear <b>bro-in law</b> accompanies you
for these lessons; at least he could come to terms with how different life is
for the common man and the least he could do is be discreet about his loot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ah, one more thing. Please stop playing the bhola-bhaala boy.
Please do not ever pretend that you had no control over what your hooligans
were doing in the parliament yesterday. <b>If you are still the leader in your
party, I hold you responsible for all that happened yesterday.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Or should I be
asking for your resignation? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When people say you are the ‘opposition’, that
does not mean you are meant to oppose each and every thing. For the act of your
idiots has cost my nation a lot of money, has stalled many bills critical for
the economy and hit the image of India by your acts of hooliganism. The
Parliament is not a place for such acts and I urge you to get some sense into
your people and uphold the dignity of this country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Dear Speaker,</u></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uK-J9od4Rs5SgKdsfq_Xg3E1mEjR-Pb1DJaKkWb3T6lGT1TVQFBKZLmSn9hEN_cOAqolDVnZix1xgnsP0ror-tfjeH57idrOGV7PA7erAjaSrf_zKdlGRc-jgXMbAMb7KzMCNAfv8Wk/s1600/Speaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uK-J9od4Rs5SgKdsfq_Xg3E1mEjR-Pb1DJaKkWb3T6lGT1TVQFBKZLmSn9hEN_cOAqolDVnZix1xgnsP0ror-tfjeH57idrOGV7PA7erAjaSrf_zKdlGRc-jgXMbAMb7KzMCNAfv8Wk/s200/Speaker.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can’t thank you enough. <b><i>Thank you Ma’am: for managing the
house yesterday</i></b>; for not allowing the catastrophic parliamentarians to murder democracy.
You reminded me of an old teacher of mine who had a hard time making us
cacophonic brats sit in the class or abate any form of destructive plan
incubated by us. Now a mature person, I always feel ashamed of the trouble we
created for our poor teachers. However, yesterday you stood through and bravely
managed something beyond what I had seen or experienced in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">“Show them on TV. I am requesting Lok Sabha TV. This is not
the way. I won't adjourn the House... Let people see what kind of behavior they
are showing. Let the whole of India watch. Forty people are hijacking the
rights of 440 members”- Your move was a masterstroke.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Dear Hooligans,</u></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Shame on you</u>. For your behavior, for creating a ruckus in
the Parliament, for your shallowness and for the lack of sense & brains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was left aghast by your lack of intellect – a point proven
when I tried to hear your slogans:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i>“Ek. Do. Teen. Chaar.. Band karo ye atyaachaar..”</i></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a hard time believing this and had to confirm this again
when you kept on yelling this multiple times. For this slogan served us last when
we graduated from class 3. Is that all you could come up with? Just shows how dead
your brain cells are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao-JRJZIV1A7mvFQHIsJmNBsYTKwRT-5zkVFSKOXCyJsfB-dhTadX6KFBZrYpwPEr7OQNrGqDvXkxvO0sI2D715tiigPDp84lj4eNGK-9vZRw8kOod1AmJ8_dcUqOTT_ga86bLhDHoHQ/s1600/Hooligans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao-JRJZIV1A7mvFQHIsJmNBsYTKwRT-5zkVFSKOXCyJsfB-dhTadX6KFBZrYpwPEr7OQNrGqDvXkxvO0sI2D715tiigPDp84lj4eNGK-9vZRw8kOod1AmJ8_dcUqOTT_ga86bLhDHoHQ/s320/Hooligans.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what good did you achieve, I ask? Asking a minister to
resign does not mean that you can stall the parliament. Do you realize the futility
of your argument?<b><span style="font-size: large;"> The country does not lose money when Lalit Modi travels to
UK, Sweden or Nalasopara</span></b>. But we certainly do lose money when you sit in that
house and carry out your antics instead of facilitating something
fruitful. If the papers are to be
believed, each session costs somewhere in the tune of Rs. 2 crores. This is
direct cost; I am yet to factor other costs and as far as we citizens are
concerned, we need to see some concrete returns for our taxes. I do not shell
out that money for your drama. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">This brings me to my request for coming to terms with
reality. You primary accountability is to the citizens of this nation, Pappu’s
and Madam’s orders ought to be secondary. Did you see how Pappu and Madam maintained
a silent stance, leaving the dirty work to you people? Do you even comprehend the
kind of fools you have been proven to be? Chanting a rhythm of slogans without
an iota of inkling on the proceedings in the Parliament: you could not have been
dumber. Your antics (under the leadership) have ensured that I will never
consider your party worthy of any meaningful outcome in the near future. In
fact, if you could legalize murder, citizens of the nation will make sure you
are crushed in seconds</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I thought I had found the perfect profession for you: Fish mongering in Saki Naka. But then, careful deliberation of the matter proves that you are not even worthy of that. For the trade certainly calls for hard work and some basic </span><span style="line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">intelligence</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #274e13;">, which I doubt you possess. So in conclusion, you might just be worthy of being sycophants to Pappu and corporation.</span> </span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Dear Prime Minister,</u></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congratulations for completing a year in office. Amongst
many, some of the facts that have helped you earn respect are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">You have worked your way up the ladder. I am
sure you understand our country well</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Winning an election in a country as diverse as
ours is no easy feat, so you are marked an achiever</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">You have given that much needed push of
positivity & hope everywhere,
investors included</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">By addressing basic, and even in some cases, embarrassing
issues of our country, you have brought hidden discussions in the foreground.
Addressing the toilet issue in our country, cleanliness, etc. does provide a
starting point</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Make in India: Brilliant move.. While we are
trying hard to directly jump from being an agrarian economy to a services based
economy; I am still not convinced if we would get far skipping the production
stage. Make in India is my hope of
setting the basics of an economic cycle right.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Hitting the fundamental problem for women
safety: Asking mothers to question not their daughters, but their sons on what
they were upto, their whereabouts (not eve-teasing, eh?), berate them if they
ever considered women anything less- You made sure that I became a fan</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">While we have a long way to go, I feel that
accountability has somewhat increased, with questions being asked across the
bureaucracy and officials turning up on time</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQYb0LqNAG97_EPgkg3xSUnZS6YplfY_QwJZWwtzfmxeJXsIGUzQpxPI8FEt5yrgCiq0ltJSCzp_O4oJvgSkcErsCmzw-5nFO3Rz8n5p94rSKdGE1fR-884pzpRaPRdU1iaFolLDJy-I/s1600/econ1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQYb0LqNAG97_EPgkg3xSUnZS6YplfY_QwJZWwtzfmxeJXsIGUzQpxPI8FEt5yrgCiq0ltJSCzp_O4oJvgSkcErsCmzw-5nFO3Rz8n5p94rSKdGE1fR-884pzpRaPRdU1iaFolLDJy-I/s640/econ1.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tXi2_1zorPZSu-YRJeVur83o0QXWB6YF5HD-5CWJYyISSQbm_GLNUiydRuXcdb84eDSOj3IOVlpxZ9Y3L342c7hLS0qTwmN6QDoQsAJx2WT8BBXtprV2Ddh8M0gagLeo4dZpP770xZo/s1600/Prime_Minister_travel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tXi2_1zorPZSu-YRJeVur83o0QXWB6YF5HD-5CWJYyISSQbm_GLNUiydRuXcdb84eDSOj3IOVlpxZ9Y3L342c7hLS0qTwmN6QDoQsAJx2WT8BBXtprV2Ddh8M0gagLeo4dZpP770xZo/s1600/Prime_Minister_travel2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But now, that dreamy image is coming to an end. And one
thing I agree with those ruffians shouting slogans in the Parliament is that:
Please.. Get back to real work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All those trips around the world are fine with the promises
of investments etc. but that is not exactly what only you are supposed to do.
Some pointers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Gentle reminder: Ms. Swaraj is the external
affairs minister, not you.</span></li>
<li style="text-indent: -24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BJP is not equal to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. We would like to see the core team empowered further.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">There are pressing issues back at home: that
call for leading by example</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Your personal interest in our domestic projects
ensured that things went on as per plan and the officials were monitored and
questioned periodically, pray get back and continue</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">I, as an Indian am never convinced on promises
until they are delivered- The ‘hope’ of foreign investments needs a lot of
ground-work before they are realized</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t get a bad bargain for us just to make
news. For eg: the $35 billion investment from Japan sounds great as a headline.
But there’s nothing in it for me. The Japanese banks are responsible for
managing disbursements with no mention of Indian financial institutions; the asset creation proposed and the emanating revenue is still not clear. Plus, these
investments come with riders. The money will never reach here until we assure
that our reforms take off and the environment is worthy of a constructive development</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to say: of late, your behavior is somewhat in the
lines what the country would expect a village idiot to do, once elevated to a
position of power. For instance, if you put me in a position of power, the
first thing I would do is scamper around to get myself invited to snazzy
places, make sure I am pampered by an army of dignitaries, clock as many air
miles as long as I am in power, and create a cocoon to protect myself from the
problems of the system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sounds good when I do it for myself, but not what is
expected from the Prime Minister of a nation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your current strategy of hard-selling without a robust
underlying product can take us only so far. May I remind you of the number of investments
that have returned thanks to the real environment at home? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us talk accountability in terms of numbers in a fair
period: say two years. Discounting problems back at home, delays etc., <b><i><span style="font-size: large;">if there
is even a 35% realization of the commitments emanating from your foreign tours,
I may contemplate lauding the efficacy of your travel and may ask you to continue
with your globe-trotting spree.</span></i></b> If that goal seems un-achievable, please get
back and work, before I place you in the same category as above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-30120036313871816002015-06-08T17:54:00.000+05:302015-09-27T19:29:19.682+05:30The Saga of Proton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the story of Proton: the automotive star of
Malaysia.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Appalled by the degradation of investigative journalism in
the recent times, our dear Shubham has donned a long kurta, picked up the pen,
diary and a side-sling bag to cover the journey of Proton. To avoid personal
biases creeping into my study & assessment, I refrained from referring to
the media or even the Malaysian people, majority of whom are very proud of their
country and its national produce (especially Proton). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hence I decided to direct my studies and discussions to the
dispassionate assessors of the product. The native inhabitants of the land were
nominated- those of who were not necessarily using the product, but have seen
it evolve over generations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi2rBgGS5G6W9VKTDf3NYMpREFClYkwo8kskw91FgIBwiESz3QmHOEbtpfFcXwQajHGQ1GXKe0-AUkSjlHMcC7Sn-AcC-ula6BaxoPVbOQMx0ytMWxdL-esYXLnw6FC4Jxo5CqHTHvSk/s1600/Saga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi2rBgGS5G6W9VKTDf3NYMpREFClYkwo8kskw91FgIBwiESz3QmHOEbtpfFcXwQajHGQ1GXKe0-AUkSjlHMcC7Sn-AcC-ula6BaxoPVbOQMx0ytMWxdL-esYXLnw6FC4Jxo5CqHTHvSk/s200/Saga.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: small;">One of the First <b>Proton Saga to roll out: @ </b>the <b>National Museum, KL</b></span></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>1. Malaysia & Proton</u></span></o:p></h3>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU7TjHKiWPviglrO9wj87qMs9bne_F1NfgqCCkPOc2v4VVYjboZqxrZcL9OVulIN-oYP7Gvo0oSQTNtSduKdkNP3ZeH7pVZ4MM1GFq3V_KIPD7vcV2U9FEvhgz941FRdoru8JKGsWO50/s1600/IMG_3787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU7TjHKiWPviglrO9wj87qMs9bne_F1NfgqCCkPOc2v4VVYjboZqxrZcL9OVulIN-oYP7Gvo0oSQTNtSduKdkNP3ZeH7pVZ4MM1GFq3V_KIPD7vcV2U9FEvhgz941FRdoru8JKGsWO50/s320/IMG_3787.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Hornbill</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good journalism calls for understanding the roots first
before getting into the detailed study, and I am not someone who disagrees with
this. To understand the genesis of the country and evolution
of Proton, I went to the ancient Hornbill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP (me):</u></b> Greetings Ms. Horn-Bill, how you dooinn..?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>HornBill (HB):</u></b> Squeak.. Snarl..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I recalled reading somewhere that hornbills hated
small talk and thought it would be wise to get straight to the point.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> It would be great if you could throw some light upon the
story of Malaysia and its rise..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: purple;">HB:</span></u></b> Malaysia gained independence in 1957 and we have worked
tirelessly to emerge as a newly industrialized economy. To give you some perspective, let me throw some numbers. The <i>per capita GDP of Malaysia is $17,500 </i>(against
$4,000 in India). In terms of Forex reserves, we are ranked #20 in the World
and #26 in terms of export, ahead of many advanced economies. The economy had been traditionally fueled by
natural resources but we have evolved a lot with our former PM: <b>Mahathir
Mohammed’s</b> vision of creating an industrial power to be reckoned with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under Mahathir, Malaysia undertook an ambitious range of
traditional industrial-policy programs. The two most prominent focused on the
attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) in export-oriented manufacturing, and efforts to develop “national champions” in mass manufacturing and
heavy industry, most contentiously in steel and automotive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Source: CIA World
Factbook)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEXUnRR6HLswASIICgdU0iCqiD5mZ-hrrQnDj8sY1UnGfNGs2tqnlDeSsHlRuSk3LymyB8Xh5_ZByfvm5iePZXN1RNoaUd82vjXDA2zfTB2ymDFNcz3scg-etKVKSCZ5Bp3M10nrRXo8/s1600/Proton+Logo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEXUnRR6HLswASIICgdU0iCqiD5mZ-hrrQnDj8sY1UnGfNGs2tqnlDeSsHlRuSk3LymyB8Xh5_ZByfvm5iePZXN1RNoaUd82vjXDA2zfTB2ymDFNcz3scg-etKVKSCZ5Bp3M10nrRXo8/s1600/Proton+Logo2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Could you tell me something about <i><u>Proton</u></i>?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: purple;">HB:</span></u></b> Ahh.. Proton.. Well. We are proud to be the only
South-East Asian country to have indigenously designed cars. Sure, Thailand
next door has a lot of manufacturing facilities for Toyota, Honda etc, but they
are simply shops producing the designed pushed from Japan (or elsewhere). The
idea was conceived by Mahathir Mohammed himself, who had the vision of creating
a product that will not just be an enabler for the citizens of the nation, but
also a means to reduce the import bill of the nation. Initially, we started
with the Proton Saga, which- along with the subsequent models were essentially
re-badged Mitsubishi Lancers. However, we have come a long way since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUg-IdGx598uU69iL6UhU9Cuai6h1N2DlEFlL6vL6ea4qq4aiJxzpe-7jbsXkYAjhePYulcHya0_j6UdJM3cAZbmgkzkqqO1gIQDMluAh-FDzqL7RTifcbl_Tl_lsifVbonLeI-vILlE/s1600/old+MY+numbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUg-IdGx598uU69iL6UhU9Cuai6h1N2DlEFlL6vL6ea4qq4aiJxzpe-7jbsXkYAjhePYulcHya0_j6UdJM3cAZbmgkzkqqO1gIQDMluAh-FDzqL7RTifcbl_Tl_lsifVbonLeI-vILlE/s200/old+MY+numbers.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmlHnIapbaf0HsW97PgFTyeH_JvvDz57uFLbCUX28PGkwD5mqIrAp_3i-C3OVYO8pqO7enSiXYuP1T7JHsF0BMoNLnQMXrxV7us1i78i08uXsTYWRJIjbL8leyWmAP3JlWyF2l7EfLq0/s1600/Recent+My+numbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmlHnIapbaf0HsW97PgFTyeH_JvvDz57uFLbCUX28PGkwD5mqIrAp_3i-C3OVYO8pqO7enSiXYuP1T7JHsF0BMoNLnQMXrxV7us1i78i08uXsTYWRJIjbL8leyWmAP3JlWyF2l7EfLq0/s200/Recent+My+numbers.jpg" width="200" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Is Proton still the leader? Do we have any numbers to
back that fact?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: purple;">HB:</span></u></b> Not precisely.. Proton was the leader for many years. It
was only recently, that those pesky mini-cars from <b><u>Perodua</u></b> have taken the lead in
Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Thank you for your time Ma’am, its been a pleasure.</span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>2. The Rise: From Domestic leader to a true Multi-National</u></span></o:p></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxPcj95wXtLjPxZw-bj3mJ3AFbKGbVAFUjgh362tEjru9b09RNWRJfl8w6DJPriRzmFOZPfOCMebSjl5nXt0vgmMkYP50mDr_cLeB055ZblhBNX6lY-_wk84Bmfk13n1p2f1RL9ef6F8/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxPcj95wXtLjPxZw-bj3mJ3AFbKGbVAFUjgh362tEjru9b09RNWRJfl8w6DJPriRzmFOZPfOCMebSjl5nXt0vgmMkYP50mDr_cLeB055ZblhBNX6lY-_wk84Bmfk13n1p2f1RL9ef6F8/s200/IMG_3821.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">The Chimp</span></u></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Armed sufficiently with an evolution story, I sat down for extensive
research. My initial findings did not portray a very clear picture, for there
were a lot of things happening at Proton. There were a wide array of models,
some phenomenal hits, with certain vanishing without a fight. The journey was a
ceremonial one, marked by an incredible takeover of a British sports car firm
by Proton and the transition from a state owned company to a privately held
one. I decided I needed to head to my second interviewee: <b><u>the Chimp</u></b>. I had
reservations about approaching this species, but I was time and again reminded
of their street-smart nature and analytical abilities.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Hi there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Meeting the Analyst <b>Chimp</b></u></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Chimp:</span></u></b> Howdy..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> I am here to get gain cognizance of Proton’s strategy. I
heard that Proton initially started as a manufacturer of Mitsubishi vehicles, then
there was a failed partnership with Citroen and the Lotus. Are Proton cars truly
Malaysian?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Chimp:</span></u></b> Well you are right about the journey. What you miss
is the major milestone: The <i>Waja.</i> This was the first indigenously designed Proton
car. While we have considered partnerships, we are now truly capable of designing
and producing our own cars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW-PZkSeNGAvtUMxyVbFv3AbrBZaQAwCG3JnhSpnHP7L2E_HhwdYlkyRF03mOwblBIvubZoxsfEoTmmYpj_CCCx4NpWlcSf2kq8jQZNujcQUy9w2uOAZv2HPxqVN33ECfaksqPtuw02k/s1600/waja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW-PZkSeNGAvtUMxyVbFv3AbrBZaQAwCG3JnhSpnHP7L2E_HhwdYlkyRF03mOwblBIvubZoxsfEoTmmYpj_CCCx4NpWlcSf2kq8jQZNujcQUy9w2uOAZv2HPxqVN33ECfaksqPtuw02k/s200/waja.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Proton Waja: Going Indigenous</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Ah! The <i><u>Waja!</u></i> I have sat in a couple of Wajas here. Not all
great reviews to hear, I’m afraid. Some people end up comparing it with the old
Wira.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Chimp:</span></u></b> If you would be kind enough to list the names of
those who dislike <b>Waja</b>, I will pray hard that they all be struck by lightning..
That is after I have personally shot them twice. Moving on. What more do you need
to know?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Now I have to tell you: when Proton took over Lotus, a
premier sports automotive marquee, I was very much impressed. I find a dash of
irony there as well; for while the British ruled Malaysia in the recent past,
it is stunning to see the Malaysian powerhouse taking over (and saving) one of
the brands that had played a vital role in establishing British supremacy in
automobiles in the early world war era.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Chimp:</span></u></b> Well, that’s how things are in the flat world. Have
you read Thomas Friedman’s books by the way? <i><u>Once we Asian tigers have grown
well after capitalizing our home-ground markets, the world is our next
playground</u></i>. Whatever Proton has done is remarkable but so have what you Indians and other Asian tigers have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Err.. I do not quite get it. You say we Indians have
done something similar??!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf3amMe6PfxIzCJn6CS_Tc0T9zjdVLu_5AssQrvMV7jtwFfbe3HA2UQp2l5P92fyc52AwJYOSsG-O2W8aIzvdCr2g697We3Xp0l_GSNbbYEqUO30qv-OYOuJ7xZBMtzWylXu9dD6Mc5M/s1600/tata+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf3amMe6PfxIzCJn6CS_Tc0T9zjdVLu_5AssQrvMV7jtwFfbe3HA2UQp2l5P92fyc52AwJYOSsG-O2W8aIzvdCr2g697We3Xp0l_GSNbbYEqUO30qv-OYOuJ7xZBMtzWylXu9dD6Mc5M/s200/tata+logo.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Chimp:</span></u></b> Bah. And they call me chimp brain.. Of course you
have Mister. This South East Asian automotive phenomenon started off with
Thailand first, China and India thereafter. And as for the acquisition story,
what better than your <b><u><i>TooToo fellow</i></u></b> buying out those automotive houses that are
still considered the pride of Britain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Wow! Right you are!! It’s <i><u>Tata</u></i> by the way. Not TooToo..
<b><i>Mr. Ratan Tata.</i></b> A great man, if I may add. Yep. Tata did come in as the white
knight for <b>Jaguar</b> and <b>Land Rover</b> brands. This also helped Ford revitalize
itself with the cash, which I am told, was what it was desperate for in those
times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Chimp:</u></b> </span>Yea Yea. Tata it is. And it does not stop there. It
was your home grown Tractor company that made sure that SsyangYong survived.
Did you know, what a great task this Mahindra has done?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SyangYong: A formidible player in Korea in the past</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> SsyangYong??! Those overpriced monsters they try to sell
us in the name of luxury? I don’t think that’s what I call an achievement.
Taking over a tiny motor company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Chimp:</span></u></b> Your ignorance with worldly matters is highly
irritating. Wait.. I had it on my files somewhere. Looking Looking.. Ahh!! Here
it is! This is not what I say, but what KPMG guys say in their reports:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So much for your claims about SsyanYong being a miniscule
forgettable player. You homo-sapiens have much to learn..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Thanks chimp, I walk away with a better understanding of
how automotive players transition from domestic markets to the global platform<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Chimp:</u></b> </span>Glad I could help.Now if you could excuse me, I have a banana to finish..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><u>Baby Croc</u></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To further the discussion on the recent state of affairs of
Proton, I headed to the Crocodile park of Langkawi. All the crocodiles here
were in deep slumber and none responded to my rapid fire of questions. Finally,
I accosted a jovial young’un, who seemed quite interested in a tête-à-tête.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The fellow analyzed me very deeply, seldom blinking or breathing. So I thought we were in a good frame to exchange ideas.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> So what are your thoughts on the future of Proton? Do you
think it will perform beyond it’s home market?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #274e13;">Baby Croc:</span></u></b> Wheee… Look how I wag my tail..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Charming.. But your thoughts on the domestic player
getting out of its comfort zone into mature international markets…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><u>Baby Croc:</u></b> </span>Watch us! We siblings can pile up each other..
Wait.. Sara’s not here. Nor is Tommy.. It’s a lot more fun when we all create a
mountain out of us… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraxOpUGA6UVWfBCddcXdbFAmdyHvP0BAPWGh0NgF5YW7N3DHBOndVMl5N7gWdCPMVbxin2MnQynSjiOXZNlsXlSWhIaEoNAUCE4mD3lajyFcD2KVSTiLfLKKrjzz5V28ZCGGhVZGlehs/s1600/IMG_3485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraxOpUGA6UVWfBCddcXdbFAmdyHvP0BAPWGh0NgF5YW7N3DHBOndVMl5N7gWdCPMVbxin2MnQynSjiOXZNlsXlSWhIaEoNAUCE4mD3lajyFcD2KVSTiLfLKKrjzz5V28ZCGGhVZGlehs/s320/IMG_3485.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I chose not to continue the discussion. It seems 4 month old
crocs are oblivious to the future of their nation’s champions. I ought to have
carried on the discussions with elders of the clan, but as I elucidated
earlier, it was impossible to wake them up from their slumber.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>3. The Road Ahead: What Destiny has in store..</u></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I decided that the matter needed someone wiser and more experienced. I decided to look up to the wise one of the land; the name of whom
I had been hearing ever since my arrival to this nation. After running for
dates with the wise brains of the land, I finally was granted audience with the
wise white bird. On the fateful date, we met for our round table conference.
Excerpt from the discussion:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><u>Wise Bird (WB)</u></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Greetings wise bird! Thanks for meeting me at such a
short notice. Really appreciated. My mind has been burdened with a pressing
question all these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB (Wise Bird)</span>:</u></b> Glad to see you distant traveller. Now tell me: What is
it that weighs your mind? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> I am a bit worried about Proton. In Proton, I see a lot
of hard work and effort of the nation. I will be crestfallen if it fails. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> You read Wodehouse, don’t you? Pray ponder on these
lines: <i><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Success comes to a hard-worker as a rule, so
gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and
realize the heights to which he has climbed</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrDviPFkHpzrCPer0R5elMkqlvaB9ZBqVAcUVaUZLtaWbeVBKHED7hBEzUo6S2_bBagVqTZOIhxR5kBwq5nTdSdNvWdAA3EqWvxlpsGFmngjFRQsFytHXoRaGVjCtFbe_MRwIJq4J2Fk/s1600/Market+numbers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrDviPFkHpzrCPer0R5elMkqlvaB9ZBqVAcUVaUZLtaWbeVBKHED7hBEzUo6S2_bBagVqTZOIhxR5kBwq5nTdSdNvWdAA3EqWvxlpsGFmngjFRQsFytHXoRaGVjCtFbe_MRwIJq4J2Fk/s200/Market+numbers.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> I cannot in my dreams try to belittle the toil of Proton,
but hard work alone does not make you a winner. I am particularly concerned
about the road ahead for Proton. In the local market, another homegrown
behemoth: Perodua threatens to weaken Proton (see figures attached herein).
Internationally, I am not sure if Proton is actually making a significant
impact. So in short, I am anxious about the future of your national car maker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Source: Malaysian
Automotive Association)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB</span>:</u></b> Ahh. I see concern. Is it love? Yes. I see it in your
eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP</u></b><u> (shocked):</u> Err.. Love?! Well I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB</span>:</u></b> Speak without fear child. It will easier to further the
conversation once you pour your heart out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hit-UGy0MiGomqNsAjIsTbElhJZ7Qhs634JwrDxQ8Hd7vqRrbEpFLtiAzrJkgaj5MV5A4ItLmZCqShxTFiOOo1X0vwjZOVMXL_UXFa1t9mdVcdAVYVFnUWX3t7MHlCetT3JmRJU-O-c/s1600/Wira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hit-UGy0MiGomqNsAjIsTbElhJZ7Qhs634JwrDxQ8Hd7vqRrbEpFLtiAzrJkgaj5MV5A4ItLmZCqShxTFiOOo1X0vwjZOVMXL_UXFa1t9mdVcdAVYVFnUWX3t7MHlCetT3JmRJU-O-c/s200/Wira.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: small;">Proton Wira: Loved by all</span></u></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Thinking about it. Yes.. I do want Proton to survive.
Love? Well yes again. It started when I saw the first era Saga and then the
<b>Wira.</b> It is the Wira that won me over. A huge fan of the boxy low riders of the
80-90s, the Wira did not have to try too hard. Like every red
blooded male, I loved the original <i><u>Lancer</u></i> & the <i><u>Evo</u></i> series. When I got to
know that the Lancer design was carried over for the earlier Protons (more
prominently in the Wira), I was elated! </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YIg2MHVgiOhsVoSyA0_5OcN3COA80wsAvgAOOsXngy5I4K8y-xI7W-JjOZL2AGakH2xsqWt6pMdwhKoBMvi4D8B8nGPnAkyjoXjTCPm1Po5bco2thL2eLVfV14h8gcAnVxToxwv8Pk8/s1600/Persona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YIg2MHVgiOhsVoSyA0_5OcN3COA80wsAvgAOOsXngy5I4K8y-xI7W-JjOZL2AGakH2xsqWt6pMdwhKoBMvi4D8B8nGPnAkyjoXjTCPm1Po5bco2thL2eLVfV14h8gcAnVxToxwv8Pk8/s200/Persona.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: small;">Proton Persona</span></u></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To top it all, all the cab drivers in
the interior of Malaysia seem to be in congruence with my line of thought. And
in my opinion, who are better judges than cab-driver: who spend a lot
of time with their cars in varying terrains. Why, I met one in Langkawi who
said he would never trade his 10 year old Wira for the latest <b>Persona</b>; for
there was no car as tough and durable as the Wira. He went on to say that
stopping production of Wira was a conspiracy aimed to make room for other
Proton cars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> Great to have shared your feelings for the Wira. I am
glad to see the respect it commands not just in Malaysia but even beyond.. But
you did not impress upon where your concern for Proton comes from? I believe
there is more that you have to say. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How did the wise bird
know I had more? That I was apprehensive in admitting my feelings for a relatively small automobile player? Could it read minds as well?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPLVT_RKLsEpBdI4armCcpaM5guYnY55au72p3Gozcc1TUNutUtVkYomzU6Wp2XF8mVBFrdIqZFxTfNqMOH3jNybaJHSXlCvSQVN7-ruXRG3X1DC9h1rM8ZjWQyoCHKOnX0kivNLQDSk/s1600/Perodua+MyVi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPLVT_RKLsEpBdI4armCcpaM5guYnY55au72p3Gozcc1TUNutUtVkYomzU6Wp2XF8mVBFrdIqZFxTfNqMOH3jNybaJHSXlCvSQVN7-ruXRG3X1DC9h1rM8ZjWQyoCHKOnX0kivNLQDSk/s200/Perodua+MyVi.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: small;">The challenger: <b>Perodua MyVi</b></span></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> I am intrigued by your powers o wise one. You are right.
There is more to Proton that just a car (Wira) or two. My admiration is more to
do with the story of Proton itself. I happened to read the recent history of
Proton and am awestruck. <b>A nation which gained independence later than my
country- went on to dream of a superb infrastructure and produce cars to reduce
the weight on the economy due to imports. Under Mahathir, Malaysia did make
this dream a reality. It is an absolute delight for me to see Malaysian
families moving around in Protons and Peroduas. For I feel Proton has indeed
been an enabler for the citizens, giving them good cars at a reasonable price.
And in return, the nation loves Proton and it is great to see the pride in
driving cars designed by your nation. At the same time, I do feel a pang of
jealousy that my nation has been left behind in this domain.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> Thank you dear fellow. Pray take a seat. Now tell me,
Don’t you have the same feelings for your national players: Tata, Maruti &
Mahindra?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tjEqiRnt23dGwWvjtTqqnkGj-vQ-cvSXfQI7mRrNy8_jOjSQkhU9W91hKr6KySDsgKXlt5ZrdaoKmU6l67H3YVAUybBDhFF06Gt-B2knoQdL5tr-ReB10EUceXU8ppUkcGZcdw9yCYE/s1600/IMG_3893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tjEqiRnt23dGwWvjtTqqnkGj-vQ-cvSXfQI7mRrNy8_jOjSQkhU9W91hKr6KySDsgKXlt5ZrdaoKmU6l67H3YVAUybBDhFF06Gt-B2knoQdL5tr-ReB10EUceXU8ppUkcGZcdw9yCYE/s200/IMG_3893.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>I took a seat, </u><u>as Ordered</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> I do O wise one. More so on the two wheeler front. In
fact, I ride a motorcycle indigenously designed in my country and am proud of
the fact. I can’t say the same about the other names you mentioned. Mahindra
and Tata make really great feature rich vehicles but age does show on them
thanks to the gaps on the quality front. As for Maruti, I feel as market
leaders they are cheating us a bit for the substance they put. Moreover, it is
not Maruti- it is a Japanese Suzuki.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> I understand your concerns mortal. But do not be too
harsh on your national jewels. Quality is not something that evolves overnight.
Give Tata time. Rather, it’s time is just around the corner- I have heard of
its new product offering. As for Maruti, I agree they try to pinch you when
they sell you outdated models or jack up prices of their bestsellers like the
Swift. However, do give them credit for setting the right examples for the industry,
by giving India specific solutions. I for instance am very impressed by the
Auto Shift transmission (not Automatic) on the Celerio. A great solution, at a
great price. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Thank you wise one. I will try to assuage my thoughts to
a more rational side. But forgive me. I fear I drift from the topic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> Coming back to our discussion, I would like you to come
up with the answer. I can show you the path, but you are the one who has to
tread on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> I am afraid I do not quite follow you wise one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> Stay with me fellow. Now let us address your concerns one
by one. First, you were concerned about Perodua right? I can’t blame you there.
Perodua’s little cars have taken over Proton market share since for a good
time. Now tell me all you know about <b>Perodua</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0jqBe_5h1daUWEIQpauFB3FgSppCdGK8wjeWO4oIuZgxbi791z_N7cbINCed8rNkGZjChdrm76kkaGTMDT05gYsypLSmWda0VBdqPWpLwOCOjRPQytn63I_zUgFtvE_Z2AHkpQl_eTo/s1600/Toyo_Dai_Perod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0jqBe_5h1daUWEIQpauFB3FgSppCdGK8wjeWO4oIuZgxbi791z_N7cbINCed8rNkGZjChdrm76kkaGTMDT05gYsypLSmWda0VBdqPWpLwOCOjRPQytn63I_zUgFtvE_Z2AHkpQl_eTo/s200/Toyo_Dai_Perod.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Well. As far as I know it is controlled by the formidable
<b>Japanese Daihatsu</b>, which in turn is controlled by Zeus of mass automobiles-
<b>Toyota</b>! So we are looking at Daihatsu Sirion/ Toyota Passo being labeled as the
Perodua MyVi to become the biggest seller of Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> Right you are. Now can you name Perodua’s mid-size
offering?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> I’m afraid I can’t. As far as I know, Daihatsu
specializes in mini-cars and small jeeps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLLB3nSQ5K-_YTwlgQaQCUrxTEJSdj992DJoS0i0Qe6gQxgfYmp142NyleO7HRVXzy2_QKxlOTe7neWpBfIRoZ5uexwX5xS0SjI2y7LD8W95dsqgMFWlTHF1f4DTDG_cyX9e8W7qFNDY/s1600/Price.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLLB3nSQ5K-_YTwlgQaQCUrxTEJSdj992DJoS0i0Qe6gQxgfYmp142NyleO7HRVXzy2_QKxlOTe7neWpBfIRoZ5uexwX5xS0SjI2y7LD8W95dsqgMFWlTHF1f4DTDG_cyX9e8W7qFNDY/s200/Price.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spreadsheet: <b>Prices in Malaysia </b>(1 RM=INR17)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Proton Saga costs 55% less than similar sized Honda)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oOQb6XY2vSoPgS50XgIHUvyjTt0RaagRVG1GqCjxkIZv7HDwSTE2lo1LnC02_U94KhICBup0SiPmSvBRAf21y9K4JO2FiitbLrt2JJVMrA_cAVIHSO8O_gjPH0GFP0wh0zoDVTw_8Qk/s1600/Perodua.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oOQb6XY2vSoPgS50XgIHUvyjTt0RaagRVG1GqCjxkIZv7HDwSTE2lo1LnC02_U94KhICBup0SiPmSvBRAf21y9K4JO2FiitbLrt2JJVMrA_cAVIHSO8O_gjPH0GFP0wh0zoDVTw_8Qk/s200/Perodua.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Little Laddu: Not as little as the Perodua</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> Excellent. So that answers your first question. Remember,
small cars may be a temporary phenomenon in a nation with great roads and low
fuel prices. And as our nation’s people are empowered further, they will aspire to
move from hatchbacks to saloons. And that is what Proton is prepared to do. It
is the starting point for a mid-size car, coming at a fraction of price of its
Japanese rivals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sample this spreadheet:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> The Price comparison puts things at perspective. But do you feel that Proton is slowly being labeled as a cheap brand?</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5DxJSwx43sXocsAfIY2wRADnNwnKMZr5Lwr3Mn7Q1DsHm93NqsgeKD-hrC6j5pYfNIYPdCOVR4h2n-veldN1RKeSuRQvAAyHAr7ZTWz6RgmCsH23DXAYWPOCU8VIzaqRUh77dJ3E9ww/s1600/preve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5DxJSwx43sXocsAfIY2wRADnNwnKMZr5Lwr3Mn7Q1DsHm93NqsgeKD-hrC6j5pYfNIYPdCOVR4h2n-veldN1RKeSuRQvAAyHAr7ZTWz6RgmCsH23DXAYWPOCU8VIzaqRUh77dJ3E9ww/s200/preve.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: small;">The suave<b> Proton Preve</b></span></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><u>WB:</u></b> </span>Partly yes. One place where Proton has erred is the brand
perception. The problem with this strategy has been similar to the one faced by
Tata. The Nano, an excellent piece of frugal engineering saw several Indians
shunning it away thanks to the ‘Cheap’ tag. Some of it is true for Proton as
well. With rising incomes in Malaysia, people are aspiring for more expensive
brands. But now, I believe with a product makeover, Proton is very well
prepared to take back the lost ground in the near future. Lets see how the new
Perdana, Preve’ and <b>Suprima</b> premium
fight to win their lost share.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz26GQP2jkI_Je0RT6nXLtdWrsXqykFxUmYqpnApCbDthyphenhyphen7BmoNTPyez97K3LOfETh79zCIYyj-qbCUgZNg1_hfgb7SPnaYX2BAhGawBSXqnaMHItrK8OHEvp4I-sgqDoUtmtruoA-VyA/s1600/proton+Suprema2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz26GQP2jkI_Je0RT6nXLtdWrsXqykFxUmYqpnApCbDthyphenhyphen7BmoNTPyez97K3LOfETh79zCIYyj-qbCUgZNg1_hfgb7SPnaYX2BAhGawBSXqnaMHItrK8OHEvp4I-sgqDoUtmtruoA-VyA/s200/proton+Suprema2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Proton Suprima</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP: </u></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope so with all my heart that the value proposition works for Proton. But this '<i>cheap</i>' tag is tough to shake off among critics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> “<i>Criticism comes
easier than craftsmanship”- </i> Thus
spoke Zeuxis in 464 BC. And I stand by his words to defend Proton products,
which offer great build & quality at an affordable price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> I agree. A small fact: I appreciate the thickness of
metal used in Protons. Different from our Marutis at home- which seem to be
thinning the sheets to drive up profitability and fuel efficiency for the
Indian community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlXpG1BxPcn1YstYN6QFMoW-oPR_sYnl5_j2dckX5OI6ppozPEoZy8D2TzE09dTp-LxbtXCNG5q93rO6oLiTkjVdUHbhjLdvi505i_ZimsOuwLEirCARj9NNBXOd0uc2QwFrV2brUjEk/s1600/Lotus+Elise+and+Proton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlXpG1BxPcn1YstYN6QFMoW-oPR_sYnl5_j2dckX5OI6ppozPEoZy8D2TzE09dTp-LxbtXCNG5q93rO6oLiTkjVdUHbhjLdvi505i_ZimsOuwLEirCARj9NNBXOd0uc2QwFrV2brUjEk/s200/Lotus+Elise+and+Proton.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Proton Lekir</b> (L) based on the gorgeous <b>Lotus Elise </b>(R)</span></u></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jJi3Ic9ABm00DJsRWMdbbMCgFBE1-JQW0PuUqOOWMHgiB6UqG44ONyd5kmPM_gdsT6hk11MDgVF8AwxCcA0CFftnh9xtgsXN7qMKTjqYSnNoW-W1Nuuq5CzBDXIgNYYwTu4vg5ZuTf8/s1600/Mitsubishi+Evo+%2526+Proton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jJi3Ic9ABm00DJsRWMdbbMCgFBE1-JQW0PuUqOOWMHgiB6UqG44ONyd5kmPM_gdsT6hk11MDgVF8AwxCcA0CFftnh9xtgsXN7qMKTjqYSnNoW-W1Nuuq5CzBDXIgNYYwTu4vg5ZuTf8/s200/Mitsubishi+Evo+%2526+Proton.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: small;">Legendary <b>Mitsubishi Evo</b> (L) inspires the <b>Proton Jebat </b>(R)</span></u></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB</span>:</u></b> Coming to your second apprehension: <u>Proton in the
international waters</u>. I have no qualms in accepting that the company is still
maturing in international markets. Ironically, the best way forward is
leveraging the expertise of established players while we create a decent user
base. Here is the <b>Jebat</b>: ostensibly inspired from the <b>Mitsubishi Evo</b> & the
<b>Lekir</b>; based on the <b>Lotus Elise</b>. You have to understand that international
markets were limited for Proton, which did not start producing Left Hand Drive
vehicles until mid 90s. Though there is not a big bang coming up in the near
future, Proton will certainly retain its share in the market of cost effective
automobiles in UK (quite a many Police cars are Protons here), Australia, Indonesia, China, and who knows, may march into
India as well. History has not written us off yet; we may not Remember- men/ companies in
however high power ought to fear the humble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> You say there is no big bang. Pray tell something more.
At least even some remote possibilities for the good of Proton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGS2Xq1VNUQtAN7VdUtdU_JzXM59Sj0YTuhqs3z8ohGAR7RVngKgJoDcp4s1FK3yHBx0LUxus-xMmIqLWSCQX2KtPDx5QR2ZI-40m35YzF9L-ppxJVpxdcWmyUkPvlANyf23Y9SeL9wE/s1600/Lotus+Proton+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGS2Xq1VNUQtAN7VdUtdU_JzXM59Sj0YTuhqs3z8ohGAR7RVngKgJoDcp4s1FK3yHBx0LUxus-xMmIqLWSCQX2KtPDx5QR2ZI-40m35YzF9L-ppxJVpxdcWmyUkPvlANyf23Y9SeL9wE/s200/Lotus+Proton+logo.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> Haha. So you really are a true well-wisher. As for the
potential growth spots, I can say this: Proton now owns Lotus. Though Lotus’
future may be questionable, Proton now does have access to the Lotus
Engineering arm, which has a rich history in racing. Also it brings along its experience in designing
futuristic cars- in house and in a consulting capacity for other manufacturers.
Also, the collaboration with Honda is something to look out for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Interesting..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Proton Perdana</u></b>: Based on the old <b><u>Honda Accord</u></b></span></td></tr>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOL5rRshqeJe7L8mYnr5C0FJbRkxW7TtsSlbWW4d3FGlbAYT4iLu_GC5un34ytW1glYC0cOxHHZJkbXAhGMPXlLlCIp4yJM1zVUO-DjglivfeeosIXO3uZxDDEXshdycfTifNBYoqELw/s1600/IMG_3895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOL5rRshqeJe7L8mYnr5C0FJbRkxW7TtsSlbWW4d3FGlbAYT4iLu_GC5un34ytW1glYC0cOxHHZJkbXAhGMPXlLlCIp4yJM1zVUO-DjglivfeeosIXO3uZxDDEXshdycfTifNBYoqELw/s320/IMG_3895.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: small;">Mere Mortal: With the Wise Bird (WB)</span></u></b></td></tr>
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<o:p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>W</u></b></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">B:</span></u></b> As access to
engineering opens up several doors
of possibilities, I assure you Proton will not vanish in the future. If
anything, it will be stronger and a force to reckoned with. It has seen many
things in its time and is moving ahead with a stronger resolve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Borrowing a quote, I say this: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Viklavo veeryaheeno yah sa daivamanuvartate<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Veeraah sambhaavitaatmaano na daivam paryupaasate <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SP:</u></b> Err.. Sir, I am not sure I understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">WB:</span></u></b> I borrow these quotes from your scriptures dear fellow,
this one from the fabled Ramayana. What I wish to convey is that: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Only the timid and the weak leave things to destiny (daivam) but the strong and the self-confident never
bank on destiny or luck (bhagya) </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s wishing Proton a great journey ahead and hope to
welcome it to India soon..</span></div>
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Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-34723607583633449472015-06-08T10:10:00.002+05:302015-06-09T13:40:40.548+05:30Beyond words: Langkawi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
(<a href="http://lifeisanopenroad2me.blogspot.in/2015/06/langkawi-island-and-rebak-resort.html">..Continued from Part 1</a>)<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YRZA3vWFh0UgjVmvmsDnwLQXi2R9NoLHcfqAghQ3JQFRKRTFhn_1BD37PcecDPsHamrOQak2II9Y-JlevZN9w1sa-05j-WrTqqpW6cstSDGUDzoR6dUyIG44CxgIqPgC0U6upuxRhsA/s1600/IMG_3750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YRZA3vWFh0UgjVmvmsDnwLQXi2R9NoLHcfqAghQ3JQFRKRTFhn_1BD37PcecDPsHamrOQak2II9Y-JlevZN9w1sa-05j-WrTqqpW6cstSDGUDzoR6dUyIG44CxgIqPgC0U6upuxRhsA/s400/IMG_3750.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Eagle Square: Langkawi</u></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the wee hours of the morning, war waged between the
screaming alarm out and the somnolent eye slits. <span style="font-size: large;">Sleep flexed its muscles and
it brutally annihilated that pestering alarm, for that wretched thing was put
off for good</span>. What followed later at the time of waking up was a mini skirmish
with time again and it seemed that the previous battle with the alarm had not
been a prudent one. We ran: to freshen up, hit the swimming pool, scavenge the
breakfast spread and catch the last morning boat to the pier. Yes, even in this
maniacal race we had to hit the swimming pool here. Skipping it is not an
option. Once you are here and have experienced its splendor: the beach, sea
nearby and the in-pool bar, there is no way you are going to skip it any day.
Once the boat brought us from the island to the pier, we hired a bike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9GMxyOOXU1c9QekOhhsfxCZssderSYs7ckEx9UzmqP2rOxqDBpjD_QjPvRn0ZNXHx_diHXsE86GVNs9yvlflVZMjSd-shNuwT92HE1REi5HhVP5UYsp4k7uEJ5iiS3sas1qbv30ZCag/s1600/IMG_20150502_072848675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9GMxyOOXU1c9QekOhhsfxCZssderSYs7ckEx9UzmqP2rOxqDBpjD_QjPvRn0ZNXHx_diHXsE86GVNs9yvlflVZMjSd-shNuwT92HE1REi5HhVP5UYsp4k7uEJ5iiS3sas1qbv30ZCag/s1600/IMG_20150502_072848675.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Driving through Langkawi on your own is highly recommended.</b>
If you can brave the tropical sun a bit and pray to all Gods against rain, a
two wheeler is highly recommended over hiring a car. I love bikes, but those
automatic bikes/ scooters with smaller tires scare the living daylights out of
me. I announced my trepidation publicly and Sona gladly hopped on to the
rider’s seat with me at the back. The
ride is mesmerizing. You witness lush green, thickly tree scented air and keep
anticipating as to what a spectacle the next turn will bring for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FsQroTO7GPrKkF381F72OjcnZnlvEABCnI3S_oNSCqikZCgHENozYbMkJt1annT-s8eWKUetm_2Y2NXo4C1fNUNotUzz7dZpn3V-AkZk5BlQHdIElRH4HhiC-VIlIz0HtZOJNAaUm2o/s1600/IMG_3446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FsQroTO7GPrKkF381F72OjcnZnlvEABCnI3S_oNSCqikZCgHENozYbMkJt1annT-s8eWKUetm_2Y2NXo4C1fNUNotUzz7dZpn3V-AkZk5BlQHdIElRH4HhiC-VIlIz0HtZOJNAaUm2o/s320/IMG_3446.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Langkawi ropeway was a pain. The agonizing line here is
to blame for the pain. The websites, travel blogs and tripadvisor did counsel
us to pre-book the cable car online. However, this fact was too much for my
cache memory, which historically has shown poor performance in such rushed
mornings. So here we were, in the bright sun: in the perennial queue that
refused to slither on. So here’s what we did: We braved on the sun to excavate
our tickets and got the slot for late afternoon. Then, we returned to our dear
M-80 Major look-alike-Yamaha and zipped off to the ‘<b>Seven Hills Waterfall</b>’
which was located nearby; according to the map. It is quite a steep trek from
the parking – fact corroborated by our screaming knees (the next day). Here
Sona had a dreamy time taking a dip in the fresh waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT_dRYEbGzyygi-DIP4uPW1txVV9Uydwz0qB53_9PmqjFpysMWUJXiA3DFmNxxfJYstt2ssQRMyccJsqNxIS9GosAh6mT9EDnUj7WHumK2zendfyDBHQkBZnQ7Iey8OYA023MOkI-2vM/s1600/IMG_3542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT_dRYEbGzyygi-DIP4uPW1txVV9Uydwz0qB53_9PmqjFpysMWUJXiA3DFmNxxfJYstt2ssQRMyccJsqNxIS9GosAh6mT9EDnUj7WHumK2zendfyDBHQkBZnQ7Iey8OYA023MOkI-2vM/s200/IMG_3542.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Seven Hills Waterfall</u></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkI3UxGP-qmWIzPYtkZjV38qGcsq094NjtG65NT2SAakzGS-EbhUuKJUDD-uuKV25Hw0RMFXiFs8jwgPdEdV8ZdDx8vv1Wmv68wA7eigpvkOQVRk4y-qe1qOaownFJUrbzJbZ0R9uDLI/s1600/IMG_3461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkI3UxGP-qmWIzPYtkZjV38qGcsq094NjtG65NT2SAakzGS-EbhUuKJUDD-uuKV25Hw0RMFXiFs8jwgPdEdV8ZdDx8vv1Wmv68wA7eigpvkOQVRk4y-qe1qOaownFJUrbzJbZ0R9uDLI/s320/IMG_3461.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Dipping in @ Seven Hills Waterfall..</u></b></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23AYOTwrQlyW2ELkaSCY2z9d78LimExq2lOf9CVQiQ898-zOCwS6U6aAGSCzBVncitZjBKgGcUKFQrBWIwZZ-hFAFZ22YAnxw56hdu-UW72dFH6oOUe_aD0q29TF0ox5SOsHdO-PkWbk/s1600/IMG_20150502_111202636_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23AYOTwrQlyW2ELkaSCY2z9d78LimExq2lOf9CVQiQ898-zOCwS6U6aAGSCzBVncitZjBKgGcUKFQrBWIwZZ-hFAFZ22YAnxw56hdu-UW72dFH6oOUe_aD0q29TF0ox5SOsHdO-PkWbk/s320/IMG_20150502_111202636_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We then visited the crocodile farm. I am not sure if I can
recommend this as a ‘must visit place’, but we definitely had a good time. The
Crocs, slimy as they are, do make your spine shiver more than once, but the
farm is overall a pleasant place with a lot of variety and numbers to offer.
Another place worth a visit is the <b>Eagle Square</b>, which is the town center.
Although there’s not much to do here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLnUs1ycxn_4m5rio5UWQ5TGBmmjrOI7u5cB-_9rYqq_9t3G6BxAwkN-1tGLyFnCaXdxsoqV1J1Su7fQsijJd3zc7CDDqgCxR0NrTI8qrxU7p9gKkVjKWioh1tIiN1cy8nCmCkwaM124/s1600/IMG_3522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLnUs1ycxn_4m5rio5UWQ5TGBmmjrOI7u5cB-_9rYqq_9t3G6BxAwkN-1tGLyFnCaXdxsoqV1J1Su7fQsijJd3zc7CDDqgCxR0NrTI8qrxU7p9gKkVjKWioh1tIiN1cy8nCmCkwaM124/s200/IMG_3522.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ81doMEIJ5tu-Cvu8U8KiuhxQCS45vL7sRUBKdimHKdjyhboQ0JeohnHYNFD9XNPF4ZAafIsxITxKTXV-F2UqK8dpyNactWAWTtpsf15RpdmcDE-aGZ94VNF60SQYpdW9gxfdWnGQ0DM/s1600/IMG_3485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ81doMEIJ5tu-Cvu8U8KiuhxQCS45vL7sRUBKdimHKdjyhboQ0JeohnHYNFD9XNPF4ZAafIsxITxKTXV-F2UqK8dpyNactWAWTtpsf15RpdmcDE-aGZ94VNF60SQYpdW9gxfdWnGQ0DM/s320/IMG_3485.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Piling up: Crocodile park</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzW6zYNnOcai1QAoisvUcc04fsnVI3YvfhgsMmHN3RWNzIesjGkvSaOCjs-3kqVxfvo7_XjnWhwRaMjxTsGrBiDkFJzhmzyFqmSw6KPJoLI3dHUO7NF9JYKkia5n6hs7A89Svh0qBFK4/s1600/IMG_3521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzW6zYNnOcai1QAoisvUcc04fsnVI3YvfhgsMmHN3RWNzIesjGkvSaOCjs-3kqVxfvo7_XjnWhwRaMjxTsGrBiDkFJzhmzyFqmSw6KPJoLI3dHUO7NF9JYKkia5n6hs7A89Svh0qBFK4/s320/IMG_3521.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hit the local cafeteria at the Crocodile park and Sona
popped up a question which was becoming kind of obvious now: <b><i>“Where are all the
local men? Why do I see only women working everywhere?”</i></b>. This is quite a deep
and powerful question- in a good sense. This question came to us as all the
places we had visited (mostly servicing front ends: shops, ticket counters,
etc.), were manned (or woman-ned perhaps?) by women. Remember, Malaysia’s
population comprises predominantly of a Muslim population, and many nations
with similar concentrations are known not to be very conducive in terms of
liberty and working environment for women. With so many women working, <a href="http://www.msmenewsnetwork.com/malaysia/news/item/3786-making-the-case-for-having-more-women-in-the-workforce">Malaysia
has truly set an example</a> not just for radical nations or the developing
countries, but even the developed ones of the world (<a href="http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21599763-womens-lowly-status-japanese-workplace-has-barely-improved-decades-and-country">I refer to this- related article from a recent Economist edition</a>). We both were very
impressed by the equality maintained in both unskilled and skilled work
domains. We are well versed with the term “<i>women empowerment</i>” thanks to our
national jester back home in India (<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahulSpeaksToArnab?src=hash"><span class="prettylink-prefix"><span style="background: white; color: #2b7bb9; text-decoration: none;">#</span></span><span class="prettylink-value"><span style="background: white; color: #2b7bb9; text-decoration: none;">RahulSpeaksToArnab</span></span></a>),
and it is good to see more of results than talk here in Malaysia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj1O-j-bnGD2VybLEGjfK2mtplEA6BqbYWYqCfLKjeEvB6oHBaN_e-zvDCAo_D01GhwyVe4SynMTmKrHGamIhgSGg9ZpjWF8q5VupcAoYXucWUXErn4HJKk_C7Ldzwrzttip02OJpnU0/s1600/IMG_3526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj1O-j-bnGD2VybLEGjfK2mtplEA6BqbYWYqCfLKjeEvB6oHBaN_e-zvDCAo_D01GhwyVe4SynMTmKrHGamIhgSGg9ZpjWF8q5VupcAoYXucWUXErn4HJKk_C7Ldzwrzttip02OJpnU0/s320/IMG_3526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After time well spent at both these places (Seven hills
waterfall and Croc park), we headed back to the ‘<b>Oriental Village</b>’- where the
<b>Langkawi ropeway</b> originates. There is quite a lot to do here at the oriental
village including all the fun and frolic of a fair, such as shopping,
joy-rides, eateries, etc. By the time we reached the cable car, I was quite fed
up of the queues (which were a reminiscence of my home country). Thankfully,
the view cheered us up. There are two legs to the journey (roughly of about 15
minutes each), with the famous Skybridge at the last leg. The SkyCab (gondolas) propel you to an altitude of 708 m covering an impressive distance of around 2.2Km. The temperature here is at least 5 degrees cooler than the island with great winds. <span style="font-size: large;">The sight at the top
is beyond what my vocabulary can attempt to describe.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bddIKVCHnYATAL1rh80OD7-_WEBM3jeOOQ6V_gojwZLH-FnrJmSPsvhyxZrJOl71NkiioNCSli0efUrtEsStiRPq6cWr4QF_ZHuBPBEPGDq6RUgWDd01-9bRKe_gKii0Qvi0yT9uHCg/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bddIKVCHnYATAL1rh80OD7-_WEBM3jeOOQ6V_gojwZLH-FnrJmSPsvhyxZrJOl71NkiioNCSli0efUrtEsStiRPq6cWr4QF_ZHuBPBEPGDq6RUgWDd01-9bRKe_gKii0Qvi0yT9uHCg/s320/IMG_3552.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>The ropeway is a scary affair: Trust me!</u></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh258zUT5ixWKQHZ_fxCChWjeFvwqhbkDJJ40zMwGHubYZr6g0DkHimpQ65IIxzRmAla4MABVtgGnse4leYQjg1snzVIyKujBmUw7inA6yRMJGoFM3X80wTixd-WpF-BtDuFrgABtkNSt0/s1600/IMG_3630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh258zUT5ixWKQHZ_fxCChWjeFvwqhbkDJJ40zMwGHubYZr6g0DkHimpQ65IIxzRmAla4MABVtgGnse4leYQjg1snzVIyKujBmUw7inA6yRMJGoFM3X80wTixd-WpF-BtDuFrgABtkNSt0/s320/IMG_3630.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-Ecj5OTgkAwFvV0bu-nVNTOYUEEjvCDYRl6kU_7bwRXra0hBYgAFw7M2ZlUHC78zVpnM05ywznx3UwvyIDb7sM5MbAWIf97eQ3z4hcshwA567DxdFRUZy18k-Ee9AfOBuplNpPBkvEs/s1600/IMG_3587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-Ecj5OTgkAwFvV0bu-nVNTOYUEEjvCDYRl6kU_7bwRXra0hBYgAFw7M2ZlUHC78zVpnM05ywznx3UwvyIDb7sM5MbAWIf97eQ3z4hcshwA567DxdFRUZy18k-Ee9AfOBuplNpPBkvEs/s1600/IMG_3587.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>SkyBridge</u></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIak26sOmBageGCGPqrkBpYT-nhk62QgEvk-eEVjKYmKpF5Vyt6yxeAKpTDKsn91P-utbMlXL07nej_flbrTUvealWbzyIB49p7iqs1aMv1jzHRmpCKPp3Cp8OmFusHJkwuWB0ufAAYY/s1600/IMG_3631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIak26sOmBageGCGPqrkBpYT-nhk62QgEvk-eEVjKYmKpF5Vyt6yxeAKpTDKsn91P-utbMlXL07nej_flbrTUvealWbzyIB49p7iqs1aMv1jzHRmpCKPp3Cp8OmFusHJkwuWB0ufAAYY/s320/IMG_3631.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>SRK pulled off some stunts here in Don2; Today it's Sona</u></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Skybridge:</u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The First to catch your attention is the
architecture of the bridge: a curved suspension, the balance proves that is a
marvel in structural engineering. The spectacle plays games with you. There is
a visual game played by the surroundings (which means the whole of Langkawi);
the far sea challenges you to pin point that blue of the horizon, where the sky
melts into the sea. It gives a moment to witness and appreciate the elements,
the expanse of land far below, the fresh cool wind in your face, the sky, the passionate
sea; with little violent territories spread over.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGvMml7c0s9lwTsZE7W_wgxBLTzUHmHXdau9841DWXAXhekYISvDdlVSeUu8-SMpR2gEj19cM4tx4pN2-tyLtBf1yzQCuxN7zwQJczz4CyOBxfkyOn4ov2sa9UprrhK2Px3y2I-urMG4/s1600/IMG_3639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGvMml7c0s9lwTsZE7W_wgxBLTzUHmHXdau9841DWXAXhekYISvDdlVSeUu8-SMpR2gEj19cM4tx4pN2-tyLtBf1yzQCuxN7zwQJczz4CyOBxfkyOn4ov2sa9UprrhK2Px3y2I-urMG4/s200/IMG_3639.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwz6KWaXJ27XhTRbAmH0mf-HyNDUyVzWV9BtuGlzLZC_TSaqYRZaCNYczRRRW4SOBQ3GH22MVvSE-roVc6c9Oka9zM4Wh2Y1MGPcPyBP2ukCkSbTUXUtdztOE5CDtXB9VK5HK3tcAir4o/s1600/IMG_3646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwz6KWaXJ27XhTRbAmH0mf-HyNDUyVzWV9BtuGlzLZC_TSaqYRZaCNYczRRRW4SOBQ3GH22MVvSE-roVc6c9Oka9zM4Wh2Y1MGPcPyBP2ukCkSbTUXUtdztOE5CDtXB9VK5HK3tcAir4o/s320/IMG_3646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through some unseen powers,
all of them seem to be whispering in my ear, my head: gently reminding me of
what I am- a tiny speck in the lap of nature. It is a pristine place where you
could possibly get lost in the depth of your own soul, where we felt beating of
our hearts in midst of howling winds. At any moment of time there are little
and big nagging things trapped inside us, all the shackles of the daily life,
and here, the free winds magically liberated us.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4su9vyuh_I91Lp3DTD4CrAUsuOOYAaJRgN5l_2a4RLphyphenhyphenjiPvmoNP4CqorxS3XCSC_mR4ab-OPMs65XUFfSZTvoB_iUeUWKReDljMAPjLtW8iUTRx6NblOvPP58XV0GGs3ZM3Usu-org/s1600/IMG_3649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4su9vyuh_I91Lp3DTD4CrAUsuOOYAaJRgN5l_2a4RLphyphenhyphenjiPvmoNP4CqorxS3XCSC_mR4ab-OPMs65XUFfSZTvoB_iUeUWKReDljMAPjLtW8iUTRx6NblOvPP58XV0GGs3ZM3Usu-org/s320/IMG_3649.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another thing I witnessed here was Infinity: Here, in the
vast expanse of nature seemed to have perhaps extended time into another
dimension, our senses working to soak in everything they could. And when we did
come out of this trance to reality, I immediately knew what infinity is. That
moment: out there was something that Sona and I will remember forever; no
matter how time treats us in various circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some ask me: <b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">How was Langkawi </span></u></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>different</u></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>?</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat on that question for a few days, pondered on and could
not conclude. Now, I attempt to answer it in my own way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kuala Lumpur</b> & <b>Singapore</b> are those <b>Linkin Park</b> tracks
or even the <b>trashy Bollywood hit </b>tracks topping the charts (including the crass
called Honey Singh of course). Like those tracks, you love Singapore or Kuala
Lumpur as they have been certified by the public. There is a lot to talk about
them in your circles and make a point that you’ve been there, done that, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQJjMnJwc6FkyYfx_ppqeRjYK7d22dWeXtxqI3pKrtYQRQ6WxjSaXb8wGB3LRIrCJbvm9BORkOD70QUj1n05KD8csWvayEmrq7XQVVSo6ivqlWAUL8D_j8nkFUjesb0TLM8oeriTGvMY/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQJjMnJwc6FkyYfx_ppqeRjYK7d22dWeXtxqI3pKrtYQRQ6WxjSaXb8wGB3LRIrCJbvm9BORkOD70QUj1n05KD8csWvayEmrq7XQVVSo6ivqlWAUL8D_j8nkFUjesb0TLM8oeriTGvMY/s320/IMG_3581.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We move on to <b>Hans Zimmer’s compositions</b>. They
may not be the mainstream hits and more often than not, they are missed out by
us. However- unknowingly, they have been the most critical factor for stirring
emotions in the Gladiator, Man of Steel, Inception & the Dark Knight
trilogy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The manner in which <b>Hans Zimmer’s</b> numerous instruments work to create
the emotion and add depth to the character; is comparable to none. Similar is
the working of Langkawi’s elements which overwhelm you. Once here, you are in a
different realm altogether.</span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMP1Xy7-Ygzk3JjbqpdC0X9gGvk88p3hjOZYKrrBqnJGi-TGJx_foHlhpWQOf8Y2bZKw7tHRYCZ-363W2XLG5bSv4mjt-mIm3FoIAfuOk8GBACOMOd8avijULocz2jMhDYpE8nJSel20/s1600/IMG_3566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMP1Xy7-Ygzk3JjbqpdC0X9gGvk88p3hjOZYKrrBqnJGi-TGJx_foHlhpWQOf8Y2bZKw7tHRYCZ-363W2XLG5bSv4mjt-mIm3FoIAfuOk8GBACOMOd8avijULocz2jMhDYpE8nJSel20/s320/IMG_3566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never mind the obvious heat or the absence of
snazzy clubs in Lagkawi, this is a place that sets you in a different frame of
mind.<b> A feeling where you may witness clam, quietude and the perfect setup for
breathing in the beauty of the surroundings, ponder upon and play with the laws
of nature. In fact, this place may make you delve deeper into yourself and the
bonds you cherish.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPuPySDrpzelzKkJImSZOQeKfUMVoFCK5uEQbRNNy07WOiHHvSkHjfdkj-Dg0ua9cdm-wHgYtN9cHkBWYNn-vQo0FjPKr60oZxUjx6D1fBk8Q-wHccA8UajFwdJXRsMkdSUqJkukOgn0/s1600/IMG_3600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPuPySDrpzelzKkJImSZOQeKfUMVoFCK5uEQbRNNy07WOiHHvSkHjfdkj-Dg0ua9cdm-wHgYtN9cHkBWYNn-vQo0FjPKr60oZxUjx6D1fBk8Q-wHccA8UajFwdJXRsMkdSUqJkukOgn0/s400/IMG_3600.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-73353263679613398922015-06-06T20:32:00.001+05:302015-06-09T13:39:51.972+05:30Langkawi: The island and the Rebak resort<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My wife and I are usually more keen on the place, the
journey than the places we stay at. However, <b>Taj Rebak</b> has forced us to make an
exception and hence a resort name finds its way into the title. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjQRc1aLlnEdONpOWmz8rt50Z-XkhRMZ9-Vmyvzs1i9C9nO0Jfqg_HIW0WpN7MTkgiIQ6hcAaorx-G70kzcFeTpG0DCLfKZ8q8WDLx35pkbiJuDwtYCJhmzWthV3uN7M8sg19efe609A/s1600/IMG_20150501_141945740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjQRc1aLlnEdONpOWmz8rt50Z-XkhRMZ9-Vmyvzs1i9C9nO0Jfqg_HIW0WpN7MTkgiIQ6hcAaorx-G70kzcFeTpG0DCLfKZ8q8WDLx35pkbiJuDwtYCJhmzWthV3uN7M8sg19efe609A/s200/IMG_20150501_141945740.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We landed in this heavenly place called Langkawi in that
small ATR. We could see the Taj island from the aircraft when it descended for
the Langkawi airport. At that time, it seemed to be an island with just trees
and a wonderful bay where a couple of millionaires park their yachts. Err..
Where were the residential structures? Was that it? Were they going to put us
up in makeshift shanties? Our worries drifted away when we approached the Langkawi
airport. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwQXxZaGX1xLfWEpKA7AatK1DzFreXGApbTU5mizePYbPjn5qErDM-C0l3MKBQ4NLGg-L2KDeUdP40Xf064oiFAEFSDjrdwreF8Ws6cSejSRn7EpgRM3iZf5i6u4WulBqE7MLrhR02so/s1600/IMG_20150501_141132120_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwQXxZaGX1xLfWEpKA7AatK1DzFreXGApbTU5mizePYbPjn5qErDM-C0l3MKBQ4NLGg-L2KDeUdP40Xf064oiFAEFSDjrdwreF8Ws6cSejSRn7EpgRM3iZf5i6u4WulBqE7MLrhR02so/s320/IMG_20150501_141132120_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>We were soaking in the sinking sun over the vast sea, when suddenly a
beach appeared. Another second passed, and we could see a picturesque road
riddled with trees next to it. We made a mental note to visit this road if time
permitted. The next second, there was a fence and another road.</i> <i><span style="font-size: large;">So at the
moment, the order approximately is: Sea (Infinity to 50 m), Beach (50 m), Road
(40 m), Fence (30 m) and another Road (5m). “Wait! Did I just say that road is
only 5 meters away?! We are in a plane right? Khalisi’s dragons be doomed!
Thisss issss <s>Sparta</s> The Runway!!” Screech, mild shudder, hard
deceleration.. We had landed! And still we could see the sea. </span></i>I am sure there
ought to be a lot of runways around the world near the sea, but this one was a
very pleasant surprise for both of us. Vividly beautiful. Sometime later, we
were riding down the same sea-side road we had dreamt of visiting minutes
earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q7myJrlH80dPFk1gwPYZvL0Q8C6UuN6ijD5ihk3FZDZOCRkbXEvErEFSgJn8OCxCDc_tvy9153Q1PgjjE6Td9l1RjVocGb7QCl6_XIt_aDtrkDPpKPDhT5tExF6Ei27WzgR-VqFQelA/s1600/IMG_3424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q7myJrlH80dPFk1gwPYZvL0Q8C6UuN6ijD5ihk3FZDZOCRkbXEvErEFSgJn8OCxCDc_tvy9153Q1PgjjE6Td9l1RjVocGb7QCl6_XIt_aDtrkDPpKPDhT5tExF6Ei27WzgR-VqFQelA/s320/IMG_3424.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxaShzXfEqUL7PHdJU9HF6YuZYR5z2aV3ayYrk4ZjBknq_6UWulojGpAiZCgpAV4dtOvCol7pdURopT2hUw4u_KUrDvbs39s_78VR97XrN6t_uoR44BFWJJIe1pvT_5N-dXGaDIbK_Xo/s1600/IMG_3427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxaShzXfEqUL7PHdJU9HF6YuZYR5z2aV3ayYrk4ZjBknq_6UWulojGpAiZCgpAV4dtOvCol7pdURopT2hUw4u_KUrDvbs39s_78VR97XrN6t_uoR44BFWJJIe1pvT_5N-dXGaDIbK_Xo/s320/IMG_3427.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>The Taj Vivanta Bay</u></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjXf2Ta49alK1-zrxSc_8SV2VMwTav4akCHpjiQ_pCzHZrCA2A6U1CMAGgX62pqGe9XqAJ8Nei8eIeJTEca7gRTjpNmb6IumuD7tjbNMvU88NOfD5KQ6S74eaDfzO259XDFnni4lWGJY/s1600/IMG_20150502_053126073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjXf2Ta49alK1-zrxSc_8SV2VMwTav4akCHpjiQ_pCzHZrCA2A6U1CMAGgX62pqGe9XqAJ8Nei8eIeJTEca7gRTjpNmb6IumuD7tjbNMvU88NOfD5KQ6S74eaDfzO259XDFnni4lWGJY/s320/IMG_20150502_053126073.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Rooms</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU82GCA2JIBg5gtsbnsXxDPX_rUIzYdhjFQPzXIoRoJHKmZhunf88qvkrVsq2Oy8e6CPqsN2z5IgdiaYbeL16O4UEEoMUWsVbQFGLbpuJHbg7_05alTsg8oDZRYyXDfItKI4gdzobfuY/s1600/IMG_20150503_070939051_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU82GCA2JIBg5gtsbnsXxDPX_rUIzYdhjFQPzXIoRoJHKmZhunf88qvkrVsq2Oy8e6CPqsN2z5IgdiaYbeL16O4UEEoMUWsVbQFGLbpuJHbg7_05alTsg8oDZRYyXDfItKI4gdzobfuY/s320/IMG_20150503_070939051_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Sea, Beach and rich green from the room balcony</u></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Taj vehicle was there to pick us up and we reached the
pier in 15 minutes. Speedboats operate at specified frequency for the Taj Rebak
island and we had to wait for around 15 minutes for the next. As the boat sped
and bounced in the open sea, we could see the tiny archipelagos around us.
Finally, we sighted the bay of the Rebak island. As observed from the plane
sometime back, there were a number of yachts anchored here and once docked, we
hopped on to the electric cart to get to the reception. Even in the limited
rays of the sun at dusk, this place looked fabulous. Everything here seemed so
natural, perfectly blended into the setting of the forest. Signs of human control
over this natural island are difficult to distinguish; the reason why we could
not find any ‘buildings’ when we flew over this island. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The residential
complexes are neatly spread across one part of the island, camouflaged by a
good amount of foliage, which is why we could not spot anything from the
aircraft. Being an island, you don’t have to put a lot of effort to get to see
the sea. However, the most glorious beach is located near to the reception and
pool area. As for the pool, it offers an ‘in-pool’ bar and gives the sensation
of an infinity pool with the sea in the horizon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxRbR9tf_VhUERvNVJGh8U5FhpNHc_l1Jh_CfJqGl_KU9EHFj4NAVoYwrn46cPZouRp0CllwbM44iuuwnBNZI9gnyzTdJj6ZqkEZdJxYEztPR_96eiECc2Jx0QVoZ3e9U1I8H0I6FE24/s1600/IMG_3731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxRbR9tf_VhUERvNVJGh8U5FhpNHc_l1Jh_CfJqGl_KU9EHFj4NAVoYwrn46cPZouRp0CllwbM44iuuwnBNZI9gnyzTdJj6ZqkEZdJxYEztPR_96eiECc2Jx0QVoZ3e9U1I8H0I6FE24/s320/IMG_3731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwclSIk1IaC8KRPyNFtwVfFsT2yFvaV0oZHFs6i9NKWKcvv7MFz8NE9GcxDtR2adeo7Bf5yemr5ZPzOL3oUNfYSTj4xlKJKiY5R87pVg-60UtGinVq-ahUiIpbJ_oST-T19D-6JRjZE_w/s1600/IMG_20150501_193930335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwclSIk1IaC8KRPyNFtwVfFsT2yFvaV0oZHFs6i9NKWKcvv7MFz8NE9GcxDtR2adeo7Bf5yemr5ZPzOL3oUNfYSTj4xlKJKiY5R87pVg-60UtGinVq-ahUiIpbJ_oST-T19D-6JRjZE_w/s200/IMG_20150501_193930335.jpg" width="112" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_SKQeWhdhVwkAE5X-MQJrzm5goUgx_Zv20eDjnpj90bKlZhPIjhBD3_mguOkqcGUxWTnzoPFD2qIr25ZcOeG653CzBINzvsvf9FdJqL7ztsm2fAxCxaDSiFZwpBnsVH-x8SalWyvv7o/s1600/IMG_20150502_053404056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_SKQeWhdhVwkAE5X-MQJrzm5goUgx_Zv20eDjnpj90bKlZhPIjhBD3_mguOkqcGUxWTnzoPFD2qIr25ZcOeG653CzBINzvsvf9FdJqL7ztsm2fAxCxaDSiFZwpBnsVH-x8SalWyvv7o/s320/IMG_20150502_053404056.jpg" width="320" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On one fine morning, when the tide was receding, we were
given a final go-ahead for <b><span style="font-size: large;">kayaking</span></b> by the Activities desk at the hotel. When
the hotel personnel enquired about our kayaking & rowing skills, I declared
that my skills with organic chemistry and African languages such as Igbo and
Yoruba: all combined could very well beat my knowledge of kayaking. (<u>Note: The
author has forgotten everything remotely related to chemistry; and has been
feeling a lot better ever since</u>). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sona on the other hand, had a lot to say
about how she single handedly had kayaked upstream a river, climbed up mighty
waterfalls in the kayak and conquered formidable glaciers; the name of which
she could not precisely remember at the moment. </span></b></i>Impressed, the fellow handed us
our life jackets, a pair of oars, dragged a kayak to the beach and walked away.
Armed with the requisite equipment and Sona’s experience, we made a dash for
the sea. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolKN0GqoMcQJ87xfwNMgwPQXLAMyLATTTGiFu8uhltII5beTYo1SZ5GL2aCCE8fKoacYqNMYxSC9qb9iEUJ0sh17eYGWRWZOtqTv6ykqcSmlJERAgPq-xHVR_2vcmRa3G9M4lvRvgbLI/s1600/IMG_3737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolKN0GqoMcQJ87xfwNMgwPQXLAMyLATTTGiFu8uhltII5beTYo1SZ5GL2aCCE8fKoacYqNMYxSC9qb9iEUJ0sh17eYGWRWZOtqTv6ykqcSmlJERAgPq-xHVR_2vcmRa3G9M4lvRvgbLI/s320/IMG_3737.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a good time, we were adrift: hitting each other with oars, oafing
around, moving in circles and tiring ourselves. <i>Thankfully, just before they
were contemplating sending search planes in the Malacca Sea to look for a
holidaying couple, Sona’s kayaking skills magically returned!</i> She took charge and under
her able leadership, we were soon oaring
in a co-ordinated fashion headed to a distant uninhabited island in
sight. Docking/ Landing on this island was a dangerous task, with jagged rocks
threatening to pierce anything that came their way. Holding the fort were an
army of black crabs; certainly larger than what we are accustomed to. We
limited our stunts with the kayak until prudence prevailed and we headed back
to the Rebak island.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuhn4McIwhimzReZ6qUdGbXlV7lpmNjCU_upSUiMD3w6snoE6UOqNcgOBJERDBW7gzP3jB5qjE7xl90O7vBQGAJAgSc0_aTjZjEoWY7NBN_bbU7qmbexzPKoxNdnybr6kp_H0Dg0hBUk/s1600/IMG_3714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuhn4McIwhimzReZ6qUdGbXlV7lpmNjCU_upSUiMD3w6snoE6UOqNcgOBJERDBW7gzP3jB5qjE7xl90O7vBQGAJAgSc0_aTjZjEoWY7NBN_bbU7qmbexzPKoxNdnybr6kp_H0Dg0hBUk/s320/IMG_3714.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: Strongly advise you not to take your cameras on the
kayak. There was a good amount of water in the kayak and sprayed on us by the
sea to put an end to the life of any electronic instrument. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC4QwUsN3RS6KZ42mUCGwEL4-HEM9CUfJywp7P9OatO5WdizPKU2hXXStMsSAKr_lrRP1j8IgYd4n2TpupS8s6MTPLk9IwKbL7JrnoFIZQLB5ZeXcmnqgNF9uAq7yN1sUEd2wHss755o/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC4QwUsN3RS6KZ42mUCGwEL4-HEM9CUfJywp7P9OatO5WdizPKU2hXXStMsSAKr_lrRP1j8IgYd4n2TpupS8s6MTPLk9IwKbL7JrnoFIZQLB5ZeXcmnqgNF9uAq7yN1sUEd2wHss755o/s200/IMG_3369.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgA9KKZW3W-iz033M5hl_uYWhY0YtvE9a-7GNYP5mW8VkXJoTOLaEUuvlckd7RgXrdAAtqwGs0vUX3k-k5RoVL_hkVQb9K6H9UAbRTlIeuUlrAIgXBazLczTZBIsGsBnU8iugsHSQ0Q0/s1600/IMG_3370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgA9KKZW3W-iz033M5hl_uYWhY0YtvE9a-7GNYP5mW8VkXJoTOLaEUuvlckd7RgXrdAAtqwGs0vUX3k-k5RoVL_hkVQb9K6H9UAbRTlIeuUlrAIgXBazLczTZBIsGsBnU8iugsHSQ0Q0/s200/IMG_3370.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a room and there is a wash. Mein Gott!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEEXmd5sCoe4gDb6yccTT7G70vIzb4pDkNHR_ThGcjRpTPEG1_bnorHtzFRWax9GQLjDJMCX0_ia1wstcC49JSbJiKGVUNCjGdNQye80raZn5YHgryzyCaKfA0VZVsWaF82Vpkd5zh_s/s1600/IMG_3720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEEXmd5sCoe4gDb6yccTT7G70vIzb4pDkNHR_ThGcjRpTPEG1_bnorHtzFRWax9GQLjDJMCX0_ia1wstcC49JSbJiKGVUNCjGdNQye80raZn5YHgryzyCaKfA0VZVsWaF82Vpkd5zh_s/s320/IMG_3720.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both of us have been overwhelmed by both Langkawi, and the
Taj island property. I’ll refrain from commenting on services as I find them as
good as others: Sofitel, Holiday Inn, etc. but maybe more seasoned guests can
comment. My wife did comment once that the quality may have been perhaps a
little short of what is expected of Taj; with this one being under the ‘Vivanta’
brand. Let that be. In a nutshell, the staff here may not swoon over you but
will certainly be exceeding your expectations. The main point where I think we
need to focus is the place and the experience: It is kind of your own private
island. I never dreamt of staying in such a setup. <b>My hopes for staying/ owning
at a private island were dashed when I failed to become a Columbian drug-lord
or a corrupt politician or an illegal arms dealer; as I considered only these
occupations could afford me such a luxury.</b>
However, even as a failure at these quick-buck professions, we could manage a
great time at Taj-Rebak. The only sore point is any boat from and to the island
other than the pre-defined times may invite bankruptcy for you. Talking about
expenses, I have to highlight that Langkawi is a duty free zone and during our
entire stay, we felt that we got a lot more for each Ringgit spent. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the Rebak island, I wish to dedicate these words of George Gordon Byron:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt;">“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,</span><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">There is a rapture on the lonely shore,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">There is society, where none intrudes,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">By the deep sea, and music in its roar:</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I love not man the less, but Nature more”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">―<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #666600; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44407.George_Gordon_Byron">George Gordon Byron</a></span></i></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(<a href="http://lifeisanopenroad2me.blogspot.in/2015/06/beyond-words-langkawi.html">Part 2 Continued.......</a>) </i></span></div>
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Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976272608078258990.post-22136256737798881152015-06-06T20:03:00.001+05:302015-06-06T20:03:56.198+05:30Kuala Lumpur: All you can in 2 days..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpesEPdbi3ItUSWUGBuzPGZ5XZg68bngTttGGqrEo_S0ev8gN4nVEuFEWPTG4w5Sky4tJzqVSqCo1Du4z40UFtgSLY31EHWF_JorpHdYtpBwj4u1hB650sX3lDGo2hZeWRyHkNgy0gUJk/s1600/IMG_20150505_070113013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpesEPdbi3ItUSWUGBuzPGZ5XZg68bngTttGGqrEo_S0ev8gN4nVEuFEWPTG4w5Sky4tJzqVSqCo1Du4z40UFtgSLY31EHWF_JorpHdYtpBwj4u1hB650sX3lDGo2hZeWRyHkNgy0gUJk/s640/IMG_20150505_070113013.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Spot the Yogi..</u></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Petronas Towers:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HzpKZz2wWxQMcosCcrq9vKCD0R5qhgwNgJFU4qUj_HGVuHe7n3Zu_vytpZGCDb2f372MEbPEERXaFKbzi-pt0PK8npabdHnU8FGz8iPQKM9K4RzVgh4aTdWEdQUGlhBrUwnfYURxk1M/s1600/IMG_4051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HzpKZz2wWxQMcosCcrq9vKCD0R5qhgwNgJFU4qUj_HGVuHe7n3Zu_vytpZGCDb2f372MEbPEERXaFKbzi-pt0PK8npabdHnU8FGz8iPQKM9K4RzVgh4aTdWEdQUGlhBrUwnfYURxk1M/s200/IMG_4051.JPG" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have to see it to believe it. Not a fan of buildings in
particular, I was moved by the grandiose of this structure. That too on my
second visit to this place. Part of this structure is open for the public: the
Suria mall and the Petrosains museum. The central park behind this is a great
place to go: especially in the morning and evening. This picture above- I am
particularly proud of: camouflaged here is Sona concluding her yoga session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzrNJ5PYE00o5ku6RxsGbUD51TOhPqsl0ZphptXLJu61YahcBW2no30kSiMVfoAQM28Ld834vig2_QCrSmTyOy5uaLP7jKmmfQhp4dweewDO3VxZUKvbbuXDpSV9lcIHCi5ef6Glt-4E/s1600/IMG_4067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzrNJ5PYE00o5ku6RxsGbUD51TOhPqsl0ZphptXLJu61YahcBW2no30kSiMVfoAQM28Ld834vig2_QCrSmTyOy5uaLP7jKmmfQhp4dweewDO3VxZUKvbbuXDpSV9lcIHCi5ef6Glt-4E/s200/IMG_4067.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wind Tunnel @ Petrosains</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Petrosains Museum:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommend this if you are with kids. Couple of things to meddle around for adults as well.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl1BC9OJQ2zfSjQdX08dOhhZxMpo2-z_3iKqKJLV9pyaN2s-Q4dyjhi60yAtF4TkLpA58LtdP2t2Q24au1Z3fAK7w9TSvwnr_zrF309dm-TUQesV8HZ3UPdPWCRSrKJLCZbBczF2GuiA/s1600/IMG_20150503_195112025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl1BC9OJQ2zfSjQdX08dOhhZxMpo2-z_3iKqKJLV9pyaN2s-Q4dyjhi60yAtF4TkLpA58LtdP2t2Q24au1Z3fAK7w9TSvwnr_zrF309dm-TUQesV8HZ3UPdPWCRSrKJLCZbBczF2GuiA/s200/IMG_20150503_195112025.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Bukit Bintang:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the Bandra/CP/Church Street of KL. Lot of places to choose from. For the adventurous ones, try out the local cuisine in the informal eateries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Bird Park:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kIGQit9Sl8zdrEzV9maMZQgCot1wuCCQ0d6ROWroUgXWLQyPeAVgMNepihIZiwBBrROoDE0yP5gnyrlwDucRdHO93ede4v8jiWzqo2ZHL2sOrm_shjaTRSMDfUU9IlHoLxWorlhusAM/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kIGQit9Sl8zdrEzV9maMZQgCot1wuCCQ0d6ROWroUgXWLQyPeAVgMNepihIZiwBBrROoDE0yP5gnyrlwDucRdHO93ede4v8jiWzqo2ZHL2sOrm_shjaTRSMDfUU9IlHoLxWorlhusAM/s320/IMG_3855.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSrj57PsbDj5akl_VjxQqJLET5wwIWQGcwlsqRLdlo2uIzvG0BGq4DMV9pVgaW8Qi4xv6MgMh1LB4Erw1ARpkjp10tjcf7AHDWgUy1k4TzhK-MRNrMNsdOgTLD1hlOmrlJI9XiKdULPY/s1600/IMG_3787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSrj57PsbDj5akl_VjxQqJLET5wwIWQGcwlsqRLdlo2uIzvG0BGq4DMV9pVgaW8Qi4xv6MgMh1LB4Erw1ARpkjp10tjcf7AHDWgUy1k4TzhK-MRNrMNsdOgTLD1hlOmrlJI9XiKdULPY/s200/IMG_3787.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a highly entertaining place, with the birds moving among you quite fearlessly. The bird show is the local attraction here, advisable to time
your visit to catch this. Beware of the parakeet section: the hostile ones
whizz past your ears at incredible speeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16tgxvyZRbqw6rK5wfFbng8jVQRUW5VwXjHuDMr1YTk2loAxp0pqQ5OaOWwCumxMK1rWLC1Ieu0Dh-lRyLhqYR1swEecEE5xQ129hl-5TpEdoqCbOuwW_ubHxWFH2AhUjILCMJGNPH4k/s1600/IMG_3860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16tgxvyZRbqw6rK5wfFbng8jVQRUW5VwXjHuDMr1YTk2loAxp0pqQ5OaOWwCumxMK1rWLC1Ieu0Dh-lRyLhqYR1swEecEE5xQ129hl-5TpEdoqCbOuwW_ubHxWFH2AhUjILCMJGNPH4k/s200/IMG_3860.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Aquaria KLCC:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A great attraction with a rich variety to look at. The feeding
time provides striking views as well. If you have seen this in Singapore/
Dubai, you could consider </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this experience. The variety is striking enough, and I highly recommend this.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtMOiKfFUmIrD7Z3LcqRiU98e9Q5pcFqvIRCvy6-ICcC7A9tnzT5TA5SH1c6gTOPCKS1FlEA-OSSmSvcnWS2fkZ2xaywy7mXpoQO5dZNmkgzAKmu6ddWVSC_dcTZggQIRU0fEQiYueu0/s1600/IMG_3918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtMOiKfFUmIrD7Z3LcqRiU98e9Q5pcFqvIRCvy6-ICcC7A9tnzT5TA5SH1c6gTOPCKS1FlEA-OSSmSvcnWS2fkZ2xaywy7mXpoQO5dZNmkgzAKmu6ddWVSC_dcTZggQIRU0fEQiYueu0/s320/IMG_3918.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Yes! There's a section where you can touch them!</u></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Sharks galore!</u></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>National Museum:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A passable tourist attraction. We hit this place to spend
time between airports. This walks you through the history of the region, right from centuries ago to pre-independence to the recent times of industrialization. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpU722Ry96QhHnirXr7G1St3PJutILcDBbGEt0-o1MQzHEuxmyct0iTRnxHdTGGTYp4YxA63YLg_B_n-Wf7iimauwBhDsbiVhpFOoVQLx_p8ziHtOxtEyxmR_MI0F6oZn8-YnEQL2oCE/s1600/IMG_3324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpU722Ry96QhHnirXr7G1St3PJutILcDBbGEt0-o1MQzHEuxmyct0iTRnxHdTGGTYp4YxA63YLg_B_n-Wf7iimauwBhDsbiVhpFOoVQLx_p8ziHtOxtEyxmR_MI0F6oZn8-YnEQL2oCE/s200/IMG_3324.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We meet again old fellas!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfvPfynKoO1xyPeuF__U3QxI2GJ_IgRNsVW3k0J8ZpSiFmO8ARffUj29lEYf7w60BoftiYKS80zCitPAMoCiaNkCrLvpNMZWvqGzpnhx8cLAw45rdJ9ljV3xKosefwnS8Ejn8YvyvGhs/s1600/IMG_3327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfvPfynKoO1xyPeuF__U3QxI2GJ_IgRNsVW3k0J8ZpSiFmO8ARffUj29lEYf7w60BoftiYKS80zCitPAMoCiaNkCrLvpNMZWvqGzpnhx8cLAw45rdJ9ljV3xKosefwnS8Ejn8YvyvGhs/s200/IMG_3327.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODdSFnZwkc8W1I8iCIddDAap7DTmzNuwdX3vvzIKtcLaUj6bLxlZRtrLhMqo_TKlO6TRvH_FHfFQKc0vT-d9X2zCiWvrV2gAxn2Yaqv65bc9PiXqZAntsx30wzguM1kQ1OHZKTBywL2U/s1600/IMG_4032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODdSFnZwkc8W1I8iCIddDAap7DTmzNuwdX3vvzIKtcLaUj6bLxlZRtrLhMqo_TKlO6TRvH_FHfFQKc0vT-d9X2zCiWvrV2gAxn2Yaqv65bc9PiXqZAntsx30wzguM1kQ1OHZKTBywL2U/s320/IMG_4032.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Menara Kuala Lumpur:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT8SNBSgE8Sz8cFU6Duz-gM_UUhkhRZRmOSsvvEe2j6ovSK6yrYNF7xuvPSRHMzRsh84KHH55zF58BAxseOMsw7IjuL63uuEJ9_kUJtLVKAkwPyqPdn5xzhS-2d9rf5rDeuRQcHT5XAo/s1600/IMG_4045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT8SNBSgE8Sz8cFU6Duz-gM_UUhkhRZRmOSsvvEe2j6ovSK6yrYNF7xuvPSRHMzRsh84KHH55zF58BAxseOMsw7IjuL63uuEJ9_kUJtLVKAkwPyqPdn5xzhS-2d9rf5rDeuRQcHT5XAo/s320/IMG_4045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Petronas Towers from the Menara KL</u></b></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGidHbhNQBFDZ69rCxwkWZteYsk7wpu0fEQ08wlUb69gbZDp0L4Lyr-G86SOebU_Td8IRQ4tNcA2ps3qnKFcsEkKqzpHa_Nuja0q4BRfpnrBIPJVjax_eeA-zyomMtDl3LPac8ltdmjk/s1600/IMG_4034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGidHbhNQBFDZ69rCxwkWZteYsk7wpu0fEQ08wlUb69gbZDp0L4Lyr-G86SOebU_Td8IRQ4tNcA2ps3qnKFcsEkKqzpHa_Nuja0q4BRfpnrBIPJVjax_eeA-zyomMtDl3LPac8ltdmjk/s200/IMG_4034.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Menara KL is the older structure when compared to the Petronas tower but seems a lot more worthy a visit. The viewing deck is higher than anything in the city and it offers a great sight of the city and the Petronas towers. In
case you do wish to view the city, we recommend this instead of the Petronas
sky-bridge. Reason being: You cannot view the Petronas towers from within, they
can be viewed better from the Menara KL, especially in the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Chinatown:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Must visit for you if you love bargaining hard and cracking
a good deal gives you immense satisfaction. Reminded us of the Chatuchak market
of Bangkok.</span><br />
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Sbm.McLarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14616683882467929459noreply@blogger.com0