Kabul Express - A cinematography delight

After ages I saw a real bollywood movie which I can truly say is visually breathtaking. The trecherous, barren lands of Afganistan, which reminded me so much of Ladakh landscape have been captured beautifully in this movie. Laced with dark humor, the film traces the story of two indian journalists who land in post taliban period to get hold of any remaining taliban guy whom they could interview. Shot & narrated in a travelogue mode, the movie belongs to Arshad Warsi. His comic timing is awesome and so are his one liners - at times ironic but suits the situation and mood of the scene. Btw, there are no songs in the film (and the film doesn't need it also) and the duration of the movie is 2 hrs only. It's a must watch movie, infact I am planning to go for it again.

consulting group weekend get together

Merry Christmas!

Justice for Jesica. What about others?

The entire media went berserk when Manu Sharma was convicted. No doubt it was a victory for those who had lost faith in justice but the fundamental question that I want to ask is - had Jesica Lall been a Dalit or from backward class, she could have got justice? This brings me to another topic - is justice, no matter whether it is delayed, is reserved for people from upper class or influential people? To a certain extent, I feel the media also has to be blamed for this. Justice For Jesica and similar forums were created after media highlighted the cause. But what about the Khairlanji gang rape & murder of Dalit mother and her child? I don't get to hear any word about it on any channel now. Shouldn't the media take the responsibility of keeping the issue alive so that the society pressurizes the govt to take action against the guilty quickly?

Condoms, Sizes, measurements

Read a recent article in TOI that a survey was conducted on Indian male penises and it was found that the condoms that are available in market are over sized as the average Indian male penis size is a centimeter or two smaller than their counterparts in the West. The survey concluded that the condoms made in India are according to international sizes and should be customised. But more than the survey, what I found really amusing and hillarious was the way through which the survey was carried out. Dicks of all shapes and sizes across all segment (metro, rural) of the selected participants were photographed and measured. Initially digital photos were taken and through a software the size of penis was arrived upon but it was felt that this mechanism was inaccurate and the best way to measure the size of the dick is the old fashion way - with a tape/scale! If at all this method was used, I could imagine the poor guy who had this 'huge' task of measuring dicks of all toms, dicks and harrys around him!!! (pun intended). The poor guy with a tape in his hand yelling "next"..."abey seedha pakad"... measures it..marks noting... "next"...:-)))

or Imagine his kundli & marriage bio data goes to a prospective father in law. ladka kaam kya karta hai? Jee...woh........dicks measure karta hai..." :-)))))

or..what could be the worst gaali that you could give him? ma ki/behen ki? Naaah..those are passe. DICKHEAD!!!! :D :D :D


Last but not the least the trauma that he would be getting when he finally he gets to see his own dick while making love with his wife and starts thinking about how short or long his dick is ;-)

Ok..back to work now.

Cold November Rain

'Cause nothin' lasts forever...
Even cold November rain
-Guns n Roses

A surprise factor in Pune's onset of winters - the rains! It never rains in November but for the past couple of days, it's been raining quite a bit. Not that anyone is complaining. The weather mostly remains dull throughout the day, but at times very windy & breezy. The kind of weather that makes you go out on long drives in the evening -which is what me and Suvi do these days at night - take a long spin in our car on express ways, windows rolled down, wind blowing and sending cold yet pleasant shiver down your body, with old melodies playing in our juke box, stopping at a tapri for a cuppa steaming coffee....aaah, the kind of refreshing factor you need after a long day at work. :)


That's my Ferrari in the picture :-)

Dating Example for Information Architecture

A very witty way of explaining what Information Architecture is all about. Those who need a copy of this, email me and I will send the source file back.

These are few of my 'essential' things...

Some of the things that I wanna have and someday would have for sure....

1) Tintin Set - Rs. 5000 approx
2) Astrix set - Rs. 10000 approx
3) James Bond entire collection DVD set (had this set in my rack for quite some time - it was borrowed from a friend)
4) Friends entire season DVD set
5) Everybody Loves Raymond entire season DVD set
6) Dilbert CNBC animated series DVD set
7) Dilbert books entire set (have managed to collect around 13-15 titles out of apprx 30 published so far)
8) The main one - Nikon DSLR ( had frozen on D50/D80 but last week Nikon launched their D40 and my determination came tumbling down - now another option to evaluate!) approx Rs. 45000 -50000


Now some of these 'essential' things, I can only acquire if I manage to go onsite and that too US and again, for a longer period say 3 weeks or so coz things are cheaper there. Till something like that happens, would keep on just browsing related product sites and sighing. :P

New Bond rocks!

Caught up with Casino Royale this weekend. There were too many opinions floating around the new Bond and the deviations in this new Bond movie. Too be honest, after seeing the posters of the film, even I didn't like the Bond but Daniel Craig rocks as the new Bond avataar. This Bond is definately different from his predecessors. If Pierce Brosman had flair, smooth talking, charming personality and that misty looks in his eyes to woo ladies around him, this Bond carries that rugged attitiude with him that gives him more mean, no-nonsense looks to him. He would struggle with being witty like his old mates but he perhaps represents a gerne that has risen up the ranks through hard work & struggle to be where they are and that reflects in their overall personality. For this Bond, the current task on which he is focussed on is more important - the rest is all frills - like when the bartender asks him how would he like his Vodka martini, shaken or stirred - he replies he doesn't care a damn..all he wants is his martini!

If those of you who haven't seen the latest edition of this Bond movie, it's a must watch. For a change, even Suvi loved it (she is not much of a Bond/action movie fan)so you can guess it must be good!!! :) :) :)

Why don't you use a phone BCCI?

Found it really amusing that Sharad Pawar telling media after India's 1st loss that BCCI has asked Dilip Venserkar to go to South Africa immediately and convey nation's feelings to the team members. Sir, why don't you just lift the phone and call up the players? Why go all the way to SA to convey the message?

Uuhh..Aaahh (India)..Ouch!

Remember the Oohh..aaah...India campaign by Pepsi? Yeah..the Join the Blue Billion campaign launched a week 10 days before the Champions Trophy. each time the ad came on TV, I used to laugh, not because the ad. execution was a failure but more because of the fact that the illusion that the ad tried to weave in ( with reference to the players being charged up and all), opposite results were happening in the field. India got mauled up in their own backyard, and yet, the ads. kept coming on the air (can understand that factor coz the media manager would have bought bulk spots for the series). That's one of the disadvantages of celebrity advertising - when they fail to perform and I am sure in someway it rubs off on the brand too. In this case, Pepsi wisened up and after India's loss in Champions Cup, launched another TV spot - Fir Ayega India (shows an India Tshirt falling from air but a young kid holds it before it falls down to ground and looks optimistically but with a sad smile to his grandfather)... a face saving act no doubt but I am sure they would have burnt their fingers with their ooh Aaah India campaign. And as we can see, there is no Ooh..Aah India spots on air in the current India-SA series.

Why I love to hate Pune 'traffikars'

I fail to understand why Punekars have this fascination for breaking traffic rules especially jumping signals. In my 3 months stay now, I feel Mumbai traffic was much better disiplined than Pune traffic. Mumbai is known as the city on move - no one has time to stop and talk and yet, people did stop on signals even if there was no cop around. Here in Pune, traffic signals are cconsidered as decorative showpieces or better still, hinderences in road. Mostly people stop only if a cop is around otherwise maximum people prefer to jump the light. I can still discount out jumping light when there is no sense of danger, as in your jumping light is not causing danger to any other vehicle coming in your way but people don't even care for that and that's what blows my fuse - especially when someone comes in my way and I have to slam my brakes.

These days I try something new. When I am turning right and I see that someone is casually passing my way, I slightly slow down, and delibrately turn my car towards that vehicle (mostly 2 wheelers) to give the impression that I am about to knock that vehicle down, often unnerving the driver. Suvi always scolds me for doing that but I get cheap thrills out of it when I watch the other person shaking on his vehicle.

And yes, if you happen to be in Pune and hear the choicest North Indian abuses (Ma-behen types) being hurled around, chances are I might be around. That's my favorite pastime to vent off my frustration on people who break rules like that. Roll down my window and dish out authentic Punjabi/North Indian abuses in full blast - somehting which perhaps typical Punekars might have not come across in their marathi coated dialect.

I think I need to cool myself down while driving or would burn myself out with anger. Time to join Shri Shri Ravishankar's Art of Living I think :)

show off :D

It has turned quite cold at night n early mornings ...nothing like delhi thand of course...but after nealry 4 yrs in sweaty Mumbai...even standing in front of fridge is chilling enuff :-)))) ..officially ysday the temp dipped to 12.0 c at night.

Rakhi Sawant...

...wins the Chamelion (Read: Politician) of the year award.

Sample this: She gangs up with Kashmira on Bigg Boss to bitch about everyone and then walks inside the Confession Room and utters Kashmira's name for eviction coz according to her Kashmira bitches a lot!!!!

This daily soap is too much. If are tired of the usual masaledaar news channels, sugary soaps and the usual birds and the bees stuff on Discovery, then tune into Sony's Big Boss. You will love to see how these Page 3 glam poster boys n gals feel insecure, always wear a facade and come out with their actual self. If madhur Bhandarkar would be watching this soap, he won't be feeling amused. After all, he did reveal it all couple of moons back.

and the bitch(ing) of the year award goes to....

Kashmira Shah. (clap clap clap clap)

Man..you should see how she bitches about her colleagues in Big Boss. She just continuously goes on bitching, forming groups and bitching..bitching and more bitching. I have never seen anyone bitch so much, why, she makes the bitch roaming in my streets look like a goat. One F&%$#ng bitch she is ...too much!

A trip to Sinhgad Fort

Last weekend went to explore Sinhgad Fort which is situated around 40 kms away from my place. The drive to the placed was awesome. Felt as if I was driving in garwal hills - the road zig zaaged in the hills. On top of it, the weather was sexy- it was drizzling all along and as we reached on the top, it was turning to be bit cold also. There is not much of fort left now but the view is awesome from the top. You get to see Panshet, Khadakwasla and Varasgaon dams and Torana fort also. The view of entire Pune city looks beautiful. After a small trek, we had a scrumptious lunch of pithala-bhakri, kanda bhaji & salted buttermilk.

The best time to visit the place is right after rains or during winters. Have bookmarked few more interesting places which I intend to visit in coming few weeks.

Big Baaas

When I was in UK, at times I used to watch the Big Brother show that used to come in a late night slot. The Indian version of the show is known as Big Boss. I used to feel amused on how a pathetic & sick show like that could become such a hit in UK. The participants, most of the time I felt didn't have any focus in life, were confused and felt more like losers. The show used to be uncensored and many a times you could even get glimpses of people walking around naked in the house, making love or swearing like anyhting. My only thought was...what glues viewers to their telly? What do they find interesting in knowing the 'actual' shades of character of other people (in UK they used to take normal people for the show & not celebrities) whom in all probabilities they would never bump into also. I concluded with the thought that these people (viewers) who have made the show such a success probably had nothing more to do in life than stick in front of TV and watch a stupid show like that.


One week now, even I am on that stupid list of people who have been glued to TV to watch Big Boss. :(

More about it in later posts.

Finally the famed Pune winter

Winters has started setting in this part of the world. After more than 3 years in dry & sweating Mumbai weather, any form of 'thand' is a welcome change for me. It's early winters now and you can get to see the typical Punekars (I won't use 'iites') out in mornings/evenings in their sweaters/jackets mumbling.."brrrr it's cold"..! me & Suvi find it amusing and are loving the weather to the hilt. The place where i live - bavdhan - is a mini hillstation in itself. It's situated in bavdhan Valley and I am told that the temperature dips to around 5-6 at nights in December in that area. Already we are experiencing it. Haven't switched on the fan for ages. Blankets resurfaced couple of weeks back.

On the -ve side of the winters, I start getting the pangs of munching many times in the day. Blame it on the winters!

But over all... I am lovin' it! ....parapppppaaappaaaaaa.

Back in changed avataar

The political scenario in US has changed...
The weather in Pune has changed...
Web 1.0 has changed....
Puneet - my friend - has changed geographies...
I have changed my job...
And again changed it...

Random Musings has changed.

Back in a new avtaaar...and a new chaddi... Presenting the all new Random Musings V 2.0

Ok..got access to blogging...

Will be back with regular blogging soon...

I am Alive!

 Ok Guys, I am back. Just wanted to let all of you know that I am alive and chillin' (it's kinda cold there place where I live) in Pune. That's the good news. Now the bad news. My new work place has lot of internet restrictions in place. Which means, no accessing of hotmails/yahoo mails/gmails/messengers, etc. If that's not all, even blogger.com is blocked - which means no updating of my blog through the regular way. But we Indians are always known for our 'jugaad' prowness, aren't we? So this  update is the 1st proof  of updating ka jugaad. Blogger also allows you to publish posts through emails so henceforth all my posts would have that irritating Email Dislaimer message also printed in the post.

 

 

Test posting

testing posting thru mail. let's c how it goes.

9 years of existance...

Today I complete 9 years of my professional existance.

Finally some rave reviews :P

Karan Johar wavy e-style: "Thanks guys for responding to my goodbye mail. The mail was my baby and today I am a proud father to see my baby being loved by everyone. I just feel like cryyying..." :P :P


------------------------------------->>>>

Hi Lokesh,

Have interacted with you very little on a personal basis but whatever little it was..I always thought you are very cool:-)

All the best for a better tomorrow!!!

Regards
Anshulee

>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Your exit mail in Intiqua was also good. Do you have a copy is yes, please send it

Regards,

Mayank Singh

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

AWESOME

Vini

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lokesh,

You are Great!!

Let us touchbase and have a gup session.

All the Best.

Rajiv mittal
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

:D

Quite brilliant!

For someone not in IT, especialy so...

Keep up the good work...

Sanjeev Saikia

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

sahi hai loku

Amit Gandhi

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yaar tera mail,

Padha.

Samjha

Socha

Ab samajha main aya..

Ki tu woh Khargosh nikla jo....Race jeet gaya...

I'm happy being the tortoise..As i do not have a race 2 run :)

Cheers..

It was fun with u at office , i had blast with u..

Be in touch..

Amit..

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Will definately miss the good time we had in my early BSIL days
- @V -

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

excellent goodbye mail :) sala main bhi yahi chaloonga :)
chal buddy take care and yep kabhi alvida na kehna .. see u in
pune..


prabjeet

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

taskflow is very discriptive...& says a lot....
ihave copied it & will impress people when i will leave this
agency.....

thanx & regards!!!!!

take care god bless u

chen

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Goodbye from blogging

Taking a temp. break for a while. The free net connection at home that I raped like anything (downloaded Pirates of Carribean-2, Superman Returns, The Hitchhikers Guide to Galaxy and a few more movies in past 1 week) would be disconnected in a day or two. It would be a while before I get a connection at my new home at pune (abhi to ghar bhi sala finalize nahi hua!!). Will try to touchbase soon.

Meanwhile, do keep writing to me.

Last day at work..& no emails!!!

Well..anti climax to over 3.5 years stay in BSIL. As usual, I sent another 'gem' of a goodbye mail but surprisingly, none of my friends received it! Had to drag the local IRP guy, who as usual was busy with his...well, ummm, other 'playful' activities with species of a different kind was not too pleased to be dragged to my cubicle. As expected, the blame squarly went to the inflated size of the mail pst which was causing mail problems. I found that hard to believe as I was not able to even receive messages from others. The same problem, other team memebrs were also facing. I suspect that the IRP guys have recently shifted many machines to differnt domains but have not configured mail protocols properly, resulting in many mail packets getting lost.

Btw, If you have not seen my goodbye mail then click here:

http://www.geocities.com/lokeshsapre/goodbye_taskflow_lokesh.jpg

Keep Walking...

...as long as you have 50 pair of legs to move on.

Stuck in traffic...

...my motivation to crawl on.

Hummer, RR Phantom & Pune

A pensioner's paradise or the face of an urban India tucked away in a secluded world of it's own? That was my conclusion after a 2 day 'reconnaissance' trip to Pune. The influx of IT companies have jacked up real estate and 'spending' power in the city. But what's funny is that as real estate is growing, the basic infrastructure in many pockets (read: roads) are yet to catch up with the pace. So in pockets like Aundh, Kalayani nagar, camp, the roads are decent but in University area or other areas, its not so good. A canary color Hummer that wizzed past me from the opp. end ysday, gives a totally different profile to this pensioner's city. (Btw, had there been no PMT bus behind me, I would have stopped my car in the middle of the road abrubtly, done a U turn and followed that Hummer to get a more closer look). Why only Hummer, the city also boasts of a Rolls Royce Phantom (out of the 6-8 cars sold till now, perhaps the only piece sold in Mumbai/Punce circle).

I found Pune more like Nasik - climate and infrastructure wise (houses/hills/cool environ, etc.). let's see how the new innings start in Pune. :)

Who says Pune is cheap?!

Spent Sat. & Sun hunting for house in Pune. Thanks to influx of IT companies, real estate rates have shot up in Pune. In the past 3-4 months, on an average a good 1/2BHK house situated in any good locality offering decent ammenities - rent have shot up by 1-3k. Must have seen around 8-9 houses. Barring one or two, didn't like any place. Once you are married, you have to think from all aspect. How's the security in that area, is there a marketplace nearby, accessibility, is the bathroom 'clean', construction of the building, water/power backup, etc. etc. Funny, never thought of all these when I had shifted to my current house in Mumbai during my bachelor days. :)

A drive on expressway in the rains...

Guys... if you haven't been on Mumbai-Pune Expressway during rains, you are missing something. The drive is simply out of the world. What makes it more beautiful during rainy seasons are the various 'waterfalls' that have cropped up on all those wet jet-green hills that surround the expressway. The breeze is awesome, the road near Lonavla stretch is misty...the feeling is so heavenly...it's a drive that has to be felt...words can't explain it.

My only regret, I wish I could have stopped on way to click snaps - but on Expressway, you are not allowed to stop.

This time touched 145kmph speed and was about to break that too but got a stern look from Suvi. Average driving speed was in between 85-100kmph. Reached Pune in 1hr 30 min flat.

Can't just live without Google Earth!

Google Earth is a fine example of how friendly and accessible a technology can be. Till a couple of years back, viewing satellite imaging of places (atleast by common folks like you and me) was unheard of. I remember when I was in school probably class 10th or so, one of my uncle who used to work for EIL had brought a satellite image of Janakpuri/Vikaspuri area. Though the entire image looked fudged up but I was too 'kicked' to see a spot of pink in one corner (that my uncle told was our society). That was my 1st brush with satellite images, till Google Earth came and redefined the viewing experience.

Tomorrow I and Suvi are going to Pune to hunt for a house. I have been to Pune only once but today I can very well direct you how to reach the place where my new office is situated, what are the landmarks near it, which road to take, from where should I take a turn, which are the major apartment complexes around my new office, which one of them have an open swimming pool and more. All this and more and mind you - I have not physically seen any of these places myself. But today I have an exact blueprint in my mind on how all these look like - thanks to Google Earth. For the past 4-5 days, I have scanned the entire area around my office in Pune, marked out residential complexes that I can check out (thanks to Google Earth Community who have placed notes against places in pune), nearest banks/atms, eating joints etc. Tomorrow I intend to put my viewing experience to practical use.

(Picture of my new office location)

Blogger's Group against censorship

http://censorship.wikia.com/wiki/Bloggers_Collective_group

Details surrounding the blogging censorship.

some award winning ads.

Right click and open in a seperate window to view the enlarged ad.

Right click and open in a seperate window to view the enlarged ad.

some award winning ads...

Right click and open in seperate window to view the enlarged ad.

Good bye Mumbai...

The time has finally come to say adieu to this city. Over 3.5 years of my stay here has brought nothing but good memories. And to think of it, Mumbai was my least preffered destination for shifting. In terms of enjoying bachelorhood, the best times I have spent is in this city. Many of my friends from Delhi still have different views than me about living in this city. But I keep telling them that if you forget the infrastructure problems like roads, traffic, slums etc. this city is a fun place to be - both professionally and hanging out wise. Before you get on the city, the city gets on to you and then you get used to it :) Anyway, my love with Mumbai would stay but I have decided to move on. I have got an offer in Pune (and NO! It's not with Zia's company) and I would be shifting by next month. Can't disclose where I am going on this forum as it's in public domain but will send a mail to you guys later. So getting ready for the new place now!

Can we blame the police?

A major question being asked is was this an intelligence failure? The news floating around is that intelligence network had prior info. from Srinagar that there would be a series of blasts in local trains. How much of it is true only top guys would be knowing and I doubt if the real truth would be ever disclosed. But even if the police didn't have any info. I don't think an attack like this could have been prevented. Local trains serve as a soft target especially during peak hours. In jam packed hours, you are more concerned finding a foot hole for yourself - who has time to think what's kept in the luggage rack.

Back in office...the city moves on.

I have never quite understood the term "The Spirit of Mumbai". Perhaps coz to understand the term, you need to be a true blue 'Mumbaikar'. But of whatever I understand, I feel lately the term is getting used to cloak the weary patience of the innocent citizens here who time and again have to bear the brunt of acts like these. Rains, shiv sena hangama, the blasts - and yet, the city doesn't stop. My neighbour ( a muslim family) were kind of scared to send their daughters to school today but I tried to assure them that this would mean we are terrified. Even if we are, we have to move on.

Last year around this time I was in London and the city was reeling under the 7/7 train blast. I remember how the city commuters couldn't come to terms with the blast coz for them they had never witnessed anything like that before. For days people avoided trains. Special Counselors used to accompany people who were scared to travel in train alone. On 7th this month, a memorial service was organized and London stood standstill to honor those who died.

I know something like this can never take place here. We Indians over the years have got so immunised to terror that actually we don't care anymore. Tell me honestly, after any major attack, be it the Sarojni Nagar blast, the Mulund train blast, or the frequent attacks in Srinagar, how many times have we really stopped to think about those who died? 11/7 would soon become another date in history. One year down the line, many of us would probably not even remember that something like that had happened. We would be so engrossed in our day to day lifes to think about it.

Today morning saw that people were back in trains. The tense looks on their faces revealed their mood & thoughts, but they were back. Be it any kind of terror attack, in Mumbai, life doesn't stops. The city moves on and will keep on moving.

NY Transit system goes on high alert

Taking no chances, New York Mass Transit system have beefed up their security after hearing about the Mumbai train blast.

Infact in a sign of changing times, world over media have highlighted this blast as a symbol of 'global terrorism' a move from the usual stand of 'local terror' act.

Who says we are rude?

- The first one to reach the blast site and do the rescue operations were the nearby slumwallas
- Locals staying around the blast site helped in whatever way they could. They opened up their doors for people who couldn't go to their homes coz of suspension of train services.
- The whole night people in vehicles who were travelling on the western exp highway, offered lifts to strangers to drop them home.


- Local residents offered food & water to commuters.
- BEST deployed additional buses to ply whole night. In many buses, they didn't charge people.
-People lined up in hospitals to donate blood. There is a shortage of blood in the city.
- Strangers offered mobiles to commuters to call their home and inform about their safety. They didn't take any money from them.

And yet they bill Mumbai as the rudest city.

The city that never sleeps

Once again Mumbai lived upto its tag. The whole night work was on in ferrying stranded passengers back to their homes and carrying them to hospitals etc. Many orgs. had opened up temp. night shelters for people. The WR which bore the brunt of the attack and had suspended train services, managed to partially open up the remaining tracks late in the night. Incredibly, the damaged trains were shifted early morning today and work is on to repair the tracks and hopefully by afternoon train services would be normal.

blast pics

 

blast pics

-


 

blast pics

 

Blast pics

 

I am fine guys

Since ysdy many people across the world have been trying to get in touch with me but couldn't get thru coz of jammed cellphone & landline network. Just wanted to tell everyone that Suvi, me and all of the ppl that I know in Mumbai are fine. The blasts took place on Western Line and we live on Central line. Otherwise also, we don't take train for commuting and travel by car.

Thanks for the concern guys.

And now...7/11

Till last update 'officially' 190 people dead. Over 700 injured.

The power of 150

The other day I was reading some article on how Pizza Hut is planning to change its menu further by adding more Indian delicacies like Kulfi & rabadi for desserts & indianized pizzas and other dishes like Kathi kababs. The idea was to change the mindset of 'eating out' just for pizzas to a 'complete' meal experience. This reminded me of the new menus that they offer currently which I feel have become a run away success. The Treat for 1, 2, 3 & 4 menus. The power of advertising backed by sharp marketing & positioning the price & quantity offered in the meal (just imagine: 1 large pizza, 1 medium pizza, 1 portion of garlic bread, 2 colas, 2 ice creams just for 150 bucks!) have hooked on some loyal customers. One of them happens to be Suvi. Earlier she was not much of an advocate for occasional pizza outings coz she found it bit expensive. More than expensive it was the feeling of going back with a bill which didn't even give the feeling of going off with a full stomach. But the '150' tag has changed her mindset. The 'quantity' offered is sufficient enough for 2 people and don't leave a dent on pockets. So much so that these days if we go to some 'zhat-pat' resturant for a quick grub or something and the bill comes up to 150 or near about that, and the food is not that great, she wonders if it would have been better if we would have gone to pizza hut and had meal for 2!!

Saw this on National Geographic shopping site

Bihari Silk Embroidered Tunic

India's textile cottage industries involve entire villages in silk weaving,
fabric dyeing, and embroidery. The fabric of this traditional silk tunic is
hand-loomed in Bhagalpur, a town famous for its silk production. A spray of
embroidered and sequined flowers decorates the faux split neck and bell sleeves.
Made in Bihar province, India. Dry clean only.

Price Each: $68.00

I wonder the poor artisian who slogs 18 hrs a day in the rural area of Bhagalpur to produce such fine silk and garment knows that his product gets sold at over Rs. 4000 per piece abroad. Btw, in most of these silk units in Mumbai, Bhagalpur & UP, sweat & toil of children goes into making the fabric. No prizes for guessing how much they would be earning per day.