Chennai autorickshaw

I have been to Chennai before and have heard the stories - from other people who have visited the city and even from natives - of how Chennai autorickshaw drivers' "rape you" (to borrow from a local friend) while charging for auto fares.
I thought of having some fun - had to go from GuruNanak college to the Madras Gymkhana Club and didn't have any idea of the fare. I started stopping the autos and asked for the fares. "130", "40", the auto went away (it wasn't as outrageous, you would soon see). "140", "40", "140", "40" some bargaining but no use. (I knew I was quoting quite low)
Next one said 110, again 40, some bargaining till I said reached my limit of 75 and he didn't come below 100. I thought I should have taken this one. Next one "200", "75" (couldn't say 40, it was no use anyways and had enough 'fun'). He also went after some exchange of numbers.
(Now you see quoting 40 was not that outrageou. Subconsciously I was starting my part of the bargain at little below half the asking price, so had it been this guy to come first, I would have asked for 75 and not 40).
Next one asked for 140 and we settled at 100.
I took auto more than a couple of times durring my stay in tthe city and realised offering half the asking price was not a bad strategy after all.
But one thing good about autos in Chennai is that you can readily get an auto from anywhere to anywhere at any point of time verry unlike Delhi.

(other thing I noted while being there was that young boys and girls look fitter than what the fitness of the screen superstars would suggest.)

Wonly 10 rupees sir

Inflation rate has slowed down to 6.82%, only statistically it seems but things which are of basic need are sstill expensive; a cup of tea For sure.

I landed at the Chennai airport and had this man help me take my luggage to the pre paid taxi (as far as that luggage is concerned, it was just an office bag with some clothes inside). " Thank you", I said, thinking since it was his taxi, it was ok for him to carry the bag. Turned out some one else was the driver and so this man now supposedly qualifies for a tip. Boss, I could have carried that luggage myself, I thought. Nevertheless, I started looking for some change in my purse but unfortunately there was none. I said "sorry" and gestured to the effect but the man started asking for some money for tea, which made me search more in case there were some coins (a cup of tea next to my office building costs Rs5/-) . Had none.

Even if I were to give him the tip, would have probably not given him more than 10 rupees. Given that he started by asking 'some money for tea', I thought he is asking for some coins and started looking in my bag before he added 'wonly 10 rupees sir'.

GIVE ME JOB

how do we know if its a novel way of job hunting or if its love for the director!

What kind of ad is this in these times - when a shrinking company brings only one thing to mind!

Killing me softly ...

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Thank you England ...II

"And let us say thank you to England for coming back to our shores when they had every reason to be apprehensive, even scared. May be they still are but, they are palying cricket on our land, as our guests and we must applaud them for that."
- Harsha Bhogale' IE 19 Dec 08

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Thank you, England and thank you, KP

A bit late in thanking the team but was quite busy with other household chores. The first test match is already on with England having a decent first day. (Could have had been better given the start they got)

To be back to a country where you saw a massive terrorist attack only last month - where foreigners, tourists and the rich were specially targetted, where the very hotel where you would normally stay was under seige - is in deed a matter of courage, in my view. How would you convince your wife and kids, your parents that the place is safe. You might know it because you have travelled to other places in the country but may be not your wife, kids or parents.

Some of my friends want to go to Bangkok for their CFA examinations this June but the recent events have made them rethink and may be opt for Singapore. This despite the fact that Bangkok now appears to be almost safe for tourists/visitors but why take any chance.

Negotiation lessons from Henry Kissinger

...'its a bad idea to have heads of state negotiating with each other at the beginning of the process. Most heads of state have highly developed egos and limited time. So if they meet in a short time frame and dont agree, you have no recourse left. So as a general rule, actu details should first be prepared at a lower level.

(something that happened at the Agra summit b/w the two heads, Indian PM AB Vajpayee and Pak President Musharraf)

(Read the complete interview at IE, 7 Dec 08)

Mumbai up and running ...

...the business of life has resumed. But don't talk of spirit, it's a city without options!
(The Indian Express - Sunday edition dated 7 Dec 08)