Before I moved to Hyderabad, I had heard how India is now such a vibrant economy, and full of opportunities; but I hadn't realized the extent of the opportunity until I started living here. Now my mind is constantly coming up with new ideas. Everywhere you look, there is something that can be done to make people's lives easier.
I guess you really have to immerse your self into a country to solve it's problems. You can't do it from a distance. Just yesterday I was sitting at a traffic light and even before the light turned green, people behind us started honking. Having grown up in India, I should be used to it, but incessant and pointless honking makes my blood boil. And it made me wonder, wouldn't it be nice if every time you used the horn, the steering wheel gave you a shock. You can't really take the horn away, but you can take steps to reduce its use. With an electric shock you can still honk if you had to, but it makes sure you will do it only in case of an emergency or if you really really really had to.
I know what you are thinking - this idea is not going to be implemented anytime soon unless the Junta takes over in India. There are other ideas though, that are lot more practical. For example, I hired a maid who believes in a 5 day work week and finds the most creative ways to get out of coming to work on Saturdays and Sundays. In the 3 weeks since I hired her, she fell sick one weekend, had here birthday on the 2nd weekend (yes she took time off for her birthday :)), and was hit by an auto rickshaw this Friday. I know, that if true, I should be a lot more sympathetic on the last one, but I have just finished moping the floors and I am not willing to believe a word of what she had to said.
The house help in India has turned the tables on their employers. A growing number of households in India are now dual income and for some of the 2nd tier cities like Hyderabad there just isn't enough help available. With both husband and wife working, there is no other option but to tolerate the whims of the help. Almost anyone I talk to is upset with their house help situation but are unable to do anything about it.
It made me wonder why there is no Roomba like cleaner available in India. Most houses have marble or some other stone flooring so the traditional vacuum cleaners, that work so well on carpets, can't really work in India. You need something that can do jharoo-poncha - basically something that picks up the dust, followed by something that washes the floor with a water-detergent combination, and then something that dries the floor. A slow moving Roomba like bot could easily do the task.
India does have a tendency to go with cheap manual labor, instead of opting for automation. I guess when you have a billion people, it more important to keep people employed rather than worry about things like productivity and efficiency. Better to have them do almost nothing instead of creating trouble. I wonder though, at want point will the need for convenience override such concerns. Until then, I'll just have to mop my own floors.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
King of Kings
This is a post about something that happened almost a month back, but I think it is still worth blogging about especially given that I was so excited when it happened that I actually took pictures :).
Summer time in India is synonymous with two things - paralyzing heat, and one special nectar oozing fruit of the Gods, the mango. If mango is the king of fruits, then Alfonso is the king of mangoes. Also called Hapus or Haapoos, these one of a kind mangoes arrive during the very early part of mango season in April. I am not sure whether it is because they the one of the first mangoes to arrive or because their taste is indeed so unique, but the Alphonsoes are one special mango.
To celebrate Ayza'a arrival (congrats Tarim and Mahj), I decided to bring home a box. I realize that a box of twelve is a lot of mangoes for one person, but these mangoes are not sold any other way. It was clear to the shopkeeper that I was a first time Alphonso buyer when I asked him, "Bhaiya, how much for a kilo?" He smiled and replied softly in a Yoda like voice, "The measure of an Alphonso is not in its weight babuji, but the unique experience that each and every piece provides. Kilos and grams, these are concepts for your average mangoes like Langra, or Dashehri. This is an Alphonso."
Alphonsoes only travel first class. They come in their own box of 12, packed with ample padding and leg room to make sure they don't face any discomfort as they travel to their destination. The mangoes were duly washed, individually dried, and kept in the refrigerator for a little over two hours before my patience ran out and I sank my teeth into the first batch. All I have to say is, I can now die in peace.
Summer time in India is synonymous with two things - paralyzing heat, and one special nectar oozing fruit of the Gods, the mango. If mango is the king of fruits, then Alfonso is the king of mangoes. Also called Hapus or Haapoos, these one of a kind mangoes arrive during the very early part of mango season in April. I am not sure whether it is because they the one of the first mangoes to arrive or because their taste is indeed so unique, but the Alphonsoes are one special mango.
To celebrate Ayza'a arrival (congrats Tarim and Mahj), I decided to bring home a box. I realize that a box of twelve is a lot of mangoes for one person, but these mangoes are not sold any other way. It was clear to the shopkeeper that I was a first time Alphonso buyer when I asked him, "Bhaiya, how much for a kilo?" He smiled and replied softly in a Yoda like voice, "The measure of an Alphonso is not in its weight babuji, but the unique experience that each and every piece provides. Kilos and grams, these are concepts for your average mangoes like Langra, or Dashehri. This is an Alphonso."
Alphonsoes only travel first class. They come in their own box of 12, packed with ample padding and leg room to make sure they don't face any discomfort as they travel to their destination. The mangoes were duly washed, individually dried, and kept in the refrigerator for a little over two hours before my patience ran out and I sank my teeth into the first batch. All I have to say is, I can now die in peace.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
B2B: Back to Blogging
So I finally get a chance to blog again after nearly a month. Was busy launching something that I have been working on since I moved here to Hyderabad. It is something really small, but it is amazing how many people found it and that too without any announcement or blog post from us.
I used to say that it doesn't matter what other people think as long as you love what you are doing. Wrong! It absolutely matters. When you have spent so much time and effort into something, you really want the work to have an impact. You can't help but care about whether people use it, and like it. Acceptance must be a big part of the satisfaction you derive from your work and I am glad that I work for someone who gives me a chance to have this kind of impact.
Anyway, after I was done launching this tiny feature, I took a much needed vacation. Spent a week in Darjeeling with mum and dad. A very relaxed vacation with a bit of trekking thrown in, but more on that later. I am back in Hyderabad now and ready to start blogging again, so expect a whole lot blogs this weekend.
I used to say that it doesn't matter what other people think as long as you love what you are doing. Wrong! It absolutely matters. When you have spent so much time and effort into something, you really want the work to have an impact. You can't help but care about whether people use it, and like it. Acceptance must be a big part of the satisfaction you derive from your work and I am glad that I work for someone who gives me a chance to have this kind of impact.
Anyway, after I was done launching this tiny feature, I took a much needed vacation. Spent a week in Darjeeling with mum and dad. A very relaxed vacation with a bit of trekking thrown in, but more on that later. I am back in Hyderabad now and ready to start blogging again, so expect a whole lot blogs this weekend.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Al Gore I heard you dude
OK, I'll confess. I am no longer homeless. In fact, I have had an apartment for 2 weeks now, but I am telling you only now. I did let the cat out of the bag for some of you, and as expected, you guys demanded pictures. Well, I finally decided to take pictures today and put them up.
Two weeks ago I moved into an apartment that I'll be calling home for at least the next year. The apartment complex is a short walk of about 100 yards from the Google office, and hence the Al Gore reference. Contrary to my expectations, the 2 minute walk has done nothing to improve the time I make it into the office. I still stroll in around 10:30 - 11. It has, however, helped me leave work at a decent hour and make it to the gym on a regular basis.
The complex has 3 buildings - Alpha, Beta, and you guessed it, Gamma. I am in Beta. The address will be sent via email soon after I post this blog. The apartment has a pool which is frequented by cameramen and film crew more often than it sees any action from actual swimmers. I am sure the coming summer vacation will change all that. The complex also has a gym, squash courts, and badminton courts that residents can use for a small fee.
The apartments itself is quite spacious. Marble floors, a large kitchen, balconies, and decent sized bathrooms make it quite a treat to live in. I just don't know what to do with all this space though. The 2 guest rooms are still waiting to be utilized, so you guys need to come visit soon. Yes, that last line was an invitation to visit me here in Hyderabad. If you looking for a more formal invitation, that too can be arranged.
I have a house boy, Ramarao, who takes care of the dishes, the laundry, and the cleaning. I started to teach him how to cook, but soon lowered my expectations to him just chopping vegetables, and even that requires some amount of training and supervision. Even putting the clothes in the washer requires some supervision, for he hasn't quite figured out separating the whites and colors yet. Despite these limitations, he insists on charging me the expat rate. Yeah he is not as dumb as he sounds. I would have fired his ass, but I just love the way he makes the bed (see below); plus I haven't had time to look for a replacement, so I keep telling myself that he is still way cheaper than a weekly maid service in the US. Besides, if I didn't have him, I am sure I would have "died under a mountain of my own filth".
I think I have said enough about the house. The rest you need to come see for yourself. More pictures can be found here. I'll add pictures of the pool etc in a few days.
Two weeks ago I moved into an apartment that I'll be calling home for at least the next year. The apartment complex is a short walk of about 100 yards from the Google office, and hence the Al Gore reference. Contrary to my expectations, the 2 minute walk has done nothing to improve the time I make it into the office. I still stroll in around 10:30 - 11. It has, however, helped me leave work at a decent hour and make it to the gym on a regular basis.
The complex has 3 buildings - Alpha, Beta, and you guessed it, Gamma. I am in Beta. The address will be sent via email soon after I post this blog. The apartment has a pool which is frequented by cameramen and film crew more often than it sees any action from actual swimmers. I am sure the coming summer vacation will change all that. The complex also has a gym, squash courts, and badminton courts that residents can use for a small fee.
The apartments itself is quite spacious. Marble floors, a large kitchen, balconies, and decent sized bathrooms make it quite a treat to live in. I just don't know what to do with all this space though. The 2 guest rooms are still waiting to be utilized, so you guys need to come visit soon. Yes, that last line was an invitation to visit me here in Hyderabad. If you looking for a more formal invitation, that too can be arranged.
I have a house boy, Ramarao, who takes care of the dishes, the laundry, and the cleaning. I started to teach him how to cook, but soon lowered my expectations to him just chopping vegetables, and even that requires some amount of training and supervision. Even putting the clothes in the washer requires some supervision, for he hasn't quite figured out separating the whites and colors yet. Despite these limitations, he insists on charging me the expat rate. Yeah he is not as dumb as he sounds. I would have fired his ass, but I just love the way he makes the bed (see below); plus I haven't had time to look for a replacement, so I keep telling myself that he is still way cheaper than a weekly maid service in the US. Besides, if I didn't have him, I am sure I would have "died under a mountain of my own filth".
I think I have said enough about the house. The rest you need to come see for yourself. More pictures can be found here. I'll add pictures of the pool etc in a few days.
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| Hyderabad Apartment |
Monday, March 31, 2008
Golf in Hyderabad is in ruins
I found this golf course in Hyderabad, about 20 minutes from Hi Tech City, that doesn't require me to fight traffic to get there. While it was the traffic that attracted me to the course, it is the course, situated in Tollichowki with the backdrop of Qutb Shahi Tombs itself, that will keep bringing me back.
The course has a few big limitations, the biggest being that only 3 of the 18 holes have been built so far. However I soon realized that this was a "feature" of the course, not a limitation. I played 9 holes (Holes 1 to 3, three times) and my score improved significantly in the later part of the course :)
But I can't wait for the course to be completely. The other 15 holes will be inside the Naya Quila (New Fort) - yes, inside the damn fort. There is something grand and majestic about playing on a course built inside a fortress. Even today, as you tee off the range, even a poor shot is rewarded with a view of the fort wall. You know that you are in a country with history and a rich heritage when even golf courses are built amongst ruins that are over 400 years old.
The course has a few big limitations, the biggest being that only 3 of the 18 holes have been built so far. However I soon realized that this was a "feature" of the course, not a limitation. I played 9 holes (Holes 1 to 3, three times) and my score improved significantly in the later part of the course :)
But I can't wait for the course to be completely. The other 15 holes will be inside the Naya Quila (New Fort) - yes, inside the damn fort. There is something grand and majestic about playing on a course built inside a fortress. Even today, as you tee off the range, even a poor shot is rewarded with a view of the fort wall. You know that you are in a country with history and a rich heritage when even golf courses are built amongst ruins that are over 400 years old.
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