I state travel, reading as a hobby; something that I always looked forward to. Work has taken me to a few different places – in India and the USA and it’s been an enriching experience. The last couple of years however have been pretty barren - on both fronts. No major travel conquests to report and I’ve almost stopped my reading habit. I count two books I could barely complete in the last year. A couple of failed plans to Pune and Coorg over the past 6 months haven’t helped matters with weekend sojourns. It looks like a sort of inertia has stuck my being.
Inertia really, because though work takes up a big part of my time, I spent another major chunk of it sleeping! Required I know, but I should stop being a lazy bum and devote a little time to reading and writing. Started reading The Devil Wears Prada last week; also have The Hungry Tide lined up. God knows how many years I will take to finish these two. It makes me sad that I hardly devoted any time at all to reading since school. As good as crime in my parlance and it is something that I want to change in my life. Read a lot more and take to writing. Not sure how good I can be at it but I do not want to lose before I get started.
Better news on the travel front though; we have been able to get things moving. Plans for a weekend trip to Mallela Theertham and Srisailam are half-way there. Knowing how good we are at postponing trips I wouldn’t have committed this here but this time around we have done some accommodation reservations – so it is almost a point of no return for us. Here’s hoping things go according to plan and I can opine a travelogue pretty soon.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
To 'tip' or not...
The other day we went to a very famous (and very good) vegetarian restaurant in my city and enjoyed a wholesome meal. It isn't a very expensive restaurant, and the ambience is nothing to die for. In fact there is almost always such a very big crowd in there that it becomes difficult to find a place unless of course you are prepared to wait.
The food though is pretty good and that's a reason I usually end up frequenting the place. Being near my home is a good enough push too.
I paid the bill using my card and decided it's put in a part of my tip in the card to get my bill to a nicely rounded number (Rs 200 sounds better than a Rs 191 for me!). My server confronts me while I do this saying that I was not allowed to tip anything less than 10 rupees. That didn't go down well with me. A customer cannot be told a minimum amount to tip. I pay for the service, ambience and 'IF' I am happy. I later looked at my bill and found out that service charge was included as part of my bill. Now, I make it a point to check my bill before paying; always tip in cash; and never tip at a restaurant charging customers for their service.
The food though is pretty good and that's a reason I usually end up frequenting the place. Being near my home is a good enough push too.
I paid the bill using my card and decided it's put in a part of my tip in the card to get my bill to a nicely rounded number (Rs 200 sounds better than a Rs 191 for me!). My server confronts me while I do this saying that I was not allowed to tip anything less than 10 rupees. That didn't go down well with me. A customer cannot be told a minimum amount to tip. I pay for the service, ambience and 'IF' I am happy. I later looked at my bill and found out that service charge was included as part of my bill. Now, I make it a point to check my bill before paying; always tip in cash; and never tip at a restaurant charging customers for their service.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Vamos Federer
He probably waited for the 14th slam much more than anything else he won. It's our fault perhaps to estimate a time because he's been winning them like they are being held in his backyard. A true champion; his chest was perhaps incomplete without this one but there'll still be bricks thrown at this win I guess. He didn't win against the player who's competed best against him in this era. But for no mistake of his though - let's play it down folks.
I always got a feeling that he never quite played to potential against Rafa. Probably credit to the young man. I though was waiting for the day when this French expectation was lighter in Federer's mind. I am itching to see a hungrier Nadal playing against a more relaxed Federer. Wimbledon's round the corner and I can't resist the thought enough.
The two champions of the present era have given us enough thrills when they played one another. A grand slam final doesn't seem to be one without them playing in it. Brute force, adrenalin, the incredible energy and stamina that Nadal brings witted against silken grace, an almost nonchalant laziness, pure genius. Waiting for more gentlemen; bring the goose-bumps on!
I always got a feeling that he never quite played to potential against Rafa. Probably credit to the young man. I though was waiting for the day when this French expectation was lighter in Federer's mind. I am itching to see a hungrier Nadal playing against a more relaxed Federer. Wimbledon's round the corner and I can't resist the thought enough.
The two champions of the present era have given us enough thrills when they played one another. A grand slam final doesn't seem to be one without them playing in it. Brute force, adrenalin, the incredible energy and stamina that Nadal brings witted against silken grace, an almost nonchalant laziness, pure genius. Waiting for more gentlemen; bring the goose-bumps on!
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