Jet Airways

i would not say i am a frequent flier , but yes , i do travel domestic often , and Jet is one gem of an airline that definitely rocks : everything about the airline simply boils down to Just Excellent Travel .
Recently , i was supposed to fly out to Mumbai in one of the late night flights - 00:30 am to be precise . And boy , was i scared to travel alone !! you bet . Not really sure

how loaded the flight would be and how comfortable we would be ( it happened to be a night of heavy rain and those scary lightning thunders up there ) i only prayed.
To be on the safer side ( actually I dint think it would be a wise idea to travel all the way back home after office and then again to the airport ) I reached there by 20:30. Not really sure what to do , i walked up to the Jet 9W counter and asked them if they would check-me in for the flight , as I was not sure if I dozed off and then kaput !!!!
One of the best thing about Jet is , there hospitality doesn’t start at the higher altitudes , the warmth and co-operation is something you can expect the moment you walk up to their counter . When I expressed my fear of dozing off and missing the flight , a very sweet lady promptly offered to keep an eye on me and wake me up in time .... isn’t this something you would never expect ?? but then , with jet , i guess you should always be ready to expect the sweet unexpected ....
checked-in , i decided to have a snack at the club-premiere lounge , tempting is the word i would describe here ... warm delicious delicacies tempting you all the way to the food platter ... boy did i escape the gastronomic delights , after one thought at my not-so-happening diet course !!!!
Boarding announced and here we proceed to the craft .. As luck would have it , the rain only got worse .. But when u are flying with Jet , you need not fret , neither high up there in the skies or at ground level .. The Jet staff was standing holding umbrellas , to ensure no one boarded the craft wet .. literally ... they made me feel so special , as if the entire staff was out there just to protect me from the heavy torrent !!!!!
Once on board , the ever-smiling face of the crew and the warmth , made me forget all about the terrifying thunders outside .. if this was to be my comfort zone for the next two-and-a-half hours , so be it .. the crew was instantly around , helping us with the luggage and stuff .. The ambience was pretty soothing .. blue and yellow all around . At this point I would mention the services of two crew members in particular , Rohan and Manisha , if u read this , please accept my thanks for a wonderful experience on-board..
the leg space being amazingly comfortable , i simply extended my decently-long legs and hugged my pillow ( in-flight comfort ) to doze. I woke up with the crew offering me a delicious choice of soft drinks , and i decided on a very Indian drink , Aam Panna , something u and me have had often , but I must recommend , this was one of the most amazing mix of aam-panna i have ever had. After the drinks was the round for snacks ( the menu in itself was sufficient to strike up a chaos in my tummy : I mean , being a hard-core non-veg that i am , how do i decide between tandoori kebab , galoti kebab , fish tikkas , mutton rolls and chicken tikkas ??? ok ok ok , just in case u are wondering , the Bird-Flu is officially off and Jet has now re-introduced kukkad ( chicken ) on the flight ) . Good sense prevailed and i managed to settle for a bite of it all .... shameless me : )
the thunders were scaring me , so sleep was out of the question , I looked around to find all my co-passengers happily asleep . My discomfort was sensed by the crew and one of them came up to me . Throughout the flight , he kept me engaged in casual conversation , about Mumbai , where I was going alone and for the first time , about other things in general ...
Though our flight departed an hour late due to the weather conditions , the captains made up for the delay pretty well and we managed to cut down on 20 minutes of our flight . The crew regularly apologised for the delay , though this was due to a natural cause and no fault of Jet .....
What is it about the airline that makes it one of the most sought-after airlines of today ... is it the comfort u so look forward to , is it the smiling charm , the warmth and the ever-helpful attitude of the staff , starting right from the check-in counters to the crew ... I guess it is a beautiful mix of it all ...
I recommend fly Jet , you will love it if you haven’t flown it yet .. and if you have , well u dont really need me to tell you , you know pretty much the same as me ...

Pros: classy , elegant
Cons: a bit heavily made-up ; accent

No. of times flown on this Airlines: Between 4 - 6
Class flown most frequently: Business Class

Heidelberg

Heidelberg - a place which houses the world-famous Heidelberg Castle , a definite recommendation on any European traveller’s must-see list ....
My trip to Germany happened to be that on a training , being with Lufthansa , I was sent there along with 03 other colleagues , to go through a month-long training .
Thrilled yes we definitely were , as this happened to be the first travel abroad , that too to Europe with friends , isnt this a kind of trip we all wish for , sometime in our lives .... : )
The trip

was in September and after all formalities through , we were finally ready to fly Lufthansa LH ( El Ha as it is called in Germany ) first class . Well one recommendation , if travelling to Germany , LH has to be the ONLY choice , trust me u are gonna fall in love with the charm they exude ....
As our schedule happened to be packed through the week , we definitely looked forward to the weekends , where we could cram in some sight seeing . One place that was definitely recommended was the Heidelberg castle and we simply knew we had to go there . If you are the kind who loves the old-world charm , the armours , the royal wardrobes ... all European style , this is one destination that is gonna cast a spell on you ...
We were lodged at a hotel in RheinHeim , a small peaceful German country area , about an hour’s distance from the Frankfurt airport . From the airport , you’ll get a number of buses that take you near the Heidelberg castle . And this is not a regular bus-ride . The country side is full of sights you will enjoy , they will soothe your senses . You can have your drinks and food in the bus , and as for relaxation , the seats are gonna lull you to sleep . The bus is also equipped with an amazing restroom , which is convenient , as well as has all modern facilities .
To go upto the castle ( its on the top of a hill ) , you need to hire a cab ( please do hire one , its gonna be one of the most luxurious automobiles you are gonna see in India ) , which would cost you approx 120-150 euros , depending upon the kind of cab .
Once on the hill , you can realise the charm that awaits you . The huge castle gates lie majestically open , inviting you to step in and lose yourself in a different world altogether . One of the more fascinating features there, are the people who dress up in royal costumes , holding swords and other royal accessories ... they will be more than happy to click away with you .... you just need to ask them , thats all !!!
When you are in the castle , all limitations to time should be done away with , it is one place which needs your complete attention .... each hall , each corner , every rampart needs to be explored ..
Roaming around , you can see a lot of the German culture , that you will not find in the cities , or the markets ..... the royal wardrobes , the canvas oil paintings , the swords , armour , the trophies ... a lot of other interesting things ...
Before I forget , there is a laboratory somewhere in the bottom area of the castle , which has the jars and huge storage equipments , from way back the original days .... here , you will see how the people in those times made medicine , how they dealt with purification systems , how they invented various cures , and all of this through cleverly crafted , hand-made equipments , that will take your breath away ..
Once you are through with the tour , be sure to come out to the terrace and look down at the city . The neat layout of the houses , the roads and the various structures , is bound to impress you .... Do spend a few minutes up there , just gazing down , you will love the feel , the way the river flows peacefully through the beautiful country .
Done with your castle-seeing , you are out , but before you leave , step into the Museum once , which is located just outside the main gates of the castle . There , you are bound to find something that will travel all the way back home with you .. I got a beautiful miniature sculpture made from the mud on the banks of the Rhine river . A small knife , with awesome work done on it , a beautiful necklace , made of stones from the Rhine river .... and a couple of more beautiful works ...
The trip was way too exhaustive .... but as we sat in the cab and wound our way back through the hilly roads , we couldnt but help turn back and look at the majestic structure on the hill : the castle on the hill , the Heidelberg castle ....


Pros: breathtaking , majestic , collection of rare artefacts
Cons: none

Frankfurt

Frankfurt called me in October , the time I was with Lufthansa , scheduled to fly out on a month-long gruelling training session to Germany .. along with 03 equally wicked colleagues of mine ... he he he .. well , we were sure in for some great times together .. The flight to Frankfurt was the best part of the trip , almost .. the class and elegance of flying business class on Lufthansa , has no comparison .. Well fed and well taken care of , the first thing that hit us when we landed at Frankfurt , was the HUUUUUUUUUge airport . If you are the kind who has lived mostly on the Delhi , Mumbai airports , this is something that is definitely gonna elicit a word of

appreciation and admiration from u .. loads of words actually !! The next thing to hit us was the cold .. it was just so damn cold .. we were shivering outright . It so happened that , the weather had been predicted as warm and the day before we landed , it snowed ... we were down on our knees in the rest rooms ... yes , puking .. it was that cold ... As we came out on the road , we could see the clean gleaming buses all lined up in neat rows . As we were given official transportation , travel was not really such a bother .. Jam packed schedules , weekends were just for us . We planned our trip to Frankfurt and very smartly landed up at the airport , to board a train from there . In Germany , this is one amazing facility , from the airport , you get the cab , the bus , the train , the metro , the flight of course ... anything .... We got on the train and it was one beautiful ride , through the city , with its modern constructions , its wide well-maintained roads , the beautiful colours of flowers u saw on entire road stretches .. no pollution no dust , we could wear the same white shirt , without using the laundry service for 06 days at a stretch ... it is so pollution-free . At Frankfurt , the one thing we realised was that , water was anyday much much more expensive than beer . . u literally had to shell out your major wealth for a bottle of water . As we came out of the station to the streets , music greeted us all over . We turned around in amazement , to realise that , in Frankfurt , u dont have to go find a place to party , the streets are literally turned to clubs and pubs . The Frankfurt market is one place , which , when u are in Germany , u definitely must visit . The sheer merry-making and party spirit of the people is gonna keep u cheered up for days .. The entire footpath is taken up by musicians and performers , some of them quite famous , who perform there for free .. if thier music touches u , you can give them some money , else just enjoy the performance . There are people playing the flute , the drums , bass , guitar , saxophone , there are live DJ’s , there are strippers , there are dancers , you just name it , they are all there .. and the beauty is the way all this gels together .. it is an experience of its kind , one you will never forget . Do shake a leg or two with the DJ , its absolute fun , we continued through three hours of cheering and sheer madness ... Remember one thing though , the Germans do NOT look upon outsiders as friends , so please steer clear of the punks , no matter how shocking their hair or outfit might look , dont , and I mean , DONT turn around to look at them ... its the sure-shot way of walking into trouble . A very famous store in Frankfurt is the WalMart , that is what we were told and felt as well . Five or six huge floors of shopping , it houses some of the most sought-after names in products like cosmetics , clothing , accessories , electronics , furnishings ... the restaurant at WalMart is one where you should go in for the meat balls , its a kind of meat dish with spinach stuffing , romancing the most delectable species of cheese on earth .. the taste will never leave your taste buds , mark my words , u are gonna crave for it for life . This one recipe I have not yet been able to figure out .. SIMPLY AWESOME AND MOST RECOMMENDED !!! Do shop for some clothes , shoes , bags , belts , books ( if u please ) , but try and avoid jewellery , the variety is much better in our country , if u ask me . Moving out of the main market , grab a sandwich or pasta or some other food and drinks at any of the roadside cafes , this is something you wish our own Delhi , or for that matter , India , would adopt more freely ... its such fun , sitting out on the pavement under the shades , smelling the heady aroma rushing at you .... The entire day can be spent at the Frankfurt market , strolling around and losing yourself in the mad crowd , and dont be surprised if u hear loud Indian music , mundian to bachke , or shakin an a** , doin the rounds , Germans are crazy about the Indian hip-hop mixes .... All in all , a great place to be , if u are friends , but if alone , its a pity , Germans are the least friendly and the most snobbish and cold mix i have seen . But check out the city , u are bound to like it for its organised culture and sheer pollution free environment .. till then , adieus ..... and danke ..


Pros: clean , party zone , wide spacious roads
Cons: punks , unfriendly people

Germany

My trip to Germany was for a month with 03 other colleagues. The first thing that struck us once we landed at the Frankfurt airport was the enormity of the place … the airport was literally HUGE. You have to see the impressive line-up of the best carriers in the world , all lined up standing huge and pretty . The weather had been predicted pleasant and that piece of information happened to be the first disaster . It so happened that it had snowed the night before we landed and as we reached there at around 0700 hrs. , the snowy winds were really not in a mood to spare us. The cold was so intense , we had to head towards the rest rooms to puke , it was the kind of cold that even the chilliest and biting winters of Delhi had not prepared us for. From the airport thankfully the wait time was nil , so we settled comfortably in
our Lufthansa bus and headed towards the hotel. As we moved on, the scenes outside could not but make us feel amazed. The roads were all lined up with some of the most beautiful and colorful flowers we had ever seen. Unlike India , the pollution level was NIL , or as I think , minus zero. Not a speck of dust could be seen around and we could wear the same white shirt for 06 days in a row , it was that clean !!! From the hotel as we headed towards the office , we decided to go for a bus ride. The buses in Germany are a great way to travel around. Amazingly punctual , the bus stops are well-placed and have ample information about the bus-timings, which arrive by the clock. The floors are almost on road-level , so that you don’t have a problem in boarding. The seats are spacious with huge windows and u can always see the display board to check the name of the approaching destination. Other than that , the trains are another option of convenient travel. Trams in Germany are something you should take a ride in , more so to feel the experience of going through the streets in a leisurely pace and having a chance to look around at some of the very amazing and beautiful structures. A very good practice I found in Germans is the habit of reading. You will hardly see anyone waiting at the bus stop without reading something , whether a book or the paper. Plus once on the roads , you can always feast your eyes on the sleek German automobiles. For dog lovers too it’s a treat , as Germany has some of the best breeds. Germans are way too fond of dogs and you can almost spot every second person going out with man’s best friend. Food in Germany is not worth mentioning , especially for people like us , who are bred on spicy and oily stuff. If you are the kinds who can live on salads and fruits ( I saw some fruits and vegetables that I had never seen in my life and will never again taste in my life, come what may ) , then it could be a plus point. But don’t go by the look of the food , please enquire correctly and take a decision. A dish that looks fab could actually have you throwing up. Speaking about non-veg , I thank Germany for introducing me to ham and turkey , which I hated in the beginning but now I like. Though I really dint like the food there , I must admit the absence of oil and spice had worked wonders for my skin and when I returned , everyone just exclaimed how much fairer and glowing my skin had become !!! Now who would mind that , ya ! There are a lot of Pakistani restaurants in Germany who would be more than happy to dish up something spicy for you. You have to visit these restaurants that you’ll see very often, the love and friendliness shown by Pakistanis there towards Indian is really touching. We had one such restaurant near our hotel where we would go each evening. The people there were so happy to see us. They wanted to know what was happening in India and how were things actually between India and Pakistan. No matter how much we tried to pay them , they refused to charge us for the food. Finally when we were leaving, we got them a parting gift and the tears in their eyes said it all. It was an experience I will never forget. Frankfurt is a city worth visiting , you may read the review on Frankfurt for a better knowledge of the place. Go there with some good amount of time as well as money as there are some good shopping hubs out there. WalMart and some other big names are all there and once you land up in the Frankfurt market , you are gonna wish you carried some more cash. There are some good buys there for jackets , shoes , bags , belts , wallets, skirts , tees , formals ( both men and women ) , perfumes , accessories , books , electronics. But preferably try not to purchase jewelry , as you can always find better options in India. The pavements are all transformed into party zones, with live performances , songs , dance , tricks , bands , DJ’s , even strippers. Its going to be one hell of a time. Chocolate lovers should try out the different available flavors , its simply a treat to find the best names in chocolates under one roof. For the real chocolate lovers, try out the original flavor of chocolates , the bitter chocolates. For others , there are the sweet ones , the milky ones, nuts , crunchies , wafers , tobelorone and all the usual sinful delights Try out the wonderful open-air cafes and restaurants lining the streets. They are definitely worth visiting. A sincere piece of advice , steer clear of the punks , no matter how outrageous their hair-do or their outfits , please DO NOT turn around and look at them. As a rule , Germans, especially the punks do not look on outsiders as friends . Water in Germany is more expensive than beer , a small bottle could cost you upto 15 euros. Its always better to carry your own supply from the hotel. To be very blunt, even the water in the sink tap is pure drinking water , so you can always store it. Again , while traveling , remember to carry a lip balm that can double up as cream , the weather in Germany can prove to be very cruel at times and you can end up looking like an aged wrinkled version of your real self. Germans by nature are not very friendly , so its always better to be either a bit aware of the local tongue or know how to interpret signs. We had some of the worst experiences in the local shopping centers. As it is , everything closes down by 08:00 pm sharp , so you have to be through with your shopping by then. The labels are all in German, making it impossible for an outsider to understand what lies within. No amount of seeking help proves helpful, as they are simply not ready to speak English , even if they know the language. You have to run around on your own and depend on sheer luck. One small piece of advice , enter the malls with ample amount of time in hand , closing time can prove to be chaotic.

Pros: clean , beautifully done , disciplined
Cons: stiff cold attitde , punks , not safe at night

Type of Travel: Business Travel ; Duration of Stay:a month ;
Average Expenditure:approx Rs.2000/day ; Group Size: 04 ; Best Suited For: Leisure
Best Time to Travel:Any time of the year

United Coffee House

if u are a frequent CP-visitor and a foodie by birth , just like me and my hubby , well , u cannot ignore this place . Amidst the hustle-bustle of CP , the chaat-waala tempting u to dig into those mouth-watering masaaledaar dal-chaat or aaloo-chaat , if u are in the mood for some real food , this is simply ur destination , where ur food hunt comes to an end . If u visit CP and dont eat here once , I am sorry , u lost it ...On most occasions , u would see a long list of people waiting for their turn to get in , and yes , u will have to wait , come on , achchha khaana paane ke liye thoda time to khona partaa hai na !!!!The friendly old man at the entrance will keep on apologising 2 u for the delay and will assure u that it wont take much long .. well . we being regulars now , he has actually started recognising us !As u step in , u cant help but look up at the huge chandelier on the ceiling . The beautifully done ceiling definitely needs a mention here ... There are a lot of tables , but as there is always a crowd , u will have to really look around for a place ( me and my hubby have our own special favourite table , which we manage to get most of the times ..... thankfully ) . The waiter hands u the menu and then starts ur real test ... what to order ... in an amalgamation of the most fine dishes , how can u afford to select one and miss out on the other ... well , looks like u will have to come over next time for the remaining many dishes .. If u are a non-veg : ) , u can go in for all the meat options , they are simply a treat .. butter chicken , mutton curry , murg handi , murg lababdar , there is meat cooked in spice and herbs , meat cooked in nuts and cheese , meat in simply hot spices , murg tikkas , kebabs , tandoori , sizzlers and absolutely all the varities of yummy meat ... In veg , u should definitely try out their dal makhani .. its a sure shot winner . there is kaali dal , there is spicy paneer , kadahi paneer , shahi paneer , a few other paneer preparations , ther is a very good dish in aloo , i really dont remember right now , but do ask the waiter please ... For add-ons , u may have rumali roti , tandoori roti , lachha parantha , pudina parantha , or aloo-naan , or butter-naan ..... thats just gonna melt in ur mouth ... its ok to cheat on the diet part once in a while , dont u agree !!! For starters , u may select the soup varieties , they are quite good . Plus as the wait time for food will be a bit longer than usual ( the place is always loaded with people ) , its a good idea to order together and ask for the soup or drinks to be brought first . For drinks , u can go in for beer , i dont think thats the only hard drink they have, but as i am not really knowledgable on it , i will leave that to my fiance to write about ....For families with kids , u can ask for the kid-chair , they have arrangements for the same .. The ambience is very nice , with friendly waiters and good music in the background , not too loud ad neither too soft .. There is also a live performance by their in-house singer , whose attempts are not too great , but quite good .The food is very reasonably priced and there is the option of paying through yuor card .United Coffee House is a sure-shot winner all the way , u can assess its popularity by the various groups of people waiting patiently outside , just to get in and dig in to their favourite dishes . Whether a romantic evening , a business dinner , a casual meeting with acquaintances , family or friends outing , or just a quick grab , this is THE PLACE in saddi Dilli !!! Do let me know once you go out for this gastronomical extravagance ... till then , just think of the yummy food ... he he he ..

The Oberoi

While I did see a couple of reviews on Kandahar , the speciality northern cuisine at The Oberoi , nothing on the hotel though , ya !! This was a very recent visit to the city of Bombay , my second trip , official again and just happened to be over the weekend . So , I planned my stay at The Oberoi , Nariman Point , on a last-minute decision . The flight from Delhi saw me land in Bombay at 0330 hrs in the pre-dawn mist . As I hadheard a lot about the safety and exciting travel habits of the city , I decided to take a bus from the airport , that would be a nice ride through a city that was a stranger , and would let me do some sight-seeing , which otherwise I sure was gonna miss out on … I got down from the bus at a little distance from the hotel and headed towards a cab , I dint even have to ask the driver if he would go there , he simply opened the door , and then ….. meter down !!! This is one of the best things I found in Bombay , the cab , this is one of the most hassle-free mode of transport in the city . Just hail a cab and pop-in , the model wont really rock , but as long as you get a pleasant cabbie to drive you around the city for amazingly cheap fares , what more do u expect really . Outside the hotel , I was greeted by a tall Sardarji ( happy to see a Delhi connection in a new city ) , who helped me in with my baggage . I got on the elevator to reach the Lobby, which is one level up . The view from there was most welcome . The Oberoi standing tall on the sea-side , you can always expect to have a view of the expansive sea . No matter how stressed out u are , or how jet-lagged , I realized that a look at the sea and a feel of that soothing breeze on your face from the wild and free water can relax your senses like nothing else . The Lobby at The Oberoi is done with a very good understanding of spatial positioning and visual aesthetics . As you enter the place , an instant feeling of calm descends over u . The use of water is very prominent , whether it is the water-fountain in the middle of the Lobby or the view at the expansive water outside , all of it is very well planned . The bar at Oberoi , Bayview Bar , is also located here , a perfect place to unwind , with a drink in hand , looking out at the mellowing sun playing games with the sky and the water . My room was on the 20th floor and the view , as I think u don’t need me to spell out , was just AWESOME . The sea on my left , the city on my right and the Hilton Towers in front , with a beautiful view again of the swimming pool , ok ok , I am not being naughty, ya , was just talking about the beautiful blue swimming pool . ; ) One feature you have here is a 24-hr personalized butler service , which was really not used by me , so no comments . The bathroom was cozy , with a nice tub and good cosmetics and body products . There was a separate shower-room too , not big , but then , u wouldn’t be looking for a dance floor there , right ??? The closet area was quite spacious with ample room for storing your baggage . There is another separate area full of wall-to-wall marble slabs , where u can keep a lot of stuff . I was happy to find a weight-scale there as well , but sadly , the figure on its small screen did not make me that happy ….. : ( One thing I really loved about my room was the pillow , no kidding , if u have a similar experience , u would agree . There were huge pillows on the bed , where u could just sink in , they were so soft and comfortable …. The best way to relax after a hectic day out on the streets . Nice place , nice settings , check out the uniform of the staff at The Oberois , the ladies look elegant in their beautifully designed sarees . Though The Oberoi would not really elicit a second glance from its exterior looks ( we Delhiites are used to see much more well-designed structures around , no negative publicity to The Oberoi though ) , once inside , u can understand why the place is as famed as it is . Your first romance with the sea could very well mature here ..... have a lovely time ...

SBI Credit Card

It was just a regular day at office when the office boy came and informed me someone from SBI was waiting for me at the reception. I was no doubt a bit confused as there had never been any dealing with SBI on my part. As I went to the reception, I was met with a smile and an apologetic look, some clarifications thrown in for interrupting my work and explaining hastily that the meeting would only take a few minutes and be for my convenience. A bit irritated at this uncalled for intrusion and disturbance, I agreed to talk to the person and see exactly what this was about. I was informed that SBI was giving me a Gold Card on a zero-rental basis and free for lifetime option. Not sure what this was all about I asked the person as to why had SBI chosen me all of a sudden , as I had never had any dealings with them in the past and was pretty much satisfied with my relationship with one of the other leading names in the banking sector. I was promptly informed that this was a purely complimentary gift from the bank’s side and there would be no annual charges whatsoever for the entire life. This seemed pretty much OK, as I was not really being burdened with any additional charges and costs that I dint really need to pay. I agreed to go ahead with the same and the fellow was reasonably thankful. He left me with lots of “thank you s” and a big smile this time. Few questions here and there and some documents later, the Gold Card arrived at my residence within 3 weeks of the meeting and was kept aside in one of the cupboards. As I was used to my regular card of the other bank, I did not really remember about the SBI card and it was kind of forgotten. A month passed off and one day as I returned home from work, I saw this envelope lying on my table, with SBI printed in big bold letters. Suddenly I remembered that I was a customer of SBI after all and opened the envelope, and yes, as you have pretty much guessed by now, there lay inside a neatly explained bill of my SBI Gold Card, one that had never ever been used. All the rentals and other charges had been very nicely explained in the various columns and I could see the SBI people had actually done a lot of home work to fabricate charges and amounts out of thin air. Really irritated and wanting to know what this was all about, I called up the 24-hour Customer Service number mentioned on the slip. Crossing the music and a horrible menu, I finally managed t o reach someone, only to be put on hold, without even a good evening or a permission from my side to put me on hold. The music kept playing on and on and finally after about being on hold for 15 minutes, I decided to end the call. But this was an issue I wanted to clear as soon as possible, so I called up again, and this time the call was answered by a guy after about 15 minutes again. By then I had really lost my mind, so I was a bit grumpy and asked the executive how he would explain the bill sent to me when there was never any spend. I explained the meeting and what all had been promised, but to my horror the guy seemed to be not so fluent in English, so I was requested to repeat again, “ Aap dobara bataa saktey hain aapki kya baat hui” ??? I was not interested any more in talking to such an exec and asked for the manager. Excuses thrown in and explanations given…” Mam you please tell me, I can help you, the manager is not available and the call cannot be transferred.” Ok, if you can’t transfer the call give me the direct number, I will call him.. “Sorry mam, he is not around at the moment and he does no thave a cell phone.” You bet he doesn’t. I was least interested in calling them again or paying the so-called bill. So I never gave it a second thought. Days went by and 1 or 2 weeks later, there was another correspondence from SBI, reminding me of my payment date. Imagine !!! this was it… I called up the Customer Care, expecting to be put on hold for a minimum of 15 minutes and even after that, being shuffled from one person to another, and my expectation was not wrong. But this time, I had made a conscious effort of not being rude, as they were not even worth it. Another guy picked the call, the voice reeking of boredom and lack of interest. I gave my card number and details and asked him to cancel the card. This was something that made him sit up straight in his chair and put his training to work. Questions about what complaints did I have, all charges will be nullified, no rental will be charged again, a complimentary add-on card will be sent and blah-blah-blah…. Was I interested? That too getting another add-on card…. Oh please !! I know how to be adamant, so this time the ordeal was ended once and for all and I got the card cancelled. Happy over my victory, I was triumphant that such a loser Card company had finally had to give in to my demand. I was a happy person again and tore off the card to shreds with a winning smile. Life was good and hassle-free but then, how long can it be. Next month, another bill another statement and yes, another 15 minute wait after that. This time I heard the music, heard the shuffling from one person to another and finally remembered to remember the name of the person I spoke to. The company would hear from the lawyers soon and I would sue them if they ever again happened to send me another non-existent bill. That was the winning blow I think, because after that, I have never received a statement or a call from SBI. Am I happy? You bet… and trust me , if you want to remain happy and keep that smile intact, please stay away ….. or else, prepare to see the bills and imagine how u might have spent it !!!

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna

were we actually tricked into watching this movie ?? still cant beleive that K J made such a fool out of us. the promos and the songs were too tempting, so the weekend was planned with a lot of excitement to watch the movie. as we settled down with our share of popcorn, the movie started in its fresh avataar, a soccer star Shahrukh, obviously not looking a teeny one though, but definitely more on the wrong side of 40.. please can we have some more make up if that helps? now, if the idea of paying Rs.150/- for 5 songs appeals to you, please do go ahead and watch this. if you want to see whats the latest in the world of fashion and if u want to know about the latest in hair color,makeup and lip gloss, thismovie is definitely gonna be a help. and yes, also if u want to know how to operate a vaccum cleaner, coz thats the bond shared by Rani and Abhishek, they only connect when the vaccum cleaner is on, Rani is always using it and AB is always insisting she shut it off. one question that instantly comes to your mind is - IS KARAN JOHAR MARRIED ? no na?well that explains the approach and the mentality with which this topic is handled. come on , a 34 year old gay , frustrated and alone in life..... making a movie about marriage and relationships... seriously guys , how much more hilarious can this get ???? the topic of Extra Marital affairs needs to be dealt with a mature and sensitive approach, not one where you preach the idea of walking out of a marriage as THE thing to do, just because u are married for 9 years and are plain bored.First we have Shahrukh and Preeity,who are a happily married couple with a sweet kid, Shah’s handicap forces Preity to be the bread winner and hence devote lesser time to the family than the regular housewife.But she is as much dedicated to her family as any perfect wife, and with such abeautiful and understanding wife around, u would never expect things to go wrong. The other couple is Rani and AB, a wife obsessed with cleaning( we have seen her do the same in Chalte Chalte, so please, could we get a bit more original here?) and a husband who gives her all the freedom and atention.But hey, Rani should walk out of the marriage, coz the film is about EMA, remeber.. so what if she has no reasons to do so? she was never forced into the marriage, AB allows her all space and freedom to do and work as she pleases,is most caring and sweet and loves to have his wife by his side at parties and social events. but as per KJ, this is utterly wrong and Rani should walk out of the marriage. So now, we have Shahrukh and Rani getting cosy with each other, all the time fooling their spouse that their love is still on. there are a lot of things which attract Rani to Shahrukh, he chews gum and is in the habit of either spitting it bang in the middle of the road or taking it out from his mouth and playing with it, he loves to get into his hyper moods and tell her that he is jealous of the thought that she has a husband!!!!! hello ???? what is this? getting jealous in an extra marital affair? now,did we see the height of irony? standing ovation. if this was not enough,we have another lesson to learn here, there should be no regards towards kids in a marriage that is heading towards a split.kids are simply an irritating hindrance and should not at all be taken into account when you want to simply walk out and get into the arms of a new lover, well, at the end of the day, this is all it boils down to, a relationship should only be based on the passion level you share, so what if you have a husband who is full of passion and fire? unless you have an affair on the side, how can you spice up your life? and that is exactly what KJ is here to teach us, go out and walk out and get a new relationship, that is the key to keep your otherwise ascending age on the younger side. take the example of Big B.. a man of 63, dad to AB Junior and a widower, now what would you expect from him? lets tell u what KJ thinks. Big B is loaded with arm candy and lap candy too, if u may say so. if thats not enough, he is only always dressed in red, theres always a young hot scantily clad blonde in his arms and his pet name is Sexy Sam.. any comments to that? now AB is the mentor to his son and teaches him the tricks and pleasures of the adult life.. so much so,that his hormones are not calmed even when his daughter-in-law questions him about the presence of nude phirangs in his room... i think KJ here deserves a pat on his shoulder for carrying out his fantasies thru Big B. question of the day: what made Big B take up this role? A: serious need of money; B: desperate need to get a younger image; C: an outlet to play your real life fantasies... your guess is gonna be as good as mine. well, you think this is enough?? come on guys, this is a KJ film, remember? now comes the climax.. as both the cheating partners spill the beans on their unsuspecting and loving better halves, the result is an obvious split. thank god atleast that was a bit natural. but hey, isnt natural supposed to be boring? so we have AB Baby and Preity playing their sweet selves and its their moral duty to unite Rani and Shahrukh.. so what if they were ditched... after all, AB Baby was spared the torture of tolerating a wife with an obsession with vaccum cleaners and carrying a bag full of dead emotions.. and Preity was spared the agony of bearing with a husband whose favourite past time is to scream hoarse and whose idea of love making is to grab your wife in the face and smudge her face pack.... AAHHH what a relief .... one question though ... if Karan preaches the idea of walking away from a mariage as and when you feel and that too without any reason, whats with the title guys ?? lets get it renamed to PLEASE JALDI ANYTIME ALVIDA KEHNA !!

Omkara

Much awaited and less talked-about, Omkara happens to be one of those movies whose arrival arouses much interest and curiosity, but thankfully, the promotions of which are not made into an extravagantly glitzy affair with lip-glossed dolls faking plastic smiles. Its rather the strong characters that are made to work their charm. What is it about Omkara that makes it one of the most raw and intense movies of recent times? A low budget movie, de-glam characters, real life situations and emotions, Omkara talks about human relationships, not only between the protagonist and his lady love, but also relationships with friends, with parents, family and others in the community. Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara has been termed as the Bollywood adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, but for those who are acquainted with the emotional turmoil and tragedy in Othello’s life, the movie is a completely fresh and worthy tribute to the original masterpiece and its creator. For those who feel Omkara is just another carbon-copy of Shakespear’s Othello, this will be a nice surprise. Omkara only borrows the main concept in Othello, the intense love between the protagonists (Omkara, Indian version of Othello, played by Ajay Devgan, and Dolly, Indian version of Desdemona, played by Karina Kapoor) and the jealousy factor in the relationship which is fuelled by Langra Tyagi( Indian version of Iago played by Saif Ali Khan). The movie, set in the interiors of UP and shot extensively in the village locales, provides much relief from the regular Bollywood fare of colorful sets and designer characters. Omkara boasts of a cast that speaks about its own merit, Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Bipasha Basu, Viveik Oberoi….. all of whom come out with some of the best performances Bollywood has been starving for in recent times. Not only does the director keep the flow of the story as normal as possible, even the day-to-day dialogues used are typical North-Indian UP mix, complete with the accent and the daily dose of abusive lingo. A raw and earthy feel is inherent throughout the canvass of the entire movie. Omkara( Ajay Devgan), the main-man of the head of the local gang is a ruthless and unforgiving man, one who believes that to err is to die. He is in love with the quiet and shy town girl Dolly(Kareena Kapoor) and takes the help of his friend Kesu (Viveik Oberoi) who happens to be Dolly’s college mate, to help him in love. As soon as Dolly professes her love for Omkara, arrangements are made to kidnap and scare the groom chosen for Dolly by her family. Love rules reasoning and Dolly, a girl from an upper caste, finds her love in Omkara, who is from the lower community and a goonda(don) to be feared. The two are perfectly in sync with their lives and complement each other like no one else. Langra Tyagi(Saif), is a member of the gang and a right-hand man of Omkara, and his wife, played by Konkana Sen, is now friend and elder sister to Dolly( Kareena Kapoor), who has been disowned by her family and now lives in the house of Omkara. As the story progresses, Langra teaches the tricks and nuances of the gang to Kesu and together, they are the biggest and most feared gang around. The story takes a turn when it is time for Omkara to choose his favourite man in the gang, who will be his subordinate. The obvious choice is Langra, but as it turns out, the chosen one is Kesu, a choice governed by the fact that he has the entire vote bank of the college students. This is the blow that shatters Langra. He teams up with the rejected and humiliated groom-to-be of Dolly, and together, they make a plan to take their revenge against Omkara, a man who has wronged them both. Langra gets the perfect opportunity when his wife shows him the kamarbandh (waist band) that was originally given to Dolly by Omkara, a token of the family that has been passed down from generation-to-generation and is given to the daughter-in-law of the family as a mark of respect and position. The idea from “Othello” which has the “handkerchief” as the instrument of revenge. In the meanwhile, Kesu (Omkara’s chosen man and Dolly’s college mate), is in love with the village dancer Billo Chaman Bahar (Bipasha Basu). A single mistake by Kesu makes Omkara regret his decision and puts Kesu in a spot, who is desperate to earn back the trust and guidance of Omkara. In comes Langra, equipped with the perfect plan. He advises Kesu to take the help of Dolly who can then ask her soon-to-be husband to forgive Kesu. Situations are planned and Langra watches with pleasure and a burning anger, the jealousy that creeps into Omkara, as the friendship grows between Dolly and Kesu. He starts being cold towards her, who in turn, asks for the help of Kesu to woo back her love. Situations only worsen and the intense love of Omkara turns into intense jealousy. It is the day of Omkara and Dolly’s marriage and Langra informs the former of the illegitimate affair between Dolly and Kesu. A deadline is given to Langra to come up with valid proof of the affair by the end of the night, failing which he will lose his life. The plan works and Langra is able to convince Omkara that the kamarbandh he gave to Dolly, has been passed on as a gift of love to Kesu. Jealousy blinds the male and in a fit of rage, he smoulders his beloved to death on the night of their marriage. It is then that Langra’s wife reveals that it is she who stole the kamarbandh and had shown it to Langra. She kills Langra and then jumps into the well, while Omkara is left alone with his loss and grief. The movie manages to have a strong impact on its audience and forces you to reflect on the intricacies and complexities of human relationships. A great background score and music to write home about. Though it is “Omkara” and “Beedi” that are the current chart-busters, don’t forget to check out the track “Gudiya Raani”, a beautiful rendition by Suresh Wadekar. Superb acting by the entire cast, the Jat accent is well-mastered. Though Konkona Sen’s accent seems a bit over-done and looks as if a lot of effort is being made, her perfect acting leaves no scope for complaining. Undoubtedly one of Saif’s best performances till date, an actor with a fine caliber, Saif should definitely contribute more time to such movies that give him the opportunity to exhibit his immense talent, rather than the ones that demand more of dancing in the rain and flexing of the muscles. A must watch for all those who have grown out of the bubble-gum brigade and want something to feed their minds as well as provide top-quality entertainment. The intellectual fodder, spiced up Bollywood ishtyle… A perfect ten on ten.

Domino's Pizza - Chicken Seekh Kabab Pizza

For all those chicken lovers out there – great news. Famous for its servicing to all us hungry souls, Domino’s Pizza has come out again with a new and refreshingly yummy chicken delight – the Chicken Seekh Kabab Pizza….. Its just recently that me and hubby dear happened to chance upon this latest invention, and as true pizza and chicken lovers, we could not resist the temptation of devouring the same.

The brand:This latest pizza, termed as the Chicken Seekh Kabab Pizza, is an offering from Domino’s Pizza and can be ordered at any of the nearby outlet, walk-in or over the phone.

What the new Pizza is all about:The new taste to join the yum-factory in the Pizza domain is the Chicken Seekh Kabab Pizza from Domino’s Pizza. As the name suggests, the pizza comes with chicken seekh kabab topping. This is a mouth watering treat for all the chicken lovers, especially those who have an appetite for the North-Indian cuisine. The pizza base is loaded with layers of hot and melting cheese, with onions embedded in it. The onions are done in a tandoori way or rather a tawa way, with a taste that reminds you of the onion with the tawa chicken. The amount of the chicken is quite good and is really a treat to bite into. The taste is as real and yummy as the regular Chicken Seekh Kabab and the bite just melts in your mouth with the cheese complimenting the meat.

How to have the pizza:The best way to have the pizza is with the regular pizza crust that Domino’s offers, no need to ask for a thin crust or filled crust or any other crust custom-made, just have it the way it is offered originally. The chilly flakes and oregano is something that we have all got used to by now and associate with pizza all the time. It is a good bet here as well, in fact it will anyways enhance the spice and the taste of the pizza, but don’t sprinkle it too much, else the pizza will lose its original taste.

What add-ons will work best:You can order your garlic bread and a regular cheese dip, as these are the all-time favorites and go well with all pizza types. But then, don’t stuff yourself with all the garlic bread when you have the Chicken Seekh Kabab waiting for you.

Price:The pizza is priced near the tag of Rs.300 and if you order garlic bread and cheese dip as well, then the total bill will come roughly to around Rs.306/-.

How much is enough:The regular Chicken Seekh Kabab Pizza with 6 slices, accompanied by garlic bread and cheese dip, is enough for a dinner for two. However, you can opt for more, depending on your appetite and craving.

So, let’s do ourselves a favor. Lets cut out on the diet for a while and indulge in some sinful cheese filled Chicken Seekh Kabab Pizza… Hungry na ?????