Quo Vadis?

Look closely and you will see a part of the history of Madras. For those of you still scratching your heads this is a sun dial. And when I last checked it was still remarkably accurate. If I want to check the time in the sun and if I am near the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Thomas a genuine wonder of the city, I will just go behind the church and check the time. So what do I do if I am some where else? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On a serious note, wishing you all a very happy Madras day! And if you are wondering what to do over the weekend try this...

Remember Will Smith in Enemy of the state? He went shopping for lingerie which was a big mistake because afterwards he became THE enemy of the state. Thankfully such things don’t happen here, and more importantly I don’t need to ask someone for the size because I ensure the wearer comes along. I was very uncomfortable when D said that I accompany her the first time. Now I have an issue with D’s shopping that I may have mentioned before. I do not mind shop hopping and pulling out the entire rack to search for that one item we intended to buy, but I do not approve walking away empty handed after ransacking an entire shop and finding nothing. I believe a good sales person should be appreciated and the best appreciation is a sale. So I don’t approve of the routine of running from shop to shop and buying nothing. Crazy you may say, but after so many years in sales, I empathize with every good salesperson. All the above mentioned, shop hopping, raiding the racks are avoided when we go linger...

(An old incomplete post that got missed out sometime ago, now dusted and completed.) Travel by train teaches you many things, not least of them is the extent of selfishness of many people you travel with. My first learning (actually I learnt this a few trips ago, but you can’t teach an old dog new tricks) is to avoid the sleeper class or the 3rd AC compartments whenever possible. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not snobbish or anything and I prefer the sleeper classes because in those compartments you get fresh air and reduces claustrophobia and also because the people traveling sleeper seem more sociable than those traveling in the higher classes. Sometimes you just travel with minimal or no contact with the co-passengers. But my acute dislike for the sleeper class is because of a few things: Lalu’s idiosyncrasy in adding an additional berth in the side and making overall travel extremely uncomfortable to those poor souls stuck on the side berths. Since I make last minute bookings I end up w...