As I said earlier, I dont stay in the real Singapore. We were duped to stay here - thats what I can say. We decided to venture out and go to Raffles Place - Nariman Point in Mumbai terms. The MRT station was underground and the minute we came out on road, it was like WOW!! This is the Singapore we see in the brochures and papers and videos. The entire skyline was mesmerising... And what a view it would be for the office goers... Look down and you see the river and the boat quay.. The boat quay (pronounced as qi) is like a chain of resto pubs on the river... One of the most happening place in Singapore after Clarke Quay... Clarke Quay seems to be party peoples paradise.. Divided is 5 sections, it has at least 50 different restaurants, pubs, clubs etc... We did not venture in any of them thinking it would be quite expensive... The conversion factor is still quite high and we will take some time to stop converting and start enjoying... Later on, when I had a chat wid a new found friend, i think it would be just lil higher than mumbai prices.. But it would be just that we are enjoying better quality here...
Btw, I am so dying to go and visit Ministry of Sound and another place called ZOUK (often mentioned by Nick Leeson in Rogue Trader)
Also visited the university today - did not look much but my raction was that it was 100 times better than this stupid yoha hostel... My initial reaction was like is this a five star holiday resort or a university... so well maintained buildings.. greenery around... great architecture.. lounges... canteens and eating places... too too good!!!!! Very very happy that i can stay there for half a day :)
Saw more of real singapore near the City Hall, Suntec City and Esplanade which again have great stuff like malls, offices, residential buildings, operas etc etc....
The whole point is that this Boon Lay was really depressing thing to hit on first day... how even great city like Singapore can have areas which are not so like real Singapore... like Bhayender and Mira Road in Mumbai - which although part of Mumbai, have nothing in common like Nariman Point and Worli and Bandra! Just getting to accept the fact that I need to stay here for atleast first semester... like my friend and batchmate Suveer said the other day "120 days to civilisation"
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Remembering BMS - Service Sector Marketing
In my last year of under graduation, there was this prof called Nitin Mukadam who used to teach us service sector. I was totally in awe of this man who used to cite real life examples and not refer to books at all. I loved the way he taught the subject - and I had taken pains to study this from a foreign author book rather than relying on "reliable" series of Vipul Prakashan. (BMS students will know what I am talking about). This guy taught us "Moments of Truth" - which till date - I use to benchmark the service quality of a company.
So yes, coming back to what happened on the day I was scheduled to leave for Singapore. Jet Airways has much better brand name in India as compared to Air India and yes - the reason is service! So Jet charges you more due to perception and which is why they have to deliver. Although, I paid about Rs.3-4k extra as compared to Air India, I would still be willing to pay that if I could. My experience
1) Luggage allowance -
Officially Allowed - 20kg + 10kg for students + 7kg in hand baggage
Actually Taken by me - 46 kgs + 10 kg in hand baggage
Charges for extra luggage - Rs. 570 per kg
Paid by me - NIL
Out and out my heart went out saying Jet, you are the best!
2) Checking in - Lets say this guy as friendly Jet guy
Me: Hello Sir (Tensed about the extra kilos and constantly calculating how much should I bargain)
FJG: Hello. So you are student?
Me: Yes sir. (Chalo bhaiyya, abhi bolege nikalo paach hazaar)
FJG: Australia?
Me: No singapore. (I hope he allows me, I show him the IPA letter)
FJG: Oh, NUS. This is at Kent ridge.
Me: Yes. You know it. Have you been there. (See 46 kilos on weight, baap re, I thought I was only 10 kgs over weight)
FJG: Couple of times.
Me: How is it? ( Feeling much relaxed that he is not asking about extra weight)
FJG: Its good. You travelling abroad first time?
Me: Yes.
FJG: So how does it feel?
Me: Nervous and excited.
FJG: No need to be nervous. Take it as challenge. All the best!
Me: Thank you sir.
FJG: Here take your boarding pass. I have given you taisle seat so that you can go off the sleep. Just pull the arm rest.
Me: Thanks a lot!!! (Quickly walk away to get some water so that he does not follow me to ask about weight)
Another guy (FJG's assitant) came running behind me coz I had forgotten my book!!! Yes so that was it - no questions asked and for me that was biggest relief!!! But more than that, the friendliness of that guy struck me! So polite and helpful! I regret of not knowing his name otherwise I would have mentioned it in the blog as well as in the flight suggestion sheet. But ya, you stand out as this guy whom I will remember for right reasons.
3) Inflight Service
Had not been thursday, I would have just drank a couple of scotch pegs and fell off the sleep. What a choice of alcoholic drinks!!! Black label and JD - which scotch drinker would not have relished!!!! The food was also looking decent too! The only hitch was that they did not have fruit platter to suit my needs but had I told them earlier, they could have arranged for the same.
And ya, the entertainment options were also quite good. I saw "21" themovie and could have watched another had I not tried going off to sleep. Good selection of music and movies and games as well!
In all, I would rate the service as 8 on 10 - much higher that I would have got by travelling in Air India!
P.S. I heard my colleagues had awful time travelling in Air India and some of the problems included late flight, asking to pay for extra luggage and not so good in flight entertainment options.
So yes, coming back to what happened on the day I was scheduled to leave for Singapore. Jet Airways has much better brand name in India as compared to Air India and yes - the reason is service! So Jet charges you more due to perception and which is why they have to deliver. Although, I paid about Rs.3-4k extra as compared to Air India, I would still be willing to pay that if I could. My experience
1) Luggage allowance -
Officially Allowed - 20kg + 10kg for students + 7kg in hand baggage
Actually Taken by me - 46 kgs + 10 kg in hand baggage
Charges for extra luggage - Rs. 570 per kg
Paid by me - NIL
Out and out my heart went out saying Jet, you are the best!
2) Checking in - Lets say this guy as friendly Jet guy
Me: Hello Sir (Tensed about the extra kilos and constantly calculating how much should I bargain)
FJG: Hello. So you are student?
Me: Yes sir. (Chalo bhaiyya, abhi bolege nikalo paach hazaar)
FJG: Australia?
Me: No singapore. (I hope he allows me, I show him the IPA letter)
FJG: Oh, NUS. This is at Kent ridge.
Me: Yes. You know it. Have you been there. (See 46 kilos on weight, baap re, I thought I was only 10 kgs over weight)
FJG: Couple of times.
Me: How is it? ( Feeling much relaxed that he is not asking about extra weight)
FJG: Its good. You travelling abroad first time?
Me: Yes.
FJG: So how does it feel?
Me: Nervous and excited.
FJG: No need to be nervous. Take it as challenge. All the best!
Me: Thank you sir.
FJG: Here take your boarding pass. I have given you taisle seat so that you can go off the sleep. Just pull the arm rest.
Me: Thanks a lot!!! (Quickly walk away to get some water so that he does not follow me to ask about weight)
Another guy (FJG's assitant) came running behind me coz I had forgotten my book!!! Yes so that was it - no questions asked and for me that was biggest relief!!! But more than that, the friendliness of that guy struck me! So polite and helpful! I regret of not knowing his name otherwise I would have mentioned it in the blog as well as in the flight suggestion sheet. But ya, you stand out as this guy whom I will remember for right reasons.
3) Inflight Service
Had not been thursday, I would have just drank a couple of scotch pegs and fell off the sleep. What a choice of alcoholic drinks!!! Black label and JD - which scotch drinker would not have relished!!!! The food was also looking decent too! The only hitch was that they did not have fruit platter to suit my needs but had I told them earlier, they could have arranged for the same.
And ya, the entertainment options were also quite good. I saw "21" themovie and could have watched another had I not tried going off to sleep. Good selection of music and movies and games as well!
In all, I would rate the service as 8 on 10 - much higher that I would have got by travelling in Air India!
P.S. I heard my colleagues had awful time travelling in Air India and some of the problems included late flight, asking to pay for extra luggage and not so good in flight entertainment options.
Yo:HA - Bringing down the EQ (Excitedness Quotient)
Seniors - will you please give a good reason why would you say this place is "good"?
A) The place is really really far away from city and from the university as well - so thats no locational advantage. We knew it was far but not this far! It took me a lil more than hour to reach hostel from Farret Park (Little India). To compare with Mumbai terms, this is something like a Dahisar or Bhayender. Last Station in East West MRT.
B) The rooms are not even clean and there is life missing in these walls. To put it simple words, "room mein koi jaan nahi hai". Lighting and color is actually very depressing. Maintainence is big issue but atleast my room was not stinking. Some of my friends got rooms where it was really stinking.
C) Allocation is really funny. Its okay if you have to share room with unknown person but the bad part is that guy would not be with you in your course. So on what basis should we bond together under the same roof. Add to my woes of being pure vegetarian - I hope that I dont have to stay with a person who cooks non veg in the same kitchen as I have to.
As of now, all my batchmates think that yo:ha was a mistake and we could share much better rooms with guys we were familiar and near to campus in almost the same rent.
But I guess later on, we shall be only using place to sleep and complete the projects. I am expecting to spend not more than 10 hours a day.... So then it wont matter if you stay in a condo or in dorm....
A) The place is really really far away from city and from the university as well - so thats no locational advantage. We knew it was far but not this far! It took me a lil more than hour to reach hostel from Farret Park (Little India). To compare with Mumbai terms, this is something like a Dahisar or Bhayender. Last Station in East West MRT.
B) The rooms are not even clean and there is life missing in these walls. To put it simple words, "room mein koi jaan nahi hai". Lighting and color is actually very depressing. Maintainence is big issue but atleast my room was not stinking. Some of my friends got rooms where it was really stinking.
C) Allocation is really funny. Its okay if you have to share room with unknown person but the bad part is that guy would not be with you in your course. So on what basis should we bond together under the same roof. Add to my woes of being pure vegetarian - I hope that I dont have to stay with a person who cooks non veg in the same kitchen as I have to.
As of now, all my batchmates think that yo:ha was a mistake and we could share much better rooms with guys we were familiar and near to campus in almost the same rent.
But I guess later on, we shall be only using place to sleep and complete the projects. I am expecting to spend not more than 10 hours a day.... So then it wont matter if you stay in a condo or in dorm....
Singapore - First Impressions!!
Its just 30 hours in the new city and hence I cant really comment. But just a few striking facts.
When I came down to Changi Airport, the lobby to welcome the foreigners is just tooo good. I guess it almost matches lobbbies of best 5-stars in Mumbai if not better! Too Good! Generally, people say immigration is very tedious process, Singapore is like a bliss! My flight landed at 7.20 and by 7.40, I had my baggage in hands! No hassles at all!!
What struck me at airport (and later in City) is cleanliness. Not a wrapper on the floor. I have seen that in India as well but the places are far and few. Here, the entire city is the same. Too good! (btw, I have heard its S$500 fine for loitering and people do have to pay up!)
Transportation and Infrastructure - One of the seniors told us that Singapore has best roads in the world and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit - equivalent of railways in Mumbai) is its pride! After travelling in Mumbai railways for years, I found it MRT a lil too odd. I had to hold the rods for support myself - I could not rely on the crowd to support me. The buses again are too different from Mumbai with more spacious and luxurious! Another thing - I really loved the ticketing system - you just need to tap a card while boarding and again while getting off - no queues at all which saves hell lot of time!
All those public private partnership case study seekers have an excellent example here - SMRT (Govt) and SBS Transit (Private) together run the entire MRT and buses system. I think the routes are divided and the service qualities are almost equal. Also, for public conveinience, the EZ Link Card can be used in both MRT as well as buses. Mumbai - please learn - if a scheme is started by Western Railways, ensure the same accomodates Central Railways and Harbour Line too. We need the entire service under one roof and not bickering among the government entities. No wonder, people said that I will Singapore! So much convienience!
I found communication system a lil too funny. Firstly, its a big pain to find coin operated public phone booths. Everyone here uses calling cards and you need to swipe the cards for talking. On airport, luckily I could do away with credit card - but in city (in absence of mobile (or handphone in Singapor parlance)), I had to hunt to get to machine where it accepted the coins. Luckily, unlike India, the shop keepers are cooperative of giving you as much change you want. Coming back, for an outsider, its completely lost out feeling if you do not have any other means of communication. Another thing, after living India where it was so convenient about getting calls because "incoming was free", it was quite a shocker to see that you are getting charges almost at same rate as an outgoing call. You can only avoid "incoming call" charge by swicthing to postpaid connection only. Even funnier stuff, with som IDD thingy, I can call to India at really low rates of 8 cents a minute - however, my local call charge is 16 cents a minute!!!
Overall, I love Singapore but the place I am staying is far from what actually is Singapore... more in next post....
When I came down to Changi Airport, the lobby to welcome the foreigners is just tooo good. I guess it almost matches lobbbies of best 5-stars in Mumbai if not better! Too Good! Generally, people say immigration is very tedious process, Singapore is like a bliss! My flight landed at 7.20 and by 7.40, I had my baggage in hands! No hassles at all!!
What struck me at airport (and later in City) is cleanliness. Not a wrapper on the floor. I have seen that in India as well but the places are far and few. Here, the entire city is the same. Too good! (btw, I have heard its S$500 fine for loitering and people do have to pay up!)
Transportation and Infrastructure - One of the seniors told us that Singapore has best roads in the world and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit - equivalent of railways in Mumbai) is its pride! After travelling in Mumbai railways for years, I found it MRT a lil too odd. I had to hold the rods for support myself - I could not rely on the crowd to support me. The buses again are too different from Mumbai with more spacious and luxurious! Another thing - I really loved the ticketing system - you just need to tap a card while boarding and again while getting off - no queues at all which saves hell lot of time!
All those public private partnership case study seekers have an excellent example here - SMRT (Govt) and SBS Transit (Private) together run the entire MRT and buses system. I think the routes are divided and the service qualities are almost equal. Also, for public conveinience, the EZ Link Card can be used in both MRT as well as buses. Mumbai - please learn - if a scheme is started by Western Railways, ensure the same accomodates Central Railways and Harbour Line too. We need the entire service under one roof and not bickering among the government entities. No wonder, people said that I will Singapore! So much convienience!
I found communication system a lil too funny. Firstly, its a big pain to find coin operated public phone booths. Everyone here uses calling cards and you need to swipe the cards for talking. On airport, luckily I could do away with credit card - but in city (in absence of mobile (or handphone in Singapor parlance)), I had to hunt to get to machine where it accepted the coins. Luckily, unlike India, the shop keepers are cooperative of giving you as much change you want. Coming back, for an outsider, its completely lost out feeling if you do not have any other means of communication. Another thing, after living India where it was so convenient about getting calls because "incoming was free", it was quite a shocker to see that you are getting charges almost at same rate as an outgoing call. You can only avoid "incoming call" charge by swicthing to postpaid connection only. Even funnier stuff, with som IDD thingy, I can call to India at really low rates of 8 cents a minute - however, my local call charge is 16 cents a minute!!!
Overall, I love Singapore but the place I am staying is far from what actually is Singapore... more in next post....
Some Firsts, Some Lasts - 2
Some Firsts, Some Lasts - 2
To start with, this is my first post from Singapore!!!!!! And I had to wait hours to post this up!!
My lasts in Mumbai were just great!!! My family, selected best friends and cousins came down to drop me airport.... Needless to say, it was quite emotional for me to leave my family and friends especially because I have never stayed alone in my life. I am so happy they bid a farewell with their best smiles on their face. And the least I could do is thank them in public -
Mom, dad and Uru - it could not have been possible had you not put my bravest face! Leaving me cheery faced was the best gift :)
Geetali - thanks for the personalised gifts - its gonna make me feel near to home as I see them everyday!
Hardik and Chinti - Thanks for parting gift! I loved the wallet very much! I shall soon inaugurate the cuff links!
Jardin - you are the best - man, thanks for all the tips and tricks! And ya, thanks for having friends at the right places :)
Kunal, Vishal and Dylan - Thanks for taking time off from your busy work schedules and come to see me off!
And ya here come one more mention - Tejasbhai - Never felt out of place or in a different country for a moment entire day.... would have felt so lost if you wouldnt have been here!!!!!
To start with, this is my first post from Singapore!!!!!! And I had to wait hours to post this up!!
My lasts in Mumbai were just great!!! My family, selected best friends and cousins came down to drop me airport.... Needless to say, it was quite emotional for me to leave my family and friends especially because I have never stayed alone in my life. I am so happy they bid a farewell with their best smiles on their face. And the least I could do is thank them in public -
Mom, dad and Uru - it could not have been possible had you not put my bravest face! Leaving me cheery faced was the best gift :)
Geetali - thanks for the personalised gifts - its gonna make me feel near to home as I see them everyday!
Hardik and Chinti - Thanks for parting gift! I loved the wallet very much! I shall soon inaugurate the cuff links!
Jardin - you are the best - man, thanks for all the tips and tricks! And ya, thanks for having friends at the right places :)
Kunal, Vishal and Dylan - Thanks for taking time off from your busy work schedules and come to see me off!
And ya here come one more mention - Tejasbhai - Never felt out of place or in a different country for a moment entire day.... would have felt so lost if you wouldnt have been here!!!!!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Countdown Begins
Yes... Its the final countdown.... We are heading to Singapore!!!!
Only some days earlier, I saw it was still 36 days to go and suddenly the number has come in single digit... 9 days to go from today....
Its a mixed feeling... Nervous and anxious about the entire thing... happy and excited that finally I am gonna go... sad for leaving loved ones behind... apprehensions about relocation... awaiting the freedom... lost because cant fall back on anyone.... its indeed mixed emotional state...
Only some days earlier, I saw it was still 36 days to go and suddenly the number has come in single digit... 9 days to go from today....
Its a mixed feeling... Nervous and anxious about the entire thing... happy and excited that finally I am gonna go... sad for leaving loved ones behind... apprehensions about relocation... awaiting the freedom... lost because cant fall back on anyone.... its indeed mixed emotional state...
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Last Lecture
http://www.thelastlecture.com/aboutbk.htm
Let me first thank Khyati for the amazing gift just before I embark on a new journey in my life. Thanks a lot - this has been one very good read in recent times!
The book is about "The Last Lecture" delivered by Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon professor, who is suffering from terminal cancer. He says that life is all about "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" - which he details out in the later chapters.
The book is anything but preachy - he sets out the agenda in such a simple manner that it hardly feels that he is delivering a sermon. His anecdotes are intelligent and humorous. Actually, I just cant summarize anything from book because its so crisp that one needs to actually read the book.
Thumbs up to this book!! A must read for everyone at every stage of the life!! A great gift!!!
Let me first thank Khyati for the amazing gift just before I embark on a new journey in my life. Thanks a lot - this has been one very good read in recent times!
The book is about "The Last Lecture" delivered by Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon professor, who is suffering from terminal cancer. He says that life is all about "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" - which he details out in the later chapters.
The book is anything but preachy - he sets out the agenda in such a simple manner that it hardly feels that he is delivering a sermon. His anecdotes are intelligent and humorous. Actually, I just cant summarize anything from book because its so crisp that one needs to actually read the book.
Thumbs up to this book!! A must read for everyone at every stage of the life!! A great gift!!!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Wolf of Wall Street
http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Wall-Street-Jordan-Belfort/dp/0553805460
I picked up the book thinking it would be a wonderful book giving me insights to "Wall Street". But sadly, it was a huge disappointment. The start of the book was okay. It did give chapters on how to motivate and lead and most importantly how to get unquestioned loyalty.
But as the book progressed, its a totally book about, as Jordan Belfort says, "The Lives of Rich and Dysfunctional". Nothing worth learning. Agreed, its a racy thriller and how he got into alcohol, drug abuse and prostituition and to leave it again for his family and then became a cocaine addict and paranoid and finally imprisoned for all his crimes. Also includes his very private affairs with wife (including making love in a store) - I just could not help but wonder about what kind of man can go into such details. Weird! Very Weird indeed!!!
Some things though keep you at edge of seat - like how he managed to smuggle money out of US and how the Swiss Banks work and you can make the money laundering look perfectly legal (Master Forger). Also how "ratholes" function and how loyalists can get backstab you if the money in play crosses eight digits (Steve Madden). And how you can kill a person's happines just by your connections and he will not ever suspect (Chinaman).
I was looking for more details on his business perspective and how he built his Stratton Oakmount empire. How he made money on penny stocks and he built his company just by selling and his charm. But this books starts where he has already built the empire and how he his wantoness destroyed it. Very disaapointing read! Not worth the money if you are looking out for a business biography. Pick it up if you are in mood to read a racy novel.
I picked up the book thinking it would be a wonderful book giving me insights to "Wall Street". But sadly, it was a huge disappointment. The start of the book was okay. It did give chapters on how to motivate and lead and most importantly how to get unquestioned loyalty.
But as the book progressed, its a totally book about, as Jordan Belfort says, "The Lives of Rich and Dysfunctional". Nothing worth learning. Agreed, its a racy thriller and how he got into alcohol, drug abuse and prostituition and to leave it again for his family and then became a cocaine addict and paranoid and finally imprisoned for all his crimes. Also includes his very private affairs with wife (including making love in a store) - I just could not help but wonder about what kind of man can go into such details. Weird! Very Weird indeed!!!
Some things though keep you at edge of seat - like how he managed to smuggle money out of US and how the Swiss Banks work and you can make the money laundering look perfectly legal (Master Forger). Also how "ratholes" function and how loyalists can get backstab you if the money in play crosses eight digits (Steve Madden). And how you can kill a person's happines just by your connections and he will not ever suspect (Chinaman).
I was looking for more details on his business perspective and how he built his Stratton Oakmount empire. How he made money on penny stocks and he built his company just by selling and his charm. But this books starts where he has already built the empire and how he his wantoness destroyed it. Very disaapointing read! Not worth the money if you are looking out for a business biography. Pick it up if you are in mood to read a racy novel.
Book Reviews
Although I am an avid reader, I must confess that I have never remembered half the books I have read early in my life. All those business biographies I read during BMS years have just evaporated from my small brain. Those were the days when my library card was a permanently with the librarian and I had befriended a peon to show me the books which were not easily accesible to others... I think I would have read atleast 8-10 books an year... But when I go back in time, I cant even recollect the names of books which I have read.
So going forward, I am going to write book reviews on this blog... book reviews from my perspective.. what i liked and what i dint.. what i learnt.. key takeaways.. everything.. waiting for your comments..
So going forward, I am going to write book reviews on this blog... book reviews from my perspective.. what i liked and what i dint.. what i learnt.. key takeaways.. everything.. waiting for your comments..
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