Air India | Why I would never fly again

Recently a family member had to use an Air India flight from the US to India. Their experience was not the best and resulted in Air India being blamed for each every little thing that went wrong. Talking about this led me back to my personal Air India experience, which I had posted on a travel forum soon after I completed my ‘memorable’ travel with Air India. My tale with a big pinch of humor and a tablespoon of sarcasm!

Details:
Airline: Air India
Travel Date:  2005
From: Delhi
via: Bombay, London
To: Chicago

This sort of experience is more a regularity than a rarity with Air India. Only because of the Government backing this airline exists. Take the government backing out and the Maharaja would land with a mighty thud, never to rise again!

Flight was a Delhi-Bombay (change of aircraft)-London-Chicago-(SFO by United – experience in question pertains to airindia).

Due to the fog effect in Delhi, my flight was PREPONED from 130am to previous evening 6pm. Well, its good, Air India is being proactive, you would say, right? NADA NADA! Air India had absolutely no such effect, preponing the flight.

Check-in:
Well, let me say that the check-in person (no way i can call him a man!!) just about finished my check-in process by the time check-in desks for the flight were closed. From the time that the desks opened to time they closed, this gentleman checked in a whopping, hold your breath, (drum rolllllll please….) 2 passengers!!

How can they work so hard, these guys?? Who needs hi-tech computers when you have such super robotically efficient people!

Anyway, onwards we go:
Check-in desks closed right? So that implies just 1/2 hr left for the flight, right? Need to have a bit of rush thing, right?? NADA NADA!! You guessed right. The security check line is as long as the various expletives – a few choice and amusing words, I assure you – that could be heard. Best thing is the total control all the police guys, Air India staff had. Totally calm, collected and absolutely unfazed. Not a hair out of place. Whilst the silly hapless passengers are pulling their hair out worrying about connections, baggage, seats, khaana, movies on the flight, cleanliness of the toilets. But them, Oh no!, not a hair out of place!!

Finally got into the flight at 7pm – for a flight that was to take off at 6pm! Phew. NO NO NO not so soon please! Get back to the edge of your seats please!! We finally took off, after a suspenseful hour and fifteen. Surely you dont need me to detail the onboard experience!! You folks seem sensible enough not to beg for torture!!

Welcome to Mumbai! And thats a gigantic exageration!:
Now whilst checking me in, my super efficient person, (remember the one in Delhi?) did me the honor of NOT checking my luggage thru. For what reason, doubt even HIM upstairs would know. Quite a few passengers caught in the same bemusing dilemma.
No matter, take a deep breath, calm yourself, just wait for the baggage, which should come out of that small square hole with flaps and then onto the conveyors. Should have been that easy. But man proposes, Air India disposes! Only a few cases came through.

Push was coming to shove in the mental calmness department. Shove won hands down. ENOUGH is enuff! 3-4 of us pax, went thru that very hole and to the place (for want of a better word) where they (for want of a better word) load the baggage onto the conveyor belts. Four baggage carts nicely parked (now nearly 3 hrs!) but not a soul to offload them….

Why???
Its between shifts..It will take about 30mins more!! OH puhleeeeaze! Rolled up sleeves, hitched up the belt, unlatched the trolleys, found my cases, offloaded them, carried it to the conveyor belt, put it on the conveyor belt, jumped on the conveyor belt and travelled into the next millenium through that very hole in the wall with flaps!!

I and others actually had to get our own cases from the trolleys!  And not a word of apology or explanation from unruffled, unfazed, not-a-hair-out-of-place Air India staff….’What to do, these things happen’ seems to be the ‘all-solving mantra’!

One consolation from this sordid and sad experience was a stay at a local 5-star hotel, since my connection was not before 6am the next morning, alongwith all the other such pax, with a free dinner thrown in.

Then the journey goes on. But thats for another day.

For now, only time you should buy Air India tickets is when you really want someone suffer and have them travel Air India. Me, I could not wish Air india even to my enemies!

Why I would never fly Air India again!

Sorry Maharaja!

Think&Exist | Destiny | The Alchemist or Om Shanti Om

Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist:

“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only real obligation.
All things are one.
And, when you want something, all the universe conspires to helping you to achieve it’.”

Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om:

“Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho to saari kaaynaat usey tum se milaane mein lag jaati hai”

” अगर किसी चीज़ को दिल से चाहो तो सारी कायनात उसे तुम से मिलाने में लग जाती है’ “

Woman Ruled !

FWD:ed by: vanPark

I received a bunch of images, as a FWD:, showing how the world would look if the world would come to be ruled by women! Quite hilarious, that, no? Women ruling the world??

Onwards;

Quick shoot through the usual suspects of digital weapons and a quick sharp video clip is the result.

Which particular image is your favorite?

Indian Railways Food Service | From out of the box!

I wrote about the very ‘Indian’ way of communication via email by Indian Railways. Bharat B had FWDed a powerpoint slide presentation of wierd and wonderful pictures and one of them caught my attention, especially since the Indian Railways context is still pretty fresh.

Those who have traveled on Indian Railways trains will know that  the compartments – the ‘bogies’ - are supposed to be connected. This is supposed to allow passengers free movement through the whole train, thus making use of the ‘Pantry Car’ for a quick snack or a meal. The only time the compartments are intentionally disconnected is when  the two adjoining compartments are of a different ‘class’ [ eg: First Class / Coach Class].

However, it is quite often that this passageway is not safe (when has it ever been safe, you may ask!) or due to ‘technical difficulties’ the passageway is not usable. Even at times such as this, Mr Hungry in a First Class compartment, probably towards either end of the train, wants to have his ‘Chai’ which is available only from the ‘Pantry Car’, usually located around the middle of the train. (This is to allow for ease and speed of food transfer from the kitchens at the stations – which are usually around the middle of platform!)

So the innovative, never-say-die, need-to-get-the-money-for-this-food, waiters have to ’step up’ & ’step out’ – practically ‘Step out of the Box’ - and move between the closed off compartments by using the doors. One goes across; Both hang on for dear life, expertly balancing the tray and passing it on, while the train is moving.

Amazing to folks who have not seen this before, but an ‘everyday’ occurrence for people who have traveled Indian Railways.

India! Simply India!

~Rakesh

Jageh: Two | Name that Place

Going through the previous posts, I realised that the ‘jageh’ series did not continue. ~TimePass~ will try to keep this series live and active. However, this will be based on what sort of a response and interaction the ‘Jageh’ posts elicit and receive.

One of the first posts on this blog was Jageh: One. This would have been difficult to solve for the ‘aam’ non-mumbaikars since the location is pretty specific and not of general ‘knowledge’.

Anyhow, moving on:

Here is the next one:

Jageh: Two | Name that Place.

Image: from Google Maps

Lake in Burma – Praying Mountain | Another Hoax

~TimePass~ received (from Bharat B & Parag S) this ‘amazing’ picture depicting a natural rock formation on the edges a lake in Burma. Just looking at the image one is inclined to be amazed and in awe of how wonderful the picture is. The description that follows the picture suggests and implies that this is the work of mother Nature and we should respect it, protect. Nothing wrong in that at all. Nature has to be protected. But not because of the contents of the picture, since it is a HOAX.

The picture was so amazing that it was just too good to be true. Off to the world encyclopedia aka Google! And confirmation that this image is indeed a HOAX. 

Let’s start with the picture(s) in question:

Normal View

The description per the hoax email:

In a moment you will see a unique photograph…..

What’s so special about this?
This is a picture of a rock formation near a lake in Burma . The photo can only be taken on a specific day once a year when the sun rays touch the rocks at a certain angle.
Tilt your head to the left and then look at it again  ….

Did you notice anything different?
Yes or no?…..

Now I will turn the whole scene vertical….

Nature is Great …….. 
Respect it & Protect 

Turned 90deg Clockwise

Looking at the images, there will be the obvious jaw-dropping and the oohs and aaahs. However, the images are too perfect, too precise, to be the work of Mother Nature. That too, has to be the obvious conclusion.

A Hoax-busting web page which confirms that this is a HOAX:

Website: Hoax-Slayer | Praying Mother and Son Rock Formation

It writes: However, not surprisingly, the image is in fact a work of art and does not depict an actual landscape. The picture is a children’s book illustration by renowned Korean artist Kim Jae-hong. The image and other similar illustrations in the sequence can be seen in photographs of the children’s book displayed on a Korean blog post.

As the website linked above suggest, the images do exist. However, these are not of any natural wonder but images created for a book, published in Korea for children. The images were created by a Korean artist named Kim Jae-Hong

Image from: Snopes.com

Here is a Korean Blog ‘Reading in the Sky’ (hope the translation is correct) showing the actual pages from the book. Again, from translation the name of the book seems to be ‘Children of the East River’.

The link to the blog page is: Children of Ice|Reading in the Sky

But the question also arises: Why then does the email indicate that this is somewhere in Burma?

Another hoax-busting webpage answers this question:

Website: Piffe | Mother and Son Rock Formation

It writes: This is a very smart urban legend, since its creator chose to locate it in Burma ( Myanmar ), a country almost completely closed to visitors and tourists. So it is almost impossible to verify the validity of the picture. In Spring of 1983, we were very fortunate to visit Burma for a week. Nobody told us anything about that picture and not a word about it either in the Lonely Planet Guide on Burma.

Don’t believe what you want to see;

Don’t see what you want to believe.

Also read:

• Paintalicious | A Spectacular Rock Formation In Burma
• Snopes | Awesome Rock
• Piffe | Mother and Son Rock Formation

~Rakesh

Gami tey malti nathi ~ Life! The never ending search| Gujarati Philosophy

Contributed by: Bharat B (Thanks!)

Gami te malti nathi,
Mali te faavti nathi,
Faave teni saathe majaa aavti nathi,
Ane majaa aave te kaayam maate rehti nathi….
Tenu naam zindaagi!

(contributed by Kanan J  – આભાર!)

jivan maa jas nathi
prem maa ras nathi
dhandha maa kas nathi
javu chhe swarg maa
pan eni koi bus nathi

~Rakesh

It’s A Woman | A new series on ~TimePass~

Over the recent weeks, ~TimePass~ has received numerous FWDs and email on how Women do things, handle things, in a totally opposite and errr.. different way than Men would. This is all in jest and fun, so the feminists out there, don’t get all worked about it.

But honestly, we can’t really ignore FACTS though, can we?

‘It’s A Woman’ content will have it’s own category called, quite imaginatively and very originally – ‘It’s A Woman’! ‘It’s a Woman’ will contain, jokes, anecdotes, slideshows, and some very amusing videos.

Using the cliche’: ‘Watch this space’

~Rakesh

G-U-J-J-U | We are Gujjus: LOUD and Proud

This has got to be the ‘Gujju-Anthem‘!

We are G-U-J-J-U, Gujju.

This is video clip is from a recent NY based Bollywood film – Kal Ho Na Ho by Karan Johar. Talk to any Gujju in USA and they will say.‘Oh by New York..you mean Jackson Heights or Edison?’ (and Edison is in New Jersey!).

The center of the Indian Diaspora Universe (US-based) is either the rough around the edges – Jackson Heights or the ’swank’ little neighborhood – Edison. A Gujju shopper’s paradise. Got food. Got Gold. Got Sarees. Got movies..and Got Deals/Discounts/Sales/Freebies!

Got Gujjus!!

As all Gujjus would say: Watch the video and ‘by heart it’ becoj v are Gujjus!

~Rakesh

Kay-veereetay Jaiyse | Gujju Rap | Gujarati Rap Must watch

No this is not the notorious Patel Motel Rap. It is rap, but a very well made one at that.

The rap is a sort of a ballad of a journey of a young ambitious man – a son, a brother, wanting to economically immigrate to ‘Umereekaa’ ~ Maarey Umereekaa javvu che ~ A call that many a youth, many a families are making. Once he is here, he goes through all the work, effort, trials & tribulations of adjusting to the western culture, achieving his goals and ambitions of ~ ‘Maare millionaire thavu che’~. But all along he knew deep inside he was also losing a lot of himself. Nothing comes for free.

Not to say that lofty ambitions, high goals are wrong. Not to say that the ability to buy a Hummer and wear the best suits is wrong. But should these things be achieved only at the cost of losing, breaking, ignoring the relationships, the bonds that tie us, that keep us on firm ground, then they are all wrong. Duty is a very important word and ‘virtue’ – culturally within the Indian Diaspora. Fore go the odd dollar for the sake of doing your duty. This is a fight that all Indian youth born and raised or brought up in a ~ ‘vilaayat’ ~ a foreign(?) land – in the west have with themselves. Sadly some lose this battle. But most shine through.

Listen for the gujarati words..

maru dil..my heart
maru loy..my blood
maru nath..my family …2 worlds apart
kay-veereetay jaiyse

~ Rakesh