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Showing posts from October, 2010

Irate Customers : Caring or Firing ?

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Tall and bald man of Chinese descent was furious. He hung behind a soft shoulder bag that is often symbol of young software guys. He pounced on the ground staff of Jet Airways questioning him why there was no display of Belt Number where SQ424 would be arriving. I saw one display at one end but realized that that it was missed baggage reporting station. We reached the counter ' May I help you ' and he yelled at the man on the counter again, muttering and abusing with himself. I wouldn't blame him. It was past midnight and our flight had landed 1045pm. First 20 minutes wait for gate to be allocated and then 30 min wait for bus to arrive and put ladder to connect. Hauled into rickety bus, with three ground staff instructing driver by thumping on the body of the bus with one saying ' Go' the other two saying ' Stop'. Poor driver had no choice but to put a sudden brake after pushing the accelerator paddle. Singapore lady next to me chuckled; she was trying to sm

Elephant Safari in Bali

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Wayan , Maade , Yoman and Kitut . In Bali, names are assigned as per your number among your siblings. 1st child is Wayan ; second one is Maade and so on. After 5 th it's turn of Wayan again. An important lesson we learnt while going to Elephant Safari. I become Wayan Milind . We were to stay at Elephant safari lodge but stopped just before hitting ' confirm' button on net purchase. I am glad that we did it. We could get a glimpse of both jungle life at Nandini Resort and the Elephant safari. In old days, kings rode on elephants albeit on a canopy with cushions and supposedly guided their army. I am not sure how well they did it but our journey on elephant back ensured pummelling our back every time elephant put his feet forwards. Perhaps in old war days, there could have been some shock absorber fitted on elephant back to soften bumpy ride. Seven male elephants with twenty three females must have been a good choice for male elephants at Elephant safari. How else c

In search of Nandini at Bali

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It's almost midnight and we are in the middle of the jungle looking for Nandini Bali jungle resort at Payangan, 25 min drive from Ubud . From Denpasar airport , Ubud is nearly an hour and half drive. Past Alila resort, houses and shops adjacent to the either side of the road disappears and now a winding road through thick foliage climbs up. Road become narrow and with no opposite traffic our search for Nandini goes on seeking directions from people on bike returning back from work. Maade - our driver extols praises on people in the jungle saying that they carry true Balinese spirit of honesty and hospitality. We come at end of the road that has stone inscribed green painted word ' Ubud hanging garden'. Another true Balinese person confidently tells us to take right. We go ahead. Now road is real narrow, with sharp slope and vicious turn at right angles. Tar road is almost covered by muddy soils . We realize that there is no point in going ahead and we see enough space