Destination Infinity's Blog, page 14

Balloon Elephant

Here is a cute balloon elephant we found in front of a furniture shop in the Mangadu-Kundrathur road, Chennai.

Destination Infinity

PS: We have decided to start cautiously traveling to lesser-known tourist spots around Chennai with little or no people. On the weekends. So you can expect some posts with interesting sightings like these in the future

What’s as Important as Medicine to Fight Pandemics?

In his book, ‘My India‘, Jim Corbett — after whom the famous Corbett National Park is named — mentions that only 50% of the people succumb to pandemics due to the disease itself.

The condition of the other 50% worsens due to anxiety/panic attacks.

Read it again – that’s a huge number.

In the late 19th Century and early 20th Century (when Jim Corbett lived) pandemics like cholera, malaria, tetanus, etc. were commonplace in India.

In his almost autobiographical book mentioned above, he says that encouragement, positive thinking, and mental toughness are as important as medicines, exercise, immune boosters, and other necessities to fight pandemics.

No wonder he infused a Positive Attitude and Confidence in the minds of not only those affected, but also the ones around them. People need to believe they can fight and cure themselves. It’s crucial to stay strong from the inside.

This, he says, was a routine procedure he used and had even trained his executive staff on – to minimize casualties.

Actually, I was about to include this info along with a review of the book, later on. But looking at the number of people who are getting affected due to COVID, even in close circles, I thought it’s better to spread the word as a separate blog post now.

FIGHT PANDEMICS. DON’T BE AFRAID.

Don’t let fear make it easy for the disease.

And spread the importance of positivity and belief in your circles.

Destination Infinity

PS: Even Science agrees that optimism helps one better fight diseases, even chronic ones.

What’s as Important as Medicine & Immunity Boosters to Fight Pandemics?

In his book, ‘My India‘, Jim Corbett — after whom the famous Corbett National Park is named — mentions that only 50% of the people who succumb to pandemics do so because of the disease itself.

The condition of the other 50% worsens due to anxiety/panic attacks.

Read it again, that’s a huge number.

In the late 19th Century (when Jim Corbett lived) pandemics like cholera, malaria, etc. were commonplace in India.

In his almost autobiographical book mentioned above, he says that encouragement, positive thinking, and mental toughness are as important as medicines, exercise, immune boosters, and other necessities to fight pandemic diseases.

No wonder he used to infuse Positive Attitude and Confidence in the minds of not only those affected, but also the ones around them. People need to believe they can fight and cure themselves. It’s crucial to stay strong from the inside.

This, he says, was a routine procedure that he used and had even trained his executive staff on – to minimize casualties.

Actually, I was about to include this info along with a review of the book, later on. But looking at the number of people who are getting affected due to COVID, even in close circles, I thought it’s better to spread the word now.

FIGHT. DON’T BE AFRAID. Don’t let fear make it easy for the disease.

And spread the importance of positivity in your circles.

Destination Infinity

Happy Gandhi Jayanthi 2020

On the occasion of MK Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, I take great pleasure in wishing you all a very happy Gandhi Jayanthi 2020

Autobiography of Ray Kroc [McD] (Book Review)

After reading a series of autobiographies like ‘Straight from the Gut’ by Jack Welch, I temporarily stopped reading autobiographies. They were so superfluous and appeared like the authors wrote them just to blow their trumpets. I mean, over the entire book!

What is more important to readers is an account of the struggles that they went through, especially in their earlier years. I am glad that I decided to read the Autobiography of Ray Kroc, the founder of the McDonalds Franchisee business.

Note that I didn’t say McDonalds restaurant. That’s because the first McD was actually established by two brothers (of that surname) and Ray Kroc was so impressed by their concept and operations that he decided to expand it across the globe.

He was 52-years old when he discovered McD. He had worked as a salesman selling paper cups for more than two decades, and he had his own multi-mixer marketing business by then.

Age did not deter him from dreaming and look at what his dreams have transformed into, not today, but even during his lifetime. There were over 4000 McDonalds outlets even in 1984 when he died.

What really impressed me was the open admission to a number of mistakes in the book. His dreams were deterred by a number of people, including the McDonald brothers (from whom he later bought the chain).

I was also impressed by Ray’s insistence on values, quality and cleanliness – in that order, even during difficult times, and even during tough financial losses — mostly thrust on him by dishonest people.

He grinds through it all and sets an example of how to fight your adversaries – through your success than by pulling them down!

The author’s determination and success is a valuable business lesson for any aspiring businessperson. I am glad that the author was able to write his own autobiography – which gives us an insight directly into his mind.

‘Grinding it Out‘ by Ray Kroc is one book you should not miss. Especially if you are interested in reading business biographies.

BMW G310R: My New Dream Bike!!

The BMW G310R is one bike that I will buy even if I don’t have the money. This entry-level bike made in partnership with TVS Motor Company, Hosur starts at 3 Lakhs (ex-showroom) and is expected to be available from Oct/Nov 2020.

Did you read that price? Did u spot the opportunity?

Just 3 Lakhs to own a BMW – man!!!

The cheapest BMW car costs around 40 Lakhs in India (I think) and even the second cheapest BMW bike costs more than 10 Lakhs.

Actually this model is a brand-dilution activity by the company that is known for luxury branding and even owns Rolls Royce now. Before they realize their mistake and take it off the market, I am going to get it.

I recall the earlier dream bike I mentioned a couple of months ago, made by the same TVS plant. That one comes with TVS branding.

You wondering why this guy is ready to pay so much for a logo? Wait till it comes out and I am able to save the required money. Your stomach burnings will give you the answer

Biggest Achievers & Best Minds of India: Who are They?

‘Peerless Minds – An Arc of Achievement‘ is a book compiled by Pritish Nandy. This book features short interviews with some of the biggest achievers and the best minds of India – in contemporary times.

Actually many are living outside India, so the best minds of Indian-origin is a better word. Here are the people who are interviewed –

This is a good book. Various illustrious minds from varying fields like art, architecture, music, science, actors, CEOs, literature, social service, economists, etc. have given short interviews that enable us to get a glimpse into their genius minds and achievements.

The book starts slow – it takes a while to get into the rhythm. But once you are immersed, the book will take you all in. Don’t give up early on the book.

I liked the interviews with Amartya Sen, Raghuram G Rajan, Ratan Tata, Sundar Pichai, Devdutt Pattanaik, Amitab Bachchan, Ramachandra Guha. These were the interviews that made a mark in me – but remember that I read the book over many days.

I also liked the only interview given by musician Annapurna Devi ever – who took a wow not to perform on stage or talk about her music.

The chapter on Sachin Tendulkar could have been avoided as this is not an interview at all. If the mastero doesn’t want to be interviewed, why include? Especially considering that there was one person who sent answers in between his tests while at the hospital bed! I forgot who it was.

I should mention that the interviewers were equally notable – People like Pranoy Roy, Rajdeep Sardesai, James Astill, etc. Kudos to the editor for having featured so many great questions and answers in one book.

It’s a great opportunity to know about people who have won the biggest awards and accolades in their professional endeavors.

Someday, I hope my name will be featured in some such list. I know what you are thinking and why you are smiling. Impossible things happen from time to time – if not by will, at least by luck

RO Water Purifiers: Make Money Offline SCAM?

Initially, when my RO seller proposed an AMC contract for our water purifier for Rs. 3000 per year (or so) I thought it was a rip-off.

I mean, when we can buy a new one for around 10K INR, why spend 3K per year on maintenance alone? But now I have realized what a good deal that actually is.

Nowadays, every month I am forced to call the RO service guy or Urban Company or local plumbers for one issue or another that invariably crops up.

And I tell you – all of them are interested in only one thing: Making More Money. And the technology that enables them to do that is called – Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier.

Do you still think this is some silly guy ranting bcos he is out of his mind due to the pandemic? Consider these –

We bought a RO system for 14K and that was supposed to be a high-end one with multi-stage filtering, etc. The most recent ‘engineer’ who came to rectify a fault (actually replace parts at exorbitant costs) removed three filtering stages and told us that they had already been ‘dummified’! Not sure if another technician before him did it or it was done by the company itself when it arrived!! That made me wonder about the legitimacy behind the remaining four stages. At that instant he proudly discovers that the ‘UV bulb’ was just a normal tube light that we could get in electrical shops. Even that was fused off now and so that too was useless. There you go – one of those remaining four stages is already gone. When we ask for the cost of filter set replacement, everyone who comes quotes around 2 or 2.5K INR. When we point out the availability of that filter set for 700 rupees on amazon, they claim it’s ‘bad’ quality. We say we are ok with bad quality and offer to buy it for them, but they tell they won’t fix it! I actually told one of these guys that I was going to go back to candle based water purifier (which worked fine for many years – before this RO fad) as the water impurity/suspended particle level in our area should be less than 200. He immediately checks the tap water with his TDS meter and claims that the impurity level is 1080. We saw the screen and it showed 108 but he claims it needs to be multiplied by 10. After the repair, we ask him to check the TDS meter, this time with RO ‘Purified’ Water. It showed 101. We ask if that means 1010, but he says this time we should not apply that 10x multiplication factor, and hence it’s just 101!I doubt if the only function of the ‘RO water purifier’ is to take in water, add a few impurities, and send it out – as per his own TDS meter reading above!!!One month back, another guy swore that our tap water impurity level was 210. That’s just 10 points above the safe level prescribed for water purification candles! We ask these guys what is the best RO purifier brand and they say that most local brands use Chinese parts and hence most of them are of low-quality. They then offer to ‘assemble’ a new unit for 5K INR, instead of having to buy a new one for 10K on amazon. That shows how much margin those online manufacturers assemblers have on their RO machines. One of my friends recently confirmed that he spent just 4.5K INR on a new RO machine by buying and assembling parts from the local market. And he says this was expensive and he was not able to negotiate as he didn’t know the local language!

One of our relatives used to work as an engineer in a large-scale RO water purification plant in Dubai. He tells us that RO purified water is not good for health but they use it in places like Dubai bcos they have no other alternative. Ya, he uses only candles in his own house!

I am waiting for the next fault in our RO system. That will be the perfect excuse to run and buy one Butterfly candle-based water purifier that worked quite well for so many years.

I sometimes feel I might be better off drinking boiled tap water than using these ‘purifiers’ grrr…………

Personalized Photo Pendant Necklace Set (Less than 1000 Rupees)

A Personalized Photo Pendant Necklace Set can be made on order with,

Any photo of your choiceSilk thread (2 Colours) for necklace, bangles & earrings – your choiceReversible necklace with a regular pendant behindFashion Jewellery Set – Necklace + Bangles + Earrings

The best part is – the entire set is available to order for Rs. 1000 today. Courier charges across India is extra, but delivery is free if you want it delivered anywhere in Chennai. You can also order the photo pendant necklace or bangles separately if you wish.

Here is the Personalized Photo Pendant Necklace Set –

This is the one we made for demo so it has our photo in it

Paint Parties in Chennai: Paint Luv

Paint Luv organizes Paint Parties in Chennai.

What are Paint Parties?

A group of people get-together over the weekends and Paint. The organizer will mostly select a theme and show how to paint step by step as the participants follow along. At the end of the session, which would consume a couple of hours, participants will be able to take back a canvas painted by them.

Are Paint Parties for Beginners?

Yes, paint parties are for people who don’t know to paint, as well as people who may be familiar. Generally, the instructors are beginner-friendly.

Are Paint Parties only for Kids?

Paint Parties are mostly for kids who can spend their time usefully by learning a creative skill. But they are also for adults who have a passion for painting and want to reduce their work-related stress.

Nowadays, the trend of including paint parties as a themed party during special occasions and get-togethers is catching up. It’s a great way to give your guests a memorable experience.

Who organizes Paint Parties in Chennai?

Paint Luv, founded by Swetha & Ramya, organizes Paint Parties at various locations in Chennai. They organize separate sessions for kids and adults, and they also enable you to upgrade your get together into a themed paint party.

They focus on teaching one simple painting technique each time so that participants can complete a neat canvas painting and display it proudly anywhere.

Paint Luv also combines painting with interactive games, quiz and entertainment sessions like singing, etc. Generally, these are 2-3 hour sessions attended by around 15 participants. They also serve food/snacks.

Due to the pandemic situation, they are currently organizing Paint Parties online. You can find more details, invitations, and other media on their Facebook page [click]. You can also directly contact them thru email – Paintluv2020[at]gmail.com.

We met PaintLuv founder at the recent (Virtual) Vanitha Vyapaar (July 2020) as a fellow-exhibitor. Since this is a creative venture, we decided to spread the word through a blog post. Please support creative businesses.