Archive for January, 2009

Where is ‘New Cochin’ ?

January 16th, 2009

I was sleeping blissfully as it was Sunday but the phone call woke me up. A friend who was my juinor in school was on the other end.

Din, important question – where is New Cochin ?

Now I am confused. I was in half sleep plus I never heard of a place New Cochin. I am just 18kms away from Cochin city, and familiar with most of the place names in and around Cochin. I told him I do not know and went back to sleep. No, it didn’t end there.

On Monday morning, another friend buzzed me in Yahoo messenger. The same question

Din, where is New Cochin ?

I asked him what is the matter. So here is the story. As many IT ventures are coming up in Cochin including Smart City the land price went too high. Flats, Villas and even small houses cost a lot in Cochin now. And the real estate guys are taking maximum advantage of the name – Cochin. Classifieds ads here in Cochin reads – Plot for sale, only 40kms away from Smart City ! House for sale, near Smart City. The Smart City is a venture that yet to become a reality, but what is wrong in giving the name in advertisement and lure more and more people ?

Going a step further, the builders Apple A Day Properties is planning to build villas and apartments in Alappuzha district where cost of land is less compared to that in Cochin. But how to attract the people ? Simple, make a new place name – New Cochin – and put that name in all advertisement. And if people want to see a demo flat ? Set up a single demo flat in Cochin and show that !

In Kerala (may be in other parts of India too?) there is a trend. Someone working in a hotel quit one day and starts a new hotel opposite to the one or near to the one with the same name, but a New added to it. Hotel kairali  turns to Hotel New Kairali. But using the same thing in real estate field ..

What an idea sirjeee !!!

So all those who were wondering where is New Cochin – it is not in Cochin and not even in Ernakulam District. It is in Alappuzha.

What next ? New Smart City may be ?

Arranging big concrete blocks at midnight is not fun

January 13th, 2009

Yes, arranging big concrete blocks at midnight is not fun ! That also when you are under the pile of blocks. Things we have to take care of – move slowly, take the blocks one by one from the body, arrange it properly, check which is next block. It may not be concrete blocks always, it is a mix. Concrete, stone, wooden and some other material which we never seen before. And remember, it is not a game, and no one to help us. After all who will come to help you arranging the blocks at midnight !

Didn’t get the head or tail out of it ? OK, ever seen dreams when you are having high temperature ? sometimes it is really scary. When I was a kid, it was different. Instead of the blocks, it will be huge gumballs. Sometimes rubber balls, sometimes glass and sometimes ice, but really huge. I had a tough time trying to escape from these balls. They used to come towards me at a faster pace, and somehow I managed them every time. After the childhood days I didn’t see such dreams, might be the effect of strong antibiotics. Things went smooth until last week when I had fever again. I decided to have homoeopathic medicine this time. And the dream came back, with the huge blocks. I was half conscious and was sure it is a dream, but I couldn’t wake up fully and I couldn’t sleep too. I tried to throw away the blocks, but it was not easy this time. I swirled, I moved sideways, I tried to re-arrange the blocks, and slowly, very slowly they started getting arranged ! I heard my Mom asking me what is going on. Wife came and asked me the same thing two times. And then I came back to my senses, I replied properly, I told them I am having headache and can’t sleep. When they went back, I restarted on the job. I thought why asking for help when I can arrange all blocks myself !

At around 4.00 am, most of the work was done. All the blocks were well arranged. I felt happy and was quite satisfied. I was sweating, but no headache this time. I decided to sleep, reminded me Amitabh Bachan’s dialogue – Ma, mein bahut thak gaya hoom !

I slept peacefully till 9.00 in the morning. When I woke up, only two blankets were on top of me, no, no blocks at all.

Happy new year and welcome back !

January 1st, 2009

Happy New Year - Fresh Leaves, New Beginning.

Happy New Year - Fresh Leaves, New Beginning.

First – Wish you all a very happy, fresh and joyful new year.

It has been quite sometime since I wrote something in my blog. Goobi threatened me and told me either restart it or close down. As he is from Goa, I am not taking any chances and here I am, back again !

You can expect regular updates in the blog this year. At least I hope so.

Have fun and check back soon.