Welcome Back, and a welcome break actually from me. Its been long since I have reviewed a book and this was an opportune moment for me to get back to doing what I wanted to do.
I did have a couple of books read the last week or so, and this one is the first on the review.
Jasmine Builds On Shifting Sands, is a motivational and has a spiritual account of a girl named Jasmine Arya, on how she lives her life and makes choices before a chance encounter with spirituality in a different sense. The Author Sanjay Desai has tried a very easy-to assimilate version of spirituality which I am sure will help a lot of readers get into the spiritual mode easily.
I think the author has got it right with normal characterizations which can talk spiritual topics and that’s a nice idea in itself, simply because we have this notion that spiritual is all that saffron-robed, bearded sages, and et al.
As regards the story, it’s a very relatable story but I think it could have gone a bit deep at some places. Ideally to introduce spirituality in this aspect and perspective is a big work and this is very easily done in this book.
The narrative is lucid, you can follow Jasmine Arya and her world be it academics or the glamourous world of fashion. Its very tough to get people to mentor you at such an age and that way the character has been lucky. Be it the first instance and then going ahead in the career in spite of her temperament that has her failing at some great opportunities.
Quite often we also get into this whirlwind of selfishness and self-centered approach to our success and blame others for our mistakes. Being spiritual is not being away from this practical world and that is very clearly articulated in this story. The conversations are quite engaging on that front and that makes it a nice primer for those interested to delve deeper into what they want of their life.
I would have loved a better typography for this book, it would have served much better reading on the eyes.
The exercises also lend to making this an engaging book with the readers. Overall a nice attempt to demystify spirituality and make it a common thread for everyone to read.
Thanks Blogadda for this opportunity. This is a part of BlogAdda Book review Program.
I remember the day, it was my parents anniversary, not just another one, it was the 25th year. Making it memorable was in the air. I didn’t know then what should I do, to be frank.
Making a choice for one person is always tough, now its two, not ordinary people. Your parents who have sacrificed so much for you and then who have made sure that you have earned your stripes in education so that it helps you build your future.
After a long thought and the ad man in me going in a tizzy I zeroed in on Titan, it was one of my favourite brands, and the Bandhan collection has always appealed to me in more ways than one, it was the charm of the name perhaps thats quite the way Indians would love it and it stays the same in any language you say – Bandhan, testing the timelessness of the relationship that was a given and taken for granted those days unlike today.
So after office, I took my bike and the first pitstop was the Titan showroom. I have started earning now and had some savings on me, I go in and check out the items, beautifully strapped and presented in those red and golden boxes and they had a collection to see, I must admit, it’s not easy to la hands on some of the precious machines they have there.
After some window shopping and checking out the prices, I chose a nice set and asked for a gift wrapping the watch (s).
The chosen piece had a nice black dial and in golden chain and look pretty gorgeous if you ask me. It was a #Dilkideal for sure. You would not doubt a bit less.
I was home in another 20 minutes. Both my parents and my sister was there. Then I presented them the gift celebrating the anniversary. Perhaps it was not the way we had taken us for granted, probably there was no opportunity to celebrate, we had been running in our life.
They were so happy and overwhelmed, it was an occasion to remember. I was thinking why do parents think only of their loved ones, I am saying this because, they have never bothered to buy a nice watch though I remember having my first watch at 6th standard and it went boom the second week when I washed my hand in the school tap. It was a digital watch and it was pretty costly too those days.
Its always like this with parents everywhere, they would give it all for their kids. Btw the watch is still working, obviously they dont have a operating system like men!
We used to have a diary, well I do keep receiving one from my not so digitally inclined clients who think yes the new year is heralded with one diary and I have had the habit of having diaries over the years, I have one from 1998, well that was the year I passed out of my college. Time flies, and things have taken a giant steps.
So it was a bit of delight coupled with amusement when I saw the Exide LIfe My Money Book. Hmm a clean neat utility stuff.
I should admit its been a long time writing these information on paper. It was revealing on how the money-wise thing looked for me. Now that made me do a bit of homework and some more papers are ready to be signed.
I loved the way it has been designed with the customer in mind and the details that matter, well we used to have all these kinda stuffed in one page. Yes all these.
So here goes the 5 best things about it.
#1 Life Insured : All your insurance policies right from yours to your dependents everyone’s details in fact detailed. So you wont miss the dates and the time in case you need to send in your annual subscription.
#Fact: I got to know you had so many types of Insurance policies well the Home wala though I have heard, it was new for me in the sense that we would love to keep track of it and be reminded every year.
#2 Lockers : You have a page dedicated for Lockers, this is new and is good to add to the information.
#3 Loans: There is a section for loan details, and it is again divided into Home, Auto and Personal loans.
#4 Savings Section: You have detailed page for Mutual Funds, those not so cool Public Provident Funds, National Pension Scheme etc.
#5 One book: Well this is one book that will help you write your will if you may! You know where you are and how much is your asset and your liabilities in a nutshell that actually is telling you your worth.
#My expectation: Get a page to set financial goals for the next year – esp from the pages that will reduce the loans and add more to savings or buying a property or a new vehicle. I think that will add the charm of looking at the dates and also get the priorities right.
Or get a page to set personal goals like No credit cards or less credit cards!
It was a great way to analyse the financials personally if you ask me and made me think twice on how I should be plan, quite my Financial planner!
One last thing the designer in me was all praise for the visual layout and the usage for font and clear demarcation of subtle colours in red and blue. Loved the cover design too.
The match making TVC ad from Quikr! just that my laptop got a long awaited printer and makes for a nice healdine too, now to the blog!
I have always been fascinated by the classifieds business in the sense that they cater to a whole lot of businesses, and India being a very price sensitive market, it was always going to work in favour of classifieds since they are easy to locate and more so very targeted.
My journey was going to be the last rush hour – read “Quikr” since I have been travelling across on business and personal things. I knew Quikr will help me bridge the the time out and make it happen in the quickest possible time.
I have been browsing long enough on the site now for almost a fornight, but never have looked so close into the logo; the green and blue combo – one of the basic and attractive web colours that have an appeal. Then I decided to have a close look, the innate ex copywriter / designer in me wanted to see that.
And I was pleasantly surprised to see a pair of roving eyes and a swoosh that possibly was a searching some stuff and the time taken to find it respectively depicted in the logo… and the logo meant a word literally quicker! ok forget the formalities guys – Quikr! sounds quicker! Period.
(Two roving eyes searching and the swoosh birdie flies off in a moment giving you what you want! )
I landed to a nicely and intutitvely designed homepage of Quikr.com
You are spoilt for choices, and you didnt know you had Matrimonial also here 😛
So I browsed a lot of categories in Coimbatore, well that’s my hometown and lot of things caught my attention. We are known for cars and also high end luxury cars and to my biggest surprise, I found more than 5 pages dedicated to Mercedes Benz! You got to see it to believe it.
I clicked on an ad and found it interesting, there was a cute dog in the pic, and was wondering if it is part of the deal! See how cute the dog is in this pic!
Some of my other categories that I looked into were home furnishing, computers, laptops to name a few.
Now to the most important part of the story. Why I purchased what I purchased from Quikr and at INR 5000 at that?
A little background, its been just 2 months into being on my own, yes you guessed it right – entrepreneurship runs in my blood or so I thought and well quit my job to start afresh. Literally meant to start afresh and it means boot strapping of the highest order. I was smart enough to save and buy a laptop which meant my mobility in terms of business was taken care. But we aren’t the smart ones are we?
Just as I was settling to the rigour of social media and pitches and sweet talking to my prospective clients, I found something missing for all the communication that we do on email and Whatsapp and sometimes on FB chat, still there was this ‘proposal’ that had to be sent in paper yes printed in black and white.
That’s how I came to a printer searching spree at last! A small search on the Quikr was enough, and I had a whole lot of sellers and I wanted to be specific in terms of doing the job, a printer called by any other name should be a printer that’s what I wanted and no additions, scanning is today done by the mobile phone camera some 5 MP you see!
Simply put it was on the purchase list No.1 for the small office. Add to an independent Wifi connection and some card readers and some extra accessories. To be fair I thought this month the budget would be the mandated INR 5000/-. (thank you Blogadda)
So my search was narrowed down to very clear price range 2000 to 5000 and also the in the last 14 days that I thought would be better off since the later ones could be better priced products.
Called and visited the store/owner for a used printer and finalised the price as given.
The HP printer on top of the listing was ideal in my situation, it was at INR 3750/- and also some more printers.
Now to call the dealers / individuals and they were all very warm in their approach.
This is the product I chose on Quikr page…
And after an hour or so, I decided to go check and see how the printer is and make the real purchase.
I was welcomed by a very affable customer service owner of the store in DB Road, and in the conversation that followed he was very happy with the Quikr and was only apprehensive about some duplicates flooding the listing. He has been using Quikr and it has got him rewards from across the state and he is specialising in Apple products apart from all other peripherals and laptops to mention a few. He was very happy stating he had clientele across the state and even from Bangalore and they had travelled to pick up just in case they wanted to verify.
He was like if there was a verified vendor or a review on sold products from him it would do a lot. (Quikr, I am sure there is a business opportunity here )
Checked with the piece took a printout and was satisfied. Here is the machine in real!
Printer
Another one on the list of office shopping or business shopping was a Wifi – Data card long since been thinking of this… and Quikr didn’t disappoint. The best part was the same vendor offered me a choice of the same when I told him I saw his name when I went to pick up the printer enroute home.
And the deal was made and the purchase was done the Quikr way! It is not only the used product I also got a brand new wifi data card at a steal! INR 1250 against the 1399 / 1299 quoted price! Quikr also gets you a bargain!
Now back to the marriage story!
At last my laptop got its bride in a printer. and you can see them happy. Also got the TNPL copier at a price lower at a wholesaler the Quikr way ofcourse.
And the happily married guys posing for you! Don’t miss the copier sheets and the Wifi Data card also in the frame!
So in case you are getting ready for a match for anything get your hands on the web or download an app of Quikr, then shoot and post the ad and get the match the buyer in no time!
I should say it was an awesome experience and more so an utility oriented one at that! Now I know who to call when I need something to be done Quikr!
Final word – got a nice friend in the dealer and he will possibly be selling some laptops too in the near future too!
I found some good shops in the process and some nice service providers too, and all have made to my list esp for gifting and stationery.
When Blogadda announced the Book review, I knew this is what I was waiting for – an author signed copy from Ashwin Sanghi was the best deal as always!
And when the book arrived it was big all of 448 pages and it did go fast! Thanks Blogadda!
It is yet another title from Ashwin Sanghi, a collaboration of a different kind with one of the world’s detective best sellers James Patterson.
Santosh Wagh heads Private India and is challenged by a series of murders with a precision that involves a thinking serial murderer on prowl. The weapon used is a simple one and the murderer makes no mistake and leaves no trail for investigation authorities to take a call. Even if he leaves some its to mislead the process than help it to the see the logical end.
The challenge is no sooner Santosh starts the investigation in the first murder, they are faced with a series, with a pattern and it is for Santosh and his team to unravel them at the earliest since they have little time before the next one happens.
The story is a riddle which deconstructs the psychological attitude of the murderer and his relationship with victims. Santosh does his best to get to the trail using the best of technology and investigating minds helping him gets to the murderer.
There is this Ashwin’s stamp of the mythological thread to the events unfolding with every murder as it continues to happen at a regular interval within days. You cant be happy when circumstantial evidences point to some one in the organisation.
A very light and a fast read, this is page turner though the intensity of the plot is broadened with some instances pointing to multiple suspects at different points in the story.
Yet another best seller from Ashwin for his style sprinkled in ample measure – a bit of Bollywood, page 3 celebs, the gang war and the spiritual guru which helps you identify with Mumbai ofcourse.
Ashwin uses his innate ability to relate things and makes it easy for the readers to go on one rollercoaster ride. You could finish it off in the fastest time possible thats usually a sitting.
On a personal note this would have been an easy novel for Ashwin & James having read all the other three works with such a lot of research material that he is used to. Or is that he is making me think so.
A fast read and a page turner, Private India if you ask me might be poised for sequels and I am sure Ashwin and James sure can come up with many more cases that Private India can handle with Santosh still at the helm of affairs.
There was a beautiful gift pack from Blogadda! They know enough ways to actually surprise you!
Opening the box, it was so beautifully packed and a cute tin pack emerged. I loved the package, it meant some thing cool, that I would soon find out. Not just cool, extraordinarily cool!
This latest offering from ITC is bound to make you lose to Ultra Mintz and I am sure you will look to actually show off the piece de art in your hand that cute box which has the mints – clearly stated premium and powerful sugar free mints.
It was mouth watering to see the mints drop out of the cute little container and popping it was the first sensation you would be taken to such a grand level of mild and soothing mint. It was powerfully mixed and then it makes all the difference. Just goes all the way starting those sensations of soothing your throat and also sure to tickle your sense of smell. You get a free and nice breath of life, literally.
The taste lingers on while the mint slowly melts into your mouth and you dont want to lose it fast. Leaves you with a clean and refreshing feeling after every popping of a mint.
ITC should be commended for packing a punch of such magnitude that you would want more. It was extra strong and tastes as much as being sugar free you can go popping as you wish.
The best part is this, you get to show off this nice little tin package and take it out in a style and then pop it in.
And when you know the ingredients that went into the making of these little powerful mints, you will be really be impressed; well the finest quality of menthol and the best peppermint are from France.
The pack has 60 mints and is priced competitively at INR. 50 and I am sure this pricing will be an easy one for the kind of product which is on offer.
The overall feel is that the pack will attract the young and the old alike especially those who will like the premiumness of the product and there is also a style quotient attached to it a kind of branding if you want to call it that.
So here’s my verdict on this product, very premium packaging black always has that tag attached to it, not to forget the product here is the winner and it’s awesome to say the least! ITC has a winner in the Ultra Mintz and going by the social media reactions I am sure this will rock the market that its targetted to.
You will surely find this in the car or in the table of those cool guys that you associate with and the coolness will for sure spread like wild fire.
Thanks BlogAdda for the opportunity to taste and review, tickling our senses all the way. Thanks ITC for a nice product and a nice experience if I should put it that way, and well rest assured that I shall be a good customer popping in the Ultra Mintz whenever I want to .
So that’s was a pleasant surprise when I heard from Blogadda that I am getting to test the all new Tata Indica Vista D90 the one which is yet to be launched.
The car arrived at my office on that day, was feeling elated, it’s a new car and few people have access to it. The ever smiling Tushar Shah from Tata Motors was my connect for the car.
Very sporty look with a dual tone alloy wheels, and a standard TATA front grill, chrome plated fog lamps (front & rear) and a pretty wide eyes – triple barrel headlamps almost going to the door greeted me at the first look! The car comes with ABS, the airbags as standard, in the car I drove which is spice red it had a contrast roof a black one!
You open the car doors to a wide interiors looking menacingly with the beige interiors adding to the space. You could seat comfortably smug in the bucket seat and with steering tilt adjust it to your convenience.
A look at the steering wheel and you get the smart controls at your finger tips. The music, the phone which can be connected via Blue tooth and much more! A peek into the clean dash board gives you the nice interface on the speedometer and the rpm you rev.
The centrally located dashboard has the 2din music system which has connectivity on USB and also the Blue tooth! You could pair upto 5 devices and the moment you are in the car it will automagically connect you to the device, well you could prioritise the device list.
So you know you got to only think about driving your passionate vehicle and only enjoy the drive. You can pick up the call right from the steering wheel, don’t have to take your hands off anytime.
Just above the console that houses the time machine blinking on the you, is all new Driver Information System. Mindblowing insight into consumer insight is my way of looking at that. It gives you the distance left to the Fuel station, the average mileage that you are clocking at any instant and also the temperature and the time all at alternate clicks of the button.
The leg room is ample for the fornt seat as well as the back seats and the back seat can comfortably seat three people. Behind the seat is a socket for you to charge your electronic devices. Just in case the battery charger is in use near the driver’s console.
The back seat also folds itself to give you more space in case you want at times.
Now you start the car and it responds with a low sound, and you would want to confirm yourself with pushing the accelerator, then you know it’s a diesel engine. Once you get into the driving mode the engine responds so very agile and gets to push faster of course if you have a clear road ahead.
The engine throwing up 90 bhp and with VGT as the state of the heart, responds quickly even at low rpms for you to navigate the city traffic and the traffic signals with ease.
Driving in traffic, it squeezes through cutting corners with the very responsive power steering and the turning radius is awesome to say the least.
The engine responds with a 0-100 kmph in over 15 seconds flat and can touch a top speed of over 150 kmph.
Sometimes intelligence is also at the back of the car like here in D90, where in case its raining your rear wiper will go into action automatically when you are reversing the car. Yeah I had forgot to mention the rear demister too! May be two days later I would have got the wind of the same in Delhi when it rained.
A very nice package from TATA and looking forward to it being a runaway success. A very powerful car in its class and with the host of new features it would be a great steal! I am sure you are gonna enjoy the long drive!
Some pictures!
This is a part of Blogadda Sponsored Review Program! (http://blog.blogadda.com/2012/12/27/30-bloggers-review-vista-d90-diesel)
