manuscrypts

Damn.. on the backburner

It has come to be this way. The pattern. After every break I take, whether its a trip to Kerala, or a vacation to the beaches or the mountains. Its fairly easy to understand, the daily grind leaves very little time to ponder. Spend 5 days looking forward to the weekend, and maximise the two days for all its worth. Which is perhaps why the trips away from the routine premises have a way of giving one more perspective. An opening of the mind, so to speak.

It brings in a few new experiences, it puts old things in a new light, it gives a more objective view of the daily routine. It highlights the things that are really important to one. It helps one revisit the tags. Most importantly, it shows glimpses of what could be, it opens up new avenues of thought – of building a revenue model for this life that one can be happy with, to figure out those things that one likes to do and would also get paid for, to wake up in the morning and be inspired about what one is going to achieve that day, other than doing the bit to ensure the EMI gets paid. Existential angst that can be resolved only by living, instead of existing. 🙂 Not that these thoughts cannot happen on any given any day, its just that the trips offer a more conducive environment for the mind.

But the pattern. What typically happens is that these lines of thought don’t stay with me for more than a few days. The flights of thought run aground when they meet the daily grind. I always wonder if they are really that far apart in the current state that they don’t even stand a chance of co-existence. Perhaps they are.

But this time, after I get back from Kerala, I decide that its time to break the pattern and stretch beyond the limits I have set for myself, in thought and deed. I wake up, eager to start the day and make the necessary changes to my life, to go beyond the posturing and figure out the way forward. As I get busy with the morning yoga routine, the mobile rings. I stretch my hand out for it. The neck and the back refuse to shoulder any responsibility for what the mind and the rest of the body seek to achieve. A kind of neck jewelry results, the beige collared worker has arrived. 🙁 But I’ll be back.

until next time, exercise caution

PS. Too many introspective posts these days, I had to make a clean break 🙂

September 23, 2009
Coastal Junction

I was actually in the mood for a good steak, but plans had to be changed because of the recent cattle controversy – didn’t want anyone to have any beef with me. Ok, actually, the place that I had in mind – Pizzeria Romano, turned out to be a veg only joint (according to Burrp). Bah. And that’s how we ended up at Coastal junction in Indiranagar. To get there, get on to 12th Main, towards 80 ft Road, and turn left at the end of the road. You’ll find Rosebys on your left. Coastal Junction is on the 4th and 5th floors.

Since it was a nice breezy evening, we decided to try out the 5th floor terrace option. We reached there by around 7.45, and so were able to get a nice corner seat with an awesome view. If you’re planning to go after 8, it’d be safer to reserve. The seating is quite comfortable, and the tables decently spread out so that it isn’t claustrophobic, altogether it manages to justify the fine dining description, in terms of ambience, even if only just so.

Though I’d expected mostly sea food in the menu, it surprised me with a decent collection of veg options. For starters, vegetarians can choose from more than half a dozen options, including things not regularly seen – banana flower, yam, sannas masala, crispy fried raw banana. (Rs.90-125). The non veg starters have a huge selection of sea food – prawns and fish mostly, lobster, (Rs.260-325) as well as chicken (Rs.195) and mutton. (Rs.255)

Again, for the main course, there are quite a few options for vegetarians, including an ullitheeyal, pachakari stew, kerala sambar among others. (Rs. 115-155, yes, we grimaced too, at the thought of a sambar at a three figure cost). For those who cast a wider net as far as consumption goes, there’s a goan crab curry, lots of prawn and fish options (the latter mostly Kerala dishes Rs.265-315), chicken dishes (Xacuti, kori gassi, malabar stew among others, Rs.235) and a couple of mutton dishes. (Rs.295). To go along with that, you could either have biriyani (prawn/chicken/fish/mutton Rs.265-365) or choose from kappa, appams, sannas, neer dosas, idiappam, kori roti, malabar paratha (Rs.45-65) or even plain rice.They also serve alcohol and seem to have a decently stocked bar.

Complimentary rice papadoms with a sauce and a cut mango pickle, and a glass of rasam are given before the meal. Do try out the pickle. Excellent stuff. We started with a Kane Bazulle, “ladyfish marinated in Mangalore masala and deep fried”. This is quite different from the rava fry we tend to order. The coconut oil flavor is unmistakable, and though it could’ve been fried a bit more, it was quite good. For the main course, we ordered a Kottayam fish curry, “seer fish cubes cooked in spicy red coconut gravy”, a Chicken Coondapur, “semi dry chicken cooked in freshly ground coconut, red chillies, jeera and garam masala”, and to go with it, Malabar Paratha,”kerala special layered bread” and egg appam, “soft centre, crispy lace edged rice pancake with egg” (yeah yeah, the fine dining version of porotta and mutta appam for all those sniggering mallus reading this :p ). The fish curry, though spicy and delicious was a mistake. D says she was deceived by the coconut in the description, she expected it to be a thick gravy, but it wasn’t. It’d actually be great with plain rice or kappa, but we managed with the paratha. The chicken dish had a thick gravy, excellent stuff, and highly recommended, but only if you’re okay with grated coconut. The paratha was for once, wasn’t flaky, and was made well. The appam’s shape was slightly off, as compared to the ones we usually see, but was very tasty.

Though the dessert options were different from the regular stuff we see (except for the ice creams) – dhodol, pazaham pradhaman, elaneer payasam, ada pradhaman (Rs.110-135), we were completely stuffed by then. Another example of their consistency (with the theme) was the mouth freshener – a cashew+nutmeg+cardamom Mangalore supari mix. The service deserves mention because it was the best we’ve experienced in quite a long time. They offer help with the menu, point out the not-so-obvious stuff, and are extremely prompt – right from when they bring out different courses to refilling water, and billing.

All of the above cost us a little less than Rs.1000. Though its not inexpensive, the place is worth a visit, especially if you’re in the mood for some good coastal food.

Coastal Junction, No:623, 11th Main, 80 ft Road, Indiranagar. Ph: 41523470

Menu and Photos at Zomato

September 20, 2009
Local Authorities

Towards the end of last year, I’d read a couple of very thoughtful posts on the subject of local networks. The first one was about how small towns had their own ways of communication and collaboration and were functioning as social networks long before technology came into the picture (actually all kinds of towns). The second was about the concept of re-localisation or Local 2.0 on RWW, about location based services and their relationship with technology. Since its been quite a while since I wrote ‘local stuff’ here, I thought this was a good time to make a few notes of how local information is being aggregated and how consumers access local data digitally.

There are several directions that come to mind when I think of local networks. I am quite a fan of Burrp, and rely on it to find out the new restaurants that have opened around town. (restaurant reviews are a major section in the personal blog) I absolutely love their mobile interface, and look forward to the weekly Wassup mailer. They also have TV listings, events, spa/gym listings and a lifestyle section now. This category of sites is something I’d covered earlier. Burrp has since been acquired by Infomedia 18, but its strength continues to be the community. But these categories are only one facet of local. There are are also those operating in niches like ticket booking (movies, plays and events eg. BuzzinTown), local discounts and offers (Letsheadto, Offersforshoppers, BangaloreCoupons etc), to name a few. And then there are sites which work more as directory listings. Pluggd.in recently had a good overview (with specific numbers) of the state of local search entities – AskLaila, Onyomo, Yahoo Local, Just Dial, Metromela and Burrp. If we go by directories, Sulekha is also a name that merits a mention. Maybe, in future, Burrp will be integrated into an entire directory like service under the web 18 group’s main site, so burrp.in.com 😉

Another access to local information is through generic search engines – from local players like Guruji which has a city specific search, to Google. (local businesses via maps, movies, which also throw up review results. No reason why the same cannot be applied to restaurants and other services) Yahoo also has a version of local search. Though it could do with some design tinkering and a better UI, there is potential, especially if they continue to work on services like Neighbours, which adds an Answers layer to Local.

The third option I considered is mobile. In addition to the basic way of calling up a number for local search (like JustDial), search by SMS (JustDial, asklaila, onyomo, Google, Google Voice Search, Vodafone-MSN, Yahoo etc..its a pretty long list) and access through mobile web, or even things like the Ovi Lifecasting + Ovi Maps feature in the Nokia N97, using Facebook, I was interested in what could be tangential options. Adage had a good read on how location changes everything in digital marketing/experiences. Very bullish (I agree with the author), but sample this

Search, for example, solved a big part of the “what” problem — helping you find what you’re looking for. And while search didn’t know much about our social filters, social networking came in and offered up a “who” filter. Now we’re looking at the “where.” And it’s the combination of these filters that have the potential to change consumer and marketer behavior.

There are services like Brightkite, (recently acquired by Limbo) a location based social networking site that allows users to ‘check in’ using SMS, see people who are/have been there/nearby, and then add updates/photos to the place, which means that places have their ‘placestreams’ too. Sometime back, I had read about Zcapes – an augmented reality application – a mini blog platform on the mobile similar in concept to placestreams. On registration, you can make your own zcape for an object/event or even an activity (watching a TV show), and search for real conversations about a particular keyword (object/event/activity). The augmented reality comes in this way – in addition to being able to share on Twitter/mail etc, after creation fo the zcape, the service provides an image of a QR barcode which you could easily stick somewhere in the real world. (RWW has a cool diagram here which explains how this connects the real and virtual worlds). [You should also read some more very interesting applications based on augmented reality like the MOBVIS project, and Yelp’s recent ‘secret’ tool in its iPhone app, which when unlocked – by shaking the device three times!! – pops up Yelp reviewed establishments on your mobile screen, showing locations, ratings, and reviews for restaurants in your surrounding area!!). The recent Mobilize event also had a session on location aware mobile ads.

And then we have Twitter. Twitter’s simplicity means that location based services as well as local businesses can easily have a presence on the network and offer real time assistance to consumers. I have seen both asklaila and burrp on Twitter, and the former seems to be doing some good work. Search Engine Land wrote recently about Idearc’s Superpages account on Twitter, which uses the Superpages database to answer local search queries using DM. This can be used by other local search players too. TC had an article a few days back on another 411 service IMShopping, a human- powered shopping search site and Twitter shopping service. Twitter recently changed its TOS, leaving the door open for advertising. Twitter would do well to push the use of Twitter Connect.

And finally Facebook. While Facebook may not have done anything drastic so far in the local domain, the sheer amount of users, and their data is in itself a reason to look at the potential. There are services like Living Social, which operate in the review space, and which utilise the Facebook user base (among others) for increasing its reach. Facebook’s search now also shows web search results, powered by Bing. Now add to this its recent acquisition Friendfeed’s ability to aggregate data from various services, and finally add (potentially) the ability to add real time data to these search results from friends or further degrees of connections. This search could be any of things we discussed in local search – movies, restaurants, events, discounts, even regular directory listed services. That makes it vanilla search + real time+ social layer. The addition of the @ tags feature (like Twitter) means that it will be easier for people to share experiences with each other or to invite others. Though there are several things to iron out in this feature (privacy, security), also included will be the ability to add businesses/events etc through tags. So, through FB pages businesses can give basic information on FB itself, and even display @conversations directed at them. Now we’re talking, eh? But the killer feature (though nothing new) hasn’t been mentioned yet. Facebook Connect, which is being used by local hyperlocal services like City Search to add a social layer to search. This can be added to any local listings site/event etc, and add an additional benefit to searches done inside Facebook. Incidentally, you can log in to Brightkite using FB Connect too. Recently Facebook also announced that they’re launching ‘Facebook Connect for the Mobile Web‘.

[ Have consciously not included traditional media. But in case you want to add to the above five directions, please do so in the comments section, and I shall update the post.]

So many options. For users to find the content they want, and for businesses to appear in context – place and time. An understanding of the intent of the search -from both sides would be essential for gratification. As the mashup of reality and virtuality progresses at a furious pace, the importance of local search will increase. Accuracy – including semantic ability, real time, social experience, all will play a part. Google is Google because of what it made out of data, search and contextual ads. Google is already moving in on the local web yellow pages in many markets, but as discussed above, they may not be the only players in the game. I think local search might be a more difficult battle.

until next time, location, location, location

September 17, 2009
A flaky post

Paperweights. The ones with either a dancing girl/couple or a snowman at the centre. Turn it upside down, and the ‘snow flakes’ come floating down. Long trips away from routine make me feel like those flakes. I float for as long as I can, but i can’t defy the gravitational pull, there’s no way but down. All my floating is restricted to the confines of the paper weight, I can only wistfully look outside. When the upside down movement happens, I know that I’m in for a ride. I know it will be wonderful while it lasts, I also know the inevitability of the descent. In the initial moments of the floating, I am able to forget the ending, and enjoy myself, but towards the end, I end up counting the moments left. It is time to land, the journey is over.

Remember Forrest Gump? Through the movie, there’s a white feather that floats around. A while back, I read somewhere that it represents destiny and luck, which is why it is shown to appear at opportune moments. Its free, unconfined and goes where the breeze takes it. Sometimes it gets stuck on to things, and then a gust of wind helps it resume its journey. Does it keep track of its journey, or does it just enjoy the ride?

I read a piece by Fred Wilson recently, which talked about failure, and making mistakes, and learning from them. It led me to thinking about the words and their connotations. Both the words signify an end result that didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to. It made me realise that these days I have to figure out destinations before i start. And I’m not talking about trips or vacations, its about daily life. There are expectations set – about how the week should go, how the work should be, how the weekend should be, how the movie should be, what i should write, how it should turn out, and so on. The expectations are about people too. When it doesn’t happen the way I want it, there is a disappointment. This might sound obvious, but I don’t know how conscious each of us are about our dependency on the plans we make, the expectations from life and what we do, our version of ‘what should be’.

And as this happens day after day, the habit and the conditioning gets stronger, till we don’t even pause to think where this is all leading to. I realise that the more the conditioning is allowed to settle, the more the pattern for the journeys will be set, and the more it will limit the journeys that can be had. So its not even about work or entertainment or even a way of life, it is about the way the mind has begun to function, the thought processes, the walls and the defense mechanisms that increasingly seem to have a will of their own. Somewhere along the line, there’s also the concept of ‘hope’. Hoping for a better day, a better way of life, all within the structure that I have brought into being.

What if I let go? One of Forrest’s lines go “I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it’s both.”

Destiny, these days, raises a paradox for me. I could say “That is my destiny”, and work on something and perhaps achieve it. Success gives satisfaction and then I move on to the next objective. So its a bit like the destinations and the traps there. Or I could say “I’ll float and let destiny take its course”. But if I did that, can I be sure where I land and what I will be is my destiny? The best destiny possible for me. Heh? Ah there, control again. In either case, it seems a retrofit. Can i un-expect, not ‘control expectations’, just un-expect? Is that getting closer to objectivity?

It is written. The post has to end. Did you expect it to end this way? Did I disappoint? 🙂

until next time, nishkama karma points 🙂

September 16, 2009
Ping

Closed down

Ever since we turned the corner- just off the Intermediate Ring Road, that is, and saw the place a couple of weeks back, its been on the pending list. Ping serves chinese cuisine and the specialty of the place is the variety of Dim Sum. So if you’re the kind that demands Momo, then its worth checking out. Ping is on the one way leading from the Intermediate Ring Road (Koramangala) towards Empire, Paramount, William Penn etc. After you turn right from the Ring Road (at Sukh Sagar/Kotak Bank), you’ll see it on the right. Parking two wheelers won’t be a problem, and there’s valet parking for those with double those wheels.

The name is “derived from the Chinese character ‘Ping’ which means the best, of the highest standard and applies to food, clothing, attitude, a person’s bearing or stature…It also refers to the stuffing inside a Dim sum.” Ping has a/c and non a/c seating, and an outdoor option for ‘The Dessert Bay’, which has stone seats. I quite liked the ambience – different sections even within the non a/c section, very comfortable seating, and table options which are non intrusive. Not too many bright colors, muted lighting, and overall makes one comfortable. We got there by around 7.30, without reservations, and got a good table, but by 8 the place was nearing full capacity. We saw quite a few groups with kids, it figures- they have a Kids menu.

This is one of those few nice places with their entire menu card online. Saves me so much work. You can check it out here. Though we had decided to try out at least two types of dim sum, we erm, chickened out, after we saw the soup options. The ‘Cilantro flavoured egg drop soup with chicken dimsum’ sounded too good to resist. We were told that the soup would take about 10 mins. Before we got the soup, we were served a complimentary Amuse Bouche. (fried wonton with a tangy-sweet lemon sauce) The soup came before scheduled time, and was thick and delicious. Highly recommended. And then there were dimsums and dimsums to choose from. After much thought, we finally settled on a “Lotus Leaf Sticky Parcels with Chicken and Shitake”. There are lots of options, for veggies, and for those who prefer consuming aquatic life. If its a large group, I think the veg/non veg platter would be a good option. The dim sum arrived quite a bit late, but thankfully the steamed combination of sticky rice, chicken and shitake wrapped in a lotus leaf was worth the wait. It was marginally spicy too, both of us liked it. The only minor problem was that one portion had 3 parcels, and splitting it evenly is quite cumbersome. 😐

For the main course, we asked for a Seven Flavor Chicken, “Wok tossed chicken flavoured with lemon grass, roasted peanuts, chillies, hoisin sauce, basil, young ginger and bell pepper” and along with it Dragon Noodles, “Shanghai style noodles with mushrooms and spinach in spicy chilly sauce”. The chicken dish was indeed unique, but the noodles actually brought tears to D’s eyes. No, not sorrow/ecstasy etc, just the chilli dose, but we still thought it was fantastic. Highly recommended if you like spicy stuff.

Dessert Bay is a bit of a disappointment. Though it sports a separate menu card, the choices are a few mocktails, iced teas, ice cream combinations (some good ones, though) and a few pastry mousse options. So we managed to keep desset temptations at bay.

The meal cost us just over Rs.850, including a service charge of 7%. Its definitely worth a visit for a unique chinese cuisine, and pleasant and prompt service, except for that one delay.

Ping restaurant & Dessert Bay, #130, 1st Cross, 5th Block, koramangala Ph: 41329357, 41521773

Menu and Photos at Zomato

September 13, 2009