Customer delight

"We are not talking to each other, but we don't mind posing for you" This could be one of the captions that I could think of after clicking this sunset picture at Colaba.

They were actually posing for me, because after clicking when I started walking, they too started walking with me. Sunset is a good opportunity to click good pictures, like these kids having a lively chat while the sun goes down.

While clicking I saw this lighthouse, which came into existence in  1770.  This is situated at the prong of Colaba.

When the Portuguese occupied the island of Bombay in the 16th century they built a watchtower on the Old woman's island (Colaba)

Later it was. modified into a lighthouse by the British in 1770. It was further improved in 1800 by a powerful wick lamp.This was the first major lighthouse in British India followed by one in Madras in the same year.

After many changes in the lamp, in 2008 it got its present 70 Watt metal Halide lamp.
Not much has changed in the Marinedrive area of Mumbai. Like this font from the 50s still stands as a sign board in the area.

Some of the buildings with rounded corners which I have seen in the early 60s, still stands.

The heritage structure next to Churchgate station stands in all its glory with the tricolour and the ever present yellow taxis of Mumbai justapositioned in the front. Incidentally I found that the taxis are cheaper than the Uber.

Years have gone by but the buying and selling power of this simple flower lady remains the same (not far from the Sensex office)

The bus service by BEST keeps improving as the years go by. Like they have seperate lines for gents and ladies (ladies from the front)

In the bus I was highly impressed by the conductor's interaction with the passengers, always jovial and happy, cracking a joke here and there. One lady did not know where to alight, but had the address on her phone. The conductor took the phone from her and had a look at the address. Then he opened google map on her phone and fed in the location on the map. From the route he got the stop which was closest to her destination and issued a ticket accordingly. All this with a smile. I would call this as customer delight.

Bus ride in Kerala

After a long time I travelled by bus in Kerala. The first leg was from Airport to Alleppey (Alappuzha) bus stand, and the second leg was from Alleppey to Changanasserry. The total cost came to Rs 157/-

I captured some pictures and videos from the bus. I could do this only after sunrise as I had started my journey at 4 am. The conductor and the driver got replaced at Ernakulam (as this was a long distance bus which proceeded to Trivandrum after dropping us at Alleppey.)

At Alleppey bus stand I had tea, a repeat exercise for me after nearly 55 years ! The method of making the tea is the same (as can be seen in the video) and the flavour is surprisingly the same. The cost of the tea was just Rs10

Boarded the Changanassery bus from there, with the assumption that it would take me through the same route that I had taken 55 years ago, but there were some changes. When I saw the bus entering Kallu palam (stone bridge) I assumed it would take a right turn and head for Irumbu palam (Iron bridge)

But it went straight ahead towards Kottara palam which was flattened out. Earlier this Kottara palam was built very high so that the Travancore King's boat could pass under it. Now there is no Palace and no King, so I presume that bridge was not required.
Coming back to kallu palam, this area was a trading centre about a century ago. Once a week, goods (mostly vegetables and pulses) were displayed on the broad steps next to the bridge and trading took place there. It was more of a barter system in those days. Here is a photo of the Kallu palam clicked by the Government photographer Zacharias D'Cruz. This was clicked way back in 1900

As the bus avoided the city, it reached Kaithavana within no time and I had to quickly click a picture of the church. I found that the church has expanded sideways.

The kodimaram (flag post) is prominent in the middle. This type of kodimaram is usually found in front of churches and temples all over Kerala. The bus took a turn at Kaithavana mukku (junction) and I found that the junction was pretty clean.

Heading straight towards the east, we reached Pallathuruthi. From the bridge we could see all the houseboats parked nearby. This is the starting and ending point of the Alleppey Houseboats.

About 40 years ago if one had to travel from Alleppey to Changanasseri, one had to cross three ferries namely Pallathuruthi, Nedumdy and Kidangara. With the construction of the bridges, movement became faster.
On either side we could see the paddy fields but now they are slushy with residual rain water.

All said and done, it was a comfortable (and cost effective) journey for me, but I found that all the bus stands that I crossed were in very bad shape and needed a complete makeover.
For example I saw a makeshift shelter made by some concerned people at the Changanassery stand.

Hope the present transport minister Mr Ganesh Kumar makes a note of this.
After a week I made my return journey by the same Kerala SRTC Low Floor airconditioned bus.
That is another change I noticed. KSRTC is now known as Kerala SRTC.

Kala Ghoda Festival 2024

Had been to the Kala Ghoda Festival and took some general pictures of Mumbai, like this night shot of the Mumbai University

Sauntered into the Westside store (opposite Kala Ghoda) and saw these young boys from Live 101 keeping the customers entertained. They were playing my favourite song by Bob Marley.

Marley's classic song No Woman No Cry was inspired by his experience living in the trench town area of Kingston, Jamaica. The song reflects the hardships and struggles faced by the residents of the ghetto with its lyrics portraying empathy and hope for better times. The song was recorded in 1974 and the live recording was released as a single in 1975.

The song is meant as an encouragement that life is worth living for - a beacon of hope shining in the darkness. The title and the main refrain "No Woman no cry" means, Woman, don't cry.
Another non festival picture was this pretty woman trying to sell some trinkets at the Regal crossing.

Mumbai was looking all colourful with the new double decker electric bus

Took me back about six decades when I travelled by tram on the same road and the fare was 10 Ps from Byculla to Regal.

We patronized an old Parsee joint Jimmy Boy in the area for dinner. The "sunny side up on kheema" not only looked great but was really yummy.
Their concept is to serve Lagan nu Bhonu (Parsee wedding food) at their restaurant. Jamva Chaloji.

It was heartwarming to see this study centre in the heart of the city where students coming from underprivileged backgrounds can come and study and fans and lights and charging points are provided for them. These two pictures below explain it all. (behind that board you can see youngsters sitting and studying)

Now for some festival shots. This catapult reminded me of the ones we made by cutting the Y from a guava tree and tying rubber strips from discarded cycle tubes. Now it is a part of the Channapatna toys in one of the stalls.

I was impressed by the pencil sketch done by Ashish Mahajan at the Cooperage Bandstand Garden. Had a chat with him and he said that he usually takes about 6 to 8 hrs to finish a pencil sketch of a portrait. (you can see him in action in the video) The charges too were cost effective.

We saw this pottery workshop where one gets a feel of the potter's wheel.

There was an exhibit by the Indian Navy opposite Lion Gate with the title Lest we forget. It was crafted from the recovered memorabilia of INS Vikrant as an offering of everlasting tribute. This too took me down memory lane when I was posted on duty on the Vikrant from the NCC during the Navy week, way back in early 70s.

There was a stall by The Good Doll where each product is handcrafted by women from underserved communities using natural and upcycled materials that are ethically sourced from within the region.

Kala Ghoda is an yearly event and it is a good platform for people to showcase their product/talent. This was started on a small scale 25 years ago.
Hope to click more pictures next year.

The Smallest Chapel

One more ticked off the bucket list. The Niagara falls is actually the collective name of three waterfalls. Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls. One fifth of the world's fresh water flows through the great Lakes and tumbles over Niagara Falls. 

Unfortunately it was a wet and rainy day (the first half) but it was worth the visit. We decided to skip the boat ride. The view from up was better and gives you a better perspective of the falls. 

Couldn't resist clicking this double decker bus which was parked close by.

A statue erected in remembrance of the men who fell in WW-I & WW-II

The world's smallest chapel is not far from the Niagara falls. Our tour bus did not have a scheduled stop at this place,  but slowed down by which I could get it in my video. (the picture below is from the internet) 

It is said that it can accommodate only 6 people, so if the pastor is in, then only five can get in.

Source : Internet

On the way back to Toronto there was a stop over at a small town known as Niagara on the Lake. There was something British about the whole place. 

It was not yet Fall, but the colours were showing, especially against the white.

This plaque gives a short description of the Town. Interesting to know that the Americans had captured it in May 1813 and had burned it down during their withdrawal 

Also found a cross road where the Kings St and the Queens St intersect. 

Saw these decorated horse carts waiting to give customers an interesting buggy ride. 

And some enjoying the ride 

This Hotel seems to be holding on well especially when its been standing there for more than one and half century. 

Some shops had some unique names like "The Owl and the Pussycat at the sign of the Pineapple" I walked in and asked the shop owner if there was any significance to the name, but she was not in a position to give me a plausible answer. 

A word of appreciation to the Queen Tour, the tour bus that we took. Very prompt, with a cheerful and witty driver. Wish they could add that stop at the smallest Chapel in their itinerary.

Saw this store of Ten Thousand villages on the same road.

The history of this store is very interesting. It all began with one woman (Edna Ruth Byler) 

In 1946 when Byler travelled with her husband to Puerto Rico, she met women in La Plata Valley who were struggling to feed their children. Having to live through hard times through the depression, she knew the face of poverty. She also knew the importance of dignity and people wanting to help themselves.

Byler was moved to do something. She saw the pieces of fine embroidery the women of La Plata created, but had no place to sell.  
If she, an American, was so struck by these unique textiles, perhaps other Americans too would appreciate their beauty. With no clear plan, but with a sense of purpose, Byler brought the pieces home and began to sell to the neighbours and friends.

Mennonite Central Committee, an aid and relief agency, saw the long term value that sustainable income opportunities would bring to impoverished villages. They supported Byler's endeavours and facilitated her travels abroad including India and Jordan.  

 pic courtesy "Ten Thousand Village"

It was a simple idea. But a pioneering one that would launch Ten Thousand Villages and blossom into a global fair trade movement.

I saw another outlet at the Amish village in Lancaster. 

More on the Lancaster village in the next blog. 

While we waited for the bus in the morning at Toronto, saw this church. A good example of the old against the new.