Updated on 3rd April 09, original article dates back to 15th January 09.
Reliance GSM Network Quality is poorer than I would have thought.
Initially when I had inserted the SIM card and started the phone, It was working fine. Reliance to Reliance, GSM and CDMA both does not have a major connectivity problem with each other. Its for others who you have to bargain for. Connectvity to Airtel suffers big time, Vodafone was just ok.
Features
Other than its Network Quality, on a positive note for customers is that 900 Rs. worth of talktime you would get for a period of 90 days i.e. Rs. 10 every day (not in all circles). I have not been able to get in touch with customer care so that I can calrify a few doubts.
Every day you would get 10 INR as talktime/
For the first two days, you get Rs. 20 as validity. For the first day, you get Rs. 20 with validity of two days. Then, Rs. 10/- each day till 90th day since your activation.
Reliance to Reliance free, after 11.oo Pm
No information about GPRS etc.
6 Months Validity
Rs. 25 for Sim card and Rs 50 first recharge.
With these information still at bay, you cannot have a good review. Wait and watch for a full review.
Update day two:
Call quality was very good against as expected. I don’t get network inside my office premises. Making a call is still a pain, you have to dial the same number some ten – fifteen times to get connected.
If you are using WI-FI in Mumbai, then be prepared for a police visit to your place. Mumbai Police, in its ambitious drive to secure the WI – FI users from any hacking organiaztionas/hackers getting into their network and use it.
This is a step taken after US Citizen Keith Heywood was targetted by terroists to send emails claiming their responsibility. The police will be armed with a laptop and security breach testing softwares. The Police will then suggest the changes to be done on the network so that the users can make the whole stuff secure. If they found that even after the warning, they dont do the changes which are suggested, the Police with fine them.
Pretty good way to secure our WIFI networks. Good Job Mumbai Police.
Well, if you are wondering that I have written this post quite late, then I would completely agree. I was so busy reading stories that I did not wish to write one. In this post, I am only writing what I feel ideally it should be.
S A T Y A M
M A Y T A S
Read it from right or left, you would read Satyam and Maytas. That’s how inclined were the Raju family with the name Satyam. The land greedy Raju’s original face finally came out for every one to see. That, in itself was so surprising that the stock market went crashing day after day. The Satyam share plunged to an all time low of Rs. 11 before hovering around 30 today.
I think this is more or less a breach of trust than acutal theft. Ramalinga Raju inflated accounts to get cheaper loans and put Satyam with a strong Balance Sheet to compete against the gaints of the IT. Satyam was included in the reference of BIG4 of the India’s IT industry space. Before the confession came in, the whole IT faternity was clear that no body can challenge the company’s place in the BIG4.
Ask the same people today, and listen to their change in tone. Obviously natural, no one was aware of the storm that was to sweep the things at stake here. One of the most important thing to observe was the prompt reaction from the government which is really rare to happen.
I assume, and purely in my mind only, was the government thinking of the 50k employees or something else in the whole Satyam fiasco. No offence please, but after all its human mind and it tend to think in all angles possible.
Hope the country emerges sucessfull in clearing this mess out. Best of Luck!
With the launch of Reliance GSM services, it became India’s first telecom operator to offer both the services simultaneously.
It is reported that this service is in great demand since it is offering up to INR 10/- talktime, for free.
I witnessed a mad rush when I went to pay for my reliance bill in Reliance Web World. I failed to realise why the rush was for, till I asked the executive about it. Reliance is once again using the tactics used by it when they launched the mobile for just INR 501.
Reliance’s offer is basically a strategy aimed at encouraging customers to get hooked on to its services as it did with the 501 Monsoon hungama. Since then, Bharati, Vodafone and Idea have reduced their Life Time prices. Through this way, it will be able to add up more customers to make up for a demand of additional spectrum.
There was a phenomenal waiting list. The store I visited had already sold many cards, and has a waiting list well above 300. That figure in itself is astonishing.
What we need to see is whether the network quality is as good as its competitors. Idea has already burnt its fingers when you compare the Network quality in Mumbai as compared to Vodafone, the current leader in Mumbai.
Vodafone is the best network in Mumbai. However, that is only because other networks are pathetic. It’s a wait and watch for me. I would certainly not move to Reliance just because it is offering INR 10 every day. The amount will only last one day. And the amount is not same in every circle. It’s INR 5 in Andhra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Reliance is only putting more efforts where it thinks it will face stiff competition. But I think it’s quite unfair. If they are launching a new service, the benefits should have been equal for all over India.
It needs to be seen how Reliance fares. What ever the result it may be, it is certainly a winning situation for the customers. Already, India’s telephony market has the lowest fare in the world, and is set to be more affordable. Congrats all consumers!
Where is a proper place for lovers and couples in Mumbai where they can sit together for a quite private moment. Well, I am not talking about extremes. I am only talking about having a place where a couple or lovers can sit together, exchange a few kisses and a hug. While you are planning to go there, do not forget to buy a good gift for her!
Author’s note: In these COVID19 times, going out must be avoided. It is perhaps a wrong time for us to be looking for romantic places, however love stops at nothing. Request all readers to be very careful, avoid going out if possible, wear a mask always.
Girguam Chowpaty
Girguam Chowpatti – a great evening place for couples (Credit: Wikimedia)
Unlike the famous Juhu Chowpaty, Girguam Chowpaty (often spelled as Girgaon) is more sedate and calm, and is less crowded in comparison. It is also smaller, though as much beautiful. Many couples start walking from Nariman Point ending their walk into Girguam Chowpaty to grab a quick bite or a meal at one of the stalls there.
PRO TIP: The Pav-Bhaji here is delicious! In summers, end it with a Kala Khatta for desert.
Another gem in the queen’s necklace, Nariman Point hosts several business houses, and is often well known as commercial part of South Bombay (SoBo). However, located at the far end of queen’s necklace, Nariman Point offers breath taking views of the sea, and hosts a lot of establishments offering delicious meals.
PRO TIP: You can take a long walk towards Marine Drive and back with your beloved in your arms. The experience is beautiful, a memory you may cherish long into the future.
Marine Drive
A walk along the Marine Drive, holding hands of your lover often turns romantic. The cool evening sea breeze and the dusking sun are a perfect setting. Have an ice cream or peanuts, speak up to your partner and open your heart, pour all the love you have in this setting and you will have a time you will remember for a long time.
Marine Drive (Credits: Wikimedia)
PRO TIP: Beware of Police here if you are sitting for long. It is known that some of the police personnel do have vested interest and pick up couples and lovers who could be vulnerable and threaten to inform their family members to extract a fine, for which you will never receive a receipt.
Worli Sea Face
An extension of Marine Drive, Worli sea face is perhaps more beautiful than Marine Drive itself. It is most of the times, less crowded as well. With the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the sea for back-drop, the location is a new favorite among friends as well.
PRO TIP: Nehru planetarium is also close-by and a must visit. You can watch the late afternoon show, and then proceed towards the sea face for a fulfilling experience.
Dadar Chowpaty
Dadar Chowpaty was recently in news for wrong reasons. It was filthy, and unclean for anyone to enjoy the place. However, there has been an clean up effort organized by some of the residents nearby, and has hence become clean place. Due to perception of it being unclean, the beach is less crowded and hence a great place to visit along with your lover for some private time.
PRO-TIP: Taxi’s are easily available outside Dadar Station to reach chowpaty. It is a preferred way for couples to travel to Dadar Chowpaty.
Hanging Gardens
Located at the top of Malabar Hill, Hanging Gardens is a terrace garden on Arabian sea shore. The garden features numerous hedges carved into various shapes, water fountains and flowering plants. The gardens were built on top of a water reservoir to protect the water from contamination, and to enhance the beauty of the place.
Enjoy quality time with your loved one at Hanging Gardens. Talk and talk endlessly, give attention to him/her and make it the best of your time.
PRO-TIP: Best time to visit is during the early morning and early evening.
Jijabai Udyan or Ranichi Baug
Erstwhile called ‘Victoria Garden’, this is the only Zoo in the city and one of the oldest in India. Relish the childhood memories with your loved one by spending time visiting the beautiful wild animals and support the existence of this iconic place.
PRO-TIP: Get in touch with the officials to inquire about adopting an animal, by offering to pay to feed for a period of time in your lover’s name. They would love it!
Nehru Center
If you are an arts and theater fan, Nehru Center often has art or drama shows on its schedule. You can also visit the Science and Space Museum or pay a visit to the planetarium. The center also hosts organizers who conduct discount sales or exclusive product events.
Nehru Centre (Credit Wikimedia)
PRO TIP: Nehru planetarium is also close-by and a must visit. You can watch the late afternoon show, and then proceed towards the sea face for a fulfilling experience.
Mahim Beach
Mahim Fort is in ruins, and not a good place to visit.
One of the seven islands, Mahim has a small beach and a fort. The fort lies in ruins, and is not at all maintained for you to visit. Encroachments have taken over the beautiful view that could otherwise be enjoyed by everyone else. However, if you insist, you can visit Mahim Beach since there will be little visitors here.
PRO-TIP: Avoid this beach unless you really want to.
Juhu Chowpaty
The land of celebrities. Juhu is one of the most sought after residential area for celebrities from all walks of life. And it’s beach is very famous, and crowded. Even then, you can enjoy walking through the beach while the sun sets in the background, grab a quick bite of the famous chaat houses there. Pav Bhaji and Paratha from Paratha House are the most famous.
Juhu Beach / Chowpaty (Credits: Wikimedia)
You can also walk, hand-in-hand, with your lover to Versova beach (about 2 kms), while waves flirt with your legs. The long walk, the occasion peck on the head, can go a long way into solidifying the relationship. 🙂
PRO TIP: Avoid going there on holidays and weekends, since the beach tends to get over crowded and you may not get a decent, private time.
Bandra Bandstand & Fort – Lovers paradise
This has been the focal point for loves since years. To be sitting on the rocks with constant breeze and the smell of the sea, along with your loved one is the best place to be. Hold your hands and stare into each other’s eyes while you hear the breeze and of the waves can be a loving experience. Visiting the gates of Mannat, the house of King of Romance, is must if you are an SRK fan.
Lovers Paradise Bandra Bandstand Promenade
Castella de Aguada or Bandra Fort is one among few forts around Mumbai. Built by the Portuguese, the fort and bandstand area are scenic and instantly lovable. Since it is open area, there may be many stags who roam around, and can be pest at times. Also, transsexuals linger around and ask for money (although they are the first ones to alert you in case of any miss happenings). Fort is on the south end of the promenade, near Hotel Taj Lands Ends.
PRO TIP: If you are sitting on the rocks, beware not to venture further inside as the sea may rise on high-time. Many couples have got stranded in the area because they went too deep.
Carter Road, Bandra
It is the sea face of the west-central Mumbai. Carter road is a posh locality, with superb sea side setting. There are jogging tracks and places to sit for long hours listening to the waves and feeling the cool Arabian sea breeze.
Similar to Marine Drive, but a different setting, Carter Road is one of the most visited by lovers and college goers. It is also a place which offers some privacy and places to sit and have a quite romantic conversation well into the evening. During the evenings and late night, this place tends to host a happening crowd.
Versova/Silver Beach
Mumbai is blessed with a few beaches, and it will help if these are kept clean. Versova Beach is perhaps the cleanest beach now in Mumbai, and offers great view of the Arabian sea. Spend quality time in privacy with your love.
Versova Beach (Credits Wikimedia)
Madh Island and beach
The city of seven islands no longer, Mumbai still has some island destinations around. Madh Island is one of them, beauty of which will leave you spell-bound. With the calm shores, mangroves and the sea breeze, this place is sure to get your romantic mood going. Though it will be expensive to hire rooms here, traditionally it is one of the most sought after destinations by lovers looking for some private time.
Two Lovers
PRO TIP: Beware of any hotel you book, ensure you check the rooms for any hidden cameras. Also, do not deal with agents roaming around the place. For god’s sake, do not record anything on your phone either. Only travel in your own vehicle or one you rented for the day.
Erangal Beach
Erangal is a sandy beach stretch in Madh Island area. If both couple enjoy fish, then this may be a great place for them. One can spend time on the beach, and watch fishes being brought from the sea and put to dry by the local fishermen. The landscape is beautiful, with hills on one side and sea on the other.
The beach is used to dry the fishes caught by the fishermen and hence the stench of dried fish is everywhere on the beach and surrounding areas.
PRO-TIP: Avoid visiting on Sundays and holidays if you are looking to have a private time with your lover. Carry your own water!
Dana Pani Beach
Dana Pani beach is located on the Madh Island area, and is most frequented by couples for a lovely time. Enjoy the vast expanse of the sea and rocks, with some snacks from the road side eateries. The approach road is near the beach, and hence you can also spend time sitting on the wall or in your car/on your bike.
By nightfall, most of the normal crowd goes away, due to lack of street lights. However, lovers stay back in darkness to have their own private time. The area is also known to have a lot of people drinking and creating nuisance, and hence staying after dark is not recommended.
Lovers at the beach
If you are a large group of friends or many lovers, then stay behind to feel the breeze, listen to the waves and gaze the stars on a clear night.
PRO-TIP: Travel with your own vehicle, sit on the shore and enjoy the breeze. Carry your own water!
Aksa Beach
“Tuje aksa beach ghumadu, aa chalti kya?” or so goes a popular Bollywood movie song. Aksa beach, off Malad and near Madh, is one of the best on the Mumbai Coast line. It is, however, more commercialized beach as compared to a few others in the vicinity. The beach is vast, however due to its fame, it tends to get crowded. It is recommended that you arrange for your own travel without relying on Rickshaw or local Taxi’s (Kaali-peeli).
Aksa Beach, near Malad suburb, Mumbai (Credit: SINHA, Wikimedia)
PRO-TIP: Do travel to this place if you have your own vehicle. The beach is far from Malad, and rickshaws and taxis do not ply on regular fare. Also, Ola and Uber will have limited availability. So be prepared if you are not traveling in your own vehicle.
Marve Beach
Marve Beach is closest to Malad, however the beach itself is not much enjoyable. Marve is more of a jetty where you can get board a boat to either Global Vipssassana Pagoda or Essel World/Water Kingdom theme parks. If lovers want to experience peace then a visit to the Pagoda from Marve can be an enriching experience. Marve to Essel World is a longer route and takes more time as compared to Gorai (near Borivali).
Enjoy a ride on the boat and come back to the shore to treat yourself to Mumbai chat at the stalls.
Manori Beach
If you miss Goa, and cannot go to Goa, then to to Manori Beach. It cannot replace your Goa experience in full, but is a great, calm and less crowded beach. You can easily find budget resorts here for stay.
Couples entry to stay unless your are married is often seen looked down up. It is however a great weekend get-away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and not too far away either. Burns a small hole in the pocket, Manori will not fail to surprise you.
A couple in love, at the beach
PRO-TIP: DO not forget to carry Cash. Digital payments options are far limited, and nearest ATM is really far away.
Lovers in a forest – Borivali National Park (Kanheri Caves)
Its not a place to go for couples who are not interested in nature. There are many instances where lovers go there and exceed all limits of decency which is not at all appreciated. Borivali National Park is a place to visit for the nature.
If you want to spend a lovely time with your partner and take a glance at the nature, you will love it. The Kanheri caves have some of the nicest Buddhist art in the city, totaling near to 100 caves of all sizes. The park offers many attractions too.
Other places too are good for hanging out: Hanging Gardens, Horniman Circle Gardens, Juhu and Silver Beach, Chowpatty, Beach at Versova, Nehru Park etc.
There is more!
Well, this is a list of beaches and beach shores. However, if you are interested in spending time indoors, then go to the part two of this article, where you have more options to explore like Cafe’s, Discos etc.
What about outside of Mumbai?
If you have a car and want to drive out, here is one place you can go! I keep posting videos on my Indianomics channel, and the below video was shot as part of my road trip. For many such videos, please subscribe to Indianomics Travel Vlogs
Hey, its was Awesome! Thats exactly how I reacted after my first stinct with a Karting Car.
On sunday, my friends gathered for a get together after a long time. They decided that we would do a go kart. But I was in irony. I had my cousin visiting me for the most important thing in his life, to choose a wife.
After he came back from the girl’s place, I asked him if he would come. He agreed and I was able to go to this famous Go Kart in Mumbai. Hakone Karting, at Powai.
We reached there at 9.15 pm, by when my friends already had bought tickets. We had to wait for a long list of people who came there. An hour later, it was our time. I was the first one to go. The moment I sat in the small kart, I felt as if I am doing the best thing in my life I have ever done. I am car frantic. I love motor sports.
I had done 6 laps topping the charts among four of us. With the best time of 43.06 seconds, I was overwhelmed. The best lap for the day was 26.38 seconds. Considering that this was my first time, I am very happy.
Next time I am going to go there, I want to improve on my performance and hope for a battle with my friends. Would be interesting. I am eager to be there again.
Nokia has launched an ambitious green drive to treat e-Waste in India.
Nokia will “Take Back”, as it is named, old handsets and accessories regardless of brand. First of a kind in India for e-Waste social responsibility initiative, this is first step towards a greener world. Hoping to educate an average Indian about the importance of recycling of e-Waste. I would like to congratulate Nokia for their initiative. There are various world class multi national dealing in electronic products and no one has promoted their intention this way.
For every product re-cycled through these “Recycle Bins” set up at Nokia Priority Dealers and Care outlets, Nokia will plant a tree. Those who are participating in this initiative will also receive a surprise gift.
Points to be noted, Nokia India:
Plants would be planted in India (I know its cheeky, but wanted to make a point).
Allow, not all but through a lottery, those who are re-cycling their eWaste to participate in the saple plantation drive to encourage more people.
Have reputed NGO (s) participate / invited.
Have a online pressence where people can track how many saplings have been planted, giving an option for those who could not take part in this initiative.
It is cretainly exiting, and paves the way for others to follow. LG, Samsung, Sony, Videocon, Onida… guys, do this. It can get you some thing back.
There are fresh images coming from Chandrayaan 1 of the unseen parts of the Moon.
This is a great achivement. The new imagery is being taken by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper or M3, which is developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA which is one of the 11 payloads Chandrayaan 1 was taking.
Is the War eminnent? Is it finally going to happen for sure?
I think this would be the greatest blow to Humanity. Repeatedly, Pakistan has been reporting fencing its own teritory. Why is the country doing it even after claiming to be a responsible state?
God, please eradicate Terror out of everyone’s mind. This is what I would wish for this Christmas and New Year.
A large section of media are taking a count on the action that happend after the Mumbai Seige.
Today, I watched a Malayalam movie, Baba Kalyani which based on the terror theme. It shows how those in the Power put their zeal in proctecting the very people who are encouraging terror. I was moved by the movie that even in God’s Own country, mafia and gundaism prevails over God’s beauty.
You should watch three films to find out whats happening in the brains of people of India. A Wednesday, a film starring Nasseruddin Shah and Anupam Kher. Mumbai meri Jaan starring Madhavan and Irfan Khan. And ofcourse, Baba Kalyani starring Mohanlal.
These movies are based on the terror attacks on various parts of India.
Just read in the news paper that Property rates went down to an alarming 33% for South Mumbai, considered Posh.
Its good that it is really happening. But as mentioned in the previous post, I cannot see a common man benefiting from the discounts. Coz for him, to arrange for 6 crore INR would not be possible in this lifetime. Those developers who build Luxary flats are offering discounts, however those who have not developed luxaries around their flats are not changing the flat rates.
The Property market in Mumbai has finally bent down to the recession in the Global Economy downturn. Leading developers in Mumbai and its Sub urban areas are offering discounts up to 30%.
Till last week, these developers tried to lure in buyers by giving various incentives. Some offering parking space, some offering a Free Television, Fridge, Computer, Laptops and what not! Since the buyers are aware of the high margin the developers are charging and the fact that recession is on their heads, they are playing safe waiting to get the lowest possible cost to by a new Home… err. Flat.
Buyers are aware of the market conditions and feel that the prices could be up to 50% cheaper than the current prices. The Government’s bail out did not help any one and it is still to get any market reaction.
Buyers are not just looking for cheaper loans; they also want to pay less per square feet. Hence, the whole industry is going down and soon developers would start offering up to 50% discounts.
The fact that these developers have taken a loan to build a building makes the scenario more maddening. It’s a mess. Chaos or call it anything. Recession has hit one and all.
You would have noticed that all these days all the developers were doing was building luxury flats. Only the rich can afford them and Very Higher-Middle-Class take loans to buy. Why they do not thing of a middle-middle-class person? Their greed has taken a toll on them in these troubled times.
Hope the time takes it all away and we are back to those normal days. But its good that this happened. The alarming rate at which the property prices zoomed in 2007 and 2008 has finally showing signs of coming down.
The operation at the Oberoi is over. Thats what the NSG have just informed.
This can be considered a major break through, but what is every body’s fear is, like Taj where the Hotel was declared clear two times yesterday in the evening and late in the night. But its still not out of Terrorists hands yet. Given that there were double mistakes in estimating the presence of Terrorists in Taj and the fact that they are still reported to be there, what are the chances that the NSG this time is not doing a mistake by identifing the Oberoi Hotel as cleard? But I hope they have not done any mistake! Bcause, that’s Good News.
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