Airtel Broadband, I Miss You! :-(

There was a time when Internet Connectivity was so seamless and consistent that it was taken for granted. That was the time of Airtel Broadband, where wireless meant what it should: connect to the Internet without the hassle of complicated wiring and also have the benefit of high speed.

Alas, those times are past. Now Internet Connectivity hinges on the whims and fancies of the little green dot below the words "Internet", written on a piece of plastic that has a strking resemblance to a Wireless Modem. Where I have recently moved to is BSNL Rajya. Illi Airtel baralla Saar!! (No Airtel here Saar!) Like the famed Three Kings of Orient following the Star, Three Musketeers in dull blues and greys landed up a week ago, presumably to give us "Wireless Internet Connection". Ten days later, I don't know what is more frustrating - having IP Address clashes (more than one system having the same IP address - ??) or the shutdowns that happen anytime, but everyday without fail.

In the event of the life changing event of a shutdown, all feet head towards the hallowed platform of the "Window to the World" a.k.a. BSNL's Wireless Modem in the house and all eyes swivel to the little green dot. OMG!! It's blinking rapidly! Must be the time for the nth Chai break of the day at the BSNL Office.

I'm getting really bugged. Having been forced to type this post out in a notepad, I can only pray that it will see the light of day. God willing. Oops, BSNL willing.

A piece of advice for Deepika Padukone - the brand ambassador for BSNL, with her beautiful face and winning smile plastered on every possible road and billboard in Bangalore: do you really want to be associated with such an inferior product? My dire prediction is that it has the power to knock a huge chunk off your brand equity.

Being Indian to the Rest of the World

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post are from personal experience and may sound myopic, insecure and downright wrong. Still, they are based on experiences and I am writing about it, hoping that it will ease the discontent that has been nagging me for quite some time now.

I recently returned from a family holiday to the African sub-continent (name of country withheld for personal security reasons :P). I had a great time and unforgettable memories were created. Nevertheless, certain behaviour that I observed from tourists and locals alike along with past experiences in other countries (in other continents) have prompted me to write this post. 

What does being Indian mean to the global tourism industry? Do hotel staff and tourist guides enjoy extending their hospitality to Indians? Do people like Indian tourists??

My experience says: not really.

For the record, all those stories about being as squeaky clean when abroad as aloof and dirty when home are definitely true. But we are also thrifty to the point of being miserly – we tip grudgingly and never make impulsive purchases. And of course, we bargain to the last bone if price negotiation is even remotely prompted.

Now the logical question is: is tourism only about money? Isn’t it also about appreciating the local culture and respecting the country’s rules?

The answer: Of course money isn’t everything. But which other tourist doesn’t appreciate the local culture and the country’s rules? Money is the bottomline, at the end of the day.

Self-bashing aside, I don’t think any of what has been mentioned above is worth being shameful about. We are all the product of our respective environments, and there is no contesting that the environment in which we Indians grow up is one of the most complex in the world. That makes us natural adapters to change (as our large expatriate population justifies) and excellent at conflict resolution. But I digress.

The result of this Indian tourist stereotype is the step-motherly treatment that we are privy to. Watch for it: the airhostess in the international flight is all smiles for the Westerner sitting beside you but barely spares you a glance. (Note: Western tourists also travel in Economy class!) The shop owner in the souvenir shop trails behind the American couple but ignores you completely.

It rankles, obviously. But it's not going to stop us from travelling the world, of course :)