Azure....

Azure...well this is a call centre..where i worked for 2 months...I want to share my experience in this US based international call center in Ahmedabad..


I had completed my 12th board exams...and was wondering what the hell to do in the vacations...I was passing by through GNFC info tower...and suddenly saw an advertisement over there asking for fresh young enthusiastic talent...I applied for this post..I appeared for the interview...got selected ...

Now let me tell you about Azure..this is basically a very renowned BPO in Ahmedabad...
This call centre deals with various types of services for companies based in US, GERMANY, UK, Australia ...
I was selected for the U.S.A..The domains were for Mortgage, telecom, Gas...etc etc..
I joined the mortgage campaign...mortgage is basically dealing with processing loans for buying homes...

So it became mandatory for us to know US English...the accent training took about 12 days...and we also had to go through the product training of mortgage...

After about 15 days of training..it was time to hit the floor...

Talking to Americans is reall fun..especially when you are getting paid for it..hahah .ya it includes all the bloody bullshit slang you hear..but believe me those slangs were worth listening !!!

At 10 pm ...I used to enter the office...and leave for home at 7 AM...we used to get a break of about 10 mins for three times...but we used to extend it to 20 mins...break included tea, snacks..and a complimentary breafast at the end...we had an option for one meal ..either dinner or breakfast...since i loved my dinner at home..i chose for breakfast...after hours of calling..we all friends used to chat a lot over the breakfast ...

My name was kevin williams ...this is how i represented my self in front of the Americans..." Hi..this is kevin williams calling frm alansis incorporated...this call is regarding a mortgage plan on you house ...blah blah blah..."

We used to call mainly california for the campaign..but we did cover the entire US..rite frm newyork to alaska...

We had to be know all the state capitals..the time zone they fell in ...

America is filled up with 30% spanish speaking population...so it was important for us to know Espanol...ola ? ..buenos tardes...me nombre ankit..yo ablando alansis compania de la casa...quanto tasa de intresas? ..enough of spanish..


so learning spanish was a very good experience...Calling hours to USA daily wasnt tiring...just because of the customers..as they were so so entertaining...we used to get many many indians too...most of them gujju's ...and it used to be hillarious speaking to them...

Most of the cell phone companies in America charge for incoming calls..so if a call used to be on somebody's mobile..we used to get a big one...ya a big one indeed....

At Azure, it was not just work work work...we had lots of parties...outings...every firday used to be muzik nights..with guitar ...I met some very interesting people here...the experience was amazing...

If you get an opportunity..do work in a call centre..its real fun...!!!

Night out @ Mysore Road

Well it was saturday evening...8pm....i was stuck in bangalore traffic ...huh !! as usuall..Nidhi was sitting behind me..she said...this city sucks and there is no place to drive ...I argued..I said wait wait wait...there are places...who said that there is no place to drive out...I said..tonight will go for a long drive...so we decided to hit Nandi Hills ( 60 kms ) frm our area...or CCD @ Mysore road ( 60 kms )...I called up my friends...bansal...asked him to make some plan...after some discussion..and loads of confusion..we finalized to hit mysore road ...Now the problem was of route...safety...etc etc..hmm so I called up another friend Anu !! to ask about the route as she had gone their recently...She helped me out with all my queries...

So at 1 AM ..my friends came to my home...we were Six...3 bikes...me and nidhi ...kashif and yogisha....bansal and payal...

All right...1 Am ..we left...we reached the Nandi corridor toll way...paid the toll of 6 rs for each bike...and then zip zap zzzoommm....wow what road...amazing....the low hills just left me speechless....no traffic...broad roads...tanks filled up...jackets on .....everything perfect..we cruised on.....

At about 2 Am...we saw a CCD on the right side...but that was not the one we wanted to go...there are total 3 ccd's on mysore road..all are open 24 x 7..

We were heading towards maddur, CCD ....bansal was riding ahead..then kashif..and i was behind them...suddenly i saw cops ..shit..!! bansal gone..they stopped bansal ...even kashif stopped back voluntarily...but i managed to escape away...now those 2 couples were left behind..I and Nidhi...slowed down..but the road was not not not at all safe...not at all...an Indica came near us...the road was barren...the driver was purposely driving parallel to us..was staring at us..I didnt speed up..and let him move ahead...Now I called back to Kashif and asked what the hell was going on with cops..he said dont go ahead...turn back..the cops fined them 150 bucks each..quite cheap yaar..I took a U turn...and shit now it was my turn..the cops caught me too...After quarreling for about 15 mins...i paid 100 bucks...Kashif and bansal were waiting for us...We came to conclusion that moving ahead towards maddur was not safe...as the cops told there are many cops waiting ahead where u might have to shell out more bucks...so we decided to halt at the first ccd which we had passed by...

Reached CCD...it was a big relief...the cafe was filled with good crowd...muzik ...now another problem..the steam machine was not working at the cafe...so we couldnt order anything HOT! the chilling wind was enough to make us shiver...and upon that we had to sip in cold coffee...fine no options..so ordered various types of coffee...we kept chatting chatting chatting...and suddenly we noticed it was 5 AM....it was time to return home...the morning return trip was chiller than night...traffic too was more...and the route was also different...anyways we managed to reach home by 6:30 AM....

I love exploring ..i love travelling...the experience of being caught by cops at 2 Am...the experience of cruising at 100 kmph...the experience of night out with friends....

Visit to Lucknow !

I visited Lucknow on March 1st...It was my first visit to this city..I havent heard much about lucknow..but as I was supposed to go there for my sister's wedding..i decided to dig out some information...but i wont type out what all info i looked for...i just want to write my experience over there..


Lucknow....the airport...well the moment i landed at Lucnkow Airport...i was shocked !! I have never see such an airport in my life...so unclean..untidy...it was really shocking for me....I sat in the car..and was on way to the hotel..The city is filled with politics politics politics...

Lucknow is the capital for all political activities in India...Instead of watching hoardings of consumer products what I saw was all about politics...there were large hoardings of mayawati...at every corner of this city...

The roads are quite good in some areas...the city isnt much clean..but what really attracted me here was the cuisine !! Amazing especially if you are a Non - Vegetarian...

The places were i roamed were..Hazratganj,Gomtipur,Riverbank colony,Immambara and some more..

Hazratganj is a commercial place..a mall called saharaganj is located there...Lucknow has got a lot of influence of Sahara group ...I visit TUNDAY's KABAB here...and ate various types of kabab...the best of the best were the Galauti kabab...ummmm amazing...never ever had eaten such kababs in my life...totally differen in taste....

If you happen to visit lucknow dont forget to visit and EAT kababs at TUNDAY's KABAb..moving ahead..the sweets and jalebi's of Chappan Bhog...and any any cuisine at the Royal Cafe...the cuisine of lucknow is known as AVADHI cuisine..as the ciy falls in the AVADH region of Uttarpradesh...

The city has got some amazing places to visit...like immambara and residency...

I visited immambara...well nothing can be explained in words..what all i say is its a must visit place...its huge !!

Overall the city is not safe at all....my relatives warned me not to move out after 9pm....and for girls the deadline reduces to 8pm...!!

The lucknow railway station is eye-catching...its much better n bigger than the airport !!

To end..I wud say..lucknow is more of a ancient types city...a historical touch can still be seen in various parts of the city....

Restaurant Reviews

Hi..I am very very very fond of eating...eating new cuisines.....I am putting down my reviews on restaurant I visited in Bangalore...

1) Silver Metro...Located at Total Mall...they have a buffet system ...where you need to pay 250 rs + VAT for the unlimited buffet...which includes both vegetarian and non vegetarian cuisines..

Silver Metro is a theme based restaurant which looks like a metro rail...Ambience is very good..you really get the true feeling of sitting in a metro....the seating is quite comfortable...

What i didnt like was the food !! They didnt have much variety in their offerings...they had good variety in desserts but still the quality wasnt upto mark...

I am not including the menu here..as they keep changing their menu according to the day of the week...

Not worth 250 bucks !!

2) InfiniTEA...

I am a pure TEA lover...just love them...infinitea is a dedicated restaurant for TEA...they have got lots of variety ...

Its located at cunningham road...has got good seating arrangements...music not up to the mark...

You get meals, and snacks too in the cafe...Tea being their main item , they have a seperate menu for tea..I had ordered Assam tea...and Masala tea...Masala tea had a bit extra spices which was not required...rest fine...

The cafe needs good music...the reason being ...it gets too crowded ...and which results in a big chaos where u get disturbed by what others are chatting...so music is must...

The interiors have got a touch of TEA in everything directly or indirectly...with posters, show pieces..etc etc...

Till now one of the best cafe's in bangalore...its really a nice place to gossip...you will feel very comfortable...

3) The EGG Factory.....

Eggs...if you are an egg lover..and looking for eggs ...no need to visit egg factory..nothing special about it...I didnt found this place upto the mark with its cuisine...

Egg factory's interior has got a factory types interior...the loo is really amazing..a must visit !!

Pricing is not too high..but taste of the cuisine isnt what it should especially when its a dedicated restaurant for eggs...

Do try the pink lady smoother if you visit egg factory...its located at st.Marks road....


4) Tavaa, Brigade road...


Missing that typical street food taste in your chicken tikka masala ?? Well Tavaa is the place to be...located at brigade road opposit dubai plaza...

This is a simple restaurant...not good when it comes to service..but ya indeed good when it comes to taste and value for money...a chicken tikka masala costs 110 bucks and quantity is enough to feed 2 adults !!

No music...a very low tone...almost vacant always...not many people are aware about this restaurant..may be it needs to refurbish its interiors to attract people...

Well for taste..thumbs up !!

5) Mavalli Tiffin Rooms :

Heard the MTR brand ?? Well MTR is the short form of Mavalli Tiffin Rooms...well this is a very very old restaurant...dates back to 1924...the moment you enter this place..u will come to know and this indeed is a place of existence before independence....the ground floor serves fast food and tiffins...and the first floor serves meals...

I went to first floor...the waiting time is tooo long !! though i just had to wait for 30 mins...dont be shocked to see the interiors..as its outdated..what matters here is the taste and the brand name where u are sitting at...the food is all vegetarian...a fixed price of 110 rs ..and u are entitled to eat the unlimited meal which includes a very simple food..not typical south indian...they serve puri...dals...salads..juice..2 types of sweets..snacks..etc...The juice is served in silver glasses...the waters wear dhoti..

Mavalli tiffin room have many ministers in their list of visitors..even they used to wait for hours to have the food here...MTR also has the world record of serving 21000 customes in 7 hours..


The exit of this restaurant passes by the kitchen..so that u can get a glimpse of the cooking methodology and hygiene....there is a waiting hall..with snaps of celebrities..politicians...in black n white ...the wash basin is interesting..has a foot - pedal tap...i saw it for the first time in my life...the place is always jam packed...

6) Java City, Lavelle Road..

A cafe located right next to mocha on lavelle road...One of best Cafe's i have seen in bangalore...the place is quite spacious...which is rare in bangalore...

They serve variety's of coffee..and lots of snacks item...the cafe is wifi enabled...really nice place to go sit back ..relax n have a smooth drink...muzik not too loud but good...usually jam packed in evenings and weekends..

An ideal place if u want that perfect Cafe experience


More reviews coming soon.....Bon Apetite !

The Kingfisher RED experience

I am very particular about anything and everything...I mean the service....be it travelling in auto or airlines...In december 2008, I travelled from Ahmedabad to Bangalore on Kingisher RED ( formerly Air DECCAN ).

Flight no. IT 3103...I had done my reservation online..and I also choose my seat no. as 26 A...a window seat...but when I did my check in..the seat no. in my boarding pass was 7 D...I was surprised as how can my seat no. change if I have booked it in advance..I told the officer that I had choosen my seat no. as 26 A...she was confused and told " My system shows that 26 A is occupied by someone else "...

What the hell is this ??? I called the senior officer of Kingfisher at the Ahmedabad Airport...he asked me to go for a similar seat..just the next row ...i.e. 27 A...Though I was not satisfied..I took the seat..Now as soon as I got inside the aircraft and took my seat and new era of problems began...The seat was not reclining at all...So uncomfortable..I immediately complained to the Airhostess...she was least concerned...I called her again..and then she told me to wait for five mins..After five mins I asked her to repair the seat or change my seat ...She told me to wait for some more time as passengers were boarding into the aircraft..Finally the flight took off ( ON TIME ) with me sitting on a NON RECLINING seat....I again called the airhostess ( this time a different beauty )...she somehow managed to give me another seat...and guess what that one too had mechanical problems !! They were really pissed off !! I just blasted on the entire Crew of that flight..She told me Sorry so so so politely and a lot of pain..I could feel that..I managed to keep quite as the other passengers were getting disturbed.it was an early morning flight and no one was in a mood to listen my harsh voice..



Now the food...They served idli sambhar..food wasnt upto mark...in terms of taste..A juice was also served in tetra pack..Now this tetra pack was not at all in a good condtion, i returned the juice and asked for a new one...thankfully she had it..!

Bangalore was close....I was just resting...when suddenly one of the crew members came and asked me..." Are you comfortable sir ? " I said not at all...she said sorry to me..and went off...finally the aircraft landed ( ON TIME )...and the airhostess apologised me for such a poor service..I said it wont make any difference to my grievances..



Now this is the scenario of Indian Aviation...not just kingfisher..the scene is same with all Low Cost Carriers..Not just low cost carriers..but infact all...They say customer is the king...But I dont think that in India ..Customer is the king...There is a loot more to improve in terms of service ...

A girl and guy were speeding over 100 kms on a motorcycle)> >>

Girl: Slow down. Im scared.> >>> >>Guy: No this is fun.> >>> >>Girl: No its not. Please, its too scary!> >>> >>Guy: Then tell me you love me.> >>> >>Girl: Fine, I love you....Now plz Slow down!> >>> >>Guy: Now give me a BIG hug. (Girl hugs him)> >>> >>Guy: Can you take my helmet off and put it on ur head? Its bugging me.> >>> Girl : uff fine m wearing it ! >>>> In the paper the next day: A motorcycle had crashed into a building> because of break failure. Two people were on the motorcycle, but only one survived.>>>The truth was that halfway down the road, the guy realized that his breaks> >>broke, but he didn't want to let the girl know. Instead, he had her say> >>she> >>loved him, felt her hug one last time, then had her wear his helmet so she> >>would live even though it meant he would die...

Drive Safe !

THE END OF 2008

31st December, 2008.

Well today is the last day of a very very vital n important year of my life...2008..I wont say that it was the best year for me...nor this year did a miracle to me...nothing so special..yet important....

It is the year when i completed my graduation...and entered into the arena of post-graduation studies....
This is the year which seperated me from my home for the first time....

This is the year which has taught me a lot....

This is the year which has made me learn the value of money...the value of friends..the value of all closed n dear ones...

This is the year which has made me realize the importance of career....

2008 was the year which helped me to connect ..meet with soo many new friends......

...........Now lemme write what 2008 was all about........


Completed my graduation with all luck no work...
Each festival was like a Carnival ( Except Diwali)..
Earned nothing but spended madly on all great stuffs...
used over 200 GB of net...
around 25000+ test messages...
Added many gadgets to my collection...
Generated an income of above 20000 for restaurants..
and 30000 for petrol pumps...
Travelled madly for about 35000 kms...
over 100 new friends..
registered over 40 complains with various companies..
around 715 hours of Muzik...
n lots more to mention...
Worst part was isolation for some days...
rest a great year...and the passion will continue for 2009 as well..