Paisa Vasool with Lufthansa

Lufthansa Airlines recently launched the Premium Economy Class. For many international flyers, traveling in economy for 18 hours or 20 hours is a total nightmare. From the non-existent legroom to the "use-your fellow-passenger's arms" as armrest, it is a guarantee ticket to hell. However, many cannot afford the business class either. Lufthansa realized this and came up with the Premium Economy Class. In the Premium Economy Class there is not just ample legroom but features like better seats, more entertainment options, better armrests and much much more at the price which is almost as much as economy. Totally Paisa Vasool !

Lufthansa, inspired by the Premium Economy Class, asked us to write about the Paisa Vasool concept which is arguably an Indian invention. Paisa Vasool is a mindset which is present in every Indian. Whether it is the next door auntie haranguing the Sabjiwala for free dhanya or the pretty belles employing their charms to get extra chocolate on their fudge, we all use it to get that extra bang for the buck. So here I enlist some of the Total Paisa Vasool Habits of my fellow countrymen.

1) Sukhi Puri and extra paani with Golgappas: Golgappas are an all time favorite snack all over India. And I am sure everyone does this. After finishing one plate which has about five pieces of Golgappas people usually ask for extra pani and a sukhi puri. So one paid for five but got six effectively. That is Paisa Vasool!

2) Dhaniya Mirchi toh Dallo Bhaiya!!! If you have ever witnessed any auntie/ woman buying veggies from a "Sabjiwala"/ Vegetable vendor you must have heard her say "Dhaniya Mirchi toh daalo Bhaiya!!" This is one expression that defines the concept of Paisa Vasool because people feel they are entitled to that extra(read free) dhaniya and mirchi because they bought the rest of the vegetables.

3) Charging on the Go: Whether it the metro or the railways or flights, one can always find people searching for charging points. Many do not charge their electronic devices because train mai toh free hai naa!!

source reddit.com

4) In-house Recycling of Clothes: We do not send our old clothes to recycling centers. Oh no Sir!! When a clothing item does not fit one member of the family it is generally passed onto a younger or slimmer member of the family. After it can no longer fit anyone, it is either sold to the "bartanwali" in exchange of new utensils or used in dusting/cleaning the house. Hence, our clothes have a longer lifeline than even the manufacturer intended.  

5) Plastic is Gold: From preserving takeout cartons to collecting extra poly bags, from saving all sorts of plastic boxes to reusing Cola bottles as water bottles, we Indians are addicted to plastic. We hoard it, we use it, we love it. We don't crush plastic and throw it out after its intended use, rather we invent new ways to use that item which even the manufacturer might not have thought of. A great example is the boat made of plastic bottles. Doesn't get more Paisa Vasool than this!!!

Boat of Plastic Bottles.

6) Free Stuff: What is more Paisa Vasool than Free. I know people who bought appliances of  a certain low market brand just because it had more free stuff with it even though its price was close to the more reliable brand's product! So if its free we buy it; No questions asked. 

7) Indian Jugaad: Why waste money on a 6 to 8 seating SUV when a tractor will do the trick. Why book three tempo when we can overload one! Why buy a trailer when we can hook a the load to a bike! these are some ingenious inventions of the Indian Jugaad. 

Source team-bhp.com

Source forums.projectsjugaad.com

8)We even showed the west our paisa vasool skills with our very successful PSLV-C25 /Mars Orbiter Mission which was even consierably cheaper than their sci-fi flick Gravity. 

It is not that we are misers or extremely thrifty but we know how to extract the maximum use of every object. 

Hence I present the Paisa Vasool India. And I think the Paisa Vasool India will love the Lufthansa Premium Economy 

class because not only is it affordable but it also offers the following Paisa Vasool features:

•  50% more space than traditional economy
• Welcome Drinks
• Travelling accessories like ear plugs, sleep mask etc.
• Larger Entertainment screens with remote
• Bigger and separate armrests with fold-able trays inside.
• Water Bottles for all
• Etra Storage space 

So if you are a Paisa Vasool Indian I suggest you try the Lufthansa Premium Economy class for sure.

 

 Tweet #LufthansaPremiumEconomy and find out more!!!

Care for your Skin

Vicco Turmeric Cream is an old and trusted name in the skin care product range. There was a time when it was the only option and generations of people have used it and passed it on to their children. It is safe and natural and my own favourite choice.
So recently, Vicco asked us to share some simple and natural skin care secrets and I'm happy to oblige.

1) Ice: Do you have oily skin or pimples? If the answer is yes then ice should be your best friend. Using ice over your face not only cools it also helps to prevent and treat breakouts. Ice also tightens your muscles which help to firm up the face. You can use ice after a hot sunny day with a slice of cucumber to freshen up the face. All in all it is genie in a cube!

2) Fuller's earth or Multani mitti: This is what your mothers used as a face pack and they were absolutely right. Mix some Multani Mitti with rose water and sandal and you have the best summer pack there is. It is free from chemicals and is suitable even for sensitive skins. It is cheaply available so does not affect your wallet. You can use it once or twice a week to get radiant and glowing skin.

3) Aloe Vera: This is one cactus which doesn’t sting. Aloe Vera is famous for its soothing and cooling properties. You can apply it on burns, scars, sunburns etc and it immediately helps. You can plant an Aloe Vera in a pot or in your garden and enjoy a lifelong supply of fresh Aloe Vera. You just need the gel in its leaves. Once you have the gel you can apply it directly or mix it with honey or lime to freshen your face. It can also be used as a mask and helps to treat pigmentation, dark spots and dryness. It is a key ingredient for your summer skin care.
  
4) Honey: This natural sweetener only helps to keep your weight in check but also helps to keep your skin glowing and flawless. Use it as a mask or a toner in daily use. It cleanses your skin and tightens it. It can help prevent pimples and also aid in oil control. Moreover, Honey along with lime and glycerine can be used as a natural face wash. It reduces the effect of pollution. So to keep your skin youthful, Honey should be your best friend.

5) Oats: Nowadays, oats are quickly becoming the favourite breakfast of many health conscious people but many are unaware of its benefits as a skin care product. Oats can make the perfect scrub for your skin. Mix some pre-soaked oats with some yogurt and apply on your skin. Gently massage on your skin and rinse after two minutes. This will help to remove all the dead skin cells and will leave a glowing radiant skin.

So, I hope these help. And Vicco Turmeric Cream will help with the rest.

The Girl on the Train : Review

 Author: Paula Hawkins

Rating: 3.5 out of 5


From all the reviews I read before reading this book myself, I found extremely polarized opinions. People either are head over heels or utterly disappointed by this book. But since this was only 300 pages I thought why not try it. The hype about it being the "next Gone Girl" certainly did not help its case.

This is not the next anything. This is a new story about real yet messed up characters. The protagonist is Rachel Watson. Rachel is an alcoholic, divorced, childless, out of job woman who resides with her friend Cathy. Cathy is the only person who genuinely cares about her. Rachel is sometimes likeable, sometimes relate-able and sometimes someone you don't want to become. She knows her flaws and tries to overcome them but like most humans she succumbs to the temptations. She is the girl on the train. She knows she is at rock bottom but her problem is she is looking for a quick fix for her problems which doesn’t exist.

The plot is based in Suburban London. Rachel commutes from Cathy's house to central London everyday via Train. On her way she sees her former house where Tom, her ex husband, lives with his current wife Anna. The narration shifts between Anna, Rachel and Megan. Megan is Anna's neighbor and is married to Scott. The story revolves around Megan's disappearance and Rachel's connection with that. Anna is the other women, she is now a mother. She is over protective of her family and hates Rachel. I did not like her character at all. Megan is someone who is utterly discontent with her life. She wants more and more. She is dissatisfied with her life. Her past troubles her and her husband is not worth it. Scott is Megan's husband and not a likeable personality. 

The story initially for fifty something pages drags a bit but the last hundred pages will keep you hooked to the book. In the beginning you feel bad for Rachel and you think everyone else is nice. However, as the story progresses you still feel bad for Rachel but everyone else show their true faces. My favorite part is the climax though. It is eerie and wicked. The voice in your head will be right at the end. 

Hence, it is a nice engaging read and it twisted people with crappy lives is your thing then it will please you. I would advice to keep Gone Girl out of your mind while reading this.

Dear Mom

Godrej has been one brand which one can always find in our household. Their products are not only safe but give amazing results. So on the occasion of Mother's Day Godrej asked us to elaborate on why one's best adviser is always their mother.

My mother has always been my first expert for anything and everything. From choosing a dress to choosing a career she has always been one true guide and I cannot thank her enough for being there always.

When I passed my 12th exams, I was looking for engineering courses. My entrance exam results were decent enough and I wanted to take Mechanical Engineering. This was no lightly taken decision and I spent two years on this decision. But being a girl, everyone I knew was shocked when I told them about my decision. Most tried to persuade me to take "safe" branches like computers or IT. Many said that Mechanical is not for girls. Everyone, from my father to the stranger I met at one counselling session in a college, were hell bent to make me change my decision. But I could not imagine myself in any other branch. Mechanical was and is my calling. I had spent my childhood plying with Mechanic toys, rockets and cars. However, after such a response, I was second guessing my decision. I felt sad and seeing this mother gave me the best advice I ever got. She told me that if this is what you really and absolutely want then do it. Mute out everyone else and follow your heart. She even convinced my father and supported me till the end. Last week I graduated with an 8.9 GPA and it is all thanks to my mom. Had she not supported me and encouraged me to follow my heart, I probably would have changed to Computers or IT and detested it all along.

Another, incident where my mom's advice helped me a lot was when I in 5th grade. There was a boy in my class who was very famous for being notorious. Teacher opted out of teaching our class just because of him. Due to all this, he didn't have many friends in school and I saw him eating lunch all by himself. When I informed my mother about this she told me join him wherever I see him eating lunch alone from now on. I was hesitant at first but she insisted that I do as asked. So next day me and my group of about five girls were eating lunch in the school ground and I saw him eating lunch behind a tree. I asked my friends to invite him but no one wanted to. After a lot of convincing they decided that he could eat with us but I had to invite him. Hence, I went, a little terrified, over to invite him. At first he thought I was playing a prank but my reputation was not of a prankster so he eventually agreed. He came over and had lunch with us. Turns out he was quite funny. He told great jokes and over time we became good friends. I am in touch with him even today. 

So, had my mother not encouraged me to be friends with this person, I would have never got to know him. I would have missed up on a friend.

These are just two of the many instances where my mother’s advice has helped me find my way. Without her I would be completely lost in this world. And I love you mom from the bottom of my heart. Happy Mother’s Day!!! 

My Airtel App: What I like !

Airtel has launched the much awaited My Airtel App and being the loyal customer that I am, I got my hands on it as soon as I could. This app is the cornucopia of Airtel's products. It is a first-of-its-kind by any telecom operator in the country! All users including prepaid and postpaid can use it for paying bills, recharge, buying products etc. It also allows you to track all the past transactions and even your usage can be tracked with this. You manage all your DTH, Broadband, Prepaid & postpaid services in one place. You can recharge your DTH, track your account usage, track your service requests, buy products, and add your family & friends’ numbers and much much more. It is the APP for all Airtel subscribers. You can do all this using just your phone.

How amazing is that!

After using this app the features which really appealed to me are:

1. Airtel Surprises: This is just amazing. I think this is one feature that really mandates everyone to get this app right now! As the name suggests Airtel Surpises surprises you every time you pay your bill or get a recharge with a coupon! And not only just Airtel coupons but names like Gelato Italiano, Monginis, Cafe Coffee Day, Myntra, Flipkart, and many more are all included in the list.
So every time you pay your bill you get a SURPRISE!!!  Payed you bill; here go get a coffee with 50 bucks off at cafe coffee day! Amazing!

2. I WANT TO! This feature is like a personal task bar. It allows you to save all your most needed/ most used features within the reach of a button.  You can save your own shortcuts on the home screen under the "I want to". So anything and everything you want is just a tab away. No need to scroll though long menus two three times of a day just for that one feature. You can simply put them on your home screen and they are instantly accessible.

3. Safety: With Airtel one always knows that safety comes first. They are famous for their secure networks and this app lives up to every expectation. It allows you to add credit cards, debit cards, ATMs whatever you may want for faster payments. So no need to fill in your card numbers all the time and every time you have to make a payment. Also this comes with PCIDSS certification so you know it doesn't get safer than this. Even governments recommend this certification.

4. Track your bills: This is a life saver. No more end of the month heart attacks when you see you’re DTH or post paid bills. It helps you keep a leash on your expenses and keep the bank balance healthy.

So all in all this is a pretty great app and I recommend you get it as soon as possible.

#EkNayiLeague : Are you Ready?

Kapil Dev is one person who needs no introduction especially in our country. His career is as legendary as it gets. Credited for being arguably the best captain along with the top player of his time, he is a role model of many.

Recently Mr. Dev launched a campaign called #EkNayiLeague through social channels. He hasn't given out much about it yet but through some videos he shares his thoughts on some recent happenings and people who have been in news lately.

In one such video he talks about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision of retirement. Mr. Dev does not seem too pleased with it. He recounts the days when he was retiring and the legendary Dev Anand in his trademark style told him that stars never retire. He also adds (in Dev Anand's Trademark Style no less) that since MSD has worked so hard so far to build the team and now he should not give up. And I couldn't agree more.

Sania Mirza is another personality whom Mr. Dev appreciated in his video. He says that about three hundred or so girls play tennis in our country. And if out of those three hundred if some are chosen in the top twenty in the world then it is a feat. The kind of infrastructure and support available to female sports-persons is already a matter of deep consideration and some like Sania Mirza not only flourish in such environments they conquer it. Keep going, we are proud of you Ms. Mirza!

Another video focuses on Yuvraj Singh.He is true Phoenix who has risen again  by beating all odds. Mr. Dev talks about how in his time sport persons weren't given much money. They just played for the love of the game. But toady when people like Yuvraj Singh make deals worth 16 crore it is an elating feeling. Also, many new talents find their shine through IPL so its a win-win I guess.

So what is #EkNayiLeague???

After each video Kapil says that you can not play this league with your heart. All twitter is abuzz trying to decrypt what this league could be. I think this league is probably a Quiz show about sport persons. They would probably invite general public and ask them question about Indian sport persons.

Or this could probably be a show where sport persons come and are quizzed on general topics like science, politics or general awareness.Or they are put in a ring and forced to face dangers like Khatron ke Khiladi style!

Well we can only guess. Mr. Kapil Dev says he will announce on twitter what this league is all about. I for one am eager to find out. This looks interesting so far and I hope it lives up to the hype.

This post is in support of #EkNayiLeague.