Saturday 21 April 2018

Relocation Woes? Justdial To The Rescue

After staying in Bangalore for last five years with my husband, the news of his transfer to Mumbai came like a bolt from the blue.

Although we were not big on assets having a year old kid made things a little bit difficult. With Ravi, my husband, going on work, as usual, the whole responsibility of arranging the relocation fell on me. Considering we had a less than a couple of weeks to shift I started with online research to get the basic idea of things to be considered while hiring professional packers and movers service. I came across justdial.com offering a list of top packers and movers Bangalore. I shortlisted few vendors, after reading their reviews on site. Within an hour I was contacted by a couple of vendors. Although a little surprised with the promptness of the service I enquired about few basic details such as their license, number of experience of their firm in the field, kind of assistance that would be provided which is recommended.

I scheduled meetings with two of the vendors who visited our home for further discussion and quotes. The critical deciding factors for selecting the vendor were- experience in the industry, past customer reviews, service guarantee, insurance provided.

Finally, we decided to go with the most popular packers and movers in the city as they offered everything we were looking for.

On the day of the move, the crew members visited our home in the morning around 9 AM. Each item was handled carefully and packed in labeled boxes. The loading was complete by 12 PM. Our flight was scheduled at 6 PM the next day.  We were surprised to see the crew unloading our goods by the time we reached at our new home in Mumbai.

All thanks to Justdial for making our last week in the city stress-free and coming to the rescue!

Friday 20 April 2018

Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0 versus Yamaha YZF R3


When my bike, my trusted ride for ten years, decided to hang her boots one day, I began the lookout for a brand new motorcycle. The avid biker that I am, my bike was more than just a machine that helped me travel from one place to another. In fact, it was akin to a close and a reliable friend. It was the only bike I ever owned. Though it was certainly difficult for me to come to terms with letting her go, I had to move on with my life and look for a new machine. After accepting the fate of my old bike, I began the search early, with an aim of narrowing down to the bike of my choice well before Diwali. I had taken to browsing numerous online bike review websites, flipped through different bike magazines and also asked my close-knit friends and relatives for recommendations. I finally had my heart set on two Yamaha models, one being the Yamaha YZF R3 and the other one being the Yamaha YZF R15. My city is certainly a hub for bike enthusiasts, so I knew there is certainly no dearth of Yamaha motorcycle dealers in Bangalore.

Yamaha is certainly a popular brand and hugely popular with bike enthusiasts. It has a stellar collection of racy-looking motorbikes that instantly stand out from the crowd. Before shortlisting the bike I was going to own, I decided to do a head-to-head comparison between these two models. I did this keeping in mind the specifications, design, features, the test run expereince and the budget. The three Yamaha bike dealers in Adyar I located through Justdial really helped me make a sound and well-informed decision.

  1. Yamaha YZF R15 3.0
    Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0This 3rd generation model has pretty impressive specifications, in my opinion. A really good piece of technology to say the least.
    Design:
    In terms of features, this bike looks quite race-worthy with sharper looks. I liked that there is a split headlamp along with LED units. I noticed that the shape of the fuel tank has changed a bit from the previous versions. What I also liked is that this version has a fully digital instrument cluster. On the downside, the fuel tank capacity has gone down by a litre to 11 litres. The pillion seat seems to be welcoming.

    Specifications:
    It has a 155 cc single cylinder, 4-stroke and 4-valve engine tied to a 6-speed transmission. The engine uses the fuel injection system to produce 19.5 PS of power and 14.7 Nm of torque. It imbibes Yamaha's Variable Valve Actuation system.

    After The Test Run:
    During the test run, I was a little surprised to notice no ABS or the anti-skid braking system, which is perhaps the most important safety features in today's vehicles. The improved ground clearance and the aggressive seating posture for the rider were the definitive pluses for me.

    Budget:
    With a price tag of approximately INR 1.25 lakh, Yamaha definitely targets the young, college crowd through this bike. This model was certainly within my price range.

  2. Yamaha YZF R3
    Yamaha YZF R3This motorbike is a more recent version as compared to the Yamaha YZF R15. This is how I found it:
    Design:
    One look at the bike and I found it to have a very edgy and sharp design. It has the works, twin cat-like halogen headlamps, a sporty tail section, clip-on handlebars as well as semi-digital instrument cluster. The blue-coloured model appealed to me better than the matte black one.

    Specifications:
    It has a powerful 312 cc liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder, 4-stroke and 8-valve motor tied to a 6-speed gearbox. It produces 42 PS of peak power and 29.6 Nm of torque. The fuel tank capacity stands at 14 litres. The front brake has a 298mm disc while the rear comes with a 220 mm disc.

    After The Test Run:
    Unlike the Yamaha YZF R15, this motorbike has the much needed ABS. It also facilitates a log of grip in the corners. I found this bike to be very capable in easily navigating in Bangalore city's traffic. I was told the speed can go up to 188 kmph.

    Budget:
    Priced at INR 3.48 lakh approximately this bike certainly seems to be a more expensive option than the Yamaha YZF R15. Sadly, it was way out of my budget.
The options were in front of me and I had to take a call. It had to be the Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0. After I shortlisted this Yamaha bike, the dealership's representatives wasted no time in processing the purchase along with other formalities. I'm was also offered lucrative options for financing my bike. What's more, it was also heartening to know that they had a service centre. This assured me that my bike was in good hands. I'm glad I found one of the reliable Yamaha motorcycle dealers Bangalore has for my bike buying and servicing needs.

Here’s Why You Should Hire Packers And Movers

Relocating soon and you have no clue where to begin? Start with some online research. This will give you an overview of the entire shifting process. Make a list of things that you have to move so you can decide the kind of assistance you might need during shifting.

There are two ways in which relocation can be done. Either you can handle the entire process on your own, right from packing all of your household goods till making transportation arrangements or you can get professional packers and movers Bangalore on board.

The first option is feasible if you have plenty of time to ensure you will be present during each and every step of the relocation process to ensure nothing goes wrong. Opting for a professional relocation firm is advisable if you are pressed for time and have a little or no experience of relocation.

Here is why you should consider hiring professional packers and movers in Bangalore for relocation:

1.    Experience
Relocation firms are experts in the field. They can handle the entire process of shifting right from using right packing material for getting household goods ready for transportation till unloading the items in your new home.

2.    Resources Needed for Shifting
Professional packers and movers have skilled people on board who are experts in packing and shifting of household items. They have correct equipment and tools which are required to disassemble furniture, electronic goods, and other household things.

3.    Cost Effective
Hiring a relocation service for shifting is cheaper than doing it yourself. Even if you decide to do I on your own, money will be spent on packing, labors, transporting, insurance and unloading. There is a chance that you might get overcharged for transportation and labour as you would not have any idea about current market rates. The quotes provided by relocation firm cover expenses incurred during entire process which includes the cost of packing, loading the goods, permits/ license if required during the transportation making it way more convenient.

4.    Insurance
Moving firms provide insurance facility which safeguards your valuable items against damage during transit or careless handling. There is no such guarantee when you are handling the shifting process on your own.

5.    Stress-Free Shifting
Professional relocation services take care of everything right from disassembling, packing till unloading and everything between. It allows you to enjoy stress-free time at your old home and offers peace of mind before moving.

6.    Additional Assistance
Many popular packers and movers Bangalore provide services such as 24 hours customer care which help in case you need assistance at any time during the shifting process. They also provide other facilities such as temporary storage, unpacking and setting up furniture, electronic and other household items that need reassembling.   

Household items are not just goods, there are a lot of memories and emotions attached to it. Choose wisely after giving a serious thought to points mentioned above. Do you think handling shifting on your own is better? Do share your views in the comments.

Wednesday 18 April 2018

It Isn't Just a Bike, It's a Yamaha



At some point in time every boy dreams of having a bike of his own. Of course the expectation of when they would like their first one might be sooner than possible, but nevertheless, they always desire to invest in one that they can call their own. Some make their preferences based on the type of bike they want. It could be a dirt bike, a sports bike, a cruiser or a chopper. The other half chooses their bikes based on the brand. Of course you dream of the best but when reality strikes you still hold on to aspirations, but those that fit within a budget. For those whose bank accounts size up to the carpet area of my house, dream of Harley Davidsons, Kawasakis and Ducatis. For those who stand a little lower than that, like me, dream of owning a Yamaha or a KTM. Now don't get me wrong, these brands too feature bikes that can be classified in the niche segment. But they bridge the gap in the hope of making their bikes affordable for a larger audience. The thrill of owning a bike of your own is a feeling of sheer excitement. Like most little boys, I too grew up fantasizing about owning my own motorbike. From my very first job, I began to save month after month, year after year, increment after increment, until I got a good break into a new company that rained a package on me, sufficient to sanction me a loan. That offer letter was my golden ticket. I was finally going to get my hands on my dream bike. For about a year, I had my mind set on the Yamaha FZ V2.0 FI. So I decided a time and date to visit one of the best Yamaha motorcycledealers in Pune. The features of the bike were no doubt incredible and I was thoroughly impressed with the test drive the dealership encouraged me to take. Through the entire process, I realised a few things about Yamaha as a brand which convinced me that investing in their bike was a decision I would not regret.

Honest opinions – The staff at the dealership were very clear when speaking to me about the bike. They complemented the aspects of the bike that were truly remarkable and did not try to oversell any characteristics of the bike. Honestly in my opinion, I felt that simply riding the bike would have been enough to convince anyone to go ahead and 'make a move'. I had a lot of queries regarding the servicing, the installments that had to be paid, situations which would require me to have parts of the bike replaced and a lot more. They were systematic in explaining each and every detail to me and gave me instances in which I may face certain challenges but assured me that with their help, getting things in order would be much easier.

Constant upgrade – Every bike introduced to the market by the brand has been better than the previous one. The company consistently makes an effort to design and manufacture bikes that are better in performance. As a brand, Yamaha has always strived to improve the technology and engineering used in each of their machines. They have therefore been awarded at recognizable platforms for various aspects of their motorbikes. Regardless of whether it is their scooters or sports bikes, Yamaha has forever been winning the hearts of bike enthusiasts across the globe. The level of innovation when it comes to the designs of their bikes is unparalleled. They in no way are mere motorbikes but selectively crafted pieces of art.

Transparency – This experience comes from my research as well as a joint experience of helping a friend get his Yamaha serviced too. Post sale care of a bike ranks at the top of the priority list. You could bring your bike in to the service station for a simple oil change or even a whole part replaced, the service station will make sure that your bike is delivered back to you in the best shape. My friend has never once experienced being overcharged or seen addition of services that are charged on the bill.

It is now close to a year that I have been using the bike and my first two services with the company has been incredible. The staff has always exhibited great professionalism and I have never once faced any hindrance when seeking help from them. With the overall experience I was treated to I don't just think of myself to have got the bike I wanted, instead I am a proud owner of a brilliant Yamaha. Yes, I do feel like the price was on the higher side, but I have no regrets about it. Everything from the fuel consumption to the design and the feel of the ride too is just a perfect experience. I am also of the opinion that because I bought the bike from one of the authorised Yamaha motorcycle dealers Pune, that my experience was a much better one.

Getting To Know Tandoori Better



Food on the whole has the ability to leave diners mesmerised and make them feel almost like they are lost in the moment. The flavours that sink onto your palate with every bite can be so soothing to your senses. Which is why, a number of misconceptions about food and the industry that you may have are all forgiven. Like, tandoori is perceived to be a cuisine, when in-fact it is the name of a cooking technique. Other famous misconceptions that people and you might have are that tomatoes are Indian, when in fact they were originally found in Spain and that authentic Chinese food tastes exactly the way it is served in the restaurants here. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. If I were to dig out these misconceptions, we could be wading through them to find out the truth. Tandoor is one of the most adored food types in the country. Some of you may even be surprised to know that this style of cooking is famous in the United Kingdom as well as in France. Yup, there are things the French envy about us too! Yes, I did refer to it as a food type because it is not a cuisine. The word Tandoori originates from clay cylindrical oven called tandoor, which is used to cook breads, meats and vegetables. The best replication of this in the Continental front would be barbecue. Delicacies from the tandoor can be best enjoyed at the tandoori restaurants inHyderabad.

I was recently enjoying a meal at a restaurant around my house with my friends and we were discussing what in the food business we would like to try next. When one of them suggested that we should explore "the tandoori cuisine." It then suddenly struck me, what is 'tandoori cuisine'? Now I of course forgave him for saying that because the poor chap is Canadian and he knew no better. But it dawned on me that many of you, including myself, up until a certain point, believed that tandoori is a cuisine. So I thought it would be nice to clear the air on the misconceptions held with this form of cooking.

The mention of tandoori only makes you think heavy spices and a burning hot tongue. The flaming red colour from the traditional tandoori chicken lights up our thoughts. It makes you salivate no doubt, but also makes you feel like you need to grab that cold glass of water to sooth out the spice. A number of preparations involve curd and the marination of the meat in it. The deep orange colour is conjured from haldi or turmeric. Kashmiri chillis too are used to stir up that mouth watering colour. The devilish black lining that you may see sometimes is caused from being cooked in the oven.

There is a surprising number of people who believe that cooking in a tandoor is an exotic way of preparing the food. Sure, some of you may simply laugh this one off, but I myself have come across too many people who think this way. Though the concepts were alive even back in the days, stoves and grills became a thing much later. What we now know as stoves, were chulas back in the days. Tandoors too were the age old ovens. These were used by the locals to cook their breads and meats, as using oil was an expensive affair. Considering that this happened in the Northern region of the country, where the climate was cold, ovens would be ideal to use as the fire would not burn out easily.

Eating food that is cooked in a tandoor can actually be a healthy choice. When the meat is cooked in the oven and over the burning coal, the fat is melted, leaving you with nothing but lean meat. This works brilliantly when cooking mutton, lamb and to a great extent chicken too. Also, the meat cooks in its own fat which then makes it a much healthier option rather than having processed oil drizzled all over it. Even though there is no use of additional oil and this cooking style is as local as it can get, there is no compromise made on the flavour. On the contrary, the meat is succulent with every bit and the breads are soft and delightful.