Comments on: You can check out anytime you like… http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/ All that flavorful brownness in one savory packet Sat, 30 Nov 2013 11:11:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: razrskr http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78712 razrskr Mon, 14 Aug 2006 10:28:34 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78712 <p>I am a malayalee and I don't want you pretentious yuppies mucking up my beloved state! Down with your chuck taylors and your ipods.</p> I am a malayalee and I don’t want you pretentious yuppies mucking up my beloved state! Down with your chuck taylors and your ipods.

]]> By: rasudha http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78687 rasudha Mon, 14 Aug 2006 02:38:41 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78687 <blockquote>My vata imbalance — sapping my creativity and “native pitta fire” — melted away under ladlefuls of warm water mixed with green gram, a slightly exfoliating lentil. The goddess, in the act of bathing, had returned me to an infant state.</blockquote> <p>If this is how she writes after regaining "creativity and native pitta fire", clearly ayurveda is not doing her any good.</p> <p>Is there anything more absurd than this:</p> <blockquote>I almost fainted, transformed into one of those Halloween masks in which the eyes pop out of their sockets.</blockquote> <p>I am going to soak in sesame oil and dilute the toxins produced while reading this drivel.</p> My vata imbalance — sapping my creativity and “native pitta fire” — melted away under ladlefuls of warm water mixed with green gram, a slightly exfoliating lentil. The goddess, in the act of bathing, had returned me to an infant state.

If this is how she writes after regaining “creativity and native pitta fire”, clearly ayurveda is not doing her any good.

Is there anything more absurd than this:

I almost fainted, transformed into one of those Halloween masks in which the eyes pop out of their sockets.

I am going to soak in sesame oil and dilute the toxins produced while reading this drivel.

]]> By: Prasad http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78681 Prasad Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:21:59 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78681 <p>brown_fob:</p> <p>About many people haggling with rikshawalle, but spending a fortune of coffee - I completly agree to this phenomenon. My own friends used to do that and I was prompt enough to point out this as ridicule of cheap labor. In their opinion, the labor shouldn't be pampered, but the rich boutiques can be, such class-less class disparity.</p> <p>Having said that I was extremely proud of my mom, when she bargained in a high up jewellery store and walked out with the stuff that she wanted for the price she wanted, by also subtly telling them that bigger shops with higher volume should give bigger discounts. She also told them flat that if the so called big shop cannot give her for the price she wanted, she'd buy from a smaller store for higher price. The manager was all confused but he still wanted to make the sale :) I was very impressed with her haggling skills.</p> brown_fob:

About many people haggling with rikshawalle, but spending a fortune of coffee – I completly agree to this phenomenon. My own friends used to do that and I was prompt enough to point out this as ridicule of cheap labor. In their opinion, the labor shouldn’t be pampered, but the rich boutiques can be, such class-less class disparity.

Having said that I was extremely proud of my mom, when she bargained in a high up jewellery store and walked out with the stuff that she wanted for the price she wanted, by also subtly telling them that bigger shops with higher volume should give bigger discounts. She also told them flat that if the so called big shop cannot give her for the price she wanted, she’d buy from a smaller store for higher price. The manager was all confused but he still wanted to make the sale :) I was very impressed with her haggling skills.

]]> By: brown_fob http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78678 brown_fob Sun, 13 Aug 2006 21:41:13 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78678 <p>In India, I usually see <b>my people</b> haggling over Rs 5 or 10 with a richshaw driver etc...but dishing out Rs 250 for an over-priced fancy cup of coffee. Sorry for the typo.. I meant "many people".</p> In India, I usually see my people haggling over Rs 5 or 10 with a richshaw driver etc…but dishing out Rs 250 for an over-priced fancy cup of coffee. Sorry for the typo.. I meant “many people”.

]]> By: brown_fob http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78677 brown_fob Sun, 13 Aug 2006 21:39:34 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78677 <p>When it comes to saving money (read: being stingy), different people have different tactics. My first experience in a US grocery store was an eye-opener. I was surprised to see people (mostly americans..both young and old) carrying grocery store coupons to save 5c on tomatoes and 10c on bread! I've never seen any desi (in my age group) with those discount coupons. In India, I usually see my people haggling over Rs 5 or 10 with a richshaw driver etc...but dishing out Rs 250 for an over-priced fancy cup of coffee.</p> When it comes to saving money (read: being stingy), different people have different tactics. My first experience in a US grocery store was an eye-opener. I was surprised to see people (mostly americans..both young and old) carrying grocery store coupons to save 5c on tomatoes and 10c on bread! I’ve never seen any desi (in my age group) with those discount coupons. In India, I usually see my people haggling over Rs 5 or 10 with a richshaw driver etc…but dishing out Rs 250 for an over-priced fancy cup of coffee.

]]> By: tamasha http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78675 tamasha Sun, 13 Aug 2006 21:28:16 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78675 <blockquote>I miss those days of subterfuge and deception when my mother would sling her purest Marathi at various jawans and guards while I stood silently by her side, not speaking a peep of English so we could pay Rs.10 instead of Rs.1000 to get into various forts and museums. I think we still stood out but her Bombay-hewn rough edges usually intimdated people into letting us through.</blockquote> <p>This is exactly it. I would be so embarrassed: "Mom, it's, like, only 4 dollars, what's the big deal?"</p> I miss those days of subterfuge and deception when my mother would sling her purest Marathi at various jawans and guards while I stood silently by her side, not speaking a peep of English so we could pay Rs.10 instead of Rs.1000 to get into various forts and museums. I think we still stood out but her Bombay-hewn rough edges usually intimdated people into letting us through.

This is exactly it. I would be so embarrassed: “Mom, it’s, like, only 4 dollars, what’s the big deal?”

]]> By: Sean http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78672 Sean Sun, 13 Aug 2006 20:51:35 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78672 <p>desitude, I <em>think</em> you have to show id now on domestic flights, so the scam might be over.</p> <p>I took three domestic flights in India my last trip and was asked for ID on only one flight. Most airlines, like Deccan, Indian, and SpiceJet, have the same fare for NRIs.</p> desitude, I think you have to show id now on domestic flights, so the scam might be over.

I took three domestic flights in India my last trip and was asked for ID on only one flight. Most airlines, like Deccan, Indian, and SpiceJet, have the same fare for NRIs.

]]> By: Yeti http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78671 Yeti Sun, 13 Aug 2006 20:37:37 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78671 <p>I miss those days of subterfuge and deception when my mother would sling her purest Marathi at various jawans and guards while I stood silently by her side, not speaking a peep of English so we could pay Rs.10 instead of Rs.1000 to get into various forts and museums. I think we still stood out but her Bombay-hewn rough edges usually intimdated people into letting us through.</p> I miss those days of subterfuge and deception when my mother would sling her purest Marathi at various jawans and guards while I stood silently by her side, not speaking a peep of English so we could pay Rs.10 instead of Rs.1000 to get into various forts and museums. I think we still stood out but her Bombay-hewn rough edges usually intimdated people into letting us through.

]]> By: Prasad http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78670 Prasad Sun, 13 Aug 2006 20:33:47 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78670 <p>:) Interesting article. The whole deal sounds like a ordeal though, but it is not much different than the boot-camp 'America's biggest loser' contestants go through.</p> <p>It would be just fine if you know about this experience before hand, but based on my sister's comments about the boredom that sets in within 2 days, especially if you go to one of these idyllic places for honeymoon, I'd be forewarned. Such rustic pristine places are fun for 24 hours, after which I need my pakoras, martinis, long islands and coffees :)</p> :) Interesting article. The whole deal sounds like a ordeal though, but it is not much different than the boot-camp ‘America’s biggest loser’ contestants go through.

It would be just fine if you know about this experience before hand, but based on my sister’s comments about the boredom that sets in within 2 days, especially if you go to one of these idyllic places for honeymoon, I’d be forewarned. Such rustic pristine places are fun for 24 hours, after which I need my pakoras, martinis, long islands and coffees :)

]]> By: desitude http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/08/13/you_can_check_o/comment-page-1/#comment-78668 desitude Sun, 13 Aug 2006 20:20:56 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3680#comment-78668 <p>Tamasha,</p> <p>I <em>think</em> you have to show id now on domestic flights, so the scam might be over. But back in the day it was rather easy: when in Delhi, pretend you're a Mallu; when in Kerala, pretend youre from Bihar. If you're like me, then your accent has all the authenticity of Apu, so it was perilous. The Kerala people did the double-take when I opened my mouth - and then decided some people in Bihar must be talking this way only. It also helps if you have a pan-desi name like "Kumar" or somethimg. Whatever. Now that I have a real job, I have been trying to pay like a good NRI.</p> Tamasha,

I think you have to show id now on domestic flights, so the scam might be over. But back in the day it was rather easy: when in Delhi, pretend you’re a Mallu; when in Kerala, pretend youre from Bihar. If you’re like me, then your accent has all the authenticity of Apu, so it was perilous. The Kerala people did the double-take when I opened my mouth – and then decided some people in Bihar must be talking this way only. It also helps if you have a pan-desi name like “Kumar” or somethimg. Whatever. Now that I have a real job, I have been trying to pay like a good NRI.

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