IndianMaze

A discussion in the room with a few friends from travel industry and automotive industry got me really splitting my hair. They were agonising that why people walk in the car shoroom asking for a car for same/next day delivery invariable with a demand whose stock is not available or asking for a last minute airline booking and cribbing about rates. Why do we decide to act at the last minute? I have written about it earlier than Indian and Chinese are great value hunters - possibly or rather definitely looking for discounts on a Breguet or a few greenbucks off on a Four Seasons just as much as getting extra chutney in a restaurant... However, it's importance in business was not understood as much in gravity as I understand now. Everyone knows that booking seats in advance on a flight get better prices and getting the right choice of a car (colour, variant, model etc) can be guaranteed once the decision is made well in advance. However, it is observed that Indians love to g...

There is something unique about Laddoos (a popular Indian sweet that is round and is made of chick pea flour and bound together with sugar syrup) . It struck me just last evening when I was served a laddoo by a friend whish was gifted by his friend on the occassion of buying a new swanky SUV (more on that later). First laddoos: - these are round in shape - three ingredients required are basic in nature, available all across India - chick pea flour (besan), sugar and oil/ghee (clarified butter) - the units are small single portion - are most common sweet for distribution - are a common sweet with acceptability across all income segments (very poor to stinking rich) - sweet for all good things/occassions Poor make laddoos with no frills. Richness is demonstrated with its own customisation with ingredient additions (nuts, spices like saffron, quality of ghee etc). Super rich will add silver or gold foils on it. Even more money is used to add "visible" ingredients to de...