This is a collection of leave letters and applications written by people in various places of India ...
1. Infosys, Bangalore : An employee applied for leave as follows: Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one-week leave.
2. This is from Oracle Bangalore: From an employee who was performing the "mundan" ceremony of his 10 year old son: "as I want to shave my son's head, please leave me for two days.."
3. Another gem from CDAC. Leave-letter from an employee who was performing his daughter's wedding: "as I am marrying my daughter, please grant a week's leave.."
4. From H.A.L. Administration dept: "As my mother-in-law has expired and I am only one responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave."
5. Another employee applied for half day leave as follows:"Since I've to go to the cremation ground at 10 o-clock and I may not return, please grant me half day casual leave"
6. An incident of a leave letter "I am suffering from fever, please declare one day holiday."
7. A leave letter to the headmaster:"As I am studying in this school I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today"
8. Another leave letter written to the headmaster:"As my headache is paining, please grant me leave for the day."
9. Covering note: "I am enclosed herewith..."
10. Another one: "Dear Sir: with reference to the above, please refer to my below..."
11. Actual letter written for application of leave:"My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home I may be granted leave".
12. Letter writing: -"I am in well here and hope you are also in the same well."
13. A candidate's job application:"This has reference to your advertisement calling for a ' Typist and an Accountant - Male or Female'...As I am both(!! )for the past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the post.
5.10.06
4.10.06
the indian technology revolution
if you work in the indian IT industry, you would know what i am going to talk about. take a visit to bangalore/chennai/hyderabad/pune/noida - anywhere of the top IT destinations, and you see the churn. there are jobs, and people are taking them. that means that attrition is high, and companies need to do more to offset that. in some cases, that translates to a salary raise, or an onsite trip - whatever keeps you with the company. this also means that the best software people have a huge bargaining power (or should i say - the power to threaten). one of my best friends falls into that category, and you should see the width he can extract out of miserly managers - just because he is "too good" in his work, and his managers dont want him to leave.
the growth of the indian IT industry, is thankfully not restricted to India alone. IT professionals are now in demand in other countries as well, more so than it was before. i work out of singapore, and i see people from competing vendor companies taking up new jobs with local companies. one of my good friends in india recently moved to singapore when he was recruited by a top notch bank for their local operations. incidentally, he was also recruited by a top american company, but the H1 visa qouta proved to be the nemesis.
the point of all this blabber is that there couldnt be a better time for individuals like me. the industry is ripe, and the fruits of a little labor can be very sweet. so if you are lazy software engineer like me who has never changed jobs, this may be your time. whether or not it is mine, only time will tell.
the growth of the indian IT industry, is thankfully not restricted to India alone. IT professionals are now in demand in other countries as well, more so than it was before. i work out of singapore, and i see people from competing vendor companies taking up new jobs with local companies. one of my good friends in india recently moved to singapore when he was recruited by a top notch bank for their local operations. incidentally, he was also recruited by a top american company, but the H1 visa qouta proved to be the nemesis.
the point of all this blabber is that there couldnt be a better time for individuals like me. the industry is ripe, and the fruits of a little labor can be very sweet. so if you are lazy software engineer like me who has never changed jobs, this may be your time. whether or not it is mine, only time will tell.
24.8.06
Just in case I ever go backpacking in Europe
Filing it for future use. From - http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2006/aug/24travel.htm
I went backpacking recently to Paris, Venice and Rome -- three of the most expensive cities in Europe -- for 12 days. I expected to come back broke. But, thanks to a bit of planning, sufficient reading up and loads of valuable tips from friends, not only did the trip fit well within my budget, I also managed to see quite a few new places. So, here's my two cents on budget travelling in Europe�
Save on flight tickets
Most airlines offer last minute bargain fares, so wait for them. Don't book the first flight available; indulge in some comparisons online. If you can't find an inexpensive flight to your destination city, fly to a nearby city in that country and then catch a low-cost connecting flight. Transit flights can work out cheaper as well. For example, to get to Cannes, I flew from Mumbai to Dubai to Nice via Rome and saved a bag of money. A direct Air France flight from Dubai to Nice would have cost me euro 50 (approximately Rs 3,000) more.
Sleep cheap
Accommodation is the other major thing to save on. After all, you don't need a luxury suite when all you are going to go back to your pad for is to sleep. But yes, it needs to be clean, hygienic and comfortable. I would rate hostels and bed & breakfast (B&B) joints as the best bet. They are comfortable, cheap, include breakfast and offer a kitchen facility, where you can cook or warm up your meal.
Hostels and B&Bs are usually dorm style, with bunk beds for four to six. They have mixed rooms, common rooms, common bathrooms, kitchen and Internet facilities. Most hostels give out free maps, and some arrange tours and pub-crawls for inmates on a daily basis. A bed in such a dorm room of six costs euro 25 - 33 (approximately Rs 1,500 - 2,000). Once you have decided on your destination, do an online search, shortlist hostels you like and then refer to Web sites like Lonely Planet, Hostelz.com, TripAdvisor.com and BugEurope.com (Backpacker's Ultimate Guide) for reviews on these places. They are usually quite close to the truth.
My hostels in all three cities turned out exactly as described. Do be very careful about your belongings in such places though, as you will be sharing your space with strangers. Also remember that most dorms in Europe are mixed, and finding a same-sex dorm will cut down your options.
Budget hotels in decent localities are available for euro 44 (approximately Rs 2,640) onwards. They work well for couples or a group of two to three, but not singles. Guesthouses -- mostly family-run places -- offer some great bargains as well, but most do not have Web sites or online booking facilities. This makes it difficult to find out about them in advance. For example, I found this really nice place called Archie's Guest House in Venice that cost only euro 17 a day (approximately Rs 1,020), but had no Web site or online booking facility.
Look for additional facilities
In Europe, a lot of places demand payment for the use of showers, toilets, towels, blankets and sheets. Therefore, ensure that your booking cost includes the cost of these. A place close to the metro station is a must, to avoid the additional cost of travelling from your hostel to the metro. Also ensure that breakfast is included. Buying breakfast outside will cost an additional euro eight to 10 (approximately Rs 480 to Rs 600).
Save on travel
Eurail (a train service that operates between countries throughout Europe) passes run from euro 280 to 1,300 (approximately Rs 16,800 to 78,000) and they won't pay for themselves unless you plan on travelling extensively (more than four destinations at least). If you do get a pass, maximise your use. For example, an overnight train or ferry uses only one travel day if it leaves after 7 pm (and will save you one night's stay at a hotel). You can buy your Eurail pass online or through your agent (Try RailEurope.com or RailPass.com). Most countries give students or youth (under 26) discounts, so bring your college papers along.
If you are dropping the pass and getting point-to-point budget tickets, you can travel overnight or take early morning flights/ trains/ ferries. I took an overnight train from Paris to Venice and it cost me euro 68 (approximately Rs 4,080) and saved me a night's hostel stay, as opposed to a regular euro 106 ticket (approximately Rs 6,300) on a 10 am train.
Commuting within the city
Travel by metros, buses and ferries within a city. Do not even think of cabs�they are exorbitantly expensive. Metro trains are the best bet as they are convenient, very well-connected and reasonably fast. Don't forget to pick up your free, easy-to-understand city and metro map available at the station or airport in most cities. Get tourist transport passes for travel by train/buses/ferries that entail unlimited travel within a defined region, valid for one, two or three days. These work out much cheaper than buying individual tickets each time. In Venice, for example, where the only mode of transport is Vaporetti (waterbus), a three-day Vaporetti tourist pass costs euro 12 (approximately Rs 720). A single ticket, even if it is just to the next stop, costs euro five (approximately Rs 300) and is valid for only 60 minutes. See the point?
Museum and monuments pass
Most tourist cities have a monuments/ museum pass that offers free entry. For instance, in Rome, you can pick up a Roma Pass for euro 18 (approximately Rs 1,080) that entails free entry at all museums and monuments. The cost of individual entry into the Collosseum is euro 11 (approximately Rs 660) and that of Palantine Hills is euro seven (approximately Rs 420). So, your Roma Pass pays for itself in just two places. Imagine your savings.
Value meals and buffet bargains
If you have no qualms about non-veg food, you can have a ball. Baguettes, croissants, buns, sandwiches, pizza slices, quiche and so on, filled with a variety of meats and sea-food such as tuna, turkey, ham, bacon, salmon, crab, lamb, chicken, prawns, lobsters, squids and more, can keep you going for endless days. Patisseries, pizzerias and bakeries are present at every nook and corner of Europe. You can walk in and pick what you like. For veggies, life is slightly difficult and choices are limited. Remember though, sitting down at the most regular pizzerias, bars and restaurants costs more than take-aways.
Once in a while, you could treat yourself to all-you-can-eat buffets with pastas, lasagnas, salads and meat platters, to get an authentic taste of local cuisine. Chinese and Thai restaurants also offer value-for-money meals and can satisfy your urge for rice and curry.
Water in Europe costs more than wine or beer. A small bottle costs around euro three (approximately Rs 180), so filling water straight from the kitchen tap makes more sense. It is absolutely safe and that is how all Europeans have their water.
Irish pubs for tanking up on your poison
Beer and wine are cheap if bought from supermarkets, but scotch, vodka, champagne and the like are expensive. A can of Heineken beer costs just about euro two (approximately Rs 120) if bought from a supermarket. The same beer served at a pub costs between euro seven and 15 (approximately Rs 420 and Rs 900). Irish pubs are an exception though, where you can get your stuff for much less. A Guinness beer, for instance, is available for euro 3.75 (approximately Rs 225) and a Heineken for four (approximately Rs 240). The ambience of an Irish pub is addictive as well!
Supermarkets versus tourist shops
Steer clear of fancy-looking souvenir shops (especially near tourist attractions) and museum shops. Supermarkets and discount shops have the same stuff for much less, and a wider variety to choose from. They often have offers going for a steal. I picked up a barbecue set for just euro 10 (approximately Rs 600) from one of these discount stores in Paris. The exact same thing was available at a tourist shop for euro 48 (approximately Rs 2,880).
Choose the right month
Europe is generally more expensive in summer. Air fare peaks between mid-June and early September (as well as during December/Christmas holidays). So, if possible, try to leave in May or early June. Not only will your flight cost less, you could also get accommodation at cheaper rates. You need to start doing the research and ground work now though.
The idea is to have maximum fun and do all that must be done in spite of limited resources. Go, experience the world!
I went backpacking recently to Paris, Venice and Rome -- three of the most expensive cities in Europe -- for 12 days. I expected to come back broke. But, thanks to a bit of planning, sufficient reading up and loads of valuable tips from friends, not only did the trip fit well within my budget, I also managed to see quite a few new places. So, here's my two cents on budget travelling in Europe�
Save on flight tickets
Most airlines offer last minute bargain fares, so wait for them. Don't book the first flight available; indulge in some comparisons online. If you can't find an inexpensive flight to your destination city, fly to a nearby city in that country and then catch a low-cost connecting flight. Transit flights can work out cheaper as well. For example, to get to Cannes, I flew from Mumbai to Dubai to Nice via Rome and saved a bag of money. A direct Air France flight from Dubai to Nice would have cost me euro 50 (approximately Rs 3,000) more.
Sleep cheap
Accommodation is the other major thing to save on. After all, you don't need a luxury suite when all you are going to go back to your pad for is to sleep. But yes, it needs to be clean, hygienic and comfortable. I would rate hostels and bed & breakfast (B&B) joints as the best bet. They are comfortable, cheap, include breakfast and offer a kitchen facility, where you can cook or warm up your meal.
Hostels and B&Bs are usually dorm style, with bunk beds for four to six. They have mixed rooms, common rooms, common bathrooms, kitchen and Internet facilities. Most hostels give out free maps, and some arrange tours and pub-crawls for inmates on a daily basis. A bed in such a dorm room of six costs euro 25 - 33 (approximately Rs 1,500 - 2,000). Once you have decided on your destination, do an online search, shortlist hostels you like and then refer to Web sites like Lonely Planet, Hostelz.com, TripAdvisor.com and BugEurope.com (Backpacker's Ultimate Guide) for reviews on these places. They are usually quite close to the truth.
My hostels in all three cities turned out exactly as described. Do be very careful about your belongings in such places though, as you will be sharing your space with strangers. Also remember that most dorms in Europe are mixed, and finding a same-sex dorm will cut down your options.
Budget hotels in decent localities are available for euro 44 (approximately Rs 2,640) onwards. They work well for couples or a group of two to three, but not singles. Guesthouses -- mostly family-run places -- offer some great bargains as well, but most do not have Web sites or online booking facilities. This makes it difficult to find out about them in advance. For example, I found this really nice place called Archie's Guest House in Venice that cost only euro 17 a day (approximately Rs 1,020), but had no Web site or online booking facility.
Look for additional facilities
In Europe, a lot of places demand payment for the use of showers, toilets, towels, blankets and sheets. Therefore, ensure that your booking cost includes the cost of these. A place close to the metro station is a must, to avoid the additional cost of travelling from your hostel to the metro. Also ensure that breakfast is included. Buying breakfast outside will cost an additional euro eight to 10 (approximately Rs 480 to Rs 600).
Save on travel
Eurail (a train service that operates between countries throughout Europe) passes run from euro 280 to 1,300 (approximately Rs 16,800 to 78,000) and they won't pay for themselves unless you plan on travelling extensively (more than four destinations at least). If you do get a pass, maximise your use. For example, an overnight train or ferry uses only one travel day if it leaves after 7 pm (and will save you one night's stay at a hotel). You can buy your Eurail pass online or through your agent (Try RailEurope.com or RailPass.com). Most countries give students or youth (under 26) discounts, so bring your college papers along.
If you are dropping the pass and getting point-to-point budget tickets, you can travel overnight or take early morning flights/ trains/ ferries. I took an overnight train from Paris to Venice and it cost me euro 68 (approximately Rs 4,080) and saved me a night's hostel stay, as opposed to a regular euro 106 ticket (approximately Rs 6,300) on a 10 am train.
Commuting within the city
Travel by metros, buses and ferries within a city. Do not even think of cabs�they are exorbitantly expensive. Metro trains are the best bet as they are convenient, very well-connected and reasonably fast. Don't forget to pick up your free, easy-to-understand city and metro map available at the station or airport in most cities. Get tourist transport passes for travel by train/buses/ferries that entail unlimited travel within a defined region, valid for one, two or three days. These work out much cheaper than buying individual tickets each time. In Venice, for example, where the only mode of transport is Vaporetti (waterbus), a three-day Vaporetti tourist pass costs euro 12 (approximately Rs 720). A single ticket, even if it is just to the next stop, costs euro five (approximately Rs 300) and is valid for only 60 minutes. See the point?
Museum and monuments pass
Most tourist cities have a monuments/ museum pass that offers free entry. For instance, in Rome, you can pick up a Roma Pass for euro 18 (approximately Rs 1,080) that entails free entry at all museums and monuments. The cost of individual entry into the Collosseum is euro 11 (approximately Rs 660) and that of Palantine Hills is euro seven (approximately Rs 420). So, your Roma Pass pays for itself in just two places. Imagine your savings.
Value meals and buffet bargains
If you have no qualms about non-veg food, you can have a ball. Baguettes, croissants, buns, sandwiches, pizza slices, quiche and so on, filled with a variety of meats and sea-food such as tuna, turkey, ham, bacon, salmon, crab, lamb, chicken, prawns, lobsters, squids and more, can keep you going for endless days. Patisseries, pizzerias and bakeries are present at every nook and corner of Europe. You can walk in and pick what you like. For veggies, life is slightly difficult and choices are limited. Remember though, sitting down at the most regular pizzerias, bars and restaurants costs more than take-aways.
Once in a while, you could treat yourself to all-you-can-eat buffets with pastas, lasagnas, salads and meat platters, to get an authentic taste of local cuisine. Chinese and Thai restaurants also offer value-for-money meals and can satisfy your urge for rice and curry.
Water in Europe costs more than wine or beer. A small bottle costs around euro three (approximately Rs 180), so filling water straight from the kitchen tap makes more sense. It is absolutely safe and that is how all Europeans have their water.
Irish pubs for tanking up on your poison
Beer and wine are cheap if bought from supermarkets, but scotch, vodka, champagne and the like are expensive. A can of Heineken beer costs just about euro two (approximately Rs 120) if bought from a supermarket. The same beer served at a pub costs between euro seven and 15 (approximately Rs 420 and Rs 900). Irish pubs are an exception though, where you can get your stuff for much less. A Guinness beer, for instance, is available for euro 3.75 (approximately Rs 225) and a Heineken for four (approximately Rs 240). The ambience of an Irish pub is addictive as well!
Supermarkets versus tourist shops
Steer clear of fancy-looking souvenir shops (especially near tourist attractions) and museum shops. Supermarkets and discount shops have the same stuff for much less, and a wider variety to choose from. They often have offers going for a steal. I picked up a barbecue set for just euro 10 (approximately Rs 600) from one of these discount stores in Paris. The exact same thing was available at a tourist shop for euro 48 (approximately Rs 2,880).
Choose the right month
Europe is generally more expensive in summer. Air fare peaks between mid-June and early September (as well as during December/Christmas holidays). So, if possible, try to leave in May or early June. Not only will your flight cost less, you could also get accommodation at cheaper rates. You need to start doing the research and ground work now though.
The idea is to have maximum fun and do all that must be done in spite of limited resources. Go, experience the world!
18.8.06
Windows Live Writer
So I downloaded the windows blogging tool released a couple of days earlier, but i only got to try it out today. First impressions - it looks good, but then - first impressions arent always correct, are they ?
i will definitely post about this more as and when i get to use it.
5.8.06
Who wants such a weekend
Its Saturday morning, and I just about woke up. Ok, I am lying - I woke up around an hour and half ago. But I am still so sleepy. And my Spanish class starts in like 2 hours, and before that - I need to shower, get some grub, and hit the MRT to reach there on time, and my enthu levels are on the lowest possible trough. Dont know why. Probably I have pushing myself too hard for the last week or so, that I am completely drained of energy. This weekend also doesnt promise to offer me respite. I am supposed to catch a movie with my brother this evening after my class, then i have call to make early tomorrow morning, then there's a lunch appointment with a friend in the afternoon and cricket in the evening. Then back home and a chat appointment with another friend in Netherlands. Man, this is so tough - I just want to sit down and relax. And yes, I forgot, there's one old friend who has come to town, so I might have to catch her sometime as well, and I am supposed provide some professional help to someone who's gonna call from india. I am not thinking of this anymore.
4.8.06
3.8.06
Testing Zoho
Ok, this post comes directly from ZohoWriter, a web based word processing tool. My experience with tech products is pretty extensive, and I have come to realise that I like some products from the word go, while some I dont. Zoho belongs to the former category. So I suggest whoever reads this post to check it out and see how you can simplify many things you do. Happy snooping!
Its one of those days
when all morning I am sitting around and wasting time, when I actually have lots to do. There is loads of work pending, and I just cant get myself motivated enough to get down to business. It feels awful ! And then, you know what happens, I start feeling the pressure when the deadlines hit me in the face. Its not as if I am procrastinating by choice here, but what I need to do needs me to be in a certain frame of mind, and I cant just sit down and work on it as I probably do at my office ;)
so i thought i will whine about it here. and that's why this post reawakens this long dead blog.
so i thought i will whine about it here. and that's why this post reawakens this long dead blog.
31.3.06
MIA
- not any more.
Over the last few days, actually since the 22nd of this month - I have had lots of time to ponder on things that dont even effect me. I had a lot more time to evaluate what I was doing, and what I should be doing. I had been pretty messed up the last few months (reasons - that's another post, and will come later) - but now things are ok, or so I think. March was supposed to bring forth many decisions which will actually affect other decisions, and now that March is gone(almost), I kinda know what I have to do going ahead.
The one thing that has kept coming back to me(both during the messed up period-and the chilled-out post-messedup-period) is that I should blog more, and try and read more. I dont know if its me psychology, or my anatomy - that i fall asleep soon after I have reached page 3 of my reading assignment. Infact, make that 2 if the font size is less than 10, and line spacing less than 1.5 . Now we all make New Years resolution, but I would like to make an April fool's resolution - that being, to not make a fool of myself anymore....wait, before you start getting ideas that I am considered a laggard, i would clarify that I am not considered one, neither by myself, nor by others. But somehow, I know there's much more to do --- and I aint doing what I probably enjoy doing most. Writing, for one !
So hopefully, this blog post will begin my new journey, and the April Fools resolution will not just make me look a fool ;) ---- actually, even if it does - am I bothered ?
Over the last few days, actually since the 22nd of this month - I have had lots of time to ponder on things that dont even effect me. I had a lot more time to evaluate what I was doing, and what I should be doing. I had been pretty messed up the last few months (reasons - that's another post, and will come later) - but now things are ok, or so I think. March was supposed to bring forth many decisions which will actually affect other decisions, and now that March is gone(almost), I kinda know what I have to do going ahead.
The one thing that has kept coming back to me(both during the messed up period-and the chilled-out post-messedup-period) is that I should blog more, and try and read more. I dont know if its me psychology, or my anatomy - that i fall asleep soon after I have reached page 3 of my reading assignment. Infact, make that 2 if the font size is less than 10, and line spacing less than 1.5 . Now we all make New Years resolution, but I would like to make an April fool's resolution - that being, to not make a fool of myself anymore....wait, before you start getting ideas that I am considered a laggard, i would clarify that I am not considered one, neither by myself, nor by others. But somehow, I know there's much more to do --- and I aint doing what I probably enjoy doing most. Writing, for one !
So hopefully, this blog post will begin my new journey, and the April Fools resolution will not just make me look a fool ;) ---- actually, even if it does - am I bothered ?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)