Pune, what is supposed to be am emerging IT city of India with lot of companies opening up a office here. The internet connection remains a main concern here. Just shifted from Mumbai to Pune and its like a village. I have tried almost all options for internet and none of them worked. Slow or very slow, that’s the best you can get here in Wakad – Pune. So goes the “Internet woes in Pune – Wakad”.

Here are the options and my reviews on tried and tested Internet options:

1. Tata Photon+
The first thing I tried here, since it worked very well in Mumbai and had an awesome surfing from this. Also used to download occasionally.
Speed in Mumbai : 1mbps – 2mbps
Speed in Wakad (Pune) : 56 kbps – 200 kbps

I tried to raise ticket and all they did was closed it after a week. The speed is good in other parts of pune like Baner, Hinjewadi. Looks like they have not upgraded the tower in Wakad.

2. Airtel Broadband
Airtel has descent surfing speed, but there is no Airtel in the apartment where I am staying. Once of the premium residence in Wakad and no lines of Airtel here. Looks like it will take another year to come.

3. Airtel 3G
Pathetic, shame on the name of 3G. DO NOT use it. The speed is less than of 2G. If you are lucky sometimes in night the speed is good. But very rare.

4. Vodafone 3G
Vodafone has coverage issues in Pune, they are still covering the areas. 3G is like 2G, opt only if you have full signal in your residence.

5. Idea 3G
This one is the best option till now. But not consistent but still much better than Vodafone, Airtel 3G. The download speed varies from worst 1-10KB/s to 200-300 KB/s
Ideal for surfing. Best if you are accessing internet via smartphone.

6. Reliance/Tata Indicom 3G/Cellone 3G
Nor proper coverage, so not tested yet

7. BSNL Broadband
They have no lines in Wakad. Suffer in Silence

8. Tikona Broadband
They have no lines to my residence. Again unlucky me.

9. You Broadband/Hathaway/Etc
They still need to come to our Wakad.

The conclusion is if you are in Wakad and there is no Airtel Broadband. Your life is going to be like hell. Either change your residence or make sure that you have a descent internet before shifting. These observations are of May 2013.

My second winter with no winters! I thought it would be only – My first winter with no winters ! Looks like here is another one and more to come.

Winters have always been my favorite.I have been missing it a lot more lately. Gone or the days when I used to wear jacket. The strange part is that people here are quite well adjusted and love the weather. It true on night the weather becomes awesome but still far far away to be called Winters. Being close to the shores, it is never cold. Even Pune is better than here.

Here is me when I was for my Friends Wedding in Delhi in jacket and then suit in evening

Well as they say you have to live with it and I have too. So, I don’t have to waiting as winters will never come here.

Evening view from my flat:

Did I mention, this place is still – Mumbai

Not all Bloggers cum geeks have a social life, events like these make sure they know what other people are and how to interact with them. And in return it also gives opportunity for other bloggers to learn form them. This was my second Indiblogger’s meet which was an amazing experience and learning at the NokiaAppTasting event. First being – MasterChef India 2 IndiBlogger Meet .

“The Nokia Apptasting IndiBlogger Meet #NokiaAppTasting” at Taj Lands End, Mumbai started as per the schedule. And I managed to reach on time. The ambiance was very vibrant, lively and awesome. Fist there was a dramatic and enthusiastic entry by the Indiblogger’s team. The music changed form some soft music to Rock Music. I really loved it.

Ms Poonam Kaul – Director Communications, Nokia India started off by giving a brief introduction of the event and about the hosts. It was an honor to meet her in person. Followed by another dramatic entry by the main hosts of the event – Rajiv Makhni (Popular TV anchor, one of India’s leading technology analysts, gadget guru!) & Vikas Khanna (New York based, Michelin Starred, Celebrity Chef!). Girls seems to be way too interested in Vikas Khanna. While I couldn’t take my eyes of the pretty girl in Indiblogger Team (she was bringing gifts), did not get her name but she was something

Rajiv & Vikas were a perfect combination on stage :

In 30 seconds of fame, they started with stage introductions ad that did made me nervous but it was only for starting 15 bloggers and then the main events proceeded. My tweets covered most of it.

They kept asking.. ” Are you foodie or Techie ? ” My answer was I am both. Even My blog has both of them. I am a foodie techie There was a big competition between the Team foodies and Team techies, later on.

The Seating Arrangement was awesome. Snacks and drinks were being served regularly,they made sure no on was hungry in the event. The Paneer Tikka Masala was yummy.

Rajiv Khanna charmed all bloggers to express their love for technology by making them kiss their cellphones! Everyone said – “I Love you” to their cellphone, passionately.

We had an Onion Cutting Competition just like last time we had Ginger slicing. Random participants chosen from bloggers at the event. And one of the participants did cut his finger. Not too serious though.

Then, there were series of live Apps demonstration throughout the event. I loved the Apps demonstration by Rajiv, few of the innovative APPS that were demonstrated where :

1. Nokia City Lens – It works without GPS. You simply tap your chosen destination on your screen to conveniently access walking directions, make a reservation, or learn more detailed information about the locale.

2. Food Pairings for Wine – Must for Alcoholic

3. Silent Film Director, Songify – Instant and easy video generation.

4. Best Group Shot picking up best shot for Individual

5. Animation on a Face (Doing this with only people whom you love)- I loved what they did with Simran’s face.

I have been working on apps myself and keen to start development on the upcoming Windows 8 Mobile platform by the year end.

Several great app ideas emerged from the bloggers. Vikas & Rajiv managed to hear most of them. Some of them were funny and some of them were indeed a great idea. The one that took the prize were:
1. An app that could helps young women to put together good qualities of their choices and deliver the right groom
2. Allow Indians to vote from their smartphones.
Mine – Fix My Device (An App that helps you to fix your device form smartphones to PC to tablet). I am already working on a prototype for the same for Android. Impressed by the scope of Windows Mobile platform, I might start one for it later on.
One of the Ideas mentioned : “Drink Check – How much Drink I am and can I drive?” already existed. Surprisingly they also showed the practical testing of the app at the end of the event. That was impressive!

Quiz consisted of some real good questions,

There was lot of gifts for the Bloggers who answered to questions being passed from stage. People sitting in front benefited the most of it.

On 19th August 2012, Indiblogger also completed 5 years and this was celebrated by this delicious cake

Followed by a group snap, I managed to come in one of them:

A wonderful card by 21fools & Nokia-Inidblogger T-shirt at the end the event.

Dinner was delicious. Fortunately my all time favorite sweet-dish – seviyan was present. While many were busy getting a close snap with Vikas Khanna, many were attacking food and there there were few who were just onto Drinks.

I also met – Keyur, I had met him in previous Blogger meet. Special thanks to Tabrej for the ride on his bike. He made sure we reached on time for the event.

Looking forward for more bloggers meet ahead in Mumbai !

For the first time in my life, there are no winters in the winters. While there is temperature of 4 Degrees in NCR, Mumbai has 26 Degrees as minimum and in morning sun shines like summers are here. Winters have always been my favorite. This winter – no jackets, fan is still running, AC is still running, sun still shines (I hate sunlight like vampires ), that awesomeness in weather and much more.

I have realized that there are no winters in this part of the country. There are only two weathers – Hot, Very Hot So winters are out of question.

All I wish is I don’t have to face another stupid winter next year here in Mumbai.

So Year 2011, is about to end. The year I came Mumbai, switched my job, few of my best friends got married or engaged, memorable trips, winters with no cold, etc etc..

Timeline :

01.01.2011 – A special New year Celebration with friends in Noida, Sector – 61.

22.01.2011 – Wedding : Punit @Banaras

31.01.2011 – Wedding : Neha Dixit @Delhi

08.01.2011 – First Visit to Taj Mahal

08.01.2011 – Wedding : Neha Ma’am @Agra

10.01.2011 – Self Cooked Dinner @ KD’s place

12.02.2011 – Jim Corbett Trip with HCL Colleagues

05.03.2011 – Farewell @ Real Saver – DEN, Gurgaon

11.03.2011 – My last working day in HCL Technologies

13.03.2011 – A Small DPS V Get Together & Farewell

15.03.2011 – Land Mumbai, left Noida

16.03.2011 – Joined STPI Mumbai

19.05.2011 – My first IPL/Cricket Match in a Stadium @ DY Patil, Mumbai

19.06.2011 – My Dad comes Mumbai, visit Visit to Mumbai on Office Tour

15.08.2011 – Mahabaleshwar Trip @ Independence Day

07.10.2011 – My Sis got engaged this day

26.10.2011 – My first Diwali in Mumbai

31.10.2011 – My first Visit to Bangalore @Official Tour (STPI Bangalore)

07.11.2011 – Engagement : Deepak & Anu

18.11.2011 – My 100th Blog Post

03.12.2011 – At home on my birthday with parents after 8 years

04.12.2011 – Wedding : Vipul & Sumita @Agra

05.12.2011 – Met with all close friends in just 24 hours and being awake 2 nite continuous

10.12.2011 – Twitter Handle changed from @rahul_ssg to @askrahul

15.12.2011 – Cleared Ist Sem – MS (Software Systems) BITS Pilani – 8.27 CGPA

While an amazing year ends, all I ask for new year that next year 2012 I am back in Noida with my friends to celebrate the new year 2013

The MasterChef India 2 IndiBlogger Meet was held at R K Studios, Chembur (Mumbai) on 15th October 2011. First of all thanks to IndiBlogger for organizing the meet in RK Studios. The ambiance was no doubt awesome.

This is how it looked like :

I got a prize for the first pic tweet from the inside as the Bloggers meet started to begin. Subarrambh I must say

I kept regular tweeting as the meet progressed ahead. Then the usual “60 seconds to fame” started. To my surprise, I too had a chance to speak. Mine was quite short one. Me being man of less words and more on actions when it comes to speak. Got to know about many bloggers through this. The place was full of intellects. Chefs, Journalist, Photographers, Engineers, Bankers, Students, etc.. all at one place in the name of bloggers. There where quite number of SLRs. That means lot of quality snaps where being taken as the meet progressed. Hoping they would be shared soon.

Nice to meet the following fellows : @Dishitd @darrilmevin @keyurhere

After the introductions by the bloggers came the MasterChefs one by one like a theatrical and suspense entry one by one – Vikas Khanna, Ajay Chopra and Kunal Kapoor. Introductions followed by answers to various questions of bloggers.

Here are the judges (Vikas Khanna, Ajay Chopra and Kunal Kapoor) answering questions of all bloggers:

After the questionnaire round there was the “High Tea” Break. I was quite curious on the name. And my curiosity came to an end once I went outside. With Tea and coffee there where snacks with lot of options:

I loved the Brownies, I love them so much

Cooking involves cutting so there where the mentioned cutting challenges:
1. Dicing the apples
2. Guillain Ginger Challenge
3. Making French Fries

The MasterChefs did demonstrate them and made them look quite easy. The prize was Rs 5000 Shopper’s Stop Gift Voucher. I did not participate in any of them but kept close watch on the challenge. They where quite interesting and is definitely going to help me when next time I get chance to slice in kitchen

The last challenge was – “Mystery Box“. Very creative I must say. Making dish of the ingredients of the box. The winner’s dishes did sound yummy no doubt. Wish they has cooked it as well

Of course, thanks for the nice T-shirt IndiBlogger. Also given where an awesome Coffee Mug and a Cooking Apron (I’m going to gift this to my mom when I go back home, she will be super-happy to have it) This was my first meet, waiting for many more meets. Please arrange meets like this every two months in Mumbai It is the best place to meet great intellects at one place.

So there it was, long awaited and much needed trip. Three friends residing in different cities of India came together for Mahabaleshwar Trip.

Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau, bound by valleys on all sides. It reaches a height of 1,438 m (4,718 ft) at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson/Sunrise Point. Below is a shot of us all three cheering up

On the eve of Independence day, we where at Pratapgad fort. One of the best way to celebrate our country’s freedom by making ourselves free
Pratapgad is located 15 kilometres from Poladpur and 22 kilometres from Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill-station in the area. This fort stands 1,080 metres above sea level.

Here is a shot on some waterfall we went. Don’t remember the name though. But the scenic beauty was awesome.

Considering the amount of fun we had on the trip, we should go out often and have frequent trips in future