Just Like That

• The enticing flute-music – If you’ve been to temple premises or tourist locations you’d certainly have come across this group of people (amidst the many kinds of hawkers). They play mostly film songs – ranging from the melodious and the melancholy, to the fast-paced and crazy chart-busters. They are very crafty people who trick people into buying the flutes. Trick and how, you wonder? Well, people simply assume that all they have to do is blow into the hole, and mellifluous music will come forth, just like that!
  
  
• An obsolete fee – I visited a light-house a few months back, and while paying the ‘entry fee’ the guy there asked me ‘do you have a camera?’ (because he expected me to part with another twenty rupees). I said I didn’t…but on second thoughts, didn’t I? Which cellphone these days does not have a camera? And who walks around without one? Made me wonder what concerned authorities who manage such spots plan to do about it (lost revenue?). Most of those who visit just want a Patel shot (to upload on SNSs, might I add), for which this would suffice. Besides, cellphones these days have dedicated cams which give quality pictures (the acceptable kind). Of course, those who’re looking at professional-quality snaps have no choice but to declare their gear. But the others? As for me, I made the most of what my 2.0 megapixel could offer!
   
• Let kids be kids – I have a problem when I see kids who’re supposed to be running around carefree struggling to hold onto their dupatta while wearing a salwar-kameez or ghagra-choli. Why make miniature versions of adult-wear when they can wear clothes that don’t cramp their style (or movement)? Frocks, skirts, shorts, pants, dresses, t-shirts anyone? Kids want to dress like adults (and adults the other way around) apparently.
  
  
• 11.05.11 – 06.08.10 – 12.10.11 – What are these, you ask me? DATES!! I’ll buy a Cadbury Silk (Bournville...whatever!) for anyone who can tell me exactly which dates I had in mind! I’ve always wondered why…WHY do we have these confusing formats?! I prefer a 12-hour clock (with am/pm as suffix) instead of the 24-hour. Even so, THAT causes only so much of confusion. But this is simply ridiculous. Is it the 5^th of Nov. or the 11^th of May? The 6^th of Aug or the 8^th of June? The 10^th of Dec or the 12^th of Nov?! Why isn’t everyone happy with the dd/mm/yy format? :-|(Only if you see something above ‘12’, can you breathe a sigh of relief!)