Banking is so cool in HK

Last Sunday, a ATM ate up my debit card and refused to return saying "Your card has been retained please contact customer care". The customer care suggested me to visit the nearest branch and get the card. Fortunately, I had some cash and Octopus card in hand to return home safely without starving. Octopus card is one of the coolest feature in HK, will have to write a separate blog for it.

All my cash was struck in my account and I was running out of money the very evening. I thought of transferring some amount to a friend and withdraw it from his account. But I had not changed default online transfer limit (which is 0), so couldn't transfer online too. I decided to visit my bank branch during lunch hours.

I got the most royal treatment ever. The person at the reception listened to my problem carefully and took me a counseling room. He gave me the solution on how to get my card back, how long does it take and how can he help me to get it !!! This was not enough

• he suggested me the best way, upgrade to premier account, which would fetch me a new card, sooner than getting my card, struck in ATM. The advantage being free for a year (even though the premier accounts should be opened with 1 million credit balance)
• the pin for new card doesn't change
• a credit card (again free for a year)
• instant change of address, without proof. HK ID will just do.
• arranged to withdraw cash without having my debit card
• hassle free documentation, just HK ID did everything. I had opened my account using passport and I didn't have it at that moment.
• sit back and enjoy Cafe latte

If it was in Bangalore/India, 

• there would have been nobody to listen to me
• go to a machine and search which option suited my query (and find none)
• the person at the counter would suggest to visit the branch where I had opened my account
• "the signature doesn't match sir, please get your pan card" - could be a possible reply
• you will get a new card and a new pin in 2 different couriers. you will end up waiting either  for card or pin at the end of 3-4 days.
• to change address, get address proof and submit a form (which will reflect in next 3-4 days)

Nanda has been struggling with her bank account ever since she has opened it. Every time there was a change she needs run to Electronic city branch, with pan card. And the customer care guys just don't care. The most common reply is "Sorry Sir, we don't provide this facility over phone banking. Please visit your branch".

Definitely, HK is much much better organized and well maintained in several aspects.

Addiction to Rhymes

There have been situations when I was addicted so many bad things and none to good ones. 

Like I was addicted to tv during my high school days. I used to watch a comedy detective serial of Gufi Paintal which was aired at 8 am. Mom got irritated so many times and scolded equal number of times.

Later after 10th, was addicted to movies. I watched nearly 200 movies in 2 years. No wonder why i scored less in 10+2. That was not the only reason though. When the results came out I sat and analyzed why ?  Along with couple other reasons, I found that (had made a list of movies that I watched in those 2 years) the number was huge enough to blow my results. This was one of the bad addictions.

Then came B.Sc. I got addicted to chess. Chess was (and is still) a passion since my childhood. If not a Software engineer, definitely would have been a Chess Grand Master ;) I used to spend at least 5-6 hours daily practicing for Inter-University competition during 1998-2000. Indeed, I was the captain of my college team. But I could not take it up further as a career. It impacted my B.Sc final year results, slightly.

During MCA, was addicted to PC games. Road Rash, Dave etc etc.

After MCA, I was addicted to Nanda :) This addiction was good I guess.

The latest one is blogging.

The list is much short here, but I was never addicted to a good thing till now. The shocker of my life time,  Chinni is addicted to Rhymes. Yes, she is so much addicted that the day starts and ends with rhymes. Chinni even recognizes them with particular names.  Here goes the list of rhymes and how she identifies them

The Cat came back - back (this is her favorite)

Twinkle twinkle - twinkle

Jack and Jill - ದಮಕ್ಕು (damakku means fall, Jack and Jill both fall in the song)

Johnny johnny - yess

Humpty Dumpty - dumppy

ABCD song - ABCD

She likes to watch the videos of all these. She makes me sit in front of laptop, pick her , sit on  my lap and then says the word she wants me to play. I just need to play it and no other go. Some times she gets bored and says "ಬೆರೆ" (means change), I have to change the song!!!

The Cat came back is her favorite. She opens her mouth as the cat opens in the video. She spreads her hands as the cat is shown jumping in the video. And her body dances to the background music.

And that's not all. Me and Nanda have these rhymes in our mobiles and Chinni listens to them in mobile too. 

Were you ever addicted to rhymes?