[FSX/P3D] Freeware Airport - Bangalore International Airport - VOBL

This is the scenery for Bangalore International Airport - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kempegowda_International_Airport. The main terminal is as accurate as I could make it. Rest of the objects are stock objects. The ILS/NAV frequencies are accurate. Parking locations are not accurate as per the actual Airport.

The following tools were used to make it:
SketchUp for terminal design
GIMP / VS 2013 for Textures
Instant Scenery / AFX / Airport Studio for Airport design
ModelConvertorX for adjustments

Usage Rights:
One or more textures on this 3D model have been created with images from CGTextures.com. These images may not be redistributed by default, please visit www.cgtextures.com for more information.
Rest, Free to distribute / modify as you want as long as this Readme.txt is included.

How to Install:
Extract the zip to Addon Scenery directory (e.g. Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Addon Scenery\). You should then have a VOBL_DUKE sub-folder inside.
Add the VOBL_DUKE folder to the FSX/P3D using the "Scenery Library" -> "Add Area" option.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/he1deys18a06n0g/VOBL_DUKE.zip

Few Images:

Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal - who's the best?

...well, if its lowest price is what you are looking for then none of the above!

Its actually Ebay (www.ebay.in).

Try this. Look for the item you want to purchase on all these websites. You will find that most reputed sellers will be selling the item on all these websites (including Ebay), and at almost same price.

Now search for "Ebay india coupons" on google. You will easily find 7.5% or 10% or even 15% off coupons. Some may be linked to use of a particular bank's card while making the payment. So apply that coupon on Ebay and you get the item cheapest.

At least that's my experience.

State of online food delivery websites in India

I have tried a few online food delivery sites in Bangalore, with progressively worse results. Here's my experience.

The first one I tired was JustEat (http://justeat.in/). There were no issues for the first few times I used their service. After a while I found the site was non-functional, not really sure why, but it was not possible to place an order online. Let's assume technical issues on their end (or mine?).

As an alternative I tried Tasty Khana (http://tastykhana.in/). Well, the first (and last) order was a disaster. The order was cancelled, within 30 mins I think, with the reason that the delivery address was out of service range of the restaurant.

For placing the order I gave my address at Tasty Khana's website, Tasty Khana showed me the restaurants delivering to that address, I chose one and placed an order. So how does the restaurant become out of range?

For that matter I live in the heart of south Bangalore. In this case was the responsibility of the Tasty Khana to show accurate list of restaurants.

Next came FoodPanda (www.foodpanda.in). First few orders went fine, no issues, very promising. Then came the disaster. I placed an order, after an hour I came to know that the order has been cancelled, stated reason - order not accepted by restaurant due to non-available items.

I called the FoodPanda helpline and was told that the restaurant refused the order and FoodPanda can't do anything. So I called the restaurant directly next and spoke to the manager, and he claimed they have not refused any orders and actually none were received.

So who do I believe here and who do I blame? I have excellent experience with that restaurant, once they had gone out of their way to deliver a late order, so I believe the restaurant.

I read later that FoodPanda acquired Tasty Khana, so perhaps their service level has gone to Tasty Khana's level!

Well, today I was back at JustEat, the website was working. So I placed an order. And here I am two hours later with no sign of delivery.

So from my end, looks like that they are all going downhill.

The fundamental point with online food delivery is that when someone orders, they expect it to be delivered within the next 60-90 mins.

Its unlike ordering an item from Amazon or Flipkart, where you can wait for a couple of days (Actually, I am spoiled by Amazon-in-a-day delivery, so one day is all I wait now).

Folks ordering food have mostly have skipped cooking any meals in expectation of the delivery, so they are completely at the mercy of the order. This becomes even more critical if the order is for dinner and more so when you have kids. Dinner time mostly means that if an order is not delivered, for what-ever reason, there probably not enough time to place another order as its already late in the night.

Any issues with delivery means a very bad experience compounded by hunger (literally).

In my opinion, these portal have to take responsibility of order fulfillment. Until that happens, I am staying away from them.

And dear FoodPanda, offering a 40% off coupon limited to Rs 100, as compensation for un-fulfilled order is bad joke on the Customer. Try something like your next meal free, if you are serious.

Amazing deal from MakeMyTrip

MakeMyTrip has an amazing offer ongoing on Air ticket bookings - http://www.makemytrip.com/promotion/includes/FestiveMMT_Intflights_19092014.php?intid=iflp_hero_IF-festive_19092014

You can save a whopping amount of Rs 5000 on your ticket booking with this deal. Too good right?

Here's the catch, you get 5000 back if you book tickets worth Rs 300,000. Yep, that's right Rs 300,000. I am going to guess a first class ticket to US would cost that much, but then you wouldn't bother about the Rs 5000 if you had the money to throw around for first class, would you?

For mere mortals like us, if we book up to Rs 20,000, we get a grand sum of Rs 150 back. Yay!

Highest bail amount ever?

Apparently reports are out that Sahara group chief Subrata Roy has been set a bail amount of Rs 10,000 crore (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sc-asks-sahara-group-to-deposit-rs-10000-crore-to-grant-bail-to-subrata-roy/articleshow/32720775.cms).

That's more than $1.5 Billion!

Google search reveals that highest ever bail amount set in US was $100 Million for Raj Rajaratnam after being arrested for insider trading.

So this must be record.

Selling a laptop on-line and Nigerian scams

Recently I changed to a new laptop and put up the old one for sale on-line. I listed it on a couple of popular sites Quikr (http://bangalore.quikr.com/) and Olx (http://www.olx.in/). Within a day I had a two responses, one from a doctor and another someone with a random id.

Well the doctor, having a proper south Indian name and Gmail id with a family picture to go with his profile, claimed he was in Scotland and wanted more details on the laptop, which I replied and sent. The next day I got reply stating that the doctor wanted me to ship the laptop to his son in Nigeria!

A quick search on Google reveals that this is an another popular Nigerian scam. The buyer asks you accept payment via Paypal and dispatch the item using DHL to an address in Nigeria, making a story like although he himself is in Scotland/UK, his son is in Nigeria and its a gift for him. On agreement you get a mail, fake of course, from Paypal that the payment has been made and you have to provide a DHL tracking id for Paypal to release funds to your account. You can guess the rest, you send the laptop and never hear of it again or the money.

Similar story with the random id guy.

A few of points to keep in mind when selling on-line, and I got lucky here:

1. Create a a new random email id to list the item
2. Do not put your mobile/name on the listing. Add mobile only if required for listing
3. When responding to buyers, again do not give out your mobile/name at first. Have them send their mobile number and you call them

Flipkart "In-a-day guarantee"

Flipkart recently started "In-a-day guarantee" service http://www.flipkart.com/in-a-day. So you place an order by 6 pm and get it delivered by next day. So how may day's should it take to deliver  "In-a-day guarantee" order?

One? Two? Three?

I recently place an order and it was un-delivered for three days until I cancelled it. Customer Service only offered that they had sent it wring pin code but still could not tell when it would actually be delivered.

I did get a consolation amount Rs 180 as store credit, but so much for  "In-a-day guarantee"...