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May 12, 2005
Little few things
London is living upto its reputation and you all know what I am talking about which is almost synonymous with London. Yes the weather. It is as usual predictably unpredictable. I am really scared to talk to any Londoners about the weather because that becomes an end less talk for hours.
Last Saturday, I had planned to go to Bournemouth to meet a fellow blogger. I had planned to take a coach which is supposed to leave Victoria coach terminal by 9 in the morning. So got up early in the morning to find that it was quite sunny and I thanked my stars for that. At around 7.30 in the morning went out of the hotel to realize that the weather was too cold outside. I could barely walk for 2 minutes to go to the nearest tube station, eventually could not go any further and retuned to the hotel. Checked the temperature in the net and it was 4 Celsius. Later on I found out from one of my colleagues that more sunny it is, the more chilly it gets in London (funny isn’t?).
However, I somehow managed to go to the coach station at around 9 and went straight to the ticket hall to get the ticket. I asked for a ticket for the earliest bus which is leaving for Bournemouth and the guy promptly asked me whether for one way or return. I was in two minds whether to go for a return or one way, but finally settled for one way since I thought I could buy the ticket from Bournemouth for the return. It cost me £ 16.50 and went to the gate around 9.10 to find that the coach has already left the station. I had to go back to ticket hall to move my ticket from 9 to 10 and I decided to buy a return ticket as well. The guy asked me to give £ 3 more and I thought its for the cancellation charges. So I asked him again to issue me a return and he kept on saying give me £3. I decided not to argue with him and gave him £3 and got my ticket. When I opened the ticket jacket, I could not believe it. There was 2 tickets, one for onward and another for return. When I looked at the receipt everything fell in place, he had charged £2 for the cancellation and £1 for the return journey. Again one of my colleagues told me that it’s the way it works here!!! And he has told me to always check for return journey fare in the ticket hall before booking. Cut.
Imagine the same thing in India. If the ticket counter guy tells you Chennai-Bangalore one way costs Rs.400, would you dare to ask what’s the 2way fare??
Posted by Vasanth at May 12, 2005 01:57 AM
Comments
Ramesh - What sort of economics is that? Would like to see how does it work if somebody gives insider information.
Posted by: Vasanth at May 15, 2005 03:12 AM
Yes Chakra I cant imagine what will happen in India. The guy will think I am some crack.
Posted by: Vasanth at May 15, 2005 03:10 AM
Kary & Ven - Sure will post some snaps which I have taken.
Posted by: Vasanth at May 15, 2005 03:09 AM
vas! some pics please...
Posted by: Ven at May 14, 2005 11:19 AM
Similar situation all over the West I suppose. You can see this a lot in airfares...sometimes one way fare is more than the return/2-way fares.
Posted by: Ramesh at May 13, 2005 03:51 AM
>> If the ticket counter guy tells you Chennai-Bangalore one way costs Rs.400, would you dare to ask what’s the 2way fare??
- Indha madhiri kettu, avan paatha oru kevalamana paarvai irukke... :)
Posted by: Chakra at May 12, 2005 02:31 PM
Chennai is completely different man :) Looks like you are travelling in London. Have some pics in ur blog da.
Posted by: Kary at May 12, 2005 11:43 AM