Revamping T20 Cricket: The New Rules and Their Impact

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

T20 or Twenty 20 cricket has been a huge hit amongst fans and has revolutionized the world of cricket over the past couple of decades. Ever since it was introduced in 2003, it has given a new lease of life to many cricket associations through the franchise-based cricket model bringing in money that could sometimes fund a country for years. Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League and others have changed the way cricket is followed and watched across the world. These T20 tournaments have not only helped bring more revenue but has also helped unleash new talent.

T20 was introduced to spice up the cricketing fraternity. With growing popularity, every governing body has tried to add more spice to their T20 tournaments, to make it more interesting and appealing for fans across the world. As a traditionalist who still loves watching test cricket, I found it very hard to take a liking to T20 and some of these new rules I believe can help revive the interest in other forms of cricket. Listing some of those rules that clicked with me and some that did not.

2 different team sheets: In IPL 2023, the captains can walk out with 2 different team sheets and can select a XI based on the outcome of the toss. This takes away the “Win toss, Win Match” trend in the IPL. This makes sense especially when the condition of the match is affected by the dew factor, making it easier for the team batting second to chase targets. Extending this rule to International cricket across all formats, especially One Day Cricket, would make a great difference. This rule would surely be a hit.

Impact Substitute: Each team can nominate a set of 5 players and choose to replace a player at different stages of the game like the end of the innings, the end of an over, the fall of a wicket, or when a player retires. Once the impact player is used, the substituted player can play no further part in the game even as a fielder. My take on this rule is that this takes away the benefit of having 2 different team sheets and also in many instances, an impact player who replaced a player who already got out, got a chance to bat again. This makes no sense. The T20 game is already spiced up and loaded in favour of batters. Interestingly, Big Bash League got rid of this change which was introduced in the name of “X-factor”. I believe this rule would be a great fit for test cricket, played over 5 days and with changing conditions, bringing this rule will increase the interest in Test cricket.

DRS for wides and no-balls: DRS or Decision Review System is now available for teams to review wides and no-balls. Earlier the teams were allowed to only review when someone is adjudged out or not out. The number of reviews has also been increased from 1 to 2. These changes make a lot of chance. T20 is a game of very fine margins and a wide ball or a no-ball can make a world of difference. But some more clarity on how to decide on the wide or no-ball especially when the batter moves around the crease would be very beneficial to the teams and the spectators. This rule should stay for sure.

DRS: Decision Review System aka Dhoni Review System
Image Courtesy: Wisden

I was also impressed with a couple of new changes that were brought in the Big Bash League(BBL) in Australia.

Power Surge: A separate 2-over powerplay that can be used by the batting team after the completion of one-half of the overs. This was a really interesting rule and kind of added uncertainty to the way the game was played. This rule was done away with. But I would prefer this to come back but for the power surge to be taken by the bowling team rather than the batting team to give it a little twist.

Bash Boost: This one once again makes the contest more interesting. The calculation is fairly simple whichever team has the higher score midway through the second innings gets a bonus point. This would make a good equation in the points table. A good contest will get additional points for the teams.

Some rules that would make test cricket and ODIs more interesting are something that I would like ICC – International Cricket Council to consider.

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The Sunk Cost Fallacy: Why Letting Go Can Be a Good Thing

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Have you ever wondered if it is worth standing in the queue for buying tickets or investing a lot of time or more resources (money or human) in something that suffered losses or did not go according to plan? This is a common phenomenon called the “Sunk Cost Fallacy”. Here, one continues to invest in the project or the decision irrespective of the outcome.

Sunk Cost in economics means a cost that has already been incurred and that cannot be recovered. For example, if you invested $100 for a concert, whether you can make it to the concert or not, the $100 is a cost that you cannot recover. The $100 spent on the concert is a sunk cost. Fallacy means a mistaken belief or a misconception that renders one’s argument null.

This is a cognitive bias where you continue to invest in a project, idea or plan despite it going down just because you have invested a significant amount of resources into it. This phenomenon happens as we value the resource we have invested higher than the resource we have on hand. The resource could be anything time, money or effort. We do this as many of us tend to show an aversion to loss and we do not want to admit loss. We also tend to develop emotional attachments to the resources we have invested in.

Let me give some examples of sunk cost fallacy I have experienced personally. We were A-list members of AMC theatres which allows us to watch 3 movies a week and enjoy further discounts on popcorn and other condiments. The cost of the membership was 20-odd dollars. I felt that we should watch a minimum of 3 movies a month to make up for the cost of the membership. Sometimes we ended up watching worthless movies. What I did not realize was that I could have put that time to better use and ended up spending more on condiments which I could have avoided. The realization of opportunity cost in something else and the sunk cost of membership would have helped me make a better decision. Now as a family, we are trying to make better decisions and trying our best to not fall into this trap of the “Sunk cost Fallacy”. Professionally, we have seen many companies like Nokia, Blockbuster and many others continued to invest in what they believed is the best rather than being realistic and futuristic causing their downfall.

How could one avoid this phenomenon?

Recognize the phenomenon: The first step in avoiding the trap is to recognize and acknowledge this phenomenon. Be aware of the resources you have already invested in and objectively check if further investments in the current failing project would prove fruitful or not.

Do not get too attached: Think practical and act rational. Just because you invested your resources in something it does not mean that you have to hold on to that forever. Businesses are meant to grow and investments are supposed to make you feel happy. If you know that the investment is not yielding the desired results, pause, think and validate if further investment is worth it rather than making an emotional decision.

Focus on What’s next? If you are not sure if future investments of resources on the previously made investments can make your idea/plan/relationship better, it is better to move on. Rather than brooding over the past, move on and look for benefits in other options by cutting the losses.

Seek an external input: Seeking an external input might help bring a different perspective. It might bring more clarity when your assumptions are challenged. Their thoughts and ideas can help you make a more objective and rational decision.

A short video on sunk cost fallacy

In a nutshell, the sunk cost fallacy is a bias that can make us stick to a losing cause and continue to invest in that as we are emotionally connected to the previously invested resources. There are ways to avoid falling prey to this phenomenon by recognizing, seeking external input and focusing on what’s next.

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Terms and Conditions Apply: Airbnb

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

The following post might look like a rant but this is a summary of the true events and how our group felt that we were taken for a ride by Airbnb. We had nowhere to complain or raise a grievance to help make things better. What was supposed to be a good break for us started as a nightmare. The year-end plans went for a toss thanks to the awesome Airbnb support staff and policies. For the first time, I felt the pain of not having enough time to read the fine print under the asterisks.

On Dec 21,2022, the federal weather agency issued a winter storm warning Canadians of the large amounts of snow followed by strong potentially damaging winds that could cause power outages across Ontario and Quebec. (Link source: CBC ) Flights and train routes were affected. One via rail had derailed en route to Ottawa and some passengers were even trapped inside the Via rail that followed the derailed one. Via rail sent us a notification 24 hours before travel that our onward journey is cancelled. Considering the severity of the storm, we decided to cancel our trip and contacted Airbnb to cancel our trip and what followed was a horrible experience with our friendly neighbourhood representative.

Inconsistent policies: I had spoken to four or five different customer service representatives and found that Airbnb’s policies are inconsistent. I received different answers to the same question from different customer service representatives. One mentioned that I was eligible for a 100% refund, another 0%, one didn’t know about the policies and wanted to contact the host for a refund. Rare weather events according to their policy are considered an event that entitles you to a 100% refund. But thanks to their awful customer service I didn’t even get 50% back.

Slow response times: I understand that it might have been horrible for them due to peak requests for cancellations. But the ones who I worked with worked at a snail’s pace. They figured out at around midnight after 4-5 hours that they need to contact the hosts who were asleep by then. In fact, it was the host who contacted me to tell me that he has offered a 50% refund as this is a last-minute cancellation. The customer service agent who I spoke to was not even aware of this and took hours to confirm this on their end.

Lack of helpfulness: Each customer service representative had their own answers and had their own interpretation of the policies. They were restless and were reading lines from a script rather than understand the situation. One customer representative cancelled my booking without my approval. My booking was for $1,200 and as per their calculation 50% is some $400-odd. They mentioned that Airbnb would only return any % of their fees if the host issues 100%. What is the customer service here. Basically, Airbnb pocketed $200+ without offering any service. To top it all, they charged the host and the host could relist the property again. There were no apologies or any regret shown from the agent. Nor did they even try to make an effort to help the customer in distress. If this winter storm that derailed a train is not considered a extreme event I do not understand what would qualify under Airbnb policies.

After all this mayhem our group still had a good vacation in Ottawa and the places around the capital. Thanks to my travel card which has an annual fee of over $100, we were able to recoup more than 90% of what we lost with Airbnb. Until then, I had my reservations about paying annually for a card but the $120 I paid for the card is totally worth it. My recommendation for everyone would be to get at least one card with features like travel insurance built in that will come in handy in uncertain times.

Airbnb can improve its customer service in many ways, some of them are

  • Be Accountable and Transparent: Airbnb customer service agents mentioned that they will only refund their service fees and other charges if the host issues a 100% refund. Even though the host returned 50% of the booking fee, Airbnb retained their charges, which amounted to more than $300. Should they not be transparent about these charges, be empathetic towards the customers, and match at least what the host refunded?
  • Clearer Communication: Communicate more clearly with your customers, especially when it comes to cancellation policies and fees. Every customer service agent had a different answer to the same question.
  • More personalized support: Airbnb should offer more personalized support to customers, taking into account their current situation, especially in places that are prone to weather disruptions. They should also bring priority and severity levels to their tickets and maintain a log of the conversation which the customers should be given access to.
  • Better training for customer service representatives: It felt like the representatives were reading from a script. Airbnb should commit and invest in better training for its customer service representatives to ensure that they are knowledgeable, accountable, empathetic, and have a clear path to escalation. Provide local support for the region wherever possible or at least give them access to know what is happening in that part of the world.

In a nutshell. Airbnb has lost a customer in me and I would encourage people to book with a card that has travel insurance bundled in.

“It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.”

— Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motors

Tips for Writing an Effective Resume

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to work with fresh candidates out of school, friends, relatives and new immigrants on their resumes. Some of the common phrases that I have heard from them are “This is an Indian model Resume“, “Oh! my friend in marketing shared this format“, and “my job agency prepared this resume“. What puzzled me was that most of these resumes despite being typically long did not give a sense of who one was really. In this blog, I am trying to sum up, what I have learnt so far in my professional journey and the inputs that I have received from my peer groups to help others in the search for their dream job.

Be the STAR

Most resumes that I have come across reads

Partnered with engineers, data scientists, designers, customer agents, biz dev teams to define product specs and launch new features

The above statement is one of your responsibility as a product manager. Instead, review the sentence below

Collaborated with a cross-functional team consisting of engineers, designers and biz dev team to launch new features to increase the user registration conversion by 30%.

The statement above is constructed using the STAR expands to Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This is usually suggested for interviews but I have found the method helpful in constructing my resume.

Situation: Describe the situation that you were trying to solve.

Task: What was the problem you are trying to solve or the goal you are trying to achieve?

Action: What was the action that you performed or were you asked to perform? I would prefer it to be about that task you and your team perform with more focus on your part.

Result: What did your action result in? Show something qualitative or quantitative to show that you learnt something or helped achieve a significant goal for the team or the company.

Recruiter Speaks: “Be Result Oriented as opposed to Task Oriented.”

  • Recruiters or Hiring Managers to shortlist for a Marketing Manager role, already have an idea about the roles and responsibilities of candidates for the Marketing Manager role. What they want to see is what difference the candidate made in their previous role! The best way to do that is through results(KPIs, Numbers, ROI etc.).
  • Include a summary of the What, How, Outcome and Underlying theme in each statement
– Chetan Choudhary

Consistent Formatting

Whether you use a functional format, chronological format or a combination of both, make sure that you are consistent in the style, language and timelines across your resumes. Some parts of the resume cannot be in ascending order of timelines while others in descending order. I would prefer the latest relevant work experience first over the others and go backwards. Regarding the length of the resume, I would prefer to stick it to 1 or a maximum of 2 pages. Use professional font and font size between 10 and 12 and make it aesthetically pleasing.

Use Good Action Verbs

Strong action verbs help you describe your skills and accomplishments. It helps you to express what you have done or accomplished and as stated it enables you to create impactful sentences that make it easier for recruiters to understand what makes you stand out. Some examples of action verbs are listed below.

For example, compare the 2 sentences below

Understood strategic and competitive position in the market to develop a product strategy and roadmap.

Spearheaded product strategy and developed long-term product roadmap through detailed analysis of the competitive landscape in the market to improve customer acquisition by X%.

The first one simply states what you did, but the second one highlights how you achieved something using your skills rather than the achievement. What makes it stand out is the action word which adds punch to your resume.

Recruiter Speaks: Include 3-5 key action items per experience

  • Wordy resumes are not always the best resumes
  • As far as possible, avoid action verbs like managed, worked with, coordinated, and assisted. Instead use action verbs like achieved, spearheaded, led, accomplished, enhanced etc.
– Chetan Choudhary

Include Skillset

Dedicate a section on your resume to include a bullet list of your unique skill set. The list should be a combination of both hard skills (ex: Design, Accounting, Risk Management) and soft skills(ex: Adaptability, problem-solving, communication). This helps you showcase to the hiring manager that you are well-rounded. If you are switching careers, highlight those transferable skills you possess to execute your role.

Win over the ATS

ATS or Applicant tracking system is designed to help recruiters screen applicants suited to the role from a pool of many aspirants. But not applications are scanned by the ATS, there is a real human who is reading your resume in the first cut. Recruiters/hiring managers scan your resumes to understand your skill set and select 5-10 resumes for screening for a job.

Recruiter Speaks: Win over ATS with key words and customized resume for each application

  • Highlight your key skills matching the role you have applied for. This helps catch the recruiter’s attention in the initial 10 seconds.
  • Highlight KPIs: Include numbers, percentages, process improvements in days/percentages, dollar value, and market share wherever applicable. This is a key differentiator.
  • Optimizing tools suggested: Jobscan.co, resumeworded.com, ChatGPT(Use this one carefully and optimize your resume manually)
– Chetan Choudhary

Other Considerations:

  • Customize the resume for each unique role that you apply for. Do not apply with a general resume for all jobs.
  • Write a cover letter which adds a personal touch on why you suit the role.
  • Certifications from credible institution that is relevant to the position and the experience adds a lot of value.
  • Add links to your linkedin profile, blogs, portfolios, publications. Make sure that these are clickable.
  • Do not add Date of Birth, Complete Address, Head shot(unless required), additional email address and phone numbers.
  • Write an introduction and a share why you fit this role to the recruiter for them to get some context.
  • Maintain a database of all the resume along with your master resume to help you prepare for the interview.

To review your resume feel free to reach out on instagram @vyasonkeys or via comments here.

Winter Wonderland 2022: Things to do in Ottawa – Quebec

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

After an incredible and hectic eleven months of 2022, my wife and I were looking forward to December. Most offices shut down the last 10 days of December across Canada and USA and people look forward to travelling even though COVID bowled a googly, in other words a curveball the previous 2 years. We were looking forward to this winter break to refresh and rejuvenate. The holiday started with one of the worst winter storms that Canada and the USA had seen. This threw a spanner in the holiday plans of many tourists. Flights, buses and trains were cancelled at the last minute, ours was no exception. The train operator “Via Rail” cancelled our plans a few hours before our scheduled start. But, an ad-hoc plan turned out to be an excellent experience. Here are some places that we visited during this winter that made our holiday season a very good one and might help plan your next trip to the Canadian Capital a pleasant one. Feel free to use this blog to create an itinerary of your own.

Abraska Laflèche: This place is a must-visit in the Ottawa/Gatineau region. This was a 30-minute ride from our Gatineau stay and downtown Ottawa. I would suggest booking the stay at Gatineau or the outskirts of Ottawa to save some dollars and avoid traffic. The staff at the location were very friendly and comfortable in both English and French. The guide (Our guide G.I. Joe, a.k.a Jonathan) knew well about the caves and the locations nearby. The hiking through the caves was about an hour. Hiking is a bit strenuous and involves walking through low ceilings and climbing steep stairs. But the experience is worth it. The guide was very helpful in helping us hike with ease and also shared some interesting insights about the caves and also asked some interesting questions about the cave. The experience of sitting inside the cave in complete darkness was spellbinding. I could sleep there with my eyes open. There is also an experience to camp inside the caves, we have added that to our bucket list. Winter hike through the forests is something we missed during COVID and if you get a chance rent their snowshoes and go for a good hike. Along the way, you also have some interesting riddles to solve along the way. The ziplining experience is reserved for summer and would be a great activity to do along with kids. Booking the ticket online is recommended.

Ottawa Winter Lights: The original plan was to see the Christmas lights in Quebec City but the winter lights in the capital were equally awesome. The streets of the capital were lit with thousands of lights. The dazzling lights are best enjoyed when you cover the streets by walking. Most of the streets that are lit are in and around downtown Ottawa. The icing on the cake is the multimedia projection on the Parliament center building. The multimedia takes us through the journey of luminous smileys that come alive in winter and travel across different landscapes of Canada illuminating the dark evenings. The lighting and the multimedia shows happen only during the holiday season, make sure to check the timings of the winter light show on the capital website before planning your trip. There is no parking in Capital Hill, so use SpotHero or any other app to find the best parking spot. There are many restaurants in and around the parliament building, check out York street. Do not miss out on Zak’s diner’s milkshake and the out-of-the-world moulin de Provence bakery.

Canadian War Museum: I have always found Canada a safe country, never have I heard about Canada’s involvement in any war. Many could even wonder why Canada needs a military. All those questions would be answered when you visit Canadian War Museum as they walk us through the different wars that shaped Canada from pre-contact warfare to the current warfare across the world. If you are a lover of history, you could probably allocate a day to this fascinating display of different eras of war. The Museum is located in Ottawa near parliament hill. Plenty of paid parking space is available. The museum was divided into 4 different zones, the Early wars, the First world war, the Second World war and the Cold war to the present. The artifacts on display like trenches, and war zones must catch your eye for sure. Some other displays like letters from the family, paper ads during wars, Hitler’s car, guns, and artilleries like cannons and tanks take you back in time. Some documentaries on war zones are sure to attract your interest. As a product manager, what I also liked about the museum was it had a mention of the estimated time you will spend in each section of the museum which helps you to plan better. Entry to the war museum can also be booked through Canoo App.

Parc Omega: A complete package for the family and I would call it the ultimate winter experience as we get to see Canadian wild animals in their natural surroundings. The snow-clad rocks, forests and freely roaming deers and other animals almost makes you forget that you are in a zoo. You can feed the animals like deer and boar that are considered safe with carrots. The 12-kilometre car trail lets one visit various types of wild animals like silver foxes, red foxes, wolves, turkeys, boars, deers, bison, elks, moose, mule deer and others. Due to winter, we missed out on the bears as we were told they were hibernating. The park also has some walking trails like the First Nations trail and the land of the pioneers. All along the way you would be treated with the joy of observing a plethora of wildlife. During winter there was also a show on the wolves where you get to know a lot about them and their behaviour. You also have a picnic area, a restaurant for a quick bite, and hot beverages in the middle of the car route. I would recommend packing your lunch for the trail especially if you go on a light day which might give you the entire day to enjoy the splendid beauty of the park. Omega park is located an hour from Ottawa or Montreal. Adding this to your itinerary is totally worth it. I am going back to the park in the summer for sure.

Canadian Parliament: Are you interested in knowing more about the place where important national policies are discussed and decisions that impact the lives of Canadians are made? Book some time to take a guided tour of the Canadian parliament and it is absolutely free. The tours are offered in both French and English. If you are interested in taking this 45-minute tour, book this when you plan your travel and the other activities around this one. Our group loved this experience completely and interestingly you can also attend the live session on a first come first serve basis. All tickets need to be booked online and there is no in-person ticket. Historic paintings adorn the walls of this beautiful Neo-Gothic structure. The tour takes you through the different chambers in the parliament and also guides enrich your knowledge through some fun trivia questions in between the tour. Fun fact: The word parliament came from the French word parler, which means ‘to talk’. Book your tickets through https://rts.parl.ca/en-CA/Home?

Vegetarian/Vegan-Friendly places tried

Pacini Gatineau: Italian; Plenty of vegetarian options. Avg: 35-40$ per person

Zak’s Diner: All-day diner, near Parliament hill, Must-try milkshakes $15-20 per person

Tanjai Ottawa: Authentic South Indian Restaurant, Good try, $25-$27 per person. Full Review.

Indian Cafe, Ottawa: Take-outs and short eats, Good channa masala and samosas, avoid their tea. $10-$15 per person. Not a must-try.

If you are wondering where to travel in Fall, check this post- Fall 2022

Destination Ontario: 2022 A Fall Trip To Fall For

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

“Humpty might not have had a good summer, but Humpty will surely have a great fall.” – read a quote in Wilno Tavern. This quote pretty much summarizes how my summer and fall of 2022 were. The summer was occupied with work, and hectic travel, in between fell sick and recovered, the lawn and plants took a beating due to the harsh winter and I could not wait for the fall weather to kick in.

“Love the trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year.”

– Chadd Sugg

I grew up in southern India which is highly tropical in nature. The sarcasm in the region is that the weather is just hot, hotter and hottest. But we did study that there are 4 seasons when I had actually experienced only 2. Fall was a season I had never heard of but it is the season that I look forward to every year since I moved to the United States. What makes the fall season so special?

Fall is a season that is all about pumpkins and one of the favourite drinks is not so spicy “Pumpkin Spice Latte”. What made fall even more beautiful was the ever-present warning of “Winter is coming”. The trees that were once green burst into gold, pink, brown, red and many other beautiful colours. The season activates your 5 senses: taste, smell, touch, hearing and sight, making you fall in love with the Fall season.

Things to do in the fall in Ontario.

Day 1 was about driving through Madawaska valley consisting of the beautiful locales of Wilno, Combermere and Barry’s Bay. The trip was planned in a way that we avoided the traffic on Highway 60 and went through routes that gave us a lot of surprises and many scenic spots to click beautiful pictures.

Kamaniskeg Lake Lookout: The trip started with this awesome place that is definitely worth the stop. This place was initially planned to be our lunch stop. There are no restaurants here, we planned to have our homemade food here. This picturesque place actually delayed our lunch by an hour or so. Such was the beauty of this place. This place overlooks the Ottawa river basin and an island dedicated to the Mayflower tragedy, one of the biggest inland tragedies in Canada. The place also offers some information on this tragedy and the locals mentioned that the trail around the lake is a must-try. One place added to our bucket list for the summer of 2023.

St. Mary’s Church: This magnificent church was our next stop; unfortunately, the church was closed. The region is known for being the first polish settlement in Canada. The views from the hilltop were spectacular and the church grounds are so well maintained. The fall colors was just awesome will never forget those views. This detour is completely worth a quick stop. Wilno Tavern restaurant is located close to this church. Fun fact: This is where i read the “Humpty Quote”, referenced at the beginning of this blog.

McRae Lookout Park: This place was not a part of the agenda and stopped us in our tracks. This scenic lookout park overlooks the Bonnechere river and the flowing water through the ruins is a sight to behold. The spot has plenty of parking lots and seems a bit of a detour, but I am sure this place will pull you to stop. This spot is a good place for a picnic or a hangout with friends. You can also find a nice shelter here to rest and hangout with friends.

Mount Molson Dairy Bar: This one was a quick pit stop before our dinner. The dairy bar is run by friendly staff and is located in a spot where you would lose track of time. This place is situated on top of the mountain overlooking the Ottawa river. They serve Kawartha Lakes Dairy and this is a window service takeout. Grab an ice-cream, sit at the top of the ski hill and enjoy the stupendous view of the Ottawa River!

Day 2 was spent in the majestic and beautiful Algonquin park. The provincial park is home to different kinds of flora and fauna. The fall(autumn) is the best season to visit the park and highway 60 is the most popular route used by tourists to enjoy the colours. You do not need a permit to access the highway but purchase a permit and book a date to access the facilities like parking, trails, and rest area.

Sand Lake Gate, Algonquin Park: This gate is located on the East side of the park. This place contains information on the park, permits for various parks, information bulletins, and restrooms. I would advise using the restrooms here as the restrooms near the trails are not super clean. If you plan to cover multiple trails getting a daily pass is a better deal. The staff here were very friendly. The place also sells some Algonquin park merchandise.

Barron Canyon: The sand lake gate is the entry to Barron Canyon. The drive to the trail offers various photo-ops. Set your google maps ahead of time as you will lose signal after you cross Sand Lake Gate. This is a medium-level 1.5 KM loop trail. I have trekked this trail in both Fall and Winter, and the hike is totally worth the time. The course and the cliff are very picturesque. This is not a kid-friendly trail and has a high unfenced cliff which can be fatal. So, make sure to keep a watch on your loved ones.

McManus Lake: The truly hidden gem and a must-visit spot. This is a bit of a detour from the Barron Canyon and there is absolutely no signal in your cellphone so make sure you trust your map and stay on the route. The route is a little tricky to handle as it is narrow so do not speed, and be cautious while driving. The lake is accessible and a good place to hang out with friends and family. The view of the mountain and the forest on the other side of the lake makes the place even more special during the fall season.

Driftwood Provincial Park: The park is located on the Ottawa River directly across from the mouth of the Dumoine River. This park is located very close to the highway making it easy to locate. During the summer, this water is warm enough to swim, and the small trail that takes you to the top of the rock is an experience worth it in the fall season. There is a small boardwalk leading into the lake which can be used as a runway to jump into the lake or take some excellent photos. The boardwalk sways a lot so caution is advised when using the boardwalk.

Deep River Marina

Deep River Marina: Small little town took me by surprise during my first visit. This place reminded us more of Schitt’s Creek as this was a self-contained town. There is a sand beach here for you to enjoy the warm water during the summer and a small trail leading to a boardwalk which makes the view romantic. We also found many boats docked by the locals and the place is known for canoeing.

Routes:

My Maps: Link

Day 1: Route Link

Day 2: Route Link

In Their Own Words: Impactful Statements That Inspire and Empower

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

For people who know me sports have played a significant role in shaping my thought process and how sports personalities across the world have inspired my day-to-day activities. Sports have had a significant impact on my perspective, and I find inspiration in athletes worldwide. Beyond their skills, style of play and experience, I have always been fascinated by how they answer some questions thrown at them. Their answers to tough questions have been a valuable source of life lessons for many.

Currently, IPL 2023 is in its business end, and Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans have made it to the finals. Chennai Super Kings won in a dramatic match, and this marked their 10th final appearance – more than any other team thus far. During the post-match presentation, my favourite commentator in this generation, Harsha Bhogle, asked Dhoni if playing in the 10th final felt like just another final to him. Dhoni responded quickly and with conviction, stating that every IPL final is significant, and despite it being the team’s 10th final, it still holds immense importance.

Courtesy: ESPNcricinfo. Dhoni the leader letting the team cherish the moment and finding happiness in them having fun.

Another important interview that I loved in the past week was that of Erik Ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United Men’s football team. Victory against Chelsea secured Manchester United the top 4 spot which is something that is minimum for a club of such a big stature. In the post-match talk, he was asked now that the top 4 spot is secure, does he feel accomplished? He was quick to remind the interviewer that there is one more game to go and there is pride and 3rd place to play for.

These statements speak about how Dhoni and Erik treat each and every game seriously. They exude confidence both on and off the field that rubs on the players. Despite their significant achievements on the field, they still take every game seriously. Their statements ensure that their teams stay alert and level despite their achievements. This is a phenomenal lesson for not only their teams but also many leaders across the world. You might have a wealth of knowledge and have an abundance of experience in your domain but it is still important for you to be humble and respect every action and milestone in your team. It is important to stay in the moment, treat every step as an important one and be a team player despite being a leader.

Indeed, leaders like Dhoni and Erik continue to inspire and teach us life lessons that extend beyond the realm of sports itself. Leaders like them remind us of the values of staying humble, dedicated, determined, being a team player, and hard work – traits that will help us achieve continuing success.

Up next on vyasonkeys, CSK’s victory this season is a great template for many organizations across the industries. Look forward to the next blog on What some organizations can get right to sustain success in the long run.

Maharaja Bhog – Indulge in the Royal Feast

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Maharaja Bhog located in Hurontario St, Mississauga is the place to go if you think about indulging in an absolute Indian feast and this place would probably need no promotion. This place serves authentic Rajasthani and Gujarati Thali, which will delight your taste palates with flavourful and tasty food.

This place is a newly opened restaurant in the GTA region and is located in a rather small complex. The decor and the interiors do not give you a traditional Rajasthani ambience but are rich enough. We were greeted with a smile by the staff taking our names for the waitlist. We waited for close to 45 minutes for the seats to be assigned but trust me every second was worth it. We went on an empty stomach and travelled quite a few kilometres after an intense session of Badminton, so the 45 minutes did not matter much.

More than the food, the star of the show according to me was the people who prepared the delicious food and the people who served it with no sign of tiredness despite being thronged by the crowd there. What I saw in those close to 2 hours of the visit was the enthusiastic staff who wanted to serve the patrons which according to me is an encouraging sign for a restaurant.

All the dishes were fantastic and filled with heavenly taste. This is a treat for Gujarati and Rajasthani food lovers. The menu in this restaurant keeps changing. Some of the standard options on the menu would be Roti, poori, Daal Khichdi, Rice, Rajasthani Dal, Dhokla, and Gujarati Dal. One of the softest and fresh Dhoklas that we have had. The rotis and pooris were served hot and straight from the kitchen. The masala chas ensured that the digestive juices kept flowing and the icing on the cake. None of the food was too spicy or overladen with masala. Here is a list of dishes we enjoyed.

Vada Dahi Chat: This stole our hearts. This is an appetizer consisting of deep-fried soft lentil fritters soaked in Dahi (yogurt) with chutneys and spices to make it a chat. This seems to be a rather simple dish but it was sumptuous.

Rajma Masala: Rajma masala is a popular Indian dish made from kidney beans, onions, tomato, herbs and spices. This is a healthy and hearty dish. This was something we repeatedly filled up. It went really well with both rotis and rice.

Rajasthani Dal: The Rajasthani Dal was packed with flavour and proteins. This was the perfect comfort food for a cool rainy day. To enhance the experience, we paired Rajma Masala with rice and a side of crunchy churmuri papad.

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Restaurant Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cost: 26.99+tax

We truly hope that this restaurant opens in Hamilton and continues to serve with the same smile and enthusiasm.

Master Blaster Turns 50: A Tribute to Sachin Tendulkar

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

24th April has always been a special day for a long time. 50 years ago, this day a child with superhuman abilities was born in Mumbai and went on to capture the hearts of millions of cricket enthusiasts across the world and ruled the sport for 3 decades. He broke multi records some of which I doubt anyone would break in the near future. He changed the way cricket was played in India and inspired many to take up the sport and batting in particular. His name is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Photo Courtesy: Sachin Tendulkar Instagram

My first memory of Sachin was the 1992 world cup in the classic retro jersey. I was hardly 5 years old then so this did not feel big to me. But it was in 1993 that I took a liking to this genius when he bowled the defended 6 runs in the final over to lead India to the finals. I instantly took a liking to him. To me, he was everything. I remember when I played badminton against a tall opponent, my sir asked him if I can manage, I confidently responded that if Sachin a guy who was hardly 5 foot 5 inches can not only play Curtly Ambrose who was standing tall at 6.5 feet so could I play well against a taller guy as well. Such was the mark he left upon me.

My joy was unbound when my father took me to watch him live at the famous Chepauk – MA Chidambaram Stadium to watch a test match against Australia. To watch him take the battle to the dominant Aussies was extra special for a 9-year-old me. Over the years, my love and admiration for my hero went up leaps and bounds. There was a period where if Sachin got out, millions of TVs around the country would be turned off and when he played the time would freeze. I used to sit in front of my prayer room when he plays and would pray for him to score a century and lead India to victory when he plays.

Here is a glimpse of some of my favourite events featuring Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Most Favorite Moment: A 22-year-old dream was fulfilled when Ravi Shastri screamed in the commentary box – Dhoni finishes off in style, and Sachin lifted the world cup finally after 5 unsuccessful attempts. I was going crazy at my friend’s place. Little did I realize that I was welling up and tears of joy rolled down my cheek.

Most Favorite Shot: Sachin can play every shot in the book. The classic cover drive on the up against Wasim Akram, the uppercut against Shoaib Akhtar, the pull shot against Andrew Caddik or the glance down to the fine leg boundary but the shot that stood out the most for me was his trademark straight drive. According to me, no one can play it better than the great master blaster. My celebrations went wild when I saw him play this shot from D stand MAC, the perfect stand for viewing this shot, the crowd just stood up and applauded the shot for sometime.

Courtesy: ICC Instagram account

Favourite Century: It is a hard task picking 1 from his 100 hundred. But to me, it would always be his century against Sharjah in 1998 which is famously known as the Desert Storm innings. He took the fight to the Aussies who were otherwise considered undefeatable. He believed in himself and single-handedly took India to the finals and scored another century to help India lift the trophy. 1998 stamped his authority as the best One Day International player to have played the game. Virat Kohli is the closest to the legend in matching his records and stands a chance to beat his ODI records.

Favourite Wicket: Sachin was pretty handy with the ball as mentioned in the introduction. He claims that he wanted to be a fast bowler and thanks to the MRF Pace Foundation, he quit that dream. My initial memory of him was bowling right-arm medium but then switched to Right Arm Spin. To me, the best wicket he took was that of Moin Khan on a flat Multan pitch that offered nothing for the bowler. This changed the course of the match.

Sachin dismissing Moin Khan of the last ball of the day.

Favourite Innings: This is a toughie but I am going to go with the innings at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) where he scored an unbeaten 241. What made this knock extra special is that he did not play a cover drive that entire innings despite being teased by the bowlers. It is very tough for a batsman to restrain for that long but he had the grit and the patience to avoid that shot that caused his downfall in the previous matches.

Sachin the Leader: Sachin never had a great tenure as the captain of India which is something that I wish he had. But no one is 100% and if it was not meant for him, so be it. But he carried along well playing under different captains. His input was keenly listened to by everyone on the team. Had it not been for him and other seniors, India would have not got its greatest captain in its Men’s cricket history, MS Dhoni. He conducted himself very well on and off the field leading by example for the younger generations. His recalling Ian Bell after being run out is one of the best cricketing leadership moments I have seen.

Happy Birthday to the Genius who taught billions across the world to dream and lead the way. May you continue to spread smile across the faces of your fans for many more years to come. SACHIN SACHIN will forever be ringing in our ears.

Daawat – A Feast that’s cooking

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Address: 2070 Rymal Rd E, Hannon, ON L0R 1P0

Mysore Masala Dosa: Dosai is a fermented Indian pancake made from rice and lentil dough. Masala Dosai is usually crisp with a filling of masala gravy inside. Mysore Masala Dosa usually has a paste of chilli and garlic paste spread on the inside of the dosa with masala potato filling. The dosa was quite big and crispy just as we had requested. I usually order the masala on the side for the dosa to retain the crispiness. The dosa was served along with a couple of chutneys and sambhar. The sambhar could have been thicker as it should be for a accompaniment of dosa. Verdict: Good to try.

Vegetable Pakora: A popular street food and snack from the Indian sub-continent. Pakoras are crispy fritters made from dough of gram flour, vegetables like onions, carrots, potatoes, carrots, cabagge, native spices and herbs. This usually goes very well with Indian Masala Chai. The pakoras were crispy and tasty. A good starter to try but go for their cut mirchi if you like it spicy. Verdict: Good try, but must try for cut mirchi.

Chilli Idli:  Idly is a savoury rice cake prepared by baking fermented rice and lentil batter and is very popular in South India. For chilli Idly, the idly is cut into pieces and tossed with chilli sauce and vegetables like onions and green pepper. This was not really spicy and does not affect your taste pallette. For idly lovers this is not a starter for sure and a safe option. Verdict: Must Try

Channa Bhatura: Bhatura, a very popular dish from Northern India, a deep fried bread made of all purpose flour. It is also known as Chole Bhatura. Chole or Channa is made from cooking white channa along with spices, tomato and onion sauce, herbs, onions, garlic and ginger. The quantity of Channa Bhatura is quite large and would definitely fit a meal for one person. The taste was really good and I would recommend to have this hot. Verdict: Must try

Average Price: $10-$15 per person

Restaurant Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall Verdict: A good and improving Indian restaurant in Hamilton with both North and South Indian cuisines in their menu.

The food is tasty and flavorful. This place is known for Biryani and I have tried their Vegetable Dum Biryani and Daawat special dum biryani which according to me is a Must Try. The restaurant is a take out place for now and the owner has started to add some tables based on feedback from customers. I also spotted some picnic/patio tables at the spot, so dining during summer should be an option. The owner was open to accept feedback from customers and improve their standards. They have some good combos and weekly/monthly offers. The restaurant and grocery store is relatively new so they have room for improvement like adding more variety to their Dosa menu, sambhar and chutneys and some native Andhra special cuisine.

Holy Shakes: Falling in love…with Milkshakes & Fusion

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan
Burger with Masala Fries
FREAKSHAKE
Steamed Chilli Momo

Ferrero Cheesecake Freakshake: As the name suggests this was indeed freaky- a milkshake that was unusual and out of the ordinary. The highlight of this drink is the Cheesecake Factory Bakery® Cheesecakes are added either on top or by the side of the drink. The drink burst with an abundance of Ferrero rocher flavour. I am a big fan of the cheesecake factory cheesecakes and this one is right on top of my list of favourites for sure. Make sure to take the jar with you, bring it back to get a 5% discount which was confirmed by the staffs. Verdict: Must Try.

Steamed and Pan-Seared Chilli Momos: Momos are a popular street food in northern parts of India and are quite popular now even in Southern India. These are also known as Dim Sum or dumplings and made from flour with some flavourful filling. This was a spicy flavour-filled momos which had less oil as it was pan-seared rather than pan fried. The filling was well cooked and the out layer was a little bit more thick than the usual. The chilli sauce on top added a touch of spice to the otherwise bland food. Verdict: Hit or Miss. Can Skip.

Roadside Burger (Chowmein): Chow mein means fried noodles. This burger consisted of mix-veg patty, chowmein and holy eatery signature sauces stacked inside sliced Brioche buns. The touch of fusion was fantastic and innovative. For someone who does not like burgers, this was something that I enjoyed eating. The patty inside the burger and the chow-mein was well cooked and juicy. The side of masala fries topped with spicy habanero sauce was a class apart.I would not mind buying them on the side. Verdict: Very Good Try

Average Price per person: $20-$25.

Address: 1299 Barton St E Unit K04, Hamilton, ON L8H 2V4

Restaurant Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The place was well-maintained and clean. The staff were courteous and welcoming. The only issue would be the number of seats in the location. Not a place for a group to sit and hang out. Special shoutout to Rajat for diligently preparing the delicious milkshake. I would have given them 5 ⭐️s had they fulfilled the offer that was displayed but they let us down by stating that the promotion is now closed.

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Mahal Tanjore Ottawa: Staying Rooted to its Name

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Masala Vadai: Masala means a mixture of spices and Vadai is a fried lentil snack. So, masala vadai is a fried snack made of masala lentil dough. The lentil dough is prepared from a soaked Channa gram or Bengal gram. The dough must be coarse to ensure that the vadai is crisp. The vadai here stayed true to the description above. One of the best Masala Vadai I have had in years. I would rate it close to the vadai I have had back in Chennai. This is neither that spicy nor hot. Verdict: Must Try for an appetizer.

Kancheepuram Masala Dosai: Dosai is a fermented Indian pancake made from rice and lentil dough. Masala Dosai is usually crisp with a filling of masala gravy inside. This one was stuffed with spicy red chilli paste, bell peppers/capsicum, cabbage, herbs and spices. The cabbage was a bit of a surprise and was unusually big which did not make it a great combination. I would have personally preferred the masala to be finely chopped making it easier to blend with the dosai and not stand as the odd man out. The spicy level I tried was medium. Verdict: Out of the box but not for everyone.

Podi Idly: I call Idly the friend of a lazy man. Idly is a savoury rice cake prepared by baking fermented rice and lentil batter and is very popular in South India. I am not a big fan of Idlis but I would have this podi Idly any day. The idly is cut into small pieces and tossed with spicy ground lentil condiment called Podi. This podi was well done and you can taste the flavour of coarsely grounded podi in every bite of the idly. Verdict: Good Try.

Chilli Parotta: Chilli Parotta is an Indo-Chinese cuisine and is usually a spicy, and delicious dish made by frying parotta cutting into usually square pieces and cooking it with various spices, onion & capsicum. Chilli Parotta is a fast food that I love having in restaurants and love to make it at home as well. The chilli parotta was crisp and tasted very good. Verdict: Go for it.

Kothu Parotta: This is a famous South Indian cuisine I have enjoyed in shops/restaurants along the highways in Tamil Nadu. Kothu means shredded and parotta is a flatbread made from all-purpose flour or wheat flour. The kothu parotta is tossed with either vegetables or egg usually. The taste was very similar to what I would have had on the highway dhabas back home. The crunchiness of the parotta and the vegetables make the dish even more enjoyable. Verdict: Good Try.

Podi Idly: I call Idly the friend of a lazy man. Idly is a savoury rice cake prepared by baking fermented rice and lentil batter and is very popular in South India. I am not a big fan of Idlis but I would have this podi Idly any day. The idly is cut into small pieces and tossed with spicy ground lentil condiment called Podi. This podi was well done and you can taste the flavour of coarsely grounded podi in every bite of the idly. Verdict: Good Try.

Chettinad Masala Dosai: Chettinad masala dosai is another variety of masala dosai. The stuffing has potato masala along with special masala paste applied over the dosai. The uniqueness of the paste is the black pepper as the ingredient which makes it a touch spicy. Verdict: Out of the box but not for everyone. Verdict: Out of the box but not for everyone.

I also tried their Mango ginger and Virgin Coconut Mojito which was really good.

Final Verdict: Good South Indian spread in Ottawa. You might feel that this is a touch more expensive if you travel from the GTA region. But worth it.

Average Price: $20-$25/person

Restaurant Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 Considering the previous bad experience I would rate this place a 3.5. The staff were pleasant and served us with courtesy. The food tasted awesome but if you are in a hurry, this is not your place.

Location: 108 Third Ave, Ottawa, ON K1S 2J8.