Random Thoughts..

 During the Good Friday weekend [April 1st week], we wanted to move out and needed to be back before Sunday as our son had his culminating ceremony after his 3 years in Montessori. As we were planning to take out our Cheetah for a roaring drive, one of my acquaintances called me that he has started his camping business in Yercaud and that I should visit it once. And Bingo the plan was made as Yercaud is 240 km away from Bengaluru where we stay, and the roads are also awesome. We packed our bags the night before, and on the 7th around 5:30 we left for Yercaud and reached at 10:30 with 2 stops of 10 mins & 30 mins [ At Aahaa Family Restaurant ] respectively. This restaurant is on the route itself, so no detour. * Route Taken: Electronic City -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Karimangalam -> Bommidi -> Poomarathoor -> Kolagur -> Karadiyoor -> Wild Troupe. Route * Total Distance: 480 km [To & Fro] * Trip Dates: 7th & 8th * Mileage: 15.2 & 14.6 [AC on full b

  "Agar aap disciplined investor ho MF mein via SIPs, to jitni sidhiyan chadoge utna girne ka chance kum hota jayega," I used to say to my MF investors during my banking days as a wealth manager. After investing self money for the last 10+ years, I have come to a number of conclusions. Conclusions: a) The market never goes in a linear mode. In the market, 12 = 1 +2+1+3+0.5+4+0.5. b) The market is the only industry where EQ>IQ. Here, an above-average emotional quotient with a below-average intelligence quotient makes you the most money. c) Always avoid noise. d) Ideas sell for dime a dozen, discipline is the key. e) One becomes wealthy by either saving or cutting expenses. If you are doing both, then you are on the highway. Most important - if you saving, living below means, and cutting expenses then you are on Autobahn.  f) Saving 1st crore is the most difficult milestone. g) On average, in a decade there would only be 40-50 best days and if you are invested during that da

Hi All We had our weekend sorted on the 11th & 12th of February and were planning for a 500 km to-fro trip from Bengaluru so that we can leave early on Saturday morning and be back by Sunday evening with one night stay. As we were rounding on destinations, my kid came with the usual demand of going to an animal safari/forest - and we finalized Mudumalai forest as it had an option of safari too. Mudumalai forest is at the foothills of Nilgiris and is the other part of Bandipur forest, and lies in TN [ just 50 kms before Ooty ]. || Partners in Crime || : my better half, my 5.5-year-old kid & XUV 300 W8 O Petrol [part of family since November 2022] We booked  The Deer Meadows , which is small property adjacent to the Mudumalai forest reserve in Gudalur. We booked a cottage overlooking the meadows. Saturday came, and we were ready with our trip food and small luggage - started around 6:45 and reached the location around 12:30 with 1 break at Maddur on the newly built Bengaluru-Myso

First of all, I apologize for uploading the trip-log after a long time. This time, I have come to you with my experience journey from Bengaluru to Sterling Holidays, Wayanad, and back; in the form of trip details. In fact, after Vansh coming into our life 3 years back; we have never taken a road trip - which is a stark reality to Myself and Tanu's life before Vansh. So, coming to the 1st road experience with Vansh -------> Car: Wagon R ZXI 1.2 Manual [ I've seen many articles where people have raised questions about the drive of Wagon R on highways, but believe me I've taken many long rides in Wagon R and I can definately vouch for the road presence & performance ] Period: October 30 & 31, 2020. Checkout out on 1st November around 11. From: Bannerghatta Road To: Sterling Holidays, Wayanad a) Km Driven Onward: 263 b) Km Driven Return: 275 a) Mileage Onward: 19 b) Mileage Return: 17.9 a) Time Taken onward: 6:30 Hrs [1) coffee break of 10 minutes 2) Breakfast break

Merger of bandhan with gruh - Good or Bad?? Since last week, I am heating the loud noise the recent merger between Bandhan Bank and Gruh finance has created. I also got concerns from couple of my friends stating that this is not a good marriage. As an investor let me give you the some points as to why this marriage is made in heaven [ in short, this marriage is good news for the investors of both entities + investors of HDFC Bank + small MFI's ]. Per new arrangement, shareholding of HDFC will be 14.95%  As per the norms, one entity [in this case, HDFC] can own maximum 9.9% in merged entity; so HDFC will dilute its holding in merged entity -> which will have direct positive effect on HDFC Bank.  Both entities [Bandhan & Gruh] has overlapping customer base; so after arrangement Bandhan will have quality data on book.   After merger, dominance in East and West; plus war chest to acquire another small NBFC or MFI to get dominance in another region [this is ju

The path would never be smooth... If someone has invested 53 years ago in Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, he would have made a return of 2,404,748% returns. Yes, you read it right. We all know about the huge wealth creation by Buffett. Stock markets would always be volatile. At the cost of repetition, 10% correction once a year, 20% fall once in few years and 30% fall once a decade is very normal. Don’t panic. This is how markets work. During the journey of last 53 years, though the company was growing leaps and bounds, Berkshire share price had suffered four major falls. Between March 1973 to January 1975, it fell by 59.1% In a single month, in October 1987, it fell by 37.1% Between June 1998 and March 2000, it fell by 48.9% During the global recession, between September 2008 to March 2009, it fell by 50.7% Though huge wealth was created by anyone who invested in Berkshire, the above four falls would have been gut-wrenching. There would have been many