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Car and driver in Bangalore, India



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 31st, 2009, 06:58 AM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
NY Traveler
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India

Hello all,

Just a note to say that if you need a car and driver in Bangalore, I
have a recommendation. His name is Manjunath Rao, contact #
91-98-45318418(or within India, 098-45318418). He has an air-conditioned
Toyota Innova(Sienna), which he keeps very clean. It also has an MP3
player, which I found very useful! He charges INR 1600(about US$34 at
current rates) for 8 hours with unlimited mileage around town. Others
may charge a bit less, but I found it more than worthwhile to pay this
because Manjunath is very knowledgeable of the city and its complicated
roads and traffic patterns, has a very good knowledge of places to go to
for a variety of things and above all is very honest and trustworthy.
That's the kind of security I would place a premium on. I would usually
tip him over, or buy some pastries for his kids(ask him to show you
pictures, they are just adorable!), or just something to say I
appreciated his services. He speaks passable English, plus Hindi and the
local languages. A good family man, with a wife and 2 beautiful kids. I
have used his services before, as have other family members, and will
continue to do so when I visit Bangalore again. He is also a preferred
driver for the US military pilots who visit during the biennial Aero
India show. If you do call him, just tell him that a friend from New
York referred you.

Thanks so very much.
  #2  
Old January 31st, 2009, 05:30 PM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
Grob
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India


"NY Traveler" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

Just a note to say that if you need a car and driver in Bangalore, I have
a recommendation. His name is Manjunath Rao, contact # 91-98-45318418(or
within India, 098-45318418). He has an air-conditioned Toyota
Innova(Sienna), which he keeps very clean. It also has an MP3 player,
which I found very useful! He charges INR 1600(about US$34 at current
rates) for 8 hours with unlimited mileage around town. Others may charge a
bit less, but I found it more than worthwhile to pay this because
Manjunath is very knowledgeable of the city and its complicated roads and
traffic patterns, has a very good knowledge of places to go to for a
variety of things and above all is very honest and trustworthy. That's the
kind of security I would place a premium on. I would usually tip him over,
or buy some pastries for his kids(ask him to show you pictures, they are
just adorable!), or just something to say I appreciated his services. He
speaks passable English, plus Hindi and the local languages. A good family
man, with a wife and 2 beautiful kids. I have used his services before, as
have other family members, and will continue to do so when I visit
Bangalore again. He is also a preferred driver for the US military pilots
who visit during the biennial Aero India show. If you do call him, just
tell him that a friend from New York referred you.



Actually I used this same guy recently in Bangalore. I did not have a good
experience with him. He is a thief. When he takes you to a shop or
a restaurant, the owner of the said place gives him a commision.
I think you can just walk into any travel agency & find a car/driver as
good or better. And all of them know the city & it's complicated roads
& traffic patterns. And most of them aren't very honest - nor are they
trustworthy - just like this guy isn't. But who cares, you aren't marrying
him, right.


  #3  
Old January 31st, 2009, 05:51 PM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
William Black
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,125
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India


"Grob" wrote in message
...


Actually I used this same guy recently in Bangalore. I did not have a good
experience with him. He is a thief. When he takes you to a shop or
a restaurant, the owner of the said place gives him a commision.


Welcome to India...

Pick your own places or watch your driver collect his commission...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

  #4  
Old January 31st, 2009, 07:19 PM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
grusl[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 84
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India


"William Black" wrote in message
...

"Grob" wrote in message
...


Actually I used this same guy recently in Bangalore. I did not have a
good
experience with him. He is a thief. When he takes you to a shop or
a restaurant, the owner of the said place gives him a commision.


Welcome to India...

Pick your own places or watch your driver collect his commission...




Well ... my guess is the OP is the driver or his agent, and the 2nd posting
is his rival. Certainly, both posters are Indian.

I'm more than happy to provide Bangalore visitors with some driver and car
and options from my own experience here.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore



  #5  
Old January 31st, 2009, 08:11 PM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
NY Traveler
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India

Grob wrote:

"NY Traveler" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

Just a note to say that if you need a car and driver in Bangalore, I have
a recommendation. His name is Manjunath Rao, contact # 91-98-45318418(or
within India, 098-45318418). He has an air-conditioned Toyota
Innova(Sienna), which he keeps very clean. It also has an MP3 player,
which I found very useful! He charges INR 1600(about US$34 at current
rates) for 8 hours with unlimited mileage around town. Others may charge a
bit less, but I found it more than worthwhile to pay this because
Manjunath is very knowledgeable of the city and its complicated roads and
traffic patterns, has a very good knowledge of places to go to for a
variety of things and above all is very honest and trustworthy. That's the
kind of security I would place a premium on. I would usually tip him over,
or buy some pastries for his kids(ask him to show you pictures, they are
just adorable!), or just something to say I appreciated his services. He
speaks passable English, plus Hindi and the local languages. A good family
man, with a wife and 2 beautiful kids. I have used his services before, as
have other family members, and will continue to do so when I visit
Bangalore again. He is also a preferred driver for the US military pilots
who visit during the biennial Aero India show. If you do call him, just
tell him that a friend from New York referred you.



Actually I used this same guy recently in Bangalore. I did not have a good
experience with him. He is a thief. When he takes you to a shop or
a restaurant, the owner of the said place gives him a commision.
I think you can just walk into any travel agency & find a car/driver as
good or better. And all of them know the city & it's complicated roads
& traffic patterns. And most of them aren't very honest - nor are they
trustworthy - just like this guy isn't. But who cares, you aren't marrying
him, right.


I didn't have the same experience as you claim to have had. You say he
is a thief. What did he steal? I have left my briefcase, laptop and
cameras with him whenever I didn't need them, and nothing went missing,
and nothing was damaged. As far as commissions go, I would simply say to
him what I needed to buy, and he would take me there. Didn't even come
in with me. Ditto restaurants, I would say, I feel like eating a good
dosa, and he would steer me to a good veggie place. What's the commish
on a 25¢ dosa, 1 cent? Do you think they charged everyone else 20¢ and
charged me 25¢ to cover my driver's commission? Same with any other
restaurant, he would suggest a couple based on his customers' opinions,
and then wait for me.

Read up on the experiences people are having with "all of them". Trust
me, if you are an actual visitor there, you will appreciate the value of
a driver you can trust. You don't have to hire him, but you don't have
to needlessly bash him either.
  #6  
Old January 31st, 2009, 08:38 PM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
NY Traveler
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India

grusl wrote:

"William Black" wrote in message
...
"Grob" wrote in message
...
Actually I used this same guy recently in Bangalore. I did not have a
good
experience with him. He is a thief. When he takes you to a shop or
a restaurant, the owner of the said place gives him a commision.

Welcome to India...

Pick your own places or watch your driver collect his commission...



Well ... my guess is the OP is the driver or his agent, and the 2nd posting
is his rival. Certainly, both posters are Indian.

I'm more than happy to provide Bangalore visitors with some driver and car
and options from my own experience here.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore


Well, George, I am neither the driver nor his agent. I have no idea who
the 2nd poster is, and I'm guessing he's never used Manjunath(too
co-incidental that here's a guy who responds like that right away), or
even been in Bangalore, just being a b*ll-buster. I posted this because
business is slack for every driver now, and I thought it would be nice
to put out a reference for him. I haven't ever done this before.

I've used City Taxi and other options in Bangalore, and was not as
satisfied overall as with my preferred driver. I still use City for
short jaunts(2-3 hours) like a trip to the Forum mall, and a/ricks for
1-way travel since he doesn't do the short hours other than airport
drops or pickups, but if I need an 8 hour or more driver, I call Manjunath.

I haven't posted in these newsgroups before, so I haven't read your
other posts, but you should share your experiences with other readers.
As someone who typically spends 1 to 3 months at a time in Bangalore,
usually in Indiranagar, I would like to know about experiences others
have had in obtaining services such as cooks or housekeepers for the
longer term visitor, or what the best menu/value for Sunday brunch is at
a better restaurant, but I guess that would have to be on another
newsgroup, I'm not sure. So far, I've depended on the services of an
agency in Marathahalli, but their background checks seem to be rather
skimpy.

Regards,

George (yes, I'm a George too!)
  #7  
Old February 1st, 2009, 05:47 AM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
grusl[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 84
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India


"Alan S" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 01:19:19 +0700, "grusl"
wrote:


Well ... my guess is the OP is the driver or his agent, and the 2nd
posting
is his rival. Certainly, both posters are Indian.

I'm more than happy to provide Bangalore visitors with some driver and car
and options from my own experience here.



George, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to India last march,
as you probably know from my blog. My interests are made
clear in the blog.

That time I did the Golden Triangle; Delhi/Agra/Jaipur. I
intend to visit again next year. I realise you may be a
little biased to Bangalore, but I'd appreciate suggestions
for a start/finish point choice for a one or two-week visit,
starting and finishing at either Bangalore, Mumbai or
Chennai.


I shall put something together in the next few days. I'm currently in
Bangkok en route to Vietnam. Actually I'm not really that pro-Bangalore. The
traffic and pollution are getting out of hand and the infrastucture is
crumbling as we speak.

Depending on what you're interested in, off the top of my head you could
consider Mahaballipuram in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Hampi in Karnataka,
Kochi and Wayanad in Kerala and Hyderabad, or via Karwar on the northwest
coast of Karnataka and on to Goa. Further afield you could consider the east
coast from Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh (take a detour to the Araku
Valley) and up to Puri and Konark in Orissa via the splendidly named
Gopalpur-on-Sea.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore


  #8  
Old February 1st, 2009, 05:56 AM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
grusl[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 84
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India


"NY Traveler" wrote in message
...
grusl wrote:

"William Black" wrote in message
...
"Grob" wrote in message
...
Actually I used this same guy recently in Bangalore. I did not have a
good
experience with him. He is a thief. When he takes you to a shop or
a restaurant, the owner of the said place gives him a commision.
Welcome to India...

Pick your own places or watch your driver collect his commission...



Well ... my guess is the OP is the driver or his agent, and the 2nd
posting is his rival. Certainly, both posters are Indian.

I'm more than happy to provide Bangalore visitors with some driver and
car and options from my own experience here.



Well, George, I am neither the driver nor his agent. I have no idea who
the 2nd poster is, and I'm guessing he's never used Manjunath(too
co-incidental that here's a guy who responds like that right away), or
even been in Bangalore, just being a b*ll-buster. I posted this because
business is slack for every driver now, and I thought it would be nice to
put out a reference for him. I haven't ever done this before.

I've used City Taxi and other options in Bangalore, and was not as
satisfied overall as with my preferred driver. I still use City for short
jaunts(2-3 hours) like a trip to the Forum mall, and a/ricks for 1-way
travel since he doesn't do the short hours other than airport drops or
pickups, but if I need an 8 hour or more driver, I call Manjunath.

I haven't posted in these newsgroups before, so I haven't read your other
posts, but you should share your experiences with other readers. As
someone who typically spends 1 to 3 months at a time in Bangalore, usually
in Indiranagar, I would like to know about experiences others have had in
obtaining services such as cooks or housekeepers for the longer term
visitor, or what the best menu/value for Sunday brunch is at a better
restaurant, but I guess that would have to be on another newsgroup, I'm
not sure. So far, I've depended on the services of an agency in
Marathahalli, but their background checks seem to be rather skimpy.


I found your OP to be extraordinarily detailed about a particular driver in
an obscure part of the world. However, the second post was even odder - an
extrarodinary attack - and I do suspect a mere troll. However, I usually use
either Meru cabs or, for longer or out-of-town trips to Mysore or Belur, a
particular driver with his own car. (He seems fairly busy so he probably
wouldn't thank me for posting his contact details here).

I don't have staff so I can't help you there. As for Sunday brunch, a branch
of Oh! Calcutta (famously located on Nehru Place in Delhi) has opened up on
St. Mark's Road so that is my current favourite along with the new South
Indies on Infantry Road. You might also want to take a look at the new UB
City complex on Grant Road if you can slosh through the mud to get there.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore







  #9  
Old February 1st, 2009, 06:00 AM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
grusl[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 84
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India


"Alan S" wrote in message
...
George, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to India last march,
as you probably know from my blog. My interests are made
clear in the blog.

That time I did the Golden Triangle; Delhi/Agra/Jaipur. I
intend to visit again next year. I realise you may be a
little biased to Bangalore, but I'd appreciate suggestions
for a start/finish point choice for a one or two-week visit,
starting and finishing at either Bangalore, Mumbai or
Chennai.


Also, you might have noticed Alfred Molon's note a few weeks ago about
AirAsia now flying to Trichy (Tiruchirapalli). Might be worth keeping in
mind as a budget flight option.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore


  #10  
Old February 1st, 2009, 08:00 AM posted to rec.travel.asia,rec.travel.marketplace,rec.travel.misc
William Black
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,125
Default Car and driver in Bangalore, India


"grusl" wrote in message
...

.. However, I usually use
either Meru cabs or, for longer or out-of-town trips to Mysore or Belur, a
particular driver with his own car.


We used to rent a car on a daily basis when we needed one. But this year
we've used almost exclusively Meru whoa are starting to dominate the high
end business in Bombay.

So far, except for one driver who got lost (On Juhu beach!) it has been very
good.


--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.


 




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