Apollo Banana Leaf Review

Second bad experience at the Apollo Banala Leaf, Tooting. You can see the link at the end of this post about the previous review following a poor service. This time, (a few months ago) we went there after booking a table for 6.

When we arrived at the restaurant, there was only a couple eating. We had ordered the starters and the drinks. Usually, when we go to restaurant as a family, we first have the starters and order the food only after /nearly finishing with the starters (I am sure a lot of people do the same). It wasn't even 10 minutes of ordering the food, when the phone rang and the staff was taking a booking for a table of 7-10 or something. He immediately came to us and said; 'I have 10 white people coming to eat soon, you need to order your main now. Because when they're here, I won't be able to service you properly'. Note, by this time we didn't even get our starters or drinks to the table and it had only been 10 mins in the restaurant. We were also a group of customers who booked table in advance. Plus if you have a restaurant with a certain amount of capacity, then you must be able to serve all table equally. Doesn't matter white/pink/brown/black/purple!! If you can't, simply don't take the bookings. If a restaurant cannot serve 16 people at a time, you should probably close down or get more staff. Or more conveniently, put a sign outside 'We only serve certain colours'. No offence to any race here. If you go to an English restaurant, you're well treated there than an Asian restaurant. What an irony. There is  no need to rush other customers away when you don't even have a nearly full restaurant at the time. 

We were very disappointed by this and decided to leave the restaurant straight away. Family was being polite and said we had to go but I actually explained to the staff that this was not the right attitude. They are not very welcoming towards Asian people for whatever reason. Extremely disappointed. Please do not go there if you are an Asian and want to be treated decently.

We will never ever go there again.

Previous review:

http://ssaranyas.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/apollo-banana-leaf-tooting.html

Happy New Year 2016

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous New Year 2016! 

Hope this year brings a lot of happiness and peace to every home in this world.

May this 2016 year be good to all.

Lots of love.

Picture taken from google.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!! 

I hope you all had a great Xmas. May this festival bring a lot of joy and peace to this world.

Thank you to a kind stranger

Some one walking past my house knocked on my door to let me know my car headlights were still on. It had been on for four hours and this person had the kindness to leave his luggage that he was dragging to the side, take his earphones out and knock on my door. Some of you may think this is not much at all, but I think, in a world we are living like this, this is a lot. Thinking about it, if my car battery dies in the next few hours (happened before) and it's Christmas tomorrow, then the weekend, boxing day and so on, I don't know if I could have got RAC to come and re-charge it for me. I don't know how I would have gone to work tomorrow. (Yes, I am working on Christmas day, 4th consecutive Xmas that I am working. NHS you see.).

Anyway, coming back to the point, I wish that this person who was kind to me, has more kindness and happiness from others and that his new year will be a good one. 

Be good and kind to others and you don't have to work hard to earn your own happiness.

The World is breaking up into pieces - Krishna Nee Begane Baro

Such powerful and beautiful words. When I heard this today, I just felt this was the most needed words at the right time. I wish this world is a much more peaceful place. Everyone is  a human. That's all it is. And some people completely fail to understand this, which is really really sad. 

"Everybody is fighting with their brothers, everybody wants control, don't hesitate to kill one another........ and Religion is the reason the world is breaking into pieces"

"They need a teacher and you're the only one..."

Innocence

Life continues to teach us so many things and I continue to learn.

I wonder how much someone's innocence can be perceived as naivety. There are times when someone puts him/herself forward to help out but ends up being used as an extra pair of hands for something that only needs one hand. Not valued for who they are. Quite sad really. It's like a  poor child being given  the most childish explanation if something couldn't be afforded by the parents so, making up a lie  to not hurt them...and when the child grows up to an adult and reviews things in the memory and realises the painful truth behind the lies or the alternative temporary happiness that was given instead. 

At times even these people are awake to the fact that they are being undermined, it is the true innocence that pushes them to still choose the (painful)way it leads to.  And still be nice. Innocence, is it a good thing or a bad thing? Regardless, the unconditional trust that an innocent puts towards the others is what eventually breaks their heart. Many times, life presents us circumstances where our character and patience are tested. I am sure, at these times, if you be honest and do what you would as your own self (rather than having conversations in your head as to what others would have done in the same circumstance), things would be much more easier. Being innocent is somewhat like this. Or being naive.

Obviously, it depends on which end of the spectrum you're in that determines the goods and bad of being one. In this tough world (this 'tough' perception may be subjective), it is not something that you can survive with forever, I think. Depending on where you are, you will gradually get moulded into the coping strategies or attitude to survive. And, when that happens, going back to the memories when you were taken for granted without you even realising it, is pretty painful. It would hit you like you were a victim of a crime. 

I guess it's part of the journey called life, experiencing the differences, polishing your character constantly and growing up as you move along. At the end of the day, you are you. That's what makes you stronger.  As they say, a metal starts to shine as it is hammered with fire. It undergoes so much pain but becomes a beautiful creation as an end result.  Being innocent is peaceful, but with so much hammering and fire and pain, one may eventually become a beautiful soul. Well, then I wish that being innocent is that's all it is. Easily said. Learning and growing. There are times in life when we come to a pause, not knowing what to do next. One of the best things that humans are blessed with is forgetfulness, so forget and move on. There are things and people that must be ignored and those must not be. 

To you who are reading this, may you be blessed with only good things for being who you are. 

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

And the christmas season begins. Christmas is a magical time and it brings a lot of happiness when you go out to the streets in winter despite the freezing cold. I haven't realised the time is so near until visiting Southampton. The isle of Wight hasn't woken up yet. I miss the lively London. It's the best place to be in the month of Christmas. Sigh. 2nd Christmas in a row in this lonely island. Cannot wait for a year to pass by to spend the next christmas in my home, London. Anyhow, loved roaming around in WestQuay in Southampton , shopping on my own and enjoying the festive feeling. Here are some photos from yesterday.

Inside West Quay, a pretty christmas tree! 

Christmas gift shop outside the Quay

And the German bar! 

We are your Junior Doctors

A brilliant video, to the point and educational. A must watch for the public of UK. Well done to those who put a lot of work into this. Please do watch.

We are one profession, We stand together 

Happy Diwali / Deepavali

Wishing everyone a very happy Diwali / Deepavali.

May this auspicious day filled with the divine light bring endless of joy, prosperity and brightness to your home.

Celebrate safe :)

My autumn madness continues...

Hot cup of americano at your favourite restaurant when the sky is pouring outside is called heaven

Pavements and the green grass carpet decorated with lovely colours of nature.

STANDING ALONE BUT ALWAYS BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

I heart autumn

Isle of Wight

My favourite season of all is Autumn. 

It gives this feeling of happiness, colours and the gentle rain! Nothing can beat it. 

A quiet evening on the sofa, watching tele with a hot cup of tea or the company of a novel. The golden parks. Those mornings filled with rays of the Sun and sprinkles of rain gracing the grass and flowers. Heaven! It's a season of tranquility and more importantly, the season when Christmas feeling enters in.....along with Winter!

I heart Autumn.