Random Musings 😏, Part-7
Soul Letter #29
Hello👋 folks, Shubham here.
I am back with another edition of Random Musings.
Not Just A Cadbury Ad Campaign
As you all know the festival of Diwali is round the corner.
It’s usually the primary festival for several retailers however, due to the pandemic this isn’t the case. People are avoiding markets and crowded areas due to which the sales of numerous local shops have been stifled.
To support the locals, Cadbury came up with an amazing idea.
They created a sample template ad featuring the superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
Using machine learning they could alter his face and voice to customize the ad for any specific brand or shop.
It allowed small business owners to make King Khan their brand ambassador.
A great gesture from Cadbury :) Hats off to them.
Do watch the attached video. You will love it.
And, Happy Diwali 💥 to all the readers!
Next Time Crash at a Hostel
I went to Varanasi(Banaras) for a short trip with a couple of friends.
“Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”
- Mark Twain
We stayed at a place named Moustache, they have multiple hostels in India.
This was the first time we stayed in a hostel.
To paint a picture, there were people waking up at 1:00 pm, a few were attending office meetings while a guy was playing loud music on a speaker, some famished souls were having lunch, others were enjoying the weather by playing cards, and I was relishing the overall vibe.
There was a bubbly energy oozing all around. People laughing at random things, helping others review their itineraries, suggesting food joints to checkout.
We met some hardcore backpackers who had traveled throughout the world. It was intriguing to listen to their surreal adventures.
Many of the tenants were corporate employees who worked during the day, leveraging the current WFH protocols, and wandered in the evenings.
There were several amateur backpackers. I was under the impression that we will be accompanied by pro travelers but like us, many had booked the hostel for the first time.
Then there were people who extended their stay or moved on to the next random destination on a whim.
What fascinates me here is the difference in our mindset. They were so casual with their plans more like living in the moment, while someone like me needs a proper itinerary or at least a prior heads up before planning a vacation.
The diversity of people living under one roof was baffling.
It was riveting to know people with different backgrounds, professions, and mindsets could have so many similarities with us.
Another interesting thing is the hostel is the perfect metaphor for life. I mean whenever some lively figure left, we thought the hostel wouldn’t be legendary anymore.
However we were proven wrong time and again because their void was invariably filled by a new cohort of people, who were equally vibrant.
People amplify the magic, but the hostel is where it resides.
In all the experience was gratifying.
We never felt out of place. It was like catching up with old friends. The hostel staff was warm and friendly.
Anyone going on a trip, give hostel a try.
A Thing on Trips
Since we are on the topic of trips I would like to add something more.
A while ago I read an article which said that the best best way to know someone is go on a trip with them.
Why?
Because a trip is a perfect way to know someone’s true personality. You can plan everything yet things are destined to go wrong on a vacation.
Your flight might get postponed/canceled at the last moment or you may book the wrong hotel or something as normal as being stuck in a traffic jam.
You can’t prepare for these scenarios and are bound to act instinctively.
Therefore if a person is short-tempered they may react with a sudden outburst full of cursing while someone with a cool head might handle the situation more maturely.
The article encouraged people to go on trips before getting married.
It will help them know the other person better.
Hope you enjoyed this edition.
Signing off for today :) Until next time, Houdoe! 🙋♂️