Editor,
It’s absurd that a football crazy state like Meghalaya does not have enough funds for a class-1 ground. There was a time when North Easterners had to watch I-League only on TV and every NE footballer’s dream was to join enormously successful clubs like Mohan Bagan, Dempo etc. A decade later all this has changed when Zeus struck like lightning on Shillong Lajong Club. Now everyone wants to join Shillong Lajong. Many are dying to be in their team and people are becoming more football crazy than ever before. It is shameful that the Government is not pitching in to help build this tempo. Will we keep waiting for our imprudent and lax government or should we all come forward and donate money like Conrad Sangma to make this I-League happen again?
Yours etc.,
Gerrynald W.Dkhar
New Delhi
Meghalaya Tourism ‘wake up’
Editor,
Recently, I came upon an international site on the internet called ‘Trip Advisor.com.’ On logging in I found that Shillong figured prominently on the site with tourists’ comments on different hotels. But coming to Pinewood Hotel, the comments were least flattering and they came from different parts of the world. Tourists lamented about poor service and even poorer maintenance. Comments ranged from the unfriendly behaviour of the front desk to the service boys. The rooms they say are big but very poorly maintained and that though there is a fireplace in the front room there is not a single heater in the living room. Some said they visited Shillong during winter and could not sleep in their bedrooms as there was no electric heater in the room. They spent the night in the front room beside the fireplace. Tourists said the food was good but the service is poor. One comment, “Old British Era heritage just excuses for a poorly maintained rubbish hotel,” really upset me. It said the beds were small and definitely not from the British era. The sofas were dirty and shabby. The toilets were the worst part of the hotel! Some tourists were refused billiards sticks. They attributed it to the unwillingness of the staff to take them out. Another comment said, “Pinewood – the worst nightmare in Shillong.” Yet another says, ” Stay Away’ – The worst possible place to put up in Shillong, especially if you are holidaying with family.” Mention was made of a particular receptionist who was grumpy. It takes a full 15 minutes for check in procedures. Some tourists joked about the rooms being soundproof only if ‘you speak in whispers.’ The hotel, they say has wifi facilities but the hotel refuses to give the password over telephone. One has to take the laptop to the reception. It’s a 512 bit encrypted wifi network. Someone at the desk writes the password on a piece of paper. But the ultimately the internet does not work! Will our net savvy CM please check out this website and pull up the people running Pine Wood Hotel?
Yours etc.,
J Jyrwa,
Via email
Whimsical traffic rules!
Editor,
Apropos Shillong Jottings (ST June 20, 2011) the caption “Invisible traffic police” demands introspection on the part of the Shillong Traffic Police. Interestingly the traffic regulation applied near Civil Hospital junction is chaotic and poses serious threats of accidents especially when the Traffic Police close shop in the evening.
After that the drivers make the rules! Every morning the traffic police place the ‘No Entry’ signboard and barricades. In the evening they remove them at 8:00 or 8:10 pm, more like a shopkeeper opening his shop in the morning and closing it in the evening.
The question of shortage of manpower in the Traffic Police Department seems illogical since there are at least three cops posted near the Civil Hospital junction and elsewhere too. But even if this were true why should traffic rules apply for certain hours of the day only? If the one- way traffic can be maintained at the Kacheri junction, IGP point and Khyndai Lad 24×7 then why not at the Civil Hospital junction? Why should there be different rules for the day and another at night? One hopes the Traffic Department comes out with more pragmatic solutions.
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Shillong-4