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Interview with general secretary,YMCA, Trivandrum

4 March 2010 15 Comments

In Trivandrum I stayed in YMCA for 2 days and it was fairly a good experience. Here is my short interview with Mr Thomas Abraham, general secretary of YMCA, Trivandrum.

@lemonicks.com/Travel

Thomas Abraham

Nisha Jha (NJ): I saw the website of YMCA, Trivandrum. First look is impressive but many of the links are not working. What are you doing for that?
Thomas Abraham(TA): We are currently working on the website and in a few weeks time you’ll find all links working.

NJ: For booking a room in YMCA, one has to compulsorily make a draft at the rate of Rs 495/- per day and send you across. Don’t you think in today’s world it is a tedious and time consuming job ?
TA: Many times it happens that people book a room and do not turn up or inform us to cancel the booking. In the process people in waiting have to turned down. The step is to discourage this practice.

NJ: In that case, do you think net transfer of booking amount or booking through net can be made possible in near future to facilitate the process?
TA: That’s a good suggestion; we will try to incorporate it here.

NJ: Is a woman allowed to stay here without accompanying any male?
TA: Earlier we had this problem and many people have asked us about this. Now, only women can also stay here.

NJ: There is no cafeteria or any eating place for guests.
TA: Currently the cafeteria we have is for house boys only. We found that opening a full time cafeteria for our guests is neither feasible nor economical.

NJ: Can it not be arranged with some nearby restaurants especially if it’s become a turn off for people who would like to stay here ?
TA: Yes, we have that arrangement.

NJ: But neither people are aware of this nor it is mentioned on your website?
TA: *smiles*. But you must have noticed a coffee wending machine at the reception.
NJ: Yes, I have and enjoyed the coffee as well.

In addition to asking questions, I gave some suggestions as well which I am sure he found useful enough to incorporate.

If you need to know more on this, comment section is all yours or you can shoot me a mail or contact me.
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15 Comments »

  • Zhu said:

    I’ve never stayed at the Y, even though I have use their services in Canada as a newcomer. I don’t think they rent rooms to backpackers here… people tend to go to the HI.
    Zhu´s last [post] ..The Customer Is King My ComLuv Profile

    # 5 March 2010 at 6:40 AM
  • anjuli said:

    I’ve always stayed at any of the “Y’s” no matter what country they are in. The interview was great – love the way you are doing your back packing trip- can’t wait to see the rest of your trip.
    anjuli´s last [post] ..Who are you? My ComLuv Profile

    # 5 March 2010 at 7:08 AM
  • Bhavesh Chhatbar said:

    Cool!
    Bhavesh Chhatbar´s last [post] ..Bhavesh My ComLuv Profile

    # 6 March 2010 at 11:28 AM
  • neeraj said:

    having to make a draft for a booking is ridiculous… they have to find a better way of doing this… 10% credit card deposit maybe?
    neeraj´s last [post] ..Anandwan Greeting Card Follow-up My ComLuv Profile

    # 9 March 2010 at 6:22 AM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Zhu,
    Well, in India they don’t have any problems as long as you pay money to them. :)

    Anjuli,
    Thank you for supporting me in every step. People like you motivate me to go further. :)

    # 10 March 2010 at 1:23 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Bhavesh,
    Thank you.

    Neeraj,
    Right now they don’t book a room without a bank draft. Have given him many suggestions, let’s see what happens. :)

    # 10 March 2010 at 1:26 PM
  • magiceye said:

    :) hope they work seriously on your suggestions
    magiceye´s last [post] ..Monochrome mania My ComLuv Profile

    # 29 March 2010 at 7:03 PM
  • YMCA, Trivandrum said:

    [...] there, I found staff to be very courteous and co-operative. I could also take a short interview of general secretary, who said they were working towards making it a better customer friendly place. Do read this if you [...]

    # 18 April 2010 at 10:06 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Magiceye,
    Let’s hope so. :)

    # 21 April 2010 at 1:19 AM
  • Abdul Razak said:

    During my stay in Trivanmdru ymca i could enjoy the peaceful and pleasant night because it is very calm and quite area though it is situated in the heart of the city.

    # 27 April 2010 at 5:37 PM
  • Thomas Abraham said:

    Dear Nisha,
    Thanks for incorporating my interview in the site. It is great complement of our work here! I am sorry I could notice it very recently.Hope U R fine. Do inform about us to other travellers whom U come across.

    Regards.
    Thomas Abraham
    General Secretary.

    # 28 April 2010 at 12:03 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Abdul,
    Welcome !
    Yes, I agree with you. I am going to stay there again if I happen to be in that city. :)

    Thanks, keep coming.

    # 28 April 2010 at 12:42 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Thomas,
    Welcome to this site.

    It was pleasure to interview you. And yeah, YMCA is getting enough publicity here. :P

    Thanks for your visit. Keep coming.

    # 28 April 2010 at 1:01 PM
  • camella nair said:

    Hello Thomas,
    There does not seem to be email contact information on your website. I teach yoga at your sister site in Palo Alto N.California USA and am interested in some form of professional connection. I keen on visiting and teaching yoga and learning about your women’s empowerment project. especially.

    # 1 May 2010 at 10:23 AM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Camella,
    I have written to Mr Thomas Abraham and conveyed your message. Let’s hope he answers. :)

    Thanks for dropping by.
    Nisha´s last [post] ..Sunset at Koh Phayam My ComLuv Profile

    # 2 May 2010 at 9:45 AM

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