Lend A Vent !

I have a rather agnostic approach to life ,
So for me to believe in something , I need a solid backing of valid reasons and proofs!

Phew ! that’s a strong opening line for a review!

I wouldn't lie, when i signed up for the AmibPur's Mini Vent Clip review program in association with Indiblogger , I had my doubts about this minuscule contraption that made tall claims about giving your cars gagging smell a 360 degree makeover !

So I decided to put this little baby to test on one of the worst kept cars in my family
"The '99 model Maruti Esteem" .
This car is the stepney of the family and whoever is the last one to wake-up , gets stuck with it . This one has barely seen the face of a service station in the last 5 years . But surprisingly the engine is still alive n kickin' and gives a decent mileage(the only reason my stingy father is still holding on to it )

The body on the Esteem  has started to give away and when it pores, the water dribbles down  on to the seats.Hence it ends up reeking beyond imagination ! (thankfully only on the back seat)

At times when I get stuck with it , inspite of the 36 degrees inhumane Mumbai heat  I make sure that I roll down my windows  and stick my head out like a dog! Driving this one with the air conditioning on is just not an option.

If the mini vent can make this car breathable ,then I promise to endorse it to everyone I know.

So the next morning I put the mini in action.  Couldn't help but notice how easy it was to plug it in. ( p.s had my doubts about it fitting into the vintage vents of the car , but it fit like a glove) While I was still parked I turned the ignition on and started the stopwatch on my phone to document the amount of time it took for the citrusy note to hit me !

And I couldn’t believe it !
In 1.43 seconds flat the car started smelling like orange juice with no sugar and less ice , just like I remember back from my college days. Funnily, I was busy reminiscing and forget all about the dump that I was driving.In the evening when I was on my way back home , the product sure kept its promise. Opposed to its tiny size it was quite effective .The horrific musty smell was replaced with a fresh welcoming  citrusy aroma.
Yaay ! i could finally drive this one with the aircon on !
The Vent passed the test , that was my " fresh n happy " experience with the Mini Vent !

The lend a Vent !

So ,

ok ,

I was sold on the product,
It was time to keep my promise and endorse it!

I lend my vent  to my friends and family and got their take on it.

Here's what felt about The AmbiPur's Mini Vent Clip:

Remember how this campaign was named "Lend A Vent "
So the idea was to lend is to everyone and not hoard it ,
But some people just don't get the idea!

 

Some really great responses for the MiniVent,

But here's  what I felt about the product :

Am not going to get in to rating the vent ,

After all I am no movie conociere and this is not a Rohit Shetty movie that I can rip to shreds.

So am going to keep it simple,

What works:

Loved the tiny size,
Loved the no spills technology,
Love the fact that it’s only of its kind in the market.

Loved that it’s effective in spite of the tiny size, (mere 2 ml is effective for a good 30days or more)

What needs work:

Its greatest strength is its worst enemy, its tiny size that might be deceiving against its effectiveness and value for money.

 If I was looking for a car freshener in the market and came across the mini vent, I would think twice before putting my hard earned 200rs into something that is so tiny. It’s just basic buyers psychology.
So if people at AmbiPur can come up with an introductory offer on the MiniVent, then they can effectively entice the customers to give it a try. Once the customer has seen how effective this product is, am sure the next time he will find his moneys worth for the 200 that he spends on it.

The marketing keeda in me came up with a fun promotion idea for the MiniVent:

Station your guys at entry points in the best malls in the city , during the security check they can install the vents into the cars , and collect them back at exit points . That 5 minutes , till the time the subject exits the security check and enters a crazy maze in hunt for a parking spot is enough for him to get the feel and understand the mechanics of the vent . That 5 minutes is enough for him to fall in love with it!

a nice and unique way to get across to your target audience without being in their face!

The MiniVent is available in 5 variants and  retails for rs.200 (till the last time i checked, or up until they take my suggestion into consideration and come up with an introductory offer price.)
You can order yours here ->AmbiPur

Disclaimer : The post is a part of an incentive based review program by AmbiPur , Powered by Indiblogger. None of the characters who have been a part of this review program are fictional, their reviews are authentic and have not been edited just to make the product look good.
Thanks for dropping by!

The " Unbucketlist "

I m tired,

I recon it’s time to declog ,  to unlearn , to unbucket the list .

I chose to ditch the in-flight entertainment and  instead invested in some soul searching.
Was on my way back from a coveted holiday destination in Europe . Ideally, I should have come back feeling rejuvenated , but instead I came back feeling annoyed and ripped off.

Am a meticulous planner and  a compulsive packer. Every holiday that I have ever taken takes months of planning . Apart from the bookings, I invest a lot of time in getting recommendations from friends , family , friends and their families and families and their friends. But it  doesn’t stop there , I also refer to my vast collections of  lonely planet’s. The packing is a different ordeal in its self  . Like a typical guju ( don’t mention it , am a proud one at that ) orders go out days in advance , I carry food like its the beginning of the apocalypses . In the end I land up carrying more food and cloths than I actually need.

After so much of time and effort put into every holiday , I still can’t remember the last time I had fun. I was too busy sticking to the filofox. Ya I did proudly cover all the recommendations by the TripAdvisor , dined at all the great places , shopped at all the famous malls. But there was always that one café, that one little antique store , the one little church , that one little boutique , that I would have liked to visit got left behind because it was not the part of the “itinerary”. And it’s that one thing ,that keeps daunting me till the next one comes along.


Dad’s turning 70 in 3 months . I sometimes break into a sweat in the middle of a night with the thought of them not being around forever. Loss is inevitable, but till then I want to make every moment count  . I’ve lost a lot of precious time in my MeMe world . Its about time that i put my priorities in order.

So i've decided, that pa, ma and me would bring in his 70^th vacationing some place serene. 

I know it’s a big ask for Yogesh to his handle work and the kids , but he knows how badly I need to this.

The plan on this trip is to have no plans. All I need to do is find a perfect destination.

Am tired of traveling to countries that are too touristy. Where everyone is trying to shove some souvenirs in your face. And I just hate countries where the people’s cold noses and in the north pole. So began my search for a perfect destination that was not flocked by the world,  but still had a lot of  to offer. A county that was an eclectic mix of a vibrant cities and mesmerizing landscapes. But  more importantly a country that is warm , because of its people.

In my serch for "the destination" I stumbled upon Northern Ireland, and realized that it fits the bill perfectly . 

What I absolutely love about Ireland is that I don’t need to have a travel plan on this one. Ireland has so much to offer that the journey itself can end up begin the destination.  All I plan to do is land, hire a car, and let the road lead the way. Its going to new experience for me to travel without a plan but that will give me more freedom to experience and explore. Am sure dad will get excited with the sound of a vague holiday but, mom , being my Mom , will surely freak out!

As I researched  more of this picturesque county , I couldn't  believe how perfect it was for this trip. Every article I read , every picture that I saw just made me want to drop everything and get on a jet plane. The landscape of the Northern Ireland is nothing like I've  ever seen before. I could sit by the country side and gaze at the nuances of its landscape’s and feel content of having seen it all. 

On my Northern Ireland wish list  :

Dublin

  Dublin : The basic plan is to per-book a date with the “a city of thousand welcome “ initiative by the Dublin city council , where one of the  Dublin ambassadors will take us out for a pint of  Genesis in a pub or a cuppa in a posh café and give us the insiders view on Ireland . The best part about this program that they not only give you their valuable time, but also pay for the drinks!!! No wonder the city has been voted as the most friendliest cities in the world ! Can wait to sit-down with a local and chat up all things Irish !

Titanic Belfast

Titanic Belfast : Built on the slipways where the ship was originally constructed, it is the largest Titanic exhibition anywhere in the world, and has been described by director of the film Titanic, James Cameron, as “really quite phenomenal”. The building is rooted in the Titanic Quarter, one of Europe’s largest and most exciting waterfront developments. Can’t wait to take mum there , it’s been one of her most favorite movies. Am sure this is an experience she will never forget. 

 

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Antrim : after a 1.15 hours drive from Belfast we get to Carrick-a-Rede , which boasts an exhilarating rope bridge experience. Traditionally fishermen erected the bridge to Carrick-a-Rede island over a 23m-deep and 20m-wide chasm to check their salmon nets. Today visitors are drawn here simply to take the rope bridge challenge! Can’t wait to do this with my nimble 70yr ol. But ma on the other hand will be more than happy to sit this one out , while she chants and “chalisa” for our safety .

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

The Giant's Causeway : It lies at the foot of the basalt cliffs along the sea coast on the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland. It is made up of some 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea. The dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland. Geological studies of these formations over the last 300 years have greatly contributed to the development of the earth sciences, and show that this striking landscape was caused by volcanic activity during the Tertiary, some 50–60 million years ago. So many adjectives for one unbelievable phenomenon , cant wait to get there and start exploring!

 

The Giant's Causeway

The Dingle Peninsula: National Geographic once called it “the most beautiful place on earth”. Dingle is arguably one of the island's more charming towns. Take the road to Ballyferriter village and go for a walk on Beál Bán beach, which is only really known to locals. Once you see the views of the vast Atlantic you’ll see why they’ve kept it to themselves. I could spend all my eternity here , just soaking up the sun and gazing the pristine waters.

The Dingle Peninsula

The Mourne Mountains : Beauty comes easily to the Mournes, but there’s also a childish joy about the place. Think of the 28 peaks as a natural playground.One man felt the magic of the Mournes more than most. For Belfast-born Clive Staples Lewisthe Mournes were a pleasure ground. The author was reared on the clean Mourne air, while his mind was inspired by these surroundings to create the world of Narnia from his masterpiece The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  Can’t wait to get here and be inspired too..

 

The Mourne Mountains

 

The only prepping I plan to do on this trip is my flight , hire a car and book a no frills BnB , rest of the route I will figure when I get there !
These are the things on my to do list for Ireland, but i plan to see and discover a lot more. As am not bound by a piece of paper telling me what to do. This time I will let my heart lead the way. This time I will make sure I have a coffee at that café , shop at that little antique store and say a little prayer at the serene little church. This time I plan to take out time to bond Ma and Pa all over again.  This time I plan to do it all, so that on my flight back home I come back as a 
“Happy Traveler “

This post was created for an "happy traveler" contest  courtesy Yatra.com powered by Indiblogger