New Website for Home Decor & Lifestyle: ChennaiDecor

Managed to pursue one of my passions - home decor & lifestyle; went ahead &created a website http://www.chennaidecor.com.
You can like the website & get the updates in your facebook.
You can expect blogs on home decor ideas, art  & culture - places of interest, interior decoration inspirations, home tours etc. If you take pride in good spots in home, share your photos with me. I shall publish it in the website.

The Engineering Marvels - Just 1000yrs old

Had visited Tanjavur Big temple, Gangai Konda Cholapuram & Darasuram; all in the chola belt of tanjavur - kumbakonam, Tamilnadu.

The majestic architectural beauty simply blew me off. Lots have been written abt tanjavur & Rajaraja Cholan , the great king, under whose reign the temple was built. But, you have to visit these places to experience the joy! This time around, we had the rare opportunity to climb up the big vimana & actually see the 1000 yr old paintings, the stone karanams (bharathanatyam - poses: there are 108 karanams, but only 81 was carved), and the hollow space that went right up to the kalasam. The temple was built in the 10th century. If you are a historical novel buff - I would recommend u to read Balakumaran's Udaiyar, a book on how the temple was built & the caste politics of that time.

The son of Rajaraja Cholan, Rajendra Cholan shifted the capital from tanjavur to Gangai-Konda-Cholapuram . He had defeated the kings up there & bought Ganga water to perform abishekam in the temple. This temple looks very similar to the tanjore temple. The vimana is unique, in the sense, the base structure is square, becomes hexagonal & finally becomes a circular top. How difficult it would have been, for the entire structure is of stone! This place has lesser buzz than the tanjore temple, so more peace.

Gangai Konda Cholapuram was the last capital of cholas. Due to the repeated wars with Pandyas the city was completely destroyed & the temple partly destroyed in the late 13th
century. The ASI has done a good job in renovating the compound walls & the other structures. The temple was built in 11th century.









 
The grandson - RajaRaja II also wanted his share in history, so he went ahead & built a temple in Darasuram which oozes beauty in everynook & corner, every pillar, every step. This is an epitome of skillful craftsmanship. The temple was built in the 12th century.


   

  
   



All these temples come under the "UNESCO - World Heritage Sites - The great Living Chola Temples". Looks like the funds are utilized properly.  All of them have beautiful lawns & proper maintenance. Must visit places, if you are looking to tour Tamilnadu.

How to reduce 15 Kgs weight

** Self-Reminder Post! "reduced 15 kgs..can't you knock down 5 kgs again?"**
*** Had posted this in my office blogs, way back in 2007..Its action time again ;-( ***
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Mind you..It is almost a self-declared WAR. It tests your physical stamina & also your determination to see it through.

Last March, I was weighing 68kgs, now I am hovering between 53-54kgs…thought it would be beneficial to share my experience. Strict Diet & Exercise are the prime reasons for the change.

1. Morning - brisk walk for 45 min
2. Breakfast – 3Idlies/2 dosas/2 chappatis/ two servings of rice
3. Lunch @ office – 1 chappati / uthappam + 2 servings of poriyal + 1 serving of kootu + 1 cup rasam + one serving of rice with curd + appalam
4. Evening gym – 30 min @ treadmill + 5-10 min of cycling..etc
5. 7 p.m – one cup of milk(half sugar)
6. Dinner – fruit salads (one big apple + one orange + one banana).
7. One cup of milk at night

I was very strict about this schedule for the first month – and THERE WAS NO CHANGE.

Learning: Do not expect drastic changes immediately & lose heart.

I continued to do the same for six months and from the second month onwards there was a gradual decrease in weight. After sometime, I eased my diet a little - fruits were given a farewell.

Fighting obesity is more of a mind game. First, you have to believe you are going to lose weight. Then the toughest part.. start thinking that the fruits dinner is the most royal food that any man can wish for…have this contended feel always.

My goal was to reduce 15kgs, so I was strict about the fruits dinner part, but if your target is much lesser, you can go for your normal dinner. (not the heavier one..mind you). It is always better to have your dinner atleast 1- 2 hrs before you hit the bed. If possible, avoid rice at night.

Tips:

Consciously avoid Sweets, Fried Snacks like samosa, chips, pickle, coconut.

Reduce the number of times you take tea or coffee. The culprit is the sugar that goes along with it.

When you are dieting, if you feel that you are losing out on your fav. dishes, once in a while.. indulge in it. Do not think you are sacrificing something. If you keep on resisting, then at one point of time, you are going to throw up and say ‘Hell with dieting’ and return to your old ways. (I once in a while, took pizzas too

In whatever manner possible, get some physical workout. It is not necessary that you have to do some serious walking, one game of a well-fought shuttle match would do.

Have some partner at the Gym, it is always nice to have somebody with you. (thanks to Jaya. Actually 30 min of monotonous walking on the treadmill was terrible, we found a way out - we mastered the art of reading books while walking!)

Last but not the least check your weight whenever possible - the guilt pang will help you strengthen your resolve to get back in shape. 
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Yeno Kuviamilla..

You must have heard this latest hit song from the movie Ko [Music - Harris Jeyaraj, Director - KV Anand, Lyricist - Madan Karky (vairamuthu's son & prof.@ Anna University)]


Yeno kuviyamilla.. kuviyamilla oru kaatchi pezhai.. oh ohh..uruvamilla uruvamilla naalai,
Yeno kuviyamilla.. kuviyamilla oru kaatchi pezhai.. oh ohh.. araimanadhai vidiyithu en kaalai

Given the present scenario where people are having a penchant for inane lyrics, 'Kuviamilla' is a pleasant surprise.

Kuviyam/குவியம் means Focus, kuviyamilla - out of focus. pezhai - display The hero is a photographer in the movie & sees the uncertainty of his love as out of focus ! Wow!

The other words which I had earlier google-d for meaning

• En padhagai thaangiya un mugam endrum maraiyaadhe - Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu - Padhagai -flag Lyricist - thamarai
  
• Kalabha kaadhala - Kaaka Kaaka - varied meanings!

[கலாபம் - முத்து மாலை,மயில் தோகை,மேகலை,அணிகலன்,              யானையின் கழுத்தில் உள்ள கயிறு, அம்பு,நிலவு,அறிவு, ஒரே சந்தத்தில் அமைந்த கவிதைத் தொகுப்பு ]

• Kadhalenum mudiviliyil kadikaara neram kidaiyaadhu - from Vaseegara in Minnale: mudivili means infinity  - Lyricist - thamarai

Anna Centenary Library - South Asia's largest @ Kotturpuram

I'm super excited. The Big library which was opened yesterday is just a stone's throw away from our quarters. Take my word - It IS really massive. But, I guess, need to wait for some more time....
From Deccan Hearld

To start with, four floors of the centrally air-conditioned Library are ready. The more than two-year-long project will take some more time to be fully operational. However, sources said, this delay has been offset by a number of novel and attractive features of world class standards incorporated in the ACL. These include a Braille section for the visually impaired, a captivating separate section for children’s books with a huge replica of the “Tree of Knowledge” rooted in its heart, a 1,280-capacity auditorium, two conference halls to hold major seminars and an amphitheatre that can take in more than 800 people at a time. A food court with a range of cuisine is another facility. All these should attract more youths in particular, officials hoped.

Junk

I don't like the fact that an article sounding this stupid would get me back to blogging. But..
Swagatham fiasco: Rahman's top 10 duds   got on my nerves.
Any music director worth his name has his share of tunes that didn't click. I'm sure not every single tune of mozart is worth bragging about. So, at the outset, writing a piece on tunes that didn't work, is a lost cause. Worse, putting Rahman's Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya under dud album list clearly shows the writer didn't do any homework. It is one of the best albums to have come out this year and it was both critically and commercially acclaimed. There are many other such factual errors.

Hello..People out there, if this article can be published in ibnlive.com, my skills are much better...I'm open to freelance writing.

Disclaimer: I'm not a die-hard fan of A.R.Rahman.

Middle Class Crisis

A lengthy but insightful Financial times article on the middle class crisis in America
[Hat tip - Badri]

Haven - Sampoorna - Velachery

Sampoorna Global restaurant was in my wish-list for quite sometime. By the time, our gang could attack, they changed their name to Haven Sampoorna. We went there with quick lunch in mind. It's a very small place near Sri Krishna Sweets, 100 ft rd, velachery. The interiors are functional, Hollywood-Quote photographs catch your eye. They are veg and their menu had more of continental stuff...which is actually scarce here. We ordered pasta, baked vegetables, diet lunch, french fries, & lunch combos. The starters were vegetable rolls. My pasta had too much cheese, but baked vegetables was awesome. They give more quantity unlike a saravana bhavan where quantity can be measured in spoons! Diet lunch (2 chappathis, subzi, soup, salad)was good but that was not worth the 115/- they charged. The fruit salad that came with the diet lunch was a winner. The lunch combo came with parathas & veg pulao. It didn't disappoint us. The prices are also not too heavy on the purse. (came to around Rs.150 per head) Overall, its a welcome addition to velachery.

Concrete-il pootha Chinna Hibiscus

Gender Stereotypes

Vidya tagged me for ‘My Sins against Gender-Stereotypes’...and so..this

Gender Dacolties List

• Well, women are generally considered to be the most pious creatures on earth. True..most of the temples and their trustees owe their livelyhood to the religiously religious womenfolk who faithfully throng the temples, keep the vrathas and do their daily poojas at home..Somehow, I managed to escape..and lo! became an atheist. I don't remember the last time, I prayed to 'god'...been a very vocal atheist since childhood despite being in orthodox surroundings. Self reasoning guided by Periyar books might hold the clue..!
  
  
• Getting Emotional is something I can't. Cannot even say comforting..soothing words to near and dears who are in distress. People say, I'm awkward while cajoling the Boy. Crying doesn't come easily...still openly gape at people who cry at the drop of the hat.[ made of sterner stuff..or..yerumamaatu thol]
  
  
• No fear...may be the conditioning came with me being an atheist. At home, in any dark, lonely place. [nammala paarthu vera yaaravadhu bayandhathan undu!]
  
  
• State, National politics are my favorite subjects of discussion. An election around the corner gets me mighty excited. Could reel out the 40 constituencies of TN, track VIP election campaign, minute by minute election result announcement, etc..Next, would be history & archeology.
  
  
• Abt cooking..Hmmm..cookery shows are one of my fav. in TV. But never had a passion to enter the kitchen. Here..is a big bow to my amma, MIL & husband ;-)
  
  
• Comfortable being the single girl in all boys gang. Always had a big circle of guys to hang out with.
  
  
• Would be the first girl to join the 'dance floor'..match every step with the guys...kuthu..all the way!
  
  
• Would keep my mouth firmly shut, if my hubby is in mood for a slangfest..you can never catch me raising my voice or fighting. No big time drama[ Confession: I irritate the life out!]
  
  
• I'm darn sure of what I want to buy.., my clothes, jewels selections have not been more than a few minutes. I'm most sought out for making bulk purchases in the family ;-)
  
  
• Foot-board travel generally means..standing in bus steps.but, was part of a peculiar specie that sat on the foot-board in the college buses!!

But at the same time, I

• am fanatically obsessed about a spic and span home. House in disarray would send me into depression. Wet towel on the bed would spoil my entire day.
  
  
• love re-re-re-re-reading Ramanichandran novels (cha..enna book idhu - nu feel pannalum..therupi padipom)...& would be ready to give my right hand for a dreamy romantic Mills&Boons. Sucker for romantic novels
  
  
• believe in Retail Therapy. 'am a match match person...have a fetish for accessories..proud owner of a huge bangle collection,running into dozens.
  
  
• wanted a teetotaler partner..thankfully landed up with one.
  
  
• believe my elixir of life is chit-chatting with friends..into big time gossip.
  
  
• am prone to asking questions like 'don't you think, I have lost a little bit of weight?'...[Rajesh shakes his head which looks like an yes from one angle and a no from another angle!]
  
  
• collect all my gifts and treasure my greeting cards..

Uff..this is one difficult post, sooo.. much of 'I's..which 'I'm not comfortable with!

How to write novels?

Kadugu's hilarious take on novel writing for dummies. I particularly liked the conversion of a present day happening into a historic piece of writing.

முதலில் எழுதப்படும் கதை:

"தலப்பாகட்டில் பிரியாணி சாப்பிட்டுவிட்டு ஸ்கூட்டரில் ஏறிச் சென்று கொண்டிருந்த மணியின் பார்வை சட்டென்று எதிர்த் திசையில் சென்று கொண்டிருந்த மாலினியின் மேல் விழுந்தது. அவள் ஒரு பெரிய கட்டடத்தில் நுழைந்தாள். அவள் அணிந்திருந்த `சைனா' புடவை மாலை வெயிலில் பளபளத்தது.

இதை சரித்திரக் கதையாக மாற்றுவது எப்படி?

"பால் சோறும் பலாக்கனியும் உண்டுவிட்டு புரவியில் ஏறிப் பாதை வழியே மெல்ல வந்து கொண்டிருந்த இளவரசன் மார்த்தாண்ட மணிவர்மனின் பார்வை ஒரு கணம் எதிர்ச்சாரியில் மலர்ப் பூங்காவின் பின்புறம் சென்று கொண்டிருந்த ராஜ பாதையின் மேல் சென்றது. அங்கே அழகு மயில் என ஒயிலாகச் சென்றுக் கொண்டிருந்தாள் எழில் மங்கை மாளவிகா. அவள் பூப் போன்ற பாதங்களால் நடக்காமல் அன்னமென மென்காற்றில் மிதந்து செல்வது போல் சென்றாள். அருகே இருந்த மாட மாளிகையின் வேலைப்பாடுகள் அமைந்த மணிக் கதவுகளைத் திறந்து சென்றாள். அவள் அணிந்திருந்த முத்து மாலையும், காதில் நடனமாகிக் கொண்டிருந்த குண்டலமும், சங்குக் கழுத்தை தழுவிய நவரத்னாபரணமும், -இவைகளும் சாவகத்திலிருந்து கொண்டு வரப்பட்ட மென்பட்டாலான மேலங்கியும் அந்தி வெயிலில் தகதகவென்று பளபளத்து ஒரே தேஜோமயமாகக் காட்சி அளித்தது...

Paa - Splendid

Saw Paa. Amazing movie.
Amitabh's infuses life into the movie without ever being Amitabh. If you had not heard that Big B is acting in the movie, you will never ever make out that the 13 yr old boy, Auro who impresses you onscreen is a 60+ old man. I think, credit should be shared with the Pa director, Balki and the technical crew to have executed this master piece which on paper would have simply read 'Abhishek plays father to a 13yr old Amitabh'. Divya Balan, acts like a dream and looks like a million bucks in sabyasachi sarees. Abhishek held his own even when pitted against author-backed mom & son roles. Ilaiyaraja's magic returns with haunting melodies. Media bashing was the only off-key note in this outing.

Soderling - The Leveller

Last French Open, Robin Soderling removed Nadal from Federer's path to Clay Court Glory. But, this time around, he levelled it by handing out a QF defeat to Federer. Federer's record streak of reaching the semifinals in 23 consecutive major events ended with this!!

Soderling is fast becoming the French Open Shocker Specialist. Would love to see a Soderling Vs Nadal final at Roland Garros.

Sri Krishna Sweets - Velachery

Wanted to blog abt this for quite sometime.But.....

Well, The latest addition to the colourful landscape of velachery is Sri Krishna Sweets - on the 100 Ft road - more towards Guru Nanak College. Within a week of it's opening, I landed in the well decorated shop. Parking space is much better than the other shops on the road. They have caught hold of a good corner space. Immediate attraction is the centrally placed - Sweet Buffet Stall...It is really huge and there are upteen varieties of sweets & savouries..Since, I'm on this 'Diet' mode, I skipped the center piece. The restaurant, which is on the periphery, is kind-of cramped with tables and chairs put very closely. I knew the hiccups of a newly opened eatery, so safely ordered a simple - Dosa.

Man, what a disappointment! The waiters had no clue about serving the customers. I had to do a mini-dance to get the attention of a waiter and then gave my 'big' order. Then , I joined the 'There is no sign of the food ordered' fellow people. A good ten minutes passed and I was really getting restless. It would have been OK..if people who came before me were getting their orders. I saw only one pongal, two chaat items being served in a crowded place. After another 5 minutes..the couple who sat before me got their orders. I told the waiter to hurry up - After all, its just a plain dosa. Another five minutes passed, the waiters are running up and down, I wonder for what!I had a good mind to walk away..and finally my dosa arrived ..but...hey..what a pity - it was a cold-dosa. Had it been on another day, I would have returned the dosa..but that would be mean another 15 minutes of argument and was already running late. So, quickly ate the food and made a hasty retreat after paying a 'thendam' 25 Rs.

Would not write them away after the first experience..Another visit would go into the decision making exercise.

Kites

Looking forward to Hrithik's 'Kites' release ...would complete the 'Jollu'- trilogy of Dhooom2 and Jodha Akbar.

Monuments @ the mercy of granite industries

Lot has been written about the threats to the heritage Jain monuments in the hills of Madurai. Justice was quickly met out - Granite Quarrying can happen but not exactly in the heritage site, just few meters further. What an insightful judgment!
Times of India has a big article condemning this ruthless act.

Jainism was present in the region for over 1,300 years and its relics have survived till now,providing evidence of a rich civilization,culture and academic excellence of a bygone era. But their survival is threatened and they may disappear in the next 100 years due to the quest for granite,he says.The Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department has under its control 16 such monuments,including four Jain caves and four Brahmi culverts in Keelavalavu near Melur,Perumalmalai in Karadipatti and some other places in Madurai,including the one in Thiruvadavur.The site in Thiruvadavur contains Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and prehistoric paintings that date back to the second century BC.Sources in the office of the assistant director,department of archaeology,say that a survey would be conducted within the next two weeks to see if the two granite quarries had exceeded their limits based on the specification of the gazette notification.

Shashi Tharoor - Political journey

I'm looking forward to Shashi Tharoor's Memoirs! Bet that would be rocking entertainment ;-)

Chamki Assault

Its omnipresent now, everywhere you turn around, you can spot women sporting chamki work dresses..right from 200 rs salwars to 20000 rs sarees...chamkis..chamkis and more chamkis..Cotton chudidhars are available within the bracket of 1000 rs..but, if you want to get some high end salwars, be prepared for the relentless attack of bling. Inspite of the hot & humid climate of tamilnadu, I pity the women folk who have started wearing those polyster sarees with assorted chamki work. Wish 'The Cotton' makes a grand comeback.

Knorr Soupy Noodles

I bet the Kajol-Ad for Knorr Soupy Noodles [ both noodles and soup in one offering] would bag the trophy for the most repeated ad on TV. Off late, there is more of chutti TV, Pogo and their likes in our TV..may be that's one reason why I felt HLL almost carpet bombed the ad on our heads. The effect was so much that I bought a packet to try out the new 'food'.

What a disappointment - it tasted exactly like Maggie Noodles. I usually like maggie noodles with the little slosh effect (rather than the stiff noodles)and knorr gave just the twin-sister act. After Horlicks's Foodles, I am let down by this wannabie new star - Knorr Soupy Noodles. It just reiterates the fact that Maggie is the king..err..queen.

Swingers Dance School

Long long ago..so long ago..I had attended few dance classes in Swingers Dance school in velachery. Every time they start a new batch, I dutifully get a call from the people at swingers. They politely inform me about the new class and ask me if I want to join. I'm amazed at how strong their contact - knowledge base is and how effectively the system functions. A good point to note for all marketeers.