Sunday, August 31, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014
Amazing Goa!!!!!
Goa is sunny days with the wind in your face as you ride a scooter down narrow, twisting roads. It is endless plates of seafood, Kings beer and sand in your toes as the sun sinks low over the ocean. The Goa of Summer. But Goa in the monsoon is a whole other creature; her roads are gleaming wet, the trees are a rain-soaked green, and the air is dense and mossy.
A weekend in early August, the Goa Tourism Department hosted the GoaInstawalk, inviting us to explore a Goa beyond beaches. We checked into a beautiful room at the Panjim Inn on a Friday afternoon, complete with vintage bed and a chair like the one my grandfather had. I put both feet up and closed my eyes, listening to the steady patter of rain on the leaves.
Panjim Inn is situated in Old Goa, bordered by the Ourem Creek and Altinho Hill. We spent the evening walking her streets and stopping at street carts to sample the goods. Sweet beef samosas, crisp prawn cutlets and beef burgers made with pav bread.
Saturday morning was still dewy from the night’s showers. We packed into a car and drove a long way to the eastern border of Goa, into the Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. Buried deep in the Western Ghats, the forest is home to leopards, the slender loris, giant squirrels and a breathtaking variety of birds. We heard them long before we spotted them, the trees humming with a medley of birdsong. But infinitely more captivating was the crowding green around us; the forest pressing back into the road, reclaiming its territory in the high swing of monsoon. We drove through the forest, acutely aware that we were intruders, entering a realm that was fully self-contained.
Fierce streams gushed past, under bridges, beside the road, the sound of running water over stone filling the air. We stopped to take it all in, the gentle whir of the forest. Deeper inside, crossing a stone bridge covered with moss, wide-cut steps led into the stream. A tree with roots in the water and vines snaking across its trunk extends its branches like a bird in flight. Gingerly, we stepped into the icy water for a closer look at this lord of the river. The water is pristine, clear all the way down to the smooth pebbles under my feet.
Tired from the long drive, the cool running water at our feet was a reviving balm. But the sensation of being dwarfed by this magnificent forest touched something much deeper inside all of us. We stayed silent, drinking it all in.
Inside the forest at the foot of the Western Ghats, runs this pristine stream fed by the monsoon rains
We slipped back into our footwear and walked a little further to find another gem hidden behind a wall of thick foliage – Tambdi Surla, a 12th-century Shiva temple. Small and dramatically dark, the stone walls of the temple glistened with fresh rain. Built with grey-black basalt, carried over the mountains from the Deccan Plateau, the temple forms a dark silhouette against gray skies, rising in a clearing between the trees. Inside, someone rings the temple bell. We peer past a Nandi crowned with flowers, into the inner sanctum lit by the flickering light of an oil lamp. We pause and give thanks for the incredible beauty that surrounds us.
This 12th C #temple is the oldest in #Goa, made of black basalt carried across the mountains from the Deccan plateau
Footloose in Fontainhas
Sunday, it rained all day. Popping open colourful umbrellas, we followed Jack Ajit Kukhija as he guided us on a heritage walk through Fontainhas, the old Latin quarter of Panjim. The houses here are painted a pale yellow, red, green or blue; Mediterranean colours from the 450-year Portuguese colonization of Goa, possibly the longest rule in the history of the colonized world.
Overhanging balconies, china-mosaic windows and roosting cockerels on rooftops are typical to most houses. Nameplates here are especially beautiful. Found on churches, houses, restaurants, on roads and bar, this kind of ceramic tile-work – Azulejos - was adopted by the Portuguese, from Morocco and Algeria. We walk through the wet streets, through tiny lanes between houses, ducking umbrellas and straining to hear Jack’s stories about roads named 31st January and 18th June, after revolts in Portugal and civil disobedience movements in Goa. Every building has a story, a long history and almost always, a beautiful visage.
Popping into old bakeries trickling aromas of hot poi, and art galleries that stock prints of Mario Miranda's illustrations, we end our walk outside the Panjim Inn, the lovingly restored heritage hotel that was our weekend home. Goa, the escape from busy cities is a refuge sought over and over, and yet there is still much to be discovered.
A weekend in the monsoon is not nearly enough.
Fact File
Fontainhas is located in the old quarter of Panjim, the capital of Goa, bordered by the Ourem Creek on the east and Altinho Hill on the west. Fontainhas is best experienced staying at one of her many heritage hotels. The Panjim Inn , part of the WelcomHeritage Hotels, is a warm, picturesque hotel that has been painstakingly restored, preserving the feel of Old Goa in every room. Exploring the forests near the Mahadeva temple is a daylong trip; booking a local cab is the most efficient way to get there.
A weekend in early August, the Goa Tourism Department hosted the GoaInstawalk, inviting us to explore a Goa beyond beaches. We checked into a beautiful room at the Panjim Inn on a Friday afternoon, complete with vintage bed and a chair like the one my grandfather had. I put both feet up and closed my eyes, listening to the steady patter of rain on the leaves.
Panjim Inn is situated in Old Goa, bordered by the Ourem Creek and Altinho Hill. We spent the evening walking her streets and stopping at street carts to sample the goods. Sweet beef samosas, crisp prawn cutlets and beef burgers made with pav bread.
Saturday morning was still dewy from the night’s showers. We packed into a car and drove a long way to the eastern border of Goa, into the Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. Buried deep in the Western Ghats, the forest is home to leopards, the slender loris, giant squirrels and a breathtaking variety of birds. We heard them long before we spotted them, the trees humming with a medley of birdsong. But infinitely more captivating was the crowding green around us; the forest pressing back into the road, reclaiming its territory in the high swing of monsoon. We drove through the forest, acutely aware that we were intruders, entering a realm that was fully self-contained.
Fierce streams gushed past, under bridges, beside the road, the sound of running water over stone filling the air. We stopped to take it all in, the gentle whir of the forest. Deeper inside, crossing a stone bridge covered with moss, wide-cut steps led into the stream. A tree with roots in the water and vines snaking across its trunk extends its branches like a bird in flight. Gingerly, we stepped into the icy water for a closer look at this lord of the river. The water is pristine, clear all the way down to the smooth pebbles under my feet.
Tired from the long drive, the cool running water at our feet was a reviving balm. But the sensation of being dwarfed by this magnificent forest touched something much deeper inside all of us. We stayed silent, drinking it all in.
Inside the forest at the foot of the Western Ghats, runs this pristine stream fed by the monsoon rains
We slipped back into our footwear and walked a little further to find another gem hidden behind a wall of thick foliage – Tambdi Surla, a 12th-century Shiva temple. Small and dramatically dark, the stone walls of the temple glistened with fresh rain. Built with grey-black basalt, carried over the mountains from the Deccan Plateau, the temple forms a dark silhouette against gray skies, rising in a clearing between the trees. Inside, someone rings the temple bell. We peer past a Nandi crowned with flowers, into the inner sanctum lit by the flickering light of an oil lamp. We pause and give thanks for the incredible beauty that surrounds us.
This 12th C #temple is the oldest in #Goa, made of black basalt carried across the mountains from the Deccan plateau
Footloose in Fontainhas
Sunday, it rained all day. Popping open colourful umbrellas, we followed Jack Ajit Kukhija as he guided us on a heritage walk through Fontainhas, the old Latin quarter of Panjim. The houses here are painted a pale yellow, red, green or blue; Mediterranean colours from the 450-year Portuguese colonization of Goa, possibly the longest rule in the history of the colonized world.
Overhanging balconies, china-mosaic windows and roosting cockerels on rooftops are typical to most houses. Nameplates here are especially beautiful. Found on churches, houses, restaurants, on roads and bar, this kind of ceramic tile-work – Azulejos - was adopted by the Portuguese, from Morocco and Algeria. We walk through the wet streets, through tiny lanes between houses, ducking umbrellas and straining to hear Jack’s stories about roads named 31st January and 18th June, after revolts in Portugal and civil disobedience movements in Goa. Every building has a story, a long history and almost always, a beautiful visage.
Popping into old bakeries trickling aromas of hot poi, and art galleries that stock prints of Mario Miranda's illustrations, we end our walk outside the Panjim Inn, the lovingly restored heritage hotel that was our weekend home. Goa, the escape from busy cities is a refuge sought over and over, and yet there is still much to be discovered.
A weekend in the monsoon is not nearly enough.
Fact File
Fontainhas is located in the old quarter of Panjim, the capital of Goa, bordered by the Ourem Creek on the east and Altinho Hill on the west. Fontainhas is best experienced staying at one of her many heritage hotels. The Panjim Inn , part of the WelcomHeritage Hotels, is a warm, picturesque hotel that has been painstakingly restored, preserving the feel of Old Goa in every room. Exploring the forests near the Mahadeva temple is a daylong trip; booking a local cab is the most efficient way to get there.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Airindia to sell tickets at Rs.100/-
"This is the first time the airline will be celebrating the 'Air India Day'. A function will be held to celebrate the day and also to award meritorious employees of the airline," an official spokesperson said.
Air India was amalgamated with erstwhile Indian Airlines into one airline as "Air India" on August 27, 2007.
On the occasion, the flag carrier would launch 'Air India Offer'--a scheme offering tickets for Rs 100 apart from all applicable taxes. The site to book the Rs 100 ticket also displays a message: "The system is currently busy". (Click)
The sale of these tickets would be made only through the airline's website for five days from August 27 to 31 for travel during the period August 27 to September 30 only, he added.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Deepam
‘Deepam’ to brighten up lives!
CBN introduced the ‘Deepam’ scheme in 1999 to alleviate hardships and reduce health hazards for women due to use of earthen stoves.
The last 10 years of Congress’ rule saw gross neglect of this scheme. With the TDP coming back to power, the scheme is all set to be revived.
Government is getting ready to approve 5 lakh gas connections under the ‘Deepam’ Scheme.
To offer a subsidy of Rs. 1600 per connection, the State Government has allocated Rs. 80.54 Crore in the 2014-15 budget.
CBN introduced the ‘Deepam’ scheme in 1999 to alleviate hardships and reduce health hazards for women due to use of earthen stoves.
The last 10 years of Congress’ rule saw gross neglect of this scheme. With the TDP coming back to power, the scheme is all set to be revived.
Government is getting ready to approve 5 lakh gas connections under the ‘Deepam’ Scheme.
To offer a subsidy of Rs. 1600 per connection, the State Government has allocated Rs. 80.54 Crore in the 2014-15 budget.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
VVIT Guntur
Address: Nambur (V), Pedakakani (M),
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh - 522508
Website: http://www.vvitguntur.com
Vasireddy Venkatadri Institute of Technology (VVIT), Guntur was established in 2007. The college is approved by AICTE and affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada. The college has been managed by Social Educational Trust. The vision of the college is to impart quality education through exploration and experimentation and generate socially-conscious engineers, embedding ethics and values, for the advancement in science and technology. The mission of the college is to provide holistic and integrated education and achieve over all development of students by imparting scientific and technical, social and cognitive, managerial and organizational skills.
Campus of Vasireddy Venkatadri Institute of Technology -
VVIT has self contained infrastructure located amidst the lush greenery of paddy and maize fields of Nambur located strategically between Guntur and Vijayawada, five KMS away from the Ntional Highway 5
Facilities :
- Well stocked Library
- Laboratories with state of the art Equipment
- Air Conditioned Class Rooms
- 24 hours Internet facility
- Canteen
- Hostel facility
- Fleet of 45 own buses for glitch less Transportation
Departments :
- Department of Civil Engineering
- Department of Electrical Engineering
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering
- Department of Information Technology
- Department of Computer Applications
- Department of Science and Humanities
Placement Cell
The objectives of the cell are analyzing the aspirations of the students, knowing the industry requirements; create awareness about career opportunities, preparing the final placement requirement list and chalking out plans to enhance employability of the students. Following is the partial list of the companies which recruited our students.
Top Recruiters -
- Tech Mahindra
- Infosys
- TCS
- ADP
- HCL
- CTS
- APPS Associates
- OSMOSYS
- Amar Raja
- India Health Care
- Syntel
- L Cube
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
iPhone 6 features
This may be a schematic for a chip in the iPhone 6.
Each year, we hear rumors that Apple will finally add Near Field Communication (NFC) to the iPhone. As it turns out, 2014 isn't any different, because we're seeing a ton of indicators that the tech could appear in Apple's iPhone 6.
NFC is a technology that allows you to share information or perform an action by simply tapping your phone against another compatible device or sensor.
It is most commonly used for making payments with your phone or for sharing photos or contacts with another phone by tapping the two devices together.
Many manufacturers behind today's biggest Android phones, including Samsung, have been putting NFC in their gadgets for years. But we have yet to see the technology really take off.
Samsung's S Beam feature, for example, which allows you to share content by tapping two Samsung phones together back to back, is powered by NFC. It was originally introduced back in 2012 with the Galaxy S3.
The latest leak connecting NFC to the iPhone 6 comes from the Chinese forum Weibo, where Apple repair service GeekBar posted what it says is a schematic for a storage chip that will supposedly be inside the iPhone 6 (via 9to5Mac).
This isn't to be confused with the A8, which will presumably be Apple's processor for the next set of iPhones and iPads. The schematic shown in this leak is likely for a flash storage chip that is used for storing things like music and photos in your iPhone.
As 9to5Mac points out, the PN6V5 model number visible in the document is associated with an NFC chip made by NXP Corp ., the company that also makes the iPhone 5's M7 motion co-processor. This hints that the next iPhone will support NFC.
It is important to note that this schematic doesn't appear to be visibly associated with Apple or any of its suppliers, so there is a chance that it is not related to the iPhone 6 at all.
This is also far from the first time we have heard that the iPhone 6 will support NFC. Back in June, VentureBeat reported that a source close to the situation said NFC and wireless charging support would be among the iPhone 6's new features .
The publication noted that Apple was ready to build NFC into the iPhone 5s but decided not to because the mobile payments space wasn't "mature" enough just yet. In 2012, Apple's SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller told AllThingsD that NFC did not present "a solution to a current problem."
But now, it's possible that the company has had a change of heart. Numerous reports have suggested that Apple is preparing to get into the mobile payments space. For example, back in May 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is readying its own mobile payments platform for buying luxury goods.
Gurman also reported that mobile payments could be part of a new plan Apple's new retail leader Angela Ahrendts has to shake up the company's brick-and-mortar presence. If that is the case, then it seems plausible that Apple would build NFC, the most common technology used in mobile payment systems, into its iPhone.
We expect to learn more about the iPhone 6 in the next few weeks, as Apple is rumored to be hosting an event on Sept. 9 to introduce its next smartphone.
Each year, we hear rumors that Apple will finally add Near Field Communication (NFC) to the iPhone. As it turns out, 2014 isn't any different, because we're seeing a ton of indicators that the tech could appear in Apple's iPhone 6.
NFC is a technology that allows you to share information or perform an action by simply tapping your phone against another compatible device or sensor.
It is most commonly used for making payments with your phone or for sharing photos or contacts with another phone by tapping the two devices together.
Many manufacturers behind today's biggest Android phones, including Samsung, have been putting NFC in their gadgets for years. But we have yet to see the technology really take off.
Samsung's S Beam feature, for example, which allows you to share content by tapping two Samsung phones together back to back, is powered by NFC. It was originally introduced back in 2012 with the Galaxy S3.
The latest leak connecting NFC to the iPhone 6 comes from the Chinese forum Weibo, where Apple repair service GeekBar posted what it says is a schematic for a storage chip that will supposedly be inside the iPhone 6 (via 9to5Mac).
This isn't to be confused with the A8, which will presumably be Apple's processor for the next set of iPhones and iPads. The schematic shown in this leak is likely for a flash storage chip that is used for storing things like music and photos in your iPhone.
As 9to5Mac points out, the PN6V5 model number visible in the document is associated with an NFC chip made by NXP Corp ., the company that also makes the iPhone 5's M7 motion co-processor. This hints that the next iPhone will support NFC.
It is important to note that this schematic doesn't appear to be visibly associated with Apple or any of its suppliers, so there is a chance that it is not related to the iPhone 6 at all.
This is also far from the first time we have heard that the iPhone 6 will support NFC. Back in June, VentureBeat reported that a source close to the situation said NFC and wireless charging support would be among the iPhone 6's new features .
The publication noted that Apple was ready to build NFC into the iPhone 5s but decided not to because the mobile payments space wasn't "mature" enough just yet. In 2012, Apple's SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller told AllThingsD that NFC did not present "a solution to a current problem."
But now, it's possible that the company has had a change of heart. Numerous reports have suggested that Apple is preparing to get into the mobile payments space. For example, back in May 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is readying its own mobile payments platform for buying luxury goods.
Gurman also reported that mobile payments could be part of a new plan Apple's new retail leader Angela Ahrendts has to shake up the company's brick-and-mortar presence. If that is the case, then it seems plausible that Apple would build NFC, the most common technology used in mobile payment systems, into its iPhone.
We expect to learn more about the iPhone 6 in the next few weeks, as Apple is rumored to be hosting an event on Sept. 9 to introduce its next smartphone.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Top 7 Beauty Tips
Top 7 Beauty Tips
#1. Oil in salads
For a healthy and younger looking skin, healthy eating is a must. And, surely you already know what amazing benefits salads can provide to your skin and health. To get a younger looking skin, all you have to do now is switch the cream-based dressings with an oil-based one.
Oils absorb antioxidants and vitamins from the food in a much better manner than mayo, making your skin look fresher and younger. No doubt mayo tastes amazing in salad dressings, but so do oil-based dressings. Oils such as olive oil, canola oils and even vinegar enhance the taste of the salads even more.
#2. Increase the intake of Vitamin C
Vitamin C enriched foods are very good for the skin as they contain collagen, which helps the skin to look young, fresh and glowing.
So, it is time to add foods such as lemons, oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, etc. to your daily diet.
#3. Yoga
Yoga is a one-stop solution to all your health and beauty related problems. Practicing various yoga asanas cleanses your body from within. Yoga promotes healthy blood circulation in your body.
This reduces the appearance of wrinkles, relaxes and strengthens the facial muscles, releases stress and soothes the mind. Various young postures also help in delaying the process of hair greying. Apart from intricate asanas, breathing exercises and meditation are also beneficial for your skin. In all, yoga undoubtedly is the key to a younger looking and healthy lifestyle.
#4. Avoid using powder on the face
Applying powder to the face does not make you look fairer or younger for that matter. Instead, it absorbs oil and moisture out of skin, thus leaving your skin even more dry and dull.
This makes appearance of fine lines and wrinkles even more prominent. If you wish to use face powder, then it is best to switch to a mineral-based powder.
#5. Take care of your hands and feet
While we all do everything possible for our face in our efforts to look young, the most important thing we forget is to take care of our hands and feet.
Ageing can be seen very prominently on these two body parts, if not taken care of from the beginning. Thus, getting done manicures and pedicures regularly along with using a good moisturiser is very important in order to keep them looking good and you young! Also, apart from your hands and feet, you should start taking care of the skin under your eyes and behind your neck as well.
#6. Good quality products with skin-friendly ingredients
Using non-branded and cheap quality makeup can damage your skin, and lead to pimples, rashes and much more. Even though good brands are a little expensive, they do not damage your skin and are better for the longer run.
Also, years can be wiped off one’s face by applying a good base (concealer and foundation). What’s more? When you are buying skincare products, be on the lookout for skin-friendly, anti-ageing ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), vitamin A, C and E, and peptides.
#7. Moisturise and exfoliate
Exfoliating and moisturising are two steps of skin care routine should never ignore if you wish to look younger than your age.
You need to keep your skin well hydrated in order to delay the onset of wrinkles, fine lines and age spots and for this moisturising your skin daily is a must. Also exfoliate your skin at least once or twice in a week to get rid of read skin cells, and reveal a younger looking you. What’s more? Exfoliation also helps to boost the production of collagen in the skin and makes it smooth.
#1. Oil in salads
For a healthy and younger looking skin, healthy eating is a must. And, surely you already know what amazing benefits salads can provide to your skin and health. To get a younger looking skin, all you have to do now is switch the cream-based dressings with an oil-based one.
Oils absorb antioxidants and vitamins from the food in a much better manner than mayo, making your skin look fresher and younger. No doubt mayo tastes amazing in salad dressings, but so do oil-based dressings. Oils such as olive oil, canola oils and even vinegar enhance the taste of the salads even more.
#2. Increase the intake of Vitamin C
Vitamin C enriched foods are very good for the skin as they contain collagen, which helps the skin to look young, fresh and glowing.
So, it is time to add foods such as lemons, oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, etc. to your daily diet.
#3. Yoga
Yoga is a one-stop solution to all your health and beauty related problems. Practicing various yoga asanas cleanses your body from within. Yoga promotes healthy blood circulation in your body.
This reduces the appearance of wrinkles, relaxes and strengthens the facial muscles, releases stress and soothes the mind. Various young postures also help in delaying the process of hair greying. Apart from intricate asanas, breathing exercises and meditation are also beneficial for your skin. In all, yoga undoubtedly is the key to a younger looking and healthy lifestyle.
#4. Avoid using powder on the face
Applying powder to the face does not make you look fairer or younger for that matter. Instead, it absorbs oil and moisture out of skin, thus leaving your skin even more dry and dull.
This makes appearance of fine lines and wrinkles even more prominent. If you wish to use face powder, then it is best to switch to a mineral-based powder.
#5. Take care of your hands and feet
While we all do everything possible for our face in our efforts to look young, the most important thing we forget is to take care of our hands and feet.
Ageing can be seen very prominently on these two body parts, if not taken care of from the beginning. Thus, getting done manicures and pedicures regularly along with using a good moisturiser is very important in order to keep them looking good and you young! Also, apart from your hands and feet, you should start taking care of the skin under your eyes and behind your neck as well.
#6. Good quality products with skin-friendly ingredients
Using non-branded and cheap quality makeup can damage your skin, and lead to pimples, rashes and much more. Even though good brands are a little expensive, they do not damage your skin and are better for the longer run.
Also, years can be wiped off one’s face by applying a good base (concealer and foundation). What’s more? When you are buying skincare products, be on the lookout for skin-friendly, anti-ageing ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), vitamin A, C and E, and peptides.
#7. Moisturise and exfoliate
Exfoliating and moisturising are two steps of skin care routine should never ignore if you wish to look younger than your age.
You need to keep your skin well hydrated in order to delay the onset of wrinkles, fine lines and age spots and for this moisturising your skin daily is a must. Also exfoliate your skin at least once or twice in a week to get rid of read skin cells, and reveal a younger looking you. What’s more? Exfoliation also helps to boost the production of collagen in the skin and makes it smooth.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Thursday, August 14, 2014
3-color Independence day Recipes
This year, celebrate Independence Day with mouthwatering tri-coloured savouries like fruit skewers and salads.
Here are some mouth watering recipes:
1. Classic Macaroni Salad by It's 9 Bakery Cafe
Ingredients:
-Macaroni (boiled) (120 grams)
-Red kidney beans (boiled) (50 grams)
-Corn Kernels (50 grams)
-Tomato (seedless) (20 grams)
-Sliced onion (30 grams)
-Bell pepper (45 grams)
-Coriander leaves (chopped) (20 grams)
-Tomato ketchup (30 grams)
-Mayonnaise (40 grams)
-Pinch of Salt
-Lime Juice (as required)
-Oregano (5 grams)
-Chopped green chilli (5 grams)
Method:
-Take a steel bowl and put all the ingredients (except mayonnaise, lime juice and tomato ketchup) and mix it gently.
-When mixed properly, fold it into mayonnaise, lime juice and tomato ketchup.
-Put it in a salad bowl and garnish it with tomato and coriander leaf and serve it cold.
2. Colourful Fruit Skewers
Ingredients:
- 50 Strawberries
- 50 Pieces of cantaloupe or mandarin oranges
- 50 Pieces pineapple, canned
- 50 Pieces of kiwi fruit or honeydew melon
- 100 blueberries
- 50 bamboo or other disposable plastic skewers
Method:
- Use sharpened bamboo or wooden skewers.
- Cut fruits into square shapes.
-Skewer strawberry first, then cantaloupe or orange, followed by pineapple and kiwi fruit or -honeywdew melon.
-Put two blueberries on the pointed end.
-Make sure to fix them well, so they don't slip off.
3. Tiranga Curry Rice by Chef Gurmeet Singh, Pind Balluchi
Ingredients:
-Paneer (150 grams)
-Tomatoes (3 medium)
-Cashew nuts (1/4 cup)
-Melon seeds (2 tablespoons)
-Poppy seeds (1 teaspoon)
-Ginger,chopped (1 teaspoon)
-Green cardamoms (2)
-Red chilli powder (1 teaspoon)
-Salt to taste
-Oil 1 tablespoon + for deep-frying
-Yogurt (1/4 cup)
-Green cardamom powder (1/4 teaspoon)
-Refined flour (2 teaspoons)
-Fresh cream (2 tablespoons)
-Garam masala powder (1/4 teaspoon)
Method:
-Put chopped tomatoes, cashew nuts, melon seeds, poppy seeds, ginger, green cardamoms, red chilli powder, yogurt, salt and one tablespoon oil in a pressure cooker and mix well.
- Add one cup water and close the cooker with the lid. Cook under pressure till four whistles.
-Put oil in a pan and add green cardamom powder, salt, flour and mix well.
-Take circular portions of the mixture (koftas) and deep fry it till golden.
-Open the lid of the cooker and blend the mixture with a hand blender.
-Put the mixture and pour into another non-stick pan and heat. Add a little cream and garam masala powder and mix.
-Arrange the deep friend koftas in a serving bowl, pour the gravy over, drizzle a little cream and serve immediately.
-Serve it hot with steamed rice.
4. Tri-coloured rice by Chef Bikram, Fat Ninja - Pan Asian Cafe.
Ingredients:
-Rice (2 Cups)
-Oil (1 tablespoon)
-Lemon Juice (1 tablespoon)
-Water (2 Cups)
-Salt (to taste)
-Carrots Steamed/boiled and puréed (2 Carrots)
-Coriander leaves (1 bunch)
-Green Chillies (3)
-Ginger (a small piece)
-Curry leaves (2 strands)
-Mint leaves few
-Garam masala (one tablespoon)
-Turmeric powder (1/2 tablespoon)
-Oil (2 tablespoon)
Method:
-Heat up a thick bottom vessel, pour water, add salt and let it boil.
-Add rice and stir it well.
-Add oil and lemon juice, stir again and cover it with a lid and let it cook till done. Take off the stove and set aside to cool.
-Fluff up the rice gently so that the grains do not stick to each other. Divide into three equal portions and set aside.
-Steam cook or boil the carrots and let it cool. Puree them and set aside.
-Grind coriander leaves, ginger, mint leaves and curry leaves, set aside
-In a non-stick pan, pour one tablespoon oil, add the carrot puree and saute for a minute. Add turmeric powder, garam masala, half tablespoon salt and saute. Add one portion of rice and saute well to mix. Check for the salt and adjust, set aside.
-In another pan, pour oil, add the coriander-mint paste, half tablespoon salt and saute well. -Add next portion of rice and saute well. Check for the salt and adjust. Set aside.
-Layer three different rice, orange first, then white and then green so that when you take it upside down for serving the orange colour comes first.
-Arrange them as single individual servings or as a single dish to let everyone help themselves.
5. Tri colour Makhani at Spice 52, Mumbai
Ingredients:
-Palak (spinach) (100 gram)
-Oil (2 tablespoon)
-Chopped garlic (1 tablespoon)
-Chopped green chilly (1/2 tablespoon)
-Green vegetables (bean, carrot,cottage cheese) (150 gram)
-Butter (50 gram)
-Mawa 50 (gram)
Procedure
-In fry pan put two tablespoon oil, garlic and green chilly. Put spinach puree. Saute, put cream, butter and mawa.
-Put green vegetables.
-Use garam masala, 1 tbsp elaichi (cardamom) powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, kasuri methi powder (dried, fenugreek leaves powder).
-Chopped coriander and salt! As per taste.
For red gravy:
Ingredients
-Onion (150 gram)
-Tomato (150 gram)
-Cashewnuts paste (150 gram)
-Garlic
-Green chilly
-Kolhapuri chilly
-Grated coconut (1 cup)
Procedure:
-Cut onion fine and saute in oil and water till Brown. put it in mixer and make paste.
-Boil cashew nut and make paste in mixer grinder.
-Pour 2 tablespoon oil, garlic and chilli in fry pan.
-Pour onion paste, cashew nut paste and tomato puree 75 gram.
-Put Kolhapuri chilli, grated coconut, chilli powder, elaichi (cardamom) powder, kasuri methi (dried, fenugreek leaves) (1 tablespoon).
-Put butter, mawa, cream. (1/4 cup each)
Here are some mouth watering recipes:
1. Classic Macaroni Salad by It's 9 Bakery Cafe
Ingredients:
-Macaroni (boiled) (120 grams)
-Red kidney beans (boiled) (50 grams)
-Corn Kernels (50 grams)
-Tomato (seedless) (20 grams)
-Sliced onion (30 grams)
-Bell pepper (45 grams)
-Coriander leaves (chopped) (20 grams)
-Tomato ketchup (30 grams)
-Mayonnaise (40 grams)
-Pinch of Salt
-Lime Juice (as required)
-Oregano (5 grams)
-Chopped green chilli (5 grams)
Method:
-Take a steel bowl and put all the ingredients (except mayonnaise, lime juice and tomato ketchup) and mix it gently.
-When mixed properly, fold it into mayonnaise, lime juice and tomato ketchup.
-Put it in a salad bowl and garnish it with tomato and coriander leaf and serve it cold.
2. Colourful Fruit Skewers
Ingredients:
- 50 Strawberries
- 50 Pieces of cantaloupe or mandarin oranges
- 50 Pieces pineapple, canned
- 50 Pieces of kiwi fruit or honeydew melon
- 100 blueberries
- 50 bamboo or other disposable plastic skewers
Method:
- Use sharpened bamboo or wooden skewers.
- Cut fruits into square shapes.
-Skewer strawberry first, then cantaloupe or orange, followed by pineapple and kiwi fruit or -honeywdew melon.
-Put two blueberries on the pointed end.
-Make sure to fix them well, so they don't slip off.
3. Tiranga Curry Rice by Chef Gurmeet Singh, Pind Balluchi
Ingredients:
-Paneer (150 grams)
-Tomatoes (3 medium)
-Cashew nuts (1/4 cup)
-Melon seeds (2 tablespoons)
-Poppy seeds (1 teaspoon)
-Ginger,chopped (1 teaspoon)
-Green cardamoms (2)
-Red chilli powder (1 teaspoon)
-Salt to taste
-Oil 1 tablespoon + for deep-frying
-Yogurt (1/4 cup)
-Green cardamom powder (1/4 teaspoon)
-Refined flour (2 teaspoons)
-Fresh cream (2 tablespoons)
-Garam masala powder (1/4 teaspoon)
Method:
-Put chopped tomatoes, cashew nuts, melon seeds, poppy seeds, ginger, green cardamoms, red chilli powder, yogurt, salt and one tablespoon oil in a pressure cooker and mix well.
- Add one cup water and close the cooker with the lid. Cook under pressure till four whistles.
-Put oil in a pan and add green cardamom powder, salt, flour and mix well.
-Take circular portions of the mixture (koftas) and deep fry it till golden.
-Open the lid of the cooker and blend the mixture with a hand blender.
-Put the mixture and pour into another non-stick pan and heat. Add a little cream and garam masala powder and mix.
-Arrange the deep friend koftas in a serving bowl, pour the gravy over, drizzle a little cream and serve immediately.
-Serve it hot with steamed rice.
4. Tri-coloured rice by Chef Bikram, Fat Ninja - Pan Asian Cafe.
Ingredients:
-Rice (2 Cups)
-Oil (1 tablespoon)
-Lemon Juice (1 tablespoon)
-Water (2 Cups)
-Salt (to taste)
-Carrots Steamed/boiled and puréed (2 Carrots)
-Coriander leaves (1 bunch)
-Green Chillies (3)
-Ginger (a small piece)
-Curry leaves (2 strands)
-Mint leaves few
-Garam masala (one tablespoon)
-Turmeric powder (1/2 tablespoon)
-Oil (2 tablespoon)
Method:
-Heat up a thick bottom vessel, pour water, add salt and let it boil.
-Add rice and stir it well.
-Add oil and lemon juice, stir again and cover it with a lid and let it cook till done. Take off the stove and set aside to cool.
-Fluff up the rice gently so that the grains do not stick to each other. Divide into three equal portions and set aside.
-Steam cook or boil the carrots and let it cool. Puree them and set aside.
-Grind coriander leaves, ginger, mint leaves and curry leaves, set aside
-In a non-stick pan, pour one tablespoon oil, add the carrot puree and saute for a minute. Add turmeric powder, garam masala, half tablespoon salt and saute. Add one portion of rice and saute well to mix. Check for the salt and adjust, set aside.
-In another pan, pour oil, add the coriander-mint paste, half tablespoon salt and saute well. -Add next portion of rice and saute well. Check for the salt and adjust. Set aside.
-Layer three different rice, orange first, then white and then green so that when you take it upside down for serving the orange colour comes first.
-Arrange them as single individual servings or as a single dish to let everyone help themselves.
5. Tri colour Makhani at Spice 52, Mumbai
Ingredients:
-Palak (spinach) (100 gram)
-Oil (2 tablespoon)
-Chopped garlic (1 tablespoon)
-Chopped green chilly (1/2 tablespoon)
-Green vegetables (bean, carrot,cottage cheese) (150 gram)
-Butter (50 gram)
-Mawa 50 (gram)
Procedure
-In fry pan put two tablespoon oil, garlic and green chilly. Put spinach puree. Saute, put cream, butter and mawa.
-Put green vegetables.
-Use garam masala, 1 tbsp elaichi (cardamom) powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, kasuri methi powder (dried, fenugreek leaves powder).
-Chopped coriander and salt! As per taste.
For red gravy:
Ingredients
-Onion (150 gram)
-Tomato (150 gram)
-Cashewnuts paste (150 gram)
-Garlic
-Green chilly
-Kolhapuri chilly
-Grated coconut (1 cup)
Procedure:
-Cut onion fine and saute in oil and water till Brown. put it in mixer and make paste.
-Boil cashew nut and make paste in mixer grinder.
-Pour 2 tablespoon oil, garlic and chilli in fry pan.
-Pour onion paste, cashew nut paste and tomato puree 75 gram.
-Put Kolhapuri chilli, grated coconut, chilli powder, elaichi (cardamom) powder, kasuri methi (dried, fenugreek leaves) (1 tablespoon).
-Put butter, mawa, cream. (1/4 cup each)
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
"Anna Canteen" Menu
Government readies Menu card for Anna NTR Canteen!
Tiffins:
Idli / Upma / Pongal – Rs. 5/-
Afternoon Lunch
Sambar Rice – Rs. 7.50/-
Curd Rice / Lemon Rice – Rs. 6.50/-
Dinner
2 Chapatis + Vegetable Curry – Rs. 7.50
Under Phase I, plans are being drawn up to open 35 canteens in Guntur, Visakhapatnam, Anantapur and Tirupathi.
Government will bear the approximate cost of Rs. 40/- incurred when an individual eats three times a day at the Canteen.
Tiffins:
Idli / Upma / Pongal – Rs. 5/-
Afternoon Lunch
Sambar Rice – Rs. 7.50/-
Curd Rice / Lemon Rice – Rs. 6.50/-
Dinner
2 Chapatis + Vegetable Curry – Rs. 7.50
Under Phase I, plans are being drawn up to open 35 canteens in Guntur, Visakhapatnam, Anantapur and Tirupathi.
Government will bear the approximate cost of Rs. 40/- incurred when an individual eats three times a day at the Canteen.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
‘naked’ for 36 days
Female artist to sleep on iron wire bed ‘naked’ for 36 days in beijing art gallary.
Monday, August 11, 2014
RealEstate Boom in Guntur
Guntur, now in the race for capital region, is set for development on a fast track mode. Home to an enterprising group of tobacco traders and industrialists, the city is developing into a bustling business centre. One of the main reasons for the development of the city over the last five years is the real estate boom. While the city is reputed for quality of construction for years, development of apartment culture has fuelled the construction activity.
“We have been the leading builders in the State till 2000, with only Visakhapatnam competing with us. Builders here have always followed the best practices in construction, never comprised on the quality of the construction and maintained high standard throughout,’’ Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association, Guntur unit, secretary A. Siva Reddy said.
Apartments were built in the commercial areas of Arundelpet and the semi residential areas in Brodipet in the mid-80s. By mid-90s, they began to spring up everywhere and on the fringe areas of the city like, Vidya Nagar, Navabharath Nagar, Shyamla Nagar and Pattabhipuram etc. In the recent years, spiralling construction costs and acute shortage of labour has pushed the cost of construction to an almost prohibitive limit. Builders began to race against time to give a finished and complete flat, replete with wooden cup boards, marble flooring and air conditioning.
The post-bifurcation boom too had cascading effects and resulted in the steep rise in land price. Coupled with the steep increase in site value and spiralling construction costs, builders in the city too were forced to scale up the price of flats. Prices of flats have doubled. A two-bed room flat which used to sell for Rs.15-25 lakh two years ago, is now worth Rs.35-40 lakh. A three-bed room flat which used to cost Rs.35-40 lakh, is now costing upwards of Rs.50 lakh.
But the city continues to suffer with lack of basic amenities in extension areas forcing an unwarranted vertical growth. People have remained averse to moving out to spacious areas outside the town due to poor infrastructure. Availability of water has been a major issue but the comprehensive water project promises to address water problem for the next 40 years.
Apart from laying an Inner Ring Road connecting Auto Nagar to Gorantla on Amaravathi road, VGTM VUDA has done little to Guntur. “The UDA has to develop one or two model townships complete with infrastructure. Only then, the builders would venture out,’’ said Kalyan, another builder.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Rakhi Special Gift
A festival that brings siblings together and is a reminder of the bond they share is Rakshabandhan, which falls on August 10. Bangaloreans talk about their plans for the festival and the special bond they share with their siblings.
Ganga Padmeshwari, a homemaker who hails from Patna, has been in the City for almost two decades. She says that the celebrations here are nothing compared to how they are back home. “It’s grand back home. The sister is treated like a queen that day and showered with gifts. The day is mainly about spending time together and eating a lot. Many traditional sweets like motichoor ka ladoo, gaja, kaju katli, kala jamun and peda are made,” says Ganga.
She adds, “The day starts with the girls putting a tika on their brother’s forehead and tying the rakhi on his wrist. Post this, he is given a lot of sweets. This is followed by the gifting session.” Ganga adds that earlier, mostly money used to be given. But now, costlier and fancier items like jewellery, dresses and gadgets are given.
Payal Jain, who hails from Rajasthan, is glad that her brother Jayant, lives with her now.
“Rakshabandhan will be more special this time since my brother is here. When we were kids, we didn’t know the value of the day. But as we grew up, we realised its importance,” says Payal. She adds that back home, they would all gather at one house and decorate it. They would also decorate the thali. “The whole family would come together on this day.”
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Book My Show
Book My Show Mobile app which provides an easy chance for the Mobile users to get entertainment through a simple and easy way. Book My Show is very user friendly application and is checked by the local people frequently watching movies. A single tapping on the screen widget can allow the user to watch the favorite movie of his choice. One way to watch the movies of our choice is to choose the movies and book for them. The Book My Show application will display the list of movies and cinemas, the list of the movies and the timings of the show.
The Book My Show Mobile app will help in choosing the seats where the person has to sit and the tickets for those seats can be booked previously. The application helps in supporting the multiple payment secured option. The primary release of the application has the opportunity to provide movie tickets while the improved releases will provide the tickets for the plays, sports and concerts. The people mad about watching the movies can have the great choice for going to theaters and watching the movies by knowing about the movies previously through android, iPhone and BlackBerry Mobiles.
The Book My Show Mobile app will help in choosing the seats where the person has to sit and the tickets for those seats can be booked previously. The application helps in supporting the multiple payment secured option. The primary release of the application has the opportunity to provide movie tickets while the improved releases will provide the tickets for the plays, sports and concerts. The people mad about watching the movies can have the great choice for going to theaters and watching the movies by knowing about the movies previously through android, iPhone and BlackBerry Mobiles.
Friday, August 8, 2014
The Story Behind Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan, meaning "Knot of Protection" is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Hindus throughout the world. The festival stands for the beautiful relationship shared between brothers and sisters. A lifelong promise of protection is made on this special occasion. It exhibits the beautiful relationship of love, care and affection between siblings.
History
Raksha Bandhan, also called Rakhi Purnima or just Rakhi, has deep rooted historical significance. There are various stories linked with the past mythology of the hindu religion. People believe and follow different stories from the past. The most famous and relied upon story of them all is that of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and the Mughal Emperor Humayun. Rani Karnawati was the widowed queen of Chittor, which had been attacked by Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat. The queen realized that defending her empire from the invasion was not possible for her and in lieu of protection and help, she sent a Rakhi to the Mughal Emperor, Humayun. On receiving the rakhi, the Emperor was overwhelmed and became emotional. He, along with his troops, immediately set out to protect Chittor from the invasion. Alas, he could not reach on time. The Sultan of Gujarat had, by then, reached the queen`s fortress. All the women, in the fortress including Rani Karnawati had performed Jauhar (mass suicide) by then. Humayun, on reaching the fortress, fought with Bahadur Shah and evicted him from the land. The empire was handed over to Rani Karnawati`s son, Vikramjeet Singh. Since then, the act of a sister tying a rakhi on the wrist of her brother indicates lifelong protection from him.
Significance
Raksha Bandhan is a beautiful Hindu festival where sisters dress up beautifully in order to celebrate this special occasion with their brothers. Sisters also pray for a prosperous future and a long life for their brothers. Rakhi holds great emotional and religious significance. The festival keeps the deep rooted culture of the country alive, strengthens the relationship of siblings and ensures togetherness.
Celebrations
The festival of Raksha Bandhan, brings the entire family together. The day starts with everyone dressing up beautifully in traditional attires. Sweets, chocolates and other regional specialties are brought. The sister ties a rakhi on her brother`s wrist and performs aarti, praying for his well-being and then sweetens his mouth with a delicacy. Brothers in return give gifts to their sisters to express their love.
Perfect gifts for brothers and sisters
Nowadays, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with exchange of gifts unlike the old days when money was handed over to the sister as a token of love. Here are some amazing ideas of gifts you can surprise your brother and sister with, on Rakhi.
Gifts for Brothers:
Watch: Very much in fashion; since the occasion is rakhi, what could be better than a watch for your brother`s wrist?
Gadget: Since guys are quite tech savvy, a gadget, maybe a new phone, MP3, tab, etc. will be a great option. It`ll surely bring a smile to your brother`s face.
Perfumes: Men and women both are equally crazy about perfumes. So, a nice perfume is also a great option this rakhi.
Chocolates: chocolates are liked by people of all age groups, so whether your brother is young or old, chocolates will remain an all-time favorite.
Gifts for Sisters
Jewellery: A girl`s best friend! Jewellery is one of the most loved things by any girl. Go for it, without a second thought.
Bag: Bags are again a great option. Girls go gaga over handbags, so getting your sister a bag will definitely fetch you a smile.
Vouchers: Girls, being shopaholics, will love a gift/discount voucher from which they can shop as they desire.
History
Raksha Bandhan, also called Rakhi Purnima or just Rakhi, has deep rooted historical significance. There are various stories linked with the past mythology of the hindu religion. People believe and follow different stories from the past. The most famous and relied upon story of them all is that of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and the Mughal Emperor Humayun. Rani Karnawati was the widowed queen of Chittor, which had been attacked by Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat. The queen realized that defending her empire from the invasion was not possible for her and in lieu of protection and help, she sent a Rakhi to the Mughal Emperor, Humayun. On receiving the rakhi, the Emperor was overwhelmed and became emotional. He, along with his troops, immediately set out to protect Chittor from the invasion. Alas, he could not reach on time. The Sultan of Gujarat had, by then, reached the queen`s fortress. All the women, in the fortress including Rani Karnawati had performed Jauhar (mass suicide) by then. Humayun, on reaching the fortress, fought with Bahadur Shah and evicted him from the land. The empire was handed over to Rani Karnawati`s son, Vikramjeet Singh. Since then, the act of a sister tying a rakhi on the wrist of her brother indicates lifelong protection from him.
Significance
Raksha Bandhan is a beautiful Hindu festival where sisters dress up beautifully in order to celebrate this special occasion with their brothers. Sisters also pray for a prosperous future and a long life for their brothers. Rakhi holds great emotional and religious significance. The festival keeps the deep rooted culture of the country alive, strengthens the relationship of siblings and ensures togetherness.
Celebrations
The festival of Raksha Bandhan, brings the entire family together. The day starts with everyone dressing up beautifully in traditional attires. Sweets, chocolates and other regional specialties are brought. The sister ties a rakhi on her brother`s wrist and performs aarti, praying for his well-being and then sweetens his mouth with a delicacy. Brothers in return give gifts to their sisters to express their love.
Perfect gifts for brothers and sisters
Nowadays, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with exchange of gifts unlike the old days when money was handed over to the sister as a token of love. Here are some amazing ideas of gifts you can surprise your brother and sister with, on Rakhi.
Gifts for Brothers:
Watch: Very much in fashion; since the occasion is rakhi, what could be better than a watch for your brother`s wrist?
Gadget: Since guys are quite tech savvy, a gadget, maybe a new phone, MP3, tab, etc. will be a great option. It`ll surely bring a smile to your brother`s face.
Perfumes: Men and women both are equally crazy about perfumes. So, a nice perfume is also a great option this rakhi.
Chocolates: chocolates are liked by people of all age groups, so whether your brother is young or old, chocolates will remain an all-time favorite.
Gifts for Sisters
Jewellery: A girl`s best friend! Jewellery is one of the most loved things by any girl. Go for it, without a second thought.
Bag: Bags are again a great option. Girls go gaga over handbags, so getting your sister a bag will definitely fetch you a smile.
Vouchers: Girls, being shopaholics, will love a gift/discount voucher from which they can shop as they desire.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Solar Ship
PlanetSolar In Athens — “TerraSubmersa” Expedition Beginning ... region, the world largest solar-powered boat docked in the port of Piraeus ...
Today, the world's largest solar powered catamaran basks in the Greek waters preparing to assist the Terra Submersa archaeological project co-organised by the University of Geneva, the Neuchatel Latenium, the Swiss Archaeological School in Greece, Greece's Service for Underwater Antiquities and the Greek Centre for Maritime Research.
A Plan to Kerala Holidays
Dear all,
Thought of sharing an article written for tourists who are in the planning stage of Kerala tour.
This tour planning guide is written to have an in-depth understanding of all the points to be known/taking care during planning stage of a great Kerala experience.
• Before going with any details, finalize number of days you can spend in Kerala.
• If leave from office is not the major concern, have an understanding of different tourist spots and as per your interests freeze number of days you can spend in Kerala. Finalize on arrival and departure dates in both cases
• You can book tickets upto Cochin or to Trivandrum. Cochin is advisable at most of the times and book upto Trivandrum only if the first destination is Kanyakumari or Kovalam. For Wayanad you may book upto Calicut
• If you are booking bus, book upto Ernakulam as Cochin is also known as Ernakulam. For train ERN or ERS is the code for Ernakulam and for flight COK. Note cochin airport is 20km away from city
• Try to reach cochin as early as possible to cover maximum tourist spots
• Before booking return trip, finalize the Itinerary as you can have the option of return from Trivandrum if last destination is Kovalam or Kanyakumari and Calicut if last destination is Wayanad
• A small understanding of major tourist places would help you to decide on this
South Kerala or Central Kerala
• Cochin – Most of the time you land here, do cochin sightseeing on same day or you can do this on last day
• Munnar – Munnar is a hill station, 135km from cochin
• Thekkady – Periyar wild life sanctuary is at Thekkady. You have the options of adventurous activities/eco-tourism activities here
• Alleppey/Kumarakom – Houseboat cruise is at Alleppey or Kumarakom, you can even have a resort stay here
• Trivandrum- Capital of Kerala
• Kovalam - Beaches
• Kanyakumari – Try to visit this place if you have enough time
• Athirapilly Vazhachal – Water falls
• Cherai – A good beach near cochin
• Guruvayoor – The famous Sree Krishna temple is at Guruvayoor
Northern Kerala
• Wayanad, another famous tourist spot in Kerala is at Northern part of Kerala
Planning an Itinerary
List the places you like from above list and go through each destination in detail from below post. An itinerary can be prepared successfully once you finalize places of visit, number of nights at each destination and total number of days you can spend in Kerala.
Cochin:
This used to be the place you land in Kerala, most of the times. A full day cochin tour is worth doing and go for it if you have enough days to spend in Kerala. Move towards next destinations like Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey if you are short of time and do cochin sightseeing on last day
1. Munnar is 4.5hrs drive from Cochin, Thekkady is 5hrs drive, Alleppey is 2hrs, Guruvayoor 2hrs and Athirapilly vazhachal is also 2hrs from cochin
2. If your first destination is Kovalam or Kanyakumari try to land at Trivandrum itself or a hectic travel of 6 to 7hrs is not advisable from Cochin
3. If you are planning for Houseboat on day of arrival itself, make sure you reach Alleppey by 12Noon itself, which means you need to arrive cochin maximum by 9AM
4. If your arrival is in evening, say after 4PM try to stay at cochin itself and move to next destination next day. You can get good hotels near to airport or railway station and can save on travelling cost also
5. If your stay is at cochin itself on day of arrival, and if you are reaching early morning make sure necessary arrangements are done and prior information is passed on. Most of the hotels has check in time 12Noon, on request hoteliers may allow for early check in depends on availability. But make sure this is communicated properly
Munnar:
Munnar is a must see place if you are in Kerala. The place has excellent climate through out the year.
For Munnar trip, make sure you have minimum of 2 night stay, rushing with 1 night stay is not a good idea for Munnar trip.
On first day itself you have lot of sightseeing spots, small water falls on the way to Munnar and normally you reach Munnar by evening if you enjoy everything on the way. Second full day is required to cover complete Munnar
While booking hotels in Munnar, make sure the location is as per your preferences. Munnar has good hotels with in the radius of 30km from city
If you are a person who with to stay in city, book accordingly or if you would like to enjoy the nature book a hotel little away from city
If the hotel is not in city, always have food/shopping and move to hotel. Driving back from hotel to city in the night is not advisable and you may find it difficult to drive with fog and terrain of roads
Second day can be dedicated for Munnar sightseeing and can cover most of the places. If you really want to relax extend one more day
Next destinations from Munnar can be Thekkady, Alleppey or Cochin. Moving to Kovalam from Munnar is not a good idea as travelling time would be minimum 10hrs
If you are planning to move to cochin to catch return flight/train try to leave atleast 6hrs in advance from Munnar
Thekkady: The famous Periyar wild life sanctuary is at Thekkady. Thekkady has lot of adventurous activities and eco tourism activities. There are lot of actvities like Kathakali, Martial arts, Magic, Musical fountain, elephant shower, elephant bath, tribal dance, spice tour at Thekkady. You can do Ayurveda massage also. Must do is to go for boating at Thekkady along Periyar river. You may be able to watch wild animals during this boating. Wild life sanctuary, Mullaperiyar dam and wild animals can be seen only during this boating and you do not have the option of using your vehicle.
To book ticket for boating either you need to be in queue or need to do advance booking. At present normal ticket cost 150/- per person and advance booking at 500/-. For advance booking you may contact Lake palace hotel at Thekkady. Boat timings are at 7.30AM, 9.30AM, 11.15AM, 1.45PM and 3.30PM, boating is for 1.5hrs. If you are not an adventurous person a one night stay is sufficient and go for 2 night stay if you want to experience adventurous activities or to take rest or to do above activities in a relax mood.
Adventurous activities like Gavi tour which includes jeep safari, trekking, bamboo rafting etc. can be done. You can even go for nature walk, night patrolling at Thekkady.
Once Thekkady sightseeing is completed you have the option of moving to Cochin, Munnar, Alleppey, Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Kodaikkanal. Direct drive to Kovalam from Thekkady is not a good idea due to hectic travelling
Alleppey Houseboats: Houseboats at Alleppey is a one time life experience. You can take either full day 21hrs cruise or morning cruise for 5 to 6hrs depends on your time and preferences. A full day cruise normally includes lunch, dinner, tea, snacks and breakfast and the food is prepared inside boat itself. Check in time for full day cruise is at 12Noon and check out at 9AM next day. Until mentioned note that for A/C boats A/C operates only from 9PM to 5.30AM. During the cruise ask them to anchor the boat in middle of lake for some time to enjoy the beauty of lake. During night boat will be anchored only near to shore and can not drive from 6PM to 7AM. You will watch paddy fields, canals, backwaters during this trip
Resorts at Alleppey/Kumarakom: You can have option of resorts also at Alleppey for relaxation. You can even go for a morning cruise during this stay and can enjoy Alleppey beach in the evening. Try to select this resort as per your interest, some resorts will be swimming pool, pedal boat and can do fishing also
From Alleppey you can plan Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Thekkady, Munnar, Guruvayoor, Cochin
Varkala: Varkala is in between Alleppey and Trivandrum and has clean beach. This place is good for those who want to relax
Trivandrum/Kovalam: At Trivandrum you can visit the famous Sree Padmanabha swamy temple, Museums, art gallery, Zoo etc. While visiting temple make sure you carry required dress to get inside. Temple timings are between 5 to 11 in morning and 3 to 6 in evening. You may stay at Kovalam after Trivandrum sightseeing and at Kovalam you can enjoy beaches and make sure you have atleast 2 night stay here so that first day can be dedicated for Trivandrum sightseeing and second at Kovalam. You may even visit Poovar during your stay at Kovalam.
If your last destination is Trivandrum /Kovalam try to book return ticket from Trivandrum else you need to drive back to Cochin which takes minimum of 7hrs by road and you normally stop for food/rest in between. Books return ticket accordingly.
Kanyakumari: If you are travelling upto Kovalam/Trivandrum try to spend one night at Kanyakumari also so that you can see sunset and sunrise. Kanyakumari is 90km from Kovalam and is at the southern tip of India
Guruvayoor temple: Guruvayoor is where the famous Sree Krishna temple located. This place is 80km from cochin towards north west. This temple has an elephant sanctuary also where you can see more than 60 elephants.
Athirapilly Vazhachal water falls: This place is 70km from cochin and is the biggest water falls in Kerala. If you have enough time in Kerala, do consider visiting this place also
Cherai Beach: A beach 30km from cochin
Wayanad: Wayanad is 300km from Cochin towards north. If this is your first destination try to book ticket till Calicut. You should have 3 night stay if you are planning Wayanad and book return ticket from Calicut if this is your last destination in Kerala. Wayanad to cochin would take approximately 8hrs.
With above details you should be able to decide on destinations to be covered and number of nights required at each place. Go through below routing, skip those places you don’t want to visit and prepare your Itinerary with ease.
For Cochin pick up
1. Cochin – Munnar (135 km) –Thekkady (110 km) –Alleppey resort (160 km) – Alleppey Houseboat –– Cochin (80 km)
2. Cochin – Munnar (135 km) – Thekkady (110 km) – Alleppey resort (160 km) – Alleppey Houseboat – Varkala (80km) – Kanyakumari (150km) – Trivandrum/Kovalam (90km) – Cochin (230km)
3. Cochin –Alleppey resort (80 km) – –Alleppey Houseboat –– Kanyakumari (210 km) –– Trivandrum/Kovalam (90 km) –– Cochin(230 km)
4. Cochin –– Munnar (135 km) –– Thekkady (110 km) –– Alleppey resort(160 km) –Alleppey Houseboat –– Cochin (80 km) –– Guruvayoor(90 km) –– Athirapilly vazhachal (140 km) –– Cochin(70 km)
5. Cochin –– Wayanad (300 km) –– Cochin(300 km) –– Munnar (135 km) –– Thekkady (110 km) –– Alleppey resort (160 km) – Alleppey Houseboat –– Varkala (80 km) –– Kanyakumari (150 km) –– Trivandrum/Kovalam (90 km) – Cochin (230km)
If arrival is at Trivandrum
6. Trivandrum/Kovalam –– Kanyakumari(90 km) –– Varkala (150 km) –– Alleppey Houseboat (80 km) –Alleppey resort –– Thekkady(160 km) – Munnar– (110 km) –– Cochin(135 km)
Selecting Vehicle: select vehicle depends number of people travelling and luggage. Indica is good only if maximum of 3 people are travelling. If more than 3 people are travelling India will not have space to carry luggage as this vehicle does not have boot space and getting vehicle with carrier is difficult. Climbing the hills with 4 people will be difficult for a vehicle like Indica. Try Indigo if you want better luxury and Tavera is suggested if 4 or more people are travelling. Inova can be opted for better luxury. If number of people travelling is more than 7 go for traveller and you can get traveller with 12, 14, 17, 19 seats and for groups 27 seater, 35 seater and 49 seater vehicles are also available
Luggage/Cash/ID card: Carry minimal ornaments and luggage. You find lot of ATM everywhere and carry minimum cash with you. Do carry ID card of every person who travels and ID card is required at the time of check in to hotels.
I hope this article helps you in planning your Kerala trip and to decide the itinerary.
Thank you verymuch
Thought of sharing an article written for tourists who are in the planning stage of Kerala tour.
This tour planning guide is written to have an in-depth understanding of all the points to be known/taking care during planning stage of a great Kerala experience.
• Before going with any details, finalize number of days you can spend in Kerala.
• If leave from office is not the major concern, have an understanding of different tourist spots and as per your interests freeze number of days you can spend in Kerala. Finalize on arrival and departure dates in both cases
• You can book tickets upto Cochin or to Trivandrum. Cochin is advisable at most of the times and book upto Trivandrum only if the first destination is Kanyakumari or Kovalam. For Wayanad you may book upto Calicut
• If you are booking bus, book upto Ernakulam as Cochin is also known as Ernakulam. For train ERN or ERS is the code for Ernakulam and for flight COK. Note cochin airport is 20km away from city
• Try to reach cochin as early as possible to cover maximum tourist spots
• Before booking return trip, finalize the Itinerary as you can have the option of return from Trivandrum if last destination is Kovalam or Kanyakumari and Calicut if last destination is Wayanad
• A small understanding of major tourist places would help you to decide on this
South Kerala or Central Kerala
• Cochin – Most of the time you land here, do cochin sightseeing on same day or you can do this on last day
• Munnar – Munnar is a hill station, 135km from cochin
• Thekkady – Periyar wild life sanctuary is at Thekkady. You have the options of adventurous activities/eco-tourism activities here
• Alleppey/Kumarakom – Houseboat cruise is at Alleppey or Kumarakom, you can even have a resort stay here
• Trivandrum- Capital of Kerala
• Kovalam - Beaches
• Kanyakumari – Try to visit this place if you have enough time
• Athirapilly Vazhachal – Water falls
• Cherai – A good beach near cochin
• Guruvayoor – The famous Sree Krishna temple is at Guruvayoor
Northern Kerala
• Wayanad, another famous tourist spot in Kerala is at Northern part of Kerala
Planning an Itinerary
List the places you like from above list and go through each destination in detail from below post. An itinerary can be prepared successfully once you finalize places of visit, number of nights at each destination and total number of days you can spend in Kerala.
Cochin:
This used to be the place you land in Kerala, most of the times. A full day cochin tour is worth doing and go for it if you have enough days to spend in Kerala. Move towards next destinations like Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey if you are short of time and do cochin sightseeing on last day
1. Munnar is 4.5hrs drive from Cochin, Thekkady is 5hrs drive, Alleppey is 2hrs, Guruvayoor 2hrs and Athirapilly vazhachal is also 2hrs from cochin
2. If your first destination is Kovalam or Kanyakumari try to land at Trivandrum itself or a hectic travel of 6 to 7hrs is not advisable from Cochin
3. If you are planning for Houseboat on day of arrival itself, make sure you reach Alleppey by 12Noon itself, which means you need to arrive cochin maximum by 9AM
4. If your arrival is in evening, say after 4PM try to stay at cochin itself and move to next destination next day. You can get good hotels near to airport or railway station and can save on travelling cost also
5. If your stay is at cochin itself on day of arrival, and if you are reaching early morning make sure necessary arrangements are done and prior information is passed on. Most of the hotels has check in time 12Noon, on request hoteliers may allow for early check in depends on availability. But make sure this is communicated properly
Munnar:
Munnar is a must see place if you are in Kerala. The place has excellent climate through out the year.
For Munnar trip, make sure you have minimum of 2 night stay, rushing with 1 night stay is not a good idea for Munnar trip.
On first day itself you have lot of sightseeing spots, small water falls on the way to Munnar and normally you reach Munnar by evening if you enjoy everything on the way. Second full day is required to cover complete Munnar
While booking hotels in Munnar, make sure the location is as per your preferences. Munnar has good hotels with in the radius of 30km from city
If you are a person who with to stay in city, book accordingly or if you would like to enjoy the nature book a hotel little away from city
If the hotel is not in city, always have food/shopping and move to hotel. Driving back from hotel to city in the night is not advisable and you may find it difficult to drive with fog and terrain of roads
Second day can be dedicated for Munnar sightseeing and can cover most of the places. If you really want to relax extend one more day
Next destinations from Munnar can be Thekkady, Alleppey or Cochin. Moving to Kovalam from Munnar is not a good idea as travelling time would be minimum 10hrs
If you are planning to move to cochin to catch return flight/train try to leave atleast 6hrs in advance from Munnar
Thekkady: The famous Periyar wild life sanctuary is at Thekkady. Thekkady has lot of adventurous activities and eco tourism activities. There are lot of actvities like Kathakali, Martial arts, Magic, Musical fountain, elephant shower, elephant bath, tribal dance, spice tour at Thekkady. You can do Ayurveda massage also. Must do is to go for boating at Thekkady along Periyar river. You may be able to watch wild animals during this boating. Wild life sanctuary, Mullaperiyar dam and wild animals can be seen only during this boating and you do not have the option of using your vehicle.
To book ticket for boating either you need to be in queue or need to do advance booking. At present normal ticket cost 150/- per person and advance booking at 500/-. For advance booking you may contact Lake palace hotel at Thekkady. Boat timings are at 7.30AM, 9.30AM, 11.15AM, 1.45PM and 3.30PM, boating is for 1.5hrs. If you are not an adventurous person a one night stay is sufficient and go for 2 night stay if you want to experience adventurous activities or to take rest or to do above activities in a relax mood.
Adventurous activities like Gavi tour which includes jeep safari, trekking, bamboo rafting etc. can be done. You can even go for nature walk, night patrolling at Thekkady.
Once Thekkady sightseeing is completed you have the option of moving to Cochin, Munnar, Alleppey, Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Kodaikkanal. Direct drive to Kovalam from Thekkady is not a good idea due to hectic travelling
Alleppey Houseboats: Houseboats at Alleppey is a one time life experience. You can take either full day 21hrs cruise or morning cruise for 5 to 6hrs depends on your time and preferences. A full day cruise normally includes lunch, dinner, tea, snacks and breakfast and the food is prepared inside boat itself. Check in time for full day cruise is at 12Noon and check out at 9AM next day. Until mentioned note that for A/C boats A/C operates only from 9PM to 5.30AM. During the cruise ask them to anchor the boat in middle of lake for some time to enjoy the beauty of lake. During night boat will be anchored only near to shore and can not drive from 6PM to 7AM. You will watch paddy fields, canals, backwaters during this trip
Resorts at Alleppey/Kumarakom: You can have option of resorts also at Alleppey for relaxation. You can even go for a morning cruise during this stay and can enjoy Alleppey beach in the evening. Try to select this resort as per your interest, some resorts will be swimming pool, pedal boat and can do fishing also
From Alleppey you can plan Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Thekkady, Munnar, Guruvayoor, Cochin
Varkala: Varkala is in between Alleppey and Trivandrum and has clean beach. This place is good for those who want to relax
Trivandrum/Kovalam: At Trivandrum you can visit the famous Sree Padmanabha swamy temple, Museums, art gallery, Zoo etc. While visiting temple make sure you carry required dress to get inside. Temple timings are between 5 to 11 in morning and 3 to 6 in evening. You may stay at Kovalam after Trivandrum sightseeing and at Kovalam you can enjoy beaches and make sure you have atleast 2 night stay here so that first day can be dedicated for Trivandrum sightseeing and second at Kovalam. You may even visit Poovar during your stay at Kovalam.
If your last destination is Trivandrum /Kovalam try to book return ticket from Trivandrum else you need to drive back to Cochin which takes minimum of 7hrs by road and you normally stop for food/rest in between. Books return ticket accordingly.
Kanyakumari: If you are travelling upto Kovalam/Trivandrum try to spend one night at Kanyakumari also so that you can see sunset and sunrise. Kanyakumari is 90km from Kovalam and is at the southern tip of India
Guruvayoor temple: Guruvayoor is where the famous Sree Krishna temple located. This place is 80km from cochin towards north west. This temple has an elephant sanctuary also where you can see more than 60 elephants.
Athirapilly Vazhachal water falls: This place is 70km from cochin and is the biggest water falls in Kerala. If you have enough time in Kerala, do consider visiting this place also
Cherai Beach: A beach 30km from cochin
Wayanad: Wayanad is 300km from Cochin towards north. If this is your first destination try to book ticket till Calicut. You should have 3 night stay if you are planning Wayanad and book return ticket from Calicut if this is your last destination in Kerala. Wayanad to cochin would take approximately 8hrs.
With above details you should be able to decide on destinations to be covered and number of nights required at each place. Go through below routing, skip those places you don’t want to visit and prepare your Itinerary with ease.
For Cochin pick up
1. Cochin – Munnar (135 km) –Thekkady (110 km) –Alleppey resort (160 km) – Alleppey Houseboat –– Cochin (80 km)
2. Cochin – Munnar (135 km) – Thekkady (110 km) – Alleppey resort (160 km) – Alleppey Houseboat – Varkala (80km) – Kanyakumari (150km) – Trivandrum/Kovalam (90km) – Cochin (230km)
3. Cochin –Alleppey resort (80 km) – –Alleppey Houseboat –– Kanyakumari (210 km) –– Trivandrum/Kovalam (90 km) –– Cochin(230 km)
4. Cochin –– Munnar (135 km) –– Thekkady (110 km) –– Alleppey resort(160 km) –Alleppey Houseboat –– Cochin (80 km) –– Guruvayoor(90 km) –– Athirapilly vazhachal (140 km) –– Cochin(70 km)
5. Cochin –– Wayanad (300 km) –– Cochin(300 km) –– Munnar (135 km) –– Thekkady (110 km) –– Alleppey resort (160 km) – Alleppey Houseboat –– Varkala (80 km) –– Kanyakumari (150 km) –– Trivandrum/Kovalam (90 km) – Cochin (230km)
If arrival is at Trivandrum
6. Trivandrum/Kovalam –– Kanyakumari(90 km) –– Varkala (150 km) –– Alleppey Houseboat (80 km) –Alleppey resort –– Thekkady(160 km) – Munnar– (110 km) –– Cochin(135 km)
Selecting Vehicle: select vehicle depends number of people travelling and luggage. Indica is good only if maximum of 3 people are travelling. If more than 3 people are travelling India will not have space to carry luggage as this vehicle does not have boot space and getting vehicle with carrier is difficult. Climbing the hills with 4 people will be difficult for a vehicle like Indica. Try Indigo if you want better luxury and Tavera is suggested if 4 or more people are travelling. Inova can be opted for better luxury. If number of people travelling is more than 7 go for traveller and you can get traveller with 12, 14, 17, 19 seats and for groups 27 seater, 35 seater and 49 seater vehicles are also available
Luggage/Cash/ID card: Carry minimal ornaments and luggage. You find lot of ATM everywhere and carry minimum cash with you. Do carry ID card of every person who travels and ID card is required at the time of check in to hotels.
I hope this article helps you in planning your Kerala trip and to decide the itinerary.
Thank you verymuch
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Download 6,000 movies/second
Denmark Scientists invented the internet with high speed of 6000 movies download per second.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Beleave it or Not?: From 100 to 57
When she entered Bollywood, her first film Veer did not do well at the silver screen. Even her weight drew a lot of criticism. But when she did an item number in Ready, her slimmer avatar became the talk of the town. Yes, we are talking about actress Zareen Khan, who shunned her critics by shedding oodles of weight in just few months. Right exercise and proper diet is what helped Zareen to get those sultry curves.
Journey from 100 kilos to 57 kilos
You might find it hard to believe, considering her perfect figure now, but at one point of time Zareen Khan weighed 100 kilos! All thanks to the junk food she use to binge on in her teens. She says, “I was so laid-back. I didn't care about my weight, although people repeatedly asked me to watch it.” And since she always wanted to be a doctor and not an actress, she never cared about her weight.
She adds, “I thought that it really wouldn't matter how I looked if I were a doctor.” But when she could not fulfil her ambition, she dreamed of being a model. And this is when she decided to shed those extra kilos. And within a year, with right exercise and diet, she lost 43 kilograms. She says, “I just developed a strong will power which helped me curb my food cravings and be regular with my walks. In turn, it motivated me to push myself further."
The workout regime of Zareen Khan
Zareen went from a whooping 100 kilograms to 57 kilograms with the help of rigorous training and right diet plan. And after dancing on the tunes of ‘Character Dheela Hai’, the actress was seen in a more toned and fit body in Housefull 2.
This was all because of her gym instructor Yasmin Karachiwala, who made her do Pilates, weight training, and cardio exercise like swimming, jogging and spinning. Zareen says, “Every morning, I do Pilates for an hour and weight training thrice a week with Yasmin. I also do some swimming and jogging and eat every two hours to increase my metabolic rate. Sweets and fried food are a strict no!” The actress performs different types of cardio and never sticks to one form because she gets “bored easily”.
She even does yoga as there is no equipment needed and can be done anywhere, anytime, without fail, “Pilates is very challenging and that is what I like about it. It’s fun and hardly feels like exercise. I’ve recently started yoga with Twinkle Singh and she has completely changed my body. It has toned me up and stretched my muscles. There is a definite transformation. Since there is no equipment used, it is something I can do even in my hotel room when I am travelling so I can stay committed,” Zareen further added!
Diet of Zareen Khan
If you think that Zareen must have starved herself to get that smoking hot body then you are wrong! Her perfect body is all due to the right kind of food she eats.
She says, “I hate the concept of dieting. I think it’s very unrealistic. I don’t deny myself anything. I stick to a high protein diet which has a lot of veggies and juices. I am obsessed with drinking a lot of water. I needed to make fitness a part of my lifestyle. I can never workout for an hour at a stretch so my trainers create 20-minute workouts for me.”
This is what Zareen Khan's diet majorly consists of:
Breakfast: Two eggs (whites), brown bread toast, fruits and sprouts.
Lunch and dinner: Brown rice, stir-fried vegetables and grilled chicken.
Snacks: Coconut water, sprouts or clear soups.
Recommended Read: Famous Bollywood Divas and their Wedding Day Look
Well, her weight loss transformation is amazing and is a motivation for all those who are fighting fat. And if rumours are to be believed then, Zareen might shed 10 more kilos for her upcoming action film with Rajeev Khandelwal. Since, the film requires her to do some action scenes, she decided to go on the weight loss spree again with the help of cardio, weight training, power yoga and boot camp. Now, that’s called dedication!
Journey from 100 kilos to 57 kilos
You might find it hard to believe, considering her perfect figure now, but at one point of time Zareen Khan weighed 100 kilos! All thanks to the junk food she use to binge on in her teens. She says, “I was so laid-back. I didn't care about my weight, although people repeatedly asked me to watch it.” And since she always wanted to be a doctor and not an actress, she never cared about her weight.
She adds, “I thought that it really wouldn't matter how I looked if I were a doctor.” But when she could not fulfil her ambition, she dreamed of being a model. And this is when she decided to shed those extra kilos. And within a year, with right exercise and diet, she lost 43 kilograms. She says, “I just developed a strong will power which helped me curb my food cravings and be regular with my walks. In turn, it motivated me to push myself further."
The workout regime of Zareen Khan
Zareen went from a whooping 100 kilograms to 57 kilograms with the help of rigorous training and right diet plan. And after dancing on the tunes of ‘Character Dheela Hai’, the actress was seen in a more toned and fit body in Housefull 2.
This was all because of her gym instructor Yasmin Karachiwala, who made her do Pilates, weight training, and cardio exercise like swimming, jogging and spinning. Zareen says, “Every morning, I do Pilates for an hour and weight training thrice a week with Yasmin. I also do some swimming and jogging and eat every two hours to increase my metabolic rate. Sweets and fried food are a strict no!” The actress performs different types of cardio and never sticks to one form because she gets “bored easily”.
She even does yoga as there is no equipment needed and can be done anywhere, anytime, without fail, “Pilates is very challenging and that is what I like about it. It’s fun and hardly feels like exercise. I’ve recently started yoga with Twinkle Singh and she has completely changed my body. It has toned me up and stretched my muscles. There is a definite transformation. Since there is no equipment used, it is something I can do even in my hotel room when I am travelling so I can stay committed,” Zareen further added!
Diet of Zareen Khan
If you think that Zareen must have starved herself to get that smoking hot body then you are wrong! Her perfect body is all due to the right kind of food she eats.
She says, “I hate the concept of dieting. I think it’s very unrealistic. I don’t deny myself anything. I stick to a high protein diet which has a lot of veggies and juices. I am obsessed with drinking a lot of water. I needed to make fitness a part of my lifestyle. I can never workout for an hour at a stretch so my trainers create 20-minute workouts for me.”
This is what Zareen Khan's diet majorly consists of:
Breakfast: Two eggs (whites), brown bread toast, fruits and sprouts.
Lunch and dinner: Brown rice, stir-fried vegetables and grilled chicken.
Snacks: Coconut water, sprouts or clear soups.
Recommended Read: Famous Bollywood Divas and their Wedding Day Look
Well, her weight loss transformation is amazing and is a motivation for all those who are fighting fat. And if rumours are to be believed then, Zareen might shed 10 more kilos for her upcoming action film with Rajeev Khandelwal. Since, the film requires her to do some action scenes, she decided to go on the weight loss spree again with the help of cardio, weight training, power yoga and boot camp. Now, that’s called dedication!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Fun Raja Fun!!
Film : Run Raja Run
Cast : Sharwanand, Seerat Kapoor, Sampath raj, Kota Srinivas Rao, Vennela Kishore and Others.
Music : Ghibran
Produced by : Vamshi & Pramod
Directed by : Sujeeth
Censor certificate : U/A
Story :
Raja(Sharwanand) is a cool going guy who tries to impress girls but fails and will have a 50 break up stories and one fine day he falls for Priya(Seerath Kumar) and her father is police commissioner Dileep(Sampath raj). Priya also loves Raja. Dileep was assigned to deal a kidnapping case and inorder to solve this, Dileep takes the help of Raja and unexpectedly he keeps himself in more trouble. In the mean time Priya will come across some facts about Raja.
What are those facts?
What is the connection between Raja and these kidnaps?
Will Priya accepts Raja love?
The answers for these questions will completely cook up the entire story of Run Raja Run.
Review :
Performances :
Run Raja Run is really a fun ride and it is a complete one man show by Sharwanand and he is a very talented artist and this is one film in his career which has show cased an actor in him. Thanks to Sujeeth for bringing back Sharwanand to success. Its worthy to mention about the way Sharwanand has lived up to the character and expectations inorder to get natural feel. Sharwanand performed really very well and has shown several variations in acting and his dialogue delivery is perfect and comedy timing is amazing. He deserves the success of the film and every movie lover will feel happy for this success as it is a much deserved success for him. The heroine Seerath Kumar is a new come and the director already said that there is nothing much importance for her character but she looks promising and made her presence felt. Sampath raj acted as heroine father and we have seen him in Mirchi but we can see him in this film in comic sequences too. Adivi Sesh is one important person who looks silent throughout the film but makes magic. He should be mentioned. tamil actor Jaya Prakash acted as father of Sharwanand and he also acted well. The rest of the actors supported the main cast very well.
Cinematography :
The cinematography is handled by who has earlier worked for the film Mirchi and he has given outstanding work and wonderful visuals were shown on the screen. He has lot of credits in the success of the film.
Editing :
Editor is Madhu and he has handled the editing very well.But the first half of the film could be trimmed as we find few lags in the first half of the film but he has made the film look outstanding with non boring sequences.
Music :
The music of this film is brilliant. Ghibran has scored some good numbers in the film and the back ground score of the film also impressed and Ghibran deserves a hit film.
Story & Dialogues & Screenplay & Direction :
Sujeeth has handled the direction and this is his first film and we also aware that he is a noted shortfilm maker and he has proved that he is a talented film maker and has made an imresssive debut with this film. He must be appreciated for handling such tricky screenplay and the dialogues came out really very well. He scored a hit film on his first debut itself.
Review :
Run Raja Run is a outstanding effort by Sujeeth and Sharwanand. It is one man show on screen by Sharwanand and off screen one man show by Sujeeth. UV Creations has given a perfect support for this film and RRR is a good and clean film which can be watched atleast for one time to enjoy the new and different taking as most of us were fed up with traditional commercial films and are willing to watch a new kind of film for a relief and RRR fulfills our desire. It has all elements in required proportions. Do not miss this film and watch out for some neat dialogues, Sharwanand performance and in one line, Run Raja Run is a team effort. Congratulations to the film unit!
First half : Excellent
Second Half : Excellent
Verdict : Run Raja Run is a worthy watch and the film is a must watch for everyone and dont miss the film. Run Raja Run is the weekend winner!!
Rating : 3.5/5
Cast : Sharwanand, Seerat Kapoor, Sampath raj, Kota Srinivas Rao, Vennela Kishore and Others.
Music : Ghibran
Produced by : Vamshi & Pramod
Directed by : Sujeeth
Censor certificate : U/A
Story :
Raja(Sharwanand) is a cool going guy who tries to impress girls but fails and will have a 50 break up stories and one fine day he falls for Priya(Seerath Kumar) and her father is police commissioner Dileep(Sampath raj). Priya also loves Raja. Dileep was assigned to deal a kidnapping case and inorder to solve this, Dileep takes the help of Raja and unexpectedly he keeps himself in more trouble. In the mean time Priya will come across some facts about Raja.
What are those facts?
What is the connection between Raja and these kidnaps?
Will Priya accepts Raja love?
The answers for these questions will completely cook up the entire story of Run Raja Run.
Review :
Performances :
Run Raja Run is really a fun ride and it is a complete one man show by Sharwanand and he is a very talented artist and this is one film in his career which has show cased an actor in him. Thanks to Sujeeth for bringing back Sharwanand to success. Its worthy to mention about the way Sharwanand has lived up to the character and expectations inorder to get natural feel. Sharwanand performed really very well and has shown several variations in acting and his dialogue delivery is perfect and comedy timing is amazing. He deserves the success of the film and every movie lover will feel happy for this success as it is a much deserved success for him. The heroine Seerath Kumar is a new come and the director already said that there is nothing much importance for her character but she looks promising and made her presence felt. Sampath raj acted as heroine father and we have seen him in Mirchi but we can see him in this film in comic sequences too. Adivi Sesh is one important person who looks silent throughout the film but makes magic. He should be mentioned. tamil actor Jaya Prakash acted as father of Sharwanand and he also acted well. The rest of the actors supported the main cast very well.
Cinematography :
The cinematography is handled by who has earlier worked for the film Mirchi and he has given outstanding work and wonderful visuals were shown on the screen. He has lot of credits in the success of the film.
Editing :
Editor is Madhu and he has handled the editing very well.But the first half of the film could be trimmed as we find few lags in the first half of the film but he has made the film look outstanding with non boring sequences.
Music :
The music of this film is brilliant. Ghibran has scored some good numbers in the film and the back ground score of the film also impressed and Ghibran deserves a hit film.
Story & Dialogues & Screenplay & Direction :
Sujeeth has handled the direction and this is his first film and we also aware that he is a noted shortfilm maker and he has proved that he is a talented film maker and has made an imresssive debut with this film. He must be appreciated for handling such tricky screenplay and the dialogues came out really very well. He scored a hit film on his first debut itself.
Review :
Run Raja Run is a outstanding effort by Sujeeth and Sharwanand. It is one man show on screen by Sharwanand and off screen one man show by Sujeeth. UV Creations has given a perfect support for this film and RRR is a good and clean film which can be watched atleast for one time to enjoy the new and different taking as most of us were fed up with traditional commercial films and are willing to watch a new kind of film for a relief and RRR fulfills our desire. It has all elements in required proportions. Do not miss this film and watch out for some neat dialogues, Sharwanand performance and in one line, Run Raja Run is a team effort. Congratulations to the film unit!
First half : Excellent
Second Half : Excellent
Verdict : Run Raja Run is a worthy watch and the film is a must watch for everyone and dont miss the film. Run Raja Run is the weekend winner!!
Rating : 3.5/5
Bank holidays !!!
Do you know when your banks will be closed for business this year? These dates are observed as public holidays in India.
Note: The list of bank holidays is based on information on the Reserve Bank of India website. Some holidays might not be applicable in your home state.
Your organisation/ institution might have holiday policies that differ with India's central bank.
August 15
Independence Day
Independence Day is observed on the 15th of August every year in India. It is a national holiday commemorating the nation's independence from British rule.
August 18
Janmashtami / Parsi New Year
Krishna Jayanthi is an annual commemoration of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Hindus celebrate this festival by fasting and staying up until midnight, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born.
August 29
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesha. This festival is celebrated
August 30
Ganesh Chaturthi 2nd Daydays and on the eleventh day there is a procession of the statue through the streets with dancing and singing until the idol is immersed in the waters.elaborately all over India.
Note: The list of bank holidays is based on information on the Reserve Bank of India website. Some holidays might not be applicable in your home state.
Your organisation/ institution might have holiday policies that differ with India's central bank.
August 15
Independence Day
Independence Day is observed on the 15th of August every year in India. It is a national holiday commemorating the nation's independence from British rule.
August 18
Janmashtami / Parsi New Year
Krishna Jayanthi is an annual commemoration of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Hindus celebrate this festival by fasting and staying up until midnight, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born.
August 29
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesha. This festival is celebrated
August 30
Ganesh Chaturthi 2nd Daydays and on the eleventh day there is a procession of the statue through the streets with dancing and singing until the idol is immersed in the waters.elaborately all over India.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Excellent Resume
Approximately 1.6 million students in the U.S. graduated from college this year. Some are going into their post-college job search with an extensive resume, while others have no experience whatsoever.
It doesn't matter where you fall on the spectrum, as long as your resume catches the recruiter's attention and makes a great first impression in the six seconds they spend reviewing it.
To get a clearer picture of what makes a resume stand out, we asked Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TheLadders, an online job-matching service for professionals, to create a sample of an excellent one for a recent grad with some work experience.
While your resume may look different, depending on the industry you're in, the one below should serve as a useful guide for new college grads:
What makes this an excellent resume for a recent grad? Augustine outlines the following reasons:
1. It includes a link to his professional profile.
All recent graduates should have at least one profile established for their professional brand, she says. "Those who plan to work in a more creative field should develop an online portfolio and list the link to that site on their resume as part of their contact information." If you're concerned about employers finding your personal profiles, increase the security settings or consider changing the account name on your personal accounts to your first and middle name, so they won't be associated with your professional brand.
2. The professional summary isn't fluffy.
While it can be tempting to throw a few buzzwords such as "proactive" and "motivated" into a professional summary, recruiters know these terms are mere fluff and won't be impressed when they see them, says Augustine. "Don't tell employers that you're a great team player; explain how your team was able to improve a process, increase alumni donations, or received acknowledgment from the school for their exemplary volunteer work."
3. His GPA is listed.
The general rule of thumb is that if your GPA is above a 3.0, then you should include it in your entry-level resume, she explains. If the GPA in your major is higher than your overall GPA, use that instead. "Anything below a 3.0 should not be included on your resume. However, be aware that recruiters know why you didn't include the GPA and may ask you about it during the interview process."
4. There's no mention of high school.
Employers want to know what you've done lately, not what you accomplished four years ago or more, before you went to college. "Focus on highlighting your activities, accomplishments, and the work experience that took place during your college career, calling special attention to anything that directly supports your job goals," Augustine says.
5. His course work isn't included.
Since this job seeker has relevant internship experience and other extracurricular activities that demonstrate his sales and marketing skills, there's no reason to note that he has taken "Intro to Communication" or "Principles of Marketing." "In addition, this knowledge is implied in his new degree in communications," she says. "If you don't have any relevant experience from your internships or other activities on or off campus, you may need to include a list of relevant courses you've taken." However, she suggests sticking to the higher-level classes since no one wants to see "Intro to Finance" on the resume of an aspiring financial planner.
6. It doesn't use pronouns.
"While there is some debate among talent acquisition professionals these days about the need to add a more personal tone to resumes, the generally accepted practice is to refrain from referring to yourself in the first person with pronouns such as 'I' or 'me,'" explains Augustine. "Similarly, don't use pronouns or your name to talk about yourself in the third person (i.e. 'Shane is a recent graduate,' or, 'He is seeking opportunities to…')."
7. He used action verbs to describe his roles and responsibilities.
Did you notice how each of the bullets under Shane's roles begins with an action verb? "They don't mention what Shane was 'responsible for' doing; instead, the focus is on what he has accomplished and how he contributed to an end result," she says. "When you're new to the workforce, you may not have many major accomplishments and contributions to include in your resume; however, you can use action verbs, like 'created,' 'led,' 'managed,' 'improved,' 'developed,' and 'built' to describe your activities."
8. It doesn't include a list of references.
Cut "References available upon request" from your resume. "As an entry-level professional you only get one page of resume real estate, so don't waste it with this information," Augustine says. "Employers usually don't ask for this information until you're called in for a face-to-face interview, and they know you'll provide it if they request it."
It doesn't matter where you fall on the spectrum, as long as your resume catches the recruiter's attention and makes a great first impression in the six seconds they spend reviewing it.
To get a clearer picture of what makes a resume stand out, we asked Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TheLadders, an online job-matching service for professionals, to create a sample of an excellent one for a recent grad with some work experience.
While your resume may look different, depending on the industry you're in, the one below should serve as a useful guide for new college grads:
What makes this an excellent resume for a recent grad? Augustine outlines the following reasons:
1. It includes a link to his professional profile.
All recent graduates should have at least one profile established for their professional brand, she says. "Those who plan to work in a more creative field should develop an online portfolio and list the link to that site on their resume as part of their contact information." If you're concerned about employers finding your personal profiles, increase the security settings or consider changing the account name on your personal accounts to your first and middle name, so they won't be associated with your professional brand.
2. The professional summary isn't fluffy.
While it can be tempting to throw a few buzzwords such as "proactive" and "motivated" into a professional summary, recruiters know these terms are mere fluff and won't be impressed when they see them, says Augustine. "Don't tell employers that you're a great team player; explain how your team was able to improve a process, increase alumni donations, or received acknowledgment from the school for their exemplary volunteer work."
3. His GPA is listed.
The general rule of thumb is that if your GPA is above a 3.0, then you should include it in your entry-level resume, she explains. If the GPA in your major is higher than your overall GPA, use that instead. "Anything below a 3.0 should not be included on your resume. However, be aware that recruiters know why you didn't include the GPA and may ask you about it during the interview process."
4. There's no mention of high school.
Employers want to know what you've done lately, not what you accomplished four years ago or more, before you went to college. "Focus on highlighting your activities, accomplishments, and the work experience that took place during your college career, calling special attention to anything that directly supports your job goals," Augustine says.
5. His course work isn't included.
Since this job seeker has relevant internship experience and other extracurricular activities that demonstrate his sales and marketing skills, there's no reason to note that he has taken "Intro to Communication" or "Principles of Marketing." "In addition, this knowledge is implied in his new degree in communications," she says. "If you don't have any relevant experience from your internships or other activities on or off campus, you may need to include a list of relevant courses you've taken." However, she suggests sticking to the higher-level classes since no one wants to see "Intro to Finance" on the resume of an aspiring financial planner.
6. It doesn't use pronouns.
"While there is some debate among talent acquisition professionals these days about the need to add a more personal tone to resumes, the generally accepted practice is to refrain from referring to yourself in the first person with pronouns such as 'I' or 'me,'" explains Augustine. "Similarly, don't use pronouns or your name to talk about yourself in the third person (i.e. 'Shane is a recent graduate,' or, 'He is seeking opportunities to…')."
7. He used action verbs to describe his roles and responsibilities.
Did you notice how each of the bullets under Shane's roles begins with an action verb? "They don't mention what Shane was 'responsible for' doing; instead, the focus is on what he has accomplished and how he contributed to an end result," she says. "When you're new to the workforce, you may not have many major accomplishments and contributions to include in your resume; however, you can use action verbs, like 'created,' 'led,' 'managed,' 'improved,' 'developed,' and 'built' to describe your activities."
8. It doesn't include a list of references.
Cut "References available upon request" from your resume. "As an entry-level professional you only get one page of resume real estate, so don't waste it with this information," Augustine says. "Employers usually don't ask for this information until you're called in for a face-to-face interview, and they know you'll provide it if they request it."
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