Hoo's Tales is being organized by Hippocampus Children's Company. The event is an attempt to rediscover and revive the ancient art of storytelling in all its myriad forms for today's children, and bring in the colours, festivity and excitement of the stories
Date: March 1st 2008
Venue: Activity Area, Bal Bhavan, Cubbon Park
Time: 10:30 am to 6pm
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Facts On Buying a New Flat
I got this as a forward from one of my friend..I found this to be useful as the person who has written it has calculated the cost of buying a flat considering even the minor points.Useful for people who are planning to buy a flat..or is that useful for changing the idea of buying a flat to buying a plot and constructing house?
Mail Starts:
I am never the one to go out and buy a flat to live, simply because I am so used to living in an independent house. Living in a flat would strangle me no ends. At the same time, I am not the one to just buy it for an investment purpose, simply because I would then have to make do with the loan that accompanies it, which I find it to be just beyond my reach when it comes to repayment.
My good friend, wanting to buy a flat in B'lore to go and live, told me to look around for one. Trusting my calculation instincts, my friend also wanted me to make sure that it would work out to be a profitable venture. I got in touch with prominent builders and checked out some basic facts regarding the flats on offer. But I was literally amazed at the results. I also had to quiz the builder on some basic terms used it the construction of a building, as the whole thing was new to me. Here are some facts laid out for you:
Q. What will be the actual 'area of living' or carpet area if the builder proposes 1000 square feet?
>> The actual carpet area will be 800-850 square feet only. The common area is also included in the proposal.
Inference: If two flats are in the same floor, then the builder collects the amount for the carpet area from both the parties.
What is the cost for the Builder?
Suppose Builder X proposes a flat in a decent residential area.
Rate (Unit Price) - Rs. 3500 sft.
Registration - Rs. 40 per sft.
EB and drainage - Rs. 50,000
Covered Car park - Rs. 1,25,000
Corpus fund - Rs. 50000.
For a 1000 sq ft flat (850 sq ft carpet area), the approximate cost will be Rs.37,65,000. In the same plot area (measuring 2 grounds) let us consider that the builder would have constructed 10 flats.
Now,
Total sales for the builder - 37, 65,000 *10 = 3, 76, 50000 (3.76 crores)
Cost of the land - Rs. 40 laks per ground
1) Total cost of the land - Rs. 80 lakhs for two grounds -------------------------------A
Total builtup area for 10 flats - 10*1000 sft = 10,000 sft
Construction cost per sft (for normal specification) = Rs. 900 per sft
2) Total construction cost - 10,000 * 900 = Rs. 90,00,000 ---------------------------B
3) Other expenses for the builder - Rs. 20 per sft = Rs. 2,00,000 --------------------C
Total expenses for the builder = A+ B+C
= Rs. 80,00,000 + Rs.90,00,000 + Rs. 2,00,00 = Rs. 1,72,00,000 ( 1.72 crores approx)
Total Sales = Rs. 3.76 crores - Rs. 1.72 crores
Total profit of the builder = Rs. 2.04 crores.
What is the cost for each resident?
1. Cost of land = Divided share among the other 10 residents
= Rs. 80,00,000 / 10
= Rs. 8,00,000
2. Construction cost = Rs. 900 * 1000
= Rs. 9,00,000
3. Other expenses = Rs. 2,00,000 (approx)
Total = 8,00,000 + 9,00,000 + 2,00,000 = Rs. 19,00,000 ( Nineteen lakhs)
So the total share for each resident is Rs. 19,00,000 ( Nineteen lakhs only) – at the most 20 lakhs.
But what do you end up paying?
Hold your breath, it's a cool Rs. 37.5 lakhs for the flat.
Whats more, you can definitely not make a cash-down payment. So the only option is to go for a housing loan. For this, you are lured by banks and other lenders for cheaper home loans. But when you actually sit down and make the calculations, you will be astonished to note that you will actually end up paying double the amount at the end of the loan repayment period.
So before thinking of buying a new flat the next time, collect as much information as you can and then decide to buy one.
Mail Starts:
I am never the one to go out and buy a flat to live, simply because I am so used to living in an independent house. Living in a flat would strangle me no ends. At the same time, I am not the one to just buy it for an investment purpose, simply because I would then have to make do with the loan that accompanies it, which I find it to be just beyond my reach when it comes to repayment.
My good friend, wanting to buy a flat in B'lore to go and live, told me to look around for one. Trusting my calculation instincts, my friend also wanted me to make sure that it would work out to be a profitable venture. I got in touch with prominent builders and checked out some basic facts regarding the flats on offer. But I was literally amazed at the results. I also had to quiz the builder on some basic terms used it the construction of a building, as the whole thing was new to me. Here are some facts laid out for you:
Q. What will be the actual 'area of living' or carpet area if the builder proposes 1000 square feet?
>> The actual carpet area will be 800-850 square feet only. The common area is also included in the proposal.
Inference: If two flats are in the same floor, then the builder collects the amount for the carpet area from both the parties.
What is the cost for the Builder?
Suppose Builder X proposes a flat in a decent residential area.
Rate (Unit Price) - Rs. 3500 sft.
Registration - Rs. 40 per sft.
EB and drainage - Rs. 50,000
Covered Car park - Rs. 1,25,000
Corpus fund - Rs. 50000.
For a 1000 sq ft flat (850 sq ft carpet area), the approximate cost will be Rs.37,65,000. In the same plot area (measuring 2 grounds) let us consider that the builder would have constructed 10 flats.
Now,
Total sales for the builder - 37, 65,000 *10 = 3, 76, 50000 (3.76 crores)
Cost of the land - Rs. 40 laks per ground
1) Total cost of the land - Rs. 80 lakhs for two grounds -------------------------------A
Total builtup area for 10 flats - 10*1000 sft = 10,000 sft
Construction cost per sft (for normal specification) = Rs. 900 per sft
2) Total construction cost - 10,000 * 900 = Rs. 90,00,000 ---------------------------B
3) Other expenses for the builder - Rs. 20 per sft = Rs. 2,00,000 --------------------C
Total expenses for the builder = A+ B+C
= Rs. 80,00,000 + Rs.90,00,000 + Rs. 2,00,00 = Rs. 1,72,00,000 ( 1.72 crores approx)
Total Sales = Rs. 3.76 crores - Rs. 1.72 crores
Total profit of the builder = Rs. 2.04 crores.
What is the cost for each resident?
1. Cost of land = Divided share among the other 10 residents
= Rs. 80,00,000 / 10
= Rs. 8,00,000
2. Construction cost = Rs. 900 * 1000
= Rs. 9,00,000
3. Other expenses = Rs. 2,00,000 (approx)
Total = 8,00,000 + 9,00,000 + 2,00,000 = Rs. 19,00,000 ( Nineteen lakhs)
So the total share for each resident is Rs. 19,00,000 ( Nineteen lakhs only) – at the most 20 lakhs.
But what do you end up paying?
Hold your breath, it's a cool Rs. 37.5 lakhs for the flat.
Whats more, you can definitely not make a cash-down payment. So the only option is to go for a housing loan. For this, you are lured by banks and other lenders for cheaper home loans. But when you actually sit down and make the calculations, you will be astonished to note that you will actually end up paying double the amount at the end of the loan repayment period.
So before thinking of buying a new flat the next time, collect as much information as you can and then decide to buy one.
Mail sent by Narayan Murthy to all Infosys staff
This is a nice forwards which i got from one of my friend..Its too good..Read it
Mail sent by Narayan Murthy to all Infosys staff:
It's half past 8 in the office but the lights are still on...
PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing...
And who's at work? Most of them ??? Take a closer look...
All or most specimens are ??
Something male species of the human race...
Look closer... again all or most of them are bachelors...
And why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!!
Any guesses???
Let's ask one of them...
Here's what he says... "What's there 2 do after going home...Here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee that is why I am working late...Importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!!"
This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.
Bachelors "Time-passing" during late hours in the office just bcoz they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what r the consequences...
"Working" (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.
With bosses more than eager to provide support to those "working" late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers and of course good feedback, (oh, he's a hard worker... goes home only to change..!!).
They aren't helping things too...
To hell with bosses who don't understand the difference between "sitting" late and "working" late!!!
Very soon, the boss start expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.
So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when u get married and start having a family... office is no longer a priority, family is... and
That's when the problem starts... b'coz u start having commitments at home too.
For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become a "early leaver" even if u leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work.
People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers...
Girls who thankfully always (its changing nowadays... though) leave on time are labeled as "not up to it". All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on "working" not realizing that they r spoiling the work culture at their own place and never realize that they wuld have to regret at one point of time.
So what's the moral of the story??
* Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!!
* Never put in extra time " unless really needed "
* Don't stay back un-necessarily and spoil your company work culture which will in turn cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.
There are hundred other things to do in the evening..
Learn music...
Learn a foreign language...
Try a sport... TT, cricket.........
Importantly,get a girl friend or boy friend, take him/her around town...
* And for heaven's sake, net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change.
Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: *"Life's calling, where are you??"*
Please pass on this message to all those colleagues and please do it before leaving time, don't stay back till midnight to forward this!!!
IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT ETC.
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DONT KNOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME. SIMPLE !
Regards,
NARAYAN MURTHY.
Mail sent by Narayan Murthy to all Infosys staff:
It's half past 8 in the office but the lights are still on...
PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing...
And who's at work? Most of them ??? Take a closer look...
All or most specimens are ??
Something male species of the human race...
Look closer... again all or most of them are bachelors...
And why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!!
Any guesses???
Let's ask one of them...
Here's what he says... "What's there 2 do after going home...Here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee that is why I am working late...Importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!!"
This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.
Bachelors "Time-passing" during late hours in the office just bcoz they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what r the consequences...
"Working" (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.
With bosses more than eager to provide support to those "working" late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers and of course good feedback, (oh, he's a hard worker... goes home only to change..!!).
They aren't helping things too...
To hell with bosses who don't understand the difference between "sitting" late and "working" late!!!
Very soon, the boss start expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.
So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when u get married and start having a family... office is no longer a priority, family is... and
That's when the problem starts... b'coz u start having commitments at home too.
For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become a "early leaver" even if u leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work.
People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers...
Girls who thankfully always (its changing nowadays... though) leave on time are labeled as "not up to it". All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on "working" not realizing that they r spoiling the work culture at their own place and never realize that they wuld have to regret at one point of time.
So what's the moral of the story??
* Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!!
* Never put in extra time " unless really needed "
* Don't stay back un-necessarily and spoil your company work culture which will in turn cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.
There are hundred other things to do in the evening..
Learn music...
Learn a foreign language...
Try a sport... TT, cricket.........
Importantly,get a girl friend or boy friend, take him/her around town...
* And for heaven's sake, net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change.
Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: *"Life's calling, where are you??"*
Please pass on this message to all those colleagues and please do it before leaving time, don't stay back till midnight to forward this!!!
IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT ETC.
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DONT KNOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME. SIMPLE !
Regards,
NARAYAN MURTHY.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Teaching the Value Of Money
Its very difficult to teach the new generation kids about the value of money.They feel that money will be available to them for everything..whenever they need something ,we never bother to think whether its useful ..we just buy it..
That was not the case when i was kid..i never had anything which my kid is owning today at this age..so much of Gneration Gap..i think IT is changing our complete style of living..
My kids school started a new way to teach the value of money to kids..They had a habba where they were displaying the items made by the kids using recyclable items like news paper,used bottels etc..Every kid in the Playgroup was given 1 Rupee coin and asked to go and buy atleast 4 items from the habba by paying the money they had..Not only kids had a choice to select what they wanted ,they also knoew that they had to pay if they need something from shop..
You cant imagine the happiness in my kids face when she bought all the items - (piggy bank in the shape of bus,2 small flower pots made of clay,one carry bag,one more iteam)home.She was explaining me about why she picked up only these items from the entire lot..she told me that one of her friend picked up bangles and when i asked her the reason for not picking up bangles for her ,she told me she has enough bangles at home and she doesnt require any more..wah great ..i was very happy to hear her reply..
New generation kids think so independently and i feel they are more brilliant than us..every generation gets minimum of 25% brilliance etc:)
That was not the case when i was kid..i never had anything which my kid is owning today at this age..so much of Gneration Gap..i think IT is changing our complete style of living..
My kids school started a new way to teach the value of money to kids..They had a habba where they were displaying the items made by the kids using recyclable items like news paper,used bottels etc..Every kid in the Playgroup was given 1 Rupee coin and asked to go and buy atleast 4 items from the habba by paying the money they had..Not only kids had a choice to select what they wanted ,they also knoew that they had to pay if they need something from shop..
You cant imagine the happiness in my kids face when she bought all the items - (piggy bank in the shape of bus,2 small flower pots made of clay,one carry bag,one more iteam)home.She was explaining me about why she picked up only these items from the entire lot..she told me that one of her friend picked up bangles and when i asked her the reason for not picking up bangles for her ,she told me she has enough bangles at home and she doesnt require any more..wah great ..i was very happy to hear her reply..
New generation kids think so independently and i feel they are more brilliant than us..every generation gets minimum of 25% brilliance etc:)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Totall Mall At Sarjapur Road
New Total Mall started at Sarjapur Road..its a very big one having shops of most of the branded items and Total on the first Floor onwards..Its a huge one with so much of space and things inside..
Very much spacious than Total mall at Madiwala...Almost similar things are available..Even you can find food court..we had Chicken Biriyani and Chicken Kabab..very good..i liked the way they prepare over here..At madiwala mall ,food court is not that much good..
As this place is very near to where we stay nowonwards this will be our destination for buying Grocery and surely for hanging out:)
Its worth visting the mall..
Very much spacious than Total mall at Madiwala...Almost similar things are available..Even you can find food court..we had Chicken Biriyani and Chicken Kabab..very good..i liked the way they prepare over here..At madiwala mall ,food court is not that much good..
As this place is very near to where we stay nowonwards this will be our destination for buying Grocery and surely for hanging out:)
Its worth visting the mall..
My latest addiction - Rahul Bose & Konkana sen
After seeing some movies of Rahul Bose mainly -Mr & Mrs Iyer & Chameli ,i have become a great fan of him.Ya sure he is not a choclate hero but he looks really handsome and the way he acts is entirely different from anyone else on the screen..
Konkana is also very beautiful lady with a good talent..i love her in Mr & Mrs Iyer and Life in a Metro ..She looks entirely different in both the movies..great talent..
I am looking forward to see other movies where these two acted..They have a nice chemistry on the screen..There is a really nice scene in Mrs & Mr Iyer where they both were in love for a moment..It was really really touching..
Konkana is also very beautiful lady with a good talent..i love her in Mr & Mrs Iyer and Life in a Metro ..She looks entirely different in both the movies..great talent..
I am looking forward to see other movies where these two acted..They have a nice chemistry on the screen..There is a really nice scene in Mrs & Mr Iyer where they both were in love for a moment..It was really really touching..
Team Outing At Guhantara - A Cave Resort
Finally after lots of planning we decided to go for an one day outing,,but where to go ..we had two options ..one for one day outing .other for two days..two days is not at all possible with the fund allocated to the team..so finally decided to visit Guhantara which is an underground resort at Kanakpura Road..
ahaha we could see sunlight pouring in...We were greeting by
Mr.Deepak & Dileep who were taking care of our team for the day..We had arranged for breakfast..All were so hungry that we just went directly for breakfast ..they were serving plates made of clay:) ..Menu was good ..Poori +Bread + Idli + Vada+ Boiled Egg ..what else..you have so much of variety to choose from..I had Poori + Boiled Egg + Bread..very good..
Where can i wash my hands..i couldnt see any wash basin nearby..finally one guy told me to
move to right side where i could find a small wooden piece ..but where is the wash basin..That guy came back again and showed me how to wash my hands:) There was an automatic senser installed inside thewood.. I havent seen such a nice basin in my life:) coollll
Once my hunger is over ,I started looking around i could see a pool with rocks in the background..
Also one main hall where one side is the restaurant other end is a seating arrangement + shelf for keeping our valuables other end is madhu shala without madhu:)they didnt get a license yet..Thats it..nothing else??
Details of Guhanatara:
We booked for 22 seater Swaraj Mazda eventhough we were 23 in number....Mornng i got a call from one of guys saying that he wont be coming with us in the instead he will use his private vehicle..great..so no more issues related to seat..22 seater for 22 members..I reached office by 7.30 am and called the driver to confirm ..he was already on his way to our office..I gave hime the map to Guhantara and detailed him about the routes..:) Now you will be thinking why i am taking so much pains??Myself and Sreeja(name changed) are the coordinators of the tour..we booked the Bus + resort:)
All reached on time by 8.15 in the morning at our office.. I didnt expect all the guys to be on time..Ohh forgot to mention ..there were only 3 ladies in the group Myself,Sreeja and our HR..Everyone came at 8.15 except Sreeja..Finally after so many calls she arrived and went inside the office ..later came out after 5 to 10 mts ..may be for for make -up:) I am not confirming it though...:)
One person from our US office was also coming along..He is very tall..when i saw the bus i was bit doubtful whether he could fit in properly..somehow he managed to sit for our 1 1/2 hr journey..
Till Kanakpura it was a cool ride after taht we were going through village roads/not tared..but every 5 mts we were able to locate sign boards to Guhantara..finally after 1/2 an hour ,we reached Guhantara..
From outside it just looked like a vacant plot full of greenary..where is the cave?? we entered the main gate ..there i 
could see a wooden piece where you can find all types of animals/ reptiles/ birds ..one piece of wood and so much to see..OH so we entered a nice place:) We were asked to move to our right side where we could see a cave enough for us to move around..we wfor nearly 5 mts in the dim light and reached the other end which is the main resort..
could see a wooden piece where you can find all types of animals/ reptiles/ birds ..one piece of wood and so much to see..OH so we entered a nice place:) We were asked to move to our right side where we could see a cave enough for us to move around..we wfor nearly 5 mts in the dim light and reached the other end which is the main resort..ahaha we could see sunlight pouring in...We were greeting by
Mr.Deepak & Dileep who were taking care of our team for the day..We had arranged for breakfast..All were so hungry that we just went directly for breakfast ..they were serving plates made of clay:) ..Menu was good ..Poori +Bread + Idli + Vada+ Boiled Egg ..what else..you have so much of variety to choose from..I had Poori + Boiled Egg + Bread..very good..Where can i wash my hands..i couldnt see any wash basin nearby..finally one guy told me to
move to right side where i could find a small wooden piece ..but where is the wash basin..That guy came back again and showed me how to wash my hands:) There was an automatic senser installed inside thewood.. I havent seen such a nice basin in my life:) coollllOnce my hunger is over ,I started looking around i could see a pool with rocks in the background..
Also one main hall where one side is the restaurant other end is a seating arrangement + shelf for keeping our valuables other end is madhu shala without madhu:)they didnt get a license yet..Thats it..nothing else??
After breakfast we went for beach volley ball..no beach..but volley ball ..+ same ground was used for playing cricket + badminton..They served us coffee + cookies over there + ofcourse cold water..and music was playing in the background...
Some of us went inside to play snooker & carroms ....while going inside we found one more entrance to the resort..so many entrances through tunnel:)
At about 12.00 Dileep called us to mention about rain dance...it has to be done at a particular time..so all had to join in...we were aked to stand in the main hall..but no rain..waited for 5 mts and rain started pouring in...at first few were dancing...finally everyone was in the dance floor..everyone enjoyed it..
Some went to pool ..Overall it was good:) It was time for lunch...Lunch menu was also good...veg + nonveg..good..but i didnt like that much..but surely food is not bad..most of them liked it...now what to do tunnel trekking??
Went for tunnel trekking just to find out that there is not much tunnel for us to trek..atleast rock clibing..but no way..rock is not ready yet as the resort started only 2 months back..okay now what to do..everyone went on for playing different games as we had panned for leaving the resort by 6.00..Inbetween we wereserved beer + soft drinks...Alu bonda was also served as a snack ..it was good..
I learned to play snooker & Table tennis as i didnt have any other option over there..also played chess with my friend..At about 5.30 ,i asked Alex for settling the bills..It came around bithigher than the expected value but it was worth paying...
Bye Bye Guhanatara..May be we may come back if they are including more games in the package may be not..anyways it was okay for 1 day visit..so everyone was happy....
Bye Bye Guhanatara..May be we may come back if they are including more games in the package may be not..anyways it was okay for 1 day visit..so everyone was happy....
Details of Guhanatara:
Package for Co-operates : 650/- per count
Package For Others : 750/- per count
Dora The Explorer toy using Toilet Roll
Hihi:) I got this idea from a website http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/cartoons/mdora.html. 
1. Draw Dora's dress+ Hands + Shoes + Face +Backpack on a white sheet on paper. You can draw by seeing the templates .This is an economic way as we dont have to spent on our print catridge
2. Cut out the parts
5.Now Dora is ready for your use:)
Its a cool site where we can get n number of ideas..
I was having an idea to create Dora for such a long time but i wa in search for toilet rolls..Finally i managed to get nearly 5 to 6 toilet rolls.You can make any toy out of this..i made Dora as my kid likes her a lot..Below are the instructions to make Dora
1. Draw Dora's dress+ Hands + Shoes + Face +Backpack on a white sheet on paper. You can draw by seeing the templates .This is an economic way as we dont have to spent on our print catridge
Bit costly way is to take the print of the same from the website mentioned above..better to use thick paper as this will last longer or take normal paper and stick it to thick paper which we normally get as suppliments with magazines.
2. Cut out the parts 3. Colour the parts if you have used the economic way..
Dress to be coloured -Pink +Red & Brown
Hands - Brown + Pink colour for sleeves
Shoes -White + Yellow color for socks
Backpack - Violet color
Face - Brown + Red mouth + brown eyes + Black Hair
4. Take a toilet roll and stick the dress part first.You can use cello tape also..Now stick the shoes and add the backpack over it.Fix hands and face..
5.Now Dora is ready for your use:) Note:- you can use sketch pencil for more effective colors as crayons cant give that much clarity..i used crayons as i gave the pictures to my kid and she coloured it for me
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Movies This Weekend (16th & 17th Feb)
Finally i got the CD's of Bhoot & Krishna Cottage..i was searching for it for nearly 1 month now..yesterday i got that from landmark..Thanks to Landmark:) Eventhough both are not that much good ,i can sure tell its worth watching them once..but at night when lights are off..only then movie is interesting..
To remove the scared thoughts after watching Bhoot and Krishna Cottage ,finally i saw Koi Aap sa which is a Love/Friendship story..bit boring..but okay to watch once..Will be seeing Chameli or Viruddh tonight..hope i willbe able to complete it...bye bye..
To remove the scared thoughts after watching Bhoot and Krishna Cottage ,finally i saw Koi Aap sa which is a Love/Friendship story..bit boring..but okay to watch once..Will be seeing Chameli or Viruddh tonight..hope i willbe able to complete it...bye bye..
Friday, February 15, 2008
Mickey Mouse Magic Show At Koramangala,Bangalore
Adverstisements started pouring into news papers about the magic show from Jan onwards. First got confused about the dates as i thought it was in Jan itself..but i got to know when we booked tickets at ticketpro.Tickets are too costly ...500,700 or 1000/-
We booked for 500/- for matinee ..reached there on time..saw that they were selling popcorn in covers with MickeyMouse pictures..i went to buy the same with 100/- in hand..but 100 is less..i never ever felt 100 rs doesn't have any value until i went there..Minimum amount for the items sold there was 150/-they were displaying n number of disney items..all very cute..ya i need to agree that..When i was a child not only that time,now also i love cartoon characters..whenever i get something it will have atleast one cartoon character picture on it..
Finally i decided not to buy popcorns and went inside..we got in the last row..from there it was very difficult to see the stage..Show started on time..i had to keep my kid on my shoulders so that she could see the show...Mickey,Minny,Donald Duck etc..so many characters on stage..wah..it was a nice view...but where is magic..finally they started showing magic..i felt magic shows coming in TV channels are much much better..these people just created a hype..thats it...nothing special..but all the kids were excited to see the characters on the stage..my kid liked it very much..so in one way it was worth it..but not worth the money i paid..
They had interval inbetween where all the guys started selling ice candy's and juices in bottles/carriages made in the shape of each of the characters..it was really cute..but cost..350/-..Every one was buying without even asking about money..i didnt have the courage to ask about money either..i just counted the amount what others were giving..finally could make out the rate..oh my God..this small candy is costing 350/-Is it worth..my kid started crying for it..finally we decided to buy...Candy..is this candy..it was just ice..nothing tasty at all...Even the straw costed 10 /-My kid started licking it as if it was the very tasty stuff which she got in her life till now..hihi:) so even that was worth paying:)If she wouldn't have liked it,then??
Show got over and we came out.There was a store set-up behind the stadium where they were selling Magic vants,Mickey,Minny,Donald Duck items..starting from 350/ onwards to 650/-.
Was the show worth the money..i would say not at all...if it was for 150/- i dont mind..but one thing which i came to know from the show is bangalore is full of people who doesn't even bother to pay money just like that..including me..If we are like this,what our kids will be doing?
The Show presenters also got to know that bangalore is worth testing as 3 days shows were extended to 20 days...:)
We booked for 500/- for matinee ..reached there on time..saw that they were selling popcorn in covers with MickeyMouse pictures..i went to buy the same with 100/- in hand..but 100 is less..i never ever felt 100 rs doesn't have any value until i went there..Minimum amount for the items sold there was 150/-they were displaying n number of disney items..all very cute..ya i need to agree that..When i was a child not only that time,now also i love cartoon characters..whenever i get something it will have atleast one cartoon character picture on it..
Finally i decided not to buy popcorns and went inside..we got in the last row..from there it was very difficult to see the stage..Show started on time..i had to keep my kid on my shoulders so that she could see the show...Mickey,Minny,Donald Duck etc..so many characters on stage..wah..it was a nice view...but where is magic..finally they started showing magic..i felt magic shows coming in TV channels are much much better..these people just created a hype..thats it...nothing special..but all the kids were excited to see the characters on the stage..my kid liked it very much..so in one way it was worth it..but not worth the money i paid..
They had interval inbetween where all the guys started selling ice candy's and juices in bottles/carriages made in the shape of each of the characters..it was really cute..but cost..350/-..Every one was buying without even asking about money..i didnt have the courage to ask about money either..i just counted the amount what others were giving..finally could make out the rate..oh my God..this small candy is costing 350/-Is it worth..my kid started crying for it..finally we decided to buy...Candy..is this candy..it was just ice..nothing tasty at all...Even the straw costed 10 /-My kid started licking it as if it was the very tasty stuff which she got in her life till now..hihi:) so even that was worth paying:)If she wouldn't have liked it,then??
Show got over and we came out.There was a store set-up behind the stadium where they were selling Magic vants,Mickey,Minny,Donald Duck items..starting from 350/ onwards to 650/-.
Was the show worth the money..i would say not at all...if it was for 150/- i dont mind..but one thing which i came to know from the show is bangalore is full of people who doesn't even bother to pay money just like that..including me..If we are like this,what our kids will be doing?
The Show presenters also got to know that bangalore is worth testing as 3 days shows were extended to 20 days...:)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Our Trip To kanyakumari -Day 2 Activities
Continuation of my earlier post - Our Trip To kanyakumari -Day 1 Activities
First we entered wax musuem..two sections were there..one where all models belonging to religious section was kept and other with all leaders + people in Film industry.Wax museum is worth visting..it was created by a guy-Sunil Kandallor who got inspired by madame trousseau wax museum,London and learned the technique and created all these models ..so we have a madame trousseau replica in india:)
We got up early to see sunrise...took some pictures..eventhough we were not able to see sunset atleast we should take photos of sunrise right...we were able to see sunrise from our balcony...It was so beautiful..Thirukkural statue was looking supeb in the sunlight..We went to restaurant and had some dosa's and vada and started our second day trip:)
we got ready and went to catch the ferry to Vivekananda Rock...Oh my god..we saw a huge queue for that..day before it was very less and we though otherway and went back...today queue is very long...but it was fast moving...within 10 mts we reached the ferry..Inbetween ne guy gave 10 % discount coupon for Baywatch ticket..(Our next destination was baywatch anyway)..Boat was overcrowded with people ..thank God we got some place to stand near the open space from where the view was very good...finally after few minutes we landed near to Vivekanada rock memorial..
All the mandapas are also fully crowded and we were not allowed to take any photos inside....In 
one mandapa ,we could see the foot prints of Kanyakumari devi and in the other mandapa we could see a huge Vivekananda statue..there was one shop which was selling all the publications related to Vivekananda...We sat there for some time..took some snaps of thirukural statue which was nearby and went back in the ferry...we didnt get down at Thirukural statue as it was too crowded.
one mandapa ,we could see the foot prints of Kanyakumari devi and in the other mandapa we could see a huge Vivekananda statue..there was one shop which was selling all the publications related to Vivekananda...We sat there for some time..took some snaps of thirukural statue which was nearby and went back in the ferry...we didnt get down at Thirukural statue as it was too crowded.(Rock in the sea +Fishes in the pond near Vivekananda Ashram+Vivekanamda Mandapam + Madapam where Kanyakumari Devi's Footprints are kept + Photo taken at Vivekanda Rock )
We came back and went to our hotel and had nice lunch...with papad and payasam...we took and auto to reach Baywatch which is only 2 kms from our hotel...Eventhough its only walkable
distance auto guy took 30 Rs to reach there..no meters ofcourse:)
distance auto guy took 30 Rs to reach there..no meters ofcourse:)We showed our discount coupon over there and got tickets for full rides- 190/- (dry + water) and wax musuem + for camera also
First we entered wax musuem..two sections were there..one where all models belonging to religious section was kept and other with all leaders + people in Film industry.Wax museum is worth visting..it was created by a guy-Sunil Kandallor who got inspired by madame trousseau wax museum,London and learned the technique and created all these models ..so we have a madame trousseau replica in india:)
We went to the place where rain dance was arranged..song was put in the background and water was pumping from all the places..too good...we played a lot...there was see-saw,swings and some other items for the kids..so manikutty went and played everywhere..we came bac
k to the artificial pool as it was time for the artifical pool play...It was almost similar to the one in Wonderla ,Bangalore..I felt Wonderla is worth visting than Baywatch..Baywatch looked like a deserted place where i could see very few people eventhough it was Sunday evening and very few rides ..
k to the artificial pool as it was time for the artifical pool play...It was almost similar to the one in Wonderla ,Bangalore..I felt Wonderla is worth visting than Baywatch..Baywatch looked like a deserted place where i could see very few people eventhough it was Sunday evening and very few rides ..We didnt have any spare dress..so we waited there for sometime till our dress got dried ..Meanwhile we saw a magic shop where one guy was showing magic and he was ready to teach magic if we buy any of the magic equipments from his shop..We didnt buy anything..we saw his magic fo some time and came back to our hotel..
Had dinner-chapathi and fish curry:)yummy:).We went back to our room and packed our luggage as we had to leave next day to Trivandrum and he had to check out hotel by 10.00 am in the morning...oh forgot..we had to see our sunrise finally..
Wah...sunrise was too good...see the pictures you can make out ..
It was a really cool trip..we enjoyed a lot...we asked the hotel guy to arrange a taxi to Trivandrum where on the way we could see Suchindra Temple,Padmanabhapuram Palace,Thiruparappu Water Falls,Hanging Bridge -(mathur) and finally reach Ginger - where our stay was arranged..We started from there by 9.00 am.. Bye bye Kanyakumari..
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
My Trip To KanyaKumari - Day 1 Activities
Continuation to my post - My Trip To Kanyakumari - Day 1 Arrival
There were so many photographers there who were taking photo making couples to pose with status in teh background..we got so excited and asked one guy to take our famil photo..he took and gave us slip to collect photos from a nearby shop.. Each photo cost us 40 Rs..he took 3 photos and we paid advance 50 rs and went for exploring further in the beach..
On the way we saw aquariam..they had so many fishes on display..i have taken almost all the photos... Have provided a link to the album below..
We had chapathi and chiken curry + Dal fry. from restaurant..Chapathi and chicken curry was very good..went to our cottage and slept peacefully
After reaching cottage ,we kept our bags and went for having food in the restaurant...Restaurant is like a small house with 4 tables and required chairs.When we were enjoying the beauty of the restaurant ,a guy came in and told us that no food is available as its already past 10.00 am..Oh my God ,they close by 10.00 am..
what we will do next..we thought we will search for some restaurants nearby..we walked towards the gate which is 5 mts walk from our cottage..we checked with the security.He mentioned one SaravanaBhavan nearby..we walked for 5 mts then we could locate Saravana Bhavan..hotel was not that much clean..one vessel filled with chutney was available in all the tables with full flies licking it inbetween :) One guy in typical mallu style came and asked in a tamil cum malayalam language what we want...we ordered for masala dosa ,Plain dosa and Vada..wah it was superb...food was good..Sambhar was very tasty..
We walked back to our cottage and had bath.It was already 12.00 pm..we went to restaurant 
again..but this time restaurant was filled with people..we could see so many new chairs and tables inside filled up with mallus..2 tourist buses was parked outside..We didn'tget any seat..we went out to take some photos..We returned after some time as it was getting hot..Again back to restaurant..no way..we didn't get seat..we waited for nearly half an hour over there and finally that guy laid banana leaf infront of us..he had only 2 leaves left and one was damaged..then suddenly he asked whether we are hotel inmates..when we told yes he took the leaf and went inside without telling anything to us..
again..but this time restaurant was filled with people..we could see so many new chairs and tables inside filled up with mallus..2 tourist buses was parked outside..We didn'tget any seat..we went out to take some photos..We returned after some time as it was getting hot..Again back to restaurant..no way..we didn't get seat..we waited for nearly half an hour over there and finally that guy laid banana leaf infront of us..he had only 2 leaves left and one was damaged..then suddenly he asked whether we are hotel inmates..when we told yes he took the leaf and went inside without telling anything to us..We were left to think about whats happening..so many thoughts came to us..i guessed they maynot provide normal food to inmates...then good or bad food...i was expecting bad..Dileep opinion was to wait and watch..after some time he appeared with 2 thali's full of veg curries + payasam + pappad and rice...Oh so we are give good food in big plates:)Food was too good...i liked it so much that i ordered for all the curries again..veg food but still very good...
We heard that ferry service to Vivekananda Rock closes by 5.00 pm..so we need to reach beach before that..Beach is next to the back gate of our hotel..Road was filled up with big trees and grass...then we saw a peacock walking nearby to us..it was walking as if they are the inmates of the hotel.I was surprised to see so i took nearly 3 photos..
We hurried towards the beach through the back gate of our hotel.When we reached b
each ,we saw a big queue for the ferry...by seeing that we changed our plan to go next day morning as we felt queue won't be there..went walking towards Gandhi Mandhir..We didn't enter as we had to keep chapals outside which was huge risk:)so saw Gandhi Mandir from outside..then went to see beach..oh..actually speaking there is no beach where we can play..walls were there where we can sit and enjoy the beach..thah's it..we took some photos posing with Thiruvallur statue and Vivekananda Mandir in the background..
each ,we saw a big queue for the ferry...by seeing that we changed our plan to go next day morning as we felt queue won't be there..went walking towards Gandhi Mandhir..We didn't enter as we had to keep chapals outside which was huge risk:)so saw Gandhi Mandir from outside..then went to see beach..oh..actually speaking there is no beach where we can play..walls were there where we can sit and enjoy the beach..thah's it..we took some photos posing with Thiruvallur statue and Vivekananda Mandir in the background..Thirvalluvur Statue + Vivekanda Memorial on the Vivekananda Rock
There were so many photographers there who were taking photo making couples to pose with status in teh background..we got so excited and asked one guy to take our famil photo..he took and gave us slip to collect photos from a nearby shop.. Each photo cost us 40 Rs..he took 3 photos and we paid advance 50 rs and went for exploring further in the beach..
There we saw so many shell sellers...ohh...so many types and shapes of shell were there..i was not able to decide which one to take..finally i took 2 chains made of shell for my kid and then started to try to make sound by keeping shell in my mouth..no sounds :(..that seller was able to make big sound in all the shells which he tried ..i tried nearly 4 and finally left it..hihi..even Dileep also couldn't do ..but he told me that he could do if he would have got some more time:)hihi:)
We went to collect our photo..it was power cut time..so photo was not ready ..we went out 
again..Hey one guy was sittng there with his parrot...he was ready to tell Dileep's future..:)He chanted something and parrot took some card.By seeing that card ,he started describing future..He mentioned that Dileep will have 2 wifes and only with one he will be able to live and other one he wont be able to:)ohhh..i was not interested in the speech until i heard this...2 wifes???when i am there i wont allow him to go and search for next wife..hmm..i heard the next lines carefully..dileep may go onsite ( he often goes..no doubt about that). he will own a car this year ( sure...we already decided itlong back)...he will have a son now( surely no as that guy saw my kid he knew that my husband may want a boy next...only common sense)..then dileep wont suffer..he will die by the age of 85 ...etc etc..
again..Hey one guy was sittng there with his parrot...he was ready to tell Dileep's future..:)He chanted something and parrot took some card.By seeing that card ,he started describing future..He mentioned that Dileep will have 2 wifes and only with one he will be able to live and other one he wont be able to:)ohhh..i was not interested in the speech until i heard this...2 wifes???when i am there i wont allow him to go and search for next wife..hmm..i heard the next lines carefully..dileep may go onsite ( he often goes..no doubt about that). he will own a car this year ( sure...we already decided itlong back)...he will have a son now( surely no as that guy saw my kid he knew that my husband may want a boy next...only common sense)..then dileep wont suffer..he will die by the age of 85 ...etc etc..Dileep got excited when he heard about 2 wifes..wah great..so next thing he wanted to know is my future whether i have 2 husbands:)so bad as per that guy i have only one husband and i will die by the age of 79..so dileep has only 6 years to live with his second wife:)..one more thing he told is that i was meant to be born as a guy but somehow i am born as a lady:)hihi:)Most of my friends will agree that:) We gave 20 rs to him.
Finally that guy posed for our camera..
We went walking towards the sunset point..On the way we saw a Mandir ,Vivekananda Temple,Tsunami Statue..(This was the place were Tsunami hit very badly.Govt is trying to promote the the place by having some decoration and childrens park ..but childrens park was closed for renovation..i heard that they were having fountain show over there..and outsde its likea dumping ground for all wates and i could find all types of people living i meant i could find vessels,washed closthes everything on the way...very very dirty..i donno when Govt will be able to make the place clean..not in near future..)
Mandir + Vivekananda Mandir + Tsunami Statue
Finally we reached sunset point waited there till 5.45...sun set was not seen as sun went behind the clouds...waited for some more time and returned to hotel
On the way we saw aquariam..they had so many fishes on display..i have taken almost all the photos... Have provided a link to the album below..
We had chapathi and chiken curry + Dal fry. from restaurant..Chapathi and chicken curry was very good..went to our cottage and slept peacefully
Monday, February 4, 2008
Our Trip To Kanyakumari - Day 1 Arrival
We started on Saturday 26th Jan by early morning flight (6.30 am) to Trivandrum..Thank God..eventhough it was Air Deccan flight ,it reached on time..We reached Trivandrum by 8.30 am..Took a AC taxi from Airport to Kanyakumari..[[Taxi charge was around 1450 for AC...we should have taken Non AC as weather was very good in the morning..not hot at all...so wasted 450 Rs over there..Non AC was only 1000/-]]
We booked a deluxe cottage in TTDC hotel -Hotel Tamilnadu 2 weeks back .Had hell lot of difficulty in locating the hotel as we were asking the locals about Hotel Tamilnadu which they didnt even know..Someone even told us that there is no such hotel in KanyaKumari:)..finally we started asking them TTDC hotel..they showed us the exact route..it seems that everyone over there call this hotel as Tamilnadu Tourism Development Hotel and not Hotel Tamilnadu:)
We entered the hotel..at first it was looking like a vast deserted area..One guard who was standing outside helped us to locate the reception..there we could see a lady who talks tamil and little English..Dileep knows Tamil so it was easy to manage..
We entered the hotel..at first it was looking like a vast deserted area..One guard who was standing outside helped us to locate the reception..there we could see a lady who talks tamil and little English..Dileep knows Tamil so it was easy to manage..
We expected atleast 2 star treatment..but even though we didn't recieve that much ,one guy helped us to
take our luggage to our Deluxe cottage which is normally booked for Tamilnadu MP's..From outside it looked like a dormitary..But inside it was neat ..but bathroom was dirty..Deluxe cottage had 1 Main Hall,Balcony,Bedrrom,Dressing Room & Bathroom.Hotel is situated infront of the beach and next to Kerala house ..from Balcony we can see sunrise ,Thiruvallavur Statue,Gandhi Mandir and view point..its nearby to all the tourist attractions in Kanyakumari..Baywatch is just 2 kms from here..walkable distnace..Cottage Charge was 1000/- +120/- (tax) per day..only stay.Food is provided in the restaurant.Only Veg food..Bedroom with TV & AC.
Main Hall with dining area and living with opening to balcony
View from Balcony
Kerala House (Next to Hotel Tamilnadu)
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