Category: Personal

Sri Iyappan Tiffin Center Snaps


Finally took snaps of Sri Iyappan Tiffin Corner, Madurai. It is a small shop 10 * 10 shop which can server 8 people at a time and it is managed by one Chef who is also the owner of the shop. He is a multi skilled personality and he has some 4 stove and cooks 4+ items at a time and also he can take order and can mentally remember the items consumed by each customer and can make calculations. There are around 40 types of dosas and egg dishes and the center has been covered in Madurai edition of The Hindu. If you are in Madurai or visiting Madurai I recommend you to visit this eggiterian hotel which is open only at nights. If you need assistance for land mark kindly contact me.

For your convenience we have designed a route map (RSVP) to Sri Aiyappan Tiffin Corner.

map-aiyappan-v2

Address: No: 35 , Pandia Vellalar Street,Madurai- 625001.

Hurdles


Off late I’m challenged with lots of hurdles and I think it would be interesting to overcome them… 

  • Yesterday I wanted to blog about Palakkad experience from my uncle’s house and MS-Word really gave me tough time to make my previous post. I think system was affected by some work and when I type a work it will open a new document, file save option, save document, changing the alignment etc. at last with lot of difficulty I made the blog post.
  • Then setting up firewall in office has become a challenge right from the beginning and still we are working on it. Hope we will finish it by the end of next week.
  • Then wanted to make a blog post with the snaps I took from Sri Iyappan Tiffin center and there is some mess-up in the server and unable to upload photos. Now itz time to look into the issue.
  • Wanted to update WordPress to latest version 2.8.2, it asked me to take a backup of DB and files but my host was doing some maintenance and was unable to do that instantly.
  • Yesterday night suffered from insect bits and was unable to sleep well. So in the morning had to wash all the bed spreads and pillow mattress. When I wanted to start the washing work the washing place was full of mud and I had to clean that before starting the washing work. Thought I finished that work it irritates when we have some unexpected things before the work we want to do.
  • Then I asked for mobile charger from office admin and after an hour there was no response and again I had to call back to get it and that to from my BDE. Such small things affect the flow of our work thought they look simple and small.

For now let me sit and fix up things which can be finished by today.

Last three days


Last three days have been really exciting. This is the first time I’m sitting without much work in Madurai. Thank to our new CTO Kannan who has taken the responsibility of streamlining things. I thought I can spend a week in my fitness for a week and then go back to Chennai and concentrate in raising capital for Cogzidel.

For last two days I’m living just by eating white portion of egg and working out for 2 hours. This prompted Kannan to compete with me unsuccessfully. He stared with a strict diet for a day and gave it up the very next day.

Yesterday night thought of giving up my diet and thought of eating Dosas which made Kannan excited that I’m breaking my diet. Fortunately for me (unfortunately for Kannan) that Dosa shop was closed and I had to continue with my diet.

To the envy of Kannan I’m following my diet till date and hope to continue the same atleast for a month.

At last Joy in Madurai


It has been 10 months since I’ve been visiting Madurai and initial 2 month have been great struggle to catch up with the culture. Also added up to the irony the city was deprived of Multiplexes and MNC food joints / boutique food joints. In these 10 months I’ve experimented tasting lots of family run food joints and did a lot of Vagabond trips to locations near to Madurai.

Also for last two months I had to postpone my Vagabond travelling because of summer and still pinch of summer is severe.

Starting from next month I’ll start my weekend vagabond trips and the places in the list are; 

  • Rameshwaram
  • Kuttralam
  • Valparai
  • A days stay in KaniyaKumari

DSC01186DSC01188Apart from this there is a brand new coffee shop opened in Anna Nagar which has a great ambiance and menus are also good. Also it is not crowded yet and I really enjoy visiting this joint.

By the end of August Millennium Mall will be open for public and it has 3 screen multiplex.

 

DSC01182DSC01184Also 2 weeks back Big Cinemas has opened 2 screen multiples which is screening Hindi & English movies and also the ambience is nice and place is clean.

At last I feel a sense of relief as I might not feel bored during evenings and weekends.

Toddy Tasting


When ever I’m in Madurai one thing I never miss tastes Padaneer (Palm Wine). I can’t say tasting as I use to have 4-5 glass of it mainly to beat the heat wave. Palm wine is a seasonal drink which is available between March – June of every year.

DSC01198DSC01203I normally go to this vendor in the picture to have the drink and he has become my friend. It is sad that he will have his shop only for next one week as season has come to and end. The real fun in having padaneer from his shop is the consuming it the traditional way palm leaf along with Palm jelly and one must experience the taste.

The person who sells this drink says he use to lease some 100 trees from government and is producing this Palm Wine. He says they are into this business for last 40 years and it was started during his father’s days and he has taken over from his father for last two years. He says he will be into this business for 3 months and remaining 9 months he works as a Painter in Coimbatore.

He says when he was a kid palm trees and tree climbers were in abundant. Because of this demand for pal was very less. But over the times palm trees have drastically come down because of highway projects, road widening, canal projects etc.

Also palm tree climbers have started taking other profession as the scope for this profession is not that exciting. So he says demand for Palm wine / Jelly has risen drastically.

My body is prone to heat boils during summer. Since this drink is not available in Chennai normally I use to have Jaljeera water & Cucumber a lot. But this time in Madurai I has real Palm wine for the first time and also drank to the extent I wanted to. It really helped to cool down my body heat and prevented me from heat boils this time. Let me cherish this wonderful drink to the maximum until it comes to a close for the season.

One day happiness!!!


I generally have liking for pets, birds and fish. Of those three I was a fish breeder and I’ve had enough experience when it comes to fish. Regarding pet also i went against my mom and brought my present companion Mr.Burger Boy by beloved doggie.

But birds was a distant dream coz I new my mom will go crazy if I bring one as my mom is against caging birds. So, I didn’t have it even in the corner of my heard to have one. But here in Madurai I’m all alone and I can live a life which I love. Simply here in Madurai I’m what I’m.

So in a fraction of a minute while driving home I thought I must buy a bird and immediately I enquired where I can get birds in Madurai. I was told it is available in market and immediately I went to birds market. I was amazed to see different varieties of birds.

In the stack I really like this particular variety of bird called Cockatiel it looked really loveable and the shop keeper told me it costs Rs.1000/- and the cage will cost Rs.350/- without any bargain or thinking I collected cast from ATM and brought the birds and kept it in my cabin yesterday night.

Night I spent mostly playing with them and in spite of warning from shop keeper not to catch the bird until it gets connected with me. He said by feeding and talking to it daily will make it get accustomed with me and it will come without any fear.

But out of excitement I tried to catch one from cage and brought it out. In the process I didn’t know how to catch it and I caught it using itz tail and when it tried to fly the tail came out separately in my hand. I got scared upon enquiring I was told tail will grow in 2 – 3 months time and only then I got relieved from the guilt of hurting a bird. Then in the process to catch it back and put it in the cage became a tedious process and when I tried to catch it, it bit my fingers strongly eventually leading to bleeding.

Then I went for dinner and for a movie with a happily. In the morning that happiness was short lived. My HR Mr.Boopathi said having caged birds will bring bad vibes and he said that is not good. Also I got same thought from Major’s mom. Though I don’t buy their point as the shop keeper who sold me the bird makes a living by selling these birds. Also some of my friends are having caged birds from my childhood days and they are doing well.

But I didn’t want to hurt their sentiments and decided to give those birds. And fortunately my office admin said he has liking for such birds and he said he will take care of it. Atleast I was happy that bird is in the hands of someone who is really close and I can get a peep at it when ever I think.

So my happiness is not very short lived and it didn’t last even a day but I have a contention that I was a proud owner of two loveable birds for at least 4 – 5 hours.

So these are some snaps taken and you can have a look at my cute babies which I gave for adoption :(…

My Budget Request to PranabJI


Like any other citizen I’m eagerly following all buzz on Budget 2009 as my stakes are high individually and officially. One way I’m relieved that P.Chidambaram is no longer a Finance Minister as he is known for increasing tax slabs and for introducing new taxes. Fridge Benefit Tax and Services Tax are some of his brain child which got much criticism and added to people woes.

Current Finance Minister is a seasoned politician and he is not entirely new for this portfolio… Infact he will be presenting his 4th budget… So these are my expectations from PranabJI… 

  • Extend tax holiday for STPI…
  • It would be better to abolish Fringe Benefit Tax…
  • Tax exemption on Personal Income can be raised to 2 Lacks…
  • Cess tax on Service / Sales tax can be removed…

These are some simple request I place in front of our Finance Minister…

Cooking my new Initiative!!


I’ve reached a stage in life that almost all my friends are married / engaged / committed. They no longer have time for me as friendship has taken a backseat. Now-a-days I find a lot of time during weekends than before and I think I must spend them wisely. So I’ve developed couple of hobbies to spend my time wisely. So these are some activities which I’ve engaged myself at present; 

  • Blogging
  • Travelling and
  • Photography

But I don’t think those activities are sufficient because they don’t keep me engaged during weekdays. Yes I still find some time during weekdays and I think can learn cooking so that I can specialize in some recipe…

So you might wonder why this sudden interest?

There is couple of reasons. 

  • I’ve been a foodie for long since I drive a lot during weekends and will try our in different restaurants.
  • When I slowed down my driving for last one year that got compensated thru travelling where in I tried different eat outs at different places.
  • Then in Madurai I normally I eat out at different places and got excited by seeing different family joints specializing in different recipe.
  • Then next inspiration came after reading how Colonel Harland Sanders evolved his friend chicken recipe.

After this I thought why not I learn some recipe and specialize that. Now after considering these cases I’ve zeroed on a recipe which I can specialize. 

  • Egmore Alsa Mall Sandwitch
  • Taj Coromandel Ghilee Briyani
  • Ambur Khaja Restaurant Briyani
  • Madurai Amma Mess Briyani
  • Madurai Chapathi Park Chapatti’s
  • Madurai Ayyapan Kadai’s Dosa’s
  • Sindhi’s Dhinsha
  • KFC Chicken

Sindhi_biryaniSo being a Vegetarian my options are limited but I didn’t want to restrict my options and I thought Briyani would be my choice and I’m planning to buy all kitchen kits and start cooking once I reach Madurai.

Let me mark this blog today and see when I evolve my cooking skills and come out with a unique recipe and carve a niche for myself.

Until then wish me best LUCK!!!!

My entire Portfolio is in Red


After a long time I logged into my trading account and I was shocked to see itz performance. Almost all my investment is in red and particularly I’m shocked by seeing TCS which has fell so much. TCS was holding on Rs.600 – Rs.700 levels for long time and it fell down to 300 levels. Here is my portfolio.

Company Shares P.Value Amount C.Value C.Total

Loss
             
DLF

100

695

69460

323

32300

-37160
TCS

60

974

58434

381

22860

-35574
Rcomm

20

422

8442

299

5980

-2462
Reliance

15

2061

30918

2034

30510

-408
             
Total    

167254

  

91650

-75604
P.Value Purchased Value
C.Total Current Total

I lost almost Rs.75000/- or $1500/- also all these portfolios are ones I’m holding for last 2 years and I got everything at the peak. I see great opportunity to average my loss bit I don’t have any liquidity. Now I don’t have a choice other than to be a spectator by keeping my fingers crossed.

Last four days in Madurai


Last four days in Madurai has been a different experience than my previous ones. Normally my stay is Madurai was full of discipline as I don’t have any friends here, city is small to cover any distance & there is not much places to hangout.

But this time I was totally out of my routine because; 

  • I skipped going to GYM.
  • I ate a lot as I found lots of eateries in Madurai which I was not exposed to previously.
  • Hanged out in new hangouts as Big Cinemas has opened two new multiplexes and there are two more expected in KK Nagar.
  • My friend base is slowly growing here.
  • Kudos to Hypersomnia I slept for more than 14 hours a day.

Over all I can’t cherish this moment officially as I think my productivity and work concentration has been severely affected. But personally I really enjoyed staying in Madurai and I started to develop a liking for the city.

So what did I do for last four days? 

  • Found a road side eatery which has vast menus for dosas. Its owner has become my good friend and I’m planning to do a coverage with him (The Hindu has already done a coverage on this eatery).
  • Then I close my dinner with Jil Jil Jigardhanda as dessert. But to be frank drinking Jigardhanda has become like my second dinner.
  • I finish the day by watching second show cinema from Big Cinemas.
  • Found a new coffee shop near Apollo Hospital by name Coffee Float which provides nice atmosphere to watch cricket matches and sip coffees.
  • My subordinates are doing a good job that they have made my work simple which eventually creates a lot for time for me.
  • Then my new mobile phone has a Cricket Game in it and I spent more time playing cricket.

Anyways last four days has given me a new experience and I enjoyed being here and stayed here without complaining for the first time.

So this has been my experience for the trip and I need to hang here as I must go back home to do some cleaning work, take shower and board bus to Kumbakonam to attend a relatives marriage. Kumbakonam must be 6-7 hours of travel from here and I think I need not worry as I’m addicted playing cricket in my mobile.

Oops forgot to charge my mobile let me do that and finish all my work.

Bye Bye Madurai.