My new venture - Travel & Tourism

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No;32,South car street,
Sivakasi - 626123.
Ph:04562-233037

Arabian speciality restaurant in Chennai

After getting bored of eating the regular tandoori chicken and chicken 65 we wanted to try something new. I and my friend sat on a motorbike on a Sunday night and were roaming the city for some new eatery joint. We entered Greams road, as soon as we neared a restaurant called “Sea Shells” the burning smell of barbeque entered our nostrils and made us halt there.
Sea Shell is an Arabian speciality restaurant run by persons from Calicut, kerala. Their specialities are Al Faham Dijai, Barbaque chicken, Keebab Mushakkal, Laham Kebab, grill chicken and the famous SHAWARMA. For a new comer this name might sound little strange. Yes it’s all Arabic!

They are one among the very few restaurants in Chennai specialized in serving Arabian delicacies. Their barbeque has a unique taste. They use only charcoal and firewood to burn instead of modern electric and gas grill. The quick selling starter is “Shawarma”.
It’s a chicken roll. Shawarma is a turkish word meaning turning. It is made by placing strips of marinated chicken on a stick; an onion or tomato is placed at the top of the stack for flavoring. The meat is roasted slowly on all sides as the spit rotates in front of a flame for hours. After cooking, the meat is shaved off with a large knife dropping to a circular tray below to be retrieved. Shawarma is eaten as a fast food, made up into a sandwich wrap with fluffy flat bread called “kubboos”. The burnt chicken is then mixed with vegetables like cucumber, onion, tomato, lettuce, pickled turnips, and cabbage. It’s served with garlic mayonnaise and vinegar dipped chilly, carrot and beetroot.

One has to be before 7.30pm on weekends. It’s a small and crowded restaurant with a seating capacity of 30 to 40 people. They also serve regular Indian, Tandoori and Chinese dishes. They serve some Arabian fruit punch and cocktail. It’s a decent place to dine with your family. It’s economically priced. A meal for two will cost you around Rs 500/-. Home delivery is done at an extra charge. It’s worth a try from the regular eateries in Chennai.

Sea Shell
No5: Greams Road, Chennai.
044-28295788,28295789

Musical Rain!

I woke up this morning seeing a news paper article showing a charity concert organised in the name of “samarpan 2010” in aid of BYMM Trust. After going through a name, my eyes grew big; I twisted and turned my eyes to read this name again and again “Ustad Zakir Hussain”. A childhood dream to see him perform live. As I started reading again it became ever more interesting. The list of performers were the man with the magic fingers Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary Ghatam exponent TH Vikku Vinayakram, maestros of violin Ganesh & Kumaresh, son of the famous ghatam vidvan an kanjeera player Selva Ganesh to top it all the master of percussion Taufiq Qureshi(Zakir’s brother).
I immediately called the phone number displayed below to get the tickets; a polite voiced gentleman replied that all the tickets were sold out before three days. Bad start for a wonderful morning. I felt restless the whole day. I was in no mood to give-up a lifetime opportunity just like that.

After completing my work I rushed to “The Music Academy” at 6pm to try my luck! I saw the ‘Housefull board’ displayed in the entrance. I reached the ticket counter; a tall smiling man replied ‘no tickets’ with a big smile in his face. I did not lose hope. I waited and waited in belief that someone might come to return a ticket. I waited enough and it was time I decided to get back home. The time was 7 and the show was about to begin. I walked couple of steps towards the gate disappointed, a beautiful lady in mid 30’s can running from inside to return a ticket which she kept for her husband. She was grateful enough to offer the ticket to me. Finally my Luck worked! I bought it and ran towards the auditorium.
The heavy wooden doors were opened and the cool air welcomed me in. It was coincidence I stepped inside the time of the maestros taking the stage. My seat was near the speaker in the balcony. Finally I was happy and excited to be in for the concert. I really couldn’t believe myself; those famous three Grammy award winners were there before my eyes. My dream came true.

The concert was kick started by a fantastic drumming and vocal performence by V.Umashankar and team (son of Vikku Vinayakram) and his team.The violin duo started playing “nalinakanthi swaram”. All song was well chosen to blend all the instruments on stage. It was followed by “raga pravakam” and “Nasikabhushani” a no lyrics song. Selvaganesh kept the musicians live with lot of ‘sabash’ and ‘balle’. Taufiq Qureshi performed some mouth music and proved his talent on percussion. Vikku entered the stage surprising us in the middle of a song with his ‘siva slogas’ and got a roaring applause. Zakir Hussain true to his title gave a fantastic solo which made everyone to say wah! Ustad! wah! Every musician had enough time to perform their talents. The unity of maestros proved their mite blending their instruments together to some soothing music for the rapt and hungry audience. It was a moment to be cherished in my life.

For those who missed the concert there are some recordings from my mobile.

Gulliver and the Lilliputian's

After a tiring and disappointing half finished trek we took an early sleep in the mid of 8 degree chillness in kodai. Our final day started early before the sun raise. Shivering without a jacket in the chilling weather our wanabe photographer’s mouli and abilash were already in action chasing birds, mountains, sun and me. The morning started with the panoramic site of the dark orange and light yellow sky in between the dark green Mountains.

The sun slowly raising in between the mountains to show its face, bushy feathered birds pecking in nearby trees, freezing cold wind piercing through my blanket, the beautiful bright coloured flowers smiling all bright, ha what a sight to start your morning.

After the sun started raising little by little the sky turned gold and formed a thin line marking the boundaries of dark Green Mountain. By now our photographer’s were bored of their subject and came with some idea of photo tricks. It was time to revisit “Gulliver’s travels and the Lilliputians”.


I have to enact Gulliver and abilash and Praven played the tiny Lilliputians. Our ace photographer mouli stared pouring with ideas. The trick was to merge two different subject from different distance to form a picture by making the subject darker by sunlight. It was like re-enacting the story all again. Sometimes pictures speak more than words. Here is how I say so?

Kumbakarai - Vellagavi - Vattakanal - Kodaikanal Trek Route

This trek starts from kumbakarai falls. It’s approximately 7kms from periyakulam and 25 to 27 kms from bathlagundu. As soon as u reach the falls entrance u will be stopped at the forest department check post, where you have to pay a nominal entry fee. Its advised to start the trek before 9am, you might face visibility problem due to mist in the afternoon. This is an all season trek.

This earthen road is being used by the villagers of vellagavi for many years to transport and trade their hill produce to the market in periyakulam. This path also connects kodaikanal and kumbakarai through vattakanal(dolphin nose). This trek can easily be done in a single day. The route is moderate. One can start trekking after a nice bath from the kumbakarai falls.
There is also a small temple, toilet and a change room. Cross the stream behind the temple (Lord muruga and ganesa) u will reach a forest department sign board. A clear foot path on the right side near the sign board will invite you, please don’t take that route. You will cross a stream then a bridge and land up nowhere, instead take the route which is on the left side. A small foot path starts from here and lead you through thick shrubs and dense forest. Before you start ask any one there how to go to vellagavi?

The road passes through thick forest and many coffee plantations. Tamarind trees guide you on either side of the road. One can also find people transporting coffee beans, pepper, jack fruit, banana and other fruits and vegetables on donkey and horseback.

First land mark: please watch for the mile stone on the 2km.

Second landmark: From here soon you will reach a place with a huge rock under a big tamarind tree. Watch for the direction towards vellagavi. Turn right. Its 6kms from here. Please don’t take the road towards the left side of the rock which leads to the estate.



Third landmark: on the way you will cross a small stream called vannathi odai. You can refill your water cans here. there is also a small knee deep fresh water pool on the right side. Immediately after crossing this you will reach a fearsome temple under a huge pupil tree. Proceed towards your right. While crossing one can also hear the water flowing from Vellagavi River. One can easily reach vellagavi before noon.

Fourth landmark: watch for the bison footprints on the side of the trail. After trekking in the sides of the mountains for a while, you will enter a dark estate with coffee and cardamom plantation on either side. You can see jack fruit trees and banana trees. You will cross a small stream before reaching vellagavi. Vellagavi is a small village with around 50 houses. One will be amazed to find satellite TV connections in all the houses. All the houses are connected with proper roads. It’s a small community of estate workers. It has one school. A teacher comes daily from kodaikanal. Post reaches every day at 2pm. There are no shops, but people here are very friendly. One can even bump in to a house for a meal. In case of any medical emergency, local people join hands to build a stretcher using bamboo sticks and take the patient to kodai or periyakulam. From this village one has to further trek for another 3 to 4 hours. You can stop here for lunch.

Fifth landmark: you might face a little visibility problem due to mist from here onwards. It’s advised to take a torch. Soon you will reach a ridge in between mountains covered with ‘flame of the forest’ trees. From here onwards it’s steep. Please stop in between for the spectacular view of the mountains.

Sixth landmark: The path will be filled with stones. It takes you through beautiful meadows and tall green grasslands around the mountains. Some places look exactly like Grand Canyon. As if the water has washed the entire mountain walls many many years ago. Flame of the forest will welcome you throughout till you reach beneath dolphin nose. If you are lucky one can spot many birds and wild boar.

Seventh landmark: The last 100meters of the trek is very tiring and steep. This is vattakanal for you. Ancient tree roots form the natural steps. Each step is 1.5 feet high, rough and wide. Then you will reach the tar road near the church and forest department nursery. From here kodaikanal is 5 to 7 kms. Follow the road which leads to T.V.Tower and then to Coaker’s walk. From here one can reach the bus stand. Or get a jeep ride from dolphin nose (vattakanal).


Tips:

• Cell phone signal is available during 60% of the trek. Please switch off to enjoy your trek.

• Please don’t inform any one about the trek, forest department might deny entry.

• Some say this is a drug peddlers route, but we have trekked thrice not faced any problem

• First timers start early before 9am from the falls.

• Pack your lunch and breakfast. Carry enough water. Streams might dry during summer.

• A day backpack is enough. Always travel light for a comfortable trek.

• Trace the trekking route with fresh and dry donkey dung, which is all along till vellagavi.

• Stay the night before in periyakulam or in bathlagundu and start early for a leisure trek.

• Don’t walk fast. Reaching the destination should not be your goal. Enjoy the beauty of nature, birds, wildlife and mountains with your pals. Stop frequently for a snap.

Enjoy trekking!

Trekking Level: Moderate

Trekking Distance:
kumbakarai to vellagavi - 8 kms all approximate
Vellagavi to vattakanal – 4 to 6 kms
Vattakanal to kodaikanal – 5 to 7 kms
Total = 17 to 21 kms

Trekking Time: 7 to 8 Hours (approx)

Speech by Chetan Bhagat

Don't just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a
balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful.
Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all
in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There
is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable
if your mind is full of tensions.

"Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a
marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no
point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are
the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your
life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of
being excited and alive, will start to die. ...................

One thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. Life is
not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are
like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last
another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need
to get so worked up? ................

It's ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a
few interviews, take leave from work, fall in love, little fights with
your spouse. We are people, not programmed devices........." :)
"Don't be serious, be sincere."!!