Kerala and its Beauty

              I went on a trip to kerala for 5 days with my mom and dad.Kerala is also called as "God's own Country".On Day 1 ,we reached Munnar late in the morning.We visited Spice Garden,there we saw tree houses and played with swings.Then we went to elephant ride in the beautiful tea gardens.Then we went to hotel,had lunch and got ready for "Punarjani" shows.Here "Kathakali" and "Kalavarippayattu" is performed by creative artists of kerala.
             Kathakali is a world famous classical Dance Drama it is known as the king of performing arts performed in a Koothambalam(art performance temple) by skilled arists.Kalarippayattu is a world famous ,ancient,traditional Martial Arts from of Kerala-renowed as mother of all martial arts.This art is performed in a "kuzhikkalari"(earthen caving) by the artists after several years rigorous training.

                   On Day 2 ,We went to Eravaikulam National park,which is located in an area of 97 sq.km.We enjoyed the beautiful scenery on our way to the park.We walked almost a kilometer inside the park.Then we went for lunch and visited Flower garden and Mattupatti Dam.We went for boating in the lake formed by the dam.Then proceeded to shopping and reached the resort at the dinner time.

                     On Day 3,we started to Thekkady in the morning after breakfast.We reached Thekkady at 11 am.Then checked in the hotel and went for Thekkady Tiger Reserve and went for boating in the lake.We spotted some deer,wild pig,a bison,some migratory birds called snake birds and Kingfishers.After boating we reached Kumily town for shopping.We wanted to have an ayurvedic oil massage.So we went to an ayurvedic massage centre and had a "Sirodhara" oil massage.

                       On Day 4,we started to Kumarakom from thekkady after breakfast.We reached Kumarakom in the afternoon.This is the place I saw the Kerala villages which is always shown in movies.Each house has a thin wooden boat which is used like a two wheeler in those villages.Then we went to board house boat which travels in the "Vembanadu" lake.This is the second largest lake in the world which covers 5 districts namely Allepey,Kumarakom,Cochin,Ernakulam and one more district.Boat house is fully furnished with a bedroom,kitchen,Dining Hall and 3 people to look after the guests.

                      On Day 5,we started to Ernakulam and planned to go to Veega Land.Its a wonderful theme park with many land and water rides.After enjoying there till the evening we started to the railway station to catch the train in the evening.I tasted different kinds of kerala food.Those items include Yethappam (banana fry),Mathi (fish curry),Kari meen (fish fry),Kerala meals,Ada pradhaman (sweet similar to kheer) and Puttu.

                         

A cool hAnGoUt

                 Life in School days is the most memorable time in everyone's life.I enjoyed a lot in my school.After four years of leaving school.I met my best buddies day before yesterday.We planned this meeting a month before.They came to my place at 2 pm in the afternoon.My mom cooked special items for lunch.We ate lunch at home and went out.

                  As soon as we met,each of us had nothing to talk but when we spent some time together,the things changed.We were chatting about our school days,classes,teachers and friends.Then we bought tickets for a matnee show movie.We enjoyed the movie,had lots of fun there.After the movie, we went to window shopping at Reebok and Brands which are near to the theater.

                  We spent almost an hour there.Then we planned to go to CAFE Coffee Day.Its actually a good place to sit and chat peacefully.We ordered cold coffee and ice creams.We took many pics and were making fun of each other.Though our lives changed a lot,still I m glad that we are having fun after all these years.

                   We had lots of gossips to talk....about our school,friends,life at present and many things.We had really good time in coffee day.After spending one hour or so we left the place.I reached home at 7pm in the evening.So most cool hangout with best buddies of school ended here...!!I miss my school life and friends.... :(

Farewell party in hostel......

                    Farewell is both a sad and a happy moment of college days.But I still believe that this is not a full-stop for enjoying with friends, its just a comma.My roommate and four of my friends are leaving home after their exams tomorrow.They opted for an external project outside our college.We all had our farewell party last month in college,but as we are from different departments we didn't have it together.So we planned to  give them a big goodbye party yesterday night.

                    So to celebrate a party I had some ideas....!! I and my friend planned to cook different dishes in the room.We cooked Bread upma ,Uggani and Bisi bela bath.Uggani is a dish made in northern Andhra Pradesh and Bread upma is my aunt's reciepi. Bisi bela bath is a famous dish of Karntaka.Of course names may be different....!!!We cooked bisi bela bath from ready to eat products....Then my friends from other room cooked puliogare and tomato Rice.We bought cool drinks for the party.

                 






               
                 
                     We all played music and ate the special items,had pepsi....Then the real fun started.We all played games like truth or dare.Many exciting things came out like secret crushes etc...!!Then we played some other games like dumb charades.We all enjoyed the party.Then late in the night,we exchanged our slam books and felt sad for departing after all the three and a half years. 

       
                                                                                                                         







                    
                     After the party everyone left to their rooms.I was tired of organising everything.But I dint feel sleepy.I felt nostalgic...my mind started thinking about all the days we spent together.So today some of my friends already left home.But we will always be in touch through all available sources.So this good bye party is most memorable one in my life....I miss my friends at this moment.

Study holidays before exams (in hostel)

                  Our exams are gonna start in 3 days.We don't have classes because our teachers cancelled classes and gave us study holidays.But in study holidays we have to study always,we feel hungry more often...!!So last two days during study holidays I ate different stuff in a different timings.The most exciting thing was I didn't go to mess for last two days though I am staying in hostel.
                  Yesterday was most unforgettable one.I had some work in the campus so I went at 11 am.My roommate called me and asked me whether I am free.She then invited me to "Chick-In" restaurant.Its a similar place to KFC in this town.Three of us went there and ordered for 3 combos,cool drinks and cheese sticks.We returned back at 12.30 in the noon.

                 Then started studying.After sometime slept for an hour and woke up.This time my neighbour cooked Pav Bhaji in her room.I was just passing by her room,she asked me to come in and taste it.It was really yummy....!! I asked her how she made it.She showed me MTR  Ready to eat bhaji packet.I just thought it was a good idea...!

                  Then I went to campus to collect some material which might help me to refer.I came to room at 7.Now I myself felt like eating something hot because the weather outside was cold.I cooked rice in my room and borrowed Mango Avakkaaya Pickle from my friend.I and my roommate had hot pickle rice and curd rice.....

                   So this became my dinner yesterday.Then again I went to my friend's room for a group discussion.There I spent almost two hours.After coming to room I badly wanted to take a break.I watched some funny videos on youtube for sometime.Time passed away quickly and it was 1.30 am in the night.I again felt hungry.So I was just thinking what could I eat now.

                   Suddenly I remembered that I have some cooking stuff in my room.When I searched in it,I found a little amount of rice.So I and my roomie planned to cook jeera rice.Since it will easily get digested compared to other items...Then we started cooking and finished cooking at 2am.We ate jeera rice with my pickle this time,the one which my mom brought the last time she visited me.

                     Then we washed the vessels,plates and spoons.Finally we slept at 3am.I woke up at 9 am today.But jeera rice tasted excellent.I dint expect that it would be that good to taste..!!My roommate thanked me for everything with a lovable hug.....!! 

11.11.11 - LSD

                Today we celebrated Levis Signature Day with all my friends.I bought a new white t-shirt like all my friends.We all gathered in campus at 3pm.All my friends who are close to heart and difficult to depart  signed on my white t-shirt.I signed on all my friends t-shirts and took many pics with my friends.I even met my lecturers and asked for their signature on my t-shirt.The most funniest thing was I planned to scare a guy who knows my friend but donno me...But ofcourse it was a big flop..!!!

                  We went on a short outing to "FLO" cafe opposite to our campus with friends.There we ordered for a pizza combo and pizzas.Later we all had a smoothies and granitas.Pizzas were damn tasty and we enjoyed it.It was our last outing because we have our final year exams from next week.We all will be busy in preparing for exams.And as it is the final year,I wanted to make as many memories as possible with all my friends especially close ones.

                      Some of my friends then went to movie "O MY FRIEND". But i did not join them due to few reasons.The primary one was I was already late to the movie...!! I have to watch it almost after half movie is over...he he he !!So I spent well today ,I am expecting this will give me enthusiasm to prepare for exams which I have from next week.....Now I seriously decided to study during weekend..Oh God Please Help Me......

Splashes of bubbles.....!

                 Yesterday I and my roommate decided to wash clothes in the night after dinner.So we soaked our clothes in warm water in the evening.All the evening we were busy with lab assignments and writing stuff, so totally forget about those clothes.

                  Then suddenly I remembered that clothes are still in water....then rushed to washing area.It was 10.30 pm and was damn cold that we both shivered with goosebumps.So we washed the clothes with hot water so that it was tolerable.

                  Suddenly my roommate started shouting,I was shocked and even got scared.....Then came a big splash of warm water with bubbles in it.Though I was bit confused what was happening,then even I did the same.We were playing almost for 20 minutes.Thereby completely got wet at the end.Then rushed to my room and changed those wet clothes and dried them outside our room....

                  The twist in the story was,I was suffering from cold for last two days.After playing in the water,I slept properly in the night and the next morning my cold was gone..!!!Still can't believe this.Thanks to my loving roomie for this wonderful medicine......!!! What a great adventure it was...!!! most unforgettable memory of my hostel life during college days....But I am feeling sad when I realize that I am gonna miss this life in another six months... :(

Innovation with groundnuts....!!!

               As this is the season for groundnuts.We get groundnuts from all our relatives and friends who have farms with this crop.So I thought, I will use my imagination to cook something with groundnuts we got this year.My cousines who visited me this evening also helped me with the recipie......Generally we will boil these groundnuts from farm in salt water which will add taste to them when we eat.Some people even fry these groundnuts and eat.

To make this innovation, I used following ingredients:

• Groundnuts boiled and peeled - 200 gms
• Curry leaves - a few
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Oil - 3 tsp
• Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida - a pinch
• Salt - as per taste
• Chilly Powder - 1+1/2 tsp
• Lemon Juice - 1 tsp
• Grated coconut and coriander leaves - 2 tsp

 Procedure:

            

 First we need to boil the groundnuts in salt water.Then we have to peel them....

Then take a pan and pour oil and wait till it is heated,then add mustard seeds,asafoetida,turmeric powder, curry leaves and fry for 3 minutes.Now add the boiled groundnuts and mix well.After this add chilly powder and mix well for 3 minutes.

Now add the grated coconut and coriander leaves and switch off the stove.After doing this add lemon juice for taste (optional).This total process after boiling groundnuts just takes 10 minutes.One of the most easiest snack during this season.......!So this was my imagination turned to innovation....

               As it is good to look it was even good to taste.I enjoyed cooking this with my cousines.Finally we were all fighting to eat this.This is possible only because of their encouragement....Special Thanks to them. :)

So even you people can try this at home when you are free................................

Festival of lights....!

                  We all can easily guess that the "festival of lights" is Diwali, in some regions of India its called Deepavali.My favorite essay topic during my schooling used to be Diwali in all languages...!!!In my home,we celebrate this festival for two days.The night of naraka chathurdasi and the day of amavasya are the 2 days of celebration in my home.The main reason for celebrating Diwali is the death of a demon "narakasura" who was killed by Lord Srikrishna and Sathyabhama.....We always do diwali shopping before a month atleast.We decorated our pooja room like this....

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                     During diwali all our relatives gather.We will be busy with showing our new stuff like dresses and other items.My mom and other aunts cook a variety of sweets and savories as an offering to Goddess Lakshmi.This is offered during the Lakshmi Pooja on the next day of Naraka Chaturdasi.We will have an exciting night with the crackers on naraka chaturdasi.Its fun to fire crackers with all my cousines and friends who visit me....

                    The next day,we wake up early in the morning,go to temple and come back home.Now we will start our work to make arrangements needed for pooja,side by side prasadam will get ready...!!Mom always makes sweets and savories which are damn delicious.Some of the sweets and savories made this time were Gulab Jamun,Paayasam,Vada,Murukku,Paala poli.....

                    Then in the evening we go for our relatives shop and again celebrate diwali there with crackers,pooja and sweets.So by the end of these 2 days,we all will have fully filled tummies and fun filled adventures with crackers.

                     Though diwali is bringing us so much of fun and refreshment sometimes I even feel its creating a big havoc to the environment around us by sound and air pollution.....whatever may be one thing I am very sure to tell is I enjoyed Diwali and happy to share this experience..... :)

Gold Bleach at home (Easy and Effective).....

                    We generally go for bleach when we have a special occasion to attend.Actually frequent bleach damages our skin and makes it rough.So we should always go for bleach very rarely.I just thought why to waste our time and money in parlour for a very rare process.These days various bleach kits are available in market.I have tried VLCC kit recently,it was better than those used in parlours.

                       It costs around Rs.350 and can be used 20 times.The kit consists of activation powders,bleaching pack,pre-bleach cream and post bleach pack.These are to be used in a process described below:

                     

1. First wash your face with soap and cold water.Then pat dry.
2. Apply pre-bleach cream and massage for 5 minutes softly.
3. Now mix pack required for bleaching by taking 1 spoon (big spoon) of bleach cream and 2 spoons (small) of activation powder.
4. Thoroughly mix it using spatula till the powder is completely dissolved in the cream.
5. Now apply this to your face using spatula leaving eye brows and area around the eyes.
6. Leave this pack undisturbed for 15 minutes.We can feel slight itching feeling as the bleaching action takes  place.
7. Then wash your face with cold water and again pat dry
8. Now we need to apply post bleach pack.Thoroughly massage it on the bleached area and do not use soap for 5 hours
9. Generally if we do this in the evening,it is more effective.

                           Now the bleaching process is finished succesfully.Thus we can have a effective,easy and less cost gold bleach at home.It worked for me.Mostly the same will be with everyone of you....!!So just try this and see.......

          

                       

Splendid Tirumala....

                        Today morning I and two of my friends started to Tirupathi at 5 am in new Bustand,Katpadi.We boarded a deluxe non stop bus to Tirupathi whose fare was Rs.90.As one of my friend lives near Tirupathi we visited her in the morning and had home made breakfast.Then we started to pedastrian path to reach Trumala hills which is called "SREEVAARI METTU".The view from this path looked like...

                       This path has 2450 steps in total covering about 6km of distance from chandragiri.There was a temple of Lord Narayana at the start point of sreevaari mettu.We prayed lord to give strength to walk through this path and had prasadam there.Now we started to walk,our path looked like this......

                         This path took us to "dhivya darshan" ticket counter where we got our free darshan tickets and  proceeded to walk.The total time we took for walking was 2 hours.Then we reached the end point of this path which had a beautiful arch with carvings on it.There were beautiful gardens with greeneries.

                       Then we started to darshan in tirumala there we have found many trees with a variety of fruits.Then we had lunch in a restaurant.After lunch we went in queue line,then we finished darshan in 1hour 30 minutes.Then we collected laddus and started to tirupathi.

                         After reaching tirupathi,we decided to go to Kapilatheertham.So we went there and spent good amount of time there.Here we saw a peculiar variety of monkeys.....!!Weather there is really pleasant and all our tiredness was gone.Then we went to Manasa Fast Foods in Tirupathi and boarded the bus to reach vellore.Some of the pics we have taken in kapilatheeratham are,

                    Though the trip was piligrimage,we enjoyed the nature on the hills of Tirumala and had good time spent with friends.So Tirumala trip was a splendid experience and a memorable piligrimage.....!!! :)

                  

                          

                        

Awesome CHENNAI......!

               I went to chennai last week with four of my friends.We went on a shopping trip....which is exciting!!We boarded bus in katpadi at 12:30 pm after attending classes.We were lucky enough to get an air conditioned bus.We reached chennai at 3 pm.We were damn hungry and decided to have lunch in pondy bazar,t-nagar.We went in auto from koyambedu to t-nagar and the fare was Rs.150.After reaching pondy bazaar we were searching for a good resto and found saravana bhavan.But it was very crowded so we went to a gujarathi restaurant, "RANGOLI".There we had our lunch in a different style.....

                    It was tasty because we were hungry.Those plates resembled silver plates...!!Then we went for shopping in some local mall, "singapore mall".It had all small shops where we can bargain upto 40% of the original price.Then in the evening we went for street shopping bought some stuff there.We had lemon soda and boiled masala corn.Now two of us stayed in my friend's apartment and remaining 3 went to their relative's home.I and my friend decided to go to movie at 7pm after everyone left,We took an auto to Sathyam theatre but we dint get tickets so just want to check in EA wether the tickets are available,there we decided to book tickets for next day morning show.We booked tickets for "FINAL DESTINATION-5" in ESCAPE (EA).......!!!Some of our shopping stuff at the end of the day was.....:

                     The next morning we woke up at 8:00 am.Got ready fast,had breakfast and started to EXPRESS AVENUE to watch movie.We were very excited that morning.The morning show started at 9:40am.We watched the movie in "kites" at ESCAPE.....

                                                                                                 

                  Then we started to explore the mall....I bought a saree for my mom and shirt for my dad in BIG BAZAAR in the mall.The mall's architecture is really superb!!We had lunch in the food court which is in 3rd floor of the mall and again went on exploring.I bought a casual top and a stole for myself in WESTSIDE.

               
                     Then we started to koyambedu to board bus on our journey back.We are lucky to catch an ac bus even when we are on our journey back to katpadi.The journey was about 3 hrs....Very tired when we reached vellore.

                     Finally the chennai trip's mission was succesful....!!Had a really good time.Enjoyed each and every part of the trip.....So just thought i need to share my experience with everyone here.....It was one of the most exciting trip!!!

Night outs (in hostels) during exams........

                   I want to share my night out experience in hostel.We usually study late in the night during exams.Once when i had Control Systems exam in one of my semesters,i and my friends started studying after having dinner in the mess.We started at 9 in the night.There was lots to study.We decided that everyone learns one topic and explains others that topic.We were tired after 2 hours.

               
                     We felt hungry and tired,thought of taking break an idea flashed into my mind.I asked my friends if they like to eat something at that time.We planned to cook "maggi" in my roomie's electric rice cooker....!!We all had yummy "maggi".We were literally fighting for it as if we haven't seen food for 2 days and again started studying.We finally slept at 2 am.
                       The next morning my exam went well......MAGGI left a memory in my mind....it tasted really yummy.It may be because we were really hungry.....Its funny when i think of the fight we had!!

                                                                                                             I  <3 MAGGI :)

Classic pedicure with pack (at home)

                   I want to describe about pedicure which is simple and we can do ourselves at home.This might help many of my friends who are lazy to go to parlour for regular pedicure..!! This can be done with all products which is available at home.

Things needed are:

• Bucket 
• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Shampoo 
• Body wash
• Body scrub (if possible)
• Nail cutter
• Brush and Pumice stone
• Nail polish of your choice   
• Pack may be any kind of herbal pack which is available in market                 

Process to be followed:
                   First cut your nails and shape it.Then fill the bucket till half with warm water, mix the water with shampoo and baking soda.Soak your legs for 10 mins.Now add some body wash to your brush and properly clean your toes,ankles,upper part of your feet.Then use body scrub which removes all the dry and dead skin in your feet.Now use pumice stone with body wash and massage heels,toes and other part of your feet.
                    Now wash your feet with fresh water,clearly wipe your feet.Now its time to apply pack.After applying pack wait for 10 mins wash it with water.Now your feet will become dry.To moisturize apply the moisturizer and massage your feet for 5 mins.Finally apply nail polish.

                                             
                     I tried it myself twice or thrice.....it worked excellently.So it may even help you.My feet looked like this after the pedicure.....is it beautiful?