The Journey ahead......

Pink little ribbons dangled from her braid, the laced pink frock danced around her hips, the bright yellow shoes sparkled in the night light, and I couldn't resist a smile when I saw that baby girl. Childhood is a celebration of life for most of us. It is always filled with rosy memories of fun and laughter. It is not surprising when most of us long for those care-free days, those days of endless playtime and delight, those days of abundance and happiness. You never had to worry about anything, there was always someone to take care of you, feed you when you were hungry, buy you new and exciting things to play with and you always had someone to hear you out and help you.  But when you look far and beyond, you realize that the rosy tales of childhood memories are not for everyone. For many children their childhood has been a daunting experience.

Many young girls grew up with no toys to play with, no new clothes to wear, no proper food and medicine, and with no proper access to education. They grew up learning and doing the little household chores, fetching buckets of water from the nearby pond or well. Eventually these girls grew up and lived their life even without realizing the abundant possibilities outside their little world. And some of them probably grew up and led silent abusive lives within their establishment unaware of the opportunities that lay outside. All of this would have never happened only if the family or the society around was educated enough to understand the power women symbolize today. A girl child is often taken for granted and is deprived from many of the little pleasures. The negligence of a girl child in the early days slowly transforms in the later stages as abuse on women. Abuse on women is lurking around every corner, at home, at work, in the bus, in the train, and frighteningly it has crept into every aspect of daily life, making each day a herculean challenge to sail through.

It frightens me sometimes to watch the news channels or read the newspaper columns, there is not a single day without a mention of some form of abuse on women and children. The exploitation of women has sadly been on the rise of late. With gruesome stories making its way into the public every day, it makes me wonder if we are anyway close to becoming a super power by 2020.

The laurels, the achievements, the technological advancements, the breakthrough discoveries seem meaningless when the women of the land are not treated with dignity.

The need of the hour is stringent law against the people who assault women. Only when we have a strong judicial system in place, the crime doers will think twice before indulging in any mistreatment. The accessibility to justice should be made easier, the burden or the trauma of a civil procedure should not haunt a victim from seeking justice.

Creating a strong legal, fool proof platform will probably take its due course, but that cannot stop us from addressing this issue now. Let the law take it own course, but, as responsible citizens of this country there are many other things which we can exercise from our end.

In today’s world of technology and information education still seems a distant dream to many children, and specifically to the girl child. Education is not about stacking degrees and certificates; it is a process of learning and understanding the world around us. Education is a way of channelising your mind to understand the world around you better and to be a more active contributor to it. When you are educated, you know when injustice is meted out to you and you know the platforms and the means to seek justice. Whereas an uneducated women on the other hand is taken for granted and she will never probably realize that she could have undone the injustice shown to her. Every girl child must be educated, she must be taught about a world outside, about the numerous possibilities, she must be educated and well informed about what the society holds for her and how she can be an active part of it. NGO’s and government organisations and several private contributors have made tremendous contribution to the empowerment of women. But today it is not enough if only these people do their part, it is the moral duty of every citizen to ensure that he or she in some way will help or contribute.

Educating women and enlightening them about their civil and legal rights alone does not win the game, it is also an equal responsibility of everybody else to understand their role in women empowerment. The environment, the people around, everything has to be conducive enough for women to stand tall and proud and above all feel safe in our society.

So let us promise, that from this day on we still strive towards a better tomorrow, a better platform for the future women of our family and our society.

Women are the delicate part of the society, they are the gentle and the lovely part of mankind, they bring in different abilities and skills with them, and it is time we took care of them, nurtured them and promised them a safe, happy and prosperous future.

On deaf ears (* sigh *)

Well, if you thought ambulance drivers were the only ones who siren all the way from the start till the end, then ,you are probably not aware of the new age ( or is it rage ??) drivers who simply cannot get their hands off the horn.Where do I begin ?? Is it the abysmal honking that bores into your ears, or is it their utter impatience on the road?

Driving in the city is a challenge any day and now we have to combat such drivers as well.

I wonder if these noise polluters think that such repeated blaring will get them any sooner to their destination?. What they don't realize is that, they are going to get caught in the traffic just like anyone ,but,  also earn the wrath of other fellow drivers.

And most of these horns which drone your ears are not permitted within the city limits , but that does not stop them from blowing away .

The need of the hour is stringent action against such drivers.One of the most basic requirement of any driver is patience on the road. The cities are expanding and so are the car owners population, hence, driving is not going to get any easier.

So, if you are, which I certainly hope not, one of those impatient drivers on the road, it is a humble request from many of us, please stop this awful blowing , all of us have deadlines to chase, buses/trains/flights to catch,meetings to get on time to, so , lets not make this any more difficult than it already is.


cheers,
Sanz :)

Bride Series .... :) :) :) :) -The list continues

The list continues.. :) :)

This is a really short one :) it has been long due from my end :( I had promised a list of designer saree stores, so here we go :) 

1. Manmandir , Nungambakkam,

2. Moksha, TTK road,

3. Rangoli, Nungambakkam,

4. Kajal, TP road,

5.Varasidhi, G.N ,Chetty road. 

All the above mentioned stores specialize in designer sarees and lehenga's :) They all have lovely and exquisite collections with each store specializing in its very own style of clothing :)  So i would suggest the "Designer" lovers to check every store mentioned above :) :) Trust me, it is worth your time :) :)

Cheers,

Sanz :) :) 

*** Its Happening**!!! :) :) :)

Today my blog view touched over a 1000 views :) :) This is a small milestone in my blogging years to come :) :) I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my blog readers , it is the constant rise in the blog view count that has kept me motivated to write :) So a big thanks to each and everyone of you :) I would also like to make a request to all my readers to please leave a comment as well so that I can improve my blogging skills. Looking forward to more reads and comments :) thank you all once again :)

Cheers,
Sanz :) :)

Bride Series..... :) - Mix and Match

Mix and Match :) :)

 As I promised, I am back with a post on mix and match from old Nalli :) :)

Old Nalli apart from living up to the traditional and sentimental aspects of our people, has a lot to offer to the trend lovers as well :) A wonderful blend of material rolls rendering traditional designs laced with a twist of modern prints and patterns is found in abundance here :)

It is amazing to see how you can customize these materials into any desired style. Be it a Banaras silk bit for a blouse or a lehenga top, these materials create a lasting impression :)

 Most of the Sarees these days come with attached blouse:) But for those who are ready to experiment, I would suggest, make a trip to old nalli with your saree. Pick a contrast blouse bit for your saree, the deeper the contrast the better it would look :) But i should also warn you that such contrast patterns work well only when the body of the saree is plain or less bling, too much stone or zari work on the body of the saree might steal the contrast look you are trying to bring in :) 

The cost for these materials range from 350 per meter to over a 1000 per meter:)

In my next post (post name " Material magic" I will share a few pictures of some of the mix and match ideas me and my sister did for my wedding :) Nothing like a picture to describe things better :) :) The pictures will be up soon:)

Cheers,
Sandy :) :)

Bride series... :) :) - Material Magic

Material Magic :) :) :)

1. This is a picture where a traditional 9 yards saree is teamed with a multicolored puff-sleeve blouse :) 

2. This is a picture of a lehanga which has been fully designed with the material rolls in Old Nalli :)

3.This lehanga also has been designed from the material rolls, this is a simple pattern with emphasis on the color :)

4.This pretty pink skirt with a silver lace border is also from the treasure trove in old nalli :) :)

Cheers 

Sanz :) :)

PS: Photo credits - Prasanna Krishnamoorthy @  http://prutos.com/

Our country , Our society ........... :)

The issues plaguing our society are aplenty, addressing all of them and setting up a stable society is no child's play. These issues go way beyond changing the constitutional laws, policies and
amendments. As responsible citizens of this country each and everyone of us have an important
role to play.

I am an average Indian who feels enraged and angered by the indifference's and the favoritism shown in our system, it boils my blood, pushes me to question the very foundation of our society,
but beyond that i am helpless. We all know that one man's anger cannot stem a revolution that could change the society forever,it is a collective responsibility that all of us share.

So what do we do when we are faced by the hard realities of our system? turn our heads and walk away, or blame the corrupt system and shy away from taking responsibility ?
No, as educated and responsible citizens of our country it is time we took some of these matters in our hands.

The need of the hour is action.There is no dearth of issues and problems that need attention.There is little we can do about the high level scams and scandals, but there are a million other
issues within our reach which need attention and probably the intervention of people like us.

How many of us are aware of the acute power shortage faced by the suburban towns of Tamil Nadu, how many of us are aware of the food shortage,water problems and lack of medical and
educational facilities in our country.

Today it is not enough if you just live for yourself and your family. your family might flourish but eventually you will fall prey to our system. Society and family must flourish hand in hand only
then we will have a balanced economy.

What we need is social responsibility and accountability. Just like how little drops of water make a mighty ocean, very small but consistent contribution from each one of us is sure to cause a wave
of positive change in our society.

Lets start small, every drop of water and every unit of electricity saved could could go a long way in leading a sustainable life. There are people in our country who walk for miles together to fetch
a pail of water. Just remember this when you let water run down the tap, wash your driveway with buckets and buckets of water, when we leave the tap running for hours together even without
realizing that, there are people, even today who fight and struggle for the very basic things in life.
There are people who face power cuts up to 16 hours a day, lots of small scale industries are shutting down due to the lack of power , there are families who are losing their livelihood because of this.

Your small act of responsibility could save someone someday. You might not be able to see the direct result of your judicious saving of water and electricity but you can always pride over the
noble initiative which you have in-cultivated.

These are simple yet powerful things we could do everyday on a regular basis. These are things which we can easily imbibe in our daily routine.

So,lets start small, and gradually grow many folds, in being effective contributors to our society.

Cheers,
Sanz :)

The begining ... :) :)

There is a first time to everything :) this post is on the first attempt I made @ writing a story :) I wrote this when I was in college :) I was DE-cluttering my inbox today when I came across this.
 here we go :) my first piece of writing ... :) I should warn you though that it is a bit high on drama! :) :)

      

…….8 kms to munnar, the board on the highway read. This was our second industrial visit. It was a three day tour to Cochin and munnar. We were on our way back to munnar after a long and tiresome day. Earlier this evening we went for a  trek uphill. The breath taking natural beauty of this wonderful hill station enthralled all of us. We were spellbound by the beautiful landscape. We wanted to trek more. In spite of the pouring rain and the freezing weather we remained unabated. Now the mood in the bus was very different. All of us were tired and frazzled by the long trek. We were all dozing off into a blissful sleep unaware of what awaited us. We were a group of 13 people travelling by this van. The remaining 52 were far ahead of us in a deluxe bus. By the time we reached our destination it was pouring. Two of my classmates were waiting for our van to arrive. They held out umbrellas and helped us out. We climbed out of the bus happily chatting about our trek that day. But the look on the two friends  told a different story, something was wrong. They refused to comment on anything. They accompanied us to the hotel lobby. Upon reaching there everything became clear, we could understand the glum look on their face. About 15 of my classmates had taken ill suddenly. It was total anarchy out there at the lobby . People were running in all possible directions to help the needy ones. One of my classmates and the tour manager rushed to us. They were allocating rooms for our stay. Finally the tour manager  ‘insisted’ we occupy the first room on the ground floor, we gave in. We got ready quickly and started to help our friends. About 7 of them were bitten by leach and about 5 of them suffered from severe vomiting and fever. One classmate of mine blacked out all of a sudden and he was carried by 5 boys to the transport vehicle to a nearby hospital. There were many others who suffered breathing difficulties and developed wheezing problem. Medical facilities near the hotel were very poor. There were no doctors in the vicinity. We finally managed to contact a local doctor. A vehicle was arranged to transport the affected ones. After about an hour and a half of utter chaos things slowly began to settle down. The fear in me started soaring. There were strong rumours that the classmate of mine fainted seeing something horrible. An eerie feeling stated to develop. Suddenly the hotel felt deserted. People were asked to stay in their respective rooms. There was power failure  every ten minutes. The entire area went into pitch darkness. Fear started creeping in. ours was the first room on the ground floor. The only room with a balcony. Once the power was restored I decided to step out into the balcony to breathe some fresh air. I unbolted the door. It opened into complete darkness. There was a faint source of light. It was too dark to make out what the balcony opened into. But one thing was sure it opened into an uninhabited area. It was too silent for half past eight in the night. I was afraid to step out so I decided to stay back at the room. When I tried to bolt the door I noticed that the lock was not proper. It could be  easily broken. Another fear added to my already growing fear list. But somehow I fastened the door and stepped out. Staying back at the room did not make me feel any better. So I decided to wait in the lobby. Once I stepped out into the lobby I noticed a bunch of drunken men checking into the hotel. Frightened by it I went back to my room and joined 3 of my friends there. I told them what I saw at the lobby and expressed my fear. They were equally frightened. We decided to support each other and stay calm. After sometime I started to lose the calmness of my mind. I decided to call my mother. I spoke with her for about twenty minutes. By the time I  ended the call tears were steaming down my eyes. For the first time ever I cried out of fear of what I myself did not know of. Gradually fear became panic. There were so many questions buzzing on my head, Why did the travel manager insist we take the first room on the ground floor, Why wasn’t  the balcony door not proper, Why was there frequent power failure, drunken men all around the hotel, what was it that my classmate saw that drove him to such a state of shock, was there something supernatural… It was too much for me to take. I broke down. My friends came rushing to me and enquired what happened. I explained  my fears, they consoled me and said they would make sure things were fine. I felt better after that. Finally the people who went to the hospital were back. They were all treated and were provided with proper medical treatment. We then went into the dinning hall for dinner. After dinner we all decided to sleep early. The fear still persisted in me. Finally we decided  to switch rooms with the guys. They were willing to take our room on the ground floor and we shifted to their room on the first floor. I had left my umbrella at the balcony but was frightened to go and get it. One of my friends offered to collect it for me. She was the stronger one in my group and was less fearless. Suddenly everything seemed to get back to normal. The new room felt much safer. There was no balcony to fear about. I felt much safer. My fears sometime back seemed so baseless. Finally we all  went into a peaceful sleep. The next morning when I woke up sun was shining brightly and was descending down our room through the window. The memories about the previous night were fading out. I felt much happier and safe. Finally all of us woke up. We all sat around the bed and were sipping coffee enjoying the morning weather. Then one of my friends spoke up she had been waiting so say this since last night. Last night when she went out to fetch the umbrella, she saw something there which she wanted to tell us. There was a stone steps leading up to the balcony. Ours was the only room with a balcony, the balcony door never locked properly and there was this stone steps  from the basement of the hotel leading up to the balcony. A chill ran down my spine………………….   

  Cheers,

Sanz :) 

Bride series ... :) :) - Planner pictures

Planner pictures :) :)

Bride series.... :) :) - Sarees and more

Sarees and more :) :)

Inevitably the most important item of purchase for  south Indian weddings are "sarees" :) And, especially a south Indian Brahmin wedding is never in short of occasions for that :) And I don't have to dwell much if you are the bride :) at least 7 Sarees have to be purchased for the bride on a minimum scale :) So, that gives you lots of space to try and experiment with different styles :)

Chennai is fast emerging to be one of the best places in south for saree shopping with specific emphasis on wedding sarees.

 With enough and plenty options to confuse anybody I hope this post will bring some clarity for new buyers :) :) I am not going to give a detailed description  on each of the stores , I will just give a list of must try shops and a short note for each one of these :)

1. Pothys , T. Nagar:

Pothys is almost synonymous with wedding shopping. It boasts of one of the widest range of sarees in the city. It caters to all categories of people :)

Bottom line : value for money :)

2. RMKV , T. Nagar :

RMKV was one of the first silk stores to introduce the idea of        "concept sarees". RMKV is also abundant in collection and variety :)  The wedding sarees are a bit on the expensive end here, but sometimes a wedding saree is worth the " extravagance" :)

Bottom line : Good collection but  a bit high on the pricing.

 Note :

RMKV has a low price range of silk sarees. If not a choice for the brides, a wedding involves buying sarees for a lot of people as well, so, this could be a good bargain for mid range sarees which are not only affordable but silk as well , so some of the " specials " on the guest list can be pampered with such buys :)

3. Kumaran Silks , T. Nagar :

 On a personal note I have always felt Kumarn silks caters to the non-bride category of people.The sarees are wonderful indeed but not exactly " bridal types". The "9 yards " saree collection in Kumaran is splendid . They not only have variety in terms of materials , but they also have a wide  variety in terms of colors and patterns. Starting from the traditional silk 9 yards to the silk cotton 9 yards it boasts of the best 9 yards saree collection in the city :) 

Bottom Line : One of the best stops for 9 yards :)

4. Sundari silks , T. Nagar:

Famous for its exquisite silk designs, Sundari silks is one of the most visited outlets for Bridal shopping. The collection is elaborate and stunning. Though it comes on the list of high end budget shopping , Sundari silks is a must visit :)

Bottom Line : Wonderful collection but very high on pricing :)

5. Palam silks  , T. Nagar :

A joint venture by 2 famous silk giants, Palam silks has lived up to the dream of every bride. There are a lot of occasions in  a wedding were the bride is expected to dress in a mild demeanor and Palam silk specialises in this style. The pricing also comes @ a nominal level. Simple yet rich in elegance and grace is the genre of this store. Mostly specialising in unique pieces of work it is not only a must place to visit but a Saree from Palam is a must as well :)

Bottom Line : thumps up! :) Must visit :)

6. Sarangi , T. Nagar :

What captures you first about this store is the ambiance. Gives you a feeling that you are probably in a plush bungalow rather than a saree shop :) Sarangi is a very high end saree store in the city. The collection is good indeed but the pricing does make one wonder if it is worth spending so much after all . It does have some of those rare special colours, so you could check this store if you are looking for something out of the box :)

Bottom Line : strictly only for those willing to spend a lot!! :)  

7. Old Nalli/New Nalli , T. Nagar : 

  

 I was saving my favourite for the end :) Nalli is a must stop for most Chennai-ites This shop has been there for decades and is one of Chennai city's all time favorites :) Nalli holds a " sentimental" place in most of the households and is considered a "good charm" to buy from for weddings :)  I don't have to elaborate on the saree section here, but ,what really keeps pulling me back here is the wonderful material rolls collection. I have no words to describe  the splendid collection they have, I would love to write more on this in a separate post :)  I ll come back soon with that post :)

Bottom Line : Must go!! and must buy!! :) and off course parking is never a problem in Nalli :) 

Above mentioned is the list of silk saree stores :)  A list of other stores specialising in other types will be up in my next post shortly :) :) 

Cheers,

Sanz :)

Bride series... :) :) - Lets get started

Lets get started !! :)

Now that we have charted out a planner and have categorised and identified the important tasks , lets get started!! 

Before that , let me give you a heads up about something.

There is no end to what you can buy and how much you can spend when it comes to wedding shopping. We have to draw a line somewhere.So, if you happen to share my idea of being an " economical Bride" without burning a hole in your dad's pocket, then, let me tell you a little secret,   in being an "economical bride" you are not giving up anything or living your dream of being a perfect bride any less ,instead, you are just discovering the best ways to do it economically :) In short you are going to be a "smart shopper" .

Before the actual shopping it is always best to do a through research on all the options available :) Remember what I told about "satisfied buying" in my very first post :) . So, list out all the shops you would like to visit , and add the other stores and suggestions made by friends and families. Take a considerable time in researching each one of these stores :) Check all the collections they have to offer, make a note on the various pricing and the choices available in each of the stores :) Do not be in a hurry to buy. Even if you come across one of those " I have been waiting all my life to buy this saree" you have to learn to restrain yourself from doing that impulsive buying,  trust me, you will find yourself doing that more than often:) 

If there is a Saree you simply love in that case you can always ask the store to keep that piece away for you to come back :) most of the shops offer that service these days :) 

After the research there are a few places which you would have made a mental note to go back and check :) start your shopping with these stores :) and be ruthless in discarding the ones which failed to impress you, don't fall prey to " they might get better collections " next week or next month. Better options are always available and we cant keep waiting for it :) so don't think too hard :) just get started :) 

And one of the most important aspects when you begin your shopping is keeping the " shoppers spirit alive" . A wedding shopping is no joke, it takes a lot of physical and mental effort not to mention the financial blow .So be in your " best moods" when you shop :) a good mood reflects on your shopping a lot :) It is a long and tedious process, so prepare yourself for it :)

Keep your stomach full before you set out on your quest :) we do not want , hunger and problems like acidity,headache to damper the shopping spirit :) Never forget your water bottle, umbrella, cap, sun tan lotion, your priceless "wedding planner " and off course your wallet :) and  last but not the least don't leave your smile behind :) We want to look our best when we shop for the big day of our life :)

Now with everything in place , lets not wait any further :) lets get started !! :) :)

Cheers

Sanz :)

PS : list of saree stores will be up in the next post :) 

Bride series ..... :) :) - charting out

Charting out :) :) :)

I promised a fortnightly series and now I have disappeared for weeks! phew! * apologies*. Now, without further ado let me get started :)
So where do I begin ?...
Hmm.....
Going by my love for organizers and sticky notes naturally the first thing I did was to create a wedding planner for myself : I didn't want just any book to be converted into a wedding planner :) I decided the  book should be something special :) I didn't have to think hard, I had this book I always carried around with me. It was my book of favourites, as I called it. It had everything that I always wanted. Everything!!Pictures,quotes,graffiti, pictures of stuff I wished to own, pictures of how I would like to decorate my house ,one liners from movies, the innumerable to do and to be accomplished lists and so on..
The first step towards creating a planner is to decide on the various categories :) For example you could create a page for each member in your family , and in the respective page you could indicate the pending task for each person :)you could also mention on what task you have completed so that you are well aware of what is done and what is not :) The main idea behind the planner is to keep you updated on where you are with respect to the wedding preparation. There is no hard and fast rule to create a planner . It should just contain all the important facts and information like due dates for clothes from tailor, parlour appointments , completed shopping list, the to be completed list,invitees list,important delivery dates and so on.You could also have a page for new ideas and options to try out :)  Let your imagination run wild while creating your wedding planner :) after all its your wedding planner and you would want it to be the best:) so bring out all the notes and memos and lets get started with charting out  the work :)

cheers
Sanz :)

PS: will share my planner pictures shortly :) :) :) :) :) 

Bride Series :) :) :) :) - Being the bride

Being the bride :) 

I know i skipped writing about a major event in my life. I couldn come up with any " intelligent reason " behind not writing , nonetheless I am still a "new Bride" and the journey is still vivid and fresh in my mind :) So, i have decided to start a fortnightly series on the passage from Bride to wife :) I am going to write about all the fun, all the shopping we did, all the accessories we purchased, all the plan Bs we made, all the laughter, all the tears shed till the big day :) I hope this long list of memories I wish to share will keep the writing spirit in me alive :)

Love

Sanz :)

  

Chop chop :) :)

There something special about every haircut I have had so far :) :)  I have always felt new and powerful and wonderful right after a haircut :)The entire experience is simply thrilling :) From the moment I enter the parlour till i walk out of it with a smashing haircut ,  I savour every moment :) :)

Most of my hair cut stories come with a large amount of back-end processing :) It almost always begins with how i suddenly realize that my hair has gone so bad and frizzy and the only thing that can save me is a  hair cut :D Then comes the big part- convincing my mother :) I embark on a constant "nagging" citing a  million reasons on why I need  a hair cut and how I always promise her that this will be the last time ever, ever( the second ever to emphasis my promise :P )But for some reason the "ever ever" time span has never lasted beyond a year and a half :) I always manage to come up with a solid reason on why  i had to break my promise this time :) Finally after repeated nagging for weeks together i push my mother to a stage were she says " do whatever you want !!".

Success!! :) I can never get a straight yes from my mom for a haircut :P This is the closest i can get her to agree to it:)

For some reason I have never considered V-cuts and U-cuts as real haircuts :) For me it has always been a step cut or a layer cut :)  Now comes the best part :) The   hair stylist begins her chopping and trimming and layering my hair :) The wait is one of the most exciting aspects of any haircut :) There is little tension , little  anxiety on how the cut is going to materialise :) Finally when it is done I slowly open my eyes :) and stare at my reflection in the long parlour mirror :)

Sometimes its WOW!! and sometimes it is "  this is it ??? !!!" isn't there anything more " ! If it is a WOW season ! :) I bubble with joy and happily pay the bill and chirp all the way home :) The haircut makes me feel so new and energetic and makes me feel like i just re-discovered myself :) it feels so soft and bouncy and it is the sheer happyness that makes you feel you look awesome in this haircut :)

Each and every hair cut has been a joyous experience to me :)Haircuts have always been more than just makeovers :) A little chop chop here and there goes a long way in pumping the adrenalin rush :) :)

Cheers
Sandy :)

Navratri , Rains & more :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

The city finally woke up to its true "octoberian" spirits. The day opened with the
season’s first big downpour. Rain is always a welcome respite to the chennaites.

So what makes October so special??

Apart from being the month of my birthday there are a million other things that I love about October. The rains, the festival of navaratri, T-Nagar, golu, kacheri, sundal-prasadam, paper boats and many more. Navratri is one of the most celebrated festivals in the city. Navaratri has unfolded its wings from being a festival that celebrates the spirit of Hindu Mythology's 3 most powerful goddesses to a season of pomp and gala, socializing and bonding with the near and dear ones. Come navaratri the city rises to a traditional high with every temple and sabha in the city be it big or small is lined with a slew of cultural events. The numerous golu visits we make during this season not only expands our social life it also opens us to new ideas and creativity with each and every household showcasing its very own signature golu arrangement. With pattu pavadais and designer half saree's and a lot other "navaratri special” making its way into the city's wardrobe, everybody has something to look forward to this season. Navratri means different things to different people. For some it is about tradition, for some it is about the festivity but for all of us this season is about fun and celebration and living every moment of this 9 day splendor.

As the Navratri fever grips the city making its presence felt in every nook and
corner and kiosk and household of the city, come and enjoy the flavor of Chennai
city's favorite festival.

                           Happy Navratri !!

Cheers
Sandy :)

Where is all the courtesy ???

There is a rising concern over the city bus drivers and the bus conductors. Riding in the AC bus can turn out to be quiet a nightmare these days. Gone are the days when  the AC bus was a boon to the commuters. Riding in the city bus especially the AC bus requires a great deal of  bravery.
Why bravery?
Coz it requires you to battle a whole lot of things starting from the crazy crowd in the bus , to saving yourself from getting crushed, to avoiding attacks in the form of stampede,   or getting hit randomly, you dunno when an elbow will land in a perfect blow on your face.( none of this is an exaggeration). This is the real plight of the  city buses these days, and this does not end here. Now comes the real test for your patience- to what extent can you control your temper when the bus driver and the bus conductor start their verbal  onslaught .
You have to sit through the entire ride listening to the conductor rambling about how none of the passengers co-operate in accommodating more passengers in the bus. Little do i understand on how  we are supposed to move and create space for " more passengers" when the bus is loaded to twice its permitted capacity. And in such a crowded mayhem there is a high percentage for you to miss your stop , by the time you gather yourself from one end of the bus, manage to navigate through this chaos and reach the exit, your stop might have been long gone! And if you happen to be one of those poor souls to miss the stop that day,
1. you have to walk back or find some other means to reach your destination
2. Face the foulest of foul verbal aggression from the bus conductor.
After all this drama, by the time you reach your destination you feel like you have just ploughed, sowed, watered and harvested a 500 acre land at one go. That is the level of mental and physical exhaustion you land in.
We don't want GPS fitted , blah technology enabled buses, or cherries on top "good morning " from the bus driver or the bus conductor , our needs have always been simple and small- comfortable means of transportation with importance to safety of  the passengers  .
Not all AC bus drivers and conductors  are bad, but sadly most are.There are people who do more than what is required by them, but it is a rarity these days.
 Here is to all those people who seem to have lost all their courtesy- " please respect the job you are doing. We have a give and take relationship here where we need transportation and you need passengers to keep the registers ticking. Let us do this in harmony.Let us not make a simple bus ride look like a mission to mars.

Love
Sanz
  

:) :) Color and Chaos :) :) :)

As random thoughts crossed my mind , for a change I decided to sketch my thoughts:) :) So here is my first picture blog :) :)

All that glitters :) :)

There are quite a few places in this city which I never get bored of visiting. Every time I visit one of these places I find something new to explore, and fall in love all over once again with that place. So, one of the top few places  in this city which always  keeps me intrigued and excited is “Jill Mill” in Pondy Bazar.

Located in the shopping hub of the city, “Jill Mill” has a lot more to offer than what you can expect.  The mega accessory store has everything you have always wanted.  Be it fancy earrings, antique jewelry, bangles, bejewelled clutches, traditional pieces of jewelry, cosmetics, funky jewelry, gypsy collection, I could go on listing every form of jewelry available in the planet. You name it you have it, that’s the range Jill Mill boasts of.

The lovely collection will lure you into buying something, for that matter anything from the store.     “Jill Mill” is pretty much a heaven on earth for every woman and the ambiance and layout of the store just fuels that thought .

Everything about this store spells creativity and art. The ground floor is exclusively dedicated to earrings and antique sets. Imagine!! You have a floor full of earrings to choose from. ( Joy :D)

The first floor has a lot of hair accessories to choose from. From lovely clutches to, cute flat clips, tiny butterflies, Velcro clip on’s, any form of fancy add on is on display to choose from. They also have a lovely collection of rings. Starting from the “Jodha Akbar” inspired big and fancy rings to really funky ones are available.

The second floor will completely sweep you off your feet. You are welcomed to an array of bangle racks. Bangle rack after bangle rack after bangle rack will definitely tempt you . The vibrant display of colors on the bangle racks is bound to set you in the “shopaholic mode”. The bangles come in all shapes and colors. From the standard ethnic metal bangles to enticing stone studded bangles to bangles that match every reason and season is on display. They also have a collection of foot ware and jewelled clutches on the second floorJ  

The two storied shopping paradise can really test your pocket.  The price tag can sometimes send a sinking feeling to your heart, but once in a while you can indulge in a bit of extravagant buying  just for the joy of it .But if you have  the patience and endurance to search through the numerous racks of earrings and bangles and never get tired of trying on one thing after the other, am sure you will not only walk out with a wonderful purchase, but also with a heavier purse  :D That’s when your patience hits a jackpot J “Patience + relentless effort to search through the racks =Smaller impact on your purseJ”

Over the years ,visiting Jill Mill has become more of a family tradition,  every occasion in the family is incomplete without paying a visit to Jill MillJStarting from my youngest cousin to my grandmother , we all find something about this store which keeps us giving reasons and happy occasions to go back there .

Love

Sanz J

Beachside Splendor

I am a foodie to the bones. I love experimenting with different cuisines and this has driven me to explore a lot of food joints in the city. Being a hardcore vegetarian I have explored most of the         “ pure Veg” places in the city. And I am starting my first venture with a place I visited recently. 

Splendid beaches is one thing Chennai city is very proud of. It is not just the beach, the area surrounding the beach is always bustling with activity. Amidst all the hustle and bustle in the Besant Nagar beach there is this quaint little place called “ MASH”.  At one glance this place strikes as a decent hangout. Set in the first floor facing the beach, giving us a lovely beach side view, Mash is a perfect place to sit back and relax. It has an open air service area and also an indoor service area. On a breezy evening, the outdoor seating would be an ideal choice. The ambiance is welcoming and relaxing. The place is lit up with yellow lights , not too low , not too bright, just perfectly set.

 The menu offers a fairly good amount of options to select from. There is an equal share of Veg and Non Veg items to choose from. The choices offered range from soups , to Tandoor, to Burgers and sandwiches , Pastas, Fresh juices, cold shakes and a few ice cream delights.

With mostly school and college going people visiting the place, there is a very young and vibrant appeal to the place.

Soaked in natures splendour and relishing a delightful meal makes MASH a perfect place to spend a quiet and lovely evening.

Love

Sanz J

 

Celebrating Chennai

As the share auto zipped past the city streets braving the Sun’s Rage, the city opened to many beautiful sights. Roadside vendors , children hurrying to school, office goers, construction workers, these are few of the many things that catch your attention. The 7 seater Share auto had 12 people  clinging on to dear life as the auto swayed left and right with every turn in the road ahead. Thanks to the metro Rail project, the roadways in the city seem to have been resketched all together. It is an interesting mix of people in the share auto, there are the IT people hurrying to work , holding on to the share auto for support in one hand and clutching  the laptop bag in another, women carrying baskets with home supplies dressed in saree and wearing “ maligapoo”, school children sitting with their text books propped up on their lap. The share auto driver has the latest “kuthu paatu” playing from his music system, the loud deafening cry is sure to make your heart jump out of your skin.

No prizes  for guessing the lovely city I come from, Yes, it is our very own “singara Chennai”. There is a lot more to Chennai than the clichéd Sambar, vadai, idli , thalaivar and maligapoo. I am on a quest to rediscover the city, a city with over a 100 years of rich history and culture has a lot of things to boast about. In my quest to rediscover Chennai, I am going to write about every place I visit, be it a restaurant, or a fancy mall, or a roadside kiosk or an architectural landmark, or a super brand store in the city, or a road side stall or the lovely beaches bordering the city .I am going to explore the length and breadth of this city and give a taste of it to the readers of my blog.

Love

Sanz :)