My Musings

The last time we visited Bangalore was in Feb-March 2009. After that, we couldn't come to Bangalore for different reasons. This year, Vijaya and I started for Bangalore on 30 Jan 2010, alongwith Ashok - Neeraja. We travelled by Lal Bagh Express (3-35PM) and reached Ashok's home by 1030PM. We had brought Puliyodhrai and Thayir saadam for dinner and we ate in the train at 8-30PM. Bangalore was chill and cold and I had to use woolen kambili while sleeping. 4th February is the marriage day of Ashok- Neeraja and they took us to a newly opened restaurent - MAAKHAN BHOG - on the Bannerghatta Road for dinner. We had soup, Babycorn roast, Pasta preparations (two varieties, I can't pronounce the italian names), Tandoori Roti, Baingan Burtha, and Dhal Tadkewali. And soft drinks. Very tasty enjoyable. During our stay at Bangalore, we went to Anand's house at Halasuru (Ulsoor), Savithri's house at Hosur, and Janani's house at Whitefield. We also visited SPAR, Big Bazaa...

Paa - a film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Abhishek Bachchan, is about a child/kid who is affected by a rarest-of-rare disease called PROGERIA. Progeria is a very uncommon disorder occuring one in eight million live-births in the world. Progeros is a greek word meaning "ageing prematurely", and the children afflicted by this genic disorder age quite faster, at 6 to 7 times the normal. Though their real age maybe 8 or 10, their looks, organs and other physical conditions are similar to 60 ot 80 years' old persons. Normally they dont live beyond 13 years, thanks be to God, and they die mostly because of stroke. No cure has been found till date. One such child is born to Vidya whose politically-ambitious lover abandons her once he knows that she has conceived. With immense and excellent support from her widowed mother, Vidya delivers the baby and is shocked to know that the child is progeric. But she and her mother are determined to nurture the baby and take ...

I wrote on 29 Aug 2008 (read here) about a Maharashtrian-run eatery in Jayanagar 9th Block, Bangalore, Rajvardhan Foods , where one gets to eat authentic piping hot and tasty Maharashtrian dishes like Batata Vada, Sabudana Vada, Vada Paav etc. This time also Ashok, Vijaya, and I went there on 27 Feb 2010 and had these tasty dishes. I am a huge fan of Batata and Sabudana Vadas. Cost-wise it maybe a bit expensive (22.00 for two batata Vadas) but the taste is good. Rajappa 1 March 2010 11:40 AM

The Big Bazaar stores all over India announced a great exchange offer for one month starting 20 Feb 2010. Exchange old for new, they said. Old newspapers were taken at 25.00 a kg, clothes at 200.00 a kg, vessels at 75/kg, footwear at 75.00/kg and tyres at 50.00 a piece. Ashok, Vijaya, and I took lots of clothes and footwear on Saturday, 27th Feb to Big bazaar, Jayanagar 9th block. After weighing these, we were given value coupons for over Rs. 3200.00. This amount is to be exchanged for new purchases. Not one to one exchange; on purchase of food items it is 1 to 8 and in case of clothes it is 1 to 4. That is, if you purchase 100.00 worth of clothes/dresses, you have to give 400.00 worth of value coupons. For every 100.00 purchase of fooditems, we have to surrender 800.00 worth of coupons. Though definitely not a very attractive offer, this helped us in disposing off a lot of unwanted old junks, getting by the way 25 % discount on dresses and 12.29% discount on foodit...

HALASURU, is the new name for Ulsoor in Bangalore. We went there on Friday, the Feb 19th, 2010. Vijaya's anna's son lives there. This is the first time we stepped out of the house on the streets of Ulsoor. First, we went to Sri Shirdi Saibaba Temple, nearby. On Saturday, we went to Sri SOMESHWARA TEMPLE. The ancient temple, Someshwara Temple is a magnificent temple of the Chola period. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva. Other deities are Kamakshamma, Arunachaleswara, Bhimeswara, Nanjundeswara and Panchalingeswara. The architectural marvel of the Cholas is evident from the shimmering rajagopuram (tower), dhwajastambha (massive pillar), multiple pillars and scriptures inscribed on the walls of the temple. That night, we had dinner at Annapoorna Restaurent, nearby. This eatery is famous for Kannada special dishes. I had Bisi bele bath and, "more kali". Yes, more kali !! Others had different dosais. A bit expensive. 38.00 for moar kali ? Rajappa 22-2-2010

Vijaya and I went to HOSUR on Sunday, 14th Feb 2010 . Our earlier visit was in August 2008 . Ashok and Neeraja and we two left Bangalore in Ashok's car by 4PM and we travelled via Kammanahalli Road and then the new highway. The roads are very wide and smooth. We reached Savithri's house by 4-50 itself. She gave us tasty Uppu Appams to eat. After an hour A - N left. Savithri had recently been to Guruvayur for the Naaraayaniyam Poojai . She and two of her friend-mamis left Hosur by the Inter-City Express on 10th Feb 2010 morning, reaching Guruvayur by 7PM. Next day was the Poojai. Savithri has hand-written the entire Naaraayaniyam (in Tamil) and the meaning of each sloka in Tamil. The notebook, A4 size, runs to 400 pages. Very determined and dedicated work by Savithri.They returned to Hosur on 12th. She showed me the notebook and I was awestruck by the pains and effort taken by Savithri. Remarkable. Monday, the 15th , Vijaya and Savithri planned for Vadam pizithal (VP in ...

Every year I give my sisters பொங்கல் பணம் during first week of January. I send the amount by Money Order to those who live out-of-town. Filling up the MO form is a task; a bit confusing and a bit cumbersome. One has to fill the addresses at more than one place in the form. Time consuming process. As this was the only option available those days for sending money to out-of-town persons, one had to bear this. Anyway I resort to MO only once in a year, if at all. So I bear it with a grin.   This Jan (2010) when I asked for the blank MO form at Mandaveli Post office, I was pleasantly surprised to look at the offered form – it was simple and elegant looking, neat printing and all. On the left side, you fill your details (address, email ID etc) – and on the right side you fill details of the other person receiving the money. His/her postal PINCODE is a must. The English used is simple. You sign and submit it. An electronic (digital) ack receipt is given to you. The total process takes...