Flit Like A Butterfly, Kick Like A Bull

080
Wellness
Feature

Flit Like A Butterfly, Kick Like A Bull

Cardio kickboxing is all the rage these days amongst those seeking more excitement in the daily exercise regimen.

Bored with your aerobics class? Looking for a workout that totally kicks butt? Want to increase your stamina, flexibility, and strength while listening to your favourite dance mixes?
If this sounds good to you, then cardio kickboxing may be your ticket to wellness.
Kickboxing combines the best of a variety of different exercise disciplines to provide an overall workout. It combines self-awareness and control of martial arts, the focus and strength of boxing, and the grace and rhythm of dance. Martial arts and boxing develop strength, speed, balance, coordination and awareness. The dance moves give the workout energy and rhythm that improves coordination and body awareness and provides a workout for the heart.

What is Kickboxing?
Cardio-kickboxing (aka aerobic boxing, aerobox, boxercise, boxaerobics) is a high-impact cardiovascular workout that blends elements of boxing, martial arts and traditional aerobics into a 30 to 60 min exercise routine to provide overall physical conditioning and toning.
The roots of kickboxing date back to the Far East 2,000 years ago. Kickboxing as we know it today developed under various influences. But modern competitive kickboxing was actually popularised by Billy Blanks’ in 1998.
Kickboxing is a unique way to improve endurance, confidence and strength. The one-hour sessions offer a great workout focusing on developing general fitness and body tone. It improves fitness, flexibility and stamina - an excellent workout. Essentially it is boxing with kicks - combining western and eastern techniques.

What’s the workout like?
Kickboxing classes usually comprise of 10 to 15-min warm-ups, which may include stretching and traditional exercises such as jumping jacks and push-ups, followed by a 30-min kickboxing session that includes movements such as knee strikes, kicks, and punches. After this, at least 5-mins is devoted to cooling down, followed by about 10-mins of stretching and muscle conditioning. Stretching is really important because beginners can strain their muscles, and slow, proper stretching helps relax muscles and prevent injury.

What can you expect?
- Cardio kickboxing does not involve physical contact between competitors.
- Classes vary but generally feature a variety of punches, kicks, knee strikes and other self-defence moves interspersed with a bouncing base move.
- Some cardio-kickboxing classes spend a part of the time kicking and punching weighted, padded targets or engaging in actual sparring.
- The class may also incorporate traditional exercises, such as jumping jacks, abdominal crunches, leg lifts and push-ups to create a total body workout.
- Unlike weight training programs, kickboxing uses your own body weight for the workout.

Why Kickboxing?
- Besides keeping your body fit, kickboxing has tons of other benefits.
- It is an ideal vehicle for physical, mental, personal and emotional development.
- Its rigorous workout - controlled punching and kicking movements carried out with the discipline and skills required for martial arts can do wonders for feelings of frustration and anger.
- Practicing kickboxing moves also helps improve balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.
- Unlike the complicated moves of aerobics, kickboxing is very easy to learn and follow. The moves in cardio-kickboxing involve dance movements, which make you feel energised and explosive after the workout.
- Kickboxing reduces and relieves stress. Which is why even people with a cardiac problem, can do a kickboxing workout, with the help of a personal trainer.

How many calories does cardio-kickboxing burn?
- With 600-800 calorie burnout per hour, kickboxing has been rated as the highest calorie workout by Muscle & Fitness, America.
- A 60-70 per cent pulse rate is essential for weight loss, which can be achieved by everyone. If you want to increase your endurance and stamina, a 85% pulse needs to be reached. An 85% pulse workout is not for everyone and can be achieved with gradual increase in the intensity of workout.

You may not acquire fame as Jean Claude Van Damne did in Hong Kong for his kickboxing stunts, but it is surely a great way to get a total body workout. And in the bargain you will also learn simple self-defence moves.

Expert Speak:
Prakash Kumar, Director, Indian Fitness Academy
I introduced Tae Bo Do, commonly know as kickboxing, 5 years ago in Bangalore. My 26-year background of boxing and martial arts has definitely helped me train my students better.
Kickboxing is a stress reliever, since the workout demands a high amount of concentration, which involves the right level at which the kicks and boxes are aimed. Kickboxing requires strength, endurance, technique, and focus; it mandates your mind and soul as well as your body.
I insist that a fitness test should be taken before any person is enrolled onto the kickboxing programme. The fitness test decides the level of workout to be prescribed.

Karuna Horo, Fitness Expert, Talwalkars
Being a combination of martial arts and boxing, kickboxing involves several combinations of movements, which can be experimented with. This ensures that the workouts are not boring. It has also helped people feel more empowered and confident.
Women tend to put on weight on their mid-section and the lower body. Kickboxing helps target these problem areas and lose weight quickly. You can see the results within the first 3 months.

The Basics
Before you decide to jump in and sign up for a class, you should keep a few basic guidelines in mind:
- Know your current fitness level. Kickboxing is a high-intensity, high-impact form of exercise, so
it’s probably not a good idea to plunge in after a long stint as a couch potato.
- When you do begin kickboxing, allow yourself to be a beginner by working at your own pace and not overexerting yourself to the point of exhaustion.
- Check it out before you sign up. If possible, observe or try a class beforehand to see whether it’s right for you and to make sure the instructor is willing to modify the routine a bit to accommodate people’s different skill levels.
- Start slowly and don’t overdo it.

‘Tis The Season To Be Really Cool

Cover Story
080 - Feature in Cover Story
CityInfo - Dubai & India (Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata)

‘Tis The Season To Be Really Cool
What will you be gifting this season? Ties? Scarves? Soap on a rope? A toaster that can send emails?

Technology does not have to be dull. In fact, after dipping toes into the techno world, you will see why it’s so vital to a man’s existence. Take a peek at our wish list and see if any of these goodies will catch you his eye.

Garmin Street Pilot 2610
‘It’s right around the corner honey.’ Does that ring a familiar bell? If you want to reach from Point A to Point B without circumventing the entire city, gift your man the Garmin StreetPilot 2610. It will sit pretty on the car’s dashboard and guide you to your destination. It’s got a sensitive touch screen with four buttons for easy one-hand operation. Makes sure you reach the next baby shower party before the baby has been named.
Available at: www.garmin.com


Nokia 8800
He may not wear jewellery, but he will not mind being spotted with the Nokia 8800 adorning his palm. With a sleek and sexy stainless steel body, it slides down to reveal a deep black keypad beneath the shield. And if that hasn’t impressed him enough to junk his Smartphone, dim the bedroom lights. Fire it up. When the phone is on charge, it gives off a cool blue light. Didn’t you always want to do a blue light?
Available at: www.nokia.com

Exilim EX-S100
She’s sleek. She’s sexy. She’s a camera. Casio’s Exilim EX-S100 is the world’s smallest optical zoom digital camera. And don’t be misled by the size. It comes packed with powerful features such as 1.4 sec start-up speed, 0.01-release time lag and 7-point Multi Auto Focus. He will have eyes glued on its 2.0” LCD where he can see you through its 2.8x optical zoom lens.
Available at: www.casio.co.in

Casio Privia PX-500L
If your nephew gets butterfingers on the keyboard, let him paint by numbers. The digital lighting key function on Casio PX-500L will make playing Flight Of The Bumblebee child’s play. The key lights will make him master at the piano on the first go, as they show which key to play along with over 100 rhythms. He can now bid goodbye to his tutor.
Available at: www.casio.co.in


Oakley Thump
If his idea of a jog is plugging on an MP3 player, a smart pair of goggles, and a bottle of fresh lime on the hip, that’s what he ought to have. Oakley Thump is the world’s first digital music eyewear. It has flip-up lens, which filters out all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light while seamlessly pumping out 120 songs. So don’t wait for him to come back for breakfast; he ain’t gonna be back for another 6 hours.
Available at: www.oakley.com

Digital Photo Frame

In this age of paperless offices, and plastic money, memories still last forever. Now capture thousands of these joyous moments in a single frame with the Digital Photo Frame. Compatible with most memory cards, it will sit perfect on his new rosewood table at office. Now he can see thousands of your photos in one single frame.
Available at: www.ceiva.com

OSIM Massage Chair
Doing the salsa after a long day at work might do little to relieve him of stress. But a personal masseuse would certainly be welcome. The iMedic 200 will help him relieve those tired muscles and drive away the fatigue. After a 15-minute massage, you’ll can get down and enjoy a rumba.
Available at: www.osim.com


Tissot T Touch
Its blue, its Swiss and can tell more than just the time. Just a touch on the screen will bring alive its hands to activate one of the functions: Thermo, Alarm, Compass, Chrono, Altimeter and Meteo. This sapphire crystal watch will make sure he neither loses direction, nor does he fly his Micro Light too low.
Available at: www.tissot.ch

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
If the cheerleaders in the bedroom give you a headache in the FIFA Cup, then here is the perfect reliever. QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones use state of the art noise reduction technology which dramatically reduces unwanted noise. But remember, if are going to nag, he won’t be listening.
Available at: www.boseindia.com


SoundDock Digital Music System
First iPod put music into the pocket. Now bring home the ideal partner to enjoy its crisp and full sound. The SoundDock system is an ideal partner for his iPod. It’s simple; just dock the iPod and bring the evening to life. And a card-sized remote even controls basic iPod functions across the room. So rock on.
Available at: www.boseindia.com

iMate Jas Jar
Videoconference with him while he hits the road in California. Meanwhile he shoots sights of the city with the same phone. How you wonder? Because the iMate Jas Jar comes with two cameras onboard over a 3G network. And if that doesn’t make his business associate sit up and take notice, the swivel from a conventional PDA-cum-phone into a mini-laptop sure will make heads turn. Besides being the first 3G phone based phone, it also supports Wi-Fi, sports a QWERTY keyboard and a pivoting VGA screen.
Available at: www.imate.com

Digital Camera Binoculars
The coming racing season, the professional photographers will seek help from you and your partner. With these Digital Camera Binoculars you can capture all the action-packed moments.
Available at: www.meade.com/captureview

Sony PSP
Boys will always remain boys. Don’t believe us? Hand him a Sony PSP and he’ll be engrossed for hours. This sleek Playstation Portable comes packed with music, games, video and internet browsing.
Statutory Warning: This gizmo is highly addictive.
Available at: www.sony-mea.com

Creative Zen Vision
Can’t accompany him for his business trip to the Bahamas? Fret not. Hand him Creative Zen Vision. With a whopping memory of 30GB, it can click and store tens of thousands of photos, or up to 120 hours of video. It has a transflective screen that provides excellent image and Video quality even in bright sunlit conditions, ensuring you don’t miss any of the beautiful sights and scenes.
Available at: www.creative.com

Samsung Portable DVD Player
It’ll accompany you at the beach, resort or desert safari. And will make sure you are never bored even for a moment. The Samsung Portable DVD player with an extended 4.2hour Li-Ion battery, 3D sound, 2 headphone jacks and a picture CD viewer is the best companion. Even for a romantic getaway. You can watch your favourite movies take while sunbathing on the beach.
Available at: www.samsung.com

Sony DPP-FP50
He shot them. Now you produce the evidence of the crime. With the Sony DPP-FP50 portable printer, you can hand out family photos right away. You will get perfect lab printing quality, without the hassles of plugging onto a PC for download of images. It comes with an in built LCD, slots for memory stick, compact flash and SD media with PictBridge technology.
Available at: www.sony-mea.com

Wood Winds

CityInfo Mumbai
Gourmet Pick

Wood Winds
Karma is one of the very few restaurants, which serve really thin crust pizzas in Mumbai.

The entrance is embodied with the word Karma carved into a wooden sun. This is just the beginning of the woodworks at Karma, the pub-cum-lounge in Mumbai.
Wood panelled floors, brown textured walls and a wooden bar counter, accompanied with dim lighting and candles make for a cosy and comfortable ambience at Karma. The mood is set with lounge music playing softly in the background. As the evening mellows, the tempo increases and creates a peaceful crescendo.
Karma maintains a soothing effect with low and comfortable seating. They also have beanbags placed near the bar area.
The food is definitely noteworthy in this place. Milano Pepper Pizza is the best thing one can order at Karma. It is a 14-inch paper-thin pizza with edges rolled up and stuffed with cheese. “Karma is one of the very few restaurants which serve such thin pizzas in Mumbai,” said Nitin, assistant business developer. Their other speciality is the Lebanese Falafel Pizza.
Karma also serves pastas – Pesto, Penne Ariaeiatta and Sussilli with Forchi Sauce. These would make a great combination with Karma’s signature drink Karma Sutra that is a zingy combination of gin, tequila and cranberry juice.
An average meal for two will make your pocket lighter by Rs 500. Karma also has an unlimited lunch buffet for Rs 150. They have counters serving soups, salads, noodles, rice and sandwiches. And don’t forget to order a mug of Kingfisher beer, which goes very well with the Dim sum at Karma.

Karma,
534 SVP Rd
Opera House
Ph: 2361-7171
12.30 pm – 12.45 am

Gujarati In-Flight Cuisine

CityInfo
Edit

I guess I just was not prepared for a journey by train. I mean, gastronomically.
If you’re accustomed to flying and to cabin crew bringing out trays of waxen edibles, you forget that you must take food with you on a train.
It takes about a day, 24 hours, to get from Bangalore to Mumbai on the Udyan Express and there I was with a croissant, a packet of chips and two cans of Diet Coke.
Bangalore sailed by my window and greenery yielded to open fields and naturally, my thoughts drifted to the croissant, on which I would gorge to the envy of my fellow passengers — a substantial Gujarati family — and what’s more, I speak Gujarati fluently.
As it turned out they had the same idea. Someone said “food” in Gujarati and the cousins who debated the dropping of Saurav Ganguly fell respectfully silent.
In seconds newspapers were spread out across the compartment. I raised my legs to allow the Sports section to serve as a placemat for my immediate neighbour.
A huge basket was pulled from under a seat.
Plates emerged from nowhere.
Parathas followed dhokla followed pickle.
I replaced my croissant quietly. I silently twisted in envy and hunger.
“You there!” the matriarch said. I snapped to attention and saluted, “Ma’am.”
“Look at you. Thin and starving.” I preened at this compliment.
“Eat!” she barked.
I ate. I even beat the quarrelling cousins to helpings of thepla and mango pickle.
I ate till I could eat no more. And before the approving matriarch could offer my hand in marriage to a cousin, I fell asleep.
By the time we steamed into VT, I had bested the family at their own dinner and
I ate all their gulab jamun.
And then, I loosened my belt and saved the croissant for the long cab ride home.

Choose Your Lobsters and Crabs

CityInfo
Cover Story, Mumbai

What You See Is What You Get
At Mahesh Lunch Home, you can choose your lobsters and crabs before it is cooked and served.

It may not be a good idea to count your chickens before they are hatched, but you sure can choose your seafood before its served to you. At Mahesh Lunch Home, the seafood of your choice is brought live to your table before it is cooked and served to you. You can choose your lobsters and crabs before the chef begins working his magic and transforming them into appetizing and finger-smacking dishes.
The restaurant is known for its Prawns Gassi which can be had with Appams.
“Gassi is another name for curry, except that it has a little more body than the conventional curry does. It is made by grinding coconut with handfuls of red chillies, with cumin seeds, coriander seeds and tomatoes for taste, kokum and tamarind water, thereby assuring that the taste is both hot and sour,” said Suraj Shetty, director.
Started as a humble Mangalorean eatout specialising in seafood in the corporate hub of Mumbai, Mahesh Lunch Home has grown to become a much sought after destination for seafood.
“When we started 27 years ago in Fort, the restaurant was frequented mainly by office-goers in the area,” said Shetty. “But the consistent quality of our food has attracted people from all over Mumbai.” Mahesh Lunch Home has also gained an equal amount of popularity among foreigners visiting the city. Begin your meal with a glass of Solkadi, which is a popular Mangalorean drink. It is the Konkan elixir for the digestive system. The extract of a tamarind variety called Sol (kokum), it is tonic for the soul. No Mangalor-ean meal is complete without this appetiser. The ingredients for this drink are supposed to have soothing properties and help combat acidity. Solkadi comes as a highly recommended drink if you order a plate of Crab Curry and rice.
Mahesh Lunch Home is modest in every sense, except for its food, which is exemplary. The interiors of the restaurant are simple yet contemporary. The décor combines glass, wood and brick to create a welcoming warmth. The lighting is subtle, concealed behind frosted sheets of glass with fish embossed on them. A massive fish tank at the far end of the restaurant will not escape your eyes. It has some beautiful fishes. Mind you, these fishes are not for eating!
The staff at the restaurant is friendly. And if you can’t decide what to order, follow their advice. Rest assured, you will have no regrets. And if you want to play safe, order Solkadi with Fried Fish and Rice – satisfaction guaranteed.
Everything is incredibly fresh, but favourites include Surmai Fry, Pomfret Curry and Tandoori Pomfret. Also recommended are the Prawn Koliwada, Crab Tandoori, Pomfret in Green Masala, or any of the fish curries. Some of the more popular dishes are Pomfret Tandoori, Crabs in Butter Pepper Garlic and Lobsters in White Sauce. They have delicious Pomfret, Surmai, Mackerel and Prawn Masala. They also make excellent fish in gravy called Fish Masala.
If you’re tired of the usual rice or chapattis, try the Neer Dosas. They are thin dosas or crepes made of rice flour. They are thin, light, puffy and delicious; they simply melt in the mouth. They go very well with Fish Curry or Prawn Masala.
Mahesh Lunch Home also serves meat, chicken and Chinese dishes, but only the misguided would come here and skip the sensational seafood.
And if all of this has set your tongue on fire, polish it with a cool malai kulfi for dessert.
Mahesh Lunch Home is a restaurant infrequent visitors to Mumbai must visit, if only to sample what the seafood craze in Mumbai is all about.

Mahesh Lunch Home
8B Cawasji Patel Street
Ph: 2287-0938

Juhu Tara Road
Santacruz West
Ph: 5695-5554
12 – 3 pm & 7pm – 12.30 am

Silk Route

CityInfo, Mumbai
Cover Story

Dress Up Your Home In Silken Splendour This Festive Season
Svistii, the newest home linen store in the city, has a colourful palette of bedsheets & bedspreads, drapes & duvets for you to choose from.

Having carved a niche for itself as the most favoured home interiors store in Bangalore, Svistii recently launched an outlet in Mumbai.
The home linen you will find at Svistii is not your common, run off the mill kind. Each design has been carefully crafted, after a lot of research by the designers. This has given Svistii the status of an exclusive linen store.
Like most success stories, Svistii too has modest beginnings. It started off as a home textile company. Today, it ranks among the favourite haunts of the elite in Bangalore.
Designs of life, with the vibrancy of colours and a symphony of craft, Svisti houses a rare assortment of fabrics, colours and designs. The collection at Svistii draws inspiration from the rich textiles of India.
You might have seen a lot of Rajasthani bedsheets, but the collection at Svistii is a class apart. Their range includes exquisite silk duvets and ethnic cotton bed spreads in bright colours.
Gaurav Jain, the owner of Svistii, is staunchly against rip-offs of popular designs. Every piece at Svistii is well researched and resourced after a thorough screening. “I see at least 25 pieces before I pick up one,” said Jain. In fact, Svistii also restrains itself from popularising its merchandise through catalogues to avoid replication of their exclusive designs.
“Our USP is customer delight, which comes with the essential elements of quality, authenticity and style,” Jain said.
Svistii has an extensive range, which will bring life to all the rooms in your home -- Bed sheets, bedcovers, duvet covers, silk curtains, quilts, rajais, throws, dhurries, table accessories, pillow and cushion covers, wall hangings, Svistii features all of these and more. A Svistii home can be easily recognised by the quality of their products..
And if you don’t find something fitting just right in, drop in the following week. Svistii religiously adds new designs to their already exhaustive collection every week.
“We don’t repeat designs,” claimed Jain. “Our designs are constantly evolving.” Unless, of course, clients come back asking for more in the same design,” confirmed Jain.
“Pastel colours in pure fabrics are our forte. Some of the best designs in curtains and cushion covers (prices starting from Rs 70) can be found here. The handiwork done on the cushion covers is extremely intricate. And of course, comes with a high price tag attached. The filigree work on these unique pieces is done by expert artisans, using precious Swarovski crystals. Which makes them exquisite as also expensive -- Rs 2100 apiece.
The collection of designer bed spreads at Svistii begins from a price range of Rs 5000 and shoots up to a whopping Rs 75,000.
Jain added, “Svistii is about fabric energy. It’s a symphony of exquisite craft and vibrant design. Walk into our plush showroom any day and you’ll find it difficult to resist the richness in variety. Customers can choose from any of the yardages on offer and we can make sheets, table cloths or curtains according to the person’s requirements.”
Affordable rates, excellent quality, unparalleled service, latest designs, vast range and customer satisfaction are what keep Svistii way ahead of others in its league.

Svistii
63 New Oberoi
Shopping Centre
Nariman Point
Ph: 5632-5757

Pondicherry - A Confluence of Cultures

Pondicherry is a confluence of spiritual aura, French colonial heritage and Tamil culture, creating an ambience not felt anywhere else in India. Pondicherry is a melting pot of varied cultures, all of which come together in this small but varied own.

A letter from Pondy

Mon ami,

I landed in Pondicherry five days ago. Feels like I’ve been transported back in time to a French colony - a charming Mediterranean town with cobbled streets, stylish houses and ornamental gardens. As the French would say Rues chiques, maisons élégantes et jardins d’agrément. You would have noticed that I have picked up a bit of French. Really can’t help that. All the roads and institutions have names in French like Hotel de Ville which is the Town Hall. Even the local policemen dress French. They still endorse red kepis (caps) and belts.

I have been bicycling all over the town. Pondy has a pristine coastline stretching over 30 kms. The palm-fringed beach has really caught my fancy. And there’s so much to do! There are resorts, a water sports centre, a fishing village, the backwaters. Boy! I can’t decide what to do first.

And you never get lost here. This French Boulevard town has everything planned in a grid.

I’m planning to go to the international city of Auroville, which has the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Will attend a few sessions at their Yoga centre; probably attain Nirvana.

I’ll write more later...

Getting there

Pondicherry is best accessible by road from Chennai, Bangalore or Kerala. From Chennai it is a pleasant ride along the scenic East Coast Road. It will take you about two and half hours for an easy, pothole-free journey. Bangalore would be a longer journey – six-and-a-half hours if you drive non-stop.

A tourist taxi journey up and down from Chennai in a Ford Ikon, would cost approx Rs 5,800 + toll tax. An Indica however, would be the cheaper option.

Buses also ply regularly to Pondicherry. There is no direct train route to Pondicherry either from Chennai or Bangalore. Chennai is the closest international airport, and directly connects to the highway to Pondy. And there are good transit hotels available in the vicinity for travellers who arrive in the night.

Getting around

A novel way to see Pondicherry is in a cycle rickshaw. Plenty of rickshaws are available especially around the Ashram area. They will show you Pondicherry and its sights at a leisurely pace. And a great experience for those who have not sat in one. And unlike Kolkata this one is not pulled by a human, it is an extension of the cycle.

Are you a health freak? Then hire a cycle. It costs around Rs 20 per day. If you are not the sort who wants to pedal around, hire a motorcycle. They come on hire as little as Rs 100 per day (fuel extra).

History

The history of modern Pondicherry starts with the arrival of the French in 1673, who ruled for most part of the next 281 years. In 1947 the English left India for good, but it lasted till 1954 when the French handed Pondicherry over to an independent India.

The origin of Pondicherry however is buried in legends. Excavated remnants testify trade connections with Rome and Greece, dating back to as far as 100 BC. Ancient Roman scripts mention one of the trade centres along the Indian coast as Poduca or Poduke, which refers, historians affirm, only to the present Pondicherry. Before this period nothing is known with certainty.

Heritage

Pondicherry, which is a conglomerate of different cultural influences, is a heritage town. It is at a crossroads of eastern and western culture, and of ancient and modern spiritual disciplines.

It has a rich French cultural heritage, having been the capital of the French colonies in India since the 17th century.

Sights are manifold, from pastel coloured churches to bright temple towers; Joan of Arc’s heavenward gaze vies with the tall carved pillars from Gingee at the seafront; cricket competes with pétanque. Apart from the monuments there is the French Consulate and the Foyer du Soldat for war veterans of the French Army. Of the cultural organisations the French Institute, the Alliance Francais and the Ecole Francais d’Extrème Orient are noteworthy. These movements converge in a practical manner in the twin communities of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville.

An Investor’s Paradise

With the status of industry accorded to tourism, the Government of Pondicherry has prepared a master plan to promote tourism in the Union Territory of Pondicherry. This offers a great investment opportunity to entrepreneurs.

It is estimated that about 3000 additional hotel rooms are required in the next five years. The identified areas of investment include resorts, hotels, theme parks, golf courses, water sports, ferry service between Pondicherry and Chennai, operation of regular chartered flights, and so on.

As an incentive to investors, many concessions and benefits are being provided.

Among them are:

• Grant of interest subsidy on loans by the financial institutions.
• Exemption of luxury tax for hotel accommodation.
• Exemption of sales tax.
• No entry tax for tourist vehicles.
• Majority participation by foreign investors in case of joint venture projects.
• Income tax holiday for 5 years.

The Government also encourages Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign nationals of Indian origin to invest in tourism projects. All the incentives offered by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, are available in the Union Territory of Pondicherry as well.

Architecture

The French relinquished their control of Pondy 50 years ago, but reminders of the colonial days remain. Neat, pleasant, and charming, Pondicherry has a beautiful beach and a sea that is always warm and refreshing. Viewed from the sea, the skyline is typical of that of a Mediterranean fishing village. The town has been planned on a grid right from its inception; divided in a French section and Tamil section, with each having its own distinctive streetscapes. The French Town has colonial style buildings with long compound walls and stately gates. The facades have vertical columns and tall windows and are coloured cream, yellow and pink. Streets in the Tamil Town are lined up with verandas and extended porches where residents would gather and passing guests would spend the night. The colours dominant here are green, blue and brown.

People

When you walk down the streets you canhear French being spoken. French words and phrases squeeze themselves into the colloquial slang like Bonjour, Comment ca va, monsieur? The locals speak French with astonishingly Parisian pronunciation and without any grammatical errors; and switch over to Tamil, again with the perfect Tamil accent.

But the hallmark of Pondicherry is the flat-topped cylindrical red kepi - a hat worn by the police. The French have a saying - Plus ça change, plus c’est lr même chose which means - the more things change the more they stay the same. And this could be somewhat the case for Pondicherry.

Shopping

For the avid shopper, Pondy has a lot to offer and is fast becoming a favourite shopping destination. With taxes low or non-existent Pondy is soft on your purse. It is known for its traditional doll making, textiles and silks. It is also the birthplace of several world-class brands in leather, pottery, aromatics, fashion and handmade paper. Scented candles, incense sticks, lamps and other articles made with handmade paper and dry flowers are the flavour of Pondicherry.

Eating Out

The restaurants serve a rich variety of French, Indian, Asian and continental food, with the latest pizza for an American bite.

Hotels

Pondicherry has a wide choice of hotels for most visitors: beach resorts for the leisure traveller, heritage hotels for those who want to experience something different, high class commercial hotels for the corporate visitors and the neat ashram guest houses for the spiritual seeker.

A Lot to See. A Lot to Do.

Monuments abound in Pondy and each one has a story to tell.

Churches

The large number of 18th and 19th century churches in Pondy is yet another legacy of the French. Notable are the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eglise de Notre Dame de la Conception, the Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, the Eglise de Notre Dame de Lourdes and the Chapel of the Sisters of Cluny.

The Aayi Mandapam

Located at the centre of the Park, it is the best known monument. Built during the reign of Napoleon III in France, the Aayi Mandapam is named after a 16th century courtesan, Aayi, who demolished her house and built a water tank instead. This reservoir served French engineers later to bring water to the town.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Sri Aurobindo, the great seer, poet and prophet of the twentieth century, made Pondicherry his home from 1910 till his death in 1950. His vision and ideals continue to draw people from all over the world.

Auroville

Located 10 kms north of Pondicherry, Auroville is envisioned as a universal town, where people from different nationalities, faiths and beliefs, can live in peace and harmony. This international City of Unity was constructed under the guidance of The Mother, a Paris-born painter and musician who became Sri Aurobindo’s disciple and close companion. The development of this utopia is still in progress.

Pondicherry Museum

On display are the findings of Arikamedu, the Chola bronzes and sculptures, glimpses of French heritage, specimens of traditional handicraft, paintings, armouries and carvings.

Chunnambar Resort

Known for its virgin beaches and backwaters, Chunnambar has a water sports centre which offers exciting boating experiences. It is also a great tourist spot.

Botanical Garden

Established by the French in 1826, it preserves a large variety of exotic species of plants from all over India and abroad.

Villiayanur

Architecturally the finest in Pondicherry, the Sri Gokilambal Thirukameswarar Temple attracts hundreds of devotees during Brahmo-thsavam, a ten-day annual festival held in May-June. The temple car rising to a height of 15.25 metres is profusely decorated, pulled out from its usual position and taken on a procession around the town. It is an awe-inspiring sight.

Mansion of Ananda Rangapillai

Built in 1773, this mansion is a fine specimen of Indo-French architecture. Ananda Rangapillai was the courtier of Joseph Francois Dupleix, the Governor.

Anglo-French Textile Mills

Established over a century ago, a visit to the Anglo-French Textile Mills is an education in itself. The mill gives a ten percent rebate on purchases made by tourists who go on guided tours. The acclaimed fabrics and products of this mill make ideal mementoes and gifts.

The Government Park

It is the centre of the old colonial part of the town. The Park provides a cool and lush green anchor around which most government buildings are situated: the Lt. Governor’s Palace, the Legislative Assembly, Government Hospital, the Ashram Dining Room in a beautiful Villa, the Cercle de Pondichery, a private club, and old Hotel Qualité.

Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus

Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this church is noted for its gothic architecture and stained glass panels which depict the entire life of Jesus Christ.

Festive Cheer

Almost every month, there is an important fair or a festival in Pondicherry. Some are religious in nature, others cultural and spiritual and still others, purely gourmet. There is the International Yoga Festival in January, Maasi Magam in February - March at the beach of the Fishing Village and Fête de Pondichery.

A private beach for the asking

If you want to stay right on the beach then the Pondi Ashok is the place for you. On the outskirts of Pondi, this ITDC hotel has its own private beach Blue seas, white sands, palms, a hammock and an interesting book…it’s sheer heaven.

Sightseeing Tour

The Pondicherry Tourism & Transport Development Corporation conducts a daily sightseeing tour in and around Pondicherry. There are both half-day and a full-day trip programmes. For more information and bookings, contact: Tourist Information Bureau, 40 Goubert Avenue, Beach Road % 413-339497

Beyond Pondicherry

Pondy is a perfect base to explore the rich destinations around it. The cool and lush hill stations of Yercaud and Kodaikanal; the imposing Gingee Fort, the holy temple towns of Kanchi-puram, Tiruvannamalai and Chidambaram, the heritage sculptures and magnificent rock temples of Mamallapuram, are perfect for a day trip.

Unwind

080

Unwind
Shivamani’s high-voltage energy inaugurated the city’s newest music centre

After creating waves of music in Chennai, Unwind Center has entered Bangalore. The Center is a spot where amateur performers, students and well-known artists will come together to do what they love: Make music.
Percussion maestro Shivamani inaugurated the Center, holding the crowd spellbound with his magic on the drums for almost 45 minutes. He even jammed with a few Bangalore musicians, giving a great start to the story of Unwind Bangalore.
Bands from across India and abroad will come together to perform here, where all kinds of music is appreciated and encouraged. It is a unique platform for showcasing talent – and that’s everything from Jazz to Bengali folk, Metal to Veena performances.
The visionary behind it all is John Christian. He’s quick to point out that all the events at the Center are free of “drugs, alcohol and sexual suggestiveness.” The days of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin excess are long gone, in other words.
So father’s, don’t hesitate to send your daughters here as Unwind Center has religiously stood by its objective of ‘good, clean fun’.
They cater to the musical inclination of people of all ages. In fact, they even have an 8-year old studying guitar.

Unwind School of Music
The school features a six-month Fastlane course, which ensures learning an instrument. The tutors are professional musicians who are either studio artists or Live performers.

Academy of Music
The academy is offering 10-month courses in the disciplines of Audio Engineering, Live Audio Digital Recording and Digital Audio Workstations. Only 12 students will be enrolled for this course, which starts in November this year.

Unwind Center
280 Wilson Garden
10th Cross, Opp Wilson Garden Post Office
Ph – 5535-0737 or log on to www.unwindcenter.com

Speed Dating

Café Beat

Speed Dating
Find out if fast love is the answer to your prayers

In an age of instant messaging, fast cars and even faster broadband speeds, the heart too can’t wait. Speed thrills and love sells. Combine both and you get a super combination of love in the fast lane, aka speed dating. You’ve probably read about it in a magazine or surfed it on the Net or probably seen something it on a sitcom on Star World. But chances are, like most others, you haven’t had a first-hand experience. Yet.
Unlike traditional dating, where you undergo embarrassment if the person turns you down, or have to wait for a common friend to conduct that first round of intros, there are no obligations in speed dating.
Better than that, if your date turns out to be a total disaster, you aren’t obliged to suffer the entire evening with a self-obsessed hunk. Nor do you have to cough up a fat sum for impressing a chick by taking her to a fancy restaurant. Sounds enticing? Read on…

What is Speed Dating?
All you get is three minutes. In this time you have to impress one another and make a decision on whether you want to go out on a date, before moving on to the next potential date. Pretty much like musical chairs, huh?

The idea behind the concept of speed dating is to help you meet many single men or women within a short time. In one evening you may not know if you and your date are destined for life-long love – but you sure can tell if you’re not! Only if both sides agree on each other, do you find yourself going out.

Tribute to Tradition

CityInfo, Mumbai
Cover Story

Tribute to Tradition
The conventional Dal Bukhara served in Khurja pottery at the Peshawri has won the restaurant accolades for being the best Indian restaurant in the world.

Dal Bukhara, a dish served at The Peshawri, has won the restaurant accolades for being the best Indian restaurant in the world by the US-based Restaurant magazine, thrice in a row! Wonder what could be so very special about the ordinary dal, the staple diet of every Indian family?
Chef Bhaskar Sankhari, the man who has been creating magic in the kitchens of the ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton which is where the Peshawri is located, would tell us only so much: “I prepare the dal with spices and cream and leave it to slowly simmer on the tandoor overnight.”
Well, chefs have to be allowed to keep their secrets or eating out would never be the same. As the chef elaborated, “Every table at Peshawri calls for a plate of Dal Bukhara.” He takes a whopping order for 90 plates of Dal Bukhara everyday!
Tandoor is a clay oven used to cook food in the Indian North West Frontier province, which is the cuisine served at The Peshawri. The cuisine has been inspired by the Bukhara style of cooking, which is basically cooking of mildly flavoured meat directly over the fire.
“We serve the dal with a dollop of white butter,” added Sankhari. The Dal Bukhara tastes best with Indian breads, since the dal is thick in consistency. They have a special bread - Naan Bukhara - which serves 6-7 people and is the perfect accompaniment to the Dal Bukhara.
The restaurant is set amidst a charming rustic ambience. Unlike most restaurants which have a feminine feel to the décor, The Peshawri has a rugged and masculine look. The walls and the floors are made of stone. The seating is low, carved out of wood logs. Seasoned teakwood has been used for decorations on the walls.
To complete the rustic picture, the food here is served in Khurja pottery — glazed bowls made in the villages of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. The pottery is showcased in wooden racks along the walls.
The chefs at Peshawri believe that fine dining is purely a sensory experience. You need to have all your five senses stimulated if a meal is to be truly satisfying. In keeping with Indian tradition, guests are encouraged to eat with their fingers so as to enjoy their meal better. The staff is dressed in traditional Pathani suits and jhuttis (typical Indian footwear).
Once seated, the guest is handed an apron instead of the regular table napkin, which double up as hand towels too.
Other dishes from the Peshawri kitchen include Murg Malai kebab, Reshmi Kebab, Kastoori Kebab, Tandoori Chicken, Sikandari Raan, Burra Kebab, Peshawri Kebab and Seekh Kebab in the non-vegetarian selection. They also have a Seafood Platter of Tandoori Prawns, Tandoori Promfret and even Tandoori Lobsters.
Besides Dal Bukhara, vegetarians can choose from their Tandoori Aloo, Paneer Tikka, Tandoori Shimla Mirch, Tandoori Phool (cauliflower) and Sab Sheekh Kebab.
All the food served here comes with a distinctive smoked flavour since it is cooked over amber charcoal doused with pure ghee. And the dishes are served with raita — thick curds with a garnishing of your choice.
Good food is obviously accompanied by good drinks. The bar at Peshawri is well stocked with an array of imported spirits and wines, along with choice of cocktails and mocktails. Scotch and whiskey however, remain the most preferred drink accompaniments with the kind of food served here.
As is the popular trend, Peshawri too has an open kitchen and encourages guests to take part in the fun session of cooking meals. “Foreign guests are often inquisitive to know how a Rumaali roti is made. And we put up quite a show,” smiled Sankhari.


The Peshawri
ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton
Sahar
Ph: 2830-3030

Taking The Atkins Road

080 The Bangalore Monthly Update

Taking The Atkins Road
All the world’s high on Atkins and low on carbs. Contrary to belief, the Atkins Diet is not a high-protein one but one which eliminates carbohydrates from your diet

Dr Atkins created his revolutionary diet on the basis of how our body uses energy. When food is consumed, the body first uses up the carbohydrates for energy. The fats and proteins meanwhile, are stored away in the body in the muscles. It is based on the premise that the elimination of carbohydrates from the diet will result in weight loss, good health, and euphoria.

Revolutionary idea
Atkins restricts processed/ refined carbohydrates (which make up more than 50 per cent of many people’s diet), such as high-sugar foods, breads, pasta, cereal and starchy vegetables.
Core vita-nutrient supplementation includes a full-spectrum multivitamin and an essential oils/ fatty acid formula. Unlike other weight-loss programmes, Atkins allows you to eat satisfying amounts of delicious, nutrient-dense foods – and customize the programme to your individual needs and tastes.
Read on for do’s and don’ts, and an item-by-item guide to what you should be eating while getting to the weight you’ve always wanted.

Atkins Diet Tips and Secrets for Success
- Eat enough calories. Try to get 8-10 calories per ½ kilo of current body weight every day. If you consume too few calories your body will go into ‘starvation mode’ and weight loss will slow or stop.
- The Atkins diet is all about learning how different foods affect you so that you can decide which foods to remove from your diet and which you may enjoy regularly.
- Drink enough water. At least 2000 ml per day. Drinking water aids in lipolysis (break down of fats) and in eliminating ketones. Yes, you do literally urinate your fat away!
- Eat the level of carbs that make you feel your best. You may be able to eat 90 grams per day, but if you feel better at 75 grams, you’re more likely to stick with it.
- And the most important of all; if you fall off the wagon, don’t give up. Forgive yourself and get right back with your Atkins diet plan.

Bookmark
The book Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution works because it targets our stored body fat. Fat is out body’s back-up system for fuel to general energy. If we take it out of the back-up position and convert our body to using it as a primary fuel source, the result is an extremely efficient weight loss and weigh maintenance programme.

What food is involved and why?
There are no calorie restrictions in the Atkins diet, so deciding on exactly what amounts of various foods to include in the menus is something of an arbitrary decision. Carbs to eat regularly include: apples, berries, cherries, grapefruit, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, green vegetables, onions, peppers, tomatoes, oatmeal, wheat bran, kidney beans, lentils, most nuts and seeds, milk, tofu and unsweetened soy products.

Carbs to eat in moderation include: apricots, grapes, kiwifruit, mangoes, melon, papaya, pineapple, carrots, peas, black-eyes beans, soy beans, peanuts, rye bread.

Carbs to eat sparingly include: bananas, fruit juice, prunes, raisins, sweet corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, white bread, white rice, pasta, pizza, cornflakes, ice cream (sweetened).

Benefits of low-carb eating
Dr Atkins’ low carb diet helps us to regulate insulin production and decrease circulating insulin; less insulin soon results in less fat storage and fewer food cravings. The diet is far from torturous though; those who have tried it attest that hunger is not a part of this plan.

Is exercise important on this diet?
Exercise is an essential part of Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, as you are advised to take certain nutritional supplements including calcium and fiber.

How expensive is this diet?
Sugar, fat and grains are our cheapest foods, and those are exactly the food types htat these low-carb diet wants to eliminate or reduce significantly. Protein – in particular fish, chicken and meat – cost more than pasta and rice.

Roadmap
Atkins Nutritional Approach
The popularity of the Atkins diet lies in its four-phase eating regimen in tandem with a vitamin and mineral supplementation and regular exercise. It is based on a personalized eating plan which gives you the freedom to select the right food based on your need to achieve weight loss and maintenance along with enjoying good health and preventing disease.

Phase 1: Induction
Cut down on those carbs to 20 grams each day and get your daily dose from salad and other non-starchy vegetables.

Phase 2: Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL)
Add on the carbohydrates in the form of nutrient-dense and fiber-rich foods by increasing to 25 grams daily the first week, 30 grams daily the next week and so on until weight loss stops. Then subtract 5 grams of carbohydrates from your daily intake so that you keep your promise of sustained, moderate weight loss.

Phase 3: Pre-maintenance
Make the prudent transition from weight loss to weight maintenance by increasing daily carbs intake in 10-gram increments each week so long as very gradual weight loss is maintained.

Phase 4: Lifetime Maintenance
Gorge on a wide variety of foods while controlling carbohydrate intake to ensure weight maintenance.

Counting Carbs
These are some of the foods that contain food with 10% carbohydrates or less.
Meats – bacon, beef, calf liver, chicken, duck, ham, lamb, pork, sausage, steak
Fish – catfish, cod, herring, mackerel, salmon, sardine, snapper, trout, tuna
Shellfish – clams, crab, lobster, mussel, oysters, scallops, shrimp, squid
Daily – butter, cheese, cream, coffee, all egg, mineral water, mayonnaise, tea, water
Salads – alfalfa, sprouts, lettuce, celery, cucumber, mushrooms, olives, parsley, peppers, radish
Vegetables – asparagus, avocado, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery root, eggplant, onion, pumpkin, rhubarb, spinach, string or wax beans, tomato, turnips, water chestnuts, zucchini

Does it really work?
Since the inception of his first low-carb diet book in the 1970’s, Atkins’ books have sold over 15 million copies.

TGI Friday for more reasons than one
Atkins has partnered with TGI Friday’s restaurants to create mouth-watering menu items that meet the criteria of the Atkins Nutritional Approach.

Health Risk?
It has been claimed that people have suffered serious consequences under the Atkins diet. For one, extremely high protein diets, like Atkins, can lead to acidic urine. Acidic urine leaches calcium from the body which significantly increases one’s risk for osteoporosis and kidney stones.

Induction Diet
Depending on how much weight you need to lose, the induction phase lasts for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of one year. You can generally expect to lose 10% of your excess weight during the first 14 days of induction.
For the first few days of induction, you will be withdrawing from sugar and caffeine. It will take 3-7 days for these substances to leave your system. During this time, you may find that withdrawal causes you to have headaches, diarrhea, nausea, “brain fog” (be careful driving), and muscle cramps. This is commonly referred to as “induction flu”. If you suffer from these symptoms take heart – they are very temporary. Soon, you will wake up with more energy than you’ve had in years, your moods will stabilize, and your hunger will disappear.

Books on the Subject
Dr Atkins’ Age-Defying Diet Revolution
Dr Atkins’ New Carbohydrate Gram Counter
Dr Atkins’ Quick & Easy New Diet Cookbook
Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution

Old World Charm Meets Contemporary Fashion

CityInfo, Mumbai Cover Story

Old World Charm Meets Contemporary Fashion
Fabindia. The Jeero building which houses the store, is more than a 100 years old.

If you ask the locals where to buy some trendy cotton or silk clothing, they would answer you in unison, Fabindia at Kala Ghoda. If you ask them where you can see a bit of old world Mumbai, they will say Jeero building. Jeero building houses Fabindia.
Fabindia, Mumbai has built itself a twin reputation. Not only has the shop been associated with fabric that will make your stay comfortable in Mumbai, but also with being one of the few stores to take antiquity into modernity so seamlessly.
The Jeero building is more than 100 years old. Situated in Kala Ghoda, the store is located in that part of Mumbai which is full of history. The building which now houses the store was a horse stable many years ago, which was subsequently turned into a restaurant called Albela by the actor Raj Kapoor. Years later, Bank of India came to be housed in the building. The bank occupied the building for 40 years. The beauty of Jeero building deteriorated over time and it became a forgotten structure like many others in the city. Until Fabindia came along and recognized the building for what it is – a beautiful structure. Jeero building was given a makeover.
With generous assistance from noted heritage restorer Abhama Lamba, the unfeigned beauty of this architectural structure came to light. Meanwhile, Shimul Khatri, who groomed the interiors, made sure the sanctity and old world charm of the place remained untouched. “The ceilings are 19 feet high! We have stripped off the POP which was concealing the edifice underneath. It had the original wooden ceilings well-preserved beneath,” said Poonam, store manager. Some repairs to plug the leaking roof, the teak rafters were scraped down and re-polished till they shone, cement tiles were laid and walls were disrobed of their plaster; and suddenly the building and its interiors began to shine, like it did all those years ago.
Fabindia is a hotbed of hand-woven and hand block-printed furnishings and made ups. Your house as also your family can be “furnished” at the shop. Ethnic kurtas, kurtis, shirts, skirts, parallels, salwar kameez and dupattas meet here. Dhurries, linen, upholstery, ready-made curtains and towels complete the store. The fabric used is mostly cotton, though there is a bit of silk too (kurtas and dupattas).
Fabindia is always promoting the season and the local artists. From UP to Andhra to Madhya Pradesh, interior Tamil Nadu and even across the shores from Vietnam. In keeping with the season, Fabindia has culled together a new prêt line – their silk and celebration collection. The collection features a whole new range of furniture for bedroom and living rooms. Said Poonam,”Until now we had bed linens, dhurries, pillow cases, curtains; but they were not a complete selection. Our new collection has everything matching, so Fabindia is just a one-stop-shop for all home furnishings.”

Fabindia
Jeero Building
137 MG Road
Ph – 2262-6539/40

Relive 468 Years Within 4 Hours

CityInfo, Bangalore Cover Story

Relive 468 Years Within 4 Hours
Experience Victorian Bangalore with Bangalore Walks: The City’s Latest Tourism Stop

A chilly Bangalore morning, unsure of the walk I was about to undertake, I tugged myself lazily out of bed. Quite sure that no one would turn up this early, I was astonished to see an enthusiastic bunch of people geared up to learn more about the Bangalore they have all known.
Bangalore is now what we call India’s Silicon Valley and the country’s pub capital. But very few actually know much about the history of this pleasant and beautiful city. Legend has it that in the 11th century, an old woman shared her meal of boiled beans with a king who was lost. He later named the place ‘Benda Kalooru’ or town of boiled beans. The name changed as time went on and what we are presently left with is a corrupted version of the original, Bangalore.
The Bangalore Walk however, is far from a guided tour of the city. The walk covers MG Road – yes, I stop short there. Just MG Road. Every person who has ever stepped into Bangalore recognises this buzzing road, which is just over 2 kms, as the main artery of this business city.
The roads of Bangalore come alive earlier than I had ever known. While Arun Pai, who is the brain behind Bangalore Walks, asks you to close your and go back in time where troops are marching into Bangalore. It’s not hard to imagine MG Road bereft of the traffic. Led by Lord Cornwallis, the army trooped down to the city market where they captured Tipu’s Fort. This was the foothold of the East India Company, which helped them gain control of South India.
From then on the city has grown in magnitude, emerging into what you see it and know it. The city has slowly found a place in the country’s history and on the world map too.
There is an eclectic mix of people – right from inquisitive school kids to well travelled tourists and housewives. Even veteran Bangaloreans who have lived here all their lives were surprised at the facts which were brought to light by Arun during the walk.
This is the best bet for someone who is new to Bangalore and wants to learn about the rich culture and historical significance. As had been the British policy, Bangalore was clearly divided into Old City and the Cantonment area. Bangalore grew from a mere military station to a flourishing administrative center, which set it apart from other cantonments. It was separated from the Old City, which had the fort as it nucleus. For over a 100 years Bangalore has been a tale of two cities existing side by side!
Part of the charm of the walk is that much of what happens is kept as a surprise. Do take a look at www.bangalorewalks.com for more info and testimonials.

Do you know?
- What is Tom Hanks’ connection with Bangalore?
He used the Bangalorean Torpedo in Saving Private Ryan
- Which country does Bangalore export wine to?
Bangalore wine is exported to France!
Mayo House is named after…? Lord Mayo, who was the only Viceroy to be assassinated in office
- What was MG Road formerly known as?
South Parade Road

Life After Dark

Café Beat – for Café Coffee Day

Life After Dark
Midnight drives, all-night parties, gate crashing, call centre execs will do anything for fun as long as there’s no sun.

‘Nightlife’ has acquired to a whole new meaning in the last five years. And no, we are not talking only about clubbing zones. We mean life begins at night for Gen X. Not too long ago, graduates fresh out of college would scrimp to be able to afford chai and buttered buns. Partying was out of the question for many, with pubs, bars and clubs seeming like exorbitant, inaccessible spaces. At the most, one could make a trip to one of these watering holes and restaurants at the beginning of each month when the pay cheque had been cashed.
Not anymore. Youngsters today earn as much as their parents did after slogging away for ten years or more. The BPO boom has created a new breed of young adults who are re-defining the concept of consumerism. Loaded with cash and confidence, equipped with the latest gizmos, wearing designer clothes; these liberal spenders believe in having a good time. Listen up to what they have to say.

What’s the story, morning glory?
Snehal, 22 works with Hutchison 3G, where her shift ends at 3.30am. Instead of waiting for her pick-up car that goes through many a detour-ridden street before dropping her off, her boyfriend picks her up. He works at e-Serve located in the same campus, Mindspace in Malad.
“We go for a long drive on empty roads on the early morning. Its great fun…the only other people on the roads are the milk-vans and newspaper vendors. We even get to catch up with our friends. So its just like college – attend classes and then bogey till sunrise.” Parents have had to do their share of adjusting. Snehal’s parents don’t object to her lifestyle “because they know my friends from college days and it’s the same lot,” she says.
Sleep is a luxury but these problem-solvers have learnt to deal with that, too. Snehal says that lack of sleep is easily manageable. “I barely used to sleep for five hours while I was studying during the final year of college. So I can handle it. Moreover, on days of comp-offs, I sleep all day and make up for that sleep-deprivation.

And now over to the boyfriend…
Rahul is 24 and has a back-end job, which means his hours are not too crazy. “It’s not really the graveyard shift. I finish work at 10.30 and then go our partying with my friends,” he says.
He doesn’t like hanging out with his colleagues. “They are big-time junkies. Once out of work, all they want to do is smoke up while guzzling down beers…that too in the office compound! Earlier, I found it exciting, but then found it was too risky. If we had got caught, all that hard work I put into climbing up the corporate ladder would have gone down the drain.”
He prefers to crash out at the closest beach resort or land up at a friend’s farmhouse. “We drive off on Friday night, and come home on Sunday morning. That’s the only day I actually meet my parents.”
His parents have got used to his way of life. “Before I started working at e-Serve, I used to party till the wee hours of the morning. So it’s nothing new for them,” Rahul says.

Cool? Uncool?
“Sometimes when I finish early (10 pm), we go to Slice of Lime to drink or Pop Tates. Otherwise nothing else except Café Coffee Day is open till that late. There is a table-tennis table and a music zone at 3G. So we mostly hang around the cafeteria, waiting for the pick-up car,” says Gautam, another Hutchison 3G employee.
He doesn’t find the time to go meet his friends because of his busy schedule and the Mumbai distances. Weekends are when he catches up with his buddies. On weekdays, he prefers to go home and sleep. “I know its kinda uncool to say this, but when you are working, its mighty tiring.” He speaks of the adverse effects of working at call-centres, “You need to be prompt in solutions and the mind needs to be alert for that. It’s not all that hunky-dory as most people think.”
Sometimes, he lets himself go, but with a pinch of regret. “There are days when I get tempted and go out partying on work days. It’s sheer hell, man! Endless cups of coffee and smoking are the only way to survive the nasty hangover and sleepiness. So, I generally avoid that.”

Changing Lanes
Fiona used to work with Jet Airways till she joined IBM in November last year. This 23-year old has shift changes very often which means every few weeks she has different hours and a new bunch of workmates. But that still hasn’t deterred her from partying. “In fact, I have made many more friends. We go to restaurants or coffee shops after work. On weekends too I prefer catching on movies and hanging out with this bunch of new friends from work.”

The Commuters
Then there are those who deal with long commutes, making their hours even longer. Like Sanjay, who works at HSBC and handles the lost-card complaints in the UK – a very routine and somewhat dull operational job. He must be doing something exciting after work to maintain the balance, right? But he says, “Far from it! I stay one hour away from office. If I don’t get the pick-up car, all hell breaks lose.” So he goes home and watches TV until he falls asleep. He doesn’t hang out that much with his colleagues, except “for the regular doses of coffee in the cafeteria.” He waits for the weekend to arrive to catch up with his friends.

Party Poop
Atul works with Transworks and doesn’t do much merry-making either. “My girl-friend doesn’t let me party.” Poor chap! “I finish work at 1 am but my girlfriend (who doesn’t work in a call-centre) doesn’t like my colleagues. They go out drinking every night.” Recently, one of his workmates got thrown out of the office. “He would come to work with a groggy hangover every morning. And as a trainer, that wasn’t making a very good impression.”
So does that mean he spends all his free time with his girlfriend? “No,” he is quick to retort. “I still go out with my colleagues. We have sleepover parties over the weekend. Our team leader/ manager regularly takes us out to resorts where my girlfriend can’t join us (phew!), so we guzzle all we want.”

Now isn’t it good to know that the 'work hard, party hard' motif isn’t confined to New Yorkers? Welcome to the global nightlife village.

Reporter's Diary

City Reporter

Reporter's Diary
My First Week In Bangalore

I am not going back home. It's barely been a week and I already love Bangalore. I didn't expect to.
Growing up in the economic hub of the country, I had always found life outside Mumbai slow. I first experienced the blues of sluggish life in Delhi, where I spent a long winter in a college internship. Things moved at a snail's pace; no hurry to go anywhere, neither any to arrive.
And Bangalore felt no different. It seemed dull; I saw no one rushing about in a hurry. Not even that first day when my train swept into the station, and as a welcome gift, the city thrust upon me its un-co-operative auto drivers. Dragging my bags alongside, one soul felt some pity and offered to help me out - for a little over the double fare!
My mind raced, while my eyes hunted for a landmark to locate my new nest. On my quest for home hunting, the auto rickshaw provided me the sights and sounds of the city. Everything was written in Kannada. Signboards appeared like a computer code, a string of 0s (guess that’s the Silicon Valley effect).
Now, I’m a week-old. And the first question that arises is: What’s with these one way roads? Driving 15 minutes to get across the street! Better than a stinky massage in the train every morning, I suppose.
As my week draws to a close, its dawned on me – Bangalore is far from laid-back. Things move swiftly and quietly, and hence efficiently. There is no jostling and pushing, but no one is working at a snail’s pace either.
They might speak a different tongue here, but unlike Mumbai, the people are not hostile. Witnessing a clueless traveller, some have even offered to walk me till my doorstep.
Each morning the RJ declares cloudy weather and showers. I stroll out of home each day looking expectantly at the sky. As I was getting out of office in the evening today, it began to pour. Leaves glistened. Water streamed down the roofed tiles. There was a sweet smell of moist soil. I stood still for a minute soaking it all in. It was a radically different experience from the mucky puddles and sticky windcheaters of Mumbai.
Acchhoo! I should have heed that advise about not getting caught in a shower. But I think its all worth it.

Marine Drive

Ariel acrobats. The Naval Parade. Mumbai Marathon. The Marine Drive has enchanted Mumbaikars and tourists alike. Proudly flaunted as the Queens Necklace, innumerable people head towards it after a back-breaking day at work to enjoy the steaming sun sizzle off into the depths of the Arabian Sea.

The panoramic view of the Marine Drive has fascinated me as long as I can remember. Awaking each morning, rushing to college was worth every bit for the sheer pleasure of a blissful drive across the Drive. But my fascination ran me into trouble one morning. As I gazed into the depths of the sea and rolling clouds above it, I failed to pay heed to the signal turning amber in time.

Brakes screeched. Rubber burnt. Managed to get a dent on the bumper and a swollen ankle. The driver right ahead of me had found a vent for his morning blues. I received a sound socking from him, though only verbal. Once he paused for a breath, I deftly pointed out that his vehicle hadn't received any blemishes. Speechless, he turned and drove away as I turned once again to soak in the sweet murmur of the rising tide.

Numerous memories have been etched at the Marine Drive. But this one never fails to amuse me.

Journalistic Disposition

These are some of my views on current media

Best aspect of being a journalist

A journalist holds the privilege of receiving information as a first-hand account, without any tint of judgment. He shoulders the responsibility of interpreting and analysing this information before dispensing the relevant news to the reading-audience. A journalist also possesses the authority to probe and question power-players, who are stakeholders of the society.

He secernates and reports about how their lives are being influenced each day through their surroundings. He thus has the power to shape their opinions basis his own interpretation; and grasp the undisputed faith of the reader.

Something interesting that happened recently

One afternoon, I was walking down Linking Road engrossed in typing a SMS to a friend. I saw a girl in a flowing skirt walking towards me, she too noticed me. We both gave a knowing smile and greeted each other as we reached earshot distance. A silent moment passed; neither of us could place each other, although both admitted that the other was a very familiar face.

She mumbled, "I'm sorry, I thought I knew you from school." "Oh! I thought we'd worked together in Crosswords," I replied sheepishly.

A quick apology was exchanged, after which we began to walk away. Just then something struck me! I ran back to her, "This is more than a mere coincidence! How can both us think we know each other?"

Her reaction was hesitation. I began to regret my hasty action. She held her hand forward and grinned, "Hi! I'm Shruti." Astonished, I grabbed her hand and introduced myself, and parted after exchanging mobile numbers.

I've been in touch with Shruti, mostly on chat. We are still trying to figure where we could have possibly met each other before. But can't locate that link...

Favourite publication

Mid-day is my favourite publication. I used to religiously pick it every afternoon while returning home from college; and have been hooked onto it ever since. The simple language, minus any jargon of this tabloid appeals to me which makes it reader-friendly.

Their journalists take up innovative assignments, such as spend the day in the shoes of people from different walks of life; eye-openers where officers are caught on camera taking bribe or lazing on duty. This captures the nuances which make the fabric of our city and captures its pulse in an innovative fashion.

These ground-breaking stories make the reader feel more involved.

A recent TV commercial that you thought was really effective.

The Pepsi bubbly ad is catchy and has worked effectively with the masses.

When the ad was first aired, it did not seem very appealing. But the jingle stuck in the head. And the ad has slowly grown on the public's mind.

Just as 'Thanda' became synonymous with Coke, Pepsi has now become synonymous with Bubbly. And this catch-line is not just targeting the rural-market.

Colleagues at work are overheard calling into the canteen to order a Bubbly, unlike the Thanda, which none of us would be caught dead asking for.