Rock of all Ages

CityInfo
Bangalore
Cover Story

Rock of all Ages
Diamonds are a girl's best friend

A journey into the glimmering world of Damas will leave you breathless. At the stunning range, of course, but also at who’s shopping. 10,000 sq ft of dazzling gold and diamonds shaped into one of the country’s largest collections of jewellery, caters not just to bridal parties and platinum couples, but also to teenagers and children. “Our range is yet unmatched,” beamed managing director Shaheeda Abdul Kader.
The latest collection at Damas is Farfasha, meaning ‘chill out’ in Arabic. It was launched on the eve of Valentine’s Day and its brand ambassador is the smouldering hot Lebanese singer, Nancy Ajram. “We chose Nancy because she is the icon of the youth today,” explained Abdul Kader. Farfasha is an affordable collection especially designed for the young and young at heart.
Another favourite at Damas is Aya – meaning verses – which consists of pendants, all inscribed with lines from the Koran. The store’s expert craftsmen are currently working on inscribing the Bhagvad Gita too.
Quite unlike local jewellery stores, Damas carries the complete range of each of the brands it houses. The selection includes Italian jewellery brands, Uno Aerre, Aprile and Salvatore Bersani, the Swiss Gemtique, and even middle-range collections like Uno Trend and Celine Renato. Sidra, and Alice & Alex are exclusive collections of jewellery for children. Fior is a beautiful Sri Lankan brand of floating diamonds. Boudoor, literally meaning constellation of moons, is Damas’ in-house collection.
Damas has a network of over 250 branches worldwide. You’ll find over 90 per cent of the largest Italian jewellery brands and some of the best Swiss watches here. The Italian brand Aprile, in particular, is extremely popular with the Indian market.
The jewellery conglomerate believes in showcasing craft that is unique. Not only does Damas house well-known international brands, it also fetes local talent. Anjana Das, a Bangalore-based designer has her collection of Biorlet diamonds sharing the limelight with Gemtique and Boudoor.
Abdul Kader knows beyond a doubt that the Indian consumer has arrived. “A large chunk of our customers in Dubai were Indians. Indians have the purchasing power, but they don’t always find the quality they’re seeking. Why should they have to make trips abroad just to shop?”
The name, the glamour, and the style associated with Damas have all arrived intact to India. Not surprising, since Damas literally means indestructible. The brand was created in Dubai in 1907, and the name is derived from the Greek, Adamas, meaning indestructible or unconquerable, another synonym for Diamond.
So when it came time to travel to India, what made Damas pick Bangalore over other metros? Chairman Tawfique Abdullah initially came to Bangalore for a visit and fell in love with its lush greenery. When he brought it up with the concierge of his hotel, he was told, “No matter what you plant in the soil here, it flourishes.” Abdullah was so charmed with this insight on the richness of the city that he decided to bring his brand to Bangalore.
World-class jewellery usually costs the earth. This myth will be effectively shattered on your first visit to Damas, the city’s definitive jewellery mall.
Damas, 16/2 Commissariate Rd, Opp Garuda Mall, Bangalore. Ph: 4112-7200.

Gone in 6 Days

080
Zone In Zone Out
Feature

Gone in 6 Days
You may have missed the good deals, but don’t miss the last flight out this summer!

With March bounding into view, another scorching summer with an increasingly restless family looms. But before you curse your globe-trotting neighbour and turn resignedly Ooty-wise, consider this: it’s not too late in the year for an impromptu foreign trip. No such thing, you say? Allow us to prove you wrong, with several deliciously picturesque examples.
We know what you’re thinking. The flights out of the country are the first to fill up, so not only have you missed the special holiday deals, there is also a chance you will be shelling out 30-50 percent more than the actual fare. But here’s how the glass is half-full: hotel bookings are more readily available and rooms are more affordable during off-peak season. And haggling with local vendors will be easier when there aren’t too many fleece-able tourists to drive prices high. Agreed, this isn’t your long-planned dream holiday. This is better.
Your options for the destination are endless. For instance, you can get last-minute reservations in most South East Asian countries – Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, Thailand, Bali, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Of course, Nepal is passé now. Besides, as Girija Chandran, director, Hammock Holidays, says, “Why go to a place where there is a chance of getting caught in crossfire?” So leave the soaring mountains, and head for the cool blue beaches this summer.
Sri Lanka is a recommended destination if you want to have all the fun, without shelling out all that money. This island country is dotted with exotic resorts at half the cost of those in India. In fact, a trip to Sri Lanka might work out to be cheaper than a stay at an Ayurvedic spa resort in Kerala! Besides being easy on your bank balance, the country offers great beach fronts. The culture here is soaked in tradition, coloured by Buddhism.
Mauritius and Maldives are other fabulous seaside holiday destinations. Remember to pack that sunscreen if you don’t want to come back looking like a lobster. If soaking up the sun does not excite you, the snow-capped mountains in Europe will. All 16 countries require a Schengen visa.
“Ease in availability of visa depends on which European country you want to visit,” explains Monesh Devjani, Director Cloud 9. Visa for France, Austria and Italy are the easiest to acquire. Spain and Germany, on the other hand, are difficult. Acquiring a Schengen visa can take a week to ten days. But if you apply now, you can take your holiday when summer scorches Bangalore in May.
A trip down under to Australia and New Zealand is also a good option. Visas to these countries are hassle-free and don’t require too much documentation. And if all goes smoothly, you should have your visa in hand within a week.
Chandran is quite positive about last-minute travellers, “10-15 percent of our clients make last-minute travelling plans. But then there are always last-minute cancellations, which is a boon for eleventh-hour holiday planners. You can get through.”
It isn’t too late to leave on that jet plane. After all, the best thing about off-season is that the beach is still there, but the hammock is cheaper. So don’t shy away from split-second vacation plans, it’s in the blink of an eye that most miracles happen. And going from bored corporate lackey to chilled-out vacationer in 24 hours is nothing short of miraculous.

ECNR Explained
As per the Emigration Act, 1983, certain categories of Indian passport holders require to obtain ‘Emigration Clearance’ from the office of Protector of Emigrants (POE) for going to certain countries. As per Emigration Act, ‘emigration’ refers to the leaving of an Indian citizen with the view of taking up employment in a foreign country.
(ECNR) Emigration Check Not Required is a clearance check required from the passport officials. You will need one full day off from office if you want an ECNR stamp on your passport. And no, your agent cannot help you out here. You have to submit the papers personally at the Passport Office in the morning and collect your stamped passport on the same afternoon.
Girija Chandran from Hammock Holidays advises, “Even if you are not planning to make a trip to any of these destinations, it’s a good idea to have your ECNR pre-approved; you never know when a good package may come your way!”
ECNR is a means to safeguard the interest of individuals who are of employable age. The Indian Constitution recognises a graduation certification as qualification for obtaining an ECNR. It protects the rights of gullible, illiterate citizens who might be in the danger of being shipped off for employment to foreign land by touts. Children do not need an ECNR.
However, there the laws concerning ECNR are arbitrary, so do check your facts. For example, in the eyes of emigration authorities, South-East Asian countries – Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand –are all at par. But it’s only if you are travelling to Malaysia that ECNR is mandatory.

Travel agents
Hammock Leisure Holiday Ph: 5126-2220, 2535-2877
Cloud 9 Holidays Ph: 5696-5570, 5697-8969
Thomas Cook Ph: 2558-1337, 5123-9071
Charter Tours Ph: 2532-0606/0707
Leisure Holidays Ph: 2558-5411, 5112-1911
Footloose Yatra Consultants Ph: 2535-7116/7
Holiday Mantra Ph: 3061-5955, 98456-64340
Travel Tours Ph: 2228-7027/28
SOTC Ph: 2238-4444/6128
P&O Travels Ph: 2551-8888
Cox & Kings Ph: 2223-9192, 2227-6021
Source: CityInfo

WWW
lastminutetravel.com
The site has on offer some of the online best deals. And you won’t have to pay through your nose, if you net the right ones.

Tattoo Me, Mark Me, Brand Me

Cafe Beat
Cover Story

Tattoo Me, Mark Me, Brand Me
“Women have a higher threshold for pain. It’s generally men who scream while getting tattooed.”

Want to profess undying love for your partner? Or want to make a style statement, which will last you a lifetime? Then get yourself marked for life – get yourself a tattoo.
Tattoos have steadily gained popularity in the last decade – a trend that shows little sign of slowing down. They come in all shapes and sizes, and you can emblazon them anywhere on your body.
Let’s look at the origins and meaning of this incredible painful yet popular art-form. The practice of tattooing means different things in different cultures. Sailors travelling to exotic foreign lands began to collect tattoos as souvenirs of their journeys (a dragon showed that the seaman had served on a China station), and tattoo parlours sprang up in port cities around the globe.
So what about regular people like you and me? What is it we’re trying to mark on our bodies and what is the message? Arpita, a client-servicing manager at O&M in Mumbai gifted herself a tattoo when she turned 30. “I had always wanted a tattoo, and would envy my friends who flashed them at parties. I‘d even thought of the design – an angel. But there was always social pressure and the taboo which is associated with tattoos in our culture.” But her urges got the better of her detractors. And the experience? “Not at all painful, just a slight tingling sensation. It’s been six months now, and I plan to get another tattoo on my shoulder. It will probably be a psychedelic design this time.”
There seems to be another motive behind the tattoo: a primitive, profound and inexplicable fascination with the process of puncturing the skin, letting blood, and consenting to change the body for life. Many people have tried to figure it out, but it remains a mystery; something intuitive that defies rationale.

The Tattoo Addition
Tattooing can be addictive. And most people who have been under the needle once, keep going back for more. Anisha, a die-hard rock fan, has three tattoos. “I was known as Kid Rock in college because I loved music. Floyd was the defining factor in my life back then.. I have a plan for my back. The Division Bell on my shoulder is just the beginning…” So then why a tattoo on the arm? “I always wanted a tattoo here. So I got a marijuana leaf etched when I went to Bali. And the exclamation mark on my neck - that defines my attitude – exclaiming at life.” Each of her tattoos have been etched in different parts of the world, by different artists. And Anisha is not yet content. “I will be getting my next tattoo on my back in Manila, after I get my pay check,” she beamed.
Most people sport tattoos to make style statements that express themselves and their personalities. Deciding which part of your body to tattoo is very important for a few reasons. Your main concern should be aesthetics, meaning the way it looks on your body. There are so many styles of tattoos possible. It may be one of the most versatile mediums behind digital art. You can make a tattoo look like a watercolour painting, a piece of metal, an open wound, or anything else you come up with. But the greatness of the tattoo is limited by the technical skill and creativity of the tattoo artist.
Kasmin, a 23-year old journalist, got her tattoo on her upper arm – a very macho place for a girl. “I went to the tattoo artist and he showed me his portfolio. The design I saw had some Chinese symbolism, but even he did not know what it meant.” The design was so intricate that the artist offered her to do it in two sessions, first to outline and then the filling. But Kasmin was too excited to wait till the following weekend. “It wasn’t painful at all. It felt like red ants on my skin. So I didn’t mind the five-hour session. But the artist was tired.” It’s painful wield a tattoo needle up and down at a rate of several hundred vibrations per minute for five hours straight!

Is it painful?
Being snapped by a rubber band, a slight tickling, a bee sting, a sunburn, being pinched, pins-and-needles, like when your foot’s asleep, numb, pinpricks, tingling, like a drill going into your skin, uncomfortable - all of these phrases have been used to describe what it feels like to get tattooed.
Your personal tolerance for pain, the size and type of your tattoo and the skill of the artist help determine the amount of pain involved. If you have difficulty with an injection at the doctor’s office or if the sight of blood makes you queasy, you might want to think twice before visiting the tattoo parlour.
Kasmin’s tattoo artist admitted, “Women have a higher threshold for pain. It’s generally men who scream while getting tattooed.”
Pain also depends on the location of your tattoo. The lower back and ankle are popular places for tattoos, but it’s much less painful to get one on your chest or upper arm. That’s because the skin right above your bones tends to be more sensitive to needles, while there’s extra body mass in the upper arm or chest to cushion the bones.
Before you make a decision to get a tattoo, do yourself a favour and read about possible health issues associated with the practice. A tattoo is pretty much a medical procedure, as it involves contact with blood, contaminated needles, and other medical waste. Every tattoo shop should be as clean and professional as a doctor’s office.
Since the needles used in tattooing are solid (not hollow like a syringe), and HIV doesn’t live outside the body for very long, transmission is unlikely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, there has not been a single documented case of AIDS transmission from a tattoo. Infections can occur if proper care isn’t taken after the tattooing session; allergic reactions to pigments are also a risk.
Unlike the US, there are no laws which have been created for tattoo parlours in India. So you will need to do use your discretion in choosing the right parlour to get yourself a tattoo.

Are you really, truly sure you want a tattoo?
After you’ve explored the tattoo process and learned about all the health/ safety considerations, here are several more points to consider:
- A tattoo is permanent. What’s cool at 18 might not be very appealing on a 40-year-old you!
- Tattoo removal is considerably more painful and expensive than tattooing. The process usually takes several sessions and offers varying results. Doctors say tattoos can be lightened but not always completely removed.

After Tattoo Care
Taking care of a new tattoo can prevent health problems and also ensure that the quality of the image is protected. A tattoo takes about two weeks to heal completely. During the healing process, it’s important to take good care of your tattoo. Make sure the area is clean and dry.

I’ve changed my mind!
How do you remove a tattoo?
- Laser treatment is one of the most common methods. Different wavelengths of light are used for different pigments. The laser beam passes through the skin and is absorbed by the ink.
- The excision method is useful when the tattooed area is comparatively small. This helps in the complete removal of tattoos.
- Dermabrasion involves spraying a small portion of the tattooed part with a solution that freezes the area. An abrasive instrument used to peel off the skin, followed by dressing the area to stop the bleeding that may occur.
Whatever the cons maybe, they seem to be outweighed by the pros. And more and more youngsters want to get themselves tattooed.

Temporary Tattoos
Not ready for the real thing? A temporary tattoo may be a good choice and they’re a fun, pain-free way to enjoy tattoos and the culture without permanent side affects. Stick-ons, rub-ons, and painted-on tattoos are fun. Or you could try one of the massively popular henna tattoos that Madonna and other stars have made popular. They offer the coolness of a tattoo without the pain, risk and expense.
And they also answer the million-dollar question: what do you do when you don’t want to have that tattoo 10 years later?

The Tattoo as Make Up
Want to look as good the morning after as the night before? Permanent tattoos to highlight eyebrows, line the eyes or even a mole above the lip are very doable. Many women do this to avoid the hassle of putting on makeup each day.
Look around to see if the studio is clean and professional. That says a lot!
Ask questions: Is the equipment sterilised? Are the needles and other materials single-use? Are gloves being worn? (Professional tattoo artists won’t mind these questions.)
Play watchdog with the tattoo artist to be sure safety measures are being followed while he’s applying your tattoo.
Make sure all needles are opened in front of you.
To be doubly sure, you may want to watch your tattoo artist work on someone at his studio so you know how the entire procedure works out (including the procedure, cleanliness, pain etc).

Tattoo Parlours
Mumbai
Scissors Over Comb, Samudra Mahal, Worli Ph: 2496-6118
Funky Monkey Tattoo and Design Studio, Bandra
Ekta & Usha Shah Ph: 2369-2976, 2368-0619.
Samir Patange Ph: 2207-2622, 98203-42044

Bangalore
Body Craft Ph: 98450-17920, 2551-0209
Graffiti Inc Ph: 98440-20643, 2212-5178/9
Bodycraft, Frazer Town Ph: 2551-4596/3661

Chennai
The Rock, Egmore Ph: 2821-3197