Old people these days prefer to live alone than pile on with their children and cause them trouble. At the same time, its difficult for them to run a house by themselves. Hence the solution to their problems? Classic Retreat. An old age home, that gives these people a chance to live away from their family and enjoy their life. Classic Retreat, does just that. They offer a selection of apartments for these couples, where they are given the option to cook, or request for a cook to help them. They are surrounded by people their own age group, which obviously is a better advantage for them. Classic Retreat offers a game centre, a tv room and many other facilities to provide them with a better stay. Builders are now coming up with closed community row house projects to help suit the needs of the old better and provide them with ample facilities and also enables them to enjoy the last few years of their life in serenity than depending on their children.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Widespread unusual avenues of tourism
With the hop-on hop-off bus making its first foray into the city, different ideas to promote tourism have been coming up. The tourism industry is now taking measures to create a very personalized effort with regard to handling tourists. Travel agencies are now becoming more user friendly and assign around 3 guides for every tourist group. These guides organize the entire trip for the group, from hotel accommodation , to places to visit and shopping. These guides will be with the group throughout so that they don’t feel lost in Chennai and get cheated by auto drivers etc. Apart from this, there are also personal shoppers available in Chennai. These tourism agencies, contact these personal shoppers who join the tourists for their shopping. They take them to the right place- Mahabalipuram for junk jewellery, Kanchipuram for Silk Sarees, VTI- for handicrafts to take back home etc. This kind of personalized tourism experience is only offered here in India. Another kind of tourism industry that is slowly picking up is Hospital Tourism. Hospital Tourism in slowly picking up amongst some of the major cities in India, where to relieve stress, the hospital plans a one day sight seeing trip for the patient’s family while the patient is under treatment, and after the patient gets better, the hospital plans another celebratory trip for the patient along with his family! The main concept behind this is, many people come to india for medical treatment and due to all the tension during the treatment they are unable to enjoy the Indian Culture. This hospital tourism does just that.
Wedding Bells
Another line of business slowly picking up in Chennai is wedding planning. Wedding planning the art of organizing an entire wedding is now picking up tremendously in Chennai. A lot of homemakers are not setting up their own wedding planning companies, because its not only fun to plan and chalk out an entire wedding’s details, its also brings back old memories of their own weddings! Some working couples, who don’t have time to plan up their weddings engage these wedding planners. After initial meetings on the concept of the wedding and themes, etc, the wedding planner does everything for them- from booking the hotel for reception, selecting the flowers, designing invites, arranging accommodation for friends and family, booking tickets, choosing the caterer. Some wedding planners form a kind of understanding with the florist, caterer, travel agency, hotels which makes it easier to plan out events in case of short notice. “The best thing about being an wedding planner is, it helps bring back some of the awesome memories of my own wedding and helps me look into the details I dint bother about at mine,” said Rajeshwari, one of the upcoming famous wedding planners in the industry. For people who don’t have time to figure out their own weddings, these planners come at hand. Otherwise I personally feel that the couple should plan it out themselves. Whats more fun than planning a edding that is the celebration of your own love after all!?
Brilliant Bamboo work- De One Studios
De One studios is known for its funky designs and products; one of which is a clock that goes anti clockwise. Surprised? Meet the brothers who run the business form their terrace! Karthick Chidambaram, an Architecture student was once building a bamboo structure on his terrace. But when this structure was a huge failure, his parents told him to make use of it somehow. So he decided to make boxes for his paints and brushes. Then he decided to paint the boxes with some funky designs. From here there was no looking back. Karthick, helped by his brother Ashwin now makes pencil boxes, hookah pipes, etc. The brothers don’t have a store in Chennai, but people are free to contact them through facebook or give them a call to place their orders. ChillyBilly and Orange Bicycle in Bangalore sell some of their products. Karthick and Ashwin prefer selling their products at exhibitions because it’s faster than stores and they can meet their customers directly. They are also a regular feature at Art N Soul’s Sunday market. They also customized products for the RJ concert. The extremely talented duo who are extremely fond of art, are thinking of expanding their product line to paintings, wall graffiti and photography. His clock, the one that goes anti clockwise is one of the recent additions to his collection.
In conversation with Karthick:
Q: What inspires your designs mainly the clock? A: Our parent’s anniversary came by and we had to gift them something so we decided on the clock, but the normal one was boring. So we did the anti clock. The main inspiration to do things is we are always short of money to buy things, so we make them.
Q: What are the challenges you faces in this product design and how? A: I try overcoming it. Designing a product takes some time. First we come up with an
idea. Making it work/user friendly is the biggest challenge. So when we make something, we make it for ourselves first. We use it for some time, find out the pros and cons and improvise.
Q: What does your brother do, is he also an architecture student? How did the union between you two come into existence? A: Ashwin is a commerce student (doing his ca now).Both of us learnt art from an awesome artist Hariraam. From then on, anything related to art and design we consult/work together
Q: Are there challenges when working with your brother, how do
these agree, disagree and sort out issues? A: Usually our wavelengths match. But when it comes to art, he has his ways of doing things and I have mine so we don’t interfere.
Q: Should all young designers start on their own? Is that the way forward? A: We have just started; I’ll be able to answer that after a few years.
Q: Who is the designer and who is the business person in the team?
A: Both of us design. As of now I take care of the business part also.
Q: What is there future plan for this company? Are there challenges and how do they plan to take it forward? A: We plan on making it a little bigger. We have a marketing guy now so the next step should be to set up a small manufacturing unit next.
Q: What are the products you have till now and what are you working on?
A: We have bongs, boxes, tags, clocks, pen holders, sound boxes, etc. Right now we are working on improvising the products and branding.
Q: Is this something you always wanted to do? A: There was nothing I always wanted to do. Doing this is fun, hence I do them.
Q: Do you have a back-up plan? A: This is the back up. I am an architect.
Q: How are Chennaiites responding to your work? A: The response is awesome and I’m grateful to all the people who like our work.
Q: What are the new products you are introducing? A: It’s a secret!
Q: How has the response been so far? A: The response has been good. A lot of people come to us directly and in the shops, it’s steadily increasing. We are also increasing the number of shops we are supplying to.
Q: How do you market your products? A: Until now it was just Facebook. We should start something more serious very soon.
Q: What are the difficulties you face? A: Nothing much. We are just having fun.
Best Work:
as far as photography :
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=109391670922&set=a.36352480922.68699.515180922&theater
“This is one picture of a series I made. I worked with a French photographer in Auroville , who was just amazing. He’s in his 70's. and we got the idea of movement photography...or capturing a series of actions in a single photo , like capturing time. So we worked on it for about 4 days to get these results. and these are direct from cam pictures. No Photoshop or computer manipulation.
Paintings
I meditate and stuff like that. So this is just how I feel about the existence.
The rise of the Branded youth
In a world where Levis Jeans, hidesign bags and MAC makeup rule the world, every single human being has now fallen privy to brands. If a person is found wearing a fake jean or a “POMA” as opposed to a “PUMA” they are not included in the peer groups anymore. Brands also determine a person’s lifestyle these days. In college, the clothes that you wear, and the accessories that complement it need to be of a proper brand. Or should be shopped in some roadside store in Bombay or a flea market. Now this is the contradiction that the youth go through. Why is it that its okay to buy stuff from flea markets? Or from Colaba in Bombay? But buying the same thing in our Pondy Bazaar is shameful? Sometimes i get confused myself! When someone gets a pair of aldo shoes I want a pair as well. And if someone gets a nice haircut, somehow the sound of the scissors call me as well! So does this mean im succumbing to peer pressure? Or it could just because someone has something better and you want the same!
Copper Chimney- restaurant review
Copper Chimney is one of the most popular dining restaurants in Chennai. With a yummy North Indian Cuisine, the menu is a delightful change to the Chennaiites. . The interiors are very contemporary with comfortable seating, good lighting and pleasing music of yesteryear classics. Copper Chimney is a franchise operation and the Chennai outlet strives to maintain the CC standard. The kadak roomali roti and the vegetarian and non vegetarian platters are have to be tried out! For main course, the bread baskets are an absolute delight! The gravies are rich and straight from the kitchen. Copper Chimney is a very popular dining restaurant in Chennai. The cuisine is North Indian and it offers a delightful change to the locals. The interiors are very contemporary with comfortable seating, good lighting and pleasing music of yesteryear classics. Copper Chimney is a franchise operation and the Chennai outlet strives to maintain the CC standard, from the fresh and fragrant tandoori rotis and roomalis to the chicken butter masala. Copper Chimney has a nice variety to choose from. The desserts are the usual, but the rabdi is just amazing. Copper Chimney is one restaurant that will never let you down.
Copper Chimney- restaurant review
Copper Chimney is one of the most popular dining restaurants in Chennai. With a yummy North Indian Cuisine, the menu is a delightful change to the Chennaiites. . The interiors are very contemporary with comfortable seating, good lighting and pleasing music of yesteryear classics. Copper Chimney is a franchise operation and the Chennai outlet strives to maintain the CC standard. The kadak roomali roti and the vegetarian and non vegetarian platters are have to be tried out! For main course, the bread baskets are an absolute delight! The gravies are rich and straight from the kitchen. Copper Chimney is a very popular dining restaurant in Chennai. The cuisine is North Indian and it offers a delightful change to the locals. The interiors are very contemporary with comfortable seating, good lighting and pleasing music of yesteryear classics. Copper Chimney is a franchise operation and the Chennai outlet strives to maintain the CC standard, from the fresh and fragrant tandoori rotis and roomalis to the chicken butter masala. Copper Chimney has a nice variety to choose from. The desserts are the usual, but the rabdi is just amazing. Copper Chimney is one restaurant that will never let you down.
Kalakshetra Exhibition- A maze where every corner you turn, you find something awesome!
The annual “ Dashtkar Haat” exhibition held at the Kalakshetra Foundation is one exhibition that is totally worth saving up for! The week long exhibition where stalls are put up for different states of India is like Ali Baba’s cave where everything is like a treasure! And the best part of this exhibition is that, every stall is associated with some NGO from the state so you can shop as much as you want guilt free! This makes you shop double because the money is going for charity as well as you get something you like. This year at the Kalakshetra Exhibition, there were more than 100 stalls and each stall sold something different so there was no repetition of goods. From silver jewellery to brass artefacts to quilted linen, this year’s Dashtkar Haat was a myriad of arts and crafts. The silver jewellery sold was so exquisite and one of a kind with all its animal patterns as well as rugged solid neck pieces that will surely stand out. The rainbow colored bags and the multi colored patch work bags were also something that was completely different to the previous years. Another main highlight of the exhibition was that, they were selling customised paper handicrafts. This year, one stall from Jaipur specialised in home needs. They customised tiles, door knobs, mirrors and letter boxes according to the person’s preferences. The Kalakshetra exhibition is getting better by the year and its on event that should be on every person’s must visit for the year!
Valentines day. Or Not?
In a world where work takes priority over relationships, valentines day comes as a huge blessing in disguise for all those work-a-holics who dont have time to spend with their loved ones. When we have an entire day dedicated to the celebration of love for one another, we have to make maximum advantage of it! so what if we celebrate our love for eachother everyday? Its still valentines day and that makes it even more reason to celebrate!When birthday's are filled with gifts and many other things, Valentines day is also supposed to be celebrated the same way! except maybe with a little more romance, flowers, chocolates and love ! I know all of these things can be done on other days as well, but just as birthdays are celebrated with pomp and show, valentines day is all about making your loved one a little more loved! and when you do something nice for a girl, however small or big it is on valentines day it shows that you care for her and you believe in what she likes and enjoys celebrating, and also shows her that you arent taking her for granted! So all you boys out there, stop being a pansy about valentines day and show us how much you love us today! :D
Do Dogs really need to go to spas?
Now with the new concept of dogs going to spa’s and beauty parlours to pamper and prune themselves, they look a little too groomed for a dog. There’s nothing wrong with giving them a bath every week and taking them for tick treatments, but I honestly feel that taking them to the spa for regular grooming is pushing it. Even for the dog. The poor innocent dog who knows nothing about worldly pleasures of being pampered now becomes vain and loses its identity.
Calvin, a terrier who resides in my building is from the US. This dog is a little too perfect to be a dog, with its well manicured painted nails, bob cut hair and its perfectly trimmed tail. And the funniest part of this Calvin, is that he know he looks good and theres this very vain look about him. Especially when he looks at my dog, Lulu whose hair sticks out in all ends after a quick summer cut she got from my mother and a rather long tail. So i feel this Calvin has completely lost his doggy innocence and is now one of those wannabe doggies who visit the spa once a week. Honestly, the owners need to be blamed for this unnecessary indulgence they have subjected the dog to! Dogs are such simply and lovely creatures who need to be left the way they are. With the floppy eyes, untamed hair and longs nails that go “click click click” they should not be taken for this money making racket of the dog spas!