Kayal's World

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to

you when you have forgotten the words."

- Donna Roberts

This is the first award I have received and many thanks to almacafe. 

I would like to share this award to Mark , Zeb , Funny humour , Adsense Success , Ask Ms Recipe , and Aramkool 

I was born and brought up in a small village and whenever I get a chance to visit chennai, I used fancy the posh look that covers the metro. My maami used to take me to Tnagar on each visit, for some or the other purchase. I will always enjoy watching all those shops there. It will always been a busy place at anytime, anyday..

T Nagar - a place where you can buy things starting from 1 rupee to crores, starting from tooth picker to diamond jewellery. You can see all sorts of people here from beggars to celebrities. It will be a total fun filled entertainment to shop here, if at all you are a shopping freak. If not you will end up finding you in a messy place full of crowd, unable to proceed further.

After we switched to chennai, it has become regular routine for me visit this place often. I have shopped here even in odd hours, when all the shops are almost closed. You can buy a dressmaterial, give it for stitching, meanwhile shop around nad get back the stitched dress on your way back home. It will be wonderful. You will find it difficult to place step in the crowd during festive season. Your weight will surely be reduced during these times.

To browse around here are few landmarks in T Nagar.


Clothing:

You find a hell of lot of petty shops who sell equivalent to a brandstore. I have shopped in Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum. But nowhere you can find a worth investing material. The same material which costs 500 here will be sold at a rate of 1500 at the other places like bangalore. I am exaggerating, but thats the fact.

Pothys, Chennai Silks, RMKV, Nalli, Kumaran Stores, Kalanjiyam...these are few places where in you can check in for better clothes.

Jewellery:

We have as many jewellers also here. I am listing you a few. GRT, Joy Alukkas, Lalitha Jewellery LKS, Khazana, Prince Jewellery, Jewellery Mahal, OKJ, KFG, Tanishq.

Fashion Jewellery:

Near by to this place is Pondy Bazaar. Here you can find all sorts of fashion jewellery on the platform shops. Its all worth invest kinda pieces. But you must have hell a lot energy, patience and bargaining skills, to get the best one. You can find the same in Ranganathan street also, but I personally prefer Pondy Bazaar Street wala.

Food Joints:

Here we do have good eat outs in all ranges. Few them below.
Saravana Bhavan, Archana, Adyar Ananda Bhavan, Geetanjali, Anjappar, Murugan Idly.

Hope You enjoyed shopping around here.....Keep visiting

Here are some of the must see temples in Tamilnadu which I have visited or I do visit, often.

1. Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
This everyone would have heard of it, as it was nominated for the new seven wonders of the world.  This is a very big temple with four very big gopurams in all four different directions. This is the landmark for the city Madurai. I used visit this every weekend when I did my schooling. The most attractive part as far me concerned is the Vibuthi Vinayagar at the entrance. I believe a lot in that GOD.

2. Malaikottai Vinayagar Temple, Thiruchirapalli
This is more special temple, which I visit for the sake of marks. After each semester exam got over, I have never failed to visit this temple, before going home for semester holidays. One should never miss to see this Vinayagar, with all "Alangaram" (Makeup). There is a saying in tamil called "Kaana kan kodi vendum" which means "You should have a crore eyes to admire this".  Here it fits well to the context.


3. Big Temple, Thanjavur
This one is so close to my heart, as it is build by my evergreen hero "Raja Raja Chola I". Whenever I step into this temple, even today, I am awestruck by its magnificiant appearance. It appears to be a portrait for Stupendous Victory. As you enter the temple you will find a very big 'Nandhi' (PA for lord Shiva), which you can never find in any other place, of this size. I used to go to this temple early in the morning at 4.30 or very late in night, at the time of closing the temple. I used to accompany my cousin Nallasivam, who has a thunderous voice, with which he sings all devotional songs of lord Shiva. It will be so divine to go with him and enjoy the peacefulness and harmony around.
I should really tell about Ponniyin Selvan, a great novel by Late Kalki R Krishnamoorthy. It portrays the life of Raja Raja I. He is the one who established the Chola empire very vast in India. This novel has a lot of twists and turns in politics which happened around in that period, which is not less than what is happening around now.

4. Thirukadaiyur Abirami Temple
This temple I have visited only a few times. I love this temple because of its history. This was told as a bedtime   story in my childhood by my maternal grandma. I used search for the evidences for that story in this temple, even now when I go there. I couldn't stop inspecting that. The speciality of this temple is the Soul and Divinity that appears in the Abirami statue, that will make one to feel the presence of Almighty.
5. Kapaleeshwara Temple, Chennai
This has become the favourite in recent times of mine. I have visited this with my husband alone, till now. Hence it is becoming so close to my heart nowadays. My husband loves this temple a lot and hence I do. But still the temple is maintained so clean and the Amman here is so divine.
Hope You enjoyed all the temple views!!!!!!!

1. The CM of Kerala, V S Achuthanandan, said in press yesterday, "had it not been for Major Unnikrishnan, not even a dog would have come to his dad's home." – I would say, Mr. CM, if you were not CM of Kerala, and tried to go to his home, many dogs would have bitten you on your way. 


2. BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said yesterday, "women wearing lipstick and powder" have taken to streets in Mumbai, "leading marches against the political class". He said further and again "Some women wearing lipstick and powder have taken to streets in Mumbai and are abusing politicians, thus spreading dissatisfaction against democracy. This is what terrorists are doing in Jammu and Kashmir." He further said "A few persons with lipstick and powder on their faces gather to shout slogans against politicians. This is not the nation's voice," – I would say, what is his problem? Is it that women are wearing lipstick and powder (probably he likes women who do not wear makeup), or is it that political class is being challenged? I think it is both.


3. Mahrashtra CM, Vilasrao Deshmukh took his son and movie producer/director Ram Gopal Verma to the Taj Hotel during his visit there. I think RGV may have promised him a role of comedian in his forthcoming movie which he is probably planning on Mumbai attacks. "He laughed through his press conference and through a written speech without a trace of emotion or involvement." Deshmukh was in Kerala, reportedly on a personal trip, perhaps a leisure trip when the city he is supposed to guard was attacked by terrorists. It took several phone calls for him to finally realise the gravity of the situation. Even when he came to the city the next day, there was no panic on his face and often he beamed a shameless grin on his face. On several occasions, when he was briefing the media, he said that nearly 25 to 30 terrorists landed in the city and when corrected he said he would ask for details from the Police Commissioner.


4. RR Patil, Deputy CM of Maharashtra, refused to resign after attacks. He snubbed Mumbai attacks as such minor incidents do happen in big cities. He said "The terrorists had ammunition and planned to kill 5,000 people. But the brave police security forces crushed their designs and reduced the damage to a much lesser degree." Probably he meant to say that due to his and his party's efforts, lives of 5780 people has been saved. Thanks a lot sir. This was comically followed with another statement, which he issues after tendering his resignation. He said "I pondered over the issue the whole night yesterday. I have submitted my resignation letter to chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. I have gone by my conscience and decided to take this step." These people have dead conscience. When people shout from outside, they think its their conscience that is speaking.


5. Not far behind is Hindutva flag bearer Mr. LK Advani. When asked why did he not accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Mumbai as planned and said by him in the morning, he said, "he (PM) was getting late and it seemed that he would come only tomorrow. I have my election programmes planned for tomorrow and hence had to rush because I wanted to take a feel of the situation here."


6. Raj Thackrey was no where to be seen in this whole episode. I am still so surprised that Mahrashtra Navnirman Sena did not stop NSG commandos from entering Maharashtra, or even Mumbai. Very astonishing.


7. Narendra Modi came to gain mileage out of ATS chief Hemant Karkare's death by announcing a reward of Rs. 1 crore – for the very man he had abused over the Malegaon blast arrests. Modi was snubbed by Karkare's wife who would neither meet him nor accept his compensation offer.


8. Yesterday an sms that I received said: "Let us pray that Chidambaram succeeds in bringing down terrorism the way he has brought down share prices."


It's a shame that Indian politics has fallen to its Nadir. A friend of mine just said that real character of an individual comes forth through how he/she behaves in a difficult time. It's a shame that these filthy politicians have started giving foolish statements.

Last Tuesday, I was totally surprised to view the smiley on the sky (in Bangalore, India). A combination of three day old Crescent Moon, Jupiter and Venus. If you have missed it, that day you can search it on net to get the pictures. Coz you have to wait for five more years to view this same on the sky.

Day after tomorrow, my sweet little angel turns ONE. He is the one who made our life so busy, engaged always, happy and so responsible too. As a gift of our love marriage, God has sent us a guardian angel, who takes care of both of our families too. He was born after the great loss of our Grandpa, who is the backbone for all our families. Hence my kid is believed as our grandpa returned home to bring back his loss.

 He is the first grandchild of both our parents, hence he is the apple of everyone's eye. He is the best entertainer for my sister and brother in laws, and they are the ones who can get him anything in this world. In this 25 years, I can surely say the most unforgettable and treasured moment in my life would be, the time when I saw my kid for the first time, after the painful surgery to give birth. Obviously it would be the treasured moment for every Mom. The only thing which flashed my mind at that moment was, "GOD is always so generous over me".

We have been enjoying all his milestones, when he turned around, when he crawled, his toddling, his magnificiant walk, his first tooth, his first word...oooh everything. Its all remained a celebration for us. I felt so proud of myself when called me 'Amma', even I was so jealous over my Mama and dad, as his word was 'Thatha'. He is so gifted that his grandparents are becoming young and playing with him like kids, even when they are gasping for breath. He is pricelss for my Sister, on the otherside my brother inlwas will roam around the world to make him happy.

I wish everyone of your blessing will be there for him always. I have no powers to predict the future but I am sure that we have a bunch of happy days ahead with our Adhityan...

Leelai - A trendy movie being shot almost in a software company, HCL Technologies, Chennai.
The director, Andrew Louis is not so novice, but served as an assitant to the well known director cum actor S J Suryah. The team S J Suryah and A R Rahman worked out well in many films. Yet another combination blooming, the assitant of S J Suryah and Assitant of A R Rahman are teaming up in this venture.
The film being produced by Aascar Films V Ravichandran. The main story is about the romance that blossoms between two software engineers working at HCL. It will sure to turn out to be a high tech love story.

The main lead roles are been played by Shiv Pandit and Mansi. Shiv Pandit is already a well known as IPL compere and Mansi though HDFC and Sony Ericcson brand model.


“The entire movie was shot in popular software company HCL. Even the employees of the company were prevented from carrying cameras and mobile phones to their company. But we managed to get the permission of senior officials from the company and shot the movie for over 100 days inside the company,” preens the director.

Lollu Sabha fame Santhanam plays the comedy part to provide the humour quotient for the movie. Editing is by V T Vijayan, art by Edward and lyrics by Vaali.

Lets wait and watch this IT romance in silver screen and its box office results.

Citigroup Inc revealed plans to cut 52,000 jobs by early next year in a dramatic move to restore the No. 2 US bank to health as it combats mounting debt losses and sagging economies worldwide.

The cuts announced by Chief Executive Vikram Pandit on Monday affect 15 per cent of Citigroup's workforce, and are in addition to 23,000 jobs eliminated between January and September.
Citigroup plans to slash expenses by as much as 20 per cent, and spend a total of $50 billion to $52 billion in 2009. That compares with $61.9 billion over the last four quarters.

The cuts will be global, affecting many regions and business lines, including the retail and investment banks, a person close to the matter said. About one-half will come from layoffs and attrition, and the rest from the sale of units, such as the German retail banking business.

Pandit became Citigroup's chief executive last December, and has faced much criticism from investors and others for failing to implement a workable turnaround plan. The New York-based bank has lost $20.3 billion in the last year, and some analysts do not expect it to make money before 2010.

"As the economy continues to weaken they will have greater credit losses," said Michael Holland, founder of money manager Holland & Co in New York. "Cuts will lessen the losses, but they in no way guarantee profitability."

Pandit told employees in a memo that Citigroup has spent the last year "getting fit," and projects a "difficult" 2009 for clients and customers.

Citigroup's latest cuts are the most by any US company since the global credit crisis began last year. They are also the second most ever, trailing the 60,000 that International Business Machines Corp IBM announced in 1993, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

The latest cuts would leave Citigroup with about 300,000 employees, down 20 per cent from the end of 2007 and about the same number it had at the end of 2005. People at the bank said the cuts should be made by the first couple of months of 2009.

STOCK UNDER PRESSURE

Shares of Citigroup, a component of the Dow Jones industrial average, fell 19 cents, or 2 per cent, to $9.33 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.Last week, Citigroup stock fell into the single digits for the first time since Sanford "Sandy" Weill created the bank in 1998 from the merger of Travelers Group Inc and Citicorp.

Well over 100,000 jobs have been lost at the world's largest banks and brokerages since the global credit crisis began. In the last month, Goldman Sachs Group Inc began cutting 3,200 jobs, and Morgan Stanley said it will cut 10 per cent of jobs in the unit housing its investment bank.

Citigroup said it has a "very strong" capital position, and according to the person close to the matter has no need to further cut its dividend, which has already been reduced twice this year.

Still, many investors remain wary. Through Friday, the bank's stock was down 68 per cent this year, leaving Citigroup with a market value of $51.9 billion.That's barely twice the $25 billion of capital it received from the US Treasury Department's bank bailout plan, and down from more than $270 billion in late 2006.

"We have a bull market in fear," said Henry Asher, president of Northstar Group Inc in New York.

Citigroup also said its board will make decisions on executive compensation after Dec. 31.

That prompted criticism from New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who urged the bank to follow Goldman's decision on Sunday not to pay bonuses to top executives this year.

"It seems only fair that top executives should shoulder their fair share of these difficult economic times," Cuomo said. "It would send exactly the wrong message for Citigroup's top brass to collect bonuses while investors, taxpayers and now Citigroup's own employees suffer."

DIVERSIFICATION DOESN'T HELP

Citigroup was built principally by Weill, who ceded control to Pandit's predecessor, Charles Prince, in 2003. Analysts have said Citigroup never invested enough in technology or to make the bank's various parts work well together.

Its geographic diversity, including operations in more than 100 countries, is now also working against it as customers in such countries as Brazil, India and Mexico find it harder to stay current on payments.
At the same time, Citigroup's ability to grow at home is relatively limited. Last month, Wells Fargo & Co derailed Citigroup's attempt to buy Wachovia Corp and its $418.8 billion in deposits.

The bank has tried to downplay reports of dissension among directors regarding the performance of Pandit and the bank's chairman, Sir Win Bischoff. Last week, lead director Richard Parsons said the board supported management's plans.

The newly consecrated murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta




















Intricately carved pillars of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta , Georgia .