tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91882270207575694232024-03-08T11:58:00.143-08:00Ravi Akula's ChroniclesRavi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-78882527338767810442013-01-11T16:37:00.000-08:002013-01-11T16:37:58.049-08:00Celebrity Influence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
celebrity influence:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lePrRjyK4Mg2fVG0tGyk1vG7slsT-91kKnDZECcvJgdcGAly84X4gDz0w4wnawQJ7UabBEZzsqLvm5F5NrZ1QvhlDYLwmL-KPWqqdi1Tb0JUx1i8YRHMA_1XZNVO3476QAg6YZaZRRxC/s1600/sachincricket+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lePrRjyK4Mg2fVG0tGyk1vG7slsT-91kKnDZECcvJgdcGAly84X4gDz0w4wnawQJ7UabBEZzsqLvm5F5NrZ1QvhlDYLwmL-KPWqqdi1Tb0JUx1i8YRHMA_1XZNVO3476QAg6YZaZRRxC/s640/sachincricket+car.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-71397992927411254202013-01-09T05:21:00.004-08:002013-01-10T04:30:00.521-08:00Bird's Nest - A Delicacy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bird's nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine quite popular in China and Hong Kong. Chinese believe that the natural collagen in bird's nest is good for the skin and keeps it looking young. Some also consume with the belief that it has aphrodisiac benefits.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEzRHPp9d0Ynsxy-JLYsxe0qlRE6TcA86ibYakUxngUMIVpQV8D3XL6mVldp5ywUb2ekg445c2MkG1ASJDsAtIxVkW1Xy00ABvbzV5PCdaIZq51MafMzJFIra1dq5j44Ohwyo4Twu5jTQ/s1600/1280px-Bird's_Nest_soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEzRHPp9d0Ynsxy-JLYsxe0qlRE6TcA86ibYakUxngUMIVpQV8D3XL6mVldp5ywUb2ekg445c2MkG1ASJDsAtIxVkW1Xy00ABvbzV5PCdaIZq51MafMzJFIra1dq5j44Ohwyo4Twu5jTQ/s200/1280px-Bird's_Nest_soup.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the first time I tasted bird's nest soup in a Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong. I quite liked the texture of the soup, continued there after without hesitation, thinking that bird's nest is name of a Chinese dish.</div>
<div>
<br />
Actually these bird's nests are built by Swift birds with their saliva. These nests are in the shape of a cup. These are harvested, cleaned and cooked as a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. These bird's nests are quite expensive as well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
During my latest visit to Indonesia, I had the opportunity to capture a video of cleaning process of such white nests. Here it is:</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1Dy-8fK8rsg" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(Video captured with Samsung Galaxy Note)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Bird's nest originated from Indonesia and today, Indonesia is one of the major exporters. Currently commercial production of these bird's nest are now undertaken in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam etc. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Hong Kong has overtaken China as the major importer of bird's nest.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="text-align: left;"></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="text-align: left;">When you are travelling to Hong Kong, China or Singapore don't forget to taste this dish. You will like it. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: left;">Now the key question is to whether bird's nest is considered a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian dish. Since it is not meat or egg, in my opinion vegetarian's are good to go. Willing to hear other views.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-34573105712248777852013-01-05T20:17:00.001-08:002013-01-05T20:56:44.057-08:00Do We Want To Be Taken For Granted?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K0k539yiaX3mQVJQfFeM9290mT6iGCkdYasvTsvFmZSx4Wffe3VeCOvEnQBR8CPxjPguH13uLWH0YA8uDWFFcdqRQ96wUaRkmWciG-pm-qb9oh0AJ4sUumtSfLhGgSQRR7QE7VELXqTJ/s1600/javedmiandadcartoon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K0k539yiaX3mQVJQfFeM9290mT6iGCkdYasvTsvFmZSx4Wffe3VeCOvEnQBR8CPxjPguH13uLWH0YA8uDWFFcdqRQ96wUaRkmWciG-pm-qb9oh0AJ4sUumtSfLhGgSQRR7QE7VELXqTJ/s640/javedmiandadcartoon.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Above toon constructed with tools provided by toondoo.com</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thanks to Debajyoti Ghosh of '<a href="http://factsandnonsense.com/shortcut-to-blogging-glory/" target="_blank">Shortcut to blogging glory</a>' fame, for showing me the toon site. </div>
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-20858493340941100952013-01-04T15:12:00.000-08:002013-01-10T11:38:14.047-08:00Ali Nachia Briyani Dam - Singapore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently my ex-colleague recommended a nice Biryani place in Singapore. Since my colleague is a known foodie, I had no reason to disbelieve his recommendation. At Ali Nachia Biryani Dam shop, he recommended that we take mutton biryani with ribs. The mutton biryani that we bought tasted amazingly good.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKfZ25wb9ADmmiKvFSkzfqNQNl-8vg0OBdLCq3B3oO9rOPdezf5Lw9nkzC-FeuTnAkcljbx4w4phA7Jvgr7tLguw2W1fh6l4pxK75Jov8luvcdosCiXQ4SYxVuGagb_LhPjANBrh1jL97/s1600/briyani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKfZ25wb9ADmmiKvFSkzfqNQNl-8vg0OBdLCq3B3oO9rOPdezf5Lw9nkzC-FeuTnAkcljbx4w4phA7Jvgr7tLguw2W1fh6l4pxK75Jov8luvcdosCiXQ4SYxVuGagb_LhPjANBrh1jL97/s1600/briyani.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The quantity was sufficient enough not to feel too full or too less. Mutton was perfectly cooked and most importantly without the usual after smell of the meat. Rice grains were long, not sticking to each other and less oily.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVZ_0-sQHdHja2Qwf1orQ9GULh7LZ1FNlVQJfMz9w-F5q4RlGZTlY2ptrpdilPpAeNJjBVk5K-IULuiojSrDMB_LaLwMvOT1t_lz6p1JGqmwAWhmhadxAayalfxWhPvxNnZHKkFNfIV2b/s1600/ali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVZ_0-sQHdHja2Qwf1orQ9GULh7LZ1FNlVQJfMz9w-F5q4RlGZTlY2ptrpdilPpAeNJjBVk5K-IULuiojSrDMB_LaLwMvOT1t_lz6p1JGqmwAWhmhadxAayalfxWhPvxNnZHKkFNfIV2b/s320/ali.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The biryani is of Malay style and not Hyderabadi style. It is called Nasi Briyani (spelling is correct!), where Nasi refers to rice and briyani refers to Basmati rice.<br />
<br />
During the lunch, he told me the story about Ali Nachia Biryani Dam shop. Originally it was located in Tanjong Pagar railway station for more than 3 decades with reasonably roaring business. When the railway station was closed, they were asked to relocate to Tanjong Pagar Plaza.<br />
<br />
In the process, unfortunately, the owner Mohd. Ali Latif lost most of his loyal clientele. Added to that the shop has a locational disadvantage being at a corner behind a pillar on second floor. The going has not been that good for Latif after the relocation.<br />
<br />
Ali Nachia Biryani Dam sells mutton, chicken and fish biryani. As on date of this post, it costs SGD 7. They are closed on Sundays. Generally, Mohd. Ali Latif and his wife will be there at the shop. Mild, friendly and humble Malay couple.<br />
<br />
Though I was introduced to this shop only two weeks ago, I have already gone thrice to this shop, once along with a friend.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXqwwnooy9RMSC1lizEewjsTTWrO3VY66o4nXW9GEhkL4WDW2bY4dwJWeMZxwTa47l25_neMYQpVkXqovDbNZo2ELhotg3Exby5N_PH1yzila2hyL3V98_8M-RhoQH4MaR4OwUFF5sc9p/s1600/mohdali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXqwwnooy9RMSC1lizEewjsTTWrO3VY66o4nXW9GEhkL4WDW2bY4dwJWeMZxwTa47l25_neMYQpVkXqovDbNZo2ELhotg3Exby5N_PH1yzila2hyL3V98_8M-RhoQH4MaR4OwUFF5sc9p/s320/mohdali.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The shop is situated at:<br />
<br />
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.450000762939453px;">Level 2, Tanjong Pagar Plaza</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.450000762939453px;"> (the end nearer to Tanjong Pagar Market), clean with B grade certificate. My rating for the food here is 4 stars out of 5.</span><br />
<br />
Running a restaurant business is tough in Singapore and it will be a shame if popular biryani shops like Ali's are folded.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
If you are reading this post from Singapore, please visit this shop and try out the mutton biryani with ribs. If you like it, please ask your friends also to patronise Ali Latif's shop.<br />
<br />
If you are reading this post from out side of Singapore, please share this with your Singapore based friends and ask them to try out.<br />
<br />
Btw, hailing from Biryanibad, i.e., Hyderabad, known for the world famous dum-biryani, I quite liked this variation.<br />
<br />
<br />
Poor imitations of 'Hyderabadi dum-biryani' is sold in a number of restaurants in Singapore. But, I am yet to get the satisfaction that I get when I devour chicken biryani from Paradise restaurant on MG Road or Cafe Bahar in Hyderguda.<br />
<br />
Btw, my global hunt for a perfect match for Hyderabadi dum-biryani is still on... :)<br />
<br />
</div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-75960449667399966412013-01-03T05:58:00.000-08:002013-01-05T05:21:25.328-08:00Coffee Luwak <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First a fact - Indonesia is one the top coffee producing countries of Robusta variety of coffee beans.<br />
<br />
During my recent visit to Indonesia, I was intrigued by the term 'Kopi Luwak' (Coffee Luwak).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiNblVGmCoZ7_7jd6e8znv96KlM5brw0SrA4e4rSxJjKUD6iTmrkjNpfz7F_KC95mX4i-IEpXC7m1SCP0448XmuouTKRqpCE2SUod2NTsOTZx9Ebf_A3wy5KT_JdeBAVtWbQmAAe1F3z3/s1600/kopi_luwak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiNblVGmCoZ7_7jd6e8znv96KlM5brw0SrA4e4rSxJjKUD6iTmrkjNpfz7F_KC95mX4i-IEpXC7m1SCP0448XmuouTKRqpCE2SUod2NTsOTZx9Ebf_A3wy5KT_JdeBAVtWbQmAAe1F3z3/s400/kopi_luwak.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In a coffee shop 'Coffee Luwak', there was a poster containing a rat like animal with coffee seeds. The animal is known as Luwak or Asian Palm Civet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFk3HNSG4x-Crzc6m_nOLHBNV8yoQxy9tUQwIa1MTFMkEMcDBqv7SCV8gypL1_BWBusXIp0OMgjY5mBC0VarsMLl5YhowlBsHDkxy34h1yHPXbs-GL3IpFvf0TXrZ3URn4xfSoN6R7Yg2/s1600/luwak_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFk3HNSG4x-Crzc6m_nOLHBNV8yoQxy9tUQwIa1MTFMkEMcDBqv7SCV8gypL1_BWBusXIp0OMgjY5mBC0VarsMLl5YhowlBsHDkxy34h1yHPXbs-GL3IpFvf0TXrZ3URn4xfSoN6R7Yg2/s320/luwak_02.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
These Luwaks eat the better coffee berries in a coffee farm and excrete the seeds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KZ_G3cwvTF2j0ubDVuwDv_FtaM-1kgLmOnjbmWqm2gyumKfgrnVWA4KGuQddCqnLErh6Wd4BzVzHeskMNjlX8_F4TFrvB75z7fsYrDOL_1hluw1aHN8kP9Zan4sR7kHQMoM_McH53QQN/s1600/Kopi_luwak_090910-0075_lamb+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KZ_G3cwvTF2j0ubDVuwDv_FtaM-1kgLmOnjbmWqm2gyumKfgrnVWA4KGuQddCqnLErh6Wd4BzVzHeskMNjlX8_F4TFrvB75z7fsYrDOL_1hluw1aHN8kP9Zan4sR7kHQMoM_McH53QQN/s200/Kopi_luwak_090910-0075_lamb+%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Did I hear some one say 'ewwww..'?<br />
<br />
Never mind, let me continue the story - such seeds are collected, washed, processed, roasted and powdered to make a cup of delicious kopi.<br />
<br />
Kopi Luwak is produced in small quantities and hence one of the most popular varieties of coffee from Indonesia and most expensive.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Indonesians believe that when the coffee berries/seeds are inside the intestines of Luwak, they absorb enzymes and get more nutrients and flavour. Apparently such processed (not a variety) coffee is expensive and exported widely.<br />
<br />
When you visit Indonesia, you decide if you really want to have a taste of this special variety of Kopi Luwak. Not me!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-59351027225290036652013-01-01T07:55:00.000-08:002013-01-04T04:57:44.765-08:00Batam, Indonesia - Travel Report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Batam is one of the 1700 plus islands of Indonesia, about 45 minutes ferry ride from Singapore, situated roughly 20 kilometers south. Originally a fishing island has transformed itself since 1972 to current state.<br />
<br />
Quick Facts:<br />
- Batam island is around 700 square kilometers, almost as big as Singapore island<br />
- Has around 1.4 million population<br />
- Since the year 2006 Batam island has been a tax-free island<br />
- Main revenue generators are - a Panasonic factory, receipts from tourism (around 60 per cent of the tourists are from Singapore, followed by Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanse etc.)<br />
- Though Indonesian Rupiah is the currency, Singapore Dollar is accepted at most places<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Batam has five ferry terminals:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">- </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Harbourbay </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">- Nongsapura Ferry Terminal</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">- Sekupang</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">- Waterfront City </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">- Batam Centre International Ferry</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Terminal </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Picture of Batam Centre International Ferry: </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1kki_2bThk5ovDQqMvIbbX1j5ZKyk-7_6gxMXAhbcyd_alPzk7Duo1r5bkbvIxAL1fCadQy6FcVz-OBDsafgAmoYSC7GU1bdTAxshinDwMO-ZUokZMAcclA08688c3R-rf8EwaIw8Bay/s1600/20130101_113513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1kki_2bThk5ovDQqMvIbbX1j5ZKyk-7_6gxMXAhbcyd_alPzk7Duo1r5bkbvIxAL1fCadQy6FcVz-OBDsafgAmoYSC7GU1bdTAxshinDwMO-ZUokZMAcclA08688c3R-rf8EwaIw8Bay/s640/20130101_113513.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZzXcoPtVaDNn8EnXxQhr2tbWOcsMMwOohG50RjbeeRBI_PBroRAScBhRj5lZ_96oS6m2YQ0HoAGPxDPDC_getNJig1aj6fzqakamykAcGZQIa4LGpdztOSp_-BCaNbq1mgQoQam70e0k/s1600/20121225_190645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZzXcoPtVaDNn8EnXxQhr2tbWOcsMMwOohG50RjbeeRBI_PBroRAScBhRj5lZ_96oS6m2YQ0HoAGPxDPDC_getNJig1aj6fzqakamykAcGZQIa4LGpdztOSp_-BCaNbq1mgQoQam70e0k/s640/20121225_190645.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">(picture courtesy: wikipedia)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Batam has a functional airport Hang Nadim International Airport with nearly all flights from domestic destinations with international flight between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Batam.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Indian passport holders get a VisaOnArrival for USD 10 for a 10 day stay and USD 25 for a 30 day stay. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">One of the main reasons Singaporeans, Koreans and Japanese travel to Batam is because of the Golf courses that have come up in the recent years. Both beginners and professionals visit these golf courses regularly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">As of today, Batam has seven golf courses, some of them are pristine and of international standard: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">- Palm Springs Golf and Beach Resort</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">- Southlinks Golf and Country Club</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">- Tering Bay Golf and Country Club</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">- Indah Puri Golf Resort</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">- Tamarin Santana Golf Club</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">- Batam Hills Golf Resort</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">- Padang Golf Sukajadi</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Two years ago when I visited Batam, it was almost decaying. But this time around I saw quite a bit of development in the city with a number of hotels being built and a number of shopping complexes resembling those of Singapore, coming up. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some of the places that we visited: Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Buddhist Temple, one of the biggest Buddhist temples in South East Asia. Please note the usage Sanskrit words, names in the following pictures.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8YJbwXD1nkAaEftcaO1DFjeVjTw6JObFXMLeIaZ2FKqN7hruKZ8OfCNATx8CPSQROZDLA8PKXE2-N3hLP8e-QeYFKZD0DQBQXNMPAor5XfFGCMUXEXhsMe8yy7Vi5sCenNeRy2SmwwFM/s1600/20121230_094830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8YJbwXD1nkAaEftcaO1DFjeVjTw6JObFXMLeIaZ2FKqN7hruKZ8OfCNATx8CPSQROZDLA8PKXE2-N3hLP8e-QeYFKZD0DQBQXNMPAor5XfFGCMUXEXhsMe8yy7Vi5sCenNeRy2SmwwFM/s640/20121230_094830.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH1T5i5cou5T0A4dr8pJ0rjaRxe50btsb59dtCZietWhu-iR3fl56y6oywrI60scVSsBwPn2k0H9YJXp2_pbUohWzYON7FStIzSt_q3PwhbmFmbGvlC_F9jXIGCXhQJPzsWgLelZ8g5dp/s1600/20121230_094852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH1T5i5cou5T0A4dr8pJ0rjaRxe50btsb59dtCZietWhu-iR3fl56y6oywrI60scVSsBwPn2k0H9YJXp2_pbUohWzYON7FStIzSt_q3PwhbmFmbGvlC_F9jXIGCXhQJPzsWgLelZ8g5dp/s640/20121230_094852.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROmAqu8eDjSQ_GA5TK_KIkRDcdbQjm8K1IcK516Gg-1WUXM-7W2rAcRljyDC4v72rUUoqSSHHiD3u6_Z9ikc8x_bbjIUdgz5t9eV3mYKJrFLCXWYUgB13yYaoQ6XBgJ6sYssO1vbCBJtM/s1600/20121230_095031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROmAqu8eDjSQ_GA5TK_KIkRDcdbQjm8K1IcK516Gg-1WUXM-7W2rAcRljyDC4v72rUUoqSSHHiD3u6_Z9ikc8x_bbjIUdgz5t9eV3mYKJrFLCXWYUgB13yYaoQ6XBgJ6sYssO1vbCBJtM/s640/20121230_095031.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3_pftGHzjxwFN-LFx0Z2dq8f-08M4oS31ZFhDjv54FWYdw6nn4OFFsOgICPI3fmzm4zIrh_rwt4DGIAFuyU5-2ZvhjLatm0XtlLzrFlG1B0pD5Fa8g8Hfb_Db20BktlJ6Nlwyyodab2O/s1600/20121230_095056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3_pftGHzjxwFN-LFx0Z2dq8f-08M4oS31ZFhDjv54FWYdw6nn4OFFsOgICPI3fmzm4zIrh_rwt4DGIAFuyU5-2ZvhjLatm0XtlLzrFlG1B0pD5Fa8g8Hfb_Db20BktlJ6Nlwyyodab2O/s640/20121230_095056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnOlCpCGR2Gm7JQzBsE3KxwUgPFkkB2gFUQyHFkJ43TaO4tJzwRb6g9BfcCbd-KrY-em0ipblwMLcya51VqXdQVCDkABbh3jS4UTRIHDY875LMVLWPBUTGvZV53TQeWvDhriWAbcHCOz0/s1600/20121230_095140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnOlCpCGR2Gm7JQzBsE3KxwUgPFkkB2gFUQyHFkJ43TaO4tJzwRb6g9BfcCbd-KrY-em0ipblwMLcya51VqXdQVCDkABbh3jS4UTRIHDY875LMVLWPBUTGvZV53TQeWvDhriWAbcHCOz0/s640/20121230_095140.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFz5NTNgD0heKWYfp-AcRK0c8Hn-6X4qlOx8C-HWux9tqewdnHVZ8ccF2_-toMXKrSa5xTZNUct1ais5ivXSsifxDdBQQf6XKlO8GbXBJ4otWhPiOSQ3nh4pw_FY35E-aU6DubmCUKN6W/s1600/20121230_095201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFz5NTNgD0heKWYfp-AcRK0c8Hn-6X4qlOx8C-HWux9tqewdnHVZ8ccF2_-toMXKrSa5xTZNUct1ais5ivXSsifxDdBQQf6XKlO8GbXBJ4otWhPiOSQ3nh4pw_FY35E-aU6DubmCUKN6W/s640/20121230_095201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMH_sOzdB-S4BOQQo8CY3jMHzpUFVE58RovJsWTsv31tS5stwp9OrjNsNRwQ3-9-quMm3XLwL10iW-N-6ZpHa-DxqT_yhxJPceyM58YXeyJtVS1OEr2IaOl7zYYuYBqHGeCNoCGhM9JKW/s1600/20121230_095217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMH_sOzdB-S4BOQQo8CY3jMHzpUFVE58RovJsWTsv31tS5stwp9OrjNsNRwQ3-9-quMm3XLwL10iW-N-6ZpHa-DxqT_yhxJPceyM58YXeyJtVS1OEr2IaOl7zYYuYBqHGeCNoCGhM9JKW/s640/20121230_095217.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJW6Rn4oEcDuIwddrMsYc5-NP1-NdD6W_3JZH8CXNH2Nv4tKjtDPqEmcSECd0plmCS7qOxtlEsOsocmFFWVK7fxeZ3mm0-GD0LqnTwMO90TpTmeIfMvDII2jhil2Cr1m_xPXb-o34mLgz/s1600/20121230_095236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJW6Rn4oEcDuIwddrMsYc5-NP1-NdD6W_3JZH8CXNH2Nv4tKjtDPqEmcSECd0plmCS7qOxtlEsOsocmFFWVK7fxeZ3mm0-GD0LqnTwMO90TpTmeIfMvDII2jhil2Cr1m_xPXb-o34mLgz/s640/20121230_095236.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vXTWJEawM3o33cGIWpKuDMIKv74AGMRWhyiGIhyphenhyphenA67j81MIpK2ItQ50wKSa8vlbPLKqNazgVn-7NLCObUYNMZirPT7bRvSb_DBaBYexHdbxCrrnQAB9AwvZxgfdd63Kwe3LNEZu7AT75/s1600/20121230_095255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vXTWJEawM3o33cGIWpKuDMIKv74AGMRWhyiGIhyphenhyphenA67j81MIpK2ItQ50wKSa8vlbPLKqNazgVn-7NLCObUYNMZirPT7bRvSb_DBaBYexHdbxCrrnQAB9AwvZxgfdd63Kwe3LNEZu7AT75/s640/20121230_095255.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g5YO33bfFHgwHH1Vo40I1sLqBFh0pSlvcD320aFzuQ_oMvIer981UpH6NCw-skshxnpiTvM-MnM9hIY8aQttzLN5oiSr5q-75rFXhZ3x7wkJczg6XGkogG-LDKh8CI9eemp4Lc-F_Zpi/s1600/20121230_094718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g5YO33bfFHgwHH1Vo40I1sLqBFh0pSlvcD320aFzuQ_oMvIer981UpH6NCw-skshxnpiTvM-MnM9hIY8aQttzLN5oiSr5q-75rFXhZ3x7wkJczg6XGkogG-LDKh8CI9eemp4Lc-F_Zpi/s640/20121230_094718.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkayyds6HdDdZlQEJGMSAZDAs5isB9LyF0zW1au3JH-8l3OwmTU4x5-rM0OCIL340pWwejbHuA_eHbxP1O19LwdLuYaU0zTBu3dmtOQgrVvC79uhCC7NP50zg6MOrxr5qRTMdAghafu9Kb/s1600/20121230_095318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkayyds6HdDdZlQEJGMSAZDAs5isB9LyF0zW1au3JH-8l3OwmTU4x5-rM0OCIL340pWwejbHuA_eHbxP1O19LwdLuYaU0zTBu3dmtOQgrVvC79uhCC7NP50zg6MOrxr5qRTMdAghafu9Kb/s640/20121230_095318.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIMkOyaswfAyQPIxbFyGQX88KHQKRsddwwtjwY9leksckkgYQcUtZjf0yvZYeXSU6Is67vJ3e3CBxGCRFlcQpmqOESjzDC5gJ7UQHQkhyJxxbWd4G8yFYLXSkQ8TQeq9SIJFb1dkBfJic/s1600/20121230_095513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIMkOyaswfAyQPIxbFyGQX88KHQKRsddwwtjwY9leksckkgYQcUtZjf0yvZYeXSU6Is67vJ3e3CBxGCRFlcQpmqOESjzDC5gJ7UQHQkhyJxxbWd4G8yFYLXSkQ8TQeq9SIJFb1dkBfJic/s640/20121230_095513.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Vegetarians take heart. There is a reasonably big vegetarian restaurant serving good food within the complex.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OkUzhFGC8SyJmZcFeNoO97BwlFEqO02YVMK5YRQ8obuvMtOmiPMyGx0dp5Jrr3eGlQlUNQcd0jcIaxPx-oAXL8d5WovB3sknjHCo-qHr_Uu4bw1ucL3OC_8bsfWZdM71CdCWIgVgzAQ7/s1600/20121230_101746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OkUzhFGC8SyJmZcFeNoO97BwlFEqO02YVMK5YRQ8obuvMtOmiPMyGx0dp5Jrr3eGlQlUNQcd0jcIaxPx-oAXL8d5WovB3sknjHCo-qHr_Uu4bw1ucL3OC_8bsfWZdM71CdCWIgVgzAQ7/s640/20121230_101746.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4rurzRMwl-QVUqFiIeyZnB2PGuODnRi6Jp_OAKKfFDDHBqEBYDjBVFfD8Wv4bNgjk0tNymIo4-GqYXEWWx5MMB-jI5WcFGDFKZ4kCntEgdnoqy2E2YMZMRZP1ca_Rm6XdzHxEVy7oCUP/s1600/20121230_101806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4rurzRMwl-QVUqFiIeyZnB2PGuODnRi6Jp_OAKKfFDDHBqEBYDjBVFfD8Wv4bNgjk0tNymIo4-GqYXEWWx5MMB-jI5WcFGDFKZ4kCntEgdnoqy2E2YMZMRZP1ca_Rm6XdzHxEVy7oCUP/s640/20121230_101806.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrrBCkHQRBtL_JLGsBel2qXPtqXA33PB3vg6Gby8mNf2UdoM0jmrrMvz0WmcjoHFwbJ213ycNiH1LdjXYfTGu8-KvEdt5u9SA9RJ0jzMZEHQRaP2wvW9_4ZjT17mpMl3B9EheYRFBT4PJ/s1600/20121230_101931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrrBCkHQRBtL_JLGsBel2qXPtqXA33PB3vg6Gby8mNf2UdoM0jmrrMvz0WmcjoHFwbJ213ycNiH1LdjXYfTGu8-KvEdt5u9SA9RJ0jzMZEHQRaP2wvW9_4ZjT17mpMl3B9EheYRFBT4PJ/s640/20121230_101931.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As of today, Polo Ralph Lauren has three main manufacturing hubs - China, Indonesia and Srilanka. Indonesian unit is based in Java, but all over Indonesia you can find the Polo Ralph Lauren outlets, not necessarily owned by Ralph Lauren, selling goods at much cheaper prices compared to other international locations. However, the goods in outlet in Batam is not as cheap compared to the outlets in Jakarta where you can get a good polo t-shirt for around SGD 35 (approx Rupees 1,500). Visit to the show room is one of the tourism place. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxXwJgwXouGYhfmamLI6EWzUL4M23MWQ1dXQtyKL8j4VUrXO_ISJ4g18B4oxft9qB4nS8Q52SG3ARNKpMLzHfZhSdb-5y_QEIqRI4ZX6RpWaXiVVU3WF-13O7HExzoO86xwKSGMbFODru/s1600/20121230_103339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxXwJgwXouGYhfmamLI6EWzUL4M23MWQ1dXQtyKL8j4VUrXO_ISJ4g18B4oxft9qB4nS8Q52SG3ARNKpMLzHfZhSdb-5y_QEIqRI4ZX6RpWaXiVVU3WF-13O7HExzoO86xwKSGMbFODru/s640/20121230_103339.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Indonesia is famous for 'Kueh Lapis' roughly translated as layered cake. Singaporeans love to eat Indonesian Kueh Lapis. The one in the picture below is decorated with plum fruit. One of the tourist destination was to a modest home preparing Kueh Lapis in a large scale. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49laR-tlH7wQeSg5MIj-K8o2LXXUpa3sqkoUuGfOQki5ejv_ONst7a7fEp-pm7LY3yKRDxW3CN9LHGprqgWfA7v922SB8lNlc0lgG9vIrET-OZwHp5JbR6orYrFXF1r8-yp_DAIajPPEH/s1600/20121230_110315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49laR-tlH7wQeSg5MIj-K8o2LXXUpa3sqkoUuGfOQki5ejv_ONst7a7fEp-pm7LY3yKRDxW3CN9LHGprqgWfA7v922SB8lNlc0lgG9vIrET-OZwHp5JbR6orYrFXF1r8-yp_DAIajPPEH/s640/20121230_110315.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Javanese cultural show was another tourist spot:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ5fDfEN-h7AYIbnyqsoYPPWVR2CcbO8IfM9sPr1HBL3jTUsXNrXqRKKBqZ0Fkb8EltIYYPz2uk0w9v5hlOaL6iND2mzuEy6hh5Qdspe4kHKSfpBYv5LrjRItO-FaUxk3hm_WpaoBPNSq/s1600/20121230_124122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ5fDfEN-h7AYIbnyqsoYPPWVR2CcbO8IfM9sPr1HBL3jTUsXNrXqRKKBqZ0Fkb8EltIYYPz2uk0w9v5hlOaL6iND2mzuEy6hh5Qdspe4kHKSfpBYv5LrjRItO-FaUxk3hm_WpaoBPNSq/s640/20121230_124122.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSLjPkFvxvFkgbEHi9F_0WOgFB595ZY9DPMWOxWNNA6J-YBg6ybvmHngNUt-qLhyQGwYDWQel3NaIznh7eo_0ssN2BQdDbMBZ8ldfITBJB5V2Hz7XIpFoCxM29Z9VLJE5GWKvML8SAp3s/s1600/20121230_124116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSLjPkFvxvFkgbEHi9F_0WOgFB595ZY9DPMWOxWNNA6J-YBg6ybvmHngNUt-qLhyQGwYDWQel3NaIznh7eo_0ssN2BQdDbMBZ8ldfITBJB5V2Hz7XIpFoCxM29Z9VLJE5GWKvML8SAp3s/s640/20121230_124116.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8TlLDrSzY_Tj40aTc9VBNBhkDVJIAjjIIxMPw2HSOSwqGwA9GFjBoWNDnXG3x7rZ_61ANXlIDWEbxBHOwYAH5XtalJH_VsgcNgfdGSozBJe39XFdiebxwBx8xWa8-2iloPGtzmxkl9Yx/s1600/20121230_124244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8TlLDrSzY_Tj40aTc9VBNBhkDVJIAjjIIxMPw2HSOSwqGwA9GFjBoWNDnXG3x7rZ_61ANXlIDWEbxBHOwYAH5XtalJH_VsgcNgfdGSozBJe39XFdiebxwBx8xWa8-2iloPGtzmxkl9Yx/s640/20121230_124244.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPxzijTjq6ynVIhniEELjU8sZoG2jkl5uNjXwWTS1_8lQwZ_6y8VRWvhTvjAZP-tu6EU2J4uHhb27OJTYuxbKItAzExzboSDZvyCefn0WbLerjj-oK9pZoKgyozknc4HQsqLq-UZ4Fb49/s1600/20121230_124317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPxzijTjq6ynVIhniEELjU8sZoG2jkl5uNjXwWTS1_8lQwZ_6y8VRWvhTvjAZP-tu6EU2J4uHhb27OJTYuxbKItAzExzboSDZvyCefn0WbLerjj-oK9pZoKgyozknc4HQsqLq-UZ4Fb49/s640/20121230_124317.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A performer peeling coconut fibre with teeth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg57aZCctxIghjzvfxraKsZ13_SE9BE7JkivE_ufosh-VmsaT73_A_fSaMquPOJicPhXPwuj8Xnt2NK21CmP26vzpZVHuN1yBHboOkb6C9WRtiTco6zi6Btz2Z_1V5RPxCNQ0ci0rafdA0/s1600/20121230_124507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg57aZCctxIghjzvfxraKsZ13_SE9BE7JkivE_ufosh-VmsaT73_A_fSaMquPOJicPhXPwuj8Xnt2NK21CmP26vzpZVHuN1yBHboOkb6C9WRtiTco6zi6Btz2Z_1V5RPxCNQ0ci0rafdA0/s640/20121230_124507.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Another performer eating glass.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL2fDX51whrpWT5-csYUxb9zBlXcS3_EbIjd28XXxEk8-4jCXUcFsKpgBQvJZuuvDNn4DEC63r3jRiekHXlJgyvhnrVcRvH7pQrrPVnm9cjLrhfxoJJxUk6IZvDLwRfOWU5e6GQv0oEql/s1600/20121230_124730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL2fDX51whrpWT5-csYUxb9zBlXcS3_EbIjd28XXxEk8-4jCXUcFsKpgBQvJZuuvDNn4DEC63r3jRiekHXlJgyvhnrVcRvH7pQrrPVnm9cjLrhfxoJJxUk6IZvDLwRfOWU5e6GQv0oEql/s640/20121230_124730.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">(All pictures, except one, shot with Samsung Galaxy Note 8 megapixel camera)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For a quick vacation, Batam was a okay destination. Give few more years and given the growth Indonesia is witnessing, Batam could turn out to be a much sought after resort island. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally a fact before I finish my post - many Singaporeans have their weekend wives in Batam :))</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-20081400802170761312012-12-28T21:18:00.000-08:002012-12-28T21:26:38.127-08:00Abhijit Mukherjee's 2 Minutes Of Fame<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are a number of people, especially those who are elected by public (mango men) to public offices, competing with each other in putting foot in their mouths.<br />
<br />
Not sure why our President (of India)'s son had to make a comment when the entire nation was upset with the New Delhi gang rape of a medical student. Perhaps Abhijit Mukherjee wanted to get into the public space by hook or crook with insane and irrelevant comments while the tempers were flying high? With his 'dented and painted, two minutes of fame' comments, Abhijit Mukherjee got his two minutes of infamy (fame) while his foot was going right into his mouth.<br />
<br />
Earlier it was from another foot-in-the-mouth specialist Botsa Satyanarayana, the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, who made unwanted remarks - that 'just because India achieved freedom at midnight does not mean that women can venture out after dark...' Seriously, why?!<br />
<br />
Now with the sad demise of the victim, all of us need to get together to ensure that we provide a safe and secure place for women of all ages to move around in a country known for its rich cultural heritage.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #e7e6e2; color: #141310; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #e7e6e2; color: #141310; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-66822753191995093372012-12-26T11:08:00.002-08:002012-12-27T06:47:36.545-08:00Kollywood Komplications<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kollywood or Kodambakkam (holly) wood, a euphemism for Tamil cinema industry, as I understand, is on a treacherous trajectory. Kodambakkam is a locality in Chennai (or Madras) city where a number of film studios existed/exist.<br />
<br />
Here is the <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Tamil-cinema-treacherous-territory-for-producers-without-buyers/articleshow/17716563.cms" target="_blank">link </a>to a well written story revealing the plights of Tamil cinema industry by TOI reporter Sangeetha Kandavel.<br />
<br />
There is a new complication thrown in by a famous actor Kamal Hassan. Here are the snippets of this interesting case.<br />
<br />
Kamal Hassan is in the process of releasing his new movie Vishwaroopam in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi (Vishwaroop). Yes, he is the producer, director, lyricist, choreographer, actor etc., In his own admission he appears to have spent Rupees 95 crores producing the movie.<br />
<br />
To thwart any attempts at illegal distribution of his latest movie, Kamal Hassan is planning to release this movie on DTH network, 8 hours before it is released in the theaters, despite selling the distribution rights of the movie to the theater owners.<br />
<br />
Well, for a moment I thought this is a good move and that this guy is generous that he is releasing the movie even before it hits the theaters. Hold on there is a catch.<br />
<br />
- DTH operator will charge Rupees 1,000 for one view for Tamil and Telugu versions and Rupees 500 for Hindi version<br />
<br />
There lies a financial ingenuity. In addition to the tidy sum that is paid by the theater owners, an additional sum (reportedly around Rupees 50 crore) is likely to be paid by DTH operators for a recording-disabled-only-one-view telecast.<br />
<br />
Take a look at the economics just from Tamil telecast alone.<br />
<br />
Total households in four metros: 94,00,000 (<a href="http://www.media-partners-asia.com/mpanews211012.asp" target="_blank">source article</a>)<br />
Households in Chennai (@15%): 6,20,000<br />
Tamil Nadu population: 6 crore<br />
Chennai population: 1 crore<br />
Households for rest of Tamil Nadu at 6 crore population: 30,00,000<br />
Total households in Tamil Nadu: approx. 36,00,000<br />
1/6th buy the cinema on DTH: Rupees 60,00,00,000<br />
<br />
In addition, there will also be money from Telugu and Hindi versions!<br />
<br />
No wonder Kamal Hassan surprisingly appeared in a reality musical show Super Singer T20 on Vijay TV, telecast on 26th December, to hard sell his concept.<br />
<br />
The theater owners especially in Tamil Nadu, who paid their money are getting scared about losing money with this move.<br />
<br />
Be prepared, once this model is successfully proved, the cinema viewing experience is going to be massively transformed.<br />
<br />
And you need to be extremely careful of the button called 'VoD' on your remote control of DTH transmission and double, triple check your cable bills for any such one time charges.<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-58178682875745395102012-12-22T02:07:00.001-08:002012-12-24T14:18:30.766-08:00A Singaporean's View On Indians<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The owner of the flat that I am staying in is a retired banker and loves to talk. He has a nice array of topics to speak with and that too with conviction. Nice gentleman that he is, whenever he comes home he spends time and enjoys his conversation with us. He is born and brought up in Singapore of Chinese ethnicity.<br />
<br />
During one of the conversations he, as a matter of fact, mentioned that Singaporeans (Chinese) are more health conscious, Indians (including Singaporeans of Indian descent) are more conscious about the education that they give to their children and that the Malays (including the Malays from Malaysia) tend to be more religious.<br />
<br />
Initially when he made the statement I didn't think much about it. But later on as I thought more about it, I felt what he said was what we Indian really more conscious about. I started feeling proud about it. Remember, his intention was not flatter me or Indians. It was a simple statement of perception from a simple person.<br />
<br />
Well that is a Singaporean's view on Indians!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-45581520893763007702012-11-21T15:26:00.001-08:002012-11-21T15:29:18.266-08:00Daanam दान దానం தானம் re-defined...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I would like to redefine the word Daanam दान దానం தானம் more as 'sharing' than as 'donation'.<br />
<br />
Agree, all of us get disgusted, upset, agitated or angry in varying degrees when we see a US$ 2 billion (Approximately Rupees 11,000 Crores) building obscenely standing adjacent to thousands of people living (mostly on footpath) on a US$ 2 (approximately Rupees 110) or under.<br />
<br />
During my recent visit to Hyderabad, around 10 pm in my old huge apartment complex where my parents stay, I was waiting near the security post, for the car to brought by my nephew. It was slightly drizzling. I stepped inside a semi-permanent construction with a fiber-glass roof, with the lone security guard sitting on a chair. Lighting was not too great for him to have an opportunity to figure out about me or my stature (actually, there is no need to, since we are all humans) or whether I am resident or not of the apartment complex. There was only one chair. He suddenly got up and moved the chair near me for me to sit. It was an unexpected humane gesture.<br />
<br />
Here is a simple man trying to share his comfort with another human sacrificing his own, without any expectations. I sat in the chair but was feeling guilty as my 'sharer' was standing.<br />
<br />
Our car came quickly and while leaving I handed him a 50 rupee note impulsively and saw a brilliant expression on his face.<br />
<br />
In the above incident the security guard shared his comfort and I shared with him some money. Both unexpected. I did not donate or give him alms nor was he begging for money.<br />
<br />
It is impossible to make ours a class less society. However, I am moving with a strong conviction that it is possible for us to share our happiness whether in cash or kind directly for all those under privileged when they expect the least.<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-90525452416109626762012-10-27T02:48:00.000-07:002012-10-27T19:29:12.215-07:00Simple And Poignant Things In Bangkok<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last decade saw raise of economic prosperity in Thailand. Today progress can be seen in every nook and corner. Thai upper middle class is burgeoning at a steady pace. At the same time, we can still notice the simple and poignant things all around. Few examples here:<br />
<br />
- Last year I went to see a movie in MBK (MahboonKrong, one of the popular malls in Bangkok). When the movie was about to start, suddenly all the people in the theatre started standing up. I was confused as to why they were trying to leave when the movie is about start. I was wrong. They were all standing respectfully as short clip about King Bhumibol Adulyadej was going to be shown next, that is before the movie. I felt so moved that I too stood reverentially.<br />
<br />
- During my recent visit, at the buffet dinner in the hotel, I saw unusually more number of vegetarian dishes. There were also few yellow flags around these dishes with Thai letters. My Thai colleagues explained that for nine days, Thais practice vegetarianism, some of them very strict. These nine days coincide with Dasara or Vijaya Dashami or Dussehra days!<br />
<br />
- Nationalism is pervasive all around. Every day at 8am and at 6pm the Thai national anthem is played invariably in all the channels both radio and TV!<br />
<br />
<br />
During my childhood, cinema theatres were ending shows with our National Anthem - Janaganamana being played, with all of us standing up with respect. God knows, why and when this practice was stopped.<br />
<br />
Why don't we have the Indian national anthem played everyday at 8 am in all Indian channels? How difficult is to bring such measures? Or it doesn't matter?<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-43249708765956668662012-10-05T18:24:00.000-07:002013-01-04T13:11:25.829-08:00Business Plan For A TV Reality Show<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Chacko was scouting for ideas to produce a TV show. He found one attractive idea to plan and execute.<br />
<br />
Here is his business plan:</div>
<br />
<u>Reality Show:</u><br />
TV Audiences are tired of over dramatic, over dressed, over emotive actors, appearing in almost all TV serials, confusing audiences as to who is acting as what in which TV serial. So, reality show, it is.<br />
<br />
<u>Concept = Singing competition for Juniors:</u><br />
Preferably in Tamil but must include participants from Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala and from Canada, America, to enlarge the audience canvas! Singapore and Dubai? Nah, they are too tiny markets.<br />
<br />
<u>Period of Show:</u><br />
One Year, yes one year. By that time TV serials would have made a vengeful comeback, in time to get next idea for a TV show, you see.<br />
<br />
<u>TV Channel:</u><br />
Tamil TV channel preferably 'Srat Vijya TV', known for innovating ways to stretch programmes beyond limits and while it is breaking, known for placing a strong band-aid by calling it Season1, Season2 or Season<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; line-height: 19.18666648864746px;">∞</span>(by that time audiences would have broken a number of TV sets in their homes)<br />
<br />
<u>Prize Money:</u><br />
Real estate firms, desperately trying to sell their out of town, out of the way developments with exorbitant price tags.<br />
<br />
<u>Judges:</u><br />
Set 1: One Telugu, One Malayalam and one Tamil play back singer, whose market is currently down<br />
Set 2: Carnatic Music singers who sang few songs in movies, who behave like 'super celebrities'<br />
Set 3: Folk, country music singers, preferably husband wife pair (ensure that the wife is good looking)<br />
<div>
Set 4: Unemployed or under employed playback singers, who are past their due date, prime, I mean</div>
Set 5: Top ten participants of the previous senior competition, call them also 'celebrities'<br />
<br />
<u>Episodes Planning:</u><br />
<u>First Month:</u><br />
Get applications, do auditions in few main cities, capture captive audiences for the episodes.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">'Hatching stage', sponsor - NECC!</span><br />
<br />
<u>Next three months:</u><br />
Elimination rounds as episodes.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">'Kneading stage', sponsors - Atta (flour) makers, Aashirwad or Pilsbury etc.</span><br />
<br />
<u>Next six months:</u><br />
Take top 30 contestants and make them sing, dance, act and emote in folk, classical, western, other languages to stretch number of episodes.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">First three months 'feeding stage', sponsors - Double Eclairs, CandyMan </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Next three months 'elasticity breaking stage', sponsors - Johnson&Johnson and a cheap China brand</span><br />
<br />
<u>Next two months:</u><br />
Now is already broken stage, due to over exposure audience are not keen to see the top 3 contestants. Change the strategy. Bring back the eliminated ten singers by doing another wild card round selections and introduce all genres as mentioned above.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">'Pain-in-the neck stage', sponsors - Tiger Balm, Iodex, Amrutanjan</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<u>Final month (phew!): </u><br />
First three weeks, make the four finalists sing, emote, acts along with their parents to whip emotions across (states, countries as well!?!) ending in a finale with mobile phone voting open during the entire last week.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">'Moolah making stage', sponsors - over rated and over publicised gold-loan companies</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<u>Special strategies:</u><br />
- Ensure that camera captures participants parents, especially over active mothers and fathers<br />
- Time spent on audience is equal to participants themselves<br />
- Make parents dance however crass it may be and declare one or two parents as 'audience celebrity'<br />
- Ensure that these audience celebrities preferably from America or Canada and make them a sponsor<br />
- From audience, identify actors for aunty, uncle, mother, father roles for TV Serials, to act for free<br />
- Provide stage for upcoming producers & actors in episodes for their new movies<br />
- Collect money for providing free publicity for their new movies<br />
- Convert good looking judges, females of course, as models to promote jewellery, fish, provisions etc., for shops in London, Singapore or South Africa<br />
<br />
The list will go on and on....let me stop here before it gets stretched.<br />
<br />
Have fun. Cheers...<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-51840472043822643282012-10-04T05:58:00.003-07:002012-10-04T06:42:17.440-07:00Rainbow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Raibow seen faintly:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivktnJQuIvcXfypMutUFB_A6I8C2S9sSL6DMPQ_ppwoYemFgp8aqwc51ytYmKY_qiIQYH6eG1g0-vPombpMAnzmABS1YiyCQRrQNtgUdD1sP867cDFNwXBHGRASxkduHgZAMAET3H3Rt9I/s1600/20120808_162912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivktnJQuIvcXfypMutUFB_A6I8C2S9sSL6DMPQ_ppwoYemFgp8aqwc51ytYmKY_qiIQYH6eG1g0-vPombpMAnzmABS1YiyCQRrQNtgUdD1sP867cDFNwXBHGRASxkduHgZAMAET3H3Rt9I/s640/20120808_162912.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8_iaSsTzVMb3be8L_-eUWXs5P0Vzxt2aO5nUGCN7fhy3xbg7IJrFazkH65i1LZzgHdgN3LIJQ9uSuq6914X_uZ3v_Eqdg9YhIROrSG8Ep5RXvjd1aFLXBcG1HmIF22U5AjEQ-AcFlO_A/s1600/20120808_162920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8_iaSsTzVMb3be8L_-eUWXs5P0Vzxt2aO5nUGCN7fhy3xbg7IJrFazkH65i1LZzgHdgN3LIJQ9uSuq6914X_uZ3v_Eqdg9YhIROrSG8Ep5RXvjd1aFLXBcG1HmIF22U5AjEQ-AcFlO_A/s640/20120808_162920.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Brighter rainbow:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0k_ymUi0zhFCYc1cKGgTzpm5ZmMoKt7EMZzAjrHhd21xd35gQkSoi1unP2cinJrQDwGl-ek_9KaShPivPMsEW0hRMUwY7gPL7wcPu3A0lN6SCNhhd89gYpgTF9lW5732yyObe29U4jSj/s1600/20120808_164713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0k_ymUi0zhFCYc1cKGgTzpm5ZmMoKt7EMZzAjrHhd21xd35gQkSoi1unP2cinJrQDwGl-ek_9KaShPivPMsEW0hRMUwY7gPL7wcPu3A0lN6SCNhhd89gYpgTF9lW5732yyObe29U4jSj/s640/20120808_164713.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Double Rainbow:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHCXjZsJR_d7hrMTJIwWD_8fndQeHLicrrQqTnQ3kS4Pr83sPxY4c2En15sKe58I7Texfi0XURGgTUbUtu68lKxyhlIgIEykiFZw7ZsaunAQD1CwcQnoG-B2S8tTbylarCTwAHAJ6k4ry/s1600/20120811_182452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHCXjZsJR_d7hrMTJIwWD_8fndQeHLicrrQqTnQ3kS4Pr83sPxY4c2En15sKe58I7Texfi0XURGgTUbUtu68lKxyhlIgIEykiFZw7ZsaunAQD1CwcQnoG-B2S8tTbylarCTwAHAJ6k4ry/s640/20120811_182452.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0KWahRtCjUCG6XnVYPtXviuMRaweChRIiLfi7OnTU9TOxqZTAnEM69GLnjJt0jqDvLetchSlUck3Gh5r9ZFxWdyqBoWYu4cUecvEOLPgzyW66QcxWo-mL9Vzu3PxcLwRJFu5cIvPLeKd/s1600/20120811_182459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0KWahRtCjUCG6XnVYPtXviuMRaweChRIiLfi7OnTU9TOxqZTAnEM69GLnjJt0jqDvLetchSlUck3Gh5r9ZFxWdyqBoWYu4cUecvEOLPgzyW66QcxWo-mL9Vzu3PxcLwRJFu5cIvPLeKd/s640/20120811_182459.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rretZC1FWcItYcX8qJXeljwfJrXgwTlxW_WFJ23jIMStHJol8gshtz-J7dOO1ydJtYMQPk21O1ewFnv2OoDSLtVKYSbXTDYpyqFqHSXR_NiMS9rY46taxXq_rRukZpSAdywDsepq6V86/s1600/20120811_182549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rretZC1FWcItYcX8qJXeljwfJrXgwTlxW_WFJ23jIMStHJol8gshtz-J7dOO1ydJtYMQPk21O1ewFnv2OoDSLtVKYSbXTDYpyqFqHSXR_NiMS9rY46taxXq_rRukZpSAdywDsepq6V86/s640/20120811_182549.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fdfIV-46hsvb3NWIC0NAhBWtTQe3wqvAwW2Ao9D4TxqXQcqYcl4N6NdvpxywK2Kwr8oeg60hfTrNCk3X2UHBFtiCuaFGJbhD88rRJzw0vl8OLBdG0S-Nc03YZBfmCUX9rHtRplY2zZcI/s1600/20120811_182610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fdfIV-46hsvb3NWIC0NAhBWtTQe3wqvAwW2Ao9D4TxqXQcqYcl4N6NdvpxywK2Kwr8oeg60hfTrNCk3X2UHBFtiCuaFGJbhD88rRJzw0vl8OLBdG0S-Nc03YZBfmCUX9rHtRplY2zZcI/s640/20120811_182610.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">All the above pictures shot with Samsung Galaxy Note 8 megapixel camera</span></div>
<br />
Btw, all the above pictures were taken in Hyderabad.<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-6211815113290611342012-09-29T21:45:00.004-07:002012-10-03T16:25:55.554-07:00Thieves Conniving On Obituaries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a true story and I will keep it short.<br />
<br />
Early August we had a major tragedy in our family with my father departing this world. A simple, affectionate man, even on his hospital ICCU bed, with an oxygen mask on, was respectfully folding his hands whenever he saw a visitor in his last days. Even now a tear wells up in my eye when I think of him looking at me from behind the mask, after I softly massaged his hand to give him warmth, with his folded hands.<br />
<br />
We came to grips with our sorrow and started planning for the next steps. One of such steps was to publish the sad news in Deccan Chronicle, a local paper in Hyderabad, which got published under 'Obituaries' the very next day, with the mobile numbers of my two sisters.<br />
<br />
Unexpectedly, next day we got few strange calls on the mobile phones - one from an Ashram for destitute women for annadan (donation of food) and many others from various people offering a van or a purohit or flowers etc.<br />
<br />
As we were planning for the 11th day ceremonies, a call was received from an 'agent' for placing advertisement in Deccan Chronicle. My sister met him at her office and asked him to go to our house to collect the write up. When he arrived, all of us had gone out on errands, with only my mom being at home. The fellow, who mentioned his name was Srinivas, conned my mom in preparing a bearer cheque for an amount of Rupees Thirteen thousand plus, with a receipt which does not have an address or a phone number.<br />
<br />
Within ten minutes of my mom narrating the story over phone, we called up our friends in Corporation Bank and asked them stop payment of the cheque. Even before that this thief had already en-cashed the cheque and scooted. <br />
<br />
The advertisement never appeared on the 11th day in Deccan Chronicle.<br />
<br />
I am posting this story as a - be aware of - such tactics by the low life cheats in India who live off obituaries.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-42235604556634256122012-09-29T19:20:00.002-07:002012-09-30T06:00:19.972-07:00Sex And The City Country<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Past few weeks, couple of stories are being played out in the media, both print and video, in complete public view. Stories delving deeper by the day.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One on vice raid on under-age sex, where more than 40 eminent to not-eminent residents of Singapore are undergoing trial. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is the link: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/1066418/underage_paid_sex_case_even_the_high.html">http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/1066418/underage_paid_sex_case_even_the_high.html</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The second about ex-Chief of Narcotics Bureau who allegedly sought sex as bribe, with large size pictures of the accused and the defendant in full public glare in print and video channels.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is the link:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/caught_in_the_act/1337490/trial_of_excnb_chief_woman_was_allegedly_coerced_into_sex.html">http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/caught_in_the_act/1337490/trial_of_excnb_chief_woman_was_allegedly_coerced_into_sex.html</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In a way, publication of these stories in the media, does warn future perpetrators of the perils. However, whether there is a need to go into tantalizing micro details, e.g., email messages, scene resurrection explanations etc, I am not too sure. Don't you think the media also has the responsibility of objective assessment before overly amplifying such stories in public domain?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-81986858207840044482012-09-27T07:30:00.003-07:002012-09-27T16:02:08.296-07:00Hairstyling Demo In Jakarta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jakarta never stops amazing me. Every time I visit Jakarta, I discover something new, something practical, something memorable.<br />
<br />
This time around, while going around a famous mall in North Jakarta, I found a simple looking man repeatedly doing a particular act with hair on a dummy's head. Out of curiosity I went near and realised that he was selling a kind of hairband with which ladies can do different kinds of hairstyles.<br />
<br />
The entire demo with 3 or 4 hairstyles took less than 2 minutes. I asked for his permission to shoot the enclosed video. Enjoy.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uNlLoXe6vCc" width="640"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">Video (HD) taken with Samsung Galaxy Note 8 megapixel Camera</span></div>
<br />
This was in JITC Shopping Complex in Mangga Dua. If and when you go to Jakarta, don't miss this shopping mall which is of 7 storeys full of goods. In the recent years, Jakarta has become popular shopping destination.<br />
<br />
Btw, impressed with the person's artistry, I immediately bought one of those bands for my wife. Cost of the same was IDR (Indonesian Rupiah) 70,000, which is around Rs. 440.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-21324346760814037832012-09-25T07:33:00.001-07:002012-09-27T06:03:35.703-07:00Tokyo Travel Report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Shared here are some pictures from my recent visit to Tokyo. Before that, few</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
key informations:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Japanese people are extremely polite, professional in their dealings and are perfectionists</li>
<li>Replica of Japan's excellent customer service levels can be sighted in Hong Kong</li>
<li>Getting a visa to Japan is pretty easy, especially after the recent Tsunami</li>
<li>Tokyo has two international airports - Narita and Haneda. Haneda airport is closer to the city</li>
<li>Things are generally very expensive</li>
<li>Contrary to the general imagination that everything will be small in Japan, the buildings, hotel rooms, restaurants, roads etc. are not that small or tiny</li>
<li>To show social consciousness, most of the buildings, despite being summer, maintain a minimum air-con temperature of 28 degrees Celcius in office buildings</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Baggage carousel in Haneda Airport. Frankly most of the airports now a days look similar. A Bangalore or a Hyderabad or a New Delhi airport also will look the same. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E0Fo1_PfZMxh9KaVpnlmXiCtT2ZU9NAr3zYe17FJHl11px2zFpMzTE0RocctX6xLwl3jU270N9sJL6xwY0syUoYqIKsSgsgRRowKyeGqEBNY5GNKLAqjM8R1GeH_17ORACWorVGYqzfQ/s1600/20120827_230423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E0Fo1_PfZMxh9KaVpnlmXiCtT2ZU9NAr3zYe17FJHl11px2zFpMzTE0RocctX6xLwl3jU270N9sJL6xwY0syUoYqIKsSgsgRRowKyeGqEBNY5GNKLAqjM8R1GeH_17ORACWorVGYqzfQ/s640/20120827_230423.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Taxis are of different colours and are a bit expensive compared to other Asian cities. Majority of the population commute on Trains.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJs_e98fwg_-gUekGt6pQ7f9KtNxeSSS-C7xuQp4Pw-WaQVgUr0lJrA9vnQaRnao-WSZCgCXSGdUzzCPmns8s77BD7Fn7I4zkSK86FemBfBnqMN_40wvgtbkYHl6GVYHHqweWslObRb_Ji/s1600/20120828_001810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJs_e98fwg_-gUekGt6pQ7f9KtNxeSSS-C7xuQp4Pw-WaQVgUr0lJrA9vnQaRnao-WSZCgCXSGdUzzCPmns8s77BD7Fn7I4zkSK86FemBfBnqMN_40wvgtbkYHl6GVYHHqweWslObRb_Ji/s640/20120828_001810.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnUSiMDjAH1VRzBoMgJUBGBj5b5jM6w8BCbAEVG9gBNP4ePm_2alHlaZGf7JGxEzYoSzhNkGPWYGfj7D0nmMRKmabXtmTr7bosPh33VIpdl7UBpG-i01kurgv2ROTuK7uve-EJn4hh1rv/s1600/20120828_001839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnUSiMDjAH1VRzBoMgJUBGBj5b5jM6w8BCbAEVG9gBNP4ePm_2alHlaZGf7JGxEzYoSzhNkGPWYGfj7D0nmMRKmabXtmTr7bosPh33VIpdl7UBpG-i01kurgv2ROTuK7uve-EJn4hh1rv/s640/20120828_001839.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Harajuku's crowded market:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVyxYPnyVNJjy-09wx1rphXyzbzLmvNRW4-mD5psyJSpOW9KEWW2lqnu91g-9kIuhryN6vb6K6Jd-E4CG0ReKn7rXmLqTKhFxKpM8a-6ldS7j9YSZClMrpL7kN3fwBZiAaNy-rmkQVBvo/s1600/20120828_173026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVyxYPnyVNJjy-09wx1rphXyzbzLmvNRW4-mD5psyJSpOW9KEWW2lqnu91g-9kIuhryN6vb6K6Jd-E4CG0ReKn7rXmLqTKhFxKpM8a-6ldS7j9YSZClMrpL7kN3fwBZiAaNy-rmkQVBvo/s640/20120828_173026.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiE00p8Tao06rULsHcanun7WZgptSGguGDzpgj98No0IFubo3jZ1UDVUEH6j7UOCEjLQCDCj2VTwt5m9ThgbbxpfvFUP1XUeEvJ01L_CCmDaFtHt81OFa9uJI4_ngj57z5y2JDkBfZFFuT/s1600/20120828_173031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiE00p8Tao06rULsHcanun7WZgptSGguGDzpgj98No0IFubo3jZ1UDVUEH6j7UOCEjLQCDCj2VTwt5m9ThgbbxpfvFUP1XUeEvJ01L_CCmDaFtHt81OFa9uJI4_ngj57z5y2JDkBfZFFuT/s640/20120828_173031.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Outside Harajuku Railway station:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLrxNUE_ocI2AUHy-Xdw2SEKdgWjPjYeFiHcfuAL7YniRmLTSUz_YjtvE0ovkrES8u2hK2n48IPqPjzeIBAK8sR_nwGRq_N5XOhVlegU7kU2hv-AJplcdlLSa6GAqDZ9jeffifqNRmvzu/s1600/20120828_173036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLrxNUE_ocI2AUHy-Xdw2SEKdgWjPjYeFiHcfuAL7YniRmLTSUz_YjtvE0ovkrES8u2hK2n48IPqPjzeIBAK8sR_nwGRq_N5XOhVlegU7kU2hv-AJplcdlLSa6GAqDZ9jeffifqNRmvzu/s640/20120828_173036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZowQ-aH1K8SWFQl1EYUQl-m5ozTob8vpmdEjppjD52gDXnfP5pr1bj3odBKuQgAYFMsIrVx4_u7q9H7S6H0sReus0TjEJsM1OFFV7rRUntaYpN5jqMg1hoh8hHVKJEde8vtGbH_ZR_RHx/s1600/20120828_173141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZowQ-aH1K8SWFQl1EYUQl-m5ozTob8vpmdEjppjD52gDXnfP5pr1bj3odBKuQgAYFMsIrVx4_u7q9H7S6H0sReus0TjEJsM1OFFV7rRUntaYpN5jqMg1hoh8hHVKJEde8vtGbH_ZR_RHx/s640/20120828_173141.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Night shot of road leading to famous Shinjuku market:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHdX9J1SVTVT4kAZTdaHUqUrUsK0cnboTVDlWLBwtZGJRowjpG-Gnn_LsLQMHbArh08erWpTVBh9y3GY87ucDDE0QAH0OKhE86WwHeKxEB-nPgaRFhaOSh60BB5_toJaVm_EpSYaUqPzB/s1600/20120828_194010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHdX9J1SVTVT4kAZTdaHUqUrUsK0cnboTVDlWLBwtZGJRowjpG-Gnn_LsLQMHbArh08erWpTVBh9y3GY87ucDDE0QAH0OKhE86WwHeKxEB-nPgaRFhaOSh60BB5_toJaVm_EpSYaUqPzB/s640/20120828_194010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">While entire world is fond of Japanese famous delicacies <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi" target="_blank">Sushi</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sashimi" target="_blank">Sashimi</a>, apparently </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawan_cuisine" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Okinawan Cuisine</a><span style="text-align: left;">, is quite popular with the locals in Japan. Here you see a Sea-weed dish, which was yummy with the sauce.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglp3M9tdyLeFtxXdXAr6FrcBSm_Qd27OYw6BMOQFD0Bv_yOV8Y5xtbGWyph1s-0ijtclLJ_fNFqWxfuVvoeYyt-GTLnBI2jn6VDtiJgCe9ccV1FCkWPeeAIn3MSlW-rZs3dQTAvc8uwHHe/s1600/20120829_195104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglp3M9tdyLeFtxXdXAr6FrcBSm_Qd27OYw6BMOQFD0Bv_yOV8Y5xtbGWyph1s-0ijtclLJ_fNFqWxfuVvoeYyt-GTLnBI2jn6VDtiJgCe9ccV1FCkWPeeAIn3MSlW-rZs3dQTAvc8uwHHe/s640/20120829_195104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A special long fish deep fried. Was fabulous with lemon squeezed over it and with a dash of salt before you slip it into your mouth. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF19dv288t1gGT0QTND045cFUPvY2WC-XGQnBczXzV6QHrcJDJ63BMFEfLWE3YDlrjqO67W1bMYsq_AgzUdjT4aeHKGAcwc09ppgvF62t_XUvwtrja1HI-nndXwm6sCO0HkaUulefTVRo/s1600/20120829_195336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF19dv288t1gGT0QTND045cFUPvY2WC-XGQnBczXzV6QHrcJDJ63BMFEfLWE3YDlrjqO67W1bMYsq_AgzUdjT4aeHKGAcwc09ppgvF62t_XUvwtrja1HI-nndXwm6sCO0HkaUulefTVRo/s640/20120829_195336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Entrance of the Okinawan restaurant, with authentic interiors and exteriors.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLTaLKpFAIO-_3772jjD_U-cx3ye4U3OGKl5q20nHIR1-msQzmVyqvJuvn1-5w6EuQHSQ0xnkpCNyJtXs5STdHZJYlRRtQRvx7YAKIf__Q1rs6x2MXeJhMQGQEy5B_p7VjequyTErhW1i/s1600/20120829_210541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLTaLKpFAIO-_3772jjD_U-cx3ye4U3OGKl5q20nHIR1-msQzmVyqvJuvn1-5w6EuQHSQ0xnkpCNyJtXs5STdHZJYlRRtQRvx7YAKIf__Q1rs6x2MXeJhMQGQEy5B_p7VjequyTErhW1i/s640/20120829_210541.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
A night shot of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dky%C5%8D_Station" target="_blank">Tokyo Station</a> under renovation. Though this heritage building's facade looks small and simple, the underground is massive. Almost a mini city with hundreds of commercial establishments thrive below this building. Famous Bullet Train starts from here.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9HbSjSk1U-6HqlPa8Bqslrk-y9wgQFSYwkZwekohySaRQD-F91ibXTl7luF4lXSikGTRtrnOmdNTsq92z2wBJLqXbfajaf0cZli3BCFWx8kLPdn2oal-PdJuuNxi0Ggf96JBjtSNph_O/s1600/20120829_211001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9HbSjSk1U-6HqlPa8Bqslrk-y9wgQFSYwkZwekohySaRQD-F91ibXTl7luF4lXSikGTRtrnOmdNTsq92z2wBJLqXbfajaf0cZli3BCFWx8kLPdn2oal-PdJuuNxi0Ggf96JBjtSNph_O/s640/20120829_211001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
City view from 42nd floor of Gran Tokyo North Tower:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7N2mG-qYO4u6dxeGO5kHBkvVOGmbatx_HjGdhiILb0m48KBTlWk_OG-3mipAjWxzS5XEISXwSF7zm480wZwnWf-v_rDAwN9FkoTJZwOB8w7bmN0JkbZA2UqRaeKpd4lwNPf1xDsAd7vK/s1600/20120830_121738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7N2mG-qYO4u6dxeGO5kHBkvVOGmbatx_HjGdhiILb0m48KBTlWk_OG-3mipAjWxzS5XEISXwSF7zm480wZwnWf-v_rDAwN9FkoTJZwOB8w7bmN0JkbZA2UqRaeKpd4lwNPf1xDsAd7vK/s640/20120830_121738.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucZ0WXFS06gFMnOoftXXgJzIMijGjSyAqJpQwocyShPOsZXrWjeDmLCFIk6q-yc50eQSJFcD_Ya5ydGGVHnKPmfB1cgrxWKzCdnS9DT3805OJynPzvQHpcGJBWsOaQMNK_95GgB5RfrRF/s1600/20120830_121745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucZ0WXFS06gFMnOoftXXgJzIMijGjSyAqJpQwocyShPOsZXrWjeDmLCFIk6q-yc50eQSJFcD_Ya5ydGGVHnKPmfB1cgrxWKzCdnS9DT3805OJynPzvQHpcGJBWsOaQMNK_95GgB5RfrRF/s640/20120830_121745.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF14NP-U5U5HcfSfiZ4Ba4k5k9Y0OEW6djLKUxR8k_EGOhtJ5NwBN14Ff5ZSKqJ5MW-vmt_O-xip7U2IhpXQqZL_e3tPdYMhPWp_LbLkqVDhnkRh6vXhUycyHVrhFgSz0VSl8g-s43Jit/s1600/20120830_121808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF14NP-U5U5HcfSfiZ4Ba4k5k9Y0OEW6djLKUxR8k_EGOhtJ5NwBN14Ff5ZSKqJ5MW-vmt_O-xip7U2IhpXQqZL_e3tPdYMhPWp_LbLkqVDhnkRh6vXhUycyHVrhFgSz0VSl8g-s43Jit/s640/20120830_121808.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
New Tokyo Tower:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB82QJdZdjiLONHMd37yS8hOmbmkUirsR7KIE5eggkUfsAbnTAeI5CF8KonOm8ipk6zeXOyl_TfpNizbUSmzRb6HI6a3w_2Apc-sRpQI9VP30oUehsBAsgNuv5myHjrpJa_3dyhLgZLsb/s1600/20120830_121817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisB82QJdZdjiLONHMd37yS8hOmbmkUirsR7KIE5eggkUfsAbnTAeI5CF8KonOm8ipk6zeXOyl_TfpNizbUSmzRb6HI6a3w_2Apc-sRpQI9VP30oUehsBAsgNuv5myHjrpJa_3dyhLgZLsb/s640/20120830_121817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
In every lift that I entered I saw this Emergency Box snugly sitting in one corner. As Japan is earth quake prone, it is mandatory to have this box containing emergency survival kit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX0SBDK50DyjRKGdf03u42WhjLcPYyXJu9NJoutWSvWrvtIqcNA74t3G1zxmvJ3Lv1X1ZbwDp57eYd4RvD49ycFohqPMbIkjX6A6iaZrN4_7buW-BO5twLO4uHu8F0T5UfY6kV7UiPdfr/s1600/20120831_181827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX0SBDK50DyjRKGdf03u42WhjLcPYyXJu9NJoutWSvWrvtIqcNA74t3G1zxmvJ3Lv1X1ZbwDp57eYd4RvD49ycFohqPMbIkjX6A6iaZrN4_7buW-BO5twLO4uHu8F0T5UfY6kV7UiPdfr/s640/20120831_181827.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
As mentioned in my reply to Vasudevan below, I am providing below the pictures of the room I stayed in Tokyo. The room size exceeded my expectations. Actually I have stayed in one third of the size of this room in Paris, London and New York, which is what surprised me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVblQK9qzDVU1FD8Yt-5t1ZA8mdN9z-L_Km_QO1bCYf5dLODphQcYADxWNshtcwBVTz2I1wndmLDbsX4aDS0C17xm71Sh8ghZg2ofB2jmT0nYzcVJeRbYN6SKD8sNjPdeKZv5tIp4fU_JZ/s1600/20120828_010758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVblQK9qzDVU1FD8Yt-5t1ZA8mdN9z-L_Km_QO1bCYf5dLODphQcYADxWNshtcwBVTz2I1wndmLDbsX4aDS0C17xm71Sh8ghZg2ofB2jmT0nYzcVJeRbYN6SKD8sNjPdeKZv5tIp4fU_JZ/s640/20120828_010758.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuc1lOJ5VW0si7WWLtUiJ7O3PnbIk-vYXIL7iDETYbcOCi3ZQhIxVVYaJ2h9-6mmZPRGyJ70tQ0nSyGdioTcD1G8PdVPnDtVJ2hfQTXnQEiJp_vmiXm5tZJCihl-6CmthDCss-Veul6w-/s1600/20120828_010804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuc1lOJ5VW0si7WWLtUiJ7O3PnbIk-vYXIL7iDETYbcOCi3ZQhIxVVYaJ2h9-6mmZPRGyJ70tQ0nSyGdioTcD1G8PdVPnDtVJ2hfQTXnQEiJp_vmiXm5tZJCihl-6CmthDCss-Veul6w-/s640/20120828_010804.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUWb50pdA1XbazGJ3epGxmhqU2_jlx-EBk6r7tCItnVHYiote7thbHBVOnX1xcrat3xq9lj4A_Hi1L9EgNSsJUyN0y6Xy8xoXh4WapXt4nPXezQM_rk0c3rp5nDCSpf2WXB-Hm9ckN_hy/s1600/20120828_010814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUWb50pdA1XbazGJ3epGxmhqU2_jlx-EBk6r7tCItnVHYiote7thbHBVOnX1xcrat3xq9lj4A_Hi1L9EgNSsJUyN0y6Xy8xoXh4WapXt4nPXezQM_rk0c3rp5nDCSpf2WXB-Hm9ckN_hy/s640/20120828_010814.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVNEH5Fvtzjygg6j8GYkdn_UikuNvvTRLX9TnphZkIBquH6FgPQRrS_YPmCp_DaP98pG5JUCCPaKscrjDV5HBwBD6fxPD3VzS2OYBJVszWaC2h12tmdndBSXgj6r8hSh8D0_SxrRWZSMv/s1600/20120828_010828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVNEH5Fvtzjygg6j8GYkdn_UikuNvvTRLX9TnphZkIBquH6FgPQRrS_YPmCp_DaP98pG5JUCCPaKscrjDV5HBwBD6fxPD3VzS2OYBJVszWaC2h12tmdndBSXgj6r8hSh8D0_SxrRWZSMv/s640/20120828_010828.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In the hotel lobby I found this attractive floral decoration.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2b2WiIRFxAE5ip1XBF1BZNyXYcqF9OJRSPZzpFWVHP3JWls17SrifyYrkL-soZ0BY0PPa3yJeLRDcR4SUTxtow7d6pQfZqCQph0kT6RP6UudYFCZLWaFUaicOVjKcg_LimcpbFvLNPTn/s1600/20120828_091941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2b2WiIRFxAE5ip1XBF1BZNyXYcqF9OJRSPZzpFWVHP3JWls17SrifyYrkL-soZ0BY0PPa3yJeLRDcR4SUTxtow7d6pQfZqCQph0kT6RP6UudYFCZLWaFUaicOVjKcg_LimcpbFvLNPTn/s640/20120828_091941.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"> All pictures taken with Samsung Galaxy Note 8 megapixel camera</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-12339032639515116972012-09-22T20:26:00.001-07:002012-09-25T05:39:12.050-07:00iPhone 101<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Two days prior to the release of the new iPhone5, while at lunch with colleagues, coincidentally in a 85th floor restaurant in Taipei 101, conversation went towards the next possible versions of iPhone (after iPhone5, that is) and the one which was most popular imagination was the iPhone 101. Not sure, how all this started but guess was it because Foxconn a Taiwanese company being the assembler of the iPhone?<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures of the imaginative future versions of iPhone:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEhZojfMMEbQer9-ykmJb0MAJnragJhe1iNvt3UpvtFjBVQ8CDvDEqqvxXQpxSbLye2QYKDRYfgGgLZFiqZvijk_w4j8rjel9zvdopSvyVRbhzyJWt79mvg75UjSx8kUvhRPS0hCX4UW0/s1600/302675,xcitefun-iphone-tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEhZojfMMEbQer9-ykmJb0MAJnragJhe1iNvt3UpvtFjBVQ8CDvDEqqvxXQpxSbLye2QYKDRYfgGgLZFiqZvijk_w4j8rjel9zvdopSvyVRbhzyJWt79mvg75UjSx8kUvhRPS0hCX4UW0/s640/302675,xcitefun-iphone-tower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While googling for iPhone 101, also saw few more innovative possible future versions of iPhone. Here they are:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5cpnIGAy87bitibrXx3ioGWsCeeCouF8iastJmBEcSHnh_dXv7XT8F1IrpHxXv-AV-2ra798wN5VDimAuROZVmHA9H08fqj6JD8AZ0np12U9Qya_ZtQvfMwf3iRbA_mSonG6KfziS09q/s1600/iphone2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5cpnIGAy87bitibrXx3ioGWsCeeCouF8iastJmBEcSHnh_dXv7XT8F1IrpHxXv-AV-2ra798wN5VDimAuROZVmHA9H08fqj6JD8AZ0np12U9Qya_ZtQvfMwf3iRbA_mSonG6KfziS09q/s400/iphone2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVI1s1cZyklH1w3-t4c3Fvu5gXHgI0weYuwbwVUlg4i65OE4gp__RA_7etnthBUpy2aXA1NHHiFt8fZVKmzEyePuARYrbT4jgmKFmjDZPgY3PP0LcTN4J0SOKoRIDpItJEvOtsQEi8Uzl/s1600/iphone3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVI1s1cZyklH1w3-t4c3Fvu5gXHgI0weYuwbwVUlg4i65OE4gp__RA_7etnthBUpy2aXA1NHHiFt8fZVKmzEyePuARYrbT4jgmKFmjDZPgY3PP0LcTN4J0SOKoRIDpItJEvOtsQEi8Uzl/s400/iphone3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhS2nvgZixZdPNaijTDVgnVr7WRYFoGISDdeiZpPuxtnRMFgUGCgpaUXErAo5MgbPWG0jRdOT-oh2qJt4ErA5fpYnz5x7w4HARV_O3mxGp7_Dli5usP_5Ft8mXx_kInEsutknVltKTglN/s1600/iphone5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhS2nvgZixZdPNaijTDVgnVr7WRYFoGISDdeiZpPuxtnRMFgUGCgpaUXErAo5MgbPWG0jRdOT-oh2qJt4ErA5fpYnz5x7w4HARV_O3mxGp7_Dli5usP_5Ft8mXx_kInEsutknVltKTglN/s400/iphone5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFEJY2XW3oDJLOBt9oqGMVqiN-sek9cxuvhqC5uXyGa22pkhZU17WM3WWbXEVf4c3cxUllxHm_XIKWEeNpI1HLIb6meol1pNzSotx_TQjR3BY2ALVt6c0A1BUEcsdo_Xwpqip1QGKXfUy/s1600/iphone6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFEJY2XW3oDJLOBt9oqGMVqiN-sek9cxuvhqC5uXyGa22pkhZU17WM3WWbXEVf4c3cxUllxHm_XIKWEeNpI1HLIb6meol1pNzSotx_TQjR3BY2ALVt6c0A1BUEcsdo_Xwpqip1QGKXfUy/s400/iphone6.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">All pictures from google image search</span></div>
<br />
And, thanks to Vineet Digga, who provided the link, of the future iPhone versions, the best of all!<br />
<br />
Please click on the link below and discover iPhone Infinity!....just try it...its fun....<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Puritan; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://future-iphone.com/#5">http://future-iphone.com/#5</a></span>
<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-12051453994900225062012-09-22T07:45:00.001-07:002012-09-23T04:10:39.504-07:00Taipei (Taiwan) - Pictorial Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some of the pictures that I took during my recent visit to Taipei are in this post. Before that, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u>few key informations:</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Taiwan economy is booming thanks to China market</li>
<li>Taiwan tourism is booming thanks to tourists from China (Few years ago, there were no flights between China cities and Taiwan cities!). </li>
<li>Visa issuance process is pretty fast. For an Indian passport holder, getting a visa to Taipei is quite quick. </li>
<li>Foxconn, the company that assembles iPhone is a Taiwanese company. Ironically, they have their factories in Shenzhen, China</li>
<li>For one US Dollar, you get approximately, 30 Taiwanese Dollar or TWD, which is roughly for one TWD you need to pay approximately 1.80 rupees</li>
<li>Without basic knowledge of Chinese language, it is not that easy to move around in Taipei</li>
<li>Generally things are a bit expensive compared to Hong Kong or Shenzhen</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to go to the hot springs, which Taiwan is know for. However, I took pictures of some important places.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Shilin night market is one of the biggest night markets in Taipei. Taiwanese life style is economy inducing. Most of the citizens visit these night markets at least twice a week to eat food or to buy something, there by ensuring rotation of money.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Shilin Market:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gkFTgp4GbLlsYuVHSwOkERjlCGXK-ORIoVndDyR78eXynNSrwq-8JeK97Am6shrHfyQzb2D85I4xOJTnln2eSLW_Mui7YdceOkt7IGggYYh7BEjUMgA8bhvMUx-SPIh2FfsvPia8Um_B/s1600/20120918_194238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gkFTgp4GbLlsYuVHSwOkERjlCGXK-ORIoVndDyR78eXynNSrwq-8JeK97Am6shrHfyQzb2D85I4xOJTnln2eSLW_Mui7YdceOkt7IGggYYh7BEjUMgA8bhvMUx-SPIh2FfsvPia8Um_B/s640/20120918_194238.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Inside Shilin Market (absolutely packed on a Tuesday at around 8.20pm!):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Nlv-IG6rxFj0Bc7fJFytPiq8s19XzSBr2cj_Vsh255Y07HXE5uinzl5Xy42X3fyYu4QERz1eTWbNVm6Th3f-mBFCCGQH85FrEdb2E3b_hudeU6-H2KJceftuSFOUnjRE8AEZSH3-TRf9/s1600/20120918_194454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Nlv-IG6rxFj0Bc7fJFytPiq8s19XzSBr2cj_Vsh255Y07HXE5uinzl5Xy42X3fyYu4QERz1eTWbNVm6Th3f-mBFCCGQH85FrEdb2E3b_hudeU6-H2KJceftuSFOUnjRE8AEZSH3-TRf9/s640/20120918_194454.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A special waffle delicacy. Found a long queue of people buying. After seeing the shape of the waffle, thought I take the picture and share the same here. The owner of the shop was too happy for me to take the picture.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIZzXtAS7VI1wZdPX-VRJazTRhzZA8jveOYIrsvd7kyTbMomUMingVICxYmYw9KXuzpFM4YFSrtK1MlSV1-bIx6RRXuOjOHHcRB46WtztxPV2hYoYSxXQ1YVYLmeHNguhp8sESJL-u9Na/s1600/20120918_203036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIZzXtAS7VI1wZdPX-VRJazTRhzZA8jveOYIrsvd7kyTbMomUMingVICxYmYw9KXuzpFM4YFSrtK1MlSV1-bIx6RRXuOjOHHcRB46WtztxPV2hYoYSxXQ1YVYLmeHNguhp8sESJL-u9Na/s640/20120918_203036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Till recently, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_101" target="_blank">Taipei 101</a>, was the tallest building in the world. A picture of Taipei 101 in the night.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUJkMIDC_ZIKJUNsF1ABR6Xpmc4P-pLKyqqz1vZV4keIcKd3W08xuGcIi1i_q_h1vTZCQfsp3Z3Vs3LoP8F9YFOWEMjbFcO924do9zWeMZAtoajb5CfSf_grTi5wG1T6W6BtxU1DUp4My/s1600/20120918_211113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUJkMIDC_ZIKJUNsF1ABR6Xpmc4P-pLKyqqz1vZV4keIcKd3W08xuGcIi1i_q_h1vTZCQfsp3Z3Vs3LoP8F9YFOWEMjbFcO924do9zWeMZAtoajb5CfSf_grTi5wG1T6W6BtxU1DUp4My/s640/20120918_211113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Taipei 101 in day time. As the weather was cloudy picture is a bit hazy:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6pCpz2pjicXYwfyXUdeIYqRLVfEjrtKicahH0tFkRa09W0XLTLYRkYc-VEXXFUkNDuyGqzp1cwidm6hGVlEWQdtr87H7uA_LGtnjhecOd7n6ST3YSxScqKPZXUZxAK9DMtH8Ssn_-Ulj/s1600/20120919_084108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6pCpz2pjicXYwfyXUdeIYqRLVfEjrtKicahH0tFkRa09W0XLTLYRkYc-VEXXFUkNDuyGqzp1cwidm6hGVlEWQdtr87H7uA_LGtnjhecOd7n6ST3YSxScqKPZXUZxAK9DMtH8Ssn_-Ulj/s640/20120919_084108.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Taipei 101 from a closer angle:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBMdNCAdBbVm2TdLx4BBaeH47uHOCblc9noPFORM3Wcync-yB_PVYRSVMoIyVdSQRFFgjD7Dm6JsNvG8e3z0zC84TN-LyN9gd-m9M8GS83NsGR-pLkL8789dl2lqTvUSxE_Dyc8QWH1YT/s1600/20120919_084612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBMdNCAdBbVm2TdLx4BBaeH47uHOCblc9noPFORM3Wcync-yB_PVYRSVMoIyVdSQRFFgjD7Dm6JsNvG8e3z0zC84TN-LyN9gd-m9M8GS83NsGR-pLkL8789dl2lqTvUSxE_Dyc8QWH1YT/s640/20120919_084612.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
City views from 71st floor of Taipei 101:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBWfY8ApVp_KLbUe2NJ0Hz-iEhQ1yMoMijPIv6VNOW0y-Hjx4lDWwA6kC27Q6J4KKtaEOWSvzxlI4is6i2hHtzZ3Qb_haXKoFUsqU9-HMwybctInk3qj1R5ZAsgTOC5ZYcNaWWfRb_-UB/s1600/20120919_152050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBWfY8ApVp_KLbUe2NJ0Hz-iEhQ1yMoMijPIv6VNOW0y-Hjx4lDWwA6kC27Q6J4KKtaEOWSvzxlI4is6i2hHtzZ3Qb_haXKoFUsqU9-HMwybctInk3qj1R5ZAsgTOC5ZYcNaWWfRb_-UB/s640/20120919_152050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLca9EHpBirx5T7Zy-8CqLZc-e2k0dlfrB0C9kzTD5_ejFpyq5Op2pW_rqidlg7vyDWc05qVmU5is8xWllBDfgYwDddquQRqmHzet9yEYO91HdROrVrqZnPG3UThZeTdp4CgoenoSjDDiP/s1600/20120919_152058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLca9EHpBirx5T7Zy-8CqLZc-e2k0dlfrB0C9kzTD5_ejFpyq5Op2pW_rqidlg7vyDWc05qVmU5is8xWllBDfgYwDddquQRqmHzet9yEYO91HdROrVrqZnPG3UThZeTdp4CgoenoSjDDiP/s640/20120919_152058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKiulb6JIRf-P7dDPQhqYohNaMvVuVN5nAhHRgdLkXal_IfHShCk44Lr_s6JMXR0GmsFzgyQnLriOs29v8k2UUpnAOL7VRKT9ygIJc4B4iQtlGVoWiEP9kokVsn5cMZ_1zPwfn5RBc1t5/s1600/20120919_152109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKiulb6JIRf-P7dDPQhqYohNaMvVuVN5nAhHRgdLkXal_IfHShCk44Lr_s6JMXR0GmsFzgyQnLriOs29v8k2UUpnAOL7VRKT9ygIJc4B4iQtlGVoWiEP9kokVsn5cMZ_1zPwfn5RBc1t5/s640/20120919_152109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">All the above pictures were taken using Samsung Galaxy Note, 8 megapixel camera</span></div>
<br />
Lastly, I should mention about Taipei taxis. Similar to New York taxis, they are yellow in colour and driving on the left hand side. Here is a pic:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2VtDbakAtzVzaQdtoeviw_yRTkis9ujxAz60vxe65b07zEFNeodr_gbjqyw0ETa92ikh-8kbzsgLQn7n1jGvxenlAd-uYc92lCf4NLglJ4EsV_j2yodzEPzMbRZLZw9IifVMUO1KATcd/s1600/25_231d733d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2VtDbakAtzVzaQdtoeviw_yRTkis9ujxAz60vxe65b07zEFNeodr_gbjqyw0ETa92ikh-8kbzsgLQn7n1jGvxenlAd-uYc92lCf4NLglJ4EsV_j2yodzEPzMbRZLZw9IifVMUO1KATcd/s400/25_231d733d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">Image sourced from Google search</span></div>
</div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-75146636080382793572012-09-15T19:13:00.003-07:002012-09-22T22:21:24.463-07:00A Short Video Of Noodle Making<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
During my latest visit to Jakarta, I watched with fascination the simple way the chef was making noodles. I grabbed the video and here is the video of live noodle making in Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CHcWT-7NMlA" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Above video was shot on Samsung Galaxy Note.<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-75361376438392263892012-07-29T06:43:00.002-07:002012-09-22T22:22:02.451-07:00Adios Aamir(don't)go...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I hate to say goodbye to SatyamevJayate. Keep going Aamir.<br />
<br />
Your sincere attempt SatyamevJayate has, in my view, definitely created ripples in our country.<br />
<br />
Hatsoff Aamir, to you for bringing about awareness on a number of social issues that are plaguing India.<br />
<br />
I wish you didn't stop with the 13th episode and sincerely wish you that you comeback soon with bunch of unattended social issues.<br />
<br />
Of the episodes, I liked most the episode on Medical Ethics, generic drugs, the episode on Water, the episode on female foeticide.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-89276819938396362042012-07-27T06:02:00.001-07:002012-07-27T06:07:20.363-07:00Eenadu (ఈనాడు) ePaper app for iPad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Satish Pasupunuri has come up with an upgraded version of his earlier epaper app for Eenadu newspaper. Now the latest version is for iPad for reading Eenadu ఈనాడు e-paper. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Application name and the instructions are given to install the same on your iPad. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The earlier version that I mentioned in <a href="http://chroniclesofraviakula.blogspot.sg/2012/02/iphoneipod-app.html" target="_blank">my post on 6th Feb 2012</a> was for iPhone, iPod. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Now you can keep track of happenings back home on your iPad too. The application works similar to</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://chroniclesofraviakula.blogspot.sg/2012/01/eenadu-news-paper.html" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Eenadu web pdf copies</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">version that I posted few days ago. You can increase or decrease the size of the pdf copy and the resolution is simply great. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBpf3ql8qDRhJ-rwGrWyBcpZ7RuUZOSHfMYdQK5JbDBDsqkUUTiY_PT0F__axtIM7k3rs9olOaF1rl4bkxizH-g3aDYcS1P09OoBjCn2JNaG2exQlmPxq-6X68FCTv5cjCvW_HxX2R7Ii/s1600/eenadu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBpf3ql8qDRhJ-rwGrWyBcpZ7RuUZOSHfMYdQK5JbDBDsqkUUTiY_PT0F__axtIM7k3rs9olOaF1rl4bkxizH-g3aDYcS1P09OoBjCn2JNaG2exQlmPxq-6X68FCTv5cjCvW_HxX2R7Ii/s1600/eenadu.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiY5RcsPKKgoc5TlWstochafWEh0cO-P5hkZCPcCUmJpwoGxioOIfxgLzlUZvq-Gu-i-OoCyLu_sMtgc4UJ_67wig09elSFF84tFCsnGvBzb2uPiGBeMrGBnK6zFTzV-d2rbKJhNey_jcd/s1600/eenadu2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiY5RcsPKKgoc5TlWstochafWEh0cO-P5hkZCPcCUmJpwoGxioOIfxgLzlUZvq-Gu-i-OoCyLu_sMtgc4UJ_67wig09elSFF84tFCsnGvBzb2uPiGBeMrGBnK6zFTzV-d2rbKJhNey_jcd/s320/eenadu2.png" width="244" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
At this point in time, this app is free. Go ahead and download it from Apple Appstore asap before it becomes a paid app.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Please download and leave some good comments on the app store for all the hard work that Satish is doing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Please share with readers if you have any info on any other Indian Newspaper e-paper apps. Thanks.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-67531432028210693362012-07-08T02:32:00.003-07:002012-07-27T08:19:58.149-07:00'Indian Idol 6' or 'North Indian Idol 6' ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While watching promos for Indian Idol 6, after watching a very talented Devendra Singh from Punjab, I got hooked and have been watching this edition of Indian Idol right from episode one (thanks to <a href="http://www.videochaska.com/indian-idol/" target="_blank">Videochaska.com</a>)<br />
<br />
The preliminary rounds of selection were pretty good with the Sony Television discovering extremely talented children from the hinterlands of our vast country.<br />
<br />
The main audition centres were -<br />
Mumbai,<br />
Kolkatta,<br />
Delhi,<br />
Lucknow <span style="background-color: white;">and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Ahmedabad. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">In addition, there were also mini audition centres like - </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Amritsar, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Jaipur, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Rajkot and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Aurangabad. </span><br />
<br />
Yes, you saw it right. There is no Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai or Trivandrum/Cochin.<br />
<br />
I completely understand it is Sony Television's prerogative to choose where they want to conduct their auditions.<br />
<br />
However, given that the last year winner - Sreeramchandra Mynampati is a Telugu and is from the city of Hyderabad, doesn't it sound a bit odd that Hyderabad has been given a miss? Wasn't there Hemachandra, also from Hyderabad, who was in top 3 in Zee Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, few years ago?<br />
<br />
There are certainly a number of talented children like Sreeram and Hema in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Trivandrum etc. The whiz kids behind Indian Idol 6 have been very unkind to these youngsters and it is really unfair.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Back in Hyderabad, like my sister's, almost all the families do not move out of their houses on Fridays and Saturdays evenings, because Indian Idol is telecast (am not sure if it will be the same for Indian Idol 6, though). Meaning, Sony Television has equal or bigger audience not just in Hyderabad but also in cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Cochin etc. </span><br />
<br />
By not including the key south Indian cities in the audition (and by depriving the talented youngsters of their rightful entry to a national film industry), in my view, Sony Television perhaps has done a commercial misjudgement, which they will realise, when they see their south TRPs and the SMS voting from southern cities.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Readers of this post, no matter which part of the country you belong, just step back and read it objectively and slam me if you feel I am wrong.</span><br />
<br />
When the global boundaries are getting erased, we have some smart people in Sony Television who are trying to divide our great country musically, linguistically?<br />
<br />
God bless them!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-72525870213565577172012-06-22T06:00:00.001-07:002012-06-25T16:41:18.602-07:00'Cloud Computing' Vishwa Bandhu Gupta's New Explanation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I received this video link yesterday, in which a former (or suspended?) Income Tax Commissioner by name Mr. Vishwa Bandhu Gupta is giving an explanation on 'Cloud Seeding' and the hazards of the same in an interview.<br />
<br />
Well I am neither a Computer geek nor an InfoTech (IT) expert. But when I heard him explaining that rain can create aberration for the files being retrieved from 'cloud seeding', I almost fell down my chair.<br />
<br />
Also, in the beginning of the video Mr. Gupta is giving gyan on phone numbers getting transmitted to the battery in old mobile phones.<br />
<br />
Watch the video embedded here and enjoy. There is no dearth of people who can talk about anything and everything in our country.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AnxrJiS5uKU" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188227020757569423.post-48499924208603920372012-06-21T05:59:00.003-07:002012-06-21T07:59:41.859-07:00Urgent Need For A Iftikhar Choudhry In India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Judicial activism or whatever name you call it, Pakistan proved that a Prime Minister of a country can be removed by a top court for contempt of court.<br />
<br />
Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court, Iftikhar Choudhary removed Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from office just a couple of days ago.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2012-06-19/asia/world_asia_pakistan-prime-minister_1_zardari-prime-minister-ruling-party?_s=PM:ASIA">http://articles.cnn.com/2012-06-19/asia/world_asia_pakistan-prime-minister_1_zardari-prime-minister-ruling-party?_s=PM:ASIA</a>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSj7gWDnbHy3ycJ24zc7pttULstrXYP6UgIUCqYO5vJL6JMIS6kTFcILk2n6ul-7bCh94Oyu-RaFdgLsBQsdEv_dZOldHxfBNgknM6jZ_RUCDyEpUJwMScxBqMnt7HMH8FtUX44QTSa33P/s1600/Iftikhar-Muhammad-Chaudhry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSj7gWDnbHy3ycJ24zc7pttULstrXYP6UgIUCqYO5vJL6JMIS6kTFcILk2n6ul-7bCh94Oyu-RaFdgLsBQsdEv_dZOldHxfBNgknM6jZ_RUCDyEpUJwMScxBqMnt7HMH8FtUX44QTSa33P/s200/Iftikhar-Muhammad-Chaudhry.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court Mr. Iftikhar Choudhry</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">This is an exceptional and poignant story in 3rd world or developing countries.</span><br />
<br />
Well, that there is a new political turmoil in Pakistan is not the subject of my post, rather, we in India need such courageous public officers to punish fraudulent people who are looting the country of crores and crores of cash and properties.<br />
<br />
In India, we have so many crooks who have amassed wealth illegally and go scot free after a brief sojourn in a judicial custody.<br />
<br />
Take for example, Kanimozhi (for 2G scam), Andimuth Raja (for 2G scam), Maran Brothers (for Spectrum Allocation scam), Lalu Prasad (Fodder scam), Mayawati, Ramalingaraju (Satyam accounting fraud) etc.<br />
<br />
Currently, Jagan Mohan Reddy (from corruption captial of India - Hyderabad for amassing huge wealth on a quid pro quo basis), Pattabhi Rama Rao (CBI Special Judge who accepted cash for releasing Gali Janardhana Reddy on bail), Gali Janardhana Reddy (Iron Ore massive scam), Yeddyurappa (Iron Ore scam) are biding their time to come out of their customary (eye-wash) custodies.<br />
<br />
When are we going to witness such heroes taking the unscrupulous crooks like those mentioned above to task?<br />
<br />
I am positive and waiting. There will be some one soon doing an Iftikhar Choudhy in India.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Ravi Akulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06692400923997165181noreply@blogger.com5