Read: Proof of heaven - worth a read

For no particular reason the second book of heaven in a month. (They both were in the NY times best seller list). This book was racy and readable. If you have read other books on NDEs (Near Death Experiences) this will be a doctors / scientists view of the same - reassuringly consistent!

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Movie: Kai Po Che: Mediocre but songs are good

The manja song is good.

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Book review: 59 seconds: Think a little change a lot!

I read thinking fast thinking slow, it was heavy and slow moving. This book uses a lot of the learning from the book and several others and winds it into practical wisdom that you can use

A book that could change a lot after you read it.

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Book: Good to great: Jim Collins

Good book - you always knew that leadership was not about charisma or sweet talk, yet around you its rewarded almost every day. This book probably presents to most concrete evidence of substance and humility over style as the real reason for great performance. (level 5 leaders as put in by the author)

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Book review: Habit: The power of habit : Why we do...... by Charles Duhigg

Great book....... Especially if you have been wondering why smokers "never" quit or how sometimes of the year you have been able to pick up a lot of good habits but never been able to sustain them. Worth reading a few times.

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Movie: Cocktail: Nice one - viewable once

I am not much of a fan of Saif Ali or Deepika but this movie is quite well taken and breezy. Some of the songs are catchy too.

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Restaurant review: Best place for Onion Pakoda in Chennai City

This place - Karpagambal Kapali Sweets - in Mylapore Mathala narayanan Street (near Kapaleeswara or Kapali temple) has not changed at all in the last 30 years I have known. Its always had this "dirty, dingy" look and a crowd of people standing fighting in queue to get hot onion pakodas (often referred to as Thool Pakoda) which is probably the best in the city.
  Its a one way and you may have to come in through Kutchery road or walk from the Temple/RASI or from nearby Saravana Bhavan
View Larger Map
Some pics of the place:

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Movie: Vicky Donor: Good to watch once

Interesting movie concept. I was initially un-enthused about movies stereotyping Punjabis and Bengalis but they developed the concept of a sperm donor nicely





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Book: Read: Anything you want : Derek Sivers

A book of good influence, especially if you plan to start something on your own.
 

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Read: The Four Agreements

ok book.

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Book review: Secret of the Nagas

Contrary to what I read, this book does not get boring (which is usual of Part 2s - This is a sequel to the Immortals of Meluha). I found that he had taken it quite nicely to a closure. Overall a worthy read (especially for a person reading it a long time)

I am eager to complete the Shiva Trilogy with the third book by Amish Tripathi

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Book review: The immortals of Meluha

Immortals of Meluha is a nice historical concept book - Woven Indian history and fiction . Gripping and worth a read.
This is my second ebook. Have a strange feeling with better ink, lower backlight I will switch to digital books.

Could have built a more complex web of characters and story - rather shallow and unable to sustain the next book (like Asterix or Hobbit)

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Saw: Fight club: Movie

Good movie - wierd theme but very well executed. Its in the top 500 in IMDB!

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Read: Angels and Demons: My review

The first book (or rather 2nd) by Dan Brown book Davinci Code was great. Angels and Demons was good to start with but became cliche and somewhere down the book , he did not know how to end the story.
Also, I feel that his SEO guru must have told him to start a controversy so that people will buy the book - he brings in vatican and exploits key people to get some publicity (but ahem.... it fizzles out). Acceptable except for the last few chapters.

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Read: Predictably irrational by Dan Ariely: Behavioral Economics

Nice book - I find that the experiments were interesting and a lot of predictable irrational human behavior is explained. However, the ending was rather abrupt and even the summary hurried and unlinked - I am left feeling a little directionless with all the facts and figures. Dan Ariely is a trained economist and the linking up economics and behaviour is coming up pretty well. I heard theres a book by Kahnemanthats similar too.

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Tall trees is a great place - review and photos

Where to stay in Munnar ?  I stayed at Tall trees and found it to be a great place



This is a very nice place. Nestled inside a near 70 acre forest greenery and a little away from the Munnar town (approx 4 km) 


They offer beautiful cottages that overlook a green forested hill side. The campus is tastefully done and the staff is helpful. Its very peaceful..... note that I did not say silent - the cicadas and birds and frogs go all day long but I am sure you dont mind it ;-). The cottages are well done and furnished / maintained well.

Reception

 They have a small shop that sells knick-knacks too - chips, ceigarettes et al.

 The  way to the restaurant

 Brooks inside the campus....

 Glass roof dining at the restraunt .... very nice ambience and very friendly staff

They have a restaurant "Hill spice" that served Buffet Dinner and Breakfast. Very unique setting with glass ceilings. The only downside is that you need to walk up a hill (by city people standards) about 300-600 m to reach the restaurant .... well it builds up an apetite

There are lots of things for the children to do too - TT/Carrom/Rock Climbing/Play area/Shuttle and for some grown up types too - Ayurveda , Fitness walk

They help you hire an auto or a car to to to town or sight seeing in Munnar respectively.

(PS: I even heard Edavapathi movie is being shot in Munnar when we were there. Wonder what the movie name means!)

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Places to stay in Vaitheeswaran Koil: Hotel Akshardham: A review

Sadhabhishekam is a very popular staying place (and only decent one) at Vaitheeswaran Koil - Until now. Recently, they have opened another hotel , Akshardham. We ourselves were quite surprised with this place and we stayed here in Apr 2011.

The hotel is new and the rooms are clean. They are also fitted up well and the staff is relatively helpful. They get coffee and tea to the room and you may have to walk across to the Sadhabhishekam hotels restraunt for breakfast, lunch or dinner or other places nearby - see my post

The place is still under construction as they plan new cottages for people intending to stay longer.

From 201104_VaitheeswaranKoil

Phone number: Contact persons Ayyappan or Senthil - 04364 - 279014

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Places to eat in Vaitheeswaran Koil: Thaiyalnayaki , Durga Bhavan and Sadhabhishekam : A review

Anyone starting from Chennai early morning will know that they will land up hungry by the time they arrive at Vaitheeswaran Koil. There are few eateries there that serve a decen vegetarian meal. I am listing 3 that do
1. Durga Mess - a recent find of ours. From the main entrance it is just 2 ~ 3 shops away on the main road opposite the temple entrance. They serve good south indian food on a plantain leaf, albeit a bit spicy. They also get you curd from a shop for curd rice if you want.
2. Thaiyalnayaki mess - Again a good place to eat whih serves south indian food on a plantain leaf. They are less spicy. We have been eating here for the last 10 + years but the standard of food has recently fallen.
3. Sadhabhishekam - A more upmarket place to eat. They serve north and south indian, chinese food!! The place is a little far off from the temple , especially if you try walking in the hot sun.

From Blogger Pictures

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Places to stay in Tiruvarur: Hotel Royal Park: Review

We have been staying at Hotel Royal Park on the outskirts of Tiruvarur (also Thiruvarur) for neaarly 3 times we have been there. Latest being Apr 2011. It is just after the flyover in Tiruvarur and you have to take a rickshaw to reach. It is a good place to stay if you have your own conveyance.

Rooms: They have both AC and Non-AC and cost around Rs.1250 per double room. The toilets and bed are clean and thats about it. Dont expect Luxury or running hot water throughout the day. You need to book in advance as it often gets filled out. The best part of the hotel is its sorroundings - its got place for walking around in the front and sides. It is located outside the city , so relatively calm and in the middle of some fields.

Food: They do serve coffee and tea in the room and have recently got a veg restraunt too. Earlier it was Non-Veg and did not have too much of a crowd, now it is veg and still does not have too much of a crowd - probably because it is a little outside the city and not in the bus stand. The food is at best ok and the restraunt gets its crowd in weekends and festive holidays.

Tip: If you want hot water in the morning, please ensure you tell the reception the night before and also mention the number of buckets. They usually deliver it in the room in the morning.

From 201104_VaitheeswaranKoil

Typically, if you want to visit Vaitheeswaran koil and do not get a room in Hotel Sathabishekam, this is a good alternative place to stay and visit the temple.

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Read: Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

Amazing book - definitely worth reading and making it part of your daily work. Its one of those thought changing books.I am still pondering over which of my problems to apply.

The book argues about the simplicity and effectiveness of a checklist - especially to specialist fields and intelligent men and women, who loathe a process!

The book argues about the simplicity and effectiveness of a checklist - especially to specialist fields and intelligent men and women, who loathe a process!

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