Day before yesterday i received a call from the staff of country vacations saying that i am the lucky winner of a lucky draw and come and collect three gifts (one kitchen set of 6 glass bowls, a gift voucher worth Rs.25,000/- which can be utilized for getting the accommodation and pass to country club for one day) and come with my husband. Since my husband is abroad, i went with my neighboring couples to get the gifts and later realized that  it was not at all necessary to go with the spouse. It was held at the basement of the Country Club, in outer ring road, Bangalore. The staff said we have to attend a presentation for 1 hour and later the gifts can be collected. The so called presentation was a trap and i realized it only after reaching home. It is about country vacations and through that gaining a Country club life time membership. I fancied about the idea of getting a membership.

I spoke with my husband regarding this and he was not interested in this since the beginning. I thought of convincing him later on and made a small token of payment to block the offer. They offered me a set of lemonade as a compliment. After reading others experiences, i am bit confused.

I read the bitter experiences of of others in the web http://www.consumercourt.in/travel-agent/5733-country-vacation-cheated-us.html and realized that it is not wise to go ahead with the idea of joining the concept of country vacation. So be careful when you receive a call like this.

Wishing you all the best for not getting into the trap of Country Club’s Country Vacations.

Last week i bought a Chakson thermal cooker for cooking rice. Until recently i was using white rice to prepare lunch dishes but as part of the new year resolution (one of the resolutions) to start brown rice for lunch instead of white rice. The cooking time of white rice is moderately less compared to brown rice. Usually i need two LPG cylinders in a year but after using brown rice it didn’t last for 45 days even and i was shocked also. Then my neighbor asked me to buy a Chakson thermal cooker since it saves lot of gas consumption and time. To my surprise it is 100% true.

Chakson thermal cooker is a product of Anna Group, in Kerala. It is available in different sizes but mine is the smallest size available ( 6 liters capacity, in which 750 gms of brown rice can be cooked). I paid Rs.988 (1098 is the MRP and they provided 10% discount on this price). I think there is a price difference in Bangalore and Kerala.

Boil brown rice for 5 mins (after the water is boiled) and keep it inside the Chakson for 1 hr with lid on. After 1 hr, drain the excess water and use it. Chakson helps to cook rice with the vacuum inside. It is an ideal kitchen ware for me since i can save lot of cooking time as well as energy.

Health benefits of brown rice:

The unpolished brown rice is a good source of complex carbohydrates providing starch and fibre. Brown rice is more nutritious than white rice since it is  richer in vitamin B’s, E and minerals like manganese and selenium. It needs more time to digest than any other kind of rice and  it is allowing the body to consume the energy released over an extended period of time.

You don’t feel like having anything in between since you have a full feeling. Try, you will also enjoy this rice.

Last Saturday, on the eve of valentine’s day, we went to Lumbini Gardens, Bangalore. It is situated on the banks of Nagarwara Lake and is a simple place for boating. It is located near the Hebbal flyover, on the way to Bangalore International airport. The funniest part is i have crossed the place many times whenever i went to the airport but never noticed. Even though it is located beside a heavy traffic road, it provides enough parking space for the visitors.

entrance to the gardens.

It is opened from 10.30 am to 8.30 pm and charges a flat entrance fee of Rs. 30 and no charges for the kids below 3 years. It provides neat and quality service to the visitors. It is a small place compared to the other water theme parks in Bangalore but tried to accommodate  the maximum facilities to entertain kids and families. If you are taking a camera, pay another Rs. 30/- It is worth paying since the ambience inside the park provides enough to satisfy your photographic skill.

Nagarwara lake

a dragon shaped kiddy ride

Big Ben, a clock tower inside the gardens

sunset view

One of the major attractions is the boating and it provides pedal boating, coffee boating (don’t know what it is since i didn’t try it), pleasure boating, etc., The place accommodates a wave pool, kiddy rides, Spanish bull ride, a children’s play area, trampoline bungee, twirling vortex, a swing, a kids train in the shape of a giraffe, etc.. 

No food items are allowed inside since Cafe’ Coffee day to entertain the coffee lovers and Food courts are inside to do the same. Prices are a bit high compared to the  quality.

It is a must visit place in Bangalore and provides enough place for the family entertainment. Don’t miss it

Instant Noodles is a popular cheap food item that keeps coming up to the market to attract the fast paced community of youngsters. Even though it is convenient to the user by saving  a lot of their cooking time of  but it is very unhealthy to consume because of its low nutritional value, rich in preservatives, deep fry causes cancer, etc.

What is instant noodles?

Instant noodles are dried or precooked noodles fused with oil, and often sold with a packet of flavoring. Dried noodles are usually eaten after being cooked or soaked in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes, while precooked noodles can be reheated, or eaten straight from the packet

How are you aware of the good and bad effects of the instant noodles?

Instant noodles are often criticized as junk food since it is high in carbohydrates and low in fiber, vitamins and minerals. It has high level of saturated fat and trans fat. It is bad for the health due the high calorie and the flavoring (MSG) used inside.

What is MSG and its after effects?

MSG stands for Monosodium Glutamate is a chemical additive used as a flavor enhancer with no substitute. MSG causes neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as well as seizures, brain cell and damage, allergies, rashes, asthma attacks, headaches, and brain tumors.

MSG is not only found in noodles but is used around the globe in soups and broths, sauces, gravies, and flavoring and spice blends. MSG is also present in a variety of processed foods such as canned and frozen meats, fish, poultry, vegetables, and ready-to-eat food plates, dressings, ketchup, mayonnaise, soy sauce, sausages, snacks, some processed cheeses, soup powders for instant noodles, etc.

Is it safe to eat instant noodles on daily basis?

Absolutely not. Once you have consumed instant noodles, it will take 4 to 5 days to excrete the wax, which is coated on the noodles, from the body. But we can get rid off the wax if the noodles are cooked in the right way.

What is the right way of cooking instant noodles?

• Boil the noodles in a pot with water.
• Once the noodles is cooked, drain the water (Repeat the procedure 3 to 4 times)
• Boil another pot of water till boiling and put the noodles into the hot boiling water and then shut the fire.
• Only at this stage when the fire is off, and while the water is very hot, put the ingredient with the powder into the water, to make noodle soup.
• However, if you need dry noodles, take out the noodles and add the ingredient with the powder and toss it to get dry noodles.

Even though the basic ingredient of the instant noodle is wheat flour, it is not advisable to eat on a regular basis due to its MSG content and wax coating but can have it for a change in the regular menu, if it is cooked in the right way. Remember, it is not healthy to eat noodles.

Wishing you all a good health!!!!!!!!

Neelathamara movie is remade by the director Lal Jose and music  is recomposed  by Vidyasagar as a tribute to its original craftsmen after a pretty time gap of thirty years since it was originally written by the master script writer MT Vasudevan Nair. The lead characters, Kunjimalu and Haridas, are played new faces like Archana and Kailash. Very promising new faces to the Malayalam movie industry. The story line is based on the absolute faith of villagers on a blue water lily (blue lotus). The story happens in Kizhakkumbattu home around Kunjimalu, Haridas, Malukuttyamma (mother of Haridas), where Kunjimalu is working as a housemaid and succumbs to the charm of Haridas and finally ending up in his bed.

Exploiting housemaids was very common in every big Nair homes during 70’s and relevant to the movie when it was made for the first time. Still the Malayalis accepted the movie whole heartedly. “Anuragavilochananayi” songs caught the attention of people without a second thought but when I was watching movie i felt the music scored is too high tech for 70’s concept. Photography is excellent.

Reema Kallingal is playing a village girl, Shaaroth Ammini, who is still not engaged to anyone due to the problems in her horoscope is finally committing suicide. But in her expressions, i felt she is also having a crush on the hero, Haridas.

Samvrutha is playing the wife of Haridas, Ratnam. Very bold characterization of the actress. In all the means Lal Jose and his team has done the best with a theme that felt right three decades back.

• Banner – Revathy Kalamandir
• Producer – Suresh Kumar
• Script – MT Vasudevan Nair
• Music – Vidyasagar
• Director – Lal Jose
• Movie time – 2 hrs

Neelathamara heroines, Ambika (left) when the movie was originally made in 1970’s and Archana (right) when the movie is remade in 2009

Flavours of India is one of the programs aired in Kairali TV. This program is anchored by Dr. Lekshmi Nair, who is a very familiar face to the Keralites across the world. It is a travelogue with Dr. Lekshmi Nair, who has started from the Southern tip and she is in Goa right now. I am a regular viewer of this program since this program highlight the important places in each state with unique recipes. More over, she is compiling the importance of the place with the program. She is creating a homely feel to every viewer with her language and mannerism. Flavours of India is aired from Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm. Don’t miss it.

Attitude face wash is a water based gel and a 100% soap free formulation that traps oil and gently foams it away. It effectively removes dirt, excess oil and reduces the surface sebum levels that can clog pores.

Attitude face wash rinses easily and its fresh floral fragrance leaves the skin feeling energized, clean and soft. It is available in 100ml tubes and the MRP is Rupees 209/- the product code is SKU No.: 21 1461 IDF. It is sold through Amway under the category of Beauty product.

Wet face and hands and then squeeze a small quantity of the Face Wash onto the palms and work up lather. Apply on face and neck in circular motions. Rinse with water. Use twice daily.

Dynamite Hair cream especially for the hair conditioning needs of men. This non-sticky hair scream gives men confidence of naturally styled hair all day long. Its natural ingredients like Henna, Shikakai Extract and coconut oil condition and soften the hair and give it that extra shine. Its pleasant fragrance stays long and daily application leaves your hair feeling weightless and easy to manage.

It also contains Vitamin E which helps strengthen the hair roots. Its available in 150 gm tube and the SKU No.: 23-1227-IDF The MRP is Rupees 80/- only It is categorized under great value products and sold through Amway.

make your own style statement today itself.

Chota Bheem in Pogo channel is one of the favorites of my daughter, Ichu. Even I like to watch the same program. It narrates the happenings in Dholakpur kingdom. The characters in addition to Chota Bheem are, Chutki, Raju, Kalia, Dolu, Bolu, Jaggu, King Chandra Varma, his daughter Indumathi, Mangal Singh, etc,… Chota Bheem is helping to solve the problems which is faced by the people of Dholakpur.

I encourage my daughter to watch the program since its language is very good and the moral of the events are good as well. They are not using any advanced weapons or instruments for fighting purpose and keep the kids to very nature. It is a program worth watching.

In the snap, Chota Bheem is with the king Chandra Varma who is talking to the Snake king, where the snake king says their Nag Mani has been stolen by some one from Dholakpur and if that is not returned by that evening, Dholakpur will be destroyed by the snakes. Later they found that Kalia has stolen the Nag Mani and Chota Bheem with his friends making Kalia to return the Nag Mani to  the Snake king.

I am trying this Kohinoor special Nawab long aromatic rice for the first time. It is not up to the specification mentioned on the packet, long aromatic rice. It is not having that special aroma which is common to the other basmati rice but it is not so expensive. Per kilogram price is Rupees 52/- only. Its color is pale yellow as well as the color remains after cooking also. It is ideal for occasions that demand rice dishes in bulk.