The Powerful Mind

After lots of waiting and worried moments finally Neo sports is going to telecast Copa America Live telecast in India. Just few hours left for the Kick off of the much awaited Copa America championship. Waiting for the messi magic

High-end Android smartphones in India:

2011-06-19T18:06:00.001+05:30

LG Optimus 2X: This is the only dual core Android smartphone available in Indian market right now, although Samsung has announced that Galaxy S2 , but still Optimus 2X is one of your best bet. With company’s confirmation regarding the Gingerbread update for the device, this dual core beauty is a must have if you are looking for a performance giant.
Optimus 2X features a 4 inch display, 1 GHz dual core nVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, Android 2.2, 8 MP camera, 512 MB RAM, 8GB internal storage & Expandable external storage of upto 32GB.
MRP: INR 30,000

HTC Desire S: HTC recently started selling Desire S in Indian Market, powered by Gingerbread it is one of the few devices with Android’s latest smartphone OS version in the country. Although it does not possess the rocking specs as Optimus 2X, it does come with some pretty decent internals at its price.
HTC Desire S features HTC Sense, 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8255 processor, dual front and back cameras, and 3.7-inch WVGA display.
MRP: INR 25,490

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc: It is an absolute beauty, by far the best Android smartphone in term of the looks. Don’t worry, it’s not just the looks, it does come with solid internals to give you nice performance.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc features 4.2 inch multi-touch screen, 8.1 MP camera with HD video recording, Android 2.3, 1500mAh battery, and 1 Ghz Qualcomm processor.
MRP: INR 30,000

Screen

- 854x480 pixels
- 4.2" 16,777,216 colour TFT

Memory

- Internal phone storage: 1GB (up to 320MB free)
- RAM: 512MB
- Memory card slot: microSD™, up to 32GB * Actual free memory may vary due to phone pre-configuration.

Networks

- GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
- UMTS/HSPA 800/850/1900/2100
- UMTS/HSPA 900/2100

Available colours

- Midnight Blue - Misty Silver Possible limited market availability.

Sizes

- 125.0 x 63.0 x 8.7 mm
- 4.9 x 2.5 x 0.3 inches

Weight

- 117.0 gr
- 4.1 oz

Nexus S: Manufactured by Samsung in partnership with Google, Nexus S is a great device for anyone who wants to experience true Android. Its software aspects are all as per Google’s instructions, so it will always be the first device to receive Android update until the next Nexus phone launches in the market.
Nexus S features Android 2.3, NFC hardware, 1 GHz processor, 5MP rear camera with front VGA cam, 512 MB RAM, 16GB internal memory
MRP: INR 30,400

Samsung Galaxy SL: A variant of popular Galaxy S, Galaxy SL leaves out Super AMOLED to sport Super Clear LCD. While the specs are pretty much in line with original Galaxy S, SL comes at a much lower price and is a solid device for anyone looking for best Android smartphone below 20K.
Galaxy SL features TI-OMAP 1GHz processor, 4GB internal memory, 4 inch display, Android 2.2 and 5MP camera.
MRP: INR 19000

Acer Liquid Metal: This Android beauty from Acer is a good value for money and a great option for anyone looking to combine style and performance.
It features 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230 processor, which is also in HTC Desire Z, 5-megapixel autofocus camera with flash, 720p HD video recording, 3.6-inch display, Dolby Surround sound support, Android 2.2 and DLNA/UPnP media streaming.
MRP: INR 20,000

Samsung Galaxy Ace: Part of recent additions to Samsung’s Galaxy series, Galaxy Ace is a decent mid-range Android smartphone. It features Android 2.2 Froyo, 3.5-inch HVGA TFT display, 800MHz processor, 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, and 1350 mAh battery.
MRP: INR 15,000
Other devices in the category include HTC Wildfire, HTC Legend, Motorola Milestone, Motorola Flipout, Motorola Backflip, and Acer Liquid.

Entry-level Android smartphones in India:
Samsung Galaxy Pop: Decent performance in affordable price, comes in both GSM as well as CDMA variants. Galaxy Pop features 600 Mhz processor, Android 2.2, 3.14 inch display and 3MP camera
MRP: INR 9000
Samsung Galaxy Fit: Another budget Android smartphone from Samsung, it comes with Android 2.2, 600 MHz processor, 5MP camera and 1350 mAh battery.
MRP: 10,100
Dell XCD35: This ZTE made Android smartphone, which was launched by Dell in India has seen a huge price-drop from INR 18K to 11K today. With a great dev community, this smartphone will give you more than what you would expect.
It features 3.5 inch touchscreen, 3.2 MP camera, Android 2.1, MapmyIndia Maps pre-installed, FM Radio, HSDPA, Wifi, and Bluetooth 2.1 EDR.
MRP: INR 11,500
Huawei Ideos: Featuring a stock Android 2.2 build, this smartphone was developed with clear instructions from Google to take Android to masses. It features 2.8 inch capacitive display, 3.2 MP camera, 528 processor, and Android 2.2.
MRP: INR 8,000
LG Optimus One is another smartphone which deserves a mention here. Priced around INR 10,000, it comes with Froyo pre-installed and will get Gingerbread update soon.
This is all from us now, but do tell us about your future/present Android device in comments.

The superstar will be back soon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

2011-06-19T15:18:00.000+05:30

Superstar Rajinikanth, who has been discharged from a Singapore hospital, on Saturday assured his fans that he will be back to acting very soon and finish shooting his current flick Rana, ending speculations that the period film has been shelved.

On a philosophical note he added.

"In this game concerning me, while it was money, medicine, science and the best doctors on one side, it was the prayers, special homams and fasts on the other side (by his fans). My 100 per cent belief is that these saved me," he said in a four-page handwritten letter to his fans from Singapore where he is convalescing after his hospital stint.

After treatment in two Chennai hospitals, the 61-year old actor was shifted to Singapore.

In the letter, a copy of which was released to the media, he said the gesture by his fans and others proved what love "Rajni enjoys among people," and that they consider him as a brother, friend and a son.

"I will not forget this for ages. I don't have the words to thank you all. Henceforth, my ambition is to entertain you all. I will appear in Rana soon and entertain you," he said, ending speculations that the movie in which he is pairing with Deepika Padukone has been shelved due to his ill-health.

Rajinikanth had suffered from exhaustion on April 29, the first day of the shoot of Rana and was admitted to Isabel Hospital in Chennai and discharged the same day.

But, he was readmitted to the hospital on May 4 for allergic bronchitis and viral fever and later shifted to Sri Ramachandra Medical University Hospital before being flown to Singapore on May 27.

Rajinikanth said he was at a loss of words when he picked up his pen to address his fans, and apologised for not speaking to them 'first.'

He recalled that he had spoken to chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who had assured him of all government help and 'dear friend' and DMK President M Karunanidhi, "who has always showered his love on me."

He also wished all well for his fans, whose adoration for Rajinikanth is boundless

The anxious fans had organised fasts and special prayers during the hospitalisation of the actor for his speedy recovery.

MLM Scams... an easy way to become crorepatis??????

2011-06-19T15:09:00.000+05:30

It is monsoon time in south india.. and its raining of MLM scams....Last few days the newspapers are full of reports of financial scams in one form or other.. Mostly related to network marketing.. The most literate state is having so many people trapped by the so called easy money making business opportunities.

NIKON D5000

2010-09-25T01:29:00.013+05:30

The DSLR sales in recent times are showing exponential growth. Thanks to the growing pockets of individuals and the verities of models available in the market. Companies are competing each other to bring more and more newer models for all kinds of customers. On one side they are coming with very economical models to increase the penetration. On the other side they are coming with advanced versions for existing users to upgrade and get the best photographic experience.

DSLR DSLR DSLR DSLR

Thekkady

Recently I got the D5000 to use. The Nikon D5000 is a powerful and versatile SLR camera that delivers superb still images and high-definition D-movie clips with sound. Incredibly easy to use, it boasts a range of automatic features that help capture the shots you want and an impressive 12.3 megapixel DX format image sensor that ensures exceptionally detailed results. On the surface, the arrival of the D5000 was only a matter of time. According to figures released from Nikon, sales of the entry-level D40, D40X, and D60 cameras account for roughly 80 percent of all Nikon DSLR sales. It's no wonder that Nikon was so eager to take the new high resolution sensor and video mode from their mid-grade D90 and put it into a lower-priced entry-level DSLR.

Thekkady

Nikon D5000 Key Features

12.9 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
2.7" tilt and swivel LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection and subject tracking
Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 expanded)
4 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 7 RAW, 25 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
Expeed image processing engine
Extensive in-camera retouching including raw development and straightening
Connector for optional GPS unit (fits on hot shoe)
New battery with increased capacity
72 thumbnail and calendar view in playback

Nikon D5000 vs D60: Key Differences

The D5000 could easily be seen as a D60 with a tilting screen added, and most of a D90 stuffed into it. As such it offers quite a few feature improvements over its little brother:

12.3 MP CMOS sensor (D60: 10.2 MP CCD)
Tilt/swivel screen
Live View with contrast detect AF
Movie Mode
Wider ISO range
11 point AF system with 3D tracking (D60: 3 point AF)
Control of Active D-Lighting intensity
Automatic correction of lateral chromatic aberration
Choice of JPEG quality in RAW+JPEG shooting
Extra retouching options
More scene modes
Faster continuous shooting
Exposure bracketing

ekkady Thekkady

CLOUD CROWD - The Next Evolution of outsourcing

2010-09-24T20:42:00.003+05:30

This has been the most amazing program I've seen yet. This is the most useful facebook application. This combines the outsourcing of works and social networking. You complete small tasks but get paid daily. You will be paid the next day for every job you do like editing web search etc.. If you are working everyday it ends up being daily. They pay for things like finding new websites, rewriting website content, and proofreading. They do plan to add more tasks. For those who search for work from home and internet jobs this is the most genuine programme. This company also raised $5.1 Million from a VC fund. This is going to change the way outsourcing is done.
http://www.cloudcrowd.com/i/98051e

To join you need to have a facebook account. If you have a facebook account click the below link and join. This is really a useful application. Everyday thousands of new applications are coming and in near future company will come with more and more job offers.

Join and learn the new way of outsourcing and make use of the time you spend on facebook.

http://www.cloudcrowd.com/i/98051e

A journey from Chennai to Mahabalipuram

2010-09-19T14:12:00.017+05:30

A Short one day journey from Chennai – Mahabalipuram Thorugh ECR

First stop was at DakshinaChitra

DakshinaChitra is a cultural village that has replicas of South Indian Houses, heritage items, etc. replicating the cultural settings. All 4 southern states have presence here. This is a place where you can get the idea of the different cultures of southern states. It is a center for the living traditions of art, folk performing arts, craft and architecture of India with an emphasis on the traditions of South India.

A project of the Madras Craft Foundation (MCF), a non-profit organisation. DakshinaChitra opened to the public in December 1996. It gives you a glimpse of art and craft, lifestyle, music and dance of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Location

On the East Coast Road at Muttukadu – 21 kms South of Chennai.

Timing: You can visit the Dakshinachitra between 10 am to 6 pm, six days a week. Tuesday Holiday.

Major events at Dakshinachitra:

exhibitions of Indian cultural handicrafts, arts etc
workshops for kids and adults
demos of folk theater
other arts and crafts
theme dinners etc

Pictures of some Trainings given at Dakshinachitra

Next Stop :
The Madras Crocodile Park

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology is one of the largest reptile zoos in the world and one of the oldest non government environmental organizations in Asia. I have been through ECR many times. But I have never visited the park before. So this time didn’t want to miss it.

Location:

Madras Crocodile Bank (as it is called) is located 40 km from Chennai city (or 10 Km from Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram) along ECR.

Park details:

Post Bag No 4,
Mamallapuram-603 104,
Tamil Nadu, S. India

T: +91-044-27472447
F: +91-044-27472958
E: mcbtindia@gmail.com

Regular Hours
08:30hrs – 17:30hrs
Weekly Holiday
Monday

Gate Fee
Adults: Rs 35/,
Children<10 yrs: Rs10/-

Other
Camcorder: Rs 100/-
Still Camera: Rs 20/-

The above picture is not a display. Its a random click from an aquarium tank. This resembles a Dolfin playing with a ball...

ഗ്രാമങളിലൂടെ

2009-09-19T23:39:00.010+05:30

ചിത്രശലഭം

നഗരങളീലെ ടെൻഷനിൽ നിന്നൊരു മോചനം

തുമ്പി

കുന്നുകളും മലകളും ഒരു ഓർമ്മ മാത്രം ആകുന്ന കാലം വിദൂരമല്ല

Backwaters.. The beauty of kerala

2009-08-23T14:23:00.017+05:30

Scene from Puthuponnani Back waters...

Fishing boat @ Puthuponnani backwaters....

Puthuponnani backwaters....

Fisherman near chettuva bridge

Chineese fishing net @ Chettuva

Fisherman during sunset.... A view from Chettuva bridge

Ente Gramam.. Ethra sundharam..

2009-08-02T16:52:00.016+05:30

After a long time upadting the blog again.. and now with the beauty of our own villages.....

Between the busy working days the weekends are the only hope.. and which place can give more happiness than our 'Naattinpuram' ....the beauty of green fields....

KATHAKALI .....

2009-01-08T12:16:00.031+05:30

Kathakali literally meaning "story dance" is the pantomimic dance drama, the dancing and the acting being blended together into an inseparable form. It is a combination of facial expressions and body movements which brings out the thought and emotion of the character.

Kathakali is a highly stylised classical Indian dance-drama noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion. Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world. It originated in the area of southwestern India now known as the state of Kerala. Kathakali is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

It originated in the country's southern state of Kerala during the 16th century AD, approximately between 1555 and 1605, and has been updated over the years with improved looks, refined gestures and added themes besides more ornate singing and precise drumming.

Kathakali originated from a precursor dance-drama form called Ramanattam and owes it share of techniques also to Krishnanattam. The word "attam" means enactment. In short, these two forerunning forms to Kathakali dealt with presentation of the stories of Hindu Gods Rama and Krishna. It was Kottarakara Thampuran (1555-1605) (ruler of the south Kerala province of Kottarakara) who composed several plays on the Ramayana, which led to the evolution of Kathakali. Today, Ramanattam is extinct, but its storyplays continue to be a part of Kathakali.

Recently, as part of attempts to further popularise the art, stories from other cultures and mythologies, such as those of Mary Magdalene from the Bible, Homer's Iliad, and William Shakespeare's King Lear and Julius Caesar besides Goethe's Faust too have been adapted into Kathakali scripts and on to its stage.

The language of the songs used for Kathakali is Manipravalam. Even though most of the songs are set in ragas based on the microtone-heavy Carnatic music, there is a distinct style of plain-note rendition, which is known as the Sopanam style. This typically Kerala style of rendition takes its roots from the temple songs which used to be sung (continues even now at several temples) at the time when Kathakali was born. The orchestra of a Kathakali performance includes two drums known as the chenda and the maddalam, along with cymbals and another percussion instrument, the ela taalam. Normally, two singers provide the vocal accompaniment.

Chenda (Drum)

Traditionally, a Kathakali performance is usually conducted at night and ends in early morning. Nowadays it isn't difficult to see performances as short as three hours or even lesser. There are many daily shows for one hour or so at various tourist locations mainly targetting the foreign tourists.

A Kathakali actor uses immense concentration, skill and physical stamina, gained from regimented training based on Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art of Kerala, to prepare for his demanding role. The training can often last for 8-10 years, and is intensive. In Kathakali, the story is enacted purely by the movements of the hands (called mudras or hand gestures) and by facial expressions (rasas) and bodily movements. The expressions are derived from Natyashastra (the tome that deals with the science of expressions) and are classified into nine as in most Indian classical art forms. Dancers also undergo special practice sessions to learn control of their eye movements.

Kathakali Artist acting a Deer with the help of Mudra

There are 24 basic mudras -- the permutation and combination of which would add up a chunk of the hand gestures in vogue today. Each can again can be classified into 'Samaana-mudras'(one mudra symbolising two entities) or misra-mudras (both the hands are used to show these mudras). The mudras are a form of sign language used to tell the story.

Kathakali dancer Showing lotus flower with mudras

The main facial expressions of a Kathakali artist are the (nine feelings or expressions) which are Sringaram (Romance), Hasyam (ridicule, humour), Bhayanakam (fear), Karunam (Kindly/ pathos), Roudram (anger, wrath), Veeram (valour), Beebhatsam (disgust), Adbhutam (wonder, amazement), Shantam (tranquility, peace).

Sringaram (Romance)

Beebhatsam (disgust)

Shantam (tranquility, peace)

Veeram (valour)

Adbhutam (wonder, amazement)

Karunam (Kindly/ pathos)

One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. Most often, the make-up can be classified into five basic sets namely Pachcha, Kathi, Kari, Thaadi, and Minukku. The differences between these sets lie in the predominant colours that are applied on the face. Pachcha (meaning green) has green as the dominant colour and is used to portray noble male characters. Rakshasik characters having an evil streak are anti-heroes in the play (such as the demon king Ravana) -- and portrayed with streaks of red in a green-painted face. Excessively evil characters such as demons (totally tamasic) have a predominantly red make-up and a red beard. They are called Chuvanna Thaadi (Red Beard). Tamasic characters such as uncivilised hunters and woodsmen are represented with a predominantly black make-up base and a black beard and are called Kari/Karutha Thaadi (meaning black beard). Women and ascetics have lustrous, yellowish faces and this semi-realistic category forms the fifth class. In addition, there are modifications of the five basic sets described above such as Vella Thadi (white beard) used to depict Hanuman (the Monkey-God) and Pazhuppu, which is majorly used for Lord Shiva.

Pacha (Green) - Male Character

Minukku (yellowish faces) - Female Characters

The dancers wear large head dresses, and the contours of the face are extended with moulded lime. The extraordinary costumes and make-up serve to raise the participants above the level of mere mortals, so that they may transport the audience to a world of wonders.

A person to enjoy the Kathakali performance he should be aware about Hindu mythology,the character,The make up,the costume,the mudras and finally the slokas or verses sung by the singers.

Flowers !!!!!!!!

2009-01-04T00:51:00.009+05:30

From Ooty Rose garden

Flowers from Ooty Botanical Garden

Maampoo

Daliya@ Munnar

Flowers from Munnar forest

Munnar - The hill Station

2009-01-03T18:51:00.011+05:30

Munnar hills - The most sought after tourist destination in South India. Large expanse of tea plantations, forests, wild life, valleys and mountains give Munnar a favoured tourist status. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Unending expanse of tea plantations - pristine valleys and mountains- exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests - aroma of spice scented cool air - yes! Munnar has all these and more. It's the place you would love to visit - it's the place you would wish never to leave.

The name is often used to refer to the whole tourist area of Idukki District of which the town forms a part. Munnar panchayat of Devikulam block is the largest in the district with an area of 557 km². The name of Munnar is believed to be derived from the Malayalam words Munu (three) and aaru (river), referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the Muthirappuzha, Chandavurai and Kundaly rivers. The area is surrounded by vast jungles and remains wet and cold during most of the year.

The history of plantation in Munnar started in the 1870s. J.D. Munro, a European, identified the agriculture potential of the land on a hunting expedition. In 1877 he leased 580 Sq Kilometres of land from the Poonjar Raja who was in control of the land. Munro formed a co-operative called ‘North Travancore Land Planting and Agricultural Society’ and members of the society started farming in different parts of Munnar. The crops included coffee, sisal and cardamom. Tea plantation was started by A.H. Sharp, another European at the A.H. Sharp Parvathy estate (Present Silent Valley Estate). In 1895 Finlay, a European company entered the scene and acquired about 33 tea estates in Munnar. In 1897 the Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company was formed to manage Finlay’s estates. In 1964 the Tata Group, The Indian corporate giant entered into a collaborative venture with the Finlay leading to the formation of the Tata-Finlay group. In April 2005 tea plantations under the Tata group were transferred to a new company called Kannan Devan Hills Produce Co, Pvt Ltd. Today the company manages 16 estates spread over in about 8600 hectares of land.

The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,600 meters (5,249 ft) to 1,800 meters (5,906 ft) above mean sea level. Munnar enjoys a salubrious climate. The weather ranges between −5 °C (23 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F) in winter and 15 °C (59 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in summer. The tourist season is from August to May. However, even the monsoons are lovely with many streams and rivulets in the area.

For many Years Munnar, despite its enchanting natural beauty, was a sleepy plantation town. The major economic factor was its tea plantations. Its tourism potential had been realised only by the Sterling Group and Mahindra Holidays who had set up Time Share Resorts there. Then the efforts by Kerala Tourism department to project kerala as one of the most preferred tourist location and their campaigning programmes to project Kerala as God's Own country resulted in a virtual explosion of tourism activities in Munnar. Soon Many Resorts, big and small, started up all around the town and Munnar overnight became a bustling tourist destination. Many of the developments were done by unprincipled investors who had no concern for the environment and whose only objective was to make a fast buck. Most of the lands used for Resorts and other activities are occupied illegally.

Most of the land around Munnar had been earlier leased out to planters and the only activity permitted was plantation of cardamom. Ownership continued with the Government and even cutting of trees was prohibited. However, the resort developers resorted to large scale deforestation in order to build resorts.

There are some beautiful Hilltop resorts which gives awsome experience of living inside forest with tree houses and hill-top views.

Facts

Altitude : 1600 Mts to 1800 Mts above sea level

Temperature : Min. 0 c - Max. 25 c

Clothing : Warm Clothes and Rain Gear

Tourist Season : August to March

More Pics of Munnar !!!!!!

2009-01-02T20:43:00.008+05:30

More Pictures From Thekaddy!!!!!!

2009-01-02T19:51:00.007+05:30

Periyar lake @ Thekaddy

Birds @ periyar.. Photo taken during the boating

Thekaddy – Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

2009-01-02T19:32:00.008+05:30

The pride of Kerela and a testimony to nature's splendour and human innovation, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady. Thekkady is located about 117 km from Kottayam and 20 km from Kothamangalam. It is close to the Tamil Nadu border. The nearest airport is at Madurai 140 km away and 4 hours away. Cochin the next nearest airport is 208 km and six hours away.

Periyar Lake, Periyar Wild Life Sanctury and a Bird Sanctury are the major tourist attractions. Boating in the lake is a pleasureful experience. KTDC is providing lodging facilities here. The Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. The greatest attraction of Periyar are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake. Thekkady has immense possibilities for Adventure Tourism.

Outside the park private tour operators arrange Jeep safaris though the forest. Also there are Elephant rides offered. Kathakali and Kalari shows for the tourists are also arranged.

Location:

Part of the old Travancore State, the sanctuary and Periyar Lake are located close to the Tamil Nadu border. Kottayam is six hours away. However the nearest airport is at Madurai 140 km away and 4 hours away. Cochin the next nearest airport is 208 km and six hours away.

Climate:
Maximum temperature : 29 degrees Celsius.
Minimum temperature 18 degrees Celsius.
Annual rainfall 2,600 mm

Proper attire: Woolens in winter. Carry water with you for treks etc.

More!!!!!!!!

2008-12-23T22:12:00.004+05:30

Meenvellam waterfalls....

Bleeding tree... Gum

Random Shots

2008-12-23T22:00:00.002+05:30

Meenvellam Waterfalls, Palakkad, Kerala

Spider Lilly

The Fire Within

2008-12-13T21:44:00.010+05:30

“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire.”

“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire.” So if you want to be succesful always set yourself on fire and don;t wait for someone else to 'set fire' to you and lead to spontaneous combustion. If you want to be succesful in in Life, work or in whatever you do always set yourself on fire and find your own success.

What is success for you?

Success - That can be different for different people. Some people find material possessions as a measure of their success, for some others it may be the position or recognition. So find what exactly make u feel successful. Fine out how focused you are on success. Only if you are clear about your goal and you are focused on your goal you can achieve it. Then work towards it as if its your last day of the life.

How would it be if you were driving that success rather than waiting for it? What changes do you notice in how you do things and how you feel about things? We humans tend to be focused on working towards happiness and success and assume that until it comes along we have to spend time being unhappy, suffering or struggling.

The truth is that things happen much easier and more readily if we don’t struggle, suffer or assume unhappiness. Real success comes to you much easily if you work for your success and put yourself on fire and keep focus on the goal.

So don’t wait or worry… Start now… Set yourself on Fire

Mumbai Terror Attacks

2008-12-06T15:06:00.002+05:30

The November 2008 Mumbai attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks across Mumbai, India's financial capital and largest city. The attacks began on 26 November 2008 and ended on 29 November 2008 when Indian security forces, in Operation Black Tornado, regained control of all attack sites.

Eight of the attacks took place at sites in South Mumbai : the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, the Orthodox Jewish-owned Nariman House, the Metro Cinema,and a lane behind the Times of India building behind St. Xavier's College.There was also an explosion at the Mazagaon docks in Mumbai's port area. A possible tenth incident involved a taxi blast at Vile Parle near the airport, but it is uncertain whether this was connected to the other nine attacks.

By the early morning of 28 November, all sites except for the Taj Mahal Palace had been secured by police and security forces. An action by India's National Security Guards on 29 November resulted in the conclusion of the Taj Mahal Palace encounter, ending all fighting in the attacks.
Initially, a previously unknown organization called the Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility.Later, Azam Amir Kasav, the single terrorist who was captured alive, disclosed that the attackers were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based militant organization, considered a terrorist organization by India, the United States, the United Kingdom, among others. However, no official attribution of responsibility has been made by the Indian Government.
The attacks drew widespread condemnation across the world.

WE SALUTE OUR HEROES

2008-12-02T16:32:00.001+05:30

Saluting the Heroes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-29T00:24:00.003+05:30

SAMSUNG GT-18510/16 INNOV8

2008-11-17T23:25:00.003+05:30

Samsung’s new multimedia handset samsung 18510/16 INNOV8 is one of the best in its Class. It comes with a 8 mega pixel camera (more than many of the normal digital cameras). Taking Mobile handset photography and multimedia experience to a new high level, this mobile offers various other features like Surround- sound cinematic video, Wonderful mobile internet browsing facility and good mobile gaming too.

This come with various photographic options like blink shot, smile shot and face recognition and allows you to store most memorable days of your life. It runs on Symbian OS V9.3, S60 3rd edition feature pack 2 and also has a GPS technology for navigation facility.

It supports DivX, WMV, Real player and MPEG 4. It also comes with famous games like FIFA 08.

This is a phone for tech-savvy users who wants to explore various technical features of the camera. A good competitor for iPhone.

For video tutorial click here

A Trip to Ooty

2008-11-01T18:23:00.000+05:30

Ooty- ‘The Queen of Hill Stations’

To feel the touch of nature, Ooty is a right spot for the lover of nature. Its situated on the Nilgiris Mountain, More than 100 Kms away from Coimbatore ( Tamilnadu, South India). The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies between 2280 and 2290 meters. It attracts the tourist by its charming flowers, Lofty mountains, dense forest, acres and acres of tea estates are green feast for the eyes of the tourist.

Last summer I visited Ooty with my dad for a 3 day trip. The weather was awesome and the garden was getting ready for the flower show and the new Rose garden was ready with more than 2000 varieties of roses. My camera didn’t waste any time.

Ooty Botanical garden

This garden covers an area of 22 Ha and is located at a height of 2250 meters of MSL. There is a beautiful green lawn and there are trees collected from different parts of the world. There is a Italian garden and Lilly pond with color full flowers. Must see !!!!!!!!!

Ooty Rail

Ooty train is popularly known as 'toy train', moving across the beautiful hills, and plains, making the journey a memorable experience. It connects Ooty to Mettupalayam. Ooty's train runs at a maximum speed of 33 km. per hour, crossing 16 long and short tunnels and 250 bridges. During the journey you can enjoy the beauty of the hill.

Rose garden

Centenary Rose park is located at Vijayanagaram – Udhgamandalam ( Ooty ) and is maintained by department of Horticulture of Government of Tamil Nadu. This garden has largest collection of roses among any Indian garden. This garden have more than 2000 varieties of Roses. Its really beautiful!!!!!!!!

Climate - Udhagamandalam
Winter
Max 21ºC, Min 5ºC
Summer
Max 25ºC, Min 10ºC
Rainfall
121 cms.

General Information - Udhagamandalam

Location : Niligiri District, Tamil Nadu.
Founded By : British In 1800.
Area : 36-sq-kms.
Altitude : 2,623 metres.
Languages : Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and English.

Useful Information - Udhagamandalam

Tourist Information Centres : Tourist Office, Government of Tamil Nadu Supermarket Complex Charring Cross Udhagamandalam-1

Clothing - Udhagamandalam
Summer : Light Woollen.
Winter : Heavy Woollen

2008-10-31T13:38:00.000+05:30

Canon PowerShot S3 IS
The Canon PowerShot S3 IS is the latest in an extremely popular line of long zoom cameras, following the 5.0-Mp S2 IS, the 3.2-Mp S1 IS, and the 2.6-Mp Pro90 IS. The basic spec (aside from the sensor) is pretty familiar; 12x optical zoom, flip 'n' twist LCD, tons of photographic control and advanced movie mode with stereo sound. The S2 IS was one of the best big zoom cameras, but this is a highly competitive sector of the market, and the new S3 IS still have what it takes to keep Canon the favorite of amateur photographers.

Headline features

12x optical zoom lens with USM and UD lens element
Optical Image Stabilizer
6.0 Megapixel CCD
2.0” Vari-angle LCD
30fps VGA movies with stereo sound and Photo in Movie feature
DIGIC II, iSAPS and Flexizone AF/AE for fast, precise results and 2.3 fps continuous shooting
20 shooting modes and My Colors photo effects
High ISO Auto and ISO 800 for low light flexibility
Widescreen (16:9) recording

Price – Approx $400 ( 20000 INR)

The Canon S3 IS accommodates a wide range of users with its variable level of exposure control. Experienced shooters will appreciate the Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority modes, while beginners will find the Auto, Program AE, and Scene modes useful. With a full range of creative effects, the added attraction of 12x zoom Canon optics, and optical image stabilization -- a feature found on only a handful of digital cameras, most of them more expensive, the Canon S3 IS should appear high up on the lists for photographers looking for a long-zoom camera.

The Canon S3 IS bumps resolution up to 6.0 megapixels (for 2,816 x 2,112 pixel images up from 2,592 x 1,944), increases the sensitivity range to ISO 800, features a slightly larger LCD (2.0 inches vs. 1.8), includes a Movie button available in any Record mode, and adds a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.

All in all, the Canon PowerShot S3 IS is quite a camera, with an amazing range of capabilities and good picture quality, all at an affordable price. I just loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Performance. The Canon S3 IS doesn't keep you waiting: Not when you start it up (even though the lens has to extend); not when you've taken a shot; not when you're shooting in Continuous mode; and not when you're shutting down. It’s a fast performer. It isn't instant, like a digital SLR, but I never felt like I had to wait for it. Otherwise I would have missed some of the best picks I’ve taken. And not having to wait meant I felt free to turn it on or off at will, saving the battery for long time.

‘It's a photographer's dream. And now I’ve it’

2008-10-30T21:14:00.000+05:30

2008-10-30T21:12:00.000+05:30

More pics from kava

2008-10-30T20:14:00.001+05:30

Palmyra Palm trees @ kava.

Another shot from Kava.

Sunset @ Kava.

Beauty of sunset @ Kava

Nature at Its best

2008-10-30T20:12:00.001+05:30

This is one of my Favourite shot. I got this wonderful mix of natures beauty from kava. Bright sun, hill, water and the root of a tree giving a colorful and beautiful frame.

Dragon Fly

2008-10-30T20:11:00.002+05:30

A dragonfly is a type of insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera. It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest.

2008-10-30T19:37:00.004+05:30

Kava is photographers dream location. It gives him chance to copy nature's beauty in different ways at the same place. Hill, water, trees and evening the beautiful sunset. Best time to visit Kava is in the afternoon and wait till the sunset.

Beauty of Kava

2008-10-30T19:37:00.003+05:30

The beauty of Kava is in its nature's beauty. It reflects the beauty of palakkad. The combination of Hill, water, bright sun and the Palmyra Palm tree. It is a favourite location for movie makers also. .

The way to Kava

2008-10-30T19:32:00.001+05:30

Kava is a beautiful place in Plakkad district, Kerala. It is near Malampuzha. It is about 10 km away from Malampuzha. The way to Kava is also very beautiful with greeny fields and forest on both side. You can hear the music of birds also. It is an interesting journey.