reviews you can use

Cauvery Fishing Camp, Bheemeshwari

2006-11-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

Location - On Kanakpura Road, About 30 km further from Kanakpura
Distance - About 110 km from HAL Airport

The best way to unwind, is to be in the lap of the Nature. What better than Jungle Lodges !!!

The drive to Cauvery fishing camp after kanakpura, itself is very refreshing and scenic. Not traffic. No pollution. Only greenary and clear blue sky. And if it is drizzling, nothing better than that.

The camp is located near Mekedhattu. Once you reach the camp, after the welcome tea, you have some activities lined up like Trekking, coracle ride.
Trekking is ok, not great. Coracle ride is good. They take the coracle to the fast currents of Cauvery river and the ride is an experience in itself.

Swimming is not allowed because of the whrlpools and aligaters. We, though, couldnot spot any :-(

There are a lot of hammocks and nets connecting the trees' branches for lazying around. And believe me, once you are on the nets and hammocks, you wont feel like coming down.

Food served is delicious though the prices of soft drinks, juices and beer are double.)

For night stay, the camp accomodates a few cottages and tents. If you are staying there at night you can enjoy the campfire.

Few other ativities available are river rafting (we couldnt enjoy that as the rainy season had passed) and elephant safari.

Prices for day visit is Rs 850/- per person and night stay is between Rs 1500 to 2000/- per person.

As the camp is usually booked in advance, before going please enquire whether the camp can accomodate you or not.

Ratings - 4 out of 5.

Investing in sugar stocks

2006-11-02T01:28:00.000-08:00

In last 2-3 years because of good monsoon (hence good sugarcane crop) and firming up of sugar prices, the sugar stocks have given very good returns.

Normally December -Feb is the sugarcane season. This year also the monsoon has been ok.
Moreover Government has allowed sugar industries to set up their own plants for producing ethanol(which can be produced using a byproduct of sugar manufacturing process).
There is some news also which is related to export of sugar.

Sugar stocks have taken a beating during correction in May-06 and have not participated in the rally.

With the sugar season coming up and favourable government policies, i recommend buying of sugar stocks. I myself am holding a few sugar stocks.

Stocks that can be looked upon :-
1. Balrampur Chini
2. Dhampur sugar
3. Sakthi sugars
4. Uttam Sugar

home equity loan rates.

2006-10-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

Last 2-3 years have seen a boom in real estate.
Home equity loan rates fell from above 12% to nearly 7%.
Everybody set out to buy their dream house.
This increased the customer base of banks as well.
Moreover the hoam loan gets exemption form tax. Hence profit for both the banks as well as the customers.

But since 6-7 months, the banks have started increasing the home equity loan rates.
It has gone above 8.5%.

What i have noticed is that whenever there is a talk of hike in loan rate, HDFC is first bank to increase it. Others playes like ICICI, PNB etc. play a wait and watch game. Even if they increase, it is usually after a month or two. The customers these banks get a grace period of 1-2 months. HDFC'c customers are the sufferers.

There are a few new players like ABN ambro, Standard Chartered who usually give loan at a discounted rates as they want to establish themselves.

SBI has a unique option of providing home loans for not only building the home but also the furniture. I have heard that it provides loan for home remodeling as well (but i am not sure).

Hope this piece of information helps you in selecting that bank for home loan that enables you to build your DREAM HOUSE.

icici direct Vs other online trading service providers

2006-10-27T04:55:00.000-07:00

Heres a comparison between icici direct and other online trading provides (i will be comparing with kotak securities).

Pros for icici direct : -
1. icici direct is more user friendly and the interfaces have been clearly defined.
2. Provides facilities for trading in commodities, postal schemes, insurance etc. which are not
provided by other service providers like kotak.
3. Allows you to place orders after market hours for the next day which is not provided by many
like kotak.
4. Allows you to trade in both nse and bse. Some provides allow trading only in nse.
5. Most of the IPOs you can apply via icici direct.
6. Provides facilities for day trading. This i guess most others also provide.
7. Provides a facility of buy-today-sell-tommorow for some scripts.

Cons for icici direct : -
1. Brokerage is very high. (I guess the highest in the country).
2. The no. of scripts available for day trading is limited. In case of kotak securities, all
the orders (of all the scripts) are considered to be day orders. This is a huge plus point
in favour of Kotak.
3. The customer base of icici direct is huge. Hence the traffic is very high and the site tends
to hang in case market if falling or an importing IPO is getting listed.
4. For buying shares you need to have atleast min the cost price in your account. Kotak allows
you to buy even if you dont have sufficient money at that time. It gices you some grace
period to arrange for remaining funds.

I am holding icici direct account and i have also used kotak securities.

If you are a samll investor who just want to invest in stocks, i recommend you to go for
Kotak.

The other services provided by icici like postal schemes, commodity trading, insurance etc. are not used by majority of the traders in India.
Beleive me the brokerage charged by icici direct pinched very hard on investors' pockets.

Restaurants - Lalitha's , Domlur, Bangalore

2006-10-27T01:38:00.000-07:00

Laliths's is a small eating joint in Domlur (Bangalore), which is usually flooded with people (mostly bachelors) who love North Indian food. And the food served is GOOD.

Serves both veg and nonveg and also has a thali system at a very reasonable price. Parathas are their speciality.

You should try out the egg curry and butter chicken. (The preperation according to me is one of the best in Bangalore). While ordering butter chicken, do ask the cook to give normal chicken pieces and not the tandoori chicken pieces.

What i love there is :-
1. egg curry
2. butter chicken
3. rajma chawal
4. keema paratha

So guys try it out.

Movies - Don the chase begins again

2006-10-27T00:14:00.000-07:00

Movie Name - Don
Director - Farhan Akhtar
Cast - Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Kareena Kapoor,
Isha Koppikar, Arjun Rampal

To compare is human. This is what happened while seeing this remake.

The story line is a bit different than the original. The climax has been altered.

Plus points :-
1. Good direction.
2. James Bond style presentation (Technology has improved a lot, and the Indians are not
lagging behind).
3. I feel the Climax is better than the original.
4. The title song is better. Again this is my personal view.
5. Action sequences are good. Priyanka has done a good job.

Minus points :-
1. Shahrukh is ok (not of Big B's cadre).
2. Remix songs sometimes get to your nerves.
3. Kareena is looking hot but again my vote goes for Helen.
4. Boman Irani handles comedy better though he has done an ok job here. Iftekar, the ever
eternal Indian police inspector of Bollywood, fitted the bill better.

Overall ratings: -
For people who haven't seen the original - 3.5 out of 5
For People, for whom comparison is human - 2.5 out of 5

Regular airlines vs low cost airlines

2006-10-26T04:50:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered how do low cost airlines manage with such cheap air fares?

1. Low cost aeroplanes have more seating capacity than any regular airplane of same size.
There is no business class and the distance between the seats is decreased to incorporate more
sitting space.
2. Low cost airlines dont server food which is usually of 5 star standard in normal airlines.
3. The staff (airhostesses, ground staff) are lesses in no. for low cost airlines.
4. Normal airlines have to pay more parking/taxiing charges. i.e suppose there is an intermediate
hop. In India normal airlines wait for 40 min before taking off where as low cost airlines fly
in 20 min.
5. Low cost airlines are open for advertising. For ex in Air deccan, usually every available
space carries an advertisement. The have tie up with Cafe Coffee day for selling snacks. Some
on the deccan planes carry Wipro Logo.

Plus points for flying with low cost airlines:-
1. Obviosuly lot cheaper air fares in low cost airlines.

Minus points for flying with low cost airlines:-
1. Compromise with service.
2. Delays.
3. If you cancel the tickets you dont get the cash back. Instead you get the coupons which you
have to use to fly later with the same airlines.

Restaurants - IndiJoe, Airport Road, Bangalore

2006-10-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

During my bachelorhood, whenever our gang of friends used to meet, majority used to vote for Indijoe for dining (especially for sizzlers). I went with them twice or thrice but i didnt enjoy the food that much (i am not a sizzler lover).

On my birthday this year, i went with my wife to Indijoes.
And as my luck would have it, i ordered Dry Martini (Cocktail that James Bond patronizes :-) ).
SIMPLY SUPERB. SMOOTH AND CLASSIC.
We tried Margarita too. A VERY FINE COCKTAIL as well.

It was THEN that i realized that INDIJOE is the place for COCKTAILS.

Indijoe also has a fine collection of International wines.

So if you enjoy and have a flair for Drinks, INDIJOE IS THE PLACE.

You want to know what my order looks like ?
Dry Martini, Chicken wings, Prawn cocktail, Nonveg platter

Place your orders during HAPPY HOURS (before 8:30 pm) for 1+1 free on alcoholic drinks.

Afterwards you can go to Corner house for ice creams too.

Location - Near the airport road flyover. Next to TGI Fridays.

Plus points: -
1. COCKTAILS definitely.
2. SIZZLERS (according to my friends)
3. You can enjoy live music on weekdays during Happy Hours.
4. Continental food.
5. I have heard that Buffet is also very good (though i havent had a chance to try).
6. Service.
7. Happy hours
8. So many plus points :-)

Minuses: -
1. Prices are on higher side.
2. Pizzas are not that great.

Overall, a great place to party.

Ratings 4 out of 5 (for cocktails)
3 out of 5 (for food)

novels - Five Point Someone

2006-10-25T01:29:00.000-07:00

Novel - Five Point Someone
Author - Chetan Bhagat

I was about to leave for delhi to celebrate diwali with my family.
A friend of mine suggested me this book.
To be frank, i am not an avid reader. This being a some 300 page novel, i thought of giving it a try. [Moreover the price was even more attractive Rs 95/- only :-) ]

Coming to business, the plot revolves around 3 friends and their college life (masti, exams, friendship, love, hardships, daaru sessions ...).

Plus points: -
1. The major plus point of this novel is that you can relate to some of the incidents in the book.
2. The way the story is woven is very captivating.

Negatives: -
1. At some places it seems that the author got carried away. Some incidents have been exaggerated, which i made me feel that the story is a work of fiction.

Overall a nice effort considering it to be the author's debut effort. After reading the book, i have bought myself another novel by the same author "One night @ call centre". And i will be back with the review of the same.

Ratings - 3 out of 5.

Movies - Dor

2006-10-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Movie Name - Dor
Director - Nagesh Kukunoor
Cast - Shreyas Talpade, Ayesha Takia, Gul Panag

What a fantastic film!!!! Nagesh has again shown his class .... Great concept...
Shreyas is again proved his acting abilities.
This is a women oriented film, heroines (though without makup, still looking pretty) have played their part to perfection.
There is never a dull moment in the film.

A MUST watch (4 out of 5)

What is this blog all about?

2006-10-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Through this blog, we would like to share our experiences about various restaurants, pubs, theatres, movies , picnic spots and all that you want to know about. Our major focus would be places in and around BANGALORE.

Hope the info provided would be useful to you :-)