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 Shop for lampshades at Woodooz

I don't experiment much with food. If I love something, I have this habit of sticking to the same order everytime I visit a particular restaurant. Which is why I always order Jughead Special in Juice shop, chicken 65 at Topsee and Kaali mirchi kaabab at Asife brothers. So, when I had the opportunity to visit OMR Food Street to try out food from their various outlets, I acted no different.

OMR Food street has been in Thoraipakkam for more than 6 months now and given that it is quite close to where I live, I frequent the place. My favorite there is the filter coffee at the corner shop which I indulge in everytime I cross that place.


We were given coupons for Rs.300 and the idea was to try out the different outlets there. It was good fun given that we were exploring the place with other fellow bloggers. The first thing I tried was a nice, juicy Chicken Shawarma. Happy customer.


Was a good start to the exploration. Excitedly, went on to experiment with Mexican and tried the Mexican Chicken Wings from this menu at MEXIKHANA. To be brutally honest, it was not something that I savored and beyond a point could not eat it fully. Not sure if it was the preparation or the sauce, it somehow left a bad taste in my mouth.


I then went on to have a nice lichie Soda from SODA HUB and for 15 Rs it was quite a loot. Loved every bit of it. Being a frequent visitor to the Elliots beach, the fish fries have always been alluring, though I have never tasted them there. So, thought would give Fish Fry a try. The vanjiram fry from the Fish O Fish counter was yummy and is surely the pick of the day for me. The lady at the counter made it so easy for me by trying to understand how I would like to have it made. Yummy yummy for sure.



By this time, I still had enough coupons, but I was already done with eating. Blame it on my poor appetite. There was always space for some dessert and I decided to indulge in some chocolate delight at the OASIS.


While these were the only things I tried on that day, I have been frequenting this place and have also had the pleasure of tasting food from the other outlets.

Ajnabi has some amazing chaats. Have done takeaways few times.
Have ordered a birthday cake from CAKE PARK.
Kumbakonam Filter Coffee is my favorite here.

All said and done, here's what I feel about the place.

Pros

  • The distance for me is an advantage. 
  • Given that Thoraipakkam is becoming a food hub, with mostly biriyani joints, this one offers good variety for me
  • Price is also not so bad on the pocket.
  • I have mixed opinion on the food, though my experience has largely been very positive
  • Parking is not a challenge.

Cons

  • Space. I find it difficult to take my kid here.
  • Given that it is street food concept, it also raises question on the hygiene of the ambiance.
  • The first floor, which I am given to understand was added due to increased requests, is quite congested. I avoided Level 1 outlets because of this.
  • While the wash area was present, some of my friends left thinking there was no wash area. Maybe a cleaner space for this can help.


I was also told that they are opening up a bigger space in Navallur with exclusive space for kids. I guess it would then be nice if it also offers some entertainment for toddlers.

As for the thoraipakkam outlet, I would certainly keep going back for more.
As the saying goes, if you can make your passion your profession, there will not be a single day in life when you will be bored to go to work. This has always struck a chord with me and comes dangling in front of me every time I struggle to get up on a Monday. The least I can do at this point is be in awe with those that believe in their conviction and take the least treaded path of following their dreams. And when it happens with someone in a closed group that you are a part of, you can only be inspired and motivated. Am not a Jewelry person, but then it is this amazing entrepreneurial spirit of Minu Marie Mathew that makes me want to write this post today.

Minu Marie Mathew  The face behind Art-ery
I think for most of us, many things start as a hobby. For many, it turns into a passion at some point. But only a few have the courage to go out of their comfort zones to make things work their way. I have never met Minu, but have always had this impression of her being this petite and pretty girl, which she is. And to know that there is creative acumen behind that façade and an artistic mind that would conceptualize a business venture makes it all the more impressive for me.

She has only recently started her line of designer jewelry called ART-ery.


From a blogger, to a hobbyist to now a passionate designer is quite a journey. I may not be the most appropriate guy to really talk about fashion and jewels and style. So hear it from the budding entrepreneur herself, 

We think your inner self is beautiful, stylish and fashionable. We don’t want to do anything to change that, we wouldn’t dare! We’re here to help you find that inner self. There’s fashion in your blood, fashion in your arteries! And that is the message behind the name ART-ery.

I most certainly identify myself with her creative self and want to heartily wish her all the best in her new found endeavor. So folks, meet the designer and check out some of her works. Also, follow the links below and take a look at all her hand made beauties.


Minu, I am a day late. But trust me, while writing about you on this very day is incidental, it personally means a lot to me. And that is something I cannot share in a public domain. So whenever I get a chance to talk to you.

Connect with Art-ery
You can buy from here
Minu writes a blog here
The official Facebook page is here
The official Craftsvilla age is here
When I wanted a gift, so precious and fine,
For the one I know, for all eternity, is mine,
I realized,

her dazzling cheeks, like the rose’s bud,
paled the brilliance of the Ruby’s red.
her glistening eyes, that glittering sheen,
the Emerald beheld, and turned so green.

Her luscious lips, so gentle and grand,
is the reason Kohinoor hid in a foreign land.
Her sparkling smile, making my day,
is there anything more prized? Oh no way !

Her gracious heart, its virtues untold,
nothing came close, even the purest Gold.
Her beautiful thoughts, so kind, so humane,
the allure of Platinum now looked so plain.

So now,
tell me what I can get for this gem of a girl,
who is more precious than a valuable pearl.
I can only choose something close to her glory,
something exquisite, something like Stylori.

~ Somu

P.S. This post is written as a part of Stylori Contest in association with The Chennai Bloggers Club.



Ever since I heard from a friend about the beauty of this place, it found itself a spot in my list of “must-see places around the globe”. When we were contemplating on planning a vacation this Christmas holidays, Sri Lanka was the first destination that came in our minds. In spite of being questioned about its safety, we decided to go for it.

We had our tour planned by Deepa Travels, Adyar. The agent did a fine job organizing everything for us right from air tickets, visa and hotel to local cab and tour guide.

With a lot of uncertainty about our travel itself (due to work pressure and last minute plan changes), we finally left to Katunayake Airport, Colombo on the 21’st. The flight journey was a short pleasant one that lasted a little over an hour (Yes, Chennai- Colombo is a lot closer than Chennai- any ports within TN). At Colombo airport, we were received by our tour guide, Mr. Nilantha Fernando, an extremely warm, friendly person. Within moments we were out on the Colombo- Kandy highway in our Toyota Prius (:-) We did spot many high-end refurbished/ new Japanese-make commercial vehicles on the road). The first thing that caught our attention in SL was the cleanliness and greenery all around us. We felt as though we were in our very old God’s own country- Kerala. And apart from occasional sights of police patrols, there were no signs of anything but calm and peace.



The roads are well laid and it remained the same almost in every place we went. It was quite a sight as we drove on the road nestled among thick bushes and trees. The whole stretch had local vendors selling produce from their vegetable/ fruit garden- Mangoes, Jack Fruit (SL has Mangoes and Jack fruit grow in winters unlike TN/Kerala where the season is usually between April- July. I envy them :-(), King Coconut and what not. Nilantha was sweet enough to stop by at every store and Somu and I ate our hearts full. A couple of hours later, we reached the Pinnewala Elephant Park near Kandi that’s a sanctuary for over 80 elephants.

The park is open to the public daily for some entrance fees. It was great to see a number of animals all in one place, well taken care of. There are several shops attached to the park. One that caught our attention was this :-p …


Rest of the story to continue... 

The sound of waves kissing the shore,
Sometimes even my loved ones snore,
The googoos and gaagaas a baby mutters,
Are bliss that can make my heart go flutter.

The creaking noise of the crickets in dark,
The twinkle I hear when her smile sparks,
The myna and even the cuckoo’s chirpings, 
Have no bounds to the joys they can bring.

Music of Illayaraja, and his 80s hits,
Nothing matches up when she hums it.
Rustle in the leaves, whistle in the breeze,
Can you think of compositions better than these!  

Every word that break out of her lips,
Her every word though it may have a lisp,
Even the sound of her inhibited silence,
all sent from heaven to fill up my sense.

~ Somu

Photo Courtesy : Thethingswesay
When patches of my sky darken,
he is the moon I depend on,
to brighten up my dim mood,
and unlike its vanishing stint,
he is there evermore, his fondness for me
never diminishing.

Time of the day carries no meaning,
he is there when I need to talk,
give vent to my spleen and get things out of my system.
He speaks no word,
yet his listening compassion gives me
all the soothing effect I need.

His mere presence is magical,
giving me a sense of security,
a feeling of dependability,
and the assurance that he is there,
even when everyone else discards me.

So many years have passed,
and so many things changed,
yet this bond has stood the test,
gaining in strength with every passing day.
Even now when all else fails,
the only one I turn to is he – My pal,
My Best Friend.