Its really great to visit a Indian jewellery shop when u r in abroad and get
something for urself.
We have the Eshaan Jewellery in Charlotte (45 mins from university area).
We visited there and almost all the jewellery were in 22k gold.
They dont have the making /wastage charges as we do have in india.
So we have to be really careful about the rates.
Nevertheless,the designs were kind of good and we had studs right from 1 gm.
Friday, September 24, 2010
My favourite Sitcoms in TV
The Time-Warner Cable provides some noteworthy channels like TBS,Tvland,AMC and they telecast some old comic sitcoms featured in late 1990's or early 2000's.
Some of my favourites :
1)Everybody Loves Raymond- I Just love Ray like anything.
Each character is unique and peculiar in their own way.
As u keep watching the sitcom,u really get addicted and start behaving like them ,esply Ray.
2)Nanny-Fran's nasal voice is a huge plus.All the dialogues are comical.CC and Niles are worth mentioning characters in the series which will bring u more laughter.
3)Friends -Everyone knows abt them.
4)Rosanne -Very old one.Thir house seems to be very very lull..but nevertheless,another gud 1 to watch
5)Chopped-Competitive series of choosing a winner among a group of contestants.
6)Food Network Star-similar one.
7)George Lopez-gud one
Some of my favourites :
1)Everybody Loves Raymond- I Just love Ray like anything.
Each character is unique and peculiar in their own way.
As u keep watching the sitcom,u really get addicted and start behaving like them ,esply Ray.
2)Nanny-Fran's nasal voice is a huge plus.All the dialogues are comical.CC and Niles are worth mentioning characters in the series which will bring u more laughter.
3)Friends -Everyone knows abt them.
4)Rosanne -Very old one.Thir house seems to be very very lull..but nevertheless,another gud 1 to watch
5)Chopped-Competitive series of choosing a winner among a group of contestants.
6)Food Network Star-similar one.
7)George Lopez-gud one
Shopping in India Vs Shopping in US
Shopping -This buzz word will make anyone to gear up!!Yes,it has got such power in it.
I havent been a regular shopper in chennai @ India.
But i do visit the pondy bazaar T.ngr once in a month or nearby shops in my nearby areas with my mom.
I used to buy all those earnings ,bindis,bags which will cost u very less but gives pleasure as if u hv bought a diamond jewellery.
And all those fast food in the corners of the streets, the aroma of nalli,kumaran, the elegance of the jewellery shops,the huge crowd gasping for air in saravana stores ,the platform shops....
OMG..All those things appear elusive to me now..!!
Whether i returned home with lot of items or not,I always came home with lot of happiness.
Yes,shopping there do relieves ur tension,make u stay more motivated,makes u yearn to earn more money .
And should i say i did the greatest shopping ever for my marriage & engagement.I had to get matching bangles,sandals ,sarees,salwars & what not.
Though I had oppurtunites or reasons to shop more,i did not have time due to my job pressure bcoz i was going to resign after marriage.
Even after marriage,I did shop as i was going to come to US .
My hubby had been here with his friends .
So had to get new cooking stuffs for us.
Shopping in US
-------------------
imm....
So many constraints for shopping in US
We really have to be lucky to have a shopping mall nearby to our home.Otherwise,travelling will be a hurdle to do shopping.
Luckily,I had the concord mills which was just 15 mins from our home.
But I wont say u can return home with 10 or 15 shopping bags as in India.
Main reason being the price .But u hv to really keep looking for some gud quality stuffs at a cheaper rate.
Some times u get nice t-shirts in clearance or in sale.
We usually go for shopping during sale like thanksgiving sale/juy 4 sale/christmas sale.
It doesnt mean when we visit the other days,we dont buy anything.We do buy things but it will be mostly for time pass.
And one thing here in US is if you are buying something expensive,then definitely u dont hv to doubt for its quality.
And yeah,I do even the satisfication of shopping as in India,by going to the 1 $ shop where i get lot of earrings just for 1$ ...:-)
I havent been a regular shopper in chennai @ India.
But i do visit the pondy bazaar T.ngr once in a month or nearby shops in my nearby areas with my mom.
I used to buy all those earnings ,bindis,bags which will cost u very less but gives pleasure as if u hv bought a diamond jewellery.
And all those fast food in the corners of the streets, the aroma of nalli,kumaran, the elegance of the jewellery shops,the huge crowd gasping for air in saravana stores ,the platform shops....
OMG..All those things appear elusive to me now..!!
Whether i returned home with lot of items or not,I always came home with lot of happiness.
Yes,shopping there do relieves ur tension,make u stay more motivated,makes u yearn to earn more money .
And should i say i did the greatest shopping ever for my marriage & engagement.I had to get matching bangles,sandals ,sarees,salwars & what not.
Though I had oppurtunites or reasons to shop more,i did not have time due to my job pressure bcoz i was going to resign after marriage.
Even after marriage,I did shop as i was going to come to US .
My hubby had been here with his friends .
So had to get new cooking stuffs for us.
Shopping in US
-------------------
imm....
So many constraints for shopping in US
We really have to be lucky to have a shopping mall nearby to our home.Otherwise,travelling will be a hurdle to do shopping.
Luckily,I had the concord mills which was just 15 mins from our home.
But I wont say u can return home with 10 or 15 shopping bags as in India.
Main reason being the price .But u hv to really keep looking for some gud quality stuffs at a cheaper rate.
Some times u get nice t-shirts in clearance or in sale.
We usually go for shopping during sale like thanksgiving sale/juy 4 sale/christmas sale.
It doesnt mean when we visit the other days,we dont buy anything.We do buy things but it will be mostly for time pass.
And one thing here in US is if you are buying something expensive,then definitely u dont hv to doubt for its quality.
And yeah,I do even the satisfication of shopping as in India,by going to the 1 $ shop where i get lot of earrings just for 1$ ...:-)
Gud Indian Restaurants in Charlotte
Some Gud Restaurants in Charlotte:
1)Spice9-gud,food will be really spicy ,but more non-veg items in buffet
2)woodlands-best for tiffin (meals/thali is not gud)
3)maharani-only north indians will like it
4)saffron- not too gud & less items also
5)cakes n flakes-gud, only chat items gud
heard cafe nirvana,copper is also gud...but costly
For Grocery Shopping
1)India town
2)Gandhi
3)bharat bazaar- less cost & gud food pdts
4)nilgris
1)Spice9-gud,food will be really spicy ,but more non-veg items in buffet
2)woodlands-best for tiffin (meals/thali is not gud)
3)maharani-only north indians will like it
4)saffron- not too gud & less items also
5)cakes n flakes-gud, only chat items gud
heard cafe nirvana,copper is also gud...but costly
For Grocery Shopping
1)India town
2)Gandhi
3)bharat bazaar- less cost & gud food pdts
4)nilgris
Sight -Seeing in & Around Charlotte
Places to visit in weekends:
board walk
concord mills
north lake mall
carolina mall
Short Trips
Whitewater rafting center (in charlotte)
Grandfather mountains (2 Hours from Charlotte)
Chimney rock (2.5 Hours from Charlotte)
Dupont forest
Lazy ranch zoo
Carowinds
Wet n wild -water theme park
Long trips
Smokies (Tennessee)
Cary Perumal Temple
Atlanta
board walk
concord mills
north lake mall
carolina mall
Short Trips
Whitewater rafting center (in charlotte)
Grandfather mountains (2 Hours from Charlotte)
Chimney rock (2.5 Hours from Charlotte)
Dupont forest
Lazy ranch zoo
Carowinds
Wet n wild -water theme park
Long trips
Smokies (Tennessee)
Cary Perumal Temple
Atlanta
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Getting a "feel @ home" thro Live TV!!
We were watching some of our tamil channels like Ktv,Sun tv,through live tv channels in the net (Freely broadcasted)..
We got a homely feel when we were watching the tv promos ,mega serials.
Wish more sites provides the free broadcasting without buffering problem!
We got a homely feel when we were watching the tv promos ,mega serials.
Wish more sites provides the free broadcasting without buffering problem!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
My Favourite English Movies
I mostly watch romantic movies ,like "feel-good " sort of films.
Here goes my list:
Here goes my list:
P.S. I Love You- My most favourite movie.Cried thro out the movie. No Reservations- cool one! Truman Show- Wat a storyline! The curious case of Benjamin Button- Loved pitt You've Got Mail, Shutter Island, Julie and Julia, While You Were Sleeping, One Fine Day, Marley & Me, Pursuit of Happyness, Bucket List |
Must Visit Places in US
For immigrants like me , the main aim while being in US will be to visit as many places as possible.
We people dont actually dont bother to spend money in US for travelling to tourist attractions ( most of us wouldnt have even crossed the andra border in india for holidays or trips :-)).
Visiting Tourist spots in US requires lot of planning and groundwork.
Some points to be considered :
Weather (Snow etc..)
Managing Long weekend Crowd
Rental car availability
Friends to share the driving (if travelling by car)
Booking Flight tickets (if travel is thro airways)
Coming to places which are to be definitely visited :
1) Florida-
a) Disney Studios
b) Sea World
c) NASA
d) Clearwater Beach
e) Busch Gardens
f) KeyWest & Miami
2) Atlanta
a) Perumal Temple
b) saravana bhavan
c) stone mountain park
d)CNN tour
e)georgia Aquarium
f) Botanical garden
g)Coco cola factory
3)Tennessee
a) Smokies
b) Ruby Falls
4)Charlotte
a)Carowinds
b)Wet n Wild
c)Lazy Ranch,NC Zoo
5)Niagara falls
6)pittsburgh temple
7) New York
8) California
9) Salt Lake City
10)Chicago
We people dont actually dont bother to spend money in US for travelling to tourist attractions ( most of us wouldnt have even crossed the andra border in india for holidays or trips :-)).
Visiting Tourist spots in US requires lot of planning and groundwork.
Some points to be considered :
Weather (Snow etc..)
Managing Long weekend Crowd
Rental car availability
Friends to share the driving (if travelling by car)
Booking Flight tickets (if travel is thro airways)
Coming to places which are to be definitely visited :
1) Florida-
a) Disney Studios
b) Sea World
c) NASA
d) Clearwater Beach
e) Busch Gardens
f) KeyWest & Miami
2) Atlanta
a) Perumal Temple
b) saravana bhavan
c) stone mountain park
d)CNN tour
e)georgia Aquarium
f) Botanical garden
g)Coco cola factory
3)Tennessee
a) Smokies
b) Ruby Falls
4)Charlotte
a)Carowinds
b)Wet n Wild
c)Lazy Ranch,NC Zoo
5)Niagara falls
6)pittsburgh temple
7) New York
8) California
9) Salt Lake City
10)Chicago
Monday, August 30, 2010
Grill Cooking
Have been trying to experiment with the grills (meant for cooking ) in our apartment ,just outside our homes.
Finally we bought everything from walmart needed for it like charcoal,skewers & chicken,fish to cook.
It did provide an interesting experience for us .We marinated the chicken drumsticks and fish fillets with our usual indian masala and grilled.
We also grilled some fresh vegetables and corns additionally.
We had the lunch just sitting next to the grill along with the food cooked in our kitchen.
Finally we bought everything from walmart needed for it like charcoal,skewers & chicken,fish to cook.
It did provide an interesting experience for us .We marinated the chicken drumsticks and fish fillets with our usual indian masala and grilled.
We also grilled some fresh vegetables and corns additionally.
We had the lunch just sitting next to the grill along with the food cooked in our kitchen.
Garage Sale
We bought some furniture from garage sales.
We kind of went late ,but still could get items like furniture items and photo frames.
We kind of went late ,but still could get items like furniture items and photo frames.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
To add & To avoid in Day-today diet
Garlic- reduces your fat
Milk - Have been drinking the 2% milk off-late as it helps to reduce some calories.
hv tried the 1% milk also..but ,it was so thin that i didnt get the requied calories and was too watery.
Ghee - gud for acidity and digestion
Cheese-pizza - feel that i should really stop eating pizzas just for the coating of cheese over it.
Honey Bun - gud filling breakfast which i really stopped eating now.
Milk - Have been drinking the 2% milk off-late as it helps to reduce some calories.
hv tried the 1% milk also..but ,it was so thin that i didnt get the requied calories and was too watery.
Ghee - gud for acidity and digestion
Cheese-pizza - feel that i should really stop eating pizzas just for the coating of cheese over it.
Honey Bun - gud filling breakfast which i really stopped eating now.
YMCA: Solution to Maintain Weight,Stay Fit & Healthy
One of the dangerous outcome of staying @ home in abroad ,eating all those cheesy fried items is
you "PUT ON WEIGHT "...
When i came here first and saw that all our friends were going to the gym, I was very critical of them saying that they are too over -conscious abt their body structure or figure ..
But now after becoming one of those victims ,i realised the importance of working out.
Now I c to that i atleast go for a walking once in a week in the nearby YMCA.
It really boosts my self-confidence and kills my time too.:-)
you "PUT ON WEIGHT "...
When i came here first and saw that all our friends were going to the gym, I was very critical of them saying that they are too over -conscious abt their body structure or figure ..
But now after becoming one of those victims ,i realised the importance of working out.
Now I c to that i atleast go for a walking once in a week in the nearby YMCA.
It really boosts my self-confidence and kills my time too.:-)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Coupons To Look out!!
I have never believed that all those coupons in ur mailbox will be really useful .
But some of them really helped us to reduce our monthly expense...like the "Great clips " hair salon coupon,dinner coupons,pizza hut ,snow bowling coupons.
But some of them really helped us to reduce our monthly expense...like the "Great clips " hair salon coupon,dinner coupons,pizza hut ,snow bowling coupons.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
PotLuck
PotLuck-This has been my favorite past time in US mostly in the weekends/festival occasion.
We,Indians dont have much options in the US for social gatherings.
So we have to create oppurtunities ourselves to mingle with people around us.
We usually have potluck with our friends in the weekends.
We plan ahead & discuss about the items to be cooked for vegans/non-vegans ..
Then having a feast ,its usually game-time.
We play lot of games like pictionary,dumci,dominoes,who- manasala who (my husband's version of vijay tv's yaru manasala yaru?")
yep,it would be a fun-filled past time.!!
We,Indians dont have much options in the US for social gatherings.
So we have to create oppurtunities ourselves to mingle with people around us.
We usually have potluck with our friends in the weekends.
We plan ahead & discuss about the items to be cooked for vegans/non-vegans ..
Then having a feast ,its usually game-time.
We play lot of games like pictionary,dumci,dominoes,who- manasala who (my husband's version of vijay tv's yaru manasala yaru?")
yep,it would be a fun-filled past time.!!
Cheese Burger aka Bacon Burger
We always visit the mcdy(mcdonalds ) in the walmart .
The burger there is really gud and is very cheap.
We always eat the chicken burger there.So for a change we just wanted to try the veggie version and all we could c on the menu was cheese burger .So we ordered it.
Only after eating it , We came to know that the cheese burger here refers to actually "Bacon burger " ...!!
We had a similar experience in Taco bell where the volcano taco has in default beef in it unless u customized it for chicken.!!!
Should say that one has to be careful in confirming about the meat in the menus here.!
The burger there is really gud and is very cheap.
We always eat the chicken burger there.So for a change we just wanted to try the veggie version and all we could c on the menu was cheese burger .So we ordered it.
Only after eating it , We came to know that the cheese burger here refers to actually "Bacon burger " ...!!
We had a similar experience in Taco bell where the volcano taco has in default beef in it unless u customized it for chicken.!!!
Should say that one has to be careful in confirming about the meat in the menus here.!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Watching Raavanan - Quite a Different Experience
I am a die-hard fan of manirathnam and have been counting the days to watch raavanan.
Well,reviews of the movie apart...
I watched the film in AMC on a weekday (well, the first day second show ) and OMG...there were hardly people in the theater...we are 4 ppl...other than that,there were some 10-15 ppl totally..
there was no whistles ,no one to disturb ,noone to shout cing aish (may b i was the only one to have whistled right there from my seat where ARR name flashed on the screen)...
imm..well,i was happy to watch the movie on the first day ,but i wonder whether i had that " proud " feeling of watching a hyped movie on the first day & that too in US???
Well,reviews of the movie apart...
I watched the film in AMC on a weekday (well, the first day second show ) and OMG...there were hardly people in the theater...we are 4 ppl...other than that,there were some 10-15 ppl totally..
there was no whistles ,no one to disturb ,noone to shout cing aish (may b i was the only one to have whistled right there from my seat where ARR name flashed on the screen)...
imm..well,i was happy to watch the movie on the first day ,but i wonder whether i had that " proud " feeling of watching a hyped movie on the first day & that too in US???
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Fed up of 3D Movies!!
I have been watching quite a few movies in AMC and surprisingly all seemed to be in 3-D version.
While some films really needed the 3D genre but others didnt fit into the category and seemed to have incorporated the 3D feature just to attract kids.
For example,I felt the "Train your dragon or " Avatar" needed a 3D ,but whereas "The Shrek" didnt use the technology properly.
Just thinking abt our 3D movies in India, I wonder why our filmmakers hestitate to make such movies ,lets' say atleast for children??
Lucky English kids ??!!!
Indian movies are always been hero-build up action movies,love-romance or comedy genre ..
why do animated movies rarely or never made in our home-land??
While some films really needed the 3D genre but others didnt fit into the category and seemed to have incorporated the 3D feature just to attract kids.
For example,I felt the "Train your dragon or " Avatar" needed a 3D ,but whereas "The Shrek" didnt use the technology properly.
Just thinking abt our 3D movies in India, I wonder why our filmmakers hestitate to make such movies ,lets' say atleast for children??
Lucky English kids ??!!!
Indian movies are always been hero-build up action movies,love-romance or comedy genre ..
why do animated movies rarely or never made in our home-land??
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Experiments with Conventional Oven
We have been experimenting some recipes with our conventional oven, like cake & tandoori chicken.
Snow Bowling
Bowling has been a very good past time ,esply in the winter season,in the
months of november-feb here in charlotte.Esply,when u cannot go out in the snow.
We have lot of AMF bowling centres in clt.
We look out for coupons in the mailbox and have a gala time.
And bowling is a game which we enjoi with a huge gang of people .
We never go alone there.
months of november-feb here in charlotte.Esply,when u cannot go out in the snow.
We have lot of AMF bowling centres in clt.
We look out for coupons in the mailbox and have a gala time.
And bowling is a game which we enjoi with a huge gang of people .
We never go alone there.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Becoming a FaceBook (Games )Addict!!
I have never been a ardent orkuteer in India or any other networking sites..
after coming to US,as i always say, u do anything to kill time.
So i started facebooking as a hobby and mere -keep in touch with friends.
Then one of my friends always used to post some gaming messages..I was just curious to really experiment it..
Then i started to play the games in FB ..And OMG,i shld say slowly i was getting so addicted to all those games that i had to allot time for each game and plan accordingly.
Since then ,it has been facebooking ,facebooking & only facebooking.
And as days pass,I live all day with facebook now.
after coming to US,as i always say, u do anything to kill time.
So i started facebooking as a hobby and mere -keep in touch with friends.
Then one of my friends always used to post some gaming messages..I was just curious to really experiment it..
Then i started to play the games in FB ..And OMG,i shld say slowly i was getting so addicted to all those games that i had to allot time for each game and plan accordingly.
Since then ,it has been facebooking ,facebooking & only facebooking.
And as days pass,I live all day with facebook now.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
My Learner's Driving License in US !!
Was looking for other ways to kill time @ home, apart from my cooking,TV,movies ,net..
Some of our friends suggested if i learnt driving ,i can go for shopping myself and thereby i can get more chances to go out.Moreover,driving in US is far more simpler than driving in India.
So I decided to take my driving test.
Apart from getting a photo -id card,learning driving would boost my self-confidence.
After all,to drive has been my longtime yearning.!
So i decided to take up the test for driving learner permit !
I did a lot of preparation with the dumps from the net.
And most answers were "by heart " it type of answers with all those numerical figures .
And the result,I did pass it.
Some of our friends suggested if i learnt driving ,i can go for shopping myself and thereby i can get more chances to go out.Moreover,driving in US is far more simpler than driving in India.
So I decided to take my driving test.
Apart from getting a photo -id card,learning driving would boost my self-confidence.
After all,to drive has been my longtime yearning.!
So i decided to take up the test for driving learner permit !
I did a lot of preparation with the dumps from the net.
And most answers were "by heart " it type of answers with all those numerical figures .
And the result,I did pass it.
Aurobindo Mother!
Well, I have been an ardent devotee of Sri Aurobindo Mother right from my school days.
My first trip to the ashram was in my school summer holidays.
Some of the links to stay connected while being in abroad:
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