Destination Infinity's Blog, page 27

Kerala Bangles to Match Your Kerala Saree or Chudi

Ramya has been making quite a few innovative silk thread fashion bangles of late. One of them is Kerala-style bangles to match the Kerala-style saree or churidhar/salwar you might have in the closet, but have not been wearing much.

Now you have an excuse to take it out of your wardrobe. Presenting to you the White & Golden Kerala Bangles from RR Fashion Jewellery

‘Offline’ Facebook Like

We managed to crack the secret formula/technique to give an ‘Offline’ Facebook Like. I guess you are all familiar with liking or reacting to a post on FB Online via browser or app, we managed to do that even while we were totally offline and not connected to the net at all.

If you are wondering how to like a post on FB while you are offline, here is the secret method >>

Although you might have to go to a talk session on entrepreneurship to get such a board, selfie hole, like holdee, and FB graphics!

Well… I guess now you are clear that I don’t just talk-in-the-air. I write my posts after a lot of research and verification

Kindle Short Story by My Friend – Sarath Babu

Hi people,

My good friend, blogger and now author – Sarath Babu has published a short story on Amazon Kindle titled, “One Plot Many Stories“. It is currently free on Kindle, but it will be free only for a short period of time as Amazon allows authors to give away their books for free just for 4-5 days in two months. So make sure you download the book while it is free – you can read it on mobile, laptop, Kindle, etc.

If you are interested in short stories, do read the book – “One Plot Many Stories“. The book has already got many good reviews on Kindle.

Destination Infinity

My (another) New Business Card :)

Well, as it has become a tradition for me to change the business card design and content(!) every six months, I am happy to present to you my latest business card —

Howzz itt?

Mobile Phone Camera for Videography?

I’ve been trying to purchase a good video camera that can,

Record up to 4K video
Has slow motion recording (at least 120 fps) and timelapse photo/video recording
Has a 1″ sensor, or a smaller sensor that can take decent video footage in low light
Has a 3.5mm audio connector to connect an external mic
Has good optical zoom (preferably)
Has manual focus in addition to auto focus (preferably)
Has electronic & optical image stabilisation (preferably) – I have a video tripod, but carrying it everywhere may not be practical

I have considered Action Cameras (Gopro 7 announced recently is still a consideration), DSLRs (rejected due to their bulky form factor, lens requirements), Point-and-Shoot/Bridge Camera (Panasonic fz1000 is under consideration), 360 Cameras (waiting for better resolution with good over-capture features), Drone Cameras (operation is too complicated, esp. outdoors), and every other device with a camera attached to it!!!

Recently, I found that (flagship) smart phones can also record very good video. In fact, there have been movies shot with the iPhone!

So, for now, I have decided to buy a mobile phone with 4K Video recording. I have shortlisted One Plus 6 (waiting for One Plus 6T release in Oct before deciding) and Xiaomi Pocophone F1 (If you haven’t heard about this phone yet – Google now, learn, and BUY immediately

Scenic Drives from Bangalore

Bangalore is a well-connected city, making it a good base for travelling around. From open country to mist-shrouded mountains, there is plenty to see in the surrounding districts. With self drive cars available for rent at affordable prices, a short drive from the city can be planned spontaneously. Here are some easy-to-reach destinations that curious travellers can explore on the next holiday.

Nandi Hills

Located just around 60 kms from Bangalore, Nandi Hills has sprouted up as a popular adventure and leisure hub for city dwellers. Apart from its historical attractions, the winding roads leading to the 1500 metre summit have many other surprises. Bird watchers and nature photographers would love to visit Nandi Hills during the early mornings and catch the sunrise while the forests are their active best. At the foothills, travellers can also explore the nascent wine growing industry of Karnataka, already making its mark. Nandi Hills is a place for adventure sports and outdoor activities – an ideal day trip destination.

Hesaraghatta Grasslands

The Hesaraghatta Lake is the most famous attraction in this region, situated just 33 kms away from the city. The lake is an integral part of Bangalore’s water supply and it has also become a favourite landing ground for many bird species – one can sight Brahminy kites, egrets, kingfishers and various types of herons apart from other feathered residents. Those who love the creative arts can visit Nrityagram, the first gurukul dedicated to Indian Classical dance. The Temple of Dedication here is a highlight of the place.

Kanakapura

A 60-km drive from Bangalore, Kanakapura has become a resort town for revellers from the city and those who are looking for a nature-filled recluse. The town is famous for its temples and granite production but the verdant landscapes have added to the allure. There are many favourite riverside spots and gorges, carved by the currents of the Arkavathi and the Cauveri, which attract visitors from all over. The Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta is a hilltop temple that is considered be a vigorous, moderate hike while the Chunchi Falls are best viewed during or just after the monsoons.

Savandurga

Located just off the busy Magadi Road, Savandurga is a geological wonder. The name comes from the remnants of a fort on the summit of this hill, one of the largest monoliths in Asia. Savandurga from a distance juts out like a grey giant out of the surrounding forests and reaches a height of more than 1200 metres. The hike up is strenuous but rewarding, welcoming climbers with amazing views. The drive to Savandurga is also very picturesque, as one leaves behind the development of the city and ventures into a more secluded and fresh countryside. The area is home to many rare species of butterflies and there is a fair amount of wildlife in the jungles that surround the giant hill-rock.

People are preferring rentals because of the freedom and privacy to move around. For self drive cars Bangalore has good options. Platforms like Zoomcar offer 24/7 on-road support and a wide range of vehicles – from hatchbacks and sedans to SUVs.

Bangalore’s outskirts are a celebration of culture and nature – it is time to step out and discover.

One Self-Help Book that made me STOP reading all others

I was tagged by Ashwini Ravishankar (on Facebook) to name seven best books for seven days. I won’t do that.





I’ll name just one self-help book that made me stop reading self-help books altogether. Because no other book is ever required. If you feel short of inspiration, just read this book all over again. Simple.





*Steve Jobs* by *Walter Isaacson* is that book.





No, this is not just a biography. It is a lesson on obsession with quality.





It’s about one man’s obsession to give the best products/services that neither the consumers nor the competition would even think of.





The book shows in great detail on how Jobs would obsess about (especially) the smallest things that go into the making of any i-product.





He would even obsess on how well the electronic components that go *inside* his devices should be arranged – something that no consumer is ever going to see! You can now imagine the lengths to which he would go for the *critical* aspects.





You see Jobs as a great presenter. But if you read the book, you’ll get an idea of all the sweat, toil, and grit that resulted in those great presentations.





The fact that Steve Jobs trusted this particular journalist for this job speaks volumes about the author. Sad that Steve didn’t want to read his bio that was almost ready before his death.





Had he read, he would have been proud of the no-nonsense portrayal of the great man and his flaws.





Especially his flaws.


Destination Infinity

Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Memorial, Marina Beach

Embedded above is a short video showing photos and clips from our yesterday’s visit to Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Memorial/Samadhi at Marina Beach, Chennai. This is located right inside the Anna Samadhi premises just next to the Anna Square bus stand.

Adjacent to this complex lies the MGR Samadhi & Dr. J. Jayalalitha Samadhi. So the term Anna Square now makes sense with four memorials for the four important political icons of Tamil Nadu over the previous 6-7 decades.

Ten Facts about Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi –

Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi was the longtime DMK Chief and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms (over 20-years).
He contested and won his first MLA seat during 1957 and has personally won all the elections contested by him ever since.
He worked as a scriptwriter from the age of 20 starting with his (then) friend MGR’s Tamil film Rajakumari. These two later-day rivals worked closely in movies & in politics. In fact, Director Manirathnam made a movie “Iruvar” which is rumoured to be inspired from the tale of friendship between these two movie & political legends.
Dialogues for Sivaji’s first film “Parasakthi” was written by Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He kept writing screenplays for various Tamil films until 2011.
He has written and published more than hundred poems, novels, drama scripts, etc. He has written and published his own autobiography.
Karunanidhi started his political agitations at the age of 14 by rallying the youth in his area for social causes.
He won his first MLA seat at the young age of 33 and his first CM post at the age of 45.
During the 70’s DMK was the only ruling party across India that opposed the Emergency.
He encouraged and continued the tradition of hosting Ulaga Thamizh Manadu (World Tamil Conference). He wrote the lyrics for AR Rehman’s “Semmozhi aana Thamizh mozhiyaam” – the official theme song for World Tamil Conference 2010.
He died at the age of 94 on 7th August 2018 at Kaveri Hospital.

Reference: Wikipedia article on Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi.

 

Destination Infinity

Our Selfie Published in a Magazine!

I guess by now you all should be knowing how crazy we are about taking and displaying selfies everywhere. In a first, we managed to get our selfie photo published on a print magazine. It’s just our community magazine, but still…

Sanskruthi Dolls Exhibition @ TTK Road, Chennai

Today we went to the Sanskruthi Dolls exhibition at Maharashtra Nivas, TTK Road (Near Hp Petrol bunk), Alwarpet, Chennai. In this exhibition, the organisers are attempting a Guinness World Record for displaying the maximum number of handmade dolls under a single roof.

Irrespective of whether they achieve that goal or not, it’s a sheer pleasure to watch so many dolls together. We were glad we went.

I’ve made a short highlights video (embedded above) where you can see a few dolls and you can also get to know more about the event/association founded to revive the tradition of handmade dolls by Nisha Srikanth, the founder.

This exhibition is on for two days – Sept. 8 & 9, 2018 (Sat & Sun).

Destination Infinity