Iddali - a South Indian dish!

Iddali (Idli) is a delicious south Indian dish. 

The above-shown platter contains standard sized idlis, very tiny idlis (cute, isn't it?), sambar, and a fried extra hot chilli 😊. Sambar is a vegetable stew like that contains potato, ladies finger, tomato, big onion, various spices etc. Very flavorful dish!

A special steamer rack that has very small depressions is needed to make small sized Iddalis. Iddali is made by grinding rice and urad dal (black gram) and kept fermenting overnight. A little salt is also added to the dough during preparation. Various methods are prevalent in different regions and the ingredients also may vary from place to place. Nevertheless, Iddali is a wonderful dish enjoyed by everyone here.

I like iddalis very much!

There is a side dish which is a must, of course, that I haven't shown here! Chutney (Chammanthy), made by a paste of coconut scrapings, chilly and salt. Here too, there are so many methods with different types of ingredients.

Yummy!

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Lulu mall, Edappally, Kerala - July 2013

 An update of Lulu mall, Edappally, Kochi (Ernakulam), Kerala in India!

 This is the month of holy Ramadan! 

There are special food sections at the Hypermarket now.

Many new shops have opened.                                   

There is an NRI (Non-resident Indian) festival going on. Lucky draws and special discounts are also there.                                 

http://lulumall.in

https://www.facebook.com/LuLuMall

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Lulu mall, Edappally in Kerala - an update!

This is an update of Lulu mall. Visited two weeks ago.
http://lulumall.in

Check my previous post in my other blog magical present.
http://magicalpresent.blogspot.in/2013/04/real-life-example-of-success-lulu-mall.html

They already have started PVR Cinemas, the awesome multiplex!
http://www.pvrcinemas.com
https://www.facebook.com/PVRCinemasLuluMallCochin

The bowling range has also become operational. This is a 12 lane bowling alley!

Found a Wikipedia page also for Lulu mall!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulu_Cochin_Mall

Read they are having NRI fest in Lulu mall, well, will be visiting tomorrow and keep you all posted.
Wish me awesome malling!

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Book World by Kinokuniya, Dubai - a paradise for book lovers

Book world by Kinokuniya is one of the best bookstores in Dubai. 

A very spacious store located in Dubai Mall, this outlet attracts thousands of book lovers across the region every day. I have visited here so many times; I simply love going there. They have millions of books in different languages in many genres, magazines, yes, Japanese manga is also there. Awesome collection!

We can browse leisurely through everything displayed, sit quietly and read, the place is simply beautiful! Very friendly staff! Some stationery is also available. 

Don't miss it if you visit Dubai! 

Level 2, Dubai mall, Dubai financial center road, adjacent Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world!

More info  http://www.kinokuniya.com/ae

http://www.thedubaimall.com/en/shop/books_cards_stationery_stores/book-world-by-kinokuniya.aspx

Kinokuniya is a world-famous bookstore with its corporate headquarters in Tokyo and having branches in many countries. Check http://www.kinokuniya.co.jp  

Hope they will open a store in India too 😊

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Contact form widget in Blogger blogs - a new feature!

Hello😊
Blogger has added a new 'Contact form widget' for Blogspot blogs.

I added the new Contact form widget from the Blogger widgets collection. It is very convenient and easy to install.

How did I install it?

First I signed in to Blogger and reached my Blogger dashboard. 
Then I clicked open my first blog listed there.
Next, I clicked on the Layout tab on the left-hand side.
On the right-hand side of the Layout page, I found the blue colored Add a Gadget link. Clicked it open.
It opened a pop-up Add a Gadget window.
Clicked More Gadgets tab below the Basics, on the left-hand side.
There it is... listed as first, Contact Form, developed by third-party developers for Blogger.
Clicked on the plus sign on the right-hand side, at the end of that window.
Another window opened with the title Configure Contact form widget. 
Clicked the orange colored Save button seen on the left-hand side at the bottom.
Saved it and then viewed the blog again.
Done!

The page element may be rearranged if needed, by dragging it to the desired position. I fixed it at the top of the sidebar.

I wanted the title Contact form text in italics. Edited the text, Contact form, in the Configure Contact form widget page like this by adding the HTML syntax for italics <i>

<i>Contact Form</i>

Saved it after the HTML edit.

Similarly, I added the form to my other blog too.

It is better to add a Contact form so that readers can communicate without resorting to the comment form writings all the time. The message will reach our registered email.

There is no Captcha for this Blogger Contact form, but I think it is okay. Also, the messages, by default will reach our registered email ie Gmail only.

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Kodanad - land of elephants in Kerala!

Kodanad, a rescue elephant training center is situated at a distance of about 20 km from Kochi international airport in Kerala, South India.

 This place figures in the ecotourism map of Kerala. 

Kodanad, the land of elephants, on the banks of the river Periyar attracts many tourists. Here we can see elephants being taken care of. There are wooden elephant training cages called "kraal" and it is a wonderful sight the elephants being bathed by mahouts in the river.

Facilities are there for elephant safari as well.   

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Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure in the world - an awesome video!

Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world!

Watch the video!  

Youtube link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijvJ0ZzaoSM

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Dubai fountain - a very beautiful video!

Enjoy my video of the Dubai fountain on YouTube...!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDxis3wIIR0

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Negombo beach, Sri Lanka - must visit place!

Some snaps were taken in Sri Lanka while transiting during travel with Srilankan Airlines.

Beautiful beaches in Negombo area! This place is about 6 km from the Colombo International airport.

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Vishu - a time of joy, hope and celebration!

Today is Vishu!

Vishu marks the new year day according to the Malayalam calendar in Kerala, India. Vishu is celebrated in Kerala state and in the adjoining Mangalore and Udupi districts in Karnataka.

'Vishukkani' is the most important function of this auspicious day. For this, in a gold-colored vessel called 'Uruli' made of bell metal numerous articles like 'konnappoovu' (golden flowers of Cassia fistula), gold ornaments, holy texts like Ramayana, metal mirror ('Aranmulakkannadi', this is actually made of a mixture of metal alloys which when polished later will look exactly like a mirror, a very famous metal art unique to the state of Kerala), rice, cucumber that has golden color, grapes, lemon, betel leaves, areca nut, money, coins etc. are arranged in the pooja room (prayer room) the night before the day of the Vishu. Early morning the 'nilavilakku' (the holy lamp) is lit by the oldest lady of the household and each member of the household is escorted with eyes closed to this sacred place so that they see the 'Kani' as the first on that auspicious day. This symbolizes prosperity the whole year. People also visit temples on this auspicious day.

Children celebrate this day with firecrackers. The eldest of the household will gift everyone new dress and money ('Vishukkaineettam'). There will be a feast consisting of many delicious items in typical Kerala style with numerous flavors and 'payasam', a sweet dish, indispensable for any celebration in Kerala.

'Konnappoovu', the flowers of Cassia fistula or the 'golden shower tree' is the state flower of Kerala. It is the national flower of Thailand. A 48 cent stamp in Canada was designed featuring this flower in 2003, interesting!

I WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS VISHU.   

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