METROMART December2013

METRO mart Volume 3 Issue 6 December 2013 `40

T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

A Tribute to His Highness Sri Padmanabhadasa Uthradam Thirunal Marthandavarma Maharaja

Dine, Wine n Revel, the Night is young Tale of the Christmas Cake Health Tourism Prospects of Kerala Kunnil Gold Park Unveil first Showroom www.metromartdaily.com

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Foreword His Highness Sri Padamanabhadasa Uthradam Thirunal Marthandavarma Maharaja will now remain just in our hearts as his soul left his body during the early hours of 16th December 2013. A humble human being, was always the perfect role model for his people of Travancore.

METROMART Thiruvananthapuram was initiated through the hands of the last ruler of Travancore. It was at his residence at Pattom Palace his highness launched METROMART to the cityite’s on 21st July 2011, giving the first copy to Mayor K Chandrika. When we approached him to bless and launch the magazine he was very keen to know the contents and need of such an initiative for the city. He given his comments and suggestions which was his nature to be concerned with each and everything coming his way throughout his life.

We are not a person to comment on the life of His Highness. Nor we are here to explain to immature young people representatives not able to realize why people of Travancore loves him so much. If the entire malayalees in the world waits every year to celebrate Onam for a Maharaja called Mahabali, its because the way he lived for his county and peoples. His Highness Sri Uthradam Thirunal Marthandavarma is no less than any ruler not by the way he governed, but by the way he lived for his people.

We humbly dedicate our creation to his life, and will work hard to keep ourselves to the simplicity and responsibility he shown to the people.

Hari Shanker Managing Editor

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December 20137

CONTENTS A tribute to His Highness Sri Padmanabhadasa Uthradam Thirunal Marthandavarma Maharaja

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Volume 3 Issue 6 December 2013 www.metromartdaily.com

Photos : B.Rajan,Maharaja Studio,Trivandrum

Annual Subscription `400 Managing Editor Hari Shanker hari@martinfotech.in

CEO & Managing Director Siji Nair sijicn@gmail.com

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Dine, Wine n Revel the Night is young

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Tale of the Christmas Cake

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How to Make Red Wine @Home

Sub Editor Editorial Assistant

Ampili Nair

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Delivering Taste At Your Doorstep

Creative Assistant

Sayan Chaudhuri

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Naaz Virtual Store - One stop shopping solutions for all!

Roopesh Shekhar GM Sales

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Enchanting designs at Czarina

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Oasis – Where Decor Is the Sign

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V Viswanath

Sibu Nair

GM Administration

Binoy Krishna

Manager - Promotions

Anoop I S

Corporate Office:Health Tourism Prospects of Metro Mart Thiruvananthapuram Kerala

Jayaraj Plus Towers, Murinjapalam,

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Kerala hotels set to Medical College Post become tobacco-free Trivandrum - 695011

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People’s power achieves cleanliness

Tel: +91 471 6065511/ 9947733339 Email: metromart.tvm@gmail.com

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UDS the Global Best Coastal Luxury Hotel

Bangalore Office:-

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Ayurvedic Healthcare and Wellness at Vasudeva Vilasam

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Last Leaf

No:217, 3B Main, OMBR Layout Bangalore – 560 043 Tel: +919038000711 Email: info@martinfotech.in

Published, Edited and Printed by Hari Shanker A G and Owned by Haritha Media Pvt Ltd and Printed by him at SB Press Private Limited, Statue, Trivandrum 695001 and Published from Tharangam, Kodunganoor Post, Trivandrum 695003 Metro Mart is a monthly journal published from Trivandrum. Views and opinions expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Publishers.

Metro Mart reserves the right to use the information published here in any manner whatsoever. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published in this edition, neither the Publisher no any of its employees accept any responsibilities for any errors or omissions. © All Rights Reserved

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RNI No: KERENG/2011/40037

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December 20139

COVER FEATURE

A tribute to His Highness Sri Uthradam Thirunal Marthandavarma Maharaja UthradamThirunal Balarama Varma, the titular Maharaja of Travancore was a ‘Rajarshi’ who could combine well the rule of the royal family and the rule of the people. He was a role model for both the rulers and common man.

O. Rajagopal

He lived as a simple man even while carrying the title of Maharaja. It was his unique personality that drew me towards him. I met him along with his brother, His Highness Shri ChithiraThirunal Bala Rama Varma when I came to Trivandrum for the work related to Jansangh. Till his last breath he had kept that intimacy, love and benevolence.

When I was in the Union cabinet I had great many opportunities to meet Shri Uthradamthirunal at his Pattom Palace. Many a time I stood with bowed head before his love and magnanimity. He viewed both the royal rule and democracy equally. Even after the abolishment of royal rule, royalty was conferred on him by the people. Coming out of the royal tangles, he found great pleasure in mingling with the common people. During festivals, the tribes visited the royal

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family with their yields. He accepted their offerings with great enthusiasm.

By his demise, we lost a

generous ruler and an exemplary human being,.

He was a perfect host and was magnanimous

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towards guests. I still cherish the mementoes like royal emblem, onaviillu and the rare photograph of the old Kanyakumari, he gave me. His commendable knowledge about Indian culture and history had often made me ponder. The great philosophy in Vedas and Upanishads appeared simple when he used it in his conversations. The authority with which he handled the Vedas lured me to the philosophies in Vedas. Even though he followed sanathana dharma religiously, he respected other faiths too.

He along with other royal members often visited Amrithanandamayidevi and sought her blessings whenever she came to Thiruvananthapuram.

He often reminds us that Indian mother hood is being honored when Amrithanandamayi is honored in foreign countries.

I got several opportunities to participate in many of the programmes with Shri UthradamThirunal.

He always reminded me of the greatness of participating in small programmes. Compared to big gatherings, small www.metromartdaily.com

programs, invited with love gave him more happiness. The way he used to keep time and follow customs had always impressed me. Punctuality was his forte. He never allowed programmes to hinder his puja at Six -thirty. He always reminded me that Prayers give energy for life. He always encouraged me to pray whenever I am grief-stricken. He was against people standing at the time of prayer .As prayers are for both body and soul he insisted people to sit and pray .He further reiterated that it is the way of Indian culture.

The prince, who gave up royalty to be one among the masses, said that royal rule and democratic rule are two sides of the same coin. The love and the warmth he shared with

all politicians irrespective of their political lineage were exemplary. He never exercised his suffrage. The argument he put forth for not exercising the vote was quite convincing. He loved everyone equally and casting vote to one party would definitely go against the principle of ‘equality to all’ that hwe maintained throughout his life.

Still, he appreciated Gujarat chief Minister Narendra Modi as a great ruler. Narendra modi who came to the palace disclosed his desire for over all development for India. He had no doubt that under Narendra Modi, India will gain honor among nations. Let us strive hard to fulfill his wish and expectations.

That will be the commitment we can offer towards him .

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COVER FEATURE

Tributes to the Last link of Kerala to its Royal Past Sree Uthradom Thirunal Maharaja was a person of great humility and led a simple life. He was chief patron of many religious, social, cultural and V. Viswanath

charitable organizations.

The head of Travancore royal family, Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma passed away on December 16 at the age of 91. He succeeded Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma in 1991. The Maharaja had witnessed the country’s transformation from imperial rule to a democratic polity.

Sree Uthradom Thirunal began his education in Kowdiar Palace with home tutors. He graduated in 1943 from the then Travancore University.

He was a Sanskrit Scholar and an avid photographer.

Motoring was his favorite hobby. He is survived by two children, Padmanabha Varma and Parvati Devi.

Through daily engagements, he had kept in touch with the people. Being a Sree Padmanabhadasa, he had maintained his ritual position as

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the custodian of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Sree Uthradom Thirunal’s nephew Sree

Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma has been made the successor to the head of the royal family.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Dine,Wine n Revel,the Night is young New Year brings with it a fresh hope, a fresh beginning. So it is the time for taking resolutions for many. What are resolutions for if not to break it?-asks the youngsters who are having a jolly good time, eating and drinking their heart out Partying and dining out has become the in thing.

Christmas is just round the corner The saxophone gently played‌..the music sets the mood of the festive season .The city is all decked to receive the messiah. Stars, bells, candles and Christmas trees come in every possible hue. Some are busy making their own ornaments with papers and glitters to decor their trees. Others decorate their cribs with grass, straw and evergreen leaves. Kids are ready with the statue of infant Jesus, mother Mary and

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Joseph. They are eager to place shepherds and lambs too at the stable. The birth of the divine Baby is anticipated and celebrated with great fervor. The tradition is well maintained even now by many people.

Children still believe that Santa would come with presents at night and place them under their pillow.

Homemade cookies, cakes and wines find their way to shops well before the season. Cathedrals and churches take a solemn look with their mass and

Ampili Nair

special prayers amidst the fiesta. It is brimming with happiness everywhere.

Exchange of gifts and sending greeting cards has not lost its charm even in this digital world.

Techies too have come up with innovative ideas to wish the gen next geeks a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Thiruvananthapuram, the otherwise quiet city is rather excited to greet the New Year with much fun and fanfare. The city is all set to witness a fantastic

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celebration, with light ups and sparkling fireworks Hoardings have come up everywhere to salute the New Year ahead! From an array of scrumptious international cuisine, coupled with a wide range of beverages, gift hampers and lucky draws all hotels, beach resorts and clubs are organizing spectacular events to spice up the New Year eve. All major hotels in the city are dishing out yummy delicacies of all flavors and games to shrill out the cool nights. Be it to listen to the musical treats of the DJs or to waltz to the beats of the hottest chartbusters, they have everything out there to paint the town red.

Season is back at Kovalam, the most happening place in Trivandrum .Backpackers round the world have assembled here long before to welcome the New Year. The Leela Kovalam, is jubilant to receive its distinguished guests and has arranged everything to make it a gala event. They are inviting everyone to join the season at The Leela Kovalam with a bouquet of special feasts and treats at their restaurants. They ask the customers to Savor every moment of the good life and go back with warm, www.metromartdaily.com

wonderful memories!

On Christmas Eve you can relish a festivity buffet that features carving stations of traditional Roast Turkeys with apricot stuffing, Seared Red Snapper with Ratatouilles, Assorted Xmas pound cake, Crème brullee, Panna cotta with orange confit, Mocha éclair, Dundee etc. The in-house band along with their in house DJ is sure to entertain the guests.

Special Performances during Dinner comes at a special rate of Rs. 4500/per person plus taxes with a glass of house wine If Chinese cuisine delights you then Chinapolis, the spacious restaurant of Vivanta Taj Thiruvananthapuram is the right place for you .There they serve authentic Chinese cuisines, with a special festive meal!

The New Year festive a la carte menu, presented for the dining pleasure of guests, features an array of delicious Chinese delicacies prepared in the traditional way.

Themed “Resolution Revolution, The capital Hotels and Resorts have planned everything to make the New Year celebrations unique. For the New Year eve gala dinner guests are honored with guaranteed

vouchers worth Rs.4000 .They also offer New Year Room Package for a couple at Rs.4567 where you have to check in at 11.00Am on 31st December 2013 to enjoy the new year eve celebrations and check out the next day at15 hrs.

The package includes New Year Gala dinner and breakfast only.

Maurya Rajadhani plans it in a different way. They have decided to go in a traditional manner. Named Christmas food Festival, it is a ten day affair, show casing the best of Kerala naadan food, oriental, north Indian and continental dishes. Special Christmas eve’s dinner buffet comes at a rate of Rs 599+taxes for adults and Rs499+taxes for children But on Dec 25th Special Christmas lunch Buffet-the meal comes at a reduced rate of Rs.500+taxes and Rs300+tax for children.

The menu includes (traditional dishes like duck mappas, rabbit, Mutton crab Etc+ tender coconut payasams.

But the exciting offer is on Dec 31st Gala Dinner coupled with New Year event. The package begins with a complimentary welcome drink on arrival, complimentary hotel stay vouchers and gifts to lucky December 2013 December 2013 15

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winners, Table magician, live band, fortune teller, Mehandi for ladies and kids and the best buffet in town are the other attractions. All these comes at a meager rate of Rs1400 for adult and Rs800 for child.

How about dancing it out at the dancing floor of Classic Avenue?

Classic Avenue is ready with a sumptuous program to “ring out the old and ring in the new” They have all geared up to spread cheers to welcome the New Year 2014.

The celebration organized in the name “Cheers2014” features a full time entertainment including multilingual Band,Cinematic Dance,DJ

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(Disc Jockey),Dance Floor, Games and fabulous prizes and free stays in branded hotels all over Kerala along with Complimentary Welcome Drink and Gala Buffet. The tickets are priced at a special rate of Rs.2999 all inclusive for a Couple and for the extra person along with a couple for Rs.1499 and for Kids above 12 and below 15 years Rs.999.

For New year revelers the Classic Avenue has arranged special New Year Room Package for a couple at Rs.4699 where in you can check in at 2 pm on 31st December 2013 enjoy the new year eve celebration and check out the next day before 2 pm

in the afternoon. The package includes dinner and breakfast only.

Its absolute dance at Udayasamudra at Kovalam They are for an adventurous NewYear! Acrobatic dance, Fire dance, Rope dance, Pole dance .you name it they have it at UDS. Trapeez, Ostrich, Bollywood, Hollywood, Fireworks and DJ complete the fun. Grab the opportunity to revel in the night life.

The night is young and so are we we can do anything we wanna, baby the saxophone continues the soulful melody Let’s embrace 2014 with ecstasy .

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Tale of the Christmas Cake The Christmas cake as we know it today comes from two customs which became one around 1870 in Victorian England. Originally there was a porridge, the origins of which go back to the beginnings of Christianity. Then there was a fine cake made with the finest milled wheat flour, this was baked only in the great houses, as not many people had ovens back in the 14th century.

Plum Porridge Originally people used to eat a sort of porridge on Christmas Eve. It was a dish to line the stomach after a day’s fasting, which people used to observe for Christmas Eve, or the ‘Vigil’ as it was called long ago. Gradually, they began to put spices, dried fruits, honey etc in the porridge to make it a special dish for Christmas. Much later it was turned into a pudding,

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because it got to be so stiff with all the fruits and things, that they would tie it in a cloth, and dunk it into a large cauldron of boiling water and boil it for many hours. This turns into Christmas pudding.

it together better. This became boiled plum cake. So boiled plum pudding and boiled fruitcake existed side by side depending on which ingredients the housewife used.

Plumcake

Only big houses had proper ovens to bake in.

In the castles and homes, people would make a special cake for Easter, which was a rich fruitcake recipe with a topping of

Later, around the 16th century, it became popular to add butter, replace the oatmeal with wheat flour, add eggs to hold

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what we now call the marzipan or almond paste. A similar cake was baked for the Christmas festivities, but with spices that represented the exotic spice of the east, and the gifts of the wise men. Such things were first brought to Europe and Britain particularly, by the crusaders coming back from the wars in the holy land in the 12th century.

Twelfth Night Cake But it was not a Christmas cake, but a twelfth night cake. Twelfth night is on the 5th January, and has been for centuries the traditional last day of the Christmas season. It was a time for having a great feast, and the cake was an essential part of the festivities. This was slightly different in different countries, and also at different social levels. In big homes, a dried bean and a pea was baked in the cake. One in one half and the other in the other half. The cake was decorated with sugar, like our icing, but not so dense, and ornamentation.

As the visitors arrived, they were given a piece of the cake, ladies from the left and gentlemen from the www.metromartdaily.com

right side. Whoever got the bean became king of the revels for the night, and everyone had to do as said. The lady was his queen for the evening.

In smaller homes the cake was a simple fruitcake, with a bean in it, which was given to guests during the twelve days of Christmas. Whoever got the bean was supposed to be a kind of guardian angel for that family for the year, so it was an important task, and usually, it was arranged that a senior member of the family would get the bean!

In fact, this was observed until recently in Poland.

In Britain the cake was baked as part of the refreshments offered to the priest and his entourage who would visit on the feast of the epiphany, January 6th, to bless each house in the parish. This custom died out after the reformation in the late 16th century.In Mallorca, the main island of the Spanish Balearics islands, they have a similar custom which takes place at Easter.

The festive cake in Britain was revived at the end

of the 17th century, and became very much part of the twelfth night partying again. It is recorded in royal households, that the cakes became extravagantly large, and the guests divided into two side could have a battle with models on the cake! One battle was a sea battle, and there were miniature water canon on the cake which really worked!

Twelfth Night This is the church festival of Epiphany. The traditional day when Christmas celebrates the arrival of the Magi or three kings at Bethlehem. It used to be the time when people exchanged their Christmas gifts. The feast was marked as were all the old feasts, by some kind of religious observance. A visit to the church, services or some kind, and then a folk observance which was tightly wrapped up as part of the church activities.

As we have seen, twelfth day(the day following twelfth night) entailed the blessing of the home, and in some countries is still observed.

But after the reformation, December 2013 December 2013 19

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these customs of the church were banned by the puritans, and fell into disuse. Without its religious overtones, twelfth night became a time of mischief and over indulgence. By 1870 Britain’s queen Victoria announced that she felt it was inappropriate to hold such an unchristian festival, and twelfth night was banned as a feast day.

The arrival of the Christmas Cake The confectioners who made the cakes were left with boxes full of figurines and models for twelfth cakes, and also had lost revenue by the banning of the feast. So they began to bake a fruitcake and decorate it with snowy scenes, or even flower gardens and Italian romantic ruins. These

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they sold not for the 5th January, but for December Christmas parties. And it was thus that we developed the Christmas cake.

piece of cheese or apple pie, became known all over the world.

The American in turns were getting cakes sent from all part of Europe Boiled Plum Cake For The by relatives in the ‘Old Colonies Country’. Then in 1890’s a German immigrant opened People in Britain began to a cake bakery in a small make boiled fruitcake to town, and began to bake sent to their families who cakes which the Americans had gone to the new world in turn would sent to their colonies- in Australia, relatives back in Europe.

Canada, etc. And to sent This cake was based on a to those who worked on traditional Christmas cake, the missions. The boiled but contained many of the cakes lasted better than fruits which were grown in the baked ones, and in the Americas. This cake is those days of the 19th now sent out to countries century, they could take all over the world by the many weeks or months bakery, and probably the even to cross the world most popular Christmas by ship. These cakes were cake today! usually sent as part of the Christmas hamper of food The author Mr Ajith Kumar and presents, and this way is the Sales & marketing the tradition of Christmas Manager of Mascot Hotel cake, often eaten with a Trivandrum .

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FEATURE ARTICLE RECIPE

How to Make Red Wine @Home I always had enjoyed drinking home made wine. Did a lot of researching on how to make wine at home and all I got was wine making methods which was meant to be executed in European countries and which uses things like wine fermenter kit, hydro meters, capdem tablets and those kind of stuff which you don’t get here in India.

I wanted to prepare wine using just materials available in any standard Kerala kitchen and also not spending too much money. This search for the home made wine making technique did not yield any results and I kept asking friends and relatives.

At last, I got the opportunity to talk to an old friend’s father who’s been making

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Nimal Panicker

wine for years, got the recipe of ingredients, and proportions from him and he ran me through telephone the methodology, tips and tricks of the process.

Within 2 hours of talking to him, I was all set to go!

wine. You will require good

This guide is for all you people who like me want to brew what you drink.

- 1 ½ Kg Black Grapes

This guide will yield a minimum of 4 liters of

patience and may have to wait for about 2 months to get the wine ready and have to dedicate at least 2 minutes daily in this process of making wine.

Ingredients required

The black grapes which is locally available even can be seedless, but definitely need to be black.

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- 1 ½ Kg Sugar Needs to be clean white sugar which does not have any dirt or discoloration - 15 grams Yeast This you get in any spencer’s daily or any supermarket for that matter. It is named as “Activated dry yeast” - 50 grams Whole wheat All the supermarkets stock only 5 kg packets.

Went to a normal general provisions store and got it packed off - 1 Egg (just the white) Vegetarian can skip egg if they want, its used to create a good flavor and also act as clearing agent - 3 Liter Water Purified water or even you can use mineral water Materials and Tools Required - Ceramic Jar

any ceramic jars, plastic or metal also would be ok but I recommend ceramic jar which should have a narrow opening because during fermentation the vessel has to be airtight.

- Wooden Masher This is wooden tool used to smash potatoes or palak. This we will use to smash grapes.

least 5 to 7 minutes to kill any bacteria or germs in it and let it cool to room temperature.

2. Sterilize the ceramic Jar by filling it with boiling water and leave it for some time to sterilize the inner area of the jar.

3. Clean the grapes by washing atleast 4 or 5

- Long wooden spoon

times in running water

Should be long enough to reach the bottom of your wine jar.

chemical and insecticides

Note – make sure all equipment you use are clean and sterile, this to ensure that the brew does not get contaminated with bacteria which may spoil the brew instead of allowing it to ferment.

4.Clean the wheat with

Big enough to hold 1 ½ kgs of black grapes + 3 liter of water + 1 ½ kgs of sugar.

Make sure you have 20% to 30% free space after adding the mentioned items and must have a lid.

You may use ceramic pickle Things to be done before jar or if you don’t have you start. www.metromartdaily.com

1.Boil the water for at

to ensure all the dirt, are removed then drain and dry.

water, rinse 3-4 times and ensure they are dry.

Get Started - Put the grapes in the jar - Use the wooden masher to smash the grapes only to rupture the grapes not December 2013 December 2013 23

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to juice them.

- Pour in the boiled and then cooled water.

- Prepare the yeast by taking some lukewarm water in a standard glass add 2 tea spoon of sugar and add the 15 grams of yeast into it (about 3 tea spoons) and mix well and keep aside for few minutes.

- Pour the prepared yeast into the jar - Add 50 grams of wheat into the jar - Remove the yoke of 1 egg and keep aside and beat the egg white and add the beaten egg white into the jar.

- Add 750 grams sugar into the jar.

- Mix all ingredients well with the long wooden spoon.

- Close the jar with its lid and cover the top with clean cloth and tie a string.

- Keep the jar in a cool, dark & dry place and at the same time ensure the jar is accessible as you have to mix the ingredient daily preferably at a set time and ensure the wooden spoon you use is 100%

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clean and dry every time this process is repeated.

After 30 Days This is an important part and make sure all tools clean and sterile.

Steps Involved - Open the jar - Slowly pour out the contents of the jar into the filter or the muslin cloth under which a vessel is placed to collect the filtered liquid and squeeze out the soggy halfruptured grapes through the filter - Scoop out any sediments left out in the ceramic jar.

- Then pour the contents of the vessel back into the ceramic jar - Then add the remaining 750 grams sugar into the jar and stir lightly - Close the jar, make it air tight as before and put it back into the cool, dry, dark place - Wait for another 30 days, opening of jar is not required, The golden rule for wine is older the wine gets, the better and also gets stronger.

Finally after 60 days - After a total of 60 days, you can open up the jar and gently take out the clear wine on top and fill it up in a sterilized glass bottle.

- Usually, the sediments are in the bottom and the clear wine on top. So its important you don’t shake the jar too much and just use a small glass to scoop out the clear wine on top or else you can use a small plastic pipe (siphon mechanism) to collect the wine in the bottle.

- You needn’t empty the jar. Just take out the clear wine from the top and close the jar airtight and put it right back.

- Keep repeating the process, till the wine gets over but make ensure the jar is airtight every time you put it back.

- Congratulations you have made pure wine at home as Wine making is one of 75 things a man must do at least once in his life time.

Let me know your success and failure in making wine and also let me know if there are any ways to improve this recipe.

Cheers!

The author Mr Nimal Panicker is The General Manager of Hotel Classic Avenue , Trivandrum .

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December201325

DINING

Delivering Taste At Your Doorstep Even though food lovers in Trivandrum are spoilt for choices thanks to an array of quality restaurants spread across the city, eating out has become a nightmare for many. The city’s increasing parking woes and ever-worsening traffic snarls deter many a foodie from trying out tasty delicacies from their favourite restaurants.

‘D4Delivery’, a recentlylaunched home-delivery service pioneered by a group of youngsters from the city, is a boon for these gastronomes, who can now get their choicest dishes from top restaurants delivered at their doorsteps. The service, a brainchild of three youngsters – Abiram Suresh, Aishwarya Raghavan and Mrinal M, has tied up with nearly 21 restaurants in the city and delivers food orders to most locations within city limits.

“The idea for D4Delivery struck us when my friends and I went to eat out at a restaurant,” says Abiram Suresh, who manages the marketing and operations

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of D4Delivery. “We spent nearly thirty minutes trying to find a spot to park our car, but in vain.

With parking problems in the city getting worse, especially during weekends, we realized that eating out at popular restaurants have become close to impossible. We saw a unique opportunity in this bottleneck, and first started thinking of a home food-delivery service.

After a lot of planning and groundwork, we partnered with three restaurants and started our services on September 12th, 2013,” he adds.

According to Mrinal, who manages logistics and coordinates the delivery system for D4Delivery,

MM Desk

the service uses several innovative ideas, including a unique delivery mode, so as to ensure fast and efficient deliveries. “The USP of D4Delivery is its systemized delivery model – something most home delivery services lack. Our unique delivery system adopts pointers from the successful ‘hub and spoke’ model that is implemented worldwide,” he says. “We have divided the city into different sectors, with each sector being coordinated by a sector manager. Orders from each sector will be passed on to the sector manager who will in turn assign the respective personnel from that sector to deliver food in a timely manner,” he elaborates.

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The team also employs several innovations in food delivery. “We use insular bags with rainguards and belts to carry food.

This helps our delivery personnel to handle even large quantities of food as they travel in their motorcycles, and also ensures that our customers get their food delivered hot at their doorstep,” adds Mrinal.

Nearly three months into its operations, the service is becoming successful, its founders claim. “We average about 25 orders per day, and are now breaking even,” says Abiram. The young team does not intend to stop with delivery of food alone. “Realizing the immense potential of our delivery network, we will be providing a host of additional services in a short span. These include bill payments, dry cleaning and even home delivery of

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groceries.” D4Delivery has also launched an initiative to deliver homemade food products such as wines, juices and squash. “This is an initiative from our side to promote cottage industries and selfemployed housewives,” says Abiram. The official website for D4Delivery will also be launched in January 2014, through which customers can make their food orders online.

How does one order food using D4Delivery? “Right now, customers can give orders using phone or through our Facebook page. Customers can choose their food item from the respective

partner restaurant and place the order – which will be delivered to the customer by the delivery personnel. There will be nominal delivery charges, which depend on distance.

For certain partner restaurants, delivery is free within a three kilometre radius,” explains Mrinal.

To know more about D4Delivery or to make orders, one may call 04716004600 or visit www. facebook.com/d4delivery to view more details including the complete list of restaurants.

December201327

SHOPPING

Naaz Virtual Store - One stop shopping solutions for all!

Naaz is lending out its space for young aspiring entrepreneurs to make it big without much investment. By giving out their space they are also allowing you to use their reputation that they had earned through sheer toil.

Want to know what is brewing at the capital these days? No, Not the Iffk. Nor is it the Anathapuri fest that is making ripples. Believe it or not! It is the virtual shopping experience that Naaz offers.

P Nazar Managing Director Naaz Trivandrum

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A revolution is in the making a revolutionary shopping experience.

The doors at the top floor

Ampili Nair

of the Naaz building is thrown wide open for the style makers of tomorrow.

Just walk in with your statementwith a stroke turn your products into brand ambassadors The world is at last in your pocket.

Over the years, from1995 to be precise Naaz has become synonymous

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with everything trendy and funky. For the past two decades they have draped the anchors both women and men of numerous show with finery that is at once cool and elegant. The signature look you craved for, the branded suite you eyed at the company outlet or any other high end labels you have fancied comes handy to you at the top floor of the Naaz building which, they have christened Trivandrum Baazar. Just drop in at the virtual shopping floor that Naaz is opening for you. Thiruvanathapuram is honored to house such an experience hitherto unknown to any other city of Kerala. A wide range of consumables under one roof and that too in a floor is simply amazing. At a time when people hire personal

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shoppers to refresh their wardrobes don’t you think the plethora of prospects that Naaz extends can make your style statement significant or for that matter simply adorable?

For the initiation of those who couldn’t crack the nut, the virtual shopping experience that Naaz offers is nothing but like running in to an exhibition stall round the year where you get a glance of everything fad, Here it is going to be exhibition every time One stop shopping solutions for all Everything you need is now available at one floor. Entrepreneurs of all genres can be accommodated here.

Fifty square feet for an affordable rent of Rs 5000 is a sweet candy for any investor.

A panorama of

opportunity awaits those who dream high profit by a meager investment.

A fabulous shopping experience is what they promise. It’s going to be every shoppers delight.

What more you need if you can get every wish of you at one go? Almost sixty shops displaying their finest products make your shopping hassle free and unique. With the heavy traffic and narrow roads parking often drains the spirit of shopping. The ample parking space that Naaz extends is another attraction that can lure chic customers to its fold. Be a part of the ultimate shopping experience they unfolds The floating customers and the comforts that Naaz offers are certain to make any novice into a hot pick overnight. So grab the opportunity and go gaga over the sensation your label creates .

December 2013 December 2013 29

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SHOPPING

Enchanting designs at Czarina The leading designer boutique Czarina has brought out a spectacular collection of designer sarees for this Christmas and New Year.

The boutique Czarina is recognized by the Thiruvananthapuram cityites for its exquisitely embroidered sarees and other dress materials.

Exclusive designs and distinguished embroidery work makes the festival specials stand out. Party wear sarees made of silk, tussar, crepe, and chiffon materials form a significant part of the Christmas collection. The other features at Czarina include the collection of Bridal silk sarees, new range of blouse materials and readymade blouses.

Cotton, Kota, Chanderi, Maheswari sarees in vivid colors and latest design

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salwars, kurtis, lehangas are offered at Czarina.

The variety of colors and textures adds to the spirit of the celebration. The trendy designs at Czarina would charm all shoppers.

The truly eye catching collection of silk sarees is the highlight of the collection. From elegantly simple to elaborately ornate, the choice is bewitching. The collection’s Bridal segment is a unique new feature.

The fabulous bridal sarees have been chosen to make all brides to be glowingly beautiful on this memorable day.

Czarina has also

introduced a new range of readymade blouses and blouse materials. For those who prefer a trendy Indian look, the boutique also has a wide array of salwar kameez sets that will add glamour to your ChristmasNew Year celebrations.

To make shopping more convenient for customers, the showroom will be open on all Sundays until the conclusion of this beautiful saree fest.. The showroom is located at the Catholic Centre, Statue - General Hospital road, Trivandrum.

To know more, log on to our Facebook pageCzarina-The designer wear .

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LIFESTYLE

Oasis – Where Decor Is the Sign Oasis a centre of Handicrafts and Training established in the year 1995 by Smt. Nancy at the heart of Trivandrum city, Kesavadasapuram is superior nowadays for its rich culture and heritage. It is a place where arrays of handcrafted objects come with a wide variety under the brand Oasis that reflects its roots to the indigenous history and traditions of India.

It is this symphony of traditional and contemporary culture that sets it apart from its peer ones. Oasis is a place that may brag on its handicraft products to embody the true essence of being hand-crafted.Each offering is a true and honest manifestation of regional art and ethnicity of the culture. Oasis handicrafts is reared up with mural painting, art and craft works, saree works, bouquet making, flower decorations, painting, crafts, toy making, mural painting, ceramic art, bouquet making, flower

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arrangement etc.

Mural Painting At Oasis Handicrafts, the Kerala based Nancy has expertise in the art of the artistic matter. The traditional display of the technique involved in making the innovative style is the source of inspiration to her craftwork. “It’s a rare opportunity to watch the live exquisite pieces under one roof. Now it is our visitors to come and see the precision and dedication of the artisans who have shaped these traditional mural paintings

Nancy F

in different themes and colors”-said an elated Nancy.

For the customers who have an aesthetic inclination to beauty Oasis undertakes orders to do the murals depending on the varied needs of the requirements of the customers. At Oasis, the wonderfully happy and rosy news is you can have the different types of mural paintings created by Nancy.

Saree Works Oasis offers a complete variety of laces using

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finest quality raw material.

The range of laces is available in various colors, designs and pattern.

These exotic variant types of laces are extensively used on garments, saree borders, ethnic dresses, fashion accessories and many more as per the requirement.

“Our Designer hands painted sarees showcase the beautiful and intricate traditional Indian designer wear. Being one of the eminent service providers, we are engaged in offering our clients services for hand work embroidery. Apart from this, the materials used for beads and sequin work, crystals silk threads, are vibrant colors and shades to render exclusive embroidery works to our clients”-added Nancy Bouquet Making At Oasis, the design of each bouquet is unique.

The addition of decorative wires, beads and ribbons is to enhance the chosen shape of the bouquet that highlight the forms and colors of the flowers and foliage. The fresh flowers used are to enhance the aroma. However, an amazing selection of beautiful artificial blooms is also available.

It’s committed to the www.metromartdaily.com

customers with an offer of only the finest floral arrangements and gifts backed by service that is friendly and prompt.

Keeping the customer satisfaction is the prime with an effort to make your shopping a pleasant one. On-time delivery during the busy holiday season is of no times matter now.

Car Decorations The car flower decoration service in the city is one of its kinds. One of the most enjoyable parts of planning a wedding or event is getting creative with the decor. Before making any decisions, it’s important to set out a budget for what is to be allotted for the decorations. A colour theme should be chosen not only for the wedding party but also according to the venue, decor and flowers. Oasis local florist experts will help you to decorate your car with lovely flower arrangements.

Art and craft works Oasis provides solutions for trade shows, conventions, and special events that call for specialized skills and resources. Oasis handicrafts provide complete arts and crafts, development and service

facilities to include industrial arts, fine arts and hobby crafts. Oasis always focuses on safety to serve the customer with value, selfexpression and personal development.

Training Centre The brand value of Oasis gets popularized with courses like painting, crafts, toy making, mural painting, ceramic art, bouquet making, flower arrangement, cookery classes etc. At Oasis specialty classes for more than 80 varieties of courses are offered.

So if you want to ease your mind place your order at least 1 day in advance.

The specialized services are : Large inventory of fresh flowers, Tropical Plants, Contemporary and traditional arrangements, High-style floral arrangements, Silk arrangements, Dried floral arrangements, Weddings, Funeral designs, Extensive gift line, Gift baskets. For further details you can contact Oasis Handicrafts and Training Centre, T.C.2/108. Sydney Lane, Kesavadasapuram, Pattom Post, Thiruvananthapuram-695 004 Mob: 93877 46634 Web: www.oasishandicrafts.com .

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MART FEATURE

Health Tourism Prospects of Kerala As we all know, Kerala now has a place of its own in the international tourism scenario. The highly popular travelers’ magazine ‘National Geographic Traveller’ has enlisted our Kerala as one among the 10 paradises the world over. Also Kerala has made it to the list of the top 50 destinations to be visited in one’s lifetime.

Picturesque and geographically diverse landscapes endowed with greenery, amazing treasure trove of flora and fauna, breathtakingly beautiful sea shores, gentle backwaters, sophisticated tradition and a rich culture, colourful festivals and above all, a renowned Ayurvedic heritage – these are dishes incarnate Kerala as a paradise in the heart of every ardent tourist. And to spice up the platter, Kerala has to credit, its own unique range of spices, tastes and ethnic cuisines.

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A P Anil Kumar

in introducing newer tourism products. This along with the backing of Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga has enabled Kerala’s growth into the tourism super brand of Asia. Being the home of Ayurveda, a well planned campaign has been organized in the global market for tourism promotion. In addition Kerala has also been a to ayurveda, as had been pioneer in launching newer the case over the past tourism products, health years, the opportunities tourism being the latest in of modern medicine are line.Medical tourism is one now being utilized for of the rapidly emerging the promotion of health novel tourism products in tourism.

India. Kerala especially, has always taken up leadership As a part of this process, It is indeed a plethora of colours, tastes and fragrance that would serve as a strong foundation on which Kerala’s tourism sector could flourish into greater dimensions, as the emolument of the sanctity of our majestic culture of secularity and heritage of hospitality.

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an international conference as well as exhibition by the name of Kerala health Tourism is being held as a biennial event from 2006 onwards with the participation of the state government.

Health tourism undoubtedly holds immense potential for Kerala. A one of a kind tourism product integrating modern medicine, ayurveda, meditation and yoga, would in all probability be something that only Kerala could boast of. This in itself is our greatest strength in this sector.

Hospitals with international facilities, highly skilled doctors and compassionate nurses are our assets in the arena of modern medicine. Our doctors and nurses have won many global accolades and are recognized worldwide which indicates our country’s ability to render medical services of global standards. The fact that widens the prospects of our country in the health tourism field is that a developing nation like ours is able to offer the services available in developed nations, but at the comparatively meager charges prevalent in our country. www.metromartdaily.com

Tourism Minister K P Anilkumar at Santhigiri Fest on Spiritual & Wellness Tourism The major challenge that our country faces in the field of health tourism is the development of an infrastructure that supports the provision of facilities meeting international standards, but at attractive rates.

I believe this hurdle could to some extent be overcome by the support that would ensue from the government towards the marketing of this novel product.

A product of this nature would, in all respects, lead the nation beyond our dreams for the same reason that most of Kerala’s competitors in the tourism sector may not be able to come up with such a product as effectively as we can.

I would like to point out that the success of this product lies in a strategic marketing plan. Kerala tourism is organizing

various attractive marketing programmes in international as well as domestic markets including tourism fests and fairs, road shows and other productive schemes. We have come up with innovative styles and novel techniques in the sales sector as well.

The promoters of health tourism could utilize these opportunities at nominal expense. I take this opportunity to ensure every possible means of support from the state government towards this effect.

I believe discussion on Health Tourism would be an ideal platform to analyze further potential and challenges in health tourism, to identify prospective areas, to generate awareness among the stakeholders as well as to discuss efficient and effective marketing plans .

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Nanotechnology Providing answers to Key Healthcare Issues: CM Nanotechnology is a very relevant area of science for India has been providing promising answers to a large number of problems in health, engineering, new materials, environment and medicine, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Oommen Chandy said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of an interactive meeting of scientists and delegates on the second day of the three-day Indo-German conference on Laser Applications and Nanoscience.

Lasers and nano materials are proving to be of immense significance in the healthcare sector, he said. “Various types of lasers are extensively and successfully used in medical diagnosis, surgical and non-surgical therapy,” he said.

(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft - DFG) in collaboration with the Srinivasa Ramanujan Institute for Basic Sciences, under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), the Goethe Zentrum and The Humboldt Club, Thiruvananthapuram.

Prof V N Rajasekharan Pillai, the Executive Vice President of KSCSTE and the Ex-officio Principal Secretary Department of Science and Technology, Kerala, said talks are on with German research inHe said the scientific stitutions on the possibility contacts established individually and institutionally of collaborative projects in between the two countries three key areas – biodiverwill benefit both countries sity and climate change; and the society as a whole. Ayurveda and traditional knowledge in Kerala; and The conference which Nano Materials and Nano concludes on December Medicine.

7, is organised by the German Research Foundation He said research in Kerala

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has seen a paradigm shift in the last three years, and the state has extended its long list of scientific and R&D institutions. This includes the State Innovation Council and SRIBS, which is a capacity building initiative for science students and teachers.

The Chief Minister was presented with the first copy of a special edition of the Asian Journal of Physics by the editor-in-chief of the journal Dr V K Rastogi.

Dr. Monika Sharma, Senior Program officer, DFG, India, delivered the welcome address and Prof. K. P. Rajappan Nair, proposed thanks. Prof (Dr. Joseph Francis, President of the Humbolt Club of Kerala and Shri Syed Ibrahim, Director, Goethe-Zentrum, were among those present at the function.

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Potential for Health Tourism in Kerala is still Untapped Currently, it is mostly people from less developed countries who are turning to India and Kerala for their health care needs; some of them due to monetary reasons.

M S Faizal Khan

Kerala is one of those states which has got sufficient infrastructure for Health Tourism. Kerala does not have that many investors to set up elaborate business; however, because of the easy availability of manpower, investors come in to Kerala.

Established doctors as well as new doctors from government medical colleges in the state are efficiently trained. The doctors from government medical colleges in Kerala do not need further on-the-job training, since they would have already seen and attended to a large number of patients.

We are also witnessing further infrastructure development in the field of health tourism. The potential of health tour-

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ism could be fully utilized with increased number of investors.

Our target should be much higher. We should think about high-end quality care. People visit U.S. or European countries that offer high-end health care.

Only when India becomes the first choice for highend and quality health care, we can firmly state that we have grown as a health tourism destination.

The reason for choosing India should become quality of treatment and not monetary considerations.

The health care standards in major Indian cities are developing fast. Advanced treatment facilities that were once available only in U.S. or Europe are now made available in cities like Chennai, Delhi and Mum-

bai. Kerala has to develop further to meet that level.

Dental and Ayurveda care is a part of health tourism.

The major segments in health tourism would be heart surgeries, spine surgery, hip replacement and elective procedures such as bariatric surgery.

Promotional activities for health tourism could be taken up by Tourism Department. Authentic health care providers should be recognized and probably provided memberships. It would put them in a better position to attract more visitors to Kerala for availing health care. Exhibitions and promotional activities should be conducted globally.

The author M S Faizal Khan is the Managing Director of NIMS Medicity .

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INFO MART

Kerala hotels set to become tobacco-free Hotel industry in Kerala is for making lives of Keralites all the more healthy by making hotels and restaurants tobacco smoke free. Major hotels and restaurants associations of the state, at a recent meeting here, have agreed to protect employees and customers from dangers of second-hand smoke by initiating necessary measures soon.

MM Desk

Kerala hotel industry is optimistic and looks at the larger benefits that will accrue to public health as against the possible short-term losses from implementing smoke-free rules, said D Chandrasenan Nair, veteran hotel industry leader and General Convenor of South Kerala Hoteliers Forum (SKHF).

“By making our hotels and restaurants smoke-free, we are hopeful of attracting greater number of nonsmokers including women and children,” Senan said G Sudhiesh Kumar, State President of the 20,000-member-strong Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association said the decision to implement smoke-free rules was unanimously approved at the Annual General Meeting of the association that met at Kochi recently.

“We realise that this endeavour is not easy especially in bar hotels but we are going ahead with the

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decision to protect nonsmokers; the provisions of law will be implemented in a phased manner,” said G Sudhiesh Kumar, who is also the Trivandrum District President of Kerala Bar Hotels Association. He also reiterated his association’s commitment to have COTPA mandated signages set up in all hotels and restaurants.

MR Narayanan, Secretary General of South Kerala Hoteliers Forum said that through this campaign the hotel industry wishes to communicate the message that efforts to curtail passive smoking should be taken up by all.

Mathew Thomas, senior representative of As-

sociation of Approved and Classified Hotels of Kerala (AACHK) and Shri S Ajith Kumar, senior representative of South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA) also expressed their commitment to the cause.

COTPA mandates that hotel and restaurant owners, proprietors, managers and supervisors have to display signboards stating, “No Smoking Area – Smoking Here is an Offence”, in English or regional language of the specified size. Owners are also required to ensure that no ashtrays, matches, lighters or other things designed to facilitate smoking are provided.

METRO METRO mart mart TH TH I RI R UU VA VA NN AA NN TH TH AA PP UU RR AA MM

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METRO CSR

People’s power achieves cleanliness One of the dirtiest places in the state probably till the other day was the eight-km bypass stretching from Thiruvananthapuram International airport to Thiruvallam, close to the world famous Kovalm beach.

George Alexander

For years, both sides of the arterial road were dumping grounds for garbage which had grown to enormous sizes threatening the health and lives of the local residents and shaming the governmental agencies and the city corporation.

Anyone passing through the road, including tourists, had to bear suffocating stench and suffer even accidents due to the rampaging stray animals feeding on the waste. Nobody cared to lift even a little finger to clean up the mess, and the people suffered in silence.

But as if by a miracle overnight, things have changed and the area now sports a clean and healthy look. Thanks not to the corporation, but to the people’s power which was awakened by the initiative of the South Kerala Hoteliers Forum.

The onerous task was taken up by Mr Chacko Paul, president of SKHF, after a meeting in October which decided to ensure

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the full participation of the people in the cleaning programme.

To begin with, a door-to-door survey among the households and commercial establishments on either side of the stretch was conducted to know their opinion and 1,430 persons responded positively to a questionnaire given out as part of the first phase of the drive.

The people were asked three questions.

Will you agree to burn nonplastic waste?

Will you agree to the dumping of decaying waste in trenches dug along the way?

Do you think such a

participatory move is necessary?

There was an overwhelming ‘yes’ to the questions.

The three-day cleaning drive was launched by the SKHF at Enjakkal Junction on December 5 in the presence of Mr. Vijayan, City Police Commissioner, and hundreds of volunteers from member hoteliers and several automobile fraternity.

Students from Institute of Hotel management and Catering Technology, Kovalam, nearby schools, teachers, employees from Technopark and local women’s groups joined the drive enthusiastically.

Fifty-four waste spots were identified and distributed to each group

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December201343

for clearing.

Only when we commenced the drive, we realized the enormity of the heaps of waste and the kind of labour and time required for the task. And finally when the drive was completed by some 1,000 volunteers who worked for over eight hours a day, it was the realisation of the people’s dream to live in hygienic surroundings and breathe fresh air.

The total amount needed for the effort came to over several lakhs of Rupees, but the organisers did not go for any publicity to raise the money. “We were not looking for publicity but for a cleaner city,” said Mr Chacko Paul at a meeting held to mark the conclusion of the programme.

Mr. Chandrasenan co-ordinator of SKHF said, “We have to set an example and look forward to a better tomorrow.”

According to Mr. Manoj

Babu, Organising Secretary and co-ordinator of the programme, the success of the mission depended on team spirit. Mr Baby Mathew Managing Director , Somatheeram Ayurvedic Resorts said “this initiative will continue in future also for protecting our environment”.

Apart from the fact that the people can at present live in a neat environment, another benefit is that vehicles can now pass through the road without encountering stray dogs fighting for garbage.

I remember an occasion when on my way back from office around 5.40

p.m. I saw two of my office staff members lying bleeding on the bypass after an accident. Their scooter had hit a dog and overturned. It took more than two months for one of them to regain her health.

Accidents are common on the road due to the dog menace which has been increasing because of the waste dump. Many VVIPs, officials, ministers and others frequently travel to Kovalam through this road but there was no positive action from any of them to improve matters.

The corporation and the government authorities must initiate steps to maintain the cleanliness that we have achieved in the area with great effort.

The author George Alexander is the Administrative cum Accounts Officer of the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Kovalam,Trivandrum.

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Mr. Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala presented the Kerala State Tourism awards 2011-12 in a glittering function held at Mascot Hotel, Trivandrum on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 in the presence of Mr. A.P. Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism Kerala, Mr. K. Muraleedharan MLA, Mr. E.M. Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry and Mr. Abraham George, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society.

tor, Kerala Tourism delivered the vote of thanks.

Mr. B. Suman IAs welcomed the gathering and Mr. Harikishore IAS, Direc-

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December201345

HOLIDAY RECIPE

Art, hospitality, and serenity – Distinctive features at Turtle on the Beach Turtle on the Beach – The impressively-designed luxury hotel in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram provides their guests a princely experience.

V. Viswanath

Kerala’s unique tranquility is enhanced with the panoramic view of the beach from this 5-star hotel’s rooms. The front facade of this hotel reminds one of the British royal residences. The predominant feature of this hotel is art. The hotel has been designed with emphasis on art works such as the Buddha sitting cross-legged, replica of marine forms of life on the sun shades, horses and enormous table tops made from a single piece of wood, original paintings of established and young, upcoming Indian artists, etc. Most of the furniture are imported and they are carved out of single-piece

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wood. The stage is set for the guests’ stay as they enter the serene Zen-like lounge.

The rooms at Turtle on the Beach are much more spacious when compared to similar hotels. The 63 rooms at the hotel have a variety of themes. Their Garden View rooms as the name suggests gives a magnificent view of the gardens. The Arabian Sea View rooms are cozy and elegant. The view of the sea from these rooms and its balcony give you a feel of being pampered. The Twin Turtle Duplex Suites, with its two-rooms-in-one design, is ideal for families with children. An “upper

deck” with a double bed for kids makes the guests feel secure about the kids and it provides space and privacy.

Turtle Signature Suites marks the “now” and yet has a timeless quality about it. The suite opens to a lounge area with a kitchenette and dining counter. One Signature Suite celebrates the humility and clean style of Japanese design with lowplaced furniture. Another is a honeymoon suite. The huge glass windows in these suites have a restful view out to the sea. These suites celebrate the Art Deco style of the early 19th century.

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The Sky Suite on the top floor offer breathtaking bird’s eye views of Arabian Sea. It includes a living room, bathroom, and terrace with Jacuzzi. The sun terrace with gazebo, pergola and sit-out provides an ideal space for private parties.

For families that travel together, the Leisure Villa – is a bungalow kind with seven bedrooms rooms together – is available. In addition, it has a private pool, living and dining room and a kitchen. The sumptuously designed interior here is entirely different from the main block.

Turtle on the Beach has four restaurants – Grills & Tea, Catamaran, Centre Point and Rumours – the Mediterranean restaurant.

In-room dining service is offered 24x7 for the guests who opt for the privacy of their rooms.

The Arabian Sea Hall

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at Turtle on the Beach offers ample space for the city’s business people to conduct conferences. This hall can accommodate over 200 delegates with the capacity to adapt for over 400 floating guests for banquets.

The Board Room could be taken up for daylong meetings or short meetings, which offers world class business environment.

The facilities at the Arabian Sea Hall and Board Room are state-of-the-art.

Svastii Spa at this hotel has treatments which is a fusion of aromas and tactile sensations, which revitalizes the mind and body of the guests. A variety of Ayurvedic wellness-enhancing rituals are performed at the Ayurveda Vaidyasala. The hotel has a fully-equipped gym and a table-tennis court. The guests have the opportunity to get

souvenirs from the gift shop here. The list of facilities at this luxury hotel include high-speed internet, electronic safe deposit box, recreation area, in-room DVD player & LCD, and mini bar.

Turtle provides a boutiquetype of experience.

The curved lines and distinctive styling spell elegance and style, without compromising on functionality. All the rooms have different types of interior designing. The comprehensive service offered at the hotel and having met all the 5-star requirements as per the classification has led to Turtle on the Beach being the winner of a number of awards. The latest being the Kerala State Tourism Award for the best Five-star hotel for the year 2011-2012. The exceptional service here and the unique experience it provides make it indeed the best luxury hotel.

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METRO SCAN

UDS the Global Best Coastal Luxury Hotel UDS has been recognized as the Global winner in the best ”Coastal Luxury Hotel” Category at the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2013.

Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa, has been recognized as the Global winner in the best” Coastal Luxury Hotel” Category at the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2013.

World Luxury Hotel Awards events offer hoteliers with a unique opportunity to savour and celebrate their achievements of the past year with their industry peers.

Covered by France24 the World Luxury Hotel Award’s official media partner, the event included a 6 course Gala Dinner followed by

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top entertainment and presentation of coveted Awards.

World Luxury Hotel Awards 2013 welcomed some of the world’s top hoteliers & leading decision-makers. The spotlight was turned on some of the world’s most sought after hotels, lodges and resorts as they arrived in great anticipation to pick-up their recognition.

Hotels where recognized on a country, continent and global basis and Awards were presented to hotels and hotel groups from Australia to Zambia complimenting leading

hotel groups.

Award winners raised the bar of service delivery within the industry ever since as some of the world’s top hotels. Over 1,000 hotels from 87 countries were nominated to participate in the world’s most prestigious Awards initiative for luxury hotels in 2013. Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa competed against a number of hotels and resorts from all over the world to receive this recognition. The awards ceremony was at Indigo Pearl Resort Phuket, Thailand.

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METRO PLUS

Gender Park to introduce She Taxi pooling service Bolstered by the overwhelming response to its She Taxi project for women travellers, the Gender Park in Kerala is planning to integrate car pooling system into the service which is set to expand from a fleet of five cars to 25 by January 1.

Since its launch last month, the service has seen tremendous response from the public, especially travelling women and women entrepreneurs wanting to operate their own taxis, said Gender Park CEO Shri PT M Sunish.

Within the first 15 days the She Taxis carried around 100 passengers. The taxis were also employed full time during the recently concluded week-long 18th IIFK to transport delegates and guests.

“We have facilitated 10 more vehicle bookings

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and are processing more applications received from women entrepreneurs. By the start of the new year we expect to have at least 20 more taxis in addition to the five that are currently fully equipped and operational,” he added.

The Gender Park now plans to roll out taxi pooling system through She Taxi for women commuters, especially those travelling long distances. The new service targets professionals and students who travel to the city everyday from the

suburbs and outskirts.

“Car pooling, as we know, is a very cost effective and eco-friendly mode of travel and we want to encourage women commuters coming from the same area to use She Taxis for the purpose,” Shri Sunish said. “A taxi pool will cost less than the autorickshaw fare for the same distance and they can travel in safety and the comfort of an air-conditioned sedan.”

Registrations for taxi pooling can be done through the call centre at 85900 00543.

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HOSPITALITY

Hilton Garden Inn Thiruvananthapuram City’s New International Address Hilton Worldwide announced that it will introduce the Hilton Garden Inn brand in Kerala with the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum on December 27, 2013. Hilton Garden Inn is an award-winning brand of upscale yet affordable hotels. Strategically located in the city centre on Punnen Road, Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum is near prime government institutions and commercial establishments, a 20-minute drive from the airport and 12 kilometres from the IT Technopark at Kazhakkottam “The opening of Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum will be a significant step in Hilton Worldwide’s expansion into prime city centre locations across India,” said Guy Hutchinson, vice president, operations – India, Hilton Worldwide. “India is a key strategic market for Hilton Worldwide. Presently, we operate hotels and resorts

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in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Chennai, Vadodara, Pune, Garden Inn Trivandrum features 134 guest rooms Goa, Shillim and now and suites, Garden Grille Trivandrum. Over the all-day restaurant, a bar, next eight to 10 months, outdoor swimming pool, we anticipate extending Precor™ certified 24-hour our portfolio to include fitness centre and 2,600 Bangalore, Agra and square feet of conference Jaipur.” and events space that Owned by Muthoot Hotels can accommodate up to & Infrastructure Ventures 450 people. Guests at the hotel will also be able to (P) Ltd. and managed by

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enjoy the Hilton Garden Inn brand’s signature offerings that include complimentary internet access throughout the hotel, 24-hour business centre services, remote printing facility and the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry™ convenience mart.

Adrian Kurre, global head, Hilton Garden Inn said, “We are pleased with this opportunity to extend the brand’s presence in India. Hilton Garden Inn has set the standard in the mid-market sector offering an award-winning combination of best-inclass customer service and affordable comfort and convenience. We are confident that Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum

will fast become the first choice of travellers seeking upscale and affordable accommodation in the city.”

“The Muthoot Pappachan Group is delighted to partner with Hilton Worldwide, a global leader in the hospitality industry, for its foray into Trivandrum and the introduction of the Hilton Garden Inn brand in Kerala and Trivandrum. With the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum, we look forward to providing “India is a key strategic market for Hilton Worldwide. Presently, we operate hotels and resorts in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Chennai, Vadodara, Pune, Goa, Shillim and now Trivandrum. Over the next eight to 10 months, we anticipate extending our portfolio to include Bangalore, Agra and Jaipur.”

Guy Hutchinson Vice President Operations , India

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world-class international standards of hospitality in Kerala”, said Thomas John Muthoot, chairman and managing director, Muthoot Pappachan Group. “The Muthoot Pappachan Group is a leading hospitality development firm in India.

The group owns operating hotels and is developing additional properties. We look forward to working with our partners and ensuring our company’s continued growth.”

Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum will participate in Hilton HHonors, the only guest rewards programme that allows members to earn Points & Miles for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates at over 4,000 hotels worldwide.

Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum is located on Punnen Road, Trivandrum - 695039, Kerala, India.

For more information or to make reservations, dial +91 - 471 - 660 0000 or visit www.trivandrum.HGI.com.

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HEALTH

Ayurvedic Healthcare and Wellness at Vasudeva Vilasam Ayurveda – a holistic health science and way of life – soothes the body, mind and soul.

Vaidyan N. Vasudevan Unni established a vaidyasala in 1884. He was the Superintendent of the then Ayurveda Padasala and also a former Palace Physician to His Highness Sree Moolam Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore. It was N. Subramonian Unni – under the patronage of Dhanwanthridas Cheerattamon Moos of Olessa (one of the Ashta Vaidyas) – obtained ayurvedic knowledge and specialty training from the founder and took the vaidyasala to

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great heights. His sons Dr. S. Vasudev and Dr. S. Subramonian Unni established a multi specialty Ayurvedic Nursing Home & Hospital in 1971.

Vasudeva Vilasam has received international acclaim for its excellence in Ayurvedic Health Care.

It has its own medicine manufacturing division where under expert supervision and scientific management medicines are prepared in the traditional way. Classical

therapies at this centre for Ayurveda includes Abhyangam, Elakizhi, Podikizhi, Njavarakizhi, Dhara, Pizhichil, Vasthi, Kadee Vasthi, Shirovasthi, Snehapanam, Tharpanam, Karnapooranam, Udavarthanam, and Nasyam. To promote positive health special packages such as Body Immunity/Longevity treatment, Rejuvenation Therapy and Body Purification Therapy are offered. Specialized Ayurvedic treatments are provided for all branches

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of medicine. Several Wellness Programmes are offered at Vasudeva Vilasam to promote better health. These include General Massage, Rejuvenation Massage, Medicated Steam Bath, Slimming Programme, Post Natal Care, and Beauty Care Programme.

The Nursing Home is located at the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city, close to Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, enabling easy access to the masses.

Result-oriented special treatment protocols and specialty medicines at Vasudeva Vilasam are carried out by a team of renowned doctors and professionals. The group includes the International Institution of Ayurveda, Vasudeva Vilasam Herbal Remedies Pvt. Ltd., Vasudeva Vilasam Publications, Ayur Village, the chain of Ayurvedic Wellness Centres and the Institution of Stroke Rehabilitation. With these and much more, Vasudeva Vilasam has brought to the common man the divine system of healing and healthcare concepts of Ayurveda. www.metromartdaily.com

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TECH MART

Kerala Tourism Website Gets All-new Responsive Design Kerala Tourism’s official website has been relaunched with a responsive design optimised for viewing on multiple devices, including mobile phones and tablets.

The website, www. keralatourism.org , has been rebuilt with HTML 5 which offers a far superior browsing experience for users than before, and an interface that automatically gets customised for the device accessing it, be it a laptop, desktop, a smartphone or a tablet.

“As we expand our tourism promotional activities to more countries, we are also taking every effort to ensure all our services are world-class,” said Minister for Tourism Shri A P Anil Kumar. “Kerala is keen to attract the tech-savvy global traveler and we are happy to be offering them the incentives to visit our state.”

Kerala Tourism’s website is currently available in 18 languages, including seven Indian languages. On an average, the site gets more than 250,000 visits a month.

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“Kerala Tourism has been a pioneer in using information technology for destination promotion and we have kept pace with advancements that have transformed the way people are travelling worldwide,” said Tourism Secretary Shri Suman Billa. “Our focus now is on maximizing the use of technology not just in promotion but across all our products and services.”

Since its launch the redesigned website has been getting steadily increasing page views.

with a clutter-free interface and easy access,” said Tourism Director Shri S Harikishore. “We will be adding more videos, images and interactive content in the future.”

The official website was launched in 1998 as an HTML website with a weekly e-mail newsletter.

It has since won numerous awards, including the prestigious Award of Excellence instituted by the Government of India for the “Most Innovative Use of Information For the tech-savvy traveller Technology” and “Best who switches constantly Tourism Website Portal” between multiple during the years 2000gadgets, the new Kerala 2001, 2002-2003, 2005Tourism website provides 2006 and 2010-11. The a uniform, high-quality Kerala Tourism Website viewing experience on all also bagged PC World devices, large and small.

Magazine’s Net 4 PC World Web Award 2008 for Best “The new website has a very contemporary design Indian Website in the category of Tourism. that is visually appealing,

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METRO BYTES

Kallingal Bajaj Auto Expo and Medical Camp Kallingal Bajaj - the No.1 commercial dealers of Bajaj - conducted an Auto Expo along with a free medical camp at L.M.S. Ground, Thiruvananthapuram. The expo was inaugurated by Speaker G. Karthikeyan.

The camp also facilitated provision of medical aid to auto drivers. The speaker said that the model of Kallingal Bajaj’s assisting the auto workers could be followed by other business institutions. KVVES District President Peringamala Ramachandran was felicitated at the event.

Auto driver Sreekantan Nair who received bypass surgery with the aid of Kallingal was also

felicitated at the function.

Joint Transport Commissioner Alex Paul, Kallingal Bajaj Managing Director Kallingal Shafeeq, District Panchayat Public Works Committee Chairman Anad Jayan, and others were at the function.

Participants in the Bajaj three-wheeler expo were

provided many offers and schemes.

The visitors had the opportunity to avail of more than Rupees five thousand worth of offers at the auto expo. Thousands of auto owners and drivers participated at the auto expo and medical camp.

Kallingal Bajaj has not only conducted a successful auto expo, but the medical camp and free medical aid was the best corporate social responsibility initiative

CM Presents Kerala State Tourism awards Mr. Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala presented the Kerala State Tourism awards 2011-12 in a glittering function held at

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Mascot Hotel, Trivandrum on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 in the presence of Mr. A.P. Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism Kerala, Mr. K. Muraleedharan MLA, Mr. E.M. Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism

Industry and Mr. Abraham George, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society.

Mr. B. Suman IAS welcomed the gathering and Mr. Harikishore IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism delivered the vote of thanks.

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Kunnil Gold Park Unveil first Showroom Kunnil Marginfree Market, the leading diversified business conglomerate, entered in to gold market with the inauguration of their first showroom in Trivandrum,near to their marginfree outlet in medical college.The store displays the exclusive range of traditional and contemporary designs of Kunnil Gold collection and also exhibits its various products such as Kerala Heritage, traditional Jewellery, Handcrafted designer Jewellery, Kid’s Jewellery and Gem Jewellery. Kunnil Marginfree Market is one of the fastest growing retail chain with outlets in Technopark and Medical College Trivandrum.Kunnil Gold Park was inaugurated by film artist Roma, Manian Pilla Raju in the presence of Trivandrum Corporation Mayor Adv K Chandrika and Haji Abdul Basheer.

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The season of Celebration and Joy is here. Parties are being hosted.

Get-togethers are organized. Vacation plans are made. People from all walks of life are ready to welcome Christmas and New Year 2014.

The high spirits of the holiday season has begun in Thiruvananthapuram. Shops have put up Xmas and New Year specials. A variety of exhibitions featuring artifacts, food items, cloths, etc., are being held across the city.

A number of people do make an assessment of promises over the year kept by them and by others. Some find the past year had turned to be successful for them. While many just carry on with life whatever has happened over the year. The city also paid homage to Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma this December.

Speaking of Thiruvananthapuram city we have made further progress on city development. Thiruvananthapuram Bus Station is nearing completion. Yet, things to accelerate the development process are still there. Monorail Project, widening of Karamana-Kaliyakkavila road stretch, expansion of NH66 Trivandrum Bypass, etc., are yet to be completed.

We can hope 2014 would see many more developmental activities in the city and completion of a lot more projects and make Thiruvananthapuram a developed State capital city.

Metro Mart Thiruvananthapuram wishes one and all a Happy Christmas and a Very Happy New Year 2014.

Siji Nair

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