Kaleidoscope

- Coimbatore Team

Editorial The Coimbatore Team brings the September Edition of

Kaleidoscope for you.

The Wall Magazine has turned into a canvas

for people to portray their talents, and better themselves

with every edition.

The Coimbatore Kaleidoscope Edition -

with something new every release.

Kovai Editorial Team

We are glad to bring you a BRAND

new feature this September Issue.

We have created a puzzle for you to

solve.

Have a look at the next two pages and

email your answers/guesses to

gopienath.c@acusis.com

MATCH YOUR COLLEAGUES

WITH THEIR CHILDHOOD

PHOTOGRAPHS!!

PUZZLE CREATED AND PRESENTED BY—GOPIENATH

All in a Day’s Quiz II

Adventures of an Unsuspecting Quizmaster

(Or)

The curse of the semi-nude man

About a week ago, I took part in a “Water Quiz.” I was kind of hoping that this would be my kind of water (?) and was going through cocktail names and ingredients in my mind on the way. Details were very sketchy on the in-

vite.

After one look at the sponsor’s logo at the venue, my hopes evaporated like … good whiskey spilt on a hot plate. This one was about rivers and lakes! The real water!! To cut a long story short, I found a partner and won the quiz with a round to spare. I also enjoyed the quiz; both prelims and final

questions were well researched.

I was told that there would be a formal function in which a cine actor would give away the prizes the next week. That day did come and there was packed hall full of environmental enthusiasts and college kids looking to

make a difference.

The actor did not turn up but the meeting started on time. There was a rousing speech to start the proceedings on the importance of water. Couple of boring presentations on water followed and eventually I received my

prize.

I came back to my place, counted the money, threw a cursory glance at the certificate, and was scanning the crowd. By this time, I spotted a guy in sa-fari suit that looked familiar. A strange feeling of impending doom took hold but I told myself this is too decent a place for that and made a conscious ef-

fort to concentrate hard on the next presentation.

At this precise moment, the gentleman to my right tapped me lightly in the arm and politely in-quired whether I was a teacher. I promise you I have never been suspected of being a teacher. Many other unspeakable things mind you, but never a teacher! I politely answered in the nega-

tive and went back to the Fish presentation. The slide had now changed and more fishes were on screen; a fish market, a fish drawing, and a few other fish

that I could not identify.

The presenter now began to relate how our mythology records a Fish Avatar which recovers knowledge from water and dived into that earnestly as a dol-

phin.

I was just about to get up and leave when the polite man again tapped me and said “don’t go out, please stay, after this there is a guy who will take bath in one liter of water!” The world came crashing down on me and I had to grip my

throat to stop me from screaming!

Friends, regular readers, and millions of followers (…. Sorry that came with the flow!) of my writing through my blog and Facebook would recall my escapade at an environmental quiz wherein I came out decidedly second-best to an exotic dancer/bather who could not only bathe in one liter of water but could dance to the music as well (twice soap, twice shampoo, head-bath)That too wearing only his jocks!! For those not familiar with this reference, please read my blog

http://senthilspeak.blogspot.in/

This was the same villain who was spotted in a safari suit earlier in the evening. I thought of a dozen ways in which I could exact revenge. But suddenly a thought struck me, I had already collected my prize and had no reason to be there a moment longer and put myself at his mercy. I fled the scene jumping over the polite man and ran for my life but I had a smile on my lips. I had bested

my nemesis this time.

I came home and related my narrow escape feigning nonchalance and went to sleep happy. But my happiness vanished like a swig of rum down a sailor’ throat when I woke up the next day and was reading the paper. There was a report on “The Hindu” about the program and a few cursory mentions about contests but

guess whose picture was put up…. The Semi Nude Dancer!

Perhaps it is time for me to give up quizzing and take up bathing in public. If on-ly I could dance I would be unbeatable!! If you really care to read that article

- Senthil Kumar N

The Shopping Spree

People say shopping is a stress buster, an antide-

pressant, especially for women! Sometimes it

could work the other way… you know.

One of the first important activities I was asked to

do as a new bride was to go vegetable shopping

with my new husband. My mother in law gave me a

nice big bag and told me “buy some fresh vegeta-

bles, I want drumsticks - Wilson sometimes goofs

up”. I nodded my head and took the bag knowing

fully well my husband is the one who buys

vegetables for the house…so nothing to worry. I

have someone who is experienced in vegetable

shopping coming along…..yeah!

We set off to the vegetable shop close to home – called Pazhamudhir at

Coimbatore, where fresh vegetables and fruits were laid out. This provided

easy access to check them out and pick what you wanted.

Just a few days old, as a new bride, my mother-in-law was still doing the

cooking, (I was helping her cut the veggies), it would be some time before

we reversed the roles…..so who cared if I did not know how to cook all those

vegetables! I had to only shop for them :>)

I set out, basket in hand, looking around - the vegetables were nice and

fresh. I kept asking my husband “can we buy

this”?, he would nod, and I picked them up,

and added them to the basket I was carrying.

We reached the place where drumsticks were

placed and my husband told me “pick some

good fresh ones”, I looked at him and nodded.

I had seen my mom and dad (while selecting

drumsticks) twisting the drumsticks this way

and that, and buying them.

God knew what they checked and why they twisted them around.

I stood there with two drumsticks in my hand and wondering what to

do, absent -mindedly twisting them, finally I cleared my throat and said

“I don’t know how to pick the fresh ones – I am sure you know, you do

the shopping for the house every week, I heard”. My husband smiled (a

man of few words – I thought, then…), took the drumsticks from my

hand and turned to the lady standing nearby.

“Aunty, can you help us buy some fresh drumsticks - are these fresh”? –

The aunty had a wide grin, directed straight at me, and I am sure she

was thinking “new, lost bride – poor soul” – or “how can this married

lady not know? She is a spoilt brat for sure”.

I tried to look at the basket and not make eye contact with her. The

aunty said “oh yes”, they are fresh, and picked up few more good ones

and put them in the basket for us. My husband thanked her, I also said a

quick thank you (quick eye contact) and turned away.

Who went vegetable shopping before being married anyways….It was

always mom and dad who did the vegetable shopping at home, and

even If I did accompany them, I would wander to the fruits section and

spend my time there looking at

the fruits and telling my mom and

dad which fruits I wanted! ……..

did you say spoilt brat? ……..heard

many say it before :>) he he.

-Freeda

- Prakash K

A Walk in the Woods - At Kovai

As I walked into the beautiful green woods,

Hidden amongst the mountains, looking around, I stood

Taking in the fresh forest air

A thing, city people, found rare

Birds chirped in the trees,

Bushes and shrubs everywhere, taller than my knees

The path led to a waterfall so lovely and pure

Flowed with serenity and musical roar

Quite common the sight of an elephant and deer

Back in the city, the memories of the

walk in the woods still bring admiration and cheer!

- Freeda

- Compiled by Seema

MONKEY FALLS

“A day in the lap of nature is bound to be a memorable experience as you soak in the surreal

beauty of Coimbatore. Visit the Monkey Falls and treat yourself to the wonders of nature”

Monkey Falls is one of the famous attractions known for the perennial waterfall. The river

stream surrounded by the lush greenery originates from Valparai Hills.

Located on Coimbatore-Pollachi-Valparai main road, it lies at a distance of 65 km from the Co-

imbatore city. It can also be approached from Aliyar, situated at distance of 5 km.

Monkey Falls are natural waterfalls located near the uphill ghat road Valparai on the Pollachi-

Valparai road in the Anaimalai Hills range, in Coimbatore district

Monkey Falls is about 30 km from Pollachi. Refreshing Natural Water Falls about 6 km from

Azhiyar Dam. Monkey Falls is located on road connecting Pollachi and Valparai.

Opening timings for Monkey Falls:

All days of the week: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Architectural Aazhiyaar Dam

Architectural Aazhiyaar Dam, also known as Aaleeyaar

Dam is among popular tourist attractions of the region

constructed across River. Aliyar Architectural Aazhiyaar

Dam, situated on a height of 81 metres, was set up with

the view to supply water for irrigation purpose.

Several tunnels and canals at different elevations are connected with the reservoir. Along with

power generation and irrigation, the dam has helped in restricting flow of rivers like Aliyar,

Sholiyar, Nirar, Thekkadi, Parambikulam and Palar.

An aquarium and an amusement park beside reservoir is also popular. . It is located at 24 km

from Pollachi town, which have frequent bus connections with the city of Coimbatore.

Timings - Opening & Closing: Monday - Friday: 8.30 AM - 6.00 PM , Saturday: 8.30 AM -6.00

PM , Sunday: 8.30 AM - 6.00 PM , Public Holidays: 8.30 AM - 6.00 PM

- Compiled by Seema

Twilight Beauty—by Lakshmipathi

Water Cascade

Snow capped mountains

- Prakash K

KOVAI

KITCHEN

Ingredients: Yam 4 chunks or 200 gm Bengal gram 100 gm Pearl onions 1/2 cup finely chopped. Green chillies 2 nos, finely chopped. Red chillies 2 Fennel 1 teaspoon Ginger/garlic 1-1/2 teaspoon Cloves 2 nos. Cinnamon 1/2 inch Coriander leaves 1 tablespoon chopped. Oil For deep frying. Soak the bengal gram or kadalaiparuppu for 2 hours and drain it. Peel the yam, wash it and then boil the chunks of yam and keep it aside. Grind both the bengal gram and boiled yam chunks along with the masala ingredients except onion and green chillies. After grinding, take out the vada batter in a vessel, and add the chopped onions, chillies and coriander leaves. Add salt to taste. Mix and deep fry in oil, like vadas. This vada will be similar in taste to mutton balls. Give it a try, it will be a wonderful snack along with evening tea!

- Shared by Vijayarani

YAM VADA

URAD DAL RICE

INGREDIENTS:

Raw Rice 2 cups (Soaked for 10 minutes)

Split White Urad Dal 3/4 cup (Dry roasted)

Fenugreek Seeds 1/2 tps

Cumin Seeds 1 tps

Garlic Cloves 6-8

Grated Coconut 1/4 cup

Red Chillies 4-6

Curry Leaves For seasoning

Gingelly Oil For seasoning

PREPARATION:

In a pan, add 5 cups of water and boil for 10 minutes. Now, add fenugreek seeds, cumin

seeds, garlic cloves and cook for 5 minutes. Simultaneously, in a seasoning pan, heat oil,

add curry leaves and red chillies and mix this seasoning to the boiling water. When the wa-

ter boils to the maximum, add soaked rice, dry roasted urad dal, and salt and stir well until

the water and rice come together. Now, add grated coconut and cover with a lid and allow

it to simmer for 5-10 minutes. Serve hot.

- Shared by Dhrowpathi