Life in cities is no more what it used to be. Even when we are lucky to get maids for daily house keeping services in Chennai, there are certain things they can and would do and certain things they wouldn’t because they are so much in demand and therefore, they are always in a hurry.
So, the compromises begin. Soot accumulates on fans, the lofts have layers of dust, cobwebs make their intricate webs all over the place, the tiles in the bathrooms turn a pallid brown on account of the concoction of salt, dirty grime and soap, there are dark stains in the kitchen………. The list of compromises we make in our homes with dirt get pretty long at times.

Organizations like Service Square in Chennai exist to remind the busy executives and business owners who live in nuclear family environments that they no longer need to live with the unhealthy living conditions. They now have a choice to scout for organizations providing decent house keeping services in Chennai – for a thorough and deep, spring cleaning, at least twice a year.

This piece is about Service Square and the house keeping service in Chennai it has been providing for more than a decade. I must tell you upfront that I helped found Service Square way back in 2000 and I am going to write about a service that is almost its corner stone. As I write here, I am keenly aware of the commitment I have made to myself and readers to write nothing but the honest truth in this blog. I will tell things as they are, warts and all. So, here I go………

Service Square has its own teams of employees taking care of “house keeping services in Chennai“. Its most popular service is spring cleaning. Usually, three people are engaged the whole day to clean a house with 2 or 3 bed rooms. They are equipped with a good high powered vacuum cleaner, ladder, gloves, cleaning liquids, sponges etc. Here’s what they do when they clean your home.

1. Doors & windows cleaning.
2. Cleaning inside & outside lofts
3. Rack cleaning (inside & outside)
4. All fans & tube lights cleaning
5. Vacuuming, carpets, sofas, beds & furniture
6. Furniture vacuuming & dusting
7.Cleaning all doors, windows, grills, blinds & glass panes
9. Removing cobwebs
10. Dusting TV, DVD, Computers, Telephones & Music systems (Outside)
11.Cleaning Dining table & chairs.
13. Floor sweeping & moping of all rooms.
14. Exhaust fan oil stain cleaning
16. Cleaning of toilets floors / walls & floor tiles, mirrors
17. Removing of stains in the commode & wash basin
18. Cleaning Kitchen stone slabs.
19. Fridge & micro wave oven cleaning.
20. Dustbin clearing.

Service Square’s House Keeping services in Chennai also has customized packages for cleaning toilets, kitchen, tanks and sumps or any other parts of your home.

House keeping services in Chennai for residences has been given a fillip by the decade-long services provided by Service Square. Its teams have a check-list of the specific places they should clean in every home. At the end of the cleaning, they get the written feedback of customers every time without exception, so that the company knows about the comfort factor of the customers regarding the quality of services provided.

And, the feedback’s range from good to excellent. Customers are most often impressed by the very friendly disposition of the teams from Service Square, their willingness to go the extra-mile to satisfy customer demands and the quality of services they provide. Added to this, they have always been happy with the reliability of the teams because they are very honest. Customers always get a comfortable feeling to see the Service Square teams in their company uniforms.

And, in the rare cases when customers have not been happy with the quality of the work done, the Service Square house keeping teams have gone back again, no questions asked and free of cost to redo the work till customers are fully satisfied.

However, having seen the Service Square teams perform house keeping services in Chennai at close quarters I know they can do much better. For example, they need to spend more time to meet at least once a week so that they learn from every work, take time to listen to the constructive criticisms of customers and find new and better ways of doing things. There is a tendency to remain in their ‘comfort zones’ without scaling up. They need to remember that ‘the good is often the enemy of the best’. Also, they need to focus a lot more on their grooming how they present themselves.

In my chat with Mathan Kumar who is the manager and the moving spirit behind Service Square ” House Keeping Services in Chennai,” I am told that he intends to introduce training sessions at least once every week. He says that he will translate his commitment to customers by using the best and the most effective cleaning materials available in the market. He also has the desire to invest in better equipments so that the services are better and faster. He sounds confident. He agrees that Service Square needs to improve a lot in the area of staying in touch with customers on a regular basis.

I can’t do justice to this article about house keeping services in Chennai without telling a thing or two about Mathan Kumar. He joined Service Square in 2001 and that makes it a decade for him in the company. He joined as a regular house keeping supervisor and within no time showed his managerial skills and above all, his commitment. He did not allow lack of education to stunt his progress. He enrolled for classes, enhanced his knowledge and his confidence levels. He can now handle almost any situation or person with poise and confidence. And, I have rarely seen a person who is more honest. He has the energy and the attitude to stretch to the maximum extent possible for the sake of customers and the organization.

In those times when you are very busy – shuttling your kids to school, preparing food for your dear ones, shopping for your family, meeting your friends and finding a measure of balance in your life, often accomplishing all these while engaged in a full time work – you may often feel helpless. And you may want to cry out for help. May be Service Square’s ‘house keeping services in Chennai’ is an option you can keep at the back of your head. And then you’ll be able to sit back and relax in your clean home and feel the exuberance of gratitude surging through you – for the good things of life.

Mathan Kumar can be contacted at: 222-53-555 :
More Details : Mathan : 98840-11933 or
mail mathan@servicesquare.com

Address: Service Square, 5, Balaji Nagar, 1st Main Road, Ekkattuthangal, Chennai-600032. Ph: 2225 3555. Web site: www.servicesquare.com

Comfort can take on different avatars. For me, it usually comes in the form of delish food. So, on a particularly harrowing afternoon, the sight of lush hummus, garnished with the Mediterranean goodness of olive oil, biryani ensconcing some of the most melt-in-the-mouth meat, and a platter full of the most luxuriant kebabs put me at ease almost immediately. And it is at  the  4 Seasons restaurant in Anna Nagar that I find this unlikely solace, in the company of some truly fiery fare!

The ambience at 4 Seasons restaurant in Anna Nagar, I warn, is blah. One would imagine a menu filled with such choice Mediterranean fare would inspire a distinctive decor, but no, you will have to make do with a very run-of-the-mill ambiance. But then once the food comes, that’s going to be the last thing on your mind. The Arabic mixed grilled platter, featuring favorites like the Nawabi chicken kebab and garlic fish is impressive, but it is the sauteed prawn, batter-fried and fresh, that has you going for seconds and thirds and fourths. The grilled mutton is likely to get you drooling too, thanks to its dry wit and spicy undertones. From the mezzah platter, one mustn’t ignore the lovely hummus, which goes wonderfully with an array of breads, or the farm-fresh tabouleh (parsley and tomato bits mixed with lemon juice) that is health in a bowl. The Apollo fish and paneer tikka, much recommended by the waiter, sink without a trace.

For main course, you’ve got to go the biryani way at 4 Seasons restaurant in Anna Nagar ! The hallowed dum briyani brings with it a subtle essence of saffron (imported from Turkey) which opens up the realms of meditative gluttony to you, even as the perfectly flavored mutton pieces melt in your mouth seductively, keeping you rooted to corporeal reality. The khabsa laham, Arabic rice with chunks of mutton, is alright too. For dessert, if you really must, try the umm ali or qubani ka meetha.

A good two hours later, I’ve had all the comfort I need to keep me going for a sizeable chunk of time, and I am already singing songs of the Season!

4 Seasons restaurant in Chennai is at 2nd Floor, 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar, Phone: 26264441, 9600144441
Landmark: Next to Nalli Silks and Above Bharat Scans

 

I had visited Pro Musicals ages ago when I had accompanied someone who wanted to buy a Yamaha keyboard. I didn’t remember much except the location when recently a friend asked me to pick up a book for her son who was taking up the ABRSM exam (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music). Well, the book was not available. But they took down my number, saying that they would inform once they got it. Having experienced this in many shops, I posted a reminder to myself to check the shop a week later. So, imagine my surprise when Pro Musicals called the very next day to say that I could pick up the book. More so since the book cost less than Rs 300. What professionalism and what customer service! That is when I decided to find out more about the shop.

Then they started a music school. A twelve-year old’s mother is happy with his progress in music. Enrolled elsewhere earlier, he hated his music lessons. At “Pro Musicals”, he is more interested and enthusiastic she says. Such is the track record with the music school wing of Pro Musicals. Augustine Paul, the well-known voice trainer heads the school. I met a pleasant Yesia, when I took my friend’s son for a practice on the exam piano. The ABRSM exams are conducted in the school in the by-lane next to Pro musicals shop. I learnt later that she is the course coordinator and Sudhin Prabhakar is the Chennai representative of ABRSM.

“Pro Musicals” sells guitars, synthesizers and percussion instruments among others. Roland, Yamaha, Nord and Korg are just a couple of the well-known brands they sell. They are the India’s sole distributors for some of the popular AV software as well.

For commercial establishments such as restaurants, malls and performance spaces, Pro Musicals undertakes concept-to-completion audio solutions. “Pro Musicals” is well known for its sound proofing works required for listening to music in its true form.

Well, after visiting Pro Musicals, I am tempted to resume my music lessons. I am not one for New Year resolutions. But let’s see how I progress with this one. I’ll let you readers know in six months’ time. The half-way mark!

Pro Musicals is located in the lane between Connemara Public Library and Thillayadi Valliammai Cooptex showroom on Pantheon Road. The shop is near the Don Bosco school premises.

Pro Musicals, 25-Casa Major Road, Landmark – Near Don Bosco School, Egmore, Chennai – 600 008

Phone – 044 2819 3607/ 044 2819 3445. Mail ID – promusic@vsnl.com

This article is contributed by Jennifer Sam and she can be contacted at jennifer.js.sam@gmail.com

Translating to ‘hurry up’ in English, Yalla Yalla, the Arabic-style street-food eatery located in The Radisson hotel, is everything you’d expect of a bustling Middle Eastern gastronomic experience. And true to its name, one of the more noticeable qualities of Yalla Yalla restaurant in Chennai is the quick and efficient service.

Done up beautifully in an al fresco setting, with airy cabanas as well as a smattering of tables lining the pathway, the Yalla Yalla restaurant in Chennai has a live kitchen where a dedicated set of chefs go about pita wrapping and  ‘mezze’ing things up for the hungry diner. The freshly baked pita bread (a tad crusty?) comes with a hearty line-up of dips, like the hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara, garlic sauce and tahini, each of which give the bread different, delicious dimensions. The crisp falafel and kibbesh shamiya (a shell of cracked wheat stuffed with ground lamb, onion, nuts and seasoning) come hot off the oven and act as the perfect appetizers.

When it comes to the kebabs atYalla Yalla restaurant in Chennai, the shish tawook, marinated skewers of chicken tenders cooked on an open flame, is a good option, comes as it is, lush and light, while the joojeh qebob too satisfies amply. The lamb kebab is alright, but the meat is not as fresh and flavourful as one would’ve liked, and the grilled fish lacks texture and taste. However, the hummus-smeared shawarma compensates beautifully, ringing in lovely aromas for the senses to indulge in.

Yalla yalla? Yeah yeah!

Yalla Yalla restaurant in Chennai is at Radisson Blu Hotel, 531, Saint Thomas Mount, GST Road, Ph: 22310101

 

This was the third time I took Lola Kutty to see Dr.Mohamed Ali during the 2nd week of December, 2011.

Dr.Ali is a second generation veterinarian who has a clinic – “Pasteur Pets Clinic” – in Greenways Road in Chennai. Lola Kutty is a six year old lazy, loving and overweight pug. (Lola and I inspire each other in the paths leading to our overweight ways). Dr.Ali looks very young, has a beard down his chin. He looks the religious type.

I took Lola to see Dr.Ali, as she seemed to be going through the worst phase of her heat and she was bleeding real bad. She could hardly sit, leave alone walk.  I had to carry her down to the car and then again, into the clinic.

When I knocked on his clinic door, he was treating two other dogs and so I was told to wait in the adjoining room. Soon enough, I was called in and I put Lola on a brown granite table. As the doctor was busy talking to a lady about her dog, I had to wait for him to come. One of his helpers asked me what the problem was. Then he took Lola’s temperature and found she didn’t have fever. He proceeded to take the weight of the dog – all of eleven kilos. It was sweet of the helper to do the preliminary investigations without being told to.

I had enough time to survey the room. It can surely do with two good coats of paint on its walls. That will lighten up the place a lot. On the walls close to where Dr.Ali has his table, there are shelves full of accessories for dogs and other pets – leash, dog biscuits, chewing bones, small balls for dogs to play with and various types of dog foods. My eyes riveted on two narrow bands of flat metal on the wall behind where Dr.Ali sits.On the first it is written, “I dress the wounds” and on the other, ‘God heals the wounds.”

And I overheard a bit of the discussion between the doctor and the lady who was concerned about her dog. While the lady was narrating the rather alarming condition of her pet recently, Dr.Ali commented that she should have called him. She said she felt bad to disturb him and he simply said his cell is always on switch on mode when people are in need.

Then he came to Lola. He told me she is way too fat and sometimes, that could even be a reason for their legs not being able to carry their heavy weight. Then he asked for a swab of cotton, dipped it in water and cleaned Lola’s eyes before doing anything else. He then checked her hind legs to see if there was any problem with them. His diagnosis was that Lola had sprained her hip somehow. He also said her skin had some fungus problem which needs to be attended to. And before he left to take care of another dog, he gave her two injections. He ordered one of his two assistants to clip her very long nails.Seeing Lola struggle and cry as if her life was at stake, the good doctor ordered his assistants to stop clipping. When I told him two of her nails were particularly long, he said don’t over stress the poor thing.

From his web site I find out that Dr. Mohamed Ali is a second generation veterinarian and has a Master’s degree in Veterinary surgery and radiology. He is a University Medal winner for scoring the highest marks in Veterinary  surgery and radiology in M. V. Sc.  His areas of interest are medical and surgical management of exotic pets and soft tissue surgery. He is also interested in Veterinary Endocrinology, Dentistry, and Pet Animal Behavior.

Lola Kutty started looking and behaving almost her normal self within a few hours of returning home from Dr.Ali’s clinic.And, this being the third time the doctor has treated her for different complications, I feel very confident that all will be well with this sweet thing. And I feel very grateful.

 

These are the services provided by Dr.Ali at Pasteur pets clinic

Consultation – General Health and Management, Pet Nutrition & Behavior.

Immunizations/ Vaccinations and De- worming

Treatment of Infectious Diseases

Treatment of External Parasitic Infestations

Dental Care

Operation Theater facilities – Surgical services like Castration, Spaying, Tumour Excision, Cesarean section, Herniorraphy and Fracture Management.

Pasteur Pets Clinic is located at New No : 110 ( old no : 70/1) Green ways Road, (opp : Malligai) Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai – 28. +91 – 44 – 24620749

Do you remember the days when your father left home around 8.30am after having had a nice breakfast, carrying a box of lunch lovingly prepared by your mum? He always came home by around 6pm right? In time to go for a walk, help you with your homework, maybe even visit a relative’s home and still get back in time to get a good night’s sleep so that he could wake up refreshed for  the  next day at work.

That was like they would say…in the good old days!! Today global networks have ensured that all corporate citizens are on call 24/7, 365 days a year…sure it has its rewards…but it’s also fraught with challenges.

In India we have seen a huge burgeoning of the BPO sector, primarily catering to the service industry in the USA.

These folks need to work according to the US clock, which in India translates to turning night into day!!

So how does this affect the body and mind? We have all heard of the ill effects of disrupting the Circadian rhythm, and the un healthiness of eating at night and sleeping during the day…how relevant is that? Is it really the health bogey man that it’s made out to be?

Well the first thing that we need to realize, is that the fact of working nights is not completely new-Doctors, Nurses and Airline Staff have been doing it for many years.

How have they handled it? How do they cope?

It is important to remember that working nights requires you to sleep at day.

Just because you are free, it does not mean that the day is  meant for hanging out with friends, or catching up on errands-you need 7- 8 hours of sleep every 24 hours, and it is essential that you get it, whether at night or day.

A lot of people, who work the night shift, tend to indulge in large, unbalanced meals late at night.

This is both unhealthy and unnecessary.

It is eminently possible to have a healthy, balanced meal in the morning when you return from work, and another one when you wake up in the evening prior to going back to work.

At night it is best to stick to fruit, raw vegetables and drinks like buttermilk or green tea.

Avoid too much caffeine and sugary drinks-they will disturb your ability to sleep the next day.

Alcohol and Cigarettes will only add to your stress levels, besides creating a lot of health hassles-reserve them for the weekend or avoid them completely.

Exercise-so easily forgotten in the scheme of things! It is the lack of exercise along with incorrect nutrition and Stress that largely cause the lifestyle diseases-Diabetes, Obesity, Hypertension and Heart Disease.

It is also the reason why Stress plays such havoc with the system.

For good health and better Stress management, it is essential that you walk at least 3 and a half kilometres within half an hour everyday-simple enough-the vehicle needs  to drop you off a little distance away from your home and pick you up from the same point, so that a daily walk is incorporated into your work routine.

Alternatively, try and get in a brisk walk before or after your breakfast. On your off days, when you have more time, do a more strenuous workout and incorporate some strength training into it.

Working nights for a lot of the Indian workforce is a way of life-there’s no getting away from it…there’s no point cribbing about it….and if you go about it the right way, you can ensure that you stay healthy.

So, what are the answers?

8 hours of sleep everyday

The major meals to be eaten during the day.

Food consumed during the night to comprise mainly of fruit and raw vegetables.

Cut down on Caffeine and Sugar.

Avoid the Cigarettes and Alcohol.

Most importantly, make sure that you get adequate exercise.

Simple common sense that will lead you to good health, whether you work at night or day! So there you are…..it is possible to work all night with a smile on your face and a spring in your step!!!

 

With a couple of Christmas programs under way and two Santas dropping by, Christmas is in the air already.  Cakes and Christmas go together, besides the star, the tree and the manger.

For the likes of me who have difficulty turning on a stove, but still long for home-made delicacies, there are people to save our day. Here are a few of them.

Rathna Dayanand has been baking cakes and cookies for the past twenty-five years. Now her daughter Shreya has joined forces and the mother-daughter duo has a vast range of cakes to suit every palate.

Rathna uses only imported dark chocolate and not cocoa powder. Fruits, butter and cream are all fresh ingredients that are used in her recipes. She avoids preservatives and margarine.

Rich plum cake needs to be ordered at least a week in advance. The rest can be ordered a few days ahead of the day in which you need the cakes.

Rich plum cake – Rs 300/kg, Black forest, truffle, etc. – Rs 400/kg, Plain tea “cake “– Rs 200/kg, Chocolate tea cake – Rs 300/kg, Brownie – Rs 350/kg.

The prices will slightly vary depending on the icing, nut topping and the like.

For places nearby, the cakes can be home-delivered.

Rathna Dayanand, F-3, Unique Apartment, 8/30, Gill Nagar I Street, Choolaimedu Chennai – 600 094, Phone – 044 4206 4096 & 96772 47664. Mail ID – shry9@rediffmail.com

Joanne Anand needs a minimum of two-week notice for the traditional cakes. For the other varieties such as the chocolate, vanilla, butter, etc, the order needs to be placed at least two days in advance. Joanne’s specialty is her Date “Cake“. Here’s how much they cost.

Plum cake – Rs 500/kg, Chocolate cake – Rs 300/kg, Vanilla cake – Rs 250/kg, Date cake – Rs 300/kg.

Joanne Anand, 47, First Lane, Mc Nichols Road, (Near Kuchalambal Kalyana Mandapam), Chetpet – 600 031, Phone – 80154 28053, Mail ID – jo_annro@yahoo.com

Helen Lazarus has been supplying cakes and desserts among other goodies, to her friends and acquaintances for a long time. Her popularity that spread through word of mouth has necessitated that she extend her services beyond the circle of friends. Plum cake and Love Cake are her specialties. The taste of all that she bakes is distinctly different, that of Love Cake and Cashew Cake in particular. For plum cake, Helen prefers to take the orders a month in advance. But for last minute orders, she can whip it up after soaking the dry fruits for three days.

Plum “cake” – Rs 500/kg and Rs 600/kg, Cashew “cake“– Rs 500/kg, Love “cake“– Rs 500/kg

Vanilla “cake“– Rs 220/kg, Chocolate cake – Rs 300/kg

Helen Lazarus, 52/2, Soundarya Colony, Opp. CSI Ewarts School, Anna Nagar West.

Phone – 044 2615 3417, Mail ID – hellencake@gmail.com

Having tasted Jasmine Jeyakumar’s yummy home-made chocolate cakes, it was a delight to learn that she takes orders. Rich plum cake and date cake are her specialties. And her marshmallows are quite popular.

Date cake – Rs 300/kg, Rich plum cake – Rs 600/kg, Rich chocolate “cake “– Rs 400/kg, Plain vanilla cake – Rs 200/kg, Vanilla cake with icing – Rs 300/kg, Marshmallows – Rs 3/piece

Jasmine Jeyakumar, I-1132 B, 34th Street, 18th Main Road, Anna Nagar, Chennai – 600040, Phone – 80563 29920 & 94446 76010. Mail ID – jacobpjs@yahoo.com

The given varieties are just a sample of what is on offer. The range that the ladies bake is quite vast and so if one has any particular cake in mind, the same can be ordered.

And Raave has become synonymous with Christmas trees and decorations. The trees are priced at Rs 1650 for a 4’ tall one to Rs 38500 for a 15’ tall tree. The Christmas decorations that include bells, stars, baubles, candy canes, santas and angels, vary in sizes and prices, starting from Rs 10 a piece, to suit your tree.

Raave Exim Pvt Ltd Office – 18 I floor, Casa Major Road, Egmore, Chennai – 600 008, Phone – 044 2819 3715 / 044 2819 3716 . Mail ID – raaveindia@gmail.com

Green Park is another place for decoration and Christmas trees. They are located at F-160, First Floor, Phase – III, Spencer Plaza. Call 2849 1122
And, if you want things real cheap the best place to go to is Parrys in and around Narayana Mudali Street.

This piece is contributed by Jennifer Sam. She can be contacted at jennifer.js.sam@gmail.com

Standing away from the swaying traffic in the Volvo and enjoying the cooling down air, I could not but help to stoop down and read the name of the place which looked more like a suffix to the Copper chimney. Well I am talking about the well known ZARA’s at the . You need reservations if you are sure to land up here a little late in the night.

 

This Spanish inspired resto- bar, has an awesome dance floor, blaring with music so loud, that you literally have to yell to whisper, and as if the staff heard you, they would willingly take that drink order to quench your just-dried throat. This was one mystic place hidden from my knowledge just like the Requirement room from the marauders map in Harry Potter.

But if you are the one who cannot stop your hips and shoulders from moving at the sound of the beat – be sure to include ZARA’s into your list of ‘places to be’. The crowd is elite with energy and enthusiasm and the age group is not restricted to the 20’s. Well seasoned business men also seem to adorn this dimly lit enclave along with their clients as if to show off Chennai in a different sense.

The name TAPAS goes in synonym with Starters in Spanish and it only justifies seeing the variety of starters ranging from the authentic Nachos along with the Salsa sauce and the sausages with pasta in the pepper sauce. The cottage cheese is fried just like the mozzarella sticks and goes well with the variety of drinks which are mixed to perfection by the bartender.

Needless to say, the hot chicken wings and the variety of prawn dishes have taken the choicest spots for their spicy taste going well with my sangria. The wide selection of liquor makes you awestruck, as for me, I should really vouch for the perfection of the cocktails and the slices of fruits that are soaked with the drinks reminding me of certain bars in the States.

ZARA has two floors and if your motive is to dance, then avoid the second floor. As always, Girls are welcome even if single, however you can still see single men sipping their drinks in the corner wishing for a pair. The entrance is very narrow and the parking is very bad. Situated right on the main road, you have no option but to go for valet parking which is by the way very difficult due to the traffic on the road. However once you get past the real black suit checkers and step into the dance floor, it’s your world. The in house DJ does an amazing job in hepping the volume every hour in to the night.

Though expensive for the starters and the drinks, it is take it or leave it option for the crowd. It was worth while for me to have to dip in the sweat of the crowd in the groovy moves as I missed it a lot – after all, I prefer Chennai crowd to Bangalore when it comes to dancing.

Awesome Street Food and Shopping on Mint Street

Who said great hotels alone serve the exotic dishes?

Two of my colleagues, who were transferred to Chennai recently from UP, were all praise for the Chaats on Mint Street as they finally found their stomachs blessed with North Indian food.

Mint Street is a bee hive; always busy and people bustling around, transferring bulk goods on their back or on small tri-cycles which we later found out are whole-sale orders.

This is the hive where age old eateries have emerged and still thrive, serving the best chaats in the whole of Chennai.

Reaching here is pretty much easy.

For people who do not stay close to Parrys or Sowcarpet, just detrain at the FORT station and get into the Rickshaws or autos and get down at the Pookadai Police station.

This is probably the oldest places in Chennai where one can still see houses which were built early in the 20^th century.

Did you know this is said to be the longest street in the world stretching almost 4 Kms?

With the sun’s heat scorching my head, I needed to cool it off with a nice drink.

We spotted the Kamal chaat house which looked very humble with seating for probably six people, but what astounded us was the crowd outside, most of them ordering for the badam milk.

The specialty of the milk here is that you can hardly drink the actual milk, there is a great amount of nuts in it.

And the taste – truly the best. It would cost you Rs.60 for a drink, but it is way too cheap for the awesome taste it brings along.

The next stop was of course the NOVELTY TEA HOUSE near the Ekambareswarar temple.

This place is famous for many things but the one that we were advised to order was the Pudina Dosa.

This is truly a heavenly tasting dosa, I must confess. I am not a dosa liker, but this was surprisingly awesome – for its taste.

In between my eating session, I however could not stop exploring the place for more hidden treasures and guess what -  I  did find them. I tried sneaking into the Perumal Mudali Street, a very small narrow street with hardly any place to walk.

This is a great wholesale market and people throng here to grab large quantities of bulk fancy articles.

You can find lace shops, designer accessories, saris, bangles all in separate, exclusive shops.

I, for one, got into an old shop called Oswald trading Company. They deal with all stones and designer beads at whole sale rates.

They also sell for retail customers at the same price.

A beautiful chain of stones cost me Rs. 220 which would for sure cost around Rs.1000 in any store inside the city.

This place is truly magical. With the sun’s heat cooling off and slight drizzles of rain caressing us, we rushed to the Broadway bus depot for our return.

I am not done with Mint Street, I doubt if I will ever be.

This place is a must to explore, for all the street foods and bulk shoppers.

Mint Street will be on my menu for another week, not just for its food, but for the famous Pookadai (flower shops) too.

Have a great weekend.

Professional Help for Painting Your Home

We not only have terrific professional teams to cater to your painting requirements.

We can also come up with with contemporary and yet simple solutions to transform your home into a wonderful place to relax, creating different moods in different rooms and areas of your home.

This is also the right time to paint your home.

It is still sunny and the rainy season is still a few weeks away.

When the paints on the walls look faded, or if it is peeling or cracking, then you know that it is time to take care of the walls – not just to protect them but also to give them that rich, dreamy look.

Painting works are done using a panel of well known painters with whom we have been associated during the past 10 years.

They meticulously scrub the walls before giving a coat of fresh paint.

Service Square supervisor will provide you with the color shade cards to enable you to choose the exact colors you may want to use for different parts of the house.

We use various painting techniques to create interesting visual textures on smooth surfaces.

Kitchen, dining hall, drawing room, bed room and children’s room can be painted using different themes and co lours depending upon your wish to create a different atmosphere and ambiance in each room.
The Painting team undertakes the following works: Wall painting – Interior & exterior Painting house ceiling, compound wall, doors, windows, grills, gate etc.