For Everything Else, There's no ATM!

Here's a new Master Card ad that I've come up with

Sleeper class tickets to Cochin from Coimbatore - Rs. 250/-
Auto fare from the city center to your house - Rs. 25/-
Taking family out for a dinner in the evening - Rs. 800/-

You notice that your wallet is empty; go to an ATM machie and it says "Your Card is Invalid" - Priceless

Believe it or not, I had the above Master Card moment this past weekend thanks to my bank (don't want to name them for the zillionth time again)

PS: Will write my ordeal in detail later.

Aargh!!!

The tech guys in my office have apparently decided to cluster my blog along with hundreds of "cricket" and "other offensive" sites list. And the result? My blog is under a blanket ban in my office... Arrrgh!!

That explains my poor rate of postings, but I promise I will be more regular from now on.

But am happy that I continue to get the patronage of outside readers. Thanks and please do continue your support! And office folks, please do go to those internet cafes and read my blog :-)

Golf Course Villas @ Coimbatore

Rakindo Developers Pvt Ltd, India’s first real estate master planner and developer, is setting up an integrated township project at Coimbatore with an estimated investment of Rs 6,000 crore ($1.5 billion). Rakindo Developers is a joint venture company formed by RAKEEN, a global business company promoted by the government of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE and Chennai-based mineral conglomerate Trimex group

The project - Kovai Hills - will be developed over 1,000 acres with an 18 hole golf course as the centrepiece. The project involves setting up of luxurious golf course villas with scenic mountains and lush greenery in the background. Rakindo will offer these exclusive villas on ‘Own by Invitation Only’, a first for such project in Tamil Nadu. The project is located southwest on the Coimbatore-Palakkad route and will have about 22 million sq ft of constructed space.

According to Prasad Konery, managing director, Rakindo Developers, “our vision is to create theme-based townships which will offer holistic lifestyle and world class amenities. The Kovai township project will be a signature project and will provide an ideal living experience.”

Scheduled to be launched in the third quarter of this year, the self-sustaining township project will also house an IT SEZ, specialty hospital, schools, star hotel, clubhouse and wellness centre, retail, commercial and eesidential developments among host of things, he said. “Rakindo is committed to investing $5 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) in India over the next five years and will on a conservative estimate build about 50 million sq ft. The company will in the course of next 12 months announce a slew of new projects in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,” he said further.

With a land bank size of over 3,000 acres, Rakindo is fast evolving as one of the biggest players in the Indian realty industry. The company plans to establish a pan-India presence over the next five years with a slew of projects. The company also plans to diversify into retail, hospitality, education and healthcare sectors through strategic alliances and partnerships.

Source: FE

Surrogate Advertising? Ask our MP

Vijay Mallya's Bangalore team in the DLF Indian Premier League is titled Royal Challengers Bangalore... I hope Dr. Ramdoss (or is it Ram dose?), our very own Union Health Minister doesn't take offence. Dr. Dose, pls now don't read too much into it, Royal Challenge is not the other brand you are thinking about! :-)

The whole of M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore is galore with new pavilion names - Signature Executive, McDowell Best View, Bagpiper Standview, Antiquity Members’ Stand etc. etc. And for the record, that is just to add a class of touch to the Royal Challengers team!

Now only a fool will read between the lines and think this is surrogate advertising... so here's three cheers to the booze baron of India!

The IPL Circus!

DLF Indian Premier League kicks off today in Bangalore with the first match between Bangalore Royal Challengers and Kolkata Knight Riders... and the whole of India is ready to witness this mega circus where cricket and entertainment gets merged with only a thin line differentiating it from a reality show in a TV channel.

Other than the fracas that has been created over the IPL, I guess people like me (call me the new generation) will prefer watching Twenty-20 matches over 5-day long Test matches.... the other day I was chatting with a friend from the US who was astonished to hear about a sporting event that last 5 long days and a One-day match lasting a full day!!! I guess am going to enjoy this IPL Twenty-20... the only grouse is, the 44-day schedule is bang in the middle of the peak season... Whoof, Peak Day Blues already! :-)

PS: The official website, which I've linked above has got no information other than a countdown tracker at this time, which still shows 1 Hr to go before DLF starts, that is 9AM today!

Dream of a life time!

It's one of my biggest dreams and this year also it is left unfulfilled... to watch the festival of all festivals or as they say in local lingo, the Pooram of all Poorams.... Today is Thrissur Pooram!! And I am watching it on TV this year also... Hmmmm, maybe next year for sure

Fake or Photo?

Today we're presented with images in movies, on TV, and in the press that are of such good quality we don't even think to consider whether the picture is of something that exists in reality or if it was generated by computer software. Movies can be considered as being at the high-end of the range of uses for computer generated imagery that mimics real-life, but there are many more day-to-day examples that challenge our ability to tell what's real and what's not.

Autodesk, makers of the legendary 3D animation software Maya, have come up with a unique challenge where you are pitted with a few fake and a few real images. All you need to do is identify the fake and the real ones? Take the challenge

PS: I took the challenge myself. Out of 12 pics, I managed to identify 8! Do let me know your scores

Sky High Chennai

In a new record for Chennai’s real estate market, NRI businessman C Sivasankaran of the Sterling Group has put a three-acre plot off the arterial Anna Salai under the hammer for a reserve price of Rs 270 crore! It works out to roughly Rs 20,000 per sq.ft.

And hold your breath, the reserve price is a base price for bidders who are expected to compete aggressively for this prime property in the heart of the city.

In terms of the price per sq ft, it would set a new record for the city. It is way above the previous highest, which was Rs 16,765 per sq ft paid by entrepreneur Shyam Kothari (Mukesh Ambani’s brother-in-law) for a 104,381 sq. ft. plot in the posh Boat Club area last year.

Meri Jaan!

Coca-Cola is back to competitive advertising with Sprite's 'Hindustan Meri Jaan' campaign that spoofs Pepsi's "Youngistaan Meri Jaan" campaign. Here's a video of the spoof...

India Land - KGiSL Tech Park!

India Land Ventures Ltd (ILVL), an associate company of Americorp Group of Spain along with KGISL (part of Rs 3,200-crore KG Group of Coimbatore), has announced the launch of ‘India Land KGISL Tech Park’ at the 150-acre IT SEZ at Saravanampatti in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

The first phase of this project launched in Chennai on April 7, 2008 is scheduled to be ready for fitouts in July 2008 and will have state-of-the-art features in line with the globally accepted norms of construction and building maintenance.

Both the companies would be investing Rs 320 crore towards this project. While ILVL will be investing 70% of the project cost, the rest will come from KGISL.

Announcing the launch, the Managing Director of KGISL, Ashok Bakthavathsalam, said the IT tech park, coming up in Saravanampatti - about 12 km from Coimbatore airport, would have 1.8 million sq feet of space, tailor-made for the requirements of IT and ITES companies.

Built in 11.74 acres, which is parcelled out of the 150-acre IT/ITES special economic zone - Coimbatore Hi-tech Infrastructure Private Ltd (CHIL), the first block of India Land KGISL Tech Park comprising 3.4 lakh sq ft of floor space would be ready for fit out by July. The second block of similar size could be occupied from November, he said. The remaining space would be operational by June 2009, he added.

Mr. Harish Fabiani, Chairman of Americorp Group stated that the proposed project will be a landmark in Coimbatore. “Combined benefits of SEZ, Tier II City and highly efficient building will prove to be a great attraction for the top Indian IT companies towards this prestigious project,” said Mr Fabiani. He added that the IT majors are already moving to Tier 2 cities to keep the costs under control and hence projects as these would find early tenants, who also insist on an early, fit-out and hand over for occupation.

India Land - Backgrounder:
India Land is a global player in real estate investment, development and management. They engage in projects that are strategically located in the high potential growth areas, those that are witnessing rapid economic development around the country.

With interestes in IT Parks, SEZs, as well as Hotel, Retail and Entertainment, India Land have the following projects in their portfolio.

IT Park, Ambattur, Chennai
IT SEZ, Padalam, Chennai
IT SEZ, Saravanampatti, Coimbatore
IT SEZ, Hinjewadi, Pune
Hotel, retail and commercial, Devanahalli, Bangalore
Hotel, retail and entertainment at Hinjewadi, Pune