UPDATE

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You can catch up on my photos and the (occasional) blog posts here at hareeshclicks.com. Do let me know

your thoughts.

Cheers

Hareesh

Platinum gym, Kuwait.

After six months of continuous fast food diet am ready, ready with a reason to step in to a gym AGAIN. It’s been more than 2 years since I been to gym regularly (thanks to added responsibilities personally and professionally + unbeatable laziness).
I took an apartment right next to Platinum gym, Abu Halifa just to avoid another excuse. Am all charged up to enroll…first the gentleman took me around the gym for a tour and I was really impressed with the infrastructure.. the facilities include a really spacious gym with brand new high end equipments with a juice and sandwich bar; In the ground floor they got a swimming pool(my favorite area) , sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, cold water pool, a barber shop, supplement shop, and accessory shop. The first floor consists of pool table and squash areas.
How much it cost me? 200 KD for six months (with one month free) this price is just to use the gym, drinking water and the pool area. Towels, lockers or if you think of anything else comes with extra cost and opted not to pay anything extra.  Oh yeah did I mention its MEN ONLY?!
On my first day the guy in the reception said “go upstairs- see captain- tell 1st day” I walked in puzzled (usually in the UK (I trained in 2 reputed gyms) a trainer comes to the reception picks you up and be with you the whole 1st session) went upstairs I saw well built big guy with a red platinum gym t-shirt..Approached him and said the exact words, without a second thought immediately he asked me to sit on a chest press machine, instructed me do 3 sets and disappeared.. I did the 1st set mean while I was trying to locate him….again I asked him don’t I have to do any warm-ups? You guys don’t take my measurements, goals or even a simple induction.. (Forget about it)
Well he was not surprised he just took me to another red t-shirt and left without even saying a word to the new red shirt guy….new guy was looking at me like “WHAT?” I explained him then he took me inside a room and took all the measurements… then me made me do cardio it was interesting conversation with that Arabic trainer…” this tread mill run 1/2hr, then that machine 1/2hr, then the last machine 15min then stomach yaaaaniee 15min…ok?!” I was smiling and said OK! OK! And he was busy watching the tele. Clearly what I understood from my first 20 min is no trainers’ care for you, you are on your own, don’t expect motivations from them, just be friendly so that you can at least ask them how use a machine.
Guys this is my experience, I won’t say it was bad..This how they do it… and they are not trained to train (I think) am still a member here and doing my routine with what I was thought in my previous gyms.
Good place, nice equipments… and if we have few good motivating trainers (doesn’t necessarily with bulging muscles but with a good attitude) will make the place even better and beginners are more likely to continue. I still remember my 1sy gym instructor. 

Endhiran – The Robot.

Am sure you must have noticed millions of reviews bout this movie, am adding one more to that million. As always instead of talking about the movie itself I want share the movie experience.  And to experience it I saw it in three different languages (Tamil, Telugu and Hindi) this is the first time am doing this stupidity (as most of you might have thought) … well that’s not a stupidity in fact I wanted to understand why there is so much talk about Endhiran.

Tamil – 1^st day 1^st show that itself was satisfying  J  I bought the ticket (a day before the day its released) from a guy who was selling it with double the price, and claimed that he bought it for the same price and selling it only because few of his friends turned down at the last minute…yeaah RRRight!  I was over the moon- got a ticket for a movie which is fully booked for the whole week (I & my friend tried booking online and every other means but all in vain) we also got a chance to witness typical ticket counter arguments, over enthusiastic, angry people shouting at people ahead them….. I felt like I was in Tamil Nadu..Even though you won’t feel out of India most of the time when you are in Kuwait (is it good or bad? That’s totally a different subject) the sound system was remarkable, crystal clear view, seat where comfy enough. During the intermission (this when you can get the real first feel feedback from the fellow viewers) so I initiated a conversation with the guy next to me what he felt so far ..Some of them even volunteered themselves (as if am a Tv reporter or somethingJ ) I liked that brief conversation with complete strangers 99% of them felt exactly what I felt…the introduction scene could have been better, I could see genuine disappointment. After the short (very short) intermission the screen lit up, we audience couldn’t handle the pace, it was out of the world. We forgot everything and mesmerized by the VILLAN chitti (the real ROBOT) who carried the whole movie. As the credit rolled and the crowd started walking out of the hall, I saw few of those guys who I spoke with earlier...This time we didn’t discuss anything...We just exchanged big broad smiles. And you know what that means.
Originally drafted on 10/10/2010.

A come back.

Its been more than three years since I wrote something (even though am not so good at it..) now planning to start again but this time it will be for a purpose. Am gonna concentrate more about life in Kuwait.... YEP! its a big move from the U.K. and its different, then also going to cover two important things I am really passionate about.."Baking" & "Photography".
I am no expert in any of this but would like to share my thoughts and get some feedback.

Sivaji- THE BOSS

I was (still am) really excited for the fact I got tickets to watch SIVAJI- THE BOSS on its first screening. I should say it was a long wait and worth it.

Staple Corner- cine world was over flowing with fans of super star, which made them to add one more screen.

Unfortunately the screening was delayed by 30 min due to some technical difficulty. The crowd got restless and kinda irritated. When ever there was slight sound from the speakers they would start whistling and shouting. Electrifying response which I didn’t expect in UK, even I was smiling and shouting ( as I was accompanied by my wife, I controlled the level of excitement) at times I got the comments from her like “come on!! Act bit civilized” well.... she was new to the  Rajini enthusiastic crowd. On a first day 1^st show what else you could expect?!

It was 8:32pm and the screen was brightened with some trailers and ads. Oh yeah!!

I could feel the difference even from the start… the usual “SUPER STAR” has been manipulated with some cutting edge graphics and music. There was this old siivaji slide was shown which changed in to new SIVAJI- THE BOSS

As you will read loads of reviews for this movie am trying tell you what I felt throughout the movie.

Opening scene was with a different tone which almost makes you predict from this point there will be a flashback. Super star stepping outta police jeep…wiieeee ..wiieeee its whistle all over that’s exactly the feel I wanted to feel. Shivaji showing his face for the 1^st time in the screen we got the response [but unfortunately there were no tickets bits thrown or no arathi rituals (lighting camphor)].

The colour combination was really awesome throughout the movie…. Song sequences proved Shankar’s excellence in every detail of the sets and costumes once again.

(Surprising to see namma Nayantara so slim…but some how I liked the plumpier Nayantara) Ok lets comeback.

Story is the same good guy fighting against the bad guy but the way its portrayed is astonishing. Vivek teaming up with Rajini has created some real magic. Vivek delivering those PUNCH dialogues and imitating Rajini was real fun to watch. Sadly I was the only one trying clap during certain scene in the 1^st half but I can imagine what response those scenes would have received all over TamilNadu.

‘பண்ணீங்கதான் கூட்டம்மா வரும், சிங்கம் தனியாதான் வரும் ” thank god the crowd at last gave some reaction.

2^nd half of the movie picks up an accelerating speed with typical Shankar style. That’s when we get to see Rajini in his best style. Tossing the 1 rupee, throwing the chewing gum….and of course that gun thingy in the song “athiradikaran”, good old sun glass twists the list goes on & on. Enchanting visuals, remarkable rerecording during the action scenes where there’s a rap bit which was not in the audio release is wonderful. Same as in BABA.. B to the A to the B to the A ……which took me to the edge of the seat.

Mottai BOSS is my favorite getup of Rajini in this movie, cutting edge and stylish with a tint of humor when he taps his head.

Overall this 3hrs was a amazing experience as this is my 2^nd movie after Padaiyappa to watch on the first day of its release.

Now all am waiting is for Rajini in & as SULTAN. Animated version of Rajini. Music by A.R.Rahman.

by the way when is DHASHAVATHAARAM releasing?

Phulka

My love towards “phulka” grew during the stay with the “CHEDDA” family… yep our same old “oye balle balle chak de phatte”, BINDAAS people who spend so much to food, love to have good food. Where I learnt the real fact of life and the real purpose of why we have to earn. Basically they make this Phulka almost evey night as a southiee I used to think that’s the chapathi. There’s a huge difference between chapathi, roti, paratha, and of course my favorite phulka.

I did try making the phulka once in my kitchen after months of keen observation of them making it. Well if u ask me…what are the ingredients involved in making this? – its just wheat flour and water. Yep!! No salt, no oil, no butter.

I made soft dough out of whole wheat flour and divided them in to equal sized small balls,which I’ll be rolling in to phulkas. My tava(griddle/chappathi kallu) is nice and hot. I cooked one of the phulka (see A on the pic) and tossed the other side in to the direct flame that’s when the phulka becomes a phulka (see B on the pic) but it didn’t happen. I thought may be my 2^nd one will stand up to the expectation but unfortunately all my 8 attempts ended up in some stiff, crisp, kinda burnt round discs. A Big flop show!!! Did I mention I was under a mission to impress my wife by helping her with the dinner? Ultimately had to blame the flour and even some how managed to convince my wife with the explanation I gave. I (even she) know there was nothing wrong with the flour.I started looking for REAL reasons, I do this to lighten my mind or to calm me momentarily. That’s not a permanent solution for any thing.

When we met Mrs.Chedda next, I asked her why I didn’t get the same result she used to get with the phulka. After a round of FAQ’s, with a big smile she replied “you should try kneading the flour with warm water instead of cold water cause you are using a different brand of flour than mine” .BINGO!!!! She made me realize a complex theory involved with different flour types which was tought years ago. Breaking the complex proteins, developing gluten etc by changing the temperature which works with certain flour types.

This time am confident and almost sure its gonna work with warm water. Her 20+ yrs of experience making phulkas can’t be taken for granted. Oh yeah!! Each of those turned out the way it should. (pic B)

It was a great sense of satisfaction when we tasted this soft, round, sensational PHULKA- THE FLAT BREAD :)

Reality Bite....

April 03, 2007

It’s been more than 10 years since I’ve moved away from my home…after so many years of living on my own, I haven’t got many opportunities to cook for myself or I would rather say I was avoiding it, neglecting it or what ever !!

Tonight it happened …yes!!

I didn’t force myself in to this beautiful, small - compact space in my new house. KITCHEN- it was so inviting tonight. Ok I know am gonna create something it wasn’t just my dinner, it wasn’t throwing ingredients in to the pan…it was something more than that.

I didn’t have any fancy ingredients in my fridge…but am fully prepared to face the frozen mixed vegetables and frozen Pollock; don’t you think it’s more than enough??!!

Well let me start now and the only company I got throughout my cooking was a 440ml can of crystal clear genuine Budweiser. So I switched on my favorite numbers.

Here I go….

Finely chopped one red onion, two green chilies and a tomato medium sliced….yep!! That’s it..that’s all am gonna use.

Took out 2 chunky Pollock, sprinkled with some salt and pepper…didn’t disturb it for a while then gently drizzled it with some lemon juice and tossed it slightly. Now forget it.

With very little oil, sautéed the onions to golden brown that’s when it will ask u for more, knew it there goes my green chilies.. mmmmmmm.. green turns to pale…(craving for some thing really spicy tonight) adding generous spoon full of red chilli powder to my brown onions makin it darker, then tomatoes wanted to pop in, its happy to be there with that hizzzyyy sound. Just mixed them, they bonded so much. Now it’s the turn of vegetables. The moment I dropped them in to the pan, there was whole new silence there. Yeah!! What else we can expect when hot sautéed onion, tomato, and green chilies meets ice cold green peas, corn, broccoli, and shredded carrots??? After few moments when they got introduced to each other I could see a pleasant modulation. The vegetables started giving there moisture out to the onion mixture and the onion mixture giving there wholesome flavor to the vegetables. Wow!! I didn’t want to interrupt this give n take process with my ladle. So slowly closed the lid giving them privacy all they wanted.

Now my oven is all set at 160*C and waiting for Pollock ….with some brown onion on top Pollock is ready to be grilled. Placing it gently in the griller I started grilling it closed for 15min.( I just want my fish to be cooked to perfection anything more than 15min I know am gonna ruin the essence…. Trust me)

Mean while I sliced fresh rosemary potato bread and toasted along with Pollock topped with a thin strips of cheese.

A spicy mix-veg, brown onion grilled Pollock and 3 slices of rosemary bread. Man that sounds so good can u believe i got a 3 course menu here. Automatically I got a smile and a big gulp from the can.

Its 15min all set to serve. Steaming vegetables, prefect juicy Pollock, and crispy bread slices. (I prefer my all my dishes to be almost at the same temperature in the plate)

Surprise..surprise!!!

Let me tell u how it tasted in the plate it was so different than how they tasted when I tried them individually.

The mix veg gave an intense spicy start which was mellowed by succulent Pollock with a hint of tangy taste & roast onion flavor. Biting the bread was like celebrating the simplicity.

All I said to myself after this wholesome dinner was “LOVELY” and I was floating, when I came back to reality I realized one more thing….

Oops got some dishes to do.