Alvida Sushant Singh Rajput

I don't recall the last time(or the first time) when death of a movie star affected me so deeply. But then I had a personal connection with Sushant. I never met him but after watching him in Chhichhore it felt as if he was one of us or I was one of them.

It was a movie based on and shot in my college, my hostel, my block of the hostel, my floor in that block and possibly my room(I would like to believe that). The story and its portrayal felt as real as it ever could. It rekindled my love for my beloved H4 which I had lost touch of since passing out. So much so that I made a visit to it after 15 years just to feel those days again. I hope he has what we wants wherever he is. For me, he will always be a fellow HIVite(nickname for H4 residents). Always positive! Never a loser!

Trinity Piano Grade 1 - Notes

Pieces: Enchanted Garden/Allemande/Mango Walk
Exercises prepared: (3a) Going underground/(1a) Tundra/(2b) Ming Vase

Mango Walk is a duet piece. We thought the examiner will play the duet part but that was not the case so he ended up playing it alone but examiner didn't cut marks for that. As per new rules, the candidate is supposed to bring someone to play the duet part.

All pieces together:

Invidual:

Mango Walk

Allemande

Enchanted Garden

1a Tundra

2b Ming Vase

3a Going Underground

TN tour

We could not find guides for temples in Chennai/Kaanchipuram/Madurai but it will be great to have someone who could explain the history and myths associated with the temples.

We found a fantastic guide(Mr. M.K. Srinivasa +91-94439-95932) in Mahabalipuram and that made our tour quite memorable.

Every temple closes at 12 in the noon and reopens at 4 in the evening. Plan wisely. In December pretty much every temple had huge crowds due to Ayappan pilgrims(going to Sabrimala).

Day 1 (Thursday, 19th Dec):
1. Flight from Hyderabad to Chennai

2. Checked into Hotel Savera

3. Guindy snake park

4. Elliot's beach

5. Kapaleeswar temple

6. Parthsarathy temple

7. Prem prakash Bhavan

8. Back to hotel

Day 2 : (towards Mahabalipuram)

1. Dakshina chitra museum

2. Crocodile bank

3. Muttukadu boating house

4. Tiger caves (reminded me of Buduruvagala in Sri Lanka)

5. Checked into Spago inn

6. Mahabalipuram beach

7. Dinner at Lattitude 49

8. Back to hotel

Day 3 : (Kaanchipuram)
1. Kamakshi Amman Temple

2. Lunch at GRT regency, Gandhi road

3. Silk shopping at A G Babu Sah, Gandhi road

4. Varadaraja Perumal Temple

5. Dinner at Le Yogi, Mahabalipuram

6. Back to hotel

Day 4 : (Mahabalipuram)
0. There are guides available at Arjuna's Penance. We found Mr. M.K. Srinivasa (+91-94439-95932) who was quite knowledgeable.

1. Group of monuments including Pancharatha and Shore temple

2. Lunch at Lattitude 49

3. Back to hotel

4. Mahabalipuram beach 

5. Dinner at Babu Cafe

6. Left for Chengalpattu railway station to catch train for Madurai - the route was very very dark

Day 5 : (Madurai)

1. Checked into Poppy's Hotel

2. Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal

3. Meenakshi Amman Temple - make sure to see it from all 4 side from outside. Each Gopuram(tower) is different.

4. Gandhi Museum

Day 6 : Madurai

1. Alagar kovil temple - Beware of monkeys here. They will snatch your bags and water bottles and any food items you may have in your hands.

2. Vishal De Mall (nothing to do here)

3. Tirupparankunram Murugan Temple

4. Koodal Azhagar Temple

Day 7 - back to Hyderabad