Tha LIFESTYLE
Oct 2014 - Jan 2015
www.Tha-lifestyle.com
Vol 01 : Issue 06
Facebook.com/ThaLifestyle
Tamil lifestyle magazine from Great Britain
Diabetes in the South Asian community
TRIBUTE TO SUGENTH JEYAKUMAR
Talk to your man
Before Marriage
Celebrity style Tamil Bridal Makeup Tips
“My dream trip to Angkor Wat”
ISSN 2054-3514
What is holding you back from where you want to be?
X’mas & Thai Pongal
Special !!
Arunn G’s
Photography Tips
Also in this issue.......
* Brammasthiram , first ever atomic bomb ? * Motivating the fitness in Tamil Community * Get away for this winter for cheap * Why ‘Lingaa’ star Rajinikanth rocks
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CONTENT 02 THAI PONGAL & X’MAS SPECIAL
10
01
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
02
DIVERSE TAMIL COMMUNITY CELEBRATES X’MAS & THAI PONGAL
04
INTERNATIONAL HARVEST FESTIVAL
06
INTEREST RATE: KNOWING THE UNKNOWN
24
SET UP AN EBAY BUSINESS TODAY AND BEGIN MAKING MONEY
26
CELEBRITY STYLE TAMIL BRIDAL MAKEUP
28 30
A commercially sponsored article from Aris
Fashion and make up guide for make up with best designer brands
MOTIVATING THE FITNESS IN TAMIL COMMUNITY
Page about inspiring group of German Tamils
WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM WHERE YOU WANT TO BE Self development article by a specialist
32
ARUNN G’S PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
34
THA EVENTS & THA CALENDAR
Photography tips by famous British Tamil photographer
Album of past Tamil events and calendar of future events
Festive special article coincides with the months of Christmas and Harvest festival
A brief about international Harvest festivals
Financial article by a professional accountant
08 10
DREAM TRIP TO ANGKORWAT
News about British Tamil Community
THE TEAM BEHIND COVER PAGE PICTURE
MY DREAM TRIP ANGKOR WAT
Travel blog by enthusiast traveller
12
GET AWAY FOR THIS WINTER FOR CHEAP
13
THIS WOMAN
14
PREGNANT? GOT A NEW BABY ? KEEPING FIT
16
WHY ‘LINGAA’ STAR RAJINIKANTH ROCKS
17 18
Suggested places to travel this winter
A poem by young poet
An analysis on post pregnancy mother by a medical professional
Movie corner
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
British Tamil entertainment news
DIABETES IN SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY
Medical research article on increasing diabetes in South Asian community
20
TALK TO YOUR MAN BEFORE MARRIAGE
22
BRAMASTHIRAM: FIRST EVER ATMOIC BOMB?
23
A social debate on Tamil marriages
A document on ancient mythical weapon mentioned in Tamil literature
COOKING TIME Cooking menu
THA LIFESTYLE
| EDITORIAL
EDITOR’S WALL
Clambering up the slopes to Success. Hello again everyone, We hope you all had a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a wonderful Thai Pongal. Once again we are glad to greet you with a festive special edition which contains many interesting articles from various professionals in our community. We have not forgotten to include the Lifestyle & News articles as well and believe you will enjoy all the different points of view this magazine hopes to interest and entertain you with. My sincere thanks to Arunn G Photography who lent his professional & friendly support with the coverpage. Also to Shalomi a much respected Make-Up Artist and models Angella, Nivetha with his team Shiyaa and Shangee for having provided their skills and hard work to such good effect to bring us this colourful cover page. We are overwhelmed by the support given by Indran & family who are owners of Pinner Barn house studio. We welcome them all to our fast growing ‘Tha’ family. We do very much appreciate people’s support in helping us build up a community magazine which we think projects the magazine beyond what our personal promotions can achieve alone and we hope will offer and amplify commercial benefits to our readers to serve and strengthen our British Tamil community. Your time and thought and skills are invaluable to us in sustaining this project. Due to holidays and festivals our voluntary magazine has met some setbacks in meeting its’ intended dates and so I do apologise for the slight delay with this edition. Our young magazine still faces some steep slopes on its uneven road which test her survival with every issue. Still we are determined that we will take her through the problems to reach the goal despite the hurdles she is facing. And she is looking up to those whom she included in past editions as well hoping they will not forget her. Our dreams include everyone who will come in and join and foster this community with all its ambitions and dreams as she seeks to provide a community service for all. So our journey will continue with the objective of bridging generations within the Tamil Community and promoting integration with other communities in Great Britain. I have determined to continue the funding myself as I hope and believe there will be a day when the community responds to my appeal and ambitions. And I take this New year opportunity to call upon each and every one of you to come forward, reach out and contribute to assembling our magazine to serve and spread the goodwill of the Great British Tamil Community. Meanwhile, soon we will see you with our next edition, for what we hope will be our ever larger and ever growing ‘Tha’ family. Yours
Sujay Sujatharan
SUJAY
SATHEESAN
ARIRAJASINGHAM
THANABALASUNDARAM
SUJATHARAN
THA EDITOR
Editor@tha-lifestyle.com facebook.com/ThaSujay CONTENT REVIEWER
THA MARKETING MANAGER
Contact@tha-lifestyle.com
ROB DOW SWEENA SHANTHAKUMAR
SPECIALIST WRITERS
BALA THAVAPALAN
THA IT MANAGER
info@tha-lifestyle.com
SWEENA SHANTHAKUMAR
THA CO-EDITOR
COVER PAGE PHOTO
ARUNN GNANAPRAGASAM | SHALOMI NIRMALAN | ANGELLA EDMOND | NIVETHA VIJAY | SHIYAA POOBALASINGAM | SHANGEE ALPHONSE | INDRAN | COCO
Health Specialist Maulia Selvarajah | Sophie Kathir |Professional Photographer Arunn G |Finance Nithian Parthi
THA CONTRIBUTORS OF THIS EDITION Anton Gangakumaran Arunn Gnanapragasam Sharuga P Saraniya N Mayooran Senthilmani
Vani Thavapalan Ashvin Selva Sophie Kathir Pirunthika Thuva K Kumalini K Illukkia T Thushaan K Gajanthy Gopiraj
THA LIFESTYLE | NEWS
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS TRIBUTES PAID TO TAMIL SCHOOLBOY
‘CARING, SELFLESS’ SUGENTH JEYAKUMAR
Tha Lifestyle is deeply saddened to hear of the tragedy that befell Sugenth Jeyakumar, who attended Whitmore High School, in West Harrow. Sugenth died after suffering injuries during a football match last month after a goalkeeper had kicked the ball and it hit him in the ribs. The 14-year-old British Tamil kid played on, until the pain was too much and significant bruising began to appear on his chest. .He was taken to Northwick Park Hospital, scanned and then transferred for an emergency procedure at St Mary’s Hospital, in Westminster, but after staying overnight and the procedure not materialising, died after suffering from cardiac arrest. “ He was caring and selfless, and we’ve been blown away by how much people cared about him just from all the comments on Facebook” said his brother. The school’s head teacher said: ‘This young man represented the best in all of us; caring and helpful, bright and hardworking, liked by everyone and with a great future ahead of him.’Please visit his page facebook.com/ripsujenth to pay your respects
MOBILE GIANTS LEBARA AND LYCA
EXPAND INTO MEDIA , ENTERTAINMENT AND MOVIES
Lyca and Lebara, the two rival British Tamil owned virtual mobile network giants have stepped up their presence in the media and entertainment industry as part of their market strategies to diversify and continue their growth The newly formed Athavan TV, expected merger of IBC Tamil radio with new launched IBC Tamil TV have put the British Tamil media industry into direct competition with the existing Deepam & GTV networks. Also Lyca mobile’s production of the movie ‘Kaththi’ has joined the ‘100 Crore club’ In its first two weeks . In South Asian numbering ‘Crore’ is 10 million, i.e. the film has earned more than 1000 million Indian rupees ( £100 million) and thus it is believed that Lyca will step up its future investments in Cinema in a big scale. Lebara is focusing on Dance & Singing competition shows for Tamils and is hosting ‘Nadana Rajas’ in its move to enter into British & European Tamil Talent shows. Nadana Raja offers good exposure for IBC TV and in near future it is expected that IBC TV will step up its launch. The two companies moves into the media and entertainment industry is the next step in their diversification to bring them new market sectors with their own media to reach to their customers directly .
AWARD WINNING LONDON TAMIL FILMMAKER
SETS HIS SIGHTS ON HOLLYWOOD
Paul Emmanuel, South-east London Tamil filmmaker and the founder of the independent film production company 721 Productions, is making “Secrets of the Lost Souls” with the aim of tapping into North American market which was worth around $12 Billion in 2013. He has written and directed his first feature film called “The Maid”. The film tells the story of an emotionally troubled young man living in the USA who travels to England to spend his upcoming birthday with his estranged Dad. Paul has seen his hard work payoff as his directorial debut went onto win six awards and was nominated for seven more. The film was screened in Hollywood and in London in film festivals. ‘I wanted to make a movie that was relatively easy to shoot on a very tight budget’, he said. ‘The film is very much about the interaction between the characters. I grew up being influenced by action, sci‐fi and horror films, especially films by Directors James Cameron and John Woo. But I wanted my first film to be a bit different and that’s why I decided to make an art house type film’. Paul is currently busy working on his second feature called “Secrets of the Lost Souls”. The film is a supernatural horror thriller about an American couple who go on a weekend trip to a house in the countryside to strengthen their marriage. He is raising money to make the film through a fairly new concept called ‘equity Crowdfunding’. This is where everyday people are offered the chance to become an investor and a shareholder in the project. Paul plans to start production in the Spring of 2015 if he is successful in raising the finance. You can find out more on www.721productions.com
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THA LIFESTYLE
| LANGUAGE & CULTURE
DIVERSE TAMIL COMMUNITY CELEBRATES
&
CHRISTMAS
THAI PONGAL !
Diverse British Tamil Community celebrates the Eastern and Western traditional festivals in their own style. Both Christmas with New Year and continuing Thai Pongal were celebrated by Tamils with other multi-cultural communities of London and elsewhere. Also many Hindu religious events like Thai Poosam and Maha Sivrathiri also followed in the months of January and February by many Tamils.
Tamils & Christmas: A long history Since the 15th century when Roman Catholicism was introduced to Hindu followers by Portuguese rulers a multi cultural society began to take shape. More than 200,000 Tamil Catholics were recorded as living in Ceylon. And when the British rulers arrived Anglican Christianity was introduced as well and so now more than 60,000 Tamils are followers of Christianity. Both Catholics and Christians live in harmony with more than 2.8 million Hindus in world wide spread Tamil Community. The midnights of 24th December cathedrals, churches, and little chapels all over the country Christian attend Midnight Mass.
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THA LIFESTYLE
| LANGUAGE & CULTURE
Christmas” is a compound word originating in the term “Christ’s Mass”. It is derived from the Middle English Cristemasse, which is from Old English Crīstesmæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038 followed by the word Cristes-messe in 1131. A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as spruce, pine, or fir associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany (where it is today called Weihnachtsbaum or Christbaum or “Tannenbaum”) with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly 15th century, in which devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. It acquired popularity beyond Germany during the second half of the 19th century, at first among the upper classes. The tree was traditionally decorated with edibles such as apples, nuts, or other foods. In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles which were ultimately replaced by Christmas lights after the advent of electrification. Today, there are a wide variety of traditional ornaments, such as garland, tinsel, and candy canes. An angel or star might be placed at the top of the tree to represent the archangel Gabriel or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.
A carol is defined as a song of rejoicing, usually associated with festive occasions and religious celebrations .The first Christmas carol was sung by angels who announced the birth of Christ to shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. Since that time many carols have been sung to honour the birth of Jesus. In fact more that 500 English carols from the 15th century still survive, with the earliest printed copy of a carol that still exists being the ‘Boar’s Head carol.
Pongal is a harvest festival and Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving. It is held to honour the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. The word ‘Thai’ denotes the first month and “Pongal” as verb means ‘ rise of milk’ and as noun mean ‘milk rice’.
Mattu Pongal is dedicated to cattle which is next day after Thai Pongal. People offer prayers to the bulls, cows and other farm animals.
On the day of Pongal, early in the morning, everyone bathes and wears new clothes. Family members then jointly draw the kolam (a decoration laid on the floor). Rice flour (plain and coloured) is used to draw the kolam. Parallel straight lines can be drawn using a cylindrical rod (Ulakai) as a guide. A kolam can be a plain one or can be artistically drawn with symbols of cosmic interest. The kolam defines the sacred area where the pongal is prepared.
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THA LIFESTYLE
| LANGUAGE & CULTURE
Tamil Harvest Festival Thai Pongal : The Harvest Festival and Thanksgiving It is remarkable in the Tamil community that Thai Pongal and Christmas have been celebrated by all faith followers because most Tamils have been more liberal and they have all respected each other’s ceremonies Pongal is one of the major festivals for Tamils and often referred to as “thamizhar thirunaal”( The holiest Tamil Day).
Thai Pongal in the City of London by Tamil Students
At the beginning of the Tamil month “Thai” it is celebrated for three days: the first day being devoted to getting rid of old things , whilst the second day involves our main Pongal (Rise of milk ) celebrations and is followed by Maattu Pongal, the thanksgiving to farm animals on the third day Picture: facebook.com/tsiuk
International Harvest Festivals
CH’USOK – Korea The Harvest Moon Festival, Ch’usok, is one of Korea’s most popular holidays. Held in September or October, it is a celebration of the fall harvest and a time to honour one’s ancestors. The festival begins with a ceremonial offering of food and wine to the ancestors, followed by a feast of traditional foods such as sweet rice cakes.
YAM FESTIVAL Ghana & Nigeria The Yam Festival is a major holiday in Ghana (where it is called Homowo) and Nigeria (where it is known as Iriji). It is a time to give thanks to the spirits of the earth and sky for the yam harvest. Yams are the most important crop in the region and the first to be harvested. The festival is held at the end of the rainy season, usually August or September, when the yams are ripe.
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CELEBRATION OF BREAD – England The English harvest festival, Lammas, was originally celebrated at the beginning of the harvest season. Also known as the Celebration of Bread, farmers made bread for Communion from new wheat to give thanks for the harvest. Churches were decorated with vegetables, fruits, and flowers in intricate designs. The end of the harvest was celebrated with a big meal known as the Harvest Supper.
THA LIFESTYLE
On the Pongal day, as the Sun moves towards north and enters Makara raasi, the zodiac sign of Capricorn and marks the beginning of Uttaraayana punyakaalam, an auspicious time. To farmers, Pongal marks the beginning of the harvesting season. People take an oil bath early in the morning and wear new clothes. Sweet pongal and special sweets are prepared for the occasion. Freshly cut sugarcane is used for decoration and later is eaten by everyone.
| LANGUAGE & CULTURE
Mattu Pongal is a celebration by the agrarian community that thankfully acknowledges the contribution of the animals, mainly bulls in ploughing the fields and assisting the farmers in raising a good crop. The animals are decorated and are entered in some races, to boost their endurance capacity and for entertainment. We wish you all a Happy Festival time.
Thai Pongal in Harrow Council Chamber
Kwanzaa- Africa Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits of the harvest” in the African language Kiswahili, is a popular harvest festival and has gained tremendous acceptance among the African American people. The celebration honours African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.
Samhain – Ireland & Scotland Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the “darker half” of the year. It is celebrated from sunset on 31 October to sunset on 1 November. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, and later the Isle of Man and Scotland. Kindred festivals were held at the same time of year in other Celtic lands.
THANKSGIVING – Canada The first Canadian Thanksgiving holiday was celebrated by Canadian settlers in 1578, when explorer Martin Frobisher gave thanks for a safe journey to Newfoundland and Labrador. This actually predated the Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving holiday by 43 years! Thanksgiving in Canada is now held on the second Monday in October.
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THA LIFESTYLE
| BUSINESS & FINANCE
Interest Rate Knowing the Unknown By Nithian Parthi
Investment Accountant
A
s many people have mortgages or loans, interest rate plays an important part in everyday life. People who have fixed rate mortgages will not see the repayment rise when the Bank of England (BoE) raises the interest rate (Base Rate) but anyone who holds variable or tracker rate mortgages will see the repayments going up. However, most personal loans are fixed rate deals so it’s highly unlikely to see any changes on existing loan repayments.
The interest rate will be determined by BoE’s 9 members Monetary Policy Committee. They meet every month to determine the rate for the future. Decision will be taken with simple majority voting system. Before we look at current issues, it is worth looking back at the history. If you remember pre-recession time or pre-credit crunch time, the base rate was around 4.5%. Since the collapse of the UK economy, BoE monetary policy committee
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decided to cut the rate back to record low level at 0.5%. This was a desperate measure to make the borrowing cheaper so that companies can borrow and expand their businesses However, due to the fall of big financial market players, banks became reluctant to lend to each other which created a vacuum in lending. Then BoE made an unprecedented move of pumping money in to the circulation call “Quantitative Easing”.
Interest rates indicate the price at which you can borrow money. It can get seriously complicated, with many anomalies. Now, UK is officially out of recession but the interest rates are still a record low. In the recent months, this became the headline as the new governor of BoE indicated that the base rate will be increased in 2015. The biggest question is WHEN the BoE is going to increase the base rate.
Nevertheless, it is worth looking why BoE wants to raise the rate first instead of looking when. There is an important element which plays a vital part in determining the interest rate – that is Inflation. Before we go in to technical jargon, let’s look at why the Inflation Rate is so important for the economy. In simple terms Inflation is the rate at commodity prices are increasing. This is an important tool to measure the state of the economy. Also annual pay rise other than performance based is directly linked to inflation so the idea is no one will be “out of pocket” by the inflation. Inflation is like medicine as too much or too little is bad for the economy. If we have 0% inflation then no one will see the wage increase or business won’t be able to make any profit by the increasing price and relatively the economy will become stand still. However, BoE has set the current target inflation rate at 2% based
THA LIFESTYLE
on the consumer price index (CPI) as optimum and if it goes up or down they will have to tackle it. One of the ways of tackling the inflation is to increase or decrease the interest rate. For example if the inflation goes up and wanted to reduce, BoE will increase the interest rate. The idea behind is that many people have mortgages so increasing the interest rate means people will pay more towards mortgages and have less disposable income so they will not spend more money on other items. Hence the demand will drop which will lead to price drop and the inflation will come down. Again, you would wonder why BoE is now considering raising the interest rate when the inflation has dropped from 1.5% to 1.2% in September 2014. Surely they should have reduced the rate to
higher interest rate attracts more foreign investments so the demand of the sterling will increase which will result in a higher exchange rate. Also industries who are importing commodities in to the UK may want to see the interest rate going up and a consequence to that there will be a stronger currency. When the sterling gets stronger they have to convert less sterling to pay their US Dollar or Euro Supplier. On the other hand industries exporting the commodities to other countries may want to see the rate going down or stay at lower level as the weaker currency means UK product is cheaper to buy in international market. Putting all these complex issues to one side, the interest rate is
| BUSINESS & FINANCE
to the base rate. On the other hand, people will see an improvement on their savings interest rate when BoE increases the base rate as savings interest rate has a correlation with base rate. Unrelated to the business, one major stakeholder is very much keen on the interest rate, undoubtfully it’s the UK Government. In UK, monetary policy committee is independent from politics but changes on the interest rate will impact on the next general election in May 2015. So, you may now wonder how this single thing is affecting individuals, businesses, banks and the almighty UK Government.
Quick guide to Student finance: tuition Fee Loans These are loans from student finance companies for the different regions in the UK – England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. These organisations are listed below. How much can I borrow? You can take out a Tuition Fee Loan for up to £9,000, rather than paying up front (or up to £6,000 for a private university or college).This loan will be paid directly to the uni or college. You won’t start paying it back until after your course finishes, and only when you’re earning above a certain level. If you’re applying for ‘equivalent or lower qualifications (ELQs)’ – for example if you’ve already finished an undergraduate degree and you want to do another – fees may be higher and you might not be able to get the same financial support. Maintenance Loans and Grants If you’re a full-time UK applicant, you might also get a Maintenance Loan or Maintenance Grant to help with your living costs – you can apply for these when you apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Maintenance Loan – you have to pay these back later. You get money at the start of each term (or monthly if you study in Scotland). The amount varies, depending on your household income, where you study, where you live and how long for. Maintenance Grant – you don’t have to pay these back – they’re available if you’re from a low income household. They’re paid at the same time as the Maintenance Loan (and they’re called bursaries in Scotland or Assembly Learning Grants in Wales) increase the inflation isn’t it? Well, adding to the convolutions, interest rate also influences the exchange rate of the currency, for us its Sterling Pounds. Having high inflation often weakens the value of the currency because of diminishing purchasing power of that currency. Inflation rate and Interest rate has correlation with exchange rate. Nevertheless,
also important for banks and businesses as it is directly linked to their borrowings. As you know, businesses borrow money from the banks (not BoE) at a certain interest rate. Individual banks set loan interest rates to their customers depending on the individual’s credit and economic status but the foundation of that loan interest rate is directly linked
After all these intricate discussions, the main question remains unanswered. When is the BoE going to raise the base rate? Well, some experts are speculating this could be a gentle increase by 25 basis points to 0.75% and would happen after May general election and I cannot disagree with them, however, time will answer to this question sooner or later.
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THA LIFESTYLE
| COVER PAGE
Tha Team behind X’mas Thai
Nivetha Vijayathasan Model Nivetha is a law student studying in London is from Norway. She loves fashion and also she has a great passion for modelling. Our stunning model has a busy city lifestyle and she likes London a lot.
Angella Edmond-Joseph Model Angella is currently an undergraduate studying Mathematics and Statistics from Kingston University. Apart from her fashion to modelling, she has a strong interest in sports, music and drawing. She loves playing tennis and she participates in most student activities and an active member of Kingston Tamil Society and UK Tamil Students Union.
Shiyaa Poobalasingam Kolam artist Shiyaa is final year student at the LSE, have a deep passion for the arts and am often found immersed in drawing portraits or randomly doodling. She is an avid romantic who loves the theatrics and meaning behind weddings. Last year she co-found The Tamil Wedding (TTW) UK’s first Tamil wedding planning business. Page 8
Shangeetha Alphonse Production assistant: Shangeetha is working in finance and has an insatiable passion for dance. Having performed in many prestigious shows in the UK and abroad, Shangee strives to become a proficient dancer while excelling in her financial career. She is also the proud owner of coco the model dog !
THA LIFESTYLE
Pongal Fusion Cover page !
| COVER PAGE
Shalomi Nirmalan Shalomi is a London-based makeup artist and hair stylist. She has rapidly built a name for herself in the London Asian Bridal scene over the last 3 years. Her work can also be seen on the covers of magazines, fashion catwalks, celebrity events and music videos. You can read her beauty blog at www.shalomi.co.uk .
Follow Shalomi on Instagram @shalomimakeupandhair Facebook - www.facebook.com/shalomimakeup
Arunn G Arunn G, An international wedding and fashion photographer based in the UK who specialises in unique, artistic and modern imagery. With a steadily increasing following on Facebook and other social media, Arunn is continuously striving to discover new techniques and create different love stories through his photos. www.arunngphotography.com www.facebook.com/arunnphoto Follow on instagram: @picturejunkie22 Coco Coco the dog is a friendly Maltese and Jack Russell cross who is nearly fours years old. He is extremely friendly and loves being around children. He is fluent in tamil english and French and enjoys going on walks and chocolate doggy treats. He also poses on command when you say ‘Coco photo!’.
OUR SINCERE THANKS TO PINNER BARN HOUSE OWNER INDRAN
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THA LIFESTYLE
| TRAVEL & LEISURE
Anton Gangakumaran Enthusiastic Travel Blogger
My dream trip to Angkor Wat
E
ver since I watched a television programme on Angkor Wat, I have wanted to learn more about it and I read every article on it that I came across, even today. What is Angkor Wat? It has the largest Vishnu statue and was one of the biggest metropolises in the eleventh century in the world. The more I compared Angkor with the largest Sivan temple - Brihadeeswara in Thanjavur and the largest Nandi in Mysore the more my curiosity drove me to plan a visit to Angkor. Both Sivan and Angkor temples were built in the 11th century ACE. My continuous interest in Angkor encouraged my family to join me on my dream journey. We chose to fly via Singapore on an overnight flight, which gave us eight hours to spend in Singapore itself. We arrived in Singapore on my birthday and my family treated me to a grand breakfast down town. After breakfast my better half and I went on a shopping spree at the twenty-four hour Mustafa centre while the children went off to have their first holiday cocktails. We arrived in Siem Reap for a four-night/five-day visit. We had hired a tour guide with a car in advance for $25 per day who collected us from the airport and
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took us to the boutique hotel. We agreed on our programme with him, which included a whole day being lazy by the hotel swimming pool. Since Cambodia was a French colony French influence is evident in the buildings, the boulevard and the local food. Cambodian history is similar to that of the Indian sub-continent when it comes to religion. Their king chose a religious path and his country followed it. The general pattern was that most of the subcontinent started with Sivalinga (Saivites) and then Vishnu (Vishunvites) and later became Buddha (Buddhists) worshippers. When you are there it is worth visiting as many historic temples as possible since each has a different style and uses different Hindu cosmology. We wanted to see how people are getting back to their normal life after a long civil war. The guide took us to visit TonlĂŠ Sap Lake, which is one of the biggest lakes in the world. The lake looks like a sea, endless when viewed from a boat. During high season the lake can rise by as much as 20 metres. People build homes on timber poles and live and make a living in these basins too.
Siem Reap Historic data: Angkor Wat means Temple city. (Angkor = city, Wat = Temple). King Suryavarman II built Angkor Wat around 1142ACE. Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 square kilo meters, and including a forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains many magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. They include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. UNESCO listed Angkor Wat as World Heritage structure whc.unesco.org/en/list/668 National Geographic TV presentation in Youtube tinyurl.com/Thalink19 National Geographic article July 2009, Volume 216 No 1: Why An Ancient Civilization collapsed. Largest Sivan Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Brihadeeswarar_Temple Largest Nandi in Mysore mysore.ind.in/nandi-of-mysore)
THA LIFESTYLE
Tourist attractions
| TRAVEL & LEISURE
Angkor Wat – Largest Hindu Lord Vishnu statue and the longest wall art in the world
Elephant terrace - The 350m-long Terrace of Elephants was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies
Phnom Kulen – Mountain and water falls
Angkor Thom - a complex of Buddha statuary
Tonlé Sap Lake – one of the largest lakes in the world
Beng Mealea – a complex of Hindu and Buddhist statues (UNESCO heritage site)
Bon appétit! It is a real must-do to visit Koulen Restaurant (www. koulenrestaurant.com) where live opera is staged while the patrons enjoy a buffet style dinner
Breakfast at Raffles, Singapore, book in advance, is S$45 per head www.raffles.com/singapore/dining/tiffin-room/
Siem Reap Shopping: It is very common to see wayside artists who will make instant paint brush portraits. It is also worth visiting the Artisan Gallery in the heart of Siem Reap. Most of the handicrafts there are produced by those affected by the war who became disabled (www.artisansdangkor.com). If you would like to go out window-shopping or want to taste street food then a visit to the night market is the answer (www. angkornightmarket.com). Flight Tips: Almost all of the Southeast Asian airlines give one free return ticket within their region hence flight to Siem Reap is included in the flight cost from London. Travel Tips: It is worth doing some homework before your trip, reading and listening to videos of Angkor Wat and other historic places in advance.
Singapore Wheel: www.singaporeflyer.com Twenty-four hour shopping experience www.mustafa.com.sg
Hotels: Boutique (www.pavillon-orient-hotel.com) to star hotels is available. Restaurants: Rates vary from $10 to $25. Taxi: You can hire a certified tour guide with his car for $25 per day for city visit. Airport transport: There are direct buses to hotels or can take taxi. Observations: Cambodians prefers US dollars and so it is advisable to take US dollars in small notes.
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THA LIFESTYLE
| TRAVEL & LEISURE
THA Travel tips
Get away for this winter for cheap ! Getting away in the winter months is essential for many and more affordable than you may imagine.
Thailand
Canary Islands A firm favourite for many Brits over the winter months is the Canary Islands where daily temperatures are in the 20s. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the most popular islands, but you should also consider the smaller La Gomera and La Palma which offer a quieter and simpler offering. Many of the resorts are ideal for cheap winter. The Caribbean
Indian Ocean destinations are also big hitters. On its eastern shores lies Thailand with the resorts of Phuket and the Phi Phi islands. But don’t forget Thailand’s other great winter sun locations of Koh Samui, Pattaya and Krabi - all firm favourites with Brits. South of Thailand you’ll find Malaysia with Penang.
Florida , Miami
The Caribbean itself is a fantastic collection of more than 7,000 islands organised into 28 separate island nations. The winter months are the best time to visit as hurricane season is over and temperatures regularly hit 30 degrees. The value-led islands of the Dominican Republic and Cuba have direct charter flights from the UK The classic islands of Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia and Antigua offer excellent quality and picture-postcard beaches and cater for all price points from selfcatering to luxury all-inclusive winter sun breaks.
For many, Florida remains an exciting winter sun destination, whether you head to the theme park areas of Orlando complemented bya spot of sunbathing by the pool or you opt to stay in the Gulf Coast resorts such as St Petersburg or Clearwater. Alternatively, go for the trendy option of South Beach in Miami for sunbathing by day and partying with the in-crowd by night. Add in a drive down to the Florida Keys.
Middle East
Straddling two continents, Turkey is where east and west collide in spectacular fashion. Along the coast you’ll find bigname ruins, superleague sands and bazaars hawking all things Turkish – from rugs to sticky sweets.
If you are looking for somewhere with the wow factor then head to Dubai or Abu Dhabi in the UAE with their high-end hotels, amazing service, shopping malls and spotless beaches. Nearby Oman is the new luxury destination of choice for many, with hotels offering exceptional service, amazing design and world-class food and drink. To the west, Egypt is known for its Red Sea resorts around Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada with their fantastic diving and snorkelling and extensive hotel choices giving something for every type of budget
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Turkey
Kenya Finally, the Kenyan coast around Mombasa offers lazy days on Indian Ocean beaches and the chance to couple up your holiday with a mini safari to see the wildlife of Africa.
THA LIFESTYLE
| LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
This woman, She is more than her flesh and bones, She is a Queen, no need for a throne. She is more than her hips and soft skin, She is ambitious and determined to win. This woman, She is not property, and nor is she an asset She is not a punch bag or a flask to pour acid. She is not your right to possess or control, Nor is she, an object to be bought or sold. This woman, She is not just the woman that will be my wife, She is the lady who I don’t know as she walks by. She is not just my mother who raised me up She is the women who understand & respect love.
en by lva t t i r W Se n i v h s Au
www.aushvinselva.com
This woman, She is not just my sister whose love is so pure She is the women who dreams of finding cures, Cures for a society that misconstrues affection And treats possession as love - A misconception This woman, She is not just my friend who lifts me up when I am down She is every woman that walks the world without a crown. She is not just my cousins; she is not just my lovely nieces She is every woman trying to fix a society of broken pieces. Page 13
THA LIFESTYLE
| HEALTH COVER STORY & WELLBEING
Pregnant ? Got a new baby? Keeping fit? No way !! Sophie Kathir
Clinical Trials Officer for Renal and Dialysis Keeping fit normally takes a lot of time, motivation and hard work! So keeping fit whilst pregnant or after the birth seems out of the question for most women, especially Asian women. In fact I have been called mad and crazy to do exercise while pregnant by some of my Tamil aunties. But, by God’s grace, with two easy labours behind me and two fine healthy babies, and a fit me, I have learned and proved how wrong those Aunties were. It’s been five years since I first gave birth and even now people can’t believe I am a mother of two and of course being a young Mum also helps a lot. I am always asked how I regained my pre-pregnancy body. Unfortunately unlike Kim Kardashian I can’t afford to pay for a fitness instructor. So it is all DIY and I wanted to share with all the beautiful expecting Mothers and Mums out there a few tips and benefits on keeping fit. As a young girl I saw my mother looking at her old photos enviously and telling me how she would love to get back to the shape she was. However, numerous diets later, purchasing exercise bikes and trying to start on healthy diets she just couldn’t lose the weight she had gained during her three pregnancies. Finally, she just
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accepted that she could never lose her baby fat. We grow up in a culture, where once our family finds out we are pregnant, our Mothers come to help us with everything and all we have to do is eat the nice food they cook and relax which of course leads to putting on extra weight . I believe the root of this problem is a lack of exercise and the lack of a healthy diet. Sound familiar? Then take action! It’s never too late to start exercising although your body will benefit more if you have started during your pregnancy. It isn’t easy and it doesn’t happen overnight. Keep in mind that in order to get the result you want it will take time. If you have that mindset then nothing can stop you from having the perfect prepregnancy body you had before. However, doing it too much is not good either! Unfortunately, with only my husband doing his best to look after me, his pregnant wife, I did not have time to relax nor think about exercise. But my boss at that time was truly a God-send. When she found out I was pregnant, she supported me enormously. She is the one who taught me that looking after yourself will not only do you good
but your baby good too. As a mother of five and a fitness instructor we went together into the fitness studio after my shift and she taught me both pilates and gyrotonics! I never knew how much a pregnant woman’s body can stretch until then! To this day, I still practise some basic pilates moves. I started my maternity leave a week before my due date and that week was used to move house. My daughter arrived twelve minutes before her due date and the whole thing lasted eight hours. No pain relief was used except the birth pool. My baby was healthy and I quickly regained my prepregnancy body within a month. How? Exercise! In my second pregnancy, I was busy with my final year exam, dissertation and an internship which finished a week before my due date. I did swimming with my daughter; bonding time and exercise for us made for a win-win situation. My son was born on his due date. Start to finish in three hours. Another natural birth. No fuss. I went home the next day and straight into the kitchen to cook lunch. Body back in less than a month! How?! By keeping active. It is common psychology that when you feel good about yourself,
THA LIFESTYLE
you become positive too and this is extremely true. From my experience, you may call me crazy, I thoroughly enjoyed both my pregnancies and my labours and importantly, suffered no pre or post-natal depression moments. I always had a positive outlook and to this day, still have that! Exercising means, walking more, taking stairs whenever possible, cleaning around the house with vacuuming, and sweeping, etc... However, there are very specific exercises that you must do while pregnant. These are: 1)Pelvic floor exercise. The most important exercise that you
without arching your back. 3)Back exercise. As we all know, carrying the weight of the baby has a profound effect on our back. This exercise will help relieving that pain. Lay down on your back, knees up and relaxed and breathing in and out. A combination of those specific exercises and normal daily exercise will prepare you for labour by stretching the relevant muscles and also by having a positive, feel-good pregnancy as exercising relieves stress. It also increases the blood supply and as a result, there is more oxygen for the baby.
| HEALTH & WELLBEING
time properly, then you will find time to keep fit. As soon as I was allowed to go out, I put my baby in the pushchair and just started to walk and run. Getting fresh air will benefit your body and your mental health. It is a benefit to your screaming baby too. They will love the fresh air and go to sleep, sometimes much to our relief. So don’t blame the weather. Plan something to do each day thus you won’t feel like you haven’t done anything! If this is your second baby, then playing with your firstborn will also burn some off those calories. With my firstborn we play catch, hide and seek, wrestle and dance. If my son
Pregnant employees’ rights Pregnant employees have legal rights - including paid time off for antenatal care, maternity leave and maternity pay. Pregnant employees have 4 main rights: paid time off for antenatal care maternity leave Maternity pay or maternity allowance Protection against unfair treatment, discrimination or dismissal ‘Antenatal care’ isn’t just medical appointments - it can also include antenatal or parenting classes if they’ve been recommended by a doctor or midwife. Employers can’t change a pregnant employee’s contract terms and conditions without agreement - if they do they are in breach of contract. Employers must give pregnant employees time off for antenatal care and pay their normal rate for this time off. The father or pregnant woman’s partner has the right to unpaid time off work to go to 2 antenatal appointments. need to keep doing until your old age. The pelvic floor is the major muscles which is going to help you in pushing your baby out. This involves pulling in your inner muscles, as if you are trying not to go to toilet and hold it there for 10 whole seconds and relax. You need to repeat these 8 times. These can be done sitting down, standing up, at work, watching tv, waiting in a queue or even when driving. Doing this exercise after pregnancy will strengthen those muscles again ready for your next baby but also reduces the risk of incontinence. 2)Abdominal muscle exercise . During pregnancy, we lose our abdomen so this exercise will help you regain it after baby by strengthening those core muscles. Kneel down on all fours and breathe in and out ten times
Balancing exercise with a healthy diet is essential. I never believed in commercial diets and neither should you! They’re just to take your money. When pregnant, I started to eat more healthily by steaming food instead of cooking it the usual Asian way. This way, you don’t lose any vitamins and minerals that is needed for your baby and you. Yes, it doesn’t taste nice but once we enter Motherhood, we need to be ready to sacrifice things we once loved. For me it was Nutella and sour sweets, much to my frustration although that only lasted until I gave birth. Once your baby is born most women just don’t have any time. And it is true. Looking after a newborn is time-consuming, as well as emotionally and mentally draining. But if you manage your
is awake then we get him involved too. This way, your elder child won’t get left out, your baby will get tired from all that playing and you will feel much happier that you have lost some calories. But I also never forgot to do my pelvic floor exercises! In terms of diet, I never miss my breakfast. It is the most essential meal of the day which provides you with the energy you need for your whole day. Lunch is mostly Sri Lankan food. And Dinner is light and usually Western food and I never eat rice at that time of the day. Now that you have read this, you can’t use your pregnancy or having a newborn as an excuse! So start living healthily, and exercise with or without your baby and get your pre-pregnancy body back! After all, a happy mummy = happy family. So ready, steady, go!!!!
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THA LIFESTYLE
| ENTERTAINMENT
Why ‘Lingaa’ star Rajinikanth rocks He’s one of a kind Rajinikanth has been imitated, mimicked, spoofed. But no one comes even close to being anything like him. Whether it’s his style, the films he’s done or his off-screen persona, Rajinikanth is in a league of his own. King of style In the early films of Rajini, his tagline was ‘Style Mannan’ Rajinikanth. It means King of Style. In Indian cinema, he wears that crown with his own brand of panache. From the way he lit a cigarette in his very first film, to the way he flicks his unruly hair, walks, talks and dances, Rajini does it all in his own, unique style. An unlikely hero He was tall and dark, not at all like the accepted leading men of his day. His manner was different, too. He spoke Tamil with an accent. And he went on to become the industry’s ultimate hero. Super-hit films From his entry in black and white films like ‘Aboorva Ragangal’ to angry young man in ‘Baasha’ and ‘Thalapathy’ and romantic hero in ‘Johnny’ and scores of other entertainers like ‘Muthu’, ‘Nettrikkan’ and ‘Ninaithaale Inikkum’ Rajini films are huge blockbusters. Comic timing Few leading actors can pull off comedy the way Rajini can. Ask any Tamil film fan for their favourite full-length comedy and the answer will most likely be ‘Thillu Mullu’. Rajini is a laugh riot in every scene. Negative shades In image-conscious Kollywood, heroes aren’t always OK with playing characters with negative shades. But Rajini has never been afraid to experiment. Some of his memorable negative roles were in films like ’16 Vayathiniley’ and ‘Moondru Mudichu’. Punch dialogues In Kollywood, clever lines, or punch dialogues as they like to call them, are indicators of a movie’s popularity. Rajini has uttered some of the best. They are remembered, repeated and become part of common lingo. Age is just a number The Superstar is 64, but who can tell. He can fight, romance and deliver utterly captivating performances and do it much better than most of his younger peers. Simply, a good man Co-stars, filmmakers, fans, they all vouch for what a good human being Rajinikanth is, unassuming and unaffected by his phenomenal success and popularity.
Top films of Superstar Rajinikanth that you might have missed !
Moondru Mugam (1983) Page 16
Thalapathi (1991)
Baashha (1995)
Padayappa (1999)
Sivaji: The Boss (2007)
Enthiran (2010)
THA LIFESTYLE
| ENTERTAINMENT
THA ENTERTAINMENT THE RAJINI EFFECT in Canada Premiere: The Rajini Effect tries to explain that phenomenon and the mystique behind Rajinikanth (he goes by one name). The film intersperses a fictional story about a Japanese fan who wants to become the next Tamil superstar by acting like Rajinikanth, with documentary-style interviews with Tamil film industry experts and fans. The Rajini Effect will have a special screening in Toronto Jan. 13. And for local Rajinikanth fans such as Rafi Mohamed, the movie holds a mirror to their adoration.
Ashanti Omkar showcases the latest music, arts and entertainment Ashanti Omkar showcases the latest music, arts and entertainment from South Indian & Tamil communities. Each week Ashanti takes a look at the latest cinematic releases from South India and Diaspora artists, accompanied by interviews with some of the biggest stars in the business. Emerging musicians and actors from the South India who are making waves are given a platform to shine, and music from across the language spectrum is on offer, including Tamil and Telugu, Malayalam to Kannada as well as Sinhalese. Get a full guide to what’s happening on the South Arts Scene in the UK and hear from those making it happen. Ashanti has featured regularly on BBC London and BBC West Midlands. She has also curated North and South Indian music, film events Arts festivals for the likes of the Southbank Centre and the London Indian Film Festival. Ashanti is an avid social media user with an army of loyal followers, with whom she shares her snaps of her latest projects and photos of food! She describes herself as a lover of travel, food, art, music and film.
“Oru Varthai” start Tha Mystro to release ‘Valibum’ Tha Mystro’s Debut Album Vaalibam has been scheduled to be released with a grand concert featuring many popular artists around Europe on 31st of January 2015 at The Beck Theatre , London. The album is produced by M.Kowtham from Germany & Krish Music Dream Prod from France, mixed & mastered by Kausikan Sivalingam ( Yuvan Shankar Raja’s Sound Engineer ). The album also features European and International artists. Many artists from Europe will be performing and attending this event making the day special and a unique launch. Artist lists will be announced soon. To buy tickets & more info contact Vaalibam@g jarts.co.uk | info@g jarts.co.uk or call 078 5018 5486 | 074 452 62787 or message us on our facebook pages www.facebook.com/g jarts or www.facebook.com/ThaMystroMusic
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THA LIFESTYLE
| HEALTH & WELLBEING
Diabetes
in the South Asian community
Article by
Maulia Selvarajah Diabetes is a common condition that has become a familiarity amongst the Asian population. Despite this it is frequently misunderstood. To many people Diabetes is recognised as a ‘health condition as a result of obesity’ or ‘a result of ageing’. Although there is some truth in these statements they are not entirely accurate. Diabetes Mellitus is a result of the pancreas not working as it should. It is has become increasingly diagnosed in Asians. A south Asian person has 6 times the chance of having Diabetes compared to a person of Caucasian ethnicity, and develop it 10 year earlier. There are some common signs of Diabetes; increased thirst, increased appetite, increased need to urinate and being frequently tired. A large, sudden deterioration in vision resulting in becoming more short-sighted is also another sign. Diabetes is classed as a metabolic disorder because it involves insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Food that is consumed by the body is broken down into glucose which is taken in from the blood to fuel cells in the body. Glucose can only be
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absorbed by the body if insulin is present. In a normal body once food has been eaten the body automatically releases the correct amount of insulin to move the glucose from the blood. There are two forms of the condition; type 1 (Insulindependent) and type 2 (Noninsulin dependent). Type 1 is
the result of insulin not being produced whilst type 2 is a result of insufficient insulin. Type 1 tends to develop at a young age (before 40 years old usually) and requires insulin to be injected into the body. Type 2 occurs when there is either not enough insulin being produced by the body or what is produced is defected in someway that it can not work. The end result is the same; the body has little insulin to break down the sugars in the body. Type 2 occurs in the older population, usually over 40s, but is not restricted to it. Risk factors for
the condition include being overweight and a poor diet consisting of high carbohydrates, fats and sugars. Approximately 90% of Diabetics in the country are type 2, and tend to require tablets to control the blood glucose levels and regular blood tests. In order to diagnosis a person with type 2 Diabetes they must undergo a fasting blood glucose test also known as a glucose tolerance test (GTT). This involves fasting for 12hours and then consuming a drink full of glucose. A blood test is done prior to consuming the drink and then two hours later, to check how much of the glucose has been broken down. A reading greater than 11.0 mmol/l is classed as Diabetes following the test, or a reading of 7.0 mmol/l or more, from the initial blood test. Once diagnosed with Diabetes it is important to attend regular health checks with a variety of health physicians. It is important to remember that Diabetes can affect the whole body including; eyes, nerves and feet (to name a few). If the sugar levels are poorly controlled and have a tendency to fluctuate it can affect the
THA LIFESTYLE
rest of the body. Diabetes is the third leading cause of blindness in the UK according to the RNIB. The GP, Hospital, Diabetic nurse and Optometrist are all involved in checking and ensuring the condition is stable and for providing advice. It is important to remember that Diabetes itself poses a greater risk of having a heart attack, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels and other cardiovascular diseases. There is a genetic influence in the Asian population as well. Research published in the journal Nature Genetics (August 2011)
| HEALTH & WELLBEING
show that there are six separate genes involved in making the Asian population more susceptible to Diabetes.
should be low in sugars and fats. Doing plenty of physical exercise and maintaining an active lifestyle is also important.
It goes without saying a strict control on the diet is crucial for stable glucose levels which will control the condition. The diet
Diabetes is a health condition that a person will have to live with for the rest of their life, and so involves an entire reshuffle in their lifestyle and daily routine. Knowing that South Asians are at a greater risk for the health condition it is important that knowledge is passed over and there is better understanding and management of the condition. For more information on diabetes, please visit NHS.co.uk or Diabetes UK.
Latest Gadgets for your Healthy life Lumo Lift
This little gadget nudges you to stand up straight. The Lumo Lift which comes in a variety of colors, detects your body’s positioning and when you start to slouch, the device vibrates and reminds you to adjust your stance. The Lift can be clasped to an undershirt, collar or bra strap.
Oral-B Toothbrush
Withings Aura
This web-connected toothbrush from Oral-B syncs with an app and gives you real-time data about how well you’re brushing and if you’re missing some key spots. It’s also a good tool for kids too -parents can monitor just how well they’re doing and how they might need to improve.
This sleep-tracking device is undoubtedly pricy, but for the right person, it could change their life. The device tracks REM light and deep sleep, makes suggestions on how to improve the quality of your snoozing and it emits a light that helps you both fall asleep and wake up. and it also serves as an alarm clock.
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THA LIFESTYLE |LOVE & RELATIONSHIP
Talk to your man before marriage
Model : Pirunthika Make-up : Shalomi MUA Photo: Arunn G Photography In either arranged marriage or love marriage, the marriage is a beginning of a journey together with your partner which will be big changes to you both. Younger life with parents and friends does not need so much sharing, perhaps with less accountability and fewer commitments. But when marriage comes women must talk to their potential husbands to match views that sharing is accepted and understood. There are a few cautionary questions that women should ask themselves before they say yes to the lifelong commitment. In British Tamil arrange marriages this conversation is essential and expected while love marriages may not normally discuss which might later be alarming to all. Is your man is ‘clingy’ or obsessed with anything in particular ? If he is, then you need to be open and clear with him. Regardless of how lovey-dovey it
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seems in the beginning things can slowly get on your nerves sooner or later. Someone who likes you who becomes let’s say, a bit obsessive and behaves differently because of it ; eg, he doesn’t stop calling, constantly tells you how much he loves you, writes you songs, buys you flowers or chocolates all the time, so much so that it gets annoying, and wants to spend time together all the time, make sure you talk to him and put it across that you need that ‘alone time’, no matter what. Another dreaded expression is “just like my mom”. Most men like to see a reflection of their mother in their wives, and the constant references to their mother’s culinary skills when you’ve cooked him a special dish are signs you ought not to overlook. Such pressure of comparison makes you feel less like yourself. Directly tell him that comparison is not a part of a happy life. As in many long held South Asian traditions men cannot do cooking. In an essentially patriarchal Tamil society, men are the principal bread earner of the family while women take care of the chores at home. But in a present British lifestyle where man and woman both have to earn well it’s becoming a vaguer concept. If women are going out to work, it’s obvious that the men should help around in the house too. Talk to him and figure out a system for sharing the house work between you both, for example if you’ve done the cooking, make sure he does the dishes or vice versa. There an indecisive kind of man who often agonises over making decisions . From seemingly small things like choosing what to eat from the menu in a restaurant to selecting which shirt or tie to wear for work they will be struggling to make a decision. If you have to decide for him at every point, it’s high time you sit down and discuss things with a calm head. This could need a little patience and quite a positive approach, but it will probably be worth it. Have you got anything to say on this topic? Mail or email your views.
THA LIFESTYLE | LOVE & RELATIONSHIP
1. Money: How will you both handle money? Who will pay bills, save, plan for spending and allocate fun money? Will you follow a budget? Is it often a good idea? How much should be saved? If one of us makes more does that mean he/ she gets to control more of the money? Will you have a common “pot” or divided accounts? What is a necessity and what is a luxury (going out to eat, seeing a movie, cable, vacations, Starbucks, etc.)? How are debts or assets brought into the marriage and then viewed? Money is a big topic couples gloss over and then regret, and it is one of the top reasons couples give for getting divorced!
Are you okay with them being different? If they match, does it cause competition and how do you handle that in the long term? Work is usually a big part of your life (taking up a third of a day) so it is important you both understand how it plays out in your future lives together. 4. Free Time: What do you enjoy doing together and apart? How have you developed “play” and free time? What are the expectations about how you’ll spend free time once married? How much time will you each have together, alone or with your own friends? Do you respect each
public displays of affection? 6. In-Laws: Are there any major family of origin issues? How good is each potential spouse at setting limits with family and/ or are either of you bothered by this issue? What place does family of origin play in your life as a couple? How about when you have kids? How often do you visit or socialize with family? If we have out-of-town relatives, will we ask them to visit us for extended periods? How often? How will you handle holidays with families? How much involvement do or will family members or parents have in decision making? Will you function as a couple first, or part of a larger family who has great influence? Remember, the family comes along when you get married and a healthy couple moves their relationship bubble.
The Top Things we suggest Talk About Before Getting Married 2. Kids: Do you both want kids at some point? Do we both agree on when, how many, and how we’ll take care of them? What will be your parenting style? Are you able to work as a team and agree to present a united front? What should you do if that isn’t happening? How will children be disciplined? Kids are a blessing, but definitely a stress-inducer for relationships—plan accordingly. 3. Career: How will work be negotiated? Will both of you work? How many hours a week? Will it be okay for one of you not to work and under what circumstances? If one of you were to be offered a career opportunity in a location far from the other’s family, are you prepared to move? How do your levels of ambition match or differ?
other’s friends? How will you divide chores? How much free time will be devoted to chores? What does each of you dread or like to do as chores? What chores are important to each of you? After work, your free time and chores impact your relationship time greatly. It is important to have a balance in both. 5. Intimacy: Do either of you need more, less or different things? Can you talk about it clearly so you can negotiate any future change? What can you do to help each other talk about it? Is your partner affectionate to the degree that you expect? How does each of you like to show intimacy and caring? What does each of you need to feel loved and cared for? What are your comfort levels on
7. Other Important Concerns: Do you have problems in your relationship you need to deal with before your wedding? Is there violence, drugs/alcohol, mental health illness, personal issues, or past things that might affect the relationship, including past marriages, kids or alimony? Are you each happy with the other’s approach to health? Does one have habits or tendencies that concern the other (smoking, excessive dieting or poor diet)? Are there issues from dating that could affect the marriage like trust, unfaithfulness or difficulties handling conflict well? Is it is important to be faithful to one another? Choosing not to talk about these things doesn’t make them go away—they will return.
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THA LIFESTYLE
| LANGUAGE & CULTURE
Brammasthiram...... First ever atomic bomb ?
In ancient Tamil Puranams (writings), the Brammastram was described as a very destructive weapon, and it is a weapon created by Bramman,along with its more powerful versions like Brammasirsha astram and Brammanda astram. Brammastram and is said to be mythical equivalent of modern day atomic bomb or nuclear weapon. Is it true that ancient Tamils of India had very advanced science knowledge to prepare nuclear weapons during ancient times? Robert Oppenheime , the supervising scientist of the Manhattan Project, and most importantly, a developer of the atomic bomb in 1947 , believes that Brammasthiram is the first ever atomic weapon invested by humans. Seven years after the first successful atom bomb test in New Mexico (Trinity), Dr. Oppenheimer was giving a lecture at Rochester University. To the question “Was the bomb exploded at Alamogordo during the Manhattan project the first one to be detonated?” he gave a strange reply “Well — yes. In modern times, of course.” And as for Oppenheimer’s first words after the detonation of the bomb he quoted from Indian epic
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Mahabharatam , “If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one. Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” (Bhagavath Githai) There are numerous instances within the scriptures where the Brammasthiram is used or its use is threatened, including: Vishvamithirar used it against Vasishtar, but the Brammasthiram was swallowed by Brahmadandam, Lord Bramman’s countermeasure against the Brammasthiram. In the Ramayanam a
Brammasthiram is used by Raman several times: once against Jayanthan (Indran’s son) when he hurt Sithai, against Mareechan in their last encounter, against the Ocean when he did not answer his prayer to allow his army and himself to cross over to SriLanka and finally in the last battle with Ravanan. Also, Indrajith used
Brammasthiram against Anuman, but Anuman survived because of Bramman’s boon, when he was destroying the Ashoka Vanam after meeting Sithai. It is also mentioned in the Vedas that a Brammasthiram was aimed by Raman to carve a path out of the sea so that the army of apes could march towards SriLanka, however at that moment, Varunan appeared and told Raman about the technical flaws of using the weapon and hence it was later aimed towards Dhrumandalam by Raman, which fell at the place of modern day Rajasthan causing it to become a desert. Ancient script describe the blast of Brammasthiram as” When the rays of the two brahmastras combined, a great circle of fire, like the disc of the sun, covered all outer space and the whole firmament of planets.” The mythological accounts of the effects of the Brammasthiram, it is claimed, are so like the general images of nuclear apocalypse that ancient Tribes in India (including Tamils) must have known the secrets of nuclear weapons. Do you have opinions about this article? Email your views to submit@thalifestyle.com
THA LIFESTYLE
| FOOD
CHOCOLATE BISCUIT PUDDING
COOKING TIME
INGREDIENTS: »» •225g Butter »» 500g Icing sugar »» 3 eggs (separated) »» 100g cocoa powder »» 2 tablespoons of brandy »» 70 Chocolate biscuits (with out cream ) »» 50g Chopped cashew nuts
METHOD: »» • Mix butter and icing sugar until the mix becomes fluffy »» • Add egg yolks, one at a time to the Butter and sugar mix »» • Add the sifted cocoa powder (first add 50g, then more depending on colour). »» • Beat 3 egg whites till stiff and add to the chocolate mixture. Add brandy as required. »» • Arrange the pudding with alternate layers of chocolate mixture and biscuits (soak the biscuits in some hot milk before putting it to the pudding). »» • If you wish, add some chopped cashews to each layer of the pudding or just on top to decorate it. This gives it a great crunchiness.
Vani Bala Vani is passionate about food processing and homemade recipes, Nature Lover, Philosopher by qualification.
CHRISTMAS CAKE Preparation time 30 mintues Baking time 3 Hours.
METHOD: INGREDIENTS:
Part1
Set 1 »» 500g cherries »» 500g Cashew nuts »» 500g raisins »» 500g Candied fruit »» 250g ginger preserve »» 250g chow chow »» 250g pumpkin preserve »» 250g Sultana
»» Chop finely all the ingredients listed in set 1 »» Add strawberry jam, honey, vanilla, crushed spices one cup of bees honey, and two cups of brandy and mix well. »» Leave at least one week for marination »» From time to time mix well the ingredients.
Set 2 »» 500g semolina »» 500g butter »» 20 eggs »» 1 bottle strawberry of jam »» 4 tablespoons of vanilla »» 1 teaspoon full of crushed cardamoms, cloves and cinnamon »» 3 cup of Brandy »» 2 cups of bees honey
Part 2 »» Beat egg white and yolk separate. »» Lightly roast semolina until its light brown and add butter into it. »» Beat lightly. Add butter/semolina mixture, beat egg yolks and whites into the set 1 ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon well. »» Chop few cherries to give the colour. »» Line of a baking tray and bake until is it done in a moderate oven. »» Once the cake is done, leave it for cooling. If you add almond icing it will give a rich look ! »» Enjoy your Christmas Dessert.
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THA LIFESTYLE
| BUSINESS & FINANCE
Set up your eBay business today and begin making money We offer an opportunity for you begin your business online or though your shop. The opportunities offered by eBay stretch way beyond the chance to sell unwanted bric-a-brac or discarded Christmas presents. How an eBay shop works eBay users can set up online shop within the auction site. An eBay shop allows you to showcase all your auction listings in your own customised ‘storefront’. Getting Started If you have a business already then move on to the ‘registering your business’ step. However if you want to start a business from scratch on eBay you will need to decide on your business proposition and what product you want to sell. eBay customers are often searching for unique or hardto-find items so the more niche your products are, the better.
Registering your business on eBay To start trading under your business name, you need to set up a business account with eBay. All you need in order to do this is a UK address to receive a confirmation letter through the post, and bank account details to set up a direct debit. To open an eBay shop, you need to have a PayPal account as well as a minimum feedback score of 10 positive feedback reviews. PayPal is eBay’s preferred payment system which allows for payment transactions to be made online but if you don’t have a PayPal account, you need a minimum feedback review score of five. You will also need an automatic payment method on file to pay seller fees (credit card, debit card, bank account).
If you are serious about selling your products on eBay then you will need to source a supplier to provide you with products on a wholesale Once registered, you will basis. Contact Aris Store for need to decide on a price for the products which can be your items. supplied at cost and no sale – return at cost basis. Page 24
Setting up an eBay shop is just the same as starting a business so you will need to register as self-employed with HMRC and you may want to register the business as a limited liability company to prevent risks if the business fails. You will also need to register for VAT if you think your eBay shop will make over £68,000 a year. Subscription fees for eBay shops Basic Shop – £19.99 per month. Suitable for sellers who are just starting out and want an affordable and easy-to-use platform to sell online. Featured Shop – £59.99 per month. A more comprehensive package for small-to-medium sized sellers who want to grow their online business. Anchor Shop - £349.99 per month. An advanced shop for higher-volume sellers who want maximum exposure on eBay.
THA LIFESTYLE
| BUSINESS & FINANCE
Our Sample Products
Minimum Order of Quantity applies
We promote Tamil Community Businesses by providing opportunities for new entrepreneurs and diversify the existing businesses Car MP3 players which can play via FM radio (MOQ 5 Units) Multifunction Remote Control Car MP3 Player Wireless FM Modulator with SD Card Slot. Clear LCD displays the name of songs, frequency display and work state 15 preset channels within 87.7~99.1 and 106.7~107.9 MHz. Car cigarette lighter power supply (12v DC) Audio input/output, beautiful music experience with car plug directly too.
Fashion Clip Metal USB MP3 Music Media Player(MOQ 5 Units)
Mini Metal clip MP3 Music Media Player External Memory: Support up to 8GB Micro SD no SD(TF) card included) Support music format: MP3 Play time: around 3-5 hours Multi colours available Easy to clip-on to anything, especially convenient to clip it on the collar when you are doing sports.
Multi Colour USB Port AC Power Adaptor (MOQ 5 Units)
Output: 5V 1000mA. (High efficiency) Compatible with USB2.0 standard, and UK power wall plug. USB charge cable is not included Packing list: 1 x UK Mains Plug
External Battery Pack Power Bank (MOQ 5 Units)
Compatible with all kinds of smart phones charged via usb port. Small and bright, novel appearance,unique design, easy to carry. Good assistant High precision and conversion rate control circuits, multiple protection, charge your mobile phone wherever you go. 2600mAh Long life span, more than 500 rechargeable times Package includes: Power bank, 1 x USB to Micro USB Charging Cables Packing list: 1 x UK Mains Plug
Selfie Stick Monopod with Phone Holder and Bluetooth Remote Wireless(MOQ 5 Units) Adjustable phone adapter fits all phone width less than 8.5 cm Special monopod with phone holder & bluetooth shutter valued combo Adjustable ball head and thumb screw of monopod locks for multiple angle shooting with 180 degree position Simple and easy camera shutter remote control for iPhone, iPad, Android and Samsung Galaxy / Notes Packing list: 1 x UK Mains Plug
Contact us at inayam@inayam.co.uk for Prices and Deliver details. We distribute to Off-licence & High Street Shops who wish sell small electronic products. We can supply any products you wish to order as well. We also do Business Promotional products at very competitive prices. Contact us via email or facebook.com/Arisstores to discuss more. Page 25
THA LIFESTYLE
| FASHION & BEAUTY
High Quality things you need for
Celebrity style
Tamil Bridal Makeup Tamils are a diversified nation around the world, with strong culture and rich heritage. The lifestyle and wedding styles followed by all the cultures are different. Tamil community believes in simple living which is very well reflected in the marriage rituals they follow. The Tamil bride generally wears a bright coloured sari with Golden border. The colours opted by them are bright and vibrant like red, green, yellow etc. The eyes are highlighted the most keeping the rest simple. The brides are generally laded with gold jewellery along with waist lock- an ornament worn around the waist. It’s the signature mark of all the Tamil brides.
1) Facewash
2) A good moisturizer
3) Concealer
4) Eye shadow
www.evelom.com
www.bobbibrown.co.uk
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www.sephora.com
THA LIFESTYLE
5) Eye liner
6) Lipstick
7) Compact powder / loose powder
| FASHION & BEAUTY
8) Primer
www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk
www.clinique.co.uk
www.hourglasscosmetics.com
www.debenhams.com
www.guerlain.com
www.esteelauder.co.uk
www.smashbox.co.uk
www.eyeko.com
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Jasmine Flowers
From Tamil Shops
Designer Pottu
www.asian-designs.com
9) Mascara
www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk
www.lancome.co.uk
10) Lip balm
www.uk.spacenk.com
www.bobbibrown.co.uk
11) Lip gloss
www.maccosmetics.co.uk
www.lookfantastic.com
12) Lip liner
www.maccosmetics.co.uk
www.esteelauder.co.uk
Page 27
THA LIFESTYLE
| HEALTH & WELLBEING
Motivating the fitness in Tamil Community German Tamils take the initiative
The aim of Tamil Fitness and Motivation is to encourage and motivate everyone to get active and work towards a healthy lifestyle. There is no necessity to starve yourself to stay fit. In fact, no one can stay fit just by dieting. It is medically proven that without reasonable amount of exercise coupled with healthy food it is not possible to maintain a great shape. We are here to guide you through how to do certain exercises in a way that is highly beneficial for your body. We provide fitness videos where activities are included that are suitable for a person no matter of which age or gender. Furthermore, our focus is to encourage the Tamil youth and adults to incorporate this into their routine, as we believe that there is a lack of understanding of the importance of fitness. Thus, we decided to film in Tamil, as it can help people of all ages. We produce videos for seniors, for women of all age, kids, and men in general. In addition, we want to encourage everyone to continue speaking and interacting in Tamil, especially the younger generations, as we want to keep it alive and active in future generations. We hope you will join us on this fitness journey and make a difference in your own life towards an improved lifestyle! Let us introduce ourselves: Sharuga P., who is currently studying medical engineering, is student living in Nuremberg, Germany. Currently she is responsible for the translation of our Facebook page into Tamil. She has a strong background of reading and writing Tamil because of a graduation from Tamilschool in Germany. In addition, she also taught Tamil to young children for a several years. In her spare time, she loves to get active and participate in physical activities, such as going to the gym. She has a strong belief that fitness is an important aspect of living a healthy lifestyle. Thuva K. got BSc in food management and production, has been working as a part time personal trainer for one of the leading German fitness club called Clever Fit since 2010. He grew up playing football from a young age. He used to coach football to young teenagers. Thuva has experienced working with clients of different ages and levels of fitness, including elder people. He believes that Tamil people are concentrating or focusing more on education and work but neglecting their health. Working with numerous clients in variety of personal training he believes that he can make a change by training nutrition and attitude, which leads to a healthy stressful lifestyle.
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THA LIFESTYLE
| HEALTH & WELLBEING
Kumalini K has started to study to become a nurse and works in the social environment of hospitals and hospices. This is when she realised that many people are not aware of how our health will affect us in later years. As she was struggling with her weight, she always could relate to many women who suffer the same problem. There are many fitness videos in different languages but she has not come across some in Tamil. When her brothers came up with this project she could not resist to support this great opportunity, as there are lot of Tamil women especially her mother’s generation who neglected their health by looking after their kids and home and were not aware about their health problems in later life. She strongly believes that health and fitness goals can be reached through hard, smart training and a little bit of determination for a healthier and happy living. Through this project, she hopes also that the children might get closer to their families and keep our culture going on. Saraniya N. is responsible for the food and nutrition advises on Tamil Fitness Motivation. She works at an ecologic institute and is currently undergoing the final stages of her MA in social science with a focus on migration, urban studies, and gender studies. When her cousins told her about the project, she was ready to support Tamilfitness Motivation immediately. Living in a diaspora and growing up with intermingling cultures made her realize the importance of our own heritage. Through this project, she wants to emphasize the significance of knowing where you are coming from and what you will pass on to your children. In her free time, she loves to cook and bake especially easy, healthy, and affordable meals with fresh and organic ingredients. This enjoyment is shared with the followers on our Facebook page.
This is Illukkia T. lives in Frankfurt, Germany. She is a graduated banker and plans to start her future career in marketing. Already being active in social media and having a blog, some months ago Thushaan asked her if she would like to support and join the Tamilfitness team and the be part of this project. Since then she is responsible for the Instagram feeds. She loves writing and creating, bringing up new ideas, and inspiring others, which is why she joined the team. Thushaan K. is a German semi-professional Tamil footballer. Thushaan was born in Heilbronn, Germany. He is currently finishing his BSc in economics and management. He started his career with Friedrichshaller SV (Germany). After spending nine years with Friedrichshaller SV, he transferred to SG Siemens Karlsruhe. He transferred to VFR Heilbronn and signed eventually his first semi-professional contract with Luton Town FC (England) where he was sent on loan to Hampton Richmond Borough FC in order to gain some experience. His agent Volker Knappheide (Mesut Ă–zil youth Team Coach) was interested in bringing him back to Germany. In July 2011, he signed with Wuppertaler SV after declining several other offers. During his time at Wuppertal, he suffered a severe ankle injury, which ruled him out for several months. Now he is back on the pitch and realised his passion to sport and fitness. He wants to motivate many people all age group to have a healthy lifestyle. Especially he would like to motivate children to support their parents by doing sports together. He believes that everyone can make a difference. You just need the will power!
facebook.com/pages/Tamil-Fitness-TT-Motivation Follow us on Youtube: Tamilfitness Motivation Instagram: Tamilfitnessmotivation Page 29
THA LIFESTYLE |SELF DEVELOPMENT
Failure to recognise exactly what you want What you enjoy most? Procrastination Are you finding excuses for doing it in the future or waiting for the right time to start? Start NOW!! Procrastination permits your mind and body to switch off from being productive. Procrastination will reduce your self-esteem and also will lower your reputation in the eyes of others. This needs to be solved with immediate effect by making sure you take necessary action. Fear of failure and criticism
What others will think about you? Ignore it. A state of mind is something that one assumes. It is not something that can be purchased, but something that has to be created. The “FEARS” are sufficient enough to destroy your chances of achieving a high standard in any undertaking. They will wipe out your passion and make self-control impossible, lead to indecision, discourage creativity and encourage procrastination. You have to come out from your comfort zone and overcome all
You have to identify your passion first. You have to enjoy what you are doing to achieve long term success. This would give you personal satisfaction, financial gain, enjoyment and stability. You have to truly believe in yourself and you have to do it with full commitment.
What is you back you want
by Mayooran Senthilmani linkedin.com/in/ mayooransenthilmani
types of fears. Lack of interest in learning and acquiring some knowledge for your own future. Education is an on-going process. You have to attend seminars, workshops, and training courses. You have to read books, magazines, reports, journals, newsletters, websites and industry publications in your own field. You have to always think of innovative ways to do things better in less time with less effort. You have to educate yourself with essential skills. You have to become known as an expert in your field. Don’t waste time, energy and money. Always focus on improving yourself, stimulating ideas, sharing ideas, listening to others, talking about the project, and working with collaborators. Habit of relying on others instead of creating a plan
Page 30
to find the solution to the problem yourself If you want to achieve success you have to work hard. It’s your life. No point of blaming others or relying on others. You have to stop the habit of blaming others for mistakes rather than taking responsibility. If you believe yourself and take rely on you, success will follow.
THA LIFESTYLE
| SELF DEVELOPMENT
Lack of persistence Persistence is the ability to stick with something. The majority of people face failure due to lack of persistence in creating alternative plans to take the place of those which fail. “Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success”-Napoleon Hill Acknowledgement I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who helped me to reach this level today. Many Not willing to change thanks for your time in advance for reading this You have to be the change article. All the very best rather than trying to change the for your continuous world. Change has to start within future success. ourselves; we cannot expect the
world to change if we do not. Instead of focusing on problems, we can start to live solutions. You have the ability, capacity, capability, resources, strength, and wisdom to not only makes changes but to become the change you longed for.
holding from where to be? Tha-Lifestyle readers, who are already in the accounting field or would like to choose accounting field in the future, will get the following for FREE. Please contact me through LinkedIn to claim your FREE Gift. Life time access to Accounting: Get Hired without work experience Course. plus one to one CV review & advice.
Not believing in yourself Believes make your reality. Never give up on your dreams and beliefs as you will never know how worthy you are until you actually put them into action.
Habit of neglecting to move on ideas or to grasp an opportunity.
“Working hard is important, but there is something that matters even more: Believe in yourself.” – Harry Potter
You have to develop a winning attitude and have to be very openminded person, which will help you to Lack of organised plan. Habit of spot opportunities and also to turn compromising poverty instead of aiming your failures into successes. riches “If there is a God, he is within. You don’t ask God to give you things; you If you fail to plan you plan to fail. You have to depend on God for your inner theme.” set your goals. You have to set your long- – Bruce Lee term, medium-term and short-term goals, then create an action plan to reach those goals by creating step-by-step, measurable stages.
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THA LIFESTYLE | PHOTOGRAPHY
Arunn G’s
Photography Tips By Arunn G,
Arunn is an international wedding and fashion photographer based in the UK who specialises in unique, artistic and modern imagery. With a steadily increasing following on Facebook and other social media, Arunn is continuously striving to discover new techniques and create different love stories through his photos. www.arunngphotography.com www.facebook.com/arunnphoto Follow on instagram: @picturejunkie22 Cancun, Mexico
With technology advancing at an exponential rate, cameras are becoming increasingly easier to use sprouting an influx of budding photographers. A decent SLR camera can be bought for a relatively affordable price and with intelligent automode settings and user guides enabling even the most amateur photographers to take spectacular shots, not to mention a multitude of video tutorials on Youtube and other social media, it’s very easy to become a proficient photographer. Royal Holloway, University of London Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir, Ealing Road, London
But what is required to turn a good photo into artwork? If you are a hobby photographer or are considering professional photography but still find difficulty in getting those ‘money shots’ then my four, not so standard rules to photography may help you. Here, I outline a few key technical and artistic guidelines to consider when taking any kind of photo, whether it be outdoors with a wedding couple or indoors for a nice family photo!
Make up by Vithya - www.facebook.com/vithyamakeup
Page 32 Page 32
THA LIFESTYLE | PHOTOGRAPHY
Model: Priya Make up: Shalomi - www.facebook.com/shalomimakeup Wedding dress: www.facebook.com/DeloreDresses
Rule 1: Space! Always make sure you have a clean, appropriately sized space to work in. Knowing the focal distance of your lenses is the key to crystal clear images. Too close or too far to your subject and your images will not be in focus or you risk losing sharpness in the details... Knowing how to control focus points on your camera also helps unless you’re a wizz with manual focus! Rule 2: Lighting! The way you light your subjects can really bring life to your images. Always think about how to eliminate shadows that are cast on the face by the nose or hair. This can be done with a reflector or secondary flash, just remember to keep an eye on your exposure levels. Too much light can completely wash out the features. Natural sunlight (or a gold reflector) is always great for a warm effect but once again, watch out for harsh shadows! Rule 3: Angles Angles Angles!! You can’t go wrong when taking a straight shot of your subject but sometimes a different angle can give your images character and shape your subject in a more flattering way (girls love selfies taken from high up as it elongates the face!). Be aware of the background and space around you and envision the framing of Model: Keerthana Saree: NG Sarees - www.facebook.com/pages/NG-Sarees/ Make up: Vithya - facebook.com/vithyamakeup
Sunrise in Larnaca, Cyprus
your shot. If you’re not sure then try the same shot at different angles and decide later during editing. There’s no harm in experimentation; in fact, it’s the best way to discover your personal style. Just don’t risk experimenting while trying to capture an important moment and don’t be afraid to get dirty! Rule 4: Connect! Having a good relationship with your client or model is the key to getting that ‘money shot’. Open yourself up to them, get to know them, and make them feel comfortable around you. It’s easy to forget how nerve wracking it can be to pose in front of a camera even if you are an experienced model or veteran selfie taker! The mood of your subject can really effect the mood of your image. I find it best to ask exceptionally nervous subjects to just to forget that I’m there and be themselves, candid shots give an essence of realism. Never pressure your subject or get frustrated with them, they’re not trained monkeys! All in all remember that your subject is the star of the show, not you, so treat them as such. An extra tip would be to always try to create your own unique signature style with your photos. Whether it be through your editing or lighting and angles, find a style that best describes you as a person and expresses your own creativity. There is so much satisfaction when someone looks at a photo and is able to recognise that it’s your work! Make up by Shindy Hair and make up facebook.com/shindy.makeupartist
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THA LIFESTYLE
| EVENTS
Badminton Tournament
07th Dec 2014 @ Aspire Centre ,South Fields By V4U UK Charity
V4U’s fund raising tournament for charity, all proceeds will go towards the Vanni District Development Projects in Ceylon.
www.v4uuk.org FB /v4uuk Donate to help those suffering
Career Netwrok
Thai Pongal
30th Oct 2014 @ Guys Campus , King’s College
By UK TSU
facebook.com /USTSU | UKTSU.ORG
14th Jan 2015 @ SOAS University By SOAS Tamil Soc & TSI FB/SOAS-Tamil-Society FB/tsiuk
17th Jan 2015 @ Harrow Council By Harrow Tamils
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THA LIFESTYLE
Mayuri Concert
19th Nov 2014 @ University of Birmingham
Engeyum Eppothum
03rd October @ Holiday Inn
By BirminghamTamil Society
THA CALENDAR
29
Jan 2015
By KingstonTamil Society
31
Jan 2015
08
Feb 2015
CARNATIC BEATBOX
‘VALIBAM’ RELEASE
MEGA MALAI XV
VENUE Pursell Room, South Bank Centre TIME 7:45 p.m. onwards DETAILS- Dhruv Arts presents ‘Carnatic Beatbox’, a collaboration between Jyotsna Srikanth, the leading Carnatic violinist in Europe and Shlomo
VENUE Show Map The Beck Theatre The Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE TIME 17:00 onwards DETAILS- Tha Mystro’s Debut Album Vaalibam release with a grand concert featuring many popular artists TICKETS Single - £12 Family - £25 VIP - £30 CONTACT 078 5018 5486 | 074 452 62787 FACEBOOK /ThaMystroMusic
VENUE Hackney Empire 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ
TICKETS £20 , £15 southbankcentre.co.uk/ whatson/carnaticbeatbox-88075 CONTACT info@dhruvarts.org
| EVENTS
TIME 5.00 p.m. Onwards DETAILS- The OLDEST and BIGGEST Tamil Student Show by Imperial Tamil Society
11/12 Apr 2015
LONDON TAMIL MARKET 2015 VENUE Harrow Leisure Centre - Byron Hall TIME 10.00 a.m. Onwards DETAILS- Tamil trade show for the first time in London
TICKETS www.imperialtamilsociety. com
TICKETS nachiyarevents.com/
CONTACT facebook.com/ megamaalai
CONTACT 0207 706 1122 info@nachiyarevents.com
Page 35
Do you want to try selling high profitable small electronics at your high street shop? Or Are you interested in making extra money by selling online? Then Reach us ! A Whole sale supplier who can get you anything you wish to sell at rock bottom prices. Aris Stores | Another venture from Inayam
We also do promotional materials for your business Why not try to become entrepreneur ? Contact us inayam@inayam.co.uk | Facebook/Arisstores
Graphic design | Web Design | Printing
We Cut Prices, not Quality! Who can slash your printing costs by 50% ? As per our Sept 2014 prices jobs Business cards on 400 gsm for £33 ! 2000 full colour 60 paged A4 Booklets on 130 gsm for £1928 ! Multi Page Website Bespoke PHP core design with CMS from £699! Our latest clients Ray of Hope Charity, Gana Restaurant
We have Tamil Specialist Graphic Designers at affordable rates! inayam@inayam.co.uk | facebook.com/inayamltd | inayam.co.uk