Friday 27 September 2013

Thumbi Thumbi Vaa Vaa (Koodappirappu)

This is an old Malayalam song from the movie Koodappirappu. I used to love this long a lot... Was pleasantly surprised to finally find it online!

The story alludes to a little girl talking to a butterfly. Her father works in the distant city (Ernakulam) and evidently, she misses him a lot. Her mother does too. She is asking the butterfly to bring back her father... Love the story-line...

തുമ്പി തുമ്പി വാവാ
ഈ തുമ്പത്തണലില്‍ വാ വാ
തുമ്പത്തണലില്‍ വാവാ

പട്ടുറുമാലും കെട്ടി ഒരു
പച്ചക്കമ്പിളി ചുറ്റി
എത്തറ കാടുകളെത്തറനാടുക-
ളിത്തറനാളും കണ്ടു

കൊച്ചി കോട്ടകള്‍ കണ്ടോ ഒരു
കൊച്ചെറണാകുളമുണ്ടോ?
കാഴ്ച്ചകള്‍ കണ്ടു നടന്നപ്പോളെ-
ന്റച്ഛനെയവിടെ കണ്ടോ?
തുമ്പി തുമ്പി........

പീലിച്ചുരുള്‍മുടി ചീകി ഒരു
നീലക്കണ്ണടചൂടി
കൊച്ചെലിവാലന്‍ മീശയുമായെ-
ന്നച്ഛനെയവിടെ കണ്ടോ

കരളുപുകഞ്ഞിട്ടമ്മ എന്‍
കവിളില്‍ നല്‍കിയൊരുമ്മ
എന്‍ കവിളില്‍ നല്‍കിയൊരുമ്മ
കരിവാളിച്ചൊരു മറുകുണ്ടാക്കിയ
കാരിയമച്ഛനറിഞ്ഞോ?

ഒത്തിരിനാളായ് ചുണ്ടില്‍ ഒരു
കിക്കിളിയുമ്മയുമായി
അമ്മകരഞ്ഞിട്ടച്ഛനെ നോക്കി
കണ്ണുനറഞ്ഞൂ തുമ്പീ

പച്ചക്കുതിരയിലേറീ
എന്നച്ഛനുറങ്ങണ തൊട്ടില്‍
കൊണ്ടുവരാമോ കാലേല്‍ തൂക്കി
കൊണ്ടുവരാമോ തുമ്പീ?
തുമ്പി തുമ്പി........


Thumbi thumbi vaa vaa
Ee thumba thanalil vaa vaa
Thumba thanalil vaa vaa

Patturumaalum ketti
Oru pacha kampili chutti
Ethara kaadukalethara naadukal-
Ithara naalum kandu?

Kochi kottakal kando?
Oru kocheranaakulamundo?
Kazhchakal kandu
Nadannappolentachaneyavide kando?
Thumbi...

Peelichurulmudi cheeki oru
Neelakkannada choodi
Kochelivaalan meeshayumaayent-
Achaneyavide kando?

Karalu pukanjittamma
En kavilil nalkiyorumma
En kavilil nalkiyorumma
Karivaalichoru marukundaakkiya
Kariyamachanarinjo?

Othirinaalay chundil oru
Kikkiliyummayumaayi
Ammakaranjittachane nokki
Kannu naranju thumbi

Pacha kuthirayileri
Entachanurangana thottil
Konduvaraamo kaalil thookki kondu varamao
Kondu varamo thumbi ?
Thumbi...


I am highly indebted to the website Malayala Chalachithram for making this beautiful song available to all.



Tuesday 24 September 2013

Android Apps I Can't Live Without!

Okay, so the title is a little dramatic; it's not that bad ;)...  But I sure would miss them a lot! Click on the name of the app to go directly to the Play Store link.

I use the Apex Launcher as the default launcher app. I have found it to be classy and extremely capable.


Home screen:

This is a beautiful, beautiful alarm clock. And I love the simple widget. Use my code: 0M7J-4JH1-7AB8 to earn two free points.

Yahoo Weather:
I love the minimalist look of the 1x1 widget of this app. The weather details are very accurate.

Brilliant Quotes:
I always liked quotations; so I have this widget on my home screen too.

Screen 2:

Any Do:
The best to-do manager with THE best interface around, in my opinion.

Contact shortcuts:
The remaining items on this screen are contact shortcuts. A nice pretty picture of my closest and dearest people for quick dialing and messaging... I don't use the "Direct Dial" or "Direct Message" option, just the "Contact" shortcut.

Screen 3:

Jorte Calendar:
My favorite calendar app; what's more it syncs with my Google calendar. Might have tried out the Google Calendar app, but it does not have a good monthly view, which is what I need.

Screen 4:

Google Now:
This screen is fully used up by the Google Now widget. I love the way Now predicts a lot of things. Personally, the privacy issues don't bother me much either, as long as I am given relevant info right when I need it!

Other Apps:

RealCalc:
For a while, I had gone back to my studies. I use this calculator when I need the scientific help; otherwise, I go with the stock calculator.

Out of Milk:
I use this one to keep stock of available items at home and also as a running shopping list. I have tried quite a few shopping list apps and zeroed it on this one at the end.

Yahoo Folder:
This folder holds my two favorite Yahoo apps, Yahoo Messenger and Yahoo! Mail.

Google Folder:
This folder holds my most frequently used Google apps, GMail, Keep, Google+, Hangouts, Maps, Translate and Play Books.

Facebook:
The official Facebook app is another one I use occasionally ;)

Google Search Bar:
The Google search bar is also included in this screen.

Play Music:
This app has a good interface, but I don't like the fact that I cannot see my music folder-wise.

MX Player:
An excellent video player.

Pixlr Express:
A very good image editor. I often use it to play around with my pics.

Snapseed: 
This is also a very good image editor. I use it less often though.

CamScanner:
I use this very often to scan my favorite articles, pics, documents, anything at all.

Ted:
This app gives quick access to Ted Conferences and Talks. An nice way to keep myself updated.

WordWeb:
A good dictionary and it works offline.

NewsHunt:
This app shows up all local papers in India, and I believe this is an easy way for Indians to keep up with the home news.

Clean Master:
I trust this app to keep my mobile clean.

Flipboard:
I love the magazines for both their content and beauty.

Your Magnifier:
I installed this to use as a magnifying glass, should the need arise.

Tiny Flashlight:
Again, installed this in case I need it some day.

TubeMate:
It allows to download videos to your mobile. I use it occasionally if the net speeds are too slow for offline watching. Be careful, though. This app is not available in Play Store.

YouTube:
Well, like all of u out there, I too love this one.

Astro File Manager:
I use this file manager. This one can also work with Google Drive, Dropbox etc...

Google Drive:
Quite indispensable in my work. Keep sharing docs between my home PC and office PC.

Wallpaper Changer:
I use this software to rotate my wallpapers regularly. Neat app. Does what it says well.

And the absolutely indispensable games..........

Dots:
A beautiful and addictive hit game!

WordKick:
The goal is to change one four-letter word into another four-letter word by changing only one letter at the time. Very good indeed!

One Touch Drawing 2:
The challenge: Draw given unique shapes without raising your finger. The problem: You cannot draw the same line twice. A very addictive puzzle game.

Hangman Classic:
When I am in a mood for the classic word puzzle game.

Jigsaw Puzzles:
This game has 4 game modes: regular jigsaw, shuffle, swap, rotate.

Diamond Blast:
My daughter simply loves this one!

Classic Words Free:
Still learning the ropes of this game.

Minesweeper Classic:
The classic game for all time.

Snake '97:
Pure nostalgia! A remake of the original Snake.

Word Search:
The best Word Search game. Love it!


Try these wonderful apps and as always, do comment on your favorites too...


Sunday 15 September 2013

Velichenna Kaachiyathu - Coconut oil specially treated for healthy hair

Long long ago in Kerala, mothers used to boil coconut oil with special herbs and leaves. This treated oil was then massaged and applied lovingly on the scalps of little girls and boys, with the belief that this special oil would help hair grow long, thick and dark. Here I have explained the method for making kachiya velichenna, as it is locally called in Malayalam.

Heat 1/2 kg coconut oil, and add:
  • 20 - 30 Tulsi (Holy Basil) leaves
  • 2 - 3  Kattarvazha (Aloe Vera) pieces, large
  • 8 - 10 Mailanchi (Henna) leaves
  • 20 - 25 Chembarathi (Hibiscus) leaves
  • 2 - 3 Chembarathi  (Hibiscus) flowers
  • 10 - 20 Kurumulaku (Black pepper), crushed
  • 20 - 30 Kaiyonni (Bhringraj) leaves
  • 8 - 10 Nellikka (Amla / Gooseberry), crushed
  • 30 - 40 Arya Veppila (Neem leaves)
and boil until the leaves turn light brown in color. Crush 5 - 10 Karpooram (Camphor) balls and put into the bottle. Strain oil and pour into the bottle.

All these ingredients are easily available in our house. Kaiyunni, arya veppila, mailanchi, tulsi, and chembarathi grow wild mostly and can be picked up right from the backyards of most houses. Nellikka, kurumulaku and karpooram is also easily available in any local store. The karpooram makes the oil smell divine. We also have a nice kattarvazha plant in our garden, so aloe vera is also available fresh. None of these items are indispensable; nor is the quantity sacrosanct. Every time, we make it at home, the proportions vary; occasionally, I even omit to include some items altogether. The number of leaves is just an indicative number; I often deviate from the quantities, and the oil has turned out just fine. You can also feel free to experiment.

Now for the qualities imparted to the oil....
  • Coconut oil is a wonderful natural way to make your hair and skin soft, radiant and healthy. It acts as a great natural conditioner.
  • Aloe vera is known to work wonders in promoting shine and moisture in hair, and preventing hair loss and dandruff. 
  • Tulsi is a wonder herb which helps to achieve lustrous shiny and healthy hair. 
  • Henna is perhaps the best hair conditioner of all;  it gives the hair body and bounce, promotes hair growth, checks premature graying, combats dandruff and promotes hair growth. 
  • Hibiscus contains mucilage-a slippery plant extract which soothes dry scalp and de-tangles hair too. The petals are a natural hair dye and hair strengthening agent which prevents strands from breaking. 
  • I'm not very sure about this, but black pepper is mentioned online as a viable method of making hair black. However, adding pepper to velichenna is a tradition with ages of experience behind it, right? So I'll just go along even without scientific proof, I think. 
  • Regarding Kaiyonni, the herb has protective features against dandruff and pre-mature hair graying. It also has a beneficial cooling effect on the head and eyes. 
  • Amla helps to preserve the natural, youthful hair color, and minimizes hair loss. It has the ability to penetrate scalp and strengthen hair at the root and helps prevent gray hair. 
  • The anti-septic and anti-bacterial properties of Neem help in getting rid of dandruff keeping your scalp healthy and help in stimulating hair growth. It is also used as a natural conditioner for dry and fizzy hair.
  • Coconut oil in which camphor has been dissolved is useful for treating itchy hair. This is useful against dandruff as well. It also gives the oil a gentle fragrance.

All these factors aside, the very act of making this oil and massaging my daughter's hair with it gives me joy beyond compare. I hope it also shows my daughter how much I love her. The massage hour is a very pleasant one too, with lots of stories, real and imaginary, passed between mother and daughter.


Note: This blog provides general information only. The content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. For any specific medical issues, please contact a qualified professional.


Wednesday 11 September 2013

Elephant Rhymes

This is a popular nursery song on elephants. My little niece sings it wonderfully... the actions accompanying it are so cute!

ആനക്കൊത്തിരി വയറുണ്ട്
നീളൻ തുമ്പിക്കൈയ്യുണ്ട്
തുമ്പപ്പുവിൻ  നിറമുള്ള
കൂർത്ത കൊമ്പുകൾ രണ്ടുണ്ട്
പൊറകുവശത്തൊരു വാലുണ്ട്
വീശിനടക്കാൻ ചെവിയുണ്ട്
കറുകറുത്തൊരു നിറമാണെങ്കിലും
വെളുവെളുത്തൊരു മനസാണ്
വടിയും വീശി നടക്കാനായ്
ആനപാപ്പാൻ  കൂട്ടുണ്ട്
അടിവെച്ചു ഗമയിൽ പോവാനായ്
തടിച്ച കാലുകൾ നാലുണ്ട് !!!


English version:

Annakothiri vayarundu
Neelan thumbikaiyundu
Thumbapoovin niramulla
Koortha kombukal randukka
Porukavashathoru vaalundu
Veeshinadackan cheviyundu
Karukarithoru niraanenkilum
Velu veluthoru manassanu
Vadiyum veeshi nadackaanaay
Aana pappan koottundu
Adi vechu gamayil povaanaay
Thadicha kaalukal naalundu




Sunday 1 September 2013

Save the Tiger


This is my little girl's assignment on tigers. I used Microsoft Publisher to format the page. Just a ready-made  theme. Easy work!

Hope this helps...