Posted by Navin Ganesh on May 15, 2007 in
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I just can’t believe how soon this last month has flown by. After working really hard for more than 2 weeks to get this blog up and running, it has become an integral part of my life, a routine. Seeing more posts and lot more people coming forward to share their experiences and information about various hangouts gives me the feeling of being rewarded for all the hard work we put in. This would not have been possible without all the support we have received from people who have contributed with their reviews and invaluable comments and ofcourse our visitors.
Hangout Digger had its first post on 15th April 2007 about Amethyst. From then, over a month, we have had 26 new reviews of various hangouts spanning 6 different cities across 4 countries and 2 continents.
Thanks to the response, both Narayanan and I are now highly motivated to making this blog a huge success. We hope to get lot more people from different parts of the globe to share their experiences across various cities of the world.
Special Thanks to Kavitha Mohan, Gayathri Jagannathan, Niveditha Ramaswamy, Girish Ganesh, Anush Srivatsan, Vasisht, Aparna Natarajan, Kanchana Pradeep and Shweta Sharma who have enriched Hangout Digger with their wonderful reviews about various hangouts and eatouts.
We are planning to introduce lots of new features that will make Hangout Digger a truly enjoyable experience. So look forward to our updates and plenty more reviews. As of now, we are averaging at one post a day. We hope to be able to increase that, as and when we get more people to send in their reviews.
Henceforth at Hangout Digger, we’ll have a Weekly Roundup that would be posted every Sunday listing all posts from the previous sunday to the saturday just gone by. Also on the 1st of every month, a Monthly Roundup listing all the posts of the previous month would be put up.
Do find below the posts we have had since Day 1 at Hangout Digger:
15th April 2007 – Amethyst by Kavitha Mohan.
17th April 2007 – High Street by Narayanan Hariharan.
18th April 2007 – Beach Kart – Vroom!! by Kavitha Mohan.
20th April 2007 – Star City by Gayathri Jagannathan.
20th April 2007 – Gangotree – Chaat Central by Niveditha Ramaswamy.
21st April 2007 – Mandarin – The Place for Chinese by Girish Ganesh.
23rd April 2007 – Cunningham Road – One of the most happening places in Bangalore! by Navin Ganesh.
24th April 2007 – Fifth Avenue Bakery aka FABS by Narayanan Hariharan.
28th April 2007 – Sigma Mall – The Highlight of Cunningham Road by Navin Ganesh.
29th April 2007 – Bowl O’ (Oh No) China by Kavitha Mohan.
30th April 2007 – Food Village by Navin Ganesh.
1st May 2007 – Sandeepha – TTK Road by Anush Srivatsan.
2nd May 2007 – Sandwich Shop @ Alsa Mall, Chennai by Narayanan Hariharan.
3rd May 2007 – Bay Leaf – Authentic North Indian Cuisine by Navin Ganesh.
4th May 2007 – The CN Tower, Toronto by Vasisht.
5th May 2007 – Tandoor by Kavitha Mohan.
6th May 2007 – Narayan Reddy Sweets and Chaat by Kavitha Mohan.
7th May 2007 – Aangan – Irresistably North Indian! by Niveditha Ramaswamy.
8th May 2007 – The Polo Club @ The Oberoi, Bangalore by Aparna Natarajan.
9th May 2007 – Rasilas by Vasisht.
10th May 2007 – Corniche – Carving A Niche For Itself by Kanchana Pradeep.
11th May 2007 – Emirates Palace – The World’s Most Expensive Hotel by Kanchana Pradeep.
12th May 2007 – Zara – The Tapas Pub @ Cathedral Road by Aparna Natarajan.
13th May 2007 – Hasik – A 200km Drive from Salalah by Gayathri Jagannathan.
15th May 2007 – Mughsayl Beach Blowholes & Road to Yemen by Navin Ganesh.
15th May 2007 – Casa Piccola & Infinitea on Cunnigham Road by Shweta Sharma.
Thanks for all your cooperation and support. We really hope that you enjoy spending time at Hangout Digger as much as we enjoy bringing it to you.
Posted by Shweta Sharma on May 15, 2007 in
Bangalore This is just to continue the post on Cunningham Road, which happens to be one of my favorite hangouts not just because of the close proximity to my place but also because it still gives me the feeling of our old sweet BANGALORE. Without a second thought I would rate Casa Piccola as the best place to just sit around, sipping Irish coffee and munching fries. The place offers a variety of continental food and desserts which are quite affordable. On a non-sunny day you can just come for lunch and sit and read papers while enjoying your food. It’s a place to watch world cups since all the chairs are turned towards the TV and you have big company to enjoy the game with you. If you aren’t very hungry and in a mood for just salads, go for chicken macaroni salad (the most economical food available). 
If you want to just laze around with you friends and you happen to be a tea lover, Infinitea is just the right place for you. The ambience and music just like the tea will not let you down. It offers a great range of tea (hot and cold) and an above average range of food (continental). If you are scared of trying anything new, go for the typical masala tea pot. The different ice tea available get an 8 on 10 while I will give Lemon ice tea a 9 on 10. The small samosas are worth trying with a pot of masala tea and yes if you happen to be a momo fan, the momos available are not really great but not bad either. Try this place for a different atmosphere and of course different tea.
Posted by Navin Ganesh on May 15, 2007 in
Salalah This is a very famous tourist attraction just 50kms from Salalah city. Salalah is about 1000kms from Muscat, which is the capital of Oman. Salalah has a lot of natural tourist spots which are a must see. So, if you are visiting Oman don’t miss it.
The drive to Mughsayl is quite ordinary and is desert on both sides pretty much all the way. But once you get to Mughsayl, you can have great fun getting amused by the blowholes. The blowholes are actually air holes on the floor which cut through rock to the bottom, where the sea hits land. I guess its difficult to visualize, as I can’t remember hearing about anything similar, anywhere else in the world. (Hope the photos would be of some help!).
When the waves from the sea hit the rock, because of these vents on the ground, air and water is forced up the vent and comes up almost like a fountain, but the volume of water and force of air is awesome. It is something that is very enjoyable when you are actually waiting near the blowholes for the air and water to spray up.
Ofcourse there is an element of luck. If the waves are not strong then you might not get the chance to see the blowholes spraying up in full vigour. But I would say, for the experience, its worth a shot. And there are also other things, so you invariably end up having a great time anyway.
Anyway the whole place is very beautiful, with water hitting against solid rock mountains of the Southern Oman coast. Just a short drive from the blowholes place you have a nice beach where you can hangout over a snack. It’s a great picnic spot and if you go as a group, you are bound to have great fun.
Once you are done at the Blowholes, you can head further down the road and away from Salalah. This road leads you to the neighboring country, Yemen, which is about 150kms from there. But you can have a great time driving through these mountainous roads.
They roads are wide, very safe and its a thrilling experience driving through the mountainous roads which go up and down. You’ve got roads that are really steep with over a 45 degrees climb. You might even encounter some camels and mountain goats on your way. There are also some nice spots to park your car and click some scenic photos with the mountains in the background. Its definitely something you are going to want to remember for a long time.
Posted by Gayathri Jagannathan on May 13, 2007 in
Salalah Let me first brief you about Salalah. Salalah is a beautiful place situated 1000 km south of Muscat the capital of Oman. In this post I shall concentrate on one particular place called Hasik. Hasik is about 200 km from Salalah city. The roads were recently laid (about 2 years ago) and the drive along the southern oman coast is enjoyable!
I should definitely be elaborating on the drive as you would witness the nature’s beauty through out your drive to Hasik. As you cross the city, you would be driving through the mountains, and one thing you must watch is the natural change in the color of the mountain terrain from brown, red, dark brown/black to white. Once you are about 100 km from Salalah, you get the beautiful sea on the right and on the other side is the mountain. There are lots of places along the drive where you can park your car and enjoy the beautiful view of the sea and click some snaps.
Now to the main place. Once you reach Hasik, you find the most mysterious waterfall!! There is a huge rock mountain and the beach on the opposite side. But I still wonder how the water falls from this mountain. From the top of the rocky mountain there is always water falling. Ofcourse the force of the waterfall depends on the season, but there is at least some water dripping into a small stream and you won’t miss that no one when you go. The water falls only from this particular mountain which is what makes Hasik famous. The water that falls is cold and after a hot drive and it is great to get yourself wet, wondering where the water falls from!!!
Another kilometer drive from this place is the ‘Pebbles Beach’ which is also a must see. The newly laid road extends to another kilometer and then the ‘Kucha’ (unlaid) road begins. You can park the car there and walk around on the beach. You would find hardly any sand on the coast. Trust me its pebbles all over. You find amazing colors of pebbles and shells. (Wow… I don’t think i’ll ever get fed up of collecting those). Every pebble has something in it. They are just beautiful and once you start collecting them, you just can’t stop yourself.
When you go to the water, what I saw there was something I had not seen anywhere else. As there is no sand, and only pebbles, when the waves hit the pebbled shore and go back into the sea, the water filtering between the pebbles creates a musical sound which is just indescribable. You just have to hear it yourself, and it just makes you feel one with nature.
This place is really a treat for everyone’s eyes. So if you are planning to visit this place, my suggestion is that, you start early in the morning after your breakfast and pack up a lunch. There are lots of places where you can sit in the shade of the mountain by the waterfall and have a leisurely lunch. Once the sun has gone down, you can have a great time on the beach and return back to the city by night.
Posted by Aparna Natarajan on May 12, 2007 in
Chennai This Spanish bar, is the only place in Chennai that serves Tapas (a variety of Spanish short eats… and quite a variety it was!). The ambiance is typically Spanish, which reflects on everything from the flooring, to walls and the furniture. The music definitely picks up after 9 pm; they play a mix of music catering to the tastes of the diverse cultural mix of the people who come there.
The cocktails menu certainly isn’t very imaginative, with the usual cosmopolitans, pinacoladas, the martinis and the like. However, if you are in luck, you can order your favorite drink, and have it served for you on request! The shooters are well priced at Rs.125. I strongly recommend the pepper vodka shooter with tomato juice 
Of the short eats, favorites are a taco called Croquettas De Esinacas (Spinach Roll) and the baked corn and spinach salad- all served in stylish square plates. They also have a wholesome lunch menu too and I’ve heard from many that the cheese quesadilla here is to die for!
There is no entry charge. However, Lads, please remember to put on your shoes, as they are compulsory for entry and the ladies, do dab on that extra bit of lip gloss, and get geared to have a good time
Posted by Kanchana Pradeep on May 11, 2007 in
Abu Dhabi I sat in the car, all excited to go to the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. I had heard so much about the place that I made up my mind to go and see it. What I didn’t realize was that making up my mind was the easiest part. What was really hard was entering the Emirates Palace.
It was quite a long drive from home, the Friday night traffic not withstanding. We passed the Corniche and I rolled down the windows and closed my eyes, to feel the sea breeze blow against my face. As I opened my eyes, I first saw a speck of purple light. What I saw next, even I could not believe. I was face to face with the most expensive hotel in the world.
This huge structure, built on the design of a mosque, stood in front of me. Illuminated with shades of green, yellow, and purple, it shone brilliantly. Just like the Taj Mahal, the reflection of which in the Yamuna makes it a wonder of the world, the water of the Persian Gulf also reflected the radiance of the Emirates Palace.
The entrance to the hotel reminded me of the Charminar. Also brilliantly illuminated, it seemed to me the pathway that led people to experience a lifetime of luxurious living.
We requested the security at the entrance to let us in for a cup of coffee. It was 7:00 p.m. then. It was to be 4 hours before we got to sip our coffee.
What I saw when I entered the Emirates Palace, I do not know if I can ever describe to the fullest. I’ve never been to paradise before, but I felt that that day was my day in paradise. The walls were embedded with gold and the ceilings radiated white light from the huge crystal chandeliers that hung from the dome-shaped ceilings.
We were served coffee in crystal glasses, with a cup priced at Dhs. 1000 (Rs. 12,000). We enquired the price of a suite. The answer baffled us. A standard suite was priced at Dhs. 10,000 (A lakh and twenty thousand), a luxury suite at Dhs. 20,000 (Two lakhs), and a special suite at Dhs. 50,000 (Six lakhs).
It was 1:00 a.m. when we reached home. We couldn’t sleep that night thinking of the magnificence of what we had seen. Although it’s been a month since I went there, it is a memory that I will always hold on to.
Posted by Kanchana Pradeep on May 10, 2007 in
Abu Dhabi My recent visit to the capital city of the United Arab Emirates made me discover the power of a dream. Abu Dhabi, a mere desert till the late 1970’s, is one of the richest, powerful, and sought after places for employment in the world today. While a great deal of its strong position on the global map can be attributed to the discovery of oil, credit needs to be given to the toil and vision of the present leaders, who dared to dream of the UAE we know today.
One such wonder in Abu Dhabi is the ‘Corniche’, which is a man-made river body on either side of the Corniche Road. Huge rocks were imported from neighboring countries to give the place a natural feel. Standing here, one can view the entire city, with all its beauty and magnificence. Watching the sun set in the horizon and its reflection in the water is an experience in itself.
People come to the Corniche for various reasons. Some come to see the calm waters, while others take time out of their busy work lives to take a walk on the tracks provided beside the rocks. However, what attracts most people here is the serenity that this place offers. And what’s best is that it’s free!
We, in India, do not make enough efforts to conserve the rich architecture she’s blessed with. While we are busy converting fertile lands to deserts, people in this country are working day and night to make this desert a rich land. The UAE today stands as a manifestation of what one dream and tons of hard work can achieve. Kudos to this country!
Posted by Vasisht on May 9, 2007 in
Bangalore Rasilas at JP Nagar in Bangalore is a well hidden (at least a year ago) gem of a restaurant in Bangalore. The settings are like that of a village – a kutcha road (the worst I have seen, even in Bangalore standards), arid shrubbery all around, houses few and far between and red dust all over you. Yet, this place stands out.
What strikes you when you enter this place is the ambiance. You are greeted by a pleasing mixture of white, black, red and chrome. And the comfy leather seating takes care of the effects of your off-road adventure. The red curtains give the restaurant a warm feel, immediately waking up your appetite.
Coming to the food, they have a variety of Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes. Some names were strange, but the waiter was kind enough to explain what they were – he knew his stuff! The owner happened to be a friend of my colleague, and we had gone as a group, and that too on the day of its opening. So, the owner was around, explaining the dishes, and suggesting a custom course for each one of us. I guess he does it till this day. The food was very tasty too, and from what I remember, not that costly (forgive my memory, I had gone there a year ago).
Getting there, that’s the problem. Rasilas is in J P Nagar 7 Block, Close to Brigade Gardenia and Millennium. There are two ways of getting there. One is through L&T South City. When you get to the gates of South City, take a left and take the next right, leading to M.S. Ramiah city. Go through M.S. Ramiah city, and you would come to a rocky road at the end. Turn right here, and travel a few blocks to get to Rasilas. The other way is getting to Inchara, and proceeding to Brigade Gardenia or Brigade Millenium from there. Rasilas is very close to these apartments.
I guess the roads would have been laid by now. I have fond memories of this place – my office farewell party took place here. It was also quite close to my office, and we went there every now and then. It is a great place, great food and great settings – I highly recommend it for everyone.
Posted by Aparna Natarajan on May 8, 2007 in
Bangalore If you are not all that hungry and wouldn’t mind a classic setting to have a quiet conversation with friends or a date, The Polo Club at The Oberoi, is the place where you should be.
The ambiance is awesome, very close to nature, literally overlooking the large banyan tree (which gets lit in the nights) and you can actually hear the water gushing in the pond alongside…and see the fish shine as they swim past you and stuff. If it is winter and if you would rather avoid the Bangalore chill, they also have indoor seating. The tables are placed a good distance from each other, which is very welcome especially when you want to escape the more usual up-tempo club scene in the city (or are just trying to gracefully accept the fact that you are too late to enter one and get decent seating!) 
This bar and restaurant admittedly has a modest menu, with a relatively wide range of starters and desserts, but only about 5 entrées (very little to choose from, really!). Lasagna is the safest bet, and tastiest too, in an extra cheesy kind of way, priced at around Rs. 475 and Tiramisu among the deserts. They sometimes have chef’s specials for a particular season, like they did this year for Valentines Day – they had a month long celebration of strawberry based desserts – all very tastefully presented and yum too.
The prices are little on the up side, but a group of three can comfortably have a fine dining experience within Rs.1500 with 1 starter, 2 entrées (unless you have a very healthy appetite, you will struggle to finish all of it), 1 desert and 3 drinks (if you are a teetotaler, the lassi is a hot favorite, and is so creamy that you can sip just on it the whole time and still walk out satiated!).
However, if you do you get there and hear your stomach growling for a sumptuous meal, you can walk a little ahead into their alfresco Thai restaurant, Rim Naam, which serves some lip smacking gourmet Thai food in the same beautiful setting.
The Polo club is open from 10 am to 11 pm. Once you are there, be prepared to bump into some business celebrities!
The Oberoi is on M.G. Road.
Posted by Niveditha Ramaswamy on May 7, 2007 in
Chennai Given the size and the weird location of Aangan, its so very easy to miss this place. Let alone miss it, the odds are that you may never have even heard of it. But consider yourself lucky, that you know about it now. Once u step in and taste their North Indian food that is served ultra quickly, its very likely that you will want to give it a visit it again very soon.
Inside the place, its got only about 6 tables and all of them are big 6 seaters. So even if you are just 2, you end up occupying a huge table. Not a very romantic setting, but if food is why you are really there, then there is no reason to regret. Its small simple setup is great for a family outing or some fun over lunch or dinner with your friends.
Coming to the delicious food varieties from the North, they are irresistible both taste and price wise. Their menu is pretty much what you would find at any other similar restaurant, starting from soups, appetizers, tandoori and rice variations and some milkshakes and ice creams.
I love the masala papad served with chutney. The starters include temptations like gobi 65, paneer tikka and many more. Yummy! (Wow! Just thinking about them, makes me want to go there now). You’ll find rotis and naans with a long list of lip smacking side dishes which are complemented by biryanis and pulao. The vegetable biriyani is another of my favorites. You might as well skip dessert (not worth mentioning over here) and fill up that space with some more of the main course dishes.
Anything you order here comes within a jiffy. I don’t think I’ve ever waited for more than 5 to 10 mins for some super hot stuff straight from the kitchen. And the best part is, for all the great food and the really quick service its very light on your pocket. A fully satisfying meal for 2 people, works out to just about Rs. 250.
So it’s a great place to have a meal and really enjoy your food, without any worries at all. If you haven’t already checked it out, you must. Almost all the people to whom I recommended this place loved it. What you waiting for?
You can find Aangan just behind Gangotree, just off Cathedral Road on the first floor. Its on your right as soon as you go into the lane adjacent to Gangotree opposite to Stella Maris.
