Saturday, May 17, 2008

Art Workshop Conclusion

Yesterday, the children displayed their creations from the week-long Art Workshop we had a couple of weeks ago. Some of the children spoke about what they created and how they created it. They had each picked one of their creations to describe.

There was a huge range:
- Painted Pots
- Reverse Painting
- Greeting Cards
- Small Display Baskets

The instructor of the Workshop, Mr. Balan from Chennai (Ranjana's father) was felicitated by the children and Mr Nagaraj, the President. He was touched and moved by the feelings shown at the function.

Enjoy the photos:


Sunday, May 11, 2008

Tulip Videos 3 and 4

35 more photos from this year in 2 videos:

Swim Event
Painting Workshop
Cooking Workshop

Video 3:

Hi-resolution version (640 x 480) available - 7 MB - bring your USB disk to Ranjana, Apt 2153

Video 4:


Hi-resolution version (640 x 480) available - 2 MB - bring your USB disk to Ranjana, Apt 2153

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Tulip Videos 1 and 2

These videos features about 45 photos from last year ... a) the first social in October & Diwali, b) Halloween, Christmas? and Holi

Enjoy the video and music by Daler Mehndi ... Na na na na na re ...

Video 1:


Hi-resolution version (640 x 480) available - 6 MB - bring your USB disk to Ranjana, Apt 2153

Video 2:


Hi-resolution version (640 x 480) available - 7 MB - bring your USB disk to Ranjana, Apt 2153

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Horton hears a Who!

This is a nice kids' animated movie releasing Friday the 18th. Anyone interested in going together on Sunday at 10 am, call me at ext. 2103 by Friday noon so I can book the tickets together. The ticket (at PVR) is Rs. 210 plus charges (they charge, not me!)

Let's have fun!

Coming Up!

On-site Dental Checkup
Nagaraj Uncle is working on an on-site dental checkup for kids (we hear adults can sneak in too ;-)). We are sure many of us can't wait .. it will be great time saver and procrastination-buster! So, we hope Uncle lets us know the date soon.

Smiles for Kids
Ravi Ananthakrishnan (# 2151) is working on a Toy and Clothes Drive for poor children. Please start collecting and washing your kids' old (but nice condition) clothes and teddy bears. Collection boxes will be placed on the ground floor soon and we have dreams of expanding this to our neighbours at Brigade Millennium too!

Movies, Plays, and Treks
Rajesh Chilly (# 1013) is threatening to get some entertainment trips lined up for us. He has been browsing the Ranga Shankara pages.

Resident Guide and Yellow Pages
Arun Rao (#2152) is working on a huge, handy resident guide and yellow pages. But he has been hard to reach as his phone keeps cutting out on the NICE highway.

More and More Ideas - Pick One Up and Run with Your Favourite!
Let's make Tulip the best place on Earth!

We, as, residents of a large apartment community can create wonderful possibilities by working together. This will satisfy various common needs and help us feel that we are part of one big family. The possibility is that of:
a) self expression of apartment residents through community events and projects and
b) peace through friendship/closer relationship with fellow residents

These projects would address specific "self expression" needs of the community.

Humanitarian Needs - Creating possibilities for humanitarian projects for the extended community
- donations to old-age homes and orphanages
- inviting self-help groups to market their products
- recycling of books, clothes, and shoes for poor children/construction workers
- getting corporate support for known non-profits

Community Needs - Creating some community support for seniors and children
- calling/visiting when they are alone
- library facilities
- trips to temples/parks
- bhajans/satsangs
- creating a clinic right outside complex/monthly check-ups
- alternative health seminars (accupressure/accupuncture, homeopathy, ayurveda) - fortnightly visits
- seminars on specific health issues (blood pressure, backache)
- helping people with special needs (depression, cancer, special children, children with learning disability)
- carpooling kids to school
- community home remedy book + ingredients

Recreational Needs - Creating recreation and hobby possibilities for the community
- hiking & other recreational trips
- jogging/aerobics/yoga club
- arts classes, exhibitions. classes and seminars
- sports for children and adults (swimming, mini-soccer)
- meditation classes
- birthday network
- potluck dinners
- cooking clubs/children snack ideas
- picnics
- shared cooking (cook-a-dish & share)
- each parent spending 2 hours playing with a bunch of kids
- music programs by child artists
- sports events on TV
- trips to movies, restaurants, Ranga Shankara theatre, tennis tournaments, cricket matches

Learning Needs
- computer/electronics club
- financial education for kids (banking, )
- group study for children
- tuition/homework, project ideas
- introduction to time management, transformation courses

Information/Administrative Needs/Local Services
- referral system/yellow pages of high quality service providers
- paying of bills, taxes
- Apt owner's guide
- car & two-wheeler maintenance with a local provider (rating/comments captured after each service; negotiate pick up/drop off)
- improving quality/ease of use of all routine services
- ticket booking services with local provider

Contact Kannan at narayanan@mentorware.com

Tulip Yoga for Kids - 7:30 - 8:15 AM Daily

Talking about real-time progress, we are happy to report that we are starting off with a project for kids. Ranjana (Apt 2153) has started expressing herself as a yoga teacher for kids. The classes have been on for 3 days and already the class has had as many as 19 kids! Since the class includes pranayama and meditation, this will contribute to peace and well-being of kids.

Some parents have called and said they really see this as a great gift especially for children suffering from asthma, bronchitis, tiredness, low concentration, hyperactivity, and obesity. The kids are so enthusiastic that they have started planning for a outdoor painting session at 3 pm today.

Thanks and Good Luck to Ranjana and the kids. Let's celebrate and send them a silent message of encouragement as we watch this video:

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Welcome to Sobha Tulip!

Welcome to the community of Sobha Tulip at JP Nagar, Bangalore!

Gated communities of apartments and villas are a relatively new phenomenon in Indian cities. Residents in these communities can go about their own business or create wonderful possibilities for themselves and their neighbours by coming together to create a model /framework/mechanisms for high level of bonding in these communities which will result in a better quality of life and contribution to society.

We, as, residents of a large apartment community can create wonderful possibilities by working together. This will satisfy various common needs and help us feel that we are part of one big family. The possibility is that of: a) self expression of apartment residents through community events and projects and b) peace through friendship/closer relationship with fellow residents.

In the next few weeks, these projects will be shown here and the progress can be seen in real time.