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Serene and intriguing Paula Nemmula greeted us as we entered her beautifully small and significant store. A designer with personality that reflects beauty and pristine of her endless pearls collection; with surprising colours and unconventional shapes. Paula worked as a flight attendant before she realised her true passion of life in 1994. Her well traveled experience reflects in the choice of her quality resources and rich melange of elements.




Her style is avant-garde, uncomplicated. So much like her personality. Unique in their bold motives her jewelry is made as if for a woman, who dares to carry them off with a panache. Just like Paula herself. Far-out and floating like free spirited romantic.

She explained to us of her journey as a designer... Zodiac signs were her first attempt at design inspired by calligraphy. We derive that her knowledge in this domain beyond any doubt goes deeper than the pendants of astrological symbols. "I am a typical Aquarius" she said and went on to explain details. Passion that lays within her makes her eyes twinkle in delight as she talks.

Paula's favorite designer is Chanel. Her quality choice echos all aspects.

Charged with drive and full of positive oomph, she can make us forget to blink when she makes statements like "Big stores and studios are a thing of passe it even restricts the clientele". A contemporary who believes in online presence.

Sometimes Loud and almost zingara-ish array of items that she chooses to fit as one glorifies all ornaments. Just like her dressing. Simple elegant and most times forms a great background to the chunky chains she wears. Filled with lockets made of Egyptian symbols amongst others.


All impressed both with Paula's personality and designs ...
XOXO
S&O

Monki

S&O went to the inaugural event of Langoor's successor in name Monki. We find the trend to name a store after an animal invaluable. This yet an other of Fabric Scandinavien AB set up Monki here is a special one we say with a logo that is taken off of a Japanese PS game LocoRoco, tinkered carefully to suit Monki needs, eased into a brilliant location in Helsinki, stocked up with branded clothes that look a lot similar to the one's in youth famous H&M

On a rather gloomy day S&O breezed into Monki again 4 days after the inaugural. With no specific purchase agenda. Babes standing tall with trays of champagne bottles with straws in 'em were replaced by frowning faces, we wonder what caused the drastic difference in staff's hospitality... was it overwork or frustrating sales with competitive stores less than 10 steps away. Whatever it maybe we really wish dear Monki a good business and cool new strategies to cheer up the staff.

Vision to use less and less chemicals and striving to use at least 11% percent of organic cotton by the end of 2011 is what S&O finds impressive. We also like the jazzy interiors that match the mystic fairytalish narration behind all price tags. They have sequels if you are interested in their story telling abilities right here .

A lady looking at goods wondering if it is a Monki, Weekday, or Cheap Monday

Festive looking Monki

S&O signs off wishing Monki to be the next rising star of stores in one of the big malls like GVK standing shoulder to shoulder with it's cousing Langoor in Hyderabad exchanging tips.

XOXO
S&O

Gran Delicato café

S&O accompanied by a dear friend Anna Hakala walked into Gran Delicato, where coffees scream and salads yell in greek; a language we don't speak. BUT Certainly like... specially after the delicato experience. 

A place for everyone we noticed, Cozily set, built to let in a lot of sunlight in the front. Oh don't be disappointed dear fellow dark corner seekers, there is just that for you tucked in the back. Straightforward simple arrangement where you can snug as a bug in a rug for hours talking philosophy. 

That smile translates to "Lock up your daughters" for I've got one a penny two a penny hot cross buns.

When S&O showed up at Gran delicato, we were oblivious to everything else as the man at the counter, gained control over our focus. Under his spell we almost ate the sand in a huge bucket resembling brown sugar, displayed on the counter. The taste of ciabattas makes one forget  that  we don't understand his sense of humour,  nor do we comprehend the reason behind the display of random artifacts displayed in the café. 

We recommend all S&O's to enjoy the pleasures of sipping on greek coffee, and munch up huge salad's soaking up the cheerful ambience. It is one of the few places in Helsinki where you pay while you leave. we noticed regular's are treated as friends. We were reminded of  Hyderabadi Iranian cafes at how they remember everyone's order. A speciality that S&O hold in high regard. We also noticed how happy staff looks; happy taking pride in their cafe, their work and what they serve and how they serve. S&O complies. 

PS: S&O's favourite is the eggplant and artichoke ciabatta + the toffee that comes with your cappuccino. 

XOXO

S&O

A street Bar named Kitty's

Part of S&O wants to write a raving review of Kitty's. First off we love it's funky name, it's cozy venue and how much fun S&O had being there each time. 

But... but... S&O chooses to keep it to simple real facts for they are enough to impress. At Kitty's we enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, with a choice of bar stools, regular tables and intimate cubicles on the seating menu. It's strategic location makes it ideal for meeting up for a quick drink before heading out on bigger adventures.  

Kitty's happy regulars 

Or it is the joint for those dark lazy thursday nights for a few quiet drinks  with a bunch of your office mates desiring to morph into sponges soaking up alcohol, hoping to start off the week-end earlier. 

We almost tagged this photo "CLASSIC" 

We know of a man who goes there almost every night for a drink or two... proof that Kitty's can easily gain fidelity from it's clients. 

While S&O didn't find dining here exceptional nor were there any fancy tuxedo clad waiters bringing us drinks named "sex on the beach", we certainly found awesomely tattooed bartenders, good service, tolerance to drunk noise and darn good tapas. 

Thumbs up Kitty's 

topsy turvy right to left upside down

We sign off here wishing Kitty's all the very best and hoping they play music a little louder, for S&O enjoys a tad higher decibels of sound to appreciate music... coming to Finland straight from India we still need to Finnishise... 

XOXO
S&O 

Flea Market

In India S&O learnt about there being cheaper options for quality stuff, also shopping in India is ultra cheap which is why it is almost every woman's favorite hobby. When S&O enquired about Kitchen ware that enables cooking Indian food leveling to retain authenticity, two options were presented, one being Ikea, and two Flea market.

S&O was tickled with intrigue by the concept called Flea market, a place to find preowned items on sale by the owners themselves for a "good price". After being disappointed with Ikea, S&O's motivation to go "see" a "flea market" was further incited.

S&O entered the flea market premises, to be awestruck by the sheer size of the market + the number of shoppers + the number of vendors of all nationalities + the whole ambience. It reminded us of a mini size numaish minus the joy rides.
If we were to make a list of what can't be found in a flea market, the list would feature very few. There was everything one wanted, including a pressure cooker an item that tops S&O's current wish-list. Sadly we lost it in a bidding to an other smart shopper.
Hustling hall was filled with endless smiling merchants, happy customers, energy that is created out of a great rapport between two content people. We felt that the whole mood of the place was festive. Specially, the elderly happy hippy lady humming while strumming at her guitar stole our hearts.
S&O cherishes the memory of her personality, and we wish to see her again and again and again.

The stall that caught S&O's attention the most was the very first one as we entered. At a first glance they were an other Finnish couple with their clothes, jackets and some other random stuff to sell... The lady behind the counter was warm and generous selling off her stuff for 2 euros a piece. The man behind the counter made us think of Keanu Reeves playing a Goth in a science fiction set in a nordic city. When we revisited the stall at the end of our grand tour of the entire market, we knew the very first one remains our most favorite.

We were happy to have experienced the flea market. Being there was like witnessing the world mould together, various flavours concocting to create a new effervescent world. In a day S&O shook hands with people from Finland, Ethiopia, Romania, Russia, Saudi, Pakistan Bangladesh and Srilanka, met a very handsome young man from Burkina Faso who fathered a half finnish boy, talked with vendors from Pakistan about Kashmir issues, reacquainted with bargaining and just window shopped the world.

XOXO S&O

Until we shop again 

Pizza & Beer

A Giant Pizza and Huge pitcher of beer

Jätti Pizza, the hoarding says and thats exactly what they offer, a Giant Pizza for 5 Euros. S&O started to feel an itch in the deep pits of their belly after window shopping for that perfect pair of boots in Forum and Sokos, not really being in the mood to get back home to cook, we were looking for large sums of food but "not so heavy on the wallet" kind of options, Our company agreed to go where ever there was good beer.

We voted "SKY EXPRESS" in unison thanks to Don Killian who showed us the place. Even though it is only 0,8km from the City center (Annankatu 31-33), it's unique placement gives a sense of faraway outtheresomewhere feel.

A super small joint, with 6 tables and a load of forks and knives, Oregano, pepper, tabasco sauce (S&O is sure that it was exclusively for the benefit of Indian clientele) and a photo frame of "spices" to compliment and complete the decor... We say.

A bunch of Turks decided to set up a Pizza place about 12 years ago, what else they came here with the secret ingredient for success (Good price and Humongous Beer). Others agree that they hit it off with the hungry and thirsty Finns.

XOXO 

S&O 

Nasty clothes for wicked people

Wandering in Forum building Shoppers reached the top most floor and what we see on the right drew us closer and Cloooosserrr into Back street, and as we enter the store the vibe came out to scream the greetings "GOTHIC it is baby", 3 sensuously pierced Gothic women at the counter half scared half intrigued others.

Shoppers went in to further explore the store after the initial sensationalistic impact. Shoppers began to enjoy the hallucinatory choice of images printed on the T-shirts, Jackets, and Dresses. If Shoppers were in India and saw a similar T-shirt, there wouldn't have been an attempt to map an association of the motive on T to the gothic subculture.

Being here in Helsinki, others have noticed numerous piercings, complex to explain trend in dressing and make-up and when Shoppers had an inside look at the accessories, photographs, jewelry and many more unspeakables at the store that others haven't seen ever before, all the pieces fell in place.

The only impression of Goths that Others had was from the Japanese manga GOTH , now Others made a mental note that Goths are not dangerous, they just have an altered perception to sensuality.

XOXO
S&O

Pecos

S&O heard of Pecos great many times. Registered the ravings and rantings of this beer brewing, free pop corn serving, Jazz slash Rock fans magnet where the great fans in India gather each time they rush to Bangalore to attend a concert by an international band.

We went there to enjoy the glory of this place, even though we were taken aback for a second by it's location, tucked away on one of the Brigade road crosses, in the busiest shopping areas in Bangalore. Speakers were happy to emit Classic Rock-roll music as we admired the interiors of Pecos which is considered an institution in the city's rock circuit. Die-hard loyalists swore to S&O of its food and in-house brewed beer. We regained our spirits, were happy even being in the calming old crudity.

Being an old creaky building only adds to the whole effect of RETRO which is further enhanced by the huge blow-ups of legendary musicians, and their concerts. S&O was told that the place is packed, be it a working day, or Week-ends. Such popularity for an ancient joint, tape playing, non hard liquor serving exclusively catering classic rock fans; This Pecos that sounds like something to eat rather than a place to hang-out in amazes us.

S&O considers BEER+POPCORN served here a touch of spontaneous authenticity. We enjoyed the food here with it's decent inexpensive options ranging from Kerala to continental cuisine.  We recommend Italian menu and along with an advice to take a Rickshaw to get here, as finding parking on brigade road can be tricky.

Enjoy your beer while the legends on the walls watch over you.

XOXO

S&O

CHUNG'S Chinese corner

When the clock strikes "Lunch O clock in India, the rats camping in the hungry bellies of employed groups start to riot  for feed which is ABUNDANT, CHEAP in price and ACCESSIBLE distance from work, Chinese restaurants occur as an answer most times, more so if it is as inviting as Chung's with it's scarlet lantern-y authentic chinese allure. 

Maharshi; a dear friend of S&O works in a building right opposite Chung's in Bangalore. While talking to S&O he mentioned that he frequents this joint when he is in a hurry yet wants a sumptuously delicious meal. We wanted to enjoy the lunch experience with a hard selling competitive employee like him, who lives in an early anglicized city that believes in Jazz and blues, which is in constant growth with flow of native immigrants amassing to work in the clusters of initial Techno-poles in India. 

S&O entered CHUNG'S Chinese corner with dear Masha in tow, enjoyed a brilliant meal reflecting on the brilliance of the small scale entrepreneurial-ship skills of chinese restaurants, where the food is first loved in the kitchen before being served chinese tea inclusive. Always at an affordable price and most times offering a good competition in service to fast food joints. 

CHUNG'S has a potential to be better, if the staff can be a little more hospitable to the hungry clientele, and clean the table cloths before hand instead of dusting them off on our feet. However it definitely falls into a category of restaurants that has the ability to make "REGULARS". 

A happy man awaits his meal

Strategically placed; with easy parking facilities.  In spite of bearing corner in it's name CHUNG's is spacious to not feel claustrophobic, and the mezzanine can be exclusive for the ones desiring to dine in a big numbered private group. 

S&O recommends Dragon chicken chop suey crisp; while S&O's friend recommends Koithio (Malaysian Noodles) and all the rest on their menu, saving crabs, lobsters and prawns. 

再见

S&O 

Talking SARI

Neel Kamal prints is one of the best places for Awesome Cotton Sari's, Nighties bed covers and sheets at a VERY reasonable price. Tucked away above an other whole-sale shop for fancy saris (which are in abundance in pot market) what is special about Neel Kamal Prints is that, it stores cotton saris of all ranges and from all over India.

Easy to get here... It is in the lane next to Ujjayni Mahankali Temple in Tobacco Bazar Pot market Secunderabad

if not you can always call the shop owners Pradeep Agarwal or Praveen Agarwal who are super helpful at 9246504222 or 9849745641.

PS: I thank My friend Joanne Lee for taking this Picture for me.

XOXO
S&O