Kumarakom KTDC Water Scapes - Day-out Package - Review


Day trips to Kerala’s tourist spots are a popular option among local vacationers.
Several resorts cater to this group by offering day-out packages. Overall, it is a win-win situation for both the travelers and the resort owners: for the vacataioners, it is a very economical way to enjoy a full-day of activities at a resort while for the resorts, it offers a way to optimize capacity utilization. The usual setup consists of outdoor activities (trekking, boating, use of swimming pool, etc.) with food included (welcome drink, buffet lunch, and snacks) for a full-day’s (9AM to 4PM usually) entertainment at well under Rs 1,000pp.





Several KTDC resorts have day-out packages and Water Scapes in Kumarakom offers one of the best both in terms of the type of activities and food. We purchased ‘Waterscapes Calling’ coupons through Entedeal at Rs 629pp (rate is slightly higher if you call directly). The listed package inclusions were:


  • Timing 10AM to 5PM.
  • Welcome Drink.
  • Entry to bird sanctuary.
  • Lunch with 2 non-veg dishes (fixed menu).
  • Evening Tea/Coffee with one veg snack.
  • Use of swimming pool (swimming costumes mandatory, pool towels provided).
  • Room for changing (subject to availability).
  • One hour boating.
  • Fishing.

What they provided was very close to the above: room for changing is not provided although there is a store area in front of the swimming pool which is open - also, restrooms and wash-area are also always open by the side of their main restaurant.

KTDC Water Scapes is blessed with an outstanding location - inside the bird sanctuary with vembanad lake frontage.
Although it is starting to show its age, the property is excellent: nice reception area, wonderful restaurant on the water (built on stilts just like the villa rooms), ayurvedic facility, infinity pool, a newer boat landing facility, and beautifully maintained acreage with an organic farm along with a mini-zoo. The main entrance to the facility is shared with the bird sanctuary entrance. Once your enter, bird sanctuary visitors have an interpretation center at the V and tickets can be purchased there. To the right is the lane that leads to the gated entrance to the KTDC Water Scapes property. For hotel guests, adjacent to that entry gate is a private pathway to the bird sanctuary.



The reception is well equipped to handle day-pack guests. They clearly explained the suggested itinerary for our day. Below are the details of how it went:
  1. Bird Sanctuary: Welcome Drink followed by entry into the bird sanctuary. The bird sanctuary visit took around two hours (4KM walk overall). Although, the best time to go is early morning (6AM open), the second view tower near the end of the walk is a great location to see thousands of birds, independent of your time of visit. 
  2. One-hour boat ride: There is a small caveat with this: they do this as part of the package only if there are ten or more signups. Otherwise, for a private boat-trip, there is a Rs 650 fee. As we were the first group for the day, we booked a boat-ride on our own and by the time it was time to report, they had other day-pack visitors and so they waived the fee for everyone. As it is very popular, it is quite likely for this to happen.It is a motor boat and the route is a loop that starts in the Meenachal river, enters the vembanad lake for a short duration (paathiramanal island can be seen when you are in that portion of the ride), and then reenters the river and back to the starting point. The glimpse of rural life that one gets to see was the highlight. 
  3. Lunch:
    For the day-pack customers, what they have is a set menu that includes soup, salad, rice/chappati, chicken curry, pearly-spot preparation, five veg dishes, and fruit-salad/ice-cream. While this setup avoids the inevitable chaos in a buffet, it is still not ideal - a lot of food goes to waste at every table.  
  4. Fishing: as the resort is adjacent to the Vembanad Lake and there is a boat-landing area built-up, there are several spots around there to try your luck. They provide a basic line-and-hook along with bait (atta batter with butter and turmeric powder - apparently the latter two ingredients help attract the fish).
    What is given is too basic to catch anything big, but pearl-spot babies and other small fishes are a plenty and it is quite easy to catch those. 
  5. Swimming Pool: They do provide towels and there is a store room area that can double-up as a changing room. The infinity pool, one of the first of its kind setup in Kerala in the 80s is quite large although not very clean (dead leaves and such).
  6. Evening Snack: The restaurant offers a light snack and tea/coffee after 3:30PM or so.
Overall, we rate this an excellent option for local visitors considering a day-out package.


 

Wayanad - Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary Safari & Chembra Peak - Review



Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary & Chembra Peak epitomizes what is on offer in Wayanad.
The one downside with either attractions is that they are not very accessible. With the Sanctuary, the main feature is a Jeep-Safari, but that is restricted to the first 40 Jeeps (starts at 7AM) in the morning and 20 more (starts at 3PM) in the afternoon. With Chembra Peak, the main issue is that the last 10KM to reach the place is not maintained at all and so it is best to not attempt the drive with cars (four-wheel drives and SUVs are OK).

Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary is around 16KM from Sultan Battery on the Mysore Highway (212). For some reason, Google maps show Thirunelli/Tholpetty Wild Life Sanctuary when searching for Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary.
That is a different one located ~65KM from Sultan Battery, off the route to Coorg - that Sanctuary also has a similar Safari and is a good alternative if you plan to visit the famous Thirunelly Temple.

The ticketing process at Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary is confusing.  Tickets are Rs 115 pp (Rs 40 for Camera).    we were the first at the gate. The Safari is around 10KM and it is through a dirt road inside the forest - the ride is bumpy made worse by your sitting position - you are sitting side-on and have to turn  around in the seat to look. We got in right after the first Jeep (the first one carried Forest Department special guests) and were lucky enough to see many animals in their natural setting - elephants, bison, red mongoose, deers, feeding vultures, etc - also, a male peacock perched on a very tall tree was a stunning sight. We were dropped back at the hotel by 9AM, in-time for breakfast - overall, a very smooth affair. Basically, one has to first get tickets at the Forest Department ticket-counter at the left side of the Safari entry gate and then arrange a Jeep with private parties (unionized) that line the road. The Safari starts at 7AM and since there is a limit of 40-Jeeps for the morning Safari, the earlier you get to the ticket counter, the better. A Jeep can hold four people comfortably and a maximum of six people - excluding the driver and a forest guide that travels with you on every Jeep. The Safari Jeep charges are fairly uniform at Rs 1100. The trick is to try and be the first few Jeeps to get in, once the gates open at 7AM - chances of seeing animals go down dramatically after the first few Jeeps.
We opted for a Jeep that the hotel arranged. The guy came to the hotel with the Jeep at around 5AM thus ensuring that we were the first in line at the ticket counter. Once we got the tickets, the guy ensured

For Chembra peak, we asked the services of the same guy who took us to Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. He offered to take us there and back for Rs 1800 and we went with it. Basically, it is a day-long program and there are no restaurants and such in the area - so, a very late lunch is a given.
To get there, the turn-off is from Meppadi (about 27KM from Sultan Battery via Kolagappara-Vaduvanchal Road and Manjappara-Karapuzha Road). From the turn-off to the Left, it is a few kilometers to the Forest Office on the Left. They collect 750/group for the trek and give a guide (he gets 250 apparently). The trekking site is around 7KM from the Forest Office. The last ~5KM of that road is very bad - they don’t restrict anybody but we saw several vehicles turning around.
There is a forest department office and a watch-tower at the Start location. It took us around two hours to the heart-shaped lake and back (2.5KM one-way) - the lake area is very pretty and there is a nice view point a little further - both the lake (no swimming and the water is not drinkable) and the viewpoint are good places to hang-out although there are no services at either point - carry plenty of liquids and snacks (as with most tourist spots in Wayanad, it is an eco-friendly zone and all bags are checked for plastics - each one requires a Rs 20 deposit which you get back when you show them after the trek).
The original trek was another 7KM that crosses 3 other peaks (currently closed) - apparently someone used a cellphone up there and got burned by lightning, thus resulting in the indefinite closure.
They say it might reopen when Neelakurunji blossoms in 2018. On the way back, a 1KM diversion gets you to Phantom Rock. 













Related Posts:

  1. Wayanad - Edakkal Caves, Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, and Soochipara & Meenmutty Falls - Review
  2. Wayanad - Lakkidi Viewpoint, Pookode Lake, & Sultan Battery Jain Temple - Review
  3. Wayanad - Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary Safari & Chembra Peak - Review (this post).  
  4. Wayanad - Banasura Sagar Dam, Kuruva Island, & Pazhassi Tomb - Review.

Last Updated: 08/2016.
   

Tracking Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Warren Buffett's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 Warren Buffett's writings (pdfs) are a treasure trove of information and are a very good source for anyone starting out on individual investing.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Seth Klarman's Baupost Group Holdings - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Seth Klarman's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 Seth Klarman's distinct investment style is elaborated in his 1991 book "Margin of Safety: Risk-averse value investing strategies for the thoughtful investor".

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking David Einhorn's Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights David Einhorn's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To learn about David Einhorn and the perils of shorting, check-out his "Fooling Some of the People All of the Time, A Long Short (and Now Complete) Story".


To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Mohnish Pabrai's Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Mohnish Pabrai's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 To learn about Mohnish Pabrai's distinct investing style and philosophy, check out his "The Dhandho Investor: The Low - Risk Value Method to High Returns" and other works.


To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Bruce Berkowitz's Fairholme Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Bruce Berkowitz's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Bill Ackman's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 To learn more about Bill Ackman, check-out the book "Confidence Game: How Hedge Fund Manager Bill Ackman Called Wall Street's Bluff".

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking George Soros's Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights George Soros's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To learn about Soros' distinct trading style and philosophy, check out his "The Alchemy of Finance" and other works.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking William Von Mueffling's Cantillon Capital Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights William Von Mueffling's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Prem Watsa's Fairfax Financial Holdings Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Prem Watsa's Fairfax Financial Holdings moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking Lou Simpson's SQ Advisors Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Lou Simpson's SQ Advisors moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To know more about Lou Simpson’s “scuttlebutt” style of investing check-out Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits and Other Writings.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Glenn Greenberg's Brave Warrior Advisors Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Glenn Greenberg's Brave Warrior Advisors moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking David Winters' Wintergreen Advisers Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights David Winters' Wintergreen Advisors moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking John Paulson's Paulson & Company Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights John Paulson's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




John Paulson is best known for his highly leveraged bets against the real-estate bubble that netted him billions in the aftermath. To learn more about that story, check-out "The Greatest Trade Ever: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of How John Paulson Defied Wall Street and Made Financial History".

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .  

Tracking Carl Icahn's Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Carl Icahn's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 Note: Icahn's 13F filing is a consolidated report and so should not be viewed as a single portfolio. Specifically, Icahn Enterprises holds several of the businesses and the entities in turn hold Icahn Enterprises. For an idea on the business structure, check-out Icahn Enterprises Investor Presentation (Slide 9).

Carl Icahn is best known for building sizable stakes in businesses and then pushing for changes to increase shareholder value. To learn more about his investing style and philosophy check-out "King Icahn: The Biography of a Renegade Capitalist".

 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy .

Tracking David Tepper's Appaloosa Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights David Tepper's Appaloosa Management Portfolio moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To know more about Tepper's distress investing style, check out Distress Investing: Principles and Technique.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Ken Fisher's Fisher Asset Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Ken Fisher's Fisher Asset Management Portfolio moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:





To know more about Ken Fisher, check-out his Research Papers (most notably in Behavioral Finance), investment books (several of them were NY Times best sellers) and his father Philip Fisher’s scuttlebutt investment philosophy explained in the book “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits and Other Writings”.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Kahn Brothers' Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Irving Kahn's Kahn Brothers Group 13F US long portfolio moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 Irving Kahn was a disciple of Benjamin Graham and is the author of "Benjamin Graham The Father of Financial Analysis". He was one of the closest followers of the original teachings of Benjamin Graham.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Yacktman Asset Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Donald Yacktman's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 To know more about Yacktman's bottom-up value investing philosophy, check-out the book "Value Investing: From Graham to Buffett and Beyond".

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Dan Loeb's Third Point Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Dan Loeb's Third Point Portfolio this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:






To know more about Dan Loeb's Third Point, check-out his letters to shareholders at their site. His activist investing style that is epitomized by scathing letters to CEOs is covered in "Chapter 7: The Poison Pen: Dan Loeb, Third Point" in the book "The Alpha Masters: Unlocking the genius of the world's top hedge funds".

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Tweedy, Browne Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Tweedy Browne's portfolio this quarter.  Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




Tweedy Browne (TBGVX) (TWEBX) (TBHDX) (TBCUX) has released a number of investment research papers over the years and that is a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn from their investment philosophy.  The best known work is “What Has Worked in Investing: Studies of Investment Approaches and Characteristics Associated With Exceptional Returns” that was first released in 1992. Christopher Browne authored “The Little Book of Value Investing”, a great introduction.


To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Ole Andreas Halvorsen's Viking Global Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Ole Andreas Halvorsen's Viking Global Portfolio this quarter.   Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 Viking Global was established in 1999 and Ole Andreas Halvorsen is considered one of the most successful among the "tiger cubs" and he currently manages over $25B. To know more about Julian Robertson and his legendary Tiger Management, check out Julian Robertson: A Tiger in the Land of Bulls and Bears.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.  

Tracking Jeffrey Ubben's ValueAct Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights changes to Jeffrey Ubben's ValueAct Capital US long stock portfolio this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To know more about activist investing, check out Deep Value: Why Activist Investors and Other Contrarians Battle for Control of Losing Corporations.

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Robert Karr's Joho Capital Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights changes to Robert Karr's Joho Capital portfolio this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




Karr is one of the most successful among the “tiger cubs” (protégés of Julian Robertson & his legendary Tiger Fund). Although Karr’s main expertise is in Asian equities, ~30% of the assets are typically in US listed 13F securities. To know more about Robert Karr and "tiger cubs", check out the book Julian Robertson: A Tiger in the Land of Bulls and Bears.  


To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.   

Tracking Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Nelson Peltz's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 To know more about activist investing, check out Deep Value: Why Activist Investors and Other Contrarians Battle for Control of Losing Corporations

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking Wallace Weitz's Weitz Investment Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Wallace Weitz's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy.

Tracking David Abrams' Abrams Capital Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights David Abrams' moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:




 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Alex Roepers' Atlantic Investment Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Alex Roepers' moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To know more about activist investing, check out Deep Value: Why Activist Investors and Other Contrarians Battle for Control of Losing Corporations

To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of following the best hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Tracking Larry Robbins' Glenview Capital Management Portfolio - Q1 2016 Update

Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Larry Robbins' Glenview Capital Holdings US long portfolio holdings this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves:



 To learn more about how to profit from a strategy of cloning hedge fund picks, check out our book Profiting from Hedge Funds: Winning Strategies for the Little Guy

Labels

401k ( 15 ) Abad Turtle Beach ( 1 ) Abrams Capital Management ( 5 ) Acoustic Electric Guitars ( 1 ) Acoustic Guitars ( 1 ) ACT ( 1 ) Activist ( 4 ) Address Change ( 2 ) Advanced Placement ( 4 ) air asia ( 2 ) airlines ( 2 ) Akre Capital Management ( 18 ) Alex Roepers ( 5 ) AP ( 4 ) apartments ( 2 ) Appaloosa ( 15 ) ARIUS ( 1 ) Arlington Value Capital ( 3 ) Atlantic Investment Management ( 5 ) Ayemenem ( 1 ) Bangalore ( 3 ) Bangkok ( 2 ) Bannerghatta National Park ( 1 ) barbuda ( 2 ) Battery Park ( 1 ) Baupost ( 2 ) Baupost Group ( 17 ) bay area ( 2 ) BDCs ( 3 ) Benjamin Graham ( 2 ) Benjamin Graham Model ( 2 ) Berijam Lake ( 2 ) Berkshire Hathaway ( 35 ) best sites ( 9 ) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ( 41 ) Bill Ackman ( 19 ) Bill Gates ( 40 ) Blue Ridge Capital ( 16 ) Blum Capital Partners ( 12 ) books ( 4 ) Boone Pickens ( 2 ) BP Capital Management ( 2 ) Brave Warrior ( 3 ) Brave Warrior Advisors ( 16 ) british honduras ( 2 ) Bruce Berkowitz ( 19 ) Bruce Fund ( 38 ) Camcorders ( 3 ) canada ( 4 ) cancun ( 3 ) CANROYs ( 7 ) Cantillon ( 12 ) carl icahn ( 9 ) Carl Ichan ( 8 ) casino ( 3 ) Casio ( 2 ) CBRE ( 2 ) CEF ( 2 ) Charles Akre ( 15 ) Charlie Munger ( 40 ) Chase Coleman ( 16 ) Chou Associates ( 29 ) Christmas gifts ( 7 ) Christopher H. Browne ( 7 ) Chuck Akre ( 13 ) Cisco ( 2 ) Class Action Settlements ( 2 ) CLEP ( 1 ) Coatue Management ( 28 ) Cochin ( 2 ) coin collecting ( 266 ) collectibles ( 266 ) Consumer Product Reviews ( 29 ) cook islands ( 2 ) coonoor ( 2 ) Covered Calls ( 2 ) credai ( 4 ) Daily Journal ( 37 ) Dalal Street ( 8 ) Dan Loeb ( 10 ) DAT ( 1 ) David Abrams ( 5 ) David Einhorn ( 22 ) David Swensen ( 17 ) David Tepper ( 15 ) David Winters ( 15 ) DCF ( 2 ) Digital Piano ( 3 ) Dinakar Singh ( 20 ) Donald Yacktman ( 10 ) dry bulk shipping ( 2 ) Duquesne ( 34 ) Education ( 37 ) Edward Lampert ( 21 ) Egerton Capital ( 39 ) Egypt ( 3 ) Elementary Education ( 10 ) Elementary School Textbooks ( 5 ) eReaders ( 2 ) Eric Mindich ( 13 ) ESL Investments ( 14 ) ESPP ( 6 ) ETF ( 2 ) ETN ( 2 ) Eton Park ( 13 ) Everyday Musings ( 58 ) Exam Prep ( 7 ) Exiting the rat race - how to? ( 19 ) EXPLORE ( 1 ) Fair Value Estimates ( 4 ) Fairfax Financial ( 4 ) Fairfax Financial Holdings ( 14 ) Fairholme ( 19 ) Fairpointe ( 28 ) Family Office ( 18 ) FD Laddering ( 1 ) Financial Independence ( 93 ) Fisher Asset Management ( 10 ) Flash Camcorders ( 3 ) flat ( 4 ) flats ( 2 ) Flip ( 3 ) Francis Chou ( 29 ) free ( 17 ) frugal ( 3 ) Frugal Living ( 34 ) Fund Holdings ( 961 ) futures ( 2 ) FVE ( 2 ) gambling ( 3 ) garmin ( 2 ) Genting ( 2 ) george soros ( 27 ) giveaway ( 15 ) Glenn Greenberg ( 20 ) Glenview Capital ( 14 ) GMAT ( 1 ) Google ( 2 ) Gotham Asset Management ( 7 ) gps ( 5 ) GRE ( 1 ) Greenlight Capital ( 22 ) Guitars ( 3 ) Half Marathon ( 2 ) Hawaii ( 2 ) Hedge Funds ( 1154 ) HELOC ( 1 ) High School Education ( 7 ) High School Textbooks ( 6 ) HOA ( 3 ) hobby ( 17 ) holiday shopping ( 7 ) Holidays ( 3 ) Holyland ( 11 ) Home Improvement ( 2 ) home ownership ( 5 ) Homes ( 18 ) Homeschool ( 18 ) Houses ( 2 ) Housing ( 3 ) Hykon ( 2 ) Ian Cumming ( 15 ) Icahn Enterprises ( 6 ) india real estate ( 5 ) Infinuvo ( 6 ) Insurance ( 3 ) invesco ( 17 ) investing strategies ( 3 ) Investment Portfolio ( 96 ) Investment Research ( 10 ) Investments ( 7 ) iRobot ( 5 ) Irving Kahn ( 13 ) israel ( 5 ) Jason Maynard ( 10 ) Jefferies ( 2 ) Jeffrey Bruce ( 39 ) Jeffrey Ubben ( 23 ) Jerusalem ( 2 ) Jim Chanos ( 20 ) Joel Greenblatt ( 7 ) John Armitage ( 40 ) John Griffin ( 16 ) John Paulson ( 17 ) Joho Capital ( 19 ) Jordan ( 3 ) Joseph Steinberg ( 9 ) Julian Robertson ( 4 ) Kahn Brothers ( 14 ) Kakkanad ( 4 ) Kanyakumari ( 2 ) Kawai ( 2 ) Ken Fisher ( 10 ) kerala real estate ( 5 ) Kids ( 49 ) Kids Yamaha ( 3 ) Kindle ( 2 ) kochi ( 8 ) Kodaikanal ( 2 ) Korg ( 2 ) Kraft ( 2 ) Kuala Lumpur ( 2 ) KWA ( 2 ) Kynikos ( 20 ) laptop ( 5 ) Larry Robbins ( 14 ) Las Vegas ( 2 ) Leon Cooperman ( 30 ) Leucadia ( 2 ) Leucadia National ( 13 ) Lone Pine Capital ( 9 ) long ( 6 ) long call ( 2 ) long puts ( 3 ) Lou Simpson ( 15 ) LSAT ( 1 ) Mahabalipuram ( 2 ) Malaysia ( 3 ) Marathon ( 2 ) Mark McGoldrick ( 10 ) Markel ( 23 ) Mason Hawkins ( 4 ) MCAT ( 1 ) Melinda Gates ( 31 ) memorabilia ( 266 ) MFP Investors ( 37 ) Michael Dell ( 22 ) Michael Price ( 40 ) Middle School Education ( 4 ) Middle School Textbooks ( 3 ) Mini Notebook ( 3 ) MODUS ( 1 ) Mohnish Pabrai ( 22 ) mortgage ( 2 ) Mount Kellett ( 10 ) MSD Capital ( 22 ) Music ( 6 ) Mutual Funds ( 8 ) mysore ( 2 ) Nelson Peltz ( 13 ) Netbook ( 4 ) Notebook ( 3 ) numismatics ( 266 ) O-Duster ( 1 ) Oahu ( 2 ) offers ( 2 ) Ole Andreas Halvorsen ( 10 ) Omega Advisors ( 29 ) online tax ( 4 ) ooty ( 2 ) Options ( 4 ) Pabrai Fund ( 17 ) passive income ( 7 ) pattaya ( 2 ) Paulson & Company ( 7 ) Paulson and Company ( 9 ) PEG ( 2 ) Pershing Square ( 19 ) Phil Fisher ( 5 ) philately ( 283 ) Philippe Laffont ( 28 ) Piano ( 9 ) PLAN Test ( 1 ) portfolio ( 4 ) Prem Watsa ( 17 ) product reviews ( 13 ) Property Taxes ( 2 ) PSAT ( 1 ) R2I ( 24 ) R2I Finances ( 3 ) R2I Housing ( 5 ) Raising Kids ( 41 ) Rat Race ( 15 ) RBS Partners ( 19 ) reading ( 5 ) real estate ( 6 ) Reducing Expenses ( 2 ) REIT ( 3 ) Retirement Portfolio ( 9 ) Reviews ( 81 ) Richard C. Blum ( 12 ) Robert Bruce ( 39 ) Robert Karr ( 19 ) Robotic Vacuum ( 4 ) Roland ( 2 ) Roomba ( 10 ) schooling ( 2 ) Sears ( 12 ) seeking alpha ( 2 ) Services - Reviews ( 33 ) Seth Klarman ( 19 ) Shipping ( 5 ) Shopping ( 3 ) short ( 5 ) short calls ( 2 ) short put ( 2 ) short puts ( 2 ) short selling ( 13 ) Ski ( 5 ) Sled ( 4 ) Solar Stocks ( 13 ) Soros Fund Management ( 14 ) Southeastern Asset Management ( 4 ) Southwest ( 2 ) spin-offs ( 2 ) SQ Advisors ( 15 ) stamp collecting ( 283 ) Stanley Druckenmiller ( 33 ) Statue of Liberty ( 2 ) Stephen Mandel ( 9 ) Stock Analysis ( 84 ) Stock Investments ( 4 ) Stock Portfolio Updates ( 6 ) stocks ( 3 ) summer ( 2 ) tax ( 7 ) TaxAct ( 3 ) TaxCut ( 1 ) Teacher's Editions ( 5 ) Technology ( 5 ) Test Prep ( 11 ) Thailand ( 3 ) Thekkady ( 2 ) theme park ( 2 ) Third Point ( 10 ) Thomas Gayner ( 40 ) Thyra Zerhusen ( 29 ) Tiger Cub ( 34 ) Tiger Global ( 17 ) Tiger Management ( 13 ) Time Square ( 2 ) TOEFL ( 1 ) TPG-Axon ( 20 ) Travel ( 278 ) Travel Reviews ( 82 ) Trian Fund Holdings ( 9 ) trip report ( 21 ) TurboTax ( 3 ) Tweedy Browne ( 10 ) Vacations ( 28 ) value investing ( 25 ) ValueAct ( 9 ) ValueAct Holdings ( 6 ) Vancouver ( 2 ) Video ( 3 ) Viking Global ( 10 ) Wallace Weitz ( 14 ) Warren Buffett ( 32 ) Wayanad ( 4 ) Weitz Investment Management ( 13 ) wilbur ross ( 17 ) William Von Mueffling ( 12 ) Wintergreen Advisors ( 15 ) Yacktman Asset Management ( 10 ) Yale Endowment ( 17 ) Yale University ( 7 ) Yamaha ( 7 ) YDP ( 1 ) YPG ( 1 )