Kodachadri

Myself, Karthik and my bro Ravi underwent this experience this last weekend which is not just any other trek which comes our way..
Day 1 started with the trail from Nittur to Kodachadri through Marakuttaka-Yemmehonda - Hidlumane falls and culminated at the summit where we pitched the tent and had a glorious evening with several like minded trekkers braving the rain and the cold. The fact we were able to light up a bonfire in such moist conditions and that we could make super duper lemon tea not just for us but for most on the hill shows our perseverance.

Hidlumane Falls:

Day 2 : We started running down the hill to Valur and realized that this trek should not end such tamely at 11 in the morning.
Hired a guide (the most important and best decision of the day) and we trekked to a dream land of a forest which we used to drool about.
Perils are impertinent as this is a Leach haven. Suckers were found in our legs, thighs, limbs etc in thousands over the period of the next 7 hours or so in which we skidded, rolled, fell , hurt our body with a single objective of reaching the pinnacle of the Mookambika WLS named Arishinagundi falls.
En route, we had ample opportunities to wash away the dirt and our skins on our own sweet non-descreptive pool with a pretty waterfalls.






The way we came out simply busted up after a 38 km saga thorough one of the brilliant forests what we have are blessed to have in our very own Karnataka.

We thought about this trek and aptly named it "TH Trek" a.k.a Thika Hariyo Trek.. Sorry, I don't apologize for the profanities 'coz we feel its worth THAT.


Best left to be explored by themselves who feel intrigued to know about this place..else keep dreaming on it
Pics here

A refreshing ride

Rode after a 4 month hiatus , a rather impromptu ride.

Was always fascinated / intrigued with the North Dharmapuri hills a.k.a Kenneth Anderson's homeland and a monday holiday compounded the enthu.. Thought abt the ride at 11 and myself and my bro left home 15 min later under the burning sun..

Reached Denkanikottai in no time and negotiated my way to Ayyur through tiny winding village roads and fantastic grass land and rolling hills landscapes.

Soon after crossing Ayyur, the topography suddenly transforms to dense jungle past the Ayyur forest check post. Long winding ghat roads leads to the pristine forest top plateau of Bethamugalalam. This village is situated at an altitude of abt 4000 ft above sea level, hence was very cool.


Inquiries with the local villagers soon led to me to a fantastic off roader that I dream t for a long long time.. A 10 km fundoo dirt track with numerous hair pins, steep slopes, crazy precipices leading to the only village ant the end of the trail - Kodekerai...




This village is the base for the trail to Gutherayan Peak located in the dense jungles abutting the Kaveri's northern / eastern banks.
This peak at 1390 m is the highest peak in Dharma puri and supposed to have beautiful views of the surrounding hills and towns as far as Dharmapuri, Hosur, Mettur Dam, Kaveri, BR Hills etc.

Thought couldn't trek to Gutherayan coz of lack of time, made it a point to return to this new found love as soon as I can.

Returned back to Ayyur and proceeded to my next unexplored area.. The Panjapalli dam.

Proceeded from Ayyur via Hosalli, Thippasandra villages to the Panjapalli Dam site :

Situated 20 km to the west of Rayakottai and Marandahalli, this 7 km long dam feeds the downs and villages of Dharmapuri dist. Amazingly the dam was full and provides idyllic settings for a good afternoon siesta.

Returned back home by 6:30 evening via Rayakottai, Kelamangalam, Mathigiri, TVS, Athibele.

A very refreshing 250km ride that I enjoyed the most.

Pics here...

Did u miss your train?

7:45 PM, steady hum of countless idling engines reverberating the Trinity Circle, haplessly waiting for the roads to be cleared of insanity. Stuck amidst this chaos is a young girl who has to catch her 8 PM train to Bombay. Her anxiety is very obvious in her face as she is stuck in that very place for 20 min. She asks her rickshawala, by when can he drop to the city station knowing that its humanely impossible to reach the station by the time the train would chug on. He gives her a wry smile indicating that how silly had been her request.

So, her mind clock begins ticking and the compass points to Plan B. Lets catch the train at Cantonment station as that is quite nearer to the place she was stuck and that she could bypass the traffic, she goads the driver to change the usual route and instructs him to lead her to the other destination, which obliges after a slight grumble. He brings in his expert traffic negotiating skills and maneuvers his way to cantonment. He drops her off in the lobby and she scampers to the platform just to see that the train has chugged off from that station too.

The tears are visible in her eyes, that she couldn't catch the train, that she couldn't meet her papa and mama whom she was about to meet after a long time.

She cursed her bad luck that had caught in her and made her to miss her train.

U might question her that its her foolishness to leave home so late to catch the train knowingly that Bangalorean traffic is notorious in the peak hours. Had u asked her , she would have sobbingly replied that she anticipated the traffic and left earlier by an hour than usual, but she dint anticipate more than usual traffic caused by a political VIP who had to be home with his wife after a trip to delhi and that he wished he remained inert to this traffic scene. Her auto was held up in that place just to make way better for that VIP.

U might feel sorry for her, might even offer condolences, finally U would ask what happened to her. The surprising fact that she made it to Bombay the next day same time!!!

Had she sat at Cantonment whining that she lost her train, wouldn't have led her anywhere. But Sanity prevailed in her mind and the compass pointed to Plan C. She immediately boarded an auto, went to a private travels and boarded a bus to Bombay the same day, a touch later though.

She made it to Bombay, no doubt.. but a touch later and without the satisfaction of enjoying the chitter chatter of urchins in the effervescent second class compartment, nor the crispy chikki, delicious vada pavs or the hot tea at the pune station.

The point is .... she made it.

But, U may ask whats so special in this episode. It happens to every common man in the streets.

Yeah true, it is applicable to every common man missing his train, but more applicable if we correlate his missed train to our missed ambitions in life.

So many of us have nurtured many dreams in our childhood. I wanted to become a CA once i grew up. When I met an opposition to that plan, my engineering mind made me wanting to become an electronics engineer. But that sad feeling that I couldn't become a CA was always in the back of my mind and that hampered my preparations to CET. This lack of focus made me get an inferior rank which obviously resulted in me taking up mechanical engineering. All against my interests but yet it happened. Okay i downplayed my ambitions and started loving my subject. In fact I really loved that subject and wanted to go further in the same subject. Wanted to study further, but owing to family compulsions (inevitabilities rather) i had to look out of for a job and finally ended up in this IT industry. Now I am working as a Software Programmer making tons of code which pleases my boss and my client. But what has become of me??? an aspiring CA educated in the engineering of other interests working in IT of God knows what interests..

Am I happy for what I have made of myself? I am sure this would have happened in countless such lives where people have subdued their yearns and still cribbing.

The point is.. how long should U crib, and why should u crib? Do we life of an eternity where our life is dependent and solely dependent on our interests alone. Even stones which seem eternal are crushed down to boulders and sands.

A guy or girl who is love torn often end up becoming devdas or end up in the posters.

Some proceed further and get married to other person other than their interests. Think of the pain the counterpart would experience when they would be expecting the love of their life.

A guy or girl who has lost his job often end up venting their angers and frustrations on their near and dear ones which further divides them apart which ends up ruining an entire family.

Don't we think we need to move on in our lives at-least for the sake of our brethren. Wont one bitter pill cure a bloody headache. Dont we need to think of the long term interests and successes that are sure shot present in our path ahead.

A love torn ass whose positive and looks ahead of the present crisis in his life might end up getting an adoring partner. A dejected pink slip holder, if his crisis is properly nurtured might end up getting a job being more focussed in his future interviews or even become a good self dependent business man with right opportunities in track.

The key think we need to keep in mind is that what ever transient set backs we face in life , this beautiful life will present us a myriad of opportunities for us to make us of it. All we need is a positive thinking heart and mind which wishes to succeed further.

Opportunities are always in present, we need to make an attempt to recognize the potential opportunities and grasp with fullest effort. That my IT life is feeding me and my life itself is an opportunity that life has given me. I might not be charmed by it now, but sure it will surely keep me and my family happy in the longer run.

Some people might argue that career setbacks are different from emotional setbacks and not to equate them. But isn't emotion and career ambitions arise from the same heart. hence both have the same emotional quotient to it. Dont we think learning to move ahead of the setback and grasp the next opportunity is the key? The fact that the girl thought of the bus as her opportunity made her successful in reaching her destination.

Did u miss your train anytime? How u reached your destination?

Lead India

So, we have another soap in the making.. "Lead India".
All set for the TRP ratings to shoot up for the mother channel.. People swearing by their kids that their kids n kin's life are hung on a few mobile voted souls.. Wowwww....
Arguably the much hyped event in last years television history competing with super sizzling dance shows blaring out in almost all video graphic mediums, made moolah for innumerable adv houses and even roadside giant hoardings. People felt happy that something interesting is happening..

And it happened, weeks after weeks people debated left and right, north vs south, god vs Satan and what not.. finally the pyramid was carefully "chosen" by the "intellectual" souls who began eliminating candidates one by one, based on what stakes (to be read as vision) laid out by them for the upliftment of billions of Indians, finally culminating with the "Clash of Titans" a grey haired wiser man vs a bespectacled guru. The promises oops.. vision were drilled into the people's hearts that "Ohh yeah.. All hail our new Neta.. oops Leader".
So the people had their chosen one.. our real Netas endorsing these enlightened souls that they will rub their shoulders with the chosen ones and would reshape India's destiny.
Okay done...We got two endorsed Titans supposed to help us. LeadIndia 2008 was a success..

Then....
In a months time, as prominent a human's memory is.. first that vision blurred from peoples eyes, those names vanished from memories.
Peoples life returned to normalcy after withstanding that giant surge of anticipation, roads grew potholes, pipes developed holes, fatter and deeper pockets to concerned people, gutters nurture seepage, utter disrespect for "stick no bills", color blindness for the traffic lights, blatant ignorance for our taxes to be paid honorably, neta prachaar for a corruption free samaj started..
BACK TO NORMAL.. what India is...

What happened to them?
I donno..
Might be they attended couple of seminars enlightening people with their plans for our future.
Some scholarships..???
A few benefits??
Went back to their daily chores working for their families bread.

What happened to their vision? Definitely in records readily available in cds and tapes, but is it the place it is suppose to languish? What should the endorsers do with the vision? Dont we think the onus is on their part to nurture wither these selected ones into our leaders so that they can represent us or atleast take these vision forward in their own asses if they want to save theirs.. I bet they could....

Some "legacy" persona come up with some out of the way thinking like giving away 1 crore laptops at throw away price to our younger generation to be awakened to lead India. Woww!!! He must be Bill Gates ^ n to be so generous to give away at such prices else must be looting our own money right under our noses. We are fully aware of this, yet we don't speak of it. Some of his peers who too know this obvious fact yet dare to comment on it, they do only when they feel it DOES any good to their own clan.

Unfortunately even these people fall under the same bloody system which governs the mind and soul or every other Neta.

Its a pity that this system runs our country rather than the people themselves who were voted for the purpose. Our own vote became vetoed!!!!

So, agreed.. we are living with a system which is governing us. If we are ready to be subdued by a system let it be... but let it be a constructive and progressive one. For a certain period of time, lets put our country ahead of our personal goals and try to build such system. Why do u think socialism and communism is still prevalent when people round the world are going ga ga over democracy. I am sure we have our some of our own neighbors reaping the benefits of such a system.

Why is this relaxed nature that we have? Why do u think we need to be taken for a ride each and every time. We are fully aware that THIS IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN but why should go hand in hand with it? Please dont mistake me if I am venting here.. coz iI believe its not just my frustration..

Coming to the question..
Do u think we need such a chosen leader for an Indian tradition and culture which has been developed and cared by pantheons of great kings, sages and visionaries who have made our tradition so called INDIA a mesmerizing opinion for the world. Do we need a such a leader when our own history could guide us in the right direction. Why not manu smruthi, kavi raja marga , tirukkural or any other beacons lead us a judicious, hard working, country loving, honest life.

If we still feel that our minds are in deep shit and yet needs some one else to lead us through the troubled times that we bestowed upon ourselves. Why should one ape others when he can look within himself our the knowledge, vision that has been passed to us by our forefathers for millenniums which were profound even before the third or the second world bore its existence.

A leader always rises when he is exposed. People may say that person is a born leader but nobody gives a damn if he is not noticed. Leaders need to be noticed and nurtured.

If we still need that we need a good leader, then please formulate the plan such that it reaches out to everyone and at least let it cause a flutter in everyone’s heart.
That leader may not change the common man, at least let it give him an awareness that something beneficial is happening around him.

So coming to the question that’s pondering in front of our eyes...

Do we need a leader?
Do we need a leader in human form or else..
How do we choose a leader?
What should we expect from a leader?

What bare qualities do we expect from a leader?
What do u think the real worth of such Leadership programs to be..
Should the media houses only make super moolah or even people be benefited.

At least I want a proper LEAD INDIA not a heavy dumb "LEAD" (Scientific Plumbum ) India.

Care a few words, please put in your thoughts.
Plan to lambast me.. I am all ears, coz I might be outright wrong too..:)

6, Ballygunj Place

For a change, a culinary blog.

For a foodholic like me, the mere mention of a cuisine, delicacy,dish would open the sluicegates of jollus and keep me hooked on to it ruining me the current interests too.When it crosses the threshold, what else to do than to dash to your fav joint.One such surge happened last saturday which resulted in me cutting accross Indiranagar in search of a Bengali restaurant.

The restaurant is aptly named to induce the curiosty for a travel frek like me.. "No6/ Ballygunj Place".Located on 12 th main Indiranagar above the Cafe Coffee Day, its run on the first floor of what looks like a home. The interiors are well annointed and the staff courteous too.The menu was handed to us what looked like a mamoth relic straight out of Paris Louvre Museum which is pursued by our good ol' Tom Hanks.The beauty of it was the names were impregnable to my 28 yr old vocabulary. But some names were more understandable as they were some prominent landmarks in Kolkota like Salt Lake, Elgin street, Chowringee Lane etc..

Started stretching my mouth vertically instead of horizontally to pronounce them, which caught the attention of a gentle mannered waiter who put me at ease.Nyways, i decided am not going to eat it (I meant the menu book daammmmit). Started with Aamchor Sorbot, a thick juice made of Dried Mangos and pepper.Its tangy , spicy... instanteously made me to humm umm mmmmmmmm.It went well with Manchow Chop, a cutlet like starter served with tamarind sauce laced with poppy seeds and fengreek. A tangy combo.
The main course was entirely greek and latin, our helplessness was clearly visible in mine and Aparna's eyes which were eager for any assistance to help us understand what it meant.The waiter again came to our rescue and based on our preferences, we settled for Bengali Dum Aaloo with Peas and 2 kinds of puris, one a luchi with peas paste sandwiched in between and the other Radhaballavi, a batoora like puri the size of a dinner plate !
We ordered for Shoktoni, a dish teeming with lots of vegetables cooked in Cocunut milk, which looks and tastes similar to Keralite veg stew.
The combi was heavenly and the rest of the gravy was gulped down with plain bengali steamed rice.
I could listen to lot of wahs wahs and mcch mcch from NV guys who were having a battle between hand and mouth munching on lamb, chikken, kitten, mutton..and tons and tons...
I recommend this place for any food lover whose looking out for change of taste from his mundane gulpers.
Avg Price: 500for 2 (Veggie).

Off to Pondicherry

The annual ride to Pondicherry was a tad delayed due to work commitments, but made up for it for a good ride.It was planned to be a evening ride to Cuddalore - our eventual destination for the night at my friend's home.Hence packing was done by morning, saddle bags, tools, rear back rest, everything..Came back home around 3:30 from office, even Aparna was home by then.
This was a quite anticipated ride not for the fact that i was going to pondicherry but that i was donning (to be interpreted as flaunting) my new ride gear.All set and kicked off at 4:15 sharp with my new Fieldsheet apollo pants and joe rocket gloves.

Within 10-20 min of the ride, the benifits of a proper ride gear became evident, the vibrations were isolated off my palms and wrists, the gauntlet made sure that wind dint gush into the jacket sleeves and my knees felt more secure within the armour.Its better to buy a riding gloves which is slightly tighter coz they tend to stretch upon usage. Initially the little finger was cramped for space but not now anymore. Perfect ingridients for lesser tiredness resulting in longer unbroken rides.

Hosur-Krishnagiri went in a flash and was in no mood to stop, tackled bad roads and reached chengamby 7:20. 190 KM in 180 min.. not bad for a slow moving fully loaded 350CI chugger.Had sumptous early dinner and hit the roads by 8. Enquired the locals abt the road conditions of Tiruvannamalai - Tirukkovilur stretch.Hitherto nightmarish even by bus standards,I used to travel by bus on this route and not even once i could take a peaceful nap for 5 mins.But now it is transformed to a real beauty. smooth glider for 35 km without a single hump or a ditch. Completed in 20 min flat :)Took a left towards Cuddalore cut through the Trichy highway and reached Cuddalore via Banrutti.This route is in good shape compared to Dindivanam - Pondy route and 25 km shorter too. I couldnt believe my eyes when i did Bangalore - Cuddalore in 5.5 hrs flat.Reached my friend Shan's home and had good time talking to his parents and rounded up the day.

Got up the next morning lazily coz of a sore ass after riding 325 KM with only one break. packed up and left to Pondy.The intent of visiting Aurobindo Ashram on that very saturday coincided with the Mother's birthday. The entire complex was a frothing sea of humanity. Faith, help, kindness was all pervasive. Sat quietly in the ashram remembring those good ol times with my friend, we used to sit at the very place where i was sitting alone.
After an hour, faded away from pondy towards ECR on the ever enchanting ECR. Ride to chennai was a breeze intercepted by a roadside beach break.

Trust me, Chennai traffic sucks nowadys ala Bangalore. It took me more than an hour to negotiate through south chennai to central which used to consume less than half an hour couple of years ago.And theso called pleasant weather made me gunning down to my aunts house at frantic pace, the rest of the day was the next day morning was spent on family commitments.

Left chennai by 2 in the afternoon and reached bangalore by 9 surviving the chennai chillness and a brief stopover at chittoor.The roads after entering karnataka at mulbagal is undergoing road expansion all the way to bangalore, a bit uneasy for night ride, but will nbecome a beauty in the coming months.Riding time 5.5 hrs
Overall a satisfying and a fast ride by my standards.