There are a lot of things that are happening to me and around me for which I am just a spectator. One of which is being hit by huge wave of recession tsunami. Customers show unwillingness to buy stuff leading to less demand..So industry lays off workers and consume less raw materials, Unemployed workers further spend less, Employees spend less fearing of their jobs, Investors fear to invest, Stock market falls. Finally there is a low financial condition and slump in personal income leading to recession. Till now I'm feeling the heat of recession(where neighbor is losing job) but not yet depression!(Me losing job!). All I can do is to hope that the financial market stabilizes soon!
As a fresher, I learnt so many things from the Industry that no college could ever include in its syllabus. Let me list a few of them.. and here it goes:
1. I earned! and so I got to know the TRUE value of money!
2. I now know how share market works!
3. How important a teamwork is..
4. Nature of work of program managers, line managers and engineers..
5. How mismatched is your study with respect to the Job.
6. Experience of night outs @ office
7. Weekend supports and customer focus.
8. I can flexibly use spreadsheets for TAX calculations! really I do!
9. Kinship with Co-freshers and colleagues.
10. How important is sleep during weekends!
Oh!, I forgot to add one more point!!!
11. WORK!!!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Fresh memories of Dandeli Trip
The unofficial-story-teller is back again to share his wonderful experience of last weekend trip to Dandeli. I still can't come out of memorable 3+ days that we spent together, from 23rd Jan to 27th Jan 2009. I was longing a journey in train for quite a time and that became too special with 21 other friends!
We all boarded Yeshwanthpur-Hubli train at 10:10pm on 23th friday night and reached Hubli at 7:30am the next morning. We had loads of fun in the train, right from cribbing our managers to pulling each others legs ;)
We reached Manish's place at Hubli and got ourselves refreshed. Manish's mother had taken a lot of trouble in preparing variety of dishes for breakfast - Idli, Upma, Chutney, Sweets, pathre vada,many fruits...(and the list continues). We all felt like we were at home. All the credit and million thanks to Manish's mother for everything.
Having "heavy" breakfast, we set out to Dandeli - Kali jungle resort. Thanks to Manish and his brother who had done all the travel, accommodation for all of us in beautiful resort.
It was noon by the time we reached the resort. We all had nice lunch and slept till 4:30pm until we had coffee/tea and got ready for evening walk to sunset point. It was awesome in exploring the place around till dusk. The sun hid under the blue clouds as it approached the horizon. Shimmering golden waters beneath the sinking sun was so beautiful to watch. Setting sun became a toy in our hands, as we captured in camera as if holding it, gulping it, and even smoking it!! Coming back to our base we had lots of fun in playing cards(with no bets, ofcourse!) Thanks to all the bluffers who taught me how to play. Later that night we all celebrated Manasi's birthday at resort and guess what the birthday gift was!! A pink heart shaped birthday cake, a pink adorable soft-toy bunny, which was named "Madhatter!" by her and a board game of scotland yard. All the credit goes to Sundar for choosing the gifts. It was already 1:00am by then and we had to leave at 4:00am for wildlife safari in the morning. So we decided to have a night-out that early morning and it all kicked off with the Director's cut! Hats off to Joseph's creativity (or perhaps the kick :P) in making 17 sequels of the same movie "Pati patni woh aur Doodhwaala!" with different ending and twists(by santosh) :P Hope everyone took it sportively.
The next morning we all went early morning safari with our red-painful-sleep-filled eyes and to our bad luck we could only see bears! and elephants! and bisons! and tigers! and panthers! on the road side boards below which it said "protect me!" :( All we had was good red-mud-facial for just 500 bucks! with all the muddy roads of the forest. We then reached a sunrise viewpoint in the forest and in a somber mood we returned back as we couldn't even have a look at real wild animals! Every one had to settle down in calling the stray dog as tiger (while having morning coffee) :P
Then we visited cytheri/sintheri/syntheri rocks(I really saw all three different version of names on billboards) and the red mud path till the giant monolithic granite! was just awesome. Harsha, Sanika, Prashanth and I practiced monkey-business on the way (and soon we realised - Latak ne se height nahi badtha, mummy ko bol complan deneko!) ;)
Coming back to our temporary residence we had lunch and slept for a while to go for the coracle(theppa) ride that late afternoon. The branches of trees and their reflections touching the still water were so alluring that I could not stop taking snaps from my camera.
Since, It was just 4-5 kms the way back to resort, some-of-us decided to take an evening stroll and on the way I found "biodegradable buttons" (This discovery would make Manasi happy :P), A beautiful shiny rounded seeds from a wild tree. Namarta was so happy to get a snap posing on asphalted road! And I can't forget the "boulevard of broken dreams" song - "I walk a lonely road.. The only one that I have ever known..." that Prashanth and I sang on our way back. So true, for the silence around and also it was the only path that we knew for our way back!
Soon after coming back we started off playing Kho-Kho till we started camp fire later that night. Sonu turned out to be champ at Kho-Kho! It was nice fun.
On 26th, The republic day morning we left early for most adventurous and famous Kali white water river rafting in Dandeli. As we reached the place early, at around 8:00am, we had nothing to do till all 8 rafts were brought to starting place. So we started off with celebrating republic day as I had got a tri-coloured plastic carry bag cover. We set it on a pole and called it our national flag and sung our national anthem and saluted mother India with great respects. We didn't show and disrespect by using the cover as we all have immense patriotism within us.
Again to kill time, we started off with Kabaddi and many of us really got hurt, but not so badly to discontinue rafting.
Rafting was the best part in the whole trip and the guide made us all sail together as a team. The fast rapids and the turbine-like river flow at the end forced the adrenaline to rush through our veins.
After rafting we had lunch at hotel Santosh (I do remember it as Shreyas, SL and Joe had Santosh spl ice-cream after they couldn't get honeymoon spl ice-cream that they had ordered for! :P) We headed back to Hubli thanking Manish's Bro on the way back and had great! great!! dinner again troubling Manish's family at his place.
Apart from all this literal documenting of the entire trip experience in words, there are certain things that I ought to share that I really felt from my heart.
I had never thought that Harsha could sing so well. It was surprising to see him sing with full emotions and expressions even at high pitches! I really enjoyed it a lot. Kudos to you mate! You eased all our comfort levels by mingling with every other as their own. And special thanks for being kannada teacher! to Sanika who was so eager to learn the new language. Reading out billboards in kannda named "Huballi Junction" and "Daandeli aranya pradhesha"(Dandeli wildlife santuary) were too much to ask for, that too from a beginner! But that was good to see her making an effort. I appreciate it.
Hats off to brave and adventurous Sonu. He was the first one to drop himself into river water, even though he had no experience in swimming, when asked to show the demo of laying down on back in flowing water as a part of white water river swimming.
I have great respects for the girls of our gang and I envy that they were more united than the rest of us. I appreciate your patience and your ability to console the crying kid :P and bring back smile in minutes!
Foremost of all, I had not seen the doofus(in her own words :P) acting so sensitive like the curious little sister not being allowed to join the game played by her big brothers! I know, Birthday away from family seems not at all special but gloomy. The next day while coming back in the train I couldn't sleep for a long while and mind was bogged in those memories. So I borrowed train tickets from Rajesha, a pen from Sanika and disturbed a whole lot others(who were wondering as to why?) just to jot down whatever came to my erratic mind! and here it goes dedicated to little sister doofus ;) (Remember the song that I sang in cab? "phoolon ka thaaron ka sabka kehna hai.. Ek hazaron mein meri behna hai".. I owe it to you!)
In search of destiny,
I met so many people on the way.
Living in the past,
I miss a lot of them long gone away.
But forgot the eternal truth-
That I only have today.
Family, Friends or colleagues -
I don't know to choose when and how!
But i want to live life the fullest
and make the most of it now,
being happy for and enjoying their
affection, care and love.
Today is "also" my birthday,
as I celebrate life every-single-day.
-Happy birthday again and again.
-Forever cheers!
I uploaded a collection of all camera pics that I could collect and selected ones are present @
Dandeli trip web album
I have embedded the picasa album slideshow here.
Have fun, Enjoy!
'Short is life; Sweeter we shall make it by living life like there's no another!'
Cheers to our brotherhood!
We all boarded Yeshwanthpur-Hubli train at 10:10pm on 23th friday night and reached Hubli at 7:30am the next morning. We had loads of fun in the train, right from cribbing our managers to pulling each others legs ;)
We reached Manish's place at Hubli and got ourselves refreshed. Manish's mother had taken a lot of trouble in preparing variety of dishes for breakfast - Idli, Upma, Chutney, Sweets, pathre vada,many fruits...(and the list continues). We all felt like we were at home. All the credit and million thanks to Manish's mother for everything.
Having "heavy" breakfast, we set out to Dandeli - Kali jungle resort. Thanks to Manish and his brother who had done all the travel, accommodation for all of us in beautiful resort.
It was noon by the time we reached the resort. We all had nice lunch and slept till 4:30pm until we had coffee/tea and got ready for evening walk to sunset point. It was awesome in exploring the place around till dusk. The sun hid under the blue clouds as it approached the horizon. Shimmering golden waters beneath the sinking sun was so beautiful to watch. Setting sun became a toy in our hands, as we captured in camera as if holding it, gulping it, and even smoking it!! Coming back to our base we had lots of fun in playing cards(with no bets, ofcourse!) Thanks to all the bluffers who taught me how to play. Later that night we all celebrated Manasi's birthday at resort and guess what the birthday gift was!! A pink heart shaped birthday cake, a pink adorable soft-toy bunny, which was named "Madhatter!" by her and a board game of scotland yard. All the credit goes to Sundar for choosing the gifts. It was already 1:00am by then and we had to leave at 4:00am for wildlife safari in the morning. So we decided to have a night-out that early morning and it all kicked off with the Director's cut! Hats off to Joseph's creativity (or perhaps the kick :P) in making 17 sequels of the same movie "Pati patni woh aur Doodhwaala!" with different ending and twists(by santosh) :P Hope everyone took it sportively.
The next morning we all went early morning safari with our red-painful-sleep-filled eyes and to our bad luck we could only see bears! and elephants! and bisons! and tigers! and panthers! on the road side boards below which it said "protect me!" :( All we had was good red-mud-facial for just 500 bucks! with all the muddy roads of the forest. We then reached a sunrise viewpoint in the forest and in a somber mood we returned back as we couldn't even have a look at real wild animals! Every one had to settle down in calling the stray dog as tiger (while having morning coffee) :P
Then we visited cytheri/sintheri/syntheri rocks(I really saw all three different version of names on billboards) and the red mud path till the giant monolithic granite! was just awesome. Harsha, Sanika, Prashanth and I practiced monkey-business on the way (and soon we realised - Latak ne se height nahi badtha, mummy ko bol complan deneko!) ;)
Coming back to our temporary residence we had lunch and slept for a while to go for the coracle(theppa) ride that late afternoon. The branches of trees and their reflections touching the still water were so alluring that I could not stop taking snaps from my camera.
Since, It was just 4-5 kms the way back to resort, some-of-us decided to take an evening stroll and on the way I found "biodegradable buttons" (This discovery would make Manasi happy :P), A beautiful shiny rounded seeds from a wild tree. Namarta was so happy to get a snap posing on asphalted road! And I can't forget the "boulevard of broken dreams" song - "I walk a lonely road.. The only one that I have ever known..." that Prashanth and I sang on our way back. So true, for the silence around and also it was the only path that we knew for our way back!
Soon after coming back we started off playing Kho-Kho till we started camp fire later that night. Sonu turned out to be champ at Kho-Kho! It was nice fun.
On 26th, The republic day morning we left early for most adventurous and famous Kali white water river rafting in Dandeli. As we reached the place early, at around 8:00am, we had nothing to do till all 8 rafts were brought to starting place. So we started off with celebrating republic day as I had got a tri-coloured plastic carry bag cover. We set it on a pole and called it our national flag and sung our national anthem and saluted mother India with great respects. We didn't show and disrespect by using the cover as we all have immense patriotism within us.
Again to kill time, we started off with Kabaddi and many of us really got hurt, but not so badly to discontinue rafting.
Rafting was the best part in the whole trip and the guide made us all sail together as a team. The fast rapids and the turbine-like river flow at the end forced the adrenaline to rush through our veins.
After rafting we had lunch at hotel Santosh (I do remember it as Shreyas, SL and Joe had Santosh spl ice-cream after they couldn't get honeymoon spl ice-cream that they had ordered for! :P) We headed back to Hubli thanking Manish's Bro on the way back and had great! great!! dinner again troubling Manish's family at his place.
Apart from all this literal documenting of the entire trip experience in words, there are certain things that I ought to share that I really felt from my heart.
I had never thought that Harsha could sing so well. It was surprising to see him sing with full emotions and expressions even at high pitches! I really enjoyed it a lot. Kudos to you mate! You eased all our comfort levels by mingling with every other as their own. And special thanks for being kannada teacher! to Sanika who was so eager to learn the new language. Reading out billboards in kannda named "Huballi Junction" and "Daandeli aranya pradhesha"(Dandeli wildlife santuary) were too much to ask for, that too from a beginner! But that was good to see her making an effort. I appreciate it.
Hats off to brave and adventurous Sonu. He was the first one to drop himself into river water, even though he had no experience in swimming, when asked to show the demo of laying down on back in flowing water as a part of white water river swimming.
I have great respects for the girls of our gang and I envy that they were more united than the rest of us. I appreciate your patience and your ability to console the crying kid :P and bring back smile in minutes!
Foremost of all, I had not seen the doofus(in her own words :P) acting so sensitive like the curious little sister not being allowed to join the game played by her big brothers! I know, Birthday away from family seems not at all special but gloomy. The next day while coming back in the train I couldn't sleep for a long while and mind was bogged in those memories. So I borrowed train tickets from Rajesha, a pen from Sanika and disturbed a whole lot others(who were wondering as to why?) just to jot down whatever came to my erratic mind! and here it goes dedicated to little sister doofus ;) (Remember the song that I sang in cab? "phoolon ka thaaron ka sabka kehna hai.. Ek hazaron mein meri behna hai".. I owe it to you!)
In search of destiny,
I met so many people on the way.
Living in the past,
I miss a lot of them long gone away.
But forgot the eternal truth-
That I only have today.
Family, Friends or colleagues -
I don't know to choose when and how!
But i want to live life the fullest
and make the most of it now,
being happy for and enjoying their
affection, care and love.
Today is "also" my birthday,
as I celebrate life every-single-day.
-Happy birthday again and again.
-Forever cheers!
I uploaded a collection of all camera pics that I could collect and selected ones are present @
Dandeli trip web album
I have embedded the picasa album slideshow here.
Have fun, Enjoy!
'Short is life; Sweeter we shall make it by living life like there's no another!'
Cheers to our brotherhood!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Run++;
(Above pic: L->R: myself, Keshav, Chetan, Adarsh)
(Above pic: Mera number aagaya!)
(Above pic: All ready to set track on blaze)I feel so great that I ran my first half-marathon(21.95 kms) and completed it successfully!
It had been in my wish-list for a long time to do something like this as I had never done it before in my lifetime.(Don't ask me the remaining ones now!)
Quote -"If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a Marathon." - Emil Zatopek, Olympic Legend.
Inspired by the words above I took up this long distance running as a challenge and also to face an entirely new wonderful experience.
I did run for the cause to save environment and for greener world as I like nature the way it is untouched by humans. Also I did run for I like being a part of adventure and to burn the pizza's and burger's that I keep having now as a "software engineer" :D
Yup, That was a hell lot of challenging workout! Though I was no way close to world class time(1st place guy had more than 11 km lead!!!), it was an awesome experience on the way.
I left my place to join my three other college friends(Keshav,Adarsh,Chetan) enroute to whitefiled at around 8:00pm on Saturday evening in Car. We reached the place in-time. It was 10pm then. We had light dinner of kaati veg rolls, which even turned out our purses light( Damn, every food was double the rate!) Having already registered, we had no other choice to wander around till the start. So we killed time in taking photos in-front-of the big banners put up and watching the rock show ongoing. As usual, there was no surprise in kaddi(Keshav) untieing his long hair, looking around for beautiful "pieces"(He will definitely kill me for saying this TRUTH! :P) and sha(Chetan) exagerrating whatever he told!
It was already 11:15pm. We all changed our clothes, put on running shoes and the bibs on our chest. All ready for jet-set-go, we had a photo session again to proudly show our bib numbers.
Bengaluru Midnight marathon started exactly at 00:00am, the very early morning of 11th Jan, with about 700-800 runners all stretching and warming up for the long run. Counddown timer buzzed as few bunch of chaps roared hip hip hurray at the beginning. The initial running started with full enthu untill few dropped back after 5-10 kms. We four of us couldn't go together as we planned and we decided to meet back at the car after the run it over. There were 5 ambulances around for emergencies and water was avaiable for every 2 km run. Hats off to the volunteers who held water, glucose, electral for all runners and cheered us to go further. Participants of every age were present right from 15 to even 65+!! The elderly runners even went past several youngsters who were panting to breath in the second loop of 11 km! I even saw 6-7 year old kids along with their whole family standing outside there homes adjacent to the running track and clapping their little hands to cheer us even at 2:00 am in the morning. I even gave "high five" to the audience who held his hand out to reach us which made him happy and me too! The first 11km run(1st loop) was not difficult, but as I closed the 15 km run it was really tiring. As the muscles in thighs ran short of oxygen, the veins fully bloated and forced a lot to stick to walk-run(less)-walk policy instead of run-walk(less)-run. In the 22 km half marathon, I did about 4-5 km walk alone.
As I closed the finish line, I met kaddi(Keshav) from behind who had picked up pace and we reached the finish line. We saw sha(Chetan) already outside the track waiting for us and I still wonder if he ran back to base the half way :P
After re-hydrating and resting for a while we headed back to parking lot and it was 3:15am by then. Results of the Half-Marathon were being declared when we headed back. Soon Adarsh came back from his run. Emptying out the relispray and whole glucose packet, we sat(or hardly slept) in car till 5:00 am. We finally found an Empty Cafe Coffee day!! with no pizzas, no cakes, no pastry, not even chocolates. So we had to settle only with cafe latte's and capuccino's :(
We had a great time in the morning remembering our college days and our RV 2008 CS batch as the best ever. Jigit, Rampa, Mass suspension by our HOD were the main highlights of our discussion. We didn't even spare our "good" lecturers :P
Tired and hungry we left at around 6:30am bidding farewell to meet soon again.(i.e., for my next cycling to Nandi hills/Ramnagaram. Aren't you guys coming!?)
I slept whole sunday afternoon and night except for eating lavishly ;)
Every time I have a look at the Bib number-"1257" at my office desk memories of my 1st Marathon passes by. Thanks to friends who accompanied me on that wonderful night.
See you sooner or later. I hope it's always sooner :)
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Cycling expedition to MaakaLidurga on 26-12-2008
After few days of preparation and amidst my parent's strong opposition, I set out to my longest cycling excursion (till now) in my all new "Hercules ultima shox dx" geared cycle. Actually it was MADE all new, since both tubes were out a few days back and got replacement with a long seat rod to ease my legs. "Total Overhauling" cost me around 230 bucks(looks like I had kept it in good shape). Motto: Take care of your companion so that it takes care of you :)
It was pure fun and most important of all I had been a long way far from all the bondages with this real world for few hours.
Preparation was the most important of all the phases. So I tested myself before setting out by taking it around 20 kms per day within the city for the last weekend.(20th,21st December 2008). Also, I had been to my friend's place on 25th December riding it about 24 kms to and fro Kalyan-nagar from where we went to morning show-ghajini movie. Its going to be all different post so not detailing it out here ;)
Thanks to "The Nomad" and "roastedneutons" travel blog which helped me out in route and also mentally get prepared for this journey.
I packed up the following things before :
1. Lunch (Puliyogare from home)
2. Water (2 bottles of water)
3. 1 pack Glucose + 2 Electral sachets
4. Dates (very rich in minerals)
5. Hand Pump (heaviest of them all)
6. Knife as a tool and also for safety
7. Bandages
8. Relispray
9. Hexagon tool and spare tubes in case of puncture
10. Digicam
11. Cap
12. Towel
13. Torch
Having checked out the route on google maps and having visited Ghati subramanya (10kms from maakaLidurga) a week back, it was not a problem in finding directions.
I started at 5:45 am in the morning and it was still a bit dark coz it is still winter now. As i reached Yelahanka it was getting brighter and soon the orange sun exposed himself at the horizon, behind the trees amidst the fog. It was beautiful to see... time around 6:30am.
(Sunrise view soon after crossing Yelahanka)
(The morning life had already started in the country side by that time.)
The roads were not bumpy and actually were in good condition, properly asphalted. However, It did make me sing the song "bum bum bole" after a while though!
So far so good ;) Re-hydration was done every half an hour till I reached Dodballapur at around 8:30am. I had breakfast(4 idlis+coffee+2 bananas) on the way at around 9:00am and again carried on my long journey. Water was not a problem till then as some or the other village approaches for every 3-4 kms of travel.(The only thing is that you should not be totally dependent on mineral water.) I reached destination at around 10:15am.
(My companions on State Highway No. 9)
(Bangalore-Hindupur Train leaving from MakaLidurga station as soon as I arrived)
(Destination MakaLidurga)
(Red mud roads- A deviation to the hill base)
(Perfect Countryside)
(Really broadguage!)
(Meet me @ Infinity)
(Untouched lake nearby)
(That somebody's me!)
(Bunch of BMS Mech 2nd year students who had camped there a day before my arrival)
(Got company for trekking)
(The same lake view from half way climbing of hill)
(A centipede-like train below)
(MakaLi Fort still standing)
(Small temple atop)
(Myself, second from right with awesome cook next to me!)
(Supposed to be the birth of the lake water, It was too deep like a well!)
There was a small ganesh temple at the base of the hills. People of the temple are so sweet that they even offered me Ragi balls for lunch after climbing down! They also took care of my parked cycle till I came back (without removing any of the nuts and bolts or monkey testing of working gears or the air in the wall tubes).
After Cycling for about 50kms+Bathing in lake for half an hour+Trekking nearly 3kms+having lunch+sleeping for 45 mins and then climbing down, with half the glucose packet empty, 1 electral sachet remaining and my lunch box empty... I had lost time to plan my journey back and thanks to lorry driver who hitchhiked me back to Dodaballapur(for about 16 kms) which saved me more than an hour and a half or so in my return back to Yelahanka-towards hebbal-back to my place. I took very few breaks and pedalled at constant speed on my way back and reached home at around 5:45pm. It was a memorable 12 hour butt-wrenching journey but(t) also my best ever. I had traveled around 80+ in my cycle! I feel good after the journey. It has increased my appetite a lot ;)
I would like to go for long distance cycling expeditions seriously along with some cyclists/trekkers organization to keep up my passion. Can anyone help me out please?
Cheers,
Karthik Bharadwaj H
It was pure fun and most important of all I had been a long way far from all the bondages with this real world for few hours.
Preparation was the most important of all the phases. So I tested myself before setting out by taking it around 20 kms per day within the city for the last weekend.(20th,21st December 2008). Also, I had been to my friend's place on 25th December riding it about 24 kms to and fro Kalyan-nagar from where we went to morning show-ghajini movie. Its going to be all different post so not detailing it out here ;)
Thanks to "The Nomad" and "roastedneutons" travel blog which helped me out in route and also mentally get prepared for this journey.
I packed up the following things before :
1. Lunch (Puliyogare from home)
2. Water (2 bottles of water)
3. 1 pack Glucose + 2 Electral sachets
4. Dates (very rich in minerals)
5. Hand Pump (heaviest of them all)
6. Knife as a tool and also for safety
7. Bandages
8. Relispray
9. Hexagon tool and spare tubes in case of puncture
10. Digicam
11. Cap
12. Towel
13. Torch
Having checked out the route on google maps and having visited Ghati subramanya (10kms from maakaLidurga) a week back, it was not a problem in finding directions.
I started at 5:45 am in the morning and it was still a bit dark coz it is still winter now. As i reached Yelahanka it was getting brighter and soon the orange sun exposed himself at the horizon, behind the trees amidst the fog. It was beautiful to see... time around 6:30am.
(Sunrise view soon after crossing Yelahanka)
(The morning life had already started in the country side by that time.)The roads were not bumpy and actually were in good condition, properly asphalted. However, It did make me sing the song "bum bum bole" after a while though!
So far so good ;) Re-hydration was done every half an hour till I reached Dodballapur at around 8:30am. I had breakfast(4 idlis+coffee+2 bananas) on the way at around 9:00am and again carried on my long journey. Water was not a problem till then as some or the other village approaches for every 3-4 kms of travel.(The only thing is that you should not be totally dependent on mineral water.) I reached destination at around 10:15am.
(My companions on State Highway No. 9)
(Bangalore-Hindupur Train leaving from MakaLidurga station as soon as I arrived)
(Destination MakaLidurga)
(Red mud roads- A deviation to the hill base)
(Perfect Countryside)
(Really broadguage!)
(Meet me @ Infinity)
(Untouched lake nearby)
(That somebody's me!)
(Bunch of BMS Mech 2nd year students who had camped there a day before my arrival)
(Got company for trekking)
(The same lake view from half way climbing of hill)
(A centipede-like train below)
(MakaLi Fort still standing)
(Small temple atop)
(Myself, second from right with awesome cook next to me!)
(Supposed to be the birth of the lake water, It was too deep like a well!)There was a small ganesh temple at the base of the hills. People of the temple are so sweet that they even offered me Ragi balls for lunch after climbing down! They also took care of my parked cycle till I came back (without removing any of the nuts and bolts or monkey testing of working gears or the air in the wall tubes).
After Cycling for about 50kms+Bathing in lake for half an hour+Trekking nearly 3kms+having lunch+sleeping for 45 mins and then climbing down, with half the glucose packet empty, 1 electral sachet remaining and my lunch box empty... I had lost time to plan my journey back and thanks to lorry driver who hitchhiked me back to Dodaballapur(for about 16 kms) which saved me more than an hour and a half or so in my return back to Yelahanka-towards hebbal-back to my place. I took very few breaks and pedalled at constant speed on my way back and reached home at around 5:45pm. It was a memorable 12 hour butt-wrenching journey but(t) also my best ever. I had traveled around 80+ in my cycle! I feel good after the journey. It has increased my appetite a lot ;)
I would like to go for long distance cycling expeditions seriously along with some cyclists/trekkers organization to keep up my passion. Can anyone help me out please?
Cheers,
Karthik Bharadwaj H
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Weekend trekking
It was a long time since I had been somewhere with a bunch of friends or colleagues. The last weekend was indeed a memorable trip.
We all rocked!
In Pic, L->R: myself kneeling down, Rohit above me, Sundar sitting down, Rajesh(a), Sunaina, Prashanth, Vani, Shilpa sitting down, Manasi, Joe with cap, Namarta, Shiv with sunglasses, Shreyas, Sonu.
Bali and Sneha missed out this group pic at top of Ambukuti Hills beacuse of "Heights" in being afraid of heights! :P
It was an awesome journey on friday night. After leaving directly from "Virtual hell" (Sundar's quote in one of his mails, meaning office) at 9:00pm, to reach the heavens of kerala in the morning. We all slept till the sun’s grand arrival at the horizon just over the silvery clouds.
In pic, Sun rise views from cottage.
In pic, Enroute to cottage.
In Pic, Our temporary residence for that weekend. (Valley view cottage)
In pic, chaudvin ka chand :)
Many poets have tried to explain about the nature’s beauty in words, but in vein. So I am not commenting about the awesome scenery around. All that one can do is just see and enjoy it.
Must important of all, I found myself closer than ever with my buddies on the way. Even my best pals around were surprised to see me in such a different kind of mood, when we sang songs of our likings all the way (I could clearly read it from shiv’s and joe’s face). It was surprisingly interesting that I heard Sunaina saying “Sensitive!”(or did I overhear that?) looking at my choices of Md Rafi’s Oldies and “Patho” songs. Many thanks to Shilpa, Sneha and Sunaina for singing my dedications (Hope I didn’t trouble you) and taking me to wonder land.
Also I found myself very bad at dumb-charades after hearing to “ziddi” (supposed to be a hindi movie) as “zeti” (some damn English movie) and trying to show the action in kannada “e-style”! [:D] hehe… soon after that every one lost hopes of playing it, I think. But it was fun.
It was pure stress buster in acting crazy at the pond half way up the chembra peak, like going to the other end of the pond and meditating, hanging half way from the tree skimming the surface of the water!
And how could I forget my act of balancing on one leg on the peak!
How can any one forget “I am the king of the world” dialogue by our great mighty “Joe” young ;)
What a “LOVE”ly place this is!
Together we reached the heights as we believed that mountain is not too high until we reach the top.
It was really tiring for all them and I was the one who made you follow all the way till the peak. Thank you fellas for keeping my energy levels up all the way. If you have anything to scold me for taking you up there hungry and thirsty, you can send it to my personal email-id. But also I made sure everyone came back safe literally at each step. Thank me for those fellas ;)
With just one argument over “judgment of friendship” with Manasi, I got to know how good she is at heart. I don’t remember how it kicked off.
Special thanks to Shreyas for entertaining us so well and being a sport for all our jokes and everyone else who made these moments ever last in my memories.
I uploaded the collection of photos from all the cameras at Picasa web album for all of us to rejoice these memories and especially Sonu and Sunaina who certainly can’t access out shared file system at office.
Link: http://picasaweb.google.com/karthikhb/WaynadPics?authkey=K2_XJ8Dy4rU#
There are just 500 pictures in the album!! Happy rewinding back your memory as "today's beautiful moments are tomorrow's wonderful memories" :)Cheers,
Karthik Bharadwaj H
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