tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31297265176245212202024-03-12T20:17:23.905-07:00Highway TravelsWe as a couple ofcourse share a lot in common but if we have to pick up the strongest passion we share it will have to be long drives and travelling... so this blog is created by a soul purpose of sharing the drives and the small vacations we keep taking now and then...
Enjoy,
Monika-NarenMonikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-39939200933532585482009-06-25T07:58:00.000-07:002009-06-25T07:59:46.964-07:00Movedwe have moved this is the new address <br /><br /><a href="http://highwaytravels.wordpress.com/">http://highwaytravels.wordpress.com/</a>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-50053038954844941362009-04-13T03:02:00.000-07:002009-04-13T04:13:59.422-07:00It was a long weekend and there were lot of chores to be taken at home due to which a long getaway couldnt be planned... but we decided to do a day picnic and the destination was <a href="http://www.ournativevillage.com/">Our Native Village</a><br /><br />native village is a eco resort some 45 kms from blore, they are 75% self sustaining... generate 80% of the their own electricity using wind mill and solar, grow veggies in the farm, use well and rain water harvesting for water,use bio gas for cooking, the rooms have been built with the consideration that most of the time they are cold and even fan is not needed, the swimming pool is bio pool cleansed by plants and filters... the place has a very rustic farm feeling to it... must visit for all<br /><br />We started at about 11:30 in the morning, the place is Hessarghatta near <a href="http://www.nrityagram.org/">Nrityagram</a>, we reached there in about 2 hours covering 46kms... getting out of the city was bit of a problem but after u get off the tumkur road the drive is really pleasurable....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDSW_ZXoh-Ouqa43RdxMO_NEgXvy9ji1vR4JmAE-oBB3vFv7c5Lf9Ixmmv67-wrPZ8ZkPHiLLF-tOfT7tm9usY309J8TFI9f-1kAksYNDV51XygKw5-5csymh0jEj8MRczRRDoQc6LMI/s1600-h/DSC05361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDSW_ZXoh-Ouqa43RdxMO_NEgXvy9ji1vR4JmAE-oBB3vFv7c5Lf9Ixmmv67-wrPZ8ZkPHiLLF-tOfT7tm9usY309J8TFI9f-1kAksYNDV51XygKw5-5csymh0jEj8MRczRRDoQc6LMI/s320/DSC05361.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324131986640242610" /></a><br />the trees in a row somewhere on the road<br /><br />and just before u hit the resort, there is a large meadow which makes u feel fantastic <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxzrIRlidgCGcJ-e2IPJXkLd9hNzgCRGc51irbc0QhUsWFnF6_NFWyrFruMdEelsNnTxuBnbP6H119nmT_Iye4BqoqGROmtK7Z4ZUnqeySutG9PjF4HY5xpIW6RLwdYBv1csKExiaeGY/s1600-h/DSC05357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxzrIRlidgCGcJ-e2IPJXkLd9hNzgCRGc51irbc0QhUsWFnF6_NFWyrFruMdEelsNnTxuBnbP6H119nmT_Iye4BqoqGROmtK7Z4ZUnqeySutG9PjF4HY5xpIW6RLwdYBv1csKExiaeGY/s320/DSC05357.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324120979040704050" /></a><br />the cows grazing along with the birds make it look so harmonious<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMRlLuyxRYEW9w-_W_CpR20Ah8XUKuzz6YvFK94tQvfmUKdPh7aADGYqLnpCwwccJqIzD_H4WMRPHq3m3GxOsmS7hIvL6Hd445I0cqG85uSCb_byimJkf1JT_k_pOTwE0tZyDgsltPHg/s1600-h/DSC05292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMRlLuyxRYEW9w-_W_CpR20Ah8XUKuzz6YvFK94tQvfmUKdPh7aADGYqLnpCwwccJqIzD_H4WMRPHq3m3GxOsmS7hIvL6Hd445I0cqG85uSCb_byimJkf1JT_k_pOTwE0tZyDgsltPHg/s320/DSC05292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324122443255904386" /></a><br />The minute you enter the place the old world charm beckons u... u feel good abt the place, as we had reached only at 13:30 we proceeded directly for lunch after spending some basic time looking around and the food was really yum... basic but delicious...<br /><br />Post lunch ojas had a blast playing with the stones running around the place and running after the dogs...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPTWsqpCuPTtdRzfvridS9LXs4NREm7sDKzHerN0Ugf3wR3UAjtlKneuDGXPk1-AX0fpG3h3fnBe5i0VpbqXZidAsXYgvzLiw9R68m6NtwSVb0tmbeZ_JAqpcbP6EVOdkzwdoWUKwWZs/s1600-h/DSC05304.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPTWsqpCuPTtdRzfvridS9LXs4NREm7sDKzHerN0Ugf3wR3UAjtlKneuDGXPk1-AX0fpG3h3fnBe5i0VpbqXZidAsXYgvzLiw9R68m6NtwSVb0tmbeZ_JAqpcbP6EVOdkzwdoWUKwWZs/s320/DSC05304.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324127741574671746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2jR07uxR5DNj-LLlccYHSHINbIt3uFKb8GdJewPpTNmwBs5lyzGXxRR7Y_8IzJ6XLLMfrlLNAeGLyrko807RUqZbv5gUVE9Twy3NjKIFOUem6ZTtwuow-m12PnmW18U0g4thwkh8uXs/s1600-h/DSC05302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2jR07uxR5DNj-LLlccYHSHINbIt3uFKb8GdJewPpTNmwBs5lyzGXxRR7Y_8IzJ6XLLMfrlLNAeGLyrko807RUqZbv5gUVE9Twy3NjKIFOUem6ZTtwuow-m12PnmW18U0g4thwkh8uXs/s320/DSC05302.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324127736221657298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l48U0QKlOnRCLLKWMi-Mn8BPhIVRHsA0IoaXEy3w2n0lkZUD-K_RgC81QhwY965tBnoSZ8lAQC3LxpSGOWBhgMIT1CGo4HBwSiegDozLPsO-qDpL3qR8iC59ocq6XnzfQ0GdSBgxPbo/s1600-h/DSC05309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l48U0QKlOnRCLLKWMi-Mn8BPhIVRHsA0IoaXEy3w2n0lkZUD-K_RgC81QhwY965tBnoSZ8lAQC3LxpSGOWBhgMIT1CGo4HBwSiegDozLPsO-qDpL3qR8iC59ocq6XnzfQ0GdSBgxPbo/s320/DSC05309.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324129426324048866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw-KOphPOD-sqgujE0VEjmUfQxD-szp3frF29YFszxKGRmX5e2y026uuT0nyfIpjYGLuqute72E7xeHOvOFNPEKfPRdWyOZC59BU5-lYwt88z0uWrxJ_MCNNn_BLrpvpO0s5LU81DBxw/s1600-h/DSC05308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw-KOphPOD-sqgujE0VEjmUfQxD-szp3frF29YFszxKGRmX5e2y026uuT0nyfIpjYGLuqute72E7xeHOvOFNPEKfPRdWyOZC59BU5-lYwt88z0uWrxJ_MCNNn_BLrpvpO0s5LU81DBxw/s320/DSC05308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324129424609364946" /></a><br /><br />we also did a bullock cart ride... which was the first for me too, forget about Ojas :) :) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k88hNQFqWGhhNxFeUjNHIMdM2gMiChKPLb4oXolYwqqwZgGgTctb0SRGCe0DVOU3T6JUHlmLeur7fTt8_rp9GE0xIoEd4x33OqpDs6YKzFrrxxkRlEh3fb2snxcCKLA-zO9kNdly8wQ/s1600-h/DSC05321.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k88hNQFqWGhhNxFeUjNHIMdM2gMiChKPLb4oXolYwqqwZgGgTctb0SRGCe0DVOU3T6JUHlmLeur7fTt8_rp9GE0xIoEd4x33OqpDs6YKzFrrxxkRlEh3fb2snxcCKLA-zO9kNdly8wQ/s320/DSC05321.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324130310291913554" /></a><br /><br />They also do organize village games like kite flying, gulli danda :) etc <br /><br />We had a blast and when it was time to come back in the evening we came back with the heavy heart that it was a day trip, would have loved to stay there in the night but alas the rooms were booked when we had called...<br /><br />I surely recommend the place to everyone and I am going back there too for a weekend stay next timeMonikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-79429608364925187342009-02-05T05:17:00.000-08:002009-02-09T01:04:56.839-08:00Destination Coffee ParadiseCome a long weekend and we start thinking of where we should head to, the phenomenon was slightly reduced since Ojas also came into picture but now that he is 1 we intend to get back to ourselves :)
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<br />So this Republic Day long weekend, four adults along with two toddlers planned to head out to coorg... Myself, N and O and our friends S,P and A packed in our elephant(for those who dont know thats what we call our Tata Safari) and to start at 7:30 am was the plan...
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<br />I absolutely love Coorg... This is the second time we went there and it was as beautiful as it was the first time... It never does fail to charm...
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<br />For me its the heaven in South India... a gorgeous place to say the least
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<br />so we started at about 8:20am from our house and I think that was pretty good considering I had O and N also with me ;-) the drive in the city took us pretty long and we picked up the S family at about 9 am from Banarghatta Road and then proceeded on the NICE road to meet the Mysore highway... the traffic on the road was pretty bad... I guess the whole blore was heading out for the long weekend... We stopped for the breakfast break at Barista about 10:30 in the morning and had a stumpous meal of eggs, hash browns and tea... A (about 2.5 yrs old) had a nice pineapple pastry and O had some cereal that I was carrying with me...
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<br />O had so much fun here... running around all over the place, going and making friends...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P5OTjFRgF3VNYWPPUmTXUixOXULOzYVuOREegfRTrk62zZCPpZZRcNoAazztKBAi7RPEU7YRte13-sl-q6l7kgemQo9L7CYTLatIrO4xutqHCr9MZmtmh2mOMp0Xnhe0E-UGY_blPQs/s1600-h/DSC05088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P5OTjFRgF3VNYWPPUmTXUixOXULOzYVuOREegfRTrk62zZCPpZZRcNoAazztKBAi7RPEU7YRte13-sl-q6l7kgemQo9L7CYTLatIrO4xutqHCr9MZmtmh2mOMp0Xnhe0E-UGY_blPQs/s320/DSC05088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299305957856538114" /></a>
<br />he even went behind the counter so I know if he doesnt do anything else he will atleast be able to sell pastries...
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<br />About an hour later and having wiped out all available food on the table we started back towards Mysore and then there is was a huge huge huge traffic jam near Mandya we were stuck for about 45 mins there and we finally managed to cross Mandya 12:30 (127 kms from the base) from Manday to Mysore took us about 50 mins in the midst of traffic and we hit the Mysore ORR at 13:10 (145 kms from base) and took a right turn there to head towards hunsur... the road from here was actually superb... very well metaled and brilliant to drive on and we reached Chilkunda at 14:25 (242 kms from base) and from here we took a left turn in one of the insignificant looking roads... the road was pretty thin from here on we reached Pariapatnum (coorg discrict yippe) at 14:35 (252 kms from base)... till now the landscape looked like plains... no coffee plantations to be seen and we were all getting very disappointed... as we knew that the place we have to go is not very far from here... anyways from here on we drove through a dense jungle patch where the road was just wide enough for the elephant to go if at this time there would have been a vehicle from the opposite side that it would need to go reverse till a point where the two vehicles could pass and now it was getting interesting :)
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<br />The only problem we were having was that A was having a bad motion sickness and had thrown up thrice during the trip poor girl...
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<br />We reached our friends estate at 15:00 (280 kms from base) and what a lovely place it was... the first thing that happened when we landed their was O and A playing with chickens and dogs... though A was a little scared and my daredevil was trying to catch them...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0ycDVP1DjYWJiaSUwFPI7JxGVBxi4B-rJqPNT5HB1hkOi9n08UmpI7DfQa5OzdzMv-38WnXPm9w_9NWj5tL5VLq76HqFQyN1dvKYcnIsJ7zKfVwhQvuWDGxsBaN6jbpv8ch8H9YrnHw/s1600-h/DSC05614.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0ycDVP1DjYWJiaSUwFPI7JxGVBxi4B-rJqPNT5HB1hkOi9n08UmpI7DfQa5OzdzMv-38WnXPm9w_9NWj5tL5VLq76HqFQyN1dvKYcnIsJ7zKfVwhQvuWDGxsBaN6jbpv8ch8H9YrnHw/s320/DSC05614.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299359255285015298" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1bYJ4hnX5T7iBi3tbsiz_NCb5I6c1Mxhem8dJVj69_BVLj5OlcjeLL5rEdKJn8DqVAsDIQlMeY90zQR10vTXQ5fWOjWklLo07XDj9hoFU0KxSynt3RSp8FpJOqQJTkw-WZS2OlPRekw/s1600-h/DSC05613.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1bYJ4hnX5T7iBi3tbsiz_NCb5I6c1Mxhem8dJVj69_BVLj5OlcjeLL5rEdKJn8DqVAsDIQlMeY90zQR10vTXQ5fWOjWklLo07XDj9hoFU0KxSynt3RSp8FpJOqQJTkw-WZS2OlPRekw/s320/DSC05613.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299359249662427314" /></a>
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<br />They had a lovely lake in the back of the estate
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3EqNpgxMq2oB0c2xGCK5xyFrFR-l_EeO1tL6CM1orcytF7r00EwepdRSJrJAJ8iIE5Yt_XCW-YEx2mMeHO8OqbZ6HDev5Yofu1LAKnx2qws4fIJ5fTO_sysSZ5V5EussxiFeqS9lhms/s1600-h/DSC05097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3EqNpgxMq2oB0c2xGCK5xyFrFR-l_EeO1tL6CM1orcytF7r00EwepdRSJrJAJ8iIE5Yt_XCW-YEx2mMeHO8OqbZ6HDev5Yofu1LAKnx2qws4fIJ5fTO_sysSZ5V5EussxiFeqS9lhms/s320/DSC05097.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299360135626105154" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P5WKHf5HQ4YkKqe00Mg3c42jGPnOqT3p5dwJdA_G3zY3Lv3taNU-aP6BHzo2EsaeQuB7FrMBLgEUTJBU97ummYKN3oGQF-ra8VplnV_H_JvmjQnjFEwKwAurR_UBbyhDUqkhvrjFOfI/s1600-h/DSC05096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P5WKHf5HQ4YkKqe00Mg3c42jGPnOqT3p5dwJdA_G3zY3Lv3taNU-aP6BHzo2EsaeQuB7FrMBLgEUTJBU97ummYKN3oGQF-ra8VplnV_H_JvmjQnjFEwKwAurR_UBbyhDUqkhvrjFOfI/s320/DSC05096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299360133362539122" /></a>
<br />had some juice and some yummy Jackfruit sweet made by their granny in their lovely house...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMz_P1HcLFRKxR4zqybs5beJZq58WqjQ1XHmYj7ZQqC4Fm74Beehm-HF-RMvDLytsFHnIgrDrNJ_ixwWcnqA1G6dPOIE1valjAnsKCfjbBvQ3MFt55ae9iR6TrlR702FXFDYmX7Gjaj0/s1600-h/DSC05102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMz_P1HcLFRKxR4zqybs5beJZq58WqjQ1XHmYj7ZQqC4Fm74Beehm-HF-RMvDLytsFHnIgrDrNJ_ixwWcnqA1G6dPOIE1valjAnsKCfjbBvQ3MFt55ae9iR6TrlR702FXFDYmX7Gjaj0/s320/DSC05102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299361172080208338" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM-mtEpT2xj5U5rED0vv8qffEDHIhH5jY5XW32y_nRZduuXrHhuzVlOilDJD1n43FnBl6jpbU2Q9nreJOkPAdZaHE9JpN1yH_s5jPkpPfwgCWL6G7uXkPtdPca6yHrkXgOLf2SsjjXjI/s1600-h/DSC05101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM-mtEpT2xj5U5rED0vv8qffEDHIhH5jY5XW32y_nRZduuXrHhuzVlOilDJD1n43FnBl6jpbU2Q9nreJOkPAdZaHE9JpN1yH_s5jPkpPfwgCWL6G7uXkPtdPca6yHrkXgOLf2SsjjXjI/s320/DSC05101.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299361166754788450" /></a>
<br />the whole was so nice that I was so J of them to have a place like this to spend the weekends...
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<br />After spending about an hour their we started for our final destination the bamboo club in Pollybetta... we went through siddapur and reached Bamboo club at 17:00 (310 kms from base)... A was doing better now and we were all very hungry as lunch had not happened till now so the first thing we did was hit the dining hall and had some nice veg and chicken sandwiches and Ojas had some egg bhurji which was followed by some excellent Coorgi coffee....
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<br />The children didnt seem tired at all and immediately found the small play area and had a blast there
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcvobz-yG3aGSV_H781-G8VDg9nB81_D1K_zdKyfRHoVP_tbu2fvBENNogrLKU__SKk2A_YnX8cFRXLZC0_3ogjbjP3xtwJCV6hNXThyxmdBBTXh1RTyYrssNyMCVNjVpL3LFkKRHu6c/s1600-h/DSC05111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcvobz-yG3aGSV_H781-G8VDg9nB81_D1K_zdKyfRHoVP_tbu2fvBENNogrLKU__SKk2A_YnX8cFRXLZC0_3ogjbjP3xtwJCV6hNXThyxmdBBTXh1RTyYrssNyMCVNjVpL3LFkKRHu6c/s320/DSC05111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300678621993946642" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5eqkeReAwF-aGpCCbKPlkQAUb79Af6D4B1FvGS-2FgS2UeuSr_JgTDeqPP5yMg1zULbwlDqfxUgLIgxSX1toyBWGrGxpc1J3F-GR4teY6b7ejQ9uQsi80318_pZiLocx2iUnle131dw/s1600-h/DSC05109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5eqkeReAwF-aGpCCbKPlkQAUb79Af6D4B1FvGS-2FgS2UeuSr_JgTDeqPP5yMg1zULbwlDqfxUgLIgxSX1toyBWGrGxpc1J3F-GR4teY6b7ejQ9uQsi80318_pZiLocx2iUnle131dw/s320/DSC05109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300678614988151858" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAhVSoGw7Ibqmh9h8o_-bwk1WxUjEL72RsGjucUgw25rkyysUBsMVKZ1YqXUNWj08rQmbJmNLc4rt63oGLUYp1PINBz_xdP8Lw3NgkCSZdDodGIPi4dcsgv9-Wnr7wslulpFCn97PElo/s1600-h/DSC05107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAhVSoGw7Ibqmh9h8o_-bwk1WxUjEL72RsGjucUgw25rkyysUBsMVKZ1YqXUNWj08rQmbJmNLc4rt63oGLUYp1PINBz_xdP8Lw3NgkCSZdDodGIPi4dcsgv9-Wnr7wslulpFCn97PElo/s320/DSC05107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300678614623120034" /></a>
<br />
<br />The evening was spent drinking in our room with some nice kababs made by the chef... the original plan was to go the bar and have fun being a club they have an excellent bar but P had forgotten to get his shoes which was required to enter the place... The rooms were actually huge with private balconies and it was a evening well spent...
<br />
<br />Fierce discussions were had on where we want to next morning...I wanted to go see the <a href="http://admirableindia.com/karnataka/namdroling-monastery-kushalnagar">Kushal Nagar monastery</a> as I had missed it the last time I went to Coorg too... but P and S were afraid of A's motion sickness and didnt want to drive so far which was fair and hence for the children's sake it was decided that we will go to<a href="http://www.karnatakatourism.org/wild_dubare.htm">Dubare Elephant Camp</a>
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<br />The dinner was gobbled with with dal-rice for the kids and surprising O eat without any fuss though the dal was slightly spicy for him... A did a lot of drama though and eat only french fries and kurkure for dinner... and a brilliant mutton curry and paranthas along with some goobhi aloo... the food was really good
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<br />The next morning started by O trying to cuddle with us in the bed which rare and nice in itself as he sleeps in his own cot at home... and then slowly all three of us moved from the bed to the balcony and had fun... this the coffee growing right below the balcony
<br />onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLORD0oj8pbA_Bn5FEqd5dxuhtmJ4OzknvRzRVIyqbASuvSp4ZALNFDxbD88Je7VUPtPPqVpwI86L_15JmzACgic6CU7IRuKttEWo-jWSEXWs1N1MALHadzduluaYisYuurCMTZ-G2JQ/s1600-h/DSC05117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLORD0oj8pbA_Bn5FEqd5dxuhtmJ4OzknvRzRVIyqbASuvSp4ZALNFDxbD88Je7VUPtPPqVpwI86L_15JmzACgic6CU7IRuKttEWo-jWSEXWs1N1MALHadzduluaYisYuurCMTZ-G2JQ/s320/DSC05117.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300682643189638434" /></a>
<br />and here O's fav game became opening and closing of the balcony door and peeping from it :)
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSbFn6glR6S_PimVLA23ieyZGGZAtyAI_2zxPYYr_mKgZM4sYCRmJ_6pE-uioUeZcAvthpQnsmkjhkyZLbqzwJzqRUjmHXa0A5MMzJI_xFgVP3JNOI8m2krC4U5g55HKVRPqkLqqhPbs/s1600-h/DSC05121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSbFn6glR6S_PimVLA23ieyZGGZAtyAI_2zxPYYr_mKgZM4sYCRmJ_6pE-uioUeZcAvthpQnsmkjhkyZLbqzwJzqRUjmHXa0A5MMzJI_xFgVP3JNOI8m2krC4U5g55HKVRPqkLqqhPbs/s320/DSC05121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300683652957206386" /></a>
<br />
<br />After gulping down the breakfast of eggs and toast and not be missed coorgi coffee... we started for Dubare at round 11:30 or so very well aware that the main attraction in Dubare i.e. the bathing and the feeding of elephants would be over by now but we wanted to show the kids elephants anyways... We reached their about 12:15 or so by the new road suggested by the club guys and the route was lovely... we encountered some beetel trees on the way and they looked so pretty
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVHjytTd4l2lA8Lz7UsHwjnDRrIa3kLPu74iF14K38tfFcdrrPk-w0l9t5p-xzm46cbhTrv1MTPlwxYkoHmWYU_Z5vCFCyLmclGvJ7TatM7VMM31YoKRFHfvqCL8RdlgYeTdSA0z-idw/s1600-h/DSC05126.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVHjytTd4l2lA8Lz7UsHwjnDRrIa3kLPu74iF14K38tfFcdrrPk-w0l9t5p-xzm46cbhTrv1MTPlwxYkoHmWYU_Z5vCFCyLmclGvJ7TatM7VMM31YoKRFHfvqCL8RdlgYeTdSA0z-idw/s320/DSC05126.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300685293116125698" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6DPIYa4u4WBLLPtxTkTOg9HgGA70JmrFIfm-mbZfzNvi_AHUG56IDhUHUyyFFgLjLv3UNYVhgHjNhUz6hTVdFoaE8lCOGGKoXcIih2s2soxsyLdwJFas7FHZ7oQcpG1eUzYVqwlGQHU/s1600-h/DSC05125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6DPIYa4u4WBLLPtxTkTOg9HgGA70JmrFIfm-mbZfzNvi_AHUG56IDhUHUyyFFgLjLv3UNYVhgHjNhUz6hTVdFoaE8lCOGGKoXcIih2s2soxsyLdwJFas7FHZ7oQcpG1eUzYVqwlGQHU/s320/DSC05125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300685293186539282" /></a>
<br />
<br />We also saw the a thin very thin Cauvery flowing, we actually couldnt believe its cauvery but then it was written so.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1L8C4CJUqJAlou6mLgSG9SkRGmeB-Kna-K-VzTa5-CoizpFvwLmY7CBBbHEOijbpCAdg-KthZeFHACnJrfwHCBa1a2mmJFEdJDlSJeo6ntDbMMPTI0asWTNbUkuj09UWbcU8kO1u9FLk/s1600-h/DSC05127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1L8C4CJUqJAlou6mLgSG9SkRGmeB-Kna-K-VzTa5-CoizpFvwLmY7CBBbHEOijbpCAdg-KthZeFHACnJrfwHCBa1a2mmJFEdJDlSJeo6ntDbMMPTI0asWTNbUkuj09UWbcU8kO1u9FLk/s320/DSC05127.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300686442805579730" /></a>
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<br />The first thing that stuck us all when we reached there was boy its damn hot... much much hotter than blore... which was strange and we decided that this weather demands that a ice cream be had... and we all had Chocobars and the kids shared a vanilla cup, interestingly it was O's first ice cream and he loved it...
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<br />And then after finishing the ice cream we realized that oops there's a lot of crowd here :) The main park was to be reached by a short boat ride, we took the ticket and stood in queue... S was really worried that the boat will be able to take us to the other end as it looked really shabby and overloaded...
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<br />While we waited for the boat O had fun dipping his legs in water, he actually refused to come out
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvHWPmmE74047K1OyqCmMSuXTVaG7FWrx8aTs_eWWaby-Miq-qB9ufj0AvnNmUT6Ew9gM0DLFP0_TOonz_dNg3I13P3HWurTwviAMVX_vJ_tBD1BkH4iYC6J3EnRUtGKDnVyl5i6h3PY/s1600-h/DSC05131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvHWPmmE74047K1OyqCmMSuXTVaG7FWrx8aTs_eWWaby-Miq-qB9ufj0AvnNmUT6Ew9gM0DLFP0_TOonz_dNg3I13P3HWurTwviAMVX_vJ_tBD1BkH4iYC6J3EnRUtGKDnVyl5i6h3PY/s320/DSC05131.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300687793447137554" /></a>
<br />My fearless son O sat on the elephants, touched them and actually wanted to go down and hold his legs...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGRp5evBhGUctKNlK5A6eADSRcsLGBEovSSZLMUT6-X5p7jAdJfh5HxBBW72fiiiEA9Jy3811UGr4zoCH2qWjef9s1FyOJnyDIRMjYk5F2EU62ybqBVrll8mgjOycfuRQxHkP2YV0jt8/s1600-h/DSC05139.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGRp5evBhGUctKNlK5A6eADSRcsLGBEovSSZLMUT6-X5p7jAdJfh5HxBBW72fiiiEA9Jy3811UGr4zoCH2qWjef9s1FyOJnyDIRMjYk5F2EU62ybqBVrll8mgjOycfuRQxHkP2YV0jt8/s320/DSC05139.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300690082965766642" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgg6uN5F0T2xTFyUJp8bI8hLUyhV2EG2_-wfloe-0-cFUZoI7UxUsh5Oe7vo14rpa5NQqVbFd1oWkAqWhjTS7kWGMHPsU1Hp2UNUP186FSFrgohNf45wBrnROxTpMJ05DuHT2uWATEvk/s1600-h/DSC05138.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgg6uN5F0T2xTFyUJp8bI8hLUyhV2EG2_-wfloe-0-cFUZoI7UxUsh5Oe7vo14rpa5NQqVbFd1oWkAqWhjTS7kWGMHPsU1Hp2UNUP186FSFrgohNf45wBrnROxTpMJ05DuHT2uWATEvk/s320/DSC05138.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300690075474450242" /></a>
<br />
<br />some of the elephant pics for u :)
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOVM_tEyLfCMoo4XJJDQjsYVin-CRf6-rSegs3GE9XaEC-CcFTH4Eqinnwo7_WSVzxS1DygeKrbQg9k28GEXB7vuQH2XYkkv3Gpkj6vy1j3EDEKSsY8KjX1ogVKuyCbWJiiSiYHuu2_c/s1600-h/DSC05146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOVM_tEyLfCMoo4XJJDQjsYVin-CRf6-rSegs3GE9XaEC-CcFTH4Eqinnwo7_WSVzxS1DygeKrbQg9k28GEXB7vuQH2XYkkv3Gpkj6vy1j3EDEKSsY8KjX1ogVKuyCbWJiiSiYHuu2_c/s320/DSC05146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300690985332986786" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg5VHzx_uc_P3wmV8qs4O_FoJiYosBszg_KL9NgqU9_wFcV5r3PnrEBEQvZcwsf_4BNftwlozYTZgUp-wJBmHxYRrBUTugZDqvUgT16cWZ9sik7oIN1E4Lx6p45ig7BqYe_-szWfbie8/s1600-h/DSC05143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg5VHzx_uc_P3wmV8qs4O_FoJiYosBszg_KL9NgqU9_wFcV5r3PnrEBEQvZcwsf_4BNftwlozYTZgUp-wJBmHxYRrBUTugZDqvUgT16cWZ9sik7oIN1E4Lx6p45ig7BqYe_-szWfbie8/s320/DSC05143.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300690978238098482" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpTwncdyttahzd2Qxtr3EF7M9_cqyMRjB9WsDonaBmbDP50XPRo-V0j5DVSIS9DJfJDSabTl3MgSJZbo9kSgMC0GEII2DhKBCGyxjaJU4b1gFis0f6_ksPJ5Ocspg_P7bJqcZcwfqDVM/s1600-h/DSC05140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpTwncdyttahzd2Qxtr3EF7M9_cqyMRjB9WsDonaBmbDP50XPRo-V0j5DVSIS9DJfJDSabTl3MgSJZbo9kSgMC0GEII2DhKBCGyxjaJU4b1gFis0f6_ksPJ5Ocspg_P7bJqcZcwfqDVM/s320/DSC05140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300690975308816242" /></a>
<br />the elephant taking bath
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDYPYVrg504tEj8AxnretbCJ8izwImtGPMPR5j-AyYeU2bjXEMwyG-x6r_Ho66qs_h4LT1wAO9xHSZbBVN-cE9nWi2UDozplfceDu4_gTzmbcSk0-FZijK5i0Us_ckbfj7SaxDTM9tTs/s1600-h/DSC05155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDYPYVrg504tEj8AxnretbCJ8izwImtGPMPR5j-AyYeU2bjXEMwyG-x6r_Ho66qs_h4LT1wAO9xHSZbBVN-cE9nWi2UDozplfceDu4_gTzmbcSk0-FZijK5i0Us_ckbfj7SaxDTM9tTs/s320/DSC05155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300698902378011106" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gZphtXA4GTUEGricgcYdRRQnUumEka5pqLi9fyEP_IYY-V3qNuMgd1HjLTiw7cf2hk6znT1JSUtj0eQ3MAHMcLxZhD8jlrs0mwbR2cdA0rjTDhmg3Q1OK_chmW3yvQUSP6HH2bXNgNQ/s1600-h/DSC05154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gZphtXA4GTUEGricgcYdRRQnUumEka5pqLi9fyEP_IYY-V3qNuMgd1HjLTiw7cf2hk6znT1JSUtj0eQ3MAHMcLxZhD8jlrs0mwbR2cdA0rjTDhmg3Q1OK_chmW3yvQUSP6HH2bXNgNQ/s320/DSC05154.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300698901928696370" /></a>
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<br />The boat ride on the way back...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_JSeZj7GxrYSJcJzI3lPPNjIIT6QCYmU7zsW4iiNTsT_aTfSvCyEoDFdU6bcZQL5WkMiCzxjeGt1I4bynf25wBb5UwVPvXIXg268IbZOFTaQqbU5rpViZG31nko-DYrpcnPvgD4XMxE/s1600-h/DSC05160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_JSeZj7GxrYSJcJzI3lPPNjIIT6QCYmU7zsW4iiNTsT_aTfSvCyEoDFdU6bcZQL5WkMiCzxjeGt1I4bynf25wBb5UwVPvXIXg268IbZOFTaQqbU5rpViZG31nko-DYrpcnPvgD4XMxE/s320/DSC05160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300699491124430098" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKZY02709yszXqtQdK0kVTfG_Jb-4lW5bYD0g32R0g5N9aBcJHKufKLCny82TMe1EzA5kKOiWXlUWKn9FgbC8v9XV1ehJZo5t2cibxrsRFiZ8D7LnkGSQp71ahj7SkgrbU_KIiL8wG3E/s1600-h/DSC05156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKZY02709yszXqtQdK0kVTfG_Jb-4lW5bYD0g32R0g5N9aBcJHKufKLCny82TMe1EzA5kKOiWXlUWKn9FgbC8v9XV1ehJZo5t2cibxrsRFiZ8D7LnkGSQp71ahj7SkgrbU_KIiL8wG3E/s320/DSC05156.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300699492183480226" /></a>
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<br />Post this we argued on where to eat... another fierce discussion with everyone throwing in their view :):) and decided on <a href="http://www.orangecounty.in/home.php">Orange County</a> and at the entrance in the lobby there was a wood structure on which my son decided to model a little... check out his poses
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv-LtgaEhlHCgkC1pC9bkwl5HYL4tnlmAvlFAZYreb3QI2lccOjiC-nqr2SBOefZEmP7IfgNJC0DyPM9ElCf-iCnHWCIBRzCxCQ88j6aXdpNU9ZQO3N8_Z9KDis236rTaejB0P-CvGVY/s1600-h/DSC05165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv-LtgaEhlHCgkC1pC9bkwl5HYL4tnlmAvlFAZYreb3QI2lccOjiC-nqr2SBOefZEmP7IfgNJC0DyPM9ElCf-iCnHWCIBRzCxCQ88j6aXdpNU9ZQO3N8_Z9KDis236rTaejB0P-CvGVY/s320/DSC05165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300706652518453698" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQjJSey8EEPrWrISV3HL7T7GgSOIOGtHOp7riA4Z1AH2RGntXRRMn5St4AGqjUudVRi3qqkkaqyWpNCX7iFCQwRw0Zu0pRIcoGKVrPyk2-9dnt47YkKY-F8n8HMr_L5mqfBFMOF0zBRQ/s1600-h/DSC05163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQjJSey8EEPrWrISV3HL7T7GgSOIOGtHOp7riA4Z1AH2RGntXRRMn5St4AGqjUudVRi3qqkkaqyWpNCX7iFCQwRw0Zu0pRIcoGKVrPyk2-9dnt47YkKY-F8n8HMr_L5mqfBFMOF0zBRQ/s320/DSC05163.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300706651141477714" /></a>
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<br />We had some excellent food and the star of the shows were A and O whom so many people wanted to click them together... they were actually bonding very well apart some some minor fights here and there for toys... A was behaving like a perfect elder sister I guess... if O would venture a little far she would go hold his hand and bring him back... they even shared food... check out A trying to feed O cheerios...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDkblTJasjAD8qIO4z050pPQrw_z-WBqCcvhxW9ILnLiFVhKQgPLd-nqMQt1zO_u1qZE8ilhxEyM_kRK14Ulpu22QT5rnD8QbXly3mPs7HKR9h5uotNSdKNrrDWzuNy2fHw9wjqynOsc/s1600-h/DSC05167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDkblTJasjAD8qIO4z050pPQrw_z-WBqCcvhxW9ILnLiFVhKQgPLd-nqMQt1zO_u1qZE8ilhxEyM_kRK14Ulpu22QT5rnD8QbXly3mPs7HKR9h5uotNSdKNrrDWzuNy2fHw9wjqynOsc/s320/DSC05167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300708105044849890" /></a>
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<br />We reached back to BC in the evening around 5:00pm and tried to put O to sleep so that we can catch up some sleep too but kids have an amazing sense of timing and he just refused to sleep infact he was so full of energy so we decided to go to the park and play for sometime we also drank two cups of coorgi coffee here (ya i know i have mentioned the coffee too many times but then what is coorg without coffee???)
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<br />The evening was again started with dear Vodka and sprite and we had a good time chilling out... Post that we went for a walk in the club and surrounding area and wow the sky was looking amazing with so many stars that one cant imagine to see in the cities... whenever u go out thats my biggest thrill...
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<br />The next morning was time to start back... alas but in the morning post breakfast we went around the BC and did some photography...
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<br />at the fireplace BC verandah
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7W5SWufeMJR7r0eZ7kSq4Qb4Bs8yQ29yMKzSwtWwviS92eo9kcsKtJNZuNL5_dHDhXT3DQ1hJnztlFT_mkd4SO5tt0H-E2XQxhammc1LkER2LHbxz-DAO2m60jilCFF6yn-O3BAAUGQ/s1600-h/DSC05169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7W5SWufeMJR7r0eZ7kSq4Qb4Bs8yQ29yMKzSwtWwviS92eo9kcsKtJNZuNL5_dHDhXT3DQ1hJnztlFT_mkd4SO5tt0H-E2XQxhammc1LkER2LHbxz-DAO2m60jilCFF6yn-O3BAAUGQ/s320/DSC05169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300711320608291938" /></a>
<br />and thats the full view of the verandah
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7jpNxLT7jPCEOEL0BNJDPPCv6UDapJamzSa-TbI6uaMqMs2BSVJ6K8j2ArRYD_7q07o_MHXMh0HEahsqqaj_Ww_IdwzyFv_CkrwOHqaU9dMwpNxiYtWSLt0UeG62vooK2HESpKVTFu4/s1600-h/DSC05201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7jpNxLT7jPCEOEL0BNJDPPCv6UDapJamzSa-TbI6uaMqMs2BSVJ6K8j2ArRYD_7q07o_MHXMh0HEahsqqaj_Ww_IdwzyFv_CkrwOHqaU9dMwpNxiYtWSLt0UeG62vooK2HESpKVTFu4/s320/DSC05201.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300711852292451346" /></a>
<br />mr.hero on one of the chairs...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h512Oz9qMJFr7s8aztENy0jPMnlpPceECAwH0LA82kcpw-IxSoVaU1qI6efYmyVvLqmkQ5R7fbKW6AA0WnCVW1CBqYvBy-9KUCgUuhkWl7P4bmLPTi7I2hZ3seHbxsVBD-S8B85kJq8/s1600-h/DSC05173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h512Oz9qMJFr7s8aztENy0jPMnlpPceECAwH0LA82kcpw-IxSoVaU1qI6efYmyVvLqmkQ5R7fbKW6AA0WnCVW1CBqYvBy-9KUCgUuhkWl7P4bmLPTi7I2hZ3seHbxsVBD-S8B85kJq8/s320/DSC05173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300712386597336642" /></a>
<br />O and N i love this pic
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR-LE05bZIBx87TEVheXgiCye8pZ0MjoQlrmKBLCi2NbL_necbC4bNyNRoAb23WqltLhtXIoDzVXx-OEmABxvpHrZLUaDZrkB1N3XnhXu_CgMKv3cisFSMEjD0mu99JVATFUPHJJr3zQ/s1600-h/DSC05183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR-LE05bZIBx87TEVheXgiCye8pZ0MjoQlrmKBLCi2NbL_necbC4bNyNRoAb23WqltLhtXIoDzVXx-OEmABxvpHrZLUaDZrkB1N3XnhXu_CgMKv3cisFSMEjD0mu99JVATFUPHJJr3zQ/s320/DSC05183.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300712680772893474" /></a>
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<br />there was also a 165-year old church in the BC campus... some pics in and around the church
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoAMMUZQc-oQIGv1I9H_GLGQ0P9S_p-CoWcCn4nZN_uwfMzgus3nCpwNkogu8lUMmcuYHhX3O2Nz4orO2HWM1tRFF3RlLrJxjX_Y9KGrKwvCIRwWhLf7cBV5Kks1WXCowNcreKRs1XoY/s1600-h/DSC05190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoAMMUZQc-oQIGv1I9H_GLGQ0P9S_p-CoWcCn4nZN_uwfMzgus3nCpwNkogu8lUMmcuYHhX3O2Nz4orO2HWM1tRFF3RlLrJxjX_Y9KGrKwvCIRwWhLf7cBV5Kks1WXCowNcreKRs1XoY/s320/DSC05190.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300713344368554546" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfDFSa-V58ZaC9UZjVEcJtwD9gdjETOyKJ29kNjERa_UjpQBrdqioC_EGBRJfrhL83oTyUoFRnM5BPHnr4FsuUxyPhPGNRCLDr3Hh1ypPOMy1AaV7d94SclqV4LJpcG0YHBPCgbMdx5E/s1600-h/DSC05189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfDFSa-V58ZaC9UZjVEcJtwD9gdjETOyKJ29kNjERa_UjpQBrdqioC_EGBRJfrhL83oTyUoFRnM5BPHnr4FsuUxyPhPGNRCLDr3Hh1ypPOMy1AaV7d94SclqV4LJpcG0YHBPCgbMdx5E/s320/DSC05189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300713342416529938" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0hfXGtlhCCCkQ2q7LhaZlTpjdR30Hvedo-xzTRYwADscAZx1nRBGT50POxIFaNVR4YPkD-op7AWk1OWapH8VRM40rdlJujjlqxs6QoYxDjQM09tdCQkkug8d6LTCmcmxj9cOjjpP0CA/s1600-h/DSC05186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0hfXGtlhCCCkQ2q7LhaZlTpjdR30Hvedo-xzTRYwADscAZx1nRBGT50POxIFaNVR4YPkD-op7AWk1OWapH8VRM40rdlJujjlqxs6QoYxDjQM09tdCQkkug8d6LTCmcmxj9cOjjpP0CA/s320/DSC05186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300713339164698658" /></a>
<br />and finally the whole group together in front of our rooms
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLNYNMxDazKq3GlRNgN6s65ai-tJqLqDwOaFbwch9EBUmFtT1UI6uDL9_hy2n8odGuyI-tDj-UYFyLYzoCOzzkd6SiEVOHzNd4O8ndvhlSH0UFNukbeVExkMirVNjHfuxzNKAehpbo84/s1600-h/DSC05202.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLNYNMxDazKq3GlRNgN6s65ai-tJqLqDwOaFbwch9EBUmFtT1UI6uDL9_hy2n8odGuyI-tDj-UYFyLYzoCOzzkd6SiEVOHzNd4O8ndvhlSH0UFNukbeVExkMirVNjHfuxzNKAehpbo84/s320/DSC05202.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300714149607195042" /></a>
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<br />and post this we started the journey back at about 11:45 (370kms from base) and we stopped in a place to buy some Coorg Coffee powder how could I come back without that and reached Hunsur (which we had totally missed while coming so engrossed we were in talking) at 13:20 (438 kms from base), the roads were brilliant and A was also doing fine this time as we had given her anti-vomit medicine before starting from Coorg... we reached Mysore at 14:05 (490 kms from base) and had some absolutely yummy fish at Fish Land... I still have the taste in my mouth... We started from Fish Land at 15:10 and by mistake A saw the rhymes CD in the car and the result from Mysore to Blore we heard only <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsRPTy-TtF4">Wheels on the bus</a> on repeat... We reached Mandya at 15:37 (523 kms from base) and then we reached Blore S&P's house at 17:28 (633.6 kms from base) and starting towards our home sweet home and reached back to Base at 18:15 with a total of 657 kms done...
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<br />It was indeed a great trip... coorg always is...
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<br />Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-60093845753177823452008-09-25T04:26:00.000-07:002008-09-26T02:44:58.553-07:00Truly AsiaWe had gone to <a href="http://www.malaysia.com/">Malaysia</a> in early Apr 2007 and somehow when I came back I couldnt write do a post on that as I concivied and then the bed rest and then the baby... life got busier and busier and busier... But in the last 2 months multiple friends have mentioned multiple times that this vacation needs a post on ur blog... So I am doing the same...<br /><br />Its been really long so I really dont remember the trip in so many details... So what I am going to do is to post the trip itenary and the snaps... <br /><br />We started from blore and the itenary was basically as follows:<br />Day 1 morning - reach <a href="http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&rlz=1C1GGLS_en-USIN294&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=kuala+lumpur&spell=1">Kuala Lumpur</a>... We reached the airport early morning... Used the spa of a nearby 5-star hotel to get fresh and then went on a tour of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronas_Twin_Towers">Petrona Towers</a> did a lot of Shopping and then took a night train to Lankawi... <br /><br />Day 2 noon - reached <a href="http://www.langkawi-info.com/">Langkawi</a> and checked in <a href="http://www.berjayaresorts.com/beachresort_langkawi.htm">Berjaya Beach Resort</a>, we had actually got a fantastic deal for this and we realised this only when we reached there as the place was superb... We spent about 3 days there and saw the Eagle Square, the different beaches, the cable car where Don climax was shooted and that indeed is a lovely place, was the aqaurium, did a day trip to <a href="http://www.visit-malaysia.com/langkawi-tours/pulau-payar-marine.htm">Pulau Payar</a> which has various things like snorkelling, sucba diving... I had done snorkelling before in <a href="http://lakshadweep.nic.in/">Lakshadweep</a> and i thought the corals were better there more colorful and pretty... but Scuba diving was a first and we both thoroughly enjoyed it :) <br /><br />Day 5 start from Langkawi by boatin the evening and reach <a href="http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/">Penang</a> by almost night. It was a one day halt there and we did all tourist thingies... went to the Snake temple, the budha temple, up on the cable train etc... and then in the night we took the train back to KL....<br /><br />Day 7: Reach KL early morning... Get fresh in one of the hotel spas again :) and then went to <a href="http://www.genting.com.my/">Genting</a> had a blast of the day there in various rides... the plan was to spend half a day in rides and half in the casino but we both got so involved in the rides that we forgot abt the casino totatlly :) <br /><br />We took the flight back to Bangalore the same night :( <br /><br />so here are the pics <a href="http://www.flickr.com/gp/12313849@N08/79Bx96">Pics</a>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-47194520452938108782008-09-10T01:19:00.000-07:002008-09-17T05:13:05.373-07:00God's Own CountryIn the long independence day weekend we decided to give ourselves a little freedom from the city hussle bussle … the intial idea was to just get out of the city somewhere and then the wish to see Kerala backwaters in monsoon clubbed with our close friends daughter’s baptism in Cochin we headed towards God’s own Country… <br /><br />The group this time was myself, hubby, ojas my 9-month old son, my sister Aparna and a couple friend Manish and Shivani, owing to the fact that we both had new cars (ours cedia and their city) and our craze for driving it was not a surprise that we decided to drive … We left Bangalore on Thursday i.e 14th August evening around 6:30 pm in the evening… It was one of those Bangalore monsoon days when there was a sudden crazy downpour and if u have been to Bangalore in the recent past you will now what becomes of it roads when it rains…. We got terribly stuck in city traffic and could step out the city only by 9:00 or so and that when we took some internal routes and came out on Hosur Road after Electronic City… and then all of us were hungry and hence began the search for a good place to eat, fortunately due to our previous travels on this road towards <a href="http://www.yelagirihills.com/">Yelagiri</a>, towards <a href=" http://chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofinterest/yercaud.asp ">Yercaud</a>, Chennai etc we knew of quite some places to eat in Hosur…. We decided to stop at <a href="http://www.indiaprofile.com/hotels-india/hosur-hotels/hotel-renaissance.html "> Hotel Renaissance</a> and had a good dinner or Dal tadka, aalo jeera and some good tandoori rotis…. Ojas also had his milk there and then slept off…. <br /><br />Other important thing we did there was book a hotel in <a href="http://salem.nic.in/">Salem</a> for the night halt… and then we started the journey towards it… It was still pouring cats and dogs and the roads looked lovely, both me and hubby love rains and were enjoying the drive but Manish was not really happy with the night drive…. Nonetheless we reached Salem at about 01:00 in night and started searching for the hotel that we had booked and on the way we saw this very nice and huge hotel called <a href="http://www.hotelsalemcastle.com/">Salem Castle</a> and we decided that rather than going further and finding the other hotel to be not good lets checkin here if they have rooms…. Fortunately they had……. And we were all off to bed at 1:45…. Me and hubby took turns sleeping as the bed was small and Ojas was getting up and starting to crawl as soon as his eyes opened a little…… but still it was a nice rest<br /><br />We started from there the next morning after breakfast around 9:00 am or so i.e after we had our breakfast and we attempted to giving Ojas his breakfast which he refused to eat… it was my birthday that day and hence I was in a happy happy mood you now…. I was also at the wheel and thought I am going to freak out today…. Little did I know what laid ahead… the roads from Salem to <a href="http://www.coimbatore.com/">Coimbatore</a> were in a really bad shape… there was construction going on to make it a four-lane highway and there were so many criss cross, so many diversions, so many pot holes that you could hardly pick up any speed… after 2 hours we had barely gone for about 80kms and we were all getting exteremly frustrated and thus decided to take a tea break… we had a tea somewhere and attempted to give Ojas something to eat again which is refused again and thus I gave him milk… and from here Naren took back the wheel and started the frustrating journey again… The journey went on , Ojas was either sleeping or playing in his car seat happily in between eating his biscuits and playing with massi… The road became good after the Coimbatore bypass and we were finally able to pick up speed… We stopped for lunch somewhere at about 15:30 and there was hardly anything available there till then… we somehow managed to stuff something in us… the sambhar and the brown rice were edible so bas kaam chal gaya, this time to I tried to feed Ojas his lunch but he refused to eat anything at all… not even one bite to taste whether he likes it or not, I was sure if he has a bite he will eat as it was his favorite Oats but he simply refused and had milk again after sometime in the car… This was getting me worried because he had eaten only 1.5 biscuits since morning and was wondering if he will behave this way in the whole trip….<br /><br />We started from there and the road became much better but my son decided to play havoc…. He started screaming at the top of his voice and just wouldn’t stop specially in hi car seat…. We had to stop 5 times in the next 1 hour to pacify him and then he finally fell asleep in my arms and then I put him back in his car seat… <br /><br />Post that we soon reached the by pass to <a href="http://www.cochin.org/">cochin</a> rather Alwa just before alwa and we took a left from there and headed through the mild slopes towards the backwaters in <a href="http://www.kumarakom.com/">Kumarakom</a> … the road up there kept getting curvier and thinner as we approached ahead… it was a lovely stretch but because of the frustrating first half the journey felt like never ending to us… And finally we saw the first backwater canal… it was an amazing feeling actually… there was a sudden gush of happiness and then started the search for our resort <a href="http://www.thebackwater.co.in/">The Backwater Resort</a> at about 20:00 in the night… the first look at it we were happy and satisfied…. They were nice cottages and the resort was on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vembanad_Lake">Vembanad Lake</a>…….. nice small swimming pool too……… <br /><br />We then decided to get fresh and put Ojas to sleep and meet outside our cottage in about an hour’s time… Ojas went to sleep without any difficult, I guess he was as tired as us … we put him in his sleeping back to be tension free… afterall he cant crawl and fall down the bed in his sleeping bed… I give credit of this idea to my hubby which saved us fro 3 sleepless nights <br />And when I came back I was pretty surprised to see a nice cake kept on the chair with a knife and all… I cut the cake etc and then we chilled out with some drinks and food… actually all of us desperately wanted some chilled beer specially Manish…. He went to the extent of saying that his motivation for the drive was the chilled beer in the end… but 15th August being a dry day we had to do with some Absolut vodka that we had got along with us… All in all it was a very different birthday for me this time, birthday on the road… not to mention that I enjoyed it the amount I love travel and driving……. <br /><br />In parallel we called multiple people and try to figure out a alternate route to go back as I was so sure I am not driving 16hrs back at a stretch having Ojas with me and we figured out a route too through which it takes about 10-12 hrs to reach Bangalore… and we cursed ourselves to have done this research before starting normally me and Naren make sure we talk to people, get enough info on the best route to take before we head out this time owing to Ojas we hadn’t got into it at all… <br /><br />The next morning was our houseboat day…. We had booked a morning to evening houseboat as we were not sure how will Ojas behave on it and hence didn’t take it for the night… so after a leisurely and nice breakfast we went on the houseboat… Manish had in the meanwhile gone for the traditional Kerala massage in the resort and had a Ok Ok feedback regarding the same… even I wanted to go but decided for the evening as Ojas had to be made ready etc…<br /><br />The house boat was the highlight of the trip and was truly amazing…. I had never imagined that the houseboat will be so modern… it had all the comforts and was fun to be in….. the backwaters view was amazing and we all loved every minute of it….. including Ojas who was in a happiness spell seeing so much water around him… I think he belonged there… <br /><br />And then suddenly we saw lots of small small boats coming near our houseboat and we started the guess work, they would be coming to sell fish etc etc and then we suddenly saw them all getting tied to our baot and then we realized what it is… they are all fishermen going back to the villages after fishing and saving their rowing energy, truly working in tandem, in a team isn’t it…. These people know it so well and we have to teach this so much back in office……. I guess great lesson here <br /><br />And then there was a brilliant truly kerala style lunch served on the boat….. and we had a truly amazing chilled out day on the boat……….<br /><br /><br />After we came back from the houseboat I went for a massage…. And it was a a mixed kind of experience……. Read abt it <a href="http://monikamanchanda15.blogspot.com/2008/09/in-birth-suit.html">here</a> and then night again was a chilled out chat cum booze session, today we actually decided to try the Gujrati and the marathi cuisine that was listed in the menu… we had seen it the first day but were not in the mood to experiment so much but today the mood was upbeat and also we had come to know that the head chef is from Maharashtra…. And the food was a pleasant surprise… we had ordered dal methi, khichdi and some other items and all were good…<br /><br />The next morning was the day to start back and head towards Cochin for our friends daughters baptism and we started from the resort at about 9:30 in the morning and the route we took this time was really neat and fast we made it to Cochin in exactly 2 hours as compared to 3.5 hrs we had taken on the way up…. The baptism was in a nice hotel and ojas enjoyed himself crawling all over in the lobby of the hotel and we also had a chilled out time but it the weather was really bad there… from there we headed towards the place our friend had arranged for us to stay and it was a nice home and then we had what is called a long afternoon siesta ruining all our plans to go see Cochin fort…. By the time we left home it was about 4:30 pm already and then by the time we reached the port road it was about 5:30pm and then there was a whole lot of commotion as there was some festival going on and hence we decided to ditch the fort plan and went towards the <a href="http://www.ktdc.com/Bolgaty.htm">Bolgaty Palace</a> and from there we took an hour’s boat ride around the Indian navy boats and then came back chilled out the palace with some chilled beer finally and nice buffet dinner…. <br /><br />Next day morning we went for breakfast at our friends house and had nice aappams an curry and the kerala banana… we started from there around 9:00 am in the morning and started driving on the new discovered route unfortunately I have lost the log that kept on what exactly is the route we took but I remember we took a diversion somewhere from NH57 on to SH17 and then got on to another SH (me is trying to search for the log, if I get it then I will update the same)… In between we stopped at naren and manish’s common friends house for lunch at Pallghat… these guys were meeting each other after some 8-9 years and it was nice to watch the reunion and watching them getting into comfort zone in a instant even after so long… that’s what friends are isn’t it <br /><br />By taking the modified route we reached Hosur at about 20:00 and that was really good as compared to what we had done in the updward journey though post that the law of averages caught up and we got stuck in a jam and reached home only by about 21:45 but nonetheless it was brilliant…. <br /><br />And all through the trip the darling was my dear Cheetah… the Cedia…. It would just rip the minute u press the pedal… be so steady even on very high speeds… I actually did my frist 170kmph in the trip… my highest speed ever… it was really thrilling and the car was rock steady at that time…….. but still after all this I would say the comforts of a SUV are brilliant for a long drive, I did miss my elephant the safari………<br /><br />PS: as usual check out the snaps at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/gp/12313849@N08/0j2uNu">Kerala Pics</a>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-79819059315141443082008-07-10T03:11:00.001-07:002008-07-10T03:26:20.003-07:00To the land of coffeeLast month sometime we packed our bags for the first vacation and long drive with our little son Ojas to <a href="http://chickmagalur.nic.in/">chickmagalur</a>, apprehension and anxiousness were the top feelings we had when we started, we had estimated the distance to be around 250-275 kms and were prepared for it to last above 8 hrs which is quite different that how we usually drive... always timed and fast is what we want but we didnt want to take any risks with the little one with us who was only about 3.5 months at that time. <br /><br />Owing to the fact that we had to get him ready and pack a lot paraphernalia along (sterilizer, bottles, pram, car seat etc etc) we started from home at about 9:25 in the morning and started moving towards Penenya, there was lot of traffic on the road and lots of signal, getting out of the town and reaching Neelmangla took us about 1.5 hrs for 45 minutes and we were worried that if this is the rate of moving then including stops for Ojas we might not make it there by night :) after neelmangla we could pick up speed though and it was really a nice drive the average of the car was going up, but we immediately felt very sad when we looked around... the roads looked barren as compared to the last time we drove on this road which was abotu 2 years back when we went to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangalore">Mangalore</a>. All the trees on the side had been cut and that was such a sad site, now the tree cutting spree for widening roads has reached the highways too :( <br /><br />After going for about another 40 kms in 25 mins we stopped for a milk heating break for ojas, basically we wanted to fix the <a href="http://www.ciao.co.uk/Munchkin_Car_Bottle_Warmer__6744578">car bottle warmer</a> ect properly as this was practically the first time we were using it though we had experimented with it before and realized that it takes about 30 minutes for it warm milk atleast... the road ahead was good too and we were zipping at quite a good pace when we halted at the pit stop for breakfast or brunch at 12:20 which a meter reading of 130 kms. the food was ok but there were flies all around and we had to finally move inside the car as Ojas was with us, and we got our first lesson there... with a baby never stop at small places :) :) till now as a couple we would just stop wherever we wished but know I guess we have to be more careful, we had our meal and Ojas had his milk and off we went from there at about 13:10. Ojas also seemed to enjoy his ride and was either playing happily in his car seat or sleeping. The roads form here on were also decent though they could have been better... and we crossed the towns of <a href="http://hassan.nic.in/">Hassan</a> (14:20, 200kms), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belur">Belur</a> (15:05,243) without a break as Ojas was happily sleeping and me and hubby were enjoying chatting and the lovely country side on the way... it was a lovely day with clouds and sun together... <br /><br />We reached the chickmagalur town at about 15:35 the meter reading at about 265 and were pretty impressed with ourselves and happy with the fact that Ojas was happy in the travel and didnt really become cranky at all. Now that we had time on hand we decided to have a leisure delayed lunch break at <a href="http://www.tajhotels.com/Leisure/TAJ%20GARDEN%20RETREAT,CHIKMAGALUR/default.htm">taj garden retreat chikmagalur</a>, its a lovely property and this is where we originally wanted to stay but unfortunately it was booked... we had a pizza and a pasta there, Ojas had his next feed and we started from there about 16:30 for our destination i.e. <a href="http://www.texresorts.co.in/">Tex Woods</a> which is basically a small resort in the middle of the coffee plantation adjacent to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadra_Wildlife_Sanctuary">Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary</a>... and here is where the ghat road started, we crossed malandur which is a mall town at 17:15, 297 kms and from there took a left towards Muthodi... and from here on the road started becoming narrower and steeper and we were glad that we were in the safari... after sometime we actually could see no people and no traffic at all and we got really scared that are we at the right track as if we were not then there was no way we could reverse the car also :) and to top it all the cell phone was not working so we couldnt call and check if we are on the right direction... so we had no choice but to move on looking for the forest check post the resort guy was supposed to meet us at... <br /><br />After going ahead for about 5 kms we finally spotted some life, a jeep was coming in the opposite direction... we were actually worried that how will we both go on this road and then on the slight curve the jeep took it as close to the rocks as possible and we were driving as close to the edge as we could... and we finally managed to cross :) we also checked with him that yes we are in the right direction. After going some more distance we finally spotted the check post and the Tex woods jeep standing there and we breathed a sigh if relief little did we knew what lied ahead of us.... the guy told us that the road ahead is a kacha road so if u want to leave ur car here u can though there is no problem a safari can easily go... so how could we leave it behind and we said ok lets get going...and trust me the next 5kms were the scariest drive of my life :) it was a completely rocky road with a 35-40 degree incline and just enough width for a safari or a jeep tp pass through, the mud on the road was slushy at points owing to the rain that had been pouring off and on from past sometime in the area... and we were sure that if the car stops somewhere here we are gone as we will never be able to start and pull it up again :) both me and naren wondered how do we always land up in these places... this time with Ojas with us we wanted to do a risk free safe trip and according to us we had planned and checked everything and still here we are in the middle of nowhere again :) we thanked our stars and god when we reached Tex woods at 18:05, 313 kms <br /><br />Its a lovely little quite place with just about 10 rooms I think, a nice pool, home made food, common area in the ground floor as well as first floor with lovely views... the rooms are spacious and have all basic comforts required by anyone... we just relaxed had a cup of good filter coffee and then just decided to chill... had a nice dinner and then chatted for a while in the sit out after Ojas slept and we too slept early as we wanted to catch the sunrise realizing only in the morning that we are on the other side and sunrise is not visible from here sob sob :) We just spent the day like we had never done before in any of our vacations... did nothing :) just chilled out, chatted with each other, played with Ojas... didnt even take a swim in the pool.... so it was a do nothing vacation for us... in the evening after Ojas slept we had a couple of beers before the food and then slept again :) <br /><br />And the next morning was the time to pack and go again, though we had planned to start around the same time as we did when we started from home.... the super lazy us could only start at 11:50, we were shit scared of the drive down that 5 kms but it was actually easier than the climb up :) and we managed it in 25 mins as compared to the up climb which had taken us 45 mins... On the way back we stopped in the town to buy some plants (which we mostly do when we drive somewhere to remember the place), had lunch again at Taj and reached back home at 19:50, 625kms... <br /><br />All in all it was a excellent break and now that we have tested that Ojas does just fine in the outdoor trips we hope to be back to our traveling very soon....<br /><br />do check out the pics here......<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/gp/12313849@N08/98gx9x ">Snaps</a>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-29401841385792757672007-04-03T22:50:00.000-07:002007-04-04T00:22:40.312-07:00Elephant (aka Safari) ride 2100 kms<span style="font-family: arial;font-family:georgia;" ></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Breakfast is gulped remorselessly in Hotel Pushpa villa revolving restaurant gazing at Taj Mahal with disenchantment from a distance. The mind is furiously racing over the last few necessities for the long elephant ride. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">At 0915 hrs on oct 8, 2006 we set sail on our maiden north <st1:country-region st="on">India</st1:country-region> to south <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> voyage. The dilapidated and crowded roads of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Agra</st1:place></st1:City> city delayed our highway driving pleasures by 45minutes. The elephant was on song upto Dholpur (60kms) on a 4 lane road with divider. In the 5<sup>th</sup> gear at 110kmph it was purring gently and mobile meditation for the occupants was feasible.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Entered MP, NH3 which was smooth as silk and well behaved metamorphosed in a pot hole ridden khacha road. The elephant effortlessly trampled the potholes believing them to be 1 inch cracks. Mobile meditation for the occupants was a trifle difficult but practicing yoga was still a possibility. NH3’s character further deteriorated and it transformed itself into no-road – an very uneven gravel path. The happily-chugging-along@60kmph-average elephant accorded only a semblance of respect to the no-road NH3 and ambled along at 30kmph average. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">After Dholpur at a certain point the landscape altered from undulating green cultivated fields to unnaturally shaped sand dunes and dunes which were formed by human excavation. Chambal river bridge generated feelings stepping on the railing of the bridge and taking a plunge into the supposedly pure, clean and cool flow. Atleast about 50-100 lorry’s were devouring their (probably illegal) share of Chambal sand. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Dholpur to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Gwalior</st1:place></st1:City> (60kms) 2 lane road was well metalled. The Scindias city appeared forlorn having lost Mr.Madhav Rao Scindia its protagonist for popularity. The famous <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Gwalior</st1:place></st1:City> fort stood its ground and masqueraded charmingly from a distance.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Before we hit <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Gwalior</st1:place></st1:City> an ancient narrow gauge railway line was discussed by the occupants. Fundas of meter gauge, broad gauge and narrow gauge were unceremoniously dropped by the civil engineer N on the little suspecting co-travellers. The first citizens of the road, buffalos decided to delay our journey by languidly crossing. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">A small chai Dhukaan on <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Gwalior</st1:place></st1:City> bye-pass was startled and compelled to entertain the elephant. A constant dread of getting locked out of the elephant hovered menacingly in the minds of the occupants who had foolish forgotten to carry the second key for this long arduous trip. The elephant started out with a clean quartz black coat in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Agra</st1:place></st1:City> was mostly dirty brown in color at this stage. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">N passed on the wheel to P here at about 1155hrs<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The countryside modified itself to plain dry brown with intermittent sprinkling of shrubs and small trees. At 1330hrs Pujari hotel 10kms sooner than Shivpuri welcomed us with indifference. Yellow dal fry ordered with a lot of reluctance (having eaten the same for the last 7 days in the <st1:place st="on">Himalayas</st1:place> in every meal) was palatable with the gharam phulkas The tomato fry ordered with watering added spice to the satisfactory meal. Some thumbs ups, water, etc tucked into the elephant it chugged along again at 1410hrs. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">P passed on the wheet to M at 1410hrs<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Thirst finally caught up with the elephant near Shivpuri and before proceeding to Guna where the road displayed bigger, better and more curvy pot holes, the elephant gulped Diesel. The scenery amended itself to dense shrubs interspersed with bigger trees. Parrot green buses startled the elephant now and then. Finally 3 women spotted on the road confirmed the presence of women in MP. Overtaking an aerodynamic lorry with both its sides unusually tall and leaning on to the right at double the degree of leaning <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">tower</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Pisa</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> was a frightening experience. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Cultivated fields dotted the setting and the suspected crops were Jowhar. Lorry with PUKARO written in bold was amusing. Bang in the middle of nowhere we found the Statue of liberty albeit green with envy (was painted green) I suppose and of course about 1/100<sup>th</sup> in size of the original in the lawns of an unknown <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">hotel</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placename st="on">Royal</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Palace</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. It made one contemplate the extent of western influences and its rural reach in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Guna arrived in the elephant’s path at 1620hrs and the road became smooth which imprudently led the entourage to believe the end of pot holes. Roads progressed from bad to worse. Tea had to be consumed to share disbelief on the condition of NH3. 1645hrs launched the elephant with zest towards Binaganj where at 18hrs M lost the wheel to N.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The pot holes enroute to Biora were wretched. Many 1km to 3km stretches were completely washed away. The elephant took this fact in its stride and sauntered along without self pity. In the last 5hrs only lorrys, a few buses and exactly 3 cars were spotted on this road. The sunset in a riot of colours mesmerized the elephant as he passed by Biora.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The original plan was to reach <st1:city st="on">Aurangabad</st1:City> (600kms from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:City>) by end of day1. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:City> seemed to be a viable destination & reachable destination. However the unsolicited warnings thrust upon us by one of the regular drivers in this track whom we had consulted before the start of the trip endlessly looped in our brains. Things like:<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Dewas / <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:City> night driving is to be avoided because drunken tribals from rock tops beside the highway chuck stones at cars<span style=""> </span>for their personal entertainment, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Don’t take the by-pass of any major city in the nights, as that is were all the city thieves lie in ambush<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Suddenly our mate P a self proclaimed karate blackbelt become an all important personality. We strategized endlessly on diverse situations of attack by tribals and our counter attacks mainly front ended by the blackbelt personality. And when we didn’t stategize we transformed into Swami of Malgudi days conjuring various dangers. <span style=""> </span>There were atleast 3 locations beside the highway were we could see mobile-highway-scene-of-crime police squad at work. We were thankful to almighty that these scenes had happened before we reached there. All our hearts were in our mouths when a phat-phati wala in the middle of a dark deserted highway tried to stops us…….maybe his engine gave up but we did not have the gall to stop, ascertain and help. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">By 1050pm after clocking 625km we made it to Hotel president-Indore in one piece. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:City> had changed a lot in the last 10yrs from the time N had visited. Some of the malls were 2-3 times the size of the biggest malls in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:City>. The attitude of Indoris was refreshing in directing the entourage. Single women were roaming the streets freely at 11pm indicating that it was safe a city. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Burp…..Burp…………Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……… <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Day2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">7.17am the elephant set sail after its eyes were wiped clean. P was at the wheel and took her to sea. The road up to Mhow was very busy and the area was full of military buildings and people. The day started off with nostalgic memories catalyzed by songs from Qayamat-se-Qayamat-tak and <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:State> pyar kiya. Enroute to Gujri the hidden achievements of P were discovered i.e. a national runner up in karate championship. M & N were honoured to be driving along in such august company and were rather glad thinking about the night drive ahead, a national champion should definitely be able to beat up atleast 10goons and that would give N, M & the elephant enough time to vanish from the scene, of course deserting our black belt friend who is capable of fending for himself. A million boards of Su-Kam were displayed in & around Gujri, we guessed that this board on top of every establishment brought good luck…..<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Thanks to some school going children who were strangely staring at our rear tyre and trying to draw our attention, we realized the elephant had its first flat tyre of its life at Dhanbad. With P & N huffing and puffing to change the tyre and M at the camera shooting the out of shape men, a small circus scene was created for the passing junta who stood and discussed our predicament with mixture of amusement and bafflement. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">On starting again, about 50mts ahead we found a puncture shop and let P manage the punctured tyre when M & N went ahead to fetch some food. As per P these puncture guys were the most hep puncture guys in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> and they were dancing to music as they fixed the tyre. The owner looked cool with dark glasses, a sleeveless t-shirt and not a speck of dirt on him. We wondered whether he deliberately planted nails on the road and made a handsome living with the regular assured income from every puncture he created. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The road condition had not improved too much and we hoping to hit Maharastra border and wishfully hoping for better roads. We briefly wondered if we should take a diversion and go towards Nasik-Pune to catch the Golden quadrilateral, it would be about 500Kms more distance. <span style=""> </span>Khalghat, Thikri, Julwania passed by eventlessly except for the slow pace and just before Sendhwa we entered Maharastra. There was collective sigh of relief as the roads vastly improved.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">At Sangvi P lost the wheel to M. At Dhule we halted for lunch and the trip meter read 916km at 15.41pm. At 16.49 after a monotonous lunch the elephant chugged along yet again. The landscape changed to lush green shrubs, bathed in slanted beams of evening Sun light which soothed our senses. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Vinchur, Mehunbare, Chalisgaon, Bhamarvadi passed by and the first large ghat of the trip was loomed ahead. The verdant landscape, the evening sun and a clean ghat road made for a pleasurable drive. Midway in the ghat N took wheel to experience ghat driving on the elephant. In 3<sup>rd</sup> gear the elephant chugged along merrily overtaking crawling trucks. Some of the most spectacular views of the trip were experienced from the ghats in the evening light. It felt like we were climbing onto the <st1:place st="on">Deccan</st1:place> plateau. Passed Ellora town in disappointment for not having seen any caves by the road side and secretly thanked humanity for having progressed to living in civilized dwellings under controlled environments. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Aurangabad</st1:place></st1:City> bypass was a long one and was quite dark. Dinner stop was on a highway hotel beyond <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Aurangabad</st1:place></st1:City> at about 2020hrs. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Bid, Vedhsi were left behing to arrive at Solapur (at 1398km on the tripmeter) at 3am next day having experienced multiple sleep invasions was probably the most risky part <span style=""> </span>of the trip. Strangely there were lot of people walking on the highways just before Solarpur whom we guessed were factory shift workers. It was also unnerving to notice people sleeping on the side of the highway in a couple of pl<st1:personname st="on">aces</st1:PersonName>. 1.2 billion Indians and this is the value attributed to life by individuals. A very great belief in predetermined destiny could make people act like this. High A/c, loud music were antidotes used to ward off sleep from 1.30pm onwards. The hotelwala at Solapur looked at us in mixture of disbelief and incredulousness, but quickly checked us in and promptly went back to deep slumber. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Zzzzzz…………<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Day3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The day3 assault was launched by M at 1010hrs. Two wheelers in Solapur swerved on the path of the elephant frequently and it was concluded that the Solarpurians were blessed with a surplus of suicidal genes which they employed with gay abandon. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Unheard of sleepy towns like Hattur, Nanandi, Dhulked, etc whizzed past and just before Zalki we crossed over into our home state Karnataka. A round of celebration occurred spontaneously for achievements to date. Bijapur bypass met us at 1152hrs when the tripmeter said 1498). The world famous great Gol gumbaz was visible from a distance. A state of the art Indian oil company plant beside the old heritage was contrasting. Facts like Asia’s biggest, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s biggest, Bijapur’s biggest, higways’s biggest, etc were debated and cast aside with no firm conclusions. Chai stop here was for the Bio-break. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The roads were good, the weather great, landscape excellent, the attitude was exuberant <span style=""> </span>and the elephant was on song, completely in its elements, the engine smooth as silk purring away, the road grip was akin to a railway coach on rails at 100 plus kmph, the suspension gently rocked the passengers when the elephant stepped on huge craters, the speedometer was constantly above 120kmph and frequently touching 145 mark, the steering sensitive and optimally tight even at high speeds, the noise levels inside the car encouraged mobile meditation yet again. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Bijapur to hungund (at 1608 kms) happened in 1hr 20min flat. Lunch was consumed with disinterest in a dirty highway hotel amidst a lot of government bus travelers and the highway driving restarted at 1500hrs. At Gudur, Bichkal, etc Sullen sunflowers dotted landscape on either side due to cloudy weather. The CD player gave up and it was time to sing hum honge kam yab, some shayaris about optical illusions were recited by P, N recited the cycle sharayi. The passengers couldn’t differentiate sheep and cows. P had got into reciting old childhood events which incidentally is one of his favorite pastimes. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Almatti dam appeared imposing alongside the highway and the <st1:place st="on">Krishna</st1:place> river gave the impression of being a petite tributary (poor monsoon I guess or where the dam gates shut). A tiny piece of land in the backwaters of the dam evoked delusions of virgin islands, female sunbathers, etc in P. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">At hospet (tripmeter-1705 at 16.20) a chai stop was invoked. With a little of fiddling by the so called engineers P & N CD player launched into music again. The ruins of Hampi beckoned, but was dropped due to paucity of time. P grabbed the wheel from M here. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">It was frustrating to be penalized for 30minutes at railway gate just beyond Hospet having pulled in 20seconds after the gate slammed shut. The vast expanse of Tungabadra reservoir loomed large wherein two of the shores on sides were invisible and made on wonder if it was a sea.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Hospet to Lakshimsagara (near chitradurga; tripmeter 1838 at 1916hrs) were NH4 (a part of the golden quadrilateral) met the entourage. N to took over from P here . A cutting chai and star gazing in 10minutes, the last leg of the journey commenced. The elephant was constantly above 130kmph often reaching 145 on this 2+2 lane (which often altered itself to 3+3 for small stretches) highway with proper divider and side railings near villages and towns. The road was brand new, markings brand new and every bit of construction was brand new. It was an amazing experience to zip past all kinds of vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Tumkur was a blur in the bye side at 2130hrs at 1981 kms as the elephant hurried to the final destination. At 2011hrs in Nelamengala & finally at 2220hrs (tripmeter=2036) the elephant triumphantly marched into Yeswantpur, Blr. Hurray, three cheers to Elephant, M, P & N<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Of course the entourage were late by just a day with respect to the original plan thanx to the sickening 500km stretch in MP and of course not to forget the 1000km of breakin for the elephant which happened in first leg of this trip were it was restricted to a max of 110km on 5<sup>th</sup> gear. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Blr air and traffic, blr moon all look inviting, the smooth roads of blr though pothole ridden here and there were too boring for he elephant. With some beer & one no. Andhara meal in Nandhini deluxe the entourage was home at 23.30. </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br />PS: check out the snaps at </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://new.photos.yahoo.com/write2monika/album/576460762339096097/">Drive Photos</a>Narenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02739236376927888652noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-46107332439080542392007-01-22T04:08:00.000-08:002007-01-22T04:11:58.587-08:00Sea of PeopleDeep desire of my parents to visit it since I had moved to Bangalore almost 5.5 years back and the chance that this time they were making a trip to Bangalore together was the driving factor behind the visit to the place which I call The Sea of People aka “Tirupathi”. Anyone who has gone there especially in the month of December would fully agree with me, all u see is people people and people all around <br /><br />The plan was to start Bangalore at about 7:00 am in the morning but as usual couldn’t happen but this time we have a better reason for it (other than our laziness ofcourse :-) ). As a last minute plan our family friend Chandar sir also planned to joined us and Naren had to go to pick him in the morning and then come back home, nonetheless, we started the journey at about 8:00pm finally with two cars – the competing Safari and Scorpio ;-), BTW the most interesting part was the way the back of the Safari had been transformed into a cozy bed by my sister Isha, so that she can sleep more… <br /><br />So off we went at 8 with isha trying to sleep nicely in the back of the safari and crying and shouting on all that we are taking her out early morning and that too without breakfast, Naren on the wheel of safari with Monika, dad and Chandra sir as the co-passengers. Prakash was driving the Scorpio with both the moms accompanying him… <br /><br />Being near to the old madras road we didn’t take a long time to hit the highway(nh4) but then there is a lot of crowd on this highway, for about 40kms after coming out of the city we were struggling with overtaking the lorrys etc on the two lane crowded highway but post the Volvo factory in the Hoskote the drive became better and the traffic lessened. We hit woodys for breakfast at about 9:30 am or so. Had some decent idly, vada and dosas and an amazing coffee… after doing pet pooja and we started the journey again, Monika took over the safari’s wheel from Naren and off we went at about 10:30 am… <br /><br />The drive from woody’s to the next halt was really good, the gentle curves and turns would keep the driver alert and the undulating plains or the small hills whatever u want to call them make the drive really interesting and the view excellent, isha was going click click in the back seat and we were constantly chatting and munching something or the other yes yes u are right we just had breakfast but then food is always welcome isn’t it? The next halt was when the Scorpio was not in sight for quite some time and the turn from nh4 to tirupathi was just ahead and also dad desperately wanted is cigs which had got over, Dad tried at about 5 shops and had no luck at all, after about 15 mins the Scorpio finally joined us and we started again. Monika handed over the wheel to Naren again and we started the journey stopping at every shop which we think would sell cigs but unfortunately dad’s brand was not available anywhere… we decided we’ll check out in the main city now. After loosing the way 1-2 times, Prakash coming over to lead us by saying he has mom with him and she knows the way but still loosing it again we managed to finally reach jhansi aunties house at about 12:30 pm. Had a hearty lunch of biryani, rasam rice etc at her house and then started the discussion of what next as we got a shock that the rooms that we have booked by paying 8K of advance will not be given to us as the donor of the room has suddenly decided to be spiritual too and has landed to visit the Lord. The group decided that we should go up to the hills and see if we can manage to get something and more importantly get the darshan tickets so that that also doesn’t result in a rude shock later (I am actually so glad we did it, read on u’ll know why I am saying so), we started from auntie’s place around 3:00pm and then after standing in a long queue for the car security check we finally started driving on the hills at about 4:00pm…. What a lovely drive, nice curves and fantastic views make the drive lovely. <br /><br />After reaching the hill we realized that what is the problem, there were people all around. I don’t think I have ever seen so many people together ever in my life. I wonder what instills such a deep faith of people in the place… Anyways after struggling to meet the guy and waiting for him for hours and then again after meeting him waiting for him to come back and give the tickets…. We had actually lost all hope that we will get the tickets for darshan too but fortunately the person came back with the darshan tickets at about 9:30pm and a sigh of relief ran through all apart from Naren who got a news that he has to wear a dhoti for the pooja tomorrow :-) and dad who was in rude shock that smoking is banned here and a fine of rs.25 will charged whoever is found smoking <br /><br />Anyways at 9:30pm we decided to go back down and have some dinner at a Andhra restaurant, Chandra sir did order a Andhra meal and then was sweating and his hair was rising like spikes after eating it….. Post lunch and after a through search at all shops for dad’s brand of cigs we were off to sleep at the places arranged by uncle at his neighbor’s place. God bless him and the neighbors who had gone out else we would have been on the road….<br /><br />Next morning started really early at about 3:30am with “Krishna ne be Hare balo” playing as the alarm tone in my cell phone….everyone got ready in a haste and off we go around 4:30am, luckily the queue at this hour is not as crazy and we are done with it in 15 mins odd…. <br /><br />After going up and attending a long one and a half hour pooja which basically was to give bath to the God we finally managed to do the 2 sec darshan it amuses me sometime that in 2secs how can one really be spiritual. I do believe in God and strongly agree with his existence and the effect in our lives but I somehow can’t relate to someone being spiritual in these circumstances and atmosphere may be my faith is not strong enough or may be I am lacking something major in my faith often wonder what? Anyways the darshan was pretty cool and it was post darshan that whole mess started oh God… it was a mess, a chaos what do I say. Everyone getting on everyone else and for what to get out of the temple? Again it made me wonder that if u became really spiritual about 5 mins back then how can one behave like this now? It was mad fight to get out, children being crushed, old people being trampled, it was a sight probably I never want to see again in my life. My heart really went out for that kid who looked mere 1 yr old and crying and howling I guess for oxygen and all he was getting from everywhere around was a push here and a push there and all this resulted in a crazy suffocation problem for me. Finally after struggling for about 30 mins we were out of the temple and believe me or not God was last thing on my mind…. <br /><br />We started our journey back to the town after catching up on a quick light breakfast as the downhill drive after the morning suffocation was scaring all…. We reached back to jhansi auntie’s house at about 12:30pm and after just catching up for a quick coffee and picking my mil we started our journey towards Mathyam – naren’s maternal village at about 1:00pm. Halted at A1 plaza in chittor for a quick lunch and then reached Mathyam at about 3:30pm. Had some quick filter coffee and gave mom-dad their first good tea in two days made by self there. After a few clicks here and there and a chat with Ammamma we started our journey back to Bangalore…. And ya from here the Scorpio and Prakash bid us farewell and took the road to Chennai instead…. <br /><br />Monika took the wheel from Mathyam and the drive till Woodys was pretty routine and uneventful, at woodys we halted for coffee and bio break :-) and Naren took over the wheel from here. We made it to Bangalore at about 8:30pm and headed straight to Treat Indira Nagar for a hearty north Indian meal……… and ofcourse finally dad got his cigaretteMonikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129726517624521220.post-90860943817205048942006-11-27T00:45:00.000-08:002006-11-29T05:30:46.368-08:00A drive to Hampi...<em>Me and Naren (my husband) ofcourse share a lot in common but if we have to pick up the strongest passion we share it will have to be long drives… so this blog is created by a soul purpose of sharing the drives and the small vacations we keep taking now and then…. Most of the posts on this blog would be either jointly written or written by one of us… he is not an active member of blogspot so I will manage the posting etc…<br /><br />Ideally would have loved to kick this off with a drive which became our dream from the second time we met… the Delhi-Bangalore drive but we are taking a long time to get that ready because of the same reasons… so first post here is on our trip to Hampi we did last weekend (17nov-19nov) taking a break to celebrate our second wedding anniversary …<br /><br />Read on…<br /></em><br />Planned to start at 6am in the morning but as usual managed to start only at about 7:05 am… both of us are just not morning people. Being a weekday and we crossing the city at almost peak hours we managed to cross the city limits only by 8:30. We had our first halt for breakfast at Kamat near tumkur at about 9:00, had a quick meal of some idly vada and good south Indian coffee… the next 100kms of the road was fantastic and we did it in just about an hour… the fantastic four lane highway which is a part of the golden quadrilateral. All this while it was Naren on the wheel and I took over the drive when the trip meter said 187.0 kms and the time being 10:45 and then started the started an amazing views as we entered the land of windmills and sunflowers fields. Hundreds of windmill turning around and lots of patches of land where all u can see is the yellow of the sunflowers…it was an amazing site and we started stopping every 5 mins for a pic here and a pic there :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/758158/hampi%20009.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/897810/hampi%20009.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/766546/hampi%20027.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/589680/hampi%20027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />after about half an hour we took a bio break at A1… which I think is the best thing reliance is given to the highways… neat clean toilets, place to take bath if u wish and cots to sleep…. Just wish more people used it. Most of the A1’s that I have visited are mostly empty… and after some 10 mins off we go again after taking the turn from chitradurga on NH13 the road became a two lane road without the divider slowing down the speed a little but more or less the drive was smooth and cool, and then came the tungbhadra reservoir… it’s a huge water reservoir which seems more like sea, we halted there for a couple of snaps and then moved on and in the next couple of minutes we hit hospet at 13:55 and then began the hunt for the hotel we had booked. Going through the shady and narrow lanes and wondering what kind of a hotel are we going to land into we finally managed to reach hotel malligi at 14:13 the trip meter reading 354km… we were actually pleasantly surprised when we reached the hotel which looked really plush, the reception had about 8 clocks showing the times of 8 major cities in the world and then I realized ofcourse Hampi is a world heritage site and there are lots of foreigners roaming about.<br /><br />Last weeks tiredness accounting to hectic office schedules and wish to just spend some time together and talk on our anniversary we decided to just chill out in the hotel for the rest of the day and have a candle light dinner in the night…<br /><br />Next morning started at 8am when we were ready and done with the breakfast and off we went with a KSRTC approved guide (Prakash) from the hotel at 8:30. The day started with loads of stories while the drive from hospet to hampi which is about 10kms and passes through the villages which were a part of the Vijaynagar empire at that time and we were relieved of our apprehensions and fear of being stranded with a not so good guide for the whole day as these kind of places the guide makes all the difference… Prakash was really good actually I personally recommended him to whoever goes to hampi and wants a guide :-) and then started our click click click as the ruins and the rocks had started to appear.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/562105/hampi%20038.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/974103/hampi%20038.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/509838/hampi%20047.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/853223/hampi%20047.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The first place we visited was mustard Ganesha located on Hemakuta hill, basically a smaller size ganesha temple which was meant for the normal public to worship, the other one is a peanut ganesha we visited later in the day.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/903685/hampi%20053.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/594714/hampi%20053.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />BTW the guide told us that there were about 6500 temples in hampi once upon a time and only 5% of them have been found till now. After seeing the ganesha from all angles we moved forward to climb the hill, it was not a very difficult climb and after reaching up we were so happy we did it… all u can see till the end was ruins of temples of various centuries and various architecture. It all looked so lovely and then the rocks… some of them so precariously balanced that one would wonder that why are they not falling? I could never imagine anytime that any rock could look so beautiful. After seeing some of the structures from inside and clicking some snaps we moved forward for the return downhill to visit the Virupaksha temple. I must say that Sun god was extremely happy with us that as he was not shining on us too hard and was hiding behind the clouds…<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/686462/hampi%20058.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/192990/hampi%20058.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/554201/hampi%20088.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/570283/hampi%20088.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/538156/hampi%20101.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/937708/hampi%20101.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/109123/hampi%20102.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/6120/hampi%20102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Virupaksha also known as pampavati temple is a currently active Shiva temple and has a nine storied gopuram at the entrance which is 52m high only 2 meters short of the famous Meenaskshi temple. Its actually quite a sight to watch.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/485088/hampi%20092.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/670975/hampi%20092.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Just as u enter the temple one would find the elephant Laksmi with her muahaut taking money from people and then blessing them, also one would see a lot of monkeys around which kind of confirm to the fact that this was supposed to be the vanar raj area of the ramayan times and hampi also is a birth place of Lord Hanuman. The next thing one would notice here is the person carrying a trumpet, he looks really old and actually goes well with the ruins…. He will play the trumpet for you and let u shoot him for some meager change.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/424018/hampi%20128.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/502772/hampi%20128.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/473070/hampi%20130.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/527220/hampi%20130.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After going inside the temple and the pooja, we headed out for a light snack and a cup of coffee, it was almost 11:30 and because of the walk since morning out breakfast had already digested.<br /><br /><br />As soon as you come out of the temple u will see a long street with shops both sides which is the hampi bazaar. Currently selling the digital camera memory sticks, souvenirs, mineral water, small eating joints claiming to have a mention in Lonely planet. Originally this was supposed to be the trade centre hampi and the traders used to sell gold, emeralds, rubies by litres… and that too in open shops with no doors and walls forget about locks, after the cup of coffee and a little shopping in the crafts bazaar of hampi we proceeded towards the walk by the tungbhadra river. This is a must do if one visits Hampi. The landscape here is beautiful with the rocks, the river and some amount of greenery, everything perfectly balanced. Here we also did the coracle ride, how I love it the very funda of it, its all about balance isn’t life like that too.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/40524/hampi%20153.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/883715/hampi%20153.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After the coracle ride and the walk back towards the hampi bazaar we decided to give the Lingayat meal a try at a really small roadside joint, I had read about that in 52 weekend getaways as a not to miss thing and I totally agree with that. It was a wonderful meal of jawar roti with dal, sabzi, chutney, podi and rice. We really hogged on this personally I don’t remember when was the last time I eat so much at one time.<br /><br />After the nice lunch, we decided for a quick visit to the hotel as the coracle ride had left our clothes really wet…. The post lunch session was planned as a visit to the royal enclosure, BTW Hampi is broadly divided into Royal enclosure and the Sacred Centre and the pre lunch session was a visit to the sacred centre.<br /><br />We started the post lunch session by visiting Peanut ganesha, the larger Ganesha meant for the royal people<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/454139/hampi%20188.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/92431/hampi%20188.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/12838/hampi%20189.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/388668/hampi%20189.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and then moved on to see the huge Narishma’s statue in the yogic position and the active temple with just one huge lingam surrounded by water.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/255351/hampi%20194.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/508326/hampi%20194.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/785090/hampi%20196.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/326930/hampi%20196.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>After that we moved on to Queen’s living area, we saw the famous Lotus Mahal which was an air conditioned hall during those days, the queen’s bath that was the huge swimming pool the queen had with a massage parlor attached. </div><br /><div></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/186430/hampi%20204.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/438598/hampi%20204.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>After that we moved on to see the Elephant enclosures for the royal elephants and can u beat it even the elephants were given rooms with carvings ;-)<br /><br />After seeing all this we headed towards the start attraction of Hampi – the Vithala temple. This is the most exquisite temple that I have seen. There are thousands of pillars carved in the most intricate and beautiful manner, representing so many things I could have spend the whole day here. The centre of the temple was designed and created specially for the queen as she loved dancing, here each pillar makes a different musical sound mirdagam, dholak, sitar, tabla, sitar, jal taranag u name the instrument and its there. Apparently in those times experts used to create music for the queen to dance by just banging on these pillars and it used to travel till 1.5kms far… amazing isn’t it. And then in the same temple there is the very famous stone chariot. Rugged structure which has some different charm to it. With all this Vithala is indeed the star attraction of hampi. We spent about 2 hours there looking at a lot of things and still didn’t want to leave the place but alas with the constant reminders from our guide that there are a lot of places still left and its almost sunset time, we moved ahead.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/934639/hampi%20238.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/8771/hampi%20238.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/941762/hampi%20271.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/980713/hampi%20271.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/599886/hampi%20276.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/445288/hampi%20276.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Hampi is famous for its sunset and sunrise colors and hues and the fact that made us so happy in the morning made us equally sad now as no sun means no sunset either…. Anyways we managed to catch a glimpse of what it could look like and wished that the sun was shining fully today….<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/916009/hampi%20284.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/270562/hampi%20284.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/401558/hampi%20285.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/505757/hampi%20285.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />From here we moved on to see the place where the kings and queens used to stay during the Dashera festival… it was already dark and we could hardly see anything in our cell phone lights after seeing stone gate, the massive stone lunch plates and the lovely water tank with steps we decided to call it off for the day at 7pm. We thanked the guide and payed him his Rs 600 fee and some tip to add on to it. He seemed happy and we were happy too.<br /><br />Once we reached the hotel we realized how tired we are from roaming about the full day, just ordered some food from room service and crashed to get only next time and that was time to head back home. I wish we could spend some more time there and see the stuff we had missed – Matanga hill, tunghbadra dam etc….<br /><br />Anyways the drive back was quite uneventful and went on smoothly, we hit Bangalore post lunch, all in all we had a great time and recommend Hampi visit to everyone.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/1600/421293/hampi%20282.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/516/382046694045962/200/360133/hampi%20282.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Monikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627040210376581730noreply@blogger.com3