Ind v/s Aus Day 3 , Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Yup! I was there! And the innings was a complete entertainer. The crowd was fantastic and Harbhajan's innings had us applauding throughout. Even every defensive stroke was appreciated. It is better than getting out right! We walked into the stadium when India was 147/4 ,with Dravid and Ganguly at the wickets ,and walked out when Kumble came in to bat. Well, fair enough right? I was busy recording close to 40 video on my SE C702 and Brett Lee was'nt too far from sight ;-)

Follow up to the worth of an MBA-what the Executives really think

http://www.bnet.com/2403-13070_23-170572.html

Worth of the MBA degree-Article

On my usual rapid readings of myriad articles, I found an interesting one about a topic I follow intently. The MBA phenomenon. Here is the link to it.

http://www.bnet.com/2403-13070_23-170538.html

A good look at the comments section quite opens up the topic for debate on various fronts.

The Return back to Reality!

As I promised here is the final of the 3 part description of my ooty road trip with my friends......

After exactly 24 hrs of stay in Ooty, we finally filled up the fuel tank in preparation for our journey back to Bangalore. Once we reached the city limits we were directed by the police to a different direction than the one we had arrived Ooty at. It was the state highway bypassing the Kalatti Ghats. The journey time is increased by an hour but the experience of passing through lush green tea gardens and tall eucalyptus trees as old as time covered by an umbrella of fog is simply, amazing!

The scenic country side and the winding roads make one stand still while time passes by.
The Tea Gardens make you want to run through them
The highway goes via Pykara Boat House. We did not have the chance to stop there, maybe next time. The route converges with the origional route directly at Mudumulai. So if you were planning to stop for lunch at all the resorts you saw while heading towards Ooty, they no longer fall in your path.

Mudumulai bid us farewell with heavy showers. Well, now the trip had it all. Sun,Fog,Rain. we were happy that hail did not break our windshield! After a challenging drive throught the forest we finally entered the bamboo forests of Bandipur followed by speedy drive upto JungleLodges. Stay longer 5th gear. The steady rain kept us company. A very late lunch was finally had at the JungleLodges , bandipur. From then on it was a quite drive upto Mysore road. Coffee at CCD at 6pm finally made us realise that the road trip had come to an end. Sigh. I was completely in favour of starting the engine and heading back. But as the saying goes, blah blah.

All in all, this trip truly turned out to be one of the best road trips I have done so far. Somehow , everything just magically fell into place. How nice it is when that happens.How rare it is that it happens!

The reminiscing never stops.

Rejuevenated. Refreshed. Road trip.

Mango Showers in September!

No this is not some meteorological phenomenon or climate change, but just an annual get together of Mangaloreans and Goans in Bangalore where music rules the show! Its like a party in Goa with good music, drinks and well i wish i could say good food but sadly , it was a disappointment. A big one! But who cares when you have lovely music to suit myriad tastes and friends. There is the hip and happening music playing for all those party people who want to let their hair down. But more importantly there is lovely jive and country numbers played by a live band where you can either sharpen your ballroom dance skills or show them off. Your pick.

So on 27th September 2008, my goan friends in bangalore and I , dressed for the occasion set off for an evening of dance and music.

Sunday Feast!

On Sunday,21st September 2008, my roommates and me ate to our heart's content and more to some delicious, home made mouth watering cuisine. Preparations were made the previous evening onwards.The plan of course came up during our usual Saturday lunch at Mangalore Pearl where Michelle,Swapna and me ate..umm...i think it would be less embarrassing if i did not list out the dishes, or rather the number of dishes ;-).

So the master chef's cooked up....

Chicken Tikka
Chicken Dry
Chicken in coconut based gravy
Appams
Veg White Pulav
Payasam

and Canadian White wine!

The guests: FAT CHANCE!

Colleagues,Friends!!

ALL BEST BHARATH! ALL THE BEST NI!

The Bangalore-Ooty Road Trip - Part 2, the 24hr Ooty Stay

15th August,2008 13:30 hrs, Glanton Manor , Charring cross, Conoor Road, Ooty!!

We checked-in to our hotel which was impossibly arranged by a friend. The reception gives you a nice feel and you expect a decent room. Well You get one too. Ignore the little details you may not like about the room, you are not going to spend your time indoors in Ooty now are you?!

With all the luggage still in our Spark, we decided to walk around the town after freshening up. There was not even a little tiredness that had set in after the 6.5 hours drive. Nice hot tomato soup for the soul followed by some serious lunch.It was 3pm. After the meal we decided to explore Ooty on foot. It is easy to find tourist spots around because of Information boards installed in the town. The Botanical Garden was just about 1 km from our hotel. Sights of bunches of fresh, orange carrots with its plant still on it put smiles on our faces. we had to buy a couple of bunches and much on them on our way back!


The Botanical Garden is a huge place with myriad , beautiful gardens and trees that could have easily been as old as time!


The Glass house with uncountable flowers was very nice.

2 hours later we walked out of the Botanical Garden and headed towards the hotel. On the way we bought some carrots and rose apples.

The Rose Garden , about 1.5 km from the Botanical Garden was our next stop. We stopped at the hotel, which was in between got into our car for a drive through the town. We drove to the Rose Garden. How many types of roses are there!!

Then we drove to Ooty lake only to find out that it was closing time. We thought we could come there the following morning.

Another thing Ooty is famous for are Ooty Chocolates. Lots of them! We bought paper bags full of Dark Arabian nuts, rum and Raisin, and lots more! Paper bags because use of plastic is avoided in Ooty.Nice!

After a quick dinner at a nearby hotel we thought of experiencing Ooty in the night. A fountain at the square caught our fancy.


The walk had done us good and we thought of retiring for the night.Snuggled inside the covers with sweaters and socks we faded into happy slumber with excitement of a day most loved!

DAY 2
6am, Michelle and I had to go for a refreshing,morning walk amidst nature. How many times can you do that in Bangalore! Walking up an incline we came across horses, chirping birds, an art college and pretty bungalows.


A little away we could see a white edifice that had THE TEA FACTORY written across it in bold red letters. How we wished we could walk till there. A 2 rupees chai at the roadside and a plan for the day, we walked back up to our room.

Since hot water is available in the hotel only between 7-9 am , we had to finish getting ready by then. We had asked the hotel to arrange for a taxi to take us to Dodabetta Peak, the Second Highest peak in South India. From an indica to a van, for both of which I expressed my concern if it would climb the peak, we were pleasantly surprised to find a sparkling new Sumo as our drive. Upgrading is always a good feeling. The driver was also a very enthusiastic chap who enlightened us about a lot of things about Ooty and its demographics and geography.

To our advantage, he even took us to the same Tea factory which we would have missed had we taken our car to the peak. The tea factory gives youa tour of the process of tea manufacturing and also gives you to sample a cup of tea. My third for the morning! It also has a shop from where you can buy different types of tea like chocolate tea,Cardomon Tea,Green Tea,Black Tea, Orange Pekoe and CTC. Oils and essentials are also available.


After the factory stop we arrived to the tourist crowd of Dodabetta peak. Althought the views of Conoor, Mysore border,Ooty and the Green Valley are vey nice, the crowd of people makes you want to run away! Tip, if you do plan to visit, be there early. It opens at 8am.

The road back was by then jammed up with cars both parked and moving! It was only at 11 am that we finally managed to reach out hotel. So boating plans were cancelled. We had to make a move if we were to reach Bangalore before Dusk.

Lunch, hotel check-out, petrol refuel and air pressure check, and cash withdrawal later, we bid adieu to the old hill station of Ooty nestled in the laps of the Blue Hills, Green Flora and misty white fog! It was 13 30 hrs.

The drive down the Kalatti ghats was obviously much faster,but only at the region limits did we realize that the route back to Mudumulai was not the same as the one we had come on. So did the unexpected detour cost us? To find out, you will have to read Part 3, the return !

The Bangalore-Ooty Road trip!

PART 1 - the journey!

The Chariot: Red Chevy Spark, 1.1L Petrol
The Knights(or knightesses?):Michelle , Sudipta, Komal
The Date:15th August 2008,Friday 0700 hrs
The Mission: A Road Trip to Remeber
The Distance: 300 kms (one way)
The Route: Bangalore-Bidadi-Ramnagaram-Channapattana-Maddur-Mandya-Mysore-Nanjangud-Gundlupet-Bandipur-Mudumalai-Theppekaddu-Masinagudi-Kalatti-Ooty !!

On the break of dawn, while Bangalore sleeps, 3 zealous women awaken to embark upon a trip they would like to tell the world about.

Now that I am done with the 'start with a bang' effect, lets get to the details.
After 2 days of frantic search for accomodation and last minute lists and preparations, my rommies and I left towards Maratahalli! Not that it was part of our bizarre plan, it was a desperate necessity. You did not think that we could go on such road trips without a camera! No, I still do not have my SLR , and neither did I have my C702 then. So we had to wake up sleepy head Nigel, after travelling in the opposite direction, to borrow his camera for the trip. Once the last item on our check list was ..well..checked..we finally drove towards Mysore Road at 0700!

Since it was infact India's Independence Day, we were feeling patriotic and so "Maa Tujhe Salaam' played in a loop for a while in the car. The goosebumps never stop do they!

The NICE Road was as usual the start of a beautiful journey. Sudi was at the wheel!

First Stop was MTR,Maddur for breakfast, and it was one of the most delicious breakfasts!Lovely,crisp medu vadas and idli sambar! And of course, can't do without my chai. A couple of muffins were bought from the adjacent CCD to oblige to the use of its certain services.

With souls refuelled, we were off for an ambitious drive!Next stop,Bandipur. The SH7 did little to slow us down.The bypass takes you through less developed areas and MSIL. With the Chamundi Hills in far distance, and an old roadstone marking our destination, we could not resist shooting some "Jab we Met" snaps! Well that's what my roomies baptised them as!

At this junture , I took over the wheels for a non stop drive to Bandipur.At least that is what we thought.It was close to 10am. Little did we know that the stretch through Gundulpet would go through innocent country side with blue mountains, lust green fields and bright yellow sun flowers! Absolutely heart warming!! Happy locals and Happy us!

A small interjection to point out that the scenic sights were arrived on terrible roads. Thankfully it is a small stretch and there seems to be evidence that repairs are imminent.

Stop at CCD just before Bandipur ,I could not resist a cool ice tea in the pristine breeze. After freshening up, and driving through some irritating traffic we entered the Bandipur National Forest. The roads winds through tall and full bamboo groves of the most delightful green colour.The steady drizzle only wanted to make our hearts sing. The rhythmic,lone sound of the wipers brushing against the glass almost made us hear lullabys. No heards of elephants greeted us but we were not very disappointed.


The state border stared at us in a distance!The territory of Tamil Nadu beckoned us with a completely different flora. The inspector questioned us on our source. Surely he had seen 3 girls on a road trip before! The lady officer seemed proud of us!

The Mudumulai National forest is more of a deciduous forest dominated by tropical trees like Teak. Ooty is 17kms from here through Masinagudi.However since the last stretch is a climb through Kalatti Ghats and its numerous hair-pin turns the time taken is a little less than an hour.

Ooty charms you. The houses,the streets and without a doubt, the weather and the tall pine trees with tops covered by thick fog. The drizzle continued. Its pleasantly cool. At 1pm, we had arrived at our destination:Ooty,a hill station that has attracted weary urbanites to its cozy laps of tea estates and lakes. Will the journey that had so livened our spirits be ousted from its position as the best part of the holiday by a hill station balancing its charm with the growth demand of a developing India full of getaway-thirsty sapiens?

Find out, in Part 2: Ooty - the 24hr stay!

The Kite Runner-the movie

One of those few books whose movie was eagerly awaited by me. And I finally got to watch the movie. While the movie captures the essence of the whole book, I think the book does more(no surprise here). And while it omitted one scene from the book that had got my eyes misty,probably because it was too depressing to film it too, the last scene leaves your heart happy and overwhelmed for just the right amount of time.

"For you, a thousand times over!!" - Amirjaan

Stimulus!

Have been on a reading marathon the last few weeks. Here is the list.
1)Playing for Pizza- I know more about american football now. Whatever.
2)Louisa May Alcott's Little Women - A Must read while growing up, you can read it again anytime.
3)Jeffrey Archer's Prisoner Of Birth - Rather read Fourth Estate or Kane and Abel again.
4)Jean Sasson's Princess: Welcome to the real World, its not great out there.
5)Jean Sasson's Daughter's Of Arabia - Its still a ruthless world out there.
6)Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul - Guess I needed it to restore my faith in humanity following the previous 2 books
7)Chetan Bhagat's 3 mistakes of my life - Ok, its your life.

The books lined up next:
1)Conversations with God Vol 3 - looking forward to a good read. Haven't had one since a long time.
2)The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
3)Amitav Ghosh's Sea Of Poppies
4)Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss

Something is missing, a good murder mystery. Where are they?!

Recent Plays - 5 Grains of Sugar - Simple. Nice.

New word: complaisant - exhibiting a desire to please

Still looking out for "The Kite Runner" , the movie. The book moved me to tears. Have to see how the movie is made. Until the next post, Ta!

Climbing Up!

I recently got the opportunity to try out a new sport: Vertical Wall Climbing. I always wanted to do Rock Climbing, I guess this was the closest I could get for now.

I registered for the event as soon as the invite to participate was received by my Inbox. The day was 4th June,2008. The only problem was the time. 7 am, at Kanteerva Stadium! Well, what the heck, it was one morning. Every other I get the luxury to leave the house at 7 30, so I should not crib about leaving the house at 6 45 am on one morning!! (Readers new to me, the previous sentence was oozing sarcasm!)

Well I reader well in advance, since only a couple of participants had managed to reach before me.

The wall for the guys was different from the ones for the girls. My name was first on the list, but I couldn't go first!! Thankfully a more experienced climber (she had atleast climbed twice before in her lifetime) offered to go first. No, climbing windows and mango trees during childhood stupidity does not count, it was my first time and i will remain adamant on that).

It was tough. Hell, it is tough. You can pretend to make calculative steps but one loose grip or wrong footing can bring you down giving you no time to scramble for whatever part of the wall you can hang on. The vertical part is almost easy, but when the damn thing inclines to an angle of about 30 degrees to the vertical is when you are fighting with newton!! This is where an extension of 2 inches to my left arm would have helped to hold on to that damn peg no 15! But my arms gave away. I was already shaking. Holding on to a couple of pegs for some time is not an option it will only strain your arms more.

14 was my score then. My effort was commended and the organizers even claimed that I was a good climber. Well, whatever!

Another attempt was sought after. But that darn peg. this time 13!

The score is based on peg you last kept foot on.

Now climbing beyond that mark was a challenge I had to succeed or else I would not get sleep that night!

We were allowed to climb for fun while the guys finished their second round. That is when I managed to finally hold on to the peg and climb to point higher. Phew. But my arms had a different story to tell.

Popeye's biceps no longer seemed imaginative to me as the blood that rushes to your forearm makes it bulge. That was the first time I saw my forearm like that boy was I thrilled!

All in all, it was a great experience. You can draw parallels to life, or work, or whatever, but the fact is when you are up there, its just you, you determination, your confidence and the wall!

People interested in training and taking up this sport can contact Mars Adventures,Bangalore.

Chick Mobile hits the Road!

"Well,decide!", I said to Michelle and Sudi, who sat across the table.We had just finished a very delicious sea food lunch at Managlore Pearl and were now contemplating where the newly arrived Red ChickMobile should go on its first long drive: Nandi Hills or Cafe Coffee Road, Maddur.

We ended up going to both places! We drove up to Nandi Hills after lunch, reached by 6pm, to catch the sunset. As we discovered whatever we could of Nandi hills, the other visitors shouted and made noise. Thank God for the Wind.

The sun began its descent behind the clouds ( ok, dont get scientific with me! do you really want me to start about the earth's rotation and orbital revolution around the sun??)

We discovered a bit of childhood at the play area which is actually meant for kids...well yeah, whatever. So in the process, Michelle and I realized that I was heavier than her thanks to the see-saw. Now thats a revelation!Ever wondered, why is a see-saw called a see-saw?

Think it was 7 30 pm when we drove out of the gates of what used to be a sumer palace for Tipu Sultan . It was en-route downhill that we decided to head off to Maddur for a late-evening coffee.
Telling me that one gets coffee in the city is not going to make me stay here. CCD is just a reference point where a U-Turn is executed.

One important point, Lizzy dear was picked up to join in the girls night out! After a lovely drive and about an hour and half later, we finally headed back home. I think it was 1am when we entered our house. Let me no sign off with a witty one liner but with lasting pics of nandi hills..there I just wrote one!

The Chic mobile, christened by the guys, is Sudi's new Chevrolet Spark.

Life's Lessons -1

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students
again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is
everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and
energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups.Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked, It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Wishlist for 2008!

Can't decide on the order

1)COLDPLAY's Viva La Vida -- I will buy this when its out

2) Jeffrey Archer's A Prisoner of Birth - It's out already, it will be on my shelf soon

3)Apple's Iphone - Funding needed!

4)Canon SLR EOS 30D - Lot of Funding needed!

Accept cash and Cheques.

COLDPLAY

I love their music. I do not know how to describe their music. I just simply love them.

Awaiting their fourth album eagerly. Oh when will you guys come to India!

I have spent entire days listening to their songs over and over again. I can spend a whole day just listening to Don't Panic and Fix You.
Don't Panic,Fix You and Talk have literally helped me through on certain days best forgotten.
My ringtone has been "yellow" since it wasn't "Someday" by MLTR(my other fav band)

COLDPLAY was formed in 1998. It is an english rock band.

Band members: Chris Martin, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland and Guy Berryman.

My favorite song is Don't Panic. Check out the video here. If only the song was longer!

The lyrics of Fix You can are the best that they can be.

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

High up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
If you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I...

Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from the mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you


I feel better now.

Clock strikes 24!

I jumped with joy to see my friends stand in the hall! I had heard the sound of the car door slam and the bike engine die below my bedroom window. But that didn't alter my reactions.

The jelly,caramel pudding and 4 pastries with a tiny candle came out! I didn't care whether it was 12 already. One by one they wished me. While they sang in harmony, I cut a tiny bit of the pastry and took the pastry itself to feed the hungry friends.

I don't recollect at what point I was made inert, but the rubbing of cake on my face till the rum hit my brain and cake filled my nose while I stood on my toes trying to gasp every breath I could had effects that lasted a day! Atleast I believe so.

And if that was not torture enough already, the poor girl was hauled in the air ,well not literally, I weigh more than what I seem to. While I was left to recover from lost consciousness , my friends embraced themselves to watch the fruits of their effort unfold.

Stupefied I was with the second book I held in my hand. A whole story unfolded from then on.

It was close to 2am when I finally fell asleep. It was 7 12 am when I woke up. Making the impossible possible was all in a "birthday's" work! After the "what should I wear" minutes were finally over I finally hopped over the grill and frantically tried to call my colleague to tell her to make the bus stop if it reaches before I do. 200 mts away from the stop I realized that Murphy was right. I wonder what the fellow IT professionals waiting for their respective buses which had not yet come (lucky devils!!!) were thinking to see 2 people running the entire 1 km stretch. And of course today I was not in my running shoes. But finally getting aboard the evil bus which was stuck in traffic was a small feat accomplished by Super Komes!!

Even till I reached office in my AC powered buses, my heart rate had not yet come back to normal.

After 3 cake celebrations, lots of phone calls, mails, jabbers, smses, lots of flattery(I had to put that in :-)),a teddy bear my sis sent me, very little work, a status meeting , some code review, and a long chat over tea with a friend(to know what was being said about how I looked (again, had to put that in too!!), I finally sat in the 7 30 bus to head back home. Hungry and tired, with sore feet but with a content smile, I took in all that had happened on the day that was Monday, 28th April 2008.

Fooseball!!

After the long wait, finally we have an operational recreational room with 2 TT tables, 2 carrom boards, 3 dart boards and a Fooseball table!! I was delighted to see it! I tried my hand at it, took some time to get the hang of it.Had to first orient myself to hold the right bars. Ok, I admit I wasn't good at it but just 5 mins into it I didn't expect anything better.My teammate scored 3 goals and that was it. We jumped to TT. That was more fun. Singles and then mixed doubles.

Finally! So more stuff to distract us hard workers from our code that we try to finish in our 8 hr work day. Life's good again.

The Girl and the Bike!

"Looks good",I said.I waited for the 2 guys there to finish their test rides of the new avenger 200 first. I generally do not like to ride a new bike for fear of scraping it.But I had a "go for it" attitude that somehow made me calmly hop onto the bike."1 up 4 down?", I enquired. I always do. Took it off the stand, it balanced nicely with its weight.I like the feeling. There is no kick start.The engine came to life nicely, into gear, revved a bit and it was off...well until I pressed the front brake!

A guy walking past, smiling at me, asked me if I liked the bike."Yes", I said. Do not think there was any arrogance in my answer.Strange! Well that was it. Wheeled it back to parking.I like the part where I kick the stand into place.Inclined the bike and hopped off.

Hmmm...I like the feeling of cruising on a black Avenger 200.With saddle bags mounted at the rear and a leather jacket in place.I have the boots.

But I think most of you would find the image funny.Well, lets just wait till a SUV lands in my garage.

Now back to a sleepy morning at work with no AC.Somehow going back and getting the bike started sounds very enticing.

Homesick!

I recognized the handwriting instantly! The neatly balanced alphabets written with a ball point blue pen pressed hard. How much they took this seriously.I opened the envelope carefully to find a beautiful card wishing me luck for my exam. My heart was heavy with guilt.I hadn't put in as much effort as I should have to deserve to receive the card.

There was another one. For you dear daughter on your Birthday it read. The words , which I read slowly, filled my heart with yearning and my eyes with tears.I tried hard. A lump began to form in my throat.I couldn't let any one see me cry.

Funny it was to wonder at that point if I was really going to turn 24 when I still cried on receiving postal cards from my Parents.

I composed myself.Dreaded being away from home. Called and spoke like the little girl of my parents and thanked them while they talked about the speed at which the cards had reached to my desk. I smiled.

Love you mamma and papa!

Just a day for Earth

22nd April,2008.It is supposed to be Earth Day. No this is not one of those special days created to sell more cards.A sad state of affairs where we now need days to remind us of something where all life begins and that is so conviniently taken for granted:Earth.

My favourite radio station did its part in taking this day seriously.I do not know what the other stations were airing.My company had a a few posters put out. I watched "An Inconvinient Truth" that aired on a movie channel while others mostly would have glued to watch the outcome of Delhi Daredevils v/s Deccan Chargers.

So what changed, I believe nothing.Was yesterday's CO2 emissions drastically less than another day? I do not think I will find that in the papers today.

I like the frog story. When a tree frog jumps into a tumbler of boiling water, it immediately jumps out as it senses the sudden jolt of temperature. But if it jumps in a tumbler of luke warm water, it stays there.Now if we increase the temperature slowly and water begins to heat, it still stays there.The water starts to boils but it still stays there until........someone rescues it.

We think we have not felt the jolt yet.Think again.Are we not, in a way, playing weather Gods? And yes, we must not cause we don't do it right.

Its tough to think that this only Earth that we have could actually become unlivable in less than 50 yrs. There would not be much to be happy about I guess then.

April!

This month has had a lot in store for me! Amidst the ramp-ups and idea fest awards and bruised knee and tests, I enjoyed new found friendship, came to know some people better, enjoyed Australian wine , and went on drives.

This was a long weekend which did not convert into a travel trip. One of those rare few, but i did not stay put at home(although i should have). I think i covered some distance in lifetimes.

I now wait for my friend to come this weekend from Chennai, and put my organizational skills to work by juggling time between fun and figures.

That score troubles me, last weekend I was disappointed, and show no real signs of improvement. That troubles me more. But I seem to have have realized that it is inevitable.

You start something with the wrong intent, it never works out well.

I will let you know the outcome on May 6th.

Oh yes, there is that party I ought to plan on April 28th, but am not sure what I will be celebrating.

My favourite Bangalore Restaurants!

Bangalore has restaurants to suit myriad taste buds. But may not necessarily suit all pockets. But if one day you decide to let the wallet wander, maybe you would find this post useful.

All comments here are based completely on my personal opinion about the restaurant. Am not a food critic nor a restaurateur, am just an average software engineer who loves to try out new restaurants.

Mediterranean:
1)One of my favorite restaurants , Infinitea does well to suit people like me. Its menu boasts of a good selection of Mediterranean food. Those looking for a filling meal can try the Pesce Florentine. Those who wish for a more light meal can enjoy the summer pasta salad. And this restaurant only does it better by serving different types on cold and hot tea. Enigma on the rocks should suit those who do not want to have merely tea!!,while the jolly few can try the different ice teas. Kiwi is my favorite one. In hot teas, Kashmiri tea and Green tea are a good try. Penny Rosette is more those who can taste the subtle flavors.The Spinach soup gets a mention too frankly because, would you ever think Spinach soup would taste good?!
Avg bill for 2 should be about Rs 500.
Rating 4/5 (extra rating for the very well done decor)

2)Herbs and spices,80ft road Indiranagar: This one is so delightful, that you dont mind the small space with simple decor. Infact, alongwith the open roof , the place warms you up. It has a impressive menu, not a extensive one albeit. The desserts are just not to be missed. There isn't much of choice when it come to beverages apart from the standard. Evenings are the best time to visit this place.
Avg bill for 2 should be about Rs 800.
Rating 3.5/5 (the desserts get the extra)

These restaurants get a mention because they serve what they say, that is Mediterranean or European. They do not "indianize" anything.. So if you are the spice and tasty kind, maybe European is not your piece of pie !!

3)Little Italy,100ft road Indiranagar: A completely adorable place. One of the best pizzas I have had in a long time. And here is the biggie..its Completely Veg. The P20 and the P32 (I wish I remembered the names!!) were really good. Tiramisu comes close to the original. Those who have read my post on creme brulee would empathize why I fear to try it in any restaurants in India.
Avg bill for 2: Rs 500
Rating 4/5
pic:Bread Basket at Little Italy


Sea Food:
Ask any on my Goan friends in Bangalore, and you would know that Mangalore Pearl, Frazer Town, is synonymous with sea food. There is just no other. And best of all, it suits the pocket so well. The fresh sea food really makes you wonder how they manage to keep the prices so reasonable.

In 300 bucks two can easily glut over prawn fry, squids, prawn masala, ponpallein, rice and caramel pudding. Oh, and don't forget the sol kadi!


I refuse to mention any other restaurant here!

Chinese:
Mainland China,Church Street, does very well to serve close to authentic Chinese food. The jasmine tea in the beginning of your meal should not be missed even if you are not too fond of tea.

Magnolia,Koramangala may not be as impressive as Mainland China, but the food is quite good. Especially the Spicy Crab Meat Soup.

China pearl, koramangala is an average restaurant for the Chinese food lovers who would like a more moderate budget but quality food.

Indian/Punjabi:
Sikander, Garuda Mall
9 mile Dhaba Hebbal Road
Copper Chimney, Bangalore Central

Sizzlers/Steaks:
Juke Box, Koramangala - Sizzlers and beer, does anyone want anything else?
Kobay's, Garuda Mall

Carribean:
Sue's Kitchen, Indiranagar, this is the only one i found in Bangalore!

I have to mention Ebony/13th floor , Barton's Center MG Road, just for its location. Nested on the 13th floor , this restaurant is frequently visited by foreigners for its lovely view. Its impossible to get a table in the balcony without prior reservations and if you are seated inside, you might as well have dined some place else. Its the Bangalore city view in the night with cool breeze that makes this place special. The food is just an excuse. And yes, the view comes with a price!

Salads:
Namdharis, Koramangala- The healthy eaters, don't fret. Namdhari's is a good choice for salads. You can shop for your health groceries too.

Pure and Naturals:
Has a nice menu with hot and cold salads alike.

Manchinabele!

A biking trip was awaited. It had been too long. I for one cannot stay in the city for very long lengths of time. An occasional drive outside the city or a bizarre bike ride with a friend are looked forward to.

These guys had not gone biking for a (very) long time and my friend Liz was more than glad to hang out with friends. So it was set. The night before, Liz and me (mostly liz as I was heavy with sleep) prepared chicken sandwiches and chutney sandwiches for the trip. What did the guys do? Ask them. Braulio for one will happily inform you that he boiled half a dozen eggs. Nigel sent a message about a minor injury to his hand and that he would not join. After several unanswered calls, we concluded that he was absconding. Turned out his phone was on silent and monsieur was fast asleep and obviously did not enjoy the idea of going pillion. And we thought our sandwiches were a good enough reason! They were.

The 6 30 flag off didn't happen, and it was finally 8 30 when the guys finally managed to gather at our place and we were off!

Again, I thought it to be my duty to show my friends a road that could well have lead to heaven.
The NICE road start from Banerghatta road but the detour is not known and is not identifiable. On top of it, the small section joining the NICE road to the Banerghatta road is what could pass off as a dirt racing track. And so we navigated through the mud ripples and finally found ground. And behold! I think my post is well off track now, but it is still about a biking trip so it does well to write about the NICE road . This road is not yet open for public use.

Anyway, riding on the familiar Mysore road we stopped for tea at a small tea stall opposite Rajarajeshwari Dental College. Then took the right turn adjacent to the college and we off the highway, and more like off decent roads. The roads here are terrible! Oh and we were on a Bajaj Calibre, a HH Splendor and an Activa. Some biking trip?? ya rite!

Asif and me were leading the way, and little did the others know that we actually did not know the road but were just riding along :-). Once the ride turned out more arduous than we imagined, we stopped at a stretch with beautiful trees and and vast fields. Oh by the way, the guys forgot to carry water which was like their sole responsibility. So we only had 1 Tropicana carton to be rationed among 5 thirsty bikers out of which 2 were pretty damn pissed!!

It turned out a long ride solely because the road was terrible! Did i mention that already? And oh, another thought, we did not even know the name of the place, all we know was it was a dam, and that is exactly what we asked any local we met at a diversion. Some planning you say? well that's because we decided to head to this Dam rather than the original place when we were sipping our tea.

Finally we drew closer to the destination, and the road opened up to a sight that made us stop and blink twice! A truly beautiful view.

The fact that it takes you by surprise is what makes it special. We throttled along hoping it only got better. To our dismay, we found the gates to the dam chained. The only other road had a nice board " Beware of dacoits, do not go to isolated areas" welcoming us. After much thought we decided our lives were not that important anyway and we rode down the small road for more than 2 kms and finally settled to the banks of the water body. A military troop had camped there for training and canoed away to glory. No we didn't get a chance to do the same.
The place did not offer many shady places and we settled under what looked like a miniature Stonehenge.We finished our sandwiches and after a short game of football decided to explore the area,with our bikes. Biking over the hill we found refuge under a tree and with music from the SE phones, Braulio and Calvin managed to slip into deep slumber while Asif,Liz and me wondered how they did that.

Some time later, when the need for water seemed more important than a day out in the wilderness (and the Sun was not being too merciful either) we headed back, bikes et all to find the first place that sold something to drink. Thankfully the "dhaba" just across the lake had opened up and we quenched our thirsts.

Heading back, we stopped at the Big Banyan Tree which is roughly 3 kms from the place and we settled on the grass for regular chit chat. The shade was inviting and refreshing.

Back on the road, we kept on the Mysore road to reach Bangalore city traffic by 4pm and finally rested with freshly made lemonade at my place. That was One biking trip!!


PS:Next day, googled up the place we had been to, so now we know.

Shivanasamudra!

Prelude:
Sunday, 8th of July, 2007, 06:30 am; While most of Bangalore was still in deep sleep, 1 dude and 4 dudettes were out enjoying the early morning breeze flow through their hair and greeting the sun which was yet to adore its full glory. The car cruised on the Mysore highway at a gentle speed of 80kmph with 4 excited girls, and the Avenger rode away with the rider enjoying one of his early long rides in Bangalore.

6 30 was a lovely time. The NICE road has been one of my favourite roads in Bangalore and an empty Mysore road did to compliment it. First stop, CCD at Maddur! It was not my first choice as I would like my cuppa to be more than just a tea bad dipped in hot water with milk added to make it full. But am not complaining. Once done with the quick breakfast ,which was very likely to be the only meal of the trip as there are no eating joints near our destination, Liz,Simi Lee, Ni et moi were off again.

Post Maddur the highway breaks into a Y with a Yellow Signboard which does better than it's ancestor to point left towards our destination , Shivanasamudra.

Beware of one of the worst roads I even driven on which is hardly 20 kms long but took us close to 60 mins to cover. Driving off road was better than on road. Bikers can get through faster, just hope you have comfortable seats!

The Place:
Shivanasamudra does well to give stiff competition to its more famous cousin, the Jog Falls.
Close to 110kms from the Silicon Valley of India, the 2 falls, GaganChukki and BharaChukki falls are a must visit. The falls, a product of the Kaveri River splitting into two streams and flowing down steep cliffs only to converge further downstream, are nothing less that magnificent.

GaganChukki is the horse-shoe shaped waterfall and call be seen from a viewing platform close to 300 mts away from it. But its not far enough to stop the mist rising from the deadly force of the falls to refresh you completely. The resounding sound is trance-inducing enough. Well, atleast for a nature lover like me!
Take some time to sit on the bench and take in the splendor of the very high velocity water.

The path leading closer to the falls has been closed due to accidents claiming lives of young tourists. You will find a board of appeal from a few friends who suffered the loss of a colleague.

BharaChukki fall is about a short drive from GaganChukki. Here people get to enjoy the waters in closer proximity. Although not as breath-taking as its brother, it gives one the chance to dip his legs in the cool waters. Be ready for bathing tourists! To get to these falls one needs to climb down a fleet of steep steps etched into the hill. Think of them as you stamina meter :-)

Other things of interest:
The Hydro-Electric Power Plant: Wiki informs me that this is Asia's first hydro electric power plant. I didn't know that when I was driving through it to find the falls. The small churches dotting the place give it a very welcoming feeling.

Talakad:
Talakad is a confluence of 3 rivers (hence the name). It is about a 30 kms detour from the road and yes, the roads are extremely bad.
Its a nice place to kick off your shoes and relax on the sandy shores watching the waters flow by. Be ready for hordes of tourist through, it won't be a quiet place.One can plan to visit it when heading back from Shivanasamudra.

Tips: There are no hotels or other places to eat near the falls. If you plan to spend a day there, make sure you carry food. You will only find a small shop selling beverages and the odd biscuits and chips. We filled our stomachs with salted and spiced up raw mangoes:-)
It is better to reach there early morning ,firstly because you avoid the tourists coming in later and enjoy the waters better and secondly,you could head back earlier.
Post monsoons should be the best time to visit these falls.

Earth Hour!

Sunshine!

I just had to! If this blog was going to be about all things that make me happy, i just had to !

Meet Sunshine! Yeah, laugh all you want , but this car has counted miles you readers would'nt gather in a lifetime! As old as she may be, she's a feisty one! That engine pulls out more power than what the 796cc 3 cylinder 4 stroke should! This car does'nt have a mind of its own, it gives the driver complete control, of course I like that! I understood its true potential only after I drove it through the traffic prone streets of Bangalore. I could maneuver this bubble gum through traffic with utmost ease. It was first to rev off when that darn signal turned green leaving all the power horses behind.

This car thanked me for pushing it to its limits because for eternity it was driven carefully at a modest speed of 60kmph by my dear dad! This car was one of the blessed few which had imported engine that has hardly ever cribbed.

She took her first steps in Goa and happily took us to most of the serene places in the state. But apart from that she did frequent trips to Bombay,Pune and Belgaum and a couple to Mangalore.

There was a brief stay in Pune too but since she was under the guardianship of my dad she hardly got to breathe the polluted air of Pune.

Then in her post golden years, after a 4 year conditioning to speed on the goan highways, she was brought with great interest to Bangalore. And that is when the traffic seemed a less important challenge to me.

Mysore,Sivasamudram-Talakad,Coorg,Nandi Hills are places she accompanied me in my travels. Never once did she whine or shudder. What a brave soul, took on those non-existent roads in her stride. Oh how she reminds me of me!!

But alas, my happy days had to end, and she was driven on possibly her last long journeys back to Goa, where she once playfully drove.

I know she awaits my arrival for, like me, she loves to fly, park at the beach and gaze at the sunset with perhaps a content smile.

Desirous moments!

It used to be just yesterday when I would watch the travel guide on Discovery where Suzanne or whatever her name is would visit the best hotels and indulge in the magic created by the Chefs...

I would watch wistfully, wondering when I would get to delightfully taste Crème brûlée; The anticipation of the first spoonful ,the careful breaking of the mould, and then savouring the taste till it melted in your mouth with tiny crystalline pieces of the torched brown sugar being gently abrasive....


I was lucky enough to eat this wonderful dessert in Grenoble, France in 2006. I could then cross it out from my wish list with great sense of contentment. But not until my dear friend Braulio altered this memory into one full of glee with this comment "you know what...too my highly perverted mind...that sounds like how Sydney Sheldon would portray a hot scene between two lovers"


All those who wandered off, here's how you get back to reality
creme-brulee-wiki

Friends!

This is my first blog. And this I write for my friends. Friends who have for no gain of their own helped me, inspired me influenced me in becoming a good person. Too much?? Of course! I do not have to write words longer than 5 characters to tell you guys that you guys simply rock! Not for inspiring me or teaching me to live and all that blah blah..but for those simple coffee's, those fun movies, the amazing trips, the fun evenings doing nothing but just hanging out, the pep talks and the completely non-sensical ones, the lengthy phone conversations and the even lengthier chats, the stay overs and the luncheons, the this and the thats!

Friends who are true in whatever they do are rare, and to have so many of you feels great! I share fond memories and the not so fond memories with you, but you still make life what it is! and thank God for that!

Listing names here would not be the right thing because I want to cherish the acts some of you have done that has in some way touched my life,now or before of manyber for the years to come; These actions could have been small or ones that took major efforts from you. So spanning a time span of 20 odd yrs, it could be a real long list.

But all those who read this and know I am talking to you, thank you!

I would have put in some heart felt writings here and got all of you misty-eyed but I'd rather wait for an occassion for which I will get paid to do so!

Let the fun continue!