It was the day before Christmas – Chennai was decked up, carols and Santas everywhere…the bus stopped at a signal and I saw this Santa in front of a shop – complete with a mask and an obviously artificial bulging belly.
I couldn’t help but wonder what was running through the mind of the man dressed up as Santa. Dressed as Santa – standing in front of a shop, doing the dance quite monotonously, waving at the passers by, watching the world around on a shopping spree… what was on his mind? Did he celebrate Christmas? Does he have enough to shop for himself and his loved ones? Does he see the number of people coming to shop and wish he could too? Does he wish he was as happy as the mask he was wearing?
Doesn’t it hurt to do that monotonous dance and wave all evening? Doesn’t it hurt to stand there and have people ignore you? Does it hurt to stand there and watch the world go by?
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Bhongir Fort
A long weekend and I was raring to go someplace. I managed to convince my friend to get out on Saturday. When we found that the Bhongir Fort is just about 50 kms from Hyderabad, we decided to take our cameras out and go for a ride. We set out around 10am and after Uppal, it was a drive along the Warangal road – quite a pleasant ride with the rail lines along the road. It was quite a sunny day – though there were a few clouds.
We reached Bhongir and tried to find the entrance to the fort. If you reach a spot that doesn’t have the tell-tale fort walls, you’ve reached the entrance! We crossed the road, and started climbing this huge, single rock in front of us. After a distance, you’d find the steps! My friend was already cursing me for suggesting this place. Here and there, we’d find a shady spot – a welcome relief from the sun – and we’d sit down for a while to rest there. Once you’re up there, you can see the entire town – the bus stand, the railway station, the surrounding fields, and hills to the distance. It was quite a beautiful day – I’ve always loved watching the shadows of the moving clouds and that day was a treat for me.
While we rested half way up, we began to wonder if we should even go further. There was nothing up there – at least, nothing to indicate the presence of a huge fort – and, in front of us, was this huge hill (rock?) to climb! Yes, set your expectations right – this is no big fort. Especially, if you’re an outsider (like me) and you’ve been to Golconda, don’t imagine a similar fort. This one is more like a little outpost! We finally decided to climb the hill.
A few feet away, the rock had flattened out and there were these little structures here and there. We also found a cannon – and took a few pictures there. Further up, you’d find steps carved into the rock – makes walking a li’l bit easier. However, there are places where there are no steps and you are on your own. Finally, we reached the top – and, well, there wasn’t anything impressive. Other than a tower, a few remaining walls, and a newly built building, there isn’t much out there. So, after walking around for a while, we decided to get back.
On our way down, we stopped for a while near those walls – one of those walls was high enough to block out the sun – seated there shaded from the sun, watching the clouds go by, and watching a few other people who had come to visit this place…I got all those pretty blue sky pictures.
There is “Danger” written in quite small letters (in my opinion, not at all attention grabbing). If you are not careful, you could walk over a patch of grass to find yourself standing at the edge of the rock – with nothing to stop your fall. Though, you’d have to go out of your way to stand at the edge :)
After relaxing there for a while, we got back. An hour later, we were back in Hyd :)
Finally... Be prepared to climb this huge rock – without steps at places
Carry enough food and water
And you’ll find nothing but a view from up above.
A great place to get away and relax – nothing more, nothing less.
How to reach (Google Map): It is about an hour from Uppal X Road, Hyderabad. As you ride along the Warangal High Road, you can’t miss the fort. Of course, the town is named Bhongir (also known as Bhuvanagiri)
We reached Bhongir and tried to find the entrance to the fort. If you reach a spot that doesn’t have the tell-tale fort walls, you’ve reached the entrance! We crossed the road, and started climbing this huge, single rock in front of us. After a distance, you’d find the steps! My friend was already cursing me for suggesting this place. Here and there, we’d find a shady spot – a welcome relief from the sun – and we’d sit down for a while to rest there. Once you’re up there, you can see the entire town – the bus stand, the railway station, the surrounding fields, and hills to the distance. It was quite a beautiful day – I’ve always loved watching the shadows of the moving clouds and that day was a treat for me.
While we rested half way up, we began to wonder if we should even go further. There was nothing up there – at least, nothing to indicate the presence of a huge fort – and, in front of us, was this huge hill (rock?) to climb! Yes, set your expectations right – this is no big fort. Especially, if you’re an outsider (like me) and you’ve been to Golconda, don’t imagine a similar fort. This one is more like a little outpost! We finally decided to climb the hill.
A few feet away, the rock had flattened out and there were these little structures here and there. We also found a cannon – and took a few pictures there. Further up, you’d find steps carved into the rock – makes walking a li’l bit easier. However, there are places where there are no steps and you are on your own. Finally, we reached the top – and, well, there wasn’t anything impressive. Other than a tower, a few remaining walls, and a newly built building, there isn’t much out there. So, after walking around for a while, we decided to get back. 
On our way down, we stopped for a while near those walls – one of those walls was high enough to block out the sun – seated there shaded from the sun, watching the clouds go by, and watching a few other people who had come to visit this place…I got all those pretty blue sky pictures.
There is “Danger” written in quite small letters (in my opinion, not at all attention grabbing). If you are not careful, you could walk over a patch of grass to find yourself standing at the edge of the rock – with nothing to stop your fall. Though, you’d have to go out of your way to stand at the edge :)After relaxing there for a while, we got back. An hour later, we were back in Hyd :)
Finally... Be prepared to climb this huge rock – without steps at places
Carry enough food and water
And you’ll find nothing but a view from up above.
A great place to get away and relax – nothing more, nothing less.
How to reach (Google Map): It is about an hour from Uppal X Road, Hyderabad. As you ride along the Warangal High Road, you can’t miss the fort. Of course, the town is named Bhongir (also known as Bhuvanagiri)
| From Bhongir |
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Right and Wrong!
"I went over just about every argument that we'd had. I had said he was careless, he said I made simple problems have difficult solutions. I said he never planned, he said I obsessed to the point of killing all spontaneity. I said he was selfish, he said I worried over him to the point of suffocation....and may be we were both right and that was why we were wrong for each other."
-- The Bonesetter's Daughter, Amy Tan
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Pichavaram - The Mangrove and The Beach
September 16, 2007
After a few days of uncertainty and some last-minute planning, we were off to Pichavaram, a mangrove near Chidambaram (Click here for Map) - 250 km from Chennai,
a place featured in The Road Less Travelled.
We started on Saturday afternoon – to Chidambaram. It was a typical Chennai afternoon - hot and humid. After a not-so-easy journey of 6 hours in the bus, we got off at Chidambaram around 9pm. Oh ya, we did play bluff and I wasn’t good at it (well, I get to say that I am not good at bluffing!).
It was a rainy night and we had to walk to a couple of hotels to find a place. Finally, we got a place, a li’l away from the bus stand (Thanks to Simon’s call to one of the hotels earlier that day). The next morning, we walked down the road to one of those small hotels, had a quick breakfast, and then, we waited for a bus that would take us to Pichavaram.
Once we were out of Chidambaram, it was a typical rural scene – fields that stretch afar, a narrow road, few people walking by, children playing... soon, we were at Pichavaram. Quite a small place and all that you can do is go boating and get atop the tower that serves as a viewpoint.
First we went on the boat ride – into the mangroves. It was good – but could have been better. It looks like a lot of research happens there – you’d find the botanical names of trees written on small boards.
It was over too soon and we were left wondering where to go. Though the article in Hindu mentions a ban on photography, we were allowed to take cameras and were even given a ticket for the camera (Rs. 50 for a camera).
We asked the people at Pichavaram for other places to visit and got the way to the nearest beach – get off at the next village and, about 4 kms from there, we’ll have to take a boat across the backwaters to get to the beach.
At Killai, we were wondering - Should we walk? After the walking we did in Yelagiri, I was sure it would be interesting. There are things you can see and observe only when you walk – you can stop and talk to the people, walk around and observe as they go about their day…But then, Amit didn’t want to walk! So, we got two cycles for rent (no questions asked, no security deposits!) – and I got a free ride :)
And, there we were, cycling along the village road towards the backwaters – wondering if we should step into someone’s house and ask for a meal! Soon enough, we reached the backwaters – and there was this guy waiting in the shelter nearby who offered to drop us on the other side for 20 bucks each. We left the cycles there, and off we went – with no idea of what was awaiting us on the other side of the backwaters.
We were told that people used to live there before the tsunami, but no one lives there anymore – and the place did look like it was hit pretty bad in the tsunami (2004) – even a board that said, let’s grow more trees and reduce the impact of the tsunami; warning signs saying do not let the animals graze here or do not chop these trees – a grim reminder to what these people faced a couple of years ago.
Soon we were on the other side of the backwaters – our boatman left us there saying, get back to this spot and I will come and pick you up. So, there we were, on this island, not another soul other than the three of us, and no way to get back other than wait for our boatman!
With what seemed to be like a grove was on our left and an endless stretch of sand to our right – we walked towards the sea. If you ever visit Chidambaram and love being on a quiet beach, you should visit this place. Am lost for words to describe the moment when we came upon the sea – as a Chennaiite, I’ve been on the beach quite often – but the Chennai beaches are crowded – and can be dirty too! Here we were, on
a quiet, lonely place – clean and calm… it was simply beautiful….It was a mid-day siesta out there – right below the mid-day sun, we were out there at the beach. Thankfully, it was a cloudy day and we weren’t at the mercy of the sun.
Soon, it was time to get back – to go to the other side of the island and wait for our boatman. While we were walking along the grove, we decided to explore – we thought we’d find someone living there – or at least a locked house. What we found was a grim reminder of the tsunami that hit this region a couple of years ago. There was this house standing in the middle of that grove – more like an outhouse – windows and doors stripped, yet heavy things like the grinding stone remain – well, not so long ago, it was someone’s front yard.
Time to return – our boatman coming to get us back to mainland. We returned the cycles and walked around a bit before we took the bus to Chidambaram. After lunching at a crowded restaurant, we got back to the room and we left around 2pm. Plan was to take the 3pm bus to Chennai – which would not happen. Thanks to the weekend crowd, something we forgot about, all buses were full. So, if you are planning a weekend visit, and traveling by bus, one, you’d be better off getting into one at Chidambaram, and two, you better leave a little earlier. If not, book your return tickets at the earliest and do not wait till you get out to board a bus.
In short, a great weekend getaway – especially if you want to get away from the crowded beaches of Chennai and want to explore the countryside. Just remember to book those return tickets!
After a few days of uncertainty and some last-minute planning, we were off to Pichavaram, a mangrove near Chidambaram (Click here for Map) - 250 km from Chennai,
a place featured in The Road Less Travelled.We started on Saturday afternoon – to Chidambaram. It was a typical Chennai afternoon - hot and humid. After a not-so-easy journey of 6 hours in the bus, we got off at Chidambaram around 9pm. Oh ya, we did play bluff and I wasn’t good at it (well, I get to say that I am not good at bluffing!).
It was a rainy night and we had to walk to a couple of hotels to find a place. Finally, we got a place, a li’l away from the bus stand (Thanks to Simon’s call to one of the hotels earlier that day). The next morning, we walked down the road to one of those small hotels, had a quick breakfast, and then, we waited for a bus that would take us to Pichavaram.
Once we were out of Chidambaram, it was a typical rural scene – fields that stretch afar, a narrow road, few people walking by, children playing... soon, we were at Pichavaram. Quite a small place and all that you can do is go boating and get atop the tower that serves as a viewpoint.
First we went on the boat ride – into the mangroves. It was good – but could have been better. It looks like a lot of research happens there – you’d find the botanical names of trees written on small boards.
It was over too soon and we were left wondering where to go. Though the article in Hindu mentions a ban on photography, we were allowed to take cameras and were even given a ticket for the camera (Rs. 50 for a camera).We asked the people at Pichavaram for other places to visit and got the way to the nearest beach – get off at the next village and, about 4 kms from there, we’ll have to take a boat across the backwaters to get to the beach.
At Killai, we were wondering - Should we walk? After the walking we did in Yelagiri, I was sure it would be interesting. There are things you can see and observe only when you walk – you can stop and talk to the people, walk around and observe as they go about their day…But then, Amit didn’t want to walk! So, we got two cycles for rent (no questions asked, no security deposits!) – and I got a free ride :)
And, there we were, cycling along the village road towards the backwaters – wondering if we should step into someone’s house and ask for a meal! Soon enough, we reached the backwaters – and there was this guy waiting in the shelter nearby who offered to drop us on the other side for 20 bucks each. We left the cycles there, and off we went – with no idea of what was awaiting us on the other side of the backwaters.
We were told that people used to live there before the tsunami, but no one lives there anymore – and the place did look like it was hit pretty bad in the tsunami (2004) – even a board that said, let’s grow more trees and reduce the impact of the tsunami; warning signs saying do not let the animals graze here or do not chop these trees – a grim reminder to what these people faced a couple of years ago.
Soon we were on the other side of the backwaters – our boatman left us there saying, get back to this spot and I will come and pick you up. So, there we were, on this island, not another soul other than the three of us, and no way to get back other than wait for our boatman!With what seemed to be like a grove was on our left and an endless stretch of sand to our right – we walked towards the sea. If you ever visit Chidambaram and love being on a quiet beach, you should visit this place. Am lost for words to describe the moment when we came upon the sea – as a Chennaiite, I’ve been on the beach quite often – but the Chennai beaches are crowded – and can be dirty too! Here we were, on
a quiet, lonely place – clean and calm… it was simply beautiful….It was a mid-day siesta out there – right below the mid-day sun, we were out there at the beach. Thankfully, it was a cloudy day and we weren’t at the mercy of the sun.Soon, it was time to get back – to go to the other side of the island and wait for our boatman. While we were walking along the grove, we decided to explore – we thought we’d find someone living there – or at least a locked house. What we found was a grim reminder of the tsunami that hit this region a couple of years ago. There was this house standing in the middle of that grove – more like an outhouse – windows and doors stripped, yet heavy things like the grinding stone remain – well, not so long ago, it was someone’s front yard.
Time to return – our boatman coming to get us back to mainland. We returned the cycles and walked around a bit before we took the bus to Chidambaram. After lunching at a crowded restaurant, we got back to the room and we left around 2pm. Plan was to take the 3pm bus to Chennai – which would not happen. Thanks to the weekend crowd, something we forgot about, all buses were full. So, if you are planning a weekend visit, and traveling by bus, one, you’d be better off getting into one at Chidambaram, and two, you better leave a little earlier. If not, book your return tickets at the earliest and do not wait till you get out to board a bus.
In short, a great weekend getaway – especially if you want to get away from the crowded beaches of Chennai and want to explore the countryside. Just remember to book those return tickets!
| From Pictures from Pichavaram |
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The Conversation
The lady came by and said, 'Sister, do you know how to reach Parrys from here?' [For those who don't know, it is a locality in Chennai]
'Am not sure which bus stop, but most 7 series would take you there.' said the girl.
She said, 'No sister, I want to know how to walk there.'
When the girl said 'Oh, you can't walk that far - it is quite far from here,'
the lady said 'I have to meet my brother-in-law and I don't have money for the bus, so I have to walk...'
So, the girl gave her money for the bus fare...
The lady was thanking her - 'That's ok' the girl said and the lady thanked her again and started walking faster.
A couple of steps ahead, the lady said 'Don't mind, sister? I am going to meet my friends first. I'll then go to my brother-in-law's place... don't be angry, huh?'
Of course the girl wasn't angry - just that she wonders every now and then, why this lady said that - just being honest?
'Am not sure which bus stop, but most 7 series would take you there.' said the girl.
She said, 'No sister, I want to know how to walk there.'
When the girl said 'Oh, you can't walk that far - it is quite far from here,'
the lady said 'I have to meet my brother-in-law and I don't have money for the bus, so I have to walk...'
So, the girl gave her money for the bus fare...
The lady was thanking her - 'That's ok' the girl said and the lady thanked her again and started walking faster.
A couple of steps ahead, the lady said 'Don't mind, sister? I am going to meet my friends first. I'll then go to my brother-in-law's place... don't be angry, huh?'
Of course the girl wasn't angry - just that she wonders every now and then, why this lady said that - just being honest?
Monday, September 24, 2007
My First Google Map
That's right... I created my first map ... So, now you know where is Pichavaram :)
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100271555603318388215.00043ab796abc8157135d&t=h&ll=12.200524,79.977722&spn=1.634829,0.598755&output=embed&s=AARTsJrxWB4SJb1L8gXutIxog_ErOX_gFA&w=425&h=350]
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100271555603318388215.00043ab796abc8157135d&t=h&ll=12.200524,79.977722&spn=1.634829,0.598755&output=embed&s=AARTsJrxWB4SJb1L8gXutIxog_ErOX_gFA&w=425&h=350]
Monday, September 10, 2007
And I survived…
“… And I survived, while other men around me died. They were better men than I am, most of them: better men whose lives were crunched up in mistakes, and thrown away by the wrong second of someone else’s hate, or love, or indifference. And I buried them, too many of those men, and grieved their stories and their lives into my own.”
-- Shantaram
This is how it feels – to be in Hyderabad!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
A Mirage!
Like the water in a desert,
Like the dry spot in a rainstorm,
Like the warmth of a cold winter,
Like the cool breeze in summer,
Like the sane thought in an insane mind,
Like the quiet moment in rush hour,
Like the hope of the lost hope,
Like the peace of a troubled mind,
You are...
Like the dry spot in a rainstorm,
Like the warmth of a cold winter,
Like the cool breeze in summer,
Like the sane thought in an insane mind,
Like the quiet moment in rush hour,
Like the hope of the lost hope,
Like the peace of a troubled mind,
You are...
Saturday, September 1, 2007
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
Last Friday, I watched this movie, "In her Shoes" on TV. And there were two nice poems in that movie. The first one, this one below, is the one Maggie reads to the bed-ridden professor who helps her to address her reading disorder.
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel.
None of these will bring disaster.
I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.
--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel.
None of these will bring disaster.
I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.
--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Yelagiri
December 15 - 17, 2006
This time, almost a year ago, we were thinking of how to meet, where to meet and places to visit. Ya, a long time online buddy was coming to Chennai - home visit - and wanted to go for a short trip. And ya, I wanted to go for a trip too - it had been quite some time since I travelled long distance.
We settled on Yelagiri for a weekend trip. This place is between Bangalore and Chennai - about 170 km from Bangalore and 210 km from Chennai (Madras). So, on December 15, I met my long-time online buddy and his friend at Chennai Central Railway Station. We took a train to Jolarpet - and I learnt to play Bluff (I hope I got the name right!) along the way. From Jolarpet, it was a bus ride to Yelagiri.
The bus filled with baskets and gunny bags - which Was a handy extra seat or stumbling block, depending on how you look at it. Late in the evening, we reached Yelagiri - we were dropped off at what seemed to be a marketplace. Within a few minutes, we had a couple of people promoting their lodges. For the first time, I went to a place without booking a place in advance and checked out places before we checked in one of the lodges right there on the main road.
After a quick wash and settling down, we went out to have dinner. After dinner at the hotel near the lodge, we decided to walk around. At about 9pm, the place was deserted. Nothing new for a village! So, we walked in pitch darkness - no streetlights, no vehicles, no lights from houses - just us and a little torch shining bright :) After walking around, we got back and the two school buddies started the who's-doing-what-these-days talk. For me, it was time to sleep!
The next day, we woke up early, had a good breakfast, and headed out into the forest. We were planning to walk all the way - but then, we were told we'd be better off if we go in an auto to a village nearby and then start our trek. So, we got an auto to drop us at the next village.
As we were getting off, there was this old man with his two cows walking by. Simon and Amit asked him how far is the waterfalls and if he'd take us through the forest. He looked at the three of us, and asked "Really??" Well, he had to be assured more than once that we were capable of walking long distance. Once he was convinced, he said he'd take us. Before that, he had to leave the cows at home. This elderly man, left his towel nearby, asked us to stay there and went back saying he'd return soon!
And true to his word, he was back in a little while - off we went along the narrow path that took us into the forest. And a couple of meters in, he said that his wife told him to ask for 100Rs - for taking us around. He seemed to be that innocent villager - even inviting us to stay over at his place. And then, even as we were resting in the shade of a tree, he asked if I don't have to go to school! He thought I had run away from home :(
We walked through the forest, and reached this waterfall almost at the bottom of the hill - the Jalagamparai Falls. It isn't about the waterfall as much as it is about the walk down there - one of those places where you can say the path matters more than the destination.
All the way, we were treated to folklore and songs by 'thatha' (meaning 'grandfather') as called him. He sang to us, advised us to study well, said I remind him of his granddaughter, wanted to know if our parents knew where we were...
After that long walk through the forest, we reached the waterfalls and the temple nearby. As I said earlier, it isn't a very spectacular falls. By the time we reached the waterfalls, it was afternoon. After a short break at the falls, we walked around to the nearest shops right outside. After biscuits, snacks, and water, we realised that the next bus would reach this place a couple of hours later [:O]
Do we wait? Well, we decided to walk along the road instead of waiting there for the bus. So, we went off again - walking on the road - hoping to see a bus on the other side. We walked and we walked - it is one of the unforgettable experiences in my life - walking around the rural areas, with no concern for time. So, we walked and walked and walked - until thatha got tired.
We walked by a couple of villages, roads lined on either side by sugarcane and cotton fields, the tar road used for drying bagasse. We came across a place where they were making jaggery - those huge pots over a big fire with a just a small opening for them to push the bagasse into the fire! And then, there were these two kids who wanted me to take a picture of their little brother. 
Finally, we sat down under a huge banyan tree which was supposed to be the bus stop. As we waited, the people nearby came to enquire about us - where we are from and so on. When I set the camera on timer and took a picture, they were amazed at the camera that takes a picture of it's own and one of them was in awe of the mind that created this :)
And the bus came a little later - we went to Thirupathur, had a late lunch, and then boarded the bus to Yelagiri - once more, we went up the hill. After dinner, we walked along those quiet roads - not a single horn, no TV blaring in someone's house... the only sound you could hear were of the insects and frogs. I think it was closer to new moon, 'coz it was a starlit night - I don't remember seeing the moon - all that I can remember are the stars, the dark roads, and the sounds of the insects.
When we got back, we started Bluff again - until it was really really late. The next morning, we went boating in the lake out there, spent some time wal
ki
ng around and then returned to the cottage.
The boat ride was real fun - it was quite a long ride and was real fun go that far! When we got back to the cottage, we walked around the garden, took a lot of pictures, played in the swing... and soon, it was time to leave.
As we were walking to the bus stop, we saw the bus to Jolarpet start off. Simon, the sprinter, ran and got the bus to stop - and we got the last seat of the bus - we sat there eating crispies and sweets we used to have when we were kids.... And we were on our way back - to our work, each in a different location...
This time, almost a year ago, we were thinking of how to meet, where to meet and places to visit. Ya, a long time online buddy was coming to Chennai - home visit - and wanted to go for a short trip. And ya, I wanted to go for a trip too - it had been quite some time since I travelled long distance.
We settled on Yelagiri for a weekend trip. This place is between Bangalore and Chennai - about 170 km from Bangalore and 210 km from Chennai (Madras). So, on December 15, I met my long-time online buddy and his friend at Chennai Central Railway Station. We took a train to Jolarpet - and I learnt to play Bluff (I hope I got the name right!) along the way. From Jolarpet, it was a bus ride to Yelagiri.The bus filled with baskets and gunny bags - which Was a handy extra seat or stumbling block, depending on how you look at it. Late in the evening, we reached Yelagiri - we were dropped off at what seemed to be a marketplace. Within a few minutes, we had a couple of people promoting their lodges. For the first time, I went to a place without booking a place in advance and checked out places before we checked in one of the lodges right there on the main road.
After a quick wash and settling down, we went out to have dinner. After dinner at the hotel near the lodge, we decided to walk around. At about 9pm, the place was deserted. Nothing new for a village! So, we walked in pitch darkness - no streetlights, no vehicles, no lights from houses - just us and a little torch shining bright :) After walking around, we got back and the two school buddies started the who's-doing-what-these-days talk. For me, it was time to sleep!
The next day, we woke up early, had a good breakfast, and headed out into the forest. We were planning to walk all the way - but then, we were told we'd be better off if we go in an auto to a village nearby and then start our trek. So, we got an auto to drop us at the next village. As we were getting off, there was this old man with his two cows walking by. Simon and Amit asked him how far is the waterfalls and if he'd take us through the forest. He looked at the three of us, and asked "Really??" Well, he had to be assured more than once that we were capable of walking long distance. Once he was convinced, he said he'd take us. Before that, he had to leave the cows at home. This elderly man, left his towel nearby, asked us to stay there and went back saying he'd return soon!
And true to his word, he was back in a little while - off we went along the narrow path that took us into the forest. And a couple of meters in, he said that his wife told him to ask for 100Rs - for taking us around. He seemed to be that innocent villager - even inviting us to stay over at his place. And then, even as we were resting in the shade of a tree, he asked if I don't have to go to school! He thought I had run away from home :(
We walked through the forest, and reached this waterfall almost at the bottom of the hill - the Jalagamparai Falls. It isn't about the waterfall as much as it is about the walk down there - one of those places where you can say the path matters more than the destination.All the way, we were treated to folklore and songs by 'thatha' (meaning 'grandfather') as called him. He sang to us, advised us to study well, said I remind him of his granddaughter, wanted to know if our parents knew where we were...
After that long walk through the forest, we reached the waterfalls and the temple nearby. As I said earlier, it isn't a very spectacular falls. By the time we reached the waterfalls, it was afternoon. After a short break at the falls, we walked around to the nearest shops right outside. After biscuits, snacks, and water, we realised that the next bus would reach this place a couple of hours later [:O]
Do we wait? Well, we decided to walk along the road instead of waiting there for the bus. So, we went off again - walking on the road - hoping to see a bus on the other side. We walked and we walked - it is one of the unforgettable experiences in my life - walking around the rural areas, with no concern for time. So, we walked and walked and walked - until thatha got tired.
We walked by a couple of villages, roads lined on either side by sugarcane and cotton fields, the tar road used for drying bagasse. We came across a place where they were making jaggery - those huge pots over a big fire with a just a small opening for them to push the bagasse into the fire! And then, there were these two kids who wanted me to take a picture of their little brother. 
Finally, we sat down under a huge banyan tree which was supposed to be the bus stop. As we waited, the people nearby came to enquire about us - where we are from and so on. When I set the camera on timer and took a picture, they were amazed at the camera that takes a picture of it's own and one of them was in awe of the mind that created this :)
And the bus came a little later - we went to Thirupathur, had a late lunch, and then boarded the bus to Yelagiri - once more, we went up the hill. After dinner, we walked along those quiet roads - not a single horn, no TV blaring in someone's house... the only sound you could hear were of the insects and frogs. I think it was closer to new moon, 'coz it was a starlit night - I don't remember seeing the moon - all that I can remember are the stars, the dark roads, and the sounds of the insects.
When we got back, we started Bluff again - until it was really really late. The next morning, we went boating in the lake out there, spent some time walki
ng around and then returned to the cottage.
The boat ride was real fun - it was quite a long ride and was real fun go that far! When we got back to the cottage, we walked around the garden, took a lot of pictures, played in the swing... and soon, it was time to leave.As we were walking to the bus stop, we saw the bus to Jolarpet start off. Simon, the sprinter, ran and got the bus to stop - and we got the last seat of the bus - we sat there eating crispies and sweets we used to have when we were kids.... And we were on our way back - to our work, each in a different location...
 |
| For more Pictures, go to Yelagiri |
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Desk Doodles
This is the state of my desk :) Ya, I know, it looks more like a whiteboard ...my secret pastime... Normally, I don't take pictures - I don't think they are great enough to be pictures - 'coz most of they are scribbles so bad, the house keeping guys don't miss a chance to clean my desk :P So, took a pic of this one by chance - sent it to a friend, and he liked it! So, here it is for all to see? Any comments?
Srisailam
It started in a conversation that was going anywhere and nowhere...yes, I was chatting with Llewellyn ....and then, he asked what's up for the weekend and I said ...nothing...
In the next few minutes, we had zeroed on Srisailam - pending our 'illustrious' Imtiaz Bhai's confirmation... After that, I scourged through the net for all that I can find on Srisailam and ran home.... I had plans ...but dozed off.... until I heard 'your 20 minutes start now' ....well, it was Llewellyn’s call….all I could manage was ‘make it 30 minutes’ and rushed to get ready…
Half an hour later, at 11:15pm, we were on our way and reached Mannanur at 2.40 am….. we had to wait till 6am – coz vehicles aren’t allowed in the night…. So, we parked and went to sleep….
I got up around 5:40….the place was filled with vehicles of all sizes….small carriers, lorries and trucks, cars and so on…not the quiet place we had reached earlier that night. And people were pretty casual….only until they heard the vehicle at the beginning of the line start – a lorry –…. At the sound of that engine everyone hurried to their own vehicle and started…and soon that place was like a starting line of a race…. Everyone testing their engine ….and raring to go….
The moment the gate was opened, it was a free for all…blaring horns, noisy engines, and flying dust replaced the quiet and serene environ…wish I had a video of that few mins…the change from the calm and quiet morning to the blaring horns….
We let everyone go by,….and started off at the end of the line….as we went by, we found peacocks grazing…we stopped by the road to watch the sun rise below the sizzling power lines….after a few more stops, we reached the first view point…went through the bridge and then up to Srisailam….
After breakfast at the Punnani restaurant, we were hoping to get on the ropeway and the go to the dam…unfortunately, ropeway wasn’t working ….quite a disappointment…so we walked down to the dam – the 650 steps, at least that is what they said - went boating and by the time we got back, we were quite tired…. And since Imtiaz Bhai had refused to come with us…we told him there were a max of 350 steps….to which he asked ‘one way or both together’!!!!!
I got to say it was quite a sunny day….not a day where you can stand out in the sun for long…in spite of all the water around, the place was dry and hot….so, we started on our way back…. A lot slower because of the umpteen stops….
At one place, we went beyond a gate at the viewpoint…and got some wonderful pics of rocks and the dam…all the close-up shots of those rocks and trees growing from them are from this place…
Then we stopped along the bridge….and again it was a good place for some pictures…and ya, some of these pictures show you vast land – the kind of vastness you don’t expect to find all that often…
Another great place was this dam on our way back…it was post-lunch…after a lunch where I couldn’t help laugh at some of Imtiaz Bhai’s gyan to that hotelier….and the way he did it…
After we got out, we came across this kinda dam we had crossed in the middle of the night when we were going to Srisailam…while the two of us wanted to go up and check the dam on the other side, Imtiaz Bhai wasn’t all that enthusiastic…. I don’t knw why….but he refused to do any climbing or walking that day….
So, he stopped and asked an old man who said there is no water at all….but then, we found steps leading to the top,….insisted he stop and went up….and was it beautiful…it was wonderful…and I wont forget the way this guy got on a plank and went all the way, paddling with his hands….it was amazing…time and again, makes me wonder, how big is man? Often, we tend to forget that man is like a small speck on the face of earth…. So let me end that gyan now….
From there it was a series of stops and we reached Hyd after 6….by the time we came to the other end to our homes, it was close to 9…. And that was the end of yet another traveling weekend...
In the next few minutes, we had zeroed on Srisailam - pending our 'illustrious' Imtiaz Bhai's confirmation... After that, I scourged through the net for all that I can find on Srisailam and ran home.... I had plans ...but dozed off.... until I heard 'your 20 minutes start now' ....well, it was Llewellyn’s call….all I could manage was ‘make it 30 minutes’ and rushed to get ready…
Half an hour later, at 11:15pm, we were on our way and reached Mannanur at 2.40 am….. we had to wait till 6am – coz vehicles aren’t allowed in the night…. So, we parked and went to sleep….
I got up around 5:40….the place was filled with vehicles of all sizes….small carriers, lorries and trucks, cars and so on…not the quiet place we had reached earlier that night. And people were pretty casual….only until they heard the vehicle at the beginning of the line start – a lorry –…. At the sound of that engine everyone hurried to their own vehicle and started…and soon that place was like a starting line of a race…. Everyone testing their engine ….and raring to go….The moment the gate was opened, it was a free for all…blaring horns, noisy engines, and flying dust replaced the quiet and serene environ…wish I had a video of that few mins…the change from the calm and quiet morning to the blaring horns….
We let everyone go by,….and started off at the end of the line….as we went by, we found peacocks grazing…we stopped by the road to watch the sun rise below the sizzling power lines….after a few more stops, we reached the first view point…went through the bridge and then up to Srisailam….
After breakfast at the Punnani restaurant, we were hoping to get on the ropeway and the go to the dam…unfortunately, ropeway wasn’t working ….quite a disappointment…so we walked down to the dam – the 650 steps, at least that is what they said - went boating and by the time we got back, we were quite tired…. And since Imtiaz Bhai had refused to come with us…we told him there were a max of 350 steps….to which he asked ‘one way or both together’!!!!!
I got to say it was quite a sunny day….not a day where you can stand out in the sun for long…in spite of all the water around, the place was dry and hot….so, we started on our way back…. A lot slower because of the umpteen stops….
At one place, we went beyond a gate at the viewpoint…and got some wonderful pics of rocks and the dam…all the close-up shots of those rocks and trees growing from them are from this place…
Then we stopped along the bridge….and again it was a good place for some pictures…and ya, some of these pictures show you vast land – the kind of vastness you don’t expect to find all that often…
Another great place was this dam on our way back…it was post-lunch…after a lunch where I couldn’t help laugh at some of Imtiaz Bhai’s gyan to that hotelier….and the way he did it…
After we got out, we came across this kinda dam we had crossed in the middle of the night when we were going to Srisailam…while the two of us wanted to go up and check the dam on the other side, Imtiaz Bhai wasn’t all that enthusiastic…. I don’t knw why….but he refused to do any climbing or walking that day….
So, he stopped and asked an old man who said there is no water at all….but then, we found steps leading to the top,….insisted he stop and went up….and was it beautiful…it was wonderful…and I wont forget the way this guy got on a plank and went all the way, paddling with his hands….it was amazing…time and again, makes me wonder, how big is man? Often, we tend to forget that man is like a small speck on the face of earth…. So let me end that gyan now….
From there it was a series of stops and we reached Hyd after 6….by the time we came to the other end to our homes, it was close to 9…. And that was the end of yet another traveling weekend...
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Hampi
July 12, 2007
Finally, the day came to travel - to pick up my bag and do some traveling. It was serious travel after quite some time and was looking forward to this day. From Hyderabad, it was just the two of us, me and my friend, going to Hospet. We reached Hospet around 6:30 am - almost an hour behind schedule. But then, it didn’t really matter because we were waiting for another two to join us - Amir and his friend.
Hampi
As we were getting off the bus at Hampi, we were swamped by tourist operators and guides. It took some effort to get out of that crowd offering guides, hotels, and even books about Hampi. That was the first minute in Hampi.
Setting out and setbacks!
Soon we set off to see the ruins in and around Hampi. We walked to the nearest ruins - three temples. We walked around, went in - all the while clicking away with our digital cameras - thanks to the unlimited (almost) storage space! We came back to the entrance and my buddy began to set his tripod for his medium format camera - and there came the watchman saying we should have prior permission to use tripods. He said we can get permission from the Archeological Society. So, off we went to get the permission, only to be told there that they do not have the authority and we have to get the permission in Bangalore! However, they also said that we should be able to use the tripod in most of the places.
Going around Hampi
At the end of the day, we came to the river. Need to say, the steps aren’t the cleanest. I was wondering if the buffaloes and elephants use the steps to the river!
The Mango Tree and dinner
Having heard a lot about The Mango Tree from people who’d already been to Hampi, I was quite curious to check it out. It wasn’t just about the food - I was told that the ambience and the view is great too. And, I wasn’t disappointed. If you really want to wind down when you are at Hampi, you should go to this place. And remember to sit outside (on the floor) under the tree - overlooking the river. You get an awesome view from that place of the river and the hills.
So, it was at Mango Tree that we spent more than 2 hours there - chatting, joking, getting to know each other, and, of course, relishing the food. It was the first time I mixed lime soda for myself! And not surprisingly, it bubbled over :) after which I learnt to be careful mixing lime, salt and soda. For me, that evening is filled with a lot of memories - plenty of little things… like Prathibha reacting to a cat as if it were a monster (am sure she’s not gonna like this:), Amir making us sit still for 30 seconds coz of the low shutter speed, sharing the food, trying to figure out if that white thing they served was mayonnaise or chutney, ….
Finally, the day came to travel - to pick up my bag and do some traveling. It was serious travel after quite some time and was looking forward to this day. From Hyderabad, it was just the two of us, me and my friend, going to Hospet. We reached Hospet around 6:30 am - almost an hour behind schedule. But then, it didn’t really matter because we were waiting for another two to join us - Amir and his friend.Hampi
As we were getting off the bus at Hampi, we were swamped by tourist operators and guides. It took some effort to get out of that crowd offering guides, hotels, and even books about Hampi. That was the first minute in Hampi.
Setting out and setbacks!
Soon we set off to see the ruins in and around Hampi. We walked to the nearest ruins - three temples. We walked around, went in - all the while clicking away with our digital cameras - thanks to the unlimited (almost) storage space! We came back to the entrance and my buddy began to set his tripod for his medium format camera - and there came the watchman saying we should have prior permission to use tripods. He said we can get permission from the Archeological Society. So, off we went to get the permission, only to be told there that they do not have the authority and we have to get the permission in Bangalore! However, they also said that we should be able to use the tripod in most of the places.
Going around HampiAt the end of the day, we came to the river. Need to say, the steps aren’t the cleanest. I was wondering if the buffaloes and elephants use the steps to the river!
The Mango Tree and dinner
Having heard a lot about The Mango Tree from people who’d already been to Hampi, I was quite curious to check it out. It wasn’t just about the food - I was told that the ambience and the view is great too. And, I wasn’t disappointed. If you really want to wind down when you are at Hampi, you should go to this place. And remember to sit outside (on the floor) under the tree - overlooking the river. You get an awesome view from that place of the river and the hills.So, it was at Mango Tree that we spent more than 2 hours there - chatting, joking, getting to know each other, and, of course, relishing the food. It was the first time I mixed lime soda for myself! And not surprisingly, it bubbled over :) after which I learnt to be careful mixing lime, salt and soda. For me, that evening is filled with a lot of memories - plenty of little things… like Prathibha reacting to a cat as if it were a monster (am sure she’s not gonna like this:), Amir making us sit still for 30 seconds coz of the low shutter speed, sharing the food, trying to figure out if that white thing they served was mayonnaise or chutney, ….
| Click here, for more Pictures of Hampi |
Monday, August 20, 2007
I went on a trip…
Me and my friend, we are traveling together – happily walking around the streets of this exotic locale. It is more of those historic locales (not ruins!) – exquisite houses and beautiful lanes, cheerful people, and so on. As we stand there talking to someone, we hear the drum beats – not that incessant loud ones – but more like the marching kinds. We stand there listening for a min – if we were dogs, you could see our ears prick up – and there we hear it again.
All of a sudden, our friend pushes us inside the house nearby! My friend rushes in and I try to get in behind her. Fear and danger is in the air. You can feel it everywhere – in the air you breathe, in the eyes of the strangers and friends. I've hardly gotten my entire self inside, those people came and asked for us. They protected us – they lied to those people. We were saved – albeit for a while.
We sit there chatting, my protector and I, about the little things in life. It's night time and everyone’s going to sleep.
Soon, someone comes running in - out of breath – and says we were seen by those people. Those people had seen us in the neighboring street and are bound to search the houses in the neighborhood. That panic finds its home in us.
Where do we hide? The big question for the moment – we need some place for the two of us. I look up and see the things piled up in the attic – old boxes, unused things. We’d hide behind those things. So, up goes my friend and I give her our bags and shoes and climb up. We lie down, hoping they don’t bring dogs.
Soon, those people come and search the house – and leave without finding us. Once they’ve left, we get down, bring those bags and shoes down too. Oh, I can’t find one of my shoes, and there it is in that corner.
Oh, look at that man staring at us – time to find another safe place. Get ready fast, let’s go…
Did we find a safe place? Did they find us? I don’t know…I woke up – my alarm’s ringing…time to get up and get started with the day!
All of a sudden, our friend pushes us inside the house nearby! My friend rushes in and I try to get in behind her. Fear and danger is in the air. You can feel it everywhere – in the air you breathe, in the eyes of the strangers and friends. I've hardly gotten my entire self inside, those people came and asked for us. They protected us – they lied to those people. We were saved – albeit for a while.
We sit there chatting, my protector and I, about the little things in life. It's night time and everyone’s going to sleep.
Soon, someone comes running in - out of breath – and says we were seen by those people. Those people had seen us in the neighboring street and are bound to search the houses in the neighborhood. That panic finds its home in us.
Where do we hide? The big question for the moment – we need some place for the two of us. I look up and see the things piled up in the attic – old boxes, unused things. We’d hide behind those things. So, up goes my friend and I give her our bags and shoes and climb up. We lie down, hoping they don’t bring dogs.
Soon, those people come and search the house – and leave without finding us. Once they’ve left, we get down, bring those bags and shoes down too. Oh, I can’t find one of my shoes, and there it is in that corner.
Oh, look at that man staring at us – time to find another safe place. Get ready fast, let’s go…
Did we find a safe place? Did they find us? I don’t know…I woke up – my alarm’s ringing…time to get up and get started with the day!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Mysore Zoo
My recent visit to Mysore Zoo was as unplanned as the visit to Mysore itself. I had planned to spend my weekend in Bangalore and ended up traveling to Mysore instead!
May be, that raised the expectations - seeing those huge animals wandering around in that enclosed space - so close I began to wonder if they could reach out and bite!
And then, there were all the birds in enclosures so small, you feel sorry for them. Especially, it was quite a pathetic sight to see the bigger birds in such small enclosures. And, then, we came upon a peacock, showing off his feathers - though behind a fine mesh. I could think of nothing other than beauty behind bars!
There were so many birds - I only wish they were in larger enclosures and not-so-fine mesh cages!
Just as we were walking along the tiger's enclosure, we came upon
a large group of travelers. Well, there was some political conference in Mysore and a lot of people had come from other states. This group, I presume, was one of those groups come for the conference - with the tell-tale white-n-white of political parties, they stood out wherever they went. Among them, were these two men with big turbans. I couldn't resist a couple of pictures of them. They went together all the time, pointing at animals, talking to each other, watching the crowd. I wonder if they were aware of the fact that they were turning quite a few heads!
There was this gorilla which was showing off - was seated on a tree like he owns the place, watching over the rest and was yawning every few minutes! And, there was the contemplative Rhino hiding away all that strength and looking like one of the docile creatures you'd ever see.
After the usual fare of zebras, deers, and baboons, we were heading towards the elephants. There were a lot of school children walking around with drawing boards and color pens. When one of those kids came and asked where the elephants are, we guessed there must be some competition out there. So, we also headed off towards the elephants. Along the way, we came across this very noisy tree - now, the tree wasn't noisy; just that, we had to walk a li'l further and get to the other side to see the bats on the tree.
There were quite a few elephants out there - frolicking in the open space. Of all animals, they seemed to have the most freedom. In fact, you could walk into the enclosure -if you could ignore the 'Do not cross this point' board placed there. While elephants were wandering about, this side of the fence, children were immersed in their paintings.
After spending a li'l longer, watching the elephants, it was time to get back. On our way back, we came across another enclosure full of baboons - one naughty little one was so active, we just stood there watching him play :)
And, that was the morning at the zoo! Well, in some instances, I thought the Hyderabad Zoo a lot better - more space for the animals, not very far from our viewpoints, well maintained. My gripes about the Hyd Zoo remains though! How can I forget the way people behaved - growling and barking at the animals!!! Well, that is another story... another day...
For more pictures of my visit, visit my album
So, after wandering the streets all evening, the next morning we headed to the Zoo. We were welcomed by none other than the giraffes -- I don't remember seeing another giraffe so close - so tall and huge!
May be, that raised the expectations - seeing those huge animals wandering around in that enclosed space - so close I began to wonder if they could reach out and bite!
And then, there were all the birds in enclosures so small, you feel sorry for them. Especially, it was quite a pathetic sight to see the bigger birds in such small enclosures. And, then, we came upon a peacock, showing off his feathers - though behind a fine mesh. I could think of nothing other than beauty behind bars!There were so many birds - I only wish they were in larger enclosures and not-so-fine mesh cages!
Just as we were walking along the tiger's enclosure, we came upon
a large group of travelers. Well, there was some political conference in Mysore and a lot of people had come from other states. This group, I presume, was one of those groups come for the conference - with the tell-tale white-n-white of political parties, they stood out wherever they went. Among them, were these two men with big turbans. I couldn't resist a couple of pictures of them. They went together all the time, pointing at animals, talking to each other, watching the crowd. I wonder if they were aware of the fact that they were turning quite a few heads!
There was this gorilla which was showing off - was seated on a tree like he owns the place, watching over the rest and was yawning every few minutes! And, there was the contemplative Rhino hiding away all that strength and looking like one of the docile creatures you'd ever see.
After the usual fare of zebras, deers, and baboons, we were heading towards the elephants. There were a lot of school children walking around with drawing boards and color pens. When one of those kids came and asked where the elephants are, we guessed there must be some competition out there. So, we also headed off towards the elephants. Along the way, we came across this very noisy tree - now, the tree wasn't noisy; just that, we had to walk a li'l further and get to the other side to see the bats on the tree.
There were quite a few elephants out there - frolicking in the open space. Of all animals, they seemed to have the most freedom. In fact, you could walk into the enclosure -if you could ignore the 'Do not cross this point' board placed there. While elephants were wandering about, this side of the fence, children were immersed in their paintings.
After spending a li'l longer, watching the elephants, it was time to get back. On our way back, we came across another enclosure full of baboons - one naughty little one was so active, we just stood there watching him play :)
And, that was the morning at the zoo! Well, in some instances, I thought the Hyderabad Zoo a lot better - more space for the animals, not very far from our viewpoints, well maintained. My gripes about the Hyd Zoo remains though! How can I forget the way people behaved - growling and barking at the animals!!! Well, that is another story... another day...
For more pictures of my visit, visit my album
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)