Cool trip to Krishnagiri

Life in Bangalore City sometimes gets very monotonous. Everyone is cribbing about the traffic, the heat, the rush at the malls, the prices going high...The list is just never ending! Getting a break from all this is what I desire very often. And that's just what I got last week when I went to Krishnagiri Dam.

The drive to Krishnagiri is one of the best attractions of the trip. The road from Hosur to Krishnagiri is wide and straight. They are well maintained with trees on both sides. There are flowering plants between the double road too. Some portions of the road are cut through the mountains and thus are a beauty when travelling through them. The stops in between like Shoolagiri are breathtaking just to watch those towering hills!

The dam didn't give me a notion of much electricity being generated from the units. The water flow seems to be pretty less. But the reservoir is huge. Now for electricity generated and such trivia I would say who cares. I enjoyed the walk through the dam. I enjoyed the breeze. I enjoyed looking at the water before me. So I recommend this place to anyone who wants a break!

Amblee Resort (check photo link on right )

I have not been complaining of nothing happening in life since a long time. With my sister’s marriage rush during the last 2 months I was fully occupied. However there was a certain joy when we decided to go to “Amblee Resorts” from office.

Amblee Resort is a quiet little place on the way to Mysore on the banks of River Cauvery. It’s actually very close to Mysore, maybe just 15kms to Mysore from there. The riverside was one of the best features of the resort. I could count off food and service as “adjustable” but the scenery was definitely soothing and refreshing.

I always spend a few hours to myself during the weekend. Those few hours are what pull me through the weekend. I hate sacrificing those precious hours for anything in the world. There were just three girls on this trip (better than the ones when I am the only girl :) however). There was so much of activity through out the day that I really didn’t get my time.

Therefore, as always on trips, I got up early morning and went to the riverside. This was a great experience. I listened to the water flowing across the small rocks. I watched the birds as they flew over the water. I watched the sun rise slowly and the skies turn red to blue. The early morning peace is irreplaceable. I realized that small things around you are so beautiful and matchless. I loved that hour I spent to myself. Then again there came my colleagues and back to fun filled time with others!

Titan- India's pride!

I have a sudden liking for brand Titan. It has always been a stong Indian brand and hasevolved with time never to fade into the background unlike Bata etc. Of late I have purchased two FastTrack watches within the past year and just last week bought a Titan Raga for my sis!!!

When I went to this Titan showroom in Indiranagar i was impressed at first sight. Truly professional staff and an air of style! they even took time to give me some trivia like Titan is the sixth largest watch manufacturers in the world! And more over Titan head quarters s located in "Namma Bangalooru"!

They have evolved their ranges in watches to suit the youth with Fasttrack (when John asks how many do you have? I can answer TWO) , for the trend setters with Edge, jewellery watches with Nebula (Sigh!when do I get one of those), the occassions with Raga and the ever affordable Sonata.

What I truly love is the new Signet club that i am a part of. I get Rs200 off on any watch I buy and moreover accumulate points for those purchases. Yeah! you get the idea right! I am shopping with friends too...Man..I love Titan!!!

Is life in Metros no more safe for women?

Just last week I wrote on the similar lines. Now that New Year's eve is past, the horrors of the night have surfaced. There have been numerous reports all over the country but the Mumbai incident is more gross than any I have read. I would not go into details at all. It sickens me. Read the NDTV report here.

I was shocked while reading this report. Moreover there was a chill down my spine to think of the fact that I am not safe in my surroundings.Metros seem more dangerous than villages. Back home in Kerala, girls don't go out in the night after 7 or 8. So the chances seem less. There is no safe feeling saying "I am going out with my parents/husband/boyfriend/friend circle". What could anyone do when faced with such a crowd of hooligans?? The thought scares me.

What disturbs me even more is to wonder "I agree the mob would have been drunk. But didn't even one guy from them have a least bit of sense to know what they were doing was wrong!!!" What's happening to humanity? We talk about rape cases as specific incidents. We talk about gang rapes also one off hand incident. We blame gang rapesin rural parts on ignorance. So what are we going to classify this incident in which such a large number of people are involved in one of the prime spots of the most mordernized cities of India on????

It disgusts me. It pains me. I am scared to go out in the night, alone or otherwise too.

Nightlife in Bangalore and New Year

I went for a movie on Christmas night along with my friends to Innovative Complex in Marthahalli. this is a half an hour drive away from the place I live. Now let's get more specific, this was a group of 6 guys and me one girl (yeah yeah...I just land up with guys as friends most times). Now on a general note this should have been great for me, any girl's dream, 6 guys and just me. Well, it was. It's nice to be pampered at times. But there were some instances that disturbed me.


After the show, when I stood on the road at 10.30pm I had this creepy feeling in me. I felt as insecure as I feel in Kerala even at 7pm. I knocked my head a couple of times saying"Chill girl..this is the IT hub of India!!" But the knocks didn't help! On the way back home, even the cops gave this kind of suspicious look that degrades you at any point in the day!

I wonder what's wrong with the city. Is nightlife all about call centers, pubs, drunken driving and X rated stuff??? There are loads of stuff I would love to do at night. It would be nice to take a walk on the road, a drive to coffee day on a day of tension, or watch a late night show!! The morale traffic police can do their job. I have no issues against them. But they have no right to go overboard by shouting at people having a juice at the juice shop or sometimes even rushing to take a late flight!! Spare us!!!

What's the use of complaining to extend the deadline on New Year's eve to 1am when we have way to go on a normal day too...Bangalore has miles to go before being truly metropolitan!!

Janapada Loka

This is where I spent my birthday last year and this is where we went again on the way to Amblee Resorts. This draft has been resting since a long time in my posts. I just dug it up today.

It is located some 50km on the Bangalore Mysore Highway and spreads more than 10 acres for sure, a really huge place. It’s like a treasure of Karnataka heritage! There is a large collection of household gadgets, masks, dolls, shadow puppets, agricultural, hunting and fishing stuff. There are some really old chariots, stone carvings of deities etc.


When I checked out the history of this place it was fascinating. This entire initiation was by H.L Gowda who felt the need to preserve tradition and folk forms of Karnataka. He also wanted to preserve it in the true village style. That’s exactly how this place is too! The things they have here reminded me of things I have at my ancestral home. The lamps, utensils, things we love to preserve even today. Hardly use them however!

The Kamat restaurant next to it is also a unique modeling. The restaurant is based on a village house complete with a cow shed and cows. The waiters sport traditional dress and the food served consists of typical home food. We loved the food here. Last time when I went we ate seperate orders but this time it was a buffet breakfast that was also too good. A must visit place specially if you are on the way to Mysore!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

There goes my birthday weekend! I had so much of fun the last weekend. I thought it was a well spent birthday. On Saturday I went shopping. My friends got me a watch from Titan, a “Fast track” one. Yo! John here I come…I have plenty of watches but this is the first one I own for myself.

On Sunday set off on Mysore road to Kamat Lokaruchi to have breakfast.I love the style they serve idli here…wound in leaf and shape of cylinder..You have to unwrap the idli from the leaf which is secured with wooden pricks! Cool! Also went to the Janapada Loka just adjacent to this restaurant. This was a place that I missed when I came to Kamat along with my parents.

And as usual headed to Café Coffee Day a few kilometers away . I love this place for the ride and for the ambience! Had a chocolate fantasy and cold chocolate..Yeah my birthday would be incomplete without chocolate anytime!

The ride was fab as it was drizzling at times and huge fun…Came back to Bangalore and went to Bhima Jewellery that has opened near Forum and bought myself a pendant. Well I pamper myself on birthdays usually…Had loads of fun. Another birthday gone past and ironically I’m happy about it…He he he!!

Through the mind of Rashmi Nagaraj

This is just an attempt to read the mind of Dr. Rashmi Nagaraj who committed suicide last week in Bangalore. She had obtained 74th rank in the Po s t - G r a d u at e Entrance Test but failed to get the subject of her choice.

Today has been the worst day of my life…I have never felt so low in life. Life at KIMS was so…normal!! I had built a thousand castles in the air. My parents expected so much from me. I was at the peak of joy when I got 74th rank in PGET…wanted to take up paediatrics or general medicine..Went with all hopes for the councelling only to know that I would not get what I wanted…

I am here on the terrace..I can hear voices around me…Is it someone who is searching for me? No can’t be..It’s too early for someone to notice! Must be just those kids down the block…living their happy lives…Dad is still at the university enquiring about the seat…I don’t know if he would miss me…but it doesn’t make a difference now…

My life now depends on these 50 phenobarbitone pills I have with me. I wonder how many it would take for…I have lost hope. This was my greatest dream and I have lost that opportunity…I can’t wait another year to write the test again…I just can’t do this anymore. Everyone, my parents, relatives, everyone was waiting for this day since I wrote the test. I can’t believe this is happening!

Let me take 10 pills now…The authorities have offered me a seat in microbiology! But who would like that?? That doesn’t have any value..They talk as if they are doing me a favour..I hate this…Just let me pop in 10 more of these! They don’t seem to have an effect on me yet..

In my years of medicine I have always pondered on this sensation of death. How would it feel like to die..What am I feeling right now..A slow drowsiness is it? But I want it to death..I know death is not the way of escape…But I want to…End all this..I cannot face all around me in this state of defeat. I hate myself, hate all around me too..I better eat 10 more…I want to end this trauma forever ,ever…..

As I wrote this…even though I tried to justify Rashmi…I could never get to the depth as to what could drive the girl to this moment…Just in case there are a few reading this who would like to try interpolating what could have been her state of mind. Please do…There may be things we might have never thought of…You can also refer this.

Avadhoota Datta Peetham and Bonsai Garden

This is one of those places not many would have visited while at Mysore. Actually we too landed there to kill some time before the palace visit. But being there was a soul rendering experience indeed.

The place called Avadhoota Datta Peetham is the ashram of Sri Ganapathi Sachidanada. A huge place filled with silence in the heart of the city. At the entrance of the ashram is a huge statue made out of mud, guess it Terra cotta. This is supposed to be a statue called "Moolikeswara" the Lord of the herbs, honoring Dhanvantri as the healing godhead. In addition to this there is also a garden filled with herbal plants they say is grown under the protection of this god.


Then we entered the temple which is a universal religion support. There are people following Hinduism, Christianity, Islam everything! They pray to the All Mighty here. Did find a lot of foreigners here. Wonder if religion and peace of mind are following foreigners now a days. They always seem to appreciate religion better than
we Indians who fight on the basis of religion!!!



Another attraction of this place is the Bonsai garden said to be the largest in the country. There are 250 bonsai trees here brought from various countries. The trees range from months to 200 years old ones!! In the middle of the garden there is a path for an acupuncture walk that was refreshing. Here you can also find big pieces of all the birthday stones…sorry didn’t find diamonds!

Balmuri Falls fun!!

This visit to Balmuri Falls was a part of my trip around Bangalore and Mysore when my parents came here. A family friend and his family also accompanied us. For the convenience of my parents and others, (who are really bad at getting to places using public transport….Muscat life hangover!!) I hired a Sumo from office.

Balmuri Falls is located about 150 kms from Bangalore. This was our second stop after Chamundi Hills. For more information as to how to get there, it can be reached by driving down the Mysore Road (my favourite as I always say) to Srirangapatna and then taking the KRS Road to Belagula village. After that there is a narrow road to the right that finally leads to the falls.

Let me warn you…the last strip is a real torture to the backbone but a treat to the eyes. The lush green fields on both sides and the bumpy roads…An exciting combination. My dad screamed when his bald head hit the Sumo roof once or twice..He he…But used to the Sumo driving by these cab drivers I held tight!

As it was a Sunday that we had made it here it was pretty crowded. You really cannot have a deep swim or anything like that but can enjoy yourself in the water. As from my previous trips I realize that any place to visit in Bangalore is accompanied with monkeys for sure. My dad and uncle were imitating some. And I was commenting that the imitation act was unnecessary!!

We also took a ride in those little boats, Now here my dad and mom did not accompany us. Did I ever tell you..these things scare the hell out of them!! My mom is one of those kinds who still stands at the elevators and keeps swinging to and fro…Should I go?? Should I not??

The ride was fun for those turns we made the guy do without my aunty’s knowledge. She thought it was due to the force of the water. Later when she realize did was us she literally screamed. How I love to play these pranks?? Anyways loved the place…Surely recommended for a day out with friends especially during those slight shower days!!

Hot trip to the Big Banyan tree and Manchinbele dam

As I had mentioned earlier I went to visit the Big Banyan tree last week. As for some info about the place. It is just 25 kms from the City and you can reach the spot either from Kumbalgod on Mysore Road or from Chennenahalli on Magadi Road. It is the fourth largest banyan tree in India, 400 years old and spreads 3 acres altogether.

As for the route, I took the Mysore one. After 2 days of googling on the place and reading travel reports I thought this was better. The other reason is that I love Mysore Road travelling. But my joy ride on Mysore Road ended with Kengeri. After that it is a camel ride baby!! Be ready for anything at all. Moreover we just had google directions...no idea where we really going. But we did reach there...so thanks to all those bloggers!

Now the biggest debate here was that the place is really (at least none of us thought so..) not 3 or 4 acres...Hmm do we overblow information??? But it is really quite a sight. I really didn't expect to see a lot of people at the spot...but surprised again. There were a good lot of people. And more of monkeys.

Now that was a huge entertainment packaged I had not dreamt of. There was this one that ran off with a lady's handbag. And another one that took off an Omni's mirror. Now this one was really beauty concious must say! So anyone visiting this plaec...better be careful of your things.

From the Banyan Tree we also decided to visit Manchinbele dam that was 7 to 8 kms away. Again thanks to Google! Now this was a hot drive. Firstly the road was deserted, bumpy and hot. Moreover we had no idea where we were going. After 10 minutes we were deciding to head back when I caught glimpse of the superb sight. So much of water in Bangalore. I was excited.

We went all the way till the water which was surprisingly cold and clear. Residents around this place use this dam for their cattle, wash and have fun swimming around too! Now that we had come all this way I wanted to go on top of the dam too. But that was a disssapointment. The place for prohibited for visit. Some bloggers had actually written about this but there were some who went too. How...hmm...a question??

I had a real good day and a good bumpy ride too....But at the end of the day....a cold water bath and a good night sleep is cure for all!!!

I was here too!!!

Agreed that it is very difficult to own a piece of land in Bangalore. Or maybe to be more specific anywhere at all. But Indians are the clever lot. They believe they can own any place by just putting their mark on it.

I had been to see the 400 year old Big Banyan Tree in Bangalore lately....would post thatThe sight of that huge tree with a thousand branches and hangings left me open mouthed. But when I looked on I felt hurt at the way the public have treated this tree. There is not even a branch where a name is not written. Could be an individual name or else some crap loves another crap....(That is the most)

I mean seriously...there are some who have climbed branches so high and written their names.....What do they expect to show the world?? As to how much they can go to show their love for themselves or for their loved one!!

One thing to learn from Indians is how not to respect their own culture whether it be customs, historic monuments, anything at all! No wonder Taj Mahal is threatened to be out of the World's Wonders. Each and evry monument I have visited has a million stamps of the people who have been there too...Atleast there is no need of visitor books here!!

But then evntually check this one too....looks like our little monkey is establishing the fact that this place is mine no matter what you write on it...So let's leave the place to its true owners people!!!

Shiva Temple @ Airport Road

When the mind is in turmoil and you feel that there seems nothing that is going right, I always find solaec at a temple. Not one of those kinds who go to the temple every week or go there to find God. I just go when I feel the need to relive myself.
One place I love in Bangalore is the Shiva Temple on Airport Road behind Kemp Fort. A huge statue of Shiva in yoga posture, the biggest in the world..... mesmerising anyone at all. This is one place that I had seen in a lot of photograhps and movies but it took a year in Bangalore for me to go there.

I was really amazed to see this place nicely tuckd away at the back of a heavy traffic Airport Road and that too at the back of Kemp Fort!! Later discovered that it was built by the owners of the place.

The entrance has a statue of Lord Ganesh and then Lord Shiva. Here we see Lord Shiva in the Padmasana pose with Ganga flowing from the knot in his hair. Behind the idol there is the holy cave and within the cave are twelve beautifully decorated Shiv Lingas. The best is the one made of ice that doesn't melt.

In front of the idol is a small wishing pond where you drop a coin and make a wish. No prizes for what I wished!! The entire place is so serene with the Om Nama Shivaya mantra recited repeatedly that really does lift you above.

The idol can be viewed best from inside Kemp Fort. So even though you are not going to visit the Kailas...this is one place you can be to!

Away to Banargatta National Park

This is about 22 kms south of Bangalore. The drive to the place is really good in case you are not going there on one of those hot summer days. And if you are going on one of those slight drizzle, sun behind the clouds, lazy afternoons…you will love the ride as I did….

Reached there in the afternoon at about 1. They have an entrance fee of Rs.25 and the prices currently for a grand safari that is a tour to see the Lions, Tigers & Herbivores costs Rs 80/- on regular days and Rs 110.00 on weekends. I was a bit worried if they had cheated me giving me a ticket for a moving camera or still camera…Anyways realised I was safe…That’s what happens if you don’t know the local language…You are always in doubt if you are understood correct.

The prime attraction of the zoo is the butterfly park that was added last year. It also has an Aquarium, a Children's park, Crocodile Farm, Snake park, Prehistoric animals park and a Museum. The best part of the place is the Safari they take you to. Now let me tell you…please don’t expect the kind of hospitality at the Bandipur Safaris. This is pretty basic but still ok.

The funny part is that they take you in this caged vehicle and when you look at the animals you wonder what is on their minds. Do you think they would be thinking of us as the exhibits??? They are roaming in the open. It is us who are behind bars here!!! So you get to see the Deer park, Bear park, Tiger park and the Lion Park. You get to see the white tiger as well which is a pretty animal…I mean not the ferocious looker!!

Apart from the ride what really amused me are the kids in the bus. There were ones who were excited in seeing all the wild life. They were cramming all over the bus trying to see the animals. There were one asking strange questions like…Mom what do they eat? Why are they walking simply? Hmph….kids will always be so!!!

For further details check this link

Oh my life’s blacking out!!!

Hey don’t worry pals…not that the long dark hands of evil are striking me or anything of that sort. I’m not even at one of those 6 couple movies that makes you faint at the end. All that’s happening is power cuts in Bangalore over the past week.
Can you imagine there was a 13-hour shutdown faced by huge parts of the city on Sunday? I had absolutely nowhere to go on Saturday. Thought I would watch a Malayalam movie on TV. I did watch it but only bits and pieces. The movie got so distorted that after some time I didn’t know what was happening at all.
I brave myself and say so what if I can’t watch TV. I have umpteen things to do other than that. I settled on my favourite reading but again no light to read. Thought I’ll wash my clothes for the weekend and then reality struck hard……. No power, no motor. No motor, no water……..eeeks!!
And like an icing on the cake there is water shortage as well!!! No groundwater or the controversial Kaveri water as they call it and no tap water too. The government has notified that water supply may be rationed in the coming months - once in three days to six days - depending on the situation. Now how bad can that get???
So this is going to be a daily situation…Think I’ll have to live with it. When I’m in this dilemma guess what’s the government’s problem is!! When to shut down power??? Reason - The World Cup matches will be telecast live between 7 pm and 3 am and obviously people are expected to be glued to their television sets during these nights. Even worse these days also mark the examination time in the state. So, students taking their ever important CBSE and SSLC exams have to study by candle light.
Really after all this I think I have a better position in all this mess……..I don’t watch cricket and I have passed those exams long back. So coming to think of it……….Oh well so who needs power anyways!!!

The war continues....

Ok all the Tamilians who happen to pounce on this please forgive me. This is purely an individualistic situation and thus an individualistic expression!!!
For the past two weeks, as Tamil channels were off air in our area there was a lot of peace at hostel. The cable operators in Karnataka seemed to think that blanking out Tamil channels is a way to protest against Tamils. Well I really don’t think I want to comment about the topic but I had fun at my PG due to this.
Well...it's like this....There is always a clash concerning viewer-ship rights in our PG. And as every where else it works on the “Survival of the Fittest” theory. Or perhaps a modified theory – “Arrival of the Fastest”. Explaination of the theory as quoted from “Vidya’s experiments with everyday truths” :

“The person X who arrives at the closest location to the television and takes control of the remote gets to remain in control of the same through out the day. If person X wishes to retire, control passes to the hands of Y chosen by X”.

Thus the fight continued in the PG everyday. Thanks to the timings HP offers me I’m usually the winner . But there is a new race every day. For a few days the competition was suspended.(Thanks to the cable operators once again.) But now things seem to be back to usual.
Very frankly, at the bottom of my heart I just wished that just like they took 17 years to take a decision on the Kaveri issue they would have taken Tamil channels off air for another 17 years!!! I know…..as usual….asking for toooooooo much!!!

A wild ride to Bandipur

A place I really wanted to go to…It had been long since a lot of colleagues talked about this place so when some of my friends said “Why not go here???” I literally jumped on this opportunity. I mean why not!!!! I am a trip freak. Take me to any new place I’m always at my best.
Bandipur turned out to be beyond my expectations. It was living with nature to the word. It’s located at the foothills of Mysore-Ooty highway. The place is a beauty with lush green and that really drove us wild. From Bandipur we drove another few kilometers to our cottage, ‘Tiger Ranch’. This private cottage is at the heart of deep forest. With about 8 private huts, the cottage provides you with an amazing experience of staying deep inside the forest. The cottage is made of bamboo and so are the cots.
The night at the cottage was awesome. Imagine yourself in the midst of a jungle staying at a hut. The fierce wind making some horrible sounds and the darkness playing havoc all around!!! The night was so cold that I was hugging myself in spite the warm clothes and blankets. Believe it or not there is no generator functioning after 11 in the night. So you are left with just a lantern for the rest of the night in the deep jungle.
The trip was a major experience to me. After all the routine life at office, it was a time to break free. All the dancing, singing and trekking made me feel closer to myself all over again. The trek was so serene. We were watching out for all the strange flora that I had never seen before.

On the way back we stopped at a sunflower garden which was heavenly. Just felt straight out of those movies..Remember Tujhe dekha tho in DDLJ?? I really recommend a trip to anyone who is looking for a weekend get away with peace.

Late Nights

I think this is the first most change in my life now. I was a person who was afraid of the dark.When the time used to cross about 7.30pm I used to get goose bumps thinking of the dark and the evils of the dark,the mishaps that have happened,the mishaps that could happen....Oh my gosh I see stars even before they appear clear. But that has completely changed.
I remember the first time I started on my night shift life and I got out to go to the International Tech Park Mall I had that same creepy feeling in my stomach...As days rolled on today I live in the night. I hate going out in the day...There is only one day in the week that's SUNDAY....yeah also the other day I get off too...
I have been almost everywhere in the dark..I have been out in the ITP gardens in the dark!! Been to those Cafe Days in the dark...gone out on long drives in the dark...And that too without a sense of fear.
I never thought feelings that are in built through the childhood days would change....but this did make a difference to my life.

How far have I come??

The one thing that has changed my life over the past one year- BANGALORE!!!!
I don't think i am at the most appropriate moment to say that it is for the good or the bad but YES.....it has brought a lot of changes to my life..
The girl in Kerala is I guess completely lost....The traits are the same.Character is one thing I believe places or situations in life can never change...So people who know me please don't psyche out.I'm still all the same but one major thing that has changed is attitude in life!
Being here for the past one year and mingling with a totally new set of people at work place I have began to let go of my mind set about a lot of things in life..
I guess the entire concept of this portal is maybe for me to sit and actually ponder as to what are those that have changed!!