Mumbai Kanyakumari and back... Summers of 2012 !!

It was time to keep New year resolution.... Let the Spirit of Adventure be bigger than last year.

I see my path, but i dont know where it leads.
Not knowing where i m going is what inspires me to travel it.

I am not someone who would pre-plan the ride and devise minute details of the journey. You can call me lazy; but i prefer it to be called more as thrill-frolic.

Joy of exploration is the motivation that keeps me traveling.
Incentive is meeting friends, tasting local cuisines and getting to know Indyeah !!

After the Mumbai - Udaipur - Panipat - Dharamshala tour last Diwali; it was time to move South. Since Pune to Bangalore ride was already been undertaken during MBA days, it was turn to make it bigger this time. Time to ride beyond Bangalore. Chennai, Mysore, Ooty & Mangalore being earlier covered; time to take a deep breathe and gun for Kanyakumari...Check out the sangam of Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean & Arabian Sea rather than just visiting the last land region of thy nation.

Googling the route, threw, 3500 km. of journey. 1 week, responded the mind, would be the least time required to Do it !!

Asking for a week long break from Boss wasn't that easy,  with already 3 of his tigers being on leave at the same period; i gathered some courage to ask.
It was no less funny, to ask your supervisor for a week long break for a bike ride - solo, amidst summer, as short as 3500+ k.m.
To my surprise, he nodded off positively that too quickly; as if reinstating faith in me to make this dream happen with as much ease.

Post attending team member's marriage in Kalyan, it was time to hit the roads, rather Highways!!
No sooner did i made it to Panvel, came a strong thought to mind; have i really been out-of-my senses to dream something of this scale.
I mean, what is the need for it? Am i going to get any award or even any recognition for that matter; for doing something as insane as this journey probably could.

But as said by Mark Twain - "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."Planned itinerary suggested to make a night halt at Belgaum; but by the time i would have reached Belgaum the whole city would have been slept in deep sleep including hoteliers. The sun had already bid goodbye, by the time i reached Khandala (Satara Distt.)

Time to speed up. By the time i entered Kolhapur it started drizzling and it was close to 1; thus called it a day then.

Called up 2 pals who were coming from Chennai & Bangalore (by train) to Badami about the delay in catching up with them next morning at Badami (UNESCO World heritage site for caves). After spending Half of Day 2 in reaching Badami 350 k.m. rest of the time went relaxing(read walking) exploring the town and nearby Mahakoota caves & Banashankari Temple.

Day 3 was devoted to Hampi but for a max. of 6 hours as i had to bump into friend's house in Bengaluru for sleep :P
With bike being my escort tour-de-Hampi ended well within time. Before 3 pm i left for Hospet and made it to Chitradurga by half past 6. NH4 thereon led me to reach Tumkur (70 k.m. ahead of Bangalore) by 8:20 pm.
It was time to inform the house owners of the arrival of thy guest.

Day 4 was kept completely off road for rest in thy Namma Bengaluru. However, noon was spent 30 k.m. riding to alma mater and another 40 k.m to catch up with a special person.

Day 5 was like 'the day' which was awaited for so long, as i said to myself.....Aaj kuch toofani karte hain...!!
In the sense, i was taking a detour of close to 1400 k.m. initial thoughts made it seem like a cakewalk, but as i crossed first 100 k.m. run the another me in me said Kanyakumari is still 567 k.m. away; i need to return back an equally long distance and then head back to aamchi mumbai adding 1000 more k.m. to the tally.
But, i guess, this option never existed. Though returning back thru train or perhaps flight; after parcelling bike thru train could have been the easiest escape; that wasn't something i was there for.
The almost deserted NH7 paved way for me to reach KanyaKumari by 7:30 p.m. While riding, i thought, can we devise something on similar lines to work-from-home concept across banking industry too and not confine it to IT industry or individual job profile alone?


By 10:30 a.m. the next day, i bid the town, Late Swami Vivekananda and Mr. Thiruvalluvar goodbyes with a promise to meet them again in the same pose, in future with family and ample time in hand. The mini breaks in between for cold drinks, coconut juice & sugarcane juice did not help beat-the-heat and dehydration; as much as anticipated. By 5 p.m. i was just about to touch the periphery of Asia's first ISO 14001-2004 certified municipality for environmental management — aka Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. Downpour and Thunderstorm ensured i remain glued to the dhaba; i had taken shelter in.

As clock ticked 7 p.m. both my shivering body and mind gave up; to drive further for the day. Lord Anjaneya too welcomed me to the city with water clogging the inroads at heights enough to kiss the bike silencer. A big hoarding outside my hotel read South Asia's Largest Furniture Manufacturer.

6 days have been passed and it was just 2 more days leave left to make it back to workplace with odometer pointing 1265 k.m. of more journey left to be accomplished.
After spending the evening with friends at Bangalore i dozed off early to make it for the big day. After 225 k.m. of journey, i stopped at Chitradurga to decide whether i should take atleast a faraway look of the famous Chitradurga fort. But the missed call of boss and later a call to him; deterred me from taking any such wild step.
First question put onto me was, where am i? His reaction to my answer of 775 k.m. away from workstation, wasn't bizarre.
I too replied in a frenzy tone; tomorrow morning at required time i will be at the required place. Meantime, just as i thought, i behaved overtly, came the reply 'ride safely and take good care'.

Till Satara, the toll gates/booths did not burn a hole in my pocket, as i had been been hurriedly crossing them away w/o waiting in hundreds of queues, but suddenly the journey seemed to be taking a toll on me. Even just the outskirts of Pune were a freaking nuisance totalling over 25 k.m. It was close to 10 p.m. by the time i made it to Hinjewadi Flyover on NH4. Took a night halt at Wakad in a friend's house to enjoy the drive over Lonavala, early morning.

Still its time i encounter truth, disclose journey details to parents. Its just the sister who's been kept in loop all the while. Surprisingly, to my favor, none of parents' neighbours' children who are on facebook, too have revealed anything. I imagine their reaction as, Pappa toh band bajayen.... Keep your bike with me, rule banayen. Idiot ho, itna travel akele karne ki jarurat kya hai !!!

After 3612 k.m. of journey, one question still hovers around, have i really made it large?
Perhaps No.
Maybe with support of enough leaves i may embark onto similar journies, India is still big enough to explore :-)

Travel Snapshot:

Day 1: Thane - Kalyan - Kolhapur: 396 km. 8 hr.
Day 2: Kolhapur - Hubli - Badami - Pattadakallu: 365 km. 7.5 hr
Day 3: Badami - Hampi - Chitradurga - Bengaluru: 550 km. 11.5 hrs.
Day 4: Bang City
Day 5: Bengaluru - Salem - Madurai - Kanniyakumari: 680 km. 13 hr.
Day 6: Kanyakumari - Namakkal: 420 km 7 hr.
Day 7: Namakkal - Bengaluru: 265 km. 5 hr.
Day 8: Bengaluru - Davanagere - Dharwad - Pune: 850 km. 16 hrs.
Day 9: Pune - Thane: 150 km. 3 hr.
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.
I travel for travel’s sake.
The great affair is to move.

Hypothetical Tour

How spontaneous you are? How readily you accept the challenges, mold yourself accordingly, react to the situations? Is success destined or determined? If destined, it doesn't matter how hard you try u ll never get it and vice versa too. Do you really think the things are fore-ordained by the Divine or unfolded through the excursions of human will or is it so otherwise?

To what extent is your decision depended on others? Will you always play after knowing the opponent's move? How firm & quick are you, in your decision making? Will you always work in the situations favorable to you? How many times have others relied on you, to lead them, to guide them?

One is expected to have the train ticket with oneself if he is having a train to catch early morning, to be precise @ 6:30a.m. Shocking isn't it, i mean, which print shop will be open after 11:30 p.m. and not all Indian railway stations possess the facility to take the print out of e-ticket.

Now what is one suppose to do; yeah, ask friends and look out if somebody has a printer at home. But again, irctc booking wont allow you to take print before 5 a.m.

Why cant we have printers at railway & bus stations, if not at all, at least at the major ones? I mean, in 2008-09 more than 4.4 crore train tickets were booked online in India.

Its 2:45 a.m. & i guess i must take some rest/sleep, particularly when i am suppose to catch a train at 6:30 a.m. from Yeswanthpur. Kept multiple alarms starting at 4:30 am, only to wake up finally at 5:25 am. I jumped off the bed as if, there was a spring attached to it. Before i could think whether i must carry on to try to reach Yeswantpur, this super excited mind had done sooo much planning about the trip to Mumbai... that i could not think of anything but boarding the train.

Had kept my clothes and dressing material all on table so that i could pack them after taking shower early morning. (Stupid idea.... wat's the need, who takes a cold bath at 4:30 am). Wore shoes as if i am wearing sandals, obviously without socks, tied belt around the waist and not on jeans, no combing, no mouthwash. Opened the door... ala... what about the clothes kept for drying... took them in hand... rushed to the lift... put clothes in bag while lift was coming down. Rushed towards the bike only to notice that the seat is completely wet...ee... cant/must not sit with jeans on a wet seat.

Without lights, drove the decade old bike as if it were to be a racing bike. Post Forum mall, crossed the roads by popping my eyes out. Why did it seemed as if, every time i accelerated i bumped into a bumper? Its 5:50 a.m. and i am in middle of nowhere. I somehow cant ever remember the tipsy-topsy, curvaceous, one-way, elevated roads of Bangalore, with too many U-turns. :(

Time to take the print of the ticket. Had to collect the ticket from a friend's house, where i have never been to. I wish, i could have visited his house earlier. Its over 6:10 a.m. and i am lost in the dark streets of bangalore, somewhere around Seshadripuram. By the time i left Majestic, it was over 6:20 a.m. Reached the Metro by 6:28 could see the train no. 1018 standing on the station only to hear the train horn.

Unfortunately, as i was destined by him (god), i dived into another one-way road towards Tumkur and hence had to take a big U-turn. Drove into the railway station from the exit side... praying there is no police man standing there to fine me. Parked, rather threw the vehicle in the parking stand and yelled at people to give way for me. Could see the train leaving the platform as i reached the center of platform, ran behind the train, jaisa filmon mein hota hai... ho raha tha mere sang..., instead of girl i was chasing a trip to Mumbai, responsibility of taking college video camera there and 1000 bucks :P

Ran until the two 25 kg bags disallowed me to continue further the platform got over, the last wagon was hardly 50 meters away.... i could not have asked for anything but just 30 more seconds. Thought of taking a pic of mine... the disheartened fellow, but could not stop laughing and cursing self :-)

Comments/views invited !!

My First Date

Albert Einstein once said; Put your hand on a hot oven for a second and it would seem like an hour; put your hand upon those of a pretty lady for an hour and it would seem like a second. Now that’s relativity. It’s all relative; the fact is how much you cherish what you gained.

Can ever anyone say he/she does not remember his/her first date? Na… First dates are immensely memorable to everyone. It feels jealous, when a post-graduate student, hears & sees, teens experiencing dates. And I question to myself, Sain, what the hell is wrong with you dear? Come on, you have just got 2 more months left, either have guts or regret later, your entire life !!

I thought better take this as a challenge than to repent my whole life. And I said to myself, it’s not a compulsion to propose or kiss your date on the first date; all you need to do is just go out with her, spend some beautiful time with her, enjoy the evening & create lovely memories you cherish for life.

But hey, even this seems to be a humongous task. Probably the scenario would have been completely different if I would have landed up with some MNC job offer letter. But hold on Sain, don’t let these pessimistic thinking stir up your mind. It’s now or never. Be confident, as if you have two offer letters in your pockets.

Hmm... So time now to think on what all is to be done on the first date?

Wear a new shirt, take out your bike, fill petrol as much as the bike can take, drive slowly but in style (don’t be in a hurry to miss the fun of driving, concentrate more on the mirror than on the vehicles up front, go for a movie (probably a theatre where you haven’t been earlier & where your friends can’t catch you up), deliberately be a bit late for the movie – so that the girl takes you to the movie hurriedly, don’t try to concentrate on the movie – either watch it earlier or go another time to see it; probably there are much better things to watch at, make sure you get loads of food in-between the breaks; then you are busy eating it.

Dine at a fancy restaurant; even if you don’t feel hungry – you won’t get such a romantic chance so easily next time, staring at other beautiful girls – posters is highly prohibited, neglect them, pretend as if she is everything in your life, make some promises, don’t use the lifts – the fun dies down, use the staircase instead, shop around a little, fire your bike and roam in the streets, if not wine have some Rasmalai, if not fancy dress gift her a bouquet – a couple of roses shall do, I guess.

Alright, it’s for sure now; that I will be going out – having my first date, but the big question is with whom? Who will accompany this gadha, probably only a pagli can do so!!

Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam-Day 1

Its been long since i went on a long tour.... What better place than a visit to Tirupati...

Thought of doing some search about the place... which places to visit & where are they located... how to go there, etc... as usual, did not wanted to travel through the same route to and fro, so thought of taking the circular route of Hosur- Krishnagiri(TN) - Kuppam(AP) - Palamner - Chittoor - Tirupati - Tirumala - Palamner - Mulbagal - Kolar - K.R.Puram

Somehow it wasn't inspiring enough to travel so far, some 700 odd kms. that too to a temple (waiting in a Q). So in order to commit myself to the journey i thought of putting it in facebook status message; when you make your promises in public you dont want them to turn false; you keep them. Gradually, the feeling to meet the richest Lord gained scale, with each passing time ;)

By the time i started off the feeling wasn't about proving myself or my passion about biking but more about visiting Lord Venkateshwara. One thing was sure this time, it should not be a one day journey since i need to enjoy the nature, the climate, the sapthagiri hills, the entire route, thoroughly. Hot water @ 4 o'clock took me by surprise. Started off from college @ 4:50 a.m. to reach Hosur by 5:40 a.m. the slow speed is attributed to the cool breeze & the promises made to my friends of not driving at high speeds.

Time to fill bike's stomach and have early morning tea. The drive till Krishnagiri was such a great experience as if i am not driving on Indian roads, minimal traffic, large 8-16 wheeler vehicles, highly bituminous road. Big rocks and soothing breeze at Shoolagiri were tempting me to stop driving and start rock climbing. But, i can come here later with couple of friends, for now i need to move on to Tirupati.

Sudden rains drenched me thoroughly by the time i reached Krishnagiri @ 6:40 a.m. hmm Time to have another sip of tea accompanied by bakery products and ya put my camera and cellphone inside the bag in plastic cover. The sudden heavy rains had taken me by surprise, not giving enough time to put the camera and cell inside, until i found over bridge. Time to take some beautiful snaps and stretch out the muscles for next 5 mins.

Two roads NH219 & NH46 (part of Golden Quadrilateral) diverged and i took the one less traveled by - NH 219. It would not have been fun driving through the GQ... good wide roads, drive you to, driving at high speeds. Its around 7:50, time for a breakfast - Masala Dosa & Idli Vada - just for 12.50 Rs., too spicy, but obvious, since i am now in Andhra. Asked the cashier to call up the girl who was begging around, to give her the change, (in style), as if i am millionaire.

Time to move on to Venkatgirikota my next stop, to watch the animal fair on a Sunday morning. Cows and cows and a lot of them, all standing beautifully dressed up in line. At least 100 chickens devoid of their outer skin were hanging for purchase in dozen shops. The sight after a few seconds wasn't worth giving another look, if i would have stopped there a minute further, definitely i would have puked. The village roads with plenty of greenery both sides owing to sugarcane, coconut & banana fields struck me with awe. For the time being, i thought of returning to my village in Himachal, stop this mundane professional urbane life & chillax in the fields.

But then the MBA mind woke me up, Sain your parents have invested a great chunk of money, not for going back to the fields. You owe them heavily. You will not find lifestyle here. No money, no girl to marry. What about your dreams to head some company? How different are you then from the regular village boy? Few kms. after Palamner the bike started giving troubles. Not taking acceleration, engine stopping abruptly & then not starting easily.

Sain, it is more than a year and 6000 kms. that i changed the engine oil last time. Hmm... under the scorching heat at 11:55 (before chittoor), it is not easy to pull the bike 2.5 kms. away for repair. Found a sole mechanic already engaged in heavy work of 3 customers, a truck driver & 2 car drivers. So it took me an hour to wait for my turn to come. Monopoly is really bad, for the customer. Alas @ 1:25 p.m. i got my bike back in normal condition after the engine oil change and basic servicing.

By 1:50 i was @ Alpiri Gate, the entrance to Tirumala hills. The 45 minute drive on the 1-way road from Alpiri gateway is breathtakingly beautiful, to say the least. By 2:40p.m. i put up all my luggage including helmet, camera & belt in the locker of Pilgrims Amenities Complex. By 3 i was ready to stand in Que for couple of hours after having a sip of tea. One does not feel like eating heavily during long bike rides, so i escaped lunch.

By 6:16 p.m. i had met Sri Venkateshwara/ Balaji, chanting Govinda Govinda in the Q for less than 100 mins. Time to relax for a while. What better than the Nitya Pushkarini pond, adjoining Aadhi Varahaswamy temple. After spending close to an hour over there watching people taking bath, i wandered in the streets of Tirumala, untill i stopped for free meals ;) not because it was free meals but wanted to have an experience of the same, just as we do in case of langar.

By 8:45 p.m. i was back in the pilgrimage amenities complex. Hired a blanket & a mat, gave a call to mother and slept off keeping an alarm of 12:20 a.m. in order to wish a friend. Rest to follow in

next blog...

Insane Bike Ride 3

This one was quite special, in the Shivalik range of the Himalayas, after a long while-owing to exams ;)

This time the difference was, i wasn't alone, sister was accompanying me.

The journey was planned but only till half-way, the remaining half got added later. Desperately being in search of a bike in Himachal, i could not find it with any of my relatives :(

So, i changed the plans of originating station, went to cousin's house, dint carried any sweets as per the tradition - in a hurry; met her hurriedly, took the keys of their 9 yr. old bike which wasn't used for past 4 months, hence the battery was dead.

At 2:00 p.m. started off in style with sister being their as pillion, the bike dint started even in 3 kicks. All the old ladies and cousin sister watching me with awe. They instead of questioning my driving skills, scolded the bike ;) and offered me to take the car keys.

Sounded good, but na... a car wont give the same thrill and fun that a bike will.

Finally managed to get the bike started using choke, with sister apprehending about the time we gonna take ~ the unknown curvy roads that we gonna traverse through ~ with not much time in hand.

Steep turns weren't far away from the house; in next 3 kms. until i reached the gas station, i met with no less than a dozen of big 4-6 wheelers passing by with at least twice my bike's speed. I on the other hand, was handicapped, no battery ~ no horns.

A couple of times i heard my sister shouting, bhaiyya, let's go back. We will take a bus, we cant move further without horns. We will sit much comfortably in a bus. But, whose gonna listen to her; the day - the ride was what, i was awaiting for. More fun, thrill, excitement, danger, unexpectedness was awaiting us, apart from goddesses at the two temples :P

It wasn't a straight road ~ a typical hilly road, narrow, pot-holed, curvy & sloppy to say the least. It took more than 40 mins to drive down the 10 km. hill ;)

And, if you think i was driving too slow, you should be there to listen to the shouting & beating of my sister. For me reaching the destination, alone is not important, but also to enjoy the beauty of the drive - the local huts, the difference in shops over there, flora and mother nature, particularly on that stretch of the road.

We instead of driving fast, stopped at dozen of places, took snaps with so ease as if we had no plans to return back the same night. But, we were right to ourself, we wont be coming to such places time and again, we cant & shudn't miss taking snaps at the gorges, the dams, the beautiful valleys, the tunnel, etc.

By 4:50 we were at our first destination ~ Jwalaji Temple. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Jwalamukhi ~ flaming mouth. Being a weekday we got over with the darshan in an hour, it is by this time at 5:50 p.m. i told my sister my plans to visit another place ~ Chintpurni Temple, goddess here is believed to remove the worries. By this time the sister knew, there's no point arguing with me, with little hesitation she agreed to divert 52 kms. away from our initial route :)

Ah, slowly the winds are showing their true colors, till then i hadn't realized their might; speedy cold winds ~ they will shake you up. You want to stop driving for a while. Riding without gloves in that chilling wind on a hill, and holding on to the accelerator wasn't an easy job. At times, i asked myself, why i am doing this, should i still drive further or take the return route. With sister sitting quietly at the back, i rejected all the notions running in my mind - of not going further.

Thanks to the earphones, she was now enjoying music and not quarreling with me. Another reason being, i earlier had put this thought in her mind that we should not crib/fight/argue, particularly when we are about to visit some shrine. Maybe later being the more valid reason she dint spoke anything during the ride. Sat idly, a good pillion, i must say. Atop the hill, the continuous, steep, 360degree curves became the norm. Vehicles turned up with strong dipper lights to leave me devoid of my eyesight for a while ~ much enough to derail the bike.

So after 2 such turns, i was insisted to wait off-track, for the another vehicle to pass by. Sometimes you must listen to the pillion too, particularly when she is your sister, because at the end of day, she is gonna describe each and every thing (part of the journey) in the most negative manner to the parents and relatives, about the insane drive.

The headlights switch of the motorcycle was damaged earlier in an accident and could not be easily operated to switch on, after a short try i gave up thinking the headlights too are not working. It wasn't too difficult to drive, until 7 p.m. when we reached Chintpurni. But, we both knew, it would not be possible for us to go back 88 kms. back at 7:30 p.m. without headlights, particularly through the hilly, steep, curvy roads.

So, we bought a torch. Hardly i had crossed 500 mtrs. when i realized, sister was not comfortable holding the torch on my shoulders through those bumpy roads anymore. So, it was time for me to take over the charge. Got the hold of torch on one hand & accelerator on the other. I would not give way for the vehicles coming from back side to the extent possible, so that, i could drive faster using their headlights.... insaneness.

For a while we even waited for a bus or truck, so that, we can follow it. It was already an hour since we had started driving and the milestone ticked just 22 kms. Regardless to mention that the old bike was working without speedometer and odometer. At 8:30p.m. it was way too late to drive the vehicle and reach my cousin's houseon time for dinner; which was still some 60 kms. So, we called up the cousin sister, informed of our extended journey, current location, time we would be needing more to come back & condition of bike.

Knowing, that we were traversing without headlights, just the help of torch, uncle pulled out his car to reach us, particularly considering that i was traversing through the inhabited hilly area with a girl. Yes, they probably would not have come if it were me alone driving the bike ;) This was the least i would have expected; to disturb them to pick sister and accompany us. Meanwhile, we crossed another leg of 30 Kms. before he could reach us.

Delicious non-veg food was awaiting us when we reached home by 10:30 p.m. But, oops my hands were still too frozen to pick up the food and chew it. The ride, definitely stands to be counted as one of my best, unforgettable, insane rides.

An Unforgettable - Insane bike ride 2

Some say... others Do it...

Some preach... others practice...

Untill when will you be keep waiting for the right time...

Either propose her or stop thinking about her...

If there's any moment to accomplish your dreams then it is right here... right now...

Dont wait... go ahead and cherish your dreams...

Down with mid-term exams :P, body pain, cold n cough... i must visit a doctor and take some medicines: as the journey is already scheduled... it should not get cancelled... ;) Thus, took dosage worth 360 bucks... and advice to take rest... only not to be followed later... Although medicines were always there with me during the entire journey, quite close to my heart - in shirt's pocket ;) it never got used... forget about the rest...

Eagerly awaiting for the Strategy exam to get over (alike all other colleagues) so that i can get onto the ride... but, oops last date for final exam fee submission is today... let's do it instead of delegating the task to friends... :P

Its' 4.32 p.m. with almost all colleagues being audience to Mr. T.N.Seshan: did not wanted to miss the event and photography... ;) but, one should not get distracted... let's embark on the journey... Considering next big town on the way being Hassan, some 220 odd km. away, let it be the place to halt at. Although i did not wanted to give Shravanbelagola place a miss... but cudn't help it either... no point in deviating 18 Kms. one-way off the highway @ 9 p.m. to visit the place.

Reached Hassan by 10.10 p.m., took Fish meal, got bike fuelled up for morning journey to Mangalore and found a decent hotel to stay in. Wow... the room had a big Sony Bravia TV... its long since, i hooked onto an idiot box... n by the time i thought to doze off, it was already post 00.00 hrs.

Hold on its not yet decided whether i should go to Mangalore by Sakleshpur circuit or through Belur-Halebidu-Mudigere; the later being tough and lengthy road to drive on... but had the positives of visiting Halebidu-Belur. Although the later one looked more exciting, the mind was in a fix whether to visit those places alone or sometime later with friends... i mean walking around archeological sites and temple complexes alone; seems bit insane... So kept 2 alarms one at 5.30 and other at 7.30 a.m...

By 6.15 i checked out. Dew has settled on the bike and i was left with no cloth to wipe on. Man, how can i give a skip to a spare cloth piece; probably i can. What better time to put best use of newspaper lying on the street. The bike started on the 1st kick, but eyes could not make out the road ahead: foggy morning. The photographer inside me resisted every time i attempted to accelerate the bike. Cant stop myself from halting at several places en-route to capture the amazing pics of nature. One dont get to see them often.

The state government has put lots of efforts to revive tourism here... but it seems there's a tussle beteen the tourism and road transport ministries. The roads are extremely pathetic... to say the least. Bet you cant drive >30 kmph. with my speed being amazingly high at 20-25 kmph.

The Chennakeshava temple complex at Belur and Hoysaleswara-Kedareswara temple complexes at Halebidu built by Hoysala Dynasty rulers in Dravidian style were superb, to say the least.

Its 8.45 a.m. and time to move on to Mangalore my next destination. If the previous stretch of road was any bad then this stretch of around 70 kms. was worse. The next stop was Mudigere, 38 Kms. away from Belur, taking little over 1.30 hrs. to reach. Time to have a breakfast now : 10.15 a.m. before proceeding 120 kms. further to Mangalore.

Time over-runs are what one should always manage; particularly when you are time bounded : commitment to return back to college tomorrow latest by 2 p.m. so that i can present my Consumer Behavior assignment... unusual dedication to studies... probably because i had prepared a major portion of it and others wont be able to take it over well :P

The next stretch of 56 Kms. to Dharmasthala was covered in close to bang 100 mins. One could not have experienced any ride less bumpier than this. Just wondered how would it have been, if there would have been any pillion. Although the Manjunatheshwara Temple was 13 kms. off the so-called highway and i was running out of time by a big margin; i visited one of the sacred places in South India and famous pilgrim center - dharmasthala; as if i had an appointment with Bahubali. Gents visit and give their offerings to Digambarnath bare chested.

By 1.11p.m. i got back to the state highway after visting Shri Rama Temple mid-way. Its 1.45 and i better take lunch here rather than waiting till Mangalore-75 Kms. away. By 3.15 i entered Mangalore, to see the Kalash circle. In next 45 mins. the Kadri Temple and Gokarnatheshwara temples were visited. Although they weren't there in the itinerary, it is always better to ride across the city streets through the main temples - as it would cover a major portion of the city. This philosophy must be applied only when you dont know what to do and where to go in a city; rovided you are not a gourmet.

So, as planned to leave the city by 4 .m., after taking short rest at some restaurant, i kick started 15 mins. early towards Someshwar beach, near Ullal town. Half an hour more and i was there - strolling through the beach. Ohh... i have received missed calls from Samir and Netra, it would definitely be regarding attendance for the Colloquium. Called up Samir to know that all my friends were enjoying the last few mins. of the event.

The desire to get drenched in the Arabian sea, was growing with each passing moment. So, i kept jacket, helmet, shoes and other belongings aside on the beach. Meanwhile, there was always an apprehension: what if someone runs off taking camera, bike keys and clothes :P Stupid mind, it wont let you off from thinking this way; untill you get out from enjoying the beach water. Its 5.30 p.m., time to proceed...

Considering Madikeri 240 kms. away to be the next destination to halt at, i planned to reach there by 10.30 p.m. But after crossing 55 kms. at Kasargod in an hour and half i decided to take the short-cut to Madikeri through Suliya - the road being short by 60 kms. than the alternative route i had selected earlier. I cannot forget that stretch of road - no vehicles for half an hour on the pot-holed 60 kms. stretch. It took me 2 hr. 8 mins. to cross it - i think this description is sufficient enough to explain the ride on that stretch.

If the previous stretch was any bad then it was to be continued again post Suliya to Madikeri - the next 63 Kms. ride costed me 2 hrs. 38 mins. only. By 10.36 p.m. i was there @ Madikeri, completely exhausted - washed-out. Time to take some badly needed rest. Booked a room in the lodge and got a hotel, open past 10.50 p.m., only to serve me.

265 Kms. to cover in around 6 hours to reach bangalore by 1 p.m., the task seemed quite possible but considering yesterday's constant ride of <30>4hrs. the task wasn't a cakewalk even. By 6 a.m. i had left Madikeri - The Scotland of India. In a hurry, i thought of giving Abbey Falls a miss, this is the decision i repent now.

By 8.15 a.m. at Hunsur, i stopped to have breakfast. Ah, the road from here on to Mysore, would be any biker's paradise. Unfortunately my bike cannot accelerate more than 85-90 kmph, else it would have gone 100+. Reached Mysore by 9.09 a.m. half an hour earlier than expected, i went on to explore the Infosys Mysore campus. The campus is amazing; at least that is what it felt from outside by peeping through few of the magnificent structures. Its 9.26 a.m. now, time to move on.

At 10 a.m. i was welcomed by the Historic town of Srirangapatna, although had visited the Srirangapatnam mandir last time on my way to Ooty with friends, it seemed as if god is asking me to meet him again. So i took a left turn to visit the Ranganatha Swamy temple, Lord Vishnu - reclining on huge coils of the serpent Sesha, with multiple hoods. Within next 25 minutes i was back onto the highway to Mysore.

On the i was welcomed and thanked by the Sugar City, Mandya; Channapatna, Land of Toymaking; Ramanagar, Silk City; Bidadi, Industrial town, etc. By around 11.45 p.m. while i was 60 kms. away from Bangalore, i received a call from my team mates, enquiring me my whereabouts. I assured them to join them back for class presentation, on time. I reached the college by 1.15 p.m. an hour before the class begins. 1 hour was enough for me to refresh, have lunch and check out the presentation.

Pon D Insane bike ride

Not all the time you should reveal what's in your mind.... not all the time you should consult people.... not all the time you should consider others' opinions....

Sometimes silence pays off...!!

Idea to visit some place... far off... was always there on mind... it just got executed on one fine Sunday morning...!!

Defying the academic calendar set forth by SIBM Bangalore, no holidays for week together... not surely on Sundays.. ;) The journey to Pon D began bang 15 mins. earlier than scheduled time...

for one thing is sure that the marketing class has made me punctual enough...

The journey scheduled to start off at 5 a.m. to cover roughly a distance of 654.3 odd kms. began @ 4.45 a.m. All permissions for night out were taken, tyre tubes got replaced, PUC being made, brakes got repaired, Camera got fully charged... just hours before the trip.

Considering that my bike remains on reserve fuel mode for most of the time.... i had asked my friend a night earlier to get it charged up.... the realization that this is going to be my first trip out alone, played on my mind. My first stop on the NH 7 was a few kms. before Krishnagiri - to take beautiful pics of the rising Sun. To cut it short - The morning landscape was amazing.

At no point of time i thought of Highway robbery/high jacking, road rage, bike accident, bike not getting started, etc... as advised by my friends...for not going on the trip; friends... who were bit over cautious/gave warnings... but not enough to change my mind ;)

By the time i reached Krshnagiri some 90 odd kms. I had gained my rythm... tireness/boredom wasn't there in the air... at anytime during the trip... But soon the beautiful NH 7 ended only to give way to narrow- potholed, dividerless, traffic abandoned NH 66...

Suddenly it seemed as if i am the only person using this road... a village road... wherein, people were having bath alongside the road, sheeps crossing the roads (NH 66) freely, alas chicken shops lined up with long queues early morning.... Ganapati Visarjan celebrations going along...

No more concrete jungles, only greenery all around and the air so pure...

The second stop being the breakfast break at Uthangarai... at around 8a.m. typically cooked roadside dosas with a cup of tea... suppressed the hunger.

Next stop was at Gingee fort built by Chola Dynasty rulers in 13th century. After taking hundreds of beautiful pics of the fort for half an hour. The drive continued further east towards Pon D. Suddenly i felt as if i may run out of time to reach Pon D... enjoy there and come back to hostel before 11 p.m. deadline...;)

The journey now had to be non-stop, slowing down only to confirm that i am on right track, dont hit people and vehicles. I was flagged by many, but eventually gave a lift to a worker. Not that i am suspicious of people flicking things out from the saddle bags, but just dont wanna apply brakes @ 70 to give lift :(

Though my Caliber was nonetheless after modifying it, however, at times wished it could have been an Avenger or a Bullet, so that, i could amuse a few people, turn their heads. By 10 a.m. i could feel the heat - temperatures soaring up. Time for some thanda - also let the engine too get cooled off. Enjoying the journey, the bike ride was more important than reaching the destination.

By 11.11p.m. i entered Puducherry. 1 k.m. down the road and the roads were full with traffic, vehicles all around - beeping out. With traffic signals all around and same polluted air it felt i was back in the streets of Bengaluru. At the 1st traffic signal - a question aroused in the mind - where i need to go ahead...Let's go to the main market !!

One can definitely recognize the difference in architecture of the city/UT influenced by the French. Took few superb pics of beautiful structures on the Goubert road and then headed to a beach on the East Coast road. With little time in hand, i rushed to Auroville to visit Matrimandir. One can find umpteen number of good cafes and pizzeria restaurants on the roadside.

By 12.45 i reached Auroville, rushed up to get the pass, visit the Matrimandir and move around the handicraft center. It took an hour to get back onto the bike again. Took a U-turn and went on the Cuddalore highway road to reach Chunnabar Boat house. Had a great ferry ride followed by delicious lunch at the Chunnabar.

The journey to come back started at 4 p.m. Considering it the journey to be 320 kms. i thought i could possibly reach the campus on time, but it was later only to realize that the weather is not with me and it started raining heavily post Tiruvannamalai. But, as if the heavy winds and rains were gonna stop me, i reduced the bike speed from 70 to 45 only to march ahead.

Within an hour the rains stopped, so did the heavy winds leaving me with wet clothes, to feel cold. By 9.15 i was back there in Krishnagiri and stopped to take my meal. It was 11.11 p.m. i reached the campus, with the same enthusiasm, that i had started with.

Express Yourself

Ever thought why do people write blogs ?

Most of the people write blogs to express themselves. 

I ever wondered why do people tend to write or pour out their thoughts through verses and why do they think that their will be many people sitting idly reading out your blogs. But since nowadays, blogging is "en vogue"people have started penning down their thoughts and share them up with others.

I am not good enough in writing. I mean expressing my complex thoughts in words. Neither am i a voracious reader but still i read books to a limit so that it never sucks.

I wondered why do these buggers write a lot and what the hell they get out of it ? 

By now, i have read quite a many blogs. Each blog has its own colour, emotions and creativity. 

Sometimes the very thought that strikes me while reading these blogs is that how do people get that spontaneity and how do they bring in or express their very emotions into contents or paragraphs with simple decorative words.

People write or express their thoughts in words to make it more effective when they have none near them to listen or share their feelings. In a craze they pull out a paper and pour out their thoughts in a piece of paper just like bursting out to their friends. Sometimes these crazy scripts become memories or even great novels. Who knows??

For some, a blog has become a marketing instrument, that helps one to promote oneself; if one wants to become known, one can try to make a consistent blog and promote it; in this way one may get to be known by others, he may get to be popular.

For many others, writing is a form of relaxation; they need to write in order to put order in their thoughts; a blog can be something like a journal.