some snaps

The Unplanned Trip - Madurai and Rameswaram

As decided earlier, I set out on my lone trip on Saturday Evening. My earlier plan was that my trip should be an unplanned one. But somehow I lil bit of planning creeped in. The items I purchased were a
* digitial camera
* notepad
* pencils
* shaving kit
* deo, shampoo sachets, liquid soap
* new clothes etc.
I was also gifted a book "Lonely Planet" by my friends.
Inspite of not getting bus ticket for Saturday and with just waitlisted train ticket, I was determined to travel somehow.After an hour of carefully packing similar to the one which Melvin does in 'As good as it gets' -- everything he's taking neatly stacked on the bed waiting to be packed, I left for the railway station.
From around 2 weeks before my unplanned trip was slightly getting planned.
* 1st Plan: Madurai - Kanyakumari and back
* 2nd Plan: Madurai - Kanyakmari - the unplanned part was to visit some wild like sanctuary on the way back(Periyar Wild life or Bandipur or Mudumalai Sanctuary)
* 3rd Plan: Madurai - Rameswaram - Kanyakmari - the unplanned return thru wild life sanctuaries.
Unfortunately my days for travel were restricted since I managed to get off only till Wednesday (Ganesh Chaturthi). These were the last days in my current company and, had I been relieved a week before I could have continued with my travel for a bit longer.
At the raliway station, I was a bit scared looking at the crowd. However, I managed to get a berth by shelling out extra 200 bucks. Btw, the train ticket from Bangalore to Madurai was Rs. 212。 The train was very comfortable and I had a good sleep. I took my first picture as soon as I woke up.
31st August 6:22 am

I checked into a Hotel Padmam which is almost midway between the Railway Station and Meenakshi Temple.
Details of Hotel Padmam
Tel: 0452-2340702
Address: No. 1, Perumal Tank West Street, Town Hall Road, Madurai - 625
Email: hotel_padmam@hotmail.com
Rooms are all A/C and starts with Rs.900 (excluding taxes).

I took a bath and had an English breakfast. From the roof top I saw my first glimpses of Meenakshi Temple.
31st August 9:34 am

A walk towards the Meenakshi Temple.
31st August 10:09 am

आधा अधुरा स्केत्च

My Sketch and the original. I would say around 70% sketch work is still remaining. Whatever lil work has been done on this sketch was almost year back in August 2007.

More close up

Bangalore Heavy Rains @Night

(26th August,2008)

Independence Day Special: Trip to Sangam

(Vande Mataram)
(Snap taken on our way back from Sangam)

Again I am writing about the 15th August trip after a week. Wish I could have captured my thoughts a lil bit earlier.
On thursday we were deliberating about our Independence Day trip. The destinations which cropped up were Mullaingiri(Thurs afternoon), Nagarhole (Thurs night), Bheemeshwari, Antargange (Friday morning).
As usual I was the first person to be ready for the trip at 6:30 a.m. We got delayed a lot and had to set out for the trip at almost 9 a.m. after our breakfast.
The culprit is on the right hand side of the below snap.



Earlier during our mail discussions, Divya seemed to be the most eager to go on trip and escape the usual kitpit. And sampath, the rotlu in "our" team had his own rona dhona...."I have to stay back.. Have work :( and also lots of pending personal >> work.. RC book.. Passport.. Car repair :(" - Pasted from Sampy's mail.

Eventually we did manage to go out on this trip but not quite escape the kitpit... Suzie, Arvind's car, gave us intermittent doses of her kitpitkitpitkitpitkitpit reverse horn..

We started deciding our trip destination after we set out towards Kanakpura Road. Madhavi's friend suggested this place called as Sangam which is a meeting point for Kaveri and Arkavathi rivers. He also suggested that we take a right turn at Sangama to find really good picnic spots.

Incidentally, Vara mahalakshmi which is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Karnataka was on 15th Aug.

Vara Mahalakshmi (Source: http://www.karnataka.com/festivals/vara-mahalakshmi.html)
Mahalakshmi is the goddess of wealth, auspiciousness and prosperity. She is worshipped for healthy progeny, as well as the health and long life of the husband. Vratha is observed on a Friday that falls before the full Moon day of the month of Shravanamasa (August - September).
The Vratha is as follows. Early in the morning women after taking bath, make a rangoli on the place where the kalasha is placed. They draw a lotus with 8 petals. The sacred Kalasha (brass/copper/silver) filled with rice and topped with fresh mango leaves, a coconut and cloth are placed on the mandala and Lakshmi is invoked. Goddess is invoked by decorating the Kalasa with flowers, jewellery, vastra (new clothes – saree) fruits, dry fruits, fresh grains, sweets and savouries. Some place coins, or rupee notes or make a garland of notes. The Vratha is performed with the beginning of Puja to Lord Ganesha. Then the main worship of Varalakshmi begins. The raksha is worshipped for a second time and tied to the right hand of the woman. Articles are given as charity to sumangalis (married woman).In South India, savouries like obattu, kosumbari, puliyogare, huli anna, hesaru bele payasa are made on this festival. In the evening women visit other houses and exchange sweets and offerings.

Lord Narayana/Vishnu/Hari husband of Lakshmi, an embodiment of Shuddha Sattwa, is the preserver of the world. He is also called the Ashta Lakshmi Padhi. Lakshmi has 8 avthars (incarnation):

• Adi (Protector) Lakshmi,
• Dhana (Wealth)Lakshmi ,
• Dhanya ( Food and Grains) Lakshmi,
• Vijaya (Victory) Lakshmi,
• Vidhya (Knowledge) Lakshmi,
• Santana (Offsprings) Lakshmi,
• Dhairya (Bravery and Strength) Lakshmi,
• Soubhagya (Sumangali- Long life of husband) Lakshmi.

All becomes the embodiment of a ideal woman.
The importance or significance of the Varalakshmi Vrata was narrated by Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvathi in Skanda purana. Those who perform this Vratam will be blessed wtih Dhana(food), Dhanya(food), Aayu(Long life), Aarogya(health), Aishwarya(wealth), Santanana(progeny) and Soubhagya(long life of husband).
According to the legend, once a lady named Charumath lived in the Maratha kingdom. Pious lady, she indulged in whole hearthed worship of the Goddess and took good care of her family- respectful to her in-laws, loving and caring her husband and children. One day she dreamt about Goddess Lakshmi telling her to perform the puja . She, with the consent of her family performed this Vratam and informs other ladies too. With the blessings of the Goddess she, her family and friends will be bestowed with success and wealth. Hence forth they shared their luck many more people.
With the blessing of both Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi one can find peace and prosperity in ones life.

We picked up some south indian stuff on the way for lunch.

The below map greets us at Sangam.

At Sangam we took a coracle ride and crossed the river. On the other side buses were exclusively waiting to fill up passengers and go to Mekedatu.

Mekedatu (Source: http://www.nirvanaholidays.org/River%20retreat.html)

Mekedatu is a beautiful picnic spot where the rivers Cauvery and Arkavathi after their confluence at the Sangam, squeeze though a narrow gorge. Gushing waters, imposing landscapes, and untouched picnic spots is what Mekedatu is all about.

However, we had crossed the river just for the Coracle ride and therefore returned back soon.

Snap taken from Coracle.



We were pretty hungry and our "ideal picnic" spot was not found as of yet. As starters we had omlette and tea at the local shop. Sampath and I also gobbled 3 fish in no time.





Wait your turn?



At Sangama we took a right turn and travelled for 2 kms to Anandadhama.


Road to Anandadhama


Ants


@Anadadhama


Entrance of Anandadhama






Angry?


Siesta


Tents at Anandadhama



Thanks Giving!!!



Independence Day Parade



Ahead of Anandadhama, we found Vanaprastashram.

The four stages recommended in Hindu philosophy for a man’s life(Source :http://www.43things.com/comments/thread/2429215?show_cheers=1)
Brahmacharyam, is the first stage in which the man abstains from luxury and carnal pleasure to pursue education.
Grihastashram, is the second stage in which the man marries, raises a family and fulfills his responsibilities as bread winner and care-giver
Vanaprastashram, is the third stage in which the man and wife embark on a religious pilgrimage, leaving responsibilities to his grown children
Sanyasashram or sanyas, is the fourth stage in which the man renounces worldliness and seeks salvation.



Our "Ideal"Picnic Spot



A Walk in the nature


Celebrating Independence With Suzie

This insect looks like a helicopter when it flies.



Picture of Kingfisher sitting peacefully on a branch


On our way back we stopped by a typical indian farm land. Notice how the small sheep in the below picture is following the farmer. It reminds you of the dog in Hutch advertisement.



Wonder why they tie the mouth of these animals.

A serene surrounding and a pleasing atmosphere away from the din and bustle of the city

Zanda Ooncha Rahe Hamara

ere

Love Letters

(A still from Love Letters - Source www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030914/ldh.htm)
Love Letters, a play staged yesterday at Ranga shankara, revolved round letters written to each other by the protagonists, Andy Ladd III and Melissa Gardener. The letters, written over 50 years, starting at the age of six, covered every phase of their lives from childhood to old age. Both of them enact the whole life span only by reading letters that they receive from each other. They communicate with each other only through audio response, since they are supposed to be reading letters, they do not have any visual contact or response. They depend on the response of the audience. It is from the audience that they get their cue. I did not see people weeping and crying at the end of the play but surely they were touched by this beauty. Some remember their lost love, some remember their first love letter. I could spot some well known personalities like Girish Karnad in the audience.
Directed by Rahul Da Cunha, Love Letters first opened in 1993. With over 250 performances since then, it is one of the longest running plays in Indian theatre. Based on A R Gurney's internationally acclaimed play, Love Letters is a heart-warming and poignant tale about two people who write letters to each other over a period of 50 years. Andy is a serious, down-to-earth attorney and Melissa, a lively, free-spirited artist. But these two opposites — childhood friends with a definite attraction— share experiences through letters and notes written from the age of six to 60. Touching, romantic and frequently funny, their correspondence follows a bittersweet path of boarding schools, marriage, children, divorce and missed opportunities to reveal the life journey of two soul mates who share the greatest gift: love.
Totally messed up in her life, it's very touching when Melissa tells Andy that he is all that is left in her life.
After looking at the play you just wish that these two could have been together.

There was one thing which I noticed, towards the end of the play when both Rajit and Shernaz came out to bow towards the audience. Rajit was still crying. Seems that he could not stop his tears which were rolling down from his last scene.

(Part of the above information sought from Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/CONTENT/Jul242008/metrothurs2008072380497.asp)

Happy Friendship Day!!!

Friendship Day celebrations take place on the first Sunday of August every year. The tradition of dedicating a day in honor of friends began in US in 1935. Gradually the festival gained popularity and today Friendship Day is celebrated in large number of countries including India. On this day people spend time with their friends and express love for them. Exchange of Friendship Day Gifts like flowers, cards and wrist bands is a popular tradition of this occasion.

(Source: http://www.friendshipday.org/)

Friendship Day Quote:

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival. "
- C. S. Lewis

The only thing I hate about Friendship Day is those SMS's. I simply cannot reply to the sms's.

Happy Friendship Day to all of you!!!

Bheemeshwari Trip：Fun & Adventure on the banks of Cauvery

(Thursday July 31st 2008.)

One of the best moments of this trip for me was the sight of 2 foxes in wild while we were returning in our bus at around 5:00 p.m. The adjacent picture is not of the Fox seen by me but downloaded from net. The fox seen by me looks more or less same as in the picture. I even saw many parrots on our way back. It was just beautiful to see the wild woods instead of our daily sight of concrete jungles in cities.

It was our office team's trip organized by http://www.careindia.in/JLR/Bheemeshwari.html

Some beautiful snaps on the banks of river cauvery

(Some Fruit)

(Spider)

(Lush green)

(Beautiful Trees)

(River Cauvery - from a hill top)

(River Cauvery)

(Modern Art)

(On the bank of Cauvery)

(Baby Monkey)

(More Monkeys)

(Trekking)

(A wonderful trail besides the river Cauvery)

(Tired?)

(Yup! Resting time)

(My Team)

(Rope Climbing)

(Continue... phew phew)

(M tired now)

(Enuf...)

(Ready for Free Fall?)

Free Fall Video

(Should I get into the water?)

(Whats the time? Oops.. my watch)

(Bull Ring - A Team building Activity)

A glimpse into Bull Ring:
Moving a ball from one spot to another using a ring and some rope is the object of Bull Ring. Although it looks quite easy initially soon we learn that it is not. Especially how to pick the ball up and then again land it in the same place. Instructions too are altered (like a few team mates need to close their eyes, or only one person can co-ordinate or no member can speak and only gestures allowed) so that the difficulty can be increased on a whim.
Typically, the group works with increasing difficulty and continually changing rules during the course of the game, simulating the effect of the constant changing business environment and the need to continually adapt to change.

We also played two more games. One of the game was to find the technique to balance 18 nails on one nail standing on the ground. Other was a rope game where the motive was to free yourself from the entanglement.

(We did it!!! Yippee)

(A special mention to these three birds who remained in the same position for more than 3 hours as we watched them while playing the games)