Bangalore to Wayanad – Part 1

Date – May 2011

Destination – Wayanad, Kerala

Route from Bangalore – Bangalore > Mysore > Hunsur > Nagarhole > Kutta > Mananthavadi (Wayanad) > Kalpetta > Vythri > Lakkidi

Route from Wayanad – Lakkidi > Vythri > Sulthan Battery > Munthanga > Gundulpet > Mysore > Sriranga pattana > Bangalore

Vehicle – Mahindra Scorpio

This was a surprise trip to treat ourselves for the hard work done during the second quarter of 2011. And thanks to our travel agent who sends us updates about travel offers throughout the year! So, hubby had taken a printout of the routes from http://indica.co.in/bangalore-to-wayanad-by-road, and on a lovely Friday morning, we drove from Bangalore to Wayanad. We left Bangalore by 6:00 AM; didn’t take the NICE road because morning traffic is anyway less on the Mysore road. Pitied the state of the incomplete Metro work on the Mysore road; the iron structures are rusting!

Just after the NICE road joining the main road, a chain of vehicles slowed down to cross a speed-breaker. While we slowed down our vehicle, a taxi banged into us from back. Ah, what a start! My hubby jumped down from the vehicle, and gave a piece of his mind to the driver. It’s so sad that the driver hadn’t slept for hours, and was driving at a stretch. Cannot the passengers ask him to take a nap?

We continued our journey, munching the congress bun from V B Bakery and chitchatting. But, hey, what about coffee? Hubby needed his shot of caffeine. I don’t know why but he continued driving; probably, he sensed that there would be a lovely new café somewhere on the road. And I took a nap. When I woke up, I clicked a few photos, and that’s about it.

Paddy fields

On the State Highway (SH) 88, as we reached Hunsur, the highway forked, and that’s where a new café welcomed us. The café is called Café Coorg, and is almost a perfect imitation of Coffee Day; but the Café Coorg also serves South Indian breakfast. Something that caught our attention was the Ferrari that glided into the parking lot. Oh, what a beauty! Can you imagine this car glide on the spotless roads of Kerala?

Cafe Coorg

From this junction, we took a left turn to go through the Nagarhole forest. Would be our first visit to this forest, and we prayed that we could spot a few wild animals. While driving towards the forest check-post, the hub caps of one of the tires ran loose. Funny! Hubby picked it, and fixed it. Meanwhile, I clicked more photos of the clouds. Amazing sky!

Mystic Sky

When we reached the check-post, there were two cars in front of us – filled with kids and family. It’s interesting and amusing to listen to parents answer queries from kids. Kids, these days, smarter than we think! Anyway, we wrote the required details in the ledger, and since the cars refused to enter the forest, we drove past them. Officially, we had entered Nagarhole. The road was narrow but neat. Please remember that this road is open only from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM (IST).

Sign Board

Welcome Arch

Some ground rules when you drive through a forest:
1) Never get down from your vehicle; not even to pee.
2) Never tease animals or feed them.
3) Never play loud music or litter.
4) Never speed.
5) Never hit any animal either with your vehicle or something else.
6) Never use flash while clicking photos of animals.
7) Never panic. Only when you stay calm, can you think better.
8) Be alert.
9) Enjoy Nature.
10) Never stop your vehicle anywhere in the forest, or deviate from the normal route.

Green was the predominant color that masked our eyes. The trees and grass were clean due to recent rains. At some places, the sunlight never touched the ground. We heard melodies of birds, and spotted a few. Unfortunately, our camera isn’t equipped to capture the birds. We continued our journey; drove slowly, stopped at all the speed-breaker, and literally read all the sign boards. One board indicated that animals cross at that point, and that we must drive slowly.

We failed to spot any wild animals. I told the forest that we were its guest, and that they should greet us like good hosts do. That’s when we saw a beautiful deer. We were sure that the herd was behind the bushes; but were happy to spot one deer. Isn't it beautiful!

Deer

As we continued, we were totally surprised to see a tusker blocking the road. We were thrilled, but also wondering how to respond to such a situation. We reversed the car, shut down the engine, and sat watching the magnificent animal. The elephant seemed happy to see the lush grass, uprooted it, stuffed it in its mouth, and repeated all these steps several times. We waited for more than 30 minutes for the animal to clear the way. As we waited, from the opposite direction came a goods jeep (with three people inside). The driver, who didn’t expect the animal, hit the break and halted.

Tusker

What happened next? I'll narrate that in the next sequel.

Happy traveling!

Part 2...

Regards,
Asha

Bangalore to Chennai & Mahabalipuram

From fridge to frying pan – March 2011

Before summer heat waves hit the land, we decided that we visit Chennai and Mahabalipuram. In the wee hours of the morning, driving out of Bangalore is beautiful. Actually, the destination doesn't matter; it's the excitement of going on a holiday that lifts our spirit. A little before Hosur, the traffic was crazy, but eased later. We stopped at Adyar Anand Bhavan before Krishnagiri. I had packed upma for breakfast; we ate, drank coffee, and continued our journey. Have you see the Kamat hotels that are opened on the highway? We are yet to try.

At each toll gate, the police stopped the vehicles, checked the luggage and the car, and then let us go. We were wondering what's happening. Ah, only after we reached Chennai did we know that a vehicle from Banglore was smuggling money into Chennai (for elections)!

As we approached Vellore, we could feel the temperature difference; it could only get hotter. Parents had suggested we see the Golden Temple at Vellore; instead, we saw Ratnagiri, which is a temple dedicated to Lord Balamurugan. You can either drive to the top of the hill or climb the stairs. The temple is beautiful! I liked the gigantic pillars and decorations (or paintings) on the ceiling. Please note that the Maha Mangalaarathi is at noon; till then, the sacred curtains are drawn restricting you from seeing the Lord. 

Pillars - Ratnagiri

Ratnagiri Temple

Our final stop was Chennai. By the time we reached the hotel, we were tired due to heat and disorganized traffic. The drivers are unpredictable - left indicator, but moves right or traffic moves even though the signal is Red. And we were thinking Bangalore's traffic is the worst! At Bangalore, the traffic volume is high but a little discipline is maintained.

Anyway, we reached the hotel, and saw the place to be either filled with marriage parties or politicians. The election was fast approaching, and the most famous fashion statement was White-White-and-White - White dhoti, White shirt, and White Scorpios (with Amma's party flag). We dumped our bags at our room, went straight to the restaurant, and ate a good lunch. 

One of the evenings, we took an auto to the Kapaleeswara temple, Mylapore. The Panguni Masam 2011 celebrations were on, and what a celebration that was! Inside the temple, the Lord's procession was happening, and outside the temple, the fair was attracting almost everyone with a grand variety of merchandise! This celebration was a special gift to us because we weren't aware of the Panguni Masam. Of course, we enjoyed. We also bought temple jewelry from Sukra. I like that shop. If you haven't been there, you must. 

Lord Kapaleeshwara

How can we not visit T Nagar? I had to buy a few sarees, and we went to Kumaran Silks. I loved their collection, and Bangaloreans are treated special! The shop assistant showed lovely and modern sarees (appropriate for Bangaloreans, that's what he said). After that, we marched to GRT, and darn, I picked up something there also. Did I tell you that we tasted idlis at the Murugan Idli Shop? Excellent ones! On another day, we visited Ashtalakshmi temple; I loved that area. We met our dear friend for dinner at China Pearl; good service, food, and ambience. That's the place where we saw some posh cars and hi-tech crowd. ;-)    

Our drive to Mahabalipuram was smooth. Could see apartments being developed on the East Coast road; another concrete jungle was emerging. Just imagine how beautiful that place will be if lots of trees are planted. We went to the Shore temple and the Five Chariots. We were pleased to see how well these temples are maintained. And, oh, wherever we went, we were followed by school children. Have you see locus attacking fields? Hmm... That's exactly how it seemed when the children flooded all the temples. But their energy was contagious, and their smiles and laughter was pure! :-)

There are several people that sell stone scriptures. Beware of people that cheat; they quote a higher price than the shops, and emotionally blackmail you to buy from them. Hey, you must visit the awesome Radisson Resort. They had Holi celebrations, and bright-colored decorations hung all over the resort. The lunch buffet spread was tempting. The magician was a delight; he came to each table to perform some magic. Was fun talking to him!

This time around we didn't want to go to the beaches. The sun burns and salt water are never a good combination, for me. But we visited Spencer Mall; I have nothing much to talk about Malls. We had enough of Chennai and Mahabalipuram, and were ready to drive back home. Home is where the heart is, and our hearts are at Bangalore! :-)

Regards,

Asha

Back!

They say, "When you're in love, you travel places, and realize that the time just flies!" It definitely does. And I quote that as a reason for not being able to update this blog. ;-)

Over the past years, we've visited different places, admired the cultures, enjoyed several experiences, and ate a lot of food, and oh, clicked a few hundred photos! Our journey is incomplete without our camera; it's like a ‘pati-patni-aur-woh’ kind of story.

We can't hold hands because I hold the camera or he holds the steering wheel. We can't look into each others' eyes because I may see something that must be captured in the camera, and run off to shoot. When he whispers sweet something, I say, "Ssshhh;" we don't want to scare some bird or animal away. 

Seriously, how much can a little camera capture? So, we traveled to a few places of which we don't have any photos, but we have a lot of stories to narrate; stories of rivers, clouds, plants and flowers, wildlife, terrains, people, love, and the journey itself.

We’re ready to narrate a few such stories and also share a few photos again!

New beginning

Regards,

Asha Ram

Singapore - 2009 - Exploring Singapore, on Feet…

Ram and I walked from Raffles City Complex towards Merlion, at our own pace, exploring anything on our way. As we walked past the stadium (Padang), we got a glimpse of the St. Andrew’s Cathedral on the other side of the stadium. What caught my eye was something strange – a stick with Red chilli and onion thrown on the payment. See the photo. Is that some voodoo stuff?

 *Padang

We saw the Cenotaph, which was build in the memory of those who perished during World War I and II. It has the words, ‘Our Glorious Dead,’ on it. By this time, the Sun was shining bright, and we were expecting drops of sweat to trickle down.

Our next stop was the Indian National Army monument. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, this monument was erected. The Lim Bo Seng Memorial (1954) is dedicated to Major-General Lim Bo Seng who led the anti-Japanese resistance movement and was killed. At this memorial, we have three other people who were posing for photos. Otherwise, the road and monuments were deserted.

We also saw the Tan Kim Seng Fountain and the Civilian War Memorial. Our Memorial Walk was successful!

*Esplanade Bridge

What next? We continued walking (in the Sun); towards Fullerton Hotel and Merlion. The river looked inviting and the bridge looked majestic. The Fullerton Hotel stood still and sophisticated; behind which stood gigantic buildings.
 
The Fullerton Hotel looks enchanting during the evenings. Please check it out from Boat Quay side. For details about the hotel, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fullerton_Hotel_Singapore. By the time we reached Merlion, we were sweating and hoping the Sun to spare us. At Merlion, oh God, what a crowd! The place was filled with tourists that were having photo sessions. It was amusing to see them pose.

The Merlion onlooks the river. Behind it is the Fullerton Hotel. Beyond which is the Downtown. You can see HSBC office building and others. That’s a totally different world. The blend of nature and modern building is what makes Singapore unique and attractive.

Next blog: Clarke and Boat Quay

Regards,
Asha

Singapore - 2009

It was my first visit to Singapore; Ram had already see the place and was familiar with it.

We had a good flight from Bangalore to Singapore, and Singapore airlines served us well. I loved the Changi airport, and loved the orchids that greeted us! Outside the airport, the Sun had stretched its rays out. And we expected a humid day.

Our destination was the Swissôtel The Stamford. When we arrived at the hotel, we were informed that we had to wait to get our room. Well, we were surprised, but then the friendliness and hospitality of the staff brought a smile back on our faces. We were enthusiastic to explore the city, and so we freshened up at a waiting room, left the luggage at the security counter, and walked off to explore the place.

But first, we explored the hotel itself. It’s an amazing hotel, and I would love to visit it many more times. Visit their Web site, www.swissotel.com. The Stamford is the tallest hotel and is located close to the City Hall MTR, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Esplanade, museums, and others. The hotel has a mall within or next to it – The Raffles City Shopping complex. The hotel also has a spa and an exclusive restaurant – the Equinox.

We grabbed a Subway sandwich from the underground mall, and decided to walk to Merlion. Before I continue, I want to mention that we got a harbour-view room on the 57th floor, and were we the happiest! Oh, what a view! I shall share the photos in the next postings.

Next blogs:

• Exploring SG
• Sungei Buloh
• Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
• Sentosa
• Clarke and Boat Quay
• Jurong Bird Park and Zoo

Regards,
Asha

Suzumi - Ikebana - Spiritual Journey

July 31, 2009

Suzumi - Ikebana - Spiritual Journey

I love flowers. If the flower arrangements represent Nature and her elements, then I fall in love with the arrangements. For me, something spiritual lies in each of the flower arrangements. It's difficult to explain, but, yes, it's spiritual for me.

Whenever I am a little low, one of the things I do to brighten up is that I flip through a book that has lovely pictures of colorful flowers and their arrangements. On the pages of the book, the colors blend so beautifully with its descriptions. I really pep up!

We got an opportunity to visit an exotic Ikebana exhibition, which was held at Ladies Club, Infantry Road, Bangalore. The Sogetsu School of Ikebana conducted this exhibition in the aid of an Abalashrama on D. V. G Road, Bangalore.

Elaborate ikebana filled the entire hall. Messages about peace and global warming were placed in front of a few arrangements. The concept behind each of the ikebana was amazing. I must appreciate the creativeness of the ladies. You will agree with me when you see a few photos of the ikebana.

If you are at Bangalore during August 15th, do not miss to visit Lalbagh Flower Show. This show will also exhibit some stunning ikebana. I have watched the women give their passion a form using flowers and Nature's elements. It's beautiful.

Regards,
Asha

Kanva Reservoir - By Chance!

Authored on July 30, 2009

Kanva Reservoir - By Chance!

One Sunday morning, Ram and I decided to drive out of Bangalore, explore the outskirts. We were off on Mysore road though our destination was not Mysore. We touched Bidadi - once upon a time, my father's ancestors owned some portion of this place and had donated lands for improvement of the place (I believe). My father very proudly recollects his memories of his grand parents and his childhood friends, and about their adventures near the railway tracks. Those days people enjoyed small thrills in life!

Whenever we drove by Bidadi, we stopped at a hotel near the police station (I think the name was Revanna's Thatte Idli Hotel or something), eat Thatte Idlis and drink hot filter coffee, and then continue our journey. Once papa and I walked to the railway station to see the Gulganji tree and to collect a few Gulganji, fallen on the ground. I think I still have those Gujganji at my parents' house. Bidadi was still a cute place then.

Today, you find many hotels along the roadside, modernized houses, lesser trees, neater bus stands, and so on. Oh, yes, you can see Toyota and Coca-Cola manufacturing units. And you are correct, you can also enjoy a day's outing at Innovative Film City.

This time around, we didn't stop at Bidadi, but continued to Ramanagara. This place is famous for silk. You can see mulberry bushes and breeding of silk worms. At the market, you can see people carrying bags of cocoons. After these cocoons get processed, voila, you get silk and the silks gets woven into pretty sarees. It's not as easy as I write here; during my childhood, we saw a silk processing unit at Ooty. The cocoons were put in boiling water, and then layers of silk can be extracted just like a cotton candy!

Before I digress further, let me drive back on our track. This place is also famous for hills, rock climbing, and left overs of the movie, Sholay. It's fun to drive around or just climb one of the hills. Most of the fun is lost when you see litter everywhere or people throwing beer cans or food wastes. Near the mosque on the highway you find fresh cucumbers - they melt in your mouth. Don't forget to taste them. During summer, this place hosts loads of watermelon. You also find baskets of custard apples along the roadside. Go on, and taste them.

We drove past Kamat Lokaruchi, http://www.kamatyatri.in/Locations.asp?id=12, decided to stop on our way back. We reached Channapattana - land of toys. We visited Meenakshi Handicrafts, bought a few wooden items and sandal incense sticks. The toys displayed in the shop were a feast to the eyes - revisiting one's childhood. It's sad that we don't encourage our kids to play with such toys. Oh, yes, we need to save trees; adapt to world of plastic and metal.

A few kilometers from here you see sign boards guiding you towards Kanva reservoir. Well, this reservoir is about 60 plus kilometers from Bangalore. The almost made road cuts across a village and farms or cultivated lands. The rustic houses have cattle, creepers of flowers or vegetables, and aroma of hay. Lovely! The cattle own the roads, and you have to wait for them to cross the roads.

As we drove, a big cobra crossed our way. Ram hit the brakes of our Scorpio. We got out to see whether the snake escaped. It did escape. Beautiful snake with shiny skin! When we reached the reservoir, we were suprised to see very few people around, and the neatly painted reservoir. We walked hand-in-hand on the walk path. Awesome breeze and romantic weather! The photos give you a glimpse of the reservoir.

Seeping in the silent melodies of the water, we drove back to Kamat Lokaruchi. We had delicious Obbattu, maddur vadas, basundi, sugarcane juice, and buttermilk. Whew... We roamed around in the Janapada Loka, saw pottery making, but could not visit the museum. Light drizzle showered on us like chocolate scrappings on ice cream! We sat for a while, and then bought pottery from the lady (Anasuya). This lady gave me an idol of Lord Ganesh, free of cost. Wow... Eventful day, I say!

As we drove back, we revisited all the places that we had passed by. Nothing had changed, except our perception. It's nice to be on a path of unplanned exploration. What unfolds can be mysterious, thrilling, and also mesmerizing. You never know! :)

So, go on, explore your destinations.

Regards,

Asha Ram