Getaways!

Getaways can do miracles to shoo away boredom in one's life..they can also be wonderful learning experiences....n ends up adding quite a lot of spice n colour to ur tastes:)

Was travelling with my friend's family from B'lore to Thornagallu in Bellary, last week.

1st,I lost my spectacles in the train....n got it back yes....after quite a commotion...I was sleeping on the Upper berth n it had fallen off sometime during the course of the night....Ppal sleeping on the lower berth were quite convinced that it had fallen out, as they had opened the window sometime in the night....

2nd, I lost my chappals after leaving it outside the temple....only mine were gone!!...n ya...ended up walking barefoot, with the blessings of the sun-god...

3rd, survived the bad road journey from Bellary to Mantralayam.....this is 1 ride I wont forget in a hurry!!...all coz the Karnataka n the AP Govts r still to make up their minds on who will get the roads done...

How can I miss out our driver's shortkut....he wanted to save a 20 km ride on a good road...so he takes us on a route that has never seen an invention called "tar" n with ups n downs all through the never ending 15 km ride at 7:30 pm ...in an area that was surrounded in pitch-darkness...n with no signs of light or any human habitation for miles altogether.....

Our vehicle was quite an antique piece and wud require regular attention, every now n then...with our driver getting under the car....in 1 such attempt...the poor guy had to bid goodbye to his pants:)....n had to make - do with a dhothi adorned over the pants....

4th, was amazed by the sort of facilities n infrastructure at the Jindal Steel Plant.....excellent is an understatement.....they literally have a kingdom of their own!!

5th, passed by cotton n red chilly fields.....was actually requested by a kid's mother to take her daughter's pic....here it is...

6th, gotto c different lifestyles of the ppal from the loadsa villages v passed....the highlight being their mode of transportation.....atleast 40 ppal found their place either inside, on the periphery or atop their chutku...tata sumo kinda vehicles.....It was almost like U had ppal popping out of every corner from their vehicles:)

Actually gotto c more number of women working in the fields than the menfolk:)

7th, was almost red-faced:)...well only coz of the soil there...I remember washing my face after getting back home...n seeing a red-patch of mud on the towel....I repeated the face-washing thing twice after that...But with repeatedly fading reflections on the towel!!

If I can write so much abt a 2-day trip...just imagine what I will do....if I take longer trips...God save the blog-readers:)

Discrimination in today's era!

V r blessed with such wonderful cultures, customs n traditions!

V share a whole lot of diversity too in terms of caste, creed, religion, colour, etc....

V r also cursed with adversity in our diversity!!

Im not playing with words or for words here.....Im just referring to an incident that I faced in a temple, where preference was given to ppal just coz they belonged to a higher caste!![High in wat terms...I dont understand....To me ... a person is high only coz of his karma]

If this can happen today.....wat is the solution to prevent it?

I dont want to get into the sympathizing part to the ppal who r inflicted with such discrimination...but is there a way out?

I can change the way I think....But do I take the trouble of changing how the world thinks?

The truth today is that....I will blog abt it....but do nothing else abt it!!

What is SS?

Always thought of it as something that u do to help ppal in need or to make a difference in other ppal's lives....

But its a lot more than that!!

Met a doctor today who has done a whole lot of SS her entire life....she used to visit villages n treat patients free of cost n have her pals pool in money to fund medicines....

I was mighty impressed with all that she had to tell....about how the villagers looked up to her service n about how she was constantly motivated to do her bit ...even though she was managing her career, family n kids apart from her commitment to the villages 2 days a week...

Then she told me of an incident...happened sometime in the early eighties...when she was a visiting doctor to a village near Nandi Hills n was asked to take another specialist from B'lore to visit a very ill patient from the village...but on the behest of her other colleagues....she had to drop the plan ....as she was new and unassertive n didnt really understand the gravity of the situation....

The specialist ended up not going ...n the patient dying!!

From then onwards, she stopped making these visits, as she tells me that if you want to venture into SS, do it only if you can do it responsibly n with a commitment which understands that sometimes u end up doing things which get caught between the circle of life and death!!

So, what is SS finally?...I think u got my point!

Life's many courses!!

Ur just the kinda person...who loves travelling....U'll be the 1st 1 to take ur car with ur family in it to places both near n far....U just love the thought of getting away from the monotony of everyday life to places that make it to nature's wonders or to unheard or unseen towns n villages....

U discover places.....have a wonderful time....a break thoroughly deserved ...n then ....

Comes a trip where ur world comes crashing down.....An accident....a head-on collison that cud have gotten fatal....but u thank ur stars that u got through the ordeal n lived to tell ur story....

Will u be afraid of taking another trip post the ill-fated one?

No,comes the reply....simply coz u lived through that one only to see many more!!

V all face roadblocks where in things v take for granted come to a grand halt....n v take a back-seat...

But what is important to me here is this person's outlook in life.....that u learn to put ur life back together.....all the pieces ...that is...n to take on to another journey...another course!

Hampi rocks!

Im not gonna start writing abt all the things that v did in a chronological order......M just gonna talk abt chasing ur dreams:)

I've always been an ardent history lover...History to me is a figment of imagination n a story waiting to unfold...

Seeing a signboard which said Hampi-4kms got me all excited....n d 1st thought that came to my mind when I saw the place...was thanks Sowmya!

Sowmya was kind enuf to take me with her family to visit Hampi..n I think I have already made it extremely explicit that this is one place that I have always wanted to c!!

Sowmya n me were having this conversation a couple of months ago abt visiting Hampi...n when she called me early this month asking me if I wanted to join...All I told her was...C ya...I want to c Hampi....book tickets whenever u want...But Im coming!!

Hampi had a very mystical influence on me....When I was standing infront of the Vittala temple, facing stone structures built to entertain traders from all over the world....for a moment ...I was actually visualizing traders selling gold, gems n other precious stones n a crowded market place...to me at that moment none of it was 500 years ago...It was almost like it was happening there right infront of me!!

The Purandhara [famous poet of that era] shelter, built right beside the Tungabhadra river literally had a "cooling" effect on me....:)....Not that it was very sunny outside....But it was almost like I was at peace with myself....I was actually smiling inside....Just happy to be there!!

I was telling Sowmya that if u leave me here for a few more hours, I will come up with the most beautiful verses ever heard by mankind.....Too much I know for my standards that is:)...Im sure my friends have already heard enuf...ya ...ya..Im referring to my lunch-table pals at work..Im at my philosophical best after food gets into my system at lunch-time:)

V, Indians were indeed outnumbered there by foreign tourists.....loads of them clicking photos ....asking the guides numerous questions n learning about our culture n history!!

There are plenty of places that u get to visit in and around Hampi....some of them temples...d others palaces...then the Queen's bath:)....n the royal stables.....n so on....

Wat strikes u most is not only the archaeological brilliance ...but the fact that even in those days ppal had provisions and access to some of the best facilities in terms of layout of their structures, their irrigation n sewage systems .....

U do feel bad seeing the ruins at Hampi....But the thought that the place has seen so many generations come n go...so many historical moments ....n ofcourse the winds of change across the sands of time:).....most of the structures were destroyed by the Mughals n the deities stolen from temples....but Hampi even today is a standing testimony to the great culture our country has!!

2 things I will never forget: Being asked if v were foreigns:) actually by a bunch of schoolkids n a small schoolkid actually running towards me n touching me n running back ...this she did twice...n I was left standing there wondering[actually I was smiling to myself:)] as to why she did that!!

If you want to see Hampi the way I saw it with a little more details on the monuments...do read this:

*Hampi Unplugged-Part 1

**Hampi Unplugged -Part 2

Hampi Unplugged-Part 1

Vitthala Temple

Home to the famed stone chariot, a beautiful kalyana mantapa, sabha[conference] mantapa and a sangeetha mantapa.

Excellent ways they had of ensuring that rain water did not stay on the stone structures, but perculated down easily....

Some of the sculptures have various interpretations when viewed from different angles!!

If you touch the pillars in the sangeetha mantapa, you can actually hear the sounds of Sa re ga ma...n that of various musical instruments.

Rings aligned to the top corners and the bottom corners of the mantapas, used to have curtains laid across and the reverberations of the music generated used to actually last half a km away!!

The stone chariot actually moved once upon a time, hard to imagine that it did!!

V also didnt miss a 300 year old tree in this very campus!!

Hampi Unplugged -Part 2

Hazara Ramachandra temple

This temple has sculptures in granite. It is known for the wall inscriptions of the stories of Ramayan.

Elephant's stable

Lotus Mahal

Residential quarters for the royal women. Is inspired by Indo-Islamic architecture styles.

Underground Shiva Temple

Badavalinga Temple

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Mag-adddi!!

Thanks to Shilpa....I always go places:)....our kinda hangouts are different...heeheehee:)

Whenever d 2 of us decide on going on trips....v invariably land up in a village!!

Right from Dabbaspet...to Mangalore....to Gauribidanur.....to Chennapatna.....to the latest one...Magadi!!

I connect instantly with the unpolluted air.....with the simplicity and the affection of the ppal there....with the serenity....with the nature....the farm animals...the fields....the hills...the food:)

I always thought of Magadi as a place on the outskirts of B'lore...but turns out it is actually located in Ramanagaram district....the drive to Magadi is soooper....n Savanadurga..the popular trekking place is located hardly 10kms from the place ...v visited...

Our host, Shilpa's family friend Mohan...took us around to show us his village...he showed us places where he used to hang out with his friends as a kid...the branches of banyan trees ...they used to swing onto...and the hills they climbed up n down....

Now, turns out...that almost every other piece of land is either owned by his parents or his relatives[dodamma/chikamma]....

He showed us various plants......I was actually holding a ragi plant for the 1st time:)...n passing by fields n wells...n chutku streams....n mango trees....

Amidst all of this, v also managed to catch hold of a bakra also:)

This trip made me feel that getaways like this once in a while...can actually do ur lungs n ur skin some good:)

A learning experience!!

When u learn from experiences.....the learning is more!!

Faith/determination

I was actually seeing one such instance of it just yesterday....

3 ppal....definitely above 45 years of age....walking along the Krishnagiri[Tamil Nadu] national highway....my friend told us by just looking at them that they must be one of those ppal...who walk long distances to fulfill their "mannat"...

Just to set the context right...he stopped his car...when we crossed them...n asked them...where they were going...they replied ki..."hum Rajkot se Rameshwaram paidhal ja rahe hai"...v asked them...for how long have u been walking...n they told us ki"We started on Dec 12th!!!"...n then came d next very obvious question as to why they were doing it....they told us ki"God has given us strength to walk...n it was our mannat that we will walk all the way to visit his abode"..they told us that they slept in petrol stations/hotels......n fended for food n shelter along the way..

Intent behind every doing!!

I dont want to be too preachy...but as I heard a pal narrate this incident...it kinda had a lot of impact on the way I have started looking at the ways of life!!

My friend hates curd rice to the extent that he wont even have it .. if he is starving or if thats the last thing available!!

On a road trip to a remote place, he stops at a hotel and asks them to pack a parcel of tomato rice for him, specifically telling them not to include curd anywhere. Now, my friend had to travel quite a long distance and when he finally decides to have lunch....ya...u guessed it right...freaks out ...when he finds curd rice!! Instead of throwing it, he decides to give it away and sees an old woman lying on the roadside, sick and tired. He offers the curd rice parcel to her and then learns that she had not eaten for the past coupla days....thats when my friend realised that probably the goof up in the food packet was only coz it was meant to go to the old lady and not to him!!

Changing lives!!

There is a village in Dharmapuri and my company has been working with them for many many years now. The village school holds classes only till the 8th STD. After 8th, most children discontinue their studies.

Jan 2008 saw the emergence of "Dream to Reality". This programme intents at educating the children after their 8th, till they achieve their professional goals. I was involved during a very brief period and then moved on to other commitments. I was however aware of most of the happenings in the project, thanks to constant updates from the most dedicated and committed person ..I have met in recent times....Lakshmi, the programme co-ordinator for this initiative.

I was visiting the children for the 1st time in their schools and was amazed by what was in store!!

The impact of the initiative struck me hard, when I saw that it had changed so many lives. Poverty at home was no longer a hindrance in ensuring that they deserved a good education. Apart from education, they are also encouraged to participate in sports and other extra-curricular activities. It wasnt the admiration that the children had for their sponsors, that impressed me...it was the sheer affection....that hit me big time....it was like one big family....they were free to express their concerns....to talk about the things they wanted...feedback on their studies...on their manners....

I am glad I went there with the "core team"....simply coz...I have been part of a chutku number of initiatives in the past....its something that I simply love doing!!...but never before have I seen an initiative like this which has impacted the lives of so many people!!

An initiative like this is not devoid of challenges, but it is the spirit of the team driving this initiative that will help it reach greater heights!!

Bale-Mane!

Worked on a permutation n ended up with a wonderful combination:)....ya..ya...I am really gonna brag about how just when I was thinking how to ensure that I spend time with family...n at the same time...visit another place called "Bale Mane"...where my colleague was holding her son's 1st B'day celebs....I got my family to visit "Bale Mane":)

Sushma, my colleague happened to mention about this place, located near Hesaraghatta... a rescue home for girls....they house around 70 children...educate them...n provide them with food and shelter...

The drive to this place takes you to remote villages.....on the outskirts of Bangalore....

D moment V [my sister...my nephew...n me] landed there.....v were made to feel completely at home....after having snacks.....the children treated us to dance performances...n when my nephew[he is 2 years old]...saw the girls dance...he tapkafied on stage n actually started dancing with the kids...trying to match their steps[this...he did by copying them....when they lift their hands...he used to do the same...if they stomped their feet...so wud he...:)]....much to the delight n amusement of the children n I think almost everyone there:)...except my sister n me.....all v 2 wanted to do...was to get him off stage...so that d gals cud dance peacefully.....coz there were times...when our hero...used to easily push the gals away to make way for his performance...but all the gals there...kept telling us to let him dance...n then v had to oblige.....

So, thanks to my nephew....the kids there were easily n effortlessly entertained:)

D b'day boy...Sushma's 1 year old son....also seemed pretty impressed with all that dancing...n was also spotted crawling his way through the dancers:)...Im sure ....he must have thought....gimme a year or so...n I will give u all a run for ur money:)

Safe-furi!!!!

This post has nothing to do with the ongoing tiger census. It has a lot to do with a visit, v paid to Bannerghatta National Park last weekend.

My sister was here on a short ...rather a flying visit...n v had narrowed down to 2 places...to go sight-seeing with my 2+ year old nephew...1 was Innovative Film City n d other Bannerghatta...

Now turns out my poor nephew was learning abt cows n dogs from books or from his nursery rhymes ka videos....U shud c my sister's excitement on seeing a cow or a dog on the streets...to teach her son....that a cow does mooooooo or that a dog does a "bow wow"....

No wonder she thrashed my idea(actually I have never been to Innovative Film City...an amusement park near Bidadi on the lines of Ramoji Film Studio..with wax musuems...magic mirrors...3-D or 4-D theatres...etc..etc)....of going to Innovative Film City....as her primary focus was to get her son educated abt animals:)...ya..ya..Bnnerghatta ..it was:)

I have been there when I was too small to remember anything...n vaguely remember the zoo n the safari bus...but ya...I know not the intention of y my parents took me there after seeing my sister's purpose...but hey...things were not so bad in the eighties:)

V[also got Shilpa...an animal enthusiast n Praveena...who hated seeing animals held captive] spent nearly 2 and a half hours travelling from my place to Bannerghatta...thanks to all that traffic...

I must admit that the safari is something that got all of us equally excited...as our vehicle drove through forests...v got to c deer, bears[I must admit...some of them had some real innocent faces...I thought...all of them wud be ferocious looking], lions.....My sister was at her best...showing the lil fella...teddy bear...n my nephew repeating the names of the animals ....which was more than music to my sister's ears:)

The best part was when v saw the tigers...my nephew looked at my face...n made a growling sound....It was like...ahaa...."Mission Accomplished"

Most of the animals were spotted pretty close to where Shilpa sat....looks like she was transferring some imaginary energy to them:)...the tiger ..for example...was right under her nose:)...n when v screamed .."Tiger..tiger"...she actually asked us.."Where???"

On close sight, the tiger is extremely beautiful..actually magnificent is the word!!

Its a pity that most of them looked malnutritioned:(....

The zoo was ok..ok kinds....n after giving my nephew more gyaan than the poor fella cud take...v left the place....with Praveena..expressing her concern on animals held captive and on display.....