Agumbe – A pre-monsoon & monsoon Expedition

Our car is speeding past the limit, blindly following a SUV in front of us (Bangalore Wildlife Photographer friends) without knowing where we are headed or why. The cars come to a halt at the entrance of an unassuming house in a village. Already a few villagers were gathered and were giving curious looks at us getting out of cars armed with cameras. It is only now we come to know that a King Cobra rescue call was received and an expert had arrived. Excitement on seeing the King was spreading across our group.

Yes, you guessed it right! We are in the land of King Cobras, Agumbe – a rain forest in Chickmagalur district of Karnataka. I had the opportunity of visiting Agumbe twice – as the blog’s title suggests once pre-monsoon (January) and once during monsoon (August). I thought the place was so green and beautiful during my first visit, but found a different meaning altogether during monsoons. There was thick moss covering even the smallest of stones, pavements, there was no mud road visible – it was covered with lush green carpet, the air was cool and fresh, rain drizzling the entire day. Agumbe is nature's gift to us with several waterfalls and it's not surprising that it takes up most of this blogspot.

Reaching Ladakh and a glimpse of Srinagar

While I was exploring possible options to reach Ladakh, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) was one thing that was cautioned in every travel forum. Mr. Google told me that AMS is caused by low oxygen as one gains altitude; but it is not a serious issue if acclimatisation is done properly. Since Ladakh region has many high altitude mountains (10000+ ft high), gaining such altitudes from mean sea level within a matter of hours is not advisable. Taking the road is by far the safest one in terms of AMS. It is advised to gain altitude slowly, spend a night acclimatising and then resume our journey.

Ladakh - A Journey Begins.....

Ladakh is not just a place for me, it is an emotion. When I close my eyes the beautiful route to Kargil, the mighty Khardungla pass, Nubra Valley, following Indus River to reach the last settlement in India, numerous Buddhist monasteries and their serene surroundings, strong winds at the astronomical observatory in Hanle, changing hues of Pangong lake – all these flash like a HD movie.

I had never heard of the place Ladakh until a few years ago. I stumbled upon this name when I was planning my North Sikkim trip. Members of Indiamike and Devilonwheels forums who immensely helped plan both these trips were going “gaga” about Ladakh and its beauty. I promised myself I would check out Ladakh after my Sikkim trip. And the next two years went in saving money and planning the ultimate Ladakh trip for 15 days. The longest and the best trip ever in my life, yet.

Mission Impossible 5 approximately equals Billa

I am just back from watching Mission Impossible 5 - Rogue Nation and I must confess I enjoyed the movie (and of course Tom Cruise). It was racy, with action sequences and stunts that kept the audience excited. Not to mention the exotic locations the movie takes us - Vienna, Moracco, Cuba, London to name a few. And whoever thought to keep the movie's base in London, kudos! Nothing like hearing a British accent :) 

I came out of the cinemas thinking how well Tom Cruise and the entire team have given a wonderful movie, only to be ruined by Mr. P. He innocently asked me, "Hey, Did you realise that this whole movie's story is just like Ajith's Billa, with just a few plot changes?" 

(For those who do not know, Ajith is a popular Tamil actor and "Billa" was his movie, which was in turn a remake of Rajini Kanth's yesteryear Billa) 

Phew!! Once this thought was planted in my mind, it started multithreads on its own - finding similarities between the two. And that's how this blog post came into existence. Now let us see how Mission Impossible 5 ~= Billa. :)

• Main object with which the entire movie revolves around is some highly compromising data of a crime syndicate stored in a pen drive. Does it ring a bell? Ajith's Billa was also about bringing a crime syndicate down with data stored in a pen drive. 
• Tom Cruise teams up with some good cops (CIA agents/IMF) to kill the bad guy. Ultimate star Ajith also pretty much does the same. 
• Chasing sequences in cars, monstrous bikes, leading up to the climax fight scenes. Billa has many such stunts too. 
• This hollywood movie takes us to Vienna, Morocco, London, Cuba. Sadly, our Tamil producers had enough money to take us only to Malaysia in Billa. (No complaints here, the Langkawi bridge fight was good) 
• Rebecca Ferguson plays both the roles of Namitha and Nayanthara (part of her role)

 

**All Images here are sourced from Google

Now, are you thinking what I am thinking? Just like how Avatar was a hollywood version of Vietnam Colony, there are regional movies in our country that inspire Hollywood writers too :P :) :) 

Jokes apart, MI5 - Rogue Nation is a pleasure to watch especially if you are a Tom Cruise fan like me. I strongly recommend you to do a marathon of MI1 to MI4 movies to get into the "zone" before watching it. :) When I was browsing for some images** in Google, look what I found!!! Close enough :P ;) :D :D

       

Excitement on the way to Tadoba...

As I slowly open my eyes, the sun is yet to shine and the monsoon clouds are threatening the sun from coming out. The scenery infront of me is a green grassland fully wet, droplets on leaves that are shining like silver to my photographic eyes and an occasional human attending to nature’s call on the field. As the train gains speed, the view outside my window keeps on changing from farm lands, mountain range, little peaks, small villages, a lonely tree, old bridges, dried up rivers, herds of sheep grazing what's left in the land and never once boring. I get excited as a child would on all train journeys. There is something wonderful when travelling by train that I couldn't pin point. I sit in our side lower seat (the most preferred when I travel by train) and try reading the station names during the brief time the train takes to cross it. One of my favourite pastimes after staring out of window. The language on the station board changes from familiar Tamil to the sprawled jilebi characters and then turns to omnipresent Hindi announcing the crossing of various states indirectly. 

All these beautiful scenes are on our way to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, one of the few places in the world to spot to tigers in the wild and this time our focus is only on safaris on all four days. Try to soak in as much of the forest as possible before returning to our concrete jungle. We are hoping the monsoon wouldn't play spoilsport on our safaris. Fingers crossed.

Diu - Ilha de Calma

When I was researching for a trip to Gir Sanctuary, Gujarat (yes, I do lot of googling for all my travel)– the place “Diu” kept coming up everywhere. Then I read an interesting article in Conde Nast Traveler about this former Portuguese Colony. But it wasn’t until I saw an Incredible India advertisement featuring Diu that I decided I had to go there. Our flight was reaching Ahmedabad at midnight and we had only 4 days on hand. Ahmedabad to Diu would easily take up 11 hours by bus. Ahmedabad to Sasan Gir (Gir Sanctuary) would also take around 11 hours by bus. It was too much of travelling and we decided to drop Diu this time.

I should say it was totally an impromptu trip to Diu, all thanks to our friend who works there. He suggested slight alterations to my plan so that we could cover Diu also. And we were so happy to have done so. True to its tagline, it is a very calm island. My rough plan after alteration looked like this.

Day 0 – Chennai to Ahmedabad by flight

Day 1 – Ahmedabad to Rajkot by train (5 – 6 hours). Rajkot to Sasan Gir (Gir Sanctuary) by bus (3 – 4 hours). Afternoon Safari. Ahmedabad to Amreli by bus (5 – 6 hours). Amreli to Diu by car (3 hours). Diu Local sight-seeing in same car. Drop at Sasan Gir.

Day 2 – Gir. (Morning & Afternoon Safari). Visit Devali National Park.

Day 3 – Gir (Morning & Afternoon Safari). Leave for Ahmedabad

Day 4 – Ahmedabad Local sight seeing

Day 5 – Ahmedabad to Chennai flight

Let me keep this post related to just Diu alone. I would write in detail about Ahmedabad and forest safari experience in Gir very soon. Daman and Diu, as you may know, is one of the seven union territories of India. (I have been to three so far :)). Let’s see if the travel God is kind enough to let me visit another one this year. Fingers crossed.

Madras Market...

It was noon when I left home. Chennai's hot sun was roasting me alive. Little did I know, I would be panting down the same road in a few minutes. As soon as I picked up my friend at Saidapet, my "almost dead" bike started wobbling. A nice guy in petrol bunk declared my tyres to be punctured and urged me to ride fast to reach a bike shop before it runs out of air. Me being unlucky, the tyre soon lost all its air and I pushed and pushed for more than a kilometre and replaced a new tube. And I thought the beginning of the day itself was worse. (yeah, on weekends my day begins around noon). But, it got better as it progressed and I felt good when I came out of "Madras Market", a shopping event organised in Chennai (Quaide Milleth College, Near Spencer Plaza). 

Sowcarpet - The guide to what and where to buy

Do you love shopping, but bored of malls that burn a big hole in your pockets??? If you have answered yes to one of these questions, and you happen to be in Chennai, then head straight to Sowcarpet near Broadway. It is THE place to be if you don't mind walking in lanes with lots of people. You will feel excited to see such a wide range of goods for sale. The sight of colourful dresses, jewellery, accessories, gift articles, dried and candied fruits, every imaginable raw material for arts and crafts, hot jilebis and other chaat items makes me want to go there often. Even without shopping, you can simply roam around, take photos and watch people. Though, I have been there a few times before, I never bothered to go around and feel what it really is. But this weekend, I took the time to simply roam around. I assure you, it would take more than a few trips to fully know your way about. 

Some of you may already know that Sowcarpet is one-area stop for buying anything you could think of at wholesale price. Narrow roads and lanes that criss cross each other, with people carting goods around, countless pedestrians, numerous bikes, autos and even cars trying to commute in what could barely pass for a road. I am sure the roads wouldn't be more than 10-15 feet wide. They are also full of cycle rickshaws (yeah, they still exist and preferred mode of transport if you cannot walk) carrying passengers, goods etc... The entire place is full of life, drama unfolding at every corner. The whole place transports you back in time (if you remove the automobiles), where merchants sell their wares on the streets and people haggling.

Chocolate Cake (Pressure cooker made)

I am a huge fan of bakery products and love baking. But not having an oven or OTG put me at a disadvantage of not baking at home. A few friends suggested baking using pressure cooker and I tried. It was a huge success!! :) Now, nothing can stop you from baking a cake. Not even an oven/OTG. Follow this simple recipe to make cakes in our pressure cooker!! You can follow any cake recipe and bake it using a pressure cooker. 

Ingredients: (Serves 8)

Eggs                                  - 3 

Brown sugar/Normal sugar - ½ cup 

Wheat Flour                      - ½ cup 

Powdered Almonds            - 1 cup (loosely filled)

Baking powder                  - 2 ½ teaspoon

My Favourite TV Series

Now that its officially the awards season, from People's Choice Award, Critics' Choice Awards, Golden Globes to Oscars for the year. So, it is only customary that I announce my list of favourite TV shows and movies (Top fav movies coming up soon in another post). I have once mocked people when they go crazy about TV Series. But having been introduced to this world by my friend, I am no more that girl. I am crazy about certain series. Here is a list of shows that are my favourites**. Let's begin with comedy series... 

A Tribute to BRO

Border Roads Organization (BRO) of India makes commutation in The Himalayas easy for locals and travellers alike. Landslides, rain, snowfall, avalanche, floods - nothing stops these brave men and women who dedicate their life's work so that people can move from one place to another. They have laid roads where I wouldn't dare to keep even a foot. It is only because of their relentless effort, be it opening of Rohtang/Zojila Pass to ensuring that they stay open during the peak season, I had the opportunity to fall in love with Himalayas. 

I am in love with Himalayas. She has charmed me, and she calls me every few months to see her. She doesn't realise I live 2000 km away from her and long vacations are hard to come by. 

God made Ladakh and BRO connects it to rest of the world... How True!!!

Memories of Pongal

Pongal for city-bred Tamilians like me is a three day holiday filled with wonderful food, non-stop watching TV debates and movies that are advertised as "india tholaikatchigalil mudal muraiyaaga" (roughly translates to first time in the history in Indian TV channels) and maybe catching up of new releases in theatre. 

Apart from these, I have special memories of eating Boli on Bogi (Boli is a flat bread sweetened with coconut and jaggery), planning elaborately for kolams that are drawn infront of my home, colouring them till late in the night along with neighbours, admiring our previous night's handwork on Pongal day.

Now after few years of corporate life, they all seem like a distant dream. There are no photographs, just memories. I no longer have a three-days vacation nor draw such kolams. Here on Pongal Eve, it upsets me that I am not even able to find my kolam notebook. I simply hope that the future is better. 

How to make Chocolates?

Chocolates... Those dark little chocolate pieces, melting in our mouth, giving us instant energy, making us feel good... I simply love chocolates in any form and any flavour from fruit & nut, orange peel, crackles, melted chocolates to even chocolate filled pastries. 

Home-made Chocolate with lots of almonds & pistachios

It was during one of my birthdays (way back in 1990s), I was gifted a dappa (box) of home-made chocolate. They didn't have any particular shape, but tasted divine. I got the recipe from the aunty so that I could make them one day. It wasn't until 2008 before I started making them. The recipe is very simple.

Home-made Chocolate with butterscotch balls

Ingredients

Cocoa powder    - 1 measure (100g) 

Unsalted Butter - around 1 measure (80-90g)

Powdered sugar - 6 to 8 teaspoons (optional if you need 100% dark chocolate)

Chocolate Krishna....

Have you imagined what would God do if He needs a break? Or how His vacation would be? Well, look no further. Head to the nearest place where "Chocolate Krishna" is played to get to know more about it. Chocolate Krishna, a humorous play by Crazy Creations' Mohan is where I spent New Year's Day with my family. This is the second time in five years that I am watching it. Apparently the play has been performed over 700+ times so far. 

The plot revolves around Madhu, a salesperson for chocolates & his family. Madhu, a worshipper of Lord Krishna, prays for his job promotion. And on Gokulashtami, The Lord Himself arrives (enacted by Crazy Mohan) to Madhu's home. Krishna is depicted as a human being with many wives (Bama, Rukmani, Meera - who all end up calling Madhu to talk with Krishna) and Krishna says he is on vacation taking a break from all of them. 

The first half of the play moves swiftly with witty dialogues delivered promptly. Here is a conversation between Madhu and one of Krishna's wives Rukmani over phone - 

மாது       : கிருஷ்ணா, ருக்மணி கூப்பிடறா... என்ன சொல்லட்டும்?

கிருஷ்ணா: நான் இல்லை-னு சொல்லிடு. 

மாது       : நீ இல்லை-னா அது நாத்திகம் ஆய்டாதோ? 

கிருஷ்ணா: அப்போ, நான் ஆத்துல இல்லை-னு சொல்லிடு. ஆத்திகம் ஆய்டும். 

It is that time of the year...

An year has almost come to an end. And, it is only during the end, I begin to analyse what sort of an year it was, in hopes of making the next one better. 2014 is truly a remarkable year for me personally and travel-wise as well. (I intend to blog about the short trips I went in 2014 sometime soon.)

Now coming back to the year end (or optimistically beginning of a new year), New Year resolutions that I have taken over the past years have got little attention as days go by. At one point, I stopped having new year resolutions. However, this year I plan on having a few (lets call it, needs of the hour) and I hope to achieve them. So, here goes the list... 

• Start living my life to the fullest
• Get rid of my laziness 
• Eat healthy, Lose weight and be Fit
• Travel more
• Start reading more books

I intend to post updates to my blog as I achieve these things. And, I wish you all a very Happy New Year. 

List of visa free countries for Indians

Watching a video on facebook by ixigo.com about the list of visa free or visa-on-arrival countries for Indian nationals prompted me to write this post. Here I have compiled facts from Wikipedia and Wikitravel for easy reference. Below is a list of 25 countries providing visa-free travel to Indian nationals, thereby reducing one burden from the travel budget.

Country	Duration	Known For
Asia
Bhutan**		Himalayas, Buddhist Monasteries
Hong Kong**	14 days	City,Disney Land, Shopping
Nepal**		Himalayas, nature
Kish Island		Tourist resort island in Iran
Macau		Casinos, churches, forts

Enrique Iglesias's India Concert

The year 2012 - out of many important things happened in that year, attending Enrique Iglesias's music concert was one among the best. Having been introduced to Enrique's songs by a dear friend of mine, I soon became a fan. The lyrics, the music, the feeling and ofcourse the man himself - melt my heart. (Well, this was before he released these awful latest albums). 

We (me and my other dear friend) were so excited that Enrique was doing a concert in Bangalore!! Thus began the epic journey :P which would take us across Bangalore on a day trip to Somnathpur, hitch up a ride to railway junction with total strangers in the middle of the night, where our train derailed and general liberation of myself among other things. 

Pichavaram

When we talk of Mangrove forests in India, it is Sundarbans which comes to our mind immediately. But there is one such forest in Tamil Nadu - Pichavaram, Chidambaram. It can be reached from Chennai in about 4.5 hours. If you are travelling nearby Chidambaram or Kadalur, I would suggest adding Pichavaram to your plan. Otherwise, spending a whole day exclusively for it may be too much of a travel. 

Mangrove Forest of Pichavaram

Ristoranti Italiani in Chennai

I am not sure how I came to like Italian cuisine, me being a self-professed fan of this style of cooking and all. But, I simply love it!! As this post's title suggests, its all about Italian Restaurants I have been to in Chennai. The list isn't big as of now, but I intend to make it huge (Concerned person, please note :P). I will also update here if I try any other new restaurant. 

First, is my favourite one, Little Italy - in Nungambakkam. As I write this post, I realise it was exactly an year ago that we had dined there. The menu was so elaborate and we were spoilt for choice.

Let me get started!!

Blogging is quite new to me and I have promised myself to post at least once a week... After a few years, I hope it will be fun to read (if I continue to blog regularly) what was going through my mind week after week. Mostly, I intend to write about my travel tales, movies, food, environment related stuff etc... Forgive me, if my writing is not upto a certain level, for I haven't written anything in a very long time. 

And....... I think, this counts as one post for this week :) Yeah, you may have guessed it right! I am a bit lazy and I intend to break out of this habit along with a bunch of others from my previous years' new year resolutions. I will tell all about my new year's resolution in another post! 

Update - I am in the process of importing posts from my previous blog. Hence, this post might be little confusing.