When I first realized…

I was watching some TV show on a lazy Saturday morning, sitting on my couch at the hotel where I've been staying for a month now. Being abroad has its own good and bad sides as you could possibly think about anything else in life too. WalMart showed up in between with a very emotional ad featuring a mom helping her son set up his hostel room and letting him be his own soon after. It was pretty obvious that it was his first time away from home!

Isn't it kind of interesting the way your mind switches between the present and past? I must say, it didn't even take a fraction of a second for my mind to do that! It took me back to that courtyard right in front of my hostel room in Coimbatore. That was the very first time for me too. Needless to say my dad and mom were with me. I was concerned, so were they. Its not that I can't be away, but just that the first times are always difficult. The very thought that your kid is gonna be away from home must've been painful for them. For me, it was a new world, a new life and a new beginning. For them, they go back to their old world with one good thing lesser to be around.

I'm not sure if they realized then, but I guess they did eventually, that their son has grown up and the most natural thing for a parent to do is to let him go. They didn't fret, at least not in front of me. Might have cried to each other and I could visualize dad & mom telling each other, it is for his good!

I remember that day when they helped me buy some stuff needed for the hostel room. Carried them along with me to the place and helped set it up. I also recollect that mom didn't say much, though I could figure out how heavy her heart must've felt. I don't remember if she cried, but I'm sure she did once she started back. Dad never expressed much but I knew that, deep inside he loved me so much! They both just asked me to take care and left me to start my new life. They pretty much were aware of how important it is for me to get away from being taken care of. I need to learn. I need to live. It is gonna be my life!

Dad, mom, I don't know what made me so lucky to have you as my parents! Thank you for being there and thank God for joining us. I love you both so much!!!

A Journey of Thousand Clicks!

I need to mention a bit about the late 80’s before I jump into what this ‘journey’ is all about. The time when I grew up as a kid. A couple of uncles and aunts of mine who are settled in the US, visited our home once a year, especially since we live in the ancestral home with our grandpa.
Their visits were always special since there was an aura to it. Other than being able to meet them, there was this thought that, they came from a place on the globe known as the ‘Land of Dreams’! It was even more interesting for me since these visits gave me an opportunity to go to the airport to pick up and later drop them back on their return. I guess my fascination towards anything to do with aircrafts started with these trips. Then of course, there always was those eager moments of opening of the huge travel bags which contained variety of unique things we get to see only once in a year!
All these experiences, I must say, created an out-of-the-world image about this place called The United States of America along with the fantasy of traveling on an aircraft. As a child I do remember running out of my house each time when I hear that distinct buzz of a plane and look up at the skies, spot the aircraft and watch it till it goes out of my sight… Those were wonderful moments of joy and I think even now, involuntarily, my head turns towards the sky when I hear that sound!
All these and more came to reality with my project team expected to visit Atlanta in the State of Georgia in the US! I was consciously trying hard, not to think much about it knowing how unpredictable travel plans in IT industry are. As the days neared, shopping done and bags ready, I must admit I was looking forward for experiencing my childhood dream coming true! In fact, I was more excited in the prospect of flying than visiting the US :)
It must be sheer irony that the first ever flight in my life, I was expected to take was Air France which just lost a flight after a lightning strike, with a couple of hundreds of passengers in the middle of Atlantic Ocean about a week before my designated date of travel! I didn’t feel nervous though, since I guess the excitement did override the concern.
The wait at the Bangalore Int’l airport exposed me to almost real time connectivity with the Wi-Fi available there. I promptly updated my status in Orkut and I loved the thought of my near and dear ones getting to know where I am almost at any given point of time :)
The class I flew was Economy and the itinerary was Bangalore-Paris-Atlanta with 2 hours of transit time at Paris. The experience of being seated in a flight was something which I felt was similar or even a bit less interesting than the local long distance buses which I take from Bangalore to Kerala! The only difference could be the presence of a small TV to your front and the regular supply of refreshments served by pretty flight attendants.
I loved the take off! The sudden increase in speed of the aircraft, once cleared to take off, pumps in so much of adrenalin that you seem to anticipate a mega event about to unveil right in front of yours eyes! The lift off and the climb added to the good feeling. I must say, compared to this experience, landing wasn’t that exciting.
The interim 2 hours of transit time at Paris exposed me to the ‘dry’ life of the Western World. In India we don’t get the feeling of being clean unless you use water. The rest room taught me one of the first lessons I need to learn for this short duration at least.
The flight above The Atlantic was magnificent! Cruise ships appeared as tiny spots in the ocean and the trail they left, reminded me of the jet trails we see while we look at the skies! At one point we were cruising at a height of above 40000 ft. The water drops that were on the window crystallized itself to ice and formed really interesting patterns. My camera, Canon A 590 IS, if she could speak, would’ve smothered me with her love for letting her capture every possible moment! :)

Finally after a combined flight of almost 22 hours we started our descent to the city of Atlanta in the state of Georgia, the World Head Quarters of Coca-Cola. As though the pilot wanted us to have a better view of the city, he went around in circles for a while before touching down. And there we were… In the Land of Dreams!!!

My Pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymukkadan/AJourneyOfThousandClicks?authkey=Gv1sRgCICYuar72aq4xAE#

Coorg Reloaded!

Genre: Multi-day trip

Bangalore to Coorg: Drive down – One of our friends’ Scorpio

Route: Bangalore – Srirangapatnam [via Mysore Road] - Hunsur [SH88] - Madikeri

Duration: 6 hours by Scropio

Accommodation

We stayed at WindCrest, a cottage on top of a beautiful hill which gets blanketed by the mist especially in the evenings, the kind you’ll see only in your dreams! The owner stays in a lovely cottage on the hill itself. There are two other cottages, one half-way down the valley and one almost in the valley. First one can accommodate 8 people and the second one probably 5. It is a standard 24 hours check out. Check the link for details.

We were 7 and took the first one. Rate was Rs 8000/- including two complimentary breakfasts. They’ll arrange for a camp fire on request with no extra amount. You can probably tip the guy who arranges it if you wish [I’m sure you will!].

A walk around the hill is one of the best recipes perhaps for almost every sort of people. Whether you badly need a break/vacation or you are with your guy/girl or you are recently married, the hill has something for all! As the evening sets in, the place indeed lives up to its name. The Gazebo on top of the hill provides you a view of the entire valley from where you can appreciate the hands of God that created this picturesque piece of land! You’ll be forced to relax, is the least I could say. All you need to do is yield to that heavenly bliss and let the cold misty breeze pamper you! I loved every moment of it!!!

Attractions/Locations

The drive is totally awesome with Mysore Road Highway till Srirangapatnam & State Highway 88 from Hunsur till Kushalnagar. There is a stretch of around 20 kms between Srirangapatnam & Hunsur which is not that good. The stretch from Kushalnagar till Madikeri is really bad.
We were fortunate to travel in this season with either side of the roads dressed up with fully blossomed trees proudly showing off their red, orange and yellow color flowers!
You may refer to one of my initial blogs named Charming Coorg to get further details. Just mentioning an additional place which we visited this time:
Dubare Elephant Camp - You cross a very serene river by stepping on the stones carefully to reach a small sized Elephant Camp. You can see the elephants, touch them and even join the mahouts in giving a bath to them. For people who’ve not been closely associated with these largest mammal on land, it could be a very ‘touching experience’!

My Pictureshttp://picasaweb.google.co.in/jerrymukkadan/CoorgReloaded?authkey=Gv1sRgCLXCvraXnYaJqAE#

Useful linkshttp://www.homestaykodagu.com/home_stay/windcrest.htm
http://www.windcrestacres.co.uk/location.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coorg
http://www.coorg.com/
http://www.travelcoorg.com/html/places_to_see.html
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/50243-best-route-coorg-bangalore.html

Aboard a Dredger!

Genre: Out-of-the-world!

Duration: 3 hours

Some Facts/Details

Name of the Dredger: Nehru-Shatabdi

Home Port: Kochi

Specifics: Grab Hopper - 1992 built with 1500 m3 hopper capacity

The Process
The 4 cranes on the ship operate simultaneously carrying out the dredging process. The clam shell grab of the onboard cranes splashes itself into the water and collects the silt and other seabed material. It then majestically rises from the water with the catch which is nothing but a bucket full of dirt! It is a sight worth seeing!!! This is deposited into the large tank, called hopper, with a heavy mesh on top to block larger objects.

The process continues for almost 2 hours and once the tank is full to the level it should, the anchors are lifted and we’re game for one of the most memorable journeys! The ship travels to the outer sea in order to deposit the collected silt there. The entire sea-line of Kochi unveils itself in front of our eyes while we’re on our way! Goshree Bridge that enhanced the connectivity of multiple islands of Kochi with the mainland & International Container Trans-shipment Terminal at Vallarpadam gives us an idea of how Kochi is going to grow! It is big!!! The fishing boats that return after the day’s catch is another fascinating view which even reminds you of a fleet of frigates!

Another spectacular picture on the trip is the natural wonder that that awaits us of a clear-cut demarcation of the shallow & deep sea! You’ll be stunned to see a line that divides these two right in the middle of the sea!!! That is the pinnacle of the voyage!!!

Once the ship reaches the outer sea, the doors on either side of the hopper is opened alternatively to empty the contents. The ship will still be in motion and the whole process of emptying gets over in a matter of minutes and then it returns to the base.

My Pictureshttp://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymukkadan/TheDredger?authkey=EdIywAQhOWc#

Useful links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dredging
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopper_barge
http://www.vallarpadamterminal.com/
http://www.cochinport.com/index.php

Backwaters - A slice of God's own Country!

Boat Trip from Changanacherry to Alappuzha [Dec 2008]




One of the activities during my X’mas vacation 2008, was a boat trip to Alappuzha from Changanacherry [my home town]. Sharing some details herewith… If you are expecting another bunch of pictures of a ‘house boat’ you are in for a surprise!

Genre: Half-day trip

Changanacherry – A small town in Kottayam district in Kerala
Alappuzha – The district in Kerala known as Venice of the East

Boat Service from Changanacherry Boat Jetty
Departure – 7:30, 13:00, 16:30

Duration – 2 hours 30 minutes

Some Facts/Details
This is not one of the exotic ‘House Boat’ experiences you would’ve heard!
The boat is owned by Kerala Water Transport Corporation and can be equated to buses which form part of the land transport. In places where backwaters are plenty, water is a pretty common mode of transport
The boat will take you through one of the most beautiful stretches of Kerala, the backwaters. This essentially is the route which any House Boat will take you through. Of course, this will be no frills :)
Both Changanacherry and Alappuzha are well connected with land with frequent bus services. You could reach out to other parts of Kerala from any of these Bus Stands managed by KSRTC [Kerala State Road Transport Corporation]
If you are looking for a private time with your family, this is not an option. But, if you are looking at an experience of economy travel as well as to know how people live and commute at these places, this is worth a try!
My Pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymukkadan/BackwatersASliceOfGodsOwnCountry


Useful links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changanassery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alappuzha

Sivasamudram & Talakad

Sivasamudram & Talakad [Dec 2008]
Genre: One day trip

Distance From Bangalore: 140 kms

Reaching the place
Car, Bike (if you’ve a good one), Hire a cab, KSRTC
Ø Via Mysore Road. Will be taking a deviation in between post which roads are pathetic

Duration – 3 hours by cab

Water Falls at SivasamudramBharachukki
Gaganachukki
You could get into the water at Bharachukki, but not at Gaganachukki

At Talakad
Banks of the river Cauvery which is as good as a beach. You’ll be surprised to see the sort of sand which definitely will remind you of a beach!
Nearby, there is a temple that’s low lying and gets covered with the sand which as per the myth is a curse. The authorities try to excavate it, but each time the sand properly covers it again! Read more about it from the links. Interesting J

Other interesting factsIt’s a pretty remote area, a village by all means
Road-side vendors there sell refreshments. My personal choice: Tender coconut water and that is the best after the steep climb of steps back after you visit Bharachukki

My Pictures

http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymukkadan/SivasamudramTalakad#

Useful linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sivasamudram#Waterfalls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talakadhttp://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/dec102007/1495.pdf

Charming Coorg!

Coorg [Dec 2008]
Genre: Multi-day trip





Bangalore to Coorg
Buses – KSRTC
Hire a cab

Duration – 6 hours by cab via Mysore Road

Places to Stay
There are multiple home stays available [Check the links for details]
We stayed at Palm Era Cottages. A two months old place with 3 cottages pretty well furnished. They’ll arrange for a camp fire also on request (Address: Sunnadakere Road, Kushalnagar, North Coorg, Email: palm_era@rediffmail.com, Phone: 97407 96989, Proprietor: Sachin T Soman)
Attractions/LocationsTibetan Monastery – One of the most beautiful temples I’ve ever seen! Seems as if they’ve used all the colors in the world and the ‘Golden’ statues standing tall at 60 feet inside the temple takes you to a different world altogether!
Abbi Falls – A small waterfall, 7 kms from Madikeri (Mercara), the largest town in Coorg. There is a suspended bridge facing the falls which, surprisingly is more beautiful than the falls itself J
Nagarhole/Rajiv Gandhi National Park – A reserved forest, but unfortunately not many animals to see and the road to the place is so pathetic that it took 4 hours for us to cover 90 kms!
Raja’s Seat – A high altitude place where you could appreciate the beauty of Coorg from top. There is a toy train there which will take you around a small hill. Also the road side vendors sell mouth watering mangoes and chaats!
There are a couple of other places too which you can visit, the details of which are available from the links below. But in general, the place is good for a relaxing sort of a trip, not much is in store for sight seeing.
My Pictures

http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymukkadan/CharmingCoorg#

Useful linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coorg
http://www.coorg.com/
http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/South%20India/Coorg/Coorg.htm
http://www.gocoorg.com/kushalnagar.html
http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/coorg/
http://www.travelcoorg.com/html/places_to_see.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagarhole_National_Park