Thailand Trip

The tourism industry of Thailand has steadily expanded during the past 40 years. This industry has continuously brought the highest amount of foreign currency into the country since 1982.

Thailand has much to offer visitors, from the fascinating culture and ways of life to the diversity of naturefrom mountains to seas and wide, flowing rivers. Ancient cities that are now World Heritage sites, world-renowned Thai food, and interesting variations of the culture can be found in different parts of the country.Furthermore, Thailand is centrally situated and has easy connections to other countries in the region. These factors enabled the tourism industry to grow very quickly.

To further promote tourism, TAT has encouraged various local communities to arrange activities that maintain and restore many traditions from the past in specific provinces, such as the Elephant Show in Surin and the Loy Krathong and Candle Festival in Sukhothai. New activities such as the light and sound show at the River Kwae Bridge in Kanchanaburi, the Road Show in Pattaya, and the Food Fair in Bangkok have also been introduced. Together these activities have greatly helped the promotion of tourism as well as enabling tourists to experience and understand Thai culture.

The outcome of the " Amazing Thailand " campaign was that in the year 2000, 9.5 million foreign tourists visited Thailand, and the increase in the number of tourists during that period indicates that the tourism industry is a powerful tool to assist the revival of the economy, leading to the fulfillment of Thailand's economic goals.  (Ref: http://thailand.prd.go.th)


Members: 2

Start time: 10:30 PM, Thursday, 6^th Oct, 2011

End time: 4:00 PM, Sunday, 16^th Oct, 2011

Total expense: Around 50000 INR/head

What went great:

- Best buddy

- Beaches

- Very Comfortable accommodation at Phuket

- Night life

Pain points:

-      Unwell all throughout

-      Bangkok shopping

-      Flood

Total duration: 10 days+ 11 nights

Season: Rainy season, Floods

Itinerary: New Delhi (India) -> Bangkok (Thailand) -> Phuket -> Bangkok -> Pattaya -> Bangkok -> New Delhi (India)

Day 1: 6^th Oct:

NewDelhi, India

12 mid-night: At airport

Day 2: 7^th Oct

Bangkok International Airport -> Phuket

4 AM(India): India departure

11 AM (Thailand): Arrived at Bangkok airport

12:40 PM: Visa on arrival process

2:00 PM: Phuket Departure

4:00 PM: Phuket airport arrival

4:30 PM: Hotel checkin at Phuket city (by Shared mini bus – 160 baht approx)

Total rest after a long day travel

Day 3: 8^th Oct, 
Phi-phi island

 Day 4: 9^th Oct

Phuket

Day 5: 10^th Oct

Phuket -> Bangkok -> Pattaya

Very tiring day/ night

Day 6: 11^th Oct

Pattaya

12th Oct

Pattaya

13^th Oct

Pattaya

14^th Oct

Pattaya -> Bangkok

15^th Oct

Bangkok

16^th Oct

Bangkok -> Delhi


(Awaiting for camera pics) :-X

Kemanagundi Trek: Trip Log

Kemmanagundi means "pit of red clay" in Kannada. It’s one of the the best-kept secret hill stations in Karnataka, about around 300kms from Bangalore. Also known as K.R. Hills,once it was summer retreat of Krishna Raja Wodeyar, it has lots of magnificent waterfalls and scenic trekking paths and lush coffee plantations. Sunset and from Rajbahavan and sunrise from Z-Point, the Hebbe falls being some of the highlights.

Members: 19

Start time: 10:30 PM, Friday, 29^th Jul, 2011

End time: 4:00 AM, Monday, 1^st Aug, 2011

Total travel: 700 Kms (Mini bus) + 40 Km (Walk)

Terrain: Hilly/Slopes, Coffee Estates, Small streams, Jeep Track

Total expense: 1300 INR/head

What went great:

- Lot of fun

- Comfortable accommodation during night

- Awesome team

- Memorable night meeting

- Leeches!! J what a fun!!

Pain points:

-      2 members lost during trek. Found after 4-5 hrs

-      Wet clothes, Rain all the time

Total duration: 2 days+ 3 nights

Weather: Rainy, Wet all the time

Vehicle: 24-seater bus

Day 1: 30^th Jul:

Kemanagundi base ->; Hebbe waterfall -->; Kemanagundi base

29^th Jul, 11 PM: Start from Bangalore

30^th Jul, 6:30 AM: Reached Kemanagundi

10:00 AM: Freshened up + breakfast -> Start for trek

Water hurdle: On the way!!

The beautiful forest trail

Vinayak & Sukirti

1 PM: Hebbe waterfalls

Hebbe Falls!

Private cottage! 

The tree was watching this whole beauty alone. Jealous!

Befriended tree...No more jealous now :P

Fed up of leeches and rain..few preferred Jeep ride as well :)

@Jeep track

Between the Poles!!
While descending, just near to the bus parking, one of the High voltage electric pole got broken due to heavy rain/wind. Bare High volt wire flying halfway between air & land and our bus stuck just before those wires. Here it is how our brave commandos solved the issue. :)
Sorry guys didn't help you there at all. Hope your mention and pics justifies the reason :)

Stepping Stone!!

1 picture's worth 1000 words: Damaged pole, high volt wires, stones placed by our "commandos", bus passing over!! Aswesome job guys

5:00 PM: Back to Kemanagundi ->; Dormitory stay, Team fun

Day 2: 15^th Jan

Kemanagundi base ->; Shanti falls -> Z-point -> Kemanagundi base -> Kalhattipura -> Kallahathi falls -> Kalhattipura -> Veerabhadreshwara temple

8 AM: Breakfast -> Start

8:30 AM: Reached Shanti falls

Shanti Falls

Kinda awkward shaped tree!!

On the way to Z-point! 

9:00 AM: Z-point

A beautiful spot with wind on full throttle!!

Z-point

Romance + Singing!!

Girish & I @Z-point

11:00 AM: Back to Kemanagundi base

12:30 PM: Kalhattipura village -> Start for Kalahathi falls

On the way to Kalahatthi falls!

3:00 PM: Kallahathi falls

Oranges on the way!!

4:30 PM: Back to Kalhattipura village

2 members lost in the trail. Fortunately got a call from them. Reached to another village with coffee estate called as “Blue Mountain” to search them.

Finally caught them at 6:45 PM J

5:00 PM: Veerabhadreshwara temple 

7:30 PM: Start back to Bangalore

The Final Push!! :D

10:00 PM: Dinner at highway restaurant

2:00 PM: Reached bangalore

4:30 PM: Home, Sweet Home!!

Photographs courtesy: Vinayak, Jayashree, Darshan, Varun

Random spinning wheels my boom boom car

8th April, 2011 was the D-day, finally I own 'my' brand new car. And it's Ford Figo Titanium Diesel :)

Even today when getting anything and everything has become easy (thanks to loans :D), car is still considered to be a status-quo and buying it as an emotional experience for many (surprisingly did not happen big time for me). Just like a Wife and House :P


The doubt was not the "WHY" (as my parents always ask me) but was always "WHICH" car. 


So, it was a long research and prioritization clarifications before I chose the car. Here I will go through my thought process and complete buying experience. 

Gundya-Yedkumari-Kadumane Trek (Sakleshpur) : 13 Jan - 16 Jan, 2011

Gundya-Yedkumari-Kadumane Trek (Sakleshpur): Trip Log

A green route trek on the Sakleshpura to Kukke Subrahmanya railway route which is scenic and green as it runs through the dense forest in which it is situated. Along the railway track one would cross bridges with heights of upto 150m and pass through tunnels with lenghts of upto 0.5 kms and not to forget the numerous streams en route. Yedakumeri is the place in midst of western ghats in Karnataka state.

Members: 8

Start time: 11:30 PM, Thursday, 13^th Jan, 2011

End time: 3:00 AM, Monday, 17^th Jan, 2011

Total travel: 500 Kms (Tempo-Traveller) + 50 Km (Walk)

Total expense: 1650 INR/head

What went great:

- Lot of fun and food

- Die hard team

- Comfortable stay at Railway station during night

Pain points:

-      Lost the trail

-      Back to same place after whole day trek on 2^nd day

Total duration: 3 days+ 4 nights

Itinerary:

Original plan (which didn’t materialize well): Gundya, Yedekumari, Kadumane. We will start from Gundya checkpost, then go towards Khaginare, from khaginare towards DAM We will be trekking at high mountains, railway track, over bridges (across valley at great heights) Cross Kepu Hole (River), Discover places around

Day 1: 14^th Jan

13^th Jan, 11 PM: Start from Bangalore

14^th Jan, 5:30 AM: Reached Gundya checkpost

8:30 AM: Trek started

3 PM: Reached Gundya peak (don’t know the exact names of the peaks). Could not find the right trail.

7 PM: Reached to Shiribagilu railway station. Night halt + Dinner cooked

Day 2: 15^th Jan

9 AM: Breakfast

10 AM: Start trek to reach Yedukumari

3:30 PM:

Whole day we kept on searching for the trail, but came back at the same place from where we started in evening. No wonder the name of the trek was – Jumanji. Now, we know why it was. :)

6 PM:

Night halt in the forest. Fire + Dinner

  

Day 3: 16^th Jan

7 AM: Started for the trek

10:30 AM: Water pool. Fun

12:00 PM: Reached back to Shiribagilu railway station. Lunch cooked

1:15 PM: Started for reaching to Kukke Subramanian through railway track

6:00 PM: Visited Kukke Subramanian temple

7:00 PM: Start back to Bangalore

10:45 PM: Dinner at highway dhaba

3:00 PM: Reached bangalore

Weather Conditions: Sunny

Vehicle: Tempo Traveller

Day 1:

Trek start

Trek Start

Trek on Railway track

Kadumane (I guess) peak 

Pose

Bridge pic: Vikas

Jogi (A south Indian movie) style :)

Reached the top!!

Ascending!

Descending!