Rollercoaster

New Zealand Adventure Trip

2012-01-16T05:10:00.000-08:00

New Zealand country is internationally known as a top holiday destination

Members:2

Starttime: 6:30 PM, Friday, 11^th Nov, 2011

Endtime: 2:00 PM, Saturday, 26^th Nov, 2011

Duration: 15 days, 15nights

Totaltravel: 3000+ Kms (Campervan)

TripType: Road Trip

Totalexpense: Around 3.5lacs including travel tickets

Whatwent great:

- Post-marriagevacation

- Adventurous roadtrip

- Sky dive

- Bungy Jump

- Shot-over jet

- Wine tasting

- Cruise

- Campervan withall facilities

- Small tour ofKuala Lumpur (Malaysia) during transit

- Parul :)

Painpoints:

- Accident on 1^st day

- Cold weather

- Less evening life/activity

Weather:Cold, Rainy, Sunny, Windy

Vehicle:Campervan

*The timings are local region timings (with time difference)

Day 1: 11^th Nov - The Departure

NewDelhi Airport (India) -> Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

11 PM: Departurefrom New Delhi International Airport

Day2: 12^th Nov – TwinTowers

KLArrival, Twin Towers (Petronas), KL tower visit

5 AM: Arrival at KL

10:30 AM: Breakfast

2:30 PM: TwinTowers (Petronas)

5:00 PM: KL Tower

7:00 PM: Small zoo

Day3: 13^th Nov – In theAir

KualaLumpur (Malaysia) -> Christchurch (New Zealand)

8:40 AM: Departurefrom KL Airport

11:55 PM: Arrivalat Christchurch, Hotel checkin

Limo airport pick-up

Day4: 14^th Nov – OurCampervan

Christchurch -> Ashburton -> Geraldine ->Lake Tekapo

11 AM: Campervanpickup

1:00 PM: Grocery Shopping& lunch

4:00 PM: Ashburton

And the accident happened!

6:00 PM: Geraldine

7:30 PM: Lake Tekapo

Day 5: 15^th Nov - Tekapo

Lake Tekapo -> Tekapo Observatory -> Lake Pukaki -> Twizel -> Omarama -> Lindis -> Taras -> Lake Dunstan -> Cromwell -> Arrow Junction -> Hayes -> Frankton -> Lake Wakatipu -> Kingston

11:00 AM: Lake Tekapo Observatory

1:00 PM: Lake Pukaki

3:30 PM: Lindis valley

4:00 PM: Taras

4:30 PM: Lake Dunstan, Crowell

6:30 PM: Frankton

11:30 PM: Kingston

Day 6: 16^th Nov – The cruise

Kinsgston -> Athol -> Mossburn -> Te Anau -> Milford sound

10 AM: Breakfast @ Kingston

12:40 PM: Eglinton river, Mossburn

1:10 PM: Reached Te Anau

3:00 PM: Reached Milford sound

And we missed the cruise

4:00 PM: Milford cruise

6:00 PM: Start from Milford sound

9:00 PM: Te Anau

11:00 PM: Lake Wakatipu (Freedom camping)

Day 7: 17^th Nov – Shotover Jet

Lake Wakatipu -> Frankton -> Queenstown

9 AM: Breakfast and start

10:00 AM: Queenstown

2:00 PM: Shotover jet

Day 8: 18^th Nov – Bungy Jump

Queenstown -> Gondola

2:30 AM: Gondola

4:30 PM: Indian lunch

5:00 PM: Shopping & Garden walk

3:00 PM: Bungy!

Day 9: 19^th Nov – Sky Dive

Queenstown -> Arthur point -> Arrowtown -> Lake Wanaka -> Makarora -> Fox Glacier

8:30 AM: Sky Dive

10:30 AM: Breakfast

1:30 PM: Arthur point

2:00 PM: Arrowtown

6:00 PM: Lake Wanaka

7:00 PM: Makarora

12:30 AM: Fox Glacier

No Hotels..grrr

Day 10: 20^th Nov – Rainy Day

Fox Glaxier -> Whataroa -> Greymouth -> Reefton -> Murchison -> Lake Rotoroa

12 PM: Breakfast and start

Nothing except Rain..and the police caught..Grr

Day 11: 21^st Nov - WoW

Lake Rotoroa -> Richmond -> Nelson -> Kalkumera Bay -> Havelock -> Blenheim

1:30 PM: Brunch and start

3:30 PM: Nelson, Visit to Wow (World of Wearables), Nelson town

6:00 PM: Start from Nelson

12:00 AM: Bleinheim

Day 12: 22^nd Nov – Wine Tasting

Bleinheim -> St Annes Lagoon -> Christchurch

11:00 AM: Breakfast, Feeding the Eddie

3:00 PM: Makana Chocolate Factory

3:30 PM: Wine tasting at Bleinheim

5:30 Pm: Start from Bleinheim

11:30 PM: Christchurch

Day 13: 23^rd Nov – Desi Dinner

Christchurch city walk

3:00 PM: Campervan return :(

5:00 PM: Mall

7:00 PM: Dinnet at Sandeep’s abode

Thailand Trip

2011-12-16T04:16:00.000-08:00

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

Starttime: 10:30 PM, Thursday, 6^th Oct, 2011

Endtime: 4:00 PM, Sunday, 16^th Oct, 2011

Totalexpense: Around 50000 INR/head

Whatwent great:

- Best buddy

- Beaches

- Very Comfortableaccommodation at Phuket

- Night life

Painpoints:

- Unwell all throughout

- Bangkok shopping

- Flood

Totalduration: 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

Day2: 7^th Oct

BangkokInternational Airport -> Phuket

4 AM(India): Indiadeparture

11 AM (Thailand): Arrivedat Bangkok airport

12:40 PM: Visa onarrival process

2:00 PM: PhuketDeparture

4:00 PM: Phuketairport arrival

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

Total rest after along 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

2011-08-05T05:18:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

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

2011-01-22T06:12:00.000-08:00

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!

Gangtok Trip(Sikkim): 26 Nov-30 Nov, 2010

2010-12-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

Gangtok-Nathula (Sikkim): Trip Log

Gangtok is a bustling, friendly hill station, and the capital of the Himalayan state of Sikkim. The name Gangtok is derived from the Tibetan word for 'hillside,' and the city currently has a population of around 80,000 - a mixture of indigenous Sikkimese and people of Nepalese and Tibetan ancestry. Gangtok is clean, highly organized, beautifully maintained and locally known as the Switzerland of the east. The city sleeps by 9pm mostly, except for a few pubs which are open till 11pm.

Members: 2 (Punj & Varun)

Start time: 9:55 PM, Friday, 26^th Nov, 2010

End time: 9:00 AM, Monday, 30^th Nov, 2010

Total travel: 1150 Kms (Train, Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri & return) + 240 Kms (Jeep, New Jalpaiguri to Gangtok & Return) + 170 Kms (Jeep + Taxi, Outbound & Local sightseeing)

Total expense: Total 8000 including complete transport, food and lodging

What went great:

- Beautiful places

- China border

- Monastery visit

- Damn cheap liquor

Pain points:

- No night life: Everything closes by 8 PM

Total duration: 2 days + 1 nights

Going: Kolkata Railway station, Howrah (26^th Nov, 10:00 PM) à Jew Jalpaiguri (27^th Nov, 10:00 AM) à Gangtok by jeep (12:30 PM, Charges: 160 INR per head) à Night stay at Gangtok and confirmed for the permit for Nathula pass entry through agent

Sight-seeing: 28^th Nov, from 8 AM to 6 PM, Jeep hired for 600 INR per head: Nathula pass à Baba Mandir (New) à Baba Mandir (Old) à Hathi Lake (shape is like Elephant) à Changu lake à Back to Gangtok Hotel

Dinner and drinks at Pub 25, among only few places which remains open till 11 PM.

29^th Nov, 9 AM, Jeep hired for Rumtek Monastery, 40 INR per head, then back to Gangtok at 3:15 PM and started back from Gangtok to New Japaiguri station by Jeep (160 INR per head). Caught train for Kolkata at 9 PM

Weather Conditions: Cold, Sunny till 2-3 PM and Foggy after that

Vehicle: Train, Jeep, Car

Sunderbans Forest Backpack Trip: 13-14 Nov 2010

2010-11-17T02:34:00.000-08:00

Sundarbans Forest: Trip Log

Sundarbans is vast tract of forest and saltwater swamp forming the lower part of the Ganges Delta. The Sundarbans are a part of the world's largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges,Brahmaputra and Meghna. It is home to the largest number of wild tigers in the world and is dominated by mangrove forests. Sunderban is only accessible by waterways.

Members: 4

Start time: 8:00 AM, Saturday, 13^th Nov, 2010

End time: 8:30 PM, Sunday, 14^th Nov, 2010

Total travel: 100 Kms (Train) + 40 Kms (Auto + Rickshaw) + 50 Kms (Boat)

Total expense: 1550 INR/head

What went great:

- Real backpacking trip. Used only public transports

- Boat and rickshaw rides

- Beautiful and comfortable stay @resort

- Private Boat Bar ;)

- Great buddies

Pain points:

- Food

- Shortage of Cash at the end of trip

Total duration: 2 days + 1 nights

Going: Kolkata Railway station, Sialdah (10:30 AM) à Canning Railway station (12:00 PM) à Babu ghat by walk (12:30 PM) à River cross by public boat (3 Rs per head) (1 PM) à Sonakhali on open roof auto :-) (1:45 PM) à Motorboat travel to Pakhiralay (3:30 PM) àLunch à Gosaba on Rickshaw (5:30 PM)

Sight-seeing: Sajnekhali Camp, Sudhyanakhali camp, Dobanki camp (On private boat, 14^th Nov, start: 7 AM) drop at Pakhiralay

Coming: Pakhiralay (3:30 PM, dropped by private boat) à Sonakhalli (auto) à Babu ghat (auto) à Canning railway station by walk (6:00 PM)

Weather Conditions: Sunny

Vehicle: Train, Boats, Auto, Man-driven rickshaw

Catching the pubic boat at Babu ghat

On sale: Punj in the special auto

On Motorboat going to Gosaba

Eggs or potatoes: Eggs selling like potatoes, seen eggs first time like this

@Resort

@resort with Anupam and Teji

Resort details: Binani resort, Gosaba. We rented a 4 seater dorm at 1200 INR for overnight stay.

The Cash Crunch: It's always good to take good amount of cash when you go for such trips. But thanks to ATM, I have just lost the habit of keeping cash. Thought of taking out cash during travel but unfortunately didn't get any working ATM. At the resort stay, we realized that the common fund we have collected cash is just too low to reach back. I was the biggest culprit as I just contributed 500 INR to the fund. :P

All of us then emptied our pocket till single paisa to add into the fund. We put resort and boat charges separate so that we don't expend them in any other luxury. Put rest of the small fund (not sufficient though to reach back) for reaching to nearest ATM, so that I could take out some cash for everyone ;)

Anupam was so scared to let the last pennies of cash go away that he had a an altercation over 10 bucks with auto driver while coming back...sorry man...all my fault!! :D

Finally reached to the only ATM of the town and got some cash for everyone's relief....All's well that ends well!!

Pic with resort owners: reason of good hospitality and comfortable stay at forest

Our boat: Private boat hired for forest camps visits

Started at around 7:30 AM from resort. Boat hired for 2500 INR including lunch on boat and for showing us the 3 different forest camp and drop us at Gosaba taxi stand at around 4 PM.

The charges for forest entry and taking an approved guide are separate which comes close to 500 INR.

Dil Chahta Hai

Sajnekhali Camp: First Tiger reserve camp. You get permission to enter Sunderbans forest and an approved guide from here

Unreal deer ;)

A wrecked ship @Sudhyanakhali camp

Varun, Punj and Trji @ Sudhyankhali camp

Snake sighted!!

Crocodile sighted!

Delta pic

Our boat bar :)

Hands on boating!

Dobanki camp: Last camp

Loneliness: A Boat without any fisherman

Scenery while coming back

Shivanasamudram Waterfalls trip - 5th Sept 2010

2010-11-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

Shivanasamudram Waterfalls: Trip Log

Shivanasamudra is probably the largest waterfall in the Karnataka after Jog Falls. The place is also credited for hosting the first hydroelectric project in India. Here, Kaveri splits into two, falls into a valley in two separate places called Gaganachukki and Bharachukki and re-unites downstream. A good lot of water falls down from both the waterfalls. Gaganachukki especially is a steep fall where water gushes down with great velocity. It is quite risky to climb down and reach waters because of un-predictable depth and slippery rocks. A steep staircase is carved out of rocks at Bharachukki, where you can play in water.

Members: 11

Start time: 8:30 AM, Sunday, 5^th Sept, 2010

End time: 10:00 PM, Sunday, 5^th Sept, 2010

Total travel: 300 Kms (Tempo-Traveller)

Total expense: 900 INR/head

What went great:

- Lot of fun
- Great team
- Drunkards party ;)

Pain points:

- Late start

- Missed Banyan tree sight-seeing

Total duration: 1 day

Itinerary:

8 AM: Start
9:30 AM: Breakfast at Lokaruchi, Mysore road

12 PM : Reach Shivansumdra – Gaganachukki waterfalls

1 PM: Reach Shivansumdra – Bharachukki waterfalls

1:30 PM: Coracel Ride (if weather & time permits)

2 PM : Lunch/Snacks/Daroo ;)

4 PM: Start back

7:00 PM: Reach Banayan Tree but was closed

5 PM: Start back to Bangalore

Weather Conditions: Pleasant/Rainy

Vehicle: Tempo Traveller

Kodur - Talakona Trek - The Helluva Trek :)

2010-06-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

Kodur - Talakona Trek: Trip Log

Members: 17 (Trek organized by Chennai Trekking Club, ‘CTC’)

Start time: 10:30 PM, Friday, 18^th Jun, 2010

End time: 05:00 AM, Sunday, 21^st Jun, 2010
Total travel: 300 Kms (Train) + 50 Kms (Jeep) + 40 Kms (WALK)

Total expense: 1200 INR/head

What went great:

- One Helluva of the trek

- Adventure at the peak: It had everything Night trek, forest officials, cave pool splashes, stream crossing, gorges, the rain, flash floods, staying awake virtually all night, very slippery rocks, gigantic waterfalls, amazing gorges, lost in the forest, heavy rain, dinner and so much more. (Copied from Tamal’s mail)

- Flash flood: Leaving I actually enjoyed it

- Great team. Even first timers were far better than the earlier trek I went.

- 2 very li’o’vely girls ;)

Pain points:

- No rest and brisk walk

- Forgot my rainy suit.

- Lost in jungle during the end trail

Total duration: 2 days + 3 nights

Going: Chennai Central station (10:50 PM) à Renigunta Junction (2:00 PM) à Kodur by Jeep à Trek from Kodur (4:30 AM)

Coming: Kodur à Talakona à Renigunta à Chennai

Weather Conditions: Full of rain/Pleasant/Sunny

Vehicle: Train, Jeep
Photographers: Rafi (Major photography contribution, most of the pics shown are taken by him), Shekhar, Varun...will add more once people share the pics :)

Prologue:

After having an unstoppable fun for 1 year during my MBA, I am back to the job once again. A break was much needed to fill the gap of missing all fun. Kodur-Talakona trek was among my next targeted treks…so guess what I registered to the trek as soon as I saw the mail. Soon my colleagues, Dipendra and Shreyans, both first timers to CTC, also registered.

18^th Jun, 2010

Chennai Central station, Chennai à Reningunta

22:30 hrs – Reached to Chennai Central Railway Junction, Chennai. Greetings, Hi, Hello!! Hmm..all look so happy…let’s see :D

22:50 hrs – Train started. Chatting with Shekhar and Dipendra. Don’t know when I just dozed off.

19^th Jun, 2010

Renigunta Junction (2:00 PM) à Kodur by Jeep à Trek from Kodur at 4:30 AM

2:00 hrs – Reached Renigunta. Put bags in jeep. Had tea

02:45 hrs – Alok and Rafiq arrived from Bangalore

3:00 hrs – Jeep start

4:30 hrs – Trek start from Kodur forest area

Team pic at beginning

So happy? ;)

JB: A very nice guy

08:00 hrs: Lazying around.

Caught by forest guard:

At 7:30 am, when the team took a pit-stop for small refreshments a forest guard caught us and didn't let us enter into the forest area without permission. Finally permission granted after 1.5 hrs of the request from all kinda people and authorities on call. thanks to Pawan, Tamal and all other guys who made it happen. :)

Inside the deep well.Can you see the depth...?

Entring into Pandora island (Remember movie Avatar)...i mean forest entry

Tough crawl

The First pool

Fun @First pool

Margot: Picture perfect

Rafi in full mood!!

Shreyans: Don style

Alok: Ashoka style

Dipendra having fun @first pool

Shekhar: Ultimate photographer

Passing through a large cave

Spectacular gorges near to the first pool

Pawan: Hell of a trekker

Suicide point!!

Glory!!

'Dil Chahta Hai' time

Another beautiful small waterfall

Luie and Gatien: ULtimate guys

Team work for crossing the 2nd pool

The camping point. Chakraborty and JB busy in catching fresh water crabs for dinner. Behind (in between the 2 guys) there is the kitchen!!

The Flash Flood....:

Finally at 6:10 pm, we decided to put our camp near to a small but beautiful water stream. The stones were pretty much flat there which make them ideal for taking rest at night. So few of our gourmets started preparing the meal which started with hot n sour + chicken soup, then to delicious khichdi + soyabean n potato gravy :D... what a treat!!...it 'became' the most delicious meal I ever had...after working out for whole day long what else could you wish in a beautiful but lonely jungle!! BTW Rafi, JB, Chakri also caught 5 big crabs which incidentally they never cooked...guys were too tired to cook anything and too full to eat anything more i guess !! :)

Dinner finished by 8:30 PM, went for sleep in hope for taking a good rest after a real work out whole day!!

But the real adventure was yet to come...at around 10 PM rainfall started...it started pouring all over...everyone started running towards small caves for shelter...damn!! we will have no rest in this trek...reached 1st "master" cave - HOUSEFUL, RUN...2nd cave - Shit it's too small to accommodate more than 1 person, RUN...3rd cave - By this time I was completely drenched...ok some place to sit...but water is still coming all over...Loie sitting beside me...sat for 15 min while Rain god was pouring water on our head and under our feet...heavy rainfall started...

ME: phew!! Loie this place is of no use now...let me go outside and check other place...plz give me your torch.

Went outside for exploration and got one more very very narrow and scary cave after climbing some more. I was scared because of a high possibility of some king cobra sitting in the cave...waiting for fools like us...anyways got Loie along with me and crouched for around 1.5 hours inside the cave...BTW the cave was better than earlier but not water proof again...so water was still dripping over my head...:(

^20th Jun, 2010

Rain became too low (drizzle) at 12:30 AM...Loie and I came out of the cave to straighten our back...suddenly there was a loud noise of water gush...we put our torch on the water stream...damn stream was becoming swift and lot of water was gushing in....Tamal almost screamed - FLASH FLOOD...take all your stuff...run for the high place. Within 30 seconds or so...water was in full rush and almost 3-4 feet high.. Most of the guys went for higher place (luckily it was near to main cave)...Rafi, Pawan and I were left behind at our old small cave and didn't want to move as the "master"cave must be houseful already...water stream was very near to us so we kept on watching water stream...as one more Flash flood would have been enough for a nice batching of 3 of us ;)...so till 4:30 AM we kept watching the stream while taking quick nap in between...Bored...at 4:30 AM we also moved to master cave/bedroom area...where all people were snoring and sleeping happily on/in the water :D

I also took out my mat...put on wet place full of water....SPLASH!! and I was also sleeping on water.

Morning everyone was discussing thrilling FLASH FLOOD and topic became a great time-pass for all of us...LOLzzz...Lifetime experience!!

One of the beautiful waterfall at the trek

Enthusiasm!!

Tamal arguing with naked guys!! For what...?? ;)

Fun time!! Reached at the source/peak of Talakona waterfalls/trek

And we got LOST:

Well as topic itself says that this was a helluva trek...so ending of the trek could not be so easy...YES we got LOST during the end trail of the trek. After reaching to the source (one of the source) of Talakona stream we were required to descend back...it was a dense forest with shrubs and bushes everywhere. We started going back at around 12:30 PM

Walk Walk Walk - 30 min...Laggards shouting for becoming slow and taking some rest

Rest for 2 min as Tamal (grp leader) was calculating the directions

Walk Walk Walk for 10 min...Laggards shouting for becoming slow and taking rest

Rest for 2 min as Tamal calculating the directions...

Tamal - Guys we need to fall back...as this is the wrong way!!

Laggards - What the hell...first of all you are running like hell and then you got us on the wrong way...

Tamal - Let's go back...

Well no choice for any one of us!! :D

Walk Walk Walk for 30 min...Laggards shouting for becoming slow and taking rest

A water stream came...2 min rest

Walk Walk Walk for 30 min...Laggards shouting for becoming slow and taking rest...

Rest for 20 min!!

"Tamal - Guys we are LOST

All: !@#$#$#$%$^%$&^$^%&%$$%#$%!@#!$@#$%$#%

Laggards: We will die now...we are out of energy and water..we can't go back...

Wise people: What are the option?"

Tamal: We have to go back from where we started and then I may search for the right trail...moreover we need to be near to the water source for survival..so let's not delay and start asap.

Make sense!!!

Walk Walk Walk for 30 min...Laggards shouting for becoming slow and taking rest...

The old water stream came..10 min rest...this time we filled water bottes...for any kind of emergency.

Walk Walk Walk for 30 min...Laggards shouting for becoming slow and taking rest...

30 min rest as Tamal and Pawan went for searching for the right trail...once they came back...they asked to us to go back towards the source of Talakona stream...basically the place from where we started at 12:30 PM...

Walk Walk Walk for 20 min...and we reached back to the same place...

By this time it was almost 4:30 PM...

Tamal and Pawan went for search while others took some rest...I got ultimate massage from Rafi...:)

at 5 PM...Tamal came back...

"guys i found a trail which must be the right path...we may all go together on that path. What you all say?"

NOBODY AGREES...most of them them tell that they should first confirm 100 percent and then we should go but then it will take toll of the time!!

Finally after persuading the laggards...the team started back for the new trail...Let's hope this is the right way

Walk Walk Walk for 30 min...and YIPPIE we got the right trail!!

Rainbow while coming back...saw after a long time

Rest for 15 minutes and there was around 6-8 kms more to walk...but at least no risk of getting lost now...!!

Walk Walk...now it started raining again...walk walk rest...completely drenched...walk...walk...it was getting dark...dawning...

Now got thousands of stairs to descend while raining...phew...it was tough..especially for me who have problem in my left knee...(accident 2 years back)

Finally reached to Talakona waterfall (main) which was huge and beautiful...it's a famous picnic and tourist destination...unfortunately were not able to take any pics due to heavy rainfall...

Walk walk...reached at the place where jeep were supposed to come...but they were not there...Reason: it's almost 6:30 PM...while this place is abandoned at 5 PM by forest authorities...so

Walk walk for 2-3 kms more...suddenly I got a cramp in both of my legs....and then the walk became among the most difficult walk for me...anyways somehow managed the finish...:)

Jeep arrived...had dinner...bid the bye to Blore guys (Rafi and Alok)...reached to Reningunta station at 11 PM...train at 1 AM...waited at platform while it was raining heavily...I was wondering...if we would have been there at the place tonight as well...we must have had confronted a Tsunami....:)

Anyways took some rest...then caught train at 1 AM...don't know when I jsut slept...Chennai station came...woke up...Team cuddled and huddled...and broke up...keeping an unforgettable moments we passed with each other...

Awesome time guys!! Missing the trek and you all!!

Nagala Waterfalls Trek-2 (Eastern entry): Trip Log

2010-04-13T00:46:00.000-07:00

Members: 30 (Trek organized by Chennai Trekking Club, ‘CTC’)

Start time: 5:30 AM, Saturday, 10^th Apr, 2010

End time: 10:00 PM, Sunday, 11^th Apr, 2010

Total travel: 250 Kms approx

Total expense: 500 INR (Food and Petrol sharing price)

What went great:

- Awesome adventure. Among few of the best trek.

- Amazing water pools and falls all over the trek

- Great management by CTC guys

- The best part: Made very good friends

Pains:
- Left from College one day in advance due to lack of conveyance from Great Lakes (near Mahabs) during early morning hours
- My pick up point changed to Guindy in the last moment due to no conveyance at Tidel park
- Need to learn swimming properly :(

Total duration: 2 days, 1 night

Going: Chennai – Nagala

Coming: Nagala – Chennai

Weather Conditions: Hot and Sunny

Vehicle: Car

10^th Apr, 2010

Guindy, Chennai

04:00 hrs – Reached to Guindy, Chennai
05:30 hrs – Started from Nathan's cafe (the next pick up point)
07:00 hrs – Reached Nagala and had fresh and best idly of one year stay at Chennai

Akka (the village woman) preparing and serving delicious breakfast

08:00 hrs – Trek Start

Aditya and Ananth: The amazing trek organizers and trekkers

The first pool, Depth: 3-10 ft, Safe mostly ;)

Got tired and got a snap :)

The dead-end pool, Depth: 3-20 ft, Dangerous for non-swimmers

Luggage transfer through ferry: Great team work and coordination, Kudos to all swimmers

Ok...finally crossed the dead-end pool

Trailing through these boulders was most difficult for me

Few good friends I made: Arun and Shaila

Reena: One more!!

Ananth: The superhero

Srinivasan and Anusha: The beautiful couple

Gayathri, Teja, Sahila, Reena at the picnic (final) pool

Dinner time, Menu: Knorr soup and Maggi

Bed tea :)

Every fall has its own story

The picnic pool and few scared non-swimmers 'divers'. Thanks to Ananth, Max and others!!

Picnic pool, depth: 3-20 ft, Deadly, Not for non-swimmers

Excited by seeing the new pool, I went till the stream and stood under it for some-time...water was unexpectedly cold...so thought of getting out of the pool....while getting back I thought of catching hold of a rock at sideways of the pool...I told Herbert (fellow trekker) to keep an eye on me...(I am a semi-swimmer, can swim only for few-feets :P)...Start -> Damn i am so tired, could not even swim -> ok let me catch hold of that rock and I will be out then -> finally reached up to the rock -> put my hands on rock...wow had so much fun in water -> oops...my hand slipped and I am going deep into water...damn water is not swallow here -> GUDUP GUDUP (drowning) -> ok let me try again to catch hold of the rock.-> GUDUP GUDUP (drowning) -> no success, damn I am screwed -> HELP -> ok somebody is watching me, I will be saved -> GUDUP GUDUP (drowning) -> slipped my hand again from the rock -> GUDUP GUDUP (drowning) -> dude was watching still and was having fun...damn..give your hand I am all screwed -> Finally hand comes as a bliss -> GUDUP GUDUP (drowning) -> Saved :D...-> Got a complete lecture from Ananth :D

BTW please don't try such whacky stuff...;)

Reena after being thrown in water, Max the savior again

3 commandos: Arun, Raghu, Varun

Naveen: Another hell of a trekker at CTC

Arun, doing some impossible stuff. Hope he will get a chance in Avatar-2

Crossing dead end pool to cross dead-end pool while getting back

Fun time while getting lost in Nagala

The zoo animal: Naveen

Few CTCiians

...and he was watching us.

The village girl

Lovely sisters: Reena & Shaila

The beautiful smile: A village child

Why so happy?

Good friends I made

CTC Commando Raghu

The beautiful village children

Amazing experience and one of the best trek I have ever done...impeccable planning and implementation...Kudos to the organizers and core trekkers: Aditya, Ananth, Naveen, Raghav, Arun, Kishore, Mony who made it so ultimate.

In the end, it's not the just place which makes it beautiful but it's the people at the place which makes it great...i am happy to meet 29 wonderful people at the trek...friends be in touch and let's keep rocking the world!!

Holi 2010 @Great Lakes

2010-03-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

An awesome Holi played at Great Lakes. Few pics of the awesome moments.

"Avatar" Murugan

Holi Toothpaste

Kapda Phaad Holi - Torn Great Lakes T-shirt on display

Ayush and me in Mud :)

Adventure GRT

2010-03-04T03:12:00.000-08:00

Went for extravagant Breakfast @GRT, Mahabalipuram (courtesy Kirti). Filled food till throat. :D
Then went for Deep Sea Adventure Dive after Mukul started "crying" for a boat ride. ;)
The moments:

Cheers with tea :(

Disgusting...however girls are still enjoying ;)

Mukul and Kirti had a major fight to get themselves clicked here :D

Hitesh was also doing insane things after having heavy breakfast :D

After vomiting...he wants to die

And finally I proposed .... to be my friend...he blushed ;)

3 genius :)

Valentine Effect, proposed Vidhya through Almond...look the happiness on her face ;)

Oo got impressed from our Krishna

Kirti: The power-puff girl

Met Great Lakes senior 'Champions' batch @GRT- Karthik with his wife

Commandos ready

Attack

The whole world is ours

Mukul and Sushil on the small boat

Inside deep sea water

The punching bag: Who's who?

Crocodile Park Trip

2010-02-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

Went to Crocodile Park on ECR road Chennai on 19th Feb 2010. The moments:

A Matrix Shot before leaving hostel

Got scared ;)

Mukul and Hitesh: The guides

Inside the jaws

Eating the Croc

3 monkeys (BTW what do we day to female monkey ;)

Biggest Croc at the park

Nice pic while coming back @Sai Baba temple on ECR

One more nice pic with flowers

The best pic of the day, taken by Kirti while getting out of the temple

Nagala Waterfalls Trek: Trip Log

2010-02-15T06:32:00.000-08:00

Members: 50+ (Trek organized by Chennai Trekking Club, ‘CTC’)

Start time: 4:30 AM, Sunday, 14^th Feb, 2010

End time: 11:30 PM, Sunday, 14^th Feb, 2010

Total travel: 340 Kms approx

Total expense: 500 INR (Food and Petrol sharing price)

What went great:

- Awesome adventure. Among few of the best trek.

- Got to see 4 waterfalls in a trail.

- Biggest group for a trek.

- Great management by CTC guys

Pains:

- Got Late in leaving Chennai. Missed trekking during early morning

- Left from College one day in advance due to lack of conveyance from Great Lakes (near Mahabs) during early morning hours
- Dark all over in the end. Was not able to even see-off the team members.

Total duration: 1 day

Going: Chennai – Nagala

Coming: Nagala – Chennai

Weather Conditions: Hot and Sunny

Vehicle: Car

13^th Feb 10

Tidel Park, Chennai

04:00 hrs – Reached to Tidel park, Chennai

05:20 hrs – Started from Tidel (BTW we took around 2 hours more to leave Chennai due to various meeting points of members)

09:30 hrs – Reached Nagala (around 1.5 hrs journey) and had breakfast

10:00 hrs – Trek Start

Trek Start point

The Withered Tree proposing Nagala Lake on Valentine

The trek

Chimpanzee: I loved coming down on bamboo in tarzan style...LOL ;)

Nagala Waterfall trail # 1

Nagala waterfall trail # 2

Nagala Waterfall trail # 3

Nagala Waterfall trail # 4

Profile pic - With one waterfall

Marine - The valentine for the day :)

The Nagala peak

18:45 hrs: Back at start point.

It was too dark by the time. It took around 2.5 hrs to descend. Plan accordingly . Anybody trailing in future for one day, make sure that you come down by 6:30 PM or so.

Overall an awesome trek just in one day. Very well organized and great trekking team. Made few good friends while on trek...keep in touch buddies and see ya on next trek.

Legends

2010-02-08T12:10:00.000-08:00

Was checking my folders...when I got these pics and smiled for few minutes...'Ancient' memories...Memories!! oops i don't even remember :)

Mahabalipuram World Heritage Temple Trip

2010-01-20T02:53:00.000-08:00

After a long time, got the chance to visit to Mahabalipuram temple. Guess what the temple is just 9 km away from Great Lakes but still it took almost 9 months to come over there. The temple gets closed by 6 PM, while we guys generally goto Mahabs after 8 PM. Of course, "8 PM" should be taken after 8 PM. ;)
Anyways, finally we are there on 19th Jan, 2010. Enjoy :)

Hitesh romping with the elephant

Mukul and me: Jai-Veeru

Let's dance with "Apsara"

Hitesh got the match through Parrot

Kirti acting like Krishna

Too Heavy ;)

It's a small matter for our Hulk

Another boulder to push, lot of work-out...huh

3 intelligent

Kirti desperate to get married

This parrot was a big idiot...tried hard to scare him...but all efforts in vain

Great Lakes Term 5

2010-01-15T11:33:00.000-08:00

Most eventful term. There were so many activities + events happened that I got barely anytime to study and even hit my blog. My whole term just went into organizing International Entrepreneurship Conference scheduled on 13th Jan, 2010. But, it was fun to do all that.
Damn, I think I read least in this term. At least I should pass. :P

Great Lakes Term 5 (25^th Nov to 15^th Jan, 2010)
Course Name	Facilitator	Positives	Delta (No negatives)	Any Comments
FSAV-1	Gerald Lobo, Professor & Arthur Andersen Chair in Accounting Department of Accountancy and Taxation Houston, Texas	Do anything you want. Calm Prof	A major disaster. I could not grab even a single bit. Boring.	There will be no change in voice tone for 3 hours. Monotonous. Change Prof please. Rating; .5/5
Global Financial Strategy	Dr. Krishnan Dandapani	Among few of the good finance/strategy Prof. Lot of energy and very good lectures preparation and informative notes. Good experience. Nice thing is he tells complex concepts in highly simplified manner.	None	Good Prof. Should come for few more subjects.
Pricing Strategy	Dr. Ram Krishnan, Professor of Marketing, University of Miami.	Energetic, Charming with a great sense of humor. Make jokes anytime anywhere and laughs even on him. Nice teacher. Great course with good concepts and lot of practical applications. Must take for all MBAs	None	Loved the Prof. Would like to do Ph.D - Marketing under him
Strategic Cost and Profitability Management	Uncle Bala (‘Padmashri’ Dr. Bala. V. Balachandran Professor Emeritus of Accounting Information & Management, Kellogg School of Management, Founder and Dean, Great Lakes Institute of Management)	Who else could teach the course better than the Uncle Bala who is among the highest echelon of the Accounting. Touched concepts of most of the business areas.	The lectures were too less to absorb all concepts and get a lot out of the subjects	The energy level of Uncle Bala is just unmatchable. His each and every word motivates you to the core and puts so much confidence in you.
Services Management	Dr. V.S.Mahesh, director of Centre for Service Management at the University of Buckingham, England, which he founded in 1993. Over two decades of corporate experience, at Tata Administrative Service, Board of all Wipro companies as Corporate VP(HR). A fuller profile is attached.	Good course for MBAs aspiring to go to service sector. Prof is the world renowned for service management research.	Classes are too less and too long.	Lecture on Threshold of motivation was very good. Guess that he can teach Human Resource Management very well.
Strategic marketing	Prof Xavier, Great Lakes	Great facilitator. Enjoyed his witty comments. Good classes and great method of mixing students’ presentation with lectures.	Sometime classes got boring.	Good facilitator with a great sense of humor.