When Going to that - Kahin Bhi Le Jao Place !!!

The day began very late for Me and Raghav at his place.

We began discussing and wondering where to go and enjoy the day. while i was sipping my morning chai, Raghav was lost in his own thoughts to decide where to go. He then came up with this crazy idea of going to Agra on a long drive, the idea was good but considering the distance and time constraint i convinced him to drop the idea. I then sugested we go to Murthal Dhaba on Karnal High Way to have Paranthas and Lassi. The idea seemed to be okay and it looked like we were going there.

Then when we got to Aashna's place to pick her up, she like took forever to get ready and in between her getting ready she disapproved the idea of a dhaba and wanted to go to some place sporty. So then we got back to square one and began discussing on where to go. Then when she finally was like ya I got all the matching stuff done and have covered myself in 3 shades of make up.

We decided to like at least hit the road before we went about discussing.

I was like kahin bhi le chalo yaaar, bahut bhoook lagi hai !!!!

I suggested Eatopia for a place, i know it looks like a Harry Potter railway station but then I was too hungry to be discussing and not knowing where we were going. Then it was like no no on every suggestion and was like we have to go to some place else. Lot of joints from vasant kunj/ vihar came up, even saket was sugested, CP was a huge NO, Even GK was also in consideration. Then out of no where Raghav suggested American Diner. I had never been there, with my obsession for food and this suggestion of a new joint was always greeted with a huge grin and a sign of approval from my side.

It then all of a started to pour down from the heavens. The climate became simply scintillating and the idea of the drive seemed more apt and appropriate.

We drove towards Indian Habitat Centre and headed to The American Diner. Where we had to like wait for about 25 mins before we went in and then another 10 mins before we got the table.

We utilized the time to like roam around and see the place as well as enjoy the weather. We clicked a few pics here and there. And then even got a pic clicked on the counter at the joint.

The food there was amazingly delicious with Aashna ordering some Fettucheeney Stuff and we went for the normal Soup and Burger Stuff. It was like a nice time spent in a very kool place with lovely company from Raghav Mehrotra and Aashna Gupta. We kept picking on Aashna for the entire day, she was game for it all and it was simply simple.

We also headed back to noida and had tea and maggi at Amity noida in "Balli Maggi khaoge to Balle Balle ho jaoge". Here Aashna was like shivering to death before the Chai like eased her life a bit. The maggi was like before from college times. After all the food and chai we had the shopowner refused to even charge us for the food that we had considering the bond we shared when i used to study in that college, but then we still convinced him to accept the money. It was out n out fun.

Thank you guys for that Amazing Day, which will be etched in my memories forever.

Pics from the Exploration trip

Telugu Ganga Exploration Ride with CTC

This was my first outdoor trip with the Chennai Trekking Club, I had made it a point that i would get my friend Dewang, lalith and jaiwal to join the trip. I was eagerly praying that the weather gods be kind on us and let us make our trip. As it was pouring cats n dogs the night before the trip in all parts of the city.

On the scheduled day we were to meet at 4 near guindy flyover. As usual, the night before the trip, the anxiety and the enthralling adventure that awaited I couldnt really gather any sleep at all. I got up at 2.30, got ready, took blessings from Mom and Dad and left for Dewang's (my pillion rider's) house. He stayed in Perungudi, a good 30 kms away from my house in Nungambakkam. I picked him and reached the starting point at guindy by 4 am. There we met all the fellow riders, and waited for a few more to join us. We then began by about 4.15 am. We stopped on our way near motel highway for 2 more riders to join us.

Once they all joined, we were about 10 bikes, we embarked on our journey to explore the banks of the Telugu Ganga.  We had Arun take the lead and I took the role of the sweeper, so that we atleast knew ad could keep track of all the other riders. We took a small break for TEA as everyone needed to restore the power levels in their respective systems. Everyone began with testing their cameras and mentally preparing for the endeavour.

We then drove to Poondi reservoir, we reached there by around 5.40 am. It was a paradise where any Photographer would just love clicking away to glory. The birds were all in harmony, their synchronization while they flew across the reservoir was a treat to watch. It was so overwhelmingly amazing to watch. the local fishermen were also busy fishing in there.

Then we all took the route that was adjacent to the reservoir that lead us to the canal from where the water was flowing into the reservoir. Once we got to the Canal, we just stuck to it and began with the exploration.

It wasnt all that bad or deadly to begin with, it was a gravel track with lots of powdered little stones. But once we hit a few kilometres, the actual fun in the exploration began as we for sure knew that we had hid god for saken lands in tamil nadu where there was little of no trace of a human being for a long long time.

The track then began to be layed with loads of wet soil, slushy muds and water pits. It was just an adventure that was beyond imagination. There were huge pits of water, through which we had to drive our bikes, if that wasnt terrifying enough we had to endure sloshy muds and totally wet slippery soil. I had a great time thuming away on my Bullet Classic 350. After driving for sometime, we all reached a place where the soil was so slushy and wet that most bikes got completely stuck in the mud. If it wasnt for Lalith Sir's presence of mind and perseverance we wouldnt have really made that pit hole. He simply thumped his Thunderbird across the pithole and stopped his bike along the road. then one after the other we slowly somehow managed to drag our bikes across the pithole. By the time, I crossed this slush. On the other end jaiswal and lalith had already mentioned what i would say when i would finally drag my bike across the slushy mud and already had a laugh about it. And there was after clearing the pithole and saying exactly what they had a laugh about - Oh Common, I will have to wash my bike again !!! When we stopped there to gather our wits, what we obeserved was that there was enough mud in everybody's mud guards that we could have easily built a bridge across the canal.

We stopped for break fast at uttukottai. a place where we had idlys n dosas n pongals n vadais. Topped up our energy levels and then continued on. Loads of slippery grass, more slushy muds and wet soil with gravels, pits created by tractors and other heavy machinery too were there to make the ride more gruesome. Loads of gravel and soil got stuck in the tyres, more than like ever before, most of the bikes were bought to a screeching halt.

Thanks to all the tools that Lalith had got, that most of us were able to dig out the soil that was stuck in the mud guard, the issue was that once this soil solidified, it began rubbing against the tyres, causing the tyres to loose their shreds. We kept ridin along the canal and stopped at a point where there was like a huge platform to go down below near the canal. If walking there to the water wasnt a crazy enough idea, both lalith and jaiswal got onto their bikes and drove down near the water, how they managed to drive back up is another crazy story. 

There we like waited for a very long time, only later did we get to know that most of the remaining bikers were keen to remove the fron mud guards off their bikes in order to save the lives of their respective tyres.

Once they all caught up with us, we rode on, as we reahed a cross road, i decided to get to a point from where i could go and get some water to drink. But then as it had already hit lunch time, we decided to grab a bite closer somewhere and so stopped at a small eatery/ dhaba in satyavedu, where we all had parotas and dosas to eat, veggies had salna while the non veggies had chicken and omlettes too.

Then we continued on untill we got back to the caanal again and began riding all along the canal once again, only this time to reach a little waterfall of sorts created by the farmers in the nearby area by like lifting up a pike a letting water to fall from a height, most bikers stopped and jumped in for a quick shower to escape from the unforgiving sun that was belting its fury down and  to get away with the sweat and duust that had engulfed their otherwise clean souls.

If that wasnt enough when another spot was identified everyone who knew swimming jumped into the canal and enjoyed a brief swim for about half an hour (the after effects which most of em bore for over a few days after the trip) with sore muscles.

Then we moved on stuck to the canal and kept driving in the unforgiving terrain, our bums were bearing all the brunt and everytime we stopped it was getting more painful to get back on the saddle. 

Our ride continued, clicking loads of pics along the way, crossing fallen trees and more sloshy pits and water borne pits. It was evening and everyone was eager to sip tea, but the irony was that we just coouldnt locate a tea shop and every one made an exception and had cold drinks instead and drove for like another 50 kms before we actually found a tea stall and refilled our levels.

By then we were already on our way back to chennai, we were about to reach uttukottai, when the rain gods unleashed their wrath upon us. Driving back becme more of a deadly adventure as the road was completely invisible and we had to really on reflexes to drive through the rains.

We somehow made it to tiruvallur and stopped to have tea, even after waited for a considerable time, jaiswal dint arrive and so lalith went back in search of him, when lalith too dint arrive we also went back and just a few kms before jaiswal's bike had got punctured, we got that rectified and then drove back home. This time we took the services of an Innova and just drove behind it udging the road by the brake lights that flashed on the Innova.

When we reached Motel Highway we bid adeau to th eentire team, this was an amazing journey from which we had so much to learn that it was super fun riding along this terrain and also got to learn a lot on how o drive in this terain and how to prepare one's body both physically and mentally for such a gruesome and toiling adventure on your saddle.

Dream on.... cos its Game on

A dream they say happens mostly when you are fast asleep and are completely lost in that meditative state of mind called Yog Nidra. But then there certainly are times when we would have experienced something even when we are wide awake. That is just the mere proof for me that says that it is our mind that dreams and not us. Our mind is in its own world enjoying all by itself. It is indeed very necessary for us to have a dream and to simply focus on our dream and work towards it because in the end gradually we would get to our dream.
When we dream and believe in our dream, the entire universe works to make sure our dreams are fulfilled.
That is simply why i believe that we must Always Dream On cos Life's Game is always On !!!

The Firaaaang in Me !!!!!

I have had my share of jokes and laughter on me being a FIRAAAANG. Have travelled to places far and wide, depending on the co ordinates in Hindustan, I get treated as a West Indian, Afro American, African or Malaysian respectively and a citizen of many other countries.

Now this incident to be narrated is the latest that happened last weekend.

I was on my Road Trip with my Fellow Club mates at V11 Royal Enfield Riding Club. Me along with 10 other club members rode to Pondicherry on our Bullets. We halted at the beach huts at Auroville.

The next day me and Prasad, along with with Balaji, Harish and Lalith decided to roam around Pondicherry, We headed to Marine Drive.

I was riding on Rajesh's Bike. An Old Bullet Standard that was re modelled.

Somewhere in the traffic we kinda got split and I was suddenly driving all alone on the streets. I brought the vehicle to a halt at the Marine Drive and parked the vehicle when a Traffic Constable rode his bike and camped next to me and began

Consable : Vehcile,your's ??

Me : Yes.

Constable : Show Papers, vehicle Papers !!

Me : Here take them ( giving him the papers )

Constable : Driving License

Me – Here take it ( giving him the license )

Constable : Insurance is expiry, vehicle not in name, your name.

Me – Yes, yes. Friend's vehicle.

Constable – No Insurance, huge fine. 150 Dollars only.

Me – Sir, no. Fine too huge.

Constable – Fine is compulsory. You Pay or I take Vehicle to Polics Station.

Friends passing by, suddenly see me talkin to somebody, they stop and Prasad comes to me and asks, Yenna Aaache Machhi ( What Happened Buddy ?? in Tamil )

That was when the look on the Constable's face began changing. He understood that his prank dint work out instead he turned out to be at the receiving end of my Prank.

Prasad just looked at the constable and handed over a Rs. 50 Note and said Iddu Podam Sir, Kalambinga kalambinga. ( This is Enough, now carry on )

We all laughed our asses off for a very long time.

That was when Prasad and the other began analysing what all the Constable would have thought and planned to do with 150 Dollars that he would have got from the Firaang in ME.

V11 - Royal Enfield Riding Club

 

This is like the moment I have been waiting for from a very very long long time.
Always wanted to be a Biker, in a very pleasant and enjoyable manner and not professionally though. Ever since I got my Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 350, i have been etching to go on a ride. The day came when i joined the velavan club rider for a trip to Kolli malai ad then went on a second trip to Bandipur.

Once we got back from the trip, there were enough members on the team who wanted to somehow begin a Biking Club, so we got together and Formed V11, the Velavan Motors Royal Enfield Riding Club.

I am very priviledged to be a member of the club.

Now the journey begins, where i can actually get the team together and make all the dreams come true.

The next scheduled trips are to Pondicherry and also to Goa.

Into The Wild

The trip was scheduled for 26-28th Jan 2012. The day before the trip, i happened to get to Velavan Motors to get my bike tuned. I happened to meet Prasad and Balaji apart from certain other members of the Back Up Crew. I headed back home, the adventure that awaited just wouldn't let me sleep. I was wide awake by 4.30, its hard to believe that i saw the rising sun after a very long time. I reached Velavan Motors by 5.45 am and to my utter disbelief everybody had come in on time and i was the last Biker to arrive. With the Luggages quickly loaded onto tthe car. Hari the Lead Biker began the tips, rules to be followed while driving.

The Bikers Gathered were

Hari ( Lead Biker ), MP Prasad, Sharon Padmanabhan ( Myself ), Lalith, Jaiswal, Suresh, Manikandan, Aravindan, Christudoss, Balaji, Saras, Anand, Rajesh, Saravanan, Harish, Prabhu, Jagannathan.

By around 6 am we mounted on our BEASTS and began to Roar our way to Bandipur.

We first halted for Petrol at Poonamalee. Then as soon as we hit the Highway Hari hit the throttle and we were sailing past other vehicles with the onlookers on the road baffled and amazed to see like 18 bikes roar past them. The thrill was just so amazing, can't remember the last time life felt so fulfilling.

Hari was to lead the pack, but we behind him took turns for 2nd and 3rd place. The pack ws divided into 2

In the lead pack, it was Hari, Me, Prasad, Lalith, Jaiswal, Mani and Christudoss. The rest were following behind.

 

  

        

All of us were cruixing at 90's and 100's, the only difference being the overtaking maneuovers. We at the lead just hit cruize control and whizzed past the other vehicles with utmost ease. Then Hari decided it's time for a Re-group and we stopped at some distance after kanchipuram. We had all just got off our bikes and were waiting to signal to our 2nd pack, in the mean time one of our bikers Suresh was like drafting behind a CAR and before we could signal to him he had already sped past us. We just had to let him go, as he hadn't noticed us. Then the rest of us regrouped and then we began to Roar again.

The thrill and the joy and the respect the road, the other drivers were all giving was just too awesome. It just felt so amazing.

Only when we reached the Arya Bhavan, CCD wala Petrol Bunk, we saw Suresh Waiting for us, nearly after 45 kms from where he crossd us. As and when we reached him, he was like I dint C u guys behind me, I was driving to catch u guys at the front, but when i din't see u i thought I must atleast wait for the Sweeper to catch up with me and then to proceed further.

Then we moved further to a place called Pallikonda where we all had Break Fast, most of us Gobbling Dosa, Idly, Poori and Coffee. Once done, we decided to stop next at Krishnagiri, to our utter suprise after finishing Break Fast at pallikonda by 10.15 am, we reached Krishna Giri by 11.45. and then while we were sipping coffe and waiting for the 2nd pack to arrive, discussions on lunch began to happen, but as everyone's stomach was full they kind of wanted to keep on the road and cover up as much distance as possible in the day.

   

  

From Krishnagiri we drove on and halted at Hosur - This halt was majorly to get our stock of Liquor for the evening parties.

Once the Stuff got loaded in the vehicle, we took a deviation from the regular highway wanting to explore a more crazier route.

We took the Hosur - Thally - Kanakpura Route. On this route fortunately, Prasad’s bike ran into a Screw that gave us another break and photo session near a lake. Here the tyre tube that we accidentally purchased in Krishnagiri was used effectively to keep the pack pouncing forward.

  

  

The road was splendidly awesome with loads of twists and turns and some breath taking views. It was unfortunate, we missed to take pics on this route Thally – Kanakapura. It was a Different terrain altogether, ghats, hilly plain terrain passing few villages. Enjoyed it thoroughly, will surely hit it back again just for the missed photographs.

Once we hit the Kanakpura main Road, we halted as we saw a few roadstide stalls for a quick Munch.

Grabbing cheap fried rice, Ash fried Omlettes, Sandwiches, Bhel Puri's and Paani Puri's.

There on we wanted to go through Nanjangud - Mysore and then Bandipur via T Narsipura.

Just as we crossed Nanjangud, it was beginning to get dark. So we again took a smal regrouping stop, tok rest for abut 15 mins before we began to proceed further.

There was a huge discussion in this break on whether to take the simpler route or the challenging T Narsipura road, spend most of this break on decidind whether to ‘GO’ or ‘NOT GO’. Finally Hari decided to take the T Narsipura route and his decision was ruled out by the impeccably bad roads. With a fair amount of distance left to cover as well as the parameter to reach Bandipur before 9.00 PM as that is the stipulated time for vehicles to enter the Forest Reserve.

Then before we knew it, we were in the middle of Mysore, so we kind of had to wait at that signal so that we could guide all the other Bikers. Once everybody had regrouped we hit the throttle again. As soon as we began, we had to take a right turn once done the road seemed Smooth and Wide, I hit the throttle over taking Prasad and Christudoss only to hit a Huge Hump on the Road. It just seemed like I had hit Flying Gear, As i regained my senses and realizing that I was still on my bike was when everyone in and around me had a huge grin on their face as everyone had hit the Hump real hard and went flying in different directions, our sweeper Rajesh hit the hump so that that he was virtually sitting on the petrol tank.

With darkness hampering our visibility and head lights of opposite vehicles turning us occasionally blind on curvy roads the road began to get difficult and the air also began to get completely chilly. The lights from the on coming vehicles was a real pain, the road ahead was barely visible and so our speeds reduced considerably and we were more concerned about safety. As we reached Gundlupet, Karnata Bank, Opp to a Petrol bunk it was 9.00 PM. The courteous Ashwini Residency resort manager sent us jeep to Gundlupet to take us through the alternative way to reach bandipur as we couldn’t ride through the usual way.The escort Jeep was there in NO time. From there on we began the ride into the Forest, little did we know that after the Highway, The narrow road, the villages now we would get to Off road on our bike at about 9.30 pm. The ride into the forest ws almost 25 kms. That felt so cruel after 575 kms and 14 hrs on the road, that it kinda took us almost 2 hrs to get to the resort from that point.

Once we reached the resort, there was this huge sense of achievement and the spirit which was waiting in the car that beckoned in everyone's minds.

There were small small cottages, it ws 3 Bikers in one Cottage. There was time for us to freshen up and then regroup for Bon Fire and Dinner. Tiring was thejourney but still everybody was ther for the bon fire and dinner. The plan for the next day was yet to be decided. We just left it at that and went to sleep. I got up by 8.30 and asked for Coffee, and as i walked outside, to my horror i saw my fellow bikers playing Cricket already. No points for guessing what I did - Just ran in to join them.

  

 

  

Then we all regrouped for Break fast and decided that we must like just drive in to the jungle and see it for ourselves. It was Me, Hari, Anand, Saras, who all ventured in to the wild. We went to the pond close by to see loads of Elephant foot marks and a few deer marks and Loads n Loads of Shit on the banks of the pond. Then Hari we bagan to trek into the Jungle and walked a few kms (to be exact its less than a KM J)looking into the trees hoping to find a few cats in there in a hot afternoon just to check the intensity of our luck, but as usual we returned with the luck of being unlucky.

  

 

 

By afternoon after lunch we decided we will go to a few places close by and as we roared again, this time I mounted on Prasad's bike leavin my bike for it to take rest.

We went to Mudumalai and then drove to Gundlupet to fill Gas and also to get money from ATM's. On our way back from Mudumalai it was decided that we will hit the road towards Masinagudi, just to have Tea.

  

The roads again were so much fun, with loads of sleeping bends and curves. We spotted many many Langur's and Peacock's. On our way back we did see 2 antelope's/ deer's. The camera's had a ball, lots to capture and the views were simply amazing.

We got back to the resort and then took rest before we began partying again. Thsi time the Resort owner surprised us by revealing to us the Dance Floor that they had come up with in the middle of nowhere. Then all of danced and partied.

The journey back began with the customary photography sessions and other routines.

The Bikes Roared waving Good bye to the Resort and taking the Chamarajnagar Route.

Rest to be continued.