Bannerghatta Zoo Visit

Another holiday!

Bannerghatta zoo is one place that we have not visited untill yesterday...Almost for an year, we were staying so close to that place and never attempted to visit that place. But yesterday we paved a visit. 

Not so big as the Mysore zoo, but it is enough to have a one day trip. Safari, not that great but enjoyed the roller coaster ride. We took an a/c bus for the safari and what we felt is that - instead of keeping the animals inside the cage and getting INR 60 per head, they kept some animals in the nook and corner of a like forest place and bought INR 500 per head :)

The best part I liked are the security gates which opens and close at each and every safari entry points. It reminded me about the Jurassic park movie - the big automatic  gates which opens to the wildest of the journey. I had that feeling, only I had :)

Isaac was watching those animals live for the first time. He has seen the zebra's, elephants, tigers, lions and everything in his little study book. He was so amazed to see the those animals near and live. Extreme thing was he wanted to go inside the tiger cage :) So brave!!!

I had 152 HD clips this time. Took considerable amount of time to compile to a movie. And it got into three different parts.

Fun in taking the shortcuts in Bangalore

In Kerala, shortcut means it’s a shortcut. You will reach your destination with your direction sense. But this is not the case in Bangalore. Those people who got the best direction sense and never got into this problem - Praise God.

I have two instances, where I got wrong from the navigational perspective. One instance was while I was travelling to brother's house in Ramamurthy Nagar from Gottigere, with Ani. Those who know about the traffic in Bangalore, can really understand - how helpful the pocket roads are. And in Bangalore it is an ultimate skill to have a good idea about those routes and use it at the right time. Lot of gullies and pocket roads to left and right and all directions – you will get really confused.

You will have a tough time, if you start exploring the ways by your own. I would suggest to best way to learn the routes are to hire an auto or taxi. They know the nook and corner of Bangalore and will aid you to understand the shortcuts – hassle free.

On our way near to the Bayyappanahally railway station (Now there’s metro station too) there was traffic congestion. And we went with the shortcut idea and I took a left and we started navigating logically to reach the main road. When noticed that route was kind of vacant, couldn’t find much people on that road then and we were happy that there’s only less traffic and about the move we made, before others can think about it. After some time we noticed one right, which was the only way to go forward and we took a sharp turn - suddenly I had to apply the brake as there was a person, who was standing in the middle of the road and brushing, with a cup of water in his hand. I was furious and was about to ask the same question which Keralites likes a lot - 'Is it your fathers road man?' or like the new Mahindra Verito ad - 'Are you the son of Mr. Ramamurthy?'

Before I could utter the word, Ani patted on my shoulder and whispered - 'Looks like we are on the premises of this guys house' and yes, it was. We were inside his house premises. Thank God that Ani stopped me from the dialogs. I would have counted the stars around my head.

With a smile we asked him - 'Sir, how to go to Ramamurthy Nagar'. He was a gentleman and he replied politely the way to Ramamurthy Nagar. The same way we came to his house, we had to go back. We were having a mixed feeling then. But it’s Bangalore. The traffic was still there. BMTC bus was still roaring and honking, guy on the bike styling his hair and a poor buffalo which got stuck between the two cars. The scene was intact.

We too waited in the queue and moved along the traffic flow.

We still talks about this incident and Ani asks me at times – ‘what about a shortcut?’

Second one happened yesterday, when I wanted to go to one of my friend’s (Jobi & Jebin’s) house. I picked up Pritham, another friend of mine, from the Ramamurthy Nagar signal and we headed towards Jobi's house. Before reaching the left, which we have to take, as there was huge traffic in front, we thought of taking a shortcut. Again – Shortcut :)

Pritham was not much confident, but he was okay with the change in the route. I was narrating him about the first shortcut incident on the was and we were laughing and laughing and when I took a turn, railway line in front. Ooops, not again.

Complete darkness around and in our front a railway line. Fantastic.

But we did not show that disappointment on our face. We were more confident. Took a turn back in the same route and checked with around 4-5 people, about the route to the main road. Luckily all the people had their own views about the routes and we were more confused. Some way we managed to reach the destination.

However the funny part was that - twice we reached near to the destination through a couple of another routes earlier. But we backed off, as it was utter darkness around and narrow roads. We did not take that route, which would lead us to Jobi's house much earlier.

When analyzed about the situation we could unwind some great learning’s from that Journey. Good experience anyway.

PS: Do not trust the Google Maps completely. BBMP always excavate the roads around, for underground passes and pipelines. You might end up in those pits. Google is yet to catch up with BBMP guys efficiency.

Isaac's bathing time

Loves to climb the steps

Isaac Learning The Dining Etiquettes

It was Cechi's birthday celebration and she gave a treat for me, Ani, daddy and mummy. He got a good observation power. When he saw Ani wiping her face with the napkin, he immediately grasped it and started enacting it.

 

The Dream Come True!

This is the dream we had for years and it became a reality two days back. 

We still remember the days in Bangalore when we travelled in scorching sunlight and heavy down pour and every time Ani gets allergic due to extreme heat and cold. We sighed in those situations; looking at the people who travelled in a Maruti 800 car :)

We would have taken a hasty decision and settled with a small car, but Ani supported and we waited to get a sedan which she liked. I must say that it was all her planning and support which helped to get our new drive. Otherwise I would have gone for an Alto kind of car, long time back to keep her safe.

I have many people to thank in this happy moment and with out thanking our GOD in the first its not complete. Feeling so happy and excited for the new ride. 

Now the sun, rain and dust will have a tough time to touch me and my dear :)

Mazha

The Rain Factor

Whats happening now a days?

Life is going on with more opportunities and blessings from the mighty lord. Things are going in the right direction; not my achievement; but his gift and am thankful for that. 

Expected to have the new drive by this month end; but got postponed for unknown reasons. Trying hard to get it on time. Hope to get it before the rains start as I don't want to get wet in the heavy rains in Bangalore. Last year; I don't know how many times Ani and I got soaked in the rain while going and on the way back to office. Flyovers in Bangalore were the only shades we could rely on. Underneath all the two-wheeler's will be  parked, waiting for the rain to get little softer. 

I still remember the hail-stones we faced during our stay in Electronic City area in Bangalore. I've heard about it that it happened in UAE and all; but never expected it in the area we stayed. The area we stayed was a kind of outskirts of Bangalore and the climate was not like the other areas. Calm and quiet, less people, more greenery - that was an awesome place. But it was not much approachable area and so we shifted from that place to a place near to the city.

This season we will not get soaked :) That's the highlight.

Now in office; waiting for Ani to start from her new office location - so that I can be at the bus stop where she get down. 

Have to shift to the third house now. Gave the token advance. By this month end we have to shift completely.

Diversion from the path...

Hated Kerala this time. it is too hot there now and sweating; I don't know how many times I took bath a day.

Easter was fantastic and loved the time spend at pavaratty with ammama and all.

On the way back to Bangalore; when we reached Kanjokod I saw the diversion to Malampuzha; 7.5 km. Everyone was talking something else and I steered the car to Malampuzha. This place was the most common touring destination during our school days. Now when students from International schools talk about their school tour to Germany and France; Malampuzha comes to my mind :)

Its not the same old dry place anymore. Neatly decorated and preserved place. With adequate sign boards and cleanliness. The whole pack of good old memories...

Shawn's birthday party

Thanks to Paulettan for the wonderful treat at Barbecue Nation again.

For everyone else the BN buffet will be not a worthy one. But for Paulettan it's not the same. He is a prawns killer...How many prawns would have got killed with his mighty hands we couldn't even trace. I am a great fan of him and that's the reason I became his disciple in prawns killing. I cannot surpass his capacity but I have improved in the skill.

So lets c some main photos from the prawns killing event.

Getting grilled...

Inspecting the specimen

Break...

too much taken in the first 10 minutes

some dessert

census being taken in between

busy exploring

Confused...

On the road to Vagamon

Kottayam Pala trip photos

Awesome moments from the vacation days...

Vagamon Trip

Few clicks from the Pala-Kottayam-Vagamon trip.

KAPPA BIRIYANI

Having it now for breakfast :) Kottayam style.
For those who haven't heard about this dish: check this link

Vacation day 2: vagamon meadows

One of the most memorable event happened till now in the past three days. We started off in two cars. I was driving one with Ani and cechi and it was a good ride.

Vagamon is on the mountain top. We have to climb up through the hair pins to reach on the top. In between we had a halt to see the scenery. The beautiful fog filled valley.

The we headed towards the kurisumala mountain. This place is for climbing uphill. It depicts the 14 pit stops of Jesus's journey to the Calvary mountain. Mummy and chettan decided not to climb up and to take care of Isaac. Me,ani,cechi,joyce and daddy started climbing up. At sixth place, me and Ani dropped the plan to climb further. But cechi,joyce and daddy continued their journey.

It was a lonely place. There wasn't much visitors at that time and i was sitting with ani enjoying the scenery  Suddenly we could see the dense fog passing by and that was an awesome experience. We started climbing down and it started raining. Enjoyed that too.

Then waited for the other people and started to the Vagamon meadows. I wanted to visit that place at any cost. And when we reached there what we could see was a movie shooting. It was some Tamil movie and there wasn't anyone whom we know in the film industry. Sad!!!

Then back home. Sat with everyone and watched the clicks we have taken. Good experience and we all loved it to the core. Photos will be uploaded soon.

Beach, Sunset and Park...

This was on Saturday. There is a well maintained beach area near to our home. That's one frequent visited place in our area. Isaac never touched the sea water before and he got the first opportunity to play in the beach sand and water. His playing was cut short when he ate a handful of sand without our notice. Hes crazy :)

Vacation day 2: How to make Rubber?

This morning view. Loved the whole processing cycle :)

Kottayam-Pala moments

Never been to kottayam before. Have seen this place a lot in movies and i love this achayans place.

We started off to Pala (this is a town in kottayam) by six in the morning. Daddy was planning to start by fiver or so to avoid the un controlled traffic. But Ani was late to wake up and we got late to start :)

It was a good drive in the morning and I couldn't believe the change the places like chalakudy and angamaly has gone through. Well tarred roads with service roads, properly built medians and well maintained infrastructure. I was telling daddy that for sure this is not done by any contractors in kerala. The quality of the work reminded me about Bangalore Mysore road, which is one of the best built ones in Bangalore. And my guess was right.

Loved the journey through the rubber estates. Calm and cool place. Its all a hilly area here and it took me back to the geography classes where i learnt about specific regions of a vegetation and rubber comes in kottayam.

chettan was there to welcome there along with his family and issac. Played with him for a while and then chettan took me and issac for a ride through the rubber estate. A real roller-coaster ride. Isaac loved it. I had a hard time managing him in the vehicle.

Me and chettan: in common we both love food. Variety of non-veg dishes. In Bangalore weekend means chicken or mutton. Beef is hard to get there and we compensate when we reach kerala. I am having hyper cholesterol still i had a lot of beef than rice today. What all ate today i do not remember. There was a huge variety of dishes and i was trying out one by one. Thanks chetto :)

Vacation day part 1

Never had this busy schedule during a vacation. Attended two marriages and one feast.

Ani really wanted to attend her friends marriage this time. I was getting the reminder for the past few weeks.

Reached Bangalore by around 8 in the morning. As usual, daddy was waiting for us at the bus station. I took the control of the car. I love the riding through the roads that lies between the paddy fields, lush green vegetation. It is like back home feeling. Ani loves kerala. The place where she was born and lived for these many years. The old stories she narrates about the place and people, I enjoy it like listening to the parables.

back home first to Anis place to meet ammama and mummy. Mummy will be ready with appam and milk, which is a culinary dish of kerala. Have anyone tried it once. If not let me know. I will arrange some. You should try once at least.

This time there was a special gift for our parents. Home made cakes. We made two this time and both turned out to be the best. Everyone loved the cake..well done Ani.

When we reached at kandassankadavu (this is a tough name). There was one special dish awaiting me. My moms special packed food. The items are these: kerala special rice along with Bengal gram, fried chicken, pickle and mussels fry wrapped in half heated banana leaf. The taste i cannot explain. Thats one authentic kerala cuisine. When ever i am home, my day starts with this dish and am super happy :)

Then we quickly started off to thrissur (that's the town area) to the famous Casino hotels. Attended the marriage and back home. One the way attended one marriage reception. Th e groom is a friend of mine and Ani. We started off from there in minutes. There was some more programs due in our calendar. In vacation too, its all about meeting the timelines :)

Next we went to thrissur to my moms sister's house. It was the feast there yesterday and it was fun. With my dear cousins; Arun and Arunima and my favorite troops: Michelle, Shawn and Fiona. It was good with kids trying out different varieties of crackers and elders indulging to their on world.

And the beautiful illuminated streets which spread the waves of happiness around, I could enjoy it this time. Thanks a lot to my lord for the wonderful days he gave us.