tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219339695801978222026-10-28T18:36:21.026+05:30subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-90599526248824762872014-05-07T23:04:00.000+05:302014-05-07T23:15:31.872+05:30

This was an eventful trip so far.   Ofcourse this ought to be. Eventfullness makes trips memorable.   We are now slowly moving ahead with our now familiar chariot. Srinagar is still sleeping. Today we started early. The online tickets for Gulmarg cable car ride is with us. So nothing can stop us today. We thought we learned enough lessons from our previous failed Gulmarg

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-14448565396776551392014-02-11T23:29:00.000+05:302014-05-11T10:51:35.762+05:30

  Continued from Part 5 - "Pahalgam: The Valley of Valleys" The guy whom we met just 3 days ago is leading us. Our driver. This place looks like the back yard of some house. But no people around. The natural light is fading. 2 hours earlier we were in paradise and now.. We are cautiously treading through the slippery path. Another guy appeared from nowhere. Slim, tall, protruded

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-34090869948591453492014-02-02T22:09:00.000+05:302014-05-11T10:50:45.283+05:30

Continued from Part 4 The late start yesterday cost us dearly. (Click here to Read Part 3). So no risks today. Time is 8 am now. We are having the last breakfast from Hotel Pamposh. We will be checking out of this hotel before we embark on todays journey. The trip scheduled for today is to Pahalgam. A beautiful valley. Home to many film shoots. But we are not too excited. Kids too

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-39536329511906402082014-01-19T19:45:00.000+05:302014-05-11T10:53:03.456+05:30

Four minds - all dejected souls. The most anticipated event of the Kashmir trip failed miserably. As reported in Part 3. (Click here to read part 3).   We are again back at the signature gardens of Srinagar. We had visited two yesterday (Click here to watch those). Will it be boring to visit more today? The entry to PariMahal has nothing to write about. A big wall.

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-68055275701047384602014-01-12T02:35:00.001+05:302014-05-11T10:53:25.419+05:30

Read Part 1, Part 2 of this odyssey High expectations, Excitement, more excitement, frustruation, agony, cool off, excitement again, lost in dream land and reality check. Pretty much sums up our emotions on the highly eventful third day of our Kashmir odessey. Started learning lessons on how to plan a trip, the dos and don'ts of Kashmir trip. More on that after todays journey.  

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-61111983076328416492013-10-09T16:53:00.000+05:302014-05-11T10:53:56.750+05:30

  Seldom will you get excited by scene from the window of an airplane during a flight. Mostly the view will be monotonous and it’s either the clouds or the never ending seas. But this time it was different. We were literally screaming !! Screaming in excitement.   The majestic Himalayas, kissing the clouds, embracing each other. The kind of sight we needed to rejuvenate

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-77106864747016665972013-06-26T17:25:00.000+05:302014-05-11T10:54:21.336+05:30

“Sir, there is no electricity. The AC won’t be working for another 10 minutes” said the front office person, after giving the keys of our room. This wouldn’t have been a problem in normal circumstances. But, what if the temperature is touching 47 degree Celsius. It was the first “jolt” for us.  New Delhi got the maximum recorded temperature this year, exactly on the day we landed. We

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-43644756378275450562013-03-21T07:23:00.002+05:302013-03-21T07:26:42.982+05:30

1000 m / 1Km, is a distance which one can walk in about 15 to 20 minutes, even if going at a real slow pace. This very same thought must have prompted the better halves of my friend and mine, to venture into this short walk along with kids, the eldermost one aged just 10.   Little did we knew that, even this short distance could be so taxing, when one considers the slopeness

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-31601271004218514822013-01-25T02:04:00.000+05:302013-01-25T02:17:03.062+05:30

The final turn was really a sharp bent where a cemented surface formed the parking lot to a historic place located in a remote hamlet of Marthandam - a township in Tamil Nadu, very closer to the Kerala Tamil Nadu border. The three cars were parked in the scorching sun and the 15 member gang alighted from the chariots. All our eyes fell on the magnanimous structure standing with its head high

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-41365670627950093732012-08-12T10:33:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:25:17.969+05:30

Quick Facts given at the end of this post "Blistering Bernacles!! What am I doing? The vehicle is just going sideways when I am pressing the accelerator". It was a spurt of the moment decision and it seemed to be turning bad. I am struck".  The journey had started early in the morning for attending a friend's wedding, which was happening at a beautiful hamlet in the Western Ghats,

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-61305539047401971122012-07-14T18:26:00.001+05:302012-09-18T09:26:01.427+05:30

(This travelogue is based on a trip to Vismaya water theme park, Kannur, Kerala, India on Oct 2011) Onam, a festival which all Malayalees celebrate, irrespective of the religion, caste or creed is truely an occassion for families to get together and to have a fun filled times amidst the chaotic lifestyle of today. Come another Onam, and we found ourselves at my Wife's native place at

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-23436894798841993722012-02-29T09:54:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:26:54.930+05:30

In India there are n number of religions, caste, creed etc. Each set having their own customs, cultures and traditions. Most, if not all the groups have been formed on the basis of whom they worship. The subcastes were originally created based on the nature of the work people did, which does not have any relevance as on today, since none of them is currently doing what each subcaste

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-56096531661483857762012-01-29T13:37:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:27:24.208+05:30

Fog clad mountains, beautiful stream with crystal clear waters, lovely woods spread over green veiled valleys, modern amenities with isolated - traditional cottages, virgin forest, if all these provides you ecstasy, then here is a gem of a place which offers all this and much more. The addicitive quotient is scaling new heights after a visit to this destination - " The dukes forest lodge"

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com8Ponmudi, Kerala, India8.7599422 77.11687538.7442487 77.097134300000008 8.7756356999999987 77.1366163tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-34752070492240808702011-11-29T15:03:00.001+05:302012-09-18T09:28:29.531+05:30

"Perspective" a term very important for any social animal, the reason is known to all. Our eyes are one of the most important aid but at times, it doesn't show the real picture too. When we go to macro zoom, the things which we might not see normally starts to appear beautiful. It is a galore of nature's creativity and we tend to feel that we are seeing only very few things even if it is

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-37671073023050984492011-10-23T18:38:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:29:04.565+05:30

A quick holiday in Bangalore, the IT capital of India, and by coincidence lot of relatives happened to be here too. Got a day to spend together and instead of water theme parks and resort's day out package, decided to check out the Innovative Film City. Called them to know their rates , timing route. The response was good and got all the information needed.  This place is in the

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-21841951630335985412011-09-18T18:20:00.001+05:302012-09-18T09:30:54.132+05:30

Kerala, the small penisular state in the southern part of India, got its name from the abundant cocunut trees (Kera trees). But one of the most popular things about Kerala which stays in the minds of tourists is undoubtedly the beautiful Snake Boats. In local slang it is called "Chundan vallam" or the Beaked boat. The annual Nehru trophy boat race at Alappuzha and the annual Aranmula

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-10467265732615780802011-08-24T10:51:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:32:05.805+05:30

In Kerala, there is no doubt about the fact that physical education is given way low priority in schools, where teachers and parents alike are hell bound in spoon feeding kids with a plethora of unwanted information, which they have to simply recollect during exams. Eventually exams turn out to be a test of retention power of students. All this has resulted in making most of the students

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-16500019760282289682011-08-03T10:05:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:32:40.812+05:30

Here comes a different journey. A journey through some of the interesting guests who happened to visit my house, with their activities caught live on my cam. It was bright Saturday morning. The sun shining brightly and the mood was generally lethargic thanks to the holiday. I was about to begin a small walk around my house when something struck on my eyes. It was the anthorium plant and the

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-17255002664156819752011-07-17T06:22:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:33:22.800+05:30

Sleeping out in a cool chilly morning on a holiday, with no timelines/engagements planned is one of the best things in most people’s life. We are doing the same thing here in Ooty at the beautiful Brookdale resort. Flip open the window and we can see the beautiful valley sprite up by the morning sun. Just open it and real cold air came gushing in. Adjust the woolen blanket and go to sleep

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-3508083431552984032011-06-30T22:26:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:33:57.264+05:30

The fight was between Confident Cascade and Guhanthara both of which had good day packages for a good gettogether. We could hear our siblings discussing on the pros and cons of these places as they were hell bound on entertaining us. We had made a visit to Bangalore with no previous planning. It was the last weekend of the summer vacation, my better half and myself wanted to see the new

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-32144138178263234382011-06-27T07:22:00.000+05:302012-09-18T09:35:48.382+05:30

(This is part 3 of multipart Ooty travelogue. Click here to read Part 1 or Part 2) Dark clouds began engulfing the area and it felt as if rains will come pouring down any time from now on. But the sight of woodbrook lake during our journey up here in the morning was still afresh in our minds. (For the full picture of the journey, visit here) A little earlier, we had a glimpse of

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-48513060469153090232011-06-11T18:56:00.000+05:302011-07-17T06:29:34.410+05:30

Continued from Part 1- Calicut to Ooty via Gudaloor"Sir, two types of cottages are made ready for you, Please come and choose one !!" The guy who came near us told this atleast two - three times. But none of us were giving any part of our ear to him. Who will, when gazing with awe the wonderland we are in. The shot of the cottages seems like a perfect lift from the shots of foreign countries,

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-32299526329990315802011-05-21T13:17:00.000+05:302011-07-17T06:28:06.948+05:30

The adrenalin is rushing, not because of an adventurous ride, not because we are travelling at breath neck speeds, but due the prospect of the impending journey through one of the most beautiful and scenic roads of God's own country Kerala. A guy who is passionate about any road trips, be it his routine daily trips to office or through badly maintained roads, needs nothing more to feel excited.

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-44440001063902245952011-05-02T06:39:00.000+05:302011-05-02T06:39:14.259+05:30

For a quick summary, scroll down to the end of this post "Is this the right turn to 'Travancore Heritage'?", "Yes sir", Pat came the reply by the guy who did not take his eye of the tea which he is preparing in the road side shop. We had traveled around 5kms from the international tourist destination Kovalam and the road side sign board,now read Poovar - 9 kms. I swerved the vehicle out of the

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321933969580197822.post-30255593112018775242011-04-17T22:20:00.000+05:302011-04-28T12:35:11.963+05:30

For a quick summary of this park please scroll down to the end of this post Kerala had a real dearth of water theme parks a decade back and the only place where Keralites got a taste of the excitement of water theme parks was the Black thunder situ loacted at Ooty main road, Mettupalayam. The advent of stabilizer major, V-guard industries into this business saw the launch of Veegaland in the

subu.pshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01703049026825718744noreply@blogger.com2