Skywatch Friday... My Chennai

Though this year I havent travelled as much as I would have liked to, it has been quite an interesting one at that.  Here is one last post before 2015 swishes past..and what better way to end the year than by showing off to the world the beauty I call home, Chennai! 

I clicked these pictures today, about an hour ago as I rode to the meeting.  These are photographs of the Ripon Building and the heritage building that is right next to it.. There is Metro work going on which blocks half these, but they stand tall and majestic!! Good to see my city back on its feet and regale as always!! 

Happy New year to all !! Here's to an awesome year ahead.. 

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday ... 

Thursday Challenge- Treats in Chennai

"TREATS" (Candy, Chocolate Bar, Cake, Pie, Ice Cream, Comfort Food,...)

Mini donuts - light fluffy airy delicious little bites

A spice based cake with thin custard poured on top... Heaven in every spoonful

Thursday Challenge- Burst of Orange in Karaikudi

A few beautiful patterns from Karaikudi - The aachi house, the Bangala and from one of the streets...It is amazing the kind of things you come across during your trips- beautiful experiences... ‪#‎travel‬ ‪#‎experiences‬

"ORANGE" (Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers, Signs, Clothing, Vehicles,...)

Thursday Challenge.. In the Dark...

"NIGHT" (Dark, Low Light, Twilight, Evening, Shadows, Long Exposure, City Lights,...)

This photograph I clicked from a moving train, the train that was taking me to Goa... It was pitch dark outside and all I had was my mobile phone for company...

The beautiful Beach in Goa, forgot which beach it was.. I remember walking in the evening and saw the sky turn a funny shade of blue- almost indigo....

Interesting Encounters- The cute doggie in Karaikudi

We were exploring the town of Kanadukathan, when after a while we asked our cabbie if he knew of any traditional homes where we could watch a meal being cooked. He either dint understand or dint know of any such place, but finally ended up taking us to a small hotel of sorts [ more of a hole in the wall kind], and we walked through a narrow passage to what looked like the backyard of an abandoned building.

It dint look very good, there were things dumped all over, electric tower and a small home of sorts at the end. A lady and man were hovering about. Saw us and smiled,welcoming us over. Just outside the home, there was a makeshift tent where food was being cooked . They have been cooking meals and serving up customers for over 4yrs and make both veg & non veg dishes.

There was a huge pot with a pan where carrots were being cooked and another near it for rice. Now what caught my eye amidst all this was a cute Pomeranian dog that made its entry from inside the house. He came trotting and instantly stood next to me asking me to pet him.  He was white, and cute and had a red tikka on his forehead. 

I forgot his name but he was one friendly dog. The lady said he is very well behaved, does not disturb them when they are cooking, nor does he try to grab a bite while they are cutting up/cooking meat.   She had found him when he was a pup, brought him home & he hadn't left since!

My friend spent a good half hour talking to the lady about the dishes, recipes, and processes while  I happily played with this cutie pie... 

After a while, we bid them goodbye and made our way back to the car.  I love how not only do I get to meet interesting people during my travels, but also such adorable creatures.. :)

Skywatch Friday... Over the ocean yonder..

It was one of those plans that fell into place before you could blink our eyes twice.. Well, that is a bit of exaggeration, but nevertheless it was a trip that happened without too much drama..  A bunch of us decided we should do a trip... The gang had planned an earlier one, but few of us couldn't go [last minute] and this time the troops were playing it down and keeping it low.. 

None of us squealed about it to anyone. Some did share the news, well God bless their understanding families. Some of the others had to cook up stories, some just said "work"... It went to such an extent that one family left the day before and were there ahead of the rest of us..ha ha... 

Since I have been there numerous times, I was given the task of finding us the place to stay at.. After a bit of debate, it was down to 3 of us who took the decision.. Hotel Atithi it was!! I have been here for lunch earlier, and remember it being fairly close to the beach and being a nice property, it would be a good bet. 

We had decided to scoot Saturday morning and be back Sunday evening.. Reached the hotel around noon, checked in and waited for the souls who had landed earlier... And thus began our trip... 

Here are a few pictures from the Hotel.. The view was fabulous[we could see the ocean not so far away] a huge field of sorts, a small lane with a temple where there was quite a bit of activity happening.. The rooftop restaurant looked very inviting, and then there was a pool right on top.. Wow what a view!! 

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday ... 

Thursday Challenge.. All Suited up!

CLOTHES (Dress, Suit, Socks, Colourful Fabrics,...)

These two photographs were clicked in Bangkok.. 1st one at Chatu Chak market and 2nd one at Wat Arun..

Statue Circle, Jaipur

Jaipur city or the Pink City as it is called is home to quite a few tourist spots, Forts, Palaces and festivals. Oh and not to forget the amazing array of food and colours that hit you around every corner.   During my 2nd visit to Jaipur, we stayed at a hotel near the Statue Circle.. Now when we landed there, we did not know how popular this circle was. But soon, within a day we came to know of the popularity of this landmark monument. 

This Statue Circle is situated in the centre of the city and it has quite a bit of history tucked within it.  Right in the centre of this space is a white marble statue of Sawai Jai Singh facing the City. Apparently, the statue depicts the Kings love for astrology with different astrological symbols carved on it.  The Statue Circle got its name from the majestic statue of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II that it holds...There are quite a few hotels, eat outs and official buildings in this part of the city. Our hotel was 5mins from here and along the way we spotted quite a few Government buildings as well. 

What was also lovely was that our hotel room opened to the deer park right next door and we also got to see quite a few peacocks along the road, at any point of time!

Thursday Challenge.... Royal...

"SEAT (2 week theme)" (Chair, Sofa, Bench, Stool, Bed, Anywhere/Anyway one can sit,...)

This image was shot at the Krishnapuram Palace  in Kayamkulam... The palace is today a museum of sorts showcasing the various art, furniture, culture based items used back in the days!!

And this is a shot taken at Neemrana Bungalow on the beach in Tranquebar, a beautiful property where all the rooms open out to the ocean... 

Wordless Wednesday 1- Buddha lined up at Wat Pho

Thursday Challenge.... Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

"PLACE; 2 week theme" (House, Cabin, Apartment, Tent, Workshop, Office,...)

We were finally done with our trip and all set to fly back home. but the Suvarnabhumi Airport had me speechless. It was large, like freaking huge... I am sure it is among the largest airports in the world.  I know there is another airport called Don Mueang Airport, but did not visit that. 

This airport is like a mini city on its own. After we were done with our checking in, security clearance we walked towards our gate. Along the way I spotted a row of high end stores, and there were two of each-one on the left side and other on the right side. Bang on in the middle was the entire Samudram Kadaiyara story... 

The work of art depicts one of the famous scenes from Puranas (Hindu literature) - Samudra manthan [ churning of the ocean of milk]. It contains the story where demons and gods cooperated to churn the sea for thousands of years in order to extract the elixir of immortality, coveted by both groups. .. The Devas (demigods) are engaged in a tug of war with the Asuras (demons). Each side holds one end of Vasuki (he king of serpents). The centre of the serpent is coiled around Mt. Mandara and at the base of this pivot would be Vishnu, incarnated as a huge turtle.As the ocean is churned, a poison emerges which Lord Shiva drinks. His wife stops it at his neck which is why his neck is blue in colour.  

It all comes to an end with Vishnu taking the form of Mohini [a beautiful and enchanting woman who distracts the Asuras while distributing the nectar to the Devas. (yes, there was cheating back in the days as well). And thus, the Devas banished the Asuras into the underworld away from heaven... 

This entire tale unfolds in this beautiful structure that stands majestic in the airport. It is quite a sight to behold - Colourful, grand and mesmerising... 

Apart from this, the airport has a range of restaurants and duty free shops, all of which are found on either side of the departure lounge... 

Off-roading in Chennai..

If someone told you "let's go off- roading in Chennai" you might have stared at them long and hard and burst out laughing. Right? Well, that is pretty much my reaction as well. But then when I met Arka and team, came to know they have been doing The Palar Challenge for 8 years and are all set to get started on the 9th year event, I was zapped. Who knew Chennai had such a mean streak to it.. 

And so, that sunday I was all set and excited to see what lay in store.. All I knew was we were going to be travelling to Vayalur and exploring the off roading tracks in the Palar River bed. I had 9 others coming along and all of us were equally excited and anxious. We met a few from the Terra Tigers Team who gave us a ride to the venue. 

A good 90 kms from Tiruvanmiyur, on ECR is where I saw the board "Vayalur". A sharp right turn and down the road is where we came upon the Gated community. Wondering what the plan was, I sat back and told myself to just enjoy the day. The cars were all parked, and we switched to the 4 wheel drives there. Beyond the property is where the dried up Palar river bed was. And woah, it was huge and open and I could see nothing but sand for a few kms. 

About the event:

The event is an annual team-based off-road competition held around the Independence day weekend . Each team consists of 3 vehicles and 6 competitors and there are a whole list of parameters based on which teams are chosen/finalised ...

The very first event was back in 2006 where the core team flagged off with around 21 members of the Jeep Thrills community. Today, the event has gained national prominence with entries pouring in from across the country.Over the last couple of years, the event has seen international off-road drivers of repute competing with the best Indian off-roaders.  Now they put a cap on how many teams can participate and are quite firm on the rules laid down. 

Palar river is a with its source in the Nandi Hills in Karnataka, the river traverses three different states over a distance of 350 km to meet the Bay of Bengal near Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. The terrain is a mix of water, sand, slush, boulders, rocks and rubble that offers excellent opportunities to set up challenging competitive Off-Road Special Stages. And when it rains, or there is water, the challenge gets even more exciting... there is slush, there is chaos and much more... 

The event also goes to Kancheepuram for another round of off-roading during the Challenge. It gets exciting as the team keeps changing the special stages, and throws the drivers off with their quirky routes and markings. 

For us, it was one helluva experience. We were in different 4 wheel drives and got to experience the thrill of making it over each of the special stages. Some vehicles struggled, got stuck and shivered, while others made it with ease. I got to ride in a Fortuner that managed most stages but got stuck at one tough one, to a point where the rear bumper was nearly falling out. And we had to be towed out. We got to witness how vehicles are towed out, helped out of a sticky situation and how the team comes together when one is in trouble. 

I did a round with Arka in his jeep which is a mix of nearly 17 other vehicles. He says he is very picky about his jeep and ensures that others too follow the rules. A seat belt is a must, cage is a must have and similarly there are quite a few other items that need to be checked off before hitting the sand.

But the bottom line of this event is that the vehicles all need to adhere to rules, have safety processes and equipment in place and ensure conditions are met before hitting the sand. 

On that gorgeous Sunday, we not only got the opportunity to enjoy the rugged terrain, but interact with the Terra Tigers team- each one with a unique personality. Almost all have a full time job but have gotten into this out of sheer passion. There are professional sports photographers, travellers, people working in auto industry and so much more, but what connects em all is their passion, thirst for speed and eagerness to overcome challenges. 

We spent the entire day out in the sun, with the team making sure we had enough liquids to stay hydrated and we enjoyed the day. When we would up around 6pm, we had a big grin on our faces much to the surprise of the TT team. We were all high, even though the day had been hot, we were running on an adrenalin high!! 

Deflated tyres before the ride..

 The Terra Tigers team [Photo Courtesy: Karan]

While we were out there, we also spotted a few ATVs zip zap zooming around. Predominantly driven by foreigners who seemed to be having a whale of a time, this is another activity that I would love to try...sometime! 

Now, am looking forward to witnessing the actual Palar Challenge as it happens in the 2nd week of Aug... 

If you are curious about this event and want to know more, check out the links below--

Video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5v7Ry1KkTM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q09dt4dtYw [by Avanthi vissa]

Facebook pages- 

https://www.facebook.com/thepalarchallenge

https://www.facebook.com/terratigers

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Terra-Tigers-Media-Team/571505429626688

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepalarchallenge/

https://www.facebook.com/suvexcursions

https://www.facebook.com/suvextreme

https://www.facebook.com/TORCIndia

https://www.facebook.com/LYLFoffroad

https://www.facebook.com/KhivrajDuster

Other references:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-excursions/135792-palar-challenge-2013-a.html

Thursday Challenge.. Going back in time

"OLD" (Vintage, Antique, Rusty, Secondhand, Long ago, Aging, Senior,...)

These pictures were clicked during the Vintage car rally that I got to be a part of a year or so ago.. We rode from Chennai to Mahabalipuram... The cars are all in brilliant condition, maintained well and some have been restored as well. 

Thursday Challenge.. Dogs

Today's theme is "FAVORITE" (Thing, Photo, Person, Pet,...)

I love dogs, and this little piece caught my eye at Wat Pho temple in Bangkok... :-) 

Thursday Challenge.. In person...

"SOUND" (Noise, Music, Singing, Birds, Insects, Vehicles,...)

It was 2003 or 2002, don't remember the exact year. But I do remember the euphoria I felt after the concert. Watch showed it was past midnight but we were still high,atleast I was. The joy of seeing him live, listning to him croon out all those tracks that I enjoy was just magical. And this was the 2nd concert of his I was attending. 

It was a very last minute decision. I had been planning for the concert for months but the week had a bit of craziness- friend fell ill and I wasn't sure if I could travel since I was holding fort at the office. Spoke to her and she gave me a good kick that said "go for it woman".. Another guy [RJ/Station head] I know had called earlier to say he has 2 passes and all I had to do was get my butt to Bangalore. 

The saturday morning I got to the station, stood in line, bought a train ticket and travelled to Bangalore for the weekend. What fun it turned out to be~! 

Skywatch Friday. One among the many temples..

While exploring Karaikudi, we stumbled upon this temple, majestic and beautiful. it was closed and so we did not go inside. Did however spend some time in the Museum nearby and a book store of sorts adjacent to it.

In this region, people are classified based on which temple zone they are from. This temple falls into one of the nine zones.  The entire temple campus was empty but for a few guys who were enjoying a cool swim in the temple tank.

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday ...