[Hyderabad-Kurnool-Bangalore-Mysore-Dhimbam-Sathy-Annur-Mettupalayam-Seeliyur]
Not all things work out as we think. Take my latest journey to home for example. I told you that I am going to travel by APSRTC Garuda to Bangalore, but I ended up in a KSRTC Airavath. Thanks to Janani, who gave me the news about this Volvo bus leaving MGBS, Imliban at 7.15pm. I cancelled the Garuda ticket, as:
1. I got a bus with a promised reaching time of 5.30am, leaving earlier than Garuda.
2. I got a company in Janani.
3. It costs a 50Rs lesser than Garuda.
I never thought that I am setting off for a new travel experience, when I tendered the exact fare at the KSRTC counter in Imliban!
On 10th Dec., 6pm sharp, we took an auto to MGBS, Imliban from my apartments. May be a little early for a 7.15pm schedule, but my experience of missing Ramasamy's train remained fresh in memory - no risks to be taken in Hyderabad. The bus came to the stands around 7pm.
After pushing the only baggage into the spacious compartment in the side, I set foot into the bus. The first thing I noticed about the bus was that it is not a semi sleeper! Will it be worth the money then? I had to wait for the answer. The next point to be noted is that the conductor is trying to attract passengers like an ordinary route bus. Occupancy was not even 50%. KSRTC needs to do something drastic!
Janani's seat is #4 and mine #12. I asked the conductor, if #3 is occupied. He asked me to leave seat #3, if anybody of the fairer sex happen to board the bus, otherwise no problem. There was no other feminine gender to be seen in the bus. Seat #3 is the most ideal seat for a Volvo journey, especially for road lovers like me. It gives the total comfort of a passenger seat while giving you a complete view of the road as well as the pilot panel. Need not tell you that I prayed that no other woman boarded the bus! ( granted ;-)).
Till we reached Mehboobnagar, where the bus halted for dinner, we were left to the mercy of a Govinda film, which was totally unpalatable. Also to my horror(!) all those sitting near our seats were Tamil aware and I was not able to make my *class* of comments. Out of frustration I managed one or two, only to receive punches from Janani. The idlis and the tomato-onion chutney combo, added more flavour to the already exciting journey. Thanks to my cook maid!
The plush interiors were really providing good comfort and the Volvo engineering was proving itself again and again as the driver maintained a constant 80+ speed. Instances where a Volvo makes a difference is:
1. When slowing down, the impact is totally hidden from the passengers. In the whole journey of 11hrs and 565kms, once and only once was there a jerk due to a sudden brake!
2. While taking a bend, everyone knows how the centripetal(centrifugal?) force pulls the passengers towards one side - it is very minimized in this vehicle; may be because of the height and the biiig wheel base.
3. Being without the engine noise, even at the top RPM of any gear. There is a mild grin...just a grin!
4. When it unleashes its sheer power! It hardly takes any time reaching 100kmph, starting from zero. In our normal vehicles, during overtaking, if there is an obstacle from the opposite, we tend to avoid the obstacle by slowing down. Had you been to such night trips you would have experienced the nuisance of slow moving trucks and lorries. But Volvo avoids such obstacles by increasing the speed and completing the overtake in a lesser time! It is again driver-dependent, but still is possible only with such a powerful engine. Hope our Leyland people will soon introduce their Volvo equivalent, if they have any idea of staying in the luxury market.
The NH7 was not completely 4-laned and particularly this HYD-BLR stretch is still pending. But all those never mattered to our driver as he was racing against time. But whenever he spotted a distant headlight in the opposite direction he was slowing below the necessary limit(I thought!!!).
I called up Pradeep around 12am to wish him a very happy b'day. Not able repay his bumps!!
The highlight of the journey was the P.Shuseela songs played by the driver after shutting down the nonsense movie. I was wondering as what was happening! The bus belongs to the Karnataka Govt and the trip was from Telugu desam to the Kannada capital. But where from did Tamil come? I was really thrilled. I dont remember if Janani was awake to enjoy, what I call, the "thaemadhura(th) thamizhosai"(honey like Tamil). It was a 90 minutes cassette and the bus reached Kurnool town, when it ended. "Maalai pozhudhin mayakkathilae naan kanavu kandaen thozhi!"...wow...heaven!!!(reminded about Antoji's 'heaven').
All this time the conductor was sitting on the other side of the front panel and as Kurnool passed by, he went back for a small nap. Well, what else was I waiting for? I took his seat immediately and the driver had no objection. Another 100kms and the sheer power with which the bus gulps the never ending road gave me sheer pleasure. I was overhearing the driver's conversation a little while ago and noted down this point - Volvo drivers are getting 15K to 20K starting salary! Man, it means, "karumbu thinna kooli"! Jealousy - was what I felt.
I decided to give sleep some chance. It was around 2am. When I woke up, it was 4.30am. And Bangalore is still 100kms away. I was a little frustrated. Did the driver slow down in the middle? Will he make it before the promised 5.30am? Will he keep an average of 100kmph? Will I be able to get the Inter-City express at 6.15am? The drivers intentions gave me hopes, as he was crossing the 120kmph often and the roads were also totally deserted. Janani was still in deep sleep and showed no interest in the world of roads, speeding buses, gutsy drivers, nuisance lorries, overtakes and speedometers. That is not her world anyway.
When it is a 50km from BLR, God(Rams, read it as 'destiny') came into the picture, by bringing some fog and mist to the play. Well, u know what to expect! Creep at 20kmph. Not even 1m of the road is visible going forward. No chance of speeding up. Reached BLR at 6.45am. This is not the first time I am getting disappointed in a Volvo bus (http://dparthi.blogspot.com/2004/12/home-sweet-home.html). But this time I had a dependency - the train - but no use of musing over it! Sakthi came to pick Janani up at the BLR bus stand and after bidding goodbye to them, I went on a search for a Coimbatore bound bus. Here again I had a big dilemma, whether to choose the Salem via(Dad will be pleased) or the Mysore via(My heart lies there). I came across the Mysore stand first and there was one semi sleeper ready to leave to Mysore. Quick calculations: 3 hrs to Mysore, 5 hrs to Coimbatore(CBE) - and I should be able to make up with the train timing! Also I can sleep(??!!) for 3 hrs in this semisleeper. I slept for 1hr, but then, as I got an N number of phone calls, asking me if have made it to the train, I gave up sleeping! I was feeling really proud of my friends, who were so concerned about me! Also thanks to Reliance for keeping me connected.
Breakfast at Mandya. But without brushing the teeth!
The bus reached Mysore at 10am. One of the best things about this journey was the work in progress for the BLR-Mysore 4 lane project. It is taking place along the entire stretch of 120kms and sure will get completed when I undertake my next expedition.
Mysore was cool. I love that place. But I had no time to get senti there. The KSRTC bus bound for Coimbatore was leaving in a few minutes(10.15am). I got the seat behind the driver. (again the most ideal seat!). I was informed that the bus will reach Sathy at 2.15pm and Annur 2.55pm. Now I was in a dilemma as to get down at Sathy or Annur. I remembered Pavi, my sister, telling me that Annur via is the fastest way to reach Mettupalayam(MTP). The ticket costed 62Rs.
The road was initially looking good. It was the Mysore-Calicut NH212. But our vehicle left the NH at Nanjangud towards Chamrajnagar, and this was the worst stretch in my entire journey. Also the bus got crowded beyond limit. But after Chamrajnagar, we joined the Bangalore-Sathy-Coimbatore-Dindigul NH209, the Tamilnadu side of which I had already experimented and seeing for the first time its Karnataka face! It started with the paddy fields first, with their welcome green color and ended into the forests of the Eastern ghats. Green green and more green...I unnecessarily got reminded about Veerappan.
The next stop was at Hassanur for lunch and I sent inside a plate of biriyani. Then as the bus descended down the 27 hairpin bends of the Dhimbam Ghat Road, I was filled with ecstasy. The sight of my state - and that too a bird's eye view made my hair stand still for a moment. Last time I made to here was when I came to see Pavi. Instead of having to wait for 3 hrs before her college got over, I made a short trip from Sathy to Dhimbam - one cup of chaaya - back to Sathy in time for her!
Most often people get deceived by the appearnce of a bus...I call those KSRTC buses as "dog vehicles" when I happen to see them at CBE bus stand. But only these ones keep their promises all the time. Last time it was the Kerala bus from Trivandrum to Thrissur and this time it is its Karnataka counterpart! The bus reached Annur exactly at 2.55pm.
Even as I got down, I got a glimpse of a MTP bound bus starting. Had to catch it on the run!
I was there at MTP right in time for the 4pm 4A/3D bus which will leave to my village. As usual local trips have some pleasant faces to greet and some unpleasant ones to regret! Life is a mixture of both and you can learn a lot from these bus journeys! Only if you are observant enough!
Reached home by 5pm. Had I caught the train, I would have come here by 3pm. Not a big loss!
Back home. Back to the warmth of my parents. Back to that rustic heaven, that was my world for a 20 years; that shared my dreams; that shaped my character!
A short summary of my trip could be like this: ( Srinikutty, these are not XML tags)
Hyderabad<--7.15pm, KSRTC Volvo, Rs506, 6.45am-->Bangalore
Bangalore<--7.00am, KSRTC Semisleeper, Rs104, 10.00am-->Mysore
Mysore<--10.15am, KSRTC InterState, Rs62, 2.55pm-->Annur
Annur<--2.56pm, TNSTC MTP-Karur, Rs6, 3.25pm-->Mettupalayam
Mettupalayam<--4.00pm, TNSTC 4A/3D, Rs5, 5.00pm-->TDG Colony, Seeliyur
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Monday, December 20, 2004
Indhiran vaaghanathil oru iravu(p) payanam
Vattamaai oLirum vaan nila,
Nilavin oLiyil kuLikkum Varanasi-Kanyakumari NH7,
NH7-il parakkum yen Volvo vandi,
Volvo-vil nadukkum 20 degree a/c kuLir,
Andha kuLirilum amaidhiyaai urangum anbu(th) thozhi,
Thozhiyai thaalattum P.Shuseela-vin *thaemadhura(th) thamizhosai,
Andha isai veLLaththil, oru kuzhandhaiyin kaLippudan naan!
Driver-in saagasangalai vaai piLanthapadi rasikkum naan!
Speedometer 100-i thaandum podhellam kai thattikkollum naan!
Cut aDiththu over-take seiyyumbodhu visiladikkum naan!
Sorkkaththil naan!
Ahahaa...yellam inba mayam!
EnnaaLum yen vaazhvil anbin swaram...!
(KJYesudass)
* - the trip was from HYD to BLR in a KSRTC bus, but the pilot played the famous P.S collections..."aththaan...yennaththaan...avar yennaiththaan...yeppadi solvaenadi?".
Nilavin oLiyil kuLikkum Varanasi-Kanyakumari NH7,
NH7-il parakkum yen Volvo vandi,
Volvo-vil nadukkum 20 degree a/c kuLir,
Andha kuLirilum amaidhiyaai urangum anbu(th) thozhi,
Thozhiyai thaalattum P.Shuseela-vin *thaemadhura(th) thamizhosai,
Andha isai veLLaththil, oru kuzhandhaiyin kaLippudan naan!
Driver-in saagasangalai vaai piLanthapadi rasikkum naan!
Speedometer 100-i thaandum podhellam kai thattikkollum naan!
Cut aDiththu over-take seiyyumbodhu visiladikkum naan!
Sorkkaththil naan!
Ahahaa...yellam inba mayam!
EnnaaLum yen vaazhvil anbin swaram...!
(KJYesudass)
* - the trip was from HYD to BLR in a KSRTC bus, but the pilot played the famous P.S collections..."aththaan...yennaththaan...avar yennaiththaan...yeppadi solvaenadi?".
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Home sweet home
Six months! This is the longest time I have been away from home in my 22 years. When I used to travel back from college to home, I would be looking forward to the journey more than the feeling of home. But this time, I am looking forward to both. I have tried every other means of transport - goods carrier to flight - and none ever quenched my thirst for travel. The more I travel, the more I want to.
I'm getting a bit nostalgic now. I remember roaming around the SETC bus stand at Parry's Corner, trying to get the Video Coach to Coimbatore - I had the "beginner's luck" of getting the best SETC on my first trip to home from College, which gave me a wrong opinion that all the buses in its fleet are likewise!! It took a couple of further adventures, before I was proved wrong.
I particularly remember one night, when the driver of a bus entered into a quarrel with a passenger, who happened to be a lawyer; the driver was so tensed that he smashed the left glass into a truck, and still managed to keep the journey going! As you can expect, I was in seat no 7, left side, second row. I almost froze with cold, as the wind blew in my face. I was wondering if I can make it, or is it my last trip, or should I get down at Villupuram. I made it atlast!
Travel by air-buses made no significant difference, except for the little extra comfort, they offer. I think Vivegam is the first air-bus I took, once going home from Chennai.
But my first Volvo trip was from CBE to Chennai, sometime after getting placed ;-). I was standing at Gandhipuram Lala Corner and plush-looking buses are coming and going and KPN has no tkts available. When I approached the No.1 Air, which is located very strategically in Gandhipuram, the guy over the counter was all smiles to offer me the Volvo tkt, which cost only Rs.400/-(???). I said "No, thanks". But stepping out, I thought, "what the heck! Let's give it a try".
There was a minimal noise and the jerk was almost absent and as the bus entered the NH 47, it was getting wonderful! Also, as it happened to be my first Air conditioned journey, I wrapped myself tightly with the provided shawl. I was expecting to reach Chennai well before 5am, taking note of the speed of the bus. But when I woke up (I dont know, how I slept !!), it was nearly six in the morning and the bus is pacing thro the Tambaram Outer Ring road towards Koyambedu. Jus' another journey!
If I can call myself rebellious, then the reason is this. I decided to hire a truck to get across all the goods of all people from Kongunad(me, Murry, Palani, Gokri, LK, Sivanesh) after vacating the hostel. My Dad was not very liking of the idea, but he somehow dint say no. And the highlight is that I decided to travel in the truck itself! Myself and LK were ready for the adventure, joined later by Murry, who had told his mom that he was coming by bus!
The truck was a Swaraj Mazda - open type. There was enough covering material, but to be used only during rain. We had space to accomodate even two more people and the beds were all laid out and we were playing cards and discussing some nonsense, while watching the stars in the sky.
Open air journey, prayer at a wayside temple near Tambaram, dinner at a dhaba and a sleep of 4 hours at a petrol bunk near Villupuram, phone calls to home from Aattur, breakfast at Palani's, buttermilk at Gokri's, downloading Mur and goods at Mur's, and finally the fight with the driver at LK's - fresh in memory!
That was a dream come true for me - travel a long distance by the most unconventional means! The previous time I did this was in last December(2003), while returning from Kanyakumari - the means was not unconventional, but the route.
I took the less ventured Kerala route. After b'fast at Nagarkoil, set off to KKumari and got a bus to Trivandrum. At Trivandrum, there was no bus leaving for Palghat or Ernakulam (or I was not able to find!!) in the next one hour and so finished the lunch and got a bus, bound for Sulthan Bathery, which happens to be somewhere near Ooty. I remember the expression on the conductor's face, when I gave him 100 Rs and asked for 2 tkts to Thrissur. He cooly replied me that each ticket costs 202/-. My geographical estimates were thwarted. It costed only 70 odd Rs between CBE and Trichy! May be Kerala costs are high. Luckily I had the money.
The journey was no different from that one in the truck, but the speed that the driver raced to, was something that I never experienced on road. 120kmph - I tried to see if the speedometer is working - but that is too much to expect in a govt vehicle. So I took help from my Titan and the signboards roadside. The maximum occured in the Alleppey-Ernakulam stretch - 4 lane and full throttle! Well, my reason for boarding the bus got fulfilled.
It was around 10pm when we reached Ernakulam and 12(am!!) on reaching Thrissur. Got a bus to Palghat and it was 3am when I dropped my foot at CBE. Got the first bus to MTP and reached home by 6am. It has taken 24hrs on a whole - from Nagarkoil to Seeliyur. But it is yet another dream come true - travelling the entire stretch of NH47 - Salem - Ernakulam - K'Kumari.
I had a big quarrel with my dad, when I told him about the route I was going to take for my first journey in the post college pre Juno period. Mettupalayam - Gobichettipalayam - Anthiyur - Mettur-Vellore-Sriperumbudur-Chennai. He dint allow me to take that route. But am looking forward to traversing that stretch, before too many days are over.
Another interesting journey was the "Rajahamsa" trip from BLR to HYD with Antoji and Naresh, a couple of months back. It was like a return to SETC, but with a new name - KSRTC. The bus was already late by an hour and the conductor fellow was giving the most irresponsible answer, when asked about why one of our push back seats were not working. No wonder Naresh and me got tensed(excited rather!!). It gave me an opportunity to let loose my Kannada talents, in the land of Kannada. The repairmen promised me that he will take care when the bus halts for dinner at BLR outskirts. And he kept his words too! Not a bad journey, but it certainly was not a Rajahamsa journey!
And this time it is the coveted Garuda, upon which I have an eye ever since Nive akka told about its speed and comfort. Let me see what this Garuda trip has to offer!
I'm getting a bit nostalgic now. I remember roaming around the SETC bus stand at Parry's Corner, trying to get the Video Coach to Coimbatore - I had the "beginner's luck" of getting the best SETC on my first trip to home from College, which gave me a wrong opinion that all the buses in its fleet are likewise!! It took a couple of further adventures, before I was proved wrong.
I particularly remember one night, when the driver of a bus entered into a quarrel with a passenger, who happened to be a lawyer; the driver was so tensed that he smashed the left glass into a truck, and still managed to keep the journey going! As you can expect, I was in seat no 7, left side, second row. I almost froze with cold, as the wind blew in my face. I was wondering if I can make it, or is it my last trip, or should I get down at Villupuram. I made it atlast!
Travel by air-buses made no significant difference, except for the little extra comfort, they offer. I think Vivegam is the first air-bus I took, once going home from Chennai.
But my first Volvo trip was from CBE to Chennai, sometime after getting placed ;-). I was standing at Gandhipuram Lala Corner and plush-looking buses are coming and going and KPN has no tkts available. When I approached the No.1 Air, which is located very strategically in Gandhipuram, the guy over the counter was all smiles to offer me the Volvo tkt, which cost only Rs.400/-(???). I said "No, thanks". But stepping out, I thought, "what the heck! Let's give it a try".
There was a minimal noise and the jerk was almost absent and as the bus entered the NH 47, it was getting wonderful! Also, as it happened to be my first Air conditioned journey, I wrapped myself tightly with the provided shawl. I was expecting to reach Chennai well before 5am, taking note of the speed of the bus. But when I woke up (I dont know, how I slept !!), it was nearly six in the morning and the bus is pacing thro the Tambaram Outer Ring road towards Koyambedu. Jus' another journey!
If I can call myself rebellious, then the reason is this. I decided to hire a truck to get across all the goods of all people from Kongunad(me, Murry, Palani, Gokri, LK, Sivanesh) after vacating the hostel. My Dad was not very liking of the idea, but he somehow dint say no. And the highlight is that I decided to travel in the truck itself! Myself and LK were ready for the adventure, joined later by Murry, who had told his mom that he was coming by bus!
The truck was a Swaraj Mazda - open type. There was enough covering material, but to be used only during rain. We had space to accomodate even two more people and the beds were all laid out and we were playing cards and discussing some nonsense, while watching the stars in the sky.
Open air journey, prayer at a wayside temple near Tambaram, dinner at a dhaba and a sleep of 4 hours at a petrol bunk near Villupuram, phone calls to home from Aattur, breakfast at Palani's, buttermilk at Gokri's, downloading Mur and goods at Mur's, and finally the fight with the driver at LK's - fresh in memory!
That was a dream come true for me - travel a long distance by the most unconventional means! The previous time I did this was in last December(2003), while returning from Kanyakumari - the means was not unconventional, but the route.
I took the less ventured Kerala route. After b'fast at Nagarkoil, set off to KKumari and got a bus to Trivandrum. At Trivandrum, there was no bus leaving for Palghat or Ernakulam (or I was not able to find!!) in the next one hour and so finished the lunch and got a bus, bound for Sulthan Bathery, which happens to be somewhere near Ooty. I remember the expression on the conductor's face, when I gave him 100 Rs and asked for 2 tkts to Thrissur. He cooly replied me that each ticket costs 202/-. My geographical estimates were thwarted. It costed only 70 odd Rs between CBE and Trichy! May be Kerala costs are high. Luckily I had the money.
The journey was no different from that one in the truck, but the speed that the driver raced to, was something that I never experienced on road. 120kmph - I tried to see if the speedometer is working - but that is too much to expect in a govt vehicle. So I took help from my Titan and the signboards roadside. The maximum occured in the Alleppey-Ernakulam stretch - 4 lane and full throttle! Well, my reason for boarding the bus got fulfilled.
It was around 10pm when we reached Ernakulam and 12(am!!) on reaching Thrissur. Got a bus to Palghat and it was 3am when I dropped my foot at CBE. Got the first bus to MTP and reached home by 6am. It has taken 24hrs on a whole - from Nagarkoil to Seeliyur. But it is yet another dream come true - travelling the entire stretch of NH47 - Salem - Ernakulam - K'Kumari.
I had a big quarrel with my dad, when I told him about the route I was going to take for my first journey in the post college pre Juno period. Mettupalayam - Gobichettipalayam - Anthiyur - Mettur-Vellore-Sriperumbudur-Chennai. He dint allow me to take that route. But am looking forward to traversing that stretch, before too many days are over.
Another interesting journey was the "Rajahamsa" trip from BLR to HYD with Antoji and Naresh, a couple of months back. It was like a return to SETC, but with a new name - KSRTC. The bus was already late by an hour and the conductor fellow was giving the most irresponsible answer, when asked about why one of our push back seats were not working. No wonder Naresh and me got tensed(excited rather!!). It gave me an opportunity to let loose my Kannada talents, in the land of Kannada. The repairmen promised me that he will take care when the bus halts for dinner at BLR outskirts. And he kept his words too! Not a bad journey, but it certainly was not a Rajahamsa journey!
And this time it is the coveted Garuda, upon which I have an eye ever since Nive akka told about its speed and comfort. Let me see what this Garuda trip has to offer!
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Plaster of paris city
[Visit to Ramoji Film City; 05 Dec 2004; Kondapur - Chutneys - Sec'bad - Tarnaka - Habsiguda - LB Nagar - Ramoji]
As usual I thought that I will keep myself busy during the weekend, working on a dangling project. Foundations were well laid on Friday night. And half of Saturday too. But I happened to come across this site: http://ipc.iisc.ernet.in/~abhijit/index.html. Dreams come back to memory! And when Sharma asked me on Saturday evening, if I would like to join him for the next day's trip to Ramoji Film City, I found myself answering in the affirmative. So spent Sat night at Sharma's and set off on Sunday morning 8.45. Naresh, JP and Bala along with Naresh's father took the cab while I was Sharma's pillion-rider. Time to test the new TVS Centra!
After a hearty breakfast at Chutney's, the journey began. The cab driver gave me instructions about the route; I am comfortable upto Tarnaka, and thought that we can find out the rest - Habsiguda - LB Nagar - Ramoji.
Well, AP Tourism deserves much applause as there are signboards all the way preventing you from losing track inside the dense city traffic. Once we escaped Tarnaka, there was not much bumpy ride. Even before, the Sunday mornings are not known to atleast 50% Hyderabadis and so there was no traffic concern.
42kmph! and that is all we liked to go. The mode never changed from "economy" to "power". The road was inviting, broad and lined. There was median all the way. I wonder how Sharma was not giving in to the temptations. I would have stayed around 100kmph, even if it is a new bike and your salesmen has warned u a thousand times not to cross 50!
No incidents! We took the right route at every junction and the Sec'bad-Ramoji 29km stretch took nearly 65 minutes. The cab has gotten punctured en route and the driver managed to fit it with a stepney and still reached well before us. Naresh was exclaiming that he crossed the 3 figure mark more than once.
Ramoji revealed the truth behind the giant sets and houses that we would have exclaimed in every alternate movie. And the greatest luck was in getting the right guide. We got a one who was extremely jovial and could handle the narration so well and so professionally as the bus that carried us thro various gardens and buildings of Ramoji, kept moving.
There was a highway dhaba and 5 central jails. Naresh father was concerned about none of them resembling the Vellore jail! There was a golden temple and God-less temple. The guide explained "bhagwan ne producer ke saath aatha our shooting ke baath producer ke saath jaatha".
Then there was a big square building - school on one side, college on the other side, church on the third and the fourth was configurable, I think. Similarly the back side of the airport was the JJ Hospital. The basement of the airport happened to be the bus stand. "Our hero ka flight miss hone ke baath, woh bus se ghar ko vaapas aatha -- oopar me airport, neeche bus-stand".
There was also a street simulating a London atmosphere - a couple of square buildings and a neat road is what is called London.
Then there were these huge structures of steel, which resemble the framework of a building, which the guide explained, "could be made into anything on demand". It looked like the place, where most of the climax fights use to take place.
The gardens were well maintained and kept photographers and cameras busy. They call it as Hawa mahal and we dint miss the huge statues of topless ladies. Naresh was interested in one particular statue under which he took a photograph and his father joined us in wondering the after-effects of that photo being given out for his bride search.
When we entered the animal garden, where bushes were shaped like animals, we were reminded about our college...cool...it was only the smell - the smell of recycled water! It was being sprayed all over, and amidst photos, we were running all around to escape from it! Still we lost at some places!
We came across a dance floor with a gallery around - and u know what to expect! We wanted a photo, where all of us were in the air - jumping - after many trial and errors, it came out! Thanks to Naresh's father, who shot the photo.
Naresh's father deserves a special mention here, as without him, our time at Ramoji wouldn't have been as good. He joined us in every joke and we were bursting when he cracked one. It is because of his instruction we got a timely lunch as the only veg hotel inside the film city got immovably crowded half-an-hour after we started our lunch. Experience!
I had a ping-pong ball which will have unpredictable behaviour every time it hits the ground. This ball kept us busy for sometime till I hit one lady with it! No casualities, thank Gods.
After lunch, JP and Bala went for a Thriller-Jet ride, while me, Naresh and Sharma were taking photographs. People! dont mistake me for lacking courage to take the ride, it is only the time - immediately after lunch - why take risk?
There was a dance show and we were there at the right time! We were really tired after a day long roaming. The last item on the agenda was the visit to the cave and the sun fountain.
The cave had nothing special about it, except for a holographic projection shown at the end of the tunnel - I got reminded of the "Mummy" when the seem-to-be sculpture broke from its hind pedestal and started dancing. As I understood that it was a holograph, I remembered Aish's dance in "Jeans".
Done! Back to the entrance! Stopped midway at Sanghi Venkateshwara Temple, and after a day long experince with plaster of paris, it was refreshing to be with his Almighty, singing his songs!
The return trip again posed no problems. Bought dinner at a wayside Vihar for all and dispersed from Sharma's after dinner.
The bike trip was wonderful and I happened to like the time spent at Ramoji's too.
As Anto pointed out, being with friends more than the place, is what makes moments great! Hope we will celebrate more of life in near future, with Christmas and New year coming.
As usual I thought that I will keep myself busy during the weekend, working on a dangling project. Foundations were well laid on Friday night. And half of Saturday too. But I happened to come across this site: http://ipc.iisc.ernet.in/~abhijit/index.html. Dreams come back to memory! And when Sharma asked me on Saturday evening, if I would like to join him for the next day's trip to Ramoji Film City, I found myself answering in the affirmative. So spent Sat night at Sharma's and set off on Sunday morning 8.45. Naresh, JP and Bala along with Naresh's father took the cab while I was Sharma's pillion-rider. Time to test the new TVS Centra!
After a hearty breakfast at Chutney's, the journey began. The cab driver gave me instructions about the route; I am comfortable upto Tarnaka, and thought that we can find out the rest - Habsiguda - LB Nagar - Ramoji.
Well, AP Tourism deserves much applause as there are signboards all the way preventing you from losing track inside the dense city traffic. Once we escaped Tarnaka, there was not much bumpy ride. Even before, the Sunday mornings are not known to atleast 50% Hyderabadis and so there was no traffic concern.
42kmph! and that is all we liked to go. The mode never changed from "economy" to "power". The road was inviting, broad and lined. There was median all the way. I wonder how Sharma was not giving in to the temptations. I would have stayed around 100kmph, even if it is a new bike and your salesmen has warned u a thousand times not to cross 50!
No incidents! We took the right route at every junction and the Sec'bad-Ramoji 29km stretch took nearly 65 minutes. The cab has gotten punctured en route and the driver managed to fit it with a stepney and still reached well before us. Naresh was exclaiming that he crossed the 3 figure mark more than once.
Ramoji revealed the truth behind the giant sets and houses that we would have exclaimed in every alternate movie. And the greatest luck was in getting the right guide. We got a one who was extremely jovial and could handle the narration so well and so professionally as the bus that carried us thro various gardens and buildings of Ramoji, kept moving.
There was a highway dhaba and 5 central jails. Naresh father was concerned about none of them resembling the Vellore jail! There was a golden temple and God-less temple. The guide explained "bhagwan ne producer ke saath aatha our shooting ke baath producer ke saath jaatha".
Then there was a big square building - school on one side, college on the other side, church on the third and the fourth was configurable, I think. Similarly the back side of the airport was the JJ Hospital. The basement of the airport happened to be the bus stand. "Our hero ka flight miss hone ke baath, woh bus se ghar ko vaapas aatha -- oopar me airport, neeche bus-stand".
There was also a street simulating a London atmosphere - a couple of square buildings and a neat road is what is called London.
Then there were these huge structures of steel, which resemble the framework of a building, which the guide explained, "could be made into anything on demand". It looked like the place, where most of the climax fights use to take place.
The gardens were well maintained and kept photographers and cameras busy. They call it as Hawa mahal and we dint miss the huge statues of topless ladies. Naresh was interested in one particular statue under which he took a photograph and his father joined us in wondering the after-effects of that photo being given out for his bride search.
When we entered the animal garden, where bushes were shaped like animals, we were reminded about our college...cool...it was only the smell - the smell of recycled water! It was being sprayed all over, and amidst photos, we were running all around to escape from it! Still we lost at some places!
We came across a dance floor with a gallery around - and u know what to expect! We wanted a photo, where all of us were in the air - jumping - after many trial and errors, it came out! Thanks to Naresh's father, who shot the photo.
Naresh's father deserves a special mention here, as without him, our time at Ramoji wouldn't have been as good. He joined us in every joke and we were bursting when he cracked one. It is because of his instruction we got a timely lunch as the only veg hotel inside the film city got immovably crowded half-an-hour after we started our lunch. Experience!
I had a ping-pong ball which will have unpredictable behaviour every time it hits the ground. This ball kept us busy for sometime till I hit one lady with it! No casualities, thank Gods.
After lunch, JP and Bala went for a Thriller-Jet ride, while me, Naresh and Sharma were taking photographs. People! dont mistake me for lacking courage to take the ride, it is only the time - immediately after lunch - why take risk?
There was a dance show and we were there at the right time! We were really tired after a day long roaming. The last item on the agenda was the visit to the cave and the sun fountain.
The cave had nothing special about it, except for a holographic projection shown at the end of the tunnel - I got reminded of the "Mummy" when the seem-to-be sculpture broke from its hind pedestal and started dancing. As I understood that it was a holograph, I remembered Aish's dance in "Jeans".
Done! Back to the entrance! Stopped midway at Sanghi Venkateshwara Temple, and after a day long experince with plaster of paris, it was refreshing to be with his Almighty, singing his songs!
The return trip again posed no problems. Bought dinner at a wayside Vihar for all and dispersed from Sharma's after dinner.
The bike trip was wonderful and I happened to like the time spent at Ramoji's too.
As Anto pointed out, being with friends more than the place, is what makes moments great! Hope we will celebrate more of life in near future, with Christmas and New year coming.
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