my mysuru sojourn! :D

i love to travel by the super-fast ac passenger day-train to mysore... but aft guess about over 2 yrs, i was really in for a surprise! ...can i say, the train had a makeover?! ;D

....with huge glass window panes, the venetian blinds comfortable cushion seats with ample space for leg movement, good food throughout the journey [except the veg. pulao...it tasted as the pattai (cinnamon) nd' lavangam (clove) rice :( ]...the train was packed with people till bengaluru, aft which it was almost gaali [empty]! what a journey it was...the sun glares at you through the glass panes, the green fields, the hills, the coconut trees, the barren lands, the huts to the high-rise buildings, the colourful bougainvilleas... beautiful! :D

.. if u expect the same serene & chilly weather [people who have visited the city few years back will know what i am taking about here], u will be in for a shock now...it's hot..really, much hotter than chennai! :( ensure to take ur creams & lotions 'coz the heat makes ur skin go dry with white patches!

well, whenever i am here, i go out with my cuz along with his friends to trek, eat n' enjoy the breaks! this time, my cuz' in us n' blr, so...the 1st day, we went for a fair, at dusk of course!...kind a good expo it was :) day 2, my aunt n' uncle took us to two beautiful places i have never been before! ...

we drove down to the famous ~ 'Namdroling Monastry', a Tibetan Golden Temple, in Bylakuppe, enroute to Coorg! The place looks like a mini-Tibet - a place of learning and a home to thousands of lamas, monks and nuns! huge gold statues of Buddha, the wall paitings, the clean and calm temple will surely relieve you of the stress and make u refreshing! :D ...nd' for shopaholics, is a shopping complex which has on display wind chimes, colourful stoles, bags, etc., 'nd also eateries that serve Tibetan food! :P

...now, close ur eyes and imagine this ~ u go to a place u have never been before...u can gain entry to the place only thru' one entrance, which will be a hanging bridge through bamboo trees, with the river flowing below! this is our next stop, 'Cauvery Nisargadhama', a beautiful island n' holiday spot near Kushalnagara enroute to Coorg! :D

if ur an adventurous person, this is one of the best places to enjoy! :) we pedalled all the way ~ boating u see ~ phew! a gud excercise to the legs i wuld say! :P ...the view of the hanging bridge above from the boat below, the sun's reflection in the water, the bamboo trees, the short walk to the river ...the monkeys, the birds, people enjoying the jumbo rides, 'tis awesome! :D

as we walked the pathway through the trees after the boat ride, we heard the sound of the river flowing nearby! the steps to walk towards the river, 'tis natural ~ so, rocky down the lane ~ watch ur steps! :) we walked thru' the rocks 'nd dipped our foot in the cold stream... beyond words to express the serene happiness! :D  ...splashing the chill water on ur face ~ heaven i wud say! :P

driving back to the city, i saw something unusual 'nd captured it! ;D

'nd the next day, we watched gm's vtv' ~ i liked da 1st 1/2 more than da 2nd.. :) ...for people who are new to the city, it houses one of the best bakeries ~ the soft bread, the dilpasand and the plain cake...really melts in your mouth! :P

it will be incomplete, if i do not mention the full moon the previous night before my return...if u haven't seen a full moon before...have a glimpse atleast once! trust me ~ it will stress u out!

c ya for now! :D

namma chennai :D

@namma chennai, one can sure get an experience of a lifetime! [well, i can hear the giggles...]

over the years, evalo changes amidst the good old memories!

...we still wake up to the fresh aroma of filter kaapi, followed by a hungry apetite for fresh n' hot idly vada with spicy hot sambar!  the petti kadais, the popular kaiyendhi bhavans, the world's second longest beach and the "fuming" molaga (chilli) bajjis, the jewels street [u know what i refer to here ;D], ranganathan & fashion street,...

the other day, me and my friend aft a hectic week, decided to meet up, and headed towards the besant nagar beach. we waited for our bus, but could not even have a glimpse of one. then, the next option...

...as far as our city is concerned, the auto guys [with a very few exceptions] take the call ;D ...they will take you for a ride [literally!] with the exhorbitant charge even for a destination just a few streets away. with no other option left, we took an auto, ofcourse, after a mental calculation that the cost is kinda in parameter with the distance! the ride was really a gud one...the breeze, the broad roads and ample greenery on either side of the road leading to the beach, was itself a welcome experience...

as we were hungry, we headed straight to the food court...name a person who doesn't have a passion for the potato...french fries is always first on our menu ;D ! she had a burger and a hot chocolate, and for a change, me settled for chocolate milkshake with a dollop of what else, chocolate ice-cream :P [trust me, both of us are trying to put on a few kilos, will right about this one @ a later date...!]

by about 5, the entire place was crowded...we walked slowly towards the beach, how refreshing 'tis to walk thru' a host of coloured baloons, the various food and accessories stalls, the horse-riders, the pattani-sundal sellers looking out for customers with the tin dabba on their shoulders,...and finally, we were close to enjoy the vast expanse of the beach in front of us! beautiful!... :D    

after a few minutes, we walked back; and my eyes which is always on the look out for unique picturesque shots, made me to capture a brilliant sunset besides a hut [the picture for your eyes, heart nd soul to enjoy, below!]

after a few yards, my gud friend was fascinated by the parrot [or can i call it the astro-parot?!...] and we stopped over for a few minutes....btw, the parrot was more focussed in eating the grain, than taking the card... :D

enroute we stepped into one of the textile, home nd organic food products outlet nearby...we had never been there earlier, just wanted to check it out! 'nd from here, a walk down the streets...when compared to gold, and other hi-valued gems, i prefer to go in for the simple beads, coloured or black, and this a place where u can get beautiful bead accessories at well-bargained price from the gypsies.

we wanted to get back home by our city's 'maanagara perundu' and yes, we got into one...wow, what a journey it was!

p.s: coming up next, my mysuru sojourn! :D