As you all know I believe that everything that happens, happens for one's good. Yesterday it happened the same. Yesterday (21 June 2009), Hema's train ticket from Bangalore to Chennai was not confirmed.
Hema has come for the weekend to Bangalore. I booked a train ticket for her from Bangalore to Chennai for Sunday night (21 June) by the Chennai Express, whose status at the time of booking was WL 129. The status on the day of journey was showing as "RS9, 17". I thought that 'R' stands for an additional bogie that might have been added to the train as it was a weekend. As we were doubtful I went along with her to the station, incase if there is any chance of non-confirmation of the berth we could return back and I would be able to give her company in the return journey from the railway station to home. When we went to the station we found that 'R' stands for RAC. Incase if your WL ticket is confirmed then the status would be just S9,17. Since it was RAC it was shown as "RS9, 17". We both learnt this lesson today. Hema felt happy as her berth didn't get confirmed and she didn't feel like going to chennai, same was the case with me. During the night we talked about the beautiful moments that have passed since we met, right from pelli-chupulu to current day. But we didn't realise that yesterday was the day in last year when I met her for the first time.
The next day (22 June) I came to office to book the train ticket for 22nd evening train. As a routine I checked my calendar and then I noticed that yesterday (21 June) was the day when I met Hema for pelli-chupulu. Probably GOD wanted us to both spend that special day (21 June 2009) together. It was a good feeling that we both had on realising the fact that we knew each other for 1 year. Such small incidents are worth memorable and since I do keep forgetting things, I wrote this blog. I am lucky have her as my life-partner.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
First major item purchase after marriage (28 May 2009)
Today I bought a TV (Philips 14PT2118) for my home. This was the first major purchase after my marraige. My parents have come to Bangalore on 26 May, which is their third visit to Bangalore. The first time they came I was a bachelor, the second time they came it was a short visit and during this trip they took me to see a girl in Bangalore, and the third trip was after my marriage :-)
Many house-hold items were bought with each visit - first visit, a mattress and some kitchen utensils were bought. The second time - 2 chairs and table, another small mattress, plastic box containers for storing dal, rice etc. After marriage when my wife came to Bangalore, she made me buy many house-hold items ranging from dustbin, soap boxes, footmats to diya stand for lighting diyas at pooja place. My house entirely changed its look from a bachelor house to a family house. In this third visit of my parents I bought the TV. They say that these are all needed for a comfortable life. So what next? Let's wait and see... BTW I shall be updating a blog on my post-marriage life very soon. Till then I just wanted to say "I am enjoying my marriage life very much." I hope so that I would keep doing the same in the future too...
Many house-hold items were bought with each visit - first visit, a mattress and some kitchen utensils were bought. The second time - 2 chairs and table, another small mattress, plastic box containers for storing dal, rice etc. After marriage when my wife came to Bangalore, she made me buy many house-hold items ranging from dustbin, soap boxes, footmats to diya stand for lighting diyas at pooja place. My house entirely changed its look from a bachelor house to a family house. In this third visit of my parents I bought the TV. They say that these are all needed for a comfortable life. So what next? Let's wait and see... BTW I shall be updating a blog on my post-marriage life very soon. Till then I just wanted to say "I am enjoying my marriage life very much." I hope so that I would keep doing the same in the future too...
Monday, April 06, 2009
A smooth hectic day (04 April 2009)
Looks like this day (04 April 2009) is very good for me and Hema. Today was Sri Ramanavami in Andhra Pradesh (In Karnataka they celebrated Sri Ramanavami on 03 Apr). Today was also my younger sister's engagement anniversary, also the day we (Hema and I) celebrated our 4th month wedding anniversary :)
We went to Jayanagar BDA complex, to collect Hema's voter card. I also got my father's name corrected in my voter card.
We then left for Food and Civil supplies office, where we submitted a form for capturing Hema's photo on the ration card. Got the new ration card in few hrs.
Few days back i.e. on 02 April I got the acknowledgment letter from the Sheela Gas Agency. In the acknowledgment letter they asked me to get a non-judicial Rs 20 stamp paper affidavit duly notarised for getting the gas connection. So I went to the Sub-Registrar's office near Jayanagar 4th Block, got it done along with room-agreement extension.
Then in the evening there was a small get-together of my batchmates in Bangalore along with their family members. Met Rana, Malde, Bunny, Jalem and their wives Archana, Megha, Rimi, Samata respectively and the newly would be groom Sinha.
It was a nice day. All things went smoothly without any breaks/delays.
We went to Jayanagar BDA complex, to collect Hema's voter card. I also got my father's name corrected in my voter card.
We then left for Food and Civil supplies office, where we submitted a form for capturing Hema's photo on the ration card. Got the new ration card in few hrs.
Few days back i.e. on 02 April I got the acknowledgment letter from the Sheela Gas Agency. In the acknowledgment letter they asked me to get a non-judicial Rs 20 stamp paper affidavit duly notarised for getting the gas connection. So I went to the Sub-Registrar's office near Jayanagar 4th Block, got it done along with room-agreement extension.
Then in the evening there was a small get-together of my batchmates in Bangalore along with their family members. Met Rana, Malde, Bunny, Jalem and their wives Archana, Megha, Rimi, Samata respectively and the newly would be groom Sinha.
It was a nice day. All things went smoothly without any breaks/delays.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Trek to Antaragange (23 Nov 2008)
On Saturday (22 Nov 2008), I cycled in the city to give my friends/batchmates my wedding card. The whole day I cycled around 40kms giving just only 6 cards in total: (Rana, Shweta/Basak, Rapa, Ro/Jaggi, VKB, Nits). I started from my place at around 8:30am. It was little cloudy and it was drizzling - suited for my journey. Since it was after a long time I was meeting some of my friends, I spent around 1-1.5hrs with each of them.
The next day, Sunday 23 Nov, along with my teammates we all went to Antaragange trek. You can find more details about this place from the following links: link1, link2. I (neither anyone of us) didn't go inside the temple, so we missed seeing the Nandi (Basava) from whose mouth there is continuous flow of water all throughout the year :( We couldn't see it during the return journey as one of the member got his leg twisted, so we came down by road in the vehicle. The one thing that I enjoyed here is rock-climbing. There are many rocks and you can have a great doing rock-climbing here. I will remember this place for the rock-climbing experience that I had and also for the simple reason that this was my first trek to after coming to Bangalore. You know the time has flown very fast :( It's almost an year that I arrived in Bangalore. I reached Bangalore on 24 Nov 2007 in the evening at around 4pm (my joining in the new company was on 26 Nov 2007).
You can have a look at the trek photos at my photo album.
The next day, Sunday 23 Nov, along with my teammates we all went to Antaragange trek. You can find more details about this place from the following links: link1, link2. I (neither anyone of us) didn't go inside the temple, so we missed seeing the Nandi (Basava) from whose mouth there is continuous flow of water all throughout the year :( We couldn't see it during the return journey as one of the member got his leg twisted, so we came down by road in the vehicle. The one thing that I enjoyed here is rock-climbing. There are many rocks and you can have a great doing rock-climbing here. I will remember this place for the rock-climbing experience that I had and also for the simple reason that this was my first trek to after coming to Bangalore. You know the time has flown very fast :( It's almost an year that I arrived in Bangalore. I reached Bangalore on 24 Nov 2007 in the evening at around 4pm (my joining in the new company was on 26 Nov 2007).
You can have a look at the trek photos at my photo album.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Lost my mobile (05 Nov 2008)
Today morning I forgot my mobile in the office cab. I usually keep all my things i.e. bag, purse, phone etc on the last back seat of the Tempo Traveller. I forgot to collect my mobile while leaving the cab and I remembered it only while having breakfast, which is after 10 minutes I left the cab. By the time I called my cab driver he has already left the campus to pick up another company employees. On the way to the other company, he gave a ride to few security guards. So don't know who picked up my mobile :-( I called the cab driver and he searched the whole cab, but couldn't find the mobile. I tried calling on my mobile number, but I was getting switched off message :( I lost it :-(
I immediately called up the Airtel service and blocked my outgoing calls. I then went to the Airtel office in the afternoon and got a duplicate sim (with the same number) by filling a form, with an identity card attached. I didn't have to shell any amount for getting a duplicate sim card with the same number. The identity can be any of your company i-card/PAN/Passport etc......
My Nokia 1110 mobile served me for only 3 years. I bought it in Dec 2005 for Rs 3150 in Pune. Now I need to buy a new one. Currently one of my friend said that he has an spare mobile, which he said that he will lend it to me. So for the next 2 months I will be using it and afterwards I will think of buying a new mobile one.
I immediately called up the Airtel service and blocked my outgoing calls. I then went to the Airtel office in the afternoon and got a duplicate sim (with the same number) by filling a form, with an identity card attached. I didn't have to shell any amount for getting a duplicate sim card with the same number. The identity can be any of your company i-card/PAN/Passport etc......
My Nokia 1110 mobile served me for only 3 years. I bought it in Dec 2005 for Rs 3150 in Pune. Now I need to buy a new one. Currently one of my friend said that he has an spare mobile, which he said that he will lend it to me. So for the next 2 months I will be using it and afterwards I will think of buying a new mobile one.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Trip to Chennai (19-20 Oct 2008) and ...
After my engagement with Hema on 11 Oct 2008, I decided to meet her in Chennai this weekend as it's the only weekend I will be free before my marriage on 04 Dec 2008 Thursday night (i.e. 05 Dec early Friday morning). I will be in Hyderabad during the following days: 28 Oct to 02 Nov, 08 Nov to 09 Nov and 15 Nov to 16 Nov. The next weekend 22-23 Nov, I didn't plan anything so as to complete some office work in case if I have any, before I take leave for my marriage which is from 29 Nov to 15 Dec 2008.
As I returned to Bangalore from Hyderabad on 13 Oct, I didn't have much time to book the tickets so didn't get a confirmed ticket both for the onward and return journey to Chennai. The ticket status from Bangalore to Chennai was WL 86 and return journey was WL 199 when I booked. Luckily the onward journey got confirmed even for WL 124 too. Looking at the onward journey I expected that the return journey would atleast get to RAC if not confirmed, but it didn't and I had an interesting experience which is mentioned in this blog towards the end.
On Friday before I left for Chennai in the evening, I enquired about the availablity of budget hotels near Chennai Central as Hema doesn't know much about the Chennai city, as she has recently moved to the city two months ago. On searching I found that there are many budget hotels near Egmore station, which is around 2.1 Kms away from Chennai central (auto fare: Rs 15/- approximately - source: maps.yahoo.com). When I called up and enquired, there was no availability in the hotels near Egmore station. I enquired about the hotels with the co-passengers and one person told me that there are few, once we get out of the station and walk towards your right. Luckily on Saturday (18 Oct) morning when I landed at the Chennai station, after coming out, one auto-driver told me that he would take me to a hotel. I told him that my budget would be around Rs 300. He said fine and asked for Rs 25 to drop me there. He then took me to Hotel Geethalayam (Ph: 25612151/52/53), which is just 5 minutes walking distance and less than half a km from the Chennai Central. I got a single room with double cot, the fare was Rs 325 for one day.
I slept for an hour and then got refreshed, took bath and then left for meeting Hema, who stays in Perungudi. I took a bus from the bus-stop close to the hotel and got down at Broadway (Rs 2/Rs 3). From Broadway there is a direct bus (route: 21H) which directly goes to Perungudi (Rs 11). You don't get direct bus from Chennai Central - you have to goto Thiruvanmiyur (Route: A1 or 1A) and from there take a shared-auto (Rs 10) or bus route # T51 (Rs 4.5). You have to get down near the Ambedkar statue, that stop name is "Perungudi first source" (landmark: it's after the Cognizant Office/Lifeline Hospital). During the journey from Broadway to Perungudi I could get to see the following places/buildings: "Madras Dental College, Chennai Fort, University of Madras, Presidency College, Cheupak Railway station, Marina Beach, Tiruvallankeni Railway station, Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, Queen Mary's College, Police Head Quarters, Forensic Science Department (Education Center), Prasar Bharati (AIR) Marketing Division, Children Film's Society of India, Zoological Survey of India, Marine Aquarium, Lattice Bridge Road (aka LB Road) in Adayar."
Hema came to pick me up at the bus-stop and we sat in a temple near her house till 11:30am and talked to each other. In the afternoon I had a good chat with Hema and her friends, who were also her roommates/batchmates/colleagues, knowing more about them and more about Hema. I had lunch at her place. Then in the evening I and Hema decided to go for a movie. On looking in the newspaper we found that Telugu movies are played in only one multiplex: Mayajaal, on East Coast Road (ECR). Mayajaal is around 15Kms from Perungudi. There are two ways to reach this place. You can either goto Thiruvanmiyur and from there catch any local bus going to Kovalam (route: PP19, 19G) (NOTE: Please don't board the district bus going to Mahabalipuram or Pondicherry as these buses don't stop at Mayajaal multiplex) OR take an auto to Shollinganallur and from there a shared-auto to Mayajaal. This link shows the route and the places location ;-) (Thanks again to maps.yahoo.com, which not only shows the route, but also gives the directions and even the approximate auto-fares and travel time). We reached Thiruvanmiyur at 5pm but couldn't get any local bus. The auto-wala's were demanding Rs 150 for one way, while the bus fare from Thiruvanmiyur to Mayajaal multiplex was just Rs 11. We decided to ditch the movie plans and instead goto Beasant Nagar beach. We took an auto (Rs 50) and went to the beach from the Thiruvanmiyur bus station. We spent around 1.5 hrs at the beach, had a good talk - about our plans, feelings, what we expect from each other. We felt very happy after talking to each other in person, earlier it was only through phone. We returned back, I dropped at her place and I left back for my hotel. I slept the night in the hotel, got up early morning and checked out by 6am as we planned to go for the movie the next day morning for the 08:30am show. I was at her place the next day morning (19 Oct, sunday) by 7:05am. We then took a bus to Thiruvanmiyur and from there took another bus (route # PP19) to Mayajaal. On reaching there we found that due to strike in TamilNadu the morning shows were cancelled. The next show for the movie which we wanted to see was only at 03:30pm. So we had our breakfast in a small hotel, near Mayajaal and then left for Crocodile Park. (Bus fare from Mayajaal to Crocodile park was Rs 9). Since we had plenty of time, we went to the beach behind the crocodile park, we walked for few minutes. There were hardly any people on the beach, it was almost isolated. I wished to walk along the beach from one end to the other end, but Hema was not used to walking in the hot sun. So we just spent half an hour or so, at the beach and returned back to the Crocodile park. The entry ticket to the park was Rs 30 per head for adults and another ticket of Rs 10 for entry to the snakes section. The park is opened from 08:30am onwards till 05:00pm. The park is closed on Mondays. I learnt the following things about crocodiles in this park:
1) crocodiles can jump
2) small crocodiles can gallop @ 38kmph for small distances
3) the care-takers feed the small crocodiles with fish and bigger crocodiles beef once in 15/20 days. For around 450 crocodiles they give around 500/600 kgs of meat.
4) the small crocodiles when in danger emit some sort of sound, to which all adult (including the parents of the small crocodile) crocodiles come for help. Nice helping nature which is rarely found in human-beings in the current times :-(
TIP: If you are not able to see the crocodile in the enclosure when you visit this park, then make sounds like 'beck beck' as if you are feeding something to them, then they will come out ;-)
5) the average life of a crocodile is around 75 years of age
6) they lay eggs and depending on the temperature during the incubation period the sex of the new born is decided. If it is around 21-24 celcius, then it would be female else if the temperature is around 33-34 celicus then it would be male. Strange phenomenon na... Thank God that this was not the case with human beings else imagine what would have been done to pregnant women for having babies of required sex.
I notice some of the advantages of crocodiles, that were listed in the crocodile park, which are as follows:
1) they eat the dead carcass in the water bodies, thus cleaning the water
2) they eat the fish predators thus saving fish for us ;-)
3) it's eggs are food for some of the birds
4) the crocodiles are resistant to disease. So there is reasearch going on as to what is that makes them resistance to disease(s).
We were out of the park by 12 noon. We then had lunch in a small road-side stall as there were no good hotels near the Park. After lunch, we came back to Mayajaal to buy the tickets. We reached the multiplex at around 1:45pm. When I went to buy the tickets, there were only 6 seats available and all were scatttered :-( So we ditched the movie plans and returned back to the city. During the bus journey from Mayajaal to Thiruvanmiyur, Hema asked me if she could rest her head on my shoulders as she was feeling very sleepy because of tiredness and also the bus seat was not of good height and it was little behind. She asked me if she could rest on my shoulders, that told me how innocent she was. While she rested on my shoulders, that moment made me realise that I have another responsibilty that I have to take care of her through out my life. This incident also gave me the first practical illustration that she hopes that I will be by her side always for the rest of her life both in good times and bad times, which I will try to be. Though it's an added responsibility, but I am sure that I will be able to fulfill it and enjoy that responsibility all throughout my life.
We reached her place and discussed how the past 1.5 days went by quickly. I realised that she was more comfortable with me in comparison to what she was when I met the day I reached Chennai. She too felt the same. To quote some figures, before engagement she was 20% comfortable with me, after engagement but before my visit she was 50%, after my visit she was 80% comfortable and post-visit, the % of comfortableness is increasing each day :)
We went for a dinner, close to her home. I then dropped her back at her place, picked up my luggage and started towards the bus-stop, she said that she would come till the bus-stand. That evening we both realised that the past 1.5 days have gone really fast and hoped that we had few more hours/days to spend time with each other. We were missing each other very much as the time had come for me to start for the station. Anyway we were very happy with this visit. We learned more about one another, were able to express our feelings more comfortably with each other, understood our weakness/interests. These two days are really memorable, lovely days for both of us. As my friend, Malde and Victor says, the days before engagement and marriage are really special. You have to take time from your busy schedule and get to meet each other. This doesn't mean that you can't enjoy your post-marriage days. I am hoping that we would be having very more memorable days even after marriage, when she will be in Chennai for the next 6 months and I will be in Bangalore.
The return journey was another learning experience for me. For a short summary of that journey read this blog. I boarded the train at Chennai with my e-ticket whose status was WL 41. I didn't know that e-ticket with WL status is invalid. The TT told me to pay the penalty (total amounted to Rs 520) as it was equivalent to travelling without ticket. I just had Rs 170 with me. The TT asked me to borrow money from any of the other passengers and later return the amount to them. As I was travelling alone, I didn't knew anyone in the train. Later an RPF policeman, who understood my situation, helped me by taking from S1 coach to S13 coach and told me to get down at Jolarpettai (where he would be getting down too), from there catch a passenger train at 4:30am to Bangalore. He inturn asked me to give him some amount for his help. I opted for paying some amount to the RPF policeman and get down at Jolarpetti and catch the passenger train from there after buying a general ticket. Luckily I met another Yahoo colleague, from whom I borrowed some amount. The S13 TT told me to get down at next station, Katpadi and didn't permit me to travel till Jolarpettai. So I had to get down at Katpadi station at 01:15hrs. As I came out of the railway station, luckily one passenger who stays in Vellore, offered me a lift till the bus-stand. It was risky, to take a lift from a stranger. He himself offered me the lift at such an odd hour. He soon brought his bike from the stand and we started towards the bus-stand. I was mentally prepared to jump off the bike if I later felt suspicious about him. The bus-stand was around 5Kms away from the railway station. During the ride I immediately started a converstaion with him. He was working for Kingfisher airlines in Chennai airport and he was travelling by the same train (Bangalore Mail). He was talking very nicely and I felt at ease, comfortable, and worth trustful. He dropped me at bus-stop. I got a bus from there to Hosur (Rs 57) and I sat beside the engine as all other seats were occupied. I kept my bag on the engine and slept - sometimes on the bag, sometimes sitting on the steps resting my head on the engine and sometimes with my back against the front mirror of the bus. I reached Hosur and from there I immediately got a bus to Bangalore (Rs 22) which dropped me at Silkboard. I was at home by 07:15am. It was a new lesson for me: to keep enough cash during the journeys and also taught about the e-ticket with WL status being invalid.
PS: If you are reaching Chennai by bus then mostly you would be getting down at CMBT (Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus). From there you can catch a direct bus (route # 570, fare: Rs 33) to Perungudi OR route D70 to reach Velachery and from there any bus to Perungudi OR M70 to reach Thiruvanmiyur and from there route T51 to reach Perungudi. It would take around 1hr 15 minutes by direct bus. The route # 570 bus starts from CMBT at 07:30am daily.
As I returned to Bangalore from Hyderabad on 13 Oct, I didn't have much time to book the tickets so didn't get a confirmed ticket both for the onward and return journey to Chennai. The ticket status from Bangalore to Chennai was WL 86 and return journey was WL 199 when I booked. Luckily the onward journey got confirmed even for WL 124 too. Looking at the onward journey I expected that the return journey would atleast get to RAC if not confirmed, but it didn't and I had an interesting experience which is mentioned in this blog towards the end.
On Friday before I left for Chennai in the evening, I enquired about the availablity of budget hotels near Chennai Central as Hema doesn't know much about the Chennai city, as she has recently moved to the city two months ago. On searching I found that there are many budget hotels near Egmore station, which is around 2.1 Kms away from Chennai central (auto fare: Rs 15/- approximately - source: maps.yahoo.com). When I called up and enquired, there was no availability in the hotels near Egmore station. I enquired about the hotels with the co-passengers and one person told me that there are few, once we get out of the station and walk towards your right. Luckily on Saturday (18 Oct) morning when I landed at the Chennai station, after coming out, one auto-driver told me that he would take me to a hotel. I told him that my budget would be around Rs 300. He said fine and asked for Rs 25 to drop me there. He then took me to Hotel Geethalayam (Ph: 25612151/52/53), which is just 5 minutes walking distance and less than half a km from the Chennai Central. I got a single room with double cot, the fare was Rs 325 for one day.
I slept for an hour and then got refreshed, took bath and then left for meeting Hema, who stays in Perungudi. I took a bus from the bus-stop close to the hotel and got down at Broadway (Rs 2/Rs 3). From Broadway there is a direct bus (route: 21H) which directly goes to Perungudi (Rs 11). You don't get direct bus from Chennai Central - you have to goto Thiruvanmiyur (Route: A1 or 1A) and from there take a shared-auto (Rs 10) or bus route # T51 (Rs 4.5). You have to get down near the Ambedkar statue, that stop name is "Perungudi first source" (landmark: it's after the Cognizant Office/Lifeline Hospital). During the journey from Broadway to Perungudi I could get to see the following places/buildings: "Madras Dental College, Chennai Fort, University of Madras, Presidency College, Cheupak Railway station, Marina Beach, Tiruvallankeni Railway station, Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, Queen Mary's College, Police Head Quarters, Forensic Science Department (Education Center), Prasar Bharati (AIR) Marketing Division, Children Film's Society of India, Zoological Survey of India, Marine Aquarium, Lattice Bridge Road (aka LB Road) in Adayar."
Hema came to pick me up at the bus-stop and we sat in a temple near her house till 11:30am and talked to each other. In the afternoon I had a good chat with Hema and her friends, who were also her roommates/batchmates/colleagues, knowing more about them and more about Hema. I had lunch at her place. Then in the evening I and Hema decided to go for a movie. On looking in the newspaper we found that Telugu movies are played in only one multiplex: Mayajaal, on East Coast Road (ECR). Mayajaal is around 15Kms from Perungudi. There are two ways to reach this place. You can either goto Thiruvanmiyur and from there catch any local bus going to Kovalam (route: PP19, 19G) (NOTE: Please don't board the district bus going to Mahabalipuram or Pondicherry as these buses don't stop at Mayajaal multiplex) OR take an auto to Shollinganallur and from there a shared-auto to Mayajaal. This link shows the route and the places location ;-) (Thanks again to maps.yahoo.com, which not only shows the route, but also gives the directions and even the approximate auto-fares and travel time). We reached Thiruvanmiyur at 5pm but couldn't get any local bus. The auto-wala's were demanding Rs 150 for one way, while the bus fare from Thiruvanmiyur to Mayajaal multiplex was just Rs 11. We decided to ditch the movie plans and instead goto Beasant Nagar beach. We took an auto (Rs 50) and went to the beach from the Thiruvanmiyur bus station. We spent around 1.5 hrs at the beach, had a good talk - about our plans, feelings, what we expect from each other. We felt very happy after talking to each other in person, earlier it was only through phone. We returned back, I dropped at her place and I left back for my hotel. I slept the night in the hotel, got up early morning and checked out by 6am as we planned to go for the movie the next day morning for the 08:30am show. I was at her place the next day morning (19 Oct, sunday) by 7:05am. We then took a bus to Thiruvanmiyur and from there took another bus (route # PP19) to Mayajaal. On reaching there we found that due to strike in TamilNadu the morning shows were cancelled. The next show for the movie which we wanted to see was only at 03:30pm. So we had our breakfast in a small hotel, near Mayajaal and then left for Crocodile Park. (Bus fare from Mayajaal to Crocodile park was Rs 9). Since we had plenty of time, we went to the beach behind the crocodile park, we walked for few minutes. There were hardly any people on the beach, it was almost isolated. I wished to walk along the beach from one end to the other end, but Hema was not used to walking in the hot sun. So we just spent half an hour or so, at the beach and returned back to the Crocodile park. The entry ticket to the park was Rs 30 per head for adults and another ticket of Rs 10 for entry to the snakes section. The park is opened from 08:30am onwards till 05:00pm. The park is closed on Mondays. I learnt the following things about crocodiles in this park:
1) crocodiles can jump
2) small crocodiles can gallop @ 38kmph for small distances
3) the care-takers feed the small crocodiles with fish and bigger crocodiles beef once in 15/20 days. For around 450 crocodiles they give around 500/600 kgs of meat.
4) the small crocodiles when in danger emit some sort of sound, to which all adult (including the parents of the small crocodile) crocodiles come for help. Nice helping nature which is rarely found in human-beings in the current times :-(
TIP: If you are not able to see the crocodile in the enclosure when you visit this park, then make sounds like 'beck beck' as if you are feeding something to them, then they will come out ;-)
5) the average life of a crocodile is around 75 years of age
6) they lay eggs and depending on the temperature during the incubation period the sex of the new born is decided. If it is around 21-24 celcius, then it would be female else if the temperature is around 33-34 celicus then it would be male. Strange phenomenon na... Thank God that this was not the case with human beings else imagine what would have been done to pregnant women for having babies of required sex.
I notice some of the advantages of crocodiles, that were listed in the crocodile park, which are as follows:
1) they eat the dead carcass in the water bodies, thus cleaning the water
2) they eat the fish predators thus saving fish for us ;-)
3) it's eggs are food for some of the birds
4) the crocodiles are resistant to disease. So there is reasearch going on as to what is that makes them resistance to disease(s).
We were out of the park by 12 noon. We then had lunch in a small road-side stall as there were no good hotels near the Park. After lunch, we came back to Mayajaal to buy the tickets. We reached the multiplex at around 1:45pm. When I went to buy the tickets, there were only 6 seats available and all were scatttered :-( So we ditched the movie plans and returned back to the city. During the bus journey from Mayajaal to Thiruvanmiyur, Hema asked me if she could rest her head on my shoulders as she was feeling very sleepy because of tiredness and also the bus seat was not of good height and it was little behind. She asked me if she could rest on my shoulders, that told me how innocent she was. While she rested on my shoulders, that moment made me realise that I have another responsibilty that I have to take care of her through out my life. This incident also gave me the first practical illustration that she hopes that I will be by her side always for the rest of her life both in good times and bad times, which I will try to be. Though it's an added responsibility, but I am sure that I will be able to fulfill it and enjoy that responsibility all throughout my life.
We reached her place and discussed how the past 1.5 days went by quickly. I realised that she was more comfortable with me in comparison to what she was when I met the day I reached Chennai. She too felt the same. To quote some figures, before engagement she was 20% comfortable with me, after engagement but before my visit she was 50%, after my visit she was 80% comfortable and post-visit, the % of comfortableness is increasing each day :)
We went for a dinner, close to her home. I then dropped her back at her place, picked up my luggage and started towards the bus-stop, she said that she would come till the bus-stand. That evening we both realised that the past 1.5 days have gone really fast and hoped that we had few more hours/days to spend time with each other. We were missing each other very much as the time had come for me to start for the station. Anyway we were very happy with this visit. We learned more about one another, were able to express our feelings more comfortably with each other, understood our weakness/interests. These two days are really memorable, lovely days for both of us. As my friend, Malde and Victor says, the days before engagement and marriage are really special. You have to take time from your busy schedule and get to meet each other. This doesn't mean that you can't enjoy your post-marriage days. I am hoping that we would be having very more memorable days even after marriage, when she will be in Chennai for the next 6 months and I will be in Bangalore.
The return journey was another learning experience for me. For a short summary of that journey read this blog. I boarded the train at Chennai with my e-ticket whose status was WL 41. I didn't know that e-ticket with WL status is invalid. The TT told me to pay the penalty (total amounted to Rs 520) as it was equivalent to travelling without ticket. I just had Rs 170 with me. The TT asked me to borrow money from any of the other passengers and later return the amount to them. As I was travelling alone, I didn't knew anyone in the train. Later an RPF policeman, who understood my situation, helped me by taking from S1 coach to S13 coach and told me to get down at Jolarpettai (where he would be getting down too), from there catch a passenger train at 4:30am to Bangalore. He inturn asked me to give him some amount for his help. I opted for paying some amount to the RPF policeman and get down at Jolarpetti and catch the passenger train from there after buying a general ticket. Luckily I met another Yahoo colleague, from whom I borrowed some amount. The S13 TT told me to get down at next station, Katpadi and didn't permit me to travel till Jolarpettai. So I had to get down at Katpadi station at 01:15hrs. As I came out of the railway station, luckily one passenger who stays in Vellore, offered me a lift till the bus-stand. It was risky, to take a lift from a stranger. He himself offered me the lift at such an odd hour. He soon brought his bike from the stand and we started towards the bus-stand. I was mentally prepared to jump off the bike if I later felt suspicious about him. The bus-stand was around 5Kms away from the railway station. During the ride I immediately started a converstaion with him. He was working for Kingfisher airlines in Chennai airport and he was travelling by the same train (Bangalore Mail). He was talking very nicely and I felt at ease, comfortable, and worth trustful. He dropped me at bus-stop. I got a bus from there to Hosur (Rs 57) and I sat beside the engine as all other seats were occupied. I kept my bag on the engine and slept - sometimes on the bag, sometimes sitting on the steps resting my head on the engine and sometimes with my back against the front mirror of the bus. I reached Hosur and from there I immediately got a bus to Bangalore (Rs 22) which dropped me at Silkboard. I was at home by 07:15am. It was a new lesson for me: to keep enough cash during the journeys and also taught about the e-ticket with WL status being invalid.
PS: If you are reaching Chennai by bus then mostly you would be getting down at CMBT (Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus). From there you can catch a direct bus (route # 570, fare: Rs 33) to Perungudi OR route D70 to reach Velachery and from there any bus to Perungudi OR M70 to reach Thiruvanmiyur and from there route T51 to reach Perungudi. It would take around 1hr 15 minutes by direct bus. The route # 570 bus starts from CMBT at 07:30am daily.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Few more lessons I learnt from my frequent trips to Hyderabad
I am happy and sad at writing this blog: happy because I have been travelling to and fro between Hyderabad and Bangalore almost on all weekends for the past 1.5 months (and will be doing so for the next 1.5 months), spending time with my family members. During my trips I am more bounded to my parents, sisters, brother-in-laws and above all to my nephews: Mayukh and Veda Chandra with each trip. These trips also made me understand/realise how much each one loves one another.
My elder nephew Mayukh is very naughty. I envy the enthusiasm of these small kids. They are full of energy. One more thing I like about Mayukh is his ability to forget small mistakes in life that happen to him. For example: Sometimes I loose my patience and I beat him up for his mischief...but he still doesn't blame me, he just forgives me with his smile and comes and hugs me immediately. It's then you realise that the mistake is not his but it's our acts, our loss of patience. May God always bless him.
Another incident that I will never forget that happened on 28 Sep 2008 (Sunday afternoon) when he fell from the top of the main gate because of me :( Just few minutes before he fell, I took him out of the house and left him outside after locking the gate as he was doing lots of mischief. He climbed the gate from outside while I was still standing there and got inside. I was happy that he got my climbing skills...also felt sad that his grandfather and mother didn't see it, as they had gone for some shopping. When they came back I took Mayukh outside the gate and asked him to do the same thing. While I was waiting inside, he climbed till the top and lost his balance and fell on the ramp on the outer side and I couldn't catch him. Luckily by the grace of GOD, nothing serious happened, just an injury on his nose. This incident shaked me a lot. Inspite of all this he is still close to me and comes closer to me as compared to other family members.
Even yesterday (11 Oct 2008, on my engagement day) I spent a lot of time with my nephew, Mayukh, more than with Hema. But at few times I became very angry with his behaviour, I scolded him thrice, beaten him twice :( even though I knew that he would be going to his paternal grandparents in Vishakapatnam the same evening and that he would not be coming with us back to Hyderabad and that I would be seeing him only after many days :( Later in the train when I thought about my behaviour I felt very ashamed :-( Today morning when we reached home, we missed him a lot. The first thing I could see as I entered the house were his toys on the floor, which I picked up and keep it aside. Absence of him brought only sadness in everyone of us (my parents and sisters). Its like the main member of each of our lives is missing... :-(
These few recent trips made me understand what LOVE means, what it means to be hurt. Why parents love their kids so much? I need to also learn a great lesson that my nephew has taught me: "To enjoy each moment wholely, forget others mistakes and go ahead in life and above all to ALWAYS keep smiling."
Even my younger nephew, Veda Chandra, is very cute...he sleeps very nicely in my hands. He smiles looking at me, propably because he is looking at a new face (?). He has also given me 2 gifts: the first gift was that he excreted on my enagement dress (just after few minutes I and Hema exchanged the rings), the second gift was that he urinated on my dress twice :-) I am sure that he is gonna grow into another naughty boy just like Mayukh ;-) BTW, the to-and-fro train trip from Hyderabad to Vishakapatnam was Veda's first train journey. He slept nicely in a cradle made from the saree by tying them to the rods of the upper berth. Neither he nor Mayukh troubled us a lot as we had expected in the train journey....It was a plesant train journey.
My elder nephew Mayukh is very naughty. I envy the enthusiasm of these small kids. They are full of energy. One more thing I like about Mayukh is his ability to forget small mistakes in life that happen to him. For example: Sometimes I loose my patience and I beat him up for his mischief...but he still doesn't blame me, he just forgives me with his smile and comes and hugs me immediately. It's then you realise that the mistake is not his but it's our acts, our loss of patience. May God always bless him.
Another incident that I will never forget that happened on 28 Sep 2008 (Sunday afternoon) when he fell from the top of the main gate because of me :( Just few minutes before he fell, I took him out of the house and left him outside after locking the gate as he was doing lots of mischief. He climbed the gate from outside while I was still standing there and got inside. I was happy that he got my climbing skills...also felt sad that his grandfather and mother didn't see it, as they had gone for some shopping. When they came back I took Mayukh outside the gate and asked him to do the same thing. While I was waiting inside, he climbed till the top and lost his balance and fell on the ramp on the outer side and I couldn't catch him. Luckily by the grace of GOD, nothing serious happened, just an injury on his nose. This incident shaked me a lot. Inspite of all this he is still close to me and comes closer to me as compared to other family members.
Even yesterday (11 Oct 2008, on my engagement day) I spent a lot of time with my nephew, Mayukh, more than with Hema. But at few times I became very angry with his behaviour, I scolded him thrice, beaten him twice :( even though I knew that he would be going to his paternal grandparents in Vishakapatnam the same evening and that he would not be coming with us back to Hyderabad and that I would be seeing him only after many days :( Later in the train when I thought about my behaviour I felt very ashamed :-( Today morning when we reached home, we missed him a lot. The first thing I could see as I entered the house were his toys on the floor, which I picked up and keep it aside. Absence of him brought only sadness in everyone of us (my parents and sisters). Its like the main member of each of our lives is missing... :-(
These few recent trips made me understand what LOVE means, what it means to be hurt. Why parents love their kids so much? I need to also learn a great lesson that my nephew has taught me: "To enjoy each moment wholely, forget others mistakes and go ahead in life and above all to ALWAYS keep smiling."
Even my younger nephew, Veda Chandra, is very cute...he sleeps very nicely in my hands. He smiles looking at me, propably because he is looking at a new face (?). He has also given me 2 gifts: the first gift was that he excreted on my enagement dress (just after few minutes I and Hema exchanged the rings), the second gift was that he urinated on my dress twice :-) I am sure that he is gonna grow into another naughty boy just like Mayukh ;-) BTW, the to-and-fro train trip from Hyderabad to Vishakapatnam was Veda's first train journey. He slept nicely in a cradle made from the saree by tying them to the rods of the upper berth. Neither he nor Mayukh troubled us a lot as we had expected in the train journey....It was a plesant train journey.
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