Namma Metro

The long awaited Metro started its operation of first stretch from Byapanahalli to MG Road on October 20, 2011. From then I, my family, friends, collegues wanted a jolly ride in it. When I had to go to MG road, I had the option of taking Metro from CMH road. Once decided and reached station I was so curious to see the train.

An young smiling girl was issuing ticket in the counter rather than traditional tempered person in railways. I was surprised to see a round token when I expected a paper ticket. I confirmed that was the ticket when the issuer smiled back when I enquired her. The token has to be flashed on the automatic gate for entering the secured area to board the train and as well as during exit. Securities are there in every section right from the station entrance, automatic gate, entrance to the platform. The power supply is through third rail 750V on the sides of the track. To ensure safety of passengers and to avoid tres passers safety measures are displayed on platform, recorded voice requests to be cautious and a security stands there to monitor.

Announcements are repeated for safety measures and train tracking. 3 compartment train reached with no noise and stayed there for few seconds. The alarm intimates to board the train after the beep, then passengers get into it. It again beeps and then closes. Interior was looking so clean and good to see. LCD tv was fit in both the sides of the compartment that plays the fame of Bangalore. I had a feel of being in some other posh place. The train started zzz... and reached MG road in 10 min which is comparable with on road no traffic 20 min. I exited the station having the pleasure of taking the namma metro, a remarkable achievement of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation.Wish entire Bangalore gets connected via metro but takes years.

Flower show @Lalbagh

First time I have visited Lalbagh for the flower show conducted biannual during Indian Republic day and Independence day celebrations. This year the show is opened between 5th and 15th Aug. Garden is such a huge area with many trees, rose garden, bonsai park which includes more than 35 years old trees. Flower show is held in the glass house inside the lalbagh. Highlight is the 20ft high and 30ft width Lotus temple created with thousands of white roses, butterfly with yellow and red Gerbara daisies and Konark Wheel with red and yellow roses. Rain made the climate pleasant and business was in high speed. We enjoyed hot spicy roasted corn, icecream, sweet corn, puffed rice, chill and capsicum bajji having seen the flower show. There were many stalls selling seeds, fashion jewellery, articles made from coconut shell, orchids, paper flowers. This is a lovely garden to hang over and flower show adds glory to it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/punnagai/sets/72157627260284745/

Warli

I was eager to attend the painting workshop conducted in our office. Came to know about a new word 'Warli'. This is a kind of painting which we might have seen in many restaurants or office reception. Warli is originated from tribes of Maharashtra. This art is usually painted white on a dark background mostly brown, but it can be any combination of colors too. I was given a Warli image to replicate the same with my choice of colors on a handmade paper. I found it very easy since it was free hand and whatever I painted was also an art of my creation. Men can be easily represented only with triangles, circles and lines. Women is differentiated by an extra circle on head. These kind of paintings depict the daily life of people, their culture, festivals, dance and other activities. Someone who has interest in painting but has never taken brush on hand are also welcome to this colorful Indian painting to rejoice the joy of art and colors.

Boring Harry Potter

I always had a feel because it is fictious, fantasy, wizards, strange characters with lot of imagination. I remember in my school days probably 10 years back I started reading the 1st part Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone. I thot I may understand if I concentrate properly and go thro few pages. But it did not happen. I felt it was vague... Hogwards, witchcraft, Wizard, Dumbledore my god what are all these. Watched the last part Harry Potter and the deathly hallows-2 last evening and I enjoyed it the most in 3D. I actually joined others to watch some movie in hall to taste caramel pop corn with pepsi. But it was amazing to see the picturisation, performance of each character, huge antique look buildings, music, back ground score. The climax was nice, funny and we smiled. Hands together filled the hall, is it because of the Harry Potter series is over and we liked the movie? It tempts me to watch the entire series of 7 parts oops it is 8. Started liking and boring Harry became interesting Potter to me.

FoodSpot - Maharaja

Authentic restaurant that serves typical Andhra food. Serving starts in a properly cut banana leaf with puri and sabzi, followed by heap of white rice, dhal powder, ghee, sambar, rasam, dhal spinach, veg curry, papad, big bowl of set curd, sweet, banana.  Ambience is not bad and service is too good. Unlimited meals is of reasonable rate, we will do justification for the paid money. I usually eat this not so spicy tasty food more than what my tummy can allow.  It also serves Chinese, Andhra style briyani and chicken items. Have tasted few and everything was so delicious. Don’t miss to savor Andhra gongura with rice. Meal is complete with beeda sold in this restaurant's beeda stall.

Can reach there by walking towards Sony world signal from Oasis mall, Koramangala, taking a left and walking down for 200 m approx and it will be found on your left next to Reliance showrooms.  

 

Kesar Kulfi

People who have been to Jayanagar 4th block wouldnt have missed the shopping bazaar and cool joint, famous for sandwich and icecream. The lane right behind the cool joint is a small parlour selling kulfi, sugar cane juice is also sold. Varieties of kulfis like Kesar, Badam, Pista, Elaichi in various blends are available in reasonable rates. For the past 4 years the shop looks the same, simple but with delicious kulfis. It is rich in kova and melts like butter, mouth- watering even now. People are addicted to this who intentionally hang over in this area for the kulfis and cool joint.

Avan Ivan

Loud laugther filled the entire theatre in first half, post intermission was serious and terrific. There were no much heart breaking scenes in his usual formula thanks to Bala. Vishal's acting was amazing, hopefully he gets an award for his stunning performance with squint eyes and nalinam. Movie narrates the association of Kamudhikottai zamindar with 2 brothers Valter and Kumudren sami and their family, with Kamudhi as the background, its people, their slang, lifestyle. His usual way of making fun on police, rough looking hero, beautiful and little loose type heroine, godfather for the hero, smoking woman scolding in abusing terms are not missing. As in Naan kadavul climax made me say 'Oh the movie got over??',expected something to happen in climax. Overall movie was gud in terms of comedy and had a feel of watching drama which was not bad.

Aththo

I have been to Madurai last weekend, an amazing city always crowded and active people around. Tasted a new dish, I have never heard before- Aththo. When my relative was telling about this I had a false imagination of appam kind. But it was a many ingredient stuff including noodles as the base and thattai, raw cabbage and onion, red chillies, bengal gram and much more. It is prepared in a road side small cart in Meenakshi bazaar which is crowded always and maintained well. We have to be there on time to taste it, otherwise it gets over so quickly.

Ko, way to go

A complete 2.40 hrs entertainer with a perfect blend of tragedy, romance, comedy, pleasing music. I watched it without any hint about the story and enjoyed from start till end. Each character and every scene was startling and essential for the story. The cinematography was notable and re-recording was amazing. Neglecting few logical hitches, interesting screen play, unexpected plot in the climax and beautiful ending made this movie a knockout.

Summer exhibition

Been to the Ulsoor exhibition in Bangalore, that is conducted every summer. Having paid the entrance fee and dropping my name for lucky dip I entered the place without knowing I would enjoy much. Its a deviation for the Bangaloreans from the usual maals, park, theaters. You find exhibits from various parts of India including Shantiniketan handbags, bed covers, chappals, Rajasthan dress materials, handicrafts, branded items display, books for all ages and much more.

Exhibitions are always fun. We see many kind of people, their family orientation, Kids bugging their parents for a toy or fun rider or eatable. Well settled father buys them whereas a lower middle class man tries to convince the kid saying 'it is not gud for you, when you grow up we will buy'. Many stories like this run at each corner. Even if you don't buy just roam around and check things. Freaky guys get into a shop, check for the price as if they gonna buy, ask for some kind which is not available with the shop keeper and make fun out of it, I am no exception. Balloon, balls, toys, dolls are sold to attract kids. People who dont even go to theaters or any other entertainmwnt, bring their family and spend some time by buying few things for kids, eatables, chit chat for a while and get back to home in late evening. It is a pleasure for the kids to dress up nicely and get ready for this exhibition in summer vacation. Even I enjoyed a lot in window shopping, buying kashmir salwar materials, hair clips, house hold items, fun riding in dragon train and shouting a lot when it was moving fast.

This reminds me of the (g)olden days. When I was in school we use to go to the kottai mariamman kovil thiruvizha. People in and around the town and nearby villages come there with the family. House wives remain in fasting and grow saplings with sprouted beans called molapaari. They take procession by holding that in their head and reach temple. Music concert by local music parties will be conducted. There was a big ground in the temple premises where many shops including games like snake ladders, Rubik cube and toys for kids, fun activity in giant wheel, merry go round, eatables, accessories made us consider it as the amusement park. Only there we get delhi appalam, panju mittai, milagai bajji. Wherever such an exhibition is held, women section for accessories like hair clips, bindi, etc will not be missed. We go to the temple do darshan, purchase something, sit in the carpets and enjoy the gaana with family. I use to return home happily if my parents bought whatever I wanted otherwise showed my crying face. This thiruvizha that happens once in a year is a real amusement for us.

This exhibition is reposing and I want go to Ulsoor once again. Initially I hesitated to go thinking that it would be waste spending money and time and every year same things will be exhibited. What am I gonna buy from there that I don’t get in Bangalore. But it was worth spending some money, seeing such a huge crowd and cheerful kids, having good time with family. Moreover felt happy for purchasing something for myself and am waiting for the next visit.

Anticipated drive to Coorg

Being in Bangalore for more than 4 yrs I felt ashamed of not been to Coorg, dubbed as the Scotland of India. We made an instant plan to visit the places around Madikeri. A cottage has been booked in Coorg, few kms away from Madikeri the previous day of our journey. We reached Mysore on a Saturday morning. On the way to Madikeri, we stopped at Bylakuppe to visit Namdroling monastery which is Tibetan village. There was a sudden difference in entire environment. People there were Tibetans and all the buildings were of Tibetan architecture. I felt like being in borders of India. The temple for Buddhists is built in Tibetan mythology where statues of Padmasambhava, Buddha sakyamuni and Amitayus are covered in gold and hence Golden temple. The walls, roof of prayer hall was fully painted and almost everywhere dragon paintings or statues were seen. The next spot was Dubare forest where we saw many elephants. After this the road took us to Madikeri. From there it was 20 minutes drive to the cottage we have booked in coorg. It was so narrow and scary to go interior of the forest. We reached the beautiful house and I was wondering how the construction happened in that place. We tasted tea, watched world cup cricket finals having homemade dinner.
With the joy of winning the cup along tasty dinner, we slept in rooms that were nicely maintained. Woke up early next morning to see the plantations around the cottage. Pepper was grown in between coffee and wide varieties including mint, pineapple, jackfruit, hibiscus and many varieties of flowers whose name I am not aware of were planted. Around 2 hrs we enjoyed seeing the Sun rise, walking in the coffee estate. Then refreshed and headed towards Talakaveri, place where river Cauvery originates. It was looking like a small pool and poojas were going on. I was disappointed to see that place for having travelled from Bangalore and nothing special was there. Nearby was the viewpoint and had to climb 300 steps to reach. It was an ordinary view we see anywhere in a hill. I felt then it was the wrong time to come to that place. Probably I would have enjoyed viewing the hill, clouds, climate if the weather was cold. I had a different assumption about coorg but it was shattered. Even if the place is good or bad, the climate adds value to it. Since it was burning hot I was not satisfied with the trip. I convinced myself saying somehow we went out with family and seen some places and returned back.

Crazy Saturday

I had to travel to my native from Bangalore last weekend in train. I slept as soon ticket checking was over. While in train, I got a call in midnite. Thinking who is calling by this time I picked the call. On the other end, my appa was speaking 'enga ma iruka?'. I said 'Trainla, innum station varala pa.' Also I scolded him for coming so early to pick me from station. He replied 'ellarum erangi poitirunkanga' Then I slowly realised I have missed to get down by 6 am in deep sleep. Tensed appa continued 'ok ma, ‘avasarapattu trainla irundhu gudhichuradha!!!'. Caring appa what he thot of me, I dont know :). In confusion and drowsy state, I was calling a person who was selling tea, to know which station is next, 'Sir, Sirr'. Aiyo what am I speaking ??, why am I referring him Sir. Then I got out of the berth, refreshed and then called him again, 'anna aduthu endha station?'. Came to know I would reach Kodai Road station in half an hour, also worried what would happen if TTR checks for ticket there. I got down and asked somebody there if TTR checks for ticket. He said that was a small station and checking will not be there by this time. Relaxed and then came down to bus stop. I was bit worried 'Where am I now, an unknown place, why such things happen?'. I was standing in the bus stop and saw Madurai bus coming towards me. Oops I was standing on the opposite side. Then crossed the road, got a bus in sometime. In bus I was about to speak in Kannada and English :)- used to BMTC. Finally I reached my place by 7.30. It was a terrific saturday!!.

 

 

 

Momo

Thinking for a long time to try this @ home. Finally took the challenge of preparing and it came out well. It took 3 hrs to make this and it melted in a second when enjoyed eating.