avalokana
looking back, pondering over good old days
Apr 24, 2006

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Yesterday just before going to bed at 11.30, I was channel surfing as usal. And saw some Kannada title-cards in DD National. Kannada movie in DD at this odd hour means, i has to be a national awarded, feature film. And it was Haseena. Based on a story by Kannada writer Bhanu Mustaq, the story narrate's Haseena (Tara, who won Nation award for her role) fight for justice.

To be honest, I'm not much of a movie-buff and writing a review is out of question :p. Infact other than Tara, the only actor I was able to recognize in the movie was Chitra Shenai (Begum Julekha).

For the review check this link in rediff .

Commendable work by the director, Girish Kasaravalli, lead actress Tara. And also a beautiful background score. And as Vijayasarathy says in his rediff review,

"Haseena is a great film and worth a watch even for people who like to hog hardcore commercial films."
Apr 18, 2006

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I donno why I get attracted towards lone trees. Here is one more taken in Shivasamudra. Previous ones were taken at Mahabalipuram and Karkala.

Apr 14, 2006

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Apercevoir: To look back (in French)

apercevoir

Borrowing Viash's blog name for the post :)

Or as Vaish says -

Aperçu: 1. A discerning perception; an insight. 2. A short outline or summary; a synopsis. 3. A very brief look.

Taken during ride to Shivasamudra

Place Visited:Shivasamudra - Gaganachukki & Bharachukki
Route Taken:Bangalore - Maddur - Malavalli - Shivasamudra - Malavalli - Maddur - Bangalore.
Total distance:306.3 KMs
Team:Girish (on his Electra), Rana (Thunderbird), Sachin (Red Pulsar 180) and Prashanth (Black Pulsar 150)
Click here for more photos - From Girish's Camera and My Camera Plan and Pre-plan: Till 10 in the night on Saturday, my plan was to go to Chamundi hills alone and be back by evening. But thanks to Dr. Prithvi Raval, Here it is how internet comes to our help. I came to know about Girish's plan of riding to Shivasamudra, a fellow BN through BikeNomad (Forum/Yahoo Group). I got Girish's phone number from Doctor and confirmed about the trip. After discussing about which route to take, we decided to take Mysore instead of Kanakapura road. Reason being - 4 lane highway for about 80 KMs. Our plan was to meet at Banashankari around 0630 hrs, and from their start the journey. L to R: Me, Sachin, Rana and GirishIntroduction: Got up early @ 0520. Thats too early on a Sunday morning. By 6, I was mounting my Cramster Turtle on my Black Pulsar. Called up Girish confirming that I will be in Banshankari by 6.30 and started to the meeting place by 6.05. I was there by 6.25 and was expecting those guys to turnup bit late. But surprisingly they turned up in time. After brief introduction - just got to know the names and handshakes.After air-check of Girish and Sachin's bike, I was leading the way since other three didn't knew the route to Mysore road. Fuel hunt & Breakfast: Intial 40-45 KMs was a bit slow, searching for a petrol bunk which accepts credit card. Sachin was adamant to pay by cash. But he gave up, and filled his bike in Ramnagara by paying by cash. Once filled, we speeded up towards Maddur, our next stop - for breakfast. Reached there by 9 or so. Had breakfast in a hotel just before Maddur and a brief photo session. Rana's Thumper Our journey continued and we took a left just after Maddur. The milestones were saying we are still another 45+ KMs from our destination. Our next stop was in between Malavalli and Maddur (Don't remeber the place's name). It was very scenic - paddy fields on one side and a water-body on the other. It was time for another photo session and flex our muscles. When we were about to leave, there came an another group of bikers and stopped for photo session, some 200 mtrs ahead of us. After the brifge, the standard of the road started detirorating. By the time we had covered, we were on bumpy road full of potholes. And hence our speed dropped. Once we crossed Malavalli, road became better and were back to higher speed. Our next stop was 'Shiva Hydroelectric Station' - since no one is permitted inside (security issues), we headed towards the falls. When we reached Gaganachukki, all of us were desperate to jump in to the water. But the local shopwala said its very dangerous to go near the foot of the falls. And he suggested us to move further up where we can easily take bath. We followed his directions and found a very much suitable place for taking bath. Rana was first to jump into the water and last to come out. Its very easy to convince a hippo to make him come out of water than making Rana coming out. After spending a good one hour in water, we headed towards Bharachukki. First thought that came to our mind was - "We should have come here first before going to Gaganachukki" :(. In the end due to time constraints, we decided not to jump in to the water. Instead we took a boat ride (not exactly a boat, its circular in shape and made of bamboo - we call it as 'theppa' - '?????' in Kannada. We started of back towards Bangalore around 2PM after a brief visit to Darga near Bharachukki. Stopped for lunch @ Malavalli. After reching the Mysore road, we (Sachin and Myself) lost track of Rana and Girish. So almost 40 KMs was total economy ride, riding at 40-50KMph and takind breaks every 10-15 KMs to cool our *you-know-what*. Both of us reached Kengeri by 6.30PM and still no sign of Rana and Girish. As both of us had other appointments, we departed. From there, I went my friend's house and then back home. Reached home at 7.30PM and my bike's tripmeter showing 306.3 KMs - so far longest ride in a day for me. That was the end of my first ride in a group. But still the beginning - still a long way to go. As Srikeerti says - "Another weekend, another place visited, another satisfied biker." :)
Apr 10, 2006

This Sunday I had been to Shivasamudra (Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls) in Mandya district along with Girish, Rana and Sachin.

My Black Beauty

More details and photos to follow.

Apr 8, 2006

One New Message. Got to go

Sequel to the snap Waiting for the call !! :)

Yet another ride

Left office on wednesday around 4PM as I had to go to Kunigal - to be there for the new year 'Yugadi'. Reached home by 4.45 and it took another 15 mins to pack my luggage. After a dilemma of 60 seconds, whether to go by bus or by bike, I was on my way to Kunigal by bike. Yet another ride - 14th or 15th trip on good old familiar NH 48, in a span of 5 months.

Thats too much of short strip - just 70Kms stretch. Will have to plan for something longer

First Semester

I wrote an exam after a pretty long time - nearly after 4 years. It was good to revist those good old technical books - somehow completed* first semester of my master's degree this weekend.

I guess its time to recall our good old engineering exam resolution -- "I'll start studying for the next exam as soon as the classes starts" -- Will have to start studying for second sem :D

* - successful or not, will get to know in a month ;-)