My dream travel

Traveling to two islands, Sri Lanka and Singapore was a thrilling and exhilarating experience for me. It was Christmas time, carnival time I along with my colleagues reached Bangalore airport and boarded the Sri Lankan Airlines flight .I was traveling for the first time by plane. As I boarded the flight I started to explore my seat and the things inside. It was really fascinating to learn that I was flying at a height of 40,000 feet, at a mind boggling speed of 800 Kilometers per hour, with a freezing temperature of 57degree Celsius outside the flight. Within a short span of time we reached Colombo. In Colombo airport the Sri Lankan guide Mrs. Asoka welcomed us and took us to the Full Moon garden restaurant for lunch. After having the special Sri Lankan lunch the guide briefed us about the Country. As it was a transit visa we had a short time and we were able to visit a few important places like the Vihara Maha Devi Park, the famous Buddha Statue, Twin Towers, World Trade Centre,White House, President’s and Prime Minister’s residence and the Colombo beach almost all these places looks alike India but with high security. (some images of Sri Lanka)

After the dinner we had to move to the next Island Singapore .We reached our long desired, waited destiny Singapore, a South East Asian country located between Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore was rocking with beautiful and charming things in it. Mrs. Edna, the Chinese Guide welcomed us and took us to Fortuna Hotel, where our lodging was arranged. She gave us brief introduction of different places and the history of that place. Singapore stands out in many ways among the Asian countries. It is one of the smallest, most densely populated and most prosperous country in the world. It is the largest oil-refinery centre in Asia. It has one of the largest ports in the world. Singapore purifies seawater and distributes drinking water to other countries. It is corrupt Free State. The government is keen on total urbanization of the county. The people are very conscious of the need to protect the environment and they posses a very high civic sense. The country has a very low crime rate. The people are very patient, cultured, disciplined and honest.There is no traffic jam, no sound pollution and people follow the traffic rules strictly. Number 9 is considered as a lucky number in Singapore. Buildings are 81(8+1=9), 72(7+2=9), 45or 54 storied and they follow vastu for the construction of the buildings.

Within next four days we visited several places like the Parliament House, Archard Road, Raffles Hotel, Elephant Statue, Arab Street, Supreme Court, World Trade centre.

Sri Mariammam Temple

China Town best place for Chinese arts, antiques and handicrafts, Funan DigitalLife Mall it’s the best place to electronic products, speciality shop in photographic equipment. Little India it’s a cultural hub with Little India’s spice-scented shops, silk sari, brassware. Sentosa –Island Resort Here we enjoy the wonderful experience of traveling by cable cars and enjoy the breathtaking view of the magnificent skyline between Mount Faber and Santosa Island. We can feel on top of the world as we ride some 90 meters above water and tropical rainforest. Animal and Bird Encounters with exotic birds, mischievous macaques and adorable small animals will thrill with their delightful tricks and antics. Sky Tower here we can get a great view from 131m above sea level at the revolving sky tower. It’s the Asia’s tallest observatory tower. Dolphin lagoon here we see rare pink dolphin’s lagoon through a variety of interactive, feeding and training session. Underwater world where we come face to face with 2500 marine animals from 250 different species here we can have a close-up views of sharks, stingrays, jellyfish etc.

Images of Singapore where we can find the pictures of key personalities, who helped to shape Singapore, we can experience Singapore’s colourful history and rich culture with its wide diversity of festivities and celebrations. The Merlion Singapore’s tallest icon at 37m high. Wax museum where we can explore Singapore’s best loved tradition and festivities andexperience the rich cultural diversity of this land. Jurong Bird Park where we can find more than 9000 birds in natural settings belonging to more than 600 species. We could enjoy “Bird n Buddies”show, Birds of Prey Show, Penguin Parade, World of Darkness, Pelican Cove at different venue.

Waterfall Aviary it is the world’s largest walk-in-aviary with more than 1500 free flying birds from over 60 species. Magical Sentosa Show at Musical fountain and Water laser show it is a combination of state-of-the-art fountain choreography, lasers, computergraphics, water jets and fiery flames. Singapore Zoo where more than 2000 animals are housed in a landscape enclosure with rock walls and streams .The endangered inhabitants of the rain forest like saki monkey, White rhino, proboscis monkey and Inuka the first polar bear to be born in the tropics. We stayed back in the garden to watch the Night-Safari it is the world’s first wildlife park with a night view in a tram, how can I forget the Mustafa Shopping Complex one of the biggest shopping complexes in Singapore where we get everything and anything under one roof at any time of the day, or night. With the last minute shopping with half heart we reached The Changi Airport we boarded the Sri Lankan Airlines and reached Bangalore.

From the foot hill to the top.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”, says St. Augustine. So we were finally ready to embark on our long-aspired and planned for, but never materialized trip to Kodachadri hills- a peak in the Western Ghats standing tall at a height of 1343 meters above the sea level near the famous Mookambika temple at Kollur. Jaison, Augustine, Murukesh, B V Reddy, George Kurian all my friends boarded a bus to Kundapur around 7.00 am on 24th February 2008. We had a quick breakfast and boarded another bus to Kollur and reached there by 10 am.

We continued our journey on a hired jeep from Kollur after picking up some snacks from the near by shop and reached a town called Nittur, from where we finally took the right turn to Kodachadri.This turn took us into what seemed like inconceivable roads where only experienced and daring drivers could enter. From the turn up to next 14 km it was unforgettable ride because there are huge crevices and the are dotted with huge boulders over which the jeep jumps along. This must give you an idea about the ride comfort. After moving along on the hairpin curves, passing through a number of small valleys and getting brief glimpses of beautiful hills where the shooting of a song in the film ‘Galipatta’ done, we finally reached the ‘Bhattra mane’i.e (the pooja pundit’s house) at 11.30 am. Our proper trek at 11.45 am. We just walked on the used path hoping that it would take us to the peak. We trekked in a kind of an open place where we walked on the edge of small peaks. After taking several breaks, we reached at the peak by 1 pm where Shankaracharya meditated and it is popularly known as ‘Sarvajna Peeta’. As stated by the famous poet, John Keats ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ so no words would suffice to describe the beauty of that place, it’s awesome and inexplicable. We next set out to go to an area of Kodachadri which many are not aware of; and those who are aware of it never dare to make an attempt. The route is steep with inclinations of up to 70 to 80 degrees at some stretches. The route starts off behind the ‘Sarvajna Peeta’ and goes down the hill for about a kilometer and a half. Finally we reached the end of the way, ‘Chitramoola’ where a small stream of fresh running water seen amidst the crevices in the rocks was really amazing to us. These rocks were an ideal abode for sadhus to meditate and transcend themselves. We quenched our thirst and rested for a while and also meditated for some time. Then we climbed uphill back to Sarvajna Peeta which was very tiring, but finally reached. We had a glass of lemon juice which was really refreshing for the moment. Bidding good bye to the peak, we started on our trek down the hill back to Bhatramane, where we had our lunch. After the good lunch around 3 pm we returned to our waiting jeep and came downhill experiencing the topsy-turvy ride all over again. Finally, we all boarded a bus back to Udupi. On the whole, the Kodachadri trekking was awesome that we enjoyed to the max and also gained valuable experiences. Like all great travellers, we have seen more than we remember, and remember more than we have seen.

Gone are those days...

"In our day to day life we come across many a small moments of joy, we often let them go waiting for a big one to happen, but true happiness lies in celebrating these small joys of life".

Gone are the days when the school reopened in July, and we settled in our new desks and benches.

Gone are the days when we queued up in the book depot, And got our new books and notes. When we wanted two Sundays and no Mondays, Yet managed to line up daily for the morning prayers. We learnt writing with slates and pencils, and Progressed to fountain pens and ball pens and then to Micro tips.

We began drawing with crayons and changed to colour pencils and finally to sketch pens. We started calculating first with tables and then with Clarke's tables and advanced to calculatorsand computers.

Gone are the days when we chased one another on the corridors during Intervals, And returned to the classrooms drenched in sweat.

Gone are the days when we had lunch in classrooms, corridors, Playgrounds, under the trees and even in cycle sheds.

When a single P.T. period in the week's Time Table, Was awaited more eagerly than the monsoons.

Gone are the days when cricket was played with writing pads as bats, and hankies and socks rolled into balls.

When few played "kabadi" and "Kho-Kho" in scorching sun, The lazy once simply played "book cricket" in the Confines of classroom. Of fights but no conspiracies, Of Competitions but seldom jealousy.

Gone are the days when we used to watch Live Cricket telecast, in the school hall in Intervals and Lunch breaks.

When few rushed at 3:45 to "Conquer" window seats in our School bus. A few others had "Big Fun", "kaccha Aam", "kandi ice" and “katta imili!" at 4o Clock.

Gone are the joys of Sports Day, and the annual School Day, and the month long preparations for them.

Gone are the days of the stressful Quarterly, Half Yearly and Annual Exams, And the most enjoyed holidays after them.

Of tenth and twelfth standards, When we spent almost the whole year writing revision tests.

We learnt, we played, we won, we lost, we loved, we laughed, we cried, we fought, we thought, Sometimes also caught. And above all we lived. With so much fun, so many friends, So much experience, all this and more.

Gone are the days When we used to talk for hours with our friends. Now we don't have time to say even a HI.

Gone are the days When we played games on the road. Now we encode on laptop on the road.

Gone are the days When we sat to chat with friends on grounds. Now we chat in chat rooms.

Gone are the days Where we studied just to pass. Now we study to save our jobs.

Gone are the days Where we had no money in our pockets but our hearts were filled with fun. Now we have the ATM’s and credit card But have an empty heart.

Gone are the days Where we shouted on the road. Now we don’t shout even at home.

Gone are the days Where we got lectures from all. Now we give lectures to all... Like the one I'm doing now....

TO CONCLUDE... Gone are the days But not the memories, which will be Lingering in our hearts for ever and ever NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE, DONT FORGET TO LIVE LIFE THAT STILL EXISTS FOR IT WON’T BE THERE FOREVER.

‘Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; is something you design for the present”-Jim Rohn, Business Philosopher