Bannerghatta National Park

Today morning I decided to visit ‘Bannerghatta National Park’ which is around 21 Kms from the city. But in between some other plans came up and I did hold back it till afternoon. It was a hot day, not the usual day out here. I appreciate BMTC for their Red Buses (the Volvo); my preferred mode of travelling and yes a relief particularly on days like this. All Bangalorens know that it is a big success. And what more there is good number of Red buses running to/from, between the city and Bannerghatta. It took me more than one hour to reach there.

Initially I was thinking to go for the safari ride; I drop the plan due to time constraint and spent the entire time inside the zoo. I guess I have to make another trip to experienc the safari ride, I heard its good. That reminds me the childhood days that holds some of the exciting moments and stories from Nandankanan.

Here goes some of my pic experience inside the zoo, I had a tough time selecting elephants pictures only.

Main entrance

This pic made my day :)

Kutty... kutty...aanae (Babby Elephant)

Now, that's called a JUMBO Family.

Godly Blessings !!!

Flash Back - Another weekend trip !

While browsing through my digi-album found some catchy snaps that I took in the trip to Mullayangiri. A wonderful (& mind blowing) place around 260 Kms from B'lr. An ideal place for tracking, so guys don't miss it. I don't know how I forgot to post the pics here, how can I ? Now here comes the rocking pictures of the mountains …

I hardly spared the two eyes to close … what best can describe this ?

another one ... damit I missed the sunrise :(
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It was morning 7.30 AM, the wide greenery view up the hills ...

A Reminder - Good One

Today morning I received a story in my office mailbox; unintentionally I ignored it knowing it's a lengthier then usual forward mails. But when I bring out it in a later point of time I was quite surprised by the content. I knew it was a reminder for all of us, we tend to forgot things in our day to day activities just by sticking so much of every thing to our self. Could we understand the cause of undesirable duck ?? Surely, need to have an eye on it.

Here goes the story, I thought it blog worthy !!!


LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK - Let the garbage go by.
By David J. Pollay

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood?
Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels.
However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when all of a sudden, and I mean without warning, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded and missed the other car's back end by just inches.

Here's what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. How do I know? Ask any New Yorker, some words in New York come with a special face.

Now, here's what blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you.

When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did. I guarantee it.

So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."

Well now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite Football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses.

Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

A reason to volunteer !!!

Every year around this time there are events at my work place where somebody can be associate himself voluntarily for any of the project which probably holds a strong message "A day for a better today & tomorrow".

I registered myself with one such project, and the motto of the project was ‘A green & clean environment’. My inclination towards nature encouraged me to participate in this particular event and otherwise an interesting project. There were quite a few things that was actually happening at the ground level to address different environmental issues and thus a chance for people like me to put hands together to contribute with whatever small way we can.

This project was part of ‘Oracle Global Volunteer Days’. The whole idea of this project was something like - “Picking up plastics /segregate and collecting them, and then handed over the collected plastics to a company called K.K. Plastics that would recycle it. The project also involves speaking to local people and tourists about the ill effects of plastics on the environment”. Adarsh was the lead for the project backing up by the entire team of 70 plus people.

It was a well planned event, with enough time on our hands and everyone had an idea what they were supposed to do on that day. I started my day at around 5.15 AM and by that time I was like almost ready for the trip, which means before sunrise :). Joe and I took the bike and reached OTP, that was the meeting place for all of us. Anand another friend of mine was already there to join the team. Finally, the bus started from OTP around 6.30 AM. I have had already heard a lot about this place; as far as I know it’s one of the most happening picnic spot situated around 110 Kms away from Bangalore, it is called Muthathi. The Project team consisting of some senior volunteers from a group called ‘Clean & Green’ to guide and help us through out the event. Sandeep started with the do's and don't do's and told us what exactly need to be done. And Rupa another volunteer member co-coordinating the process, I had an interaction with her and she encouraged us to continue in every small way to protect/conserve our beautiful nature. There were lots of concerns for littering and we were there to witness that... Nevertheless its good that some people extended their support to create the awareness among the people to stop littering. In between the break, I got some time to play around with my camera and there you go with pictures of this beautiful place.

A closer view of the river Cauvery, that attracts most of the tourist over there.

All types of tourist with all different types of vehicle find their way to this place. You can see the guy, he had lots of questions for me and he was very curious to know why we all gathered at this place. Somehow I managed to convey him although I don't know his language (Kananda) and then a different smile on his face.

I guess they too enjoyed our presence :)

It was around at 2.00 PM that we gathered at our command post to conclude our day's work. I was completely amazed, if like minded people put their hands together then they can easily accomplish any difficult tasks. The numbers were out 70 people collected 306 K.G of plastics in a matter of 1 and half an hour of time.

The GVD - Save Muthathi Team, cheering for their achievement!!

After that we started towards a near by forest office camp for our, and there we had a some delicious south Indian lunch followed by relaxing break near the Cauvery. The entire team was there to discuss about the whole episode and to take back some of the lessons from it, then there was also a feedback session and some photo shot. There were good number of photographers in the team and so did the number of clicks :)

Here goes some more random clicks ...

Also there was some briefing from the forest officials and I was happy to see that hey too are working towards some solutions, otherwise the difficult tasks. The good thing out there was the govt. officials are closely working with the corporate and trying to minimize their set of constraints while taking up the responsibilities.

Back to B’lr at around 8.30 P.M. with some lessons of the day. The message was pretty much clear 'Stop littering', and now my effort would be to spread the message across my friends/groups, at least to create the awareness about our environmental responsibilities

Most of the time we try to attack big issues which are consequence of smaller issues like this one and now the effort should, at least, to take one step forward to attack it on the first hand. That reminds me a molecule is made up of several atoms and each atom can make a world of difference!!!

A Wet City !!!

For the past few days the IT city is turned to Cherapunji and all of sudden a notion holds the breath as if we are visitors to our own city.

Sun is disappeared ... don't know whether someone has issued a warning.

Wow !! the weather has all the pleasant things in it, but at the same time pushed us to find a place for hiding … wish I could see the outside.

No way someone can escape from it ... thank god I am :)

Needless mentioning the first thing that comes to a halt after a heavy rain in the city, is always the traffic. Spent hours just to see that things are moving.

Another Waterfall on a Sunday

The journey was not over, on the way back to Bangalore there was another break and this time the place was Coutrallam. One of the other exciting part in that trip was traveling in the local buses, apart from a good weather and the some cool places.

Someone told me that the other side of the mountain is Kerala ... on the way to Coutrallam.

A close up view of the main fall.

An ideal place to catch one's breath.

Sudden rains, everyone around there changed their mind to find a way to a safe place except this fellow ... waiting for some unknown customers ...

In my terms ... Wow Wow !!!

Cape Comorin - Part II

At Kanyakumari, a unique symbol of unity and purity - is the Memorial of Swami Vivekananda, another symbol of the united aspiration. A place to visit and things to re-discover and there is a happy and harmonious blend of all the architectural beauty in the memorial.

There are pictures that no words can describe and there were moments that no camera can capture and rest follow here ...

Thiruvalluvar statue alongside Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

The sacred monument, Vivekananda rock

for sale ... all around the place.

The sea, the Sun and an ever lasting evening !!!

Each morning puts a man on trial and each evening passes judgment as the evening twilight fades away and invisible by the day.