Didis Bangalore Trip- Innovative film city-Bandipur-Wonder la-Lumbini Gardens

A week with my sister and kids
(Desperate to meet them) Sunday 18th May 2008 – they were supposed to reach by 9am… so by the time it was 8.55, I was running to the window and checking at every sound of vehicle.

Finally they reached at around 10.30, was so glad to see them…

The Itennary for their visit was ready and well planned by me. He he…. Yes I do have work @ office but still you always get some time out….

Everything in Bold-italics is what was on the Itennary and everything below it was what we actually did…

Sunday 18th may 2008 – Lumbini Gardens - Near Hebbal Flyover - Nagwara Lake Ring Road , Hebbal Kempapura , Bangalore- 560045 - 080 65679037 , 080 32997009 9343444646
Didn’t know what to expect out of this… it’s a place to spend an evening with your loved ones…. You can go for boating or you can let the children enter the play area and enjoy your time out. The main attraction out here is the water park… so get ready with your swim suit. We didn’t know about this and did not carry our swim costumes. I and sister pledged that for the entire remaining site seeing tour we are going to carry it along.

Monday 19th May 2008 – Innovative Film city (Bidadi) www.innovativefilmcity.in - info@innovativefilmcity.in - Bidadi This is a new place… opened on 15th April 2008. Few km ahead of Wonder La!! When going from Bangalore
Yeah I took an off for this one… reached there by cab (don’t know any other way to reach this place). We were amazed just to see the huge beautifully designed entrance. The 50Rs ticket did not hurt much to visit this place with marvelous looks. We were really excited to enter such a clean and beautifully architectures, it seemed like a foreign tourist place. We checked the mirror maze, Dino world, Cartoon city, golf course, Ripley’s, believe it or not!! And the 4D movie. All of which was amazing in its own way… The kids surely got scared in Dino world and 4D movie show. There was more to visit like – go karting, madam Tsussads, fossil museum, but we decided not to check them… for kids were all excited to go to Aqua world…. This is like a private Goa beach resort… amazingly designed… A very stirring and worthwhile break from office, to be with the kids and family.

Tuesday 20th may 2008 – Rest
Well!! That was the plan so that Didi and kids can relax… but my Didi and rest… that too on a vacation? That too in a new city??? No Ways!! She went to meet a friend and went shopping… huff … I never understand the fun in spending…. And that too with kids on a bright sunny day…. Noah... That’s not my types

Wednesday 21st may 2008 – Wonder la!!!
No, before you jump… I still have my job and I did not take leave for this one…. Didi went with kids, her friend and friends kids. Worst thing was, on a mid week day it was fully crowded so much so even after reaching there @ 10.50 am (it opens at 11am) they got the entry only @ noon. But the reliever was they had discount card for 20% ;) now that’s a secret how I got… but I can use it for every visit :D … here the camera didn’t work and so no pictures… but am sure they took lot of memories along.

Thursday 22nd may 2008 – Rest
Strictly asked them to take rest and don’t step out of house… but still didi will be didi, she prepared desi ghee Ladoos and it was awesome (and I am not cribbing :)) ….

Friday 23rd may 2008 – 5am Bandipur – Tusker Trail (We can take any ooty bus from Bangalore and get off Bandipur police check post gate. There’s pickup and drop. – ooty busses are available every 45 mins)
Yes... I had planned a bus journey to save some money ;) … already spent 7k in booking Tusker trails wanted to save some money…. But ultimately ended up booking a cab for 2 days :D. With kids and all it isn’t possible to go by bus on a 7 hours journey… that too you are not sure about the busses. So we took the safe bet… Started around 6.30am from Bangalore… with just one half an hour break for Breakfast we reached the resort by 11.30am.

The place was just awesome… in a jungle like environment in midst of some tribal village… the silence there was ear piercing. We jumped in the pool as soon as we dumped our baggages in the rooms (named Godavari), after about 1-1.30 hours in the pool we were hungry… just took showers and hogged on the food... which was delicious. Relaxed for half an hour and our 1st safari ride started @ 4pm. Met Elephants, Peacock, deer’s and a leopard. Back by 6.30pm we were served by Tea and biscuits which was followed by recreation time… caroms, TT and a small wildlife movie.

It was already 10pm and we were off to bed so that we can enjoy the morning safari.

Saturday 24May 2008 - 1pm onwards Bandipur return (to reach home before 7pm)
Morning 5.30 we got a wake up call and were all geared up by 6am for the Gipsy safari. I believe luck was with us, we got 2 wildlife photographers in our Gipsy who helped us note a few rare birds too (else we were just excited to see animals and birds that can walk on ground). Saw Cheetal, Deer, Elephants (with kid elephants), Eagle, Blue Jay, Drongo, peacock (dancing with its wing open), Langoor, Indian Roller, Mongoose and Tigers paw marks :D…. I was awestruck to see these beauties in their environment.

Not to mention the two photographers took several pictures of my niece and it was amazing to see her giving poses for the pictures… she is just 3 years old.

We left the kids in the resort and went for trekking which was amazing too… on the way saw wild buffaloes, peaHen and a dead skelleton of a cow. I also collected Eagle and Blue Jay bird’s wings…

Yeah!! It was time to pack up and leave…

Great environment, great food, 2 good safaris, a small trek near dam and tribal village, a swimming pool and a relaxing time in midst of nature… what else can you ask for… ? Time just flew past by… Down the road I definitely look forward to visit more forests and jungles
Sunday 25th may 2008 – Rest (8.10pm was her return train to Mumbai)
Just grabbed a few things on my sisters list to take back to Mumbai from local market… rest of the day were at home enjoying time with my nieces…

The best time with family I had had in long time. And the icing over the cake was that I and my sis did not fight on a singe thing this time… I almost cried seeing the train chugging away with the kids and didi.

I was crowned Bakra on April 1st, Fools day.

This was the most happening fools day for me. :) Sent the below email to 5 of my friends using a Java Email program.

From: Termination
To: Somebody

Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:05 PM

Subject: Termination
Dear Somebody, This is to inform you about the termination of your employment with ACB for the reasons set forth based on performance.

We have scheduled a conference with you today at 5pm in Aryabhatta conference room. At that time we will review the reasons for the possible termination of your employment.

Please consider this as a formal letter of your one month service notice period at ACB. Your services will be considered terminated from 30th April 2008 EOD.

Thanks & Regards

ACB

P.S: We advice you do not discuss this with anyone.

After realizing they were fooled, the reply these 5 sent me, made me the real bakra of the day.

From: HR Manager

Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:00 PM

To: Bhavana Rao

Subject: Re: Termination

Importance: High

Dear Bhavana,
It has been bought to our notice that you have misused the facility given to you by ABC.
We have received complaints that you are involved in IT Security Breach. Hence the Management has decided to take immediate & stern action on your misconduct.
Please meet me at my office immediately.
Thanks & Regards,
Manager - HR
ABC

After realizing (which took about 5 seconds) that its a reply to my prank, I was crowned bakra of the day.

But this was the best April 1st so far for me.

Proud to be an Indian!!!

Hmm let me see, why am I proud to be an Indian?
Every email I received today for Independence Day, every article which I read about Indians
achievements, discoveries and whatever they have given to the world, every patriotic movies
which I see and of course every year on 15th august and 26th January, I feel proud to be an
Indian. But these I guess are the things which make any individual proud of his/her country.
So what can I say!!!
I remember these incidents when I was in USA which made me really proud to be an Indian.
Most of the IT companies there have almost 40 to 50% Indians working. The weekly
market out there has foreigners speaking Hindi to attract the Indians consumers. Every few miles there was an Indian Restaurant.
Yes and the best one is when an American friend commented
'I heard India is very populated, Here you must be feeling good since the street are clean and not
very crowded' and my another Indian colleague replied impromptu 'Infact I am missing home and
I feel very lonely here' Which was a fact and made me feel really proud to be an Indian.

Romantic or unromantic?

Today morning, hubby as usual was awaking me..... I take almost 5-10 mins to open my eyes....
I heard him saying...
"I love you.... (There was a brief pause)... I just love telling such jokes early in the morning..."
now is this romantic or unromantic?

Hubbies food habits!!!

My dear Hubby is very fussy about food.

I decided to give cornflakes to him for breakfast (hope you guys noted ‘I Decided’ ;o)).

I enquired if he will like to dry fruits added to it. He agreed on a term that raisin will not be added.

So that was it…

He started his breakfast adding Cornflakes and dry fruits to milk. As soon as he took first bite of cashew he said, “Shee…. This has taste / smell of raisins”. Now obviously I had kept everything together, but that does not mean one dry fruit will taste like another.

So, he kept eating his breakfast and in the end I saw all the cashew and almonds left in the bowl. He said “Where do I throw these” and Spat came my reply “In Your Mouth”.

P.S: food that i prepare is rated based on 3 points
How it looks?
How does it smell?
how does it tastes....
IN THAT ORDER.

Incident / Joke @ home

Here’s one more incident/joke which happen at my home…. Now this is a little imaginative… you need to really think how the reaction would have been…. Else will be a serious joke which will make u serious ;o)

Ok so it goes this way….

My sisters (staying in Delhi and Mumbai) are planning a vacation to my place (Bangalore) this spring along with their families…. Now obviously I will have to do a little preparation for the same…. So I told my hubby

Me - Dear we need to make arrangements for some extra beds before didis are coming

Hubby – we will ask them only to get their beds while coming (I know this is my hubbies usual style… anything related to my family he cant give straight ans)

Me – (promptly came my reply) sure dear we will ask them only to get their beds along…

Hubby – Shocked/Surprised immediately looked at me to check if I am serious ….

Me – And I kept my face as straight as possible…. For about 2 – 3 seconds…. Couldn’t control my laughter seeing the looks on his face … ha-ha

I know it’s difficult to imagine for you guys reading this… but I am still laughing thinking about it…

Sports on Republic day - I

Yesss I did play the much awaited sports on the Republic day (26th January 2008) and it was immense entertaining and thrilling. The sweet pain and muscle twitching with every movement of my body reminds me of all the excitement and fun filled sports day I enjoyed on Saturday.

Of course the day started with saluting our Flag followed by singing the national anthem. Following which were the scheduled sports athletics 200 Mts, Shot put, Volley ball and cricket.

It all began with Shot put –If I remember correctly last I tried shot put was around 5 years back on the same day. Of course the ball seems soo much heavier now, still I could manage to throw an 8 Pounds heavy stuff to about 6 meters (Not bad huh).

Next was Athletics 200 Mts – Don’t even remember when I last ran so much distance… I started the fastest and the pain began just with 30 Mts completed. Still I could manage to complete 100 Mts of the allotted 200 (Good stuff huh) :-D

Already enough tired (Guess I am growing old….. But not wanting to accept it) had glucose and some energy drinks for trying out the next activity cricket.

Cricket I remember I played just a few days back with kids in the neighboring houses with a plastic ball in the evening after office. But never tried playing this in the hot sunny day and Mr. Sun in the full intensity. Racked in the field for 12 over’s, whistling and excited with every fall of wicket. With the target set to 98 to win by the opponent it wasn’t easy but we Won :o) and that’s what count.

Too tired with the excitement and anxiety to win this match took some team snaps and enjoyed the lunch in the relaxed and happy frame of mind.

Last but not the least, played volley ball game, now lemee see when did I play this game??…. All I can remember is playing volley ball (or something like volley ball) in our housing society during my college times. We used to be 15-20 people in each team and used to play volley ball in badminton court… haha..

Although we lost…. 21/25 …. This match was thrilling too….

Finally my body was almost trembling and too tired to even think about another sporting event. And I decided to wind up for the day J after a long time I enjoyed such an entertaining day with something I love to do the most.

So I am not complaining about the pains and muscle pulls and on Sunday went for shopping with my hubby which was another pain in the ……. ;o)

Most Embarrassing Moment…

Everyone faces some or the other uncomfortable moment in our lives, which we don’t want to remember but we do commit to memory. Yesterday I had the privilege to face my MOST embarrassing moment. Let me record down here how I branded this it to be the MOST Embarrassing Moment.

Yesterday while playing caroms doubles (in office) we got bored since for both parties it was just queen cover on the board and none of us could take it after about more than 100 try each… (You can understand how great players we 4 were ;o) he he… I finally got pissed off and spoiled the game by disturbing the coins. Next we all started playing popper (refreshing our childhood memories :-) ) every coin pocketed build up excitement and all 4 of us were truly excited and cheering. We were banging table, shouting, clapping. Infect the only noise I remember in the cafeteria was our. Out of excitement I pushed my chair back and clapped and the next moment I found myself down, there was pin drop silence for about 2 seconds and then all were laughing except me.

Do I need to say more????????

Sports on Republic day

I am really excited about our offices sports schedule for this weekend. It makes me nostalgic to even think of playing some outdoor sports on 26th January (Republic day)

Every year in our housing society we used to have several sports events for everyone from kids to aunties to daddies to mommies to enjoy the republic day. It used to start at 8am by hoisting our national flag, singing the national anthem and getting the sweets packet (which we used to fight and get at least 2) ha-ha... The entire day would be filled with fun and sports (something which I enjoy doing the most). I believe I have always been a sports person, if only my health would have supported I would have definitely made it till state or national level ;o). I think it was in my genes after all my dad was state level athlete.

I remember fighting with my sisters and friends over some sports just to win a prize. I remember playing and winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize in every sport which we used to play, be it running race, three legged race, langadi, throw ball, badminton, breaking the balloon, skipping, sack race. I was the so called champion in our colony.

It used to be fun.

Now it will be almost after 5 years that I will be playing some outdoor sport. Even the thought of it makes me feel excited.

Will keep you posted about all the excitement.

Bangalore Auto Meters/Drivers Autopsy

After staying in Mumbai all my life, it’s been 2 years since i came to Bangalore, I found traveling using public transport a problem in Bangalore.

Initially tried to travel by bus, Uff but the main problem was that all bus numbers and destinations are written in Kannada and the only words I learned about this language is 'Kannada barilla sir/madam' :).

Then I thought when I am earning so much, why not spend a little more and travel in a relaxed way. So I started going by Auto.

Just in a few days of traveling by Auto, I almost heard the auto drivers telling me, 'Madam when you are earning so much, why don’t spend a LITTLE MORE and travel in a relaxed way (by just paying whatever the meter shows without arguing)'

Well, so here I am citing a few Incidents I faced with Auto drivers. Of course all the incidents have few things in common
1. Improper Meter
2. Drivers ready with replies.
3. Will either make you scream in anger or make you smile? But leaves you frustrating.

Listing few of the many incidents I faced.....

======================================
1: Win - Win situation :o) (Very very rare case)
Me: Sir your Meter is fast....
Driver: (stops the auto) Oh is it... How fast madam? .... Hits the meter 3 times... Resets the meter and starts again...

And LO!! At the end of the journey actually the meter is fine.... (It’s like the saying goes, "Laton ke Bhoot, Batoon se nahi mante")

2: Happy Situation: o) (Very rare case)
Me: Sir your Meter is fast...
Driver: Do you come through this route daily?
Me: Yes...
Driver: OK, then pay whatever it comes to daily :)

3: frustrating situation :o) (Most generic situation)
Me: Sir your Meter is fast....
Driver: No reaction
Me: Excuse me Sir your Meter is not fine
Driver: (looks at the meter) Oh is it, Ok.
Still takes the hiked fare what shows in the meter...
Me: Sir your Meter is fast
Driver: O is it... ok... you are the 1st one to tell me this... I will get it checked...
And drives away :) (Infect sometimes takes 1-2 Rs extra stating they don’t have the exact change)

4: Helpless Situation :o) (not so general)
Me: Sir your Meter is fast....
Driver: (Stops the Auto) get out, Pay the bill and take some other auto. (Starts shouting)

5: Angry Situation: o) (happens once in a week)
Me: Sir your Meter is fast....
.... And a BIG Argument starts....

This happens so frequently that you really takes a day off from all this (Just Like what i did today)... ignore the Meter and Just pay the bill :o)

Either ways... you can hate them, you can love them but you can’t live without them.