Travelogue: Ride to Srisailam

Blogging after a long time. This one is about my recent ride to Srisailam on bike with my colleague Uma Sudhan.

Total Distance Covered : 480 km
Started : 5.45 a.m 01-May-2005
Reached back home : 8.00 p.m 01-May-2005
Bike : Pulsar 180 cc DTS-I

It all started with this colleague of mine buying the bike 2 days back. He
wanted to give away the bike for the first servicing as early as possible. So
four of us were looking out for places around hyderabad ( close to 150 km) worth
visiting. Nagarjuna Sagar was far too off. From some stupid website found that
Srisailam is around 150 km from Hyderabad. Then and there we decided that we'll
go there. But the other 2 guys dropped later.
We started at 5.45 in the morning from our room at Somajiguda. The guy with
whom I went is a Tamilian and he understands but cannot speak Telugu. So I was
sort of guide for him. And this guy had prior experience of going on
a bike to far away places. But for me this was the first time I was to ride for
such a long distance. The maximum I can remember is the ride to Mount Opera. I
guess it was around 60 km from the city. I was very excited with the thought
of it itself.
Had a lot of trouble finding out the way to Srisailam from Chaderghat. I would
have led this guy astray with my assumption that Srisailam and Nagrajuna Sagar
fall on the same route. Soon we were to realize that it is not 150 but rather
210 km from the outskirsts of the city. But we didn't want to turn back. So we
pushed off. Once we were out of the city outskirts it was mostly straight route,
except for a couple of diversions.
The ride through the ghats was pleasant except for the pain in the arse. He
was riding at 65kmph consistently. He couldn't go above that limit as it was a
new bike. Further it was morning so the Sun wasn't hot. Our first major stop
was at some place called Dindi, some 100 km along the route. We had tiffin at
some roadside restaurant and started off again. There read in "Eenadu" that
Aishwarya is going to wed Vivek: :-(. Every 20-30 km we would stop by a
roadside cafe and sip a tea and he would light up his cigar. Took some photos
along the way.
The next half of the journey is the one that gives the spin to this whole
experience. Didn't know that we would have to go through mountains and forests.
It was around 120 km that the forest stretch started. I wouldn't call it
dense though. Literally just you alone, surrounded by trees on both sides, with
some sumo or a car or a bus zooming past you once in a while. Seemed like a never
ending stretch of forest. Billboards with "Project Tiger" or some "Save Wild life"
stuff were quite common. Climbing up the mountain to other the road through the
forest was just amazing. Will not get the same feeling on a bus or a sumo. The
forest I am talking about is the Nallamalai forest. I was looking out eagerly
into the thicket on both my sides to find some wild creature so that I could get
it into my camera. But all we could find were innumerable monkeys all along the
forest.
Though the Sun was staring us, we didn't find it that hot because of the trees.
The forest had dried up completely at some places. Only after we were close to
Srisailam did we realize that we had been through 85 km of road through
the forest. We were soon near the Srisailam West Bank Dam. There we started feeling
the hot breeze. But the sight of the Dam was awesome. Huge one, basically the
height...at least for me. There were two places one after the other here worth
mentioning: Domalapenta and Eegalapenta.
No more patience to stretch this mail. Will cut it short over here. The places
worth visiting at Srisailam are
- Boat Ride. From a place called "paatal ganga" (Paatal ganga is the place
down the mountain on which the temple is) to the Dam Site. Around
15 mins of ride. Was good for me as it was my first experience.
- There's a ropewy by which you can descend from the top of the mountain
to paatal ganga. I would go by it only for namesake. Not at all thrilling.
- Caves. To reach to the caves we need to go on boats for 16 km. This is
supposed to be exciting. We didn't go to these caves as he said it
would take around 4 hours to go and come back.
- There are these small circular boats called "Teppelu" in telugu, which
could be a nice experience. There were plenty of them there. I wish
I had enough time to sit in this. But it can be dangerous.
- Swimming near patal ganga
- The Srisailam west bank Dam. It'll be a beautiful sight when they open
the gates. Sometime in July/August.
- Srisailam temple (Just for the fact that you had come so long and going
without visiting the God will be ominous)
I spoke to one of the policemen over there about spotting wild animals. He told
me that around a year back a Leopard had attacked a girl in one of the villages.
Further he told that Bears descend are spotted too often in the nights.
We thought we would be baked in sun while riding back. We started at around 2.00
p.m from there and luckily for us it turned out to be more exciting than the
onward journey. Thanks to the clouds which shielded us from the hot rays of the Sun.
It was quite cloudy and wind was blowing and there were some intermittent showers.
This environment made the ride through the forest very very..very pleasant. I spotted
a couple of peacocks and while I tried to capture them they ran off. Now I can only
locate a blue-green speck in the photo which is supposed to be a peacock :-). How
I wish I had a camera with zoom.
I conclude here. In all it was a really great experience. You'll not feel that
you had travelled so far (of course, it was he who was driving and I was happily
sitting behind :-)). Hari, you should have told me about this place earlier. For the
guys interested in Geography: Srisailam is in Aatmakuru mandal of Kurnool district.
I think we had to go through Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, MahbubNagar and Kurnool to reach
there.
I have decided to learn swimming, buy a bike and then go on a trip once again.
Probably July/August would be a nice time to visit with the jungles looking very
green (rather than gray). Further we should spend a night there and move around
any other places around there. Dont know if they have any night safari kind of
thing available. If so then it would be wonderful. Guys we should all go there
once..and remember only on bikes ...you'll lose the fun if you go on a car, sumo
or a bus. The only deterrent being if you bike breaks down at some point in the
jungle then you are screwed up.

Renting as a Bachelor

One Reason why I would wish to lose my bachelorhood
Writing out of anguish...that we (the so called "BACHELORS") had to suffer
to fulfill one of the three basic amenities of life (" roti, kapada aur makan").
There might be very many good reasons why a bachelor would love
to lose that tag...It could be due to the basic instinct, or could be _fill_,
but what I felt the most driving one was the need to find a makAAn. I dont
know how many of our friends would have endured it but... we certainly had
enough of it. Not once but twice....and not too sure...how many times in future
before I settle with a girl besides me. Well the story starts like this:
It all started when we were to be kicked out of our hostels. We thought
we could easily find one..but nay said the God. The hunt for the house started.
Factors being : cost, space, water availability, ventillation, location suitable for
everyone, a good owner who was allow BACHELORS and the last but not the
least...good beauty (i hope u get what I mean) around. (We soon came to realize
that the before last factor was of prime importance). We had to compromise
on many things later just because of that inadvertently attached tag to us .
Luckily after some serious hunting...could locate a few prospective ones.
How come those owners ...who were for sure BACHELORS at least for
sometime in their past could be so wrathful. How can they forget those days
of yore where they were at the receiving end.
I dont know what is the situation there in Mumbai, Chennai, B'lore & Pune. Do
you guys feel the same kind of exploitation. why dont you give some name to this
kinda oppression.
Well I dont know if the people of the opposite sex too find the same problem.
Hope they dont....what say gals?

The 23rd Day

Important Date   

Looks like the 23rd day of every month has got lot of importance in my life. Here

are some events:-

January 23  = Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose born (year 1897)

March 23  = Martyr's day (Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru & Sukhdev, year 1931)

April 23    = Joined Pramati (year 2003)

May 23    = Brother's b'day (year 1980)

June 23   = Sarithakka's b'day (year 1979)

Lemme see this list grow.

Amity

    Recently went to Jammu for visiting the "Vaishno Devi" Temple. If at all there's one thing that I wont ever forget about this trip, that would the following event that happened with us.
Shows how kind people can be.
   While roaming around the hills of the villages Krimachi & Mansar, (Udhampur district) we
(my brother, cousin and uncle's son) were close to being lost, but luckily found a settlement.
The lady from one of the houses came out and helped us by all means. She even invited us
to have lunch at their home (not even knowing who we were and where we from, humanity
at it's best). Not just this lady, others were as much willing to treat us with utmost hospitality.
This touched me. Can we attribute to the race or region? I dont think we south indian people
aint that open & helpful.

Movie : The Legend of Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh : A Great Leader / Enterpreneur

Saw the movie "The Legend of Bhagat Singh" made by Rajkumar Santhosi in Muppi's PC at
home. I was so impressed by Bhagat Singh's and his abilities that I was so sorry about
myself that till this age of 22 I wasn't aware of what really Bhagat Singh was. At most
what I knew abt him was that he was a great freedom fighter who was hanged with another
two fighters Rajguru & Sukhdev on 23rd March 1931. And our history books too mentioned
only that point. But after watching the movie realized how significant a role that he
and the organization Hindustan Socialist Republican Association had played in getting
Independence to India.

If you have the notion that all these revolutionaries were pure head-strong guys who
were ready to take up any sort of activity, means to pursue their goal without being
rational then you are wrong. Go better see the movie or read the articles at
http://www.parwhaz.com/shaheed-bhagatsingh/letters.htm

Will write more abt this later.

Useful CVS commands

Have been looking for the cvs command to list the modules available on the
server. Finally got it today.

cvs co -c
cvs co -S

but need to understand the output a little.

Two Victories (Reflections on Kolkata and Adelaide)

Two Victories (Reflections on Kolkata and Adelaide)

- by Harsh Bogle. Published in the January 2004 issue of the
"Wisden Asia Cricket" magazine
I remember the day well. It was the 15th of March 2003, a young man of 28 was
replaying in his mind the most famous win in cricket history and watching the
attention targeted at two others, younger and more flamboyant. Cameras, words,
handshakes, those friends in fame and strangers in anonymity, were clustered
around Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman. One had taken 13 for 196, including
India's first ever hat-trick. The other had scored 340 runs including the
highest score by an Indian in Test cricket. Rahul Dravid had scored a crucial,
but easily overlooked, 180, had been in a partnership of 376, and had batted
through the fourth day of the Test. And had lost his No. 3 position in the Indian
batting line-up.

I see another day. The 16th of December 2003. Ajit Agarkar has shown the world
that he can belong at this level. Anil Kumble has served a reminder that there
is more in his tank. And VVS Laxman has scored another incandescent hundred,
shared in another partnership of over 300 against the best cricket team in the
world. Rahul Dravid is now less than a month short of being 31. This time the
symbols of immediate infatuation are directed towards him. And he has his No. 3
position again.

In many different ways, in different languages, words and accents, the sages
tell you that if you hang in there your time will come. At Adelaide, Dravid
showed there is much truth in these old, worn out sentiments that have seen
the odd millennium and a few centuries go by. Indeed, he might have been a sage
himself, his body merely seeming to be at the most beautiful cricket ground
in the world, his mind at some exalted, higher level of detachment.

He had 'hung in there' for seven years, averaging more than 50 at home and
away; like a solid piece of furniture - you know it is there. There were other
classic objects d'art around him, some delicate, some rather more robust. But
none carved out of the most solid oak, happy to take the weight, and just as
happy being understated. If the world was all plywood, there would be no need
for an oak. If one-day cricket was all that mattered, there would be no need for
the virtues he embodies: resilience, solidity, patience. They count now.

There is orthodoxy in most of what he does; not just in the manner the bat
comes down to meet ball, straight and full, but in the way he has grown in life.
He started early but wasn't a prodigy, and was 23 by the time the selectors
started showing interest in him. He had done the hard yards at first-class level
and he was quite happy to do that in Test cricket as well. When a man grows one
step at a time, every step is a celebration, sometimes when you get too much too
soon you don't understand the value of what you have.

He has a strong memory and he thinks deeply about the game. And with a bit of
help from VVS Laxman he will remind you that lightning can indeed strike twice.
At Kolkata, like at Adelaide, India were demolished on Days One and Two, fought
back on Day Three, turned the tide on Day Four, and snatched a win on Day Five.
In both games, sport had showcased the finest human qualities. That is why you
must have five-day cricket; that is why you must play five-setters in tennis;
that is why you must play golf over four rounds. Both games showed that
momentary disappointment can be replaced by lasting joy; that if you are willing
to ride the rough, the smooth will follow; that sweetness is often the result of
letting the bitter have its moment. Dravid knows that well, so does Laxman. So
too does Steve Waugh, who has played the game having been dealt similar cards.

I wonder, though, if Dravid and Laxman know that there was another bystander
present on both occasions. When I reached the little commentary booth assigned
to the ABC at Eden Gardens, I saw a beautifully carved sandalwood Ganesha amid
all the cables. The well-known Australian commentator, Jim Maxwell, brought one
along hoping it would act as a remover of all his obstacles. There was much
discussion that day on whose obstacles the sandalwood Ganesha was removing.

I had forgotten about it till the Test match at Adelaide, when Jim drew my
attention to the very same Ganesha placed carefully on the table in front of us.
There was more discussion, but I suspect it won't be around for too much longer!

Technical Education : Interview with Dr. U. R. Rao

Interview with Dr. U. R. Rao on the current state of technical education
http://in.rediff.com/money/2004/feb/11bpo1.htm

Importance of Punctuations

This ones about the importance of punctuations in a language in it's written
form

    - from the book "Eats, shoots and leaves" by Lynne Truss

A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it,
then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards
the exit. The panda produces a badly puncutated wildlife
manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

"I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."

The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough,
finds an explanation.

"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to
China. Eats, shoots and leaves."

Views on Outsourcing

Positive views on Outsourcing by Chris Anderson (ca@wiredmag.com) Wired's editor in chief. It's not hard to see how outsourcing to India could lead to the next great era in American enterprise. Today, even innovative firms spend too much money maintaining products: fixing bugs and rolling out nearly identical 2.0 versions. Less than 30 percent of R&D spending at mature software firms goes to true innovation, according to the consulting firm Tech Strategy Partners. Send the maintenance to India and, even after costs, 20 percent of the budget is freed up to come up with the next breakthrough app. The result: more workers focused on real innovation. What comes after services? Creativity.

One Ball at a Time

words from the man whom I adore greatly both as a person and a cricketer - Rahul Dravid

A reason for that is the way Dravid approaches every ball. Yes, not every game, not every innings, but every ball. In an interview before the 1999-2000 Australia tour (incidentally, his worst tour; he scored only 93 runs in the series at a dismal average of 15), he explained his philosophy in simple yet lucent words: "I try and play one ball at a time, I try and look at it as one ball at a time. The most important thing t o realise when you are batting is that the only thing that decides your fate, your score, your career or anything else, is that next ball. What happened in the past and what will happen in the future is something you can't control. But if you can have your utmost focus and concentration on the very next ball that you are going to play, then that is the only thing that matters. That one ball has numerous possibilities. It could get you out, you could score runs off it. And you have control only over that one particular thing. You have to bring your mind to that, and if you can do that over a long period of time, you will succeed." Then he added: "It is not an easy thing to do, though."

Software and Poetry

Here's a nice interview with "Richard Gabriel" bringing out the similarity between between software and poetry http://java.sun.com/features/2002/11/gabriel_qa.html

About Myself

I am Dhiraj Kumar Dwarapudi from Hyderabad, India. Currently working in as a Software Development Engineer in Pramati Technologies. Recently came across this concept of blogging. Looks great. You get inspired and do inspire others or just another way of making yourself known to the outer world