Photo shoot @ Lalbagh

Last weekend, I went along with Sengu (from Photo Enthusiasts club) to Lal Bagh for experimenting some landscape and macro shots. We reached Lal Bagh around 06 AM and it was bustling with those morning walkers. We spent about 2 hours capturing different shots and it was very satisfying experience to be doing what you like at a place that is so refreshing :-)

Check out photos @ Lal Bagh, Bangalore

Visited Akshaya Kalpa Organic Dairy @ Tiptur

Because our Nandini milk vendor didn't turn up one day, I was rushing to nearby bakery to get some milk around 7:50AM. Thats when I came across one guy near my apartment entrance carrying an thermal insulated box. Upon enquiring, I was delighted to hear that he has been delivering so called 'organic' milk to some residents at our apartment. It was first time that I heard about organic milk and that too delivered to our doorstep.

Akshaya Kalpa Organic Dairy is the enterprise that is pioneering this venture and apparently, one of the co-founder was an IT guy who quit Wipro to venture into dairy business. While I have read this news before, I didn't know about the uniqueness of their venture - organic.

Since more than two weeks, we have been consuming organic milk and also, we tried some of their other dairy products such as paneer,curd and ghee. One convenient and appealing part of this milk is that it is recommended to be consumed raw. That means no need to boil and one less chore to worry about :-)

Last Sunday, we planned to visit their dairy located @ Tiptur in the Tumkur district. It was about 180Kms from Electronic City, Bangalore and we reached their office in Tiptur around 12:30PM. I had already spoken about our visit to Dr.GNS Reddy, founder of Akshaya Kalpa Dairy venture and he has dedicated one person to take us around the cattle farm and the dairy plant.

It was a good feeling to visit the cattle farm of one of the farmer and see the whole setup of their organic milk production set amid 5 acres. Cows are allowed to roam freely within a fenced range. Heartening to see Cows in healthy state under hygenic environment. 

Later, we visited the Dairy plant in the nearby village where we had simple yet delicious meals (free lunch :-)) and bought some fresh paneer and ghee...

Akshaya Kalpa Dairy venture is promoting the rural development by including every farmer as a micro-entrepreneur in the overall business. This is a great social initiative that deserves applause and encouragement from all sections of society, especially urban.

Akshaya Kalpa Dairy

Drive to Wayanad

It has long been on our mind to visit Wayanad and finally, we managed to make it this December. I always enjoy driving in and around the forest zone that comes after Mysore and Gundalpet. We left Bangalore around 6 AM and visited Edakkal Caves near Sultan Bathery on the way to the resort Wynberg.in located between Sultan Bathery and Kalpetta. Edakkal Caves fulfilled our enthusiasm for trekking. It was great fun to walk along with Eesha besides the constant negotiation to make her walk :-) If you are travelling with kids who wouldn't walk, you better prepare your mind to carry those extra few kilos up.
Later in the evening, we reached the resort - 100 acre coffee & spice plantation - that is apparently owned and manged by some wildlife photographer. This was the first time we visited this place and there was some apprehension about the quality of the accommodation and luckily, it was a very pleasant stay overall. After driving 280KMs and some hiking, we were totally tired and looked forward to some food and warm blankets. Next day morning, we walked around the nearby fields and motivated Eesha for some 100 metres sprint...It was a good break from pollution and noise...We enjoyed the fresh air and surrounding greenery.
As per the recommendation of our host, we drove out to Bansuri Dam and Pookootu lake. Frankly speaking, the driving around the hair pin bends and observing the local culture were more enjoyable than the dam and that lake. The boating at the lake was not very well organized. The attraction for the kids is perhaps the play area with slide,swing and merry go round etc..While Eesha played around with some new found friends, I just sat on a concrete wall without wanting to think much. When we returned to resort, I realized that it was about 100KM overall..it could have been 15-20KM less if Rekha had navigated us right...stupid GPS :-)...Though it was tiring at the end of the day, driving around the hilly terrain gives some pleasure and thrill...

Trip to Wayanad

Commuting to office by BMTC Volvo

Since I started dropping Eesha to school in the morning, I have started using BMTC Volvo bus to commute further to office (Manyata Tech Park @ Nagawara Jn,Hebbal). I'm happy and relieved!!
Actually, Manyata Embassy Business Park (MEBP) has tied up with BMTC to ply Volvo buses from Manyata campus to various routes within Bangalore and these buses covers pretty much all prominent localities. This is valid for 'all' employees working in Manyata irrespective of which company they work for. This is effective since 01-Jul-2013. To me, I have to say this couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. Since I opted out of the company transport facilities, I have been struggling to commute between office and home.
I really appreciate the efforts taken by Manyata Embassy Service Planning Limited in bringing Volvo to everyone and of course, many thanks to BMTC for running buses covering every areas.

The monthly pass is Rs.3600 and one can buy this from MEBP information center by paying cash. Additionally, this entitles the pass holder to utilize this pass for commuting in all BMTC buses (except BIAL shuttle) throughout the month. Only caveat - we need to get BMTC ID card that is available at BMTC counters @ KBS/Majestic.

I wish they continue this in the long term and more employees opt for this service instead of using their own four wheeler.

Visited Wonder La

Last week on 1st May holiday, went to Wonder la (@ Bangalore) and as usual Eesha was totally thrilled... We reached around 10:30 in the morning only to witness some good number of people already waiting at the ticket counters...It took us about 30-40 minutes to get our tickets and we were inside the amusement park in the next minute..
The huge crowd at the venue made us think probably we visited on the wrong day.It was too late to repent and the greediness to experience all the rides pulled our mind back. Attended to usual errands..rented one medium locker,dumped the belongings and returned with a venue map...

Most of the rides required minimum height of 140 cm and Eesha is just close to 90 cm ;-) Eesha was not allowed on the Flying Jumbo and we didn't take her to Moon walker..though she took this ride last time..Overall, she took about 10 different rides...Her most favorite is that giant wheel that even we haven't been...

We mustered courage to ride on Insanity and Y Scream and enjoyed the thrill of being thrown upside down. It really feels insane to realize that your life hinges on the normal functioning of one mechanical equipment operated electronically. There are few more rides that throws you around even worse. Once you make up your mind to trust the machines and sit on the ride, it is a matter of 60-90 seconds that you scream and voila, you can claim I'm not scared...Actually, I felt the fear is more due to not experiencing the ride than facing the risk in the riding itself...fear of not confronting ;-) Truth is it was quite safer with those clamps clutching your body and there was not much of a feeling of free fall anytime. It reminds me of that Vertical Velocity that I took at Six Flags (California,US)...that was scary, perhaps the clutch was bit loose (or we indians are too thin) ;-)

Recently, I have been seeing Ad about the Wonder la on National Television. Seems like company is planning to go public.
So far I have good opinion on the overall experience at Wonder la..Well managed and well trained staff. However, they need to ensure that the wait time is not too long..if you have to wait for 30 minutes or more for a 90 seconds ride, it can be frustrating..OK they have this premium Fast Track entry that entitles you to walk-in but the ticket costs twice ;-(

Overall we had good time and it was a good way to spend the day especially with kids...I wish they continue to maintain the quality and safety standards and I'm sure people will continue to flock.

Check out some photos and videos

Wonder la @ BLR

Drive to Coonoor

Last week, we drove to Coonoor via Mysore,Gundalpet,Mudumalai National Park and Mashinagudi...Stay at YWCA Coonoor was a very pleasant experience as this holiday home was located away from the Coonoor town overlooking the nearby valley...Certainly looks like more than a century old, this colonial bungalow had the charm that is hard to find in modern hotels loaded with luxuries...I particularly liked this place for the fact that they don't (pseudo?) pamper you much as done at other places but attend to your needs in a simple manner...Most importantly, the food was prepared as per the request and served at the ground floor common hall...

We got a room at the first floor...waking up in the morning upon the chirping sound of birds and sipping the hot coffee served at the room with the view of gracious Nilgiri mountain up and the expanding valley down were joy compared to our daily rut life at Bangalore.

Drove around Coonoor and visited Dolphin's nose and Lamb's rock..Eesha had a horse ride at Dolphin's nose. After visiting Sim's park, we heeded to the suggestion of one local street side toy vendor and visited High Field tea factory to buy some spices...While we bought some spices, I must say the Green tea was bit too expensive and luckily overcame that compulsive desire to buy...Little later, bought some decent tea at a wholesale store at Coonoor town and the price was like half compared to High Field factory shop...
It was getting dark when we got there at High Field tea factory and the valley view from the shop was really stunning..Seems like it was popular shooting destination and apparently, hindi movie Raja Hindustani was shot there ;-)

Before leaving Coonoor, visited Needle Craft, an boutique selling hand embroidered linen and cotton clothes,bed sheets,cushion covers etc Rekha bought 50 gms garam masala (Rs250...it better be good..chicken would cost less than this masala)...and one frock for Eesha...Overall, it was not quite compelling buy although we bought something because of our predisposition...Nevertheless, I must say that we witnessed ourselves in a British-built Victorian villa that was tucked inside such a gorgeous surrounding...Just google Erin Villa Coonoor for pictures...

Saturday morning, we checked out and started heading back to Bangalore...Stopped at Ooty for quick snack at Virtue Bakery and some carrots and broccoli on Charring Cross...The trip was over except for the drive back home...Vacation is always shorter than you wish ;-)

Check out some of the photos @ 

Trip to Coonoor Apr 2013