Velankanni & Pondicherry

This trip again was one of those that was planned the day before and then travelled.
Ron called me on 13th Nov 2008 to check if I'm in for the trip and i confirmed. Actually Myself,Ron & Joe had planned this 5 months ago but were not able to make it happen.Finally frozen on Myself,Ron,Joe,Suneer in Rufi's car the santro.

We started on 15th nov at 0030 hrs. At Salem we stopped for Tea and Joe checked with a few truck drivers about the route and they suggested some short cut which would save a few kilometeres.
As the journey proceeded, we had nothing but curses for Joe because the road was horrible and in some places no road at all. On the way Joe let go of Ron's cap out of the window.

We reached Velankanni at 1200 Hrs, headed straight to the beach where Ron took a holy dip and then we visited the Church. Prayed for the well being of Skanda and by 1530 Hrs we were done with lunch.

Started from there to Pondicherry and travelling through the villages we reached at 2000 hrs. Took two double bed rooms at Hotel Sad Guru. A quick shower and we were at Rendezous ( Ron's favorite ) for some continental food. A wonderful ambience and delicious food , the breeze of the sea- it was splendid and the perfect mix to call it a night.

Next day we all woke up late and spent the first two hours in the Tic Tac DVD shop selecting the titles. Tired and hungry we went to Aachiamma Restaurant- it had been a long time since I had such spicy food and the service here was top class.

After lunch we were strolling on the beach where we met an astrologer with a parrot and then a boy who made his tamed monkey play.

Later in the evening we went to Auroville Beach and Myself & joe jumped into the sea wearing a life jacket. The waves were rising high & high with every tide and the pleasant evening was asking for more.

After another round of shower we started for Bangalore and we stopped at the border to have some hot Idli's. Reached Bangalore on 17th Nov 2008 at 0430 Hrs.

This was a trip where we were in action throughout and I just loved the swiftness with which it all happened.

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಎರಡನೆ ರಚನೆ

ಯಾಕೋ ಏನೋ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯಲು ಕುಳಿತಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲ ಒಂದಲ್ಲ ಒಂದು ಅಡಚಣೆ ಬರುತಲೆ ಇದೆ , ಆದರೆ ಇವತ್ತು ಏನಾದರು ಆಗಲೀ ಬರೆಯಲೇ ಬೇಕು ಅಂಥ ಕುಳಿತುಕೊಂಡೆ .... ಅಬ್ಭಾ ! ಏಷ್ಟು ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳು , ಏಷ್ಟು ಅನುಭವಗಳು --- ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ವಿಚಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಬಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದು ಬಿಟ್ಟಿರುವೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಆಗುವ ಘಟನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಆಸೆ ಆದರೆ ಈ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ನ ಕನ್ನಡ ಅಕ್ಷರ ನನಗೆ ಬಾಯಿ ಪಾಠ ಆಗುವ ವರೆಗೆ ಕಷ್ಟ.

ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಅಕ್ಷರ ಬರೆದಾಗಲು ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸ ಬೇಕಾದ ಸಂದರ್ಭ , ಕೆಲವು ಅಕ್ಷರಗಳ್ಳನು ಹೇಗೆ ಬರೆಯಬೇಕು ಅಂತ ನನಗೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುವಸ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಯೋಚನಾ ಶಕ್ತಿ ತನ್ನ ಹರಿವನ್ನು ಮರೆತು ಬಿಟ್ತಿರುತ್ತದೆ.

ನೋಡುವ ಸಮಯ ಸಿಕ್ಕಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಅಭ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡಿ ನನ್ನ ಈ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಇಂಗಿತವನ್ನು ತೀರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೇನೆ .......

Diwali @ AEGIS

( Flower Rangoli by Nisha )

At AOL, we don’t miss any celebration and it was Diwali that was much awaited. A mail was sent by Ronald a week earlier for the contest and celebration details. A bay in each Unit Managers construct had to be decorated and the best was to receive the award. Along with that all had to bring sweets from home which was exchanged at work.

For our construct, that is Apin’s construct, Nisha took the lead in Rangoli with flowers and while they were on phones girls in the team made Aakasha butti’s and painted them. One specialty was all the decoration was made out of scrap. Aakasha butti’s were made out of scrap paper files. Myself and Ron made Diya’s out of paper cup and painted them also attaching a flame to it.

On 28th Oct 2008, we were all dressed in ethnic and it was celebration time. We clicked photos of the construct and distributed sweets to the Tech floor. Our construct won the award for the decoration and everyone appreciated the rangoli done by Nisha.

May the festival of lights bring joy to ALL!!!

Bison on Track Caution Order (14)

Note : Railway Diaries follows the Number on the Post Title

What is a Caution Order? Caution order is a document which gives the rules and signals to be followed from the departing station to the destination station. It’s specific to the individual route and keeps changing depending on the maintenance of the track and the weather of the section.

On the railway lines you have bridges that are being constructed, ballast that are refilled, track tamping, rail welding, a new level crossing for which you have to blow whistle freely or worst case like what happens in the Londa-Castle Rock section : it’s migratory season for the herd of bison’s for which you have to be cautious.

You are asked to be cautious not to protect the bison but to protect the train, the driver, assistant driver and the guard. To quote an incident it was my friend Debjit Roy’s train to Castle Rock and midsection they ran over a Bison whose horns got jammed between the cattle guard and the rail and the cattle guard which is a 15mm wrought iron was bent out of shape. They had to stop the train, clear the carcass and then proceed to Castle Rock. There are incidents in the past where the herd or one of them have injured the staff fatally.

Hence during those days where the herd of bison’s are seen a special caution order is mentioned about bison on track and when you approach that kilometer number you slow down the speed of your train and watch out to see if you can spot any bison.

I’m sure we have all seen the herds on National Geographic or Discovery Channel and its no different here. They run in hundreds and when they cross the track the scene is a stampede of the worst order. Every herd has a leader who is huge than the rest and carries that look at his stance, he who would be watching the way and only when he signals the rest of the herd follow. I was lucky to have watched this once and I shall always remember that I was a part of that wildlife adventure.

Save WILDLIFE , the Planet also belongs to them.