I certainly do not agree with the belief of some egoistic and insensitive dumbasses that a tiger is a magical symbol with mystical power in its organs. Let those same dumbasses experiment with celery or dark chocolates instead or better still, go fly a kite.

The Only Place This steakhouse is a favorite with the initial Anglo-Indian settlers of Bangalore and I could easily say the steaks make a sumptuous lunch or dinner. This place serves no alcohol and thus has a patronage of family crowd.

Location: Museum road, Off Church street

As we got out of the waterfall, we found some kids waving at us from a height of over one hundred (100) feet. Then, to our utmost surprise, they jumped into the water, swam to us and collected five rupees from us, which supposedly was their diving fee.

Such weekends are hard to come-by. Although, I do travel a fair bit to various places, but this weekend will always be a bit special for me, as never have I been to such a quiet and serene place which stole my heart in an instant. It is a must visit for every traveler who is keen to explore te innards of our very own country.

No jewelry, no sunglasses, no pajamas, no robes, no belts, no dresses, no skirts, no extra shoes. Wear only one pair of comfortable fashionable slip-on shoes like Merrills. Shoelaces just slow you down when going through metal deteIctors so leave your sneakers at home.

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Same goes for toting makeup. Forget about eye, lip, nail, hairspray, gel, even deodorant. All you need is a SPF-based pressed powder compact with a mirror along with Chapstick and sunscreen and you’re good to go. The sunscreen alone acts as a lotion and moisturizer. Before you leave, fine-tune those toe and finger nails so short you won’t need to bring a clipper.

Having got no tatkal tickets, I decided to board the Kovai express from Chennai early in the morning. Though worried that I might have to risk standing all through the journey, I still decided to hope for the best and go ahead with the decision. I’ve always loved to travel by trains. I like to travel especially in non-ac compartments where I can open the windows and watch nature roll by like a movie. A sequence of beautiful frames running at length to keep you entertained and enchanted all along. One could come across places of such beauty that there where times when I had been tempted to pull the chain and get down of the train. Paddy fields, women working in the fields, cows and calves, small hills and rivers all made an appearance. Since I normally take the night trains from Chennai to Cochin, I had never really seen the stretch from Chennai, after Jolarpettai till Coimbatore…….

A boat with a couple of guys driving it was looking for survivors. The boat could take 10 at a time. But one could enter only if he was worth it. Yes, you read it right. Only if he/she was worthy enough was he rescued. The boatmen were generous in lending a helping hand but as always man’s greed for money never ceases even at the time of death. It was a barter system. My friend had to give away his wedding ring and his wife gave away her mangalsutra for their lives. He recollects how he even hand to surrender his chain to save another man who unfortunately did not have enough to satisfy the boatmen’s greed. He recollects this was the case in many places. He saw people left behind over roof-tops, trees, electric poles though help was at their door-step. The only thing they could trade with the boatmen was their lives, which they ultimately did. Neither was he nor I able to decide whether to thank such men or detest them. Does such men require a round of applause for their generosity or a thorough beating for their greed?

Cruel treatment by the mahouts. A recent article published in Kerala Kaumudi points out that around 90% of domesticated elephants in Kerala are made blind or partially blind, so that they can be easily controlled, and don’t target their mahouts when they are angry.

Lack of proper rest, food and treatment.

Desiderata writes about her travels in Himachal Pradesh :

The drive from Dharamsala to Manali, about eight hours, is staggeringly beautiful, so beautiful I forgot to be scared of the steep drop on the side of the road. Although at one point we were stopped by men in land-diggers who sensed that a rockslide was about to begin. They were right, and we watched as rocks the size of skulls started pouring down the side of the steep hill. Parts of the drive is along the riverbed, which is lush and this flourescent green, straight out of In the Night Garden or some similarly disturbing Japanese cartoon.

Some great photos too !

Landscapes to pass, Challenges to don!
We are hikers naturally born!!

Call me crazy, call me mad
When it comes of walking, I am not that bad

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Read the full natural born hikers’ anthem.