Road trip (12th to 18th dec 2009)

This is the longest road trip undertaken by our family since we bought our first car, Fiat Premier Padmini in 1999 --> Maruthi 800 in 2000 --> Maruti A-star in 2009.
This is how our tour went on:
Hyd -300km-> Hampi -120km-> Shringeri -95km-> Udupi -110km-> Dharmasthala -136km-> Madikeri -400km-> Lepakshi -480km-> Hyd.

Detailed road directions:
12th Dec 09 [300 kms]: Smooth roads everywhere. No problems. Hampi is worthseeing.
Hyd-Mahabubnagar-Raichur-Manvi-Sindhanur-Hosalli-Karatagi-Kampli- Anegondi-Hampi(sightseeing)-Hospet(stay)

13th Dec 09[200 kms]: Horrible roads from now on. Nightmares for the drivers. I recommend not to take your own vehicles.
Hospet-Hampi(sightseeing)-Hagaribomanahalli-Harihara-Honnali-Shivamogga(stay)

14th Dec 09[300 kms]: Worst ever roads. Shringeri is awesome.
Nrpura-Koppa-Shringeri(temple)-Agumbe-Perdur-Manipal-Udupi(temple,stay)

15th Dec 09[110kms]: Small setback for our car at Udupi; thanks to Abharan Motors, Maruthi authorized service center. St Marys island is beautiful.
Udupi-Karkala-Dharmashala-Ujure(stay)

16th Dec 09[256kms]: Missed out visiting many places in Madikeri due to 'road sickness'. Comfortable stay at Hassan.
Dharmasthala-Uppinhangadi-Puttur-Jalsoor-Sulya-Madikeri-Khushalnagar-Hassan(stay)

17th Dec 09[280kms]: Thank God.. atlast better roads and back to our sweet state! Forced to buy fuel in black due to on going Telangana Vs Samaikyandra agitations in Andhra Pradesh.
Hassan-Hindupur-Lepakshi-Anantapur(stay).

18th Dec 09[358kms]: Avg speed: 75kmph; Thank You National Highways Authority of India
Anantapur(0545) -148kms-Kurnool(0845)-210km-Hyd(1230)

why 'Happy New Year' ??

So an year called 2009 is coming to an end and year named 2010 is going to begin.. so whats the big thing in celebrating the coming one?? everything remains the same.. you, i, the friends around us, home, the traffic, pollution, stupid mindsets of stupid people, what not?? everything is going to be the same.. Nothing is going to change except the calender in your room.I personally feel there is no need to wish some one a happy new year or to eagerly wait for a greeting. I always feel why the big buzz and big excitement all over the channels, fm radios. Why ask the people around you "Any New year resolutions?" why the artificial 'feel good factor'? why the artificial smiles? I pity many people.. when they will grow up?

If you really want to follow something do it immediately.. why take a decision on a particular day and name it a big thing? Nothing can change India. I am sorry to say this. but if we want to see our country to change for good, the change should start from you and I.

Directors' special

There are only few directors who showcase their thoughts as it is on the screen and convey the same to audience and connect with them.. They have passion for movies.. They eat movies,sleep movies, drink movies.. Ram Gopal Varma, Mani Ratnam, Balachander,Krishna Vamsy....

RGV -- Ram Gopal Varma (1962 )

The only thing I can say about ramu is he has an image which is larger than life.. Of course he has done some stupid movies but "Form is temporary and Class is permanent". He would certainly come back with a good movie.

Working stills from his 1st movie

Shiva (1989).

Vamsy's working stills: I, II, III. Anveshana (1985).. IV, IX. Detective Narada (1992).. V. Ladies Tailor (1985)... VI. Manchu Pallaki (1982).. VII. Preminchu Pelladu (1985).. VIII. Sitara (1984).. X. Young Vamsy..

Vamsy, Bhanupriya, Big B, M.V.Raghu

My all time fav "MAHARSHI"

These are some of my favorite scenes from my all time favorite movie "maharshi".. A senseless, heartless, rough guy (maharshi) falls neck deep in love with a coool girl(suchitra) of his college after receiving a sweet 'slap' from her. The harder he tries to win her love the harder the girl starts hating him. The guy finally becomes mad and eventually dies in a freak accident trying to win the girl's love. A standing ovation to the film director VAMSY. I would jump off from a sky scraper if VAMSY orders me to do so..

I admire him. I worship him..

MAHARSHI (1987)

Love

Love: undefinable. the word Love is not enough to explain what love is.. Love is blind - popular saying but the fact is real love has the strongest vision ever.

Doctrine of love declared in VEDAS.. Real love makes us unattached.. True love can never react so as to cause pain to the lover or to the beloved

This pic is taken from the book of Yendamuri Veerendranath's 'Thriller' novel. If you read it, get involved in it, and realize what is the author trying to say then there would be no suicides or acid attacks or elope sequences.. I suggest you to read yendamuri's fictional works Thriller, Anandobrahma. Antarmukam is another fascinating novel which tells about how weak our human relations are. After reading antarmukam i bet you will never be a small child in front of our loved ones just to impress them..! (Literally i could not be the same person after reading these..)

Love is beautiful, Wonderful and Amazing. You feel its the best thing in the World, Untill it happens to your son or daughter ---- William Shakespeare.

These days we see many 'couples' in malls, coffee shops, theaters or where ever we go. I grunt within when ever i see some one like that. Are they feeling the same sweet pain of real love? Are they serious about their relationship? Did they think about the consequences they are going to face when their parents come to know what they are doing? what are they planning to do next?

Feel the sense of responsibility in what you are doing keeping the future in your mind. Read the novels thriller and antarmukam to know what real love is.