Yercaud trip

Two hours of planning for the entire trip on a Friday for a weekend trip to Yercaud. Trip was a farewell to a couple of colleagues who are quitting to pursue their MBAs.

Yercaud, 380 Kms from Chennai, poor man’s Ooty (Poor man’s Shimla) was chosen for one Saroja level trip with 6 guys. We rented a Toyota Innova from Carzonrent. Very good experience, a brand new vehicle, 8K+ kms, good suspension. This ended up being a better experience than taking our own cars and comes at almost same cost. Impressed!

The Chennai->Ulundurpet->Salem->Yercaud is national highway and is better to travel than Thiruvanamalai route or Krishnagiri route. 7 tolls on the road and it is worth paying for the quality of roads where you can easily clock 150km per hour speed.

At Yercaud, we stayed at KC Hotels (1AC room, 1Tv, Washroom) near the Yercaud Lake (center point) for Rs.1100 per night. This works better than the posh resorts or hotels if it is going to be a 1 night stay. Best experience was the day 1 dinner buffet for Rs.650 at GRT Nature Trails SkyRocca. Value for money food, good variety and great service. We visited Karadiyur view point, Shevaroyan temple (highest point at Yercaud) on Day 1 evening  and Kiliyur falls and pagoda point on day 2. The Trek downhill and rock climbing at Kiliyur was a fabulous and tiring experience. Day 2 breakfast at Eggeterian was perfect for the insatiable hunger after tiresome walk back uphill. On our return,we descended the famous 21 hairpin bends of Yercaud and finished our Lunch at GRT Grand Estancia Salem. Repeat customer at GRT!

Fabulous weekend and a welcome break from work schedule to spend time with people and nature. All expenses dutched, it comes to Rs.4000-5000 per head. Yercaud experience could work even better if you visit on a trekking or cycling expedition than just as a weekend trip for Chennai/Bangalore folks.

Jai HO A R Rahman Kozhikode concert

There’s nothing more in life than goin for a Rahman concert in life for us(me, ripper bala, Gmah, Vui, mallu, baby).The Rahmaniacs. After a lotta plannin, cajoling my parents, finally we got the 2000 tkts.

Before the concert:
I was feeling really excited and happy that i'd finished by last semester exams before the concert. We reached kozhikode thru a train from Erode. We wore a A R Rahman T-shirt, with Jai HO oscAR Rahman"in the front and "Music is my religion" at the back. For the 7:30 concert, we were there by 11:30 and roamed the streets of kozhikode. We were asked by few locals if we were performing with Rahman (seriously.. :D). We gotta know a lotta other like minded Rahmaniacs. There was a particular group which had spent 5000 bugs for air ticket, to watch the concert from Rs.500 stands.

From L to R: P.Karthikeyan(baby),Arvind(vui vui),Vinod Sundaram(me..kadha),Arunkumar(mallu), G Mahesh( gmah), Balakrishnan(ripper).

At the Concert:
Corporation football stadium was completely filled. All chairs were occupied. No space even to stand and watch. All set for thalaivar to let loose. The song list:

1. Opening Act (DJ Medley) – Sayonara

2. Mausam and Escape – Asad on Sitar; Sanjeev, Raashid and Keith Peters on Guitars ( Asad was tooo gud )

3. O Saya – A R Rahman ( thalaivar rockkeeddd.. new improvisations )

4. Athiradi – A R Rahman, Sayonara( Superstar song.. ARR sang with a cooling glass.. Stylish)

5. Padagali Chandi – George Peter, Benny Dayal ( Ultimate singing by both..dynamics were really gud)

6. Tu Muskura – Sadhana Sargam (Bit)

7. Roja Janeman – Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan( both sang in a single mike.. Hari sir's improvisations were mind blowing)

8. Masakali – Raja Hassan ( was near original ..ulti)

9. Jiya se Jiya – A R Rahman ( with video in the backdrop.. proepr sync with video)

10. Style – Blaaze ( blaaze was super fabulous with new RAP lyrics with kozhikode in it)

11. Liquid Dance – Tracked

12. Guzarish – Javed Ali

13. Netru Illatha – Chitra ( evergreen song and wat a voice )

14. Malargale – Chitra, Hariharan ( hari sir's dynamics took us outta the world, chitra was ever perfect)

15. Kabhi Kabhi Aditi – Raashid ( for all the aditis)

16. Rehna Tu – ARR, Chorus ( for all the tolerance lovers.. God level continuum humming by Rahman sir)

17. Taal Se Taal ( western ) – Tracked

18. Ringa Ringa – Neeti Mohan, Sayonara( a big time Neeti Mohan fan ever since her Mayya mayya in Delhi concert..she rocked!!!)

19. Kala bandar – Benny, Blaaze (Medley) ( two best HIP-HOP specialists at work)

20. Gangsta Blues – Blaaze, Tanvi (Medley)( Tanvi..wat a voice she has got.. gives all those small effect in a song by herself)

21. New – Blaaze, Benny, Chorus (Medley) ( surprise inclusion for us)

22. Azeem O Shaan – A R Rahman (Medley) ( missed Sivamani's ultiamte beats)

23. Rukumani – Chorus (Medley)

24. Veera Pandi – A R Rahman, Chorus (Medley) ( the deadly Medley like in Delhi concert)

25. Latika’s theme/Dreams on Fire – Suzanne (wonder wat scale she sings.. such a high pitch without cracks )

26. Khwaja mere Khwaja – A R Rahman, Javed Ali, Aslam, Raja Hassan

27. Arziyan – A R Rahman, Javed Ali, Aslam, Raja Hassan ( both these songs were like a sufi concert.. It brought tears to my eyes.. The song touched my soul)

28. Manasu Manasinte – Chitra composed by RK Shekar( very nostalgic song for Rahman sir)

29. Kannalane – Chitra ( evergreen chitra spl..with those high pitches)

30. Jiya Jale – Chitra

31. Aye hairate – Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan ( with Hari sir's prelude asking us to sing the intro bit)

32. Vaaji Vaaji – Hari, Sadhana( hari sir with full enthu)

33. Mustafa – A R Rahman( Surprise element the intro guitarwas amazing.. Rahman's Oh Oh... OOh OOh.. my god.. A fitting farewell for our NITT rahmaniacs)

34. Dhaka laga bukka – A R Rahman (Bit)

35. Pappu Cant Dance – Benny, Chorus ( benny was outstanding in his dance moves)

36. Aye Bachu – Suzanne

37. Urvasi – AR Rahman ( thalaivar rocked again..again a surprise)

38. Taxi Taxi – Benny, Blaaze, Chorus( every one on their feet)

39. Humma – A R Rahman( hari sir said,"we have been singing some energetic songs till now, shall we do a song that makes them sleep? - ARR !"..then Hariharan lets out a swirl of swaras ..and then gives a nice swara cycle...thats just perfect for the beat to pick up..and bang ! pa pa pa pa pa padaparappan !!)

40. Jai Ho – A R Rahman, Tanvi, Chorus

41. Vandemataram – A R Rahman, All artistes

After the concert:
we'd a nice chat with benny dayal and Aslam bhai. Benny was as usual super cool.

We came outta the stadium 30 mins after the concert and we were in for a surprise. The 50k ppl had disappeared. We could find an auto or a spl bus. Karthare(christ). Then we started our return journey to the hotel. We stopped an auto and asked him for a ride at 12:30 in the nite, he said" 5 ppl.. 30 rupees" ( 30 rupees otherwise get lost.. dat was his attitude.. Adapaavi pozhaika theriyathavan pola). Overall a fitting farewell for us. Had real fun :D :D

ICE class trip travelogue

Finally after a lotta planning and discussion, the ICE department class'09 trip happened. The places being Veegaland, cochin, Munnar. It was really exciting to go for class trip in last semester of college life. So much memories to cherish for a life time :)

We took a bus for the entire journey. The common boarding point being Bhel, Trichy. It started around 9:30 pm and then a small halt at sangeetas at CBS trichy. The route was along the Dindugal, chalakudy route.We stayed at the YMCA, kochi. Thanks to Shamsu, AB, Pant, Privin for organizing(or helping the organizers).

Day1 started with a Nair kadai chaaya, from tea shop outside YMCA. A filling breakfast and photosessions were already in the pipeline.( gals took boys by surprise.. appearing in their uniform black tshirts for veegaland). After a small stop at Naveen's grandma's place, we proceeded to veegaland. Absolute fun at the theme park. Being my second time, i went for all the dry n wet rides totally and enjoyed my best at veegaland. RB was kind enough to teach me swimming. Veegaland was followed by a small stop at marine drive, for some ppl to booze, while the gals proceeded for shopping. I'd an awesome,filling Mango Milk shake. The dinner was at a 3 star hotel. The veegaland swimming was so tiring and we felt completely exhausted at the end of the day.

Day2 was to Athirampalli falls, 2 hrs from cochin. Remember Aishwarya Rai dancing for Barso re from Guru, Oru theivam song from Kannathil Muthamittal, Namitha's Arjuna song from Aei or the famous Punnagai Mannan. All have been shot at this beautiful place. simply outta this world. No wonder its a favourite shooting spot. The journey to the downstream of the fall was steep and strenuous. The return trip was even more fun, wit ppl pole dancing in the bus. I'd some house building(voodu katturathu..chennai slang) and saroja step. I'd to leave midway to airport to chennai to attend cousin's engagement. The trip continued,minus me, to munnar. A campfire was organised that nite. I really(totally) missed that one. I was awaiting such opportunties to show my dance skills. Chey.. Opportunity missed. :( :(

On the whole, an amazing, evergreen trip to the God's Own country.

PS: The photos that i was posing were big time flops. Either someone shapes the camera, less focus, too much flash, trims the frame. Very difficult for a photographer to get himself photographed. while most(i think) photos that i photograph are much better.

some photos are posted on my facebook album, ICE class trip

Day 3 - Valparai

For day 2 , Udumalpet, Thirumurthy

Day3:
Valparai is not a proper tourist destination like ooty or kodaikanal. It is a quiet,calm place to relax and enjoy... full of tea estates and dams. The road to valparai downhills had 40 hairpin bends, which are really steep than u expect. Valparai trip was coordinated and guided by M.S.karthi and his dad.

we stayed at solayar dam inspection bunglow,20 kms from valparai. As his dad was a govt employee, we could get access to reserve forests and waterfalls, which are inaccessible to public. Once in a lifetime opportunity for us. Thanks to uncle for this trip :)

I will never forget this trip. I slipped and fell down on all three days. First in veegaland, second in reserve forest(twice there :P).We could walk in places where crocodiles rest in night( we saw their sand trails).. saw deers, orangutans, cat(at mudis club)

Thanks to Lakshmi mess( 4times) and Mudis club for the tasty food. We covered Nirar Dam, Reserve forest, solayar dam, balaji temple, Chinnakallar( literally froze to death while taking bath there), Seeeen god view point( A fraud samiyar lives there claiming,"i've seen god". We couldn't find him when we were there.. ) . Chinnakallar is a small falls where elephants come to quench their thirst. We couldn't spot them, but we found their dungs(big..compared to cow's) all throughout the path leading to falls.


The return journey in government bus from valparai to palani( 5 hours), palani to trichy(4hours). Finally reached NITT on Monday morning 3.30 am.

Day 2 - Udumalpet,Thirumurthy falls

for day1, Veegaland.

Day 2 :
Udumalpet, an amazing place to live in. The morning walk around the karthi's house was fabulous. The truckers and Petro Companies played havoc in our trip. No diesel for the van. We'd to settle the van and use govt transport for all places. Day 1 was predominantly Thirumurthy falls and Thirumurthy dam.



Thirumurthy falls has been the favorite spot for Tamil Cinema industry. Remember Mettukudi(where Karthik convinces Gemini Ganesan by singing in a temple), Jeyam ( Ravi in the climax ),etc , all have been shot here. In fact there was a set build for a captain vijayakanth.

After a wonderful time, we returned to karthi's home.. had a sumptuous lunch, a short nap. We began our night journey to Valparai(5 hrs).

Day 1 - Veegaland

for day zero,sivakasi.

Day1 :
We reached Veegaland around 9pm. After our breakfast and photo sessions we entered the park. Starting with all thrill rides followed by water rides. The first ride itself created nausea , vomiting for many. Slowly after each ride strength decreased for thrill rides, then enter water rides!!!

There were deadly rides like free fall, super jumper, waves, vertical fall,etc. I lost balance during the mystic river(went 3 times) , fell into water,hurt my head and made a big comedy for others to laugh. :)

Not a pose to give from a toilet. A different lighting experience. The punjumittai(a candy) always waters my mouth.

A quick coffee and outta veegaland. We started for Udumalpet(karthi's home). The route was trichur, palakkad, pollachi, udumalpet. Dinner at a sappa place on the outskirts of palakad. No eatable item was left in that hotel . Pengu and Dr.Vinoth(karthi's bro)joined us from college. All 23 slept at their home. we succumbed to our tiredness and had a gr8 sleep.

Day 0 - to sivakasi

Back after a really fabulous,tiring trip. :) The trip to Veegaland, Valparai were really amazing!!! It was a trip which we planned for a really long time (after our Courtalam,Kodaikanal trip). We finally decided the dates, transportation, routes. It started on 7th afternoon at 1:30pm from NITT. We(21.. a big number) were on our route to sivakasi(hari's home). Caught a 128 vestibule bus to Central Bus Stand, Trichy. From CBS, a bus to madurai, then a connecting bus to Sivakasi. Wow!! wat food we had at his residence. people need to learn hospitality from them. I went with usual parotta and Salna(kurma). The private van from NKP travels( similar to mkp ) was arranged.