BEYONDSHOTZ

As a regular visitor of Bangaloer Met Blogsstumbled upon an interesting article on Kalyan Varma . Well, followed that up to interesting sites on Photography, The articles have come up really well and have some really amazing photos, with great deal of information for pros like me..:-)
Having enrolled here as a member, I am waiting impatiently to return back to bangalore and participate in few of their activities and learn.

Posting the links here
Bangalore Photography Club
Beyond Shotz
And the site which I have been following up since long time..and been a great admirer of Sudhir's photos
The Jungle Book

Lots to visit still :-)

Came across an intersting site, and checked the %of world I have visited, and its just 3%. Well! Still there is lots left out there :-)


create your own visited countries map

From Wisemen's notebooks!

Those who are in love with practice without knowledge are like the
sailor who gets into a ship without rudder or compass and who never
can be certain whether he is going. Practice must always be founded
on sound theory
-Leonardo Da Vinci

"Panna" the Ultimate Drink :-)

I had a chance to savor this ultimate drink during my recent trek to
PETH . As it always happens with me this was planned in the nth minute, after googling different options to spend a weekend nearby Mumbai, Well! I must mention this site here which really had some credible information :-) This site has hosted some real good info on trekking spots in Maharashtra.

Well coming back to my story, after trekking for nearly 2 to 21/2 hours in really hot and humid conditions, we came across a village called Ambivali. After wading through village by lanes, a gentleman at the Hanuman temple asked us in Marathi 'do you need panna' or something. Both me and my friend first said no without really knowing what this man is up to! Then the fella asked in mixed Hindi that do you want "aaam ras". Well we didn’t think much ordered two glasses!

Couple of minutes later we had this wonderful drink called "Panna" which is made of raw mango (which is available at abundance in jungles nearby).. Well I must admit that was the most the amazing drink I ever had...

Thanks to the man from the village :-) Well! On our journey back, I made sure that I went to same house, but then our good old gentleman was not around and his family was also not there :( Apparently they have gone to fetch some water!

Meanwhile we took some rest in the temple nearby. Once the family was back had panna again. Needless to say there were repeat orders from both of us :-)

Few things I noticed about this village

- These folks don’t lock the doors when they are away
- There is no electricity in this village
- Folks have to walk nearly 6-8 km to fetch some water; surprisingly there are water pipes around the village, but no water!

TODO: Still need to post photos :-)

The Mandal Divide!

The Mandal Divide!
Again HRD Ministry is playing politics! I am really suprised whether this will really translate in to some votes as our the great HRD minister has planned. Can't we have some real statistics before we really make 50% reseverations in one of most prestigeous institutions of the country.
Sometime ack I also saw a debate on NDTV where Government of India had formed Group of ministers to study and formulate the policies on " Reservations in private Sector Just look at the members of this GOM.. Its has all those care takers of Dalit/Minorities and OBS's interest (so called!)
So Corporates beware!!!!.. You are in the queue.

Eye Donation!

I am finding little more time to blog now a days! Thanks to my new assignment :-)

Well couple of months back I had a chance to participate in an Eye Donation awareness campaign. Took out some time from my very busy schedule and spent lil time at the counters explaining people about the "Eye Donation". Kudos to my colleague Pradeep who had taken up this wonderful initiative.

Trekking in Maharashtra (PETH)

a la, am in Mumbai these days,
The last week end was pretty good :-) I started my first weekend with a trek to a fort built by Marathas, Could have planned it better to avoid the scorching SUN :-)
Location: PETH, neverthe less it was worth every drop of sweat :-).
District: Raighad
Fort Height: 3100 ft
Route - Mumbai -> Neral -> Kashele -> Ambivali
How to Reach:
- Take a local from Mumbai ( on Central route) towards Kajrat (around 2 Hrs) and alight at Neral.
- From Neral either you can Board State transport Bus towards Ambivali or
You can take an auto rickshaw ( around 1 hour)

Season: After the monsoon (JULY till DECEMBER), But if you are planning in summer, Plan your trek either early in the morning, (0600 hrs from Base camp) or Late Evening (1600 hrs from base camp)
Accommodation: A small cave on the fort can accommodate around 5/6 people.
Food: Better arrange for your self, even if you cannot good Samaritans at Ambivali village, and other village which you get on your way will provide a decent food ( of course at some nominal cost)

Will upload the photos soon.