Manchinbele

I had been to Manchinbele last week, its a reservoir created by a small dam surrounded by small hills. Its decent place for day out with friends and close to city, its approx 45 km from Bangalore on Mysore road. One has to leave early though or you might get stuck in traffic within the city limits. People who have been there before say early morning is a good time for bird watching... did see some birds but did not have a good camera.

We carried along some food with us and also a charcoal grill and lost of chicken. Turned out to be good as there is nothing you can do their you need some activity to be going. It was fun lighting up the coal(almost took us 45 min) as non of us do it regularly. The chicken was marinated over night and turned out to be really juicy and tasty when cooked. the recipe too was an experiment and also a little bit of help from our Mommy's at home. Recipe was simple

We used some off the shelf Tandoori masala, Turmeric powder, Ginger,Garlic and salt to taste.

Chicken 4 Kgs
Garlic - 200 gms
Ginger - 200 gms
Turmeric powder

Make garlic ginger past, add turmeric and about 50-60gms of tandoori masala and mix well with chicken, add salt to taste, leave it over night in the fridge do not put in the freezer.

Next day light up your charcoal grill, and it won't long to eat your juicy chicken.

Though the dam is close to the city, it is quite secluded and doesn't look safe for couples planing an outing...its always good to go in a group. Villagers might drop in asking for some food or money.

You might find couple of cops standing at just before a turn leading to the dam and might stop you going there... looked like they just wanted to make some money... we didn't pay though just drove in. Cops don't seem to there to help people rather want to make some quick bucks.

The drive from Wonder la to the dam is quite picturesque and green, you would enjoy it, try not to drive fast as the roads are narrow you might never now, there could be Kidd's running around in the next corner.

Some tips that would be handy

• DO NOT try to swim in the waters until are an expert in it as there is no one to rescue.
• Though there are hills surrounding the reservoir there are no shady trees...it was lush green when we visited as its a rainy season.
• Carry sun screen lotion along
• Sun Glass
• Food,beverages and fresh water to drink, you won't find these there.(Believe me carry a grill along it awesome to cook and eat, the chicken doesn't taste better than this)
• Go in a group
• Need to answer nature call in the nature.

Will post some photos soon.

Trip to Chennai

Had been to Chennai couple of weeks back for BD meetings, love to go for these meetings, love to make presentations, love the feeling that it might generate new business... BUT the journey this time wasn't pleasant at all.

It started with a mild surprise, my ticket was booked on a Sangeetha Volvo for a bus leaving at 11:30 pm, my friend came to drop me at the bus stop and while waiting for the bus we went into a chat about our conquests, goof ups and how to avoid getting into a marriages... didn't know how time went by, it was 11:45 and no sign of a any bus, then a bus came in called SEA BIRD and the conductor started shouting Chennai...Chennai...Chennai, since it wasn't from Sangeetha travels we continued chatting, but soon realized that we were alone there all other people waiting for bus to Chennai are gone are gone, just thought, let me enquire with SEA BIRD just in case... and guess what he said "Sir this is a bus from Sangeetha travels" just took two step back and checked the bus to see if I had missed to read Sangeetha (my boss complains I miss out on details sometimes) but I was sure even he wouldn't find it. I didn't know when Sangeetha travels changed to SEA BIRD travels, I boarded the bus said my friend good by and started looking for my seat... there it was, a window seat I looked up for a place to keep my bag as I kept it and walked towars my seat... woaooo...awa...it was the worst odor one could come across, it was like thousand world war II soldiers removing the show after 5 years of war...add to that the snoring of a man in the seat behind, it sound like someone has serious constipation...add to that a boring movie that was on.
All my three senses were under attack, this was only bus journey I made with a hand kirchief tied around my nose for the entire journey.
Overall it was a good trip though...

I am back

At last I have my blog back, I used to maintain this blog and had also bought a domain name for the same. Unfortunately or ultimately or as it should have happened the domain name expired and so did my blog with it. I have been thinking of reviving it for some time now, some fond memories are associated with it and at last its back.