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.

Chicken, Rice and Bread do the trick

Dozens of bananas failed to do the trick but an Indian thief has finally produced a gold necklace he had snatched and then swallowed after police fed him a hearty meal of chicken, rice and local bread.

Sheikh Mohsin, 35, grabbed the 45,000-rupee (546 pound) necklace from a woman in the eastern city of Kolkata on Friday and popped it into his mouth when cornered by police.

Officers then fed him 40 bananas over a few hours believing they would act as a purgative, and sat back and waited for results.

Mohsin passed an uncomfortable night in jail, but not the piece of jewellery.

Police said on Sunday he was then given more substantial fare.

"Now he wants to go free and doesn't want to even hear about bananas any more," senior officer Gyanwant Singh told Reuters.

A tired and rueful Mohsin was, however, staring at 3 years in jail if convicted, Singh added.

"Bananas were good enough for another thief who had swallowed an ornament a few months ago, but Mohsin was definitely a tough cookie," said one clearly impressed police constable. (http://uk.yahoo.com/)

I wonder how happy would the woman be to wear the necklace again, thinking what its gone thru.