Tuesday, 5 February 2019

Dandigenahalli "Damn!"

This is the story of a trio- one who loves to drive his car, another who loves to explore new unheard unseen places ( hard to find such places now, so we rely on travel blogs 😋 which have very few reviews & followers) & take photographs and the ultimate one who loves to pose for pictures. So it invariably points to the fact that the third one is the glue of our gang 😁 and this trio has a very very weird (read: fascinating) idea for weekend time pass! 


What started off as a minor weekend long drive/juice box/ conversations/ hang out has now become a ritual. And to perform this ritual with all our devotion, we are ready to drive almost 200kms to our favourite discovery- Dandigenahalli Dam. 95kms away from Bengaluru, protected as a local favourite hideout, this dam and the reservoir attached to it is absolutely serene. 
Reaching Chikkaballapur is not an issue roadwise or ridewise. The real issue starts on passing this town. Up to 17kms till we reach the dam following Google Maps directions, one may begin to question it's authenticity. Kaccha muddy roads snaking through small villages that are cultivating different varieties of flowers- roses, hibiscus, marigolds, chrysanthemums and what not. The last 3kms after passing the village of Dandigenahalli, you begin to wonder if you are still in the state of Karnataka. 
That's when Google says, "take left and  in 120 mts you will reach your destination!" And all you can see is a big brown rocky hillock in front of your eyes. 
It's after you climb that small hill that you need to start pinching yourself to believe what you are seeing. A reservoir surrounded by small verdant hills on all sides with a small metal bridge that makes a great spot for taking pictures. Pristine waters in which the clouds get reflected. A great spot to just lay down while the waters lap up your feet and soaking up the sun shine. 

Conversations flow unabated just as the waters that are beyond us extending till the horizon. It's absolutely serene post noon to catch the reflections of the clouds in the water that questions your orientation. As dusk approaches, it gains an even better appearance to welcome the sunset. The entire trip is incomplete without the customary stop at NH07 Refuel that serves some great yummylicious food. 
Out beyond the ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there's a field,  I'll meet you there! - Rumi 






Everybody creates ripples, but one needs to ensure that it doesn't last longer than it needs to be... 


This sunlight’s edge, 
This evening’s fall
Where two moments meet
Neither night nor day
Neither today nor tomorrow
A moment, forever
In a moment, gone
-Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Travel Picture Crazy Trio! 


Monday, 4 February 2019

Few random lines on 2am thoughts

How many of you have tried to get back to sleep after waking up at 2am but sleep avoids you like the plague who's borrowed your books "for light reading" and never seems to find time to return them? That's when your evil mind hatches the villainous plan to remind you of all your failures, your embarrassing moments, broken hopes and promises. And the grief cycle begins. At first you are sad, grieving your loss, not able to make sense of what's happening with you, trying not to cry but tears flow incessantly. Then there's anger, directed at the perpetrator, then youself and then at every single person in your life who you think put you in the path to reach that ungrateful jerk. Then comes, regret. If only, if only, if only on a loop. After hitting rock bottom there's no other direction but to move up-  you try to make peace with your broken heart & mind to gain some closure. And the cycle is complete.