prakruthiya maDilalli toydu hOdenu...

Trip to this awe inspiring place was quite long pending... time spent in barachukki and gaganachukki will be the most beautiful memories my heart would want to carry along.....

the previous night my eyes had not seen sleep thinking of the soothing breeze my skin was going to experience the next day!!

Started from home at 5am and joined my friends and colleagues at 6:30... we had decided to leave by 6:30 but how could one of us atleast not follow the "Indian stretchable time" :) had to start by 7:30... heading towards barachukki... the drive was quite fast... reached around 11:00 including some camel ride near malavalli and there we were in the womb of nature.. so quiet, so serene and so very beautiful..

At the first glance, everyone was so excited that some of us forgot to decide if we had to carry lunch or no and some responsible poor ones carried them along... the path down hill to reach the foot of this amazing falls is quite risky... i wonder how much hardwork must have gone into making these nature stuck steps to reach the foot of the falls... its quiet steep... if u ask me kids and senior citizens would be a strict no no...






After reaching the foot of the hills it was time for some team work :) by now we could already see the awesome falls and thumping sound of water... but there was stream we had to cross to have the best experience of our lives... crossing this stream could be quite an adventure for first timers but with some team work the experience is amazing! trust me :)

Little did we realise that anil and vishwa had vanished out with an amazing lightening speed had already moved down hill, crossed the stream...and.. don't know where there were.... the "girl power" found it a little difficult cross the stream with ralph the only guy around :) after we had crossed anil and vishwa came back to get their compliments from all the girls around for not being there to help..he he he (just imagine) and i had to put anil's protected dry jeans into water... it was a well deserved punishment :) but all was good fun!

well the stream was crossed and there we were amidst so many happy people enjoying the spectacular gift of nature... experiencing the barachukki falls from so close was heavenly.. drops of water sprinkling and makes it way through the rocks, the sun playing hide and seek, cool breeze... wow!! that was an amazing and a totally speechless moment of my life...









































































As I was experiencing mother nature till my heart's content... what more it started drizzling :( unwillingly i had to bid adieu to this heaven! i couldn't imagine climbing uphill with luggage on my back ... but i knew after "paet pooja" my eyes were getting prepared to see another art piece of god.. Gaganachukki.

climbed up, had lunch.. we had a dining table (a huge big rock) to have our lunch on.. sandwitch, puliyogare, chiken dishes, tomato rice and most of all vangibath prepared by my lovely dad! what more could i expect from life at that moment? :) and moved to gaganachukki... somebody asked us to go to "darga" and watch the falls instead of the actual place.. Gaganchukki falls was not at all bad watching from behind the darga but i felt it would have been really amazing if we got to watch it from the other side (there is a specific place where the gaganachukki falls needs to be watched from)...

Gaganchukki was as amazing place to enjoy some solitude... i spent time sitting on a rock thinking (wonder what!) while the other wild ones went downhill exploring to get a better view of the falls :)



















Time for a group photo! [ for me a group photo would mean end of all fun:( ].. started drizzling and we had to run back into the vehicle... i was sure i was carrying back so much of these two wonderful places...

hmm wait! it was not the end.. as we headed back home.. not very far from the gaganachukki falls we found his quiet and serene water bed ... heading towards a little dam... everyone jumped out the vehicle to spend some time.. i as usual got a rock to sit on and took as much as i can of this wonderful place...

















heading back to bangalore.. with the same speed as in the morning... my heart was full with contentment of having got to see this great pieces of art by the best artist ever!!


Picture courtesy - Jacob and Ralph

Matilda's Gyan :)
Total Distance - Round trip 330 kms
Best Season - Monsoon
Strategy - Leave home early come back early! The place gets flooded with tourist by 3 onwards...
Must carry - Small first aid kit, clothes to change (playing in the water is irresistible)
Choose to see Barachukki first and then Gaganachukki. Don't carry food along downhill to barachukki falls. There is absolutely no place to have food at the foot of the falls.

Little Professor :)

've always felt children are the most precious beings on earth.. so innocent and open to life fully... find wonder in everyday things... Anil was talkin to me about his little cousin pinchu.. who finds joy in a little cardboard box and his little pup :) He is so happy all the time sitting in that..
I know many people who just run behind things they need for a good life but yet don't have a small smile of happiness :( is his innocent sparkling eyes trying to say it takes so little to be happy in life? hmm reminds me of the tata safari ad.. it takes little to reclaim your life!

“My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is considered aggression today; I knew it then as purpose.”

The Little Things
- by Cynthia

Realizing the things, that mean so much. Like a thought that puts a smile, on your face, or a simple loving touch.
The smell of fragrant flowers, on a breezy Spring day.
The kind words of encouragement, that are spoken your way.
The sweet sounds of children laughing, as they play down the hall.
The feeling of accomplishment, no matter how big or small.. The thought of loved ones, who have come and gone. Their pictures and the memories, that will forever live on. If we could take time out and focus less, on our financial state. We would realize it's the little things, that really make life so great.... 

My heart in deepest praise does rise
To soar in joy through bright blue skies.
My arms in humble thanks are raised
In gentle, loving, longing praise.
Without You, Lord, the day would be
Restricting, chaining, clogging me.
But Your release, Your power, Your grace
Make everything fall into place.
Your wisdom is so strong and true;
No need to wonder what to do.
One look into Your smiling face,
And I find strength to run the race....

Mesmerising Little Town - Karanji Kere

Karanji Kere came across to me as a surprise.. had never heard of the existence of such a great place, shaded with so much green and pushing you into getting isolated from the noisy world out there!

Karanji kere a nature park tracing back to some kind of a history (oops... sorry! this place was so wonderful, the history didn't sink into my brains!) Tired after a whole process of my lovely cousin brother manu's wedding.. karanji kere was truly refreshing!!

We paid a small entry fee and entered the park... as i entered it was very cool to watch a long row of tall trees welcoming me in... Let me call it the grand entrance! it really feels great entering this lovely park...


Watch out! Kids [and some adults :)] can go crazy over the little play park..

Look at these pics and decide who are kids :) but for me it was amazing watching these grown ups going back to their childhood..reminds me of that famous hindi poem... baar baar aathi hai mujko madhur yaad bachpan ki meri... gaya le gaya tu jeevan ki mast khushi meri ...

































India's only Butterfly park is in Karanji Kere. I wanted to explore but how can it be possible that Mr. Time will permit me to have all the fun :(



















Out of all i got to see in Karanji Kere the best i loved was the small bird park. Trust me.. u can see hornbills, peacocks, ducks and some rare birds walking right in front.. my cousin mercy and didn't read the board that walking on the lawn was not allowed (anyways common sense that was!), we ran over the lawns and got some good clicks. Got shouted by the guy who takes care of that park :( but after looking at the pics i had clicked i thought.. that's okay.. it was worth it :)

Karanji Kere has got the longest bank "i" have ever seen of a lake. Santu, Rony and I sat on the banks and enjoyed the cool breeze flowing over the huge bed of water....

It was time for boating now :) on my way for boating i clicked manu baba with his newly wedded wife veronica... holding hands... made me feel... wow! marriage is such a wonderful thing on earth.. can u imagine living with your best friend for a whole life long, you for sure know that this person is going to stand by you no matter what...

anyways.. after a huge argument weather to get into a row boat or a peddle boat i had to boss over (as usual) and get everyone into a row boat.

Got to see some cute looking migrant birds and the boat was so helpful in gettig the boat close to the birds so that i could get some close clicks :) so sweet :) after this some of the disappointed ones fought over and went another round in peddle boat.. how smart! two boat rounds?


















We were getting late for the train.. had to move from karanji kere.. while moving out marina (my little cousin) got upset that she was not able to pull my younger sister's hair!!! awww! convincing her is real tough! amidst that, while moving out .. i promised myself to visit this place once again and make sure to go to the butterfly park :)

Kiss of the Sun...

The Best Mom This World Has Ever Had....

Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary.
What we need is to love without getting tired. - Mother Teresa

I Love You Mamma...

M - is for the Million things you gave me
O - is only that you're growing Old
T - is for the Tears you shed for me
H - is for the Heart of purest gold
E - is for the Eyes that shine with loves light
R - is Right and that you'll always be

Put them altogether, they spell MOTHER, a word that means the world to me....Happy Mother's Day Mamma.. I love you a lot ... Thanks for what you are, the most wonderful and special person in my life :)

Remembering Bob Marley, the God of Reggae; On the day he said Good Bye to the World...

Robert Nesta Marley (February 6, 1945 - May 11, 1981)

Today, I remember the brilliant and evocative music Bob Marley gave the world; music that stretches back over nearly two decades and still remains timeless and universal. Marley has been called "the first Third World superstar," "Rasta Prophet," "visionary," and" "revolutionary artist." These accolades were not mere hyperbole. Marley was one of the most charismatic and challenging performers of his times.

Bob Marley was a hero figure, in the classic mythological sense. His departure from this planet came at a point when his vision of One World, One Love -- inspired by his belief in Rastafari -- was beginning to be heard and felt.

I don't have prejudice against myself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don't dip on nobody's side. Me don't dip on the black man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white - Bob Marley