Prasad. A

Bike Ride Towards Siddara Betta

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:34:52 GMT

Last Sunday (Feb 03, 2008) we planned to travel towards Siddara Betta.
It was my first bike riding over 190+Kms in a day and enjoyed to the fullest.

Siddara Betta is about 95+Kms from Bangalore. We drove via
(6.15AM) Tumkur Road > Dabaspet (7.30AM) > Koratagere > Siddara Betta (9.15AM)

It was great to climb the Rocky Hill, I was getting exhausted too fast and
managed to reach the top :). There is a small cave on the hill with a temple inside,
lot of visitors end up there.

We looked at another passage inside the cave and headed towards entering it. We had
not carried the Torch and the passage was just without light. A person there informed it is very dark inside and chances are high you getting lost inside!

Deciding to explore the passage we stepped in and used our camera as source of light. We had to perform a frog walk for about 15+ steps and found welcome rays of sun. We were really excited inside this CAVE. It was pretty chill over the place though the sun had reach on top our head at that time.

Our fellow partner found one more passage and we started to move inside it. It was very small, the rocks were quite slippery and sharp. We manage to reach almost to the end of that cave.

We were really excited to be at this place and had some quick snacks. Its really a pleasant place for mediation.

Heading out of the caves (we could feel the heat of sun!) we looked around and decided to move further ahead on the hill. After few minutes we realized its going to never end walking up the hill as its pretty vast and we were running out of main resource (WATER) and Sun rays were becoming very sharp. We got down the hill drove back to home.

Road from Bangalore to Dabaspet is awesome. Construction work is in progress from Dabaspet to Siddara Betta, the tar & mud roads alternate each other.

Sorry guys could cover lot of funny instances in this post (falling short off time)!

Check out the snaps here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prasad_a/tags/siddarabetta/

More details:
http://www.dreamroutes.org/southern/siddarabetta.html

Freedom and Trust

Mon, 28 May 2007 05:15:36 GMT

Freedom is given to you by trust,
Overusing it just means to lower the trust.

Calvin & Hobbes Blog In Kannada

Wed, 16 May 2007 10:14:55 GMT

For all Calvin & Hobbes fan's check out the blog in kannada http://kannadacartoons.blogspot.com/

Hope you enjoy it.

Quotable Quotes -- Tue 20, 2007

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:30:36 GMT

The real measure of you wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money.

The Power (and Peril) of Praising Your Kids

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:12:48 GMT

Here's a nice article How Not to Talk to Your Kids

[Link got from theju]

What You Know?

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 05:52:21 GMT

You Know What You Know
But Are You Sure You Know
What Others Know That You Know?

[How is this? ~~En[Dis]~~ [En|Dis]couragement are welcome ;)]

Quotes To Remember

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 06:42:50 GMT

[From MyCollege Homepage]

Small minds discuss people,
          average minds discuss events, and
                                    great minds discuss ideas.

Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen
                                  and thinking what no one else has thought.
                                                                          - Albert Sznet-Gyrogi

A dream is just a dream.
    goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.
                                                        - Harvey Mackay

If you set the example,
   you won't need to set many rules.
                                           - Mama Zigler

Here's Mine

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:42:46 GMT

[Link got from theju's livejournal]

Aquarius - Your Love Profile

Your positive traits:

You've got a ton of friends, so you have no problem meeting new people.
You're great at thinking up new things and activities to do with your sweetie.
You tend to let the little things slide in relationships... and focus on the bigger picture.

Your negative traits:

In relationships, it tends to be your way or the highway.
You can never open up completely to someone - you have to keep parts of yourself secret.
You're cold and reserved, which leaves your partner feeling unloved.

Your ideal partner:

Flexible, because you're not going to be the one to compromise!
Is smart and quirky with lots of weird interests... including you.
A true individualist who doesn't care what anyone thinks

Your dating style:

Stimulating. You prefer dates that explore a shared interest - like a lecture, muesum tour, or concert.

Your seduction style:

Wacky. Your wild ideas have your lover wondering what's next.
Insatiable - it takes a lot to satisfy your desires.
Varied. You're eager to try things as soon as you learn about them.

Tips for the future:

Bring a little responsibility to your relationship - like showing up for dates!
Compromise a little. It would kill you to do things your lover's way for once.
Be aware of your partner's jealousy. Even though you aren't jealous, realize your partner is sometimes.

Best color to attract mate: Sky blue

Best day for a date: Wednesday

What's Your Love Profile?

Happiest Friends

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 05:16:38 GMT

The World's most happiest friends never have the same characters and understanding.
They just make the best of their differences.

Courtesy: SMS on my enemy's mobile.

Collection Of Leave Letters

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 03:06:06 GMT

Here is the collection of leave letters and applications written by people in various places of India...
[From My Orkut Mail]

1. An employee applied for leave as follows:
Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one-week leave.

2. From an employee who was performing the "mundan" ceremony of his 10 year old son:
"as I want to shave my son's head, please leave me for two days.."

3. Another gem Leave-letter from an employee who was performing his daughter's wedding:
"as I am marrying my daughter, please grant a week's leave.."

4. A Person From Administration dept:
"As my mother-in-law has expired and I am only one responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave."

5. Another employee applied for half day leave as follows:
"Since I've to go to the cremation ground at 10 o-clock and I may not return, please grant me half day casual leave"

6. An incident of a leave letter
"I am suffering from fever, please declare one day holiday."

7. A leave letter to the headmaster:
"As I am studying in this school I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today"

8. Another leave letter written to the headmaster:
"As my headache is paining, please grant me leave for the day."

9. Covering note:
"I am enclosed herewith..."

10. Another one:
"Dear Sir: with reference to the above, please refer to my below..."

11. Actual letter written for application of leave:
"My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home I may be granted leave".

12. Letter writing: -
"I am in well here and hope you are also in the same well."

13. A candidate's job application:
"This has reference to your advertisement calling for a ' Typist and an Accountant - Male or Female'... As I am both(!! )for the past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the job."

Change Management - Intresting Talk By Azim Premji

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:05:24 GMT

I found A Talk by Azim Premji on Change Management to be very intresting.

Here's is brief summary of what I liked in the points made:

* First, be alert for the first signs of change.
>> You must develop your own early warning system, which warns you of changes and calls your attention to it.

* Second, anticipate change even when things are going right.
>> The biggest enemy of future success is past success.

* Third, always look at the opportunities that change represents.
>> Managing change has a lot to go with our own attitude towards it.

* Fourth, do not allow routines to become chains.
>> While routines are useful, do not let them enslave you. Deliberately break out of them from time to time.

* Fifth, realize that fear of the unknown is natural.
>> Feel the fear, but move on regardless.

* Sixth, keep renewing yourself.
>> You have to constantly learn about people and how to interact effectively with them.

* Seventh, surround yourself with people who are open to change.
>> Choose your advisors and mentors correctly.

* Eighth, play to win.
>> When you play to win, you stretch yourself to your maximum and use all your potential.

* Ninth, respect yourself.
>> We can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping.

* Tenth, in spite of all the change around you, decide upon what you will never change - your core values.

I felt he had missed one small point.

* Try not to forget the past, its from where you would have learnt to the future.

Direct Dil Se ;)

Wed, 24 May 2006 05:55:42 GMT

Jab usko yaad kiya, toh dil jalne laga;
Magar aapko yaad karthe hi, dil khilne laga!

Oneliner for the day -- 06/05/06

Sat, 06 May 2006 09:34:01 GMT

"Just because you have Freedom you are not Free,
You are free only when you are self managed."

About Friends and Enemies

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:17:28 GMT

"Friends will analyze but
Enemies make you realize"

It was just to rhyme,
don't blame me if its a crime. ;)

Memorable trip: Horanadu and Sringeri

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:21:08 GMT

After nearly 7 years, I was doing a trip with my parents to Horanadu, I had little hopes of going to Sringeri (a exciting place to me where I had been nearly 16+ years ago) as my parents wanted to stay at Horanadu for a day and trip all in all was only 2 days.

DISCLAIMER: Well, I take no responsibility if your sprit of reading goes down after reading this post as I'm not a good writer :). If you are still want to move ahead. Thank you and Have a nice time ;). Please ignore the spelling mistakes :)

We (Myself, Father, Mother) started towards majestic from my place to catch the reserved SEMI-DELUX bus (I wanted to particularly try out this bus of KSRTC). The journey supposed to be started at 9:15pm we were all set to go by 9:00pm.

The bus started the journey towards Horanadu via Yeshwanthpur -> Hassan -> Kalassa. Landed at Horanadu at around 5:45am. It was just amazing drive. Was just looking at the sky, the beautiful moon, wide spread sky which looks clear with lots of star patterns. Got out of bus and felt the cold breeze (really cold), wow thats was so good, I didn't even realize I had absoultely no sleep for the night :).

All the people rushed towards Choultry near the temple to get the room. The person incharge at the place turned out to be a bit rude and refused to give rooms till 7:30am, was saying there are only 4 rooms. I found it to be really bad. People just come far from places and careless people around such place will spoil the mood. I was really angry on him the time I learnt he just wanted to "show off" and Father (was just out to meet someone) comes in and calms me down and talk to him and surprisingly gets a room for us and others as well :). Well, I did not want to spoil my mood because of that arrogant person, just went searching for the room and finally found it :). I asked my mother to get ready or take rest for sometime. I along with Father went out for a short walk, I was just impressed with the morning dew all over the place. Just enquired about other places around to visit, learnt that there was nothing of my interest around so decided to head towards Shrigeri, me happy at that point :). We get back to the room, mother says we shall stay for till afternoon at the place. I was trying to explain that we shall move to Sringeri by afternoon, was not successful though :(. We got ready to visit Annapoorneshwari Temple, myself in complete traditional dress :). Found the temple to be really nice, bit of satisfaction got in my mind.

We come back to room after a slow walk around the temple and the down the road. I was just explaining my plans for the day . Mother agreed to move to Sringeri when Father also supported me :). We learn't that the mini-bus towards Sringeri was leaving at 8:30am and we had a talk with the driver who was right there. He agreed to wait for us (but not more that 5min). Me and Mother got into the bus and Father went ahead to handover the key and settle the room bill, it took sometime as they wanted to inspect the room before taking the key back :).

The mini-bus started towards Sringeri (its about 40Kms+), saw few students in the bus. "Hmm...just looked student life in bangalore, who have lots of comfort and still ...:(" got this thought for a while. I was bit excited when I got down at Sringeri (it was after 16+ years I was back to the same place, was just talking with my parents, the day we missed our last bus to Bangalore and hmm...slept on the school bench in the night as we had vaccated the lodge and we couldn't get a single room just in the matter of 30min that night :) ). Was happy to see a lot of improvements at the place compared to my last visit! We took a small walk in the sunny mid afternoon towards the Sringeri Matt to first get a room. Well people here a bit cooperative and we soon got in the room (as it was not the busy season). Just entering the room, mother says "its the same room we had got 16+ years back". Wow, thats cool :)

We got ready in span of minutes as it was 12:00pm and maha mangalarati was going on at the "Shree Sharada Temple". Was at the perfectly right time to the Temple, the closed doors got just opened and had look at "Shree Sharada Devi" :). Spent few minutes in the temple and was hungry now. Got to know that the lunch at matt is from 12:30pm, 1:00pm... Decided to have lunch at 1:00pm. Walked towards the place to have lunch, was looking all around, just trying to refresh from my old memory. After finishing the lunch, decided to rest for a while and planned to watch Agumbe Sun Set.

We go to room, father strictly warns me not to sleep ( Hmm...most of the time its hard for them to wake me up :) ). I agree and just place my back on the bed, guess what I started to talk to them and slowly go into sleep and still talking I guess. They wake me up at 3:00pm ( I doubt it was not that hard but father started shouting at me :( ), hmm...me still in sleepy mood just listening :). We were bit happy to go towards Agumbe, which we had missed the last time. We went to bus terminal to check out the way to reach Agumbe. They said we can take the mini-bus at 3:15pm to be there at the right time. Yep, they informed that getting back we might have to change more that one bus. Father enquired the auto-rickshaw person about Agumbe, he said the sun set might be between 5:30pm to 6:05pm, and there is return bus from the sun set point to Sringeri at 6:15pm, if we miss it we have to come to Biddarakallu and from there we have to take another bus to Sringeri. Well, the mini-bus was bit crowded and Agumbe was around (35Kms+) from Sringeri, will take nearly 1.5hrs of travel. I almost wanted to cancel the journey but parents wanted to go anyway.

We went to Agumbe at around 5:00pm, and sun set point (about 2Kms from Agumbe) at 5:10pm. Surprisingly, no one was at the place, except few shop keepers, bondawala, security... I think its has become very common to watch sun set or its not the right time. We went to small garden that is maintained at the entrance, saw lots of duck in the pond over there. I just go very close to one of them and it tries to take its fly, and few more come behind me :). It was 5:30pm and only 3 of us at the sunset point, was little boring as there was nothing to do till the sun decides to sleep.

I was thinking about get back to Sringeri as soon as possible, for the matter I was bit tried for the day :). At around 5:45pm, look at the sun and just try to guess at what time it comes down. Then came a big crowd around 150 people to the sunset point. Wow, thats great, we get a bit company to watch the sunset I felt. It was a college trip (people who where doing B.Ed and D.Ed courses). It was bit interesting look at them ;). Principal of the college, just pass by looking at my Father, as though he is really angry on him. I noticed it but could not understand it!

After a while, Prinicpal walks towards my Father.
Prinici: Hello, Sir.
Father: (Smiles) Yes.
Princi: Are you from Shimoga.
Father: No, we are from Bangalore.
Princi: (suriprised, eye brows rised) hoooo...sorry Sir, I miss took you as a friend of mine.
Princi: I'm really sorry, I was bit angry when you did not talk to me and I thought you did not recognize me
Father: Oh its, ok.
Princi: I'm really surprised. Friend of mine is exactly like you and explains his feeling...
Father: That's ok sir. (introduces mother and me to him)

Well, Prinici was really excited at the point. He greeted us as, he explained the whole story that went on to his fellow lectures, they too were really excited. Anyway, we got into a big croud to enjoy the sunset. We were enjoying the croud there. As usual, a bunch of people, called one of the lecturer. They started talking to him (just to take away his attention), well another person started his tailor work with some leaves and after a while, the young lecturer gets a tail :). He walks towards the other end, and all the students shut there mouth and start laughing. I'm got uncontrollable and start laughing loudly :)) Hmm...other person comes into the scene and informs the victim about his tail :), they now couldn't stop laughing.

It was around 6:00pm, started watch the sky which is spread across. It was just turining red. We were looking at the sky, people there cutting some jokes, some really funny. Princi joins the group and puts few more jokes and some questions of geography ... looking at forest, bit interesting :). It was around 6:45pm to 6:49pm the scene started the sun got into sleep with his red face, and just hides himself from rest of the world. It was these few minutes that gave us the most satisfaction and made the trip worthful. Hmmm...not to say we had missed our last bus at 6:15pm :), we didn't not realize.

We got to the security gate, and ask the person about the bus. He says, it just went. Prinici comes to place, ask us whether we are waiting for vehicle, we said yes. He and his team didn't want to leave us behind at that place. There were moving towards Sringeri, the bus was too crowded, but they promised us to give a drop to Agumbe bus stand. We did not want to spoil the sport of them, but Princi didn't want to hear anything from us.

We got off the bus at Agumbe, we thank Princi for the kind help. Princi, says Sorry, I can't take you till Sringeri, as the bus is crowded and driver is not willing to get caught with Police (as some minister were visited Agumbe at the same time). We were just happy to meet such a nice person and Thanked him again.

We stand there to look for the bus, a person comes towards us. We explained that we wanted to go towards Sringeri. He just exclaims, you have just missed the last bus! We ask him what to do. He points us to one more mini-bus that just entered the place, ask us to go to Kalmanne (20Kms+) where we get bus to Sringeri till 9:30pm. I was exteremly happy to find such nice people (bit hard in Bangalore though). We go tho Kalmanne at 8:20 or so. and conductor informs we have a bus to Sringeri at in other 5min. What a perfect timing, the bus arrives the place just after 5min from Shivmoga. We get into bus. It another 45Kms+ towards Sringeri now and we get down at Sringeri at 9:10pm. Hmm...we travelled almost 20+ hours just in the bus the whole day. We were very tried. I just wanted to have something and throw myself on bed/floor and close my eyes.

We find some small hotel (nothing like the one you see in Bangalore). We order for 3 lunch. It was served quickly. Hmm...mother and father just smile looking at me. I was bit surprised what happend to my face. Hu! no!!!! the sambar had "lot of bringal" in it :( I just gathered all the pieces of bringal without looking at my parents and finished my lunch with plain sambar and curd. We got into room at 10:30pm decided to move towards Bangalore at 7:15am.

I got sleep in no time. Woke up at 5:15am. Hmm...both of them were ready by the time I woke up. Asked Father to join for morning walk. He said, they already had planned for it. Me :). Went for a small walk, the whether was chill and stars were still on the sky. We finished the walk by 6:00am, decided to leave the place. We handover the key, and mother says we shall visit temple if its open. We found out that temple, opens at 6:00am and wow its the right time again. We got to temple again and sit for a while. We got to bus stand, slowly walking in the early morning.

Bus arrived at 7:00am, driver got it cleaned. We step into bus at 7:10am. Got the tickets and conductor informs that it takes 4:10pm to reach Bangalore. The bus was via Chikamagaluru -> Kaddur -> Tumkur. Mother refereshes her 27+years old memory when bus travelled via Chikamagaluru and Kaddur. She tried to find her college but was not in the way :)

We get down at WOC (West Of Chord) Road at 3:45pm and really tried after such a long travel. And reached home at 4:15pm.

Hurry! the trip was done. Enjoyed the most. Now closing this post with lots of memory in mind :)

Few thoughts for today

Fri, 06 Jan 2006 05:25:26 GMT

Diversity is the mother of Convention.

A small sparkle can create a miracle.

This is for ThinkPython :)

Thu, 09 Jun 2005 11:31:49 GMT

$ python
>>> s="Sidharth Kuruvilla"
>>> print "%s %s %s" %((s[3:5]+s[-3:-1].replace('ll','ppy')).capitalize(),('b'+s[1]+s[5:8]+s[2]+s[-1]+'y!').capitalize(),s.swapcase())

Start.com progress

Mon, 06 Jun 2005 11:16:32 GMT

Start.com progresses to http://www.start.com/3/, answer few questions here and see what next version start.com looks like.

Some interesting lines

Wed, 18 May 2005 10:30:15 GMT

I happend to come across these few lines this afternoon.

1. When u feel lonely and alone & cannot see any one around you, 
   the World seems to be fading away, come along with me I'll
   take u an eye specialist!!

2. I wrote ur name on the sands.............it got washed away,
   I wrote ur name in air...................it got blown away,
   So i wrote ur name in my heart...........i got a HEART ATTACK

3. Dear Friend,
   when i ask u flower, u give me bouquet
   when i ask u a stone, u give me a statue
   when i ask u a feather, u give me peacock
   ARE U REALLY DEAF ?

4. History Teacher : From where to where did the mughals rule ?
   Student : sir, i am not sure but think from page 15 to 26 sir....

Amazing drama at Rangashankara

Mon, 09 May 2005 05:50:01 GMT

Well, I had an extremely boring weekend. Yet, still of confidence to get charged up I moved to my friend's house on Sunday. I was still in the sleepy mood because of the afternoon's bright sun and of-course I woke up very early during the day. Not in the mood to do anything very interesting I kept silent even there. Later a small piece of information was put into my ears, saying people they were planning to go out for Rangashankara. I said "ok", (surprisingly I found I made a good decision, well I will let you know this later).

It was around 5:00pm, we started off towards Rangashankara, we were 4, including me, I was still in the sleeeepy mood :). Yes, with some kind of treasure hunting we found the place "RANGASHANKARA" it is at J.P Nagar. Seeing at the place from outside I brought myself out of sleepy mood. The place was amazing. I liked the color of the building, the architecture was very simple. It was not like a big theater, yes not to say more I was impressed. I came to know there was a show called "Khatijabhai of Karmali Terrace", an english play. We took the ticket around 6:15pm. The play was about to begin at 7:30pm. Now we had 1hr of time. There was a clear notification that no eatables is allowed inside, so we just made a quick plan to go for a small walk and have some thing and get back for the show. I found people were already fed up of my Poor Jokes, I kept myself silent, not to disturb their mood, yet there were some instances which I could not let go and immediately was coming up with my own "poor jokes", (may be I will improve on the positive side) but it would take time (lets like this for here). We had a nice walk, Theju was there withus so no problem for my hunger :).
We went to Rangashankara at 7:15pm back. I saw a small book house within it and many people looking at books, some buying, some reviewing to buy... I just went in and was attracted by a book written by "DVG", famous kannada novelist... I was just going through few pages of the book, and heard the bell ringing as in the school for the prayer in the morning. Well, it was to inform people over there to get into the theater. Yes, I went into the place and took the seat and was really impressed by the seating arrangement and one more thing was really attracted was the stage where the play was going to take place. It was very close, yes I personally like such kind of live performance, compared to some hero jumping above a bus and finally he and his motorcycle are really intact and safe.
A strict instruction was given to switch of the mobile. There was a light background music that was going on. I was noticing it quietly from start, but still was talking to people with whom I went, another bell rings (I just thought now the class would begin same as in school :) ).
Yes, the light goes off slowly, the background light music slowly becomes louder, light goes of completely. After a while, a lady starts talking in the phone, light appears. Yes she was the same lady who was sleeping on the bed without any movements of her leg/finger. She was actually sleeping from the time audience were entering the place and busily taking there seat, but she was not disturbed for anything and was sleeping straight.
Where was I? Oh, yes, I was talking about the play. The lady happily starts talking in the phone and shows herself very busy, she was making preparation for a her son's birthday party at her place.
The next surprise came to me here, there was no hero, no heroine, no villan, no side actor/actress.
She was alone and all by herself carried on the roles of others so well that I really have no words to say, but to saying some thing she justified that she was a real stage player.
To be frank, I am really sad after watching the play because I really have no such great skill to give you that live picture of what the play was all about and how well the acting was done.
The story was simple, a lady starts revealing her story of her past life. She starts of telling the story from the day she entered her mother-in-laws place (Karmali Terrace), her name was (Khatijabhai). She continues her story and enacts the other characters (her sister-in-law, her husband...). She shows how she became dominant to the house and tries to show that she was really important to the family. She continues the story and tells how she lost her son, how her husband left her... She gradually becomes older and leads her life in the same place (Karmali Terrace) with a little bit of family sentiment attached with the place and wants her children to continue to live in that place for which they are not willing.
In short the story was quite simple but the natural acting the actress showed on stage really brought the life into the story. It was just 80min play but the deep the actress was talented as every one were involved in the play and for me the play seemed to be like 3hr.

Well, by end of the night my mind was really charged up and I was really thinking why not practice such an art :). I need not but still want thank theju for showing such wonderful place.

WordPress filter Colorizer (PraColorizer)

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 11:48:01 GMT

I have written filter plugin for WordPress that will colorize your java,c++,c,c# code that you will put in the post.
You can download from here or from here.
To know more about PraColorizer click here.
You can also get information at wp-plugins.net.
Feedback and suggestions are welcomed. :)

pracut filter at wp-plugins.net

Thu, 17 Mar 2005 16:23:31 GMT

I have updated the pracut filter for wordpress at wp-plugins.net. To know more about pracut tag see this entry.

WordPress filter for pracut tag

Wed, 16 Mar 2005 06:52:55 GMT

Hey, I have written filter plugin for WordPress. You can download from here or here.
To know more about pracut tag click here.
I would like to thank Thejaswi, Sidharth and Pramod for giving some useful suggestions during plugin development.
Feel free, to use the plugin and to give feedback.

There goes Microsoft

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 06:16:40 GMT

Microsoft goes for a Feed Reader (that is in incubation experiment) but it is pretty much cool to use it and web based book manager.

Applibase Blog

Mon, 14 Mar 2005 14:48:25 GMT

I got my Applibase Blog working today. :)