RubberMeetsTheRoad

Bangalore Shillong Road Trip – The Preparation

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Long long ago – pre Covid times I had read The 4 Hour Work week by Tim Ferris.

Tim Ferris is a hacker with a Brilliant mind. By hacker – not the geeky-wearing-a-hood-eating-pizza and hacking bank accounts. No a hacker who finds out creative ways to maximise – without breaking the law or cheating others.

One of the tips he gave was on travel and exploring new cities / places. To travel typically we will plan a 4 day vacation – a 3 night/4 day kind of adventure – which leaves you exhausted at the end and totally unsatisfied.

4 days is insufficient for exploring any place. It took 3+ years living in Mumbai and still we don’t know much about Mumbai.

Tim Ferris says – pack your bags, and go live in a place for 6 months. Cook your own food, do not eat in restaurants, wash your own clothes, buy and live like a local. Then you have truly experienced the place – and that too without spending a bomb and living a good fullfilling life.

Every year – dutifully – I will plan. This year, this summer – when kid is not in school, let us go live in some exotic place – Goa was the one that always came to mind.

But April is our peak selling month – new Financial year. Always there will be some new initiative or the other and we had to be in the office to rally the team.

And 2020 Covid happened. We did not date to step out of our home. When things started stabilising we squeezed in a trip to Mahabalipuram – on Diwali day.  I assumed who will come on Diwali to a resort – but the place was fully booked up. Luckily we did not catch covid.

But slowly the travel adventure bug started becoming bigger and bigger.

Around Feb 2021 we decided to move the office to a Co-Working space. We officially announced Work From Anywhere within the team.

Around March 2021, the long hidden desire of travel got rekindled. The 80kms trips around Bangalore – of course on an Adventure bike – weren’t really satiating the heart. It was just fuelling the heart for more.

I started looking into Airbnb for long term stays.I chose pet friendly options. That typically narrowed down to just a few places.

Goa was first in my list. It will be on anyone’s list. Ask someone to think of an exotic vacation – Goa will definitely popup.

I even narrowed to a pet friendly 2BHK at a walkable distance from a beach. There was internet. But the lift wasn’t working. It was around 40k a month. But somehow I didn’t feel good about this. But come summer, tourists will come and what if cases start shooting up – so dropped the idea of Goa.

Then I switched to Mangalore. The choices were not that many, but did find a place. Mangalore is not that touristy a place – and internet, electricity should be available as any Tier 2 city. Told San – I am considering Mangalore, she told in her daily standup – and everyone said Mangalore is a very bad idea. Bangalore is far better for the climate. We were to go in April/May and get back before school season starts. So Mangalore was dropped.

Then I switched to Coorg. Airbnb places were quite expensive, but I was not sure about the internet connectivity. We had made Video to be on in all the meetings as one non-negotiable item.

I did not want to leave the shores of Karnataka basically – don’t know when the borders might get closed and I did not enjoy taking RT-PCR tests.

Finally I dropped the idea and started focusing on my morning runs. Perhaps this year – I will complete a marathon 🙂

And then out of nowhere San says – lets go to Shillong. Apparently she was chatting with Dipankar – a friend who we used to work with on UI collaterals and he said internet and electricity is fine in Shillong.

I was confused. Now Shillong is a mega adventure – I was thinking more of a days journey max – so Sufi can come with us. Now Sufi has to be put in a boarding place. I checked out Google maps and it said 60 Hours from Bangalore. This is plain mental. Will take 5 days of 12 Hours driving each day.

I dilly dallied. Sometimes the idea excited, sometimes nagging questions took over. But after a week I said to San – let’s do it – I cannot say no to such an adventure.

Charu said – you guys are crazy. Thank you very much 🙂

I called my friend Lambert – a well connected guy – also the one who gave me a contact of a broker in Mumbai – who helped me get a 1BHK  way back in 2011. Lambert connected me to his friend – and lo and behold found a place. A steep 60k a month but with internet, and a kitchen and power backup in Shillong. Sent 5k as an advance – booked for April 20th. The earliest the house will become available.

It was March and we started the preparations. Amma Charu were to come by flight. The 5 day road trip will not be possible for Amma. I considered changing the middle row of our car to captain seats – but dropped the idea. After any half day trip Amma will be recuperating for a few days – her room will smell of Volini or the Ayurvedic oil. She does not complain as she thinks we will not take her on any trips – but I know that she does suffer with back pain after these long drives. Charu too was hesitant. She was not ready to lose 5 days – one way – as her exam preparations will go for a toss.

We decided they will fly to Guwahati. From there it is 3 hours to Shillong – we can go pick them up. Booked for Apr 26th. Charu was having her Shambhi initiation by Sadhguru on 25th so she could not start before that – she can do the initiation at peace without any disturbance.

We decided to leave Sufi in a boarding place – checked and blocked the place. Cocoa was to travel with us.

Next we serviced the car. I wanted them to change the engine oil – told them we are going on a 6000+ km road trip ( to and fro ) – but the technician said not needed. You come back in July and do it – when it is due. Anyway once I reach Shillong will check the colour of the engine oil and decide.

Next we serviced San’s bike. Oh – and she didn’t have an original license. In 2016 or was it 17. She had gone to Mumbai on a day trip and was mugged while returning on an Auto from Andheri to the Airport Terminal – in the dark stretch in front of the International terminal ( domestic is well lit ). She lost her laptop bag and handbag with her purse and the license. All she had was her phone, charging cable connected to a power bank.

All she has now for a license is an FIR – in Marathi btw and an old  copy of the driving license which was from Tamil Nadu. Getting the original, sitting in Bangalore is not possible. Also this license does not show in MParivahan – this license was obtained in the prehistoric times.

I was always uneasy about her driving around without an original license.

So quickly planned to get an LLR along with Charu – who was going to get hers. She got it on Saturday, April 3rd.

Rewind 2 days back – On April 1 – around lunch time went to get the Covid Vaccination – as it was open for all born before 31-Dec-1976.

April 2 was bad for me – had a few server issues, bill generation issues, and by evening had a searing headache, body ache and slight fever. I did not feel like watching a screen having worked the entire day.

During times of fever I get seriously depressed. Everything starts looking bleak. My mind starts taking the forks which leads to doomsday – on all fronts. Work, life, career – name anything.

I was really having second thoughts now – if we will make this trip. It is far, too much uncertainty.

Anyway – on 3rd I woke up fresh and the world was perfectly alright once again! Not to mention San got her LLR. Trip was on.

We had set the travel date as 14th April – Wednesday – Tamil New Years day. We should be in Shillong by Sunday night. Stay elsewhere for 2 nights, and 20th checkin to the month long home.

5 days on the road means we cannot wash. So need minimum 5 fresh underwear. Check.

Our car has only one USB port to charge. So I ordered a Cigarette lighter point splitter from Amazon – because currently it is taken up by the dash cam [ btw – recommend it as per Team BHP geniuses. Might come to help some day when you are on the right and this will help prove ].

We already had a cigarette lighter to 2 USB splitter from our old Honda city. This will take care of the charging needs.

San ordered more masks from Amazon. It came couple of days before the trip start day, but Prithvi in his enthusiasm while cutting open the package, cut into the masks. We had to order again, and they arrived just on time.

Then ordered a car seat’s backside organiser. To carry Water bottle, tissue, a fold down tray. Idea was good. So Prithvi can keep his iPad and watch movies. Again ordered from Amazon.

From the previous trip to Coimbatore we got a magnetic sun shade protector for all windows. That will help conserve some fuel and also the hot summer sun will not roast us alive.

BRV does not have a arm rest between the passenger and driver. We felt the need for it in long drives. I wonder how they charge more than a million but cannot find the money to put an arm rest. The high end ones come with an armrest. We never felt the need in Honda city which was a stick shift, because the left hand will be on the gear most of the time, but on this one – being a CVT the left hand has no where to rest and keeps dangling giving an odd sensation at the end of a long drive.

I thought of going to JC road but did not find time. So ordered online, and a make shift came one – apparently compatible with BRV it said – came the day before we were to start.

Start Day minus 2 ( Monday )

In  Maharashtra the covid cases had started increasing – just like last year. Soon KA will follow suit and then the borders will start closing between states.

I was getting little apprehensive – what will happen if mid-way of the journey one of the states will decide – enough – no more out station folks unless you have an e-pass.

Orissa has now said that by all entry points – air,road or water – a negative RT-PCR Test will be mandated. Meghalaya has also announced that a negative RT PCR is needed to enter.However this test for Meghalaya will not be valid by the time we reach. Have to undergo test + quarantine at Shillong.The other states we will pass through – Andhra,West Bengal and Assam have not announced anything.

Around 3PM we go to Indiranagar Lab Genius and give sample for an RT PCR Test.

At Lab Genius, before us there was a couple and the gentleman had teary eyes and was coughing. We were uneasy. San went right after him to the collection room. Will our trip be a non starter? I put away such thoughts.

The results will be ready by Wednesday evening – it will be too late. We wanted to start on Wednesday morning. Luckily LabGenius sends an email with the result. We will have to take a chance and start, and if one of us in the report comes positive we will turn back.

Start Day minus 1 ( Tuesday )

San and I made a long checklist, and the day before the trip went about picking them.

Wet Cat food, Tofu litter, Snacks for Sufi – were purchased from the spanking new Bangalore Pet Hospital – and dropped Sufi with Abira aunty – Rs.500 a day.

Then we got Murrukku from Pulla Reddy, for the friends in Shillong. Only Murruku can last a week or more. In MK Retail we picked a few munchies for the way – and lots and lots of Tetra Pak juices. We felt guilty a bit, but this was once in a blue moon purchase – and was practical. We open a full juice bottle we can neither finish or refrigerate. Also I got a few Nescafe tetra paks – daily late afternoon I get a caffeine boost – will need it. We are not going to stop in any road side tea shop.Then a few brittania cakes which I typically avoid. Healthy eating will be put on hold for this trip.

The night before, arround 6 we went to CV Raman Nagar to pick Mishki. She was in a boarding place for a month – her parents were coming back from Kolkata tonight. Mishki went crazy seeing San. She panted so much. We stopped the car and gave here some water, but still Mishki was so excited and kept panting the entire way to home.

I go out to fill air and fill up the tank. It is Rs.96 per liter. The car can take around 30 liters. On the high way it will give around 11 kmpl – we typically do 100 to 120+.  When we drive at 80 it gives a decent 16 kmpl. I dread to think of the petrol bill.

Then around night 9 we load up the car. Also I disconnect battery from the bikes. The batteries won’t be fully drained hopefully by the time we get back.

Around 10ish get an email from Labgenius – all 3 are negative. Phoo. We decide to start from home around 7, go to Indiranagar, pick the report and head towards Shillong.

Finally Start Day! 

Surprisingly I slept well. Typically before any long drive I will have a fit full sleep because of the excitement. But all the exertions of the previous day had tired me out.

Woke up fresh. Did Shambhavi. Drank coffee.

And we start.

Next : Day 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Musings

Rahul Dravid. Why?

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I respect this gentleman. Of course I had made fun of him when he had come to play IPL – I felt bad for him – He a pure cricketer getting himself corrupted with the IPL’s crassness.

Now Rahul Dravid has acted in a Cred Ad. He is calling himself the Indranagar ka Gunda. Sigh.

Why will Rahul Dravid sully his name? This reminds me of 2 other Gentlemen.

Vishwanathan Anand

Once a memory pill company approached him to promote their product. Vishy said, let me try your pills for a month and see if there is any difference. He did find improvement in his memory and then he accepted to promote the Memory pill.

Rajinikanth

He just does not come in any advertisements. The only one he has come is in an Ad by Doordarshan to promote polio drops.

But it is stupid of me to expect Rahul Dravid from saying no. He has acted in Pepsi commercials and what nots – peddling sugar drinks to kids. He never had a remorse like Amitabh Bhalchan.

All are having a laugh – Dear Rahul – they are laughing at you. Please stop it. I don’t know what your bank balance is – you have other better ways of improving it – use your clean image for the good. Do not let it get kicked around – because once your clean gentlemanly image is sullied – you will never get the clean image back.

Like the Good safe driving you used to promote – now who will believe you tell me?

A disappointed fan.

Musings, startup

The High Valuation Loss makers

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This photo is circulating over linked in and Twitter since last week.

I was least surprised. I follow Entrackr and daily they send 3 startup’s news. One of them will be the financial breakdown of these heavily funded companies.

What surprised me was – the Aam junta were taken back by surprise. Many could not believe their eyes. They were asking for the poster for the source of this information – as if it was fake news.

Dunzo is a classic example. Many in Bangalore have used it and love dunzo. But they never think if it is a sustainable business. It will never be.

Uber – the one who started it all has publicly stated that they will never be profitable. I just checked – they listed at 42$ and now at 58$.

Perhaps the loss doesn’t matter anymore? Tomorrow Zomato is going IPO. Till now Indian stock markets rewarded profitable companies and punished loss making ones.

Perhaps the trend will change? Zomato’s stock price will go up and it will be kept there by punters and MF companies. The rest in the list will join – and they will just be played around via speculation – while these companies continue to make loses.

“Cred” being the first in list, got ridiculed a lot and Kunal Shah the founder of Cred got angry and posted this

That was yesterday. Today news was in news because they had raised $200 million at a valuation of $2.2Billion from $800 Million.

Now this wants me to ask a fundamental question – how much of this money is “theory” like bitcoin! If we add up all the money in the world – will it translate to the gold held in each country?

No?

If so – what is the multiple then? That is lets say – if US holds 100 Trillion Gold bars lets say – the total dollar money in the world = 10000 Trillion – so a multiple of 100.

What is the multiple if we add INR, Yen, Yuan etc.? Wouldn’t it be an astronomical number?

Anyway – there is too much paper money – in fact I don’t think there is paper money – it is all digital. Just like bitcoin. The $s are all digital.

The VC companies get their money from LPs.

The LPs get their money from other returns from VC investments

The returns from VC investments are obtained when VCs get an exit

And this has mushroomed bigger and bigger – perhaps the initial investment did start with some paper money.

I am just too brain fried right now. I am not an economist. I do not understand this angle of startups.

I believe in plain vanilla business. See a problem, create a solution, sell the solution, ask money for it, sell, support, rinse, repeat.

ayn rand, book

Book Review – Musashi

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Last Saturday morning I ran 8 kms in 55 minutes. Almost after 2 years.

What has running gotto do with Musashi? Well this audible book had me hooked.

My day will start with Musashi. I will sweep the floor while listening to the story of this young Samurai who is trying to gain enlightenment via the sword.

After sweeping the floor, I will go to run. My runs will be around 40+ minutes and look forward to listening more of Musashi. This improved my running form and I could run 8kms – just like good old days.

Hence the connection with running.

The story was riveting. How this young Samurai goes about learning and disciplining his mind. This is based on a famous Samurai – fictionalised a bit with a character called Otsu – a girl who follows him and waits for him.

I was researching on this guy – and he has distilled all his learning’s into a book – Book of Five Rings. It is in my reading list next. This book is considered to be at the level of the famous Art of War.

Other than the story aspect of it – the book made me think / or rather ask myself – what am I doing?

I am not a warrior or swordsman – but I am a coder by profession. Am I reaching perfection? Am I constantly learning new techniques? My skills are they being used for the betterment of humanity?

Probably these are for musing for another day.

I highly recommend Musashi. Will be a good journey.

Musings

Book Review – A Gentleman in Moscow

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It is the kind of book to read during Covid 19.

By an interesting set of events, our hero – Count Rustov – comes to be under Hotel arrest – lucky for him – in a 5 star hotel with 2 restaurants.

The story starts with him being moved from a Suite to a very small room. Still under arrest.

The story goes how the count goes from his morning exercise routine – starts from 60 odd pushups and squats to 5 towards the end of the story – the markers the author inserts to show the Count is getting old. He is 60+ at the end of the story.

The second half gets really good – when he adopts a daughter – Sofia. The story – to me – really begins after that.

The plot inserts itself into the Russian revolution – quite critical of the destruction of nobility and the bland culture communism steam rolled onto the society.

The author – doing research for this book – seems to have visited all the 5 star hotels across the world – in New York, France, Moscow, Japan and picked up the menu from all these locations.

But it was quite entertaining. The end was pretty thrilling. In fact the entire book was never boring. It was a nice breezy read.

travelogues

The U Turn Trip

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True Story. This was the trip we took on 1st week of March to Coimbatore.

We were to start at 11:30 after Prithvi’s school was over. But San and I had meetings which never got over. It was 2 by the time we left home.

I took the Dog Cat and luggage and loaded the car. San and Charu were to come but they were taking time. Later I came to know that first San forgot to take her Mask. Then something else – 3 times she opened the door and went in. On her 3rd entrance, she went and sat. Charu asked – why are you sitting? San had said – this is to make it look as if we are starting new.

We just rolled out of the Apartment Complex and San got a call. A courier had come for her. We took U turn to go and pick it. U turn No. 1

Finally we left AECS layout and we were cruising towards Varthur – when I realised it was already 2PM. San wanted to go to A2B to eat Chinna Vengaya Oothapam. But it will be another 1.5 hours. Didn’t make sense. Also it was damn hot. Near A2B there is not a single tree in the parking lot and Sufi would have got cooked, or one of us has to stay back in the car with the AC on.

I suggested, shall we go to Kapoor’s cafe. Everyone liked it. I suggested Kapoor’s cafe because behind it there are trees in the parking lot and Sufi will remain cool.

U turn No.2 was thus taken.

In the previous Coimbatore Adventure bike trip, on the return we had stopped on a road side Bakery just before Krishnagiri.

It was around 5 and I vaguely remembered that place. I remember a single tree near which I parked the bike. Amma said she remembered seeing in the cover the name Venkateshwara. We kept looking on the right but no Venkateshwara came.

Then I remembered crossing a Dhaba and then stopping for this bakery. I saw the Dhaba on the right and took the service road to go under the bridge to join the opposite road.

However after we went under the bridge the service road did not join back onto the highway.

U turn No.3 was taken – we retraced the way and joined the highway towards Coimbatore.

Then I found another break on the highway and I took it. U turn No. 4

Now after I crossed the Dhaba was driving slowly on the left and finally spotted the bakery.

There was no single tree, but 4 trees. And the name of the bakery was Amrutha. The owner has 4 other bakeries with that name -was reusing the covers. This one is newly opened. We were all happy.

After we had tea and light snacks, we went towards Bangalore and took another U turn – U turn No. 5 to get back to Coimbatore.

It was around 7 or 8 I don’t remember. We had to take another break – we had crossed Salem and were approaching Erode. A rest room break was needed and Sufi had to be fed.

I was sitting on the last row this time, San was driving and spotted an interesting restaurant on the road. Kumki restaurant it said. It was not crowded and I saw green grass. Sufi would love to walk on it and do her thing

Told San – take the next U turn. So U turn No.6 to reach Kumki.

We had so many other U turns once we reached Coimbatore!

Sunday we started around 11:00 ish – after having a late breakfast. We were about to take the highway when I asked San to set the directions for the Cold Press Oil Shop – which is off the highway near Perundurai.

She had left her phone in the home!

U turn No. 7.

This was a trip of U Turns!

experience

Sorry Chickens and Fish

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I have turned back to being a Non-Vegetarian after 6 or so years.

Somewhere in 2019 I decided to go back on my decision on being a Vegetarian.

Trigger came in the form of a weird Viral fever. I had joint points and that was the time I felt a chicken soup will do good.

Also I was feeling a kind of numbness on my finger tips. The Good Doctor Kamala Benson ( she passed away unfortunately ) – said – your body is saying it needs some Sodium. Can you prescribe some tablets? She said – just have some pickle. And yes, I was craving for some spicy pickles that time.

It was an ahaa moment. I shouldn’t put these unnecessary boundaries. The body knows what it wants.

Any food has some good nutritive elements in it. By rejecting particular food groups, we are depriving the body of important nutrition. I know it is a lame justification – if I put my mind I can find better quality nutrients in the vegetarian world. I did contemplate becoming a vegan when I did lot of research and it is possible to kick off meat completely without any compromise.

When we go out it is always a tense moment till the order is placed – I being the lone guy who is a vegetarian. When I announced my decision to accept non vegetarian food all where happy.

However I now brand myself a reducitarian. If I have a vegetarian option I always opt for it. I do not drink alone when I am out – similarly. Till date have not ordered non vegetarian when I am alone outside. I allow people with me to order chicken or fish dishes – I take the gravy, and a couple of pieces.

Yes I do feel guilty and feel like a hypocrite. There is conflict in me when I eat Non vegetarian food.

Last Sunday, after almost a month first time tasted chicken – AMma makes this delicious green gravy… she is very happy that I am eating once again – but I didn’t enjoy that much I used to enjoy once.

Perhaps I can never enjoy chicken like I used to.

Sorry Chickens and Fish.

Bike

Ride to Bheemeshwari

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Breakfast at Kamat Loka Ruchi

It was a Saturday and we started late. A car and me in my bike. Google showed the route through the city and not the Nice road. Mistake.

Bangalore – Mysore traffic is back with a vengeance. The Metro constructions and the road widening has made it unrideable.

Note to self : Never ever go through the city to reach Mysore Road. Take the Nice road. Always.

Reached Kamat around 10:30 AM – just when they were shutting down Morning breakfast. Had AKka Roti, bit of Kadubu and Poori. I think it was sort of an anti climax – food wasn’t that great. I liked our neighbourhood Udupi food better.

Kamat to Bheemeshwari

This was the best part of the entire trip. It was through winding village roads.

First time I confidently leaned the bike. Tried recollecting the few lessons I learnt from Youtube on cornering. When I approach a curve I let go off the throttle. Then lean. If I see a straight I raise the throttle, but if there is another curve I will not raise the throttle till I pass it.

It was lot of fun.

San joined me for this stretch. She was mighty impressed with the bike when I went from 90 to 30 and almost a stop instantly. When I took a test ride this is the exact same thing that I was sold on. Not the fancy features ( ahem that too ), but the deciding factor was the Sharp breaking Adventure does.

We reached around 1:00 PM ish. There is absolutely no network coverage. And the place is filthy. Full of plastic and broken bottles. We tried going to the water, but turned back.

Food is another problem. We had 60+ ers in our group and did not want to starve them. We found simple lemon rice and curd rice in one of the roadside shops.

The shops rent out Gas cylinders and vessels. Most were cooking their own food.

A little effort from the administration and from the junta visiting this place could have made this place a heaven. Such a beautiful river and what a mess we have made. We humans are the most disgusting species. Sorry aliens – I am not proud of my own species.

Return stop at Chikku Farm

Return we decided to take the Kannakapura road. It was good – a few diversions but I could ride fast.

We decided to stop at A2B – but I spotted a cool road side cafe – stopped to check and liked it. Messaged the car people to stop here. It was a good decision. The place was deserted, food was quite affordable ( Rs.60 for a roll – Not at all Bangalore rates ) and the place was beautiful.

Chikku Farm to Home – 2 Hours +

We checked Google Maps before leaving Chikku Farm – it said 2 hours and distance was only 60kms.

Thought perhaps Google was wrong. Apparently I was wrong. There was lot of diversions and construction and hell lot of traffic. Saw Art of living Ashram and knew there was light at the end of the tunnel – was almost at the Nice road now.

Paid the toll and entered Nice road. Then it was bliss. I sticked to the 2 wheeler lane – lot of 2 wheelers were going in that and I decided to follow the crowd. Now and then will stray to the 2 lanes to overtake a few 2 wheelers.

Once I got out of Nice Road it was Saturday evening / night traffic. Bellandur was a mess. Outer Ring Road was busy, but at least traffic was moving.

Finally reached home. It was exhausting. Butt was aching. The air cushion I got seems to have punctured already. I have to either get used to the stock seat or do some juggad.

Wondering if this trip was worth the pain? Yes. The ride from Kamat to Bheemeshwari to Chikku Farm was fully worth it. For a Bangalore rider – living in Whitefield – I have to live with this escaping and returning back to traffic.

Musings

1st Adventure Ride – Bang-Cbe-Bang

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It has been 3 weeks since I had the bike. Over the weekends I will go for a ride to put kilometers on the bike. But it wasn’t enough. I will hardly add 50 odd kms over the weekend.

I had to do the first service within 45 days or 1000 Kms. I could only touch 250kms max. This was clearly not working. I would not be able to touch 1000kms. This bike is going to take me to Himalayas someday – and wanted it to be set right.

What if we do a trip to Coimbatore? I hesitatedly floated the idea to San and she gave thumbs up. She will drive the car with Amma, Prithvi, Charu, Coco and Sufi. Amma was excited – first trip after 1.5 years to Cbe. So she did not protest much on me coming by bike.

Jan 26 Chutti was coming up. It was a Tuesday. So a quick plan was made.We leave on Saturday. Work on Monday. Return Tuesday. But there was a twist. Prithvi had an online interview ( we were trying for Isha Home School ) on Saturday 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM.

I kept oscillating between, let us start on Friday afternoon, reach Coimbatore and P can take his exam. Or start early morning on Saturday and reach before 2PM.

But San was clear – let P take the online exam from the comfort of his home. So he can play his Piano if needed. One constraint was fixed – so my mind oscillations stopped.

We were to start after P finish’s his exam.

Friday Night – day before ride

People at home were talking about the serial Bharathi Kannamma. This reminded me of the movie Ninaithalae Innikum I saw when I was a school kid. There is a song by that very name. A lovely movie. I played it on youtube and got the urge to see the movie.

Being a Friday night – I started seeing it. All the songs are lovely. And I ended up watching the full movie. It runs for 2.5 hours or so.

Here is the movie if you want to enjoy this. Somewhere in the middle there is a full song with just the words : Ninaithaalae Innikum.

Saturday Morning

Watching the movie was a mistake. I find it hard to sleep after 6AM – thanks to Covid more or less I sleep off by 10 to 10:30 PM and wake up around 6 daily. I was very groggy. Also with the upcoming trip excitement couldn’t sleep properly.

Around 11 AM I went downstairs to fill petrol for both the bike and car. I was moving the bike suddenly remembered I had to fetch something, and I leaned the bike to put it on stand, and dropped it. I had not put the side stand down.

In all my YouTube watching of bikers – they had taught techniques to lift the bike up.

I tried lifting and could manage. Phoo. The same thing happened the day of the Bang-Mumbai-Bang trip. Felt it is a good omen.

Then the day went in running errands for the trip preparation. I had earlier got a riding boot and a pant. Wanted to do a test ride with them so I am comfortable – but did not find time to test it out. Will be doing the grand inauguration of these on the first ride.

Saturday 5 PM

Trip Begins

Finally the time arrived. San and the family and our cat and dog – all started in the car and pushed off. I quickly caught and overtook them stuck in the traffic.

This is the Whitefield to Attibele via Varthur. I have travelled on this multiple times – and I breezed through it and soon crossed the Attibele Toll.

Reached Adayar Ananda Bhavan just before Krishnagiri and waited for the car to come. There was a good amount of traffic and the car was quite behind.

Photo shoot at A2B near Krishnagiri

Saturday night 6:30 PM – Ride continues

Nowadays I sleep at 10:00 ish and not sure I can stay awake. The ETA is now around 12:30 AM Midnight. In another 2 – 3 hours will be in Salem. Near the A2B there is a small hotel we can crash for the night – so plan B was made that if either of us get sleepy we will stay at the hotel. And we resumed our journey.

I started enjoying the ride. The dimming sun light and the evening cool breeze was putting me in good spirits. The night ride was fantastic. Less variables to drink in – just the dark road ahead lit with the headlight and the vehicles tail lights.

I was afraid I will get a headache or my eyes will get tired. But nothing of that sort happened. The grogginess I had the entire day was gone entirely. Perhaps it was as the anticipation of the ride? I was fully alert throughout this trip.

I have travelled this road – Bangalore to CBE multiple times – so did not have the need to consult a map. In a way it was good – while getting used to the bike one variable if it is less – especially the map.

We crossed the micro Ghat section that comes after Sai Sangeet. I did not try cornering – even though I was tempted. A empty loaded lorry guy was driving like a maniac and was not being able to slow down and was cutting across lanes not wanting to slow down. I stayed behind him and did not overtake till I got out of the Ghat section.

The agreement was whoever crosses the toll – has to wait for the other. Also I had put Life360 app on both our phones – so we could track realtime where the other is.

We kept stopping at tolls – and in one of the tolls fed Sufi and took the dog out for her night walk.

The last section was very boring. Thankfully it was a three laner – between Perundurai and Coimbatore. I started following cars who were going at 100Kmph+.

Finally reached home around 12:30 AM.

Reached destination.

The next couple of days the bike was being tested by Achu. Had to tell him to keep within 50kms because my ride back will be another 350 kms and I will be close to touching 1000kms.

On Tuesday, Jan 26th – started back to Bangalore around morning 7AM. Till we crossed Erode it was quite misty.

Finally around 3 PM or so we reached home.

The entire trip took 2 full tanks – around 20Liters. Bike was giving an average of 34 kms+.

First Adventure ride done.

books, Musings

2020 Books Round Up

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My yearly tradition – the first blog post of every year start with a round up of books I read in 2020.

Here is the list from 2010, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 2019

Science Fiction

  1. Supernova Era by Cixin Liu

Cixin Liu is my favourite Sci-Fi Author. His Three Body Problem is a master piece. Even if you don’t like Sci-Fi you should read it. It is that good. They should make this a compulsory reading in school.

Supernova Era is another brilliant story on how a supernova explosion kicks off a Radiomagnetic wave which kills all humans above 13 years old. The entire word is now run by 13 year olds and lesser age.

How the world prepares to hand over, and how the kids handle it is the story. I finished listening to this and Corona 2019 happened. I used to joke to the kids at home – all the adults are going to die with Corona and now it is unto you kids to manage.

2. Fall or Dodge in Hell – Neal Stephenson

Neal Stephenson’s books are all a grind. 1000+ pages and once you start this book you get sucked into his world and stay there till you finish the book.

Story is about freezing a human brain. Then they figure out how to digitise it. The story happens in the computer verse and how they interact with the outside world.

Will fry one’s mind alright.

If you don’t know Neal Stephenson – pass this. This book is torture otherwise.

Fiction

3. The Unconsoled – by Kashi Ishiguru

Hmm. I won’t be reading any more of this author’s books. I dont think I have the intellectual development to read this. It was – how would I say – like living in a dream most of the time. Lot of weird stuff. But there were pieces which gave a glimpse into the complexity of human minds. I know of some families / friends – where the child had stopped speaking to their parent / sibling. It was kind of a mystery and here it happens. The porter and the daughter ( protagonists wife later it is revealed ) – do not speak to each other. Even at the very end. Weird but interesting.

Pass this.

4. Us against you by Fredrick Backman

This is the Swedish author I discovered. This is follow up to Beartown ( Highly recommend this ). The story continues after the Beartown climax. Did he stretch this story? It wasn’t as gripping as Beartown but if you loved Beartown you would have to read this.

5. Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons

I discovered Dan Simmons with Hyperion and stumbled on this book. On audible it is 55+ hours or so. It is a very long story and has some good amount of violence. Loved this one.

6. Okei by Mitsugu Saotome

It is a Japanese novel. Story of a little girl who witnesses the fall of the Japanese empire and how she escapes to US – California. Neutral rating.

7. The Bat by Jo Nesbo

New discovery. This is the first novel by this Norwegian Author. It is about a detective – Harry Hole. Violence, Crime, Investigation – if you love those things – it is a must read. It is the first of a long series – Jo Nesbo is going to take some of my hard earned money.

8. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Loved this one. The prince is affected by a virus – which literally makes him into a zombie like thing – and all these affected by the virus are dumped into this place called Elantris from which these dead people are not allowed to come out. It is full of strategy where the protoganists make moves against one another like a chess game. Quite interesting.

9. Theft of 2 Swords
10. Rise of Empire
11. Heir of Novoron by Michael J Sullivan

Loved this series. It has magic, sword fighting, romance, betrayal – all the masala to make it interesting.

Non Fiction

12. The Monk and the lady by Pico Iyer

You get a glimpse of the inner working of the Japanese culture. It was a nice enjoyable journey.

13. Do not talk to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell always takes something well established and turns it around 180 degrees. The audio book was good – it had actual interviews and the production was of high quality.

14. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

This book is in the list of High School reading of US Kids. Honestly I did not understand. Perhaps I should have researched more on this, or if an English Teacher had taught in class I would have appreciated more. It is a small book – very highly acclaimed – I didn’t make head or tails of it. I am not the biblio types I guess. Ahem – I am the one who abandoned Walden – to draw a parallel – I am more like the Masala movie watcher types, not into Art films.

Spirituality

15. Death by Sadhguru

On Sunday I picked this book from Crosswords. Started reading Sunday night. Monday morning I didn’t feel like working. Went to Starbucks and read the rest. Bliss. This was pre-covid.

I have referenced this book in the ReadThisFirst section of this blog. Again – should be a mandatory reading for everyone. Gives fresh perspective to life.

Philosophy

16. Mindset by Carol Dweck

Another must read. Wish I read this in my 20s. Along with Alchemist, I would gift this book to youngsters. In fact for the Secret Santa game we played end of 2020, I gifted this book.

I started Einstein – Walter Isacson – but lost interest. Started Ponniyan Selvan – 2. Not being able to cross the critical reading threshold after which I get hooked and sail with it to the end. Hope will complete these in 2021.

Thats it for 2020.

Here is the life story of a speck

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