Here's why the average Indian can't shop in Malaysia! :P

Every year, Sid and I head for a new adventure on our anniversary. Last year it was a trek to the Himalayas. This year, it was the sea. We decided to go snorkelling in Langkawi this time! 

It was the most awesome day ever! Have you heard of anyone who swims with sharks on their anniversary? That's us! 

Daily prayer sessions in #Malaysia!

Madikeri and its long winding roads!

Flop show

We all know how important music is on long drives. Well, we took some time to put together some of our favourite songs for the family road trip to Kerala, and lo! The car we hired didn't have a USB port! What a flop!

Fone uthao, gaana bajao!

Non-stop hit music en route to Kerala with family!

Mera wala green!

My version of Coorg! :)

The adventure at Dandeli

So, here we are at the Dandeli bus stand (the bus to Anshi has left already). The conductor points out to a small mini bus on the road and says- 'That's your transport!'. Its a bus with R.K. Travels written tackily in calligraphy with stars that reminds you of Los Angeles. We didn't have to wait for the river rafting to experience the sense of adventure, coz this is where it all started.

Sid and I look at the rickety bus, then at  each other, and then around us- there were other tempo trax jeeps waiting for passengers to fill in- but we seemed to be in a hurry to get going- so we hopped on and grabbed two seats- Sid with his half butt out and our trademark green haversack on his lap (I forgot to say 'heavy' lol), one camera bag, a small backpack, and me- all in one seat. "Sarka! Sarka!" yelled the driver- cramming up as many local people as he could, with me muttering under my breath,"Ab aur kitna bharoge, unclee!!" It reminded me of my heroic days in the local train in Mumbai. Finally, our maroon coloured bus, which had an advertisement of an 'akhaada' (a local gym) with a phone number, and a First Aid Box with a lock (and nothing inside) adorning it.

Initially, I found it amusing. I love travelling by local transport, because you get to observe people from that place. But after some time, it wasn't funny. After halting with screechy brakes every fifteen minutes for two hours, we got off at a sign that read 'Eco Anshi Nature Camp', muttering that this better be worth it! I tried to take a picture of this classic R.K. Travels bus when I got off, but its engine coughed up again and it rattled its way ahead before I could press the trigger (the camera, not the gun! lol).

Here's a substitute doodle instead

Food for the elephants

This is what the elephants ate at a restaurant in Deolali, Nashik. No serious!
What, you think elephants can't go out to restaurants?
This was during the new year weekend in Nashik, where 14 friends went out for lunch!

The tongue twitser: Try saying 'Doodle Dandeli'

These doodles were created during our adventure holiday at Dandeli Wildlife sanctuary, Karnataka. The first one is a collage doodle about all the incidents and memories at Anshi Nature Camp and the second one is about Kulgi Nature Camp. They sum up all the fun and new experiences we had during our adventure trip.

My Beach Art Gallery at Telicherry, Kerala

  


I took these videos at a drive -in beach in Telicherry, (previously called Thalassery), during an annual trip organized by my company. The name of the beach is a little difficult on the tongue, hence I am not able to name it. We stayed in a lovely home stay made of bamboo, just across the beach.

This sudden creative outburst occurred in the morning while I was taking a beach walk with my sketching diary in hand. I wanted to hear the sound of the waves and write a nice story in my book. This is what I ended up doing.

The first video is about my 'Beach Art Gallery'. The second one is the sheer joy of running into the water to catch the waves!

Oh! And thankfully, there is no video of what happened afterwards, coz minutes, or rather milli-seconds after I took the videos, I ran into the water, and lost my spongebob squarepants blue sunglasses. They were one of my most prized possessions, and my favourite fashion accessory (whether you agree or not). May your soul rest in peace, dear beloved sunglasses. There will be no other like you!

My beach art gallery at Telicherry, Kerala

Sometime in January this year, a group of colleagues holidayed at a drive-in beach in Telicherry (Thalassery) in Kerala. It was an annual trip holiday by my company, so it was time for a party!

The name of the beach is a little difficult on the tongue, hence I am not able to name it. We stayed in a lovely home stay, which was made entirely out of bamboo, just overlooking the beach.

The next morning, the sound of the waves tempted me to take a walk down the beach, sit on a bench by the sea and write a nice story in my book. I set off, armed with my sketch book and colored pens. This is what I ended up doing, instead.

I have posted two videos from my trip. The first video is about my spontaneous doodles on the sand and the second one captures my love for water! :p
Oh! And thankfully, there is no video of what happened afterwards, as minutes, or rather milli-seconds after I took the videos, I ran into the water, and lost my spongebob squarepants blue sunglasses. They were one of my most prized possessions, and my favourite fashion accessory (whether you agree or not). May your soul rest in peace, dear beloved sunglasses. There will be no other like you!

        

  

               

Behind bars...err..bars!

During my visit to Kerala, I spotted many local Government toddy shops with people lined up outside in a queue. These shops looked a lot like enquiry counters you find at trains stations and old theaters in India- grilled with wires and a little mouse hole to pay money. I was quite amused by this sight and it made me wonder if they are hiding some national treasure inside! This doodle came to my mind at that time.

Black beauty

Old Carbonite rock formations at Hogenakkal falls, Tamil Nadu.Wonder how many Kohl pencils that would make :)

Aar ya paar

Coracle ferry service across the river. Who says only humans need transport? :)

Bathe at India's biggest shower!

Found it hideous to see Shampoos, soap bars and hair oils sold at Hogenakkal Falls- popularly known as the "Niagara falls of India'.

Seems like this picture is shouting out, "Come, take a bath at this grand five-star open bathroom with the country's biggest shower and bathtub and feel like a king!"

The 'tringgg- trinnng' wala ice- cream

First sight at Hogenakkal Falls.
An unfortunate by-pass!

Pudhe sarka!

Sid and I were travelling to Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnatka over the long weekend. We had booked a tent at Anshi Nature Camp, which according to the internet, was not very far away. Ah! So sadly mistaken.

I sketched this doodle after our epic bus ride from the train station to Anshi Nature Camp in Dandeli, Karnataka. Since the big buses that go to Anshi had already left, we were advised by the conductors to hop onto one of the small local mini-bus. This mini-bus was called R.K. TRAVELS and the owner had taken a lot of pains to make it look horribly bling in every way that he could. There were Hollywood studded stars, which adorned the bus from the outside, and akhada (gym) advertisements, hand painted contact numbers and empty first aid kits which adorned it from the inside.

Two innocent un-suspecting souls (that's us) with our green backpack and camera bags, settled on the last sunken seats of the bus, only to realize we were travelling cattle class for more than three hours in a mini van which had more people than a local train compartment. The bus driver was stopping and stuffing more locals, pushing them and shouting 'sarkaaa' sarkaaa' (push) who didn't seem to mind and were having normal conversations about the weather. Not to mention the horrible music playing in the bus!

Initially it felt amusing and a little adventurous, since we had never travelled like this before, but after a while, we just wanted to get off the damn bus and breathe some air. There was no way of getting out of the bus. There was a big human wall in front of us, which was impossible to break. Neither of us have a clue as to how we got down, but when we did, we took fresh gulps of oxygen, stared at each other, skook our heads in amazement and laughed our hearts out!

R.K. Travels is a lifetime memory!

Wherever you go, the network follows

While we were at Anshi Nature Camp in Dandeli, we found that there were several hiking trails we could opt for, within the camping area. We started out on the nearest brid trail.Out of nowhere,two dogs(one black and one white- lets call them Moti and Kalu)startd follwing us first, and then, leading us to the trail. It felt like they were our local guides and showed us around. At one point, they stopped at a fallen tree which was blocking the road, indicating that we couldn't go any further. We traced our steps back and went to a near by pond to dip our feet and they followed us there too! It reminded me of the Vodafone dog- wherever you go, the network follows.

Summary: An adventure trip to Dandeli, Karnataka

Click to view the entire image.