Infinity and Beyond - Ooty

A week before our trip to Ooty, our thoughts were consumed with “rain rain go away and please stay away.” But, the rains didn’t go away and instead, they came back quite heavily. As we had been eagerly awaiting for our vacation, we took the risk of going to Ooty anyways and it turned out to be the best decision we ever made!

Ooty is 280 kilometers from Bangalore and the trip takes about 6 hours by road. We planned mysore-nangangud-gundlupet-bandipur-mudumalai-ooty circuit. From Gundlupet, the road carves through a dense forest and this forest saddles both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu across their borders. Bandipur National Park is located on the Karnataka side, while the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is found on the Tamil Nadu side of the forest.

We have a rule that whenever we pass through the Bandipura road, a Bandipur safari is a must. So as obedient rule followers, we stopped at Bandipur and opted for the safari.

As we boarded the van our curious eyes wandered all around the lush green forest. We spotted a bunch of deer and with so much innocence it kept looking back at us. It seemed to have gotten habituated with the big green van and its roaring engine sound. Our eyes kept scanning for the elusive, tiger foot prints. We saw a mama bear hopping with its little one. 

Mama Bear with its little one

Ever curious deer

When we entered deep into the forest, we saw a group of elephants parading the jungle. Elephants are interesting! They are so protective of their young ones. They are emotionally more mature compared to other animals. There has been a study where it found that elephants grieve for their lost ones and even shed tears.  

Elephants parade

It was almost 45 minutes in the jungle, when we were almost making our way out of the forest, that we spotted the almighty TIGER. At this point, the engine stopped and there was a pin drop silence - I could even hear my own heart-beat raising.  Slowly and steadily, the tiger crossed the road and vanished into the bushes. What a sight! Seeing a tiger in the wild is something that cannot be explained. We were just silent! No words. What a safari it was and a great start for the wonderful vacation ahead!

The mighty Tiger!

As we started towards Ooty from Bandipura, we were stopped at the check post before entering Tamil Nadu. After the quick check we were welcomed to Tamil Nadu. This was the start of Mudumalai Wildlife Reserve, though it is an extension of Bandipur, with a different name.  As we drove through Masinagudi, the journey became more picturesque and adventurous. This route has 36 hair pin bends over the stretch of 12 kilometers. Each bend was an adventure and before the 26^th bend, we rerouted towards our resort which is 15 kilometers away from Ooty. 

We had an amazing off-road experience driving 3 kilometers to the resort. Many roads were torn down due to the rainfall and driving in such road conditions turned out to be truly a challenging task. When we finally reached the place, it was incredibly beautiful, calm and welcoming. We were greeted at the reception desk with a warm smile and we were directed to our room. We wanted to have a laidback vacation without having to tick every spot in the tourist map. Our room windows opened up to a spectacular, breathtaking mountain which was a welcoming sight for our tired eyes. The restaurant was simply amazing. We indulged in the most delicious cream of tomato soup every day and trust me when I say that it was the best soup that I have ever tasted in my entire life.  

In Ooty, the temperature drops drastically after sunset. Being in Bangalore, we had never before experienced the mercury level falling below 12 degrees.  So, at a chilly 6 degrees the bonfire kept us warm and cozy.

The next day, we decided to explore Ooty city and Commercial road. To reach Ooty, we had to complete the 36-hairpin bends. As we completed the 36^th bend, we could feel the thin air. We decided to visit the highest peak of Nigiris that’s Dodabetta Peak.

It is 7 kilometers from Ooty city. The drive was bumpy as the roads were damaged till the last leg of the peak. The fog made it worse.  But the ascent was incredibly breathtaking.  The rich smell of eucalyptus filled the air as we climbed up.  At the top, the temperature drastically dropped. It was freezing cold, with a slight drizzle and fog. Even with the icy climate, we could see the Coimbatore, Ooty city, Karnataka border from the telescopic tower.

Just amazing

Bumpy foggy road

What’s the point of being in Ooty without visiting the commercial road?

The weather in Ooty favors rich farming culture, including the cultivation of English vegetables and fruits grown locally. We could see fresh potatoes, carrot, cabbage and some exotic fruits and veggies such as peaches, plums, pears, strawberry, zucchini, turnips, lettuce leaves being grown.

We went to a government co-operative shop to buy the famous locally made eucalyptus oil, gaultheria oil (pain relief oil), spices and the famous Ooty chocolates. With great difficulty, we managed to get back to the car with our hands full of bags containing our Ooty souvenirs and headed back to our beautiful resort.

The next day, we decided to pamper ourselves with a massage, heavy lunch and a great swim in the infinity pool. In the evening, we just sat in our spot gazing at the mountains, tea plantations and the ever happy flying birds. We wished we could just freeze that moment and never ever come out. As the sun set we were reminded that we had to pack our bags for the next day’s journey. What a wonderful day it was.

The infinity pool

We could just stare at this like forever !

With a heavy heart we left for Bangalore. It was a much needed and a wonderful vacation. Until our next vacation, ciao!

For more articles click - sahanahebbar.blogspot.com

Apology in disguise

                It was a warm sunny day. Anitha sat on the laid out blanket amidst the meadow with a picnic basket observing a butterfly’s landing on the flower next to her. She watched her daughter Sia hopping and turning around with joy! Her heart filled with delight looking at her daughter’s happy face.

                Anitha watched her husband Karan teaching Sia to throw the ball. She loved her husband but things got cold after a small fight with Karan a few weeks before. She wanted to put up a happy face in front of Sia.

                The grass swayed at the gentle touch of the wind. Sia was trying to throw the ball and she threw it so hard that she had to run far to get the ball back. As she went near the baniyan tree, she saw an old chap with her ball. She asked him to give it back. He obliged with a broad smile. Sia asked if she could call him Ajja. He smiled and instantly agreed. They started getting along within few minutes. They started sharing funny stories. Sia seemed very happy to have found a friend in an 80 year old Ramu Ajja.

                Karan became restless and started searching for Sia all over the park. He was relieved to see her laughing with an old chap. Sia called her dad and introduced Ramu ajja and she insisted Ramu ajja to join them for lunch. Karan thought it was a great idea and invited Ramu ajja for lunch.

                Sia came running towards Anitha and introduced the new guest. Ramu ajja was very happy to see Anitha, Karan and adorable Sia. All started munching delicious food. Ramu ajja noticed the tension between Anitha and Karan. He observed that they both loved each other but something was seriously holding them back.

                After an appetizing lunch Ramu ajja excused himself and bid goodbye to the lovely family.

                Anitha started packing up the basket. Suddenly she saw a note which said I AM SORRY. Tears welled up around her eyes and she ran searching for Karan. She hugged him tight and said Thank You. Karan was confused but hugged her back.

                The only thing that was holding Anitha and Karan back was the word “SORRY”. Ramu ajja came into their life as a blessing in disguise!

-©Sahana Dinesh Hebbar

DISCLAIMER

This story is a work of fiction. The characters do not exist, except in the mind of the author. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental

Education System in India

We all know that the country’s development is majorly dependent on the quality of education system and this is the main reason why we are still a developing country.

Indian education needs to be remodeled from the scratch. Most of us judge a student’s capability by the percentage in the board exams. For mugging up the entire text book and reproducing the same in the exam, what is the need of human brain when a computer can do that job, don’t you think? I feel that this is the first step towards the deterioration in our education system.

Most of the kids are pushed to study hard from the age of four. This is the age when the creativity starts sprouting. Instead of allowing it to blossom, we tend to uproot the creativity. Kids are forced to score more and parents induce evil competitive spirits in the minds of the children. They are forced to study the main subjects at school and sports, art, music (usually called as extra subjects) are completely neglected.  

Today is the era of innovation and inventions. Unfortunately our education system is not built for it! You can argue that many universities and colleges are coming up, but by just allowing hundreds of colleges to boom, don’t solve the problem of education crisis. The syllabus is outdated! There should be a serious look through the syllabus. As there is tremendous advancement in the field of technology, the syllabus should be updated accordingly.

I feel that the reason behind people (Indians) chanting slogans against India is the poor quality of education. It is necessary to induce the sense of patriotism in our education system.

Teaching is considered as the safest, low- pressure jobs. This notion attracts hundreds of unfit teachers in India. The reform should start by encouraging talented and qualified teachers. It’s high time to realize that teaching is the most responsible job and this should be taken seriously.

It is necessary to upgrade the system with time. As this is the era of technology, why aren’t we trying to use them?

Another hindrance in our education system is reservation (creamy layer reservation). Reservation was coined as the short term solution in earlier days and we are still following! For the country to stand like a rock there should be equality in the education system. Reservation is not the solution; it’s the problem which needs a serious solution.

PS: This article is just an opinion and it’s not subjected to cause any harm/ offence/debate.

Sagara Doddamane- Ocean of Happiness

How to describe that feeling when the waves of an ocean come and touch your feet?  I would be more relaxed than before and when the wave recedes I feel fresh, energetic and confident. All the stress, tension will be taken away by the waves. What a beautiful feeling! I happened to experience the same when I visited Sagara. Sagara means Ocean is a city located in Shivamogga district. Sagara is about 360Kms from Bengaluru, located within the Western Ghats range and people of Sagara are the waves who have the capability of fixing you!

It was early morning of 24^th December when we reached Sagara. The rays of sun were breaking, heralding an awesome day ahead. We decided to explore a few places in and around Sagara. We visited Varadahalli which is believed to be the place where Shri Shridhara Swamy preached his devotees. Tranquillity around the temple premises had a calming effect on us. It was wonderful. After the darshanam we visited Keladi rameshwara temple. We were intricated by the architecture on the temple walls. From Keladi we headed towards Banavasi. The city is build around the famous Madhukeshwara Temple. Architecture on the walls of the temple is spellbinding and it’s a treat for the lovers of architecture. The main attraction is the 7 feet Nandi carved from a single stone. I was compelled by carvings of Amarashilpi Jakanachari. By admiring the rich heritage of Karnataka we headed back to Sagara to attend much anticipated ‘Doddamane’ function.

Madhukeshwara Temple

Varadahalli

7-foot Nandi

Doddamane is a 2-storey old vintage house built 100 years back where my ancestors were born and bought up. Sprawling around half an acre, the house features a hall, library, veranda to relax, bananti kone, Angala (it is an open air space apt for the evening gossips) etc,. The root of the family tree was Venkat Rao Bapat and the family tree began expanding beyond our imaginations. Few people got together and planned an event called ‘ದೊಡ್ಡಮನೆ ಶತಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ (Doddamane Centenary function)’ to bridge the connection between the extended families. I guess I am fortunate enough to have got an invite to such a great gathering.  It was a four day event and over 400 people were invited.

          

          Udakashanti was arranged at the premises of Doddamane. I learnt that the pooja is done for the peace and harmony in the house. People started filling Doddamane to participate in the pooja and also for the great reunion. Some of the faces were familiar and I was elated to see so many happy faces. Happiness went viral! I wish I could freeze that moment for a long long time. Family reunion creates strong and lasting bonds and also a deep sense of belonging.

Family heritage was kept alive in a display room which was similar to a museum. They had articulated all the old photos and some had also made collages. I was also surprised to find an art work made by my Mottiaaye (Grandmom) when she was 16! There were many antique items like conch (shankha), Kitchen utensiles,etc.

Next day was all about Chitpavani culture. All the ladies decided to dress up in a traditional 9 yard saree. Nath (nose ring) is a Maharastrian ornament which was worn by most of the women. It is woven with pearls and studded with pink or white stone in the middle. Maharastrian appearance of any women is incomplete without a ‘Chandra kor Bindi’.  All tied their hair in a round shape and adorned with antique bun pin. What a get up! For a moment I thought I was literally in Maharashtra. The culture and heritage of all the communities has its own importance and I am glad to have learnt more on Maharastrian culture.

            After the tiring morning it was time to lighten the mood. We gathered around Angala (30*30 open air seating) to get entertained. Music is the heart and soul of entertainment in our family! Power of music is unlimited. It had a soothing effect and music can take you to an unknown world where there is nothing but peace! The night was filled with great music, dance, drama and many more.

Family introduction and photo session was scheduled in Bapat convention hall the following day! Each family was called upon the stage and were introduced individually. I was surprised to see so many families on the stage! It takes great determination and courage to trace all the family members from the root and I would like to congratulate all the organizers for working so hard day and night to make this event memorable and a grand success! I am so sure that younger people like us would keep the ball rolling for the future generations! 

It is common for family members to lose connections with one another if they are not immediately related. This reunion helped me to reconnect with my long lost cousins, aunts, uncles or many more. Bonds are often re-strengthened, remembered and cherished during such reunions and also remind you to take a step back from your busy schedule and prioritize what is more important in life.

INTOLERAN- ENDS

What is Intolerance? According to the dictionary, Intolerance is unwillingness to accept the beliefs, behavior and blocking an individual from expressing his views! Some people in India feel that India is intolerant. I think these people fail to understand the very meaning of it. I feel proud to be an Indian as India is secular, democratic and republic country! Many countries wonder and feel so surprised that how can people with different culture and religion live in a single country! But they don’t know that we Indians have the capability to live and let live.

Unfortunately from past few months I am hearing the word Intolerance repeatedly! And I felt so sad that how can people who live in the same country call India Intolerant? Aren’t we degrading our own country by calling it so? Why should we give an opportunity for other country to speak about India? I think even many developed countries have their own issues but will they call their country intolerant?

In recent days I have seen the opposition party and film stars calling our nation Intolerant! I have also seen few politicians and super stars who appreciate people who call our country that! A true patriot wouldn’t encourage anyone who calls the country Intolerant irrespective of the party, gender or culture.

It is left to an individual to like or dislike the ruling party. But we are discriminating ourselves as BJP, CONGRESS, RJD Etc. Instead of fighting against a particular party or religion let us join hands and stand as one! When we all stand as one, the world looks bright and hopeful. Let us debate about innovations, science, discovery instead of fighting against government, caste, culture.

INDIA is our motherland. Let us not defame INDIA, let us celebrate INDIA!

Virtualization

What is the difference between a Human and a Robot?

Humans have the capability to judge if another person is happy or sad. Yet, even after knowing the difference, aren’t we all slowly transforming into a Human-Robot? Of course we are. Knowing that, my next question is why? Is it the technology? Oh yes! Indeed.

In today’s world no one can survive without Facebook likes! I remember my friend asking me “how many likes have you got on your recent post? Isn’t it getting lesser?” We all care so much about the likes because most of us like attention, even though we only get recognized for a limited amount of time. It feels wonderful to get recognition but on the contrary it’s like a two headed snake, while you are enjoying reading about others, you will slowly start hating yourself.

When I was young, my friends and I prepared greeting cards and we used to meet up somewhere nice and exchange the presents. Now, no one sends cards anymore. Only after changing the group icon or group name in Whatsapp, people find out that it’s your birthday! I can argue that when there is technology (Facebook) which reminds me to wish others, why the hell I should remember the actual dates? But when I sit back and think about the effect, I realized that we are losing our connections with the close ones indirectly. Remembering birthdays doesn’t mean that you have a good memory but it entails that you care about the people you love.

Similarly, online shopping is the new big thing these days! We can order anything and everything where ever we want to. Major shopping websites announces a huge discount sale or a rush hour and we end up buying many items as everything is skimmed down to half price.  But when we stop to think about our actions, we realize that we end up buying things which is not at all necessary. We are nothing but online shopping victims. Speaking on this, Sir M Visvesvaraya’s words come rushing to my mind “if you buy what you do not need, you will need what you can’t buy”.

Many reports say that after advancement in technology, the physical development of a child is running behind their mental development. Kids now-a-days love to play computer games rather than go out and play cricket or kabaddi with friends. Computer games indeed help in improving the reflex of mind but what about the physical fitness? Physical and mental development complements each other; hence we should cultivate the habit of enjoying the best of both worlds.

Most of today’s teenagers are more confident expressing themselves over text or social media than a traditional face to face conversation. The confidence level in the younger generation is deteriorating. A great hug and a warm smile is getting replaced my emoticons (smiley’s).  Technology is good only if we set the limits.

We have heard our parents and teachers tell us about socializing in order to cultivate strong and rewarding relationships with other people. Unfortunately, we are Virtualizing rather than Socializing!

Koppa - Kashmir of Karnataka

When I saw the "Brahmopadesham" invite from my uncle who stays in Koppa, without a second thought I made sure to confirm my dad that I would be joining! Koppa is located in Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka. It is famous for coffee and tea plantations. I have heard my cousins say that it’s a beautiful town which is always present in every traveller’s dream destination list. How can I ever miss out on an opportunity like that?!

We reached Koppa early in the morning. The sky was clear and the place was green everywhere. I loved the smell of green! It makes me rejuvenated. Enjoying the weather, we walked to my uncle’s place. When I reached, I could see kids playing and hear thunderous laughter. The atmosphere was very festive. I was pleased to see all my cousins. They welcomed me and the ‘Camera’. My kaki offered us Koppa special coffee and it was strikingly delicious. We got ready for the Upanayanam.

The function was arranged in the premises of a temple. I was impressed by my little cousin who was performing all the rituals with so much dedication. Seeing his dedication, I ran to my parents and asked them to explain to me the significance of Upanayanam. With a broad smile, my father explained that ‘Upa’ means near and ‘Nayana’ means eyes and Upanayana means being by the side of teacher. He also said that Upanayana is performed at the time when a child is ready to start schooling. My mom added that Bramhopadesha (Upanayanam) signifies the schooling phase of a child and hence we call the child Brahmachari. My mottiaaye(Grad-mom) who was sitting next to me, also couldn’t resist but add that during Upanayana the child would receive its first lesson (Gayatri Mantra) from its first guru, who is the father. She said that the mantra causes vibrations in the body and rejuvenates the body and the mind with positive energy. At that point I realised that there is significance and meaning behind all the ritual practices and I was just a fool for not knowing it.

My cousins and I took a walk in the evening. It had rained heavily an hour ago and the sky opened up and the sunset painted the sky. It was mesmerizing. Looking at the weather my cousin said Masala puri To banta hi hai. We spent the entire night planning about next day’s schedule.

The next morning, I got up as early as I could and was ready to explore more of Koppa. We first planned to visit Sirimane falls which is 5 kms from Kigga, Sringeri.

 This place is like a hidden treasure. It’s located deep into the woods. We climbed down a few steps to reach the falls. We went up to the waterfall. When I stood under the waterfall, I felt like I was receiving a natural massage therapy. It was an amazing experience. An interesting fact is that the waterfall feeds coffee estates and paddy fields. It was an awesome place.

After the darshanam at Sringeri Sri Sharadamba temple, we headed for Kuppalli. Kuppalli is a small village in Thirthahalli taluk, Shivamogga. It’s the home town of Rastra Kavi ‘KUVEMPU’. We stopped by Kuvempu’s home which is now converted into a museum. The entire house looked like a glaring castle which stood majestically amidst the greens. 

It’s a vintage three- storey building with tile roof (ಹಂಚಿನ ಮನೆ). The ground floor had a kitchen (ಅಡಿಗೆ ಮನೆ), store room (ಸಾಮಾನು ಕೋಣೆ), bananti kone, bedrooms etc. It was an authentic traditional house. Another amazing thing which we noticed is that the wall clock which is stopped at 1:03; it is the time when Kuvmpu passed away.

As we walked around the house we could see Kuvempu’s sayings engraved on the walls. Some of which were,

ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ, ಕೆಲವು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಗ್ರಂಥಗಳು ಇರಬೇಕಾದುದು ಸದ್ಗುಣದ ಲಕ್ಷಣ

Meaning, One good news paper and a few knowledgeable books is the definition of a noble house. 

ಬದುಕುವ ಛಲ ಮತ್ತು ಹಠ ಇದ್ದವನಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರವೇ ಬದುಕು 

Firm determination to live and aiming at it at any cost what may come, assures life fulfillment.

ಎಲ್ಲಾದರು ಇರು ಎಂತಾದರು ಇರು ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗು ನೀ ಕನ್ನಡವಾಗಿರು, ಕನ್ನಡವೇ ಸತ್ಯ, ಕನ್ನಡವೇ ನಿತ್ಯ 

Where ever you are, however you are, forever you be a Kannadiga. Kannada is the truth, daily it is Kannada.

We could also hear Kuvempu’s poem sung by late C.Ashwath in the background which made us climb the first floor. The first floor is all about his achivemants, certificate, medals, awards...etc. We all came out of the house inspired and headed to ‘Kavishaila’.

Kavishaila is about half a km from Kuvempus home. This is believed to be the place where he first started penning down sitting on the rocks of Kavishaila. This is in the midst of greenery and it is breath taking.

However, all good things eventually come to an end and it was 6 o’clock, we had to head back home. I wished we had 48 hrs a day!

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign”. Every place is beautiful and exploring new places made me realise how small I am!