Jammu Kashmir Ride on Pulsar 150 CC - Part 1

Day 1:-

Most awaited solo ride date is reached. Train is scheduled at 1:30 PM from Secundrabad to Nizamuddin (Delhi), I had important meeting to attend in morning, before reaching railway station.

I packed my entire required luggage in saddle bag & still I want to buy bike related materials like engine oil, puncture kit, bike wire, clutch wire, etc. I planned to purchase at Delhi once I reach.  Lots of things are spinning in my head by the time I reached office by 9:00AM.

My meeting was scheduled from 9:00AM, which I need to attend. I started from office after my discussion at 11:10 AM. I need to Book my bike at railway station to carry along with me to Nizammudin station from Secundrabad station. I should reach early as possible, as I need to get it packed according to railway norms. People always suggest reaching station, at least 2-3 hours to get bike packed. It takes at 45-60 min to reach, my friends are not confident enough I will make it to get bike parceled in same train. I have decided that in case if bike didn’t get parceled, then I decided to ride till from Hyderabad towards Delhi.

However, I reached cargo parcel section by 11:40 AM. I rushed towards parcel sections & lots of brokers approached me & informed me they will get bike parcel by 08/08/2014. Today it’s not possible to get bike parcel. I approached to counter without listening to those brokers.

I reached cargo parcel counter & there is too much crowd standing in queue booking their parcels. Somehow I reached counter to enquire about my parcel. A lady is quite busy in updating her records.  She responded!!!! And asked me to fill respective form & get fully packed bike with empty petrol tank for inspection. By the time when she informed me this time is 122:45PM.

I ran out to get bike parcel & spoke with coolies, they informed they will charge 400Rs for parcel. I negotiated to 300 & asked them to get it packed. I was carrying saddle bag, camera bag, Helmet & tripod, running around the cargo counter to fill required forms.

I missed xerox copies of Registration certificate which is mandate to attach to get bike parceled. I asked 1 person to look after my luggage & I ran towards Xerox centre which is half mile. I am completely dipped in sweat. By the time I reached counter its 1:00PM with gunny bag packed bike & Xerox copies. I need to get all receipts in 15 min. I was waiting for her issues eagerly. She is speaking all over & making me tensed. I got receipt by 1:20 PM & rushed bike towards boarding section.

Train is already in platform will leave in 10 min. A railway person wrote details on gunny bag & asking for some bribe. In mean time TC approached to same place to verify vehicles which are boarding. I spoke with him & marched towards my coach. Saddle bag & other luggage’s are too heavy to carry. I managed to carry them towards sleeper coach compartments.

While booking a ticket I got RAC confirmed ticket, I didn’t check the status while boarding. Train is leaving in next 10 min. I called colleague Chaitanya to check my PNR status & birth number. He gave coach & seat number. By god grace my ticket confirmed & upgraded from RAC to 3AC. I paid for sleeper class & traveling in 3A AC J. I boarded the train.

 I was peeking out of window, I saw a lady whose eyes were with tears & kissing her grown boy with affection & love. And his father is hugging him. Train is supposed to depart from station. Parents waved of him & boarded train. Parents sat in same birth where I was sitting. She is continuously crying for more than 30 min. Later they spoke to me & told me that, they are from Delhi. They traveled Hyderabad as their son got placed in some private sector. For first time she is going to leave her kid away. I met one doctor, student, Housewife & Businessman during the travel.

Train was decent & fast, food is served in time with soup, rice, chapatti, ice cream at 2:30PM. They served snacks at 4:30PM & dinner at 8:00PM & went to bed by 11.30PM.

Day 2:-

Mobile charger woke me up by falling on my forehead from upper birth. I woke up by rubbing forehead after hit. Time was quarter to seven. I freshened up, Breakfast reached by 8:15AM, Two bread slice & potato fries. Train was expected to reach Hazarat Nizamuddin station (Delhi) by 10:30 AM, but it reached at 11:15AM, I am carrying 1 saddle bag (Very heavy), Camera bag, Helmet, Jacket, Tripod & pump. I got down with my luggage & rushed towards the luggage bogie.

My Bike was on platform, I spoke with TT to get my bike he signed on my receipt & asked to get exit receipt at counter 4. It was quarter mile from platform, I am carrying my entire luggage, it was very huge, I was sweating all over and my hands are helpless as luggage was very heavy. Somehow I managed to reach counter 4 with luggage.

Clerk is very old & very slow to complete procedure. I waited for 1 hour to get it cleared. Mean time I met one more fellow bike traveling Ladak starting from Delhi with biker group. We both talked for some time about our touring, work & plans for next few days in Leh trip. Then he left after his clearance. 

I started searching for petrol at unloading area, I guy helped me with some petrol. I thanked him & moved back to platform with 10-15 stops in quarter mile. My hands were heavily paining as carrying more than its normal capacity. When I reached Platform, I am not able to see my bike.

I spoke with people around no one is sure about the luggage’s. I met same TT person and asked about vehicle. He asked to run back to same place where I got exit pass, next to it there is storage area. I took my entire luggage again & reach storage area & gave my exit pass. Haamaldhar started asking for 50Rs as they moved vehicle from platform to storage area. I paid 40Rs & he took bike till exit & unpacked bike. I observed my mirror was stolen in delhi.

I poured the petrol into its tank, I didn’t observe my petrol pipe is open, I was trying to start bike, but it’s of no use as petrol is drained of due to petrol pipe is open. I pushed bike with luggage for half mile & I was tired. I spoke with chai wala & enquired about petrol. He asked me to stop bike there and get petrol.  He called cycle rickshaw & I sat into rickshaw he started paddling it towards Nimzmuddin east.

He took me HP petrol pump, I filled petrol for 50Rs in bottle & he took me back. I paid 40Rs to him & 10 rs to chai wala. I started bike towards India gate at 1:30. I full tanked bike at petrol pump & tried to fit mirrors which I was carrying as spare. My manager called to check I reached Delhi safely or not. I spoke with him for min & started towards India gate.

I reached India gate by 2:30 PM, I walked around it’s a beautiful huge structure. I loved to spend some time I took some photos in & around:-

 I started towards Ratrapathi Bavan. Delhi has cool roads & greenery everywhere. I reached Bahvan in 10 min. I took a ride till bhavan with some photos. I drove towards Gandhi smriti. I walked around Gandhi smriti spent some time.

 

After visont gandhi smriti, started towards Chandigarh. I stuck in traffic for morethan 2 hours. When reached NH1 its 5.30PM. I need to drive at least next 3-4 hours to reach Chandigarh based on road conditions. While driving I met 4 Karnataka bikers driving towards Leh. Everyone is fully packed in their KTM Dukes. I spoke with us about their plans. I rode with them for some time. After 2 break I started riding first & again I didn’t see them. 

 It’s already 7:00 PM I didn’t get any food today, I was completed tired & stopped near Dhaba called Moon Dhaba. I ordered 4 rotis, Mushroom curry & waterbottle. He charged 130Rs

I am 15Kms away from Chandigarh & planned to stay in outskirts as I will get budget hotels. I stepped into Hotel called MITTASO. I asked him for cheapest room. He told its 1100Rs, which is cheapest. I asked him for cheapest hotels in Chandigarh. He asked me for cost & I told cheapest as possible, Then He informed me that He is having one room which is in underground without any AC. He will give that room to me for 300Rs, for taking bath he will give a different room. He will ask people to clean room & he will fit fan there.

I agreed for that. I unpacked bike & carried luggage into room which is allotted to me, where there is no lock for room. I dumped all luggage & got took bath in other room which he suggested & then off to bed.

Day 3 blog to be continue.........

                                           

NEW YEAR RIDE TO PUDUCHERRY FOR CELEBRATIONS - Part 2

Part 2 :- 

The plan was to start a 4AM, pick me up from Hitec City at 4:30AM  on the Sunday morning.

Day 1:- Sunday 29-12-2013  

As per the plan I reached Hitec City by 4:45 and the car was already there.

Route:-Hyderabad >> Kurnool>> Nandyala >> Cuddapah >> Rajampet >> Rapur >> Tindivanam >> Puducherry.

  

Dharam was driving and Ranjana was on the passenger seat, Ashraf and I were sitting in the back seat, we decided to take the ORR(Outer Ring Road) towards Kurnool in the morning fog. It was all dark and foggy, but the ORR is a road worth driving, the car was never below 120 and we had to defog the wind-screen on a regular basis. The sun rise was reported at 6:30, It was still more than an hour for the dawn, it was slightly difficult, but because of the empty roads, we managed to cover around 200 kms in around 2 hours.  Suddenly I heard some sound and asked him to stop and check the tires, I was assured that it was the sound of the car passing over the bridge on river Krishna. We stopped at a emergency parking point on the bridge where everyone stepped out of car to enjoy the first light of the day.

After a halt and some photo sessions for 15-20 minutes we started again, but as the day passed, the sun came up, the distance travelled per hour went down. It grew sunny, few of the parts on the highway was still under construction, hence both the lanes were merged. 

We reached Kurnool(230 Km from Hyderabad), at around 8:20 AM, no one was hungry so we decided to move on, driving through the city was slow and we wasted around half an hour there. We got out at around 9:00AM .

Another place worth visiting is Maha Nandi which is about 16 KM off road from Nandyala(290 Km from Hyderabad), which we had to skip after evaluating the possibility of reaching Puducherry by night fall. Visiting Mahanandi would have costed us an extra 32 kms, which precisely meant a minimum of around 90 minutes.

We had a target of covering around 400 km till 11:00 AM and at around 11:30 we were 400 km away from our source, at a road side food joint where we stopped for around half an hour, and the restaurant was not good at all. The only thing which we enjoyed was coconut water. 

I was sleeping whole day as I was out of sleep for couple of days. Ashraf's GPS was showing a route different than the planned one. After driving 400Kms the GPS was still showing 490Kms. Dharam needed to check another GPS and if possible the laptop to for detailed Google maps and some rest would be an addon. So I took driving seat and he started exploring the route. Just after 20Kms of driving we reached the Ghats towards Rapur. The hair pin bends on the Ghats were too sharp and had a steep slope. We had to swap seats and Dharam started driving again, at the end of the Ghat we stopped to take some pictures.

We reached the foot of the Ghats at around 01:20 AM, the highway after the Ghats is not so good and it was good enough for 2 parallel buses at a time, with lots of railway crossing. We maintained an average speed of 50Km per hour for the next 150 Kms (stopping at railway crossings, overtaking vehicles cautiously, blowing horn regularly and braking). You need to be really careful on such roads, there is always a possibility to misjudge your acceleration and the speed of the coming vehicle. Time passed and we were still far from the destination, everybody was hungry and we seriously needed a break. The best part about this road was the canopy formed by the barks of the trees on both sides and the shadow chased by us gave a very film like effect.

On our way we crossed a lot of modified harvesters moving at a slower speed. At around 04:00 PM we stopped by a restaurant which was far better than the previous one. Everything we ate there was tasty and wonderful, that too at a very nominal price. We had to move fast, it was already approaching 04:30 PM. It was already growing dark when we were still 190 Km from Puducherry.

After moving out from there, we reached another small town at 06:30 PM, and we were low on fuel again, after refuelling, we started again, the GPS was showing a 15 Km short-cut , which unfortunately was a bad road, after covering 2Kms in 15 minutes on this road, we turned back for the highway.

We reached Tindivanam at around 07:30PM, where the GPS mislead us, but help from the locals came handy and soon we were on the right track. Puducherry was still 50Kms, we drove on the highway for some 10 Kms and then we hit the expressway, which was as good as the ORR in Hyderabad.

We reached our destination at 08:45 PM. Everyone was exhausted when we reached hotel Tamizh Park & decided to visit Promenade beach to see sun rise next morning, then wave off & headed towards our rooms. Every one ordered food in their rooms. After a satisfying dinner I went to bed and so did everyone else.

Day 2:- Monday 30-12-2013

I was out of world until Ashraf woke me around 5:00AM, After our regular douse, we board. Car started to move towards Promenade beach as dawn started .

There were people who were doing yoga, jogging, walking, photography, trawlers are already in sea for fishing & some of them are waiting to aurora like us in sea bay. I started moving around to capture some photos.

I am surprised in this city as there is no humidity like other coastal cities. After sun moved up we were back to hotel to have our early meal to continue our traverse. Our plan for the day: Promenade Beach >> Osudu Lake >> Museum >> Auroville >> Auroville Beach >> Market Street.

After breakfast, started following GPS towards Osudu Lake. GPS took us to starting point of lake. After reaching there we didn’t found any boating & reach near to lakeL. I found some locals on the road, I was trying to ask route to the boat house. When I was trying to ask in tamil, I was not able to recall tamil as I didn’t spoke for long time. Except tamil, I recalled Telugu, Kannada, Hindi & English to speak to them. Our fellows busted out in laugh after seeing my state.

          However I managed to ask them the right question, as those people were traveling in same lane they asked us to follow. We reached the boat house. The lake is huge, we sat some time on wood log which is built on like. 

       We took speed boat towards the island where we can see some migrated birds. Its 30 min travel. 

     We found some birds on the branches of trees in island. I felt it’s a worth visiting.

Our next destination is Museum, when we reached museum it was close as its Monday. We walked on the streets of French colony & market. We stepped into high design leathers as we get good models & discounts in Puducherry. But we didn’t find any cost difference between Hyderabad & Puducherry.

It’s very hot on the streets, everyone is tired by walking. We found some shop by name Lallu kulfi & sweets shop, then had some mango flavored kulfi. Also had glance at Kadhi Bandar.

Our next destination is Auroville, after parked car in parking area and started walking to get passes to matrimandir.  To get our passes we need to see video related to Sri Aurobindo Ashram. I was damn sleep as I was tired. Somehow managed to watch video & got passJ. Its 1km walk from the pass center to matrimandir, we started walking towards. Building is huge & beautiful structure built. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrimandir) We sat away from the tomb & enjoy the view of it & took some snaps.

          Time is 3:45PM, everyone was famished and we checked into some French cuisine hotel & ordered some French fish salad with fries. We reached auroville beach by 5:00PM. Beach is not well maintained. Ashraf & Dharm stepped into water, Ranjana was sitting at the shore looking around. I was running around the beach to take some photos.

When I returned from photo session I found our battalion is devouring some fresh fish on the shore.

 I jumped into course of action. Fishes & prawns are very fresh. But when she served the prawn, onions were more than prawnL.

We planned to visit Church which is opposite to railway station at night after taking some rest. Hence our car headed towards Hotel. Its 8:00PM, we headed towards Church. Artificial xmas tree is in front of church entrance. Church is too silent & many people are praying to god. 

After visiting church we walked on Market Streets & checked in Rendezvous Restaurant (http://rendezvouscafe.co.in/) at 9:50PM.

Hotel ambiance is not great. However we managed to get seat by 10:00PM, We got our beers at 10:10PM & Seafood platter arrived at 10:30 PM with lot of verities like Tiger prawn, prawn, squid, diff types of fishes, oysters and so on. Our main course also arrived at same time. Food is fabulous. 

Hotel management informed us that hotel will be closed by 11:00PM. Except food nothing is good including their behavior. We were disappointed as they are forcing us to leave by 11:00PM.  

We headed towards Le’Cafe on the promenade beach road. Once we reached there we took cold coffee & start sipping on the bay. We spent time till mid night & headed hotel to get some sleep.

Day 3:- Tuesday 31-12-13

I got up by 7:30 AM & started getting ready for new day visits. Team is waiting for me to have breakfast. I joined them by 8:30 in same hotel. Today visit plan:- Museum>> Botanical garden >> Paradise beach >> Beaker street >> New Year celebrations at hotel.

Headed towards Museum, not much interested things, found some old French designed sculptures, scripts, coins, chairs, burring pots, chariots. We walked some park next to Museum. When we were walking around, some local new channels came to us asked to brief our experience in Pondicherry. Dharm & Ashraf are briefing them.

Its 5kms drive from museum to Botanical gardens.

 Inside garden there are many aquariums and then we took choo choo (Children’s train) inside gardens. Then it’s time to run towards paradise beach where backwaters at one side & bay of bengal sea on other side.

We took tickets for boat as we need to travel in backwaters to reach beach. We drove for 20 – 30 minutes, to reach beach. I took some photos around the sea. Then jumped into sea J. 

After one hour of time we stepped into beach bar sipped beer & started back towards hotel as everyone was tired. On the way to hotel, we stepped into Baker’s Street bakery & had some French tarts.

  

          Hotel arranged for New Year party from 7:30 PM. I reached there by 8:00PM, they were showing some magic show & games for kids. As its boring I took street of puducherry to walk around. I got a call from Dharm to join dinner. I reached hotel by 9:15PM joined them for dinner.

          There are only families in the party. So we boozed for some time then started having food. We reached our room by 11:15PM. I was awake till people start bursting crackers at 12:00AM to celebrate New Year. Then fell asleep.

  

Day 4:- 01-01-2014 Wednesday

Return journey route:- Puducherry >> Chennai via East coast road >> Pulicat nagar bird sanctuary >> Ongole >> Miryalaguda >>  Nalagonda >> Hyderabad.

As Ashraf need to get his flight from Chennai to Indore in the morning 9:00AM, we decided return journey by 5:00AM. We checked out of hotel at 5:00AM. We dropped Ashraf at Chennai airport by 8:00AM, and started towards Nellore. We visited Pulicat bird sanctuary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulicat_Lake_Bird_Sanctuary) near Shriharikota. I didn’t see many birds, as I saw them in my last visit.

     Then headed towards Ongole. We stopped at some local dhaba & had good rotis & currys for our brunch.  We face some road trouble near Pidiguralla. Local political parties were fighting on some issue & blocked all roads. However, we took some inside route where that road leads to same highway after some KMS. We were nearby Hyderabad around 7:00PM. Again we mislead to service road instead of ORR. We drove for 15 KMS to get back to right track & this journey ends at 9:00PM as we reached Madhapur.

NEW YEAR RIDE TO PUDUCHERRY FOR CELEBRATIONS - Part 1

I wish you all a very Happy New Year.....

Well, it's been some time since I travelled & posted after I met with a road accident on September 14, 2013 while I was heading towards Belum caves, Kurnool District in State of Andhra Pradesh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belum_Caves. A speeding truck over 100+ Km/H smeared my Honda CBR 250. I was rolling all over the highway. Then I peeked into the doors of hell and the wheels of the truck were rolling only 5cms from my eyes & body. 
I felt like I was in hell and back. By god’s grace none of my body parts are crushed or severely injured except some minor laceration & bruises.

That was one awkward & embarrassing moment, when truck didn’t stop to look at me & people ignored to lift the person who was tediously dragged on highway. Instead, they start taking pictures to update on FB. Oh!!! Even they shared with me before I left that place. At last one guy come to see me after I lifted & parked my bike.

Bike was completely broken after being severely hit by the truck & I somehow carried it to the Kurnool service station. They were astonished to see the condition of the bike & informed me that they have never repaired a bike in such condition. There were no spares available in their station. The only option was to carry the bike either to Hyderabad or to Bangalore. The mechanic helped me in dismantling the parts & found that the bike would still start & it would run as normal.

I started looking for a Hospital; I felt some internal pains in my jaws, shoulders & ligament joints. I stepped into a clinic, the doctor diagnosed and informed me that that I was lucky to escape with no major injuries. I got a pain killer injection & some tablets.

I had my brunch at Kurnool & started thinking next step, At last I decided to ride till Bangalore as my bike engine & brakes were working. 

I was a celebrity on bike for the whole day, as everyone was staring at me or pointed me & murmur. I managed to reach Bangalore at 11:00PM in deluge monsoon rain. 

After this incident I didn’t get any chance to ride as my parents were forcing to stop doing crazy stuffs and my bike definitely was not in a condition for another trip. 

I am back here with new experiences about another road trip from Hyderabad to Puducherry as a part of 2014 New Year Celebration.

It starts with an IM on FB from a good friend Dharam  at the end of November 2013, a casual enquiry for my New Year celebration plans. As I didn’t have any, I agreed to join him on a Road Trip from Hyderabad to Puducherry in a Honda Brio. He needed one more driver and I knew how to drive.

Later, I forgot this road trip until I was reminded by him on another chat sometime in December. He confirmed he has already reserved the hotels & asked for the route plan.  

I prepared the route plan with the help of fellow traveller Imran Jeddi as he drove in this route more often.  We were four people Dharam, Ranjana, Ashraf & I. It was for 4 days trip from 29-12-13 till 01-01-2014.

I prepared my bag pack the night before and slept at 1:00 AM.

Posting the Puducherry trip details soon.......