Guhantara! Rocky outing :)

Well Guhantara-India's first rock cave resorts!
Thats where we spent our Sunday...my take on this place is as follows
Well this is located off Kanakapura Road, Bangalore

Well the trip was fine, thanks to NICE road, however when we take the right from Kanakapura road, expect very narrow roads, however thats just 3 kms...you have to travel through muddy roads for a km
You also see a unit of Brigade being constructed and one thinks to themselves,how will people travel or will all of them work from home? :)
Anyways once we reach Guhantara, its a nice experience...don't expect it to be a minimal crowd kind of scenario...this place is economical and hence suited for both family outings and corporate get aways
When we reached there, thee were already team activities happenings for two major corporates
Well the passage to the main entrance is scary in the begining...however, it soon turns to be romantic..and you just hope that it does not get over
We were welcomed with a drink, which was sad :(
Anyways the restaurant looked good and they announced that they have a rain dance concept in the afternoon
The restaurant had two pools, one for kids below 5 and the other had a waterfall concept
The former one's water didnt look that great, however waterfall concept was a huge hit amongst visitors
After having the drink, we left to explore the place
There were horse ridings,dart trips,archery,pottery making,badminton,basket ball, indoor activities(billiards and TT) to name some
Please expect a huge crowd in the play area..there is also a children playground (for kids below 5) which was something kids in our gang enjoyed...its a simple playground, but kids if they have their friends, they can enjoy in any playground :)
After trying out outdoor activities, it was already 1:20 and we headed towards the restaraunt and I was taken aback, as the crowd was huge..well it was a Sunday
It was a buffet with India dishes and one Chinese dish...it even has simple dal chawal which is definitely a boon when you have toddlers in your group
However, while having lunch you realize that the restaurant does not have proper seating arrangements and hence you will see people eating anywhere and everywhere...you will also see mothers feeding child...the place gets dirtier, however, there are people cleaning the place in frequent intervals
After food is done, its time for rain dance and everyone changes in a jiff to their swimming costumes
At 2:45 rain dance starts with a not so great DG...However is you have a good group, you will be able to enjoy..we had a blast with the kids around and trust me kids enjoys this concept...why wont they for once their parents do not scold them for getting wet :)
After this is done, we then explored other pools...well too small and too crowded
However we were determined to have fun and so we did
And finally in the evening they serve tea and snacks, in our case it was bhajjies!
By 6, you see everyone leaving the place, except for those who are staying there
To sum it all-If you have a group of kiddos and want to experience a fun filled day, then Guhantara is not a bad choice...you may not end up coming here every now and then but yes once and maximum twice, you can think of this place
I would definitely like to stay here next time, I think that would also be a good experience
My rating is *** to Guhantara
*Sad (Will Never come) **Okay (Will come if have no choice) *** Average (Will visit, once or twice) ****Good (Will come whenever I can) *****Superb (Would love to camp here for life)

The link to this place is http://www.guhantara.com/new1/index.html
Do let me know your views!

Back to Bengaluru

This blog should have been written couple of months back...wee precisely 6 months back, thoough I had posted the same in one of my blogs, i have forgotten that site and so am reposting the same
Its been a long time since I have posted something on personal front
2009 was great for us. We had a gala time in Mumbai…loved visiting new places in and around Mumbai during weekends…K had a gala time, he started going to a preschool and has now started socializing very well {I sometime miss his mama chipkoo days!:)}
I had joined a startup and that was a definite learning experience!
In Mumbai we shifted twice as we wanted to avoid traveling while going to work. We couldn’t have asked for more as work area was close by, however, even though we stayed in a nice apartments, somewhere something was missing…we were missing going to our native place...when we were in Bangalore, we used to visit Kerala/Chennai atleast once in two months but after reaching Mumbai, the frequency reduced…even my parents and in-laws visited Mumbai just twice as distance was an issue
K developed running nose on a permanent basis…though I never gave him medicines but it was obvious that pollution was the cause…with loads of construction happening near to our place, we were always surrounded by a blanket of dust
Hubby’s career was going on well, but even he wanted to get back and that’s when we took up the decision of coming back to Bangalore
Thankfully we both got a very very good opportunity at that moment, and here we are Back with a bang in good ol’ BangaloreJ
Life couldn’t be better…I am enjoying, settling down and my heart sings It’s a wonderful wonderful life……

Welcome to Aamchi Mumbai

As I sit in my balcony sipping green tea, I look around mesmerised….mesmerised of this city, a city which never sleeps…yes I am talking about Mumbai…same Mumbai which is the hub of entertainment industry and various other industries, a city home to all kind of people,right from the poorest of poor to the richest of rich…there are so many buildings in and around me….they all seems so mystifying….

It wonders to me as in how many houses does love exist….I see a hill towards my right…the hill is full of slums, maybe love exists there…Why not? Why do we look over there and pity them??? Maybe they are quite contended there…
I look at the road at a stretch opposite me and see that vehicles never stop here and I ponder where are all of them travelling at 2:30 AM…..the road remains a mystery to me
I see the buildings around and they all look as though no life exists there…but when I stare for sometime, I do see people moving around
I can here music somewhere faraway, some shaadi ke gaane, I hear bhajans when I try hard, I even hear dogs barking, all this are happening at the sometime…
But even though there are so many noises around, so many people around…I suddenly feel lonely, wish this city passes on some of its hustle bustle to me
But as time passes I fall in love with this loneliness as I am completely in peace with myself…this is the space I long for, in a day……………and I thank everyone who has made my life special and special thanks to Mumbai for accepting me amongst zillions of others and accepting us, as we are!!!

Food for thought??? My first blog

This is for those who have always heard 'Humaare North me tho/Down in South we do stuff like this...etc etc'
I happen to be a victim of this.........on a daily basis. I have these bunch of good colleagues in office..everyday during lunch time, their lines start by saying acha yahan daal/sabzi/rice (the list is endless!) aise banta hai?humare North me tho...and they start cribbing of everything which is south indian...sad part is they say these lines everyday....
Heights was when one my friend had come down to Chennai and I had taken her to one of the best places which served Dosas and sambar....believe me this is what she said acha yahaan Sambar aise banta hai?Humaare North me tho....... (for a minute I was wondering where does Sambar originate from..........)
Another instance, where my relatives arrived(I belong to Gods own country).....I took them to the finest North indian resturant in town for breakfast and when they had Puri cholle, their first comment was 'they dont know to make puris' and told me in whispers....can you believe it they do not fry puris in coconut oil!!!
I always think to myself why people crib on these cases...ok if it was an old person saying, I would definitely understand...but when the younger generation says so I feel very bad.....,,,,,I would sincerely request everyone not to crib on the topic of FOOD....
Before you start cribbing, for a second, think of all those people who actually starve to death due to famine and other calamities!!!
Few months back I had been to Brussels on an onsite visit...I was really surprised by the warmth of my colleagues.
They loved Indian food so I used to prepare for them and they used to take me out to the best Belgian restaurants....as days were getting close for me to depart, one day one of my fren...she was an Italian ,she said she would take me to the best place in town which serves Pizzas....We were having a great time, must say that the pizzas were mind blowing.....suddenly an Indian family sat next to our table....they were quite a loud family and when the pizzas were served to them.........BINGO.....this is what they said........Oh here pizzas are made like this??????In our India......and they started cribbing about those pizzas which were served..the only difference was this time it wasnt against any particular region :)