Scribble Shiva

 1. Uber/Ola is costlier than normal auto/car. Eg. Bani Park to Jaipur stn - ₹50 in an electric rickshaw, Ola - ₹100. So see Ola or Uber then negotiate for a good deal. 2. For shuttling between the Hotel and attractions inside the city use Battery battery-powered auto (which I will call a buggy, like a golf cart), which costs less than a Cab or even a normal auto. 3. Going inside Hawa Mahal is underwhelming, I didn't go, if you decide to go anyway first go to Rajvesh Textile , from there you can see that Hawa Mahal is a kind of permanent facade not exactly Mahal. 4. I'd revisit Amber Palace instead of Jaipur City Palace. 5. Club Amber Palace, Nahargarh Fort, and Jaigarh Fort together (1 day). If you have half a day then only Amber Palace. Pick a car, you have to climb hills so I will not recommend an auto. 6. Jal Mahal is a photo point, boating closed almost 20 years ago as per the cab driver I hired. Try to be there by sunset, breezy - you might have to give up the music show ...

I was ecstatic!, the day started, as usual, toast as breakfast, leftover as lunch, and vending machine coffee; in a couple of days we were going to return to India and so it was time for us to shop souvenirs and chocolates. But what excited me most was the restaurants, and for the noblest reason - food. Gli Orsi is the mall of Biella; there are spots in town like Via Italia, and the complex housing Esselunga, then there is also a Saturday market - where we can go and buy many different things in one place, but malls always offer a different experience. Gli Ori has exclusive outlets for chocolates, shoes, electronics, bags, and more, but we usually buy chocolates from Coop, a supermarket similar to Esselunga but offers more discounts. My first dining experience in Italy was at a place that doesn't serve Italian food but western food. I'm from India, Italy is my west 😄but to Italians - America is west, I understood this as soon as we spotted the restaurant. The place was decorat...

There is a tradition in Itay that I found out trying to meet a girl, ok, don't get any ideas. She is pretty I don't deny, but she friendzoned our entire group as soon as we met, no we didn't hit on her, that's how she introduced herself. "Enough of girl" I hear you say, but she introduced me to this awesome thing and how can I not write about the background? We shared the same workplace and that was the reason she came forward and spoke to us on our journey towards Florence, our chatty train journey stopped at Milan and we went our separate ways.  About three months pass and I go to Biella again (possibly for last time, thanks COVID). I have no reason to contact her, but if you are working for the same employer in a small town, chances are you cross paths, and we did so during the last week of my stay. She was unhappy that I didn't let her know I am in town, anyway invited me to a party scheduled for Friday night. But my flight was already scheduled to lea...

Lunch is considered the biggest/proper meal of the day in Italy, as I have already mentioned , a cup of coffee and a bun is all you get as breakfast in Italy (However, this is stereotypical and mythical as I have mentioned in the same write-up, I'm going to still use the myth to boost my biggest meal theory). Most of my Italian colleagues preferred to eat outside, this makes me believe that Italians has a strong culture of eating lunch outside. So many restaurants in such a small town of Biella adds substance to my theory.  We have a small canteen and also on/off lunch only food truck inside our office, in-spite of this there are 6 restaurants within walking distance from our entrance, serving Japanese sushi, Mexican empanadas, Substandard grab and go pizza. And my favourite La Locanda (fondly known to us as Thatha Kadai )- the pasta land that I love  😋  and the old man's warm welcome will be with me for life. These are mostly for people who walk or use pu...

Breakfast is the first meal of the day and it will help you power through the day, don't skip it. Or at least that is what is widely told and believed, and now I realize this is a very strange way to open, yet I did and I'm going to carry on with it. If I have not made myself clear yet, I have been to Italy and I tried to learn their lifestyle and this is my documentation. Spread across three years, I spent a total of 3 months there, enough time to know enough but not all, and it is worth mentioning that I spent all my time in North Italy, after all, I didn't go there for vacation; since my office is headquartered in Piedmont region I stayed there and spent above 95% time there. Oh, I forgot about breakfast! During my first time my manager took me out for breakfast and it was a cup of coffee and brioche. What is brioche you ask, it is a croissant, sometimes bigger, sometimes flavoured, sometimes stuffed; but yeah that is what all you get in the morning, not once I saw ...

To say, "Espresso runs through the veins of Italians" is an understatement. Regarding hot drink espresso is the first choice; it is part of breakfast and afternoon break. Espresso  Let's start with the basic, the espresso. Caffe espresso is the most regular drink, it is synonym to Caffe; when in Italy, it is enough to say Caffe to order an espresso - I guess it is called espresso because it can be finished swiftly like an express.  It is undiluted decoction that comes out when hot water is forced through coffee power, voila! add sugar as much as you prefer and sip it once and relish; don't go for the second sip, it won't be there ;) such small cup and low content. If you want a long hard punch, go for Caffe Lungo - espresso but more content. Cappuccino  My friend cappuccino, 1/3 espresso 1/3 milk 1/3 foam. That is the standard definition of Cappuccino, and it was my go-to drink in Italy. It is very usual to find people having espresso and brioche as t...

Dear Reader, I have been longing to do this for a long time now, I haven't been to many countries. Let's be straight I haven't been to any country except Italy, maybe Dubai if you are willing to consider DXB waiting area as one. Being an Indian from the middle of the middle class it is in my DNA to not fly unless some other person pays for the ticket. It is my office, they paid for tickets to Italy; since our head office is in Biella (100 Km from Milan). I have not written anything for a long time, I have not written anything light for a very long time. I think it is time to chill, to remember good times and joy. Life can be brutal, but light moments keep us going; I don't want to brag about my Italy time, but I just want to share it with anyone interested to listen. This post is sort of teaser, I will have all post related to this series linked and this will be the start of the chain. I went there for work, but when I have spare time and spare money I travelled t...

What is your opinion about MTC? The question shall ignite rage and bring down a rain of swear words. MTC went on strike, yes; their conductors never gives change, tell me about it; drivers are agents of Yama, of course. But do you know MTC is striving hard to replicate a corporate working environment! I realized this on a fateful day which crunched my backbone as I stood in mouse-foot space, a sticker grabbed my attention it had feedback details of MTC. I took out my smart phone and started drafting a mail to that id, knowing I won't get any response. As I pressed send I received an automated reply, I saw light but weeks passed without actual response hope died with memory. A week back I got a neatly written reply mail from them, voila! This is MTC telling that necessary action will be taken to operate the bus as planned. Write Feedback To: feedback@mtcbus.org 9445030516 9383337639 Also try: http://www.mtcbus.org/ > Feed back Transcript: Continuous AC bus...

Minas Tirith Most of us would have watched/read LOTR it is so popular many makes thesis and philosophical research on it. One fort that attract many people from various field is the one in Gondor(imaginary place in Middle east). It’ll be boosted for its architecture design which makes it an ideal cantonment. But are we paying enough importance to the cantonment build for real, probably were our ancestors lived? While I scaled the Rock Fort without much trouble I never noticed its historical importance. Pointing towards Main guard gate, the identifiable remains of fort; my uncle said ‘the fort of Rani Mangamma ‘ his chest bulged in pride I became curious. (Now I wonder what this is country, through the eyes of women? one which has accepted women rulers by 17th century – a pioneer in woman empowerment or a molestation arena) With my interest dragging me to know more about the fort I went thru few page in Wikipedia about the fort and its rulers & dynasties . When I reali...

With the monsoon being set, last weekend we had much of rain fall. That called up our cricket match in CPC tournament @ Porur and hence had time to spend the weekend with family. Sunday early morning started from Chennai to Pondy yiee!  c’mon guys in and around of Pondicherry has temples too not just liquor shops, since its a family outing….. we visited 4 temple. First to Panchavadi Hanuman temple, then to a Saneeswarar temple then to Prathyangara temple close to it. After a fair breakfast we went to Manakula vinayagar temple. Yes I heard you *enough* where does the rain drop travel upside? I’m gonna answers you, can’t you be patience & give this family man a chance to explain Pondy has good places to visit diving back… we had rain greeting us with mild showers and lovely drizzle it was nice pleasant drive. On the way we stopped I got down and relaxed found a nice white flower blooming from the shrub with its horn(old-days-speaker) like shape catching all the...

My parent’s Shastiapthapoorthi just happened on 8th Oct at Thirukadaiyur, Amritaghateswarar – Abirami Temple , we were so glad that all poojai took place on Nandhi mandapam. My scheduled next stop was my uncle home for virunthu . But after getting boosted with abundant spiritual aura can’t stop myself from stopping for Vaitheeswaran koil on the way, that evening along with my wife experienced the glory of good old times.   Though Vaithyanatha swamy(Lord Shiva as Lingam) is the prime deity, Muthukumaraswamy stole the day, the panchaloga figurine of Lord Murugan in the shrine. Its Urchavar as its referred here since the figure is movable and comes out of the mandapam on special occasions. We went inside temple purified ourselves with holy water in temple pond, worshiped goddess Thaiyal Nayagi then stood in front of Lord Shiva for a very long time, but no poojari-iyer dropped by I’m not sure what special occasion it is on 08-Oct-13, as we saw many move towards closed doors of parti...

What is the reason for having such a discussion Indian Railways is always considered to be safe compared to other way of transportation available in country? If you have such a thought in mind sorry my friend its no so. Recent incidents faced by my near and dear ones have made me think OMG! things are not rolling well. It was about 3am at night when my mom woke up spotted dark image sitting at the toe end to my aunt's berth. It was a man he was using my aunt's berth as seat. Not making any freaking movements without  panicking mom tried to wake up aunt, she was already awake. Small discussion between them relieved some shocking news that many of us don't want to hear.   Couple of weeks back my mom and aunt traveled from Chennai to Thirunelveli for a family function. For both to and fro journey they used 2A class, considering the temperature raise in state it must have been a pleasant journey compared to Sleeper class. But for this weird reasons they were ...

Night of 13th April all the preparations for the rituals were done in the temple, Sudalaimadan swamy was decorated with flowers, fruits and coconuts; the dedications reached above his chest. My cousin Sudalai Muthu, senior priest of the shrine reached home by late-night got blessings of his father Late Shanmugam Sundaram also previous head priest and blessed the family members in room dedicated for God, then started towards the temple. People have already gathered in huge numbers and were waiting for the Sudalaimada Swamy's arrival at Temple. Different rituals were offered by people to the Lord in order to get the blessings. As it is believed Sudaimada Swamy, the son of Lord Siva used to consume meat in Kailash for this reason he is sent to earth, where he can satisfy his earthy hunger thereby not polluting Kailash. Sree Aaladi Padmanabha Sudalaimada Swamy Temple, Kumarapuram Offering meat to Sudalaimadan is the most important and watchful event of the festival. Many devotees off...

Hollywood is just a movie industry for most people, but for some like me, it is the inspiration and life guide. I have watched many movies from all genres - action, thriller, comedy, drama, romance, but what I loved is a controversial subjects.  Mikael Håfström's 1408 was in my mind, when I travelled down south to my native for the holy annual festival, 'Sudalaimada Swamy Kodai'. I always keep track of what I do at what time when I'm away from home in my diary. I caught this habit after maintaining the track diary when we make the pilgrimage to Sabarimala every year. Back view of our Sudalaimada Swamy temple I travelled with Athai and Chitapa to Thirunelveli by train; festival takes place at summer, to keep his elder sister comfortable my uncle booked an AC room near Nellai railway junction we stopped by dropped luggage and refreshed. I was happy he was there, someone who can guess what will be running in my mind. We reached Kumarapuram after going to Udhayathur so...

Update, Jan 2015: Forest Dept. has made it virtually impossible to go there now-a-days. CCTV surveillance cameras are installed. Rules are being followed strict after PTR completed absorbed Poonambalamedu .  I was in Pondicherry when I received a call from dad said he is going to PonnAmbala medu and will be leaving on Saturday. It was his dream that he want to visit that holy spot from which Lord Ayyappa give dharsan to Pandhala Maharaja on Maharasankrathi. After a day I came to Chennai and came to know that still two place are vacant for the trip, thought I can join and dad accept my proposal as its not a opportunity that anyone can get. I clicked this from q, photography is actually prohibited :P As per the schedule we started on Saturday morning from my home after ketunerai. We reached Pamba via Villupuram, Trichy, Dindigal, Theni, Cumbam, Kumily, Vanidiperiyar, Mundakayam, Kalaketty, approx it took 690Km for us to reach there. Stayed in Maramath complex...