Hogenakkal Trip

Wish you all a Very Happy New Year !!!. May all your dreams come true in the New Year !!
So here is my first post in 2010. Though Some of posts are becoming like a Travelogue i believe its worth writing because of the enjoyment I had in theses places.
Last Thursday I was just mentioning about Hogenakkal to Stalin( My Colleague and Friend) at . He immediately asked me, " shall we go tomorrow?". I readily agreed.
We started around 8 .30 AM in Bangalore ( in Bus) and we took the route which should not be taken in the bus. We reached Hogenakkal around 1.30 PM.
Usually the way is Bangalore - Hosur- Krishnagiri- Dharmapuri- Pennagaram- Hogenakkal.
It takes around 4 to 4.30 Hrs to reach the place.
We took the way like Bangalore- Hosur-Royakottai-Palakodu-Pennagaram-Hogenakkal.
Though this route is shorter the buses usually stops at all these places for unusual time and makes your trip boring. The Former one is a NH7 till Dharmapuri, so you can have a comfortable ride in Car or in a Bus.
I believe we must have our own vehicle to reach there and it won't take more than 3 hours.

Things to do:
1. Coracle Ride: You should go for Coracle Ride . You can have a unforgettable time there if you are a first time visitor.
2. View from Hanging Bridge: You can have a fantastic view of the falls from the Hanging Bridge.
3. Oil Massage: You can try Oil Massage if you feel comfortable.
4. Bath: Main Falls and Cine Falls: these are the two falls available there. Main falls is fantastic. Cine falls is also good.
5. Fish Food: You can ask the Local women there to prepare Fish Fry and Fish Curry with
Rasam and Rice.

All the Five above mentioned items are must to do according to me.
As soon as you reach , People will start circling you for Coracle Ride, Oil Massage and Food Preparation. You should have good negotiating skills to get a better deal.
For coracle Ride settle for 60 Rs or 70 Rs per head for the full ride ( till Karnataka border).
You should also get tickets for Rs 10 per head. I believe you should not pay more. We did settle for Rs 60 , but at last we paid Rs 70 ourselves.

For Normal Massage it is 50 and for special Massage it is Rs 100. I went for special Massage for 100. If you are a group 4 or 5, you can negotiate. you may get 80 Rs per Head.

There will be many Local Women preparing Fish Fry and Food. You can ask them to prepare Fish Fry as well as Fish Curry. You can choose the fish you like in the market and hand over it to those women to prepare food. We bought 2.5 Kg of Fish for around Rs 300 and paid Rs 4o0 for the Rice, Fish Curry, Fish Fry and Rasam . This we paid for 5 people.They will buy the ingredients and prepare. this is not only for preparation.
I believe if you are visiting Hogenakkal, If you don't eat fish there, I would say its like visiting a temple, but not praying the presiding deity of the temple.
The place is not really hygienic, but it is a must to do at Hogenakkal.You can find a better place there to sit and eat
Some people complain that the place is not really hygenic. I also agree with it. Even I had this Question till I took bath.
Once I took a refreshing bath, I felt, If I keep talking like this, then Whats the fun in life??.
Explore and Enjoy whats available at any place instead of complaining.

My Itinerary would be:
1.Start Banagalore by 6 AM & reach Dharmapuri around 9 PM.
2.Please find Hotel Ponni near the Bus stand for Breakfast for Real Tamilnadu Style Idli, Dosai, Poori and Pongal. If you go by bus this is a must to do.
3.There are plenty of buses to reach Hogenakkal from there.Reach Hogenakkal around 11 AM.
4. Go for Coracle Ride .This would take around 1 to 1.30 hours ( Pics and Views on the way)
5. In the mean time , you should also find a women to prepare Fish Food.Negotiate a deal, buy fish and ask her to prepare food. This I believe you should even before you go for coracle ride.
6. Once the coracle ride is over, Go for Oil Massage, Wait for more than 30 Min to get the full benefit of Oil massage, and take bath.
7. So around 2 to 3 PM, you can go for Lunch.
8. Then you can go for Hanging Bridge and also walk to the other side of the bridge if you wish too.
9. You can leave the place by around 6 PM.
10. You can come home for Dinner.

Take as much as time you wish to do every single Activity

When I went there first time, My friend in Hosur arranged everything. Fish Fry was ready and a man was waiting there to take us for the coracle ride. It was so good. As soon as we reached there, we bought Fish for curry and handed over it to the women. Fish fry was already ready and took the fish fry for coracle ride, while riding we also enjoyed the fish.

This time, My friend reached there an hour earlier and had a deal for Fish Food with the help of a Local Friend.
I took a wonderful bath and prayed My Favorite GOD "Lord Murugan" there on river shore near the falls ( there was a small temple).

I started my New Year with refreshing thoughts and full energy.

I wish I go there at least once in every 6 months.

You will never forget the fish food there and It will make you to visit the place next time.

People will never get bored there and always wants to go there next time.


Have a Happy trip to Hogenakkal !!!

-R.Gurusamy

Idli Vadai Inc. (இட்லி வடை கம்பெனி...)

Hi Friends,
As every Tamilian in the world Iam very fond of my traditional food, Idli, vadai and Pongal. Who ever visits Tamilnadu won't leave with out tasting these three food.

I rarely ate in hotels, till I completed my +2, may be less than 20 times for the good number of 1o years. In college days, another 50 times (max...)I would have had the food in the hotels.
I moved to Bangalore a good five years ago. I didn't like the Idli, Vada Sambhar served here in the Sagar hotels. I really had very tough time in the first couple of years, but now I love the food served here (Kara bath, Idli vada, Rava Idli and Rava Dosa ) like I love Tamil Idli, Vadai, though the later is not at all comparable with the previous one.

For the last 5 years,when ever I used to visit Tamilnadu (to my native, or to Chennai or to any other place) the very first thing I order is Pongal, vadai. then I may have a dosai or Poori, if my stomach permits.

I would say the Pongal is the best food in the world.what do you say??

For Dinner I always love Parotas(Parathas in cities) and onion Uthappam served in small road side eateries. They are always awesome. I never like to eat food in small hotels fearing their hygenic only till I found the Parotas are the best with Salna in the small hotels.( Curry served for Parota in Tamilnadu is called Salna in small road side eateries.).

I tried to be a Vegetarion for the first couple of years in Bangalore but stopped it because whenever I visit my relatives or other friends they had to prepare Veg separately for me, which I felt was not good as Iam not doing justice for the affection they show towards me. Usually i eat Non Veg once a month usually even less than that. So I thought i will eat Non Veg whenever there is no Veg food or some one feels I should eat. other wise Iam a Vegetarian.

My father is a Non Veg Lover. My mother prepares a really tasty biriyani. My sisters are also Non veg Lovers. We used to have chicken's in our house. So We used to eat non Veg once in 20 - 30 days. In a Village that was OK i felt. but only in cities I see people eat too much Non Veg. mostly every Sunday People eat Non Veg. (many people eat even more)
During my childhood days I had a peculiar issue. I don't like to eat chicken Piece,but like Chicken Curry. So I won't touch Chicken Piece. Still I continue my childhood legacy many times though i eat chicken piece some times if there are no alternative. But I like egg omelet mainly my own preparation.

My father liked pongal also.I forgot to mention that I did not like Pongal too in my childhood. I cried many times asking my mother to prepare some other food for me. I did not like the Pepper which is in Pongal fearing the spicy taste it produced. Some times i even protested with out eating pongal.

Now a days whenever I visit Tamilnadu I will search for a best Iyer hotel to order Pongal vadai for Breakfast and Madurai based hotel for Dinner.If Pongal is not there, i feel very sad and will settle for Dosas.
In many Tamilnadu hotels, the vadai is usually served separately. If the vadai is served with Pongal or Idli, many people will quarrel with waiters saying who asked him to serve vadai with the pongal.the Waiters will ask the guest whether they want Vadai to be served to them?. I even remember that My father and me once asked the waiter to take back the vadai.It happens now also.I feel its because Tamilians are very cost centric and don't like to spend money on unnecessary things. But now I order 2 - 3 vadais for my breakfast. See How I have changed.

Somedays back When I had gone for lunch with my Colleagues for a nearby Andra Mess as earlier I started bluffing about Idli Vada. They told me to start a company called Gurusamy Inc and start selling Idli Vadai. That's how this blog was born and I had some serious thoughts about Idli Vadais.

I firmly believe that Dosa's are the better than Pizzas and Idli Vadai is much better than Burgers.

If I have enough money in the future I will create a company called Idli Vadai Inc, and will have branches all over the world and will serve Idli,Pongal, vadai and Dosas. I will even hire Mckinsey for consulting and Britney spears (or some one popular like her in that time) to do a Add Video for my Idli Vadai Inc. I will directly compete with Mc Donalad's, SubWays and Dominos and Pizza Corners.

Iam sure if it happens the World love Idli, Vadai and Pongal than any other western Junks.

You know one more thing. Idli is a half digested food which can be feed to a one year baby. I heard this from some friend or from a Doctor.

By the way I am also an decent Tamil Cook. I can prepare a decent Tamil meal and especially Pongal and Sambhar.

Reach out to me if you want to taste the Pongal . I can prepare it for you.

If you are in Bangalore visit Adayar Anandha Bhavan or any other Tamil Hotels and reply me If My observation about Pongal , Idli vadai and Dosai is wrong???

Some Tamil Hotels I have visited in Bangalore:
1. Adayar Ananda Bhavan Koramangla and BTM (Udupi Garden)
2. Cauvery , Madiwala (Behind Aiyappan Temple)
3. A small Road side eatery in Wilsen Garden called Kuppusamy)
4. Anjappar In Koramangla for Non Veg
5. I heard about Annachi in Indhra Nagar (but never visited)
6. Malgudi - (not worth for the money you pay)

There was one small Chettinad hotel behind Motorola Marathahalli office. there too food was Ok , but the Hygiene and Ambiance was horrible.

Couple of days back I saw a new small Chettinad hotel in front of Multiplex in Marathahalli. I must visit there next time when I go to Marathahalli.


Cheers,
R.Gurusamy.

ஆதலினால் காதல் செய்வீர்

என்ன ஒரு அருமையான தலைப்பு.

ஆம். கேட்டவுடனேயே மனம் சிலிர்க்கிறது இல்லையா ???

நான் படிக்கும் blog- களில் ஒரு அருமையான blog -இது http://mathavaraj.blogspot.com

அவரது கருத்துக்கள் மிக ஆழமானவை .பல சமயங்களில் நான் வியந்தது உண்டு அவரது கட்டுரைகளை கண்டு.

இன்று படித்த "ஆதலினால் காதல் செய்வீர் " blog மிக மிக அருமை.

ஆண் பெண் உறவை ஆதி காலத்திலிருந்து மிக விரிவாக எழுதி உள்ளார்.
காதல் என்பது பற்றி உங்கள் எண்ணம் மாறும்.

http://mathavaraj.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-post_2055.html

நேரம் கிடைக்கும் போது இவரது blog -ஐ படியுங்கள்.
நல்ல கருத்துக்கள் நிறைய உள்ளன.

நானும் காதலிப்பேன் கல்யாணம் ஆன பின்.

தென்கச்சி சுவாமிநாதன்

நான் பார்க்க விரும்பிய நபர்களில் மிக முக்கியமானவர் அமரர் திரு தென்கச்சி கோ. சுவாமிநாதன் அவர்கள்.
துத்துக்குடி வானொலியில் அதிகாலை 5.30 மணிக்கு (i forgot the correct time) அவர் பேசியது இன்னும் என் மனத்தில் அப்படியே இருக்கிறது.
அவர் பேச்சை கேட்கவே பல நாள் நான் அதிகாலையில் எழுந்தது உண்டு.

அவரது கதைகளை என்னால் மறக்கவே முடியாது.

அவர் மறைந்தார் என்பதை என்னால் ஏற்கவே முடியவில்லை.

தமிழ்நாடு ஒரு சிறந்த பேச்சாளரை இழந்து விட்டது.

அவர் ஒரு சிறந்த "Motivator" கூட.

அவர் ஒரு உண்மையான தமிழ் மகன். ஒரு அழகிய தமிழ் மகன்.

முடிந்தால் அவரது பேச்சுகளை DVD -யில் வெளியிட்டு வருங்கால குழந்தைகளுக்கு கிடைக்க செய்ய வேண்டும்.

வாழ்க அவரது தொண்டு !!

அவர் ஆன்மா சாந்தி அடைய ஆண்டவனை வேண்டுகிறேன்.

அவருக்கு என் மரியாதைகள் !!

My Dream Car

My Friend Ravikumar( my childhood friend, who was my schoolmate for more than 7 years), who works for GM in Bangalore has sent me some pics of a Benz Car.
Regularly he sends me some pics, but today's pics have taken me.They were superb and i really enjoyed those.

Immediately my mind started thinking when will I have one like that?
A junk Man who has moved to City with Big dreams, but failed in all aspects in the last 5 years.
I couldn't achieve any success in professional or Personal life.

But life revolves around hope. Without hope there is nothing.
I thought about Karunanidhi and Manmohan.
Would have anyone predicted Manmohan becoming PM? that is too twice?
Would have anyone in Tamilnadu thought Karunanidhi becoming CM when MGR was alive?

But these things happened.
So My dear friends don't doubt,whether Gurusamy will have a Benz Car in Future.

Ok.. its enough. Let's see my Dream Car!!














Note: 4 years back my dream car was Some Honda model. I even had that as my Desktop Picture.I have even forgotten that right now. I hope I won't go beyond Benz. Because there is nothing best beyond Benz now. the Future has to answer if something comes...

ஓ தமிழா !!!

அன்பார்ந்த தமிழ் நெஞ்சங்களே ,

தமிழனின் நிலை பற்றி ஒரு blog எழுத நான் நிறைய நாள் யோசித்து கொண்டிருந்தேன்.அந்த சமயம் இப்போது தான் வந்தது.

இங்கே என் மன குமுறல்கள்.......................

கர்நாடகா ஒரே நாடாக இருந்தது !!!
ஆந்திரா ஒரே நாடாக இருந்தது !!!!
ஆனால் தமிழ்நாடு ஒரே நாடாக இல்லை !!!!
மூன்று நாடுகளாக இருந்தது........... சேர, சோழ, பாண்டிய நாடுகள் என்று !!!
என்ன செய்ய தமிழனுக்கு அன்றே ஒற்றுமை இல்லை.

இன்று மட்டும் எப்படி வரும் ADMK -வுக்கும் DMK-வுக்கும்????

இது தமிழனின் ரத்தத்தில் உள்ள சகோதர சண்டை
இதற்கு அழிவே இல்லை.
வரலாறை படியுங்கள் !!

குண்டு சட்டியிலேயே குதிரை ஒட்டுவான் !!!
சோழனை தவிர்த்து யாரும் எங்கும் படை எடுத்து போவதில்லை.

எப்படியோ அவன் கங்கை வரை போய் விட்டான் , அதுவும் வழி தெரியாமல் போயிருப்பன் போல !!!

சேரன் பாண்டியனை அடிப்பான், பாண்டியன் சோழனை அடிப்பான் , சோழன் பாண்டியனை அடிப்பான் ,
நம் இலக்கியங்களும் அதை தான் சொல்கிறது.

ஏன் இவர்கள் மூவரும் சேர்ந்து மாற்ற நாடுகளை வென்று இருக்க வேண்டியது தானே !!!!!

ஏன் இன்றைய தமிழ் நாட்டிலும் ஒரு குடும்பத்தில் அண்ணன் தம்பி ஒன்றாக வாழ்வது இல்லை , என்ன செய்ய எல்லாம் சோழ பாண்டியன் பரம்பரை தானே .

இன்றைய இலங்கை பிரச்சினைக்கு மேலும் ஒரு காரணம் நமது சேர நாட்டு ( கேரளா) அதிகாரிகள் இலங்கையில் செய்த குளறு படிகள் தான். ராஜிவ் காந்திக்கு தவறான தகவல் கொடுத்து IPKF அனுப்பி , பிரச்சனை வந்து , பின்னால் அவர் சாவுக்கும் காரணம் அது தான்.

கருணாநிதி மற்றும் ஜெயலலிதா ஆடும் நாடகமும் சில எடுத்துகாட்டுகள்.

அங்கொரு கருணா என்ற துரோகி !!!

So தமிழனின் பிரச்சினைக்கு அவனே தான் காரணம் , மற்றவர்கள் அல்ல .

மெல்ல தமிழனி சாகும் என்று பாரதி சொன்னான் !!!

மெல்ல தமிழனும் இனி சாவனோ என்று எனக்கு பயமாய் இருக்கிறது !!!

ஈழம் தீபம் அணைந்தது

என் அருமை தமிழ் நண்பர்களே,

கடந்த 40 -50 வருடங்களில் பிரபாகரன் மாதிரி ஒரு மன திடம் வாய்ந்த ஒரு மறத் தமிழனை நான் பார்த்தது இல்லை.

அவர் இறந்து விட்டார் என்ற செய்தி கேட்டு மனம் அழுகிறது !!
கண்களில் தண்ணீர் பெருகுகிறது !!

அவர் கடைப்பிடித்த பாதை வேண்டுமானால் எல்லோரும் சந்தேகிக்கலாம் !!!

ஆனால் அவர் நோக்கம் உன்னதமானது !!!


அவர் வாழ்க !!! அவர் புகழ் ஓங்குக !!!
அவர் கனவு மெய்ப்பட வேண்டும் !!!

எல்லாம் வல்ல இறைவன் ஈழ தமிழ் மக்களை காப்பாற்ற வேண்டும் !!