Diwali In Noida

I have always heard that Diwali in North India is much lively and fun filled compared to south India. This time i had a chance to witness the celebration first hand thanks to my official deputation here in Noida.

A week before Diwali i could see houses are being decorated with fancy lights of various colors hung all over the houses and apartments. The Brightly lit houses in itself echoed the vibration that Diwali has set in.

The markets were stocked with heaps of chocolate gift boxes, dry fruits and nuts boxes, Biscuits and traditionally made sweets. Raking in the occasion shopkeepers were doing brisk business.

It has been a curious quite Diwali for me in Noida. Going about in the packed markets looking at people buying gifts,earthen lamps, pile of stocked gifts and brisk sales of the gifts, i was just getting immersed in the moment.

Mostly over here on the evening of Diwali people Perform puja seeking the blessings of Goddess Laxmi, decorate houses with earthen lamps, lights, flowers and burst crackers. People exchange best wishes with relatives and friends by giving out sweet boxes and other gifts.

Today I was woken up to a call from Dad wishing me the best in life, the sweetest voice i could hear on a Diwali morning and exchanged greetings and wishes from my ever loving sweetest mom.

I called upon my sisters, Brother in laws , nephews, niece i am delighted that i could wish each one of the members of my family on this special occasion also a special blabbering Diwali wishes from my youngest niece Taniksha.

Never to forget my best buddies whom i called upon and exchanged greetings.

Though this Diwali is far from my folks back home the sense of being connected is much stronger than if i would have been back home. The feeling of having and missing special people in life is stronger otherwise its taken for granted.

I pray to the almighty to shower abundance of peace, love and prosperity to each one of my family members, friends and well wishers.

Happy Diwali - Lots of Love  and Best wishes

One Day

It was a long day at work and when i arrived home and wanted to park my bike in the garage a pulsar was parked obstructing entry to the garage. I was furious and wanted to take the bike from my way and push it down. I kept calm and was wondering why the bike was parked haphazardly and I realized that due to rain some hours back he had parked under the shade of my garage. The short burst of anger would have made me feel so bad had I pushed it to the ground.  

When i was pushing myself past 7 km mark i saw a banner "Pain is temporary it will  way go away anyway. Keep running" the line was such an inspiration for my run that i did not stop and kept pushing myself and Yes the physical pain is gone after 2 days.  clocked 1 hour 4 minutes.

It has been 3 days since my mom left to Karaikudi for a wedding. Its me and my dad at home. Today morning he prepared rice and dhal sambar for breakfast it was awesome and some heart to heart talking. for dinner he had prepared chapathi and potato sabji it was lip smacking. Thanks Dad from bottom of my heart for the wonderful person you have been all along to me.

To nite when i reached home. There was a truck load of items being unloaded guess a family had moved from a distant city to a house in my lane. The truck was parked in front of my garage/gate and items spread out. A man came forward before he could speak i said "no problem i can manage" i sneaked my bike in the little gap and put my bike in, there after i had to jump the compound wall to get into my house.

On a regular conversation with my auto driver from guest house to office i casually asked how many kids do you have ? his reply was 3 kids in that 1 is of my brother. Then i asked where is your brother ? Sir my brother passed away within a year of marriage and i married my brothers wife and we have two kids after marriage.

It was quite late when i reached guest house. The staff were having their dinner. My dinner was spread out knowing that i would be there any moment. Seeing the staff having dinner I asked them do you guys don't have chapathi and sabji ? No sir we are only allowed to have Rice and Dhal.

Today evening i was just standing near the office gate. Our security guard approached me and asked sir i want some advice from you. I have done Masters in Psychology but not sure how i have to proceed further so that i can earn a little more money in a different Job.



    

BMTC Volvo Vajra Monthly Bus Pass

Are you among countless commuters who are equally irritated of the mad traffic, ever going construction of under pass, over bridge on the outer ring road or want to be Eco friendly by using public Transport?

The best solution can be to take up BMTC Vajra service (Volvo AC Bus Service)

I have been using VAJRA BMTC Service past one month to commute to my office in Eco Space and i am delighted by using the service.

BMTC gives monthly pass for the calendar month ONLY and DAY PASS.

In UK i used to get Weekly pass, I can buy it any day and use it for 7 Days. It would be really helpful if BMTC could introduce Weekly Pass for those who would not be using the service for whole month as they may be going on vacation, however there is DAY PASS which can be availed.

It had been a pain to have the exact change and to face the wrath of the conductor every time i board the bus hence i switched to take Monthly pass which would save me from tendering the exact change to get the ticket.
To check BMTC website Click here

• BMTC Vajra Monthly Gold Pass: Rs 2250/-  
• Requires a BMTC ID Validation, one time visit to Majestic Bus Stand and on subsequent months you can get the Pass from the Bus conductor itself.

If you don't have BMTC ID you can go for 

• BMTC Vajra Monthly Friendly Pass Rs 2300/- ( Additional Rs 50 )
• Requires any Govt. Agency issued ID Validation, Flash it each time you use the service
• Like Pan card, DL, Voters ID, Passport & Govt Employee ID 

Vajra Monthly Pass Holders can travel on all services except Vayu Vajra and Bangalore Rounds

Below steps would help you to get new BMTC ID

STEP 1 : 
Fill the below form which would be given at the Majestic Pass counter (Kempe Gowda Bus Stand)
Click here to Download the form

You need to have two stamp size photo of yours in hand. 



STEP 2 : 
Give the filled form in the counter by paying 100 RS (ID Card Fee).
You would be given the below Identity card



Fill in the required details and affix your photo.
Get your ID card signed and laminated in the first floor from where the ID was issued.
Your ID card is ready which is valid for 3 years.

STEP 3 :  
Pay the required monthly Pass fee Rs 2250/- to get the Bus Pass
On subsequent months you can get the Pass from the Bus conductor itself starting last day of the month.

As an incentive to the Monthly commuter Pass holders Rainbow Benefits Scheme has been introduced which includes the following benefits to the commuters holding Monthly Pass.

1) 24-hours Insurance coverage: Every valid ordinary monthly commuter pass holder, provided with insurance cover to the tune of Rs.2 lakh if they are involved in an vehicular accident, resulting in loss of life or total incapacitation anytime/anywhere during the validity of the pass.
2) Medical Reimbursement: Every Valid Monthly commuter pass holder, provided with a Medical reimbursement facility up to a maximum of Rs.30,000.00 towards in-patient medical expenses, in case of injury from vehicular accidents. The payment will be made to the commuter on production of the necessary bills/vouchers, after due verification.
3) Vajra and Vayu Vajra Pass: Automatic accident Insurance coverage to the tune of Rs.5 lakh for Vajra passes and Rs.10 lakhs for Vayu Vajra passes in case of death or permanent incapacitation resulting from any vehicular accident .
4) Medical Reimbursement: Medical Reimbursement up to a maximum of Rs.50,000.00 in case of vehicular accidental injuries necessitating in-patient treatment.

Travel Check List

Below is the complete travel check list for Leisure or Business Travel.

I have used this check list numerous times and it has never let me down.

You can Download the below Document : Click Here

Essential documents in Cabin Baggage

• Passport
• Port of Entry Letter
• Invitation Letter
• 2 set of photo copies
• Cash
• Friends home phone numbers
• Itinerary and airline tickets
• Apartment Stay details
• Contact # of POC's
• Travelers Cheque
• Credit cards
• ATM card
• Local Mobile phone for contact numbers
• Travel insurance copy
• Keyfob
• ID Card
• Camera / camcorder functions, and memory has sufficient storage capacity
• Lip balm

Other Documents in Baggage

• Travel insurance
• Procedure if a travel insurance issue occurs ie:contact comp get police report
• Card cash, credit and limit details of your credit cards for relevant countries
• PIN/IPIN numbers
• Medical prescription requirements

Electronic devices

• Power plug adapter
• Baggage is sound and lockable
• 3 pin converter India to US / Worldwide Converter

Checklist Two, Packing - Essential Things To Take

Personal:

• Glasses / contacts
• Toothbrush
• Paste and floss
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers
• Sunglasses
• Hair brush
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Gel
• Coconut Oil for Hair
• Lunch Box - Microwave safe - Tupper ware
• Shaving Brush
• Shaving Paste
• Shaving Lotion
• Shaving Blade

Health:

• Prescriptions
• Asprin/panadol
• Laxatives
• Insect repellent
• Vitamins
• Cold sore cream
• Cold/flu tablets
• Sunscreen
• allergy tablets

Touring Bag:

• Small sturdy day pack or bag

Just in case:

• Swiss Army type knife
• Sewing kit
• Twist tie cloths line
• Towelettes
• Ziplock plastic bags for wet/ leaking items

Gadgets:

• Alarm clock
• LED torch
• Mobile phone and charger
• Camera and camcorder, with media and charger

Shoes:

• Casual
• Sports
• Chappal sandal
• chappal Hawaii

Cloths:

• Socks
• Underwear
• thermals
• Shorts
• Pants
• Formal shirts
• Formal Pants
• Jeans/Casual pants
• Tee/Casual shirts
• Belt
• Hankies
• Gloves
• Scarf
• Hat/Cap
• Monkey cap
• Coat/jacket
• Light raincoat
• Swim trunks
  

Jobs to Do:

1. Leave a copy of documents with someone at home
2. Travel itinerary, stay and contact details to close ones
3. Apply identification to your baggage inside and out
4. Attach baggage id tags
5. Obtain suitable baggage locks
6. Check your primary shoes are sound
7. Purchase foreign cash
8. Confirm your flights timing and dates
9. Cancel any regular deliveries like newspapers and milk
10. Empty perishables from your fridge
11. Turn off all electrical and computers before you leave (Double check)

Royal Enfield Factory Visit

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Every ride is a special ride not only because of the places i get to vist but also because of the lovely people i get to ride along with. However this ride is very special because i am taking my ARMY - Bullet to its very birth place, Royal Enfield Factory at Tiruvottiyur High Road, Tiruvottiyur, Chennai. To See where Royal Enfield motorcycles are still made the old fashioned way! Handcrafted in Chennai.

Its been a long pending ride last year (2011) we had decided to visit RE factory but the weather played a spoil sport and had to be canceled.

The factory visit communication and permission was taken care by Teknik Motors, Indiranagar, Bangalore.

Visiting RE Factory ? click here

11 bulls and 12 riders started off on 11th February, around 5:30 am on a slightly chilly saturday morning.

With early morning traffic we started to Thump, the pace was set by Vijay and all started to ride in a good cruising speed. we covered good amount of distance and reached kolar. Had tea and hot crispy masala vada. After about 45 minutes of much needed break we set the pace again.

Around 8:20 am On the curves of Palamaner ghats Som had overshot the steep curve and crash landed. I was not witness to the accident but was told that Som had tried to break the pace on the curve to which the break pedal hit the ground and tossing the bike up to take multiple somersault and hit the safety barricades and som had fallen out of the bike. I couldn't get what had happened when i reached the spot. Could see som on the other side of the road withering in pain. I went upto him and checked his condition he said he is having pain in his shoulders. By then all fellow riders arrived to the spot.

He was fully geared, His right knee pad was torn apart without which would have been an unimaginable situation.

Jai quickly looked at the bike and gave few blows to the dents and i test rode the bike and seemed that we can ride it upto chittor and then parcel the bike off.

We tied a cloth as support to som and rode him to the nearest clinic and gave him some pain killer injections where i was told to take him to the Ortho doc in Chittor. Quickly we headed to chitoor and was advised to take an X-Ray which showed he had shoulder dislocation and fracture. Doc advised that he should be treated in a larger hospital under anesthesia. A sling was put to rest his arm and we hired a taxi to drive him back to Bangalore.

We had to be in the RE factory by noon. About 2 hours time off we were racing against time to reach the factory. With no pit stops for breakfast or lunch all were cruising to reach the destination. We had to reach the RE Factory by passing through the dense city traffic of chennai the city ride was hardenous and testing the riders patience.

We finally reached the RE factory around 3:30 PM, quickly we moved to the reception where an employee escorted us around the factory.

This is my first visit to any production plant. I had seen production plants only on The Science Channel "Some Assembly Required" . I was always fascinated with the production plants, the conveyor belts moving the parts from one location to another, employees with protective gear, hard hats, pneumatic guns the whole experience of the floor being hustle bustle and lively thrilled me.

The scene inside the factory was magnanimous with hordes of front tires with disc brakes attached, huge asbestos sheds and hundreds of skilled, dedicated craftsmen doing their assigned tasks.

We were shown UCE engine being lined up at assembly, Paint job area, hand painting of the golden lines on the RE standard tank, chrome plating unit, export and domestic assembly line.

During our visit thunderbird TBTS was being assembled. we went around the test track too.

There were ocean of fully assembled RE bikes of various models parked to be moved to various locations across India and world over.
The whole experience of looking at so many spares getting assembled was mind baffling. With time constraint it was a quick visit around the factory. We thanked the official and quickly headed out around 5:00 PM to Mahabalipuram our planned night stay.

With no Breakfast or lunch and the mood of riders going nuts we stopped near a tea and Bajji shop and hand some hot cripsy Banana Bajjis, Bread Bajjis and hot tea.

Vijay wanted to visit his sister and would join us in Mahabalipuram later in the night. Naveen rode my bike to Mahabalipuram and i was his pillion. We rode along East Coast Road about 50 km ride the road passing by the sea shore.

We reached Mahabalipuram Entrance around 7:15 pm and waited for fellow riders to join us. Within 30 minutes all of them reached Mahabalipuram.

Our night stay was in sea breeze Hotel, a beach site hotel. We soon got into our designated rooms and had a nice shower and freshened up quickly. I and Naveen walked in the by lanes of the town and had some snacks and tea in a hotel.

Dinner was at The Nautilus, It was buzzing with many foreign traveler's and we found ourselves as an outsider in the restaurant. We ordered for a beer and the waiter never cared to give one. Soon we stepped out and was joined by Vijay.

We went to the beach and grabbed ourselves a beer. We sat on a parked boat and were enjoying the cool breeze, the waves, dark sky ... soon was called by Tucker enquiring where about of us and requested us to come to Nautilus to have Dinner, reluctantly we obliged to his invitation also it was getting late for us to pick up dinner else where.

We went into Nautilus to join the other members and had some starters and guzzled another beer after some chit chatting finished out dinner. All of us headed to the beach. I lied on the beach looking at the black sky, the stars, the moon, the sound of the waves, crabs being washed onto the shore, High beam of light from the light house at regular interval and occasional high waves coming almost near to us. The scene was romantic.

I and Naveen took a stroll across the beach. After some time all of us headed to the hotel and again we were lazing in the veranda and chatting. Soon every one started to doze i too retired to my bed around 1:30 AM.

I had a very sound sleep, woke up around 9 in the morning. Taking my own time freshened up and had complimentary breakfast. We headed out in the town and saw Shore Temple, Elephant and other creatures carved in granite at Mahabalipuram, Light House, Krishna's Butter Ball.

Soon we came back to the hotel saddled up and started our ride back. Our Next stop was to Ambur for the lunch. We reached Ambur around 3:30 PM. All had World famous Ambur Biryani at the Ambur STAR Biryani.

After heartful meal we started our journey back to bangalore around 4:45 PM ... We would have covered just a kilometer Shoumik had a rear flat tyre. We stopped and got his flat tyre fixed an hour break again. Cruising along we reached Krishnagiri coffee day for a coffee break. I had a Latthe.

Now starts Interesting turn of events. I almost went to Start my bike when Vijay told to give my bike to Naveen as he had a sore butt sitting all the while. I gladly obliged and sat pillion to vijay we cruised at high speed to

which vijay is always used to and i had no fear in his riding skills so i was calm. We were almost reaching hosur city and traffic was dense. we stopped near a traffic signal and we were in the front line as soon as the lights turned green we picked up the pace almost reaching 60km speed (Classic 500 touches 100 km/hr speed in 10 sec). I could see a man crossing the road recklessly and hitting a slow moving bike and i was looking behind at the collision.

Suddenly there was another collision with our bike (I was not witness to this accident as i was looking behind) i was told a moped guy took a blind U turn from other side of the road to our lane and there was no time for vijay to react and we had a head on collision on hitting the moped the bike skidded off and first contact to the road was my head and vijay was tucked inside . we were fully geared with the best helmets and armored jackets and without helmet the crash would have been fatal.

After sliding a few meters the bike came to halt and the bike was over us and barricades were on top of it, we were stuck inside the bike. Soon naveen, Tucker and Jai who were following us came to our rescue removed the bike and i came out first. I looked at vijay and he was in pain too. My first reaction was vijay might have had a bad accident and when he too came out I was relieved ... I opened the helmet and checked if i have blood flowing out of my nostrils or ears. because i knew i had a good impact on my head. When i touched my ears and nose i saw blood on my fingers i quickly asked some one near by to check if the blood is from ears or somewhere else. He looked in and said i have a cut near the chin and the blood is oozing from there. On the other side i saw Vasan eye Care and Srinivas Speciality hospital behind it. I walked to the hospital and informed the doctor about the accident. I was told to lie down in the bed.

My thoughts in the bed were how events turn up within seconds and i was more philosophical than cursing any. I always thought life is short and i should be living every moment to its fullest and the crash reiterated the thought. Life is truly an unpredictable affair and you have no idea about how it can change at any point of time (Good or Bad ... however you like to look at it ). Soon another doctor checked me and said i had to have stitches to the cut on my chin. I was given TT and three staples to my cut chin. I lied down in the bed for sometime and everything seemed OK. I looked under my pant for bruises and it was minor ones. Vijay too had TT injection and he had bruises more in the knees and a silencer kiss on his leg.

The bike was OK to ride back with head lights crashed, fork bend. Tucker rode the damaged bike home. Ironically Vijay rode the bike again and i was pillion to Naveen and the thumping Continues.

Soon the message had spread to all friends before we reached adda and all friends were there to receive us. I would have narrated about the accident for some 10 people. After spending some time with my friends i bid adieu and reached home.

I uploaded the ride pictures to FB and I could not sleep for some time and i retired to bed thereafter.

I am happy that high speed collision like this was not fatal or we did not have any broken bones as it should have been.

This ride would be an unforgettable ride for me.

As always Ride Safe with Proper gear, In towns and when lights are out be extra careful and keep thumping !!!

Cheers
Durai Selvam
Royal Knights Motorcycle Club Memeber