rediff.com
Hi Guest
Log in | Sign up
Skip to content

My Trip to Vizag and Araku Valley

Vizag and Araku Valley Trip

It was in the talks and picture for quiet a long time but it all started on 25th of June, 2006 when a couple of colleagues at office initiated the plan for the trip… We thought about the plan and were excited to make a positive move, when we realised that the offer from our colleagues was a formality and nobody really wished that we could join them….All over again it seemed as if it was still a dream and a mission unaccomplished, when the initiation was taken by my friend Srinath…. We had a very little hope of people turning up for the trip but as the days passed and the deadline was set for the nominations to come in, to our surprise we had  a group of 20 members ready for the trip….. Now it seemed like a dream come true….. We had already started dreaming of the trip and FUN places we were to visit in the future…..

The tickets, accomodation and bus for local Vizag tour were booked and it was a collective effort of Ravi (Dippa), Phani and Srinath…. The trip and the FUN was scheduled to start on 13th of July, 2006 a day just after my B’day….

The train was scheduled to leave the Nampally station at 5:15PM and the most exciting part was reaching the staition on time (as the tickets were with me). After being at the office untill 3:30PM and not even packing up the luggage it seemed as if I was going to make all of us miss the train….I started at 4:55PM from my home along with a friend, though it was just a 15 min journey and we could have reached the railway station on time it was not the end of our problems… The auto man had dropped us outside the station rather than dropping till the railway station gate….. We had to run with the luggage in our hand for about 1/2 a kilometer and then jump over the railway tracks to the train and then we got into another coach and moved forward towards our coach as the train was about to start….

A sigh of relief that we had finally taken the train and we were off to our journey into the beautiful Valley of Araku….. After 15min the train reached the Secunderabad railway station at about 5:30PM, were the rest 18 members got in and it was like we were the sole owner of the entire coach and the train….As the time clicked 5:40PM it was time to bid good bye to Hyderabad for the next 3 days and the journey, FUN and excitement had already begun…… It was very quick that the time passed by and we soon reached the Kazipet railway station…. Everyone were in a relaxed mood and were busy taking snaps with each other….. (Busy in Photo Session)

We soon had our dinner and all were off to sleep…. To my surprise the next morning I was told that all were awake and chatting untill 1:00AM in the night and I was the only one sleeping like Kumbkaran….. What to do I cannot resist the sleep….

Anyways lets continue the journey, we reached the Vizag railway station at around 6:00AM the next morning and had taken cabs to reach the hotel and before we could check in we again had a photo session outside the hotel and then all were soon into their rooms getting ready to experience the FUN and joy out there that was waiting for us……We all were ready by 10:00AM and done with our breakfast and outside there was a bus waiting for us to take on the Vizag city tour…. Can you guess what was the first place we visited at Vizag…. You guessed it right we had gone to meet our relatives, hold on not so boring place…. the first place we visited was were our relatives are and that is the Zoo…..

Then we visited the Kailasagiri a beautiful park and place to be and it was at a great height and the view from the top was excellent…. We had lot of FUN there taking snaps and roaming around and the most attractive thing there is a big satue of Lord Shiv and Maa Parvati….. Then we moved on to the Rushikonda beach from there and then for lunch……It was already 3:30PM by the time all had finished their lunch and then we moved to the Rushikinda beach once again and had a good time for around 1/2 an hour and then we were off to the religious trip to the Simhachalam temple…. We reached the temple and by the time we finished the darshanam it was already 6:30PM and we were running short of time….. We then quickly moved into the heart of the city and were near the RK beach were we visited a submarine museum….

It was a submarine which has now been converted into a museum and is on the shore for the public view….. We had a great time at the museum and got alot to learn and to know about how the Naval people have a tough time when they are at work….. Then it was the time to move on for the most exciting and the last FUN place for the day…… It was time to be at the beach…… The RK beacj just a couple of minutes away from the submarine museum was the place everyone wanted to be at, we had reached the beach very late at around 8:00PM and had very less time as we had to leave the bus by 9:00PM……The time was the major factor for us at that hour but nothing could stop us from havinig FUN at the beach and we all had a great time playing at the beach and then it was finally the time to wish the beach a warm Goodnite and move towards the hotel….. We had reached the hotel at around 9:00PM and all were busy getting fresh and were ready for the dinner by 10:30PM….. We had our dinner by 11:30PM amd were soon off to our rooms as we had another journey the next day morning…….

The night passed by and it was the worst night of my life ever as I had a bad time with the mosquitos and the fan, as it was running very slow…. We all got up and were ready by 6:30AM the next morning as we had to take a train to travel to the Araku Valley…. It was the most memorable day as the day started on a note with the camera and ended with camera…. You will soon know what I mean to say by that statement……

As we were ready to leave for the station there was a tragedy I should call or rather a careless ness by Dolly (one of our colleague), the tragedy or careless ness whatever was that she had mispalced here Digital Camera somewhere the lastnight after the dinner and was unable to find it now…. We searched for it and could not find it and we had to start off without the camera as we were getting late……We reached the station and were off to the Araku Valley, as the train started we had been served the breakfast by AP tourism as we had taken their package and then the guide had given an overview of the entire journey and what all the places we were going to visit…. We had a great time travelling to Araku as the train was a passenger train and no one had the option of sleeping but, still we could capture a few people into our cameras sleeping like the relatives of Kumbkaran, thankfully this time I was not in the list….. The train passed by 52 tunnels and we had a great time as everytime the train would stop we would get down to capture a few snaps……

We finally reached the Araku Valley….. Araku valley a small village in Andhra famous for its coffee plantation and what else I do not know…. I am sorry for that but may be you can make out what is it famous for after I take you through the Araku Valley journey….. Ok now we had reached the Araku station and outside the station there were buses waiting for us and we were first taken to the botanical garden were we went around the garden and had a few snaps then we headed towards a tribal museum and then for lunch….
After the lunch we had an opportunity to watch a tribal dance were in two of our colleagues Kavita and Dolly had also participated dancing with the tribal people, then we soon headed towards the Borra Caves and it was a place were you cannot miss out to be at….. There at the caves we had seen a few things which were not made by man but were naturally made….. On our way to the Borra Caves we were shown the coffee plantation and were also taken to the highest point which was around 700ft from the sea level…..

At the Borra caves we had an opportunity to visit a temple were the Shivling was created naturally by water and also it was really exciting visiting the temple as it was built very high and the steps to the temple were really steep….. Then we headed towards a hotel where we were served snacks and then the journey towards Vizag….. Almost all were asleep while returning to Vizag as all were tired after a long days excitement…..We reached Vizag at around 9:15PM and left the bus near to a restaurant and as we were heading towards the restaurant to have our dinner I suddenly realised that I had left my Digital Camera in the bus and thanks to Dolly who had reminded me about my camera….. We soon were busy calling the concerned authorities and then headed towards the bus depot were the bus was parked and to our relief we had found the camera in the bus…. Now you would have understood why I earlier stated that this was a day with started on note with the Digital Camera and ended with the same…..

We soon headed towards the restaurant were all were waiting and had our dinner and then reached our hotel….. As soon as we reached our hotel the search for Dolly’s Digital Camera had begun and the most exciting part was that her camera was found and that too in a place where I had said to her that you might have misplaced it…… It was a really a memeorable day….. Now who was in the mood to sleep after having a sleep in the bus while travelling from Araku to Vizag….. We all had gathered in groups in 2 to 3 rooms and were busy watching TV and teasing each other……We had to check out from the hotel the next day morning by 10:00AM and no one was ready to sleep early and all were awake till 2:30AM.

Now it was time to get into our beds and we all were soon asleep, this time I did not had a miserable night like the last one….. We all got up and were ready by 10:00AM and had checked out of the hotel but had left our luggage behind as we had some other plans for the day…. After the breakfast we got into 2 cabs that were waiting for us to take us on another exciting journey… We moved on first to the harbour and then to a place near the harbour where a Temple, Mosque and a Church are constructed next to each other….. Then we moved to the most beautiful place the Yerrada beach and had a good time there…. We could not get into the water completely as we did not have any option to referesh ourselves, so we opted to stay away from getting deep into the water, but still we had a great time….Then we moved to the light house and climbed up entirely and enjoyed very much the view of the sea from the top of the light house….

After a long adventure it was now time to head for the lunch and we returned back to the city and had lunch at a restaurant and then we quickly moved to a shopping mall near by and where there for about 20 to 25 min and then returned to the hotel where we had left our luggage….. Quickly we had collected our luggage and headed towards the railway station to start back for Hyderabad….. We reached the station at around 5:00Pm and the scheduled time of our train was 5:25PM…… All were relaxed and exhausted by this time and were longing for a good sleep…… Now time to say good bye to Vizag and all the FUN places we had visited…. Finally, the train took off and we all were rest less and in no mood to even talk to each other…..

It was high time that all were silent when we planned to cut loose a bit and we started playing dumbsharads….. It was great FUN playing the game as my team was given such movie names to enact that we had never heard of also…. We played the game for about 3 hours and then had our dinner and finally everyone this time was fast asleep after a long holiday….. We reached Hyderabad the next morning at around 6:00AM and immedieatly everyone was off to their homes ending the journey on a exciting note……

It was a great experience for me travelling to Vizag and the Araku Valley….. The most memorable and exciting part of the trip was that it was my first trip outside planned with my friends…… Await more such trips in the near future……

Bye for now friends……….
Luv,
Dave

Posted in Holiday.

No comments

By Davinder Singh – August 7, 2006


Untitled

Top 7 gifts to give that special someone!



Here are some gifts you may consider getting your partner for an anniversary, birthday, Christmas or any special occasion





1

Roses with a Bear: This is most favoured by women, of course. The roses make them feel special and beautiful, while the teddy bear makes them feel adored.

2

Candles: Anyone can enjoy candles. They are mysterious, peaceful, sexy and romantic. Help your lover relax by giving him or her some lovely candles and join them in the relaxing moments. You may also accompany this gift with some fine wine to really set the mood!

3

Massage Oils: Giving massage oil to your mate will only make him or her very happy! After all, massage oils mean receiving massages! After you partner opens this gift, give him or her an unforgettable massage.

4

Trip: Arranging a trip really shows creativity and effort. Your lover will feel like the most special person in the world because you put the time and thinking into arranging a beautiful getaway for just the two of you. Exploring different places is very exciting and romantic.

5

Pet: Both men and women can appreciate a sweet animal for a present. Of course, you must research just which animal your partner likes and would not mind having!

6

Watch: We all need to keep track of time. Why not give him or her a nice new watch? It will be admired and they will always think of you every time they check their watch.

7

Sunglasses: Men and women both love sunglasses, but men have shown more interest in our research. Get your lover a nice up-to-date pair of sunglasses. It will be something new and stylish for them to show off and they will feel very cool, thanks to you!

Posted in Personal.

No comments

By Davinder Singh – August 7, 2006


Untitled

Healthy intimate relationships: 6 steps to bliss



What follows are six useful guidelines for couples who want a blissful relationship that has a certain spark!





1

PRIORITIES: The happy and satisfied couples make a very clear commitment to each other to make their relationship (including their sexual relationship) good. They give their relationship the time and attention it deserves. They place quality time together at the top of their list of priorities. Other things that demand their time are sometimes cancelled or delayed. Dinners are sometimes put on hold while they talk or make love. They may be late for a party or work or a visit to relatives. They are careful to arrange weekends or vacations alone… without the children, or friends, or
the mother-in-law. They sometimes turn down invitations and they carefully examine events or tasks called "obligations."

2

TIMING: A good and satisfying relationship can happen only when there is time for it. Couples put off intimacy and conversation while they "get things done." Cleaning the house, washing the car, talking to relatives on the phone, watching TV, etc. replace the loving behaviors they used to engage in at the outset of their relationship. If anything good happens, it comes late at the end of a fatiguing day, or put off until the weekend or vacation. Happy couples don't stop making "dates" with each other and seize upon expected and unexpected times and opportunities. They make time, take time, and pay a lot of attention to each other.

3

RECOVERY: The happy couples are quite unique in that they quickly recover from arguments and hurt feelings. They have been found to use a method not often recommended by counselors and therapists of the past. They are often able to temporarily put aside relationship problems to experience something enjoyable together. They put off further arguments while they go to a concert, out to dinner, a party, or even to make love. Then, soon after having a good time together, they often use these good feelings to quickly resolve issues that unhappy couples spend a lifetime fighting about. The healthy couples try to work on important disagreements in this way ONLY when they are both at their best.

4

TOUCH: The happily satisfied couples touch each other a lot. Most of their touching is sensual and not explicitly sexual or genital. They hold hands, snuggle on the couch while they watch TV, hug, kiss, take baths together, give massages, etc. Couples who go days or longer without any prolonged affectionate touch are starting from scratch when they decide to be intimate. Unlike the affectionate couples, they have a lot of work to do in order to make something interesting happen. Sex is not that much different than daily behaviors for the fulfilled couples, but it is a major shift for the less affectionate pairs.

5

ROMANCING: Content couples know the importance of surprise, tenderness, compliments, and special little gifts. (Big, expensive gifts don't predict happiness in relationships, but regular little ones do.) They
continue "until death do we part" to behave in a romantic, sexy, and seductive manner toward each other. Touches, unexpected phone calls to each other, candle-lit dinners, naked weekends together, extravagant compliments, flowers and little "thingy" gifts from the drug store, etc. are common events. The gifts and phone calls are especially important since they communicate clearly what words cannot, that, "I am often thinking of you when we aren't together." These couples avoid the deadly danger of taking each other for granted. If they have gone too long being busy with other things, they apologise and do something about it.

6

SHARING: As an important part of their communication, these content couples share the big, important issues such as dreams and fears. They often tell each other the stories of their lives, sharing their understanding of how their past influences the present. Sometimes the more courageous even share their fantasies with each other.


Posted in Personal.

No comments

By Davinder Singh – August 7, 2006


Untitled

25 TIPS FOR RELATIONSHIP SUCCESS



What's the key to successful relationships? Here, BT reveals the simple things you need to know to deepen your partnership and make your relationship work



1. Without quality time, your relationship will not survive. Carve out at least half an hour a night, and at least one day a month when you the two of you spend time exclusively together.
2. You will both need security, comfort. A good relationship is built on compromise and a great deal of give and take on both sides.
3. Keep your dependence and independence in balance. Tell and show your partner how much you need him, but don't cling, as that can make your partner feel trapped.
4. Encourage him to listen to you, by showing appreciation when he does. By the same token, show interest when he talks to you. Be aware that most men aren't mentally programmed for conversation in the way women are. They need more silence and internal time.
5. Make him appreciate you. Don't wait for a spontaneous compliment, but say something good about yourself and ask for his agreement.
6. Teach him, preferably early in your relationship, exactly how to give you a fail-safe orgasm because it's unlikely he'll find out alone. If you don't yet know yourself, find out.
7. Learn to do the one thing that is most likely to restore good feeling in your relationship ? giving your partner a genuine, loving and approving smile.
8. Often those subtle quirks that first attracted you to your partner can, with time, turn around and become toecurlingly annoying habits. Learn to love
him, warts and all.


9. Hidden resentments poison a relationship; so if something bothers you, say it. Remember that while men are wary of emotional conversations, they love to find solutions. Express your problem and then ask him to help you find the answer.
10. Learn that punishing your partner won't work. It may make you feel better to give him a hard time, but it will actually make him dig his heels in more. A better tactic is to reward the things you like and ignore what you don't like.
11. Money is the number one cause of couple conflict. For a relationship to work, you need to address your finances and work out a budget.
12. If the domestic work is not divided fairly between you, it will cause friction in your relationship. Make a list of the domestic tasks, talk it through with your partner and mobilize the whole family, your partner included, to share the work.
13. If you have children, involve your partner as much as possible with the childcare ? even if you feel he's not as good at it as you are. It's important to present a united front to your children.
14. Sort out your sex life. The sex may ebb and flow over the years, but if sex starts going downhill, don't just accept it. As soon as you notice a slide, question why and then work at bringing the passion back.
15. Don't assume you won't be tempted to have an affair as almost everyone is. You need to learn to resist. If you do stray, don't feel it spells the end of your relationship. Most couples recover, particularly from a one-night-stand, and often find that unrooting the cause of the affair helps them to get even closer. So, you need to learn to resist. But don't think that an affair is the end of everything.
16. Remember that boredom typically covers up anger. If you feel bored with him, ask yourself what you're angry about.
17. Be aware that men generally feel overwhelmed by emotion more than women do. If he's angry or tearful, half an hour's 'unfolding' time to himself will help get his balance back and make him more able to interact positively with you.
18. Learn how to argue well. The trick is to never say anything that you wouldn't want to hear said to you.


19. Research suggests you need five positive experiences to erase the memory of one negative experience. So give five kind words for each bitchy comment. Give five hugs for each cold shoulder.
20. Learn how to negotiate. Each of you states what you want, then both of you work together to find a way forward.
21. Accept the things that won't change. Some characteristics about your partner are there for life ? and you have to face that.
22. Learn to forgive. If you know you will never forgive your partner over something important, then give him ? and yourself ? a break and start again, with someone else.
23. Realize that the two of you will shift and change over the years. So, even if you think you understand him, or believe you have agreements sorted, check regularly ? at least once a year ? to make sure that neither of you has changed your mind.
24. Know when to leave. If your life aims are incompatible, there are heavy drugs or violence around, or if there is consistently more pain than pleasure, then walk before the relationship destroys you.
25. Don't think that going to counseling equals failure. It can turn a bad relationship around. It can turn an average relationship into a brilliant one.

Posted in Personal.

No comments

By Davinder Singh – August 7, 2006


Untitled

Kissing helps…



…lose weight, tone facial muscles, relieve stress and boost the immune system



At last, there is good news for lovers. Did you know that kissing is good for your health?
Kissing can help you lose weight, relax, express love, boost your immune system, improve self-esteem, manage stress and stimulate your brain. Is it too good to be true? Science says no!

Stress Buster

It is a great stress reliever, it quiets the mind and has the effects of meditation. If your mind still races while you’re kissing someone, you are simply kissing the wrong person. Kissing the right person makes the experience relaxing, warm, passionate and tender. Kissing demands staying in the moment and it ought to have your total attention.
Additionally, it induces many of the same brain wave and chemistry changes that meditation does. It induces a sense of peace and calm.

Burns Calories

Kissing burns calories, too. Professor Bryant Stamford, of the University of Louisville, postulates that a deep, passionate kiss may double your basic metabolic rate and burn as many as two calories a minute. Do the math.
Kissing for 15 minutes burns approximately 30 calories. If one were to kiss passionately for 15 minutes that might lead to other calorie burning activities such as sex which may, of course, lead to more passionate kissing. More passionate kissing could lead to more torrid sex, thereby creating a passion loop. This could be a more exciting expenditure of energy than climbing stairs or taking a walk for the very same result. It’s not exactly a cardiovascular workout, but it certainly has a delightful place in a healthy lifestyle.

Tones Facial Muscles

French kissing? Think about those tongue muscles! Kissing can give them quite a workout. How about the muscles in your lips, cheeks, face and neck, etc? The possibilities are endless. It will make you smile, too; and that definitely will make you look better, happier and healthier.

Boosts Immune System

While kissing isn’t a replacement for brushing your teeth, it does provide extra saliva that washes bacteria off your teeth. And, speaking of bacteria, kissing boosts your immune system. By exchanging bacteria through a kiss you are stimulating your internal defense mechanism.

Increases Pleasure

Kissing can be an exciting journey into sensuality. The lips are a bundle of nerve endings and, therefore, are very sensitive. Not even genitals have as much sensitivity as lips.
Many times kissing induces other types of touching. We are a touch-deprived nation and, therefore, hugs are extremely therapeutic as well. Kissing, hugging and touching increase feelings of security and wellbeing. When our wellbeing improves our self-esteem increases. We feel more secure and better about ourselves, and our outer persona reflects it. Others can’t help but notice. Therefore, the possibilities of self-improvement through the beneficial effects of kissing and what follows are endless



Posted in Love.

No comments

By Davinder Singh – August 7, 2006