All about my travel experiences

Friday, March 28, 2014

Trip to South Goa

It is my 2nd visit to same place as in 10-Apr-2013. The only difference is last year it was Runai and I and this year it is with Som, Harsha, Runai and I.
Its 28-Mar-2014, Som, Runai and I reached KSRTC Bangalore Bus stand at 8:00 PM and Harsha too reached at same time. We got in our bus and it started at 8:45 PM. We had our dinner in mid way at 11:00 PM.
Its 29-Mar-2014, we reached Canaconna at 7:30 AM. We got in a local bus and got down in Agonda Bus stand. We walked down from there till our hotel. We settled in there and did nothing except eating and playing in water and sitting in the beach hut restaurant and cooling ourselves. I got a scooty in case we need anything from town. First day after lunch Harsha and I went to fill fuel and get something for us. Evening again Som and I went to get something for us. And later we played in water and laying down in lagoon till late night and then going to sleep at night 3:00 AM.
Its 30-Mar-2014, we got up and Runai and I went for local breakfastand went for local tour. When we came back to our place it was 10:00 AM and saw Som arround. We chit chatted in the balcony till 2:00 PM and thats when Harsha got joined us. Again Runai and I went out and later came back at 4:00 PM to have quick lunch. Again we played in water and returned back at night 9:00 PM when we were the only one walking in the beach. That night we went to sleep at 4:30 AM.
Its 31-Mar-2014, we got up as usual late and did nothing other than eating and chit chatting. Later in the evening we asked the person to get us a taxi to drop us till Margao. I requested him to give his bike so that we can go to ATM and get cash. As I was taking the bike out, I found that they started making the road. which apparently they are going to make for the first time. Harsha and I went first, because Som told he will get ready with the card by the time we return back. When I came back Som told that he will go alone because most of the road is blocked by then. When I went to my room, I found that Som have taken my wallet instead of his. So I took the bike again. Found him mid way and again went back to the ATM and then returned back. We left the place at 5:00 PM and reached Margao at 6:00 PM. We had snacks from local stalls and then got in bus at 8:00 PM.
Its 01-Apr-2014, we reached Bangalore at 7:30 AM and reached our house at 8:30 AM.

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Trip to Rameshwaram

02-Jan-2014 at 7:30 am we reached Madurai. After coming out from the station, we had to Google to find the bus stand from where we can get direct bus to Rameshwaram. Runai found that it is Mattuthavani Bus Stand which is 8 km away. Got a auto for 120 rs. Though he was trying to push us in private bus because he will get a good commission, but we insisted and he went toward where we wanted. The bus chared us Rs. 200 to rameshwaram from 8 am to 12 pm. From bus stand stop in Rameshwaram, we got in local bus to reach temple. Got a hotel for rs 1500 just near to the temple. Freshen up and went a round to the temple and had lunch. Then went to book a cab for next day with advance Rs 500 and then went to Agni Theertham and sat there for some time and then with curiosity we went straight to a jetty. It was for sea ride for Rs. 120. Entire traffic is in middle street. It's a small island, so don't expect traffic and signal and police. It just have one junction point that I could find and police manage with on going traffic by talking with them and directs them to proceed.
We parceled egg dhosa, chicken kuttu parota, pepper fry chicken and omlet for dinner.

03-Jan-2014 6:00 am, we went to the travel shop and then he told me to walk back to the hotel where cab will be waiting for us. At 7:30 am, we started for Dhanuskudi, it was a half an hour journey and from there we got in mini truck for Rs. 200 to take us to the ruins. Mind you no other vehicles can go except jeep and these mini trucks. It takes 30 min going, watching the place for 30 min and coming back another 30 min. Next we went to Kothandaramar Temple. Then ram temple and nearby was krishna temple. Then hanuman temple with floating stone. Then laksman temple and sita temple then opposite is another krishna temple plus hotel plus restaurant. Next we went to ramapadam which is the highest point in rameshwaram. While returning we went to Satchi Hunuman Temple. One has to cross the tv tower which is the highest in India. On top of this temple we can see entire rameshwaram in an aerial view. After that he dropped us in front of our hotel. We paid him 700 rs and we went in and kept our bag. We came out again for breakfast at 12 am, but it was more like brunch. Next we didn't do any thing other than I bringing in dinner.

04-Jan-2014, at 7 am, we kept everything in hotel even shoe and mobile, basically only cloths and room key did we take and went walking to the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple. We entered through West Gate where police searched us and then had to go through metal detector. First went to a room in North East corner, after praying there came out and went inside the main temple which is at the center. The entrance faces the east entrance of the premises. The East entrance is always crowded because people take bath from agni dham and come here which is the nearest gate. There are suppose to be lot of people who will guide you through all 22 ghats and I think all of them are found in east gate. The corridor of this temple is suppose to be the longest one. After the temple visit, we came out and went for breakfast. It turned out to be another brunch. Next we went to hotel and packed up our luggage and checked out the hotel. We went walking to the Rameshwaram Railway Station which is 1.5 km. We got the ticket for rs. 60 for Madurai. The train is suppose to leave Rameshwaram at 11:30 am but came here at 10:30 am. We got in and took our preferred seats. It did couple of back and forth and finally came to the departing platform. It was very crowded train and practically stops in every station.
We got down at Madurai at 3: 30 pm and went to a restaurant which we liked when we came 3 years back. It is in the east side of Menakshi Temple. It is new manorama annex hotel. We like Mushroom Biryani. Its more like mushroom rice with masala and we love the taste which we tried last time we were in Madurai which may be 3 to 4 years back. We had a parota and shared a plate of mushroom biryani and asked him to parcel 2 more plate for our dinner. It was already 4:45 pm so we were hurrying up, but on our back we got some sweet from Krishna sweet. Came back to station and found that the train is running late by 20 minutes.
We got a AC waiting room in the station and we freshned up there which charges Rs 10 / hour / person. Our train to Bangalore came at 6:00 pm

05-Jan-2014, we reached Bangalore at 5:00 am and got a bus which dropped us home at 6:00 am.