It's my life!!

Office - home - office - home - office - home..... that's what I have done all along for quite some time, like any office going regular guy. The company where I work has a 6 days a week and Saturdays are FULL working days! So Sunday is all I have got for myself, which I have been spending for my spiritual practice for last 10 months except a month in between where I was running around for my younger Sis matrimonial engagement. To summarize Sundays are packed affairs for me – I constantly fight to get each of the 24 hrs in a day, yet unsatisfied. But what matters is the how’s the weekend!!

One fine night, I was enlightened by a thunderbolt . I realized that I have been making all to please others while I have not done enough for myself and my happiness, I had become kind of a  frog living in a well. Yes, a frog!!  A frog who had forgotten where it belongs to, a big world outside the well where it once lived before moving into the self-constructed well. The moment I realized this my life is all about doing the things which really make me happy – I have started doing them one by one. I cannot keep everyone happy always, but I do have a choices to keep myself happy. If I am not for myself then who will? This doesn't mean that I am having walk on a cake now. This was welcomed by raised eyebrows, silent frowns and of course 'who gives a damn' attitudes. I said one thing to myself “it's my life!!”

The first thing I did was buy myself an DSLR camera. My craze for cameras goes back to high school. I had purchased my first camera with my pocket money and funding from Mom at my 10^th Std. I had travelled to Bijapur with my friend Vijay Navadgi to buy myself one. In the year 1995, a Kodak Camera cost me 1000/-. I had kept this hidden from dad for almost a year – whenever he saw it at home I said it’s my friend’s! At times I used to take it out of town for photography, on family trips n picnics. Till date there are few snaps taken by me in this Kodak camera which are the best for my age taken at that time!!

My first encounter with an SLR was when I was studying my plus two in Dharwad, and to be honest I was mesmerized by its ability. But to arrange 16000/- by pocket money back then was  not small joke. I started an RD at a post office during my degree days in Bagalkot. Through this I saved close to 8000/- only to withdraw it for parties 18 months later!! So, an SLR went back on a priorities list behind car, own house and other small things. The first two were done along with some other things, but old friend of plus two class was somehow forgotten. On the same day of my enlightenment, I ran to few camera showrooms and bought an new “ Canon 1100D” and an 55-250 lens.

I am basically a guy whom you do like to go for a trip on weekend. At times I plan for a weekend trip – coz I am travelling freak and I drive nonstop for long lours, anytime of the day. Travelling and driving is my passion!! It was almost more than 9 months since I had gone out for a trip. Given the kind of 6 days a week working, trips do have less possibilities as you cannot travel too far. To start up we had planned to go to either H.D.Kote, Nagarhole forest, gopalaswamy hills or chickmagalur estate – thanks to my work timings I got free to start journey only after 8.00PM. Due to this, the rest all options got cancelled and we headed for a single day strolling at Mysore. My companions were my regular trips companion Vikram, Sanjeev, and Sandeep.

With a stop in between at a Maddur dhaba for dinner, we reached Mysore at 1.00AM. The next morning I chose to get up early and head for rounds near palace with my new camera, coz I have never taken mysore  pics in early morning sunlight. Got some good pics and made another photography addicted friend early morning.

By the time the clock hit 9.00 I had received several calls from friends and I straight away head to the lodge. After freshening up we left for Mylari restaurant. It is a very old restaurant in Mysore famous for Masala Dosa. I had heard a lot about Mylari hotel but never visited, but this time I was adamant that I will have my morning breakfast with Mylari dosa. Believe me guys, Mylari Masala dosa is THE BEST, never tasted like that in Bangalore still!!

Vikram wanted to go to Chamundi hill for devi darshan. We said “Chalo”. It was a very quick darshan by special entrance, got to have a good darshan of Chamundi Devi after a long time. However we spent more time outside the temple taking snaps. I got my best individual pic so far at the same place– it was a natural snap of Vikram. Have a look...

In the mean time I recalled Nanjangudu which I thought of visiting so many times but never had. Said so to my friends they said “Chalo”. So next stop was Nanjangud via Lalith Mahal. 

By the time we came out of Lalith Mahal compound  Vikram and Sanju were hungry – so I took them to my regular and my favourite, Siddharth Hotel (its the best veg hotel in Mysore). Post lunch the car headed to Nanjangud on a single highway – slowly on a hot afternoon. We reached Nanjangud at 3.15. Sanju suggested we enter temple only after 4.15. So, after parking the car in a cool place next to temple we dozed off for an hour. This nap was a boon for us – we entered the temple in completely fresh. Nanjangud Shiva temple is a unique in Karnataka, as there is no other temple built in such a way. We find many temples like this in tamil nadu. On the surroundings and interiors of temple we find lot of shiva carvings, with each one having its own depiction – a complete unique for Karnataka. By the time I had darshan and sat in temple I was totally calm and relaxed – I had a soothing effect in this place.   

En route to Mysore Vikram took over driving. It was first time he was driving my car in 4 years!! I was scary initially, but he took it off well. Just before you enter Mysore you will find a lake on left side. I found what I hadn’t seen in this trip so far. Immediately I asked vikram to pull over asap. And lo, I got these snaps, the best pics of nature ....

Once back in city, Sanju insisted we visit Shirdi Sai Baba temple, as this is a unique Sai Murti you can see. Sandeep joined us back at the temple. The uniqueness of this temple is , Shirdi Sai Baba’s idol which is made in black marble, contrary to the white marble carved Sai Baba which is practiced throughout the country. Also the posture Sai Baba sits here is again a different one, which you don’t see anywhere. After the visit I was wondering why the idol is in black granite. He called up a friend of his and found out that Sai baba had come in then Mysore Maharaja’s dream after his death and specifically instructed the maharaja to build a temple with his idol in black stone.

With one stop at Mysore palace we straightaway hit the highway back to Namma Bengaluru. The clock hit 12.20 AM when I parked the car in front of my home. An unplanned trip with no specific pre-planned structure went off well. The moment I laid my head on pillow after freshening up, there was a smile on my face!!

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