100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights

motomaverick · 16th February 2010, 09:58

M hooked onto the photographs in this thread!!! Keep em coming. I would luv to know the name of the 1.5 lac camera? must be a nikon coz the color reproduction is bright.

kingofmyworld · 16th February 2010, 10:20

Nice pics, I specially love the bat's pic

BTW, How long did it take to travel these hundred thousand kms?

SmartCat · 16th February 2010, 11:40

Mostly between 2004 and 2009. After marriage, I've reduced my highway runs - although my wife loves travelling. I just don't have the guts to do a 5000 km trip with wifey on board (safety issues). For now, its the usual Ooty/Goa fare for us now.

Because of popular demand, I'm putting up more Vizag/Araku/Chitrakoot pics - including more bat pictures!

Pic 1: Optra's bi-xenons unable to pierce the thick fog (near thirupathi). Switched off the main lamps and used the fog lamps instead.

Pic 2: Chitrakoot Falls. That's me on the right hand side (nearest to the camera). Look at the left hand side for a bunch of devotees performing puja "inside" the rock formation.

Pic 3: Close-up of the rock climbing devotees

Pic 4: Local Olympic champion having a swim in the Indravathi River.

Pic 5: More bats!

Pic 6: Full moon outside Borra Caves.

Pic 7: Sunset coming back home, near Bangalore. We had to drive on somebody's field to get to this location.

Soccerfan · 16th February 2010, 12:22

great thread man . hooked to this.

highwaylover · 16th February 2010, 12:33

superb photos. i want more

KSM-Vtec · 16th February 2010, 12:36

Now this is what i call real gr8 stuff!!!!! looking forward for more stunners....

svsantosh · 16th February 2010, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartcat

Hey, the photos were taken by my software engineer friend who tagged along with us to the trip. He is also an amateur photographer. He is a half-nut who drove all the way to Arunachal Pradesh from Bangalore on a Pulsar 150!

You sure about the other Half??

But this is the stuff that makes someone unique, Kudos to him.

Nice pics and nice eye to capture the moment, but a frank feedback, that 1.5L camera can deliver better pics. Dont know how to say, but check with Rudra Sen or Samurai or TSK, I feel something like timing or exposure is lacking. I am not into photography but have seen what a basic dSLR (~50K Rs) can do. Yours sounds more advanced.

SmartCat · 16th February 2010, 12:57

When photos are taken with just the camera, the photos are not that special. But when the photos are taken with the big lens attachment, they look good.

I have also reduced the file size using "Irfan View". Each original file is over 3 MB. Images probably lost their clarity during the conversion?

Ardy · 16th February 2010, 13:06

@Smartcat,

This is an awesome thread with some lovely pictures. And I am sure that this thread is going to reiterate the natural beauty in India and emphasize on the fact that there is huge tourism opportunity in India that has not been tapped yet.

Great going.

Cheers,

SmartCat · 16th February 2010, 16:19

Thanks. To check out the "natural beauty" part, we generally avoid 'touristy' places and try to explore the state we are in. And we almost always take a different route back - even if we have to travel an extra 50 km (for short trips) or 500 kms (for long ones).

I'm now posting pics from our Jog Falls - Sitanadi (river water rafting) - Marwanthe trip in my friend's Palio. All the pics were taken with a cheap Rs. 15,000 camera!

Pic 1: We left Bangalore in 2 cars - a Santro and a Palio. Near Shimoga, the "pilot car" Santro ran over a pile of large rocks used to mark out a big hole in the road, damaging the gearbox assembly. Eventhough, the santro guys called to warn us about the hole/rock, we went ahead and ran over the rocks at the same place

. I'm sure there is a Chinese proverb to describe our situation! The Santro gang's trip was cancelled as the car was immobile. The pic shows the damage to the Palio.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-dsc03938.jpg

Pic 2: On the way to Jog Falls now. Jog Falls is the highest waterfall in India, and is about 380 Km from Bangalore, and near Shimoga/Sagar. Found this horse in the middle of the road, just horsing around.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-dsc03943.jpg

Pic 3: Guess which is the best time to visit coastal Karnataka?

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-dsc03961.jpg

Pic 4: Rainy season is not the best time to visit Jog Falls though.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-dsc03969.jpg

Pic 5: From Jog Falls, we headed towards Hebri town (Udupi district). Sitanadi river flows near this town and is ideal for river water rafting for amateurs. Us and a few others are decked up with rafting gear.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-img_0081.jpg

Pic 6: We entered into the waters here. Nice mangrove effect. No photos of the rafting experience, because even we are not that stupid to take a camera with us.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-img_0073.jpg

Pic 7: The famous Marwanthe beach (on Mangalore - Karwar highway) - water on both sides of the National Highway.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-img_0042.jpg

Pic 8: Pitched tent in the temple town of Udupi. Palio 1.2 - Our 2nd favorite highway cruiser. Gives 16 km/litre when driven the right way.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-dsc03992.jpg

MX6 · 16th February 2010, 17:15

Aah. The great photos of Coastal karnataka. Nothing like Udupi/ Kundapura/ Hebri/ Agumbe in the rains!

SmartCat · 17th February 2010, 19:21

Oh. And I though Hebri was a secret location which not many people know about

Pics of a recent trip to Goa with wifey and friends -

We decided to go on a weeklong visit to Goa, after reading a travelogue on Team BHP (by a Honda Civic guy).

Pic 1: Just leaving Bangalore. NICE road was blocked by trucks - so had to get to Nelamangala via Magadi road. After 40 mins of hell, we are back on NH. Full of josh, men in the front (that's me on the right hand side with the big smile), women at the back.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1260005.jpg

Pic 2: Uneventful trip to Goa. Got ourselves 5-star accomodation at Hathi Mahal (Cavelossim) for Rs. 500/day (special trial offer from Hathi Mahal for a Club Mahindra type membership scheme).

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-img_3034.jpg

Pic 3: First destination - Arambol beach. But we were not impressed by the heat. So we decide to get our comfortable in a shack.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1270062.jpg

Pic 4: Checking the handling of the car on the helipad near Fort Aguada. Again, the place was hot as hell since we went there in the afternoon. What does one do in Goa in the afternoon?

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1290084.jpg

Pic 5: Mandatory visit to the Basicila of Bom Jesus (where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is kept). Lighting the thin candles is easy but placing it upright is not.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1290115.jpg

Pic 6: Wifey on the sunroof.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1300142.jpg

Pic 7: Found this goopy thing on Palolem beach. Any idea what this is?

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1300155.jpg

Pic 8: Looking for dolphins off Palolem beach. Found many, but difficult to capture them on camera. Didn't realize that dolphins are so big - its a bit scary when they get close to the boat.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-img_3123.jpg

Pic 9: Song and dance show on the Mandovi river cruise.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1300175.jpg

kolimuttai · 17th February 2010, 20:00

Excellent.... some more pictures please...

SmartCat · 17th February 2010, 20:35

Goa Trip Continued -

Pic 1: Lady, Can I have a dance?

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-ashwingoa.jpg

Pic 2: Vijay Mallya's yatch on Mandovi River. Lucky guy!@#

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1290103.jpg

Pic 3: Car tyre is a bit low on Oxygen. Emergency operation done.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1260015.jpg

Pic 4: Got bored of the usual touristy places. Heading towards Cabo De Rama Fort (pronounced Kabji Rama Fort)

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1310201.jpg

Pic 5: View of the beach down below at the Cabo De Rama Fort. Unlike other forts, you won't find a single soul here.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1310217.jpg

Pic 6: Sunset view from the Cabo De Rama Fort.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1310240.jpg

Pic 7: Two kms from Cabo De Rama Fort is a "secret" beach. You will have to drive over a rocky field to get there though. Ocassionally you will find a film shooting crew here. You need to park your car at the cliff's edge and walk down - unlike before, we now have a katcha steps that take you down to the beach.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1310247.jpg

Pic 8: The "secret" beach. Watch out though - waters look calm but is very dangerous. It's like a washing machine in there, once you walk a few metres into the water.

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1310270.jpg

Pic 9: Cool ulta clock at "Papa Joe" restaurant in Cavelossim

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-p1310271.jpg

Pic 10: Puppies under the Navy ship on display in Karwar

100,000 kms on Indian Highways, 6 treks & a Couple of Flights-img_3210.jpg

MX6 · 17th February 2010, 20:41

Dolphins are real cool. Why scared dude? Look at me with a dolphin below.

16th February 2010, 09:58	#16
motomaverick Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,898 Thanked: 989 Times View My Garage	M hooked onto the photographs in this thread!!! Keep em coming. I would luv to know the name of the 1.5 lac camera? must be a nikon coz the color reproduction is bright.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 10:20	#17
kingofmyworld BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Hyderabad / pensylvania. Posts: 816 Thanked: 536 Times View My Garage	Nice pics, I specially love the bat's pic BTW, How long did it take to travel these hundred thousand kms?
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 11:40	#18
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,675 Thanked: 46,051 Times View My Garage	Mostly between 2004 and 2009. After marriage, I've reduced my highway runs - although my wife loves travelling. I just don't have the guts to do a 5000 km trip with wifey on board (safety issues). For now, its the usual Ooty/Goa fare for us now. Because of popular demand, I'm putting up more Vizag/Araku/Chitrakoot pics - including more bat pictures! Pic 1: Optra's bi-xenons unable to pierce the thick fog (near thirupathi). Switched off the main lamps and used the fog lamps instead. Pic 2: Chitrakoot Falls. That's me on the right hand side (nearest to the camera). Look at the left hand side for a bunch of devotees performing puja "inside" the rock formation. Pic 3: Close-up of the rock climbing devotees Pic 4: Local Olympic champion having a swim in the Indravathi River. Pic 5: More bats! Pic 6: Full moon outside Borra Caves. Pic 7: Sunset coming back home, near Bangalore. We had to drive on somebody's field to get to this location. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 12:22	#19
Soccerfan BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kochi Posts: 591 Thanked: 59 Times	great thread man . hooked to this.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 12:33	#20
highwaylover BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 78 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	superb photos. i want more
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 12:36	#21
KSM-Vtec Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MH-02-India-Bombay-Bandra Posts: 1,562 Thanked: 446 Times View My Garage	Now this is what i call real gr8 stuff!!!!! looking forward for more stunners....
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 12:57	#23
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,675 Thanked: 46,051 Times View My Garage	When photos are taken with just the camera, the photos are not that special. But when the photos are taken with the big lens attachment, they look good. I have also reduced the file size using "Irfan View". Each original file is over 3 MB. Images probably lost their clarity during the conversion?
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 13:06	#24
Ardy BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 614 Thanked: 87 Times View My Garage	@Smartcat, This is an awesome thread with some lovely pictures. And I am sure that this thread is going to reiterate the natural beauty in India and emphasize on the fact that there is huge tourism opportunity in India that has not been tapped yet. Great going. Cheers,
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 16:19	#25
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,675 Thanked: 46,051 Times View My Garage	Thanks. To check out the "natural beauty" part, we generally avoid 'touristy' places and try to explore the state we are in. And we almost always take a different route back - even if we have to travel an extra 50 km (for short trips) or 500 kms (for long ones). I'm now posting pics from our Jog Falls - Sitanadi (river water rafting) - Marwanthe trip in my friend's Palio. All the pics were taken with a cheap Rs. 15,000 camera! Pic 1: We left Bangalore in 2 cars - a Santro and a Palio. Near Shimoga, the "pilot car" Santro ran over a pile of large rocks used to mark out a big hole in the road, damaging the gearbox assembly. Eventhough, the santro guys called to warn us about the hole/rock, we went ahead and ran over the rocks at the same place . I'm sure there is a Chinese proverb to describe our situation! The Santro gang's trip was cancelled as the car was immobile. The pic shows the damage to the Palio. Pic 2: On the way to Jog Falls now. Jog Falls is the highest waterfall in India, and is about 380 Km from Bangalore, and near Shimoga/Sagar. Found this horse in the middle of the road, just horsing around. Pic 3: Guess which is the best time to visit coastal Karnataka? Pic 4: Rainy season is not the best time to visit Jog Falls though. Pic 5: From Jog Falls, we headed towards Hebri town (Udupi district). Sitanadi river flows near this town and is ideal for river water rafting for amateurs. Us and a few others are decked up with rafting gear. Pic 6: We entered into the waters here. Nice mangrove effect. No photos of the rafting experience, because even we are not that stupid to take a camera with us. Pic 7: The famous Marwanthe beach (on Mangalore - Karwar highway) - water on both sides of the National Highway. Pic 8: Pitched tent in the temple town of Udupi. Palio 1.2 - Our 2nd favorite highway cruiser. Gives 16 km/litre when driven the right way.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 17:15	#26
MX6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: City of seven islands. Posts: 2,878 Thanked: 232 Times	Aah. The great photos of Coastal karnataka. Nothing like Udupi/ Kundapura/ Hebri/ Agumbe in the rains!
	() Thanks

17th February 2010, 19:21	#27
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,675 Thanked: 46,051 Times View My Garage	Oh. And I though Hebri was a secret location which not many people know about Pics of a recent trip to Goa with wifey and friends - We decided to go on a weeklong visit to Goa, after reading a travelogue on Team BHP (by a Honda Civic guy). Pic 1: Just leaving Bangalore. NICE road was blocked by trucks - so had to get to Nelamangala via Magadi road. After 40 mins of hell, we are back on NH. Full of josh, men in the front (that's me on the right hand side with the big smile), women at the back. Pic 2: Uneventful trip to Goa. Got ourselves 5-star accomodation at Hathi Mahal (Cavelossim) for Rs. 500/day (special trial offer from Hathi Mahal for a Club Mahindra type membership scheme). Pic 3: First destination - Arambol beach. But we were not impressed by the heat. So we decide to get our comfortable in a shack. Pic 4: Checking the handling of the car on the helipad near Fort Aguada. Again, the place was hot as hell since we went there in the afternoon. What does one do in Goa in the afternoon? Pic 5: Mandatory visit to the Basicila of Bom Jesus (where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is kept). Lighting the thin candles is easy but placing it upright is not. Pic 6: Wifey on the sunroof. Pic 7: Found this goopy thing on Palolem beach. Any idea what this is? Pic 8: Looking for dolphins off Palolem beach. Found many, but difficult to capture them on camera. Didn't realize that dolphins are so big - its a bit scary when they get close to the boat. Pic 9: Song and dance show on the Mandovi river cruise. Last edited by SmartCat : 17th February 2010 at 19:23.
	() Thanks

17th February 2010, 20:00	#28
kolimuttai BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: BLR \| Chennai Posts: 108 Thanked: 14 Times	Excellent.... some more pictures please...
	() Thanks

17th February 2010, 20:35	#29
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,675 Thanked: 46,051 Times View My Garage	Goa Trip Continued - Pic 1: Lady, Can I have a dance? Pic 2: Vijay Mallya's yatch on Mandovi River. Lucky guy!@# Pic 3: Car tyre is a bit low on Oxygen. Emergency operation done. Pic 4: Got bored of the usual touristy places. Heading towards Cabo De Rama Fort (pronounced Kabji Rama Fort) Pic 5: View of the beach down below at the Cabo De Rama Fort. Unlike other forts, you won't find a single soul here. Pic 6: Sunset view from the Cabo De Rama Fort. Pic 7: Two kms from Cabo De Rama Fort is a "secret" beach. You will have to drive over a rocky field to get there though. Ocassionally you will find a film shooting crew here. You need to park your car at the cliff's edge and walk down - unlike before, we now have a katcha steps that take you down to the beach. Pic 8: The "secret" beach. Watch out though - waters look calm but is very dangerous. It's like a washing machine in there, once you walk a few metres into the water. Pic 9: Cool ulta clock at "Papa Joe" restaurant in Cavelossim Pic 10: Puppies under the Navy ship on display in Karwar Last edited by Rehaan : 18th February 2010 at 18:50.
	() Thanks

17th February 2010, 20:41	#30
MX6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: City of seven islands. Posts: 2,878 Thanked: 232 Times	Dolphins are real cool. Why scared dude? Look at me with a dolphin below.
	() Thanks