Thank you guys for liking the log

DAY 3:
Breakfast was packed, general minor checks done on the bikes; the machines started rolling towards Pollachi. Not far from Pollachi, with a coconut plantation by the highway, we stop for having breakfast and a brief shutterbag session. With every windmill crossing in the rear view mirror we proceed closer to enter “Gods own country”. This was supposed to be a long day of riding in the ghats(in fact that’s the whole point we were here).







A quick break to complete the general formalities at Chinar Check post, we were through. Few vehicles coming from the opposite direction warned us about a herd of elephants that were there on the road and to be careful if going that way. The camera mount and camera came out in a jiffy to capture some nice pics of the gentle giants. We were so lucky that the pachyderms had already had their share of human nonsense and ventured into the forest. After few photo breaks enroute, We reach Munnar for lunch.

The dry Chinar


Horlicks powered ZMR :b:














Home Sweet Home, Any buyers for this ?????


A closer look




The next thing on the to-do list was riding to Top Station. Kept briefing Gautham about the place where we stayed, the photo shoot locations etc during the last interstate meet till a point that he showed signs of getting bored and asked me to shut up. Missed the roar of 60 machines and the kind of attention we grabbed the last time we were here. Without even stopping at the last point till the bikes can go we return hoping to reach Thekkady, the destination for the day as soon as possible. The clouds started to become darker and darker as we started descending down.



The doc does a Usain Bolt


Not satisfied with the first attempt , goes on to do a Rajinikanth










The ride towards Devikulam and Pooppara was heavenly with lesser traffic for company. We stopped at Pooppara for a small chai session and had a conversation with the shop guy about the route ahead till Thekkady and any wild life interference if any. “Sir if you have proceed 8-10 Kms ahead, be a bit cautious since there was elephant herd sighting a day or two back and the roads are very narrow.” The tea we were sipping didn’t pass through the throat instantaneously. Night ride, ultra narrow roads( so much that if an elephant stands in the middle, even a cycle would not pass through). Somewhre near Kallar, one of the main attractions of Kerala temples, decorated tuskers which carry the lord on their back, on particular occasions, was in sight. But sadly by the time we stopped, took the cam out and take some good pics the procession went inside the temple premises and the cops post a barricade.

Sadly one of the only few pics clicked of the procession


After close to two hours of riding in the dark(one of the pleasant late evenings ride I had in recent times), we reach Thekkady and stop for the night at the “WHITE HOUSE”. On entering Thekkady I pinched myself to confirm that I was awake in Thekkady and not in Colva/Calangaute. So many foreign tourists, though I am not surprised by the presence of them in Kerala, but the sheer numbers made me to rethink. The host of the stay told us to be ready by 5-5.30 if we intended to go for boating. “Hell Yes” that’s the whole point we were there. A short walk till the forest gate, with a true Kerala cuisine to satisfy the growling tummies made sure we have a pleasant sleep.

Good narration with Excellent Pictures..and very happy to know that you had an enjoyable tour

Nice pics Phanikar & looks like loads of fun; I need to speak to you on the Camera mount. Pls help, will you?

the Jacket you have is awesome, the protection on the shoulders is great, is that a Cortech or a Tourmaster.

Thank You Sir Glad that you liked the log.

Definitely Aargee , let me know if I can be of some help

Its from X-Element buddy

Nice one Phanikar Superb pics too ,especially the twisties one

I assume it was done in Jan end for Feb, as the place looks green ?
What was the duration of the entire ride ?

Lovely log as usual Phani And the pictures are awesome as expected from you. Your choice of route is spot on I'm sure you guys had a great time !
We did a weekend ride to Ooty last week, will post the log shortly.

Take Care & Ride Safe

the ride was from 29/02 to 4/03. Except for bandipur,Mudumalai and wayanad the rest of the places were considerably green

Anywhere, have you written on setting up this mount? If so, pls point out, let me start from there, otherwise, I've to bug you. I think starting off to read would be better. Any?

Thank You Sir Nice nice, would like to know how the newbie in your stable performed

Nothing written(that i could find of) Aargee, would try to have some pics which would explain.It very simple to mount

Day 4:

Route taken :
THEKKADY-VAGAMON-KALADY-ANGAMALY-THRISSUR-SHORANUR


Wake up at half past four, hoping to be the first ones to get the boating tickets. We come out and see a beeline of buses,cars,vans,jeeps and what not. That dampens the spirits. Nevertheless we faith fully stand behind an old lady in the queue, just the looks of whom was very irritating. We wonder what she will do seeing an Elephant/Sambar/Bison at this age, may be a last wish (sorry for being so rude, but I didn’t like her). The purpose she was there made me to hate her even more, she was a teacher of a school, for whom she was waiting to get 100+ tickets. Somehow managed to get the tickets. Waiting for the next half an hour or more was so boring, exciting combined into one. Was just praying if at least there is one animal sighting (this was based on my previous disastrous safari outings). Bang at 6.30 the gates open, ours, since it was the only two wheeler, the guard let us to go though first. Rode as if there was free gold on offer. Luckily we were the first ones to get the ticket. Behind us was a firangi couple who were “very romantic “in the morning. When we stand in the waiting queue to board the boat, by the side were some damaged boats. Both of us exchange a sarcastic smile which read “Meet you again, if we are alive“. By now the student crew had become more than just irritation.

Some Pics of Periyar Tiger reserve

This is what happens to even mankind if he gets overdose of what is essential to Him/Her. Too philosophical , i know






When the gates opened to board, a sigh of relief, they were accommodated in two separate boats apart from ours. The engines start; they clap and shout, the guard almost had them off the boat. Thankfully their boat leave early and their non sense started becoming more distant. First animal spotted a lone female elephant, the boat slows down. Few seconds later, her “gang” joins in, a group of 4-5 female start loitering along the banks of the river. Few calves were also present because of which the females were very protective of them. Lucky enough so far , we proceed further to find a herd of sambar.







Family photo , Smile please (Dad gone for Work i guess )




With both hands folded, pray to god , next one a striped feline please. A loud voice comes from the skies “Rs.150 mein itna hein milega” , say to myself hold your horses “ a waiting kettle never boils “ . Going further we spot more elephants, deer, wild boar and many birds, we were content that at least we were able to see something for the money paid. At one point the boat takes a U-turn to get back to the place where we boarded, indicating that it was almost done.

The place where the boat took a U-turn











When we turn back, we see the lone female elephant that we saw earlier, is swimming from the shore it was on earlier to another. The kids in the boat get hyper excited, probably this was the first time they saw the largest land mammal take on the water. After what looked like an eventful boat ride we head to the room for some breakfast and leave the place.







The Bengali Aunty who saw the tusk in a female elephant (the one in the red) and the uncle(the one with the red cap) who told her to keep quiet


At the WHITE HOUSE :b:




The busy Doc


ZMA , Smile please more twisties today promise


The sun was shining right over our head and Kerala humidity had set in and Manjeri/ Perinthalmanna was like light years away.
Around 3 o clock somewhere post Erattupetta we stop for lunch. Looking at the tripmeter, was a shocker, we had done only 90+kms in 3 hours in some fine roads, that was disappointing. Ha done innumerable twisties and hair pins by now. Took a long lunch break to hog over the Traditional Kerala parothas and idiappam. At this point an Ambulance tries to overtake a car on a blind left hander, with all the lights and siren on.The next thing we see is that a private bus overtakes the ambulance on the same curve, We were like :wtf:

Rubber plantations alongside


A bit of posing


Roads further become a lot straighter than uphill which helped to gallop miles faster. Just before entering Kalady Bridge , met a specimen of the “nth” order on a Victor, when honked to give way for me to pass(there was so much space that even a trailer could easily pass) the gentle turns back and says “ I don’t want to give you space, do whatever you want” I was like :wtf: , where on earth have I come to. Somehow crawling post Angamaly we hit the four laner and in no time we reach Thrissur, where Jumbo Circus(on the road) for the evening show was already underway. Patiently we reach Shoranur to halt for the day.

As soon as we reach Shoranur, Gautham goes in search of an accommodation and I look after the luggage and the bikes. A guy briskly walk up to me as if he was being chased by Osama bin Laden’s followers, tells “The wine shop is about to close, hurry up”. Taken aback by his gesture, I told him that I don’t drink; he got angry and started asking why was I around then. Later he introduces himself to be a native of Kundapur in KAR and had been a laborer there for about 3-4 year, I was like , so what. After a struggle to let go of him, find ourselves a not so tidy room, take a bath and come down to the restraunt for dinner. Hardly 5 min after taking bath , we start sweating ,wonder where are we Shoranur or Sudan. After some light dinner and a tanker full of fresh fruit juices, we crash after having a very tiring day.

Good : Pics
Bad : No full-res images yet.
Ugly : You spelled "Rajinikanth" wrong :P

How on earth could I even do that , corrected now High res pics will be uploaded soon buddy.need to get it from gautham

I think Rajnikanth\Ressinigandh is immune to spelling mistakes, courtesy of him being in TN.

Those are some very fine pictures of periyar wildlife sanctuary. Whether th0se pics are a stroke of chance or carefully plucked shots, I have to praise the composition. Pics 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 11 are magazine material.

Watching this thread for more awesome pics!