http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php en unny.radhakrishnan@gmail.com Copyright 2009 2009-08-16T14:37:24+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/dedicating/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/dedicating/#When:14:37:24Z This has been an exciting road trip for us. One that we will remember forever!  Apart from the many things we learn during such travels, this trip also helped us to realize that endurance is only a matter of will. This has been an exciting road trip for us. One that we will remember forever!  Apart from the many things we learn during such travels, this trip also helped us to realize that endurance is only a matter of will. For almost all the 10 days, it was waking up early, driving 250-300 kms a day mostly through ghats, searching for hotels in the night, sorting photos & videos and blogging. Internet connectivity was bad to worse in almost all places and blogging typically went till 1-2 am. There are two things that TGDC gave us. First, a bunch of new friends. And second, a chance to do a road trip through the route that we had been planning for some time. We dedicate this trip, the experiences and the blog to all 10000+ couples who applied (some of them have now become good friends), all the TGDC fans, our friends who followed us, a whole bunch of bloggers whom we have never met but became our fans, some of our colleagues who stepped in at office at the right time, a few people whom we met on the road and started following TGDC, the crew who followed us patiently, and the entire TGDC team who was ever ready to help us. 2009-08-16T14:37:24+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/remember_our_first_friends_on_the_road/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/remember_our_first_friends_on_the_road/#When:14:30:29Z Our first post on Day 1 was about them. At the end of 10 days, we got to know them a little more. Our first post on Day 1 was about them. At the end of 10 days, we got to know them a little more. Listen to them. 2009-08-16T14:30:29+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/untold_stories/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/untold_stories/#When:14:12:45Z Here are a few shots/stories, which we did not post earlier. Here are a few shots/stories – which we did not post earlier because we thought the ones we posted were more interesting. Man tilling a field Oxen/bullocks tilling fields are a common sight. For the first time, we saw two men tilling a paddy field – one pulling the plough and the other behind it. For the farmers who do not own cattle or have the means to rent one would not have a choice! Mineral check post We have seen check posts of various departments – Forests, RTO, Octroi, Sales Tax, Excise…. But this is the first time we saw a Mineral check post (at Dandeli – Belgaum road). Illegal mining used to thrive in many parts of western ghats. Perhaps, that might be the reason ‘Ye race gaadi hey’ On common comment we came across from various people about the car is ‘race car’. School children, petrol bunk operators, traffic policemen, shop keepers, guests in some of the hotels…. One more reason to blog This was Mr. Gupta, whom we met at Bandekars at Dandeli. When he heard that we have to blog every day, this is what he told us. Rasta roko When these four-leggers take charge of the road, we have to just wait. Don’t stay here after finishing your work This one was at the public toilet at Jog Falls. Siesta at Bandekar’s An hour of rest at Bandekars. Once we wished for a ‘car treadmill’ From the second day, most of our drive was through ghats and odometer was moving very slowly. We were not able to log in 300 kms on many days and the backlog increased. If we try to cover distance fast, scope of getting stories becomes less. So we thought, “If only we could put the car on a treadmill in the night…”. On the last 2-3 days we managed to cover more distance and still get some interesting stories. 2009-08-16T14:12:45+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/goa_two_lesser_known_things/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/goa_two_lesser_known_things/#When:14:04:54Z One of the oldest schools in Asia and ‘Memorial’ for a smuggler One of the oldest schools in Asia Right in Panaji city is Goa’s High Court buildings. But what many might not know is that these buildings were one of the oldest schools in Asia and are over 350 years old. The buildings are now renovated and house the High Court. The school, renamed after Goa’s famed freedom fighter Dr. T B Cunah, has moved to new premises. ‘Memorial’ for a smuggler Charles Shobraj was a sensation when we were in school. He was arrested in 1986 from Goa. The restaurant, O’ Coqueiro, from where he was arrested now has a memorial for him! A life-size sculpture of Charles Shobraj with chained hands. We wanted to speak to some old timers in the restaurant who could narrate the drama to us. Only to find that none of the current employees were there at that time. The owner at that time sold the hotel many years ago. The sculpture was made by the current owner in 2003. There are two versions of the stories of Shobraj’s arrest. One is that he asked the restaurant manager to inform the police that about his presence in the restaurant, in order to get arrested in India than in Nepal. The other story is that Shobraj was caught unawares while having a sumptuous meal in disguise. Whatever that may be, we found this memorial interesting. 2009-08-16T14:04:54+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/goa_through_ilangos_eyes/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/goa_through_ilangos_eyes/#When:13:59:18Z Ilango has been in Goa for over 13 years and is working as a guide for the past 7 or 8 years. We asked him how he sees the changes in Goa in the past 13 years. We got out our hotel at Miramar and were waiting near the beach for the camera crew to join. Seeing the Tamil Nadu registration of the car, a man approached us and started talking in Tamil. Ilango has been in Goa for over 13 years and is working as a guide for the past 7 or 8 years. We asked him how he sees the changes in Goa in the past 13 years. The number of residential buildings and hotels has increased substantially. Many NRIs have now returned from and have started doing business. Land transactions by people from outside Goa were prevalent till recently, but now the government has put a curb on it. Ever since the Mumbai bomb blasts happened, tourist inflow is down and so are his earnings. However, he is hopeful of the oncoming festival season, starting with Diwali. Something we noticed Ilango saying was that Indian government still considers ‘Goans’ as outsiders (not Indians). This was surprising and we could not understand what would be the source of this feeling and whether many others like Ilango share this. 2009-08-16T13:59:18+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/red_cedia_goes_red_stone_quarrying/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/red_cedia_goes_red_stone_quarrying/#When:13:56:26Z As we drove from Mangalore to Goa, this large laterite quarry caught our attention and we decided to check out how it is done. Before bricks became popular, laterite stones were used widley for construction. These soft stones, cut from the ground, gains strength on exposure to sun and air.Though the usage has come down drastically, many places in Kerala/Karnataka/Goa/Maharashtra still uses this natural stone. We have grown up seeing buildings made of laterite, but have never seen how these are cut from the earth. As we drove from Mangalore to Goa, this large laterite quarry caught our attention and we decided to go check out how it is done. Measurements are marked first and a mechanised cutter slices through the ground. The stones are then manually removed from the base using spades. The supervisor at the site refused to speak on the video. Our suspicion is that it could be an illegal quarry. 2009-08-15T13:56:26+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/the_curious_case_of_a_diabetes_sign_board/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/the_curious_case_of_a_diabetes_sign_board/#When:13:49:03Z While on the road between Mangalore and Goa, at Ankola, a series of sign boards raised our curiosity. It simply said ‘Diabetes’ and an arrow. After two or three such boards, we saw this one with little more details. While on the road between Mangalore and Goa, at Ankola, a series of sign boards raised our curiosity. It simply said ‘Diabetes’ and an arrow. After two or three such boards, we saw this one with little more details. It turned out to be a centre that promises cure for diabetes and claims to have customers from all over the world. The doctor was not there and the support staff gave some basic information. We wanted to find out some history of this place (any claims to a secret formula and stuff like that), but the support staff could not give much. The insulin plant 2009-08-15T13:49:03+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/now_on_the_fringes_of_western_ghats/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/now_on_the_fringes_of_western_ghats/#When:13:36:32Z From Day 9, it is a sort of return journey. We have left Mangalore and are on our way to Mumbai covering a few places en route. From Day 9, it is a sort of return journey. We have left Mangalore and are on our way to Mumbai covering a few places en route. The coastal highway often kisses the beaches while at times climb those ghats that can be considered as the fringes of the western ghats. In quite a few parts of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, the forested low hills extend till the sea. In the last decade or so, several small beaches throughout this coastal area (across the three states) have started getting noticed and are now being developed as alternate tourist destinations. This also generates employment opportunities for the locals. As we entered Goa, it started raining and we got to see the rain-drenched charms of Goa. 2009-08-15T13:36:32+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/bank_loans_we_dont_know_about/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/bank_loans_we_dont_know_about/#When:13:29:43Z Most city slickers like us have had experiences of banks chasing us for personal loans, auto loans, top-up loans, etc. Little do we realise the ordeals of villagers chasing loans. Most city slickers like us have had experiences of banks chasing us for personal loans, auto loans, top-up loans, etc. Little do we realise the ordeals of villagers chasing loans. Twice we came across long queues and crowd in front of two nationalized banks. We first thought it was queue for accessing ATM, since ATMs are rare in these one-street towns. We stopped by and asked one of them. He replied it was the rush to apply for loans. Makes us wonder if we are cut off from such realities… 2009-08-15T13:29:43+00:00 http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/nomines/blog/unny-bindhu/one_more_independence_day_in_mangalore/ http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/ee/index.php/blog/one_more_independence_day_in_mangalore/#When:13:22:08Z On Day 9, August 15, we woke up to Ginger’s Independence Day celebrations. True to the Tata tradition, Ginger Hotels (part of the Tata Group) celebrated Independence Day. On Day 9, August 15, we woke up to Ginger’s Independence Day celebrations.The lobby had a pretty rangoli in the shape of India. One of the guests hoisted the national flag, followed by distribution of sweets. Incidentally, we were in Mangalore on August 15, 2008 as well. It was one of those three-day-weekend-pack-your-bags stuff. We visited Kollur and had an exciting jeep ride to the Kodachadri peak with the 4-wheel drive climbing at 70 degree angle at many places. School children going for Independence Day parade - in a village on Mangalore-Goa road. Happy Independence Day 2009-08-15T13:22:08+00:00