Swift-ly to Mysore

Onward to Mysore






Atlast we got to test the highway mileage of our new car. And let me tell you, it was pretty good. Our poor car got to go above 40kmph for the first time (the less is said about B'lore traffice, the better).

But we gained much more than just that, on our trip to Mysore-Srirangapattanam. It was a cloudy day of August. We planned to start earlier, but I didn't imagine Saikat could get up at 5am and drive. So we were on the Mysore Road flyover by 8.30 in the morning. The drive was good. Except for when you are going at 110 and see a bullock cart coming from the opposite side, on your lane!!

We put up at a beautiful resort in Srirangapattanam, courtesy our friends Rajeev and Manu. The Cauvery flowing just behind the place and the head-chef at the restaurant who could cook Bengali machher jhol, made our day. For any of you interested, it's Fort View Resort, on the Mysore-Bangalore Road.











The Cauvery, as you see her from the resort.







Then the drive to Mysore from there and finding the palace, was interesting. Once in Mysore city, there are not many road signs to guide you to the palace. But we eventually found it. Bypassing many self-proclaimed guides, beggers, tonga-wallahs we managed to get in. Had to take off our shoes!! I don't understand the Indian authorities' apathy for cameras. They don't want you to take snaps of monuments. But they allow hundreds of "Photograph sellers" outside each of them.

The palace is beautiful. It speaks of the rich heritage India has. You could see one of the best architectural works in India. The chandeliers, the paintings, the silver thrones all spoke of the greatness of the rulers of Mysore. May be, they could put some more descriptions on the things.

(We were actually there, see? -> )

One fact I noted: The residential palace of the royal family, which was actually the abode of the queens, does not match the main Mahal in grandeur. The floors aren't stoned and it is not airy enough. I guess the queens were not entitled to match the Kings in lavishness. Just kidding.

We got to see Raja Ravi Varma's paintings in the art gallery, which are just fantastic. We saw the renowned painting "Glow of Hope" by Haldenkar, too.


That evening we went to the KRS dam and Brindavan Gardens. It was good, just too crowded, may be because of the long weekend. The lights and fountains in Brindavan Gardens were worth watching. Cauvery was in all her might at the KRS dam. The cool breeze from Cauvery felt so good. Thought she was saying hello to us that way.

Cauvery at KRS dam, at dusk

(I am not a bad photographer)

The next day, the visit to Chamundi hills and Chamundeshwari Temple was good. The view of Mysore city from top of the hill was spectacular. Lots of devotees had come to offer puja to Devi Chamundeshwari. And there was this gigantic statue of Mahishashura, Saikat was keen to pose with. Then downhill, we saw the temple of Nandi, the bull.

Chamundeshwari Temple

The Srirangapattanam bird sanctuary had little to offer, other than breathtaking views of Cauvery. We saw lots of sign-boards saying these birds could be found there. But all we got to see were 2ravens and some sparrows. I guess all the other were "off-duty" as it was a sunday. There was no boating, as Cauvery was raging.

Then on our way back, we saw Tipu Sultan's garden house in Srirangapattanam.

And it was time to be back in Bangalore. It was a nice trip. After 1year of moving to Bangalore, we got to see Mysore, atlast.

The first OnSite for a software professional

The phrase "on site" or more lovingly "onsite" has a special place in every software professional's life.

For the uninitiated, onsite means a tour abroad (mostly to exotic locales, at company's expense) and accumulated US$. (For the records for the tax dept, we spend all our perdiems there only). It also means working long hours at client offices, spending weekends touring around the city and may be a couple of days off to visit nearby places.

We have to admit that every time we hear one of our colleagues or friends going onsite, our hearts ache. We start to calculate how many days it has been since our last journey abroad. We ponder over the more onsite oppotunities the "other" companies are offering, and whether it is time for us to look for a change, before the next H1B cap is in place.

No matter how many passport-pages we fill up travelling, the first time always holds a special place. Remember breaking the news at home that you are going abroad, and see your family be delighted and worried at the same time. And then buying a lot of stuff. Packing warm clothes, in case you need them, even if you are travelling to Kenya. And all the advices from veterans. Then having the ticket, foreign exchange from the travel desk. Boarding the plane on the D-day, all tensed. And all of a sudden you are in a foreign land. You are in your dreams.

So let's share our first onsite experiences. Right from how your manager gave you the news,to the cultural shock, to how you felt on your journey back.

It will be interesting to know how we felt, isn't it? Do give some photos too!!

"Why such a name?"?

Well, I wanted an uncommon name to begin with. Yeah.. just to impress people.
So, did a bit of soul and dictionary searching. And joined two words which are nearly antonyms. A capricious person is one who is whimsical; sagacity means wisdom.
Thus this is a place for all those wisdoms that are based on whims. And all those unpredictabilities which are nurtured by prudence.

So, Welcome Everyone. Calling all those who are pretending to toil away in front of their computers (but checking blogs instead). Usher in the capracious sagacity in your life. If life can be fickle, so can we. Let's celebrate our whims.


Take care
Adity