Some of the Best Movies I Enjoyed

I keep loosing track of some of the best movies i have ever loved watching. This is a small attempt to put up a list so that many more can enjoy as well. There are a lot of good Hindi and Kannada movies I just love to watch but here I am only trying to give a list of some good English movies. Every time i watch a good movie i will try to update this list. If I start adding Hindi and Kannada the list is going to explode that's the only reason I have kept it aside.

English:

1. Into the Wild
2. Touching the Void
3. Munich
4. The Hurt Locker
5. Titanic
6. PS I love you
7. Blood Diamond
8. Catch a Fire
9. Reign over me
10. The constant Gardner
11. The Kite Runner
12. The Bucket List
13. Bella
14. Kung Fu Panda
15. Gladiator
16. Patriot
17. Top Gun
18. The Last King of Scotland
19. Brave Heart
20. Sixth Sense
21. The Last Samurai
22. Cast Away
23. The Terminal
24. Matrix Series
25. The Phone Booth
26. Taking of Pelham 123
27. Wild Hogs
28. Inception
29. Social Network
30. Sanctum

There are many more good movies, especially some of the action movies but this list is special as I can just watch these movies any number of times.

Hercules Ryders ACT 109

I had been postponing this for quite some time now. But i don't know i can't spend time in gym its so boring and time wasting, but i have put on 6kgs and have moved from 67 to 73kgs. What better way to reduce my weight? From now on i will try to go to office atleast 2-3 days a week in my new bike.
I have been hearing about changing the color of auto/bus a go green initiative i don't know was this a joke or is there any valid reason, but from now on i can work on the initiative i have started at least. I spend around 200Rs a week on petrol for my scooter but more than money i wonder how much pollution i might be reducing? I am not sure if there is a means to measure how much carbon emission i would be contributing for a week?
What surprised me the most was, i remembered my childhood days where in hardly we had 2-3 types of cycles available out of which BSA SLR, Hero Ranger were pretty popular i had a Hero Hamsa, but today we have hundreds and hundreds of cycles. I had paid 800Rs for my cycle then and now i paid 10,500Rs.
Today I went to office by my cycle felt good, enjoying the music but I also used to get scared when a bus or a lorry went very close to me. However from now on I will try to use my cycle for all the work in and around my house. Hopefully anything within 5kms I will try to use my cycle.

North Kanara - Sirsi and Yellapura

I would rate this trip of mine as one of the best trips of 2009. Nothing like it was a difficult or challenging trip, but I would rate this trip high just because of the shear surprise it had in it. Again i was pretty much unaware of the finer details of whats this trip all about, but then it was Gilli who had organized the entire trip right from bus tickets to all the other bookings. We started on thursday night at 7pm from KSTRC bus stand on a direct bus to Yellapur.
We reached Yellapur bus stand at around 7am. We called up Nagendra Bhat and he was ready to pick us for a 2 day trip in his Maruthi Omni. After a quick breakfast at hotel Sambram we started heading towards our first destination Sathodi Falls.
We had to pass through the back waters of Kali river along the path. Since we had reached very early of the day probably we had avoided the usual crowd. Every time i reach such a place what i miss the most is swimming in such place, i plan to carry a life jacket from next time. Sripad was the only person who swam a bit there. It was pretty peacfull but i could see some plastics and beer bottles. All of us tried to carry back a bit of the garbage, on our way back we could see a huge crowd moving towards the falls. I could only wish that they wouldn't spoil the beauty of the place just to be seen on an other day.
From here we went back to yellapur and had our lunch at Geetha Bhavan, simple homely food for cheap rate i just love such eateries rather than the existing hotels which have a standard taste across the entire state. From here we started heading along the Yellapur Karwar highway for around 15kms and then take a left to head towards our 2nd falls Shirley falls.
This is more of a private falls behind a house. Its not big falls and its very easy to go down to the falls for a bath. It might be very good during rainy season. From here continue back on the Karwar highway for another 15kms and then take a right towards Magod Falls. This is a huge falls, but i couldn't find a way how to get down the falls. Hopefully there should be some rough way to go down will find it out next time. Very close to Magod Falls we have Jenakallu Gudda for sunset view. From here we can look at the beautiful valley while the sun goes down.
Nagendra Bhat dropped us at Nisarga Mane near yellapura for the night. It was not at all worth, even though we had to shell out a lot of money here it was a horrible place to stay and not worth the money at all. In our team we never mind sleeping down a tree under an open sky rather than a hotel which is not worth the money. Any way we got up very early in the morning and went for bird watching. This is the latest hobby my self and sripad have picked up identifying birds, i enjoy taking photos of these aswell.
Bhat picked us up took us to his house for breakfast. Here we had a feast enjoying the lovely country side food. I always wonder how the food served in a village is so tasty? Bhat's house is in the middle of the forest a few meters from the highway. Hopefully one can stay at Bhat's house if they permit rather than the hotel we stayed.
From here we headed towards the best part of this trip Shivgange falls. I am sorry i really couldn't make out much of the road but one thing i can say is we need to head towards Nellali Matta and Soragina Mane. From top we could only see a huge falls, but then we decided to go down and checkout. This was the best thing we did. One the way down we also found a "Asian Paradise Fly Catcher" (Complete White body and black head), even though it was a small 30min trek it was very steep and pretty difficult, but the view from the bottom is something i just cann't explain in simple words spectacular, pretty much untouched. We wanted to go towards the bottom of the falls but it looked more of impossible to go till the end of the falls. Climbing back to the top was very hard.
From here we went to Sirsi and had home food at a restaurant which didn't have a name though but unbelivable food for 22Rs. After lunch we had to drive around 35kms from Sirsi towards Unchalli Falls. This was the last falls of our trip. This was a beautifull falls but we missed the oppurtunity to go down and hence forth i would say its more of half explored. Best part of the trip was i never expected there were so many huge and wonderful falls in karnataka. Many have only known of jog falls and shivanasamudra falls. Its good that these falls are not much written off so its safe from human destruction.
Its not that i don't encourage people enjoying the beauty of these places, but i am against people not realizing the beauty of these places and spoiling it. Finally we didn't have time to head back to Yellapur and hence we had to call KSRTC in Yellapur and told them we would be catching the bus from Sirsi. Finally end of a fantastic trip, never knew there were so many wonderful falls in my own state. Best part is, there are 5 more falls in the same district plan to go again some time soon.
Team : Gilli, Sripad, Harsha and Poorna
Route : Bangalore - Shimoga - Sirsi - Yellapura

Falls Covered : Sathodi Falls, Shirley Falls, Maagod Falls, Shivgange Falls,Unchalli Falls and Jenakallu Gudda
Contact Person - Nagendra Bhat (Ph: 91-9980427640) - He will drive you around for 2 days showing all these places.

Wild Life Photography

I had been to Kabini and K.Gudi, best part of which was some of the best shots of wild life shooting i have done till date. Even though i have treked a lot i never had the experience of shooting wildlife in the wild. For the first time i realised how difficult it is to shoot birds and animals in the wild. I am just adding some photos rather than writing anything much. But the best part of the trip to kabini was my first sighting of a Leapord.








Route to Kabini : BANGALORE (220 Kms) – Ramnagaram – Maddur – Mandya – Srirangapatna – Mysore – Hand Post Circle (On Mysore - Maananthavaadi Road) – Karapura
Route to KGudi : Mysore-Nanjangud-Chamaraja Nagar-K.Gudi-B.R.Hills-Yelandur-T.Narasipur. Distance. 205 km

Chunchi Falls

As I mentioned even though I travelled a bit over last six months I never updated my trip details. This was during august so please don't go by the amount of water in the snaps. My initial plan was to visit shivanasamdura during its peak season and since it had rained heavily i had no doubt about the amount of water in the shivanasamdura so called up loki and pratiba to join for the trip. We started at around 4.30 am in the morning. I picked up loki and pratiba and along with jyoti started driving towards kanakpura. We stoped at kanakpura at around 6.30 for breakfast and as usual idli was our best bet for early breakfast.

Last time I had driven to shivanasamdura via kaveri fishing camp, it was very beautiful but this time i couldn't really make out if i was driving in the same route or not but then i only knew i was driving towards sangama. But around 20kms from Kanakpura i saw a board reading Chunchi falls. I had never seen or heard about this falls before and immediately i took a left in that direction.
After driving through a small village and rough roads we reached a spot which was more of a dead end for my car, we came out of the car and could see the river flowing between a mountain but yet no trace of the falls. We had to walk down a bit to find a falls which was in its best , none of us had imagined that we would end up in such a beautiful place.
Best part of the trip i would say was the time we reached the spot we had reached chunchi falls by around 7 and we didn't find anyone other than we four. It was ferocious and scary as well yet we sneaked a bit close towards the falls and got completely drenched by the water. I did some photography and then by around 10 we could see few more teams coming down and then we felt it was time to leave. It was those moments of enjoying the beauty of the water falls in the early hours without much crowd that was so special about this trip.
We were completely satisfied for the day yet we started driving towards sangama, but as expected i felt this place was horribly over crowded and badly spoilt with plastics all around. I always feel that either good places should not have good connectivity so that value to reach these places is remembered or it should be maintained perfectly by totally banning plastics and fining heavily for violators. This fine amount could be used by the local villagers for the development work around these places.
We didn't enjoy anything at sangam and we started heading back towards bangalore. We reached back bangalore at around 3.30 or 4 and went to Prathiba's house. She prepared some pakoras for us and we had some fun with hot pakoras and tea. We enjoyed the trip to the core because nothing was planned and everything happened as a pleasant surprise. We wanted to go to shivanasamudra and ended up going to a place which i had never heard off.

Place : Chunchi Falls
Route : Bangalore, Kanakapura, Aldur, Deviation before Sangama, 6km to Chunchi Falls
Distance : Around 90km from Bangalore

Lost Touch

I have not updated my blog since almost 6months, don't have a valid reason though but from now on I would be reading and writing very often. I had few trips in these 6 months and i would be updating the same at the earliest.

My Bucket List

Even though i had an idea of creating a list of to do before i die from long back, few movies off late have inspired me to put it in a place so that i can keep checking the status and keep adding new ones on regular basis.

Sl.no. -- Wish List -- Status
1) Buy a Bike of my own Salary (Done - May 2003)
2) Buy a digital Camera (Done - June 2006)
3) Upgrade to an Digital SLR (Done - 20/6/2009 )
4) Visit Kargil and Ladak (Done - September 2007)
5) Stay out of home for 2 years (Done - 2005 to 2007)
6) Buy a cycle (Done - 14/1/2010)
7) Visit Ladak and Kargil by Bike (Pending)
8) Visit Auranachal Pradesh (Pending)
9) Paragliding (Done)
10) Rafting in Ganga just after rains (Done - August 2007)
11) Be the pride owner of a Bullet (Pending)
12) Scuba Diving (Pending)
13) Learn Swimming (Pending)
14) Learn and Play Guitar (Pending)
15) Sky Diving (Pending)
16) Dine and stay in a five star hotel (Done)
17) Get Lost for a week (Done - 25/12/2008)
18) Cliff Jumping (Done - December 2006)
19) Watch King cobra in the wild (Done)
20) Watch Tiger in the wild (Pending)
21) Take bath in a water falls (Done many times now)
22) Buy a farm land and do farming (Pending)
23) Walk an entire night in the dark (Done - 26/12/2008)
24) Feed/Educate a child (Pending)
25) Trek to Everest Base Camp (Pending)
26) Visit Land of Opportunities - AMERICA (Done - June 2009)
27) Photo shoot in Masai Mara, Africa during the Great Migration (Pending)
28) Travel in Europe (Pending)
29) Become a Politician - Join a political party (Pending)

How to Apply for Smart Card

I obtained my license for geared 2 wheel and car (LMV) way back in 1999. But during a pickpocket incident in the busy majestic area i lost my plastic card after that i went to the Rajaji nagar RTO to which i was told i have to get the plastic card from tumkur only. However when i went to tumkur RTO again i was told since they don't have machine right now i would have to go back after 6 months :-) believe me i was told to come back after 6 months. Then i went to Rajaji nagar RTO again for change of address and applying of plastic card again i was told to apply after 3 months because after 3 months they would be issuing the new smart cards. Again when i went after 3 months i was told they are very busy since the system of issuing smart cards is very new and they asked me to wait for a month or so, so that it can ease down a bit. Here i am again after a month to listen to the same music since my license is valid till 2019 its better for me to wait for a month or so, so that it can ease the rush a bit more but this time i was a bit reluctant. Now let me tell you the process of applying for the smart card along with the change of address :-) and also how it works in the RTO :-)

One person sits outside to assist you for your help :-) . I went to him and asked for the process to apply for smart card and he told me to go to counter 21. I went to counter 21 here i was asked to go to cash counter and pay the fee for the same. I went to the cash counter and after standing in the Que for 15min when it was my turn i asked her how much do i need to pay for change of address and smart card. She told me to go to counter 21 and ask them how much i need to pay. I was surprised that a person sitting in cash counter doesn't know how much to accept and she just accepts what people ask her to take :-). I saw that people don't pay for a certain job rather they ask her to take 200rs, 300rs and give a receipt for the same so strange right :-)

Now i went back to counter 21 and asked how much should i pay for change of address and smart card. He told me i had to pay 300rs (200 for smart card and 100 for change of address). Again i went back to the cash counter to stand in the Que, a middle man was standing in front of me with a list of 30 people, i had to wait until the receipt for all the 30 people is finished :-) . At the end of which the cashier told to the person 750Rs. Probably this should be the commission for the cashier for doing his job, because it was not paid at that moment :-). Its my turn now, i told her to give a receipt for 300rs to which she asked my name. I told "Poorna Prajna", she could not hear or probably she didn't know the spelling she asked me to write an application and come back :-). I came out again but i remembered suddenly and went back to the counter and gave my license and asked her to see my name from the license. At last she gave me a receipt for 300rs. With this i went back to counter 21. He told me to write an application and attach an address proof . I wrote an application and attached a xerox copy of my voting id card for address proof and went back to counter 21. He asked me to go to photo counter and get my photo clicked :-). When i went there, i was told that i should get a signature from the person in counter 21, so i went back again. This time he told me that i have to attach a printed application available outside for smart card. I had to go out to get the form only to know that there are no forms available with the RTO and i have to go to the xerox shop near by and pay Re1 for the application. After filling the application again i went back to counter 21 and got the signature and after which i got my photo clicked as well :-). Again go back to counter 21 and hand over all the documents along with your license. I got a piece of paper with a RTO seal as acknowledgement and i have been asked to come back after one month :-). Hope that i will get my smart card after one month...

Its soo simple right, but this is how it works here... Every time i visit a government office i remember few words from Gandhi "Its not that you are helping a customer, rather its because of the customer you are existing". I guess its Gandhi , golden words but so far from truth in the Indian government offices.

Bangalore Traffic Police

Few days back i received a mail with an information which was very usefull today . I was coming back from my office at ITPL and just before KR Puram bridge i was stopped by the police constable for not breaking any traffic rule. At the first place i knew it was not legal to stop any one in a free flowing traffic without any reason and you are not supposed to be harassed for documents. Anyway even though i had all the documents, i had failed to check that my emission test document had lapsed a week back. The police constable was immediate to say that i was suppose to pay a fine of Rs300 for not having the valid emission test document. I feel its so strange, every day i have been traveling around 60kms in Bangalore and i see scores of vehicles like auto, lorries which emit lots of carbon yet they never look to be stopped and how come its always the brand new vehicles that's gets stopped? One answer could be the possibility of the owner of a new vehicle just after 1 year not having the emission test document is very high compared to others and hence the opportunity to make some quick money by the police :-)

Any way since i had seen this mail few days back, when the constable asked for Rs 300 fine i told him sorry i am not suppose to pay fine for not having the valid emission test document and i am entitled to get a notice for one week with in which i should produce the document in the police station, hence forth please give me a notice and later i will come to the police station to show you the emission test document. I was so happy to see the surprised police man, at the first place he was surprised to know that people are getting awareness about the law. He was not just surprised he was embarrassed as well, he was immediate to say give me your original vehicle license and not the photo copy. Well i had a back up for this as well :-) I had been to the RTO 3 times for a plastic card and all the 3 times i had been sent back saying we are in the process of upgrading it to smart card and come back after few more days. But few days back i had a big discussion in the RTO and forcefully applied for the smart card. Once you apply for smart card they take back my license and I was given an acknowledgment. I showed the same to the police constable saying my license has been taken back by the RTO and would be given back in a month with the new smart card :-) . He was speech less as he didn't have anything more to say. He just said please get your emission tested in the next petrol bunk :-) i still asked him are you not giving the notice hahaha :-) he said no need :-) hahaha i was sooo happy that i saved some money from getting wasted :-)

I would take this oppurtunity to thank Mr. Praveen Sood (Additional Commissioner of Police) for letting us know about this fact and saving lots of rupees for a common man and also trying to reduce corruption in the traffic police department. Probably if every one who is been stopped know these things i am sure it would be difficult for the traffic police to harass people and make some quick buck.

Now What rule says :

1. If you don't have or if your insurance is lapsed you are suppose to get a notice for 15 days.

2. If you don't have emission test document you are suppose to get a notice for 1 week.

Either of the cases you are not suppose to pay any fine. We can get it done during the notice period and produce it in the police station later. You can only be fined if you fail to get these documents with in the notice period.

Police can't catch you and ask for any documents he can only catch you if you have violated any traffic rule or for drunken driving. Its a mistake if the police is catching people just to verify documents in a free flowing traffic. Also if caught violating a traffic rule you are only supposed to be fined for breaking the rule and not for other cases of not carrying the documents and stuffs :-)

Also thanks to RTI for making aware of these things to a common man :-)

Some Tips About Nokia Mobile

Today I was trying to find the pin of my mobile so went for the google search and found some inputs. Hope it would be usefull for others as well

To view IMEI number *#06#
To view Software Version enter *#0000#
To view Status of Sim Clock Stop. Enter *#746025625#
Latest Version is under Phone Info
Type is NSE-3NX
*#92702689# offers you Serial Number and also IMEI number. There are various options to scroll here.
The code is easier to remember as *#war0anty# (warranty)
The next screen is the date of manufacture in the format Made: 1197
The next screen is the purchase date in the format Purchasing Date: 1197 (this can be edited)
The next screen has Repaired: 0000 (presumable at repair the date is entered)
The next screen has Transfer User Data? (the same option as the 8110)
To exit turn the phone off and then back on.
*3370# to activate Enhanced Full Rate (*efr0#)
#3370# to deactivate Enhanced Full Rate (#efr0#)
*4720# to activate Half Rate (*hra0#) ONLY IN SOFTWARE VERSION V4.33 OR EARLIER
#4720# to deactivate Half Rate (#hra0#)
After pressing these codes the phone will shut down and start up again with the service activated/deactivated.
Unlock SP lock
Here is a way to Unlock your phone which is Service Provider locked, without to know SPLock code !!!!
Give it a try:
First of all, PIN CODE MUST BE ON, then press:
C

C and hold until it clears display
* and hold until start to blink
* and hold until start to blink
04* * *your pin#
Each time you turn your phone OFF it resets the lock, so this need to be done each time you'll turn your phone ON
Anyway it's better than nothing, isn't it?
6110 Sim Card Locking
There are four different types of Sim Locks on the 6110 (not sure about 5110 yet).
1 = Country Lock - Lock to Specific Country
2 = Network Lock - Lock to Network
3 = Provider Lock - Lock to Service Provider
4 = Sim Lock - Lock to Specific SIM Card
To see the status of your phone
#pw+(mastercode)+X#
(mastercode) is a 10 digit number WITHOUT the brackets.
X is a number 1 through 4, it shows the above locks. Not sure of which numbers are assigned to which lock yet. (The numbers above stand for X => for esample: 1 = Country Lock
Sim not restricted message means your phone is NOT sim locked - Check all 4 to be sure.
Most SIMs are locked with the Service Provider Lock => f.e. to the network of MAX