DRIVOBLOG® | CCU-VNS-CCU May 2009 + The Varanasi Spectacle

[btirthankar]

Varanasi, in this heat? None of my family members were ready to join me. So I started off alone. Then Varanasi is a horribly crowded place and manevoring my vehicle in the swarm would be insane.

Insane it may sound, but if only they realised.

This is off season @ VNS, and dry season so no foot stomping crowd, no slippery streets, less dirt, easy accommodation, low rates (boat, guide, etc) and Non Stop Driving. Add to that an opportunity of distraction free photography.

I also express my thankfulness to Bhpian SS-Traveler for helping me out with directions during entering Varanasi, as I am too lazy and ignorant to carry maps or switch on my GPS Device. I am not a pioneer in exploration. Frankly speaking without people like HVK and such, DRIVOBLOG® would not be possible.

'The Varanasi Spectacle' starts.

[Surprise]

Nice pic to start with. Offlate your driving experience, vehicle behavior, road conditions etc were toned down a lot in your travelogues and would like you to add more onto the same

PS: Keep an eye on ur infractions & definitely I would love to enjoy more of your future travelogues

[rkbharat]

boss, you are really brave to visit Varanasi in this heat of summer. Though your are an expert, so no advice is required, but keep yourself safe from heat, and keep hydrated. I was in Varanasi last weekend, for something unavoidable, and this place is burning like a furnace.

Waiting for more beautiful pics.

Take care

[akbaree]

I have just returned from Bihar after a week long trip. I agree with the concerns mentioned about the heat factor. It is actually like a furnace in that part right now.

I am eagerly following this thread because Varanasi (the Kashi Mahajanpada) is high on my wish list.

[maddy42]

Wow you actually have dashed me with so many travellogues of late. Makes me feel that i am sitting idle at the moment. Waiting....

[btirthankar]

Originally Posted by akbaree

It is actually like a furnace in that part right now.

Originally Posted by rkbharat

this place is burning like a furnace.

Yeah Askme .

It was 42 Degrees C on that day and inside the parked vehicle

• the air inside could be 62 degrees C
• the steering wheel could be 70 degrees C
• the car seat could be 72 degrees C
• and the dashboard could be 82 degreesC

No wonder my Guide sprang out of the car the moment his bottom got in contact with the HOT seat.

Originally Posted by Surprise

Nice pic to start with. Offlate your driving experience, vehicle behavior, road conditions etc were toned down a lot in your travelogues

I know, but where are the places?

Where I am located, it is not at all practical to Drive to places like Munnar, Goa and Ooty.

Originally Posted by maddy42

Wow you actually have dashed me with so many travellogues of late. Makes me feel that i am sitting idle at the moment. Waiting....

I had taken 500+ photos but have good ones - 277 photos. 1 GB is Video itself and I dont know how I will upload it. Else I have to trim and edit it.

I can post them in a jiffy but the quality and storyline will suffer. I need some quality time to sequence and caption them properly.

Please bear with me, it will be worth the wait.

[anekho]

I'm all set for reading the journey!

cheers

[btirthankar]

** WARNING **

Team BHP does not encourage dangerous driving practices like shooting videos while driving at high speeds around a curve.

Please read the rules before proceeding forward.

Mod Team

[akbaree]

Originally Posted by btirthankar

Video of Driving on a Sharp Curve on NH2 trying to overtake an Amby and a Tractor Surprises without any logic.

Even God failed to give the people of this Country - 'Common Sense'

To quote Voltaire: "Common sense is not common".
So many people drive on the wrong side that I have begun thinking whether driving on the wrong side is common sense or otherwise.

[btirthankar]

Ganga Arati (Taken from a Boat)

I was looking like fully armed with Camera mounted on tripod .

YouTube - Ganga Arati

[btirthankar]

This is a Rare Video - Cremation @ Manikarnika Ghat

They say - The Most Sacred Place in Varanasi it is, where the soul is liberated from the cycle of re-incarnation.

If the authorities, saw me shooting the video, they would have extorted money from me.

YouTube - Cremation Varanasi Ganga Riverfront

Disclaimer: This video has been posted by the author to depict events that are regular in Varanasi and not intended to provide any kind of entertainment or encourage debates whatsoever.

[mobike008]

Basu, another one so soon? With so much driving around when do you get time to work man? Seems like an interesting beginning but i dont see the key information as in dates travelled, kms, route etc in your first post. Do share that info also as it would be interesting.

Waiting for your trademark captioned hilarious pictures. So think hard before you caption 'em !!!

[MileCruncher]

Seeing your travelogues makes me green with envy. Haven't had a good travel in the last 4 months and I can already feeling the withdrawal symptoms.

Anyways, as always good videos and I'm waiting with a bated breath for the pics

[btirthankar]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Seeing your travelogues makes me green with envy. Haven't had a good travel in the last 4 months and I can already feeling the withdrawal symptoms.

Anyways, as always good videos and I'm waiting with a bated breath for the pics

Originally Posted by mobike008

Basu, another one so soon? With so much driving around when do you get time to work man? Seems like an interesting beginning but i dont see the key information as in dates travelled, kms, route etc in your first post. Do share that info also as it would be interesting.

Waiting for your trademark captioned hilarious pictures. So think hard before you caption 'em !!!

Its instinct that makes me do these trips. They are a pilgrimage itself. Say to achieve 'automotive nirvana'. I get a high when I suddenly realize that I have transported myself over great distances without getting the sense of time.

On road trips you are not visiting 1 destination, but every town, every landscape along the highway is a destination. Now thats uncountable number of destinations, isnt it?

As you can see, this trip was not to just drive and drive but to discover spirituality.

Guys, I am as busy as everyone else. Its just that I leap into opportunities instead of planning. And there are COSTS to it. Costs which I need not elaborate as it would be discussion on a personal level. Will surely share the facts when we meet up next (both of you I meant)

[phamilyman]

Enough teasing ... on with the Drivoblog.