[KiloAlpha]

Please note updated itinerary

When : 24/26 March 2016
Where : Thekkady…like never before
Why : ... Our's not to reason why, Our's but to do and drive

Family / friends / significant other are welcome

The drive: Onward - https://goo.gl/G7WCJB ; Return - https://goo.gl/TjcVQx

Accomodation: Poetree Sarover Portico ~ http://www.poetreeresort.com/

Tariff: estimated Rs. 4,900/- average per person per night on twin-sharing basis,
Plan: bed, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners.
En route and on site expenses extra

Itinerary -

24 Mar :

4.00-4.15 am: “Hi” @ Attibele toll plaza. Pay n pull over to the left

000 km 04.15 am : depart
055 km 05.00-05.15 am : regroup @ Krishnagiri toll plaza
165 km 07.00-08.00 am : breakfast @ Park Plaza, Salem
265 km 09.30-09.45 am : regroup @ Karur
370 km 11.45-12.30 pm : refreshment break @ Dindigul Thalappakatti, Batlagundu,
430 km 01.30-01.45 pm : regroup @ Theni
490 km 03.15 pm : arrive Poetree Sarover Portico, Thekkady
4:30pm : Tea Party. Happy Birthday KiloAlpha Jr.

25 Mar: TBD

26 Mar:

000 km 10.00 am depart
105 km 12.30-01.30 pm : lunch @ Bathlagundu – Eden Garden Restaurant http://edengardenrestaurant.com/index.htm
220 km 03.30-03.45 pm : regroup @ Karur
320 km 05.15-06.30 pm : tea @ Park Plaza, Salem
490 kms 9.00 pm: Dinner optional / byes at Ramee Guestline, Attibele

Got Bhp ? Revv it up below -

Confirmed:
A. Bangalore:
1. RSudarsanan - 320d
2. Dr.AD + 1 - SX4
3. KiloAlpha + 1½ - S-Cross 1.6
4. tilt +1 - neutered Jetta tdi
5. pearljam + 1 - Verna 1.6
6. MRao + 3 - i20
7. nerd12OO - Accent
8. Sumzup + 1+1/2 - Yeti
9. Anand + 1 + 1/2 + 1/2 - Honda (with Sumzup)
10.deepfreak15 + 3 - Polo Tsi (convoy mode)
11. Jivendu + 1 +1/2 - i10 (with Dr.AD)

B. Coimbatore:
1. graaja - Polo GT TSi

C. Kochi:
1. naveen.raju + (TBD) - Creta (one day drive - 25th March)
2. GeneralJazz + 1 - Baleno 1.6 (one day drive - 25th March)

D. Departure day - Breakfast company
1. KarthikK - BMW 320D (will join only for breakfast)
2. Abirnale - XUV5OO
3. SunnyBoi - The Pink Ambassador

Cheers

[graaja]

I would suggest a small change in route to reach the Talapakatti Biriyani place in Batlagundu. The regular route goes through the town and the main road is very narrow and has frequent traffic snarls near the bus stand. Instead if we take the Batlagundu bypass road and then come in the opposite direction, we can save a lot of time, even though the distance is about 2.5km more.



Note: Even for 9:00PM, the time taken shown by Google maps is 1 minute more if we take the route through the town. In the afternoon, this will be atleast 30 minutes.

[RSUDARSANAN]

Originally Posted by SCORPION

Hey guys,
I will not be able to join the drive. A close relative of mine is battling for life even as I type this message.
SCORPION

Sorry to hear about your relative.
Take care.
There's always a next drive.

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Just saw your PM. Yes, missed meeting you guys on couple of occasions. This time it looks inviting although a stay is highly doubtful. Will try and join for a day drive to meet you guys.

Confirmed:

4. naveen.raju + (TBD) - Creta (one day drive - 25th March)

"naveenraju has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her"

Hence this post.

Looking forward to meeting you + TBD on 25th at 12 noon at the resort.

Do let me know TBD = how many folks.

Cheers

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by RSUDARSANAN

"naveenraju has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her"

Hence this post.

Looking forward to meeting you + TBD on 25th at 12 noon at the resort.

Do let me know TBD = how many folks.

Cheers

No idea why I am not able to receive the PM. Strange. Anyhow, my confirmation looks doubtful now as I am running around few things and need to get that done asap. Hopefully next time.

[RSUDARSANAN]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

No idea why I am not able to receive the PM. Strange. Anyhow, my confirmation looks doubtful now as I am running around few things and need to get that done asap. Hopefully next time.

We'll expect you when we see you

General Jazz: "Sorry but looks like I may have to cancel. A customer is visiting our office this weekend and I've been asked to stay back. I was really looking forward to this meetup."

Team Kochi bows out.....

Update:

Confirmed:
A. Bangalore:
1. RSudarsanan - 320d
2. Dr.AD + 1 - SX4
3. KiloAlpha + 1½ - S-Cross 1.6
4. tilt +1 - neutered Jetta tdi
5. pearljam + 1 - Verna 1.6
6. MRao + 3 - i20
7. nerd12OO - Accent
8. Sumzup + 1+1/2 - Yeti
9. Anand + 1 + 1/2 + 1/2 - Honda (with Sumzup)
10.deepfreak15 + 3 - Polo Tsi (convoy mode)
11. Jivendu + 1 +1/2 - i10 (with Dr.AD)

B. Coimbatore:
1. graaja - Polo GT TSi

C. Departure day - Breakfast company
1. KarthikK - BMW 320D (will join only for breakfast)
2. Abirnale - XUV5OO
3. SunnyBoi - The Pink Ambassador

Cheers

[Dr.AD]

Updating my friend's car in the list below:

Update:

Confirmed:
A. Bangalore:
1. RSudarsanan - 320d
2. Dr.AD + 1 - SX4
3. KiloAlpha + 1½ - S-Cross 1.6
4. tilt +1 - neutered Jetta tdi
5. pearljam + 1 - Verna 1.6
6. MRao + 3 - i20
7. nerd12OO - Accent
8. Sumzup + 1+1/2 - Yeti
9. Anand + 1 + 1/2 + 1/2 - Honda (with Sumzup)
10.deepfreak15 + 3 - Polo Tsi (convoy mode)
11. Jivendu + 1 +1/2 - Audi Q3 (with Dr.AD)

B. Coimbatore:
1. graaja - Polo GT TSi

C. Departure day - Breakfast company
1. KarthikK - BMW 320D (will join only for breakfast)
2. Abirnale - XUV5OO
3. SunnyBoi - The Pink Ambassador

[deepfreak15]

First off a huge thank you to our Chief for organizing this trip and like Sumzup said, putting up with such an unruly bunch! But what would a trip be without an unruly bunch..so Thank you all for making this another memorable drive and stay!

[deepfreak15]

4AM start to the drive, brain was still asleep so managed to get only one pic



Breakfaast at Salem Radisson, smiles in anticipation of the drive ahead or the food in front, its anyone's guess



Mrs Tilt and Mrs Pearljam definitely in anticipation of the food in front


Sumzup holding a family conference


My wife and parents


Some pretty serious discussion going on at this table, I'm pretty sure it did have something to do with cars


Tilt makes his point



Sumzup holding court with nerd12OO while SunnyBoi is all smiles


A full stomach can do this to you (smiles all around)


Some of us were on a liquid diet!

[Cruiser_D]

Kudos for planning and executing a weekend drive. I was following this thread from the beginning and good to see that quite a lot of people attended it. Must appreciate the chief here.

Waiting for that detailed travelogue in making! Hope the journey was smooth with out any glitches.

[deepfreak15]

Endorsed by Bangalore Team-BHP



Not a bad view at all



Jr KiloAlpha decided to share his special day with us!



Jr KiloAlpha all ready to grace the occasion



KiloAlpha and family , Jr Sumzup and Jr Anand(s) (Honda City's kids )



The deed is done



Now the grown-ups cant wait to get in on the action(Yup the cake was yummy and I only had 1 piece)



Jr Sumzup has Honda City's kids (Anand) in splits



Jr KiloAlpha explaining to Honda City's kids (Anand) how it feels to be all grown up!



To be contd..

[FORTified]

Deepfreak - Good photos and wonderful comments.

[i see that Surya grew a lot taller now.]

[deepfreak15]

Contd.. Day2

After a long day's drive woke up to this view



View from the balcony, one of those rare times where I didn't need coffee to open my eyes!




One of the many reasons I love Kerala everything is greener and brighter here, truly God's own country





Some artifacts on display



The day started with a warning, at first I thought it was a fancy sticker and when I asked the driver he just smirked. The morning ride was to the pickup point where we would go for a nature walk in the forest. Later got to know that these jeeps are used for some serious trail driving and the sticker was an actual warning



Our guide for the day , his last statement before we set off was "Remember, this is not a Zoo" and again I thought this was just a standard disclaimer, little did I know his words will hit home in a few minutes


And off we go the brave Bangalore Team-Bhp group



Convoy mode has become second nature to us now

[deepfreak15]

Convoy mode



What is everyone looking at ?



Looks ominous and was half expecting a story about a glorious kill, but the skull belonged to a Gaur that had died of old age a few weeks ago. The place was full of bones scattered around



Now for the highlight of the trek! Since we were a large group of around 15 heads they had to send 3 forest guides with us. Soon they started whispering among themselves in Malayalam. What I could gather was they earlier in the day they had seen a herd of elephants around and were going to see if they were still there. One guide took us to a grassy knoll to wait, while the other two disappeared into the forest. After a few minutes they came out and were only communicating in sign language from a few meters away. They slowly led us into to forest and at all times kept signaling to us to make as little noise as possible. We came to a stop and every now and then the guides were acting spooked and it looked like they weren't sure if we should go on or not. In my mind I thought this must be some elaborate way they use to up the thrill factor. Then one of the guides went ahead alone..a minute or two must have passed and then suddenly from the forest we saw him burst out and run full speed to us even a gazelle or deer would have lost a race with him. And then from where he had come out we heard branches creaking and breaking. Soon enough a baby elephant ran out trumpeting and ran in the opposite direction, it happened so quickly I didnt get a chance to pull off a shot. The guide later said baby elephants are curious and friendly, had it spotted us it would have come to us to play and if that had happened I may not be uploading these pics because what followed was this







Thrilled at having spotted something wild that could have killed us if it wanted too and having come out unscathed we all let our guard down and continued our walk like a stroll in the park and then this..
Fresh pug marks of a Tiger, first the thrill of having spotted a rare sight, then at least for me, my blood ran cold thinking where is that animal now The guides didn't seem too concerned as they said it was made the previous night and the Tiger wouldn't be close by




To be Contd...

[deepfreak15]

Day 2 Contd...

This guy does not seem amused



Curious George



Must be a distant cousin of the above, he seems to be having way too much fun



George of the Jungle watching out for that tree



"Better half" gang, the trunk of the tree looked like the backside of an elephant!



Forest exit




Lady powered Convoy



The things we do to make people happy

[deepfreak15]

Day 3..Time to head home

Celebrity in our group Graaja's GT 2.0 it was a privilege to see the results of his labor and we had a complete session/demo on the tasteful updates he has done to the car. This truly is a one of a kind GT in India! This led us to start asking "What would Ganesh do?" whenever an automobile question arose. I do hope he continues to join us for future trips though



Talk about a GT TSI sandwich



The Chief takes up his rightful position at the head, wait isn't there a car missing?



Sumzup had left the chiller on for two days, needless to say it did require some man power to crank it up , Graaja can be seen supervising, I provided some useful verbal encouragement while Dr.AD,Sumzup,Nerd12OO just stood there and pushed!



Something is definitely wrong with this group , they keep smiling even when its time to go home



These are all the pics I had with me , there are some more pics of the Kalaripayattu show, Mountain trail drive and morning walk that I will try to upload shortly.