[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by madan80

im out for the weekends. JK NRC Round 2 happening in cbe next weekend so will be going, and we are planning one long cycling trip after that.. so sorry.. :( im seeing only july! my apologies E_L.

Madan, this could easily be in July.

Originally Posted by nitrous

^^Its been so long, I've forgotten how you look, my friend.

With all the cycling that he is doing, you really may not recognize him when you see him.

[yzfrj]

Originally Posted by madan80

one long cycling trip

No comment.

@nitrous
Karting sounds like fun.

What say guys ?

OT : Anyone seen SB ?

[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by yzfrj

Anyone seen SB ?

Lurking around here, man.

I do check out the meet thread, but since I am not here on weekends, did not see any point in posting.

vikram/john/nitrous, are the Friday night WTPTs still happening ?

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

How many more weekends are you gonna be like this SB ?

Hopefully not many more, John. Just waiting for some things to fall in place.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by yzfrj

OT : Anyone seen SB ?

Look in the Venice of the East.

How many more weekends are you gonna be like this SB ?

[supremeBaleno]

BTW, would you guys be interested in a meet in the backwaters of Alappuzha, spending the night in a houseboat ? It is awesome fun, if you can spare a weekend.

Driving down and back might be a pain, but I know neoranjith will be up for the challenge.

A tentative itinerary would go like this :

Fri 9:15PM : Catch the 6041 Alappuzha Exp to Kerala. // Have the WTPT in the train
Sat 10:50AM : Reach Alappuzha.
Sat 11:30AM : A short drive by auto/taxi and you are at the Tourism office, where all houseboats are berthed. Get onto the houseboat, which will be your home for the next 22 hours.
Sun 9:30AM : The houseboat drops you back at the Tourism office.

You have many options for the remaining part of Sunday :

1) Explore the city, do shopping or whatever and catch the 2624 Chennai mail from nearby Kottayam at 5:30PM to reach Chennai at 7AM on Monday.

OR

2) Catch a bus to Cochin, take in the sights of the city esp. Fort Cochin, Marine Drive etc and catch the 2624 Chennail mail from Ernakulam North station at 7:05PM to reach Chennai at 7AM on Monday.

It is surely an experience that you would relish.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

BTW, would you guys be interested in a meet in the backwaters of Alappuzha, spending the night in a houseboat ? It is awesome fun, if you can spare a weekend.

Driving down and back might be a pain, but I know neoranjith will be up for the challenge.

A tentative itinerary would go like this :

Fri 9:15PM : Catch the 6041 Alappuzha Exp to Kerala. // Have the WTPT in the train
Sat 10:50AM : Reach Alappuzha.
Sat 11:30AM : A short drive by auto/taxi and you are at the Tourism office, where all houseboats are berthed. Get onto the houseboat, which will be your home for the next 22 hours.
Sun 9:30AM : The houseboat drops you back at the Tourism office.

You have many options for the remaining part of Sunday :

1) Explore the city, do shopping or whatever and catch the 2624 Chennai mail from nearby Kottayam at 5:30PM to reach Chennai at 7AM on Monday.

OR

2) Catch a bus to Cochin, take in the sights of the city esp. Fort Cochin, Marine Drive etc and catch the 2624 Chennail mail from Ernakulam North station at 7:05PM to reach Chennai at 7AM on Monday.

It is surely an experience that you would relish.

Oh! now you have become the official brand ambassador for Kerala Tourism.

WTPT in the train ? I am sure thats not allowed or is it ?

22 hours in a boat can be quite claustrophobic.

[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

WTPT in the train ? I am sure thats not allowed or is it ?

Well, if you go by the rule-book, it's not allowed. But book yourselves in the FirstClass closed coupes and you have all the privacy you need.

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

22 hours in a boat can be quite claustrophobic.

Not really. On the contrary, it is quite fun. Before you know it, it is already time to disembark.

Also, the monsoons have started, which means off-season rates apply and the monsoons have a charm of their own.

Only con I see is being away from family for 3 nights. But you could bring along family too - the kids would love it.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

Well, if you go by the rule-book, it's not allowed. But book yourselves in the FirstClass closed coupes and you have all the privacy you need.

Do you still have I Class coupes in the trains ?

[supremeBaleno]

Only on some trains, not all. The Alappuzha express has it. So does the 2695/2696 Chennai/Tvm Superfast.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

Well, if you go by the rule-book, it's not allowed. But book yourselves in the FirstClass closed coupes and you have all the privacy you need.

I almost got myself typing my way into an infraction / warning by suggesting Coke & Sprite lookalikes. You dont need the privacy in that case.

[yzfrj]

Last time I got on a houseboat was like 9yrs back.
That was for half a day with my college buddies.

Its fun, can take in the sights eat various types of fishes, do some bird watching (no no not that kind, real Birds) and maybe even taste the "local" brew (well I don't know if we get the "Natural" one anymore, now its all made artificially and in that case just eat the fish).

But for the 22 hour boat trip around 27 hours on train

[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by yzfrj

But for the 22 hour boat trip around 27 hours on train

Or, as neoranjith would look at it - "27 hours of driving fun".

[headers]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

Or, as neoranjith would look at it - "27 hours of driving fun".

27 hours of driving is fun If we were in a performance sedan. No point beating an old lady especially a SUZUKI

[neoranjit]

Originally Posted by headers

27 hours of driving is fun If we were in a performance sedan. No point beating an old lady especially a SUZUKI

its fun even in a very ordinary sedan but definitely not in a Govt. Police vehicle. ( indian or russian )

[headers]

Originally Posted by neoranjit

its fun even in a very ordinary sedan but definitely not in a Govt. Police vehicle. ( indian or russian )

I couldnt agree better with you on that one.