tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352900752011-11-28T04:56:31.843+05:30Usually when I ride, I write. In fact, I ride so that I have something to write. So here is a blog dedicated to these random ramblings on and off the road. You can call it my own 'Motorcycle Diaries' - and I hope one day they are as life-changing to someone as Che Guevara's were for me. --- Shalom, Shreekant VijaykarShreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-23999813560351696902010-08-24T22:52:00.000+05:302010-08-24T22:52:17.920+05:30

I have surprisingly few things to pick with Bangalore. Overall the city has been a pleasant experience more often than not. The new airport – There are no lounges. For a new swanky airport, this is quite a surprise that they did not think about it. You are given a token with which you are supposed to hunt for food. The food counters are always crowded, and people are sitting around like beasts

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-76481784831331643392010-08-24T22:50:00.000+05:302010-08-24T22:50:58.055+05:30

I want to start with the town I love to hate – Chennai. My relationship with the city has been consistently tormenting on both sides since the time I first visited Chennai in the late 90’s. I even came this close to being posted here for work in 2002. By sheer luck, and some quick actions, I was spared from the ordeal. Here is a list of things that I hate about the city: The stink – there is a

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-32387456975489625642010-08-24T22:48:00.001+05:302010-08-24T22:54:12.378+05:30

As you can see, it has taken me almost half a year to publish this. Firstly I was too tied up running around the world making a living. And secondly, I was wondering to myself whether I should or I should not, due to the sensitivities attached, and what response I would get. But then I said, what the heck! ... So here goes ... --------------------------------------------------------------------

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-69556848374503995122009-11-18T16:59:00.007+05:302009-11-23T00:23:18.504+05:30

Bikaner - Daal Kachoris and 360 Cenotaphs Days: 2, Total Km: 1000 Gurgaon - Till Kotpulti via NH8 - Right towards Udaipurwati on SH - Opening at Sikar - Sri Dungarpur - Bikaner via NH 11 [450km] Stay at Bikaner Bikaner - NH 11 till Ratangarh - right to Churu on NH 65 - SH to Jhunjhunu - Bagad - Chirawa - Rewari - Gurgaon -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-81035750047204901662009-11-05T14:20:00.004+05:302009-11-18T22:54:25.553+05:30

Day 3 – 3 Nov, 2009, Tuesday Fagu – Theog – Chhaila – Khara Pathar – Jubbal – Hatkodi – Rohru – Back to Fagu [250km] I get up early, around 6am. It is a bright and sunny morning. Since we are the only guests staying at the resort, there is no tea or breakfast. I coax the attendant to get me some toast and butter, and chai. The verandah is sparkling with golden sunlight. And so is the Giri

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-44100231133927072652009-11-05T14:16:00.008+05:302009-11-18T22:58:07.467+05:30

Delhi – Chandigarh – Chail – Kufri – Fagu – Jubbal – Hatkoti – Shimla – Return [1200km] Not very long ago, I got caught in a conversation about time-share holidays and how great they are, and how we can plan our holidays and get the best out of the vacation. The gentleman running the time-share business kept insisting that I try out their lovely packages, and I kept smiling, and nodding, and

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-12752969833430567542009-04-15T02:07:00.007+05:302009-05-07T21:57:56.066+05:30

Route: Gurgaon - Jaipur - Tonk - Devali - Hindoli - Bundi - BackNow this is what you should do: find yourself an extended weekend, where the skies are cloudy and north wind blowing across the plains. Then get your vehicle out on the Gurgaon - Jaipur highway and head towards Bundi - that tiny exotic teardrop (lit; Bundi means drop) of Joy, held in the palms of the mountains. Not camels, not folk

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-2327999577531292202009-04-12T00:09:00.009+05:302009-05-07T22:04:52.082+05:30

Spice Court Restaurant, Jaipur(This is a review of the Spice Court restaurant in Jaipur - which has appeared on TripAdvisor.com)I remember the last time this happened to me was in year 2002, when I first tasted the mutton seekh kebabs at Karims in the old Delhi near Jama Masjid. Today, as I lick the last bits of Kulfi at Spice Court in Jaipur, I think I am in love again.Hua yun ki we were

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-39421931279992525672009-03-21T21:11:00.008+05:302009-04-02T03:25:19.421+05:30

The times have remained crazy ... So here is one more from the attic --- This was published in year 2006 on the 60kph (group I ride with) website:Earlier Published as : "Sun and Sand - Murud Alibagh With 60kph" This is the story of my trip to Murud and Alibag with 8 others in year 2006. The narrative may not have captured everything of the trip. Just like that lot of pictures that the camera's

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-73460790571179717172009-03-11T21:25:00.006+05:302009-04-02T03:27:05.958+05:30

The times are crazy. I have had hardly any time to clean the bike, forget about riding it. I feel guilty and depressed, and claustrophobic. The one outlet that I have - writing these blog posts - also takes some time to bake the posts, make them brown to perfection. So I decided to take the easy road - recycle and reuse. Here is one I found in my attic ... one of the earlier published posts (

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-84220891658043171982009-02-02T15:45:00.012+05:302009-04-02T03:31:56.414+05:30

Surviving Colombo - Kandy - Bentota-----------------------------------------------------------The sun is getting rather too much for my eyes through these windowpanes even as I sit in the waiting lounge at the Negambo Airport, about 45km from Colombo - officially Sri Lanka's largest airport - waiting to take my flight out to New Delhi.So I have put my shades on and that is how I am writing this

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-57468493997613671662008-05-10T21:26:00.011+05:302009-04-02T03:33:24.919+05:30

I have not been able to move further after day 5. But the dictaphone is still there, and with it the memories of the expedition. I will try and complete the 15 days in a while from now. Meanwhile, publishing some of the Leh photos ... Just to ensure that I am alive along with this blog. Will be adding some more posts soon.Here is the first glimpse of snow: 1 km before Rohtang Pass.Then the

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-69531333486581561192007-09-30T13:45:00.004+05:302009-04-02T03:35:37.165+05:30

Ladakh 6. DAY 5 – August 08, 2007 WedBharatput City – Killing Sarai (Sarchu Sarai) – Sarchu – {Gata Loops} – Nakeela – Lachlung La – Kangla Jal – Pang – Moray Plains – Tanglang La – Rumtse – Miru – Upshi – Karu – LehBy the time it is 6am and the tent owner comes to wake us up, we are already awake with pounding headaches that the height, the rare oxygen, the cold and disturbed sleep have given us

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-82148482667097435442007-09-30T13:01:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:36:16.795+05:30

Ladakh 5. DAY 4 – August 07, 2007 TueMarhi – Rohtang La – Koksar – Tandi – Keylong – Stringi – [Udaipur] – Jispa – Darcha – Patsio – Zingzingbar – Baralacha Pass – Bharatpur CityBy 6am, it is bright and sunny, which is a phenomenon common across all high-altitude mountain areas. The memories of the wet, dark and chilly night is behind us. Baddy has gone back from this place as he has to reach

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-55100809543431085022007-09-30T12:41:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:36:39.375+05:30

Ladakh 4. DAY 3 – August 06, 2007 MonManali – Rohtang La – back to MarhiThe day opens very late – as late as 9am for us. Must be the trout curry and the exhaustion of the earlier day, but we simply can’t get out of the excellent fluffy beds. Not that we are complaining though.By the time we pack, have a royal breakfast (120 bucks for an English breakfast, complete with fruit juice, omelets and

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-68840013395177649402007-09-30T12:27:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:37:03.185+05:30

Ladakh 3. DAY 2 – August 05, 2007 SunSwarghat – Bilaspur - Sundernagar – Mandi – Aut – Bhuntar – Kullu - ManaliThe second day opens with a warm sunshine and clear skies. It is quite pleasant at Swarghat, and we are all refreshed by a good night’s sleep. We start off for Manali by around 9:30am – a small mistake that I would like to avoid the next time. One should always start early, and this is

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-74632027441265245852007-09-30T11:39:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:37:25.829+05:30

Ladakh 2. DAY 1 – August 04, 2007 SatGurgaon – Delhi [GT Road] – Sonpat – Panipat – Chandigarh – Rupnagar – Kiratpur – SwarghatI wake Alok and Rini up at 4am. The day begins with a downpour, while we are trying to pack the bags on the bike. It is dark and pours heavily for almost 2 hours. By the end of which we are at the end of our patience and wits and decide to pack the bags anyway and move on

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-78780009462221174982007-09-30T11:27:00.003+05:302009-04-02T03:37:57.584+05:30

Leh Ladakh Motorbike Expedition 2007Statutory Warning: The following series of posts contains material that can cause irreversible damage to your lifestyle. It may also put all your career aspirations of being a lawyer or a stock-market expert or a CEO or or any other serious role that you want to be in, in serious jeopardy. It is therefore recommended only for nomads and dolphins.p.s. For the

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-20556759274722591952007-09-30T11:21:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:38:54.326+05:30

This is a post about posts – a sort of ‘Meta-post’ – about posts to follow.From August 4th till August 17th, I have been in a different realm altogether – Ladakh – ‘the Land of Passes’. Also the land of snow, the land of unpredictable climate and the land of mind-numbing beauty.It is a dream come true, the effect of which has taken over a month to taper down and the memories of which will linger

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-48226985226280019502007-07-23T14:10:00.003+05:302009-04-02T03:39:46.462+05:30

Concerning Palmistry and NH-2" ... over the mountain, across the seawho knows what is waiting for me? ..." - Pink FloydIt is not funny that I have such long life-line, I will probably linger around for quite a while, like Hamlet's dear dad. I just hope I have better things to tell my sons and grandsons, than mystery and murder. I hope I have things to tell ..

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-55392817499346532622007-06-29T23:18:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:40:17.067+05:30

I always thought that the questions were important. Not just questions, and of course not just the answers, ... but the whole journey from the questions till the answers (cliche, I know, can't help it. It's inevitable.) ... The process of going back and forth, back and forth -- like waves on the Hedvi beach that we camped on one night after a long ride.But these days I don't hear the waves,

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-51738619165486223072007-06-03T11:59:00.003+05:302009-04-02T03:41:24.264+05:30

The cow is of bovine ilk,one end is moo, the other end milk.- Ogden NashOne of the reasons I write posts about my bike rides is that I have a terrible memory. Not only do I forget the details, sometimes I forget even the broad contexts. My typical explanation for this is that all the upper deck is occupied by a large multi-processor, so there is no place for a data bank on the rack, but you and I

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-9575737265633079462007-06-03T11:19:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:42:21.143+05:30

Now that you are all set and ready for going to the passport office ... blah blah blah ...Abandon all hope, ye who enterth!PART II:Step 3: Going through the actual process:------------------------------------------------------------------1. Now that you have got the forms, copies, shaved, taken bath etc. etc., you are all set for the big day.2. This big day is not a particular day, but any

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-28144847932272934052007-06-03T11:06:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:43:08.895+05:30

Now this one post has nothing to do with Biking. I am writing this one to share with you some pearls of practical wisdom I collected last week when I went through the process of passport re-issue. Now why this is called re-issue and not renewal etc. are topics that will be covered subsequently. I hope this note is useful to those who will need to brave this new and inhospitable terrain

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-30165860437250781672007-05-28T14:25:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:43:32.791+05:30

Travel date: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May 2007Distance: 250km from GurgaonRoute: Gurgaon - Jaipur Highway (N8) till Dharuheda - Right towards Rewari Rewari to Narnaul - Singhana - Chidawa - Jhunjhunu - MandawaLeave Gurgaon 3:30pm.Gurgaon to Dharuheda via NH8. Take right after crossing Dharuheda towards Rewari. Cross through Rewari. Little town with weird architecture. Take right from Ambedkar

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-2633381487044599672007-05-06T12:22:00.003+05:302009-04-02T03:44:00.311+05:30

The other day Alok called and complained that I have not written anything about our rides together. Now although I explained to him that this is because of a slight technical hitch that he is in Mumbai and I am in Delhi these days and so we have not done rides together lately, I think it is apt that I post some of my earlier published posts for the record and for the sake of the biking

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-69646386806062183822007-04-30T15:15:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:47:02.148+05:30

This is one of my old writeups - from the archieves that is. I think I had first appeared in the March of 2005 on the 60kph site / bulletin board. Anyway, the reason I am posting this today again is to keep the momentum going. I cannot bang my head today and come up with some new stuff, so here is some old wine in -- well, old bottle.Cheers, S------------------------------------------------------

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-48998242902043636822007-04-28T11:03:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:48:04.940+05:30

I am increasingly getting inspired by the great mastermind of Scott Adams -- not with his political views about the American elections or his viewpoints on free will (and how he and Albert Einstein are in the same league when it comes to that) ... These are all incidental. What I am getting increasingly inspired by, is his ability to write a post every freaking day, over and over and over again.

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-77323140979938747632007-04-25T16:12:00.003+05:302009-04-02T03:48:58.316+05:30

There is something about the Moradabad bypass road. Every time I have crossed this 7km stretch, something wonderfully exciting has happened with me. Most of the times, I have crossed it on a motorbike, and so I have written about the overall journey in some post or the other. Like my trips to Nainital, Saat tal, and the other parts of Kumaon. But I think this stretch needs a special mention too.

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-29885585146066449572007-01-02T22:40:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:50:26.073+05:30

SerendipityKALAKHO – ABHANERI – BHANDAREJ – DHAUSA – BHANGARH - MADHOGARHThe famous vocabulary book by Nurnberg and Rosenblum defines ‘Serendipity’ as ‘lucky discovery’ – ‘lucky’, ‘chance’, ‘unexpected’ … It also says that the word is lovely. Agreed, especially after this serendipitous travel in the center of Rajasthan.The month of December is marked with a host of long weekends in the year 2006.

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-1159615677086274942006-09-30T16:56:00.003+05:302009-04-12T01:04:10.898+05:30

Surviving the Rann of Kutch -Epilogue to an expedition---------------------------------------------------------------------As I have mentioned earlier, usually when I ride, I write. In fact, I ride so that I have something to write. But since this time, we had 30 people altogether riding into the Rann of Kutch, I am sure there will be a lot of writeups on the ride (some of them repetitive :-)).

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35290075.post-1159615446468798572006-09-30T16:52:00.002+05:302009-04-02T03:52:09.888+05:30

After a whole day of fire-fighting, I think it is apt that I take some time off and write down memoirs of my recent bike ride to Nainital. Read it slowly... like you have coffee on a rainy day, one sip at a time.It was one crazy moment when the three of us decided that next weekend is when we will take up this ambitious (rather, utterly idiotic) plan of biking down to Nainital. We leave the Noida

Shreekant Vijaykarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02035235619230514931noreply@blogger.com0