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Participants : Thej and Lakshman

Podcast Notes

• Thej shares his experience of Europe trip, its not a normal tour its more of a tech-trip
• iWordCamp - WordPress camp, Italy.
• Gadgets that we should carry while traveling, what to buy from Europe.
• Applying for MBA (outside India) – Tips/steps for GMAT, TOEFL, Essays, Interview etc.
• News : Google’s friend connect

PS : Follow YAPodcast on twitter for live updtes and suggestions

This weekend we had plans to go for Moonlight trek at Skanda Giri (Kalavaarahalli Betta), I have been there but that was day trek, the fun is trekking at night, before sunrise complete hill is surrounded by clouds, and sun rises over the clouds. That would be a memorable scene.

We had decided to start at 1 AM so we can reach by 2:30 and can start trek. But our bus did not reach to pick up; I called and found out that bus had an accident on Hosur Road while it was coming to pick up; travelling agent confirmed that at this hour it is impossible to get any other vehicle for 14 people. I had given up and changed by cloths too, but few friends did not give up and finally managed to get a Tata Star bus by 2:30, by the time we picked up everyone and left city it was 4:15 and there was no chance to climb up by sunrise.

We reached (after losing our way once) Skanda giri by 6:00 and there was sunrise. From down we could see how clouds have covered the top. We started the trek and realized that there were lot more thorny bushes then last time and it was very hard to cross them. There was a lot of grass and was making it very slippery to move, but still we kept on climbing. We were climbing with the theory that just reach some point and from there find way for another point (like traversing a graph without knowing what comes after next node). But that theory failed after 2 hours as we reached a DEAD (it was too slippery to move on) end, we had to climb down. Proving local maxima exist and can be deceptive sometimes.

One guide was waiting for us (he was sure we will miss the way) and we hired him as we were tired and it was getting hotter. It took us one more hour for guide to bring us to path that had to be followed, during which we had to cross two very steep and slippery sections. Rest of the climb was relatively smooth and we took two more hours to climb. It was amazing view from there and the view from there was exactly like ‘Google Maps’ view. We were exhausted but the cold breeze was relaxing enough to rejuvenate. Energy levels were restored by Amul Sandwiches, Haldiram’s Samosa and Sohn Papdi.

Climb was easy but long, another two hours and we were back at base camp. We started back; once again I was sitting in front guiding. But since I had not slept at all last night, I fell asleep, it would have been dangerous so I was kicked moved to the last seat, and slept peacefully till we reached back.

There were few funny moments too, when I said ‘we should have brought rope and could have climbed using that’ and I got reply ‘better than climbing I would hang myself with that rope’. Most of the jokes were concentrated towards workplace, PoC etc (what more can be expected when WS, PEAS and Radien teams go together for a trek)

PS: I realized one thing during the trip, if I have a camera with me, no trek seems longer.

Jaisamand Lake was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1685 AD. This lake is built by damming the Gomti River. Length of the dam is 1202 feet and the lake covers 21 square miles of area. Marble cenotaphs are built over the dam at regular interval. Two summer palaces are built on two hills surrounding the lake. The main purpose for these palaces was entertainment during the monsoon season. These palaces were built at the same time as construction of dam. There is a Shiva temple on the dam also, which was constructed by the order of Maharana Fateh Singh.

Photos

There are seven islands in this lake which are host to many migratory birds. Jaismand Wildlife Sanctuary which surrounds the lake has Panthers, Sambhars, Wild-Boars, Blue-bulls, spotted deers etc.

This lake has been life line of cities all around. During draught after 3 years all seven lakes of Udaipur had dried except this. For next 3 years this lake was only source of water in that area. Experts believed it would have served the purpose of 2-3 more years.

All Photos from Jaisamand