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April 2012

Second trip to Coorg: Madikeri, Omkareshwara temple and atop many hills

Date: April 2009

After my first trip to the hilly district in 2008, I returned to Coorg for a second trip with my then office photography club – Shutterbugs. We hired a Chevrolet Tavera taxi and left Bangalore city Friday night after work.

Coorg Shutterbugs trip on the way Anto
We'd stop on the way to give our driver a coffee break, because we were worried about him dozing off at the wheel
Highway to Coorg at night
Not that we managed to sleep sitting inside the crammed vehicle
Coorg Shutterbugs trip homestay Anto
We arrived at our homestay in Madikeri town around 6am
Homestay Madikeri Coorg Shutterbugs trip
Don't ask me for a name, for this massive hut belong to a relative of one our office mates. We still had to pay for it though.

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EXO – ‘MAMA’ album review: SM Entertainment enters a new era

I should probably specify that I’m going to be reviewing the Korean versions of all the songs, thus EXO-K. But I’m still going to refer to the group collectively as EXO, and how  the significance of their debut opens a new chapter in SM Entertainment‘s history. More on that later.

I first wanted to write a review for EXO when they released their debut single “What Is Love” back in January. And so, I began working on an image:

Exo What is love MV screencap kpop boyband
I created this image on 30/01/2012... but didn't use it until now

I thought “Nah, I’ll just wait until they release their album”. Nearly three months(!) later, here I am, finally working on this review. SM has released more teasers for EXO in the last few months than the number of K-pop groups who have debuted since January. Which in K-pop these days implies a lot! The number of teaser videos were turning into a joke and I started to care less and less about EXO. But now, after the album finally released, all I can say is nobody – including me – can ignore EXO’s presence in K-pop! Continue reading “EXO – ‘MAMA’ album review: SM Entertainment enters a new era” »

First trip to Coorg: Thadiyandamol, Talakaveri and Abbey Falls

Date: October 2008

This is actually a continuation of a travelogue in which we had first stopped at Bylakuppe. Post-lunch, we then drove to Coorg district and straight to our homestay at the foot of Thadiyandamol, the highest peak in Coorg. This place took some finding but once we eventually did, Ramesh struggled a bit to get his car in. It had rained earlier that day, so the soil was moist and muddy, making the car’s wheels to spin as Ramesh tried to get some grip.

Mud tracks road Coorg India
The number of attempts Ramesh took (Photograph by Ramesh)
Muddy entrance to Palace Estate Coorg
This was in 2008, I don't know if the condition of this path is the same even to this day
Loi at Palace Estate driveway Coorg
The car eventually got in
Palace Estate homestay Thadiyandamol Coorg
The homestay we were staying at was called Palace Estate
Palace Estate homestay Coorg India
Our room was in that portion of the house with the yellow wall
Views from Palace Estate Thadiyandamol Coorg
The views were nice

Continue reading “First trip to Coorg: Thadiyandamol, Talakaveri and Abbey Falls” »

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