Udayagiri

5 Jyothirlings tour Nov 2018

Flight from Chennai to Pune. Maa Ambe travels picked us from Pune airport.
drove out of pune city and had early lunch in hotel ashoka 
 reached Bhimashankar after the noon

15 Nov - Dakini, Bhimashankar temple

After Bhimashankar darshan, we continued our journey towards Aurangabad.
had dinner on the way and checked into hotel near Ellora caves.


16 Nov - Ellora caves

After checking out of the hotel, we went past Daulatabad Fort, Aurangazeb tomb and reached entry to Ellora.

Post having breakfast, we got into Ellora caves to admire the epitome of artistic people workmanship of  sculpturing, carving out from a huge mountain-monolitic rock.

 

The amazing works of astounding humans creativity stood the test of times both human and nature abuse. It's really a shame that anyone could had slightest inclination to destroy efforts of extraordinary work and almost accomplishing it.

 

                Devasrovar, Ghrishneswar temple

 no photos taken in Ghrishneswar temple as all photographic devices weren't allowed inside.
The temple was very simple which got us some much needed serenity. Post which we stopped by a decent place to have lunch around 4 pm.Then we continued our journey towards Nashik. Around suset, about close to 6pm we reach Triambakeswar mandhir.


17 Nov - Nashik, Triambakeswar temple

For a Donation of Rs 200/- we got into a queue which took about 5-10 mins to Babaji's darshan.
Of the 3 shrines so far, this was a lot crowded as its close to Nashik city and we barely got time to see the deity. However, we could sit peacefully right in front of the god for a while.

 

18 Nov - Kashi Viswanath temple



19 Nov - kal bhairav temple, ghat walk



20 Nov - Varahi mata temple, Ganga Aarathi



21 Nov - kashi viswanath temple

one plus 5t

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dec 08-16, 2017

mumbai - airport, hotel ajwa near asalfa metro, bandra, sai pooja travel bus to shirdi

our plan was to take bus from vikroli west to shirdi so booked hotel ajwa near asalfa metro
DONT book with SAI JYOTHI booking counter near bisleri company expressway. bus to shirdi finally came at half past eleven. we reached around 6:30am
shirdi - hotel casabrier after some runaround,
checked into goradia's hotel very comfortable and clean rooms within walking distance to gate #2
breakfast, dharshan 200/-

Puducherry, Auroville 2017 May 20,21

Ajinkya Soitkar my cycling friend from Pune was here for a week or so. Took a bus to Pondy from Perungalathur around 8:30-9:00pm. Reached muruga theatre around 11:30am later got an auto to Les Boaganveillea hotel in Alankuppam.

kovalam near Trivandrum Dec 30-31, 2016 & Jan 01, 2017

Sugesh my school friend from Thrissur was heading to Kovalam for new year with his cousins. I joined them as Sugesh invited.
Met Sugesh and others in Trivandrum railway station. 

Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok 15-24 Nov 2016

Don Meuang International Airport

15 Nov -- DMT-HKT flight delayed by an hour. reached around 01:00 PM in Patong beach from Phuket airport. lunch at Tiger Inn hotel. rested a while and went for walk in the evening to Bangla Road, Patong beach. Dinner at Kazu.

16 Nov -- breakfast at Dang Restaurant then went to tour contact Arun near Andaman Suites Hotel to confirm the trip to Similan Island. lunch at Pizza company. Later in the evening, strolled in places near Patong beach and Kalim beach. sunset by Phuket coast is always a wonderful sight. The beaches covered during this time are Patong beach,  Kalim beach, Surin beach, Laem Sing beach.


17 Nov -- Similand Islands, 1-day tour by checkinandaman
We reached Andaman private pier around 09:45 AM and in like 15 min our speed boat started to Similan Islands. We reached Similan in 90 min a distance of about 35m/70km is what we were told. Our 1st stop was snorkeling in the ocean for 30-40 min after which we got dropped in a beach for 1.5hr or so. Then after lunch 3rd stop in the open sea for swim and finally last stop was by a beach for an hour. After which our return trip started about 04:30 PM and we reached the pier by 05:50 PM.
It was an awesome trip to Similan Islands. During my last trip in April 2015, We had been to Phi Phi and James bond Island tours on 2 full days. With Similan, we now have done 3 complete full days of Island hopping.

18 Nov -- booked to travel by bus to krabi with the same travel agent who fixed us for Similan Island tour. We got picked up by VAN and traveled in the same vehicle to Ao Nang beach which is around 15km from Krabi town. We left Phuket by 11AM and reached Ao Nang around 4PM after dropping other 12-13 members. The drive to Ao Nang was filled with stunning peaks scattered over the landscape at certain places. Again -can't mention this enough -ROADS in Thailand all over very well laid and maintained. The stay we booked was away from Ao Nang beach and was close to night market. We rested and had dinner at Oscar Villa hotel -the place for our stay in Ao Nang.


19 Nov -- Day trip to Tiger cave temple - Wat Tham Suea from 10:15 AM to 12:15 PM.
After which with Pools of Emerald, Blue and Clear. Bo Khlueng Hot stream - natural water source from Tanao Si mountains.

Emerald pool, Blue pool -- 01:45 - 03:15 PM
Hot stream -- 03:30 - 04:15 PM
with 600 ml water, entrance tickets, hotel transfer, lunch all included for 1000 thb

                   

                                           Emerald pool

                                                    Blue pool

                                                     Clear pool

                                                    Hot stream

20 Nov -- went to Ao Nang beach in the morning around 8 AM . It was lovely place to be there at that time of the day with very less people in the beach with lot of long-tail boats, few speed boats, and roaring sound of the waves along with sun coming from behind the huge mountain range.
And with those tiny islands far far in the sea and the distant clouds was something fresh and made me really happy and fortunate to be there at that time. Then after having breakfast, rushed to the hotel.

Oscar Villa hotel, Ao Nang area --- very far from the beach and everything is expensive in there.
All the people at the front desk were helpful. It's much better to stay near the beach area in Ao Nang.

left Ao Nang around 10:30 AM. An old truck dropped us after a 20 min drive. Then we hopped onto VAN and within 2.5 hr we were in Phuket town and then moved to another VAN which eventually dropped us on the main road in Phangmueng Sai-Kor Road.



21-24 Nov Bangkok

21 Nov checked in to the hotel around 1PM and then rested for a while and had lunch, massage and dinner ended 1st day as time to relax and take it easy in BKK - last leg of the vacation,

22 Nov went to Siam square, Central pier and took a free shuttle boat to Asiatique -- the riverfront with sun going down on chao phraya river bridge, skyscrappers around with sky-ferris wheel is absolutely amazing place to spend an evening.

23 Nov visit to Sea Life Ocean World, Siam, Bangkok aquarium

sharks, penguins, turtles, loads of marine life including jelly, star fish, etc

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