typings of a random clicker

It will be a different morning on 22nd July in India, as we would wake up to an eclipsed sun, with much of central india experiencing a short night. Yes!! A total solar eclipse & only first of the two in this century to be seen in India. Next one being in 2034 which is to be seen from Ladakh.

Check Eclipse details for TSE July 22nd 2009.

Also check the interactive google map for shadow path. Click on any location to see the eclipse details for that location. Blue line is the central line of totality path, places on are the best to view totality.

Main cities in totality path starting from Surat, Indore, Itarsi, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Katni, Varanasi, Sasaram, Patna, Saharsa, Darjeeling, Tawang, Dibrugarh and then passing over into China.

My plan is to see it from either Bhimbetika near Bhopal , or from Sasaram in Bihar, which ever place is to have better weather conditions (aka clear skies!).

Bhopal trip
* 18th Pune-Bhopal (Jhelum exp)
* 19th in Bhopal , catchup with local crowd
* 20th some sight seeing (bhojpur/sanchi)
* 21st recce trip to bhimbetika
* 22nd morning – observe eclipse, and leave for Pune in evening.

Bihar trip
* 18th Leave for Varanasi from Mumbai/Pune
* 20th morning reach Varanasi, Kashi Vishwanath darshan, same afternoon/evening reach Sasaram
* 21st Join AAAD group, and preparations
* 22nd morning – observe eclipse.
* 22nd afternoon – leave for Puri
* 23rd arrive in Puri, Lord Jagannath darshan
* 24th in Bhubaneswar
* 25th Take Konark exp to Pune.

Check map here to see where most Astronuts are going for eclipse.
If you have enough money to blow then maybe take the eclipse flight

Another one not to miss is Annular Solar eclipse on Jan 15th 2010 visible over Tamilnadu (Madurai, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram).

Doodhsagar waterfall

Originally uploaded by karunakarg.

Doodhsagar waterfall as seen on train route of Goa-Karnataka, this was from Goa express.

visited 18 states (51.4%)

World map

visited 7 states (3.11%)

Ever since I read about it couple of years back, I wished to make the Kangra Valley narrow gauge trip. Also with the aim to complete all Hill trains.. Trips done till now
Neral – Matheran
Shimla – Kalka
Pathankot – Baijnath Paprola

Next in target Ooty & Darjeeling hill trains.

KVR is the longest route of all, 164kms from Pathankot till Jogindernagar reaching peak altitude of 1210m. For the first 50kms it runs fast enough covering the distance in couple of hours, with halts extra, then gradually ascending, until Kangra and coming closer to Dhauladhar range, then a steeper ascent upto Palampur, Baijnath with highest point at Ajhu – 1210m (near Bir), then descending down to Jogindernagar at 1139m.

Photo set on flickr

More on this in a photo blog post

after dilly dallying for long.. finally upgrade to pro account on flickr.

so now should sort out the 32K photos… to put up some good ones..

for a start for all roopali fans (& pluggies)

After a quiet december, I am back to doing some more travelling.. arrived in bangalore couple of hours back, to attend friends wedding..

my trip will be like   delhi – bangalore – hampi – bangalore – pune – mumbai – delhi.  originally this was to be a extended holiday, to some place down south.. but had to change plan for Gnunify07 on 27-28th in Pune… the schedule is out, I will be speaking again 4th time.. no prizes for guessing the topic

Got my tata indicom plug 2 surf connection, which is basically a cdma usb modem. they have existing pcmcia data card , this one is a new offer. one advantage being, being usb could be used with any machine..

Took it since needed net at home…& didnt want to take broadband which still remains @ home only… this should be good for travelling around..

worked well with linux with spo0nman’s howto here

the model no was EC 325, its a little cheaper (3850/-) than data card (5095/-)

though one issue being TI seems to measure every bit transfered, whatever it be…so bandwidth usage grows quite quickly.. so best used for email, IM  than browsing any loaded up sites!!.

thier initial offer being 2 months 1GB free.. later will switch to 700/- pm for 1GB.. or 1500pm/unlimited if it really comes to it..!

Debconf7 -> Practical info for visitors (to edinburgh) -> Plugs used in UK -> ground & neutral -> Railway electrification -> Railway electrification in britain -> Search for Railway electrification in India -> Indian Railways -> Nilgiri Mountain Railway -> Indian Railways – > Shortest railway station name -> Longest railway station name -> Pic longest stn name -> IRFCA trip gallery -> Narrow gauge trip report -> train trip reports -> ….

Most of sarai folk seem to be going on a holiday…i am one of the few left not going anywhere..or with no new year plans.. though have a long trip coming in Jan ’07 something like Delhi -> Bangalore -> Hampi -> bangalore -> pune -> mumbai -> delhi !!

Also started studying the trips i could make in the coming year.. top in the list are hill train trips – Darjeeling, Ooty, Kangra valley (pathankot – joginder nagar ).. already did matheran in 2004 & shimla in april 2006. Next in line are to be narrow/meter gauge trips.. to cover the narrow/meter gauge rail network.. which might get converted to BG or scrapped in time..!

Ok.. so another great event came to an end… being at the old place was good.. but as expected.. hectic.. lot to write more.. & pics to upload..

I finally got to use the tata wifi 10hr account i bought 2 months back..it never seemed to work in Delhi domestic… bangalore one is better!..

more later… sec-chk up!