Bangalore City: June 2008

Hi All,

It was a wonderful experience yday, BNI Dynamics Chapter had a social gathering at Bannerghatta National Park. As suggested we had to assemble @ the Park by 9:30. It was a good gesture by Nagi ;; he sent a mail suggesting vacancy in his Bolero !!

We were scheduled to meet near Ashoka Pillar by 8 AM, 7:50 he gives me a call and as usual I am reversing my car in front of my house !!! :( ..quickly raced to Ashoka Pillar by 8:05 AM n gave a call to Nagi (the timing has been captured on my mobile) Nagi gets a chance to pull my leg on my time sense !!! He tells me that they are near Adiga's having the Breakfast..I join Nagi ..I find Nagi, his Son Santhosh :) and Mrs Santhosh (Akshatha) having their Breakfast ...I had an Idli and Vada quickly sipped on a cuppa coffee...there joins Abdul (with a Basket of Options about him being at the spot by 8:15ish)..I dropped my car at nagi's house and started our journey towards Bannerghatta..We were on time at Bannerghatta 9:15 inbetween we could see some of the Driving/Manoevring Skills of Nagi...his monster Bolero went through Zipping on Bannerghatta Road, clearly marking his Presence !!!

We approached the KSTDC Hotel by 9:15 AM , and we could see Mr Ajay Sharma and Mrs Kumud Sharma of Superseva waiting :(

We quicky moved in front of jungle Resorts ..saw a herd of elephants (tamed) I was amazed by the power and determination of Human Beings who controlled these Giant Creatures...

Santosh teamed up with Abdul, Chitra and Akshatha and went into the jungle, Nagi and myself went back to the entrance of the Park..for what I do for my daily bread (navigating people..hope I am not taking too much credit...)We could slowly see the peebul arriving.. it was Harish with his Kids Balaji (we had 3 Balaji's today) and his younger Brother Sunder. later arrived Mac with Meena madam (It was sad that Ms Priya was not present..she's been an integral part of BNI), than arrived Vijay , Raghu and Jeevan, Mahendra and his wife Sunitha, and finally arrived Eric..I dont remember Mathew entry..as we set to go Nagi called Mr.Sanjay Dave only to find He's not Joining us...this was a big void in the day !!! As we arrived at the entrance of Jungle resort ..I started playing cricket with Jason..(cricket has been my weakness)..and as we were counting ...came Mr.Ram and his wife with his kid Sonam...I guess Sonam was upset bcos she was in Bannerghatta and her elder sister went to Singapore...(cool Sonam...some travel to Durbanand some to Davangere..each place has its own importance :) )

Ram gave us the T-Shirt and a cap which we quicky put on !! and we could c uniformity and I guess that created a sense of One !!! Thanks for the apparals..Viman Apparals...We appreciate Ram being pro-active and scanning images from visiting cards to incorporate on the T.

Here came our Abhishek Bachan(Jr B)

Later we all went to the Jungle Lodges resorts ...we could find a web like structure being created intrigued by the design I wanted to ask Santosh..but restrained myself as he was too involved. Ram distributed his T-shirts to all people in the group...

Welcome speech was given by Jeevan and later taken over by Nagi..he gave peek into the forthcoming attractions and asked us to join back after a sippa coffee...

Not to forget Adventure Worx has now changed into Adventure Consultants ..

After a cuppa coffee and Chai we joined the group again...we formed a circle to introduce ourself..let me recollect the sequence..kindly respond if I am wrong

Jeevan, Shreya, Nagi, Abdul, Raghu, Myself, Abhi, Chitra, Akshatha, Binu, Meenu (new name as mentioned by Kids for Meena Mam), Ajay, Kumud, Balaji,Sunder, Vijay, Mrs Vijay, Nishitha, Big B (Balaji Sr), Arti, Eric, Ooops I give up

So we had to introduce ourself after mentioning all the peebul's name who were introduced before us..I was amazed by the memory power of the kids...they could mention the names with ease...@ last Mac had a daunting task of mentioning all the peebuls name...and he was succesful in the same..

After that started some Physssical activities...10 people were asked to come inside the ring and others were supposed to aim @ legs...looked simple but took a lotta energy...Raghu n Mathew was in the centre for a pretty long time !!!

After this game we were introduced to the web...we were divided into 3 teams and instructions were given...for once I could see santhosh made a conscious effort to shout @ the people...so much unlike him ...but it was needed is what I understand, rules were defined and we had the impossible task for getting in the web without touching it ...huh impossible as our team consisted of Ajay (with his Kurta Pyjama) mac, Harish and Padmasree, Sunitha (mrs.Mahendra)...the only fit person with a lot of enthu was Vidya (Mrs Raghu). The Kids went in @ first after a few tries from me and later we almost gave up...but here was Vidya encouraging us to get through the difficult web casted by the spiderman (Santhosh). After Vidya , it was me who was inspired by her determination...after two failures she inteeligently put her hair in the T and succesfully went in the web.I was in than came Binu (Mrs Mathew) after a lot of reluctance ...she agreed to come in like a mummy...and she came in...than came Ajay (Kumud's Husband) and was a tough task for Vidya n me to get him in ..Vidya slipped and started bleeding...our Ragh came running and showed the care for her better half...could c the pain in Raghu's eyes (full filmy !!! :))

After this it was snap time for all the team...

The next was we had to create a chain and had to change direction without criss-crossing our hands !! Our own Abdul and Eric took charge and gave directions !! we followed the instructions and achieved !!! I am still unaware how we could do !!!!!

Nagi also was clueless on the methodology adopted...if result was important and not the process...we were succesful !!!!!

Than was a game of Trust !!! we all were supposed to be like logs and our team had Big logs !!! later we realised that the logs were supposed to fall down from an approximate of 15-20 feet...there were instuction from Nagi on the approach ...he gave strict warning on not to take things lighter...demoed by Spiderman Santhosh...later was followed by Eric,Big B..Balaji, Me, Balaji (Harish's son) and concluded by Jeevan !!!

It was a gr8 experience...for a split second u loose control of ourselves....this is the feeling we all crave for ...and thus we get ourselves soaked in Beer, whisky, Rum and Whatnot !!!

Thanks Nagi u have shown a cheapest version of attaining the state !!! (But Please dont dare do it without experts presence )

We were hungry by this time and we were all directed for the Luch session ...had a good veg meal ..and we had to go for the safari...

The Kids and parents opted for Safari and other people like Me, Nagi, Santhosh,Akshatha, Raghu , Mac, Big B , Jr B, Chitra, Abdul Abhi were with the Cricket Bat ...The rules were defined jointly by Balaji and Abhi..and had gr8 fun ...playing the game

Finally we were transported to the reception by the Bus @ 4 Pm..and we were all entertained by Abdul's " in the morning" song..later Abhi (the talented kid) did mono-acting of Golf and Gym..

It was almost 5 and mac had to go back

santhosh n Akshatha taught us a few step on Salsa and had gr8 fun..there were all the couples who were joined the dance floor !!!

...later it was a thankyou by Jeevan, Big B .

We later gave a send off to each member...we were like Kids...and had a laugh ..I could c the funnier side of Chitra mam and Balaji and Arti...

We were carried back by Nagi again...laughing all the way back to home...

It was indeed a good...gr8 gathering !!!

I take the privilege to thank Nagi, Santhosh, Jr B, harish and Jeevan..not to forget all the other participants in the program.

My condolenses to Priya on the sad demise of her Granny !!!

We would look forward for a similar outing with Kanchana, Neetu, Sanjay, A.N Shetty, sai,Sukumaran, Anthony and all others who missed the gathering !!!!

What a mistake I would have committed if I had opted out of the trip !!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out for the pics on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/23998481@N03/

A comment @ the blog and flickr would be appreciated !!!