“One question now to be put to the test is this: Can we have that contact with God all the time? All the time awake, fall asleep in his arms, and awaken in his presence? Can we attain that? Can we do His will all the time? Can we think His thoughts all the time?” — Frank Laubach (March 23, 1930).
“How I wish, wish, wish that a dozen or more persons who are trying to hold god endlessly in mind would all write their experiences so that each would know what the other was finding as a result! The results, I think, would astound the world. At least the results of my own effort are astounding to me… The very universe has come to seem so homey! I know only a little more about it than before, but that little is all! It is vibrant with the electric ecstasy of God! I know what it means to be ‘God intoxicated” — Frank Laubach (October 12, 1930)

Every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies… a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953

Easter Calendar 2011
March 9 – Ash Wednesday
April 22 – Good Friday
April 24 – Easter Sunday

Easter Calendar 2012
February 22 – Ash Wednesday
April 6 – Good Friday
April 8 – Easter Sunday

Easter Calendar 2013
February 13 – Ash Wednesday
March 29 – Good Friday
March 31 – Easter Sunday

Easter Calendar 2014
March 5 – Ash Wednesday
April 18 – Good Friday
April 20 – Easter Sunday

Easter Calendar 2015
February 18 – Ash Wednesday
April 3 – Good Friday
April 5 – Easter Sunday

Reason for travel: I had to travel to Chennai on account of some research work for two weeks. Since I didn’t want to haggle with auto drivers while in Chennai, I thought it would be wise to take a bike down so that I could not only be flexible as to when to leave and return, but also that I’d have the bike with me.  I’m not the adventuring type. I didn’t think of this trip as a “fun” trip; it was mainly practical. If I felt the railways bike-baggage booking process would have been easier, I would have taken that route. But somehow I didn’t want to waste a whole day trying to get my bike in the baggage van in a train. So by motorbike it was then.

Getting ready: I did all the (internet) research possible, checking up on routes through google maps, and finding out where to get a saddle-bag for the bike.

Buy a Saddle-Bag: The saddle-bag turned out to be a pretty important buy for such a long journey because I had to carry books and a laptop for my research and so carrying just a back pack would be too heavy.  The saddle-bag I bought from the Army Store in Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore.  I couldn’t find helpful directions on the internet, so I had to just go there, call a friend, and ask my way around. The Army Store doesn’t really have Army equipment, but is just called Army Store and has mainly bags etc. To get to Army store, you can either go to Shivaji Nagar bus stop… walk down to the Beef Market, and then turn right towards Russell Market, and then take the first right road (the one that connects to Commercial Street)  and you will see a small house-sized mosque on the right. Opposite (ie. to your left, in the basement) would be Army Store. There were two sizes, a smallish size that cost about 1100, and a biggest size that cost about 1400. I bought the bigger size (even though at that moment it looked too big, it turned out to be just right because I had a lot of books and clothes for a two-week trip).

Decide which route: There are two main routes to Chennai from Bangalore, one goes via Chittoor and the other goes via Hosur/Vellore.

Route 1: goes to Chennai (via Chittoor) and uses the National Highway 4 (NH4) and used to be the main route to Chennai via Old Madras Road. Nobody seemed to recommend it since the second route is now more popular. Some do say that since this route is shaded, with trees, it is better for driving in the summer, but somehow I was scared that the highway might have incoming traffic (ie. not a divider) so I preferred the other route which said to be a  better highway.  I didn’t know if it is true, but if NH4 has a divider along the entire stretch, then it may not be so bad.

Route 2: goes to Chennai (via Hosur/Vellore) and uses the National Highway 7 (NH7) and is also known to be part of the Golden Quadrangle, the highways that connect the metros to each other. So this route is also called the GQ.  This is a very wide highway right through, with a divider (so no incoming traffic), plus on most parts there is also a motorbike lane (a smallish lane left of the middle lanes used by the trucks). The right lane is for the fast car traffic, and for overtaking.

Both routes are said to be similar in length, but people said that the Hosur route was more crowded (while others said that even the Chittoor route was crowded.)

Fuel: I am sorry to say that my bike’s mileage is pretty bad, about 30-35 kms per litre. However, with a full tank (of about 12 litres I think) the night before, I was able to make the whole journey without refueling.  I do remember seeing fuel bunks on the way, but I didn’t pay attention to them. I did notice signs that said how many kms before a petrol bunk, which I thought was helpful, even though I didn’t need it.

PART ONE: BANGALORE TO CHENNAI

The Bike Ride: Can’t say much about the first route, because I chose the 2nd route. I had packed my saddle bag, and left at 4:30am. Since it was getting warmer in Bangalore, I decided not to take a jacket. That turned out to be a mistake because Bangalore was still cold at 4:30am! (this was late February). So I shivered my way past Hosur and it only became warmer with dawn. To keep me warm I put my bag in front of me, which helped.

Another disadvantage of leaving so early on the motorbike was the dark roads. While getting out of Bangalore was easy and hassle free. Still, once on the highway, a motorbike’s headlights are insufficient to light up a pitch dark highway. Thankfully the incoming traffic was not heavy, but when there was incoming traffic on the other lanes, the light was still too bright. I found myself staying slow (about 60-70kms) for most of the night; wishing that I had left later. Thankfully, the road was smooth (no surprise bumps on the parts I left on) so that was God’s grace.

I must mention that on the whole, leaving early had its advantages. I met very little traffic and only when it became day that the traffic on the highway increased. The early morning truckers were not that many. But importantly, all the truckers were disciplined (not travelling too fast or trying funky overtaking moves). There was one small truck in a hurry, but it was easy to let him go, and even he wasn’t being reckless). Plus early morning, there were not many cars. I think the inter-state car drivers leave only by 5-6 am, so I missed any superfast car drivers until the day time, when I was able to let them pass with ease.

About two hours of night later, I found things get a lot better with day. I could go faster, because I could see the road. And plus, there was still very little traffic. At one point I lost my way for a minute (at a place called Krishnagiri I was supposed to turn left but I went straight. But it was easy enough to retrace my steps).

From Krishnagiri, the Highway became NH46, and eventually merged into NH4, the old route.

From Krishnagiri to Vellore (NH46), it was really a beautiful morning drive. Excellent morning air, completely smooth and mostly empty roads. I was able to keep the bike at a steady speed at 90kms without any problems.

I must say something about bike speeds at this point. When in the city, I can never go beyond 60kms, I find myself getting scared beyond that speed. But a highway speed is about 70-80kms… and so one must keep those speeds. I wasn’t sure how I would do it. At one point, in fact, just leaving Bangalore on the elevated highway near Electronic City, I pushed the bike to 80 (in the cold air) and I felt the bike shake a little, and got scared so I slowed down. But what happened was that once I crossed 80, the bike was able to go smoothly at 70. And then when I crossed 90 at Krishnagiri, there was no shake at all. The bike was handling beautifully, and felt extremely safe. It was almost like the getting was getting used to higher speeds, and even I was getting to know my bike.

I must say this for all who may be tempted to get freaked out… that I drove very carefully. Never once did I seem to be in danger, and because the roads are so wide, there was no danger from truck, cars or strange incidents. Of course another “thank you God,” won’t hurt, because I must admit that many people were praying for me for my safe travel, and I know God was with me, keeping me safe.

I thought of stopping at Vellore for something to eat, or rest, but there was not place along the highway… so I just kept going. Note to all readers, there really is nothing along the way on the highway (people say there are places to eat along NH4, but not along NH7).

There was one problem I faced, especially after about 4 hours on the bike… and I because very stiff and uncomfortable sitting on the bike. This was really unpleasant and took away any fun I may have had on the highway. At that moment, of intense discomfort, I found myself having to take breaks every 50-60 minutes, just to stretch and walk around. Not fun indeed. The discomfort on the bike made me wish I was seated more comfortably in a car, but I still pressed on.

Getting into Chennai was tough because I hit day time traffic (reached about 9.30am, so still morning rush). I slowed down immediately to my usual city speed of 40-60, and it was funny to see local drivers zoom pass me. City drivers really are more crazy than highway drivers! It took me almost an hour to get home (to the place I was going to stay), also because I got lost in the one-ways of Chennai and took a wrong turn. It helped that I had been to Chennai before, so I recognised roughly where I was and where I was going.

So, all-in-all, my journey was good, and the roads were excellent. And I made it safely. (Sadly, because I was quite focussed/determined on reaching quickly and safely, I didn’t stop too often to take photos.  But the few photos I did take are found below at the end of this post).

Toll booths: Oh, I forgot to say something about Toll Booths. Car drivers either complain, or say it was “worth it” about how many toll booths there are on the way. About 4 or 5. But for a bike it’s completely free except at the Electronic City elevated highway, where I had to pay something (I think about Rs. 15). Apart from that, if you are crossing a toll booth, keep to the extreme left and there a bike can pass for free.

Speed limits: Another point about speed limits. On the NH46, between Krishnagiri and Vellore, there are several small towns. And for that long stretch there is a 50km speed limit announced. However, it doesn’t seem to be enforced (at least in the early mornings when I drove there), but in the day time it could become necessary to negotiate more safely with town traffic.  If the speed limit is enforced, then that could significantly increase the travel time on the via Hosur route.

End of part 1: The above report is part I. Because tomorrow morning I have my trip back home to Bangalore. I will take the NH7 again, and leave again at 4:30am. Hoping that I will have another uneventful ride back. One problem, I have developed a cold. Suddenly. And that may make biking this long journey a little more stressful. But I’m hoping to get back safely. Even if I have to slow down much more.

PART TWO: CHENNAI TO BANGALORE

The Bike Ride: Things could not have begun more badly for me. I fell ill the previous day with a severe cold, and worse, I was not able to sleep at all the entire night. This was a huge problem, because I tossed and turned in bed but just couldn’t sleep. I remembered that even before the Bangalore to Chennai trip, I was too wired up to sleep… and I slept only about an hour before the bike ride. I was determined to get more this time, but I didn’t to sleep at all. I think it was the adrenaline, since my body was so geared up for the ride ahead, so that I was too charged up to sleep. I really felt like leaving at 2:am, or even 3:am, but then sense prevailed and I choose a slow start at 5:am (yes, without sleep).

But adrenaline is a great thing, and I found my senses alert, even if the cold was making my nose/throat uncomfortable. Also, the weather was surprisingly cold, colder than Bangalore to Chennai. There was even mist for a long long time.  So again, my backpack was in the front.

There was a lot of traffic at 5:00am at the NH4. And I had to negotiate trucks, buses and autos, and pedestrians walking sleepily across the road. So it felt a little more dangerous, but I was able to make good time, because I knew the roads. I knew where I was going.Average speed getting out of Chennai 70-80kms.

I continued my practice of taking a short break every hour. And that helped a lot, and I wasn’t as stiff as I was the first time.

The sunrise came at 6:30am, which was a surprise, because two weeks earlier it seemed much later. But I began to worry that it would get too hot in the day and so considered going to the NH4 (via Chittoor) to Bangalore. I also thought that I would save time getting home (instead of having to go via Electronic City). At the turn off, I took the NH4 (one has to go under the flyover and right) and found myself on the actual NH4.

To my shock, it was a two-lane highway, and as I rode a little, I saw two trucks rushing directly towards me on my lane. I’d had enough. I did a quick u-turn and head to the NH46 (that would connect to NH7). The comfort of a six-lane highway could not be underestimated for a bike-rider!

I noticed that there were a few places to eat along the highway… and more on the way to Bangalore, rather than on the way to Chennai. But I didn’t stop in any of them. Wasn’t sure they were open even, so early.

Even as the sun rose, the weather became a little warmer, but still was quite cold and I had to keep my bag in front.

There was also some traffic, much more than I encountered on my way to Chennai. Plus, since it was already day time when I reached Vellore, there were several early risers in the towns along the way on bikes, autos and most deadly of all, pedestrians. I found myself having to use my horn regularly, as I rushed through the towns. The pace of the highway was still around 80, but I had to be mega-alert.

Towards Krishnagiri, the traffic eased out and I was able to stay at 90kms. I remember that one the way to Chennai, it was here that I touched 90, so it was nice to do that with more sunlight.

At Krishnagiri, I had to take the right turn, under the flyover, towards Bangalore. Last trip I had missed this turn, not this time, because it is like a T junction. Hard to miss.

By now, however, I was really tired. And wondered whether I should stop at a hotel for a few hours. But when I enquired the rates at a nearby hotel, it was Rs. 650 plus taxes, for a double room (no single room). That was a bit too steep, and I told myself only 2 hours to Bangalore and head out again.

The road from Krishnagiri to Bangalore via Hosur, had quite a lot of traffic, and though there were no jams, trucks tended to move in bunches. I found super-fast cars blocked, unable to cross the trucks, and that was when the bike path on the highway really helped. It was good to see that Trucks did not come into the well-marked bike path, so it was quite safe, even though I was overtaking trucks from the left.

I remember someone asking (on a website) for information about McDonalds along the highway. And there is one. It’s on the road from Bangalore to Chennai, (on that side), 22 kms from Hosur (or from where I was, it was 22kms to Hosur). Obviously I was not going to stop. But that’s information for those who want it. There was also a Cafe Day there. Wish there was a high-quality rest-stop was there somewhere in the middle of the way. But the McDonalds and Cafe Day are too early or too late in the journey to be useful.

Finally I entered Bangalore, but found that my fuel was low and had to shift to reserves. This was strange because the previous trip I didn’t have to refuel along the way. But this time, at Koramangla, I refueled.

Finally, home stretch, and home at 11:am. (from door to door, it was about 6 hours). Which was about half an hour faster than my previous trip. Maybe that’s why my fuel was so low because I really ran the bike hard.

I reached home and crashed… but in a nice way, meaning I slept because I was so exhausted.

Any Dangers?: When I was going to Chennai, the trip was smooth and without any incident. However, going to Bangalore, there was a lot of traffic and the trip did feel a little more dangerous. I wish I had left earlier… to avoid the early morning traffic of the towns between Krishnagiri and Chennai. In fact, even the early morning traffic on the Chennai NH4 (Poonamallee High Road) was quite intense. Plus, on my way to Bangalore, I saw three accidents (overturned trucks).

However, the most dangerous moment was a random biker from a town, who just cut across right from the biking lane on the NH46, to the fast lane, so that he could cross the road at a divider ahead. This he did without looking back or giving any indication that he was turning. I was on the fast lane, and I thought he was going straight. But when he ambled across to my lane and slowed down even further, I had to jam my brakes to avoid hitting him and for a second my bike skid. I was really angry with that guy, but more relieved that nothing happened because there was a car behind me which was also going fast, but the car also moved away in time. Incidents like this are fun when you are young perhaps, but I feel quite old and unadventurous, thus it wasn’t a good moment.

The other danger was that I hadn’t slept at all. I know that my senses were alert, but somehow I felt irresponsible as a driver. In my hurry to get home, I made a few aggressive overtakes which were not that risky I think, but would have certainly looked risky, especially at 90kms. I found that because of lack of sleep, my discomfort was high and patience was low, and I think it is much better to drive with a calm and rested mind.

Summary: So, what’s my reaction to the entire bike riding event. I’m glad I did it, because the bike was really useful in Chennai, but I’m not keen to ever do such a long journey on a bike ever again. It was really long, tiring and at times dangerous (especially with these random pedestrians walking/running across the road not thinking that the bike was as fast as a truck). Next time, I may just GATI (courier) the bike to Chennai, if I need it there. No more biking long distances for me!

But for all the biking enthusiasts. The road is excellent (NH7/NH46). And for those who like this sort of thing, this trip I’m sure would be well worth it. 

Photos:

1, 2. The first two photos are on the NH46, taken before sunrise. As you can see, towards Chennai it was quite empty.

3. The next photo is the sign that prompts you to go LEFT from Krishnagiri.

4, 5, 6. The next few photos are the early morning mist from Chennai to Bangalore.

7. The next photo is of a random toll booth.

8. The second last photo is of some roadside greenery… with smoke bellowing in the distance. I must say that from Chennai to Bangalore, there was a lot of burning going on, and a lot of smoke was coming into the helmet.

9. The last photo is actually a repeat photo with a different crop. Not intentional because when I inserted a new photo on top, it automatically got added to this gallery in wordpress. I’m leaving it here because it helps with the gallery symmetry! :)

Resources:

SLN.in – A helpful site with more details comparing routes (the author recommends NH7 (GQ) for efficiency and warns of many diversions in the NH4 (Chittoor) route. But I think the site is a little old… so there may be more recent up-to-date information about NH4. It may not be as bad as this site makes it out to be. Worth a try, but not by me.).

Gummakar.com : a short road review (NH7).

Of course, in my experience, God’s grace has kept me from a lot of negative stuff that I don’t think my body would be able to handle, and also through God’s grace I still stand, even though I have fallen. Still, now that more and more is being expected of me… as a mature believer of God… the “effort” taken to say no/yes… has multiplied. Yes, overcoming temptation is truly blood/sweat/toil hard.

I’ve known for a while that when I say, I really need to rest, or I really need to take my mind off things, I am actually escaping, not resting. Rest is something far more serious and fulfilling than escape. And yet, I don’t think I understand it.

Hope this coming week… I will… or at least begin.

My year themes are a personal effort to do something, learn something, try something. And this year, I really want to try, learn about, and improve on, hard work.

I say this after another “escape” where I have spent, even wasted time, watching another movie.

I love movies. But I think I’m addicted to the escape of movies.

I have so much work, but I’d rather be watching movies, or doing something “fun” rather than working.  (I have the same feeling about relationships/people… which I would love to avoid – escape from, but that’s another story).

So, the year of hardwork… a year where I attempt to become something more than what I am. I hope to learn from others… and hopefully practice it.

(honestly, I really need it – hardwork – as I try to finish my dissertation this year… so maybe, this is a positive kick in the right direction?)

The story:

I am currently involved in Christian academics, thus writing articles and presenting papers is part of life. Recently I wrote an article, that I felt was quite good, and yet, because of my unfinished dissertation work, left me feeling insecure. I wondered whether the work was actually good or not, as I thought it was.

Presentation day, mine was the last presentation. And I found myself in disagreement with the attitude of the presenters and respondents, where there seemed to be a desire for one upmanship or even aggressive intent to prove oneself correct. I decided I was not interested in proving myself. Also, I was willing to accept that the paper’s idealism (a key point of my paper) was ill-founded. But I still thought it was an interesting enough paper and presented it passionately.

The respondent tore my paper, calling it unoriginal, and methodologically wrong. As I was listening, however, I had no feeling of sadness or insecurity. I knew my paper was not perfect, but I didn’t agree with the respondent. But I felt she had the right to say what she felt, and I took it as that. I chose not to respond, but the floor asked me to respond to the respondent. I quietly said that while I agree we have taken a different methodological approach, hence my writing may not be fitting within her methodology, there was only one thing I wouldn’t agree… and stated a theological point of difference. My comment was pretty normal and unagressive.

Other respondents went on, critiquing the idealistic stance I took, which I knew would be problematic and shrugged and defended idealism within the parameters of my paper. One or two comments were spot-on (and thus I will be editing my paper), but mostly it was a difference in opinion.

However, after the paper, people came up to me, feeling sorry for me for the way I was attacked. People tried to defend me, and encourage me. At first I didn’t quite get it, until I realised that people felt that I was unfairly attacked. And yet, because I didn’t fight back, they felt the need to fight for me.

My immediate instinct was to show that I knew what I was talking about, saying that I didn’t agree with the critique, and presented myself as positive by saying I was being curteous to the respondent.

However, I did not realise actually the message probably being sent was that the paper was weak but unfairly attacked.

Now that’s a meaning I had not intended, I didn’t want anyone to think that the paper, or I, was weak. I wanted to defend myself, to prove my capability, or better still, justify my high horse that I was actually holding back, a sign of great strength.

In fact, it is at that moment I failed. I failed the test of incompetence, of allowing people to think I am weak, unable, and poor. I told many people how wrong the respondent really was, and how I could justify my position.

This inability of mine to come across as incompetent, suggested how much ego I actually carried, and that when people thought less of me (the point of incompetence), it was something I would like to change and fight against.

To make matters worse, I just found out that one person publicly said that my paper was one of the weakest in the whole conference. Wow, if that wasn’t incompetence, what was?

But at that moment,  I realised that I must let that accusation stand. I must realise that if that paper is weak, if I am weak as a presenter, I must continue to seek to improve. However, if others think I am weak, I should not try to change their positions and beliefs by promoting/defending myself. Thus today, after hearing that comment, I did not fight back. And at that point, I realised that the journey towards incompetence is tough, but also possible.