November 20, 2006
Road trip to Rome
Posted by chadaga under Colosseum, Germany, Italy, Road Trip, Rome, Switzerland, Vatican City[3] Comments
Trip Statistics:
Number of days : 4 (17th to 20th November 2006)
The Machine : Alfa Romeo 159
Distance Traveled : 2700KMS
Max Speed : 220 Kmph
Route :
Onward Journey: Stuttgart -> Switzerland -> Milano -> Rome
Return Journey: Rome -> Pisa -> Milano -> Switzerland -> Stuttgart
Team : Ajay Shetty, Chidananda Nagaraj, Jaffar Mohammed Shiraj, Mahesh Nagaraja and Vikram Chadaga 
Click here to view all photos .
Five of us had decided to go to Rome by car. I was the only driver with a valid driver’s license. Our initial plan was to cover Naples, Rome, Pisa, may be Venice. With only 4 days in hand I think this was being too optimistic. I hadn’t driven a car since I had come to Germany and I was waiting to drive a car, should I also add the “Autobahn’s” of Germany was another factor! 
We had booked a compact car from Sixt car rentals, and a compact car included something like a Mercedes A-class or a VW Golf. 5 people in this compact car would have been a little to tough. We decided to upgrade the car the next segment. To our luck we got a free upgrade to an Alfa Romeo 159, it’s a diesel car and I think it has all the features one can think about, Navigation, Parking assist, Cruise control, 6 gears, almost everything! I was surprised it didn’t come with an auto pilot 
We guys were totally thrilled with the car! So “She” was my babe for the next 4 days!
November 11, 2006
Information about Strasbourg:
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace région of northeastern France, with approximately 650,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 1999. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the préfecture (capital) of the Bas-Rhin département.
The city’s Germanic name means “town (at the crossing) of roads”. Stras- is cognate to the English street from the German equivalent of the word, Straße, while -bourg from the German -burg (“fortress, town”) is cognate to the English borough.
Strasbourg is an important centre of manufacturing and engineering, as well as of road, rail and river communications.
Strasbourg is the seat of the Council of Europe, of the European Court of Human Rights and of the European Parliament, though the latter also holds sessions in Brussels.
Read more about the place here.
The journey:
Team: Dogan Vardar, Kayin Pinar Burcu and myself.
I had met Burcu in the Bosch shuttle bus. All of us being new to Germany wanted to travel different place. We decided to goto Strasbourg, France. I had heard a lot about the place from my other colleagues.
Strasbourg is not too far from Stuttgart. Its about 2 hours by train from here. We decided to go on a Saturday. Unfortunately the weather was bad in Strasbourg that day. Nevertheless the place is very beautiful. We left Stuttgart at 9:11 AM and reached Strasbourg at 11:02AM.
It was very cold and also raining 
But the weather didn’t bother us too much as the city is very beautiful.
We head straight to the information center, get a city map and head out!
November 5, 2006
Cycling at Swabian Alps
Posted by chadaga under Baden-Wurttemberg, Cycling, Germany, Swabian Alps[2] Comments
The Team: Mahesh Nagaraja, Chidananda Nagaraj, Hemanth Nirvani, Shetty Ajay, Raj Poornima & Me.
The Adventure: We had to catch the 6:18AM train from the main station to Tuttlingen. I miss the train from Feuerbach (where I stay) to the main station. Try to cycle half way in the dark at 5:50AM, I have no idea which way to go. Finally cycled till another station and luckily get a train at 6:05AM. I reach the main station at 6:15AM… these guys were waiting for me. In the last min I buy the ticket… insert the money, Chidananda says you run… I’ll get the ticket. Unfortunately he picks up only the ticket for my bicycle and he forgets to collect the ticket for me. We still didnt realize this.
Poornima, Chidananda, Hemanth, and I get into the train. Mahesh and Shetty still outside the train finishing their last puff, try to get into the train now… but its too late… the doors of the train doesnt open.
Worst part Mahesh has the ticket for the 5 of them, and I have my ticket (still dont know that I dont have my ticket, I have only the cycle ticket).
We were hoping that no one checks till we get off the train in the next station.
October 4, 2006
October 1, 2006
Ayudha pooja at home. My best part is my cycle! Dad did the pooja for all the vehicles… I was too lazy to do any work!
September 23, 2006
September 23rd 2006:
Swaroop’s Birthday – Morning Session
Swaroop, Ajay, Niara and I meet up at my place… watch the road trip video… laugh laugh and laugh!!!
Swaroop’s Birthday – Surprise party @ Parade Grounds
We arrange a surprise party for swaroop. Bel made a pineapple cake !!! Lots of fun!!!
September 22, 2006
September 22nd 2006:
Ajay, Swaroop, Niara & I goto transit, bump into Vandy! Vandy whacks ajay’s phone… ajay on his knees begging for the phone! We make a lot of noise, almost kicked out of transit!! hehee…
September 10, 2006
September 10th 2006:
Sidhu, Vandy, Swaroop, Ajay, Binu and I meet at Coffee day, Brigade Road. As usual Ajay gets beaten up by all of us!!! We laugh our guts out! Good fun!
September 9, 2006
Niara in Saree, Ajay, Swaroop and I in Kurta… :)
Posted by chadaga under Ethnic, Fantastic 4, FriendsLeave a Comment
Fest at Philips, Niara decides to wear a Saree. We guys decide to wear Kurta for timepass. Have lunch at Philips, then go-to the ulsoor park and have a nice photo session!
