Random Thoughts..

In the third week of December, a sudden urge to travel gripped my wife and me. Within three days, we crafted a plan to drive from Bengaluru to Udupi (2 days), Murudeshwar (1 day), Gokarna (1 day), and back. Fate, however, intervened when no hotels in Udupi were available for the last week of December. Undeterred, my wife, who had just finished school on the 23rd, immediately began searching for alternatives. She discovered a hotel in Palolem accepting bookings. Despite Palolem not being in our original itinerary, we decided to pivot our plans, first staying in Palolem for 1-2 days before heading to Murudeshwar (half a day), Udupi (1 day), and returning. We booked a stay in Palolem for INR 6500, paying an advance of INR 3000. Departing at 4 AM on December 24th, we journeyed through Bengaluru -> Nice Road -> Tumkur -> Chitradurga -> Haveri -> Yellapur -> Karwar -> Palolem. We stayed at Crystal Goa for a day, and next day at De Resort on the beach. On the 26th, we lef

 During the Good Friday weekend [April 1st week], we wanted to move out and needed to be back before Sunday as our son had his culminating ceremony after his 3 years in Montessori. As we were planning to take out our Cheetah for a roaring drive, one of my acquaintances called me that he has started his camping business in Yercaud and that I should visit it once. And Bingo the plan was made as Yercaud is 240 km away from Bengaluru where we stay, and the roads are also awesome. We packed our bags the night before, and on the 7th around 5:30 we left for Yercaud and reached at 10:30 with 2 stops of 10 mins & 30 mins [ At Aahaa Family Restaurant ] respectively. This restaurant is on the route itself, so no detour. * Route Taken: Electronic City -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Karimangalam -> Bommidi -> Poomarathoor -> Kolagur -> Karadiyoor -> Wild Troupe. Route * Total Distance: 480 km [To & Fro] * Trip Dates: 7th & 8th * Mileage: 15.2 & 14.6 [AC on full b

  "Agar aap disciplined investor ho MF mein via SIPs, to jitni sidhiyan chadoge utna girne ka chance kum hota jayega," I used to say to my MF investors during my banking days as a wealth manager. After investing self money for the last 10+ years, I have come to a number of conclusions. Conclusions: a) The market never goes in a linear mode. In the market, 12 = 1 +2+1+3+0.5+4+0.5. b) The market is the only industry where EQ>IQ. Here, an above-average emotional quotient with a below-average intelligence quotient makes you the most money. c) Always avoid noise. d) Ideas sell for dime a dozen, discipline is the key. e) One becomes wealthy by either saving or cutting expenses. If you are doing both, then you are on the highway. Most important - if you saving, living below means, and cutting expenses then you are on Autobahn.  f) Saving 1st crore is the most difficult milestone. g) On average, in a decade there would only be 40-50 best days and if you are invested during that da

Hi All We had our weekend sorted on the 11th & 12th of February and were planning for a 500 km to-fro trip from Bengaluru so that we can leave early on Saturday morning and be back by Sunday evening with one night stay. As we were rounding on destinations, my kid came with the usual demand of going to an animal safari/forest - and we finalized Mudumalai forest as it had an option of safari too. Mudumalai forest is at the foothills of Nilgiris and is the other part of Bandipur forest, and lies in TN [ just 50 kms before Ooty ]. || Partners in Crime || : my better half, my 5.5-year-old kid & XUV 300 W8 O Petrol [part of family since November 2022] We booked  The Deer Meadows , which is small property adjacent to the Mudumalai forest reserve in Gudalur. We booked a cottage overlooking the meadows. Saturday came, and we were ready with our trip food and small luggage - started around 6:45 and reached the location around 12:30 with 1 break at Maddur on the newly built Bengaluru-Myso