Cave Hills

Few of the lads who works for my previous employer this January were being adventurous and decided to hike one of the hills that encapsulates Belfast. Bad planning i guess they were stranded and finally two NI rescue helicopters had to come down to rescue them. Thats because there were ten of them and all of them idiots! The pilots thanked them instead of the gesture being the other way around because for each rescue they get one point and thanks to ten jokers they got 10 points in one go. The moral of the story the worst thing that can happen on a hill hiking mis adventure is a free helicopter ride and a contribution to the rescue teams appraisal.
Win - Win.Now thats not too bad according to my standard. So pulled in my room mate into this mission. Destination Cave Hills; en route to the Belfast castle.

The castle is mid way to the hill top so its an iconic castle that can be spotted from anywhere within the city. As we walked towards the bus stop we decided to step into the George's market. This has been a market place since centuries for the local farmers to sell what every they had to sell. The belief is prices are cheap and quality is great. I can agree on the Quality aspect. From fresh soiled vegetables to fresh sea food, from bonsai plants to home made oils and bread.
Everything was there. bustling with people and tourists the ambiance was great. A perfect market place. Nestled amidst all this conundrum is a coffee shop. Some people do like to have coffee is a crowded place I guess.
We headed off on a four mile journey on the first seat on the second deck of a double decker bus. Bus driver was good enough to stop at the closest point to the castle for us blokes. After a sort walk we did get to the castle, which i must say is not that impressive in size.
It was built late 12th century and handed over from lords to other lords over generations. Now its in the safe hands of the Belfast council which rents out the premises for conferences and marriages.
A noteworthy structure was an Italian designed staircase where one lord gave it as a present for his wife. I must try that with my future wife. "Look Honey, I have a marriage anniversary present for you, a beautiful stair case !!".
I did notice statues of cats in various pose lying around in the garden. I guess the previous owner did love felines.
Done with the castle, now up the hill.
It was one of the most serene and splendid hikes. Under lush green cover with sunlight playing games through the leaves was a smoothing experience. For the kind of brainless work we do in front of a screen for eight hours a day this absolutely rejuvenated my senses.

Six hundred meters above the sea level gave us a good view of the city which is not that large in area. The hill gets the name Cavehill due to a man made cave. This cave once sheltered localities during the WWII blitz. I find that hard to believe because once I got to see the cave I for one sure can say that it could not accommodate no more than thirty. Then came the most interesting bit getting to the top of the hill and to spice things up, find your own path. I being an ignoramus myself thought the path carved out by rain water to be a trail but realised it was too steep. At one point i had engage four wheel drive. I had to cross a twenty feet section of just plain muddy slope at forty five degree gradient! I kid you not, thats too steep, one slip of the foot and like Jack and Jill's rhyme will be tumbling down hundred meters. While at this point , when I was on all fours I was in a dilemma to go back or to take the risk. If I take the risk then who will have to bear the trouble of my ignorance. That is when I had the Epiphany. I take the risk and I cross the section at least I will live further with the thought that I have guts to do that crazy stunt. I live as a happier man. Or I could go back and come to the top of the hill on the beaten track and feel nothing special about it. "Option one please". My roomie with bated breath watched me with his finger ready on this mobile to call 999 if the unpleasant happens. But, hey I am writing this blog! So did make it through. I feel that age has not got the better off me. The kid in me is alive that is a very reassuring feeling. My room mate spent the next twenty minutes trying to do the same while I was on stand by with the 999. Later be back tracked and got to the hill top. The view was spectacular. Thanks to the Irish weather gods it was perfect. For a more thrilling experience I sat at the edge of the cliff with more than 100 meters of high quality breeze between my feet and ground. Took some snaps to cherish this accomplishment thinking of another day to hike another mountain. Thats what makes us all tick. Hiked down the mountain with one disappointed; No free helicopter ride this time.
for more pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/badri.nair/BelfastCastle#

Jai Ganesh, Jai Belfast

This is the third town I have moved into in my life after Pune and Dublin.I am glad that it started off well. I was able to get the accommodating sorted out even before I got to Belfast. Work place was close by. I must say everything in the city is close by because this city by Dublin or Bangalore standards is very Small (please notice the capital 'S'). Met a couple of cool guys at work place who were also friends of my friends and by the way friends of my new Flat mate. The splendid networking capability of lads for Andra Pradesh, India sure beats the crap out of CISCOs' and Junipers'.
That being that,first weekend of my first week at work came across a flyer on my desk. It was about the celebration of Ganesha Chaturthi at the Indian Community Center in Belfast (ICC), but completely sponsored by Telugu association of Belfast.
I aint no Telgugu dude, but am a true Indian and a religious broad minded Hindu; so I was all game for it. With my mates headed to ICC to be promptly at 11, but as I must have expected things were running late. But I am glad that I got the opportunity to pitch in my two cents worth of effort. I was lucky enough to go on a tiny procession with the idol of my favorite of the Hindu lord. The Elephant headed lord who wards of all evil. There was some chating and pooja. I was immensely glad to have the 'Prasad'.
I felt at home during that brief time i spent there. On the way back with a little bit of coercing effort from my friend decided to go and shop and I must thanks all my good stars or Luck that on the same very street I was a year ago to witness the Hare Krishna "Ratha Yarta" (pulling of the chariot) and now i was there to Witness the same auspicious event again and in spite of the rain jumped in to tug the ropes of the massive chariot. I did feel sanctified and the act of getting drenched in the rain doing a holy work.Indeed very gratifying. Post shopping we walked around to see a little bit more of Belfast and decided to walk into the Belfast cathedral. Four of us waltzed into the silent place with "kum kum" on our forehead. it would be clear even to a dodo that we are not Christians. But the priest in the Church did welcome us in and asked us to take a look around. The place was silent and massive. And speaking of massive the worlds largest Celtic cross is here. A world apart from the place where I had just been a while ago where there was loud ringing of the bells, 'Dhools' and chants.
Thats how we have different cultures in this world but all seek the same thing. peace and goodness. No matter how different we look or who we pray to the quintessential need of every soul is Peace and a happy life.
I say I did have a great first weekend in Belfast. Hope this city brings much more happy memories in the time to come.