Vikram Chadaga

When I first met Roopa she had got me a gift from Brussels. It was a make your own ship kit. I was excited about the whole project. This was the first project together. I had seen a lot of these models when I was at Germany.

The Pirate Ship…

Making of the ship… We first started of finding all the different pieces and putting them together…

We enjoyed building the whole ship. It is best to do these small projects over the weekends. Keeps your mind occupied and a productive outcome

View all the pics here.

Place: Kelheim, Germany

Date: 2nd February 2008

Team: I had been to this place with my Manager Henry Kuenzel and his wife.

It has been more 6 months since I travelled to Germany. I was seeing all my pictures and thought I must write about Kelheim.

Kelheim is about 1-2 hours drive from Regensburg. This place has a few very interesting monuments. I had collected some historical information from the place which I thought I should put it on my website for others to read.

The first place we went to is called:
Liberation Hall King Ludwig I

On top of Michelsberg, high above the town you can see Kelheim’s Landmark, Liberation Hall. King Ludwig I., of Bavaria had this monumental round building erected in commemoration of the wars of liberation from Napoleon (1813-15). It was realized by the famous Munich architect Leo von Klenze within 21 years’ time (1842-63).

It has a 7-meter -high enterance door and the shields of goddesses of victory inside the monument are made of particular material: bronze of conquered French canons.

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After Staying in Regensburg for 2 weeks, I have learned a lot of things about the city and common people around.

City:

Its a beautiful city, has a lot of touch from Paris, mostly because a lot of roads around city have the rough stone look.

The building and surroundings look very colorful.

Best part is the river flowing through the city:

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Date: 9th February 2008

Place: Bavarian Forest, Germany

After skiing in Michigan a couple of times, I tried skiing in the Great Arber. It was a wonderful experience. I was able to do the basic paths, but was too scared looking at the intermediate paths.

After a couple of rounds I started hiking in the snow. I was missing a spike shoes… I think it is a must on this snow. I had a tough time standing

Listening to one of my favorite song – “Creed’s – One last breath“

Even though it is cold and dry, yet so beautiful:

Click here to view all photos

Date: February 3rd 2008

I reached Regensburg, Germany. Couldn’t believe that my hotel was right next to the river Donau.

I start walking around next to the river, clicked some pictures on the way.

I reached a bridge where I could see the city church along with the river.

I couldn’t help getting the boat out of my focus as it was too close and the bridge railings was too high. But as as I was trying out more snaps, I notices that the boat was towing a car!!! This was a sight I had never seen so I clicked along!

Poor guy I wonder how much he would have to pay for that! After that I got a nice view of the sky. It was dusk and the sky was deep blue!

Click here to see all snaps of Regensburg, Germany.

Place: Stuttgart, Germany

Date: 29th October 2006

I had never seen such a huge exhibition for hobby projects. Its mind blowing to see the power of engineering in Germany. The Mechanical designs, small engines, precision plastic molds for the toys, accuracy in designs. We are talking about toys and hobby projects!!! People have spent their whole life working on one project! When they do it… they do it their best!

Construction…

You guys must have seen the huge construction machines, here we are talking about small versions of them and they exactly do the same thing!

Bike…

This bike looks huge and like a real bike, but it is a small bike kept on a table with real engine may be a size of 10CC. It had real disc breaks!

Helicopter…

Guy flying an Helicopter… its a small one made out of plastic but gives you control to fly in all directions.

Toy car…

This toy car has a real engine which runs on some alcohol based fuel and can go almost up to 40Kmph.

Train station…

Its a complete train station with city around it. I could also spot small toy people made around it. The trains are very accurate and move around on the tracks, change tracks. Spoke to this guy with my broken german and found out that he has taken 10years to build it!!!

Click here to see the complete exhibition photos!

Trip Statistics:

Number of days : 4 (17^th to 20^th 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!

Day 1: 17^th November 2006

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!

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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.

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