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Thank God It's Friday

2012-01-22T03:38:00.000-08:00

[B/ground: the cake had a message "Surprise 23" on its face - a party to surprise my wife Shivangi as we completed 23 months of our marriage on Dec 23, 2011! OR perhaps I was surprised at the feat!! The below is a copy/paste of the email I sent out to the group while I was lazing on the bed the next day]

****************************************

Thanks for making it a great evening...you guys were seriously brave enough to reach the place where even bhatakti atmas nahin panhonch pati...and once fed some fuel, also gathered the courage to 'Sing a song' and sing along. Special thanks to Swati to scare herself to arrive at the jungle like venue and be 1st & lone guest out there to surprise Shivangi!

I discovered how much fun Karoake could be...and long after u guys left, I kept up the tempo...and maintained a consistent standard: ''you need more effort"...for a full 4/5 songs before giving it up for the night. Alas, I'd have liked if you guys would have vasooled the Karoake; and the food too, which we had difficult time to manage and transform to containers and which my wife termed it as if for a hundred people / for entire month! So much for my organization skills!

Three cheers for my friends for picking up Lakde ki Kathi as the first song and Shirdi Wale Sai Baba [the mumbai local most hit/popular song] in the middle when they saw their singing faltering. And the new year resolutions, so that you guys can ponder upon:

Riddhi, the blessed and satisfied soul, no resolutions!

Deepak: Jiyo aur Jine do, Swati listening?

Swati: how if Deepak can be more expressive, can write some nice things (about her, ofcourse!)

Rohit and Garima: Aman aur Shanti banaye rakho (perfect couple, perfect wish)

Rahul: NA / Pass. Refusal to venture into the unknown

Keta: God may bless Rahul with the wisdom to give surprises to her wife, which happens to be her.

Shivangi: Dil mange aise more surprises (Viral: Hey Maa, Mataji)

Me: Max 1 surprise in next 25yrs (now u know why opposite attract each other / distract all other?!)

Amit: wishing for a bachelor life post marraige (its like reverse engineering Curd to generate milk!!)

Bharat: wants to help Amit in Milk-Curd-Milk process

Manju: travel more, explore places; Himalayas for next year. We wish her happy journey

Shivangi adds that as I had selected the date to be 23rd and the cake had too much rum, she'll remember this for next 23minutes atleast (perhaps forgotten by now!?).

So raising a toast for all my dost who graced the occasion of a ghost. May you all have a un-ghostly new year. Whatever that means :)

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Deepak, don't complain for not mentioning of your another highest score, this time for Karoake Singing! And Swati did confess later that you can be miser on words and still express deep intense meaningful intentions. Snaps coming soon...

if you have not got it, Dec 23rd was a friday! and all the friends promised me that had it been a saturday they would have stayed much longer - i hope to remember when i give my next party 25yrs from now!

Random Thoughts: Marriage: Grey Clouds

2011-11-10T09:50:00.001-08:00

One evening in September
My mind does ponder and wander
That I am indeed sad
And perhaps a bit too bad
Good in my marriage so far
I am yet to be a dad!

Gloomy was March and so was May
I for long have wondered
Why life has come to a nay

Studies, marks and money
Don't make life honey
Its family and friends
Its hobbies and games
That brings laughter to
A mood that's foul and gloomy

Girls and guys
Why are they so different ever
Why do they fight over
Parties and work outs
Cakes and bakes
Roti, Dal and pizzas
Like Chalk and cheese
Like Venus and mars
Girls crave for chocolate bars
While guys look out for some other Bars!

They do take us so far
And make us miss
Love and peace
Joy and happiness
Family and togetherness
Celebrations and
A sense of belongingness

They gift us just
Solitude and loneliness
Stress and tension
Problems a plenty
And what not else
to make a mention

Let our lives
find their own separate ways
And get a second chance
To see some bright days

Let's hope Oct would be bright
And by Dec life alright
That each can make its christmas
Celebrate with a dash
of Spirit, vodka and a bash
That Jan will bring to us
Some bonus and cash!

Random Thoughts: Marriage: The Sunny Side

2011-11-10T09:41:00.001-08:00

She's now into my life
Changes to my day
And bringing changes to my nights ;)
Quite convinced that I am her mr. Right
That I'll make her life sunny and bright

Ever so smilingly she does come
She's so chirpy, she likes to hum
Scary it feels when she holds my hand
Heaven is here is what she thinks in her mind
Always ready to come with me, Oh! with a confidence blind

She's teaching me how to have a hearty smile
To comfort me, ready to go that extra mile
Solitude long gone it's quite a while
Gradually reducing is the apprehensions' pile
Convinced am I
That she’s gonna be a permanent part of my file

She likes gift and gifting
Likes (heart) beats and beating (me)
Likes arguments, fights and fighting
Loves bargains, shops and shopping
But oh my, she's weak at bargaining
Loves sleeps and sleeping, hates lights and lighting
Except when bringing light to my life
My friends, that's an apt description,
Of who else, but my wife

The story of my life On How I Met my Wife

2011-10-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

There was a time when I was shy
Even when girls came by shouting a Hi
But here was a girl not willing to come by
Shake out the laziness my dear, said I

I had ignored the day's forecast that said she'll make me a Dev-D
I did go to see her, after all it was a brave me
Heart a little anxious, a lot of mur mur
Finally meet we did at the CCD
The first date and she borrows Rs. Thirty

Second meeting ensued, where else but at CCD!
In between there was some email traffic and some this-that
And I was able to erase my image of a brick brat
She also was no more an aunty unlike when we first met
We did figure there was potential for chemistry, after that

Again a lot of email traffic, and lot of this-that
Before came our third CCD date
Sitting besides me, a pillow separating us
We spoke in whispers and some hus-hus
She feeling some positive vibrations
And I feeling some anxiety and a hollow between us

Anxiously, she wanted to hold my hand
For a split second, thought I
Seeing her from the corner of my eye
My life's obviously going to change
If I did allow her to hold my hand

The next split second, I thought if it has to be
It has to be now
And thus we decided
To take the vow!

Oh, she did hold my hand and saw me in the eye
Oh God, I was hers and she was mine
We did meet once more, before our families can meet

And when they met,
Fixed was our date for marriage,
And for Sangeet

Hey Aryaputra, said she
And came into my life
Like a storm smiling at me!!!

Rumble in the Jungle

2011-10-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

Boy, what a hell of a ride, it was! The one that took us from “19 degree North” to “Campfire” - our venue at 90 degrees south for the Saturday evening entertainment! At the end, it felt like 360 degrees of pure Nirvana. Our open jeep had kissed the dirt, and gone off road, in the middle of the night, taking us into the jungle-valley. Thud, dhudup dhadap, heart beating and lot of shouts, as the auto-mobil was going through what otherwise appeared a trekking trail - ups, downs, crater like holes and pockets of water. This was a spa treatment of a different kind, the entire body got the 'extreme vibration treatment' as if to make the tired bodies relaxed after half a day of adventure sports. My drunk colleagues admitted that the rumblings of the ride had succeeded in bring them back to some sense – defeating the entire purpose of getting drunk! Even otherwise bad mumbai roads can finally be positioned three notches above this road, if at all it can be called a road.

We arrived at the Campfire, and were greeted with hot and delicious barbeque! A few of us like felt the winds and the breeze, while others the warmth of the fire while we all danced into wee hours of the morning. Finally one and a half hour post mid-night, the final 8 of us left behind decided to call it quits! Savio and Cash-Ram made for good mobile jockeys to make every dance so late, not to forget the super selection of songs with Savio/Nilesh. And of-course lots of pictures, mostly innocent and a few controversial ;)

The return ride was no heaven, yet filled like one, with rendition of great songs while our tired bodies vibrated as our jeep took us back through the jungle. I had not planned for the eventual double - being in the first batch to arrive at and last batch to depart from Campfire! Add to this our impromptu 10min garba session at the reception - the people manning the desk at that tourterly hour had their eyes wide-open! Some more chatting and gossiping before crashing out at 3am! Sunday feels so ever blessed - no morning itinerary or timings to keep (but for b/fast and departure).

What had preceded this wonderful evening was ‘an afternoon’ of some super-adventure sports at “19 degree North” - zorbing; paintball shooting; rock climbing and alpine tower...totally sapping out all the energy fromour energy-deficient bodies but surprising only 100gm of fat! The paint ball had 5 kisses on my body apart from a bite on side of my neck; this shot at the neck had made me breath as if I was trying to scale the Everest in an oxygen-less state. And I was yet to have a go at rock climbing. As much I was determined to get to the top, like so many times in my life, I do get stuck at around 65%! That’s the mark I achieved on the rock as well - much unlike Rahul C who crawled like only a spider (man) can - phew, in 6min straight, while Nilesh was the first to crack the climb. All these for a 3rd prize to our team – Lucky Dragon [no, Rahul and Nilesh were not in our team!]. A quick dive into the pool post these adventures had helped me refreshed for ride to the Campfire.

Fortunately, the Sat morning biz presentations were precise, to the point, and hopefully meaningful too, besides having concluded on time! (Participants of the Business Review Meeting - please do leave your comments!). A lot of it thanks to the previous night party (Friday) which was equally rocking and rollicking. The growth in human capital of our firm (bw 2007-11) was evident in the number of couples dancing on the floor even past mid-nigh (nearly 15 or more against 3 odd previously!)

The only thing I sensed which was amiss, was a sight-seeing tour of this lovely property (Aamby Valley) and hence I set myself on for an hour of walk through the property, capturing some memories in my digi-cam. The walk was a nice fill-in for my aspirations of going trekking or gym as each bone and muscle of my body ached. As I walked marveling at the beautiful property, a new aspiration was lit - a property at this place would be just great!

At last, words can't describe enough all the fun, all the thrill, some secrets and some controversies that we all were witness to, albiet in different measures! So here are the snaps to add zing to the entire thing. Boss, pls retain the same folks in the organizing committee - these guys rocked.

PS: perhaps Amby Valley just been awarded the 'offsite location of the year; in the popular category after having hosted us twice in the year, apart from another bank earlier in the year on atleast two different occassions. Perhaps a deal on offer that is difficult to resist!

Journeys....

2011-09-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

TV is a cure of much of the boredom! For 3 week ends we tried for tickets of Zindagi Meligi Na Dubara (Zindagi for short). Finally the weekend before we got to see Zindagi, I was bothering my thumb flipping thru channels and was glad to see Harichandra Chi Factory playing there. The idea was to check out if this movie really deserved the acclaim its got from one and sundry!

Both are excellent movies depicting journeys but of a very different nature. The first one is about curiosity and entrepreneurship in the pre-independence era; the other one about going through three different challenges to realize that they can over come different fears of life, and also can overcome fear of death!. The first one depicts self-belief, the power of conviction and confidence, the zeal to learn, and to chase a dream against all odds...the second one shows the journey to self-belief and that if you push one another in the group, together your achievements can be beyond limits. The first journey would not have been possible without ample love and faith from the protagonist’s wife and children; the seoncd journey helps three men friends find their interests (or 'love'ly ladies) and also helps re-ignite their friendship otherwise lost to material world.

HF narrates the story in a very light hearted and simple manner, showing how Dhundiraj [let’s say call him Raj] and family succeeds in their venture. Raj tries his hand at being was a magician, a theatre-artist (drama) and had also tried his hand at running a photography studio after falling out with his partner in a printing press venture [feels like a Shahrukh movie?!]. His vocations in the pre-independence era are ridiculed of his larger family and friends but still with all love and faith from the immediate family. As he ends up watching an English motion picture nearby (tents my friend, no multiplexes) his life changes. He spends days and night just to see get access to exhibition room to understand how the film rolls thru the projector for the motion picture to come live on the screen, sells virtually everything that belongs to him to take his journey to London (leaving a pregnant wife behind!) learns the art of movie making movies. Raj returns to India, soon the film camera arrives and he starts his journey of making his first movie.

Well, he was quite intelligent man. Already out of money. To test his camera, the guy plants a seed. Gets the camera angle right and every day rolls one single frame to capture its growth. In a few weeks, the plant is fully grown, he shows the movies to the same family friends who ridiculed him (motion picture showing the plant grow, no actors or studio expenses!!). Importantly this small movie helps him earn venture capital from friends and acquaintances and finally the first movie rolls, with no women heroine despite his best of efforts, the men have to step in for them also! And Raj's wife becomes the cinematographer along with taking care of hospitality for the entire crew. This first movie was Raja Harischnadra, the Indian film industry’s first motion picture…and in early days when one actors inquires about what should he inform his family about his work, Raj asks him to say that he goes to work at Harischandra chi factory [Harischandra’s factory]!

As for Zindagi, most of you guys have watched it, most of you have watched it, for others, it soon coming on a more popular channel than the one that played HF.

This Raj is the one who gave birth to Indian movie industry, produced nearly 100movies, about 25 short films and thankfully did not getting lured away by multi-dollar offers from overseas movie producers (just so that movie industry in India can take shape). He goes by the full name of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke and in whose respect, the Dadasaheb Phalke lifetime award was added to National Film Awards in India in 1969. No wonder then that the movie industry actually rates it much higher then all the IIFA's, Filmfare and Screen awards etc. I just hope it was much highly publicized as well

Never for one bit had I regretted that week end (for not getting tickets for Zindagi). And lastly I have always thought that the channel UTV world movies does bring some excellent movies to the idiot box at home, but to show some local movies from a vernacular language was quite the unexpected. [and this is not a sponsored page!]

And then I got to experience the "Vagina Monologues"!!!

Patriotism Has No Language

2011-04-12T02:18:00.000-07:00

Cricket unites this nation like nothing else….we have seen this time and again with the World Cup win being the latest epic to demonstrate this! I just wish that the silent national anthem released by Big Cinemas can actually free this society of disharmony and discrimination and achieve a permanent unification for our country….for when you see it, it would move you no end.

Picturized on a class of school students who are the special ones, those who have the ability to convey the message notwithstanding their inability to speak / listen, they all sing the national anthem with their sign language. The audio-visual playing in front of you leaves you speechless. I got goose bumps; for someone who is quite cold and emotionless in the most despair or excited moments, this was surely something special.

When I searched for the video of this song on You Tube, I was pleased to note that nearly a million people had already seen this marvel of a creation. [see thevideo attached]

"Patriotism has no language". That’s how the video ends…those four words deliver the message with a punch…how we just hope that this message spreads and everyone who sees it will appreciate the true meaning of being patriotic, secular, unified and indiscriminate in words, acts & deeds and their beliefs!

For a change, ADAG group has done a commendable job; and the creative team at Big Cinemas commands all the applause for this.

Spread the music, and message will spread too...

HK Musings

2010-11-12T04:52:00.000-08:00

I was downloading and arranging photos of my recent Hongkong trip and went down the memory lane revisiting the impressions that HK had left on me.

As you’d expect of a major trading centre like HK, the one which was run by Britain for nearly a century, everything at the airport appears properly thought of, and well designed. It would be hard to get lost, still if you do get lost – would be hard to ask for directions in English save for the airport area or offices where you’d find sufficient people to converse with in this language! Makes me wonder how did HK manage to retain their inclination towards their native language despite being a British for such a long time?

The first impression I took as I got a chance to go around the city, was that of a concrete jungle, a place where tall cranes are easily dwarfed by the sky scrapers in the background; where planners know the value of scarce land at hand and hence everything is planned to save space – tall buildings and inter-connecting bridges that can take you into a hotel from the MTR station itself; and many MTR station would be a part of the shopping complex! Sky scrapers being built even on foothills such that they apparently out do the height of the hills themselves OR the Mid-level escalators which keep on taking you higher and higher in a seemingly eternal journey [I did the journey from Robinson road to Conduit Road]! The Bay view room of a hotel will have a window from where you have a 1sq.cm of space to see the bay, and remaining volume of the window would be filled by buildings all around; and for this 1 sq.cm view – you’d be charged extra! The roads appear narrow with very few 3 lane roads; but traffic systematic; and infrastructure all well planned. [Let me add: the structures in Macau too are fabulous – the Chandelier at the Sands or the Venetian in its entirety is really grandeur redefined. [See snaps - link at the end!]

Still it has sufficient tourist attractions to keep you busy for a 4 day mini-vacation, be it the Ocean Park or the Disney [former more recommended for adults, latter for the kids and wives!]; or the Big Buddha [the few KMs rope way ride was more fascinating to me] or Stanley [beachside], not the forget the Peak [short of time, we reached there only at half past mid-night and stayed back for an hour, while am sure it would offer an amazing aerial view of the city during the day, the view we had at night in peach dark was equally astonishing, and the embrace of silence / solitude of the night romanticising the environment!]. Then there’s the ladies market / night market for bargain hunters; Wan Chai Technology Centre as a place to buy good electronic stuff [and some pubs at night if you can find the right street], Lan Kwai Fong for the nocturnal party animals; the Casinos at Macua for gamblers. Macua is just that tad cheaper then HK; and the Bon Jour and Sasa stores spread all over HK offers a very comprehensive range of cosmetics which typically are at half the price compared to India.

Well, memories abound and not all of it can be captured out here [that’s where pictures say a thousand words, see the links below], but we had some amazing time out there – not to mention that the first week was a training tour, post which our vacation time started!

Concrete Jungle
Hk Infra
All the HK Sightseeing

Mountain Biking and a Married Life

2010-10-24T04:51:00.000-07:00

As I was sitting on my sofa, thinking about a few things, and memories of mountain biking hit my mind, my fertile imagination was struck with the similarities b/w a mountain biking [MTB] trekking expedition and married life. So here you go…

Like in MTB so in marriage, the road is full of twists and turns, ascents and descents…and it’s very important to navigate the road well. You may like speed, but lose focus and you may well miss that turn; remember, you can reach that pinnacle even if you labour it out at a slow speed. It is important to understand your bike well….be sure to pick the type that suits you good – should be sturdy that would last the distance with you, adapt to the road while riding with you, the one with which you can connect to and adjust a bit here and there, one which is low on maintenance and which you can maintain by yourself! If you have a one that does lots of tantrums every now and then, my friend you are in for a quirky ride on a road which promises to be bumpy!

Ascents are hard, and it would tests your determination….the bike will make you work even harder on the ascent, perhaps your wife would push you harder on your ascent in life! But don’t miss those couple of moments of extreme satisfaction you get after have done with the incline and that small patch of straight road is in sight! Descents may be faster and easier, but ask any biker and he would tell you that’s its more risky and hence more important to manage the speed and the ride else one of the turns can actually take you down the valley. To ascend after a long descent is even harder but none of these are avoidable in your ride to the pinnacle, so why not enjoy the journey.

Before you start for the day, check that your bike is doing well, you have the right air pressure in the tyres [make your wife always float in the air!], have oiled all the nuts and bolts…a well maintained bike will be a key to your smooth ride, just like a happy wife would be the key to your peaceful existence in life ;) Like you carry a toolbox venturing into your ride, keep a toolbox for your wife [2 important things that comes to my mind: a gift is always handy, so are those three magical words]. After an eventful day out riding your bike, you need time away from the bike, to rest and unwind; similarly you do long for your space, away from your wife!!

While there is always more than one route to reach your destination, it’s still important to heed the advice of your fellow experienced bikers, people who have tried that route (or tried out a particular type of bike for that matter). And like you have an acclimatization trek before you actually start off on your biking expedition, so does in life, perhaps it could pay off if you had an experience of managing and maintaining a girlfriend as a precursor to venturing into your married life!!

Any wonder then that those who have are yet to experience the thrill of MTB, are always in [more than] two minds on whether to venture out on a ride! All the best to all of you folks on this adventurous ride.

PS: This article is purely a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person’s life, his story and his experiences with his wife are purely coincidental. This applies in equal measure to my wife who would surely be reading this, 9 months into our married life. :) And some of them are just too happy with small acclimatization treks all the time!!

All in a 1000 KMs

2010-10-22T00:53:00.000-07:00

As I got my car to park in the compound of my residence apartment, I saw the meter and realised I had 1.4 kms over 1000!! Phew, quite an achievement to do my first 1000km run in my car in a space of 2 months.

Going against the advice of many of my well wishers, who perhaps so rightly suggested to buy a small car as my first car, I had decided upon a sedan and Honda City it did turn out to be! (Have always loved space, with a factor of affordability - whether it be a home or now a car!) And by this stage of my journey, I have come to quite love my car, the drive, the speed; and the opportunity to be able to constantly carve my space in a moving set of cars (you said that as overtaking? Nah....)

So, but ofcourse there are scratches on both of the side mirrors - of only one attributable to me; a minor scratch near the tail on the left; exactly two bangs on the bumper at the back - one attributable to my ability to park the car in a reverse gear on just my 3rd day driving (am yet to repeat this feat again) and the other one attributable to taking the car out from parking - again in reverse gear; not to mention the most eventful of them all - I banged a sturdy Indica from behind in a slow moving traffic causing a small bent in my bonnet and a damages of Rs. 300 to the driver though you'd hardly notice any impact at the rear of this Indica, and this happening just out of a slip up in attention :(

The last 75kms of this journey had been quite an eventfull one; apart from hitting the indica, it involved my first of only two interactions with pandu (or kaka, mama, chacha, aka traficc policeman) havaldar happening! In case of first one, I was charged with a rs. 100 fine for lane cutting - I think the havaldar knew he is wrongly charging me and intently informed a smaller fine trying to pocket some money which is quite the usual affair (my experienced/intelligent reader as also people who know me would know what option I'd go for!); the second was a wrong right turn I took where. It was not allowed and an apology with admission of not being mindful did the trick and he let me go! aisa bhi hota hai!!

Driving this vehicle, there are moments to cherish - ones that would be permanently etched in my memory!! Like when I first drove in 3d gear (going to Powai!) and in 4th gear (a brief 5 second on way to office and for then much longer than this on the way to Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai!); not to forget the day when I drove 90kms in a day (max in this 2month journey of mine!) Or the first 2 days of my trial run of 3kms on a carefully selected circuit route from and back to my home and the first day when I actually took it out to derive the utility itz supposed to deliver - that of taking me places: an overall 15km ride going to / fro to the shopping mall nearby!

My wife has been really courageous to feature in my trial runs as well as being there in most rides with me [except the first and second time when I was in fourth gear], and my parents, especially my mom was quite scared when they first took a ride with me :) And how can I forget when I drove past my college driving the car, of course as a college kid, it had always appeared only as a distant dream with uncertainty as to where the future would lead me!!

So much all for the memories as all of you would have with the firsts in life...am sure waiting to add quite a few more, what about taking it to the town where I spend much of my growing up days, and to the school, and going on some long drives, a few vacations....hhmm...realized, I can well do with a break, any time!!!

Dhan-Te-Nan...Ta..Na..Nan: Diwali Eve 2009

2009-10-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

Oct 16, 2009
At 24 hrs notice, had accepted an the invitation to attend a card party on the eve of Diwali at these couple friend of mine. I could only see later that Dhan-Te-Nan was guaranteed when money is involved in a cards game, a different Dhan-Te-Nan then Shahid's Kaminey, but motto the same!! Both had their office colleagues + couple of folks from our building....a gang of 15/20 people

So that was my first exposure to a full fledged teen patti game, I was honored to be part of a privileged gang. Starting with a simple game, moving to one with a dynamic jack, a black jack, highest card wins and a lowest card wins, discard cards and make your own game n what not. The climax was a game where players had an option to participate but when u lose u contribute double, than further double the pot in the next game!! It was like going from nursery to graduation with a double pace in a span of 4 hrs - from 10pm to 230pm! The tempo soars as the stakes rise and the last set of players test out each others patience – both with the cards or their bluff + their money!! The fact amply evident when they have to break for a fag or drink or a P! So much for my first experience at attending a night school! Fortunately am yet to give my B.Cards exam - was quite content to study the syllabus and not to test my skills by playing a game or two - they are other avenues like stock, gold and debt markets where my knowledge tends to be somewhat better then betting on cards....

A wonderful night where u got to see some pretty faces (not by their own, how unfortunate!!), some self-confident but mostly over and one under confident gambler(s), a guy with his girl friend made it a special occasion by celebrating his girls b'day at sharp mid nite!! An its-bitsy crowd where a psychologist can analyze why folks from MNC Bank tend to get their better halves along to the party while the guys from an Indian Financial Servies Co., about 10 of them, all ended up alone - hard to think that all of them should be single!!

Some things gets grinded upon during a girls' upbringing in India, so always good to have them around - they without blinking an eye, are always game to help with foods, drinks and logistics (oh hello: am not vouching for this, think of this only as my observation); the other is for them to be a good wife / gf while his guy loots all the fun! I never understood how this girl patiently sat all thru 4.d hrs, half asleep in the latter part, while his guy indulged in gambling on cards, not resigning even when he had to borrow off money from his gal; she appeared a little reserved and so never went to join a group in another room that was gossiping / drinking listening to music n having fun nor she joined the gang playing cards; her only intermittent relief being a 2yr kid of the host with whom she could play for some time :( It forces me to wonder where does the women of today - the so hyped about 21st century - see their future? Since ages we have had notable examples of some great Indian women Jijabai, Rani Laxmibai to Mother Teressa, PT Usha, Indira Gandhi, to the her modern day daughter in law Sonia Gandhi, Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza, and other scores of them in the corporate world too!! I know one bad apple would not represent the apple basket but even that one rotten apple in the basket is to be thought of - for it could certainly contaminate the entire basket....

So much for the gyan..... while some folks were getting under the influence of alcohol + smoke and I can see them losing their capability to understand the variations and play their card properly. The obvious fact is no one feels that he has won in a group card game, so always a mystery as to where does the money gets pocketed! Was different here tho, these core group of 6 people who played till it was called off, all felt they were net net +ve!! Which means the 2/3 who had started initially but dropped in midway had lost: n as a student my assessment was that at least 2 others from these 6 had lost including the one who had to borrow from his wife / gal!

So nearly around 3hrs past midnite it was adieu, leaving these wonderful hosts to do the clean up act, while Goddess Lakshmi had actually decided to find a new home in some people's wallet making a move from the few others, the Diwali on balance remains balanced, happy for some more happy for others!!

Snaps...here it goes: http://picasaweb.google.com/viraltj/DiwaliEveOct162009#

Pune - Korlai Fort: Biking Pain-Joy Ride

2009-10-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

Sept 19/20/21: Pune-Korlai-Kashid-Borli-Korlai-Borli.
Day 1
(Pune-Roha: via Pirangut, Paud, Tamhini, Kolad: 125km)
Even craziness has a definition, ain't it crazy! In the fight b/w the man and the machine, its the man with a better machine or rather a machine made by a better man, wins! That's what I discovered...and this ain’t crazy!!

Sri had arranged for a bike being loaned to me. So reached Trupti's place at 0715 hrs sharp to pickup the bike, Dange Chowk, after all we were to start sharp at 730 from Chandni chowk! Instead kept hanging for 1.5 hrs, finally Sri came and made me work hard, pumping air into my bike wheels; and escorted me to Tamanna restaurant (opp. Infy campus, Hinjewadi) at 9am - by which time I had completed my bfast, read the prev days ET which somehow I was carrying and had a 20 min nap.

Intro done to Sudhansu (Wiproite, and member of Hyderabad Biking Club or HBC), Mohan; and the famous Bani - the organizer! Suman was the 6th member of our hexagonal team with 9 people from Pune having ditched us - Bani later confirmed that he too would have ditched if there was someother soul ready to represent Pune, for he had an aching knee!

Had juices, filled water bottles and we flagged off at 930am. Quite sunny weather...the first few kms is quite like a city ride but with some slopes up/down which we all enjoyed; take a right turn from Pirangut for Paud village, some more slope and we had a break...infact the entire stretch has some amazing slopes - a little longish in nature & gradual ascents and descents, thankfully not the steep kind! Still upward slopes combined with the distance to be covered and a sunny weather had had us soon panting! Loads of water was still always insufficient - hardly any real long breaks for snaps or sight seeing, we constantly kept going with never ending roads in front of us! Sri and / or Bani would be always in the lead, Sudhanshu behind them and me & Suman always competing and changing our places b/w 4th and 5th with exceptional brief periods where either Sri or Bani would be kind enough to allow us (Sudhanshu / me) to lead, at times my lead was out of my refusal to brake where the entire team halts for a quick rest! Mohan was fit and steady notwithstanding his desire to tail the pack through out! This was quite unlike Jalori (we – Sri & me - kept going back to those memories on numerous occasions) - at Jalori, all were given the same bikes and no one was a regular biker except Sri, Ani and Dinesh and I was able to keep pace with Sri jointly leading all the way. This group can be classified as 50% amateur and all but me being regular bikers - it dawned on me that age was indeed catching up and my bike was 6*3 gears instead of 7*3 at Jalori; plus some gear combo would just not work - especially the 1st and 3rd front gears particularly problematic: so it was difficult to accelerate on planes and declines; and required more force on inclines - the men with better machines were leading or so I thought! But perhaps I was just biding time, tailing happily!

About 20 kms after leaving the city and the topography starts to change, the landscape adds layers of beauty with abundant green trees topping the hills in sight, allowing you to swallow more oxygen with each gasp from an expanse of fresh air and less traffic, even lesser people in sight!

Just 3 to 5km before our lunch break and we faced our first real ascent - a long (0.5km) steep stretch and we were in bad shape, pushing d bike for couple of hundred meters, completed the ascent, and immediately a break...this is just around the start of the mulshi lake...when we broke for lunch, around 1/130 - we had completed only 50 km; whop full 70km more to go!! When ur stomach is full and u feel sleepy right in the middle of afternoon (230pm) and Col. Bani orders u to march ahead and complete the daunting task of 70km - u'd drop dead at the spot! U know in nxt 4hrs it would start getting dark n u have to cover that 70km in 4hrs, undoubtedly with some slopes and mandatory breaks surfacing enroute!!

Just next to the hotel where we had lunch, Bani allowed us a further 15 min of break for sight seeing, the spot he thought / knew from past ride, to offer a good view! What he did not tell us is that riding just another 100/200 meters offered even a better view; but we had started and needed to complete the ride - so no breaks for full 7kms! First upslope in a post lunch ride, and we were panting!!

Slowly but steadily we kept riding for next few hrs, occasionally breaking for quick rests / water in and water out (nature's call or what Lance calls watering the flowers :) around 330/4 we were blessed with some rains for half an hour 45 min or so, this was quite an enjoyable part to be on wheels in the rain, just silently praying and telling myself to be doubly cautious on the descent as bikes would go fast and it may not brake so well.The next rains were at around 530 when we covered 5 to 7km stretch which was to be followed by a 10km descending slopes of the Tamhini Ghats...fortunately the rain gods were pleased with us for it stopped just before we started the descent else life could have been much more difficult. The slopes of Tamhini is straight down, and while you enjoy the speed you are really challenged to focus and maintain your balance on such a long ride, with few bumpy patches and some curves - and once you are upto it, u'd njoy the speed and the flow with which you cut the wind and push ahead.

Just after the descent, it was chai / pani time, and perhaps the tiring limbs and rain had its role to play in me forgetting the fast and feasting on some biscuits with coffee. Soon we were off on the saddle and started to pedal - still some 40 kms to go - God when this would blessed day’s ride would come to halt! It was around 6pm and I was fearing that lights would fade....(Or ain't it so obvious when u know local sunset time is usually b/w 630 to 7pm!). With the fear of fading light and of constantly tagging behind - just 5th - I was constantly meddling with the gears to get the right combo going, it was very noisy giving a crinkling sound at 1st and 3rd level on the front gear...the last I remember was a sign post showing 31km to go for Roha - our halt for day 1.

And I got Godspeed...the gear came into a smooth flow with a nearly flat road and 3-6 combo I started gaining speed....4 km ahead (ie 27 to go!) Saw Bani, Sri and Sudhanshu indicating to break and wait for Mohan to arrive...I hinted them that I need to go ahead as I was quite fearing lack of light and did not wanted to break the rhythm I had got into with the bike....Wait at Kolad for others to catch up or something similar was what Bani shouted as I passed.

In next 15 min, around 7 it was dark (24 to go), a state highway no street lights hardly any traffic and carefully but with a good but steady speed, I continued to ride....the next 14 kms, no breaks and full speed. Soon it was Kolad, Suman was first to catch up after 7-10 min, passing the message that we break for dinner at Kolad itself - Bani's idea as he had planned the route and halts. I suggested otherwise and started a slow ride so that others could quickly join. Everybody agreed against dinner considering now it was pitch dark. Another kilometre and we took a left from a T junction for Roha...hit a stretch of Kolad full of lights and dhabas on both sides of the road indicating it was a popular place for people to break for their night meal. Another suggestion for Dinner and again was the first one to turn down. Quick 2/3 min biscuit cum snack break with Bani and Sri out with their tail and head lights. Consensus reached that Bani to lead, all to ride in a single row, few more meters its another left for Roha with no lights at all.

Pitch dark, Bani yelled Jagtap Lodge as I passed him, it was getting difficult for me to tag behind any longer as my bike was on a speed....and much before I realized, guess I had broken away from the group with no one from the team for company. I adapted to light and to the white strip on the side of the road that radiated a bit showing the way, and the breeze and also some truck lights whenever they passed in either direction, lighting up the road ahead!! I was singing loudly - I think I was quite enjoying the breeze and perhaps getting a bit romantic or perhaps signals from the sub conscious so that my loud singing could be a signal for vehicles coming from behind - in lieu of a tail light

I had broken so far ahead that 4 km from destination, I took a 5min halt, got the air pressure right from the cycle shop but no 1 turned in. I was back riding. Slowing down a little and checking for Roha - even after 2 more kms every1 still kept saying that its 4km more to go - utter frustration for I had slowed down to inquire and was just wanting the day to end (no, rather I was so fresh from the rythmic ride the bike was providing, I later told the group that I was game for more 40kms at noght itself, it was just the lack of right direction / distance left, that was getting onto me!)

No one in the area had heard about Jagtap lodge, someone helped me with directions to Radhaswami lodge and soon I passed Shri Gurudutt Lodge (SGL)! Soon some sense prevailed over me, half a km after passing SGL I displayed prudence in taking a break for others to join in for the last stretch, I was not in favor of any pleasure to ride back any distance should I miss the destination. 10min and no one in sight, time to make a tele-call. Sri was not recahable, nor was Bani. Another attempt, Bani picked up, they had just checked in, and Sri was coming to look for me. Started riding back as I had feared, and it turned out that Bani had yelled SGL's name and not Jagtap lodge! Helps to get directions and instructions clear from the organizer or trek leader! I was still to digest that last 31km was not without any worthy break, almost non stop and of which I managed to lead the last 27, all in darkness, an experience that's to stay with me for rest of my life! As also the fact that it was a first for me: in excess of 100km (125 to be precise) of cycling in a day!

8pm, Baggage dumped, in search of food. Hogged at nearby Navrang hotel - my only proper meal of the day, it was hot glass milk to end the dinner. A slow walk back to SGL, Sudhanshu-Sri, Bani-me and Suman-Mohan as couples checked into 3 rooms! A wonderful hot bath ensued, some change of clothes and soon time to sleep. Think Suman was in some (intimate) discussions as I checked into his room, their room was blessed with a super speeding fan, the speed of which could make our next days ride much easy.

Day 2
(Roha-Korlai-Kashid-Borli – 70Km)

The luxuries at the lodge included a common toilet and bath for which we had to climb only a floor up: good warm up I thought. So once each of us had queued up for our turn to answer nature’s call, it was time to move. Mohan, whose baggage weight apparently outdid everyone else’s, came with an idea to not carry baggage to Korlai, the return journey was anyway enroute Roha and it made perfect sense to have a baggage free 80km ride (40 + 40 to/fro Korlai.), so we dumped essentials (cash, wallets, mobiles and food!!) in one bag to be shared by rotation! Just under 7am and we were on the roads. We were able to do it at a good speed (no baggage helps!) but nearly all of them, except for Bani and Sri, was driving alone, in its own zone and own speed. Covered 10km in 40 min, and took a quick photo break with some barges in the background, apparently used to transport iron ore for Welspun's steel factory.

Another 10/14 km or so and we broke for breakfast at Chanera village, Hotel Pooja: serves some delicious and what we felt healthy, food: garam batata wadas, rava shira, and Kwality toasts that I had fetched from the general store opposite this outlet to go with hot milk for 4 of us, tea for Mohan and Sudhanshu! Bnai liked toasts so much that he is gonna start a distribution agency for Pune market! We left around 850am and covered the rest of 10/12 km in other 40/50 min, with a 10min break 2/3 km before Korlai village - the ride from Roha to Korlai is interspersed with small village and large farms and greenery with hills in the backdrop and soon after Chanera the Arabian sea shore can be seen in the distance for the rest of the ride.

We hit Korlai fort after a appx 2km ride from korlai village, its a zig zag road circling around the hills, a small lane where an additional cycle riding alongside can be called a traffic and slight touch to other bike will spell disaster pushing that bike from the hill onto the shore of the Arabian sea, a dusty kaccha rasta all of dust sand and stones with constant up and down slopes greeting you, my Jalori bike fall on the descent on a similar road but more treacherous condition, was always playing on the mind. In b/w, Sri halted mid-way to the fort, selecting a rocky patch that offered some shade to rest and to regain some energy.

But I reached safely - it was 10 and we had covered 40km in 3hrs even after half an hour breakfast halt. Col. Bani ordered us to be back by 10.30 not knowing I had dangerous plans on my mind!

As you enter Korlai fort, the lighthouse structure first greets you, at the bottom of which is a tap to quench all your thirst. We quenched ours, had a refreshing wash, filled our water bottles, and just as we were about to climb to the fort we had to answer and patao a guard at the light house who had taken offense to we having intruded without he being spoken to or enquired upon.

Soon we started the climb, my knees were in pain after the ride, and though there are cement steps it was proving to be a difficult climb. the top offers an amazing view of the shore on all 3 sides: on the left (west) is a rocky patch and a sandy beach, on the right (east) is again a shore but sans the beach, with a bridge in the distance apparently used to transport iron ore (same Welspun factory, previous owners Vikram Ispat!) The front or the north side is again the extension of the sandy beach front from the west side. We had be content with exploring only the northern stretch (for want of time courtesy Col. Bani): it appeared quite cumbersome but still irresistible to leave the comforts of a gate and steps where one can lie down (as did Suman) and go all the way down to the northern side as it offered an amazing stretch that's a downward slope (each down slope is more scary for your tired limbs have to climb back!), full of grass with four old canon tanks on the fort walls still stabding guard to any dangers and standing evidence to hundreds of years of history!!

It was 10:40, orders were fired at us (for somehow I persuaded Bani to give us time till 11 , full half an hour of extension but any more persuasion appeared futile) and we had to oblige, started to climb up first and climb down later. 11am: back at lighthouse, more water some energy bars, another wash and than time to lay out my dangerous plans!Everyone almost instantly agreed to the idea of spending more time at Korlai as it offered some amazing views (one hr-we all agreed, was not good enough to soak in the breeze, the sight and the environ on offer!); as also to visit Kashid beach, especially since it was just 12km from Korlai: whatz the fun in only biking if you don't add some fun and njoi the outing too; also my friends were coming all the way from Hyderabad never sure when they would get another chance of visiting Kashid and how were they to refuse if I had some good word to share from my previous Kashid visit. The constraint: arrange logistics as also sacrifice the days / rather the remaining scheduled part of biking ride. We spoke to the guard at the light house, got to know our options. Bani's a sport to agree on changing the route / plans on a trek.

So Bani and Sudhanshu agreed to take an auto all the way to Roha (damn it Mohan, why did we leave our bags there) while we rest four decided to hang around. The guard was unwilling to let us remain in the fort any longer and so we took a rocky shore patch midway: loads of breeze, big waves and an insatiable urge, after some time of resting and soaking it in, it was time for fun. I had suggested and Mohan agreed so we climbed down the rocky patch right upto the shore (not a sandy one but a rocky 1), removed our T to keep them dry and allowed ourselves to be liberally splashed with big waves of salty water of the Ariabian sea, a cold water treatment so much relaxing especially to lower limbs and also otherwise to a tired body. Sri and Suman were content at watching us from the top of these rocks and sun bathing. Suman found it more romantic to use my cell to speak to her GF as I was being content singing and dancing on those rocks after the bath; forcing Sri to take some snaps, he happily obliged, even more so glad to click Suman from back as he was clinging to the pole with one hand as if blushing doing his first pole dance!!!One and a half hour later, I unhappily agreed to Sri's suggestion to get moving so that we can have lunch as per agreed schedule - once Bani and Sudhanshu arrived, we had to be on our way to Kashid. 12.50 we were at Korlia village, on inquiry we got to know they don't feed tourists, another argument in support of Bani who had informed us that Korlai is a secluded and a unfrequented place - apart from the fact that we were the only visitors to the fort that morning. Not in a mood to bike, we took an auto to Borli, about 2km from Korlai for the only restaurant in the area! Monopolistic situations breeds complacency and is oft is bad news for product quality or so we found it at our own peril - some pathetic food at this only restaurant but had to be eaten for want of options! Sri's another stupid idea that I agreed to was a walk back to Korlai post lunch (which means, Sri its my fault on not using my brains :)) - a normally encountered condition for me post meal, I remember the day he asked me for this trek, I had just had my dinner ;))

A painstakingly slow walk still by 2pm we were at Korlai, and had atleast an hour to take a nap. We found some good shades and took a nice nap, Bani and Sudhanshu kept to their time and reached Korlai at 3.30! Bags on our back, bikes removed from parking, and it was back to saddle and pedal...oh, ah ouch!!

We came to a halt near Borli on sight of couple of tempos, negotiated and fixed a Tata tempo for loading our bikes and ourselves for ride back to Pune, we felt we negotiated well for rs 2k for the ride back after having started at rs 3k. Next the place we had food also ran a lodge, again some discussion in local language and bargaining ensured we got two decent room at rs. 450/- each room per night after starting at 700 (vow: facilities included a royal size attached bathroom with a western commode for a peaceful morning act with no extra charge for a mattress, using local language certainly helps!!)

4 / 4.30pm and we were off from Borli riding to Kashid, the last few kms had some steep upslopes which we found difficult to maneuver (compared to y’days 125 km, we had done only 50 today perhaps our limbs were off-practice just too soon). just half a km before Kashid starts a steep descent and a right curve for Kashid beach, I got a big Toyota Innova in front of me, the driver could not keep the vehicle to left instead enjoying taking a turn driving bang in the middle of the road, I was at full speed on the slope and the vehicle did not leave me any space to take turn on its either side, sensing a hit I braked hard and just got saved from banging on to either the vehicle in front of me or the railing as I encountered the turn, instead as I had braked hard, the bike skid but I somehow managed to get off it and control it one hand instead of letting it to fly loose off the hook - balls in mouth and another Jalori spared. Reached at 5, and again Col. Bani set a time limit of 6, which I was quite sure of breaching (and man, we did succeed in breaching it!)Soon while others pondered, I took of d T (stripping second time in d day, but this time in front of a crowd!) And was headed to waters, Sudhanshu and Mohan followed, sometime afterwards, guess Suman and Sri gave into the temptation and joined us, Bani firm in his decision not to joining in to get wet. Its always a fun at a beach soaking in / floating in the waves - some half an hour later we walked back to the shore and went for a walk but not b4 forcing Bani to strip too for a 'Gay watch' group snap: 6 topless guys hands joined at the waist posing with amusing onlookers giving a curious stare!!

The five of us who had got into waters took a walk traversing the length of the beach on one side while Bani stood guard to our bags, clicking snaps of all and sundry, the sunset reflection in the sea as also the good crowd on the beach + couples or girls where he thought they were in a compromising or an interesting position :))Some more fun before we came off the beach to the shore and took our place near a small outlet. Maggi had never tasted better (and so we had two rounds) followed by some coconut water and egg burji for Sudhanshu and Mohan! It was 720 when we were finally ready to leave, in pitch dark. But for sleeping bags, Bani was ready to camp by the beach for the night.Bani and Sri had both head and tail lights while Sudhanshu had a tail light, the remaining 3 of us were on the mercy of others! In b/w this, Sri managed to do an abra da gabra and produced an additional headlight: it would not fix properly, instead was at an angle inclining towards left, I took for whatever available was a boon!

Col. Bani decided to lead from the front, Sudhanshu followed, Suman was next, I followed, next was Mohan with Sri given the challenging task of a sweeper, riding slower then the slowest: the Q formation ensured that Bani would be a shield against accidents from approaching vehicles while Sri would be an indicator to vehicles coming from the rear! For next 40 min, 6 of us rode in a single Q (except that with my left angling h/lite I ended up riding a bit towards the right!) taking care of each others on slopes and curves, standstill even if one of us had a prob, took couple of snaps at one of the halts, and by 8, pronto - we were in front of our palatial lodge at Borli! This was a perfect teamwork on display unlike the entire 2days of our rides till that time: fear and responsibility often brings out the best in you-irrespective of whether its an individual or a team @ work! Each of us were super excited from this ride, I was jumping with suggestion to Bani of organizing a complete night ride trek with each of us having h & t/lites! The other benefits are you do not see slopes in advance + the cool air makes it less tiresome and improves the per hour mileage you can achieve!

Time for dinner, fortunately an additional food stall comes up at night and serves Chinese: so veg and schwezan noodless with some dry and gravy manchurian made a good change in food: decent taste, topped by a 2l frooti bottle arranged by Sudhanshu!
Time for crashout but b4 that: our palatial lodge did not have a hot bath facility so make do with a cold bath (equally refreshing I'd say!); and Sri and Bani had plans to catch the early morng sunrise which meant indulging in a painful 4km+4km ride to Korlai! I was done with biking as far as this trek was concerned!! Goodnite guys...

Day 3
(Borli-Korlai-Borli – 10km, and Tempo Ride back home)

Morning was a changed scenario: Sri/Bani had convinced Sudhanshu and Suman to join, Mohan the nature lover that he is, could not resist, and I was filled with guilt by half an hour of brainwashing lecture from Sri - how dare I alone disrespect the Sun!!! Third time I was being adversely affected by Sri's idea: he lured me into this ride, made me walk 2km to Korlai post lunch on day 2 and now a ass-paining 8km morning bike ride when I had thought I was done with biking.

Reached Korlai in 20min. At 6 it had started to become bright, the same guard as on day 2 was on duty, this time we corrected our mistake first spoke to him and took his permission in some shuddh marathi rendered by my sound box!! We decided to explore the south side as north was explored on day 2. Appeared Sun God was in no mood to oblige as we roamded for half an hour, climbing fort walls, locating water tanks/ reservoirs, capturing on our digicams some portuguese logos/symbols with writings in language we believed to be portuguese but no sun on sight!! Col. Bani had set a time of 630 until which we wait else we return, having to reach by 7, the tempo would be waiting at 730 for our ride back to Pune and we dare not upset his mood!! 630 it was and Bani led the troops back, without any guilt or disturbing my sleep and then not completing the task at hand......excpet Mohan who stuck seeing me being the last one for the first time: and I was busy clicking looking around at some things I found interesting and then somehow my phone got n/work and had to answer couple of calls......and there you go...Sun was slowly smiling in the distance just above the bridge, with a glowing reflection in the sea....I shouted and somehow drew Mohan's attention. I was more than happy to let the troop wait to allow them wash off all the guilt as for next 15 min, as the Sun's smile slowly broadened and turned to a full grin, we clicked and just stood in awe of the beauty....sea stretching / merging into the horizon, sun smiling with a golden glow, the peace and the calm, and a solidatory ship riding to make its presence felt, too like a worm crawling up a silken gown!

Finally Mohan reprimanded and threatened to leave me alone, unwillingly I joined him in our way back, fully content having stood witness to one of the best sunsets.

We still managed to reach back by 7:10am, took quick turns at the bath, loaded our bikes into the tempo sans the wheels (rather wheels were detached and loaded separately for space optimization!). I guess being senior by age, me and Bani were granted proper seats in front besides the driver, the other 4 took their place at the back along with the bikes.It was a Tata tempo and offered a smooth ride! Another break at Chanera for b'fast, same place Hotel Pooja and same menu and we hogged even more. We took another major break at Pali to visit Ballareshwar Ganesh temple, 350 yrs old and forming part of the Ashtvinayak (ie the main 8 Ganesh temples in India!)..... Bani agreed to deliver the bike to Trupti's place and so I got down at Khopoli, which is midway on Mumbai - Pune, saved me couple of hours instead of going to Pune and than turning back to Mumbai.Thus ends the blow by blow...sorry tyre by tyre or wheel by wheel or brake by brake / incline by decline account of our 205km/ 2 day ride!!

PS: Hey Sri, ignore the exxageration and pls take the liberty to again lure me into another ride or a trek for I do wish to have my bag overflowing and not only full - of memories like the night ride and leading on a nonstop 31km ride but also a sinking (rather sulking) feeling that age does catch up! , the night ride with a cent percent team work on day 2, the sunset at Kashid, the sunrise at Korlai, soaking in that rocky patch at Korlai, the Gaywatch + the walk at Kashid beach, not to forget the b'fast at 'Hotel Pooja' -perhaps next time Pooja apne hatho se khilayegi!!! And ofcourse the chance to meet three new folks, having met Suman earlier in the Rajmachi trek.

Snaps: http://picasaweb.google.com/viraltj/KorlaiBikingTrip#

Getting there: from Mumbai just take a Volvo bus from Neeta travels or Shivneri travels, around 4 to 5 hrs ride to Pune, same mode from Hyderabad to Pune too.
I got a share cab at 50/- bucks from Khopoli to Mulund, and than a AC bus from public transport for my ride to home, reached back well in time, around 430!!

Johny Walker...watta Rapid: Rafting @ Kundalika

2009-09-11T01:15:00.000-07:00

[Aug 8, 2009]
C (for Crucifixion) is what differentiates Crafting from Rafting: or such was this experience (what did that mean? Who cares, read on!!)

The organizer had told us that it’s a grade 4+ rapid in the monsoon; and others had informed that to be grade 3...I think it should be later but the thrill we as a team of 7 had made it one of the most dangerous adventure trip and hence also the most enjoyable read on

After a 3/4 hour bus ride from Mumbai, we reach Kolad at 2pm: Sujanya and Samir were coming from Pune and I was delighted to see them reach only 10min b4 us (they were supposed to reach an hour earlier and get more sleep - how unfair was that!). Exchanged greetings and booked our tents for a 5/6 sleep. Sujanya got a full tent for herself (normally is to accommodate 4), me n Samir also got 1 for us but as fortune again had it, he too turned out to be a member of the snoring symphony orchestra!

This place at Kolad has ok facilities for quite a few games, may be to warm up people for the rigors of rafting, so there's Burma Bridge, Parallel Ropes, Ladder climbing, Pampering Pole (all of which I happily enjoyed before rafting), Volley ball; not to forget a basket ball (basket hung on to the coconut tree!). Samir and me took few shots at the basket too

That done and post b'fast, it was time for instructions: the main instructor showed demo’ed how to tie the life jacket (most important!); wear a helmet; rescue operations through the kayak that was akin to an ambulance, and to use 'T' of the pedal (Oars). A set of instructors were introduced, 1 instructor per group to accompany us in a raft. Teams formed, instructor allocated (Ganpathy for us) and we lifted our raft and walked to the starting point on the river bank.

Ganpathy gave us the next round of instructions and rehearsals: forward and backward pedals; right back and left forward, stop, stop and get down (no, not in water, get down in the raft!), right and left chambers and life rope as parts of the raft, in case of rescue, how to hold the 25m long rope that God (I.e. Rescuer) would throw etc.

Some hurrahs and we are on to the river, first couple of rapids and adrenaline's already pumping, thrill's abound in the air and our shouts venting out energy at the same time challenging the tide to throw more force and power on to us, the urge gets stronger to take the force of water head on. The best move I liked was when the instructor shouted right forward and left backward and the raft would take a full circle in a few pedals! And we rafted....untill....

My one hand was holding the life rope (its circles the raft on the outside) and the other was tightly clinging on to the pedal as the raft was dragging us with rapids hitting us like you wham a cloth when washing it at the Dhobi Ghat! Breathing was an intermittent process in between drinking the water, your best efforts at avoidance are only partially successful, and all you can see is the raft and the rope that's dragging you. My feet touched some rocks over a shallow patch as the body brushed over some grass and weeds. Some shouts to leave the life rope (which felt like a request to sacrifice your life!) and reluctantly we let it go (someone else was also hanging but had no clue who and which part of the raft he/she was hanging on to) and the next thing was we were under the raft: scary movie scenes playing in front of our eyes (of heroine drowning with hardly able to keep some part of head above water, importantly the part from nose upwards), - and here the heroes themselves were drowning! We were barely able to breath, the sequence lasted for 2/3 eternal minutes. With some leg movement and effort, I was able to first come to one side of the raft and than able to float, tides still hitting me, but able to see another raft nearby. I tried best to start floating towards the raft, the raft moving forward as the rapids drag you in opposite direction (as if Tug of War on play). Some members threw their pedals, only couple of them throwing with T towards me (as was instructed) but these were still far. Soon the instructor on that raft threw a rope, I somehow managed to hold it, still being dragged, he slowly started pulling and soon I was saved, and took my place in the rescuer raft. No sooner that happened, was back with the pedal in hand and ready to ride! Vow - a hell of a ride! On a tide! The back was wide (open)!

Need I add that our boat had capitulated and surrendered to the might of Water Gods! Someone around me was the first to be toppled by a tide just as we were talking about inching closer to the Johny Walker Rapid - the instructor was claiming that it was the most dangerous on this river stretch! I was at the front on the right chamber, never realized when I hit water but fortunately the mind was alert as I hung on to life rope immediately, Sujanya and Samir were the last two to be toppled in that order or so I was told as they saw all of us going down before they got toppled.

As I was being tossed in the water I saw two of them being dragged along the opposite shores into the bushes and 1 of them bang in the middle of the rapids, and none of them identifiable! While managing myself out there, for a full half minute I feared more for them than myself, at 31st second I realized it was time to breathe and attention shifted back to self. The raft that rescued me had already rescued Sujanya and we were happy to see each other, she having sacrificed her pair of slip-ons comfortably to Kundalika perhaps that was the only intention when she had bought that footwear. I had already begun pedaling and still was lucky to get a rapid or two! I found this new instructor to be a master using his guile and guiding the raft through the roughs & troughs, soon we rescued the kayak (that was to act as a rescue ambulance) then the kayaker and also his pedal! We went a certain distance and parked the raft at the left bank, one was already waiting there and others joined in some time. It was time to be back at the original raft and we crossed over walking across a couple of rafts to reach the one in which we had started.

Soon all 7 of us gathered + the instructor and the stories abound. Raju was the most hit, badly hurting the portion below the knee joint, surely appeared like a compulsory 10 day rest atleast, other guy had bad bruises on the wrist and knee while the third one had hurt his lower back but he had forgotten that pain momentarily as he was being rescued by some soft but firm hands of two foreigner ladies, he was even ready to be rescued once more!!. The one who was supposed to be the most fattu escaped unscathed with a souvenir for lifetime: his spectacles had survived the tosses of the rapids. Sujanya had somehow managed to keep her eyes closed protecting her lenses, opening the eyes only when rescue was close in sight. Samir also lost his floaters (which, as couple with Sujanya's footwear, should be now roaming in and around Kundalika). Besides we also learn that the raft behind us had just managed to stay afloat as 3 of the rafters had toppled into the river just around the same time and place!

We started to raft again, now it was all stable water, we were allowed to jump in the river, life jackets on, float for as long as we want. It was fun to swim / float and that lasted for about 45 min to an hour around 150mtr from finish line, we decided to race as we saw two rafts ahead of us and one close behind (It was the one that had saved me and Sujanya), the farthest ahead was leading by 25mtr. Just as we were starting, a guy from raft behind pulled me out of the raft and into the river, my toe thumb hurt. I failed to understand the reason (I think he mistook me from one amongst their group, theirs was a group of 50/60) - we were set back by 10mtrs more as I was being pulled back into the raft.

We raced in all earnest, changed couple of positions and as we closed to the finish line, we learned one of the rafting lessons, synchronized movement with pedals taken from a little high in the air and little deep in to water, yielded maximum push. We used the next 130 mtrs to inch ahead, our injured/tired bodies were being overpowered by an adrenaline rush pushing and inching, shouting and scaring off the raft ahead and the one tailing. 20 mtrs before the finish line and we had inched ahead in the lead and the raft now behind us appeared to have given up even as our collective strength of 8 horsepower (sorry human power) was being drained of every drop of energy! It helps to be victorious as our spirits soared to a new high, what with tha achievement coming despite a confidence that had been shattered and bodies dealt a blow..

It was time to return to the base. Sujanya, the ever cheerful spirited soul that she is, wanted a hike atop a bus, I happily agreed looking for some more fun sad I was that the rafting ride had just last 2.5 to 3 hrs and I was hungry for some more. Akka chayya chayya style soon our minibus had about 10 riders sitting atop the roof as we sung and danced only with hand movements, intermittently shouting Jai Maharashtra slogans to local passer bys and gesticulating as if we were a political parties asking for votes!

At the base by 2pm, it was time for lunch (again chawli subzi that appears to be famous in the western ghats, reminded us of rajmachi trek a fortnight back), dal, roti's, rice and sevvayan for sweets- I was told it sounded delicious except for the sweet. I had bananas and apples and some chips (my usual saturday fast). Post lunch some of the group had unfinished business so they went off to start off some games available out there, some of them played 'UNO' - some card game; few others went to take a nap somewhere in the nearby shed and I started to play some voleyball.

It was my first experience and ditto for the guy on the other side of the net. The first few shots - we hardly even connected. Soon a couple of local raft instructors joined, they showed us couple of tricks including how to take a shot, hit the ball without injuring your fingers and wrists, some rules etc. While we’d learn all this it was a full blown game; 6 to 7 on either side. Samir had joined on the opposite side, one of gals from our group had joined and rest all was largely the local instructors……..

A lot of fun ensued. It’s a high energy game stretching you completely, needing lot of strength in the upper body to hit the ball from all the different angles, back and lower body strength as well to jump and run around while the ball is in play! We had started a proper 15 point game - the sport has a unique rule that meant that the side servicing cannot loose a point on its own serve (this is an energy sapping rule: each time u loose a point on serve the score does not change only the other team gets a chance to serve; so many more serves to be done!) It would be 2-9 when rain started and we didn't allow few people harboring ideas of running away, to do that; instead the fun continued. Soon I had a big slip on the wet mud trying to hit the ball and realized that since it was a muddy pitch (clay court in tennis, if u like!) And wet too, no more running around. But it was fun to play in that rain and mud coming from behind 2-9 to win the first match by a narrow margin, we decided to have a best of 3 and it was pay back time for the other team as we squandered a 7-0 and a 9-2 and a 12-3 lead to allow them a comeback and win! Scores level at 1 match all and we called it quits: 2matches over one hour, my first try at volleyball was just the good exercise my gym trainer would be glad to hear about!

We headed to that Parallel Rope / Pampering pole combo game as few were still having a go, Sujanya appeared from other direction as I learned that they had a nice dip in the river (3 guys for her company); she was also all ready to give Parallel Rope another shot. I was all done after that 1 hour+ of volleyball.

We started off around 4.30, the road from Kholad to Pune goes by Tamahne Ghats, apparently a state highway amongst the ghats (mountains); it was raining heavily and soon got chilly as we wound our way through the Ghats, the wiper was non functional (we had a Tavera) and the shouting Sujanya was making matters worse; not to add some western music of which I am not the most dia hard fan! En-route we had 2/3 tea breaks to keep ourselves warm; and we reached Pune by 730/8: decent time we thought. Email ids exchanged and it was adieu.

Getting there: got picked up from Andheri on western express highway; its about 170km from Mumbai on Mumbai Goa road, look up Kolad on Google maps if u can't find Kundalika river

Pune is some 100km from kolad. We had 5 people from pune and about 23/25 from mumbai this group had 4/5 gals and quite a few had done this rafting last year as well. Arun from Campfire charged 2350 incl to/fro pickup; a stay at tent from past midnight till we left (4 sharing basis but enough space was available as we were only 30 against a capacity for 40), breakfast lunch and facility for proper indian comode fitted toilets with grass / tree walls but with doors that don't have locks! On comparing found that it could have been cheaper by 300 to 500 with some operators but arun had managed this well. Worth a try, what say?
Photos' click the link:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/aexcuseme/KundalikaWaterRafting
http://picasaweb.google.com/londonpics1/KoladRiverRafting?authkey=Gv1sRgCODe-L2f9JGviwE&feat=email

Rajmachi-Lonavala: Lost Souls and Broken Soles

2009-08-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

[Jul 25/26, 2009]

Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see

o Not often you lose your soul on a trek
o Not often you find that a display of brown green and whites could be much more mesmerizing than black, whites and reds
o Not often do you rediscover the magic of being a kid again: holding hands while walking, playing in the mud kicchad and rain water pools, pedalling / tapping your feet in a tank of water, just enjoying yourself
o And not often do you take on the might of heavy rain hitting you horizontally with strong winds challenging your balancing skills, on less than a square foot of an area at soaring heights with lack of visibility either due to moist and fog, or just sheer power with which the water hits you falling from a height.

But we were lucky to have all of the above! and more!! read on....

We reached Kondane village and started our journey with first pit stop being Rajmachi village en route Kondane caves. As the group had breakfast a quick intro ensued, interesting stats:

o 16 Infosys, 1 from Cognizant, 1 from Indian Railway (railways on foot!) and me from JPMorgan making the group
o 16 from HHyderabad, 2 from Pune and me from Mumbai;
o 16 guys and 3 endearing smiles of girls; and
o 2/3 of them being passionate and official photographers!

The group liked kanda poha, (the only other dish the only hotel 'Hotel Dreamland' could make was kanda bhajis) and I had a couple of bananas, pistachio's and a glass of milk as people started doubting if fasting allowed me to have more diet while others doubted how would I last the rigors of the this trek! The chef was at his luxurious best allowing us took enough time for us to see 2/3 gangs of school children apparently headed for same caves for a picnic and another large group of trekkers or picnic goers; and make some interesting observations:

- while the girls would have pride in walking through a narrow stream of water running over a mud pool, the boys would show their machismo by doing a long jump over the water!
- the village children enjoyed walking over the mud pools created due to rain, the scolding and over-teaching by parents didn't allow the city children to either have the same luxury or enjoyment; their parents / guardians constantly nudged them to take a safe side path taking care not to dirty the shoes. We wondered what kind of cautious neat n clean picnic was that!!

Soon we were on our way from amongst the lush green fields with farmers busy ploughing the fields. Diversions a plenty and we hired Ari as our guide to Rajmachi-didn't appear to be more than 8yrs old but he claimed to be studying in 8th std! We had hardly started on the trek; and decided to do something offtrack eyeing what appeared to be a innocent little waterfall flowing from a few innocuously arranged stones! It was to be a defining moment for us for we had not heard of people doing what we ended up doing!!

Seeing a small stream of water we entered for sake of some it to have some fun and before we could realize, we had climbed a little higher over couple of rocks; water was coming at a little more force and we got further attracted, up couple of more rocks and some more climb: the quest had begun unconsciously. While we enjoyed getting drenched in the waterfall, Akhilesh’s quest had taken the better of him and Ani followed him as we saw that they had already climbed some more towards the mouth of the water fall. Sujanya, Shishir & me and couple of more got egged on (you would not be able to control the thrill): While we could climb and reach the spot Akhi n Ani had gone further: soon Ani was hiding 'in the mouth behind the tongue' of the fall; Akhi followed suit (at the mouth it would barely hold two people and it helped that Akhi was lean a structure!)

Getting egged on is not good, meri faat rahi thi (climbing on slippery rocks covered with a mattress of moss in between the waterfall with hardly a grip to hold on to) but u get determined to conquer your quest! We continued and still reached the base of the mouth (or chin of the face!). From there, Sujanya took the left side and was able to reach 'in the mouth behind the tongue' facing the waterfall while simultaneously Shishir was coming out and had a fall, I saw the positive; he had slipped 6/7 meters down but someone just held him causing him to stop b4 he could start bouncing on the rocks. Good that Sujanya had not seen this and reached the target point; I had seen and with water turbo charging at more than 500 horsepower (water power may be!) on your heads in a dense formation to steal you of any visibility and difficult to get a grip, I failed in 1st couple of attempts! Guess Ani knew my kida talent and stamina and what u may call from our previous Jalori Mountain biking trek, he kept on egging me and chasing a girl could never have been more thrill or so I thought and soon quest was conquered! Didn't feel like coming out, for from behind the tongue its like heaven ( the tongue is 'the 500 horsepowered waterfall)!!

We enjoyed one of the best shower never mind that its an open bathroom community shower with all essential clothes on! It was a perfect demonstration of 2 different lines albeit on the sarcastic side:

'Khuda bande se khud puche bete chad to gaya aab bata utrega kaise'...god save us from slippery rocks

(Good lord, good that u have come up but god himself is worried for his devotee and is clue less as to how he would get down:))
'Dar ke age jeet hai' - mountain dew (rocks were totally wet n sliperry forget only dew!)

Somehow with some slips and a lot of help as Akhi n Ani led us, we reached down, quickly washed our shoes / shocks etc (lot of lichis - the blood sucking insects in the water!). Eby and another guy had lost their 'sole' already; and collectively we were checking if our souls were still with us! Soon we resumed our journey: now guide Ari, his brother (appeared from somewhere) and his brother's friend (again, had appeared from somewhere!) Were leading us - they led us to Kondane caves: a big cave below which some fort kind structure has been fixed, has a waterfall and the collective opinion was that considering the thrill we had had, this was not even a good illusion. We decided to give it a miss, asked Ari to lead us to Rajmachi base village (2 hrs walk he told, we realistically guessed it would be more than 3 hrs at our speed)

Soon we were walking through rocky patches interspersed with lot of streams of water of different depths, dense vegetation (green for most part, but some small stretches of brown – what I called ‘brownery’!) and intermittent inclines - tricky, wet mud, narrow and slippery as well, and our group loved rains so the monsoon God were also smiling and showering us with all they had with all the force they could muster; thankfully slowing down in between to refuel themselves!

Sujanya had to be supported, pushed in b/w, pulled at other times and just lending a hand for balancing at other times - her only 20kg bag and her harem pants (or so I think, not a big guru on women fashion so can be excused if its called something else!) not helping her cause (I guess she thought she's flying on a domestic airline and restricted her baggage to 20kg, she had plans to load more:)). The idea of lending a helping hand to another human being (and that too to a girl) is always a social cause I have believed in; mostly enjoyed too! so it was me or Shishir and at times both 'helping' and the ritual continued right till the end of trek (next day it involved dancing / singing too hand in hands heart lost somewhere in the valleys!). Can u call:

Ek phool do mali
Ek chameli, aur kali and bali
De taali toh thik, per yaar mat de gali,
Jeb hai khali, nahi hai even panch ruppali
Jab tak saath chali, chali, baki tu nikal le apni alley

Sujanya you are always welcome, for I thoroughly enjoyed the role u so fondly described as "life saver', the initials also meant 'Lok Sabha' I told, she proclaimed it also meant 'Lot of Shit' - (no not in reference to my poetry for sure, she'd read this only in this blog!)

We would have walked for an hour or so and decided to have a 5min stop to allow all the rain, scenic landscape/peaks/valleys to sink in and to allow ourselves to get drenched in heavy rain hitting us horizontally which Ani enacted for us: he has trademarked that action of rainfall (something like dhak dhak style made famous by Madhuri!). Another half an hour, and we hit a plateau with a small hut selling bhutta (corn with corn stem roasted on a coal or wood fire), tea, roasted ground nuts (same style!) some essentials and chikki: we decided to break for lunch (and that we would not waste much time once we reach Rajmachi-originally lunch was to be at that village but we called and cancelled the order.

Some more walk and around 330pm we were overjoyed, after all we had started from Kondane village around 930 in the morn! As we reached base village, we quickly unloaded our bags in our palatial room that had absolutely nothing but a 'lal tan' for furniture. Some people preferred to change as we reminded that the actual trek was to now start!! We caught our breath, filled some water bottles, took our torches and by 4 we were on our way again: target; conquest of Shivardhan and Manoranjan forts which are further up (atleast another 1200ft from this level is Shivardhan- the taller of the two tall but opposite facing twin forts!).

The climb to the peak offered 3/4 challenges: our limbs were tired and given an option could have been easier to pack them in a rucksack and carry it on our back - so the initial climb was treacherous; followed by some tricky climbs across slanting rocks - there are steps and grips for most part but the fact that u are walking across slanting rocks with wind and dhak dhak style horizontal rains hitting u in full force calls for lot of balancing ('life savers' were back on their job, though couple of times Sujanya herself had turned our savior); the next stretch has a very narrow kaccha road to walk but a slip on your right will see you flying into the valleys without the parachute! The last difficult stretch is after u enter the fort and go towards the peak - there is a huge pole (like a flag pole) u can see in the distance an incline made difficult due to steep trajectory + winds + rains!

On the way up, there are couple of rooms carved out in a cave, appeared neat to stay put overnight with capacity to hold 30/50 people but stinking a bit, the burnt firewood was evidence of someone staying there in not too distant past (in fact on our way back a tent was already put there!); also along the stretch there are couple of tank like structures that held water but it didn't appear potable.

As we reached the peak after what seemed an eternal climb or atleast two hours turned out to be an hour and 5min (Sujanya, shishir, me, Akhilesh all reached around 5:05pm); Ani ofcourse had rushed much ahead and was sitting off the edge of the stone fence in a pensive mood perhaps soaking in all that was on visual: Wind God holding a remote control doing an on/off and a curtain of cloud would uncover or cover a spectacular view on offer from the heights: when uncovered one can see a clear track all the way down upto our palatial room, earth dressed in shades of green with the grass and trees dancing joyously to wind's choreography creating an intermittent musical note of its own, and when the curtain drops its an eternal stretch of white gown of which nor the start or the end is visible. We all were awe stuck just saluting mother nature and feeling fortunate enough to see that day and time and live video!

Some photos, some masti, and by the time other people caught up; we (the first 5/7 of us who were there are about half an hour now) had started to feel the chill biting into us and as prudent people would do, we started on way back (also afraid in part for the fading light and constant cloud curtains hovering around). If anything the wind that pushes you from behind and the rains makes the balancing part even tougher while on the descent! As people moved ahead, Shishir, Sujanya n me took a halt at one of the tanks, sat at the edge and started playing like school kids splashing water with our legs nearly knee deep. Sujanya enjoyed enacting the Tare Zameen Pe role – holding out a polythene bag filling it with water and taking small fishes in her hands seeing them jump (back into the tank) for their life!

Playing as kids was lot of fun but we lost some more thrill in the process as a part of the group (who else but Ani n Akhi leading) diverted, formed a separate team and went to Manoranjan fort - something that was never agreed when we started downhill for everyone was afraid of the fading light! We reached Rajmachi base village by 6.30pm by which time almost all who had reached there had changed to fresh clothes. Soon some tea coffee was served - coffee never tastes better at CCD or a Barista: I had 3 cups while some had a tea and coffee both (what a cocktail!) And in the interim a few of us had got into a Darwin's man evolution formation massaging shoulders, back & neck muscles of the person in front and than do a reverse turn so that those who were masseurs moments back also got the message!

End of routine and we also changed, felt fresh and good. Hungry people and no food, I had some snacks that were attacked and got over before many could realize. Soon people were relaxing and lying down; and we broke into a group singing exercise – to get over more than 1.5hrs before dinner would get served. Eby displayed how much lyrics he knew of all the songs on offer, another guy showed his talent singing in male / female voice, nice / good/ melody / sweet and ugly songs (Sutta!! initiated by Sujanya) were on offer and we spotted Ms. Frown with her back on the opposite wall, sitting cosy covering herself with a sleeping bag - with each song, Anu's facial expression would get more frowner (if ever there is such a term!) and all her shouts of changing to some other activity fell on deaf ears and got lost amidst loud mouths!

It was a sumptuous dinner, rice flour chapatis, chawli / potato vegetbale, dal, rice, pickle and onions. Dal and chawli was spectacular. Done with dinner and by 10pm, off were for a night journey in our sleep…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Day 2: for me it started by 2.45am as I woke up due to some spectacular musical tunes being created by an alternate snoring symphony orchestra of about half a dozen or more members. As Ani would say, it’s the other person’s problem if they can’t sleep due to snores, for he for sure gets a peaceful sleep! The alarm time was 530am and so for next 2h45min had to lie down, turn and twist being harassed by the snores. To our amusement, around 3.45am a mobile phone in the adjacent room sprung up with some Hindi songs, and it repeated itself every 10 min!

Most of the crowd got up by 530am as planned Sujanya, Akhi and Ani still sleeping, crowd got on with the morning routines (open farms!). Somehow the girls (or Anu!) were perhaps scared of the open farms and too many gents around wondering if to postpone the ritual but could not resist a visit!! Sujanya even called for Eby’s company and the good gentleman Eby is, he happily accompanied.

Kanda poha and tea for others, milk for me made for a perfectly filling yet light and energizing breakfast.

735am and were out on our trek – target: 17km walk back to Lonavala. What we had thought would be a walk was much more than that. Multiple rounds of going through muddy waters each time ‘browning’ our shoes with mud followed by cleaning it in the ensuing water stream…each step in a water stream with caution never sure how deep the step (and the foot) would land in! You would soon lose count of the number of water falls you would see, very early into the trek you would come to see a strong rock wall on your left, the one that Sujanya would call ‘the Great Indian Wall of China’ and we all had a laugh. It was a proper dirt road washed out with pouring monsoon rains, we crossed couple of streams (fast flowing water, more than knee deep and depending from where you cross, could go upto waist height as well!), of which the second big stream was delighted to receive rain coat pants of Kishore as a donation. I egged on Kishore to remove his rain coat pants standing in between the flowing water with one hand holding his rucksack – that’s the only time – he assured me – that he’s done anything like that!

Throughout the route, the singing was on, Sujanya was most delighted conitunously bursting into dance sequence as well never mind more than a couple of slips she had (bumps got flattened I guess!) as Eby was a perfect foil on the lyrics – you pick up a song and he has more than a couple of stanzas out of his more than 80GB of natural hard drive memory, Ani would join in where Eby left. About 5kms before the trek, we stopped to soak in the view from one of the biggest valleys fenced by huge rocks (Sujanya fall point!! – she was longing for a free fall or so it seemed). Soon someone shouted fire and smoke pointing the fingers towards some smoke appearing on the far off rocky mountains on the other side - unimaginable, smoke in b/w the heavy rains?! A spectacular view – far off on the other side coming in b/w the cracks of the rocks, you could see smoke moving towards the sky –A closer look and you can notice that it was the force of wind winning against the power of waterfall preventing it from landing in the ground, instead pushing a steam of water horizontally and even upwards creating an illusion that appeared like a smoke. We were all awe stuck as I do not think any of us had seen anything like this before.

From thereon, the last 5kms was a tiring walk as limbs were giving way, so was the body, all drenched in the rain and hit by constant winds, there were numerous groups formed never mind that we were only 19 of us! Just about a km before we hit the Lonavala highway, we waited for 5/6 people to catch up – and nature punished us by another round of winds and rains, fortunately the last 3 groups (each of 1 or max 2 person each) were not too far and they caught up quickly. We reached almost the end of the road and could oversee pretty bungalows all around (I wish I had one!), soon we hit the highway (under the Mumbai-Pune expressway), there was a chai tapri (tea stall) and Ani and gang who were ahead were sipping tea.

From there, some more walk, we got on to an auto from an autostand to Lonawala station. Another half an hour wait before all 19 could assemble. By 1.30 we were at the station. Next Destination: Hotel Annapurna for a full Maharashtrian Thali + Shrikhand for the sweet dish (traditional Maharashtrain / Gujarati sweet dish that I ordered for my Hyderabadi friends to have a feast!). Rs 50 for a thali and overall 65 per head for a tummy full meal! The food was just great.

It was time for me to bid adieu just after I guided some of them to buy chocolate fudge and the famous Lonavala Chikki. But I could not settle before quickly rushing out of the bus and behind a wall that stood barely above the waist and got a quick change of clothes in the most stinking place on earth, relieved that no one had caught me off guard J (I had got in and reserved my seat and learned that bus would wait for 10 min). It felt so good to be in dry clothes, settled in the State Transport bus on my lonely journey to Mumbai! Still can’t believe we walked the distance we walked, trekked and conquered the waterfall and climbed the fort we climbed, all in a joyful manner reminiscent of our childhood days. I had found a bunch of new people to be friends with. And surely the soul was lost out to the nature! Nirvana!! Attained!!!!

See more pictures here

Getting there: from Mumbai: take a Mumbai-Pune Intercity from Dadar (6.58am) to reach Karjat; (I was lucky to spot the biggest rainbow of my life - a large half circle capsulating the hills seen in the distance!). If from Hyderabad as my group did, Volvo tp Pune, morning Sinhgadh express to Karjat!

From Karjat hike an auto rickshaw that would leave you at Kondivide, start walking! Else the auto goes even further and can leave you right upto Kondane village. Damages – Rs. 25 per peron. We all had assembled at Karjat at 815am!

Part of the fun at some point or other (group): Aishwarya T. , Animesh Kumar Hazra, Anirban Roy Choudhury, Anuradha Budi, Ashwin Alexander, Cijoy MJ, Eby, Harshavardhan, Jayanta Mondal, Md. Shamim Ali , Sadique Khan, Sai Kumar Salveru, Saicharan Abhishek, Shishir Chandra, Sri Raghu Kishore Pusapati, Sumanth Nag, Viral Thakker, Sujanya Ganesan, Akhilesh Sharma,

Jalori - Mountain Biking, memories of a lifetime

2009-07-24T00:43:00.000-07:00

I might have been born in a hovel, but am determined to travel with the winds and the stars !! And man, did I do that, lets find out

Two months to wrtie a blog means testing your memory for choicest of memories - things that stick to your mind! and thats what I am penning down (OR that it was a case of pure laziness….well you decide:))

This is a story of the Fatte Haal group as they mounted on the journey from being meager mortals (Aut at 3500 feet) to greatness (Jalori, heaven at 10,500 feet) traversed through 2 wheels and a few pedals. On the way to base camp, anyone of us could have been dead in some accident and hence we were all mortals. But the fact that each one of us returned, alive - felt great!. On second thoughts, no reason why being a mortal again should feel great. The key feature of this group - the lower back side starting from bums and going all the way down - resembled a Gateway of India - as soon as Day 3!!

Neutral Gear: The start
[Mumbai - Aut via Chandigarh; May 22, 2009; Day 1]

As I started on the morning of may 22, 2009 for a flight to Chandigarh than a auto to bus stand, and a ST to Aut - I had no idea how the days would be, how the biking would be and how the people would be. This year has to be a year of making new friends and contacts by exploring unknown places in the company of unknown people and that was the sole motivation to got for a mountain biking trek without caring for some known company.

So after a 45 min delayed flight that started only at 745am, a 20 min auto ride to ST stand, a quick paratha and a nearly 8 hr ST bus ride with sit tight seats; I reached Aut - the base camp. The roads are smooth the drivers are ruff n rash – and a miracle - neither we met an accident nor was a witness to 1. (I an safely conclude that Michael Schumacher would surely lose if raced with the bus drivers in the steep curvy roads across the mountains and hills of HP - these drivers are super humans.- who can drive all curves, slopes and accents with the same speed!). The last 3km ride before Aut is thru a 2.45km tunnel - dark interspersed with yellow light, it’s a breath taking ride for its been the longest road tunnel ride we had taken (we includes the entire batch of our trek group as I later found out). Once you alight at Aut, please do not ask for the YHAI hostel - just ask the place or the tent where the cyclist folks stay overnight and the locals will guide you

Here I was - 6pm at YHAI base camp at Aut. Mr. Shishinder Kumar, a 65 yr ex-Railway employee and the Co-Director greets me, validates my entry in his list and quickly puts me in a room of 4 guys - the soon to be famous Soni brothers from Palanpur (Rakesh - the eldest, Vipul, Gopal and Kissan). They were the youngest in our group and I do not know if it was a part of conspiracy to put me - a Gujarati, in a room of Gujarati's. These guys had landed here with some disconnect on their dates and but for them, we would have been a small group of only 9 instead of the standard batch intake of 20. 11 decided not to report and with 4 additions, we were to be a batch of 13. Well, I was last to report - that’s generally the case when it comes to me reaching a conference or a lecture on time or perhaps reporting for a trek. Identity traits perhaps!

Soon I discovered the 3 marvelous people:

- Bala: the 37 year, free lancer public relations guy from Mumbai, planting positive stories for high profile celebrities and politicians in news papers, the one who can afford to vacation for 3 months and earn entire years living by working only for 9 months. How jealous I am already. This guy is a perfect trekker - totally well & self equipped, roaming in the HP mountain range since May 11 (and upto May 31 - a cool 21 day vacation), can tell the difference of any mountain range to the last centimeter in altitude, with a watch that has a alti-meter and all other gadgets that he would require and we could benefit from at the time of trekking

- Animesh or Ani: the misti Bengali guy who would appear to be hardly 25 but is a cool 29 working in Infy Hyderabad for past 7 years. Is a avid biker, running a trekking group Hyd Ventura in their own company along with his colleague and friend Sri. These two guys and their group routinely do a 50-60km on a bike on some weekends in Hyderabad and the gentleman is a photographer soon to turn pro.

- Srikanth: all of 24 and lean mass - from and working at Hyderabad - Infy for past couple of years. It took me 5/6 days to discover that he is a Malyali

I do not know what these guys discovered of me over that evening, but they surely would a lot more as the days passed!

We met Dimple, the guy at the Base camp who would be responsible for our acclimatization and orientation, the local who has been associated with YHAI for a few years; and the couple of super cooks - these guys can cook just home like food and would serve you with all the hospitality that would make your tummy full, just to ensure that you are well fed for all the trauma that awaits us as we start of next day morning

In couple of hours, the entire group at base camp started to worry about the 5 missing people who had earlier reported at Aut, had gone out for some sight seeing / fun somewhere around, were told to return by 6 but who finally turn out by 830pm. These turn out to be the Tech Mahindra group from Bangalore - 4 guys and a girl - going river rafting, Vinay, Ravi, Dinesh Sharon and I am already missing the 5th guys name! Dinesh is a Tamilian while rest all were Canadiga's.

Soon we were served dinner, followed by some group talk, the next days schedule and people were allowed to go to sleep. The days would start early we were told, still the idea of knowing new people and something interesting about them ensured that I chatted up with Animesh and Sri much beyond 11 while Bala had called it a day by 10pm.

(Caste are only incidental and more for reference than anything else)

Gear One: Orientation and lectures
[Aut-Aut-Aut!!; May 23, 2009; Day 2]

Should not ever sleep near the entrance door of room that’s close to a highway - does not allow a peaceful sleep.

Got up early (530am) in a nice chilly weather…got ready by 7am and off to a 3km trek in the nearby hills with a blanket in the rucksack and the sack loaded on the back - as a part of the first orientation exercise. A nice simple trek for most of us though guess a much needed one to get people into a rhythm and for Dimple to test the adaptability of the participants. To the delight of 11 people (or guess 12), I was designated as the group leader - supposed to lead and take care of the group - sure people get crazy ideas!! Sharon was made the co-lead and supposed to be trekking in the middle of the group. We reached the top of the hill to find a nice village - couple of cars up in the hill (if these cars were not air dropped we failed to find a way how did those make it to the top of the hill); a small wheat field with people working (cutting the crop) a cow stable with a moist cow dung smell (no, it does not stink!). .Needless to say, the way up provided some breath taking / scenic views (and through out the entire trek, this facet just keeps on getting better) of the hilly landscape replete with 'chill' trees.

Ani was having a field day…found out that village life was his liking when comes to photography. No wonder, he was happily riding at the back once we hit the village. Also, saw the range of his snaps and can’t help but appreciate - some innocence off the village school going children; especially the one where you can see his own image in the retina of the school boy he clicked

Visited the temple at the village, few of the guys had something to eat and refuel themselves and soon we were on our way back. Hit the base camp by 10 / freshen up / bathing / food and some rest in the noon. Though b/w 11 & 2 was the most unforgettable moment: Sri was the cleverest amongst us 4: the other 3 being Ani, Bala & myself. As we went down the riverside besides the base camp - me & Bala somehow got on to the debate if talent / natural gift alone makes successful people succeed. We started discussions with people from sports - cricket, tennis, football & even Lance the biker / politics / music and Ani could not resist as we moved onto movie stars!! And we concluded that I had correctly made a suggestion to Sri and Ani early morning that a movie by the name of 'Blame it on Bala' could be a big hit. I do not remember having a more severe debate on any topic than this for quite a time (am sure my bosses and some colleagues would jump and disagree :))

By 4pm - Dimple started giving away that on which our journey would depend for the next 5 days: the gear (knee and elbow guards / gloves & helmet) and the bikes. People checked the bikes and after some minor repairs to a few of them, we were off to a biking trial. This was one amazing ride - much of it on plain roads but immediately as we finished a kilometer or two, we were able to see the snow capped peak - was a first for me or rather quite a few of us; and the last stretch had a steep decent of nearly a KM and the bike zooms at 30/40kmph speed with chilly winds cutting thru your face. We were all intelligent to realise how difficult its gonna be covering the same stretch once we take a U turn to return to base camp. Was leading the pack when we rode out but discovered that Sri has some amazing stamina and I could not help but try to keep pace with him as he led while on the ascent (way back). We were riding together once back on the flat roads…the snow capped mountains had made me make an offer of a ice cream treat and so on the way back, we stopped 2/3 km before the base camp treated for ice cream by me. Sri and I ended up having couple of sticks! Somehow I have believed ice cream tastes very good when it’s quite cold just like the evening weather out there.

The first ride was an exhilarating feeling and I never felt I made a wrong decision coming for this 1. We had already done a trial of 10+10 (to/fro) - 20km and I hardly felt tired! And thanks to Ani and Sri for sharing the secret on what gears to use while on ascent / descent - I had a comfortable ride; somehow Dimple had still not explained us so well.

Post evening snacks / dinner was a time for a 'virtual' bone fire (YHAI rules does now allow a bone / camp fire - and reasons were not told). We were made to learn the purpose of YHAI treks, boding communal harmony along with adventure and about mental toughness etc (Was that Nandpradhan) and SS Hira, the trek director. Hira made a statement that - while on the descent, you do not ride the bike, it rides you - no pedaling and just a control on the speed with both hands on the brake; but while on the ascent you would need to force on to each pedal to cover (each unit) of distance! We thought Hira would be crazy when he told that he thought our group was very fit and would cover the distance very easily). But Hira sung a nice gazal from Kabhi kabhi; Kissan complemented it with a variation:

Kabhi Kabhi mere dil mein khayan ata hai
Tu hoti toh aisa hota, tu hoti to waisa hota

Kabhi Kabhi mere dil mein khayan ata hai
tuu hoti toh aisa hota, tu hoti to waisa hota

Tu nahi hoti to kitna sara paise hota ;))

I had an original to share

Yeah hasi wadiyan….yeah khula asman
mere yaar itne bhi…tu na anshu bahan
hai mujhe yeah pata…jabse mein aayi yahan…
nahi raha pehle jaisa…tera khusiyon ka jahan

I had penned this on Day 1 on my way in a ST from Chandigarh to Aut! people just loved this 1!! Dinesh had to be forced out and we found a maverick story teller - 10 minutes plus of story telling of campus interviews wherein - a computer engineering student, the student starts wiping the computer screen when asked to clean the program; the other student starts physically moving away creating space when told to insert space in a computer program!

At the end the next days schedule was laid down. Wake up by 6 and move out by 7 to avoid cycling in the sun. The entire route was something like this:

Day 1: Aut to phaga pool - 22km;

Day 2: Jibhi - 17km;

Day 3: Sojha - 7km ;

Day 4: Sojha to Jalori - 5km trek - 1 way; leave in the afternoon and cover 24 km to Phaga pool ; Day 5: last 22km back to Aut Base camp

Gear Two: Still the Start - the first Start
[Aut - Phaga pool, 22kms; May 24, 2009; Day 3]

Post the morning routines, and still some repairs to cycles, the rucksacks packed with stuff hopefully good for 5 days….came a task: these folks actually end up announcing me the group leader and Sharon as Co-lead (I thought the previous day was a joke or a mock). Co-incidental as it may be, my bike was labeled no. 1 (YHAI numbers the bike, I think for keeping a check on the inventory!)

after 3 cheers and some hurrahs, we started off at 815 am - strict instructions, wait before entering the tunnel so that all of us can go in a single lane, remove the sun glasses (so much important common sense - its pitch dark inside)! Sharon flagged off our journey to heaven….Dimple came to accompany us. We waited for group to assemble and Sharon led us into the tunnel. In parts, it was scary being pitch dark with hardly any visibility despite the lights from the yellow lights (something constant on my mind was what if a big vehicle came in from opposite direction with its headlight in full force blanking our visibility). I thought the group was a little slow and soon I found myself leading along with Dimple. You take a left once out of the tunnel, Dimple led up till there…I continued the charge ahead with a flat road for first 4 km and then waited for the team to catch up and guide them on the turn to be taken once we hit a T after crossing the bridge

Soon we found ourselves performing the naming ceremony of our group - we can see first signs of ascent. As I again started to pedal ahead saw some team members panting but for Sri - Sri just kept going non stop. He rode some km and waited as I caught up with him past all the others. As I passed Gopal, he told me how I had foreseen the days ahead and wrote the yeah hasi vadiyan line! From thereon, it was generally me and Sri riding ahead in tandem. It was here, then in the initial stages where we would turn and see how our other team members were faring that 'Fatte Haal' aptly occurred to me. And no, we never felt that we would be spared of this. We continued pedaling and also caught up with the previous group on their way back to the Base camp - feeling envy about them!!

Me & Sri had our share of rest breaks with some snaps on the way - on my BB, we had 1 long break for more than 15 min at Bali Chauki village but no sign of ne1 interested in catching up with us - but for blacky (the local dog) (Sri's snap - link). Just 3/4 Km before the camp site, Bindu, our escort and custodian of our jewelry box (the tool kit), caught up with us as we had some snack food the Base camp folks had packed for us. By 10.30/1045 am we reached our campsite for the day and we both (Sri n me) felt rejoiced - this was it and we can do it! For a first day, the incline covered is quite steep - from 3500 ft to 6000 ft..

15 min rest and we came out back to the nearest bus stop just before the pool (again at a T junction) from where you have to guide the other team members to take a left and further motivate them to pedal some more countering that last bit of small ascent to reach the base camp. The Soni brothers were the first to follow us (15/30 min), followed by Bala around 12 and followed by Ani in some more time. We really missed out when the TechM group passed the bus depot and reached the camp. Ani and we chatted up for another half an hour, Ani of course was stopping in btw to click (some marvelous snaps - see the aunty running the general store; aunty's house was just opposite to the bus depot! (link). We clicked some snaps of the HP princess (link) at the depot - I had started to figure out some more about angles and shots that Ani would like - and I liked them too.

Aunty does look gorgeous, stays alone with a prince with her husband working in Army in some distant area. Ani was impressed with her hospitality and genuineness apart from her eyes, face and …..We joked if we can end up at her home to catch the IPL action live; and Ani had promised to send them prints of their snaps (I wonder if he still has the postal address preserved with him).

For lunch, we had our packed food from the Base Camp; and than went for a dip at the River - it was the 3 idiots (Sri, Ani and me) with Soni brothers for co.- some chilling water flowing at a good speed. Sri can agree for a splash of water from others, I am too scared, like to have the first splash myself. It was like someone rolling over ice cubes on the body - cold for sure but relaxing and fun as well - that last for 10 min. Clothes rinsed and we were back. Later, I got in the sign off from Miatro sa'ab that each of the Fatte Haal members had reported at the camp fully fit!! (intro: our trek leader, to accompany on rest of the four days to each of the campsites to & fro)

Evening was spent in playing cards and sharing jokes / shayaris and the Soni talent was on full display! they were the master of cards (and I am a permanent novice and a student), taught us some fun games and shared some PJs or jokes if you may call them, shayaris etc. Evening we moved out for a walk towards the village, came back and had soup followed by a sumptuous dinner, some melodious songs and news update coming out from Ani's cell and off to sleep. Btw we 3 idiots figured out that having joint dinners / meals and using the same glasses for soup etc is a good way to avoid some exercise otherwise you have to undertake in cleaning your own utensils - joint meals are fun and a good way of sharing the responsibility! And we did share all the way thru for rest of the trek

The Third Gear: The race begins
[Phaga Pool - Jibhi, 17km; May 25, 2009; Day 4]

No, it was never a race to reach first, rather it was a race for survival - as I had found out couple of place enroute to the destination on the second day - a steep descent at the end of which you find a truck occupying the entire breadth of the road and need to brake suddenly, another descent where in between you find a pair carrying a load of tar used to repair the road - and the roads are so narrow as to hardly allow you an escape! still we survived.

The day started with morning routines followed by Ani & Sri being chased upon by the other Fatte Haal members to get their bikes checked / validated as fit for racing. Ani & Sri were quite an expert and their talent was being exploited (for them their skills were being further harnessed) and Bindu & Dimple were lending a helping hand. I learned for the first time how to use a hand pump - got the air pressure right on the tyres of my bike, Sharon got the punctured tyre repaired, some more minor adjustments for Soni(s) and Bala. Got our lunch box packed and by 830, we were ready to move.

Days Target: 17kms, 6K ft. to 8kft, camp Jibhi. The group moved ahead and we three idiots were the last to start - at around 845am. The first half Km was great (previous days ascent means you descent for about 0.5km to start!). Soon you take a left towards Jibhi and boy, you just climb, climb, climb, climb and climb………but for the last couple of kms near the camp site, its all ascent and a steep one. Unlike the previous day which had a ascending W shaped ascents (you climb, have a small descent, again have a bigger ascent and a smaller descent), this route has a steep upwards incline. Soon, Sri and I were in the lead even we both were badly panting and were forced into a break with in 30 min of start (in perspective, our first break the previous day was about 45 min after start). We had covered hardly 5 km and I had lost out my water bottle, discarding Sri's suggestion, I told him that we move ahead and would manage from his water bottle (a simple but all important life saving water to be a forced motivation for me to keep pace with him!). Before start, we were told that Banjar is the only main village and later it’s all the way up but for sure none of us were prepared for what had lied ahead.

Somewhere in between I had moved much ahead of Sri and decided to wait for him to catch up for company. As I was resting, interacted briefly with an Australian couple on their way down (again, envying them) - all on their own with all their luggage on the cycle, 3 water bottles and their toolkit! Such a cruel idea of a vacation, but realized my idea was no less a punishment on me. Soon Sri was there, rested for another 5 min and again started up.

The climb on this stretch never ends! riding for about another 45 min, we again waited for about 10 min, some water some light exercise before we began again. (the place we rested was a desi alcohol shop but with shutters down!). We rode, and rode and rode. No end in sight. Climbs and curves, taking care of the vehicles as the curves had become narrower than the waist of the most skinnier model. Met another guy from Holland - says he is based in this valley for years, just likes the places, roams the hills and stays there and he suggested there was a better way to Jibhi than the route we took. Never mind we told to ourselves and continued - and soon we sighted a steep descent nearly two kms where we encountered the tar carriers and a truck lying royally across the road and were saved each time by timing on the brakes. Another km of nearly flat ride (on any other day, it would have been described as an ascent, but not any longer!) and Sri and me reached the camp. 1140am: 2h55min. Extremely pleased with our effort and thumping chest a la Paes-Bhupathi style. Sri was clicked on my BB & I aptly titled 'Arrived Dead at Jibhi - Stamina KingShri'.

This was the first time we realised the importance of a 'welcome drink' - a simple orange powdered drink that tasted better than the best of drinks - yes one was offered and had the previous day too but its significance was realized only today. In another half an hr, Bala followed, and Ani was there in next 10/15min (not bad at all we thought). Soni brothers took another eternity (30min) to reach and the TechM perhaps thought they would arrive in another era altogether (around 2pm?)! We had followed the previous days courtesy of going out back some distance to welcome our heroes. The discovery of the day was that each of us carried a Gateway of India in the form of the lower part of our body! Difficult to walk, and diff to talk in the first few min! We chatted up for some time, appreciated the camp (this is one of the best camps of YHAI - not managed by YHAI but is a guesthouse on contract) and were ready to take a dip in the river. Do I need to repeat: chillier than the previous day and we were quite sure that we are not having any bath for the next two days! (I soon realized this was false for some of us)

We had a dip (Bala Joined but minus Soni(s) - they had taken far too long - an eternity) and chill made us wide awake and the rains joined in and we had to run back to avoid getting wet. All refreshed and relaxed, we had our food, spent sometime chatting and soon Maitro lured us into showing a waterfall. Gopal, Sharon, Bala, and we 3 idiots got directed by Maitro and Bindu as they led us into a nearby small hill resembling a Amazon kind forests. Sri was to discard my appeal of carrying a spare set of clothes, it was gush of water at high speed falling from the hill above - something I can't resist from. Sri had already had a complete clothes on shower. I came out of my T, and had a freezing 4/6 degree chilled water shower under the fall: it was combo feeling - something like someone simultaneously i) hanging you from the crane upside down and dipping you under a frozen lake with head on first and ii) at the same time the top of your head being banged with stone! it was a revision of the lesson that water does have power & muscle! (Mumbai bows down to this power every monsoon, this was still summer time) And Ani tried capturing a shot of this to be used for his replica of the Kingfisher calendar. It was still enjoyable as is any waterfall is for me.

We came back and Bala treated us to unlimited Bournvita - steaming hot which was preceded by hot kanda bhajis, some others tasted black tea with pepper etc. again sometime with cards / jokes and shayari. Then the 3 idiots moved left of the camp for a couple of km of walk - barren and broken roads and nothing else, interspersed with slate roofed houses. Back at the camp we stocked up some chocolates and sugar candies for next day from the shop within the camp guesthouse. Some interaction with the shop lady owner (stayed very close to the shop) and we learned that:

- the guys wear the Kullu cap and the women cover their head with a cloth called 'thippu' as an indicator of their married status (our previous understanding was quite naïve - that it was a fashion statement!). You can safely know how safe you would be when u pursue a girl or a guy - and I wished if urban girls can be made to follow this?!
- they do not like to go to villages at lower heights, the people there are cheats where as in their region girls are not hesitant or shy or the male folks, can look straight into their eyes and talk and both are treated equally and with respect. (And we can vouch for this from the our interaction with the few local women folks!)

late evening, some more cards and chatting, followed by dinner, followed by -surprise - a actual bone fire where you light up woods, for the first and last time on this trek. The night had grown colder and so every one gathered to enjoy the warmth. As we tried to force some enjoyment, Dinesh was there to narrate a story of Murli, one of the most funny character in their college who mischief had coasted other students dear as the college had revised its entire rule books around how to prevent Murli, the guy who would go to some room under repair and have a nap, pretend dead, steal money from his boss in the guise of overtime / late night allowances and reimbursements etc! the gathering did not last longer but towards the end, I had a real life experience of why bone fire was banned - a piece of dry wood, partly burned flew sharply from the fire and hit me just a tad above the eyebrow. Later Maitro informed that someone had actually lost his/her eyes in one such incident (typically the wood when burnt has tendency to suddenly pop up in the air)

It was some kishor kumar / other melody songs and it was time to bed.

The Fourth Gear: the cake walk
[Jibhi-Sojha, 7km; May 26,2009; Day 5]

Walk for sure but no cake anywhere in sight. The only comfort, if any, was that by now the saddle appeared as it was a part of the a** and would no longer hurt. As a camp and in terms of facilities, this was the best one. So before starting we had a group snap which was preceded by me being clicked sitting (and shitting) on the open western commode [see pic]

Last evening we had decided to move out early and also to have a gap of an hour b/w breakfast and commencing the trek; instead the people running the camp (a contracted guest house) were very slow. Post breakfast we moved out by 9. If yesterday was all climb, today was all uphill like a small L (l). The idiots had a habit of starting last….but panting last too!. Me & Sri were quick on the lead again…and some more distance and we were again panting.

We cycled / walked / cycled / walked for half the road, post which it got more steeper, more curvy. Even while pushing your cycle up the slope and along the curve, there could be a reasonable chance of getting hit by the incoming truck if you lose sight! at the half way mark, we sighted a water flowing from somewhere, perfect place to take a break have a wash, refresh, stretch before continuing upwards (that’s a definition of a longish break). 10 min and Bala caught up, followed up by Ani and we thought not bad. Soon me & Sri started off as Bala and Ani decided to take a still longer break. We cycled / walked (CW) for another km and at the 2km milestone, got ourselves clicked! Ufff…….no more cycling possible, bad roads and all steep. We walked a bit, Sri gave a push and rode a few meters (50/100); and not to be left behind, I got on the saddle and pushed the pedal, couple of strokes and Crank! I thought my chain got off…I can see Sri again taking a rest 25 meters ahead and walked upto him. and he noticed that not only my chain had got off, it had completely given way and had fell off. Natures' way of deciding that no more cycling for me while on the ascent - about 1.75km was left to the camp.

Sri was kind enough to walk down and locate the chain and walk back, holding the chain in his hand - he appeared like the hero of the movie 'Shiva'! Another couple of minutes and we started off. As I was forced to walk, Bala soon caught up. And as a forced gesture of kindness, agreed to walk besides me….Sri continued CW routine for some more time. half a km before the camp, we can see lot of farming on the slopes, steep hills with Deodar trees on our back - all dark green with a small barren hill in the middle - which we later learned that the stretch was used for stone mining! All houses had lot of garlic crop cut and kept at entrance / passage while one in particular had them nicely bunched and hung it on the wooden fence like decorating the entrance door with a flower garland [see pic]. We (Sri & me) continued our walk to the camp site, Bala stopped at a hotel in b/w to check on rates for extending his stay.

We both located the camp [phew…around 11.45 - just under 3 hrs for 7km!!!!). Welcome to beautiful Sojha (Sojha - used to describe the swollen status of a body part) and we were mentally swollen for sure - swollen with pride I guess - for reaching the peak! I immediately called couple of friends informing them of our achievement as if we had reached Everest! One of them was my neighbour and I could not help but agree with his prediction that during mountain biking the lungs would blast! It had but fortunately were still caged within our body at their respective places! We parked our bikes and were delighted to see that for a change we would be putting up in a concrete structure!. Ani joined us in 30 min and was lucky that we were there to click him showing him riding the bike even on the ascent :))…and we had our welcome drink, located a small coffee shop around the camp and jumped in there.

Maitro sa'ab had already reached the camp on a bike. He joined us at the coffee shop as we feasted on 2/3 rounds of Maggie and some strong coffee. Maggie tasted like it was prepared by the worlds' most renowned chef. Soni(s) had come up after some time and so had the Tech Mahindra group but we could not care more. It was around 1.30 and we decided to take a walk down hill, couple of hundred meters down we located a nice wooden house and decided to speak to the local people out there. Large part of the house, we were to learn from the old land lady that it was some 50yrs+ old, rested on the pillars on the ground while only one part rested on the hill!. The entrance from under the ceiling climbing a wooden ladder with about 7 steps, opened the door and got in. (No trespassers us, Ani had taken prior permission from the residents before entering). As we opened the door, we saw two old huge vessels, something that would make for a perfect shot for Ani but he had decided against carrying his cam, which he soon realized as a mistake.

We began talking to the old land lady (she told she would be 75+, we thought 85+ for sure, her face being a texture of deep wrinkles, no glasses, can still hear and see with her original organs!) and her daughter in law (beautiful and too young to be married for more than 15 years with a son staying alone in a hostel and studying at Mandi! The land lady's (or Amma as we had started to address her) husband was no more but had built the house all by herself bringing the stone that made the roof from the stone mine we described above. Ani took a break and returned with cam to take some awesome snaps, taking shots of all the wrinkled face, hands joined, traditional bangles, nose clips, the necklace that the daughter in law worn, etc. She was a smart one who spotted a business opportunity and soon we were being shown grass chappals, and home made pattu's and pellu (the first a woolen hand woven thin mattress, the later a woolen hand woven thin blanket), Amma was not to be left behind, proved her salt and showed her experience (rather cunning ness) as she quickly tripled the quote of the grass footwear (65 to 200!). Ani had agreed to buy them, I liked some blankets but found the price too high. We made a package deal and discovered that only Sri carried some cash but were short. Amma had agreed to accompany us saying that she still takes the herds for grazing some couple of km daily, we resisted not liking that such an old lady should be troubled for a few hundred rupees and had agreed to return in the evening. Running out of cash proved to be a saving grace for us - as we later to discover the original price of the grass footwear was not more than Rs 100; though blankets had appeared reasonably priced.

Returned from Amma's house by around 3, we forced ourselves to empty our packed lunch, again tried sleeping…but could hardly sleep. For Next hour or so, we turned ourselves to a group of comedians sharing jokes / PJs / shayaris and playing cards in between. The one that still sticks to my mind is about cat guarding the milk (call me to hear this one and another:

Kisi miss ko tab tak kiss mat karo
Jab tak woh tumhe miss na kare
Aur jab woh tumhe miss kare to usse itni kiss karo
Ki woh aur kisi ko miss mat na kare

(don’t kiss a miss till the time she starts missing you, and once she starts missing you, shower her with kisses such that she would not miss/long for any one else!)

Next was another round of coffee by the worlds' best coffee maker followed by a walk thru the small alley we saw on the other side of the road…we explored for sometime, nothing too much to see nor too much for Ani to explore in terms of photography!

Came back by seven, some more timepass and time for lunch. An accident spoiled Maitro sa'abs mood. It was true that 'no non-veg food' rule was not instructed to us, and some Tech M group went to the world's best chef and had some chicken dish. His argument - as a discipline, he himself or atleast the group leader (Me!!) should have been informed of this, as also that they would not be having food at the camp to avoid food wastage!. there was a considerable lecture / discipline class and took sometime to smother him down

Basing my previous experience, I got to an important task - that to chart out our next days' morning course, suggesting Maitro that we start early (6.30 was agreed) for the 5km uphill trek (est time 2 hrs), perhaps without breakfast, people can have tea if required; so that we are still fresh, can avoid the sun, and complete the trek….people can pack breakfast if required! All agreed to this suggestion. We would be back by 12, will have our lunch and move on.

The usual Kishor Kumar and orchestra followed on Ani's cell phone followed by an alarm for early morning and off to sleep!

The Fifth & Reverse Gear - Xtreme Action
[Sojha-Jalori-Sojha, 10km; Sojha-Phaga Pool - 24km; May 27, 2009; Day 6]

By 630, we had started on our trek. Was cold and for the first time, I had deemed it prudent to wear my sweat jacket as well. For a change, the 3 idiots were first to start with Bala tagging along after applying his usual set of creams!. Soni brothers followed soon with Tech M group a little farther behind. We maintained our lead, watered the plants by turns, took care of one rucksack (couple of liters of water) by turns, clicked snaps, took breaks and covered the 5km distance to Heaven by 830/845. The same Jalori pass was appearing Hell as we had seen this the previous day - from our Sojha camp. Sri had tried asking Maitro and were denied permission saying that the roads are bad, even more steeper and riding would be literally Hell of a experience. In between, about a km before Jalori, Bindu and Maitro appeared walking fast, they informed that they had started about 30 min behind the group, and still they were so quick on the foot on the hills! The dog - blacky was also accompanying us and was surely faster than us!

The place had no more than 10/12 houses cum shops (shop on front, house at the back!), a temple on the left of the road as we reached the peak, another hill all lush green like Switzerland, some cows grazing mid way up the hill, the hill had a road on its foot - which went towards our right and circled up leading back to the temple - offering a nice circular view!

Maitro sa'ab bought some flowers and Prasad to worship god, I joined him offering my prayers as well at the Temple. The Temple had Goddess Kali under the main dome, Lord Hanuman on the right, Ganesha somewhere near the entrance, a Shiv-linga on the right along with Nandi. Appeared all so peaceful. Soon Soni(s) and Tech M reached. People started to feast (am sure half of them would have been cursing me now having brought them empty stomach and there was just not a single hut / shop or village along the entire trek where one can halt and have some food)!. Courtesy Bala, I got to taste French Egg toast, fell in love with the dish and had couple of it myself, followed by some juice. There was some nice proper local song playing and the Chef preparing the french toast was singing loudly - all fun to hear the local songs (this chef was better than the worlds' best chef at Sojha camp).

We hardly had got a chance to wait and see around, and by 10, Maitro Sa'ab was leading us back. We covered the distance in a little over an hour and had lot of time at hand. Soon, Maitroji were hurrying us to have an early lunch and get on to the reverse gear - our journey back. I tried arguing back to finish lunch by 1 and rest for an hour before pushing back by 2. He would not budge (he was fearing weather could play a spoilsport, it was getting cloudy and dark and if it had to rain, even I cannot imagine going downhill on a bike, slippery roads and poor visibility, surely one can land in a valley). Somehow I coaxed him for half an hour of rest post lunch and moved by 1.30 - again, the 3 idiots were last to start. Sri & Ani had started in front of me, and I soon got bored tailing behind them waiting for them to accelerate - I was soon to become more wiser.

Thud! A cranky sound, a momentary pause and I looked up - I was still alive; happily lying in the middle of the road: my right hand completely bruised right from just below the shoulders, both palms bleeding with right palm showing a wound like a well of blood, right leg bruised from upper thigh to sides of the calf with the ultimate nature's kiss being on the upper cheek bone - again on the right side. I was dusted brownish/grey (figure out how it would look) and decorated with natural red carved in from the impact of stone and pebbles and the red glowed on contrast with dark brown and grey sand that had rubbed my body - wherever it could! The instructions were clear: ride on the inner most side adjacent to mountain rocks (to avoid landing in a valley should u lose control on the way down and taking a turn). Contrary to this and very early into the ride, I had decided to rather tread the middle path (perhaps I am criticized in office for not taking one!) to ensure that you do not other wise slam yourself in to the same rocks that were to protect u from landing into a free fall in one of the valley: I was convinced that even slamming in to the rocks would be no less disastrous, except that locating a body could be a less trouble!

No, this was not the 'Extreme Moment', rather a culmination of an extremely thrilling ride I was having on my bike as we started on our way back from Sojha at 9000 ft: sharp descents and curves with gushing winds; soon it was like bike controlling you on a ride of a lifetime! Its like a waterpark ride with the longest steepest slant minus the water for fun and add the winds to literally blow you or push you at anywhere b/w 40 to 60kmph: sure a big deal enough if u are riding and balancing in between a hard place (rocks) and a deep shit (valley)! It's a breath taking experience and could have been literally so, but I was saved, alive, to complete the ride and to long for more treks and hungry for more thrills! The fall was result of me slowing only a tad bit even when a dirt road patch started - the one with full of small and big stones and dry dusty / sandy path: guess the most prone to skids. My bike hoped from one stone to another and landed me down tasting the sand/dust before it could land on the next stone. I learned u should never forget any safety gear as I had forgotten to wear my gloves on this first day of our descent - first time in the entire 4 day ride (and realized why throughout the descent tithe handlebars were feeling somewhat different - all my body parts with protection gear on, had escaped: elbows, knee caps, the feet and my giant head!!

Soon Ani & Sri caught up with me, followed by Bindu and Maitro on their escort bike. Some Savlon to clean the wounds, checked the bike if it was all ok, I was also relieved to learn that my Blackberry, cell and wallet were all intact in the rucksack though the upper pocket of the sack had got torned - my short term survival was always contained in this pocket (packet meal for lunch!). I felt all ok as all four enquired, had to be as I was much relieved to be alive, a little shattering of confidence (that was not on display though) was definitely miniscule compared to my determination to continue and finish the trek, no way was I living it mid way after all the pedaling on the way up. All throughout the 5 days, I was wondering the why was I carrying 50gm of extra weight on my back; and realized how lucky I was to pack couple of extra handkerchiefs that were not used till now. Got this wrapped on my palms - not a good replacement for gloves but definitely good enough to give whatever, and was on again. I thought Ani and Shri consciously decided to play a forward and a sweeper, so Ani led, I started behind and Sri started further behind me.

For next 10 km or so (I had fell down somewhere after about 4/5km of descent) we rode in tandem and I could see the one in front and back, nice and slow both hands firmly on the brakes as we rode downhill. Stopped for once as the chain of Ani's bike had given way and he had put it in place. Soon my left hand was hurting in pain from holding the brakes firmly and was forced to relieve each of my hand in turns - still safety always lured on the mind. Post this, as Ani later explained, we was feeling tired and bored at the same time and had given an all out ride downhill for the last 5/7km. Add to this, Sri and Maitro forced me to get the wounds treated, I explained it was not possible and good idea to unwrap the handkerchiefs as they had been wrapped so nicely and were doing a good job. Yet, as we approached the market towards Banjar village (5km short of Phaga pool camp), was made to stop at a pharmacy.

No doctors in sight, the store owner gave a slinging karate style strike to the injection bottle, and before I could ask if he was able to locate the veins on my biceps, the Tetanus injection was already flowing into my muscles!. And all the service for just ten bucks. Maitro loaded on an anti septic healing cream, some bandages to be wrapped on me later, and we started back. Soon we were at the camp (around 3.15 - 15min under two and again, I thought not bad at all! - and still were around half an hr late than others, partly the fall, partly the halt at the pharmacy)

For a change, the group leader was last to arrive - not that I like such experience, but the feeling of having made it despite a (earth & confidence) shattering fall made it very special. Rested for 15 min and we had not bathed for days, and not even a river dip yesterday, so it was time for a shower. This time it was Bala, Soni bros and we 3 idiots. On the way to the river, learn that Bala had two minor falls, but no where near my experience, and the entire dozen people were sympathizing with me (something one could like for attention but I hate for being pitied upon). Also, from the beginning, I had felt that we could have completed the entire descent right upto Aut so that we can have a day or two extra at our hands, to be used to explore more nearby tourist attractions, after all, we were already at Phaga pool camp and it was hardly 3.30. But I was proved to be wrong as we had hardly had a proper dip in the river (was more cold than our first stay here, but our previous experience helped us being less fearful or more adaptive to this cold!) and it started to rain. We had only partly changed into our fresh clothes and had to make a dash, uphill walk of 200metres through the stone covered path to be at the camp.

The cooks served some fried peanuts which tasted good but I was heavily dependent on others to feed me. Soon, Maitro sa'ab appeared from somewhere and covered my palms and the brushes on the thigh with a creamy lotion and so I was outlawed from playing cards, only my mouth could munch something if someone fed it, and my tongue could participate in all the gossip, as others played cards and jokes / shayaris. Was advised to keep the wounds open for faster healing.

Evening, we got out to roam around the village, Ani took us (Sri and me) to the beautiful Aunty whose husband is away serving in the army. We chatted for about an hour, had a coffee as we say two villagers getting a high on local liquor at her shop, one of them getting hold of Sri describing his own trekking group and his activities to promote adventure tourism in his HP state in the most unconvincing manner. The shop owner next door had a daughter nick named - 'Chidiya' or Sparrow and her brother named 'lampat' (not such a good word in Hindi!) and I found these nick names quite amusing. Ani lifted lampat (2 yrs old) in his hands, held it that way and we walked for 10min. Later moved to the Pool, sat by the wall aside the pool enjoying the white waters of the river flowing below and chatting for sometime. headed back to the camp by 730 for a round of tomato soup home made style, more cards, jokes chatting, dinner, kishore kumar and other songs and time to bed!

No Sixth Gear: Full Speed
[Phaga Pool – Aut: 22km; May 28, 2009; Day 7]

For all those who have had good falls, they know how they wake up the next morning…got up with body aching….most difficult was it to answer nature’s long distance call…

Soon, Maitro sa’ab was applying the anti septic cream on my hands, wrapping the bandage that was to take the place of my gloves! We moved out by 9 with the instruction to line up outside the tunnel – same routine – enter the tunnel together in a single lane.

This one was a joy ride, hardly any climbs, most of it was sloping downwards, had started at the end with Sri, just as usual, a few kilometers and was in the lead. Some minor inclines and some of them decided to take a break, guess some were also taking a break to enjoy the final ride back, taking all that they can digest of the scenic displays….i was into my own rhythm and drove out non-stop to the tunnel head!...straight 22km in 55min! Just as I was reaching, saw the next group leaving to achieve glory and njoi the Gateway of India ride…(too late I thought – 100am, we had started by 8)!

Had a nap for half an hour before people started to trickle in and in another 15 min all of them gathered. Got on the bike as Dimple (he was there, again seeing of the next batch and had returned by then) reminded again to remove the glares.

We had three cheers to Maitro and Bindu as we reached the base camp in next 10 min! We were back to being mortals, having done what the previous 7 batches in this year’s trek had already done, still taking the feeling as if were the only one’s to have done it! And that was the end of the ride, one hell of a ride! As all good things, this one also ended!! Well the vacation had just started for us.

Soon all of us decided to get out by after noon post lunch. Bikes and gears returned, after a week we had a good bath. Soon, we 3 idiots ventured out in the market to have a proper shave and a clean look! Shisinder kumar helped book us into the YHAI affiliated dorm at Kakhnal (8/9KM before Manali and some 60km from Aut, the entire group byut for Bala, had decided to visit Manali). On reaching our destination, we found the dorm was part of the hotel with entrance at the back, and the TechM group had decided to take a room for themselves

Left at 3 and after about 3 hrs of a ST bus ride with all the local gana bajana and people around; and just before our destination, we can see beautiful snow capped mountains in the destinations! We had this crazy chap called Ani, who was ready to run with a bulky rucksack at the back and the cam in the hand, to capture the shine and the glow of the mountains! I reminded him of his smartness and he avoided it; got a few snaps quickly before it could turn dark! As we returned to our dorm, we found that it offered the perfect view of what we believed was the Rohtang Pass.

Freshned up and moved out to explore the village that was Kakhnal, soon we were at a local school that faced a Karthikeya temple (don’t think they have too many around, should be in low single digits). It was 6 and the temple was closed, looked beautiful from the outside. The school had the local guys playing volley ball, Ani asked to have a go and was not allowed. A gang of local folks were gambling (local lingo – Tambola, Mumbai lingo – Housie) in front of the temple, while a few school childrens played cricket – who finally acceded to Ani’s request and allowed him an over (6 deliveries)!

An hour there and we came back on the roads and further roamed around. We arrived at a Yes restaurant – a beautiful place to hang your legs, relax with some music and the muted TV set. offered even a better view of Rohtang as we selected a table in the open bay (and offers neatly maintained western commodes – a luxury coming after a week). Omlet tasted amazing, and Gopal was guzzling the smallest pint of bear as if that was the last time he was allowed (or probably first?!) we soon found that its run by a Swiss guy who has settled here and married a local woman – a perfect kind of business to have right in the lap of mother earth!

Returned to the dorm, had some food and off it was to sleep! In b/w Sri had decided to accompany the TechM group to Rohtang pass in the morning, an offer which, considering you had to wake up at 4.30 in the morning, Ani & I were most happy to pass off (or rather for me, with broken hands and a leg, thought it prudent to avoid further dares as their main agenda was to go Skiing)

Adieu
[Kakhnal – Manali; May 29, 2009 - Day 8]

Soni(s) out to Manali, Sri & TechM out to Rohtang and that left me & Ani. We relaxed and had a lazy morning in days, (though Ani woke upto the Alarm clock @ 5 to take some snaps as the golden rays of the Sun would hit the peak of Rohtang); we got ready and checked out. Omlets tasted even better in the cold mornings and we had two rounds each, at Yes ofcourse!

Went towards Castle Rock Palance – a steep upward incline once you reach the village 12km from kakhnal (ST bus ride) – and we felt our trek was yet to end; the palace is made out of wood and rock and supposed to be the old capital of Kullu, beautiful structure from outside (only!). We decided against venturing to check out Russian Art Museum which was on the to do list; and headed back to Kakhnal to pick our luggage. Perhaps some tiredness and local songs with breeze pushed us to take a nap that costed us as we ended up 3km beyond our stop! We walked back to the dorm picked up our luggage, and took the bus to Manali. On the way, I resolved the mystery of why wheat crop is laid out on the roads on which all the vehicles pass! It’s the local way of drying the wheat in the sun and simultaneously sift the grains as vehicles pass through the crop.

Manali – my first impression, and something that will be hard to wipe off – was that its too commercialized and gives a feeling of a crowded urban town; Jalori is the place to be. We had our lunch with ice cream for desert (vow, that tasted good!), went around buying some souvenirs before heading back to the depot to take our respective buses back: all 3 idiots met in the evening, all 3 heading to Delhi for different purpose:

- Ani – perhaps to rush to Agra to capture Taj on his cam (had given him that idea), a trip which was not to be. His was a separate bus
- Sri – to catch up with a friend before taking the train back. Riding with me in the same bus.
- Me – spend the next two days in Delhi, an extended vacation to catch up with friends!

Sojourn, looking forward to Manali – Ladhak mountain biking next year. Amen!!

Pink - ology: of all things pink!!

2009-05-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

Why do girls and women love everything that's pink or pink in everything - a sudden thought struck me.

The most awkward thing for me was to see girls wear pink sports shoes in a gym for a workout! Perhaps till then I had never observed this Pink Phenomenon. Delving further, some complete the look with pink track pants and / or a T, pink lip colour with a perfume that smells pink and hidden beneath, the pink inners...a little exaggeration but mostly true! Some wise man just happened to notice this before me and coined the term 'in the Pink of health'

You can see one carrying a pink / white hanky in one hand and a pink n blue writing pad in the other; wearing pink glass frame - heading for a meeting with a pink vaio laptop. Some may like to have a pink coloured pen or a pencil with a pink eraser at the top. Thank God am yet to come across a (lady) CEO ordering her company to have business visiting cards only in pink back ground: don't even dare imagine.

Recently I accompanied a colleague of mine to a apparel shop, she had to buy a birthday present for her hubby a cousin of hers. Outcome: pronto, you are right: two pink shirts albeit a different shade and a design:) how sure could I be that the idea of a 'pink' formal shirt for men should be a creation of a lady fashion designer?!

The guys at Hindustan Unilever know this well to have packaged their Lux soap bar in pink, the Dettol brand manager got smart to introduce a pink packaged version of their soap - something that was available only in green packs for years. One of my aunts also has a pink coloured bucket and a tumbler, the bathroom – thank god – is not pink!

I am sure if in colour terms, pink is the most favoured inner wears for 'hers' / their 'he's' would be mostly forced to buy only pink condoms;!!! Complete with a satin pink bed sheet for a honeymoon nite sprinkled with pink rose petals…. and wrapped in a pink towel after a showering and scrubbing each other the next day morning!!! And bet you heard about the 'pink chaddi' campaign started by a group of women to protest against a political outfit not in favour of celebrating Valentines Day in India...

Not to forget the Expectant mom and first time moms having baby girls converting the entire decor of the room to a Pink theme - akin to a pink island – pink Barbie dolls, pink teddies, pink frocks, pink shoes and socks, pink night wears, pink cribs, pink high chair, pink bath tub, pink rocker, pink wrapper/shawl….pink bed sheets and curtains….No dearth of other women accessory: hair clips / belts / watch straps being available in pink.

Come to think of it, was 'pink' slip a term coined by a female HR head or a female CEO? Is there a 'green back' (synonym for US currency note) and no 'pink back' because US has never had a woman President?! There are definitely currency notes for Euro in 'Pink' colour - any relation to ECB chairman or EU chairman being a lady when the notes got introduced?! Matter to ponder is why no member of the 'Pink Floyd' band was a women?!

I'll be better off to suggest 'Pinkology' as a matter of a research and dissertation topic to my cousin, she's looking for a unique topic to do her doctorate. To help her jumpstart the research paper, Pink colour is former by a mixture of Red (the colour of love and passion, but also that of danger and anger!!) and White (signal peace and calm) with generally Red dominating – so now you know why girls love Pink – love for love / passion and danger and to signal us man to be peace when they are in anger J

The post has add-ons from my ever pink she friends – Archie and Sukhi – the first was liberal and the second a revelation that for a change she does not like Pink. The only two pinks I have liked are naturally pink cheeks and pink lips (obviously ‘Pink’ euro currency notes or be that of any colour / are a given!)

Mumbai Marathon 09: thoughts on the marathon per se....

2009-02-05T23:10:00.000-08:00

- Well, its certainly a race to see how much longer can mind can prevail over body; and its amazing to see the capacity of mind; how much it can push the limits!! Its another attempt at proving whats repeatedly been proven….you can achieve anything once you put your mind to it!

- The carnival like atmosphere is captivating….in my interactions on first timers (and including myself) I found that that’s where most people get the inspiration and motivation to participate! It adds to the fun that people from different caste and creed, of all rich and poor, of pro and amateur running besides each other, what a great leveler!

- It was thanks to Bhavin, Deepak, Hitesh, Jatin, Mukund, Nagesh, Piyush, Pratik, 2 Rahuls, Rajnish, Sheela, Shukti, & Vikas that I was successful in raising Rs. 16K+ for an NGO Apnalaya. My whole hearted thanks to these 15 generous friends who contributed….Quite a good effort I thought, for my first fund raising exercise – with average contri over a 1000 bucks!. For the rest of folks, sorry to keep sending reminders!

- My first 18.8km was a non stop run, just under 2H; perfectly per my practice routine; after that, the first non stop 2 km was from 23Km to 25.3km mark and the second (which was also the last) non stop 2km was my sprint from 39.8Km to the finish line as I desperately wanted to finish under 5H set by organizers! (Man is made so greedy by God, first the target was to just complete, and when it was clear that I’d complete, you ask for more! Yeah Dil Mange More – the old Pepsi slogan perfectly fits the bill for me!)

- The first 6 to 8km, there was hardly a soul overtaking me; more people started running past me in the next few kms; ...the next few, each km appeared like double the distance, the shortest distance in the whole course being the last 600 metres!! They should use the same measurement tape right across :))

- The whole intent of doing the 42km run was to prove (to myself) that I can do it…guess in my lead upto the event I achieved my peak fitness. It feels great to be one amongst 2500 full marathoners at the event, a select 2500 from a total 35000 participants at the marathon (across all run categories) from a city that boasts of a population of over ten million.

- It was amazing to see a person with one leg amputed running the half marathon. I saw this guy nearing my 40KM mark, running with his fiancée and all I can utter was ‘Bravo man’….another case of mind over body, running on one leg for nearly 5hrs; I was humbled, mine was not a feat after all. This was coupled with a few grey haired, most likely people in their 50s and 60s, being my co-participants at the full marathon…way to go Viral!

- On the other side, just overheard two people from the same co., cursing their colleague for apparently registering them for the full instead of the half marathon…just ended up advising them that though they are cursing their colleague, years down the line they will just cherish the memory of running the 42km course!

- Every cheer is a step taking you near...to the finishing line.......so when this aunty from my complex kept her promise to come and cheer me up at just after the half way mark....oh, it felt great, even in this day and age, some people do keep those promises, howsoever trivial it might seem!!

- And browsing for something, I ended up looking at the Iron Man race at Port Macquarie, Australia….3.2KM of Swim + 180KM of cycling + 42.2Km of race with target of 17Hrs…..I am ending this blog, not thinking of anything else (except if there are sponsors…I might…. :))

http://www5.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event_entry.py?event=Sports%2FCPUK%2F2009%2FMumbai+Marathon&match=1888

Mumbai Marathon: On a serious note :||

2009-01-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

Its amazing how the concerned authorities in India fail to learn despite repeated reminders from terrorists…the scene at the entry gate for the marathon was one of absolute chaos….at 6.30 am (against the race start time of 6.45pm) you see a line that’s completely static, the security officers not aware of the race time and taking their own sweet time and despite people available to man the second gate, the officers at the second gate just would not allow people in….result: you jump the Q as people from behind keep on pushing from behind, entering the gate totally unchecked…almost the same gets repeated n the Q at the storage counter!......So while I do not want to take away anything from the big talk of ‘Spirit of Mumbai’ being shown and displayed by mass participation at the Marathon, why do the government and the organizers have to wait for another tragic event to happen and then again people coming out to show the ‘Spirit’? The silver lining was that when we jumped the Q, on the other side of the second gate there were couple of participants who themselves were concerned and started asking people to show the bags….that awareness should spread, and should be topped with some action and execution of required measures amongst the people as also the government and security agencies.

And as you lead to the starting point of the race, another chaos awaits you….hoards of people, not knowing which starting point to enter despite some indicators placed…just running around. Guess they can do some better work of placing indicators for segregating the different starting points according to category of runners

They say you need to replicate the atmosphere of a race day for your training…but imagine how difficult that is:

· While training, one normally does stretches for 10 min before the run; with hoards of people at the starting point, you do not get enough space and time to do this as people get pushed around and you rush out as soon as the gate opens!
· The amount of sound pollution you encounter in the first 6/8km is difficult to replicate (more follows)
· The amount of people you bang into in the first few miles is again difficult to replicate (though practicing at Juhu beach on Sunday morning could give some similar practice with atleast two hundred teams playing cricket, another 20 teams playing football, 3/5 group of people doing free aerobics – no exaggeration this - and you making you r ways amidst them for your Sunday practice run!!)

The media cribbed a little too much on the shortage of water, the situation was not as bad, water bottles were definitely available right upto the 40/41km mark….but ofcourse, they can do with better placed intervals (or rather even intervals) between 2 water stations, and can work on the availability of fruit juices and energy drinks which were just not available except for the few generous and thoughtful people from the audience volunteering and providing these on their own…but they are really really handful.

It’s a treat to see 5/6 hours of traffic free roads! The marathon definitely helps in reducing air pollution, though it certainly does not in any way, help to reduce sound pollution…its not at all easy running besides speakers blowing out loud music at more than 1000+ decibels, and this sound would more than even out the sound pollution arising out of traffic; I know there are enough there to argue that you require all the music, song and dance to create the carnival atmosphere and people of my tribe would be few…but my training was to run in complete silence that aides concentration and helps to keep a good rhythm. Perhaps next time I need to train differently :)...that is if there's a next time ;)

Mumbai Marathon 2009...the lighter side :)

2009-01-20T04:06:00.000-08:00

As I sat to pen my thoughts around the marathon, wondering where to start…got this congratulatory email from PG, my ex-boss, wanting – with good intentions I hope – to see me married soon…quote: (Note – my post marathon email to him had the subject line: “Just Did It”)
“With the subject matter above…say this with pride and enthusiasm once you get married…I am now waiting for your marriage invitation and not marathon invitation next year (in reference to my email soliciting donations linked to my marathon run)…invest your own energy now in searching a life partner…now run for your own cause…send in your own photograph with ‘V’ victory sign for yourself on the marriage podium…

Life is also a marathon chase….you’d enjoy it running with your life partner and completing it…just as you did finish the marathon two minutes short of official time (4H 58M v/s official target of 5H)…do (marry) in similar fashion before old age catches with you….

Sorry, I’m little funny and harsh as well simultaneously….just get married…period”

Well, I do hope to get married well before turning 56 and dying at 58 (that’s the current average life expectancy of a male Indian!)

Take it from there, I enjoyed blowing flying kisses to a gang of beautiful girls cheering loudly while on the return around the 35Km mark and it’s a sight to see them burst into loud laughter’s…to an extent it was a repeat of the last year experiment…..wherein it was not to a gang but to a lone girl cheering loudly…it works for me… infuses some energy into the tiring limbs J to keep going till…you find next gang of girls!

I also like the event for it provides an opportunity to chase some beautiful girls…breathlessly….without the fear of being beaten

And than, I am the epitome of one who believes in equal opportunity for all….so, it was a Reebok shoes, Nike shorts and Adidas T for my running attire..and while we were discussing this, the two friends who accompanied me (or showed me off at the starting point of the race) pointed out that I was participating in a ‘Standard Chartered’ Mumbai Marathon while working for J.P.Morgan Chase Bank and had a HSBC imprinted handbag to carry my necessities ;)….believe me its all coincidence but it often happens with me

By the way its no small an achievement to not only complete my full marathon but also to inspire these two friends to participate next year, perhaps starting with a Dream Run…way to go for the Jhaveri’s……and in same breath, I hope that someday there are more of such examples inspired to run…from amongst all the children who line up to cheer you and while doing so, enthusiastically forward their one hand for us runners to clap with our other hand

Let me give an example where the Mumbai police showed some exemplary attentiveness and intent to be compliant; to provide the best and most undisturbed course for the marathoners to run….this constable chased a guy who was crossing the road to go to the other side and disappear in the ground besides the road in a bid to address the nature’s call (for starters, a hard fact and a frequent scene in Mumbai where slum dwellers have to do it in the open L).

I hope someone next year raises money for this cause too…somehow such an ironic incident never occurred to me when I decided to associate my run with an NGO - Apnalaya. So in a way, this marathon also marked my first independent attempt at fund raising…but no more beyond that on this matter for I guess I have coerced my friends enough on this ;)

FIR (First Information Report) - Lloyds Wedding

2009-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lloyd, it was such a fun filled evening that words cannot capture all the masti! More for people like us attending a catholic wedding for d firsttime :)) it left a very positive impression - d processions /ceremonies, the song dance n music and d arrangements...all to cherish for all of us years down d line. And equally memorable was d chance to catch upwith few friends whom u otherwise don't get a chance to speak let alone meet in person - Vishy, Hitesh, Sachin Jain, Ashok bhaya and to lesser extent Bhavin n Joy!

The other thing that left a deep impression on me: Though being a catholic wedding and all rituals per your (community's) traditions, the mangalsutra ceremony just depicted coming togather of 2 vastly different traditions from different religions! Three cheers to you guys for setting a perfect example for families to allow inter caste weddings and for different communities to not only live in peace & harmony but love other religions as well! Well, I can only wish and I certainly do wish u - all d best in your new journey, am sure God will be kind enough to shower his blessings as well.

God bless your memory too for timing of d invitation:)) lest I would have missed d opportunity t ogather these memories, and shake a leg / twist d waist too.

Reverse Lens - Singapore by Viral

2008-12-20T07:19:00.000-08:00

Day 1 – Walkathon & Tangdi Kabab

Arrived at 5.30 to 6am local time, got off the plane half an hour later, surfed the net for another half hour waiting for luggage while Jatin n Teja surfed the airport for duty free shopping (boni @ sing!)

An hour ride to Hotel M at Anson road. Checking in getting ready and refreshed and ready to move to off by 11.30! The off turned out actually very close to the hotel - just as the trainer had suggested (7min walk)

Completed a busy day and changed the night safari planned for evening in lure for discount apparently available to jpm empl on regtn (for which we are already late)

Lunch – went walking thru to Pangat 2 blocks away, for couple of parathas and cury. NV available, good n economical Indian food

Evening - start at 7.30 walk to Tanjang Pagar MRT for $15 mrt card, go visit Vivo City at Harbour Front - new mall around the mrt station. Went to Raffles hotel - City Hall stop (and not the Raffles MRT stop – strange). Have a look at Swissotel Stamphord – the 70th floor pub where Jatin was not in a mood to go due to being devoid of a digi cam so we decided to come back later. Had dinner at long bar steak house - the famed dining arrangement at Raffles - again jatin didn't venture to try the famed cocktail at long bar (n I do not drink!) Took the bus to go to orchard road but on the way liked the street side food alley around esplanade mall so hopped out at esplanade mall, enquired about a disc, had a walk across the food street and than a bigger walk towards Fullerton hotel - came across the Theatre and Concert place - globe shaped.

Took a break at star bucks below the pool b4 walking thru by the river - thru something a la band stand of Sing - all couples cuddling up the entire seating area – enough to make our mood vibrant after a couple of km of walk! What relaxed our walks while getting in and out and around the MRTs / Vivo is the sight of longest legs made longer by the shortest shorts..somethng that lured even Jatin into checking out if such shorts are available around the Vivo mall – donno for whom (men / women / friends) he was looking to buy it…

Waited for bus at Fullerton Square stop for sometime before taking a cab to Orchard Street (arnd 11 pm!) - damage $7.2. Took the walk across the entire length of Orchard street quite liking the lightings n decor at the street - something that the street is famed for! Some 2 to 2.5 km walk later arrive at the end of street - at the Orchard Tower - what appeared to be a hot pick up point! Again took a break at the nearby roadside coffee joint before heading back to our hotel by cab - reach half past mid night- damage $9.4 incl night charge for a 3.2 km ride. Thoroughly enjoyed what we described as the tangdi kabab ride - good legs, the shortest shorts and some good faces later - I realized my next days morning work out session was already sacrificed - with full content and satisfaction.

Day 2 – Animals’ Night Out

Woke up and took a quick walk to off - the trainers walk time specs got tested - took 8.5 min to walk to off - not the trainers faul tho - he never told us that he'd included the escalator time and waiting time at red lights - I just missed that

The bad news was that no disc was available for nite safari, disc for jpm empl was available only for bird park and zoo! As if in recession times theywere asking employees to park them at the zoo! Permanently?! And dec was already booked! Atb to the animals at d zoo:)

So back to office, had a quick work out (half d usual 1!) And moved out of the Hotel with Teja by 750pm-sticking to the night safari plan-will soon find out if at night whether animals scare us or we manage to scare off them?!

Took the MRT to Ang Moi Ka etc as suggested - greeted by gals right outside the mrt station - free bus ride if night safari + tram ticket purchased - damages $22+$10 - of course purchased! The bus arrives (turned out to be a mini van or a mini bus) 15 min later and off we go! While waiting at the bus learned a smart thing of the way these gus stick classified ads at public places - the page or chits divided into two parts - the upper 1 has
the main ad content while the lower ones carrirs the phone no written vertically and repeated multiple times across the breadth of the adds -slits provided so that the reader can just tear off the phone no instead of taking the trouble to write it down - boon to the lazy bones (me included?!) and to the advertisers also.

Arrived at night safari just in time for the last (9.30pm) 'creatures of the night show' in a semi circular open air amphitheatre ....guess the lady presenter was equally - if not more entertaining, and amusing than the animals! Jovial n funny in an entertaining way! At 30 min, the show was interesting but short - could have easily added another 30 min - a started off with a variety of cat gliding thru a low hanging rope (at mid way almost passing thru the audience) from two ends-followed by a demo by owl - they had an instrument which can whistle a noice that the owl understands! Another fact corrected - owl can rotate the neck only 270 deg n not full 360 deg! Quickly followed by a smell test demo of a particular animal type then followed by the jumping capability of the hynea I even a 3 year old can jump 5/6 ft to catch its prey - followed by pulling out a 'Rascal' named large sized snake from in between the crowd - a nicely acted and truly shocking act by the performers - lastly followed by some other animal capable of waste segregating - cans, bottles and plastic cups!

Next move onto Tram ride - 45 min but even more interesting for giving a real close ride along side a range of animals - name it and u have it – all the animals that a kid will learn of in primary school - 4/5 variety of dears, the hynaes, the wild bulls, dogs, wolves, ant eater, rhino and a relative, hippo, giraffe, the Indian & the African elephants , the biggest rats in the world which could give Dalmatians a complex, the Malayan tiger, Indian lion
(just 15 metre apart; n while we were to have camera flases off, Teja by mistake got the flash on while clicking - right into the eyes of the lion - only 3 of them-surely would not have been writing this if the flash would have caught the eye of the lion!! U'd be writing my epitah instead!!

The interesting facts gathered (or still in memory):
- a tiger can have 40 kgs of meat in a single seating, sleeps for as much as 20hrs -rationale - conserve energy
- the wild ox can weigh more than 1000 kgs! The hippo more than 2000 and elephant more than 3500!
- the hippo can run at a speed of 56km/hr, has a thick skin but very sensitive to worms n mosquito n hence likes to lie in the mud all the time, not a social animal hence generally two will not be found in a single habitat
- the adult giraffe can reach a height of 6mt.
-the elephant herd is led by the senior most female elephant, lives in a group of 20/25
- the tiger and lion does not live in the same jungle (expect in Night Safari?!)
- the lady lion does all the household work + raising the young ones but the male 1 has more imp task of guarding the kingdom.

Was already 11 by the time tram ride was over n a tough choice faced us - go on walking on d leopard trail - which was planned n both of us wanted to do -or food....the trail which takes 45 min to an hour, to be completed by 1145pm as by 12 lights r off (scary!!! after seeing those animals just besides us). Choice was obvious....

Only option left was bongo burger - had veggie burgers, nuggets n fries with some soft bev - good n crisply made and the bev served in pickle jars with handles - followed with ice cream and shakes n some snaps later, off we were towards the taxi stand

Took the cab at half past mid night and the real adventure began - the cab ride (never imagined it could be equally fascinating.....here are the sound bytes from that non stop chatter by the cabbie guy:
- Sing is very strict in law, lot of monetary fines and jail - best in the world for this (US can perhaps outsource Law 7 order enforcement to Sing!!)
- no mafia in sing unlike India Bang Pak Nepal Africa etc etc
- u get whining with a horse whip for crimes - even as small as a street chain snatcher than u can neither sleep on your back or tummy - worse than a jail - 60 to 100 whips could take upto 6/8 months to recover
- 2nd time do the crime the whining n penalty doubles, 3rd time trebles (he did not clarify if doubles even if u do a different crime)
- well, the tourists are allowed two warnings - by stamping the passport - before actually being punished! Perhaps I can try chain snatching once I run out of cash at Sing:))
- Instances of past corrupt govt or political persons being quickly jailed
(an indian in me was asking a similar wish for India from a non-existent
gennie
- all cabbie can easily speak 10 language, ours 1 had mastered 16 - spanish, indo, malaysia, mandarin, sing, english, farsi, etc etcn didn't knew Hindi tho :)
- showed us china town, advised us to go to Clark Quay, Boat Quay etc
- at any time there are 200 plain clothes policemen at night safari as also there are some such at any installation
- the cabbie was sure that Mumbai Taj like event - had it occurred in Sing, commandos n army would be out in a flash - now could situation ever deteriorate if I assume that the 5 stars would have some 50police men in plain clothes at any time?!
- the sing govt does not work to stop prostitution, govt knows they cannot stop this (knowing ur weaknesses n compulsions makes sense too)
- he showed us a corner where he turned, having 20 pubs n only 1 strip disco in b/w them-amazed at his detailed knowledge
- asked us our reason to be in sing- did not tell them being hesitant. Well he advised us that IT is good as a recently promoted manager in IT firm gets a good jon n lives in a bungalow at a posh location. One can try teaching also - lot of vacancy n good pay, Teja has readily started thinking about this
- could not understand what led him to believe that we were on honey moon?!
- the gospel truth he stated in the most simplistic of manners: Singapore has lots of job to offer if 1 is not too choosy

- of real estate and rules around buying cars in Sing n what age people marry n so many other things - do not have more energy to type but this guy had seen the world having worked in ME oil co than having driven people home working for StanC b4 this profession, is a father to 3 children and grandpa to two. With due respect to ladies and their abilities, he could easily beat any of the most talkative ladies I have come across this far

So ended our day after taking a half an hour walk off Robinson road, by mistake but we reached that strip club bang opp to Dialysis Foundation and diagonally opposite to end of china town. Cab damages - major brain damage and only $28.5 in cash. GN.

Day 3 –Little India

Started off with some cardio, got ready and was off to office! Damage controlled to only 13 min late for training

The beauty of the entire training session as I was to find it later, was that it got over on time - always! Which meant some spare time in the evening! Worked for couple of hours. Met prasad at M hotel. Took the bus a stop before Little India - walked off thru Little India - a heritage kind of area with small structures - full of shops and food joints selling
indian stuff and indian food! Other observations and facts from the area:

- u get to see roads named like hindoo road &madras road!
- the shops selling veggies sell in the india style - baskets lying out of the shops quite unlike the other departmental or convenience stores around
- the shop owners didn't seem to have forgotten encroaching roads....result: the smallest footpaths u would ever find newhere else in Sing
- there are lot of lodges for backpackers where u can stay for as little as $22 for a night (noted for my next vacation!)
- as u walk across the area, the smell of Indian food is so very tempting...

Still we ended up agreeing to Jatins choice - of meeting at Park Plaza hotel for dinner - where u order zeera rice, dal and a subzi and u are served plain hard boiled rices with two veggies and dal - must agree that the subzi was very good-just like indian made.

Proceeded to Mustafa where Jatin proceeded for his own scheduled shopping tour. Prasad showed me around Mustafa. Felt that electronics and sports apparel are costlier than back home, the sing $/inr rate was the best I have found so far (31.18 compared to 32.7 on our corp card and 34.5 at the POBS atm though later a friend refuted the claim, saying banks will get us a better rate)while there was a very wide range of cosmetics - bought davidoff cool water fragrance ($49) and lomani's deo ($7 for 2). Prasad got a toast(er) for himself and were off from mustafa by 11.15- back to hotel by 11.45. A relatively quiet day compared to first 2 days!

Day 4 – G-Swing

Did my work out n off to offic in a jiffy....same 15 min late. The training coordinator continued beautifully - finishing the training on time!

The evening started with a preplanned dinner with N, a college friend - venue - Boat Quay thru Raffles MRT station. As u get out of raffles at the boat quay side u can see the UOB tower and at the reception lounge - a beautiful huge chandelier having 3 circular layers of crystal bars hanging vertically - the illumination in the evening makes it all the more stunning - and not all visitors get to notice this 1.

As you further get out of BQ, you see restaurants that have lined up seating areas adjacent to the river, they keep inviting guests at their outlet all the while shouting out their main dishes to attract guests – for a while felt like being invited at a crowded roadside eatery lane somewhere in Mumbai). Thoroughly enjoyed the the Indian dinner @ ‘Garam Masala’- a paneer preparartion, yellow dal & parathas/rotis. The lemonade generally seems very light - unlike the strong flavour in india- not good to my taste. However what made the dinner delicious was catching up with N after about 5 yrs....discussed about his family n mine, learned that about 1.5 yrs back he has shifted close to my new house back in Mumbai, discussed recession n property / rent prices, about owning or not owning a car, abt -ve bonus at Temasek, about negative salary growth of 4% vs average hike of 8%, updated each other on whereabouts of a few common friends / abt their marriages n family planning, about watching sing F1 from a boat under the bridge below ......thru with dinner n a walk with around boat quay....

On with the 2nd plan of the day (sorry evening!) Coordinated with Prasad Jatin Teja n F (Teja's friend) and met all of them at Clarke Quay – thru with drinks n chat at Café Jumbo. Took a round around the place and embarked upon our planned venture for the evening (actually its almost. Midnight)....G-Max bungee jumping n G-Swing - u pay only $60 to get yourselves scared to death, tho scared is not me types but reserved for Jatins and Prasads. Jatin decided to being content with being the photographer while Prasad had a fag watching us – the pleasure of slow death delivered differently.

The bungee offered two two options - surprise n the countdown....the daring genie in me told to go for the surprise n b4 we can realise we had a big vertical swing with our cube spinning completely.....not even giving a moment for us to settle in the cube....2/3 more swings n spin later we were brought back to earth...thoroughly exhilarating experience! T found solace or comfort in scream n me in silence (my strength) while going topsy turvy in the bungee!

Once done, the horizontal swing was too easy....the only scary thing in that was the time they take u up since the cube is at an angle that makes u as if u are gonna fall down but for ur safety straps! Mode of operation was simple; I had volunteered to be the pilot, and once the signal turns greent, had to pull the lever buy the side of my seat for the release - the swing is much more enjoyable - a big horizontal breezy swing but still able to hold ur head n vision n senses to njoi what u see around unlike the first jump on the bungee....the guys were out of dvd ($15 and they give only bungee) - had to come later to take it.

Scanned some discs - won't let us in for me in sandles, sat for a drink at 'the Clinic' the decor being all like a dispensary - wheel chairs, blood transfusion stand et all....jatin njoied being photographed on these. Chatted for sometime b4 calling it a day....but surely decided to come again the next day...

PS: G-String….nah its G-Swing

Day 5 – 70th Floor & Bollywood Nite

Sleeping @ 3 in the morning with the checkout in the morning meant no workout. Woke up, packed in half an hour, checked out put the baggage with the concierge for coming later and moving to Prasad's house; and rushed to off....

Completed the half day training, discussions with couple of people at the office, handover sheet (last working day b4 proceeding on my annual leave!) And switched out. Expectedly we were supposed to go with few colleagues for drinks, nothing appeared certain so instead went with Jatin....for roaming around Robinsons shopping centre at Somerset, then at techmuyeshi (am sure the spell is wrong) - bought a few things. Jatin went his way to relatives, I headed off to City Hall to catch up with Teja and F - his friend. We went to Sun Tech city - Crystal Jade restaurant - for some chinese food. Had some beancurd dish (wish was too good) some kind of veg fried rice, egg fried rice, stir fry veg noodles (bland n no taste) some juice for $25 per person...

By the time we were done with food, raghu n prasad joined us and we were on our way to Stamphord - Asian Bar - its on the 70th floor-in a semi circular area offering a stunning night view of the Singapore illuminated skyline....good crowd and dancing beats with bar at two ends, seating area in the middle and a small dancing area besides the bar on the other side of the entrance. The seating area was full when we entered (just 15min b4 11)
so we took our seats near the bar. Became more crowded as the night passed and so did the no. of shaking legs increased. I leanred that its housed on top floor of one of the 2 tallest building - the other one being the UOB tower! Mumbai listening? How about 1 on the top of Nehru planetarium building Was mid nite when we moved from Asian bar, F bid good bye 4 d evening while v 4 headed for Clarke Quay.

Prasad's choice - Rupee Room - to dance to Bollywood music. (Could not figure out why Prasad was not ready to shake a leg at asian bar)! RR offered some latest hit hindi movie music to start with, soon interserped with punjabi music - most of which was not the popular type - and then came the fun part - dancing to ek do teen (Tejab), 1 2 ka 4 (ram lakhan), aap jaisa koi, jumma chumma de de, tamma tamma lage et all!!! From the lost world era....it was all indian crowd, indian dance, couple of pretty faces and I never understood d reason to be at an Indian kinda disc in Sing.....Prasad is energy power house when dancing....we danced till half past two post which me raghu n teja called quits heading home on a long route while prasad decided to stay back (learned the next day that he still had 3 hrs of fire power in him, visited couple of friends at boat quay and headed home after 530 morn). Meanwhile dropped teja at Carlton Hotel, went to hotel M to pick up my baggage and then was welcome time at 19 Fortville - Prasads place. That's EOD.

Day 6 – Sentosa Express

Sleeping at 3 in the morning 2nd day in the row means you have a rushed up morning with all chances of your plans of the next day morning going for a toss….so woke up by 9 (the good part was not to rush for office in time for training, hurray!!)…finished some exercises and was ready to move

Sentosa was planned for the day..with Teja. As said earlier…last minute plan changes…so instead of we both directly meeting at Vivo to head to Sentosa – by noon, called her to Prasad place with my laptop bag (which, she had taken by mistake the previous day evening and it was imperative to exchange it back for we were to be in different flights / diff days back home, she was flying back the immediately next day and I was straight heading into my 2 weeks vacation…but more importantly, the bag had my passport!)

That was an hour ride for her to reach Fortsville from Sentosa (another similarity b/w Sing and Mumbai buses – both make you wait quite a bit!)…it was 2 by the time we headed to Sentosa – 20 min bus ride to Vivo City, stand in the Q for the Sentosa package ticket and another 15 min ride to Imbiah Station through Mono Rail. Imbiah is t he first of the currently two stop Sentosa monorail – officially named the Sentosa Express – believe me Mumbai Auto rickshaw are faster than this Express. [For starters, Vivo is not a City but a mall by that name built around the Harbour Front MRT – the Mall’s the latest and opened last year, with 3 levels and quite a piece to see. 2 ways to reach Sentosa – the mono rail as said above OR the cable car ride – which is a luxury coming as it does at only $18 for a two way ride; the mono rail is free for 1.5 months once you buy the Sentosa package ticket!! There are different combo packages – we went for the $53 option – allows you to see 7 attractions from a list of 13 – no flexi to select those 7 after entering Sentosa; need to select them on the spot while buying the package – guess should help them in better organization in case the sales data flows to he manager at each attraction on a real time basis – donno which ERP!! The $53 one proclaims 50% savings on the listed admission price of individual attractions + allows numerous admission to Sentosa without charging the $ 3 admit fee!!)

As you get out of Imbiah, the first thing that greets you is the Merlion – had a walk around the Merlion, took the 4 min animated film that explains the significant of Merlion for Singapore [an artificial animal symbol made as a combo of lion and a fish as the one to bring good fortune and guard Sing on land and in Sea – with due respect, they could have added the Eagle to protect them in the air J; we also learned that Sing was founded by the great grandson of our very own - Alexander the Great]. It’s a nice statue but looks more beautiful in its light pink illumination in the evening. Took the lift to reach the observatory –first headed to the observatory at the ‘Head’ Level –provides for a scenic 360o view of Sing, the harbour with ships and construction o\in full swing on one side, the famous Fullerton Hotel on the other and a Resort with nice rowed houses on yet another. Needless to say, the observatory at the ‘Mouth’ level pretty much offers the same view J. They click your snap for free, but ask for money to hand it over to you. The exit is through the souvenir shop on the first floor where you also get your lucky gift – to actually show Merlion brings good fortune they hand you a coin at the entrance which you exchange for a ticket on the way up and exchange the ticket for your gift on the way down – can anyone spy and find out what’s the max good fortune Merlion can bring anyone who visits its statue!! [Learned later of this nice and smart trick to increase footfalls, for all the attractions, the exits are necessarily through the souvenir shops – any 1 from Indian Tourism Dept listening?]

Next - we took a blue line bus to 4D Cine Magix. Now its only in Sentosa that a Red and a Blue line buses are all in yellow colour –the only way to understand that it’s a Blue or a Red Line service is to read the board and an electronic indicator on one side of the bus – how illiterate friendly this Sing could be – the Delhi buses have a simple indicator in that the relevant coloured line runs through the mid body of the bus

Only a 30 min wait in the Q before we got to catch up with this 15 min show – it’s a Pirate Story very well done and makes the wait worth it –with the actual rain or water sprinkles combine to give to accentuate the impact of a fall in the water or running amidst the rain in the Jungle, you get to feel the sensation of crabs moving across your legs, the strong breeze blowing and feeling through your body / ears, you shake when the wood log hits you etc – this combined with the super 3D effects gives you a full moneys worth of 4D Pirates’ movie. It was 5.15 by the time we exited.

If you don’t start on time, its difficult to make the most of at Sentosa- the next we had to rush for the Dolphin Lagoon to catch hold of the Dolphin Show – just in time for the last 5.30pm show. Teja Qed up while I got the tickets (yes the D show is not covered in $53 pack that we bought, costs $23 and covers the entry to Underwater World). The Lagoon is a big round pond kinda thing with the viewing area covering about 270o of the pond area – audience can take their seats on plastic chairs though they also allow people to take seating positions by the shore (we could only get a standing position) – has a hut kind of a structure in the middle – which should be more like a trainers facility. Its another strongly recommended must see –the shows starts with 3 Dols showcasing synchronized jumps and dives which I always thought only the Chinese swimmers knew, the DOLs would than jump 4/5 meters to hit the hanging ball with their nose, would show acrobatic skills - swimming while balancing the ball on their nose, showing affection to 3 people selected from the audience by kissing them on their cheeks, rotating the ringo around their nose while swimming from shore to the middle – again longer than any one of the 3 in the audience could rotate it around their waiste, doing a sync swimming with only one side of the body in a way that the fins would create a wave in the water, and lastly saying good bye with their two fins at the end of the show. The anchor-trainers English though could do with a lot of improvement. Again, mobeys worth for the 30 min show

I was on a Sat fast and did not had anything suitable to feed on. Teja took a burger and something to drink. Post that, we again took one of the bus to rush back from where we came – to catch up with 4D Cine Blast – which is right behind Cine Magix! A it smaller wait in the Q after which we took our positions in the 6 seater cube (total capacity is 54 people – 2 rows for three people in each cube and 3 X 3 arrangement of the cubes). The 15 min show is made as a roller coaster ride (and hence the cube) with seat belts on, its so made that the show would stop mid way in case any1 unfastens the seat belt. The difference in the ride is that it takes you through a combo of mechanical rides in all forms – vertical / horizontal and topsy turvy with the cube giving out a cringing sound as if it was a very old rusted iron seater not used for ages, the cube than falls in to a cave ride, than into sea / water falls, then into mountains and again through a mechanical ride with wood sawing machines going close to your neck & in between bouncing into a sky. The description is much less threatening because the ride is so – or so both Teja and I felt perhaps coming as we were after a bungee ride which was more thrilling and also after the 4D cine magix. Infact Cine Magix had more fun quotient because of multiple experiences it takes you through as you go through livening a story.

By the time this was through, we were to take the train to beach station to catch up on the 740pm show of Songs of Sea (how infamously its known as the Laser Show – its official name is more apt) – again just in time and barely able to find some vacant seats at the far right corner. The shore on the beach makes up for the stage with the backdrop being a series of hut houses atop a small bamboo bridge all looking scenic in a purple illumination surrounding them. The Song show is a 40 min musical with the lead singer Lee having a magical voice, his singing evokes the Gods of various elements (fire / devil / sea / wind / mountains etc), ……each of them wants Lee to sing and bring back their lost powers before Lee could complete its quest for search of the Sea Princess…the way that its played up is through a superb array of coloured fountains each time Lee sings to bring back the powers of various Gods + in between the various other animated characters that get created on the backdrop of water fountain (as the curtain) through the help of laser, just amazing…the best display of colour I liked was in the case of fire – simple because fountains here were combined with actual fire balls emanating from the shore and going high into the sky and ofcourse the climax when the Lee finds Princess….you can see all of them doing the video shoot, Teja’s cam was out of power but fortunately my BB was cooperating and I was able to capture some amazing snaps. It rightfully deserves the must watch categorization….

For change we did not had to rush back for next 1. It was turn to take a sky ride (a simple cable ride) next door, giving an aerial view of Sentosa, the nearby Tiger Tower Observatory and the terminating at the entrance of the Ludge Ride. A Ludge is akin to a go carting, with a seat down vehicle with handles similar to a bike, legs stretched in front, the handles had to be pulled to accelerate and pushed back to decelerate – the ride being on a curvy asphalt road about 2 kms – have a liking for speed and completed this in a jiffy overtaking about 4/5 enroute. The next time I am here, this one surely deserves a separate multiple ride ticket…this is the only place where me & Teja actually bought our picktures clicked by the camera en route, as there was no way we would have clicked ourselves while riding the Ludge. It was 8:50pm by the time we finished this and we were just late for the Tiger Tower rideL. The Ludge ride terminates at the same place from where we started the sky ride -.

Took the train from Beach station (the 2nd of the two stop mono rail) back to Vivo (6 things in 6 hours, means an average 1 hr TAT/attraction for future first time visitors – and this was after our guide Raghu had clearly helped us identifying the attractions to go for before we started off) – all tired and also a bit hungry for not having a proper meal during the day…so we located ‘Go India’ - a fine dining restaurant on the ground level..as went towards the other side of the restaurant to take our place in the open area – we saw a ship by the harbour running a book exhibition (MV Douglas) – claiming to be the oldest Merchant Vehicle still plying – 90 years old…had a look around the ship and were quickly back at Go India. That was my costliest dinner at Sing (unfortunately not on the house L - $44only)…it was 11 and time to hunt for a stationery shop (Nitin had landed up from India, at Prasads place – for a CFA exam without a pencil, eraser or a sharpener) – obviously none was open it being Singapore and not Mumbai…at half past 11 took the bus back home so that Teja can first collect her laptop….at mid night we bid adieu to Teja….was awake for sometime before it was time for GNSD J

Day 7 – The Unfinished Tasks at ECP

My Sat night dreams never come true (for that matter, let me scratch my head – which 1s have come true??) – for Sunday morning does not start with a dream but a night mare. The only good part of Sunday morning was that I was fresh after about 8hrs of sleep though could have done with some more but for Raghu fondness for playing Kishore Kumar at 845 in the morning – so loud and audible…..

By eleven – I was ready for the night mare that was waiting me….90 min of run – my practice in preparation for full marathon – something which I was not allowed to compromise be it Sing or Mumbai. What motivated me to come out of all tiredness and go for that practice session was the folks running their marathon – what a coincidence – Sing was hosting the StanC marathon this very Sunday – surely I would have registered had I had the prior knowledge about this 1. Took directions to discover East Coast Park (ECP) – a 5 min walk from Prasad’s house. Its incredible how much such a small place like Singapore can house – in such an organized manner that everything appears spacious.

ECP is a stretch of 10 kms I am told (of which my run was for about 5.5km n back)…has 2/3 lanes at most part across the stretch, the inner most onebeing for joggers or walkers, the next one for skating / blading and biking..the cement lanes are separated by a stretch of grass on either sides..there are BBQ points made at every 100 metres distance (I had seen BBQ point no 50 pass by toward the return point of my run – so some simple math), in between you have a layered (A shaped) benches - people can seat on the lower benches on either side and place their plates on the top most bench (what an idea of a dining table!!)…+ the ECP is actually park on the coast, so the entire stretch runs along with sea shore and you can see people playing in sand or water, playing football or making diff shapes in the sand…not too many 2p clad women though L….in between the shore and the inner most lane, you have a stretch where backpackers can park their tents and stay overnight. Saw a board which said that tents on weekends do not require registration or license (registered in my mind for my next low cost vacation!!)…you have good rest / shower rooms along with stretch - which I assume would be flooded by the backpackers over the week end. Bikes / Skates / Blades – everything you get on hire – it was fun for me to see so many people in action – mostly on blades….Now top all this, there’s also water ski facility at the mid way (that was my return point) – this again a marvel of mechanical engineering / artificial ski without boats (amusing J) – you have pillars that support a square rail route, the roller glides on the rail, below you have the ropes to which the skier hast to hold onto with their legs firm on the ski board, the roller glides in the all directions, they have also about 3-4 ramps placed in between, guess for the more adventurous lot. How I wish I could squeeze time for all this - for I still had 1 full day left b4 Monday evening flight. Raghu says the water ski ride is min 1 hr duration (phew!! Strong legs and hands automatically becomes a pre-requisite) and swimming skills are must for its 21 feet deep (don’t know if they test ur swimming before letting u in for the ride). Needless to say you have all kind of eating joints at regular intervals- just hang up your legs, seat back, have a beer and spend some good windy time. I have noted to allocated more time to this ECP (am also informed that there’s a similar WCP as well) on my next visit – could have easily extended my stay, had time on hand but guess Sing is just too costly to have a long holiday here J

Had a good 11km jog + 2 / 3 km of walk, some stretches and it was 1pm by the time I was heading back. You already know what I was observing on the way…the lanes are cement lanes with carvings at every 10 metres to let the water flow out (either rain water / or from watering the grass)…I was later to learn hat asphalt is a better surface to run than cement (in terms of avoiding injuries) so Sing can take note of this. There were still water stations and crew out there cheering the scarce few left in pursuit of their marathon.. the crew cheered everytime those few (it was actually 2 to 3 people along every km by now), there were scores of medi and security vans doing the rounds and checking on the slow runners. Seeing them was a 2nd night mare. Wish me luck – all you guys – for my run.

While I got back Prasad was busy preparing for his evening dinner party – Pav Bhaji. Got ready and fed myself on a four egg omlet, some bread & juice for my brunch. Than helped Prasad in cleaning up preparing the Suite (Master bedroom) for the Honey Moon Couple. Prasad left at 5 in the evening to pick up Sameer and his wife (dropping for a day
on their way back from New Zealand). Prasad gone, I was waiting for Nitin to return from his exams…had discussed the previous day that we still had valid Sentosa passed for three attractions from y’day and I wanted to keep my Sunday outing a bit relaxed and to a minimum. Sameer landed before Nitin, had some chat, Nitin landed only by 7, we had to immediately rush off for Sentosa. Reached there by 8.05 (Images of Singapore was already closed, so effectively our visit was to catch the two attractions and be back home for Pav Bhaji Party!), just in time for last entry for Underwater World (UW).

UW is another amazing place…needless to say all type of fishes / water creatures / crabs/ coral reefs etc. But the collection and the arrangement makes you marvel. I was amazed to see Ray fish with tails as long as 2/3 metres and Silver / Leopard and other varieities explained – all in live open water pond in front of you. They have RFID tags n touch-screen consoles. Once the fishes passed by, the screen on the console displays the picture of the fish, touch the pix and it displays more info on that type of fish (Taraporewala Aquarium – listening?!). They have a water magic boxes, there are water outlets where in you can insert you hand and feel it wet but neither does all water nor fish rush out…and than there’s a tunnel with glass walls n diff water creatures can be seen across diff sections…again the shark and the Ray fish were the best I liked. Separately you had Giant Pacific Octopus, the tinniest and the Giant Crabs etc. Coconut crabs and other creatures which in their background underwater will make it difficult to segregate and identify them as a living creature – all marvels of nature to self-protect them against the more larger and ferocious creatures.

At 8.37pm we rushed to Tiger Tower observatory for the last 845 show. It’s a tower with a huge circular lift that propels you 140 metres high in the air – all the while rotating in a circle, to provide you an aerial view…so what we saw during the day from the Head of Merlion was again seen in the night backdrop, in a way worked out well…there was a pre recorded commentary but we had school children for a loud commentary of their own and we missed all the valuable info…difficult to click snaps the glass shield reflecting back the camera flashes

9 o’clock and time to explore the last thing – the only thing which had lured Nitin to Sentosa – headed to Siloso beach to explore Bikini Bar (BB – more likeable than the Black Berry BB) as Nitin was in a mood for a beer. Instead we landed at the beach walked quite a distance on the shore (now again, its amazing here – you can rent and park your tents for sure as we saw a few of them), were able to catch some parting beauties and were glad to catch the nice moist evening breeze. Walking a distance we came to a café (Café del Mer – point no. 16 on the map) – and by mistake we mistook it for a BB (as in Sing, if a map names a place as BB you ought to find it right as a BB and not as some Café Del Mer etc0. Nonetheless, this was hap place, you had seating area for dining and drinks and by the shore, you had beds and premium beds, some very hot legs…we found out this was a more hap place/crowd but asked us to shell out min $100 order to occupy the bed…however certainly there were no waitresses in 2p serving the guests something some1 had informed us to be a feature of the BB. Obviously we found the cost too high so enjoyed the flavor of the evening seating across the shore and chatting till 10. While we started to walk back the same path, I was disappointed that Nitin was not able to come and see for what he had come for, took another look at the map, got assured from 2/3 maps that BB was certainly there (point no. 22 on the map- c’mon these things just register in the mind)…u-turned ..walked a bit further up from this café and finally located BB. Maybe it was late evening by Sing standard but there was only one to serve and one behind the desk- it was a much simple bar by the shore, hardly a table or two occupied and this was a much affordable place. Perhaps nitin would return again to see it during the day….but it was 1015 and we decided against spending any more time here simply for lack of good company. Fortunately, BB is very near to Beach Station (and to Songs of Sea and to Sky / Ludge ride!!)…so we were on the way back. It was mission accomplished for me and full contentment for Nitin (the first night – Sing never disappoints, see my Day 1 blog!!!)

Reached home by 11 and it was good to see the crowd, Sameer and his wife, Mahesh Narayanan and his wife (I just escaped alive for comparing her existing role to one of my other colleagues –V!!), Raghu, Prasad, and ofcourse we 2…they were just done with their dinner. We had a good time chatting and dining, sharing our experience, past days, seeing the HM couples bungee and other adventure sport snaps…Mahesh’s wife had prepared suji halwa – yummy!!

It was mid night as Prasad / Raghu saw off Mahesh and his spouse, locked Sameer and his spouse to their suite and than Prasad sat for his dinner. (Donno how he likes to dine the other side of mid night). Done with dinner and his energy levels were back so we headed out for apub / disc. Prasad was taking the standard 1 level below each time he suggested us a place. We (Prasad, Raghu, Nitin n me landed up at Club Colaba (Boat Quay) – I never expected to see the Mumbai dance bars in Sing. Good girls dancing to more recent and poplular Bollywood numbers being played on a very loud note. To differentiate from Mumbai - money was not thrown but handed over to dancers – which they dutifully handed over to the manager at the counter, some of them in the crowd were with their wives or girl friends (we deliberated – perhaps the wives / girl friends thought it as a way to ensure they prevented their men to going any further) and the men did not start dancing with the dancers on the floor. The folks had a round of drinks as we chatted there for some time and later came out. No where else to go – we headed back, landed at home by 2 past midnight – my goodness, that was really late - for next days plan was a tree top walk cum hiking and we were to start off by 8 in the morn)

Day 8 – Adieu: Sing is King

Woke up at 7 and instead of leaving at 8 all unbathed etc for a hike, Nitin prevailed so we all got ready, had a quik break fast and moved out by 9am. Unfortunately, it was constantly raining since 6 in the morning, and we were skeptical of whether we will be able to complete. The next plan was to go shopping to Mustafa (I had to buy souvenirs and chocolates, and Raghu - Cholocates, Nitin - a Handycam)

We took the cab for Upper Thompson Road, had to take BB assistance to locate the nearest entrance (the farthest one involves a 11km walk before you reach the tree top walking point, the nearest one has a 2.5km walk instead!), got down at the car park near the park. There was beautifully landscaped garden covered with small trees and green grass – but here it was just pouring. We took a shelter nearby pondered over for sometime, Raghu spotted two girls and asked directions, we took a lift from a truck driver to reach some point – apparently we came a bit too far near a private club, however the security person was helpful and informed us that its futile to go for the walk in such rains and it was likely that we would not be allowed due to rains. Took the cab to Mustafa.

I was lighter by only couple of hundred $ (phew never expected I would be buying so many souvenirs / cholocates apart from two pair of chappals). Raghu & Nitin bought their share of cholocates, some Axe and Tiger Balms (which some1 had ordered Raghu to buy), Nitin found the Handycam rates very attractive but decided to wait for a better bargain, Nitin being a first tie visitor to Mustafa checked out some more sections…it was 1.30 and time for lunch at Annapurna – specialized in south Indian / Andhra food – so I had Andhra styled Palak Paneer with Rotis…Afterfood, shopping and taxi bills, I was relieved of each and every Sing D –no cash on me, felt happy that I saved on fx conversion cost forgetting that I was set back by such a significant amount.

It was 3 by the time we reached back home. It was just about the right time to allow me to pack without hurrying up. Prasad and Raghu left with Sameer and his spouse to visit Mahesh’s place while Nitin decided to take a nap. Booked a cab that arrived at the door in 7 min (the booking is unfortunately through IVR – no manual intervention and I cannot state my request to send a cab that has its EDC machine working) Moved at 5 towards airport bidding adieu to Prasad and Raghu on phone….While on the way back, revisited my memories and surely reassured myself that Sing is surely a good place to work and live (Boss listening / sorry reading?)

In between I had done a web check in that helped me to avoid the longish Q a the Jet counter (shared counter for Jet and Qantas passengers making matters worse)…bought some more chocos (Alcoholic chololates – special request from some friends back home and something not found at Mustafa), bought some alcohol itself as per a another friends request….worked as a Coolie for Roopalis’ hand baggage (she’s yet to tell me the contents – what she bought from Changi that made it so heavy for her) and entered the vessel in time…..some adventure while on air is being left out of the blog….except that my co-passenger took her to be my wife, offered to change places, later asked me how I felt away from home before telling me his biography of he being a family man missing his wife and two kids aged xyz while he was away in Indonesia….unfortunate but truth was that me being single, perhaps could not appreciate his feelings too much but understood why he had offered to change places. Mumbai arrives and back to living in another rocking city – bringing back memories of how it had literally rocked not only Mumbai but the entire nation, just ten days back (the nov 26 to 28 terror attacks – the worst ever)

Mumbai Terror Attacks

2008-12-20T06:54:00.000-08:00

The incident is undoubtedly condemnable! And the effort of all the policemen, commandos, firemen and others involved in bringing the situation under control is laudable in the best of terms.
But the fact that it took nearly 2.5 days to bring under control also raises a lot of questions…..and obviously some amount of anguish as well

How do you tolerate politicians trying to ‘create conspiracies’ around brave policemen who died trying to save other people
And can all those media and other NGO’s filing different PIL’s also file one against such creatures – for making such ridiculous statements
Why do we have the entire political forum creating laws on how to better investigate crime and about stringent punishments only….and none speaking about better intelligence and ways to prevent the crime from happening in the first place? Doesn’t this belie an attitude and all that talk on grandeur schemes and proposed reforms to be taken….
And why attention is not paid to another important thing – that of streamlining the decision making tree and operational / strategy management aspects in case of managing such incidents…..why does it take 10 to 12 hours for NSG to arrive when the magnitude of the incident was clear even to a lay man in an hours time? How can you have about 5 people giving different progress reports to media? Why someone can’t say about uncertain amount of time required, instead constantly saying that operation will be over in next two hours for full two days?
And how come different people from various authorities speak on TV on progress of the operation while on other hand government advices the media against broadcasting thisIts certainly shocking when you see senior people in the police dept recommending government to buy pistols and rifles from the grey market and that a meager amount of Rs 5 cr as all that is required to modernize the police force
Shouldn’t it be mandatory to not to carry lathi’s and to carry their pistols/ rifles at all times even for constables?
Did the terrorists achieve their motive when u hear page 3 people come and speak on channels saying that are shaken for first time it has come and hit them…..perhaps they will still not think twice about parties and all the attention they want the next time they get an opportunity and this, like other incidents in the past, will unfortunately be soon forgotten
When the show at the multiplex gets delayed, the management still allowed people without frisking – this is from my own experience…..still a lot left to be done to drive home the importance of security and safety of people at crowded places

If this was described as the 9/11 of India and if the politicians (include those in power) took pride in speaking about a fitting reply to be given to preparatory of this attack, just like U.S did for the 9/11 incident, let me remind them that US did not waste much time in waging a war even in such a distant territory as Afghanistan to try and weed out / shackle them of their supplies, arms and ammunition. Why is there no willingness in the politicos in India to take similar actions? Of what use is all that knowledge about top people managing different terrorist outfits and their whereabouts in Pak when you, their training camp locations etc in case you are not going to take any action? Do they still believe that pure diplomatic means will succeed in weeding them out? In forcing the Pak civilian government in taking actions where it is de facto devoid of any powers and is not able to make the right statements to the media?

If Israel can succeed in protecting itself when it is surrounded with enemies from all the sides, despite not having a population of a billion people –am sure India can. If it can follow some examples of this country – of building a world class intelligence agency (and not only crime investigating agency) and if not mandatory for all, at least for one child from each family to go and serve the armed forces for couple of years? This last step in itself would instill a strong sense of awareness towards security amongst people in general, would instill confidence (towards security agencies) amongst the general public, and for PC and PM – could end up generating employment for millions of people!!