Sandakphu December 2019

A: Knock Knock

B: Who’s there?

A: Sandak.

B. Sandak…who?

A. No you idiot. its Sandakphu!! :) 

PS: Joke Courtesy PD

By far my best treks so far- my coldest trek for sure. Having done it from 16^th December onwards, it was supposed to be cold but with heavy snowfall on 13^th December, it got even colder.

We started at almost 1,950mt or 6,400 feets to go upto 3,640mt or 11,950 feets in 3 days before we began the descent.

It was a bunch of some 17 crazy people who decided to go for winter hike. I always wondered what was wrong with all of us to have tried something like this is that cold- but I guess some people in this world are designed a bit differently. We did not even bother about the rumors of things not being stable due to CAA issue. 

We started from the base camp of Indiahikes i.e. Jaubhari on the 1^st hiking day. Absolute delight to walk through the woods towards Tumling with tea and lunch stop in between. Lunch point was particularly interesting as the village was called ‘Meghma’ or ‘In the clouds’ and when we reached there it was literally in the clouds- the steaming ‘Dal-Bhat’ lunch there was just amazing and truly satisfied the soul in that cold. First day of the hike so everyone was quite charged up- enthusiastic and still getting to know the other and their names- we reached Tumling quite on time- it was a good hike with fair bit of climb- the lodge was good with all of guys in one room on the top floor. It was so cold and few of us could not sleep through the night including me but we went out quite early to get the glimpse of sunrise on the ‘Kanchenjunga’ and what a serene scene it was. Sunrise on the east and the mighty ‘Kanchenjunga’ on the west catching sun-rays on its nose and belly. It was so cold and windy- hands were literally freezing but the with the view it was totally worth it- all of us were so happy and excited like small kids.

Day 2: We hiked up almost 12 kms but odd 300mts to reach ‘Kaliphokri’. Criss-crossing between India and Nepal, the scenery was quite diverse today, starting with patches of snow, frozen leaves and bushes, wide open brown meadows to steep climb through the woods. At 3,170 mts, the lake was quite a scene with portions of water frozen totally telling us how cold it was up there. The lake looked quite mystic and desolated. We stayed in the tree houses which was freezing like pack of cards- but with two blankets we somehow withstood the cold- its so much in the mind and something which seemed so impossible- we could do it. The biggest pleasure was to sit around the fireplace, keep the hands folded around the soup bowl- with no mobile connection and hot water- in this situations you realise how little you need in life and how we take things like heat, water and food for granted back home.

Day 3 was the summit day where we had to climb 500mts to reach ‘Sandakphu’- the highest peak of West Bengal. The day was beautiful with clear blue sky with sun out. We walked through lot of snow and fair bit of climb towards the end to reach the peak. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy at the top to witness ‘The sleeping Buddha’ but we had our fair share of luck on the way up and then later while going down. The range seemed closer and closer- it was quite mind blowing to see the third highest peak of the world with such clarity. ‘Thupka’ at the top was the highlight- totally recommend it. Today was the first night in the tent- with two other trekkers- it was cold- it was cosy but slept quite well for that setting- now to think of it, it seems to be like a dream- something which never happened because how can anyone possibly sleep in a tent in winter- I am sure temperature was -10 degrees but again mind over body and we managed.

Day 4 onwards we were on return journey- not much of an overall descent but a long up and down walk to reach Sabargram- the landscape was again quite diverse- from snow to open meadows to foggy woods- its just amazing how weather can change so fast in the mountains and how vast the nature is- we are small insignificant part of the whole world and mountains have amazing power to bring humility to everyone- you don’t have an option but to surrender to the vastness and power of nature. Reaching Sabargram- immediate realisation was that its going to be cold here- like really cold- the happiness of seeing the popcorn and the fireplace on everyone’s face could surely rank as one of the happiest moment of respective lives. The way wind was blowing that day in the night sent shivers down the last piece of the bone- luckily the tents were strong enough not to fly away.

Day 5 morning was for me really the coldest over- got up and got out to see the sun- which was not there much but only for few seconds but man oh man- how beautiful it looked- freezing snow with orange sky and yellow tents- this morning will be fresh in mind for time to come. Post breakfast, we started descending, passed through bamboo forests to reach Gorkhey- the descent was steep and technical- I loved it- not too sure about others. The tea shop in Gorkhey was one of the best we came across- spic and span with some local wine on the display!

Day 6 we walked down to Sepi through a gradual descent, where Kumarji's direction helped a lot- not to get lost- the trek ended in Sepi with a nice wholesome lunch and one by one we all departed- having made great memories with some old friends (without whom the trek would not be so much fun), some amazing new friends and a huge sense of achievement.

I definitely managed to get ‘Reset’- which is the idea anyways- isn’t it. Thank the loved ones who pray for your well-being- submit yourself to the mountains- soak yourself in the beauty of nature- be humble- be kind- help others- crack some jokes of your own- laugh at some jokes of others- take it easy- realise how less you need to actually live and be happy- how important warm food and water is- how simplest of food can sometimes give more pleasure then food in the greatest of the restaurants- how sitting around the fire place can make you ‘really’ happy when compared to 100 likes on Instagram- how sometimes its good not to have the network or not having your phone charged- how making friends is easier offline then online- how you should just keep walking- sometimes on your own- sometimes with others- sometimes talking- sometimes singing ‘Coka Bura’- sometimes smiling and sometimes not saying anything- but most of the times just keep walking because only then you will reach where you meant to be- and if you don’t you were meant to walk- which is fun anyways!

Regards
'Persistent' Pal

PS: Few words on Indiahikes- absolute professional 'no non-sense' guys. Everything was systematic, well organised, document and process driven which is amazing when there are so many trekkers in the group. Basically Indiahikes is an experienced lot who knows what they are doing. Trek lead Isha was just amazing in managing the whole trek with no sign of stress ever. Food was descent, fresh, hot and locally made- a bit boring at times but definitely good enough to keep you healthy and warm. Keep it up Indiahikes.

Purpose of Life- Just to be Happy

Purpose of life is not to earn money- definitely not- it is very clear that everyone has to die one day- on that day your body will lie like a bag of potatoes- people will move you here and there without you even noticing it, you will not feel anything for sure- because you are already dead by then- I am not sure if soul exists but mostly it does not- you are born out of biology- you live- you keep living and on some day some of your vital organs stop functioning and you die- you just die as you are too old to survive anymore- what do we take with us- actually nothing- for sure its not money- i have to talk to some rich person if they really felt happy about having a lot of money while dying- i guess will be that the person will be rather sad that he earned all this money for nothing- you could possibly leave a good name behind- your good deeds- your loved ones but frankly after you are dead even that wont matter to you anymore- so its only this life which you should be actually worried about- you are living because you are born and its our instinct that we want to live and hence we are living- and now ideally the purpose of life should actually be living- greater goal and purpose is good- but will it really matter to you once you are done- guess not- same goes with career and job etc so purpose of life is actually living- like really going through each day hoping there is another day to live because that's the whole idea- now how do we make most out of this living- i think its very important to stay happy and content- to be able to make yourself happy- happiness is true living- its when you are happy you feel this joy- that's life- that joy which helps you to keep going- search for that joy- actually whole of our lives we are just chasing happiness- and that according to me is the purpose of life- to live chasing happiness- and by chasing i don't mean keep running behind it without achieving it but to do those things which makes you really happy- not because you think it makes you happy but because you know it makes you happy.

If it makes you happy to climb that god damn mountain- that mountain calls you for months and then you go and climb it and when you are done with that- you feel happy- if it does- go get that happiness. Slog your ass off to get fit and stay fit and then just go and climb that mountain and if you cant go climb a smaller mountain and i you cant just go for a walk- but remember you are doing it for your happiness and not because everyone else is doing it and you should also do it- if playing playstation give you that happiness- i doubt though! But then go get that playstation.

If being with someone makes you happy- it can be your father or mother, your sibling, your friend, your colleague, your child or your partner- go and be with that person- but make sure that this person makes you happy- and it could mostly happen when the other person also feels happy with you- usually its a two way lane- so yes its good to find these people- also good to hold on to it but its also important not to chase it- it only works when two people are moving in the same direction- so its important to be clear in your mind- does that person feel happy with me- now do i feel happy with that person- if yes then go have a coffee with that person and you will be happy- some of the happiest moments could be time spent with a stranger or a friend because both liked each other and both felt happy with each other- so stop chasing people- go to the people who are coming to you but do go to those people- however far they are, actually world is not that big after all, whatever it costs- it actually doesn’t cost much- collect that happiness for yourselves when you still can- when you still know that you have someone who is waiting for you- go to them. But the only pre-requisite should be that makes you happy- you spent nights planning and thinking about those two days you will meet your friend- just do it- but meet in a place you get some good wine- or atleast a coffee.

Work- the most overrated way to spend time and life- i think it was invented because people did not have much to do after eating and sleeping so they got together and started working and making money. You can spend your whole life in a company but it will still be a myth like God. You keep running around it without even realizing that in reality it is nothing- its just a name or a common purpose for people to get together and make money for each other- money is important but in itself its not happiness- it can help you to buy some happiness and that's all it is worth for and you should not loose sight of that- so work for money- only for that money which can buy you your objects of happiness but after that stop- Working hard can give you happiness and its totally justified as you maybe finding happiness in solving problems or to use your brains or to see the results of your efforts or to get some tasks done- try to make a living by doing something what makes you happy if you can and if you cant make some money so that you can make your yourself happy outside work and when at work- sometimes try to do things which make you happy- you can keep running behind that promotion or a new job or something else but in the end its all the same- do it if you have to and if you can but stay happy even if doesn't work out because in the end you will still end up like a bag of potatoes- doesn’t matter if you have a tie on or not then.

So yes we all should find our source of happiness and keep pursuing them day in day out- yes pursue them but don’t chase them- work for it- try your best- try even different things and people and work and countries and circumstances- you did not know that coffee at 0 degrees will give you that happiness till you went to face that cold. So yes keep looking for source of your happiness, work on it and  hold on to it when you find it and keep repeating that and in the way find more source of happiness- no one else can do it for you- its not dependent on anyone or anything- it depends on your hard work and your dedication to make yourself happy-day in- day out to feel that joy- feel that child within you- obviously you will lot of times make mistakes and you will fall and you will be disappointed and maybe some sources of unhappiness you may even have to keep it with yourselves but even that at some level gives you satisfaction- which is also kind of happiness- so keep that but also collect your share of happiness in everything small- and everything big- that sunshine peeping out of the clouds or that rosgolla you like- its all around you- just keep collecting it- for yourself- for life- for living- for that joy and for that smile- to keep going- and to keep going happily.

Rules of the Corporate World: Part 2(Types of Managers)

hmmmm...interesting topic...isn't it...to start...Manager...what is a manager...a manager is blaaah blaaha...a manager is blaah blahaa...it never ends...i should have been a manager after 2 years of MBA(supposingly)but still a long way to go...i think manager is the most abused and misused word in the whole corporate world...bloddy everybody is trying and striving to be a manager...for some being a manager is about getting a designation...for some being a manager is to run from the ground level work...for some other its to get a right to exploit their subbordinates in whichever possible...for some its just planning...for others its just not planning....for some its overdelegating...for others its just non delegation...to cut the crap...being a manager according to me is the most difficult thing if you take it in true sense of word...where you are taking the responsibility and commanding it with an authority...you be answerable for the mistakes which you have committed or which your subordinates would have committed because of your negligence...where you add some value to the project for the fact of having a higher knowledge base as compared to the other people who are not 'managers'....a manager should plan...a manager should coordinate...a manager should delegate...a manager should get things done...but these should not be at the cost of not doing anything on your own ...not giving even the required bit from your side...that's not management all about...whatever i have experienced....Half of the people you meet will love to call themselves managers just because of the fact that they have reached a level where they can delegate and then forget about it....some 25% will be always tensed....always nervous...always fearful and highly risk averse...and this turns into a attitude where you just become over consicous for everything...and you don know where to draw a line...you are scared and you pass on the same to your team which incidentally develop that attitude...and you are scared of every mistake which you may commit...that's not the way it should be i guess...i am more fond of the remaining 25% of the people...who call themselves managers...who are very good at their work...who knows where to delegate...where not to delegate...who takes all the responsibilities...and who can get things done without being pshyced about it....and ofcourse keep the team motivated...in every possible way...that's the kind of manager ppl should strive to be....

The Bucket List

Movie...after a long time...amazing movie indeed...The Bucket List...with Freeman and Nicolson this movie is nothing less then a treat...the basic theme of this movie is the things which you will want to do if you know, when you are goin to die...or rather you know that you are goin to die soon...the theme indeed is so touching and true that nobody can deny the presence of this thought somewhere in their mind, sometime during their life...even if they don know that they are goin to die soon...but all of us indeed knows that we are goin to die...and whatever time in between will always be less....always inadequate to do what you want to do before reaching the death bed where it doesn't even matter...therefore???...should everybody start preparing a bucket list right from day one...naaah!! i think it can't work that way...there can be endless things which you may want to do...day in and day out....some within your reach...some definitely out of the reach and some for which you have to strive a little harder...try a little too much but then acheivable...hmmmm so what it should be all about...i think everyone of us should have a list(doesn't mean that i have one)...a list to do things which you always wanted to do...not because you are goin to die but because now you are alive...the whole point of having a list is to be happy and feel joyful once you can strike off something from the list...when you have done something which you were always striving...and for which you had to try that extra bit...tht extra motivation...that extra effort...that's what my list will include...all the things which i wanted to do and for which i have to try a ll too much...that's the list which matters i guess...

1 30 I am in office and awake

This is going to be a short one and a complete random one...1 : 30 and am still in office...hmmm...i like to slog...good that m slogging for the work which i like to do...consider myself extremely lucky to got through this profile...getting here was really that career break people talk about...its all sexy stuff here...simply in love to my work...its going good...hectic though but who cares...m running...running fast...don know towards what...must be something...which will make me happy and make me feel at the top of the world...actually got confused today...one of my colleouge's father passed away...went to meet him...it almost shaken me...what are we running behind...why am i not with my parents...what is more important...career or family...totally confused...i usually have this discussions with one of my best friend in office...we discuss a lot about these stuff...its strange and its scary...to keep up with everything and meet everybody's expectations and then be happy about what you doing...there is always something lacking...and how to fill it....m clueless...and i guess most of the people are...so what to do...i guess i will keep running...till the day when i reach the top or the day when i think that its enough of running and its not worth running anymore, though if i know myself it will be very difficult for me to get to that day when i think that i ran enough...so for now i think i ll keep running with few pit stops in between...pit stops are most crucial in an F1 race...keep running dude...and ya enjoy the pit stops...

Rules of the Corporate World: Part 1(CYA)

I think this will go on for pretty long…it is just the beginning…the bad bad corporate world…as people say…I don know whether its bad or good but ya it exists for sure…and no doubt its hell different then whatever world we can see…it has been 2 months on my job…ups and downs…but now slowly getting into the groove…be a part of it…so what’s the first lesion(both theoretically and practically) I learnt… “CYA”… for the few who didn’t understand this refers to “Cover your Ass” and believe me this has to be done day in and day out to survive…Ofcourse it doesn’t mean that you make mistakes and then cover it up…that will be suicidal… CYA is used in much wider context…beyond the understanding of the lesser mortals…As far as I understand it refers to not making a mistake and then covering up so that neither your probable mistake nor the mistake of any other person comes up to you…your a#$ should always be covered…come what may…ofcourse its easier said then done…to be a pro in CYA you need experience…you should always try that your CYA does not let things fall on somebody else(I am a good boy) but then it’s a bad bad corporate world and sometimes you can’t help it…haan and like most of the things the basic funda of doing CYA is that nobody should know that you are doing CYA…it should be as natural as possible…so Happy CYAing….

Long Long time

Writing after a long long time…March 11 was the last time when I put up a post…four months…had been a roller coaster ride…in true sense…has been the most beautiful days of my life…from my MBA getting over…to kerala trip…to 1 month in homeJ…to my dream job in Bangalore…everything has been so nice and beautiful…it has been amazing in terms of maturity I can feel inside me…working more then 15 hrs on my job… taking care of home chores….putting up with some permanent guests in my place…it felt as if I am a “working housewife”….suddenly I started realizing how difficult it is to take care of home…believe me it is…but all said and done…last two months on my job and staying here in Bangalore had been a amazing experience…getting my first salary pay slip with 5 digits on it was like “wow” and that too for a job which I wanted to be in…baby “ m loving it”…but suddenly out of the simulated environment of hostels to the actual ground reality here…it had been different…truly different…set up the whole house by my own…I start thinking about my future…where I will have my house with my family…a car…loads of shopping and blaah blaah…at 23 and half I started planning my future…and believe me its bugging yet intoxicating….thanks to my inspiration...

The MBA who sold his Darling…

Here darling refers to my grey CBZ…my dream machine…got this thing in the starting of first year…thought it will be helpful from college to hostel…didn’t know its potential then…how much it have in store for me…countless rides to udupi, restaurants, beaches, mountains, waterfalls and the list goes on and on…I so much wished to keep it for ever but all good things has to come to an end…so I started searching for a customer for my bike…thought of selling it first to a junior so that I can give it as late as possible…but didn’t work out…asked some 100 of times to dinesh…but he was trying to postpone to create a distress sale…so one day I thought of putting up posters in manipal…took a print out of my machine and hanged it at many places…was not enjoying it much with a feeling to part with it but anyways got it done…the same day dinesh called…and I went and sold my bike at his price…he is one shrewd business man, much better then many sales people in our college…he will let u sell ur bike to the same person you bought from…creating dummy parties…he just execute it properly…making a margin of atleast 3000 on one deal…he is too good…wish he would have come for a guest lecture…any ways there was a dissatisfaction…partly because I had to give it way and partly not getting the right price…but anyways its gone but the memories will always be there…I wouldn’t have enjoyed even 5% of what I did, if she had not been there…Adieu my CBZ

I Hope…

Hope is a good thing my friend
And no good thing can die…

Thanks Shaks to make me see Shawshank Redemption…According to some Hope is a dangerous thing…it just let u expect too many things but for others this hope is the only way out…Hope…all of us have some hopes within us which nobody can touch or feel…its just a matter of feeling it ourselves…Hope is everywhere…when a mother conceive a child…she can only hope to get a healthy child…when the child grows up he can hope not to fall...when he is grown up he can hope for some friends or companion…a person who gets old hopes not to die...life is nothing but hope…a endless hope of some other hopes...it is this hope only which keeps us alive…a hope…a hope to succeed…a hope to grow…a hope to prospere…a hope to fame…a hope to make our mark…a hope to show the world that u exist…a hope to make all this hopes come true…that’s hope…to put it in other words…hope is our birth right and we can not get away with it…even if we want its always with us…the true success is to listen to the voice of your heart to know what it hopes and then leave no stone unturned to achieve it…human capability is endless…and so are hopes…I hope and so I know that I am capable…

Prison

A thought just came to my mind…How the life in the prison be…and more so when u are there for something like life sentence or so as to say till death sentence…when u know that you are going to spend some more then 20 years in a prison…that sound scary…isn’t it…everyday getting up at the same time…doing the same work…eating the same food and sleeping in the same cage on the same concrete bed all through your life…day by day…minute by minute…second by second…and counting each of it…you don’t have anybody to fall upon…you don’t have anybody to look upon…nobody expect anything from you nor do you expect anything from anybody…its just you…caged within ur body and ur body caged within the prison…just moving from one place to other on the order of somebody…and he is there as a victim of some laws and code of conduct made by some other humans who want to live a peaceful life on their couches and beds…but can they guarantee that each and everybody who is being held up in the jail are guilty…there are no innocent souls inside who are dying everyday for something which they never did…neither m passing any judgement nor m making any comments…it is the way it is…and when we are talking of double digit growth and blah blah…can’t we shed some portion to make their life more comfortable and more peacefully so that they actually come out as “responsible citizens”

Taliyan…

Will tell u the story later but atleast clap first…not for me…for Ramu Kaka…yup…my first stint as a actor…a very short one though…this habit of mine to do everything made me participate in this play…I knew this was the last opportunity which I will get to perform…and I couldn’t let it go…there is always a urge within me for the claps…it really excites me…haan so Ramu Kaka had to bring food to the guest and say few lines like

“ I will cook Rasogullas for u”
“why people need to come at the time of food”
“ boumaaa!!! Eta ki hoche”

And believe me he did it in style, everybody liked it a lot…and I was enjoying the whole aura of it…my first attempt and it went well…people calling me “Ramu Kaka” even after a week of the play and that’s not a small thing for me… don’t know whether will get a opportunity again but this will be on my mind for long…and m pretty sure of that…

String Less

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna…Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama…Rama Rama Hare Hare
It cannot get a better name then this...We always keep some strings attached to us always and let these strings control us...So what is this all about? Shaks and me on the bike where just going around manipal to pass on some time... We were passing across the syndicate bank auditorium and saw some “Hare Krishna” people outside it... We both wanted to check it out...Let’s try something new, we thought...But still 15 mins left, what to do...We again went for a ride to find some unknown strings so as to say...So around 6 in the evening, we enter this auditorium and what we see...Some 15 saints from different countries (not a single one from India) chanting Hare Rama Hare Krishna in few of the most innovative way…it was truly eye catching and beautiful. Even the music was so soothing to my ears...I had some very strange feelings that time...I started liking it a lot...Suddenly its class time, was wondering whether to tell Shaks for bunking the class, my first bunk in these two years…even he was wondering the same thing…so finally we decided to let loose the strings( the prof is anyways not a very strong string either)…we decided to bunk…yeppiee…m attending a full session of “satsang”…after the kirtan was over, it was the time of Swami Indradyumana to impart the knowledge…and believe me he was too good…people may call them escapist but it would took some real guts and faith to be something like this…to leave all the wordly desires and chanting the name of Lord Krishna and in the same time making others to do so…he explained the difference between the soul and the body and which one should be given more importance...He completely ridiculed the theory of evolution as propounded by Darwin putting Lord Krishna as the supreme god and Gita being the ultimate source of spirituality and knowledge a person can come across...It was so true, so as to think…we are running endlessly towards something or other and this run will never come to an end…that doesn’t mean that we should stop running …its all about the path you take…I am not explaining any further…its on the individual person, so as to see the number of strings he can break and how quickly can he do so…doing all his worldly duties and even then keeping his own soul dedicated to god won’t be a easy task though…so I sang, I danced, and I listened…may be in a different way but no less then a experience to cherish. I also bought a “Gita”…don know when will I be able to finish it but then it was a start atleast…

Dadagiri

Wanted to write this for preety long now…No this is not a biography or to say cricketography of Sourav Ganguly…I just want to dig a little deeper…How he would have felt being thrown out of the Indian team and how amazing it would have been, to comeback…like all other players he has been performing bad, no doubt it was a long long bad patch for him but the “ dada” didn’t deserve the treatment he got…just imagine u r the head of ur family…and suddenly because you don earn anymore u have been thrown out with a promise that the ur comeback if not impossible will be really difficult…is it worth it…I know there is no place for the imperfections in the team but then there should be a style to say “goodbye”…all said and done…ganguly is out of the team…back to his home for a holiday which he can expect to be long…pretty long…what he would have done on this holidays…at the age of 30+ just give up his hope to come back to the team…and then one day declare his retirement…just imagine the way he would have felt watching Indian team play on his TV set…believe me it would have been pensive to see both, Indian team loosing as well as winning…but this man didn’t loose his determination…he went and played domestic cricket…with some players who are not even remotely close to his personality and career…but then he didn’t wanted to stick to his nick name “maharaja” at the cost of a chance to come back and show that he is actually the “maharaja”…so finally he came back…just imagine him entering the hotel where he again see his team but then the time has changed…people may be doubtful as to how to greet him…whether be cool about it or to get excited…some would have loved to see him back, some would have just contemplated the fact…ganguly going back to the field…practicing again with the teammates…but no doubt there will be some discomfort…some inhibitions…some loose ends…some old habits which may not want to die…from being the captain to be just another player…it would have been difficult…u can talk about professionalism and blahh blahh but after all he is also a human being…but to end it here…I just believe that he came back in style…and it would have needed a lot of guts and self-belief…

New year’s eve…

This is the best new year eve I ever had…never got the opportunity to go out and all in the night…but yahan to no problems…naah we didn’t go for any party and all…we have our own style of enjoying…we went to malpe…the beach was crowded…so thought of moving to tottam beach…the beach was like our private beach with campfire a ll far off…we found a boat tied on the beach…the beach was simply amazing…when people were dancing and drinking we were enjoying on the beach…it can’t get better then this…we walked for a while but then back to pavilion i.e the boat…it was time now…sandy’s bday…ofcourse we had the cake...it was looking amazing in the candle light…there were crackers on the backdrop to make it better…all in all it is the best u can get in 2 hrs...so now its time to go back…in hostel everybody was sloshed…wishing each other…this is probably the last time we as a group seeing the new year together…it will be difficult to leave this place…

St. Mary's

Slowly my blog is turning into a travelouge...but then when we are placed and we go out almost every day...can i help it...okie...so off to St. Mary's Island...we were planning to go there for quite some time now but 3oth was the day...we started quite early...around 9: 30 so as to say...reach there by around 11'o clock...but the ferry from malpe to the island was simply awesome...with quite a few dolphins...so we are on island...the beach there was amazing...so as usual we went in the water...bahut masti ki...it was like our own private beach...it was really a nice trip...i wanted to show all these places to my parents and sister...but let's see when will that happen...

Coorg…Coorg…Coorg

Three days in coorg…it should sound amazing…around 15 degree temperatures…in between hills…amazing roads…nice drive…good company…what else do u want to make a perfect holiday…let me explain the whole coorg trip…first day we left early in the morning…so much I would have love to go on bike but the car was not bad either…those roads were fun…guess what…got a flat tyre…tyre actually burst…but back on the roads in 15 mins…off to madikeri…m telling you…that place have bad food…bad to the power ‘n’…now its turn for other basic necessity…that’s shelter…”papa” got a place somewhere 30 kms away from the central place and was ready to go there alone…but we searched and searched and finally got a place in the central…it looked shabby but then now it doesn’t even matter…we can stay any where…so then after resting for a bit…we were off to a waterfall…that fall looked amazing…people went on top of it but I realized that I am not still recovered from the innate fear that got into me when I cut my leg…so I stayed down…and then back to hotel…the day came to an end…I stayed in my room…slept early when people were playing cards…somehow I was feeling a little left out in the crowd…pretty strange na!!! but then I decided not to let this mood hamper my holidays…I need to be happy next day to enjoy my vacation…so I started afresh the next day…was talking to everyone…the day seems good…we went to a safari some 60 kms far but there were only deer and more deer and nothing else…that visit was really bad but then it happens…it was good to see the conflict between papa and tulli…two completely different persons…so after then off to another fall…it was Irpu falls I guess…it looked really nice and we sat on a rock pretty high…the view from there was preety cool…so with loads of snaps…we are finally on our way back and then its food time…and then bingo…my mood go bad again to realize that my existence doesn’t even matter for the people who matters so much to me…what should I do…I choose not to speak the other day and to my expectations they didn’t even bother…that day we went to monastry and an island…pretty decent places…everybody was enjoying so much and I was wondering about the reasons for me feeling the way I was feeling…I tried to maintain my composure but then it was difficult…the journey back was simply awesome with weather, roads and speed completely in sync…so we are back…from a vacation…few people too ignorant and too happy…and others simply confused…but believe me I tried my best not to be affected but then m a human…so all in all a nice break but not so good vacation…I wish I could have lied…

Kudloo Teerth(named by Sandy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG8pQHOvNv8

This is on demand by Shakun…to give a little elaborate explanation on our Kudlu trip…we ll like to call it Kudlu Teerth…just imagine the fun we had that day ki inspite of being in cast for 2 weeks after that I can’t say that I should not have gone there…it was that amazing and intoxicating…so to add on to last blog let me quote some interesting incidents…pehle to bungi aur sam ko chalne ke liye manana apne ap mein ek kaam tha…believe me…it has been always difficult…after that in the morning it was amazing…we didn’t let kavi ride his own bike and he is damned pissed of that…ya can completely relate to him…how does it feel when somebody else ride ur bike…sam is sam…went to completely opposite direction and when came back forget to get the fuel…I just felt like saying “I love u sam”…mein kisise kam thodi hi hun…was trying to overtake a bus from the left…and as expected it cornered me on to a small peeble hill on the road…it saved us from a early ending to our teerth…we went ahead…now not to look back…crossed through some really bad roads…ya it was bad…alpesh ki bike ki to lag gayi thi us din…but usne apne naye tyre ko pura pura use kiya…so we were on the foothills of the waterfalls from where it was a trek of 1 hr or so…guess what…heard of leeches…ya those small sticky creatures who stick on to ur body and suck the blood…there were plenty of them on the way up…paddy was the saviour with the salt…Tata can actually market their salt as “leech resistant” salt…this is the budding MBA in me getting restless…went up that outbound type climb…was too tired on the way but once we reached there…WOW!!! Were the words we can think of…that waterfall is mind bogling…we couldn’t hold…undressed…almost and JHAPPAK!!! In the water…sandy was a ll late but then we pulled him…taught him how to float…and then 2 hrs of pure masti with no one around we were the kings…don get ideas…please…it was heaven with blue butterflies, white water flowing through green ranges…believe me it was the most amazing scene I have ever witnessed…we were taking views of the falls from different angles to get the maximum out of that beauty of nature…we were so happy…now it was lunch time…bread, banana and bhujiya…it was good and filling…so we are moving towards our shoes and OUCCHH! C A stepped on a stone…got a cut and now is getting nervous over it…everybody sort of worried…m not that light ki people can carry me till top…but it seemed to get fine in few mins and we moved up slowly…who knew this is going to put me on cast for a 2 weeks…but courtesy KMC they gave me a stone and a cast…but I still don’t regret that trip.

Simply Amazing

Chote chote sahron se, khali bore dupaharo se...

hum to jhola utha ke chale...hum chale hum chale...ramchandra hoy!!

nadiyan kam kam lagti hai, baarish madhyam lagti hai...

hum samandar/waterfall ke andar chale..

Guess what...another long trip...ofcourse we can't have a trip longer then a day...but when the whole day we are on bike...its simply amazing...today it was one more waterfall...last one was hanuman gundi...today it was Kudlu...the ride was good but there had been incidents...sam going to the opposite side and then not getting the fuel...thank god that i reminded him...it was not far away when, while overtaking a bus from the right...i was almost banged...went up to a pebble hill along the road...but then back to the road...the good roads are good to ride...but today i realized it also feel good at times to ride on the bad roads with lot of pebbles and mud...thoda psychology ho jaye...sometimes its good to go on the difficult paths...sometimes the bridges will be very narrow...sometimes you can't carry anyone with you and you need to move alone...but life goes on...bas bas abhi ke liye itna kafi hai...so we went ahead...a trek of around 1 hr...suddenly back to outbound days...but what we witnessed after that much trouble was something which cannot be explained...let me try...around 200 fts waterfall over our head at its full blow with its vapor and droplets coming to our face...ofcourse we went into the water...neck deep water and slippery rocks...but belive me for a minute i felt like am i still alive or am in heaven...i did forget about the world for that particular moment and believe me that is worth remembering...i just felt like saying "this is life". So now on our way back...got hurt...a small cut on the leg...but that's the fun...the ride back was good but not to forget pain in the ass...anyways all in all it was our way of celebrating diwali...away from our home but close to nature with our friends...

We are convicts

Yes we did it!!! finally after all the hard work and slogging we are finally in the jail!!! ya m serious...we have committed some grave crimes...crimes like thinkging of liberty, free thoughts, education etc etc. Gone were the days when some educated people bought us our freedom...here people are trying to behave in a exact opposite manner...it seems more education makes you more confine to your boundaries and this is not mental boundaries but the actual walls of cement. In our thoughts we may be asked to be liberal and to adopt a "global" view but as far as our body is concerned we are allowed to move within 2 kms radius of such beautiful place called manipal. Even if heaven is small it will be diffcult to be there for too long without going out once in a while. We should celebrate our festivals with our friends, ya we should but what about our parents with whom we have a little longer relationships, is it possible for everybody to get placed in their home town, definitely not. What should they do, wait for that perfect year when he can meet his parents on diwali, bow down to take thier "ashirvad", if so called educated people think it is still important..we are indians and have some family ties..some people don't seem to understand at all...i thought 100 percent attendance is for the classes...didn't know that hold good also for holidays...attendance in hostels...Ha!!! Can we call the whole education system a hypocricy.

Why it is the way it is…

Ofcourse this is my personal thoughts but I would like to ask why the people are the way they are…this is purely dependent on the people I have seen in the last few days…the best days of my life till now…they say its about finance…its about marketing…its about HR…but I think its about people…it is surely about people…that world does not exist where you can try to find the meaning of “One man Army”…u would simply end up doing everything and then wondering why u have done all that…and then you won’t have a reason for that…there can be a state where you succeed by working alone and on the other hand there can be a state where you succeed with 10 people around you…which is more satisfying…just give it a thought…is it so difficult…but who are this 10 people who are around you…do you have a choice of them…sometimes may be…most of the times no…you may want all these 10 people to be selfdriven and motivated…who are like you…who thinks like you…but is it possible given the fact that each and every human being have its own way to do things…some people are like those who just don wanna let others count on them…they just make it impossible…even if you try to trust them they would make it sure that u don’t…ofcourse they have the reasons to do so…the noble fact of being away from responsibilities…then there are people who try to succeed in whatever is done around them with a pride which the sun would be having being the center of the universe…but they don show the brightness which sun emit…they just can’t lead by example…which if they get…believe me would be difficult to compete with…then there are some poor souls who try to fix everything up…be reasonable to everything and everybody…try to do their best…try to make things better for everybody and then ready to be blamed by somebodies of these everybodies…ya I didn’t use “poor” with these souls just like that…these poor souls do succeed…may take a ll longer but for this poor souls the only happiness lies in doing their best in what ever they do…they like to lead by example…they don mind pulling up their sleeves to get their hands dirty…they take responsibilities and stands for it…they believe in analyzing the things rather then criticizing and to me this third type of people are most reasonable…this is the quote which I just heard from one of the most unreasonable person(he calls himself one)
“There are two types of people in this world: reasonable and unreasonable
Reasonable succeed by adjusting himself to the surroundings and the unreasonable succeed by adjusting his surroundings to himself”, its your call whom you want around you reasonable or unreasonable…