Atop the Peak !

Plans were made to go to Chikkamagalur, to trek the highest peak in Karnataka. The words highest peak had never sunk into us until we actually did the trek, rather guys were more than happy to have got together again. 10 of us together again to have fun had sidelined the facts of the trek.

Starting at around 10pm, on boarding guys on the way, we thought of reaching the home stay by early morning. Not many knew what kind of accommodation was it actually when we started and none of us even bothered to know the name and location of this home stay. The travel from Bangalore to Chikkamagalur is about 250kms. Travel time could be about 6 hours, after escaping out of Bangalore traffic.

We would have reached the home stay by around 4, if there would not have been a break in between. The driver was sleepy and so parked the vehicle aside and went to sleep. We had two choices to sleep or to get out of the vehicle and stretch. We stretched. Chatting for a while and then waking up all we reached Chikkamagalur at about 5 in the morning. Our tour guide was waiting for us at the Chikkamagalur main bus stop. He guided us to Woodways home stay. Surprisingly the home stay was nothing like we had expected. It was way more than what we had expected. Surrounded by huge coffee estates, it was an old bungalow turned to home stay. Apart from the bungalow, there was a dorm room with double berth cots where we all were to stay. Very clean and very well maintained.  We were all glad that we could all stay together and no would miss any of the funny & dirty pep talks. The best part that I liked was the open air dining hall right outside of our room. All settled down and had a quick nap. We were all woken up to our first dose of authentic Chikkamagalur filter coffee. WOW! No one could stop for one cup. After getting ready, even though many talked of having a light stomach as the trek was planned for the day, none of us could resist taking up the delicious soft idli & crispy vada’s with sambar and coconut chutney. Oh yes, one more round of coffee. All were determined to have coffee as many times as they could.

After the breakfast came the hard part. Trek to reach the highest peak in Karnataka. Mullayanagiri. Even though vehicles could reach a place upto almost the top of the hill we preferred not to do so. Starting from the bottom of the hill, we moved on and on and on… The route was not so bushy or thorny but quite steep. Leeches could be noticed here and there. Pradeep even got one on his leg and was feeling the itchy sensation for almost throughout the day even after removing the leech. The trek wasn’t too tough but was quite a lengthy one.  Having reached the place where vehicles could reach, we were treated with tender coconuts and pineapple. The speed at which the coconuts were emptied was proof enough that all boys were quite tired. Moving ahead from there meant taking stair way like steps. Reaching the top was childs play now. The cool breeze and the beautiful view relaxed us. The view definitely made you feel you were on the highest peak. Apart from murmur of the people around, all you could hear was sound of the wind. There was a cave with a small water source on one side which was said that it would connect to the city. But all we could see was pitch dark inside and a foul smell of the bats. The water at the source was freezing. Hand in it anytime longer than a minute could freeze it. The trek downhill was easier and quick We returned back being all tired and hungry again. The rotti with yenna gai (brinjal curry) on the menu for lunch delighted us all. A heavy lunch and the silent and cool place made way for a perfect siesta. Evening plan of visiting a coffee estate was canceled as it started raining. Confined to our room all we could do was to sit and play chess and carom for rest of the evening which turned out to be quite a fun thing. Guys teamed up and took turns to play carom. Cold rainy evening, hot filter coffee with snacks, surrounded by guys with witty one liners and pep talk – I could not ask for more.

The next day morning, we took a walk inside the coffee estates by ourselves. The best part was that we could see a peacock roaming around there. After the walk, yet another delightful thing for breakfast was awaiting us. Othhu shavige – a very native malnad dish served with chutney and sweet dish made of jaggery. The home stay hosts Mr. Shreedev Hulikere and Mrs. Sushmitha Shreedev joined us just before we were to leave for another short trek to a nearby hill. Very friendly and jovial people, they took us inside the bungalow which until then we had seen and admired from outside. After another cup of coffee with them, we were off for the short trek with a warning not to leave behind any plastic stuff during the trek. This short trek was a good one as well. We moved through more coffee estates and many other plantations. On our way back we were all tempted to pluck all the oranges and sweet limes that were in an arms reach or a stone throws reach. We plucked as many that by the end we all had a few sweet limes for each of us which later on turned out to be very juicy and of great taste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having said this much, I am still left with so much to say. Okay.. just a few more lines.On way back to Bangalore we were treated at the Southern Star hotel. We all entered for an evening coffee, came out finishing our dinner.

OK.. So New Things done:

Trekking the highest peak – Mullayanagiri.

Visiting Chikkamagalur, the coffee heaven of Karnataka

Added a great home stay to the list of likeable getaways – Woodways – A big two thumbs up for this home stay. Highly recommend to all.

All in all a great memorable tour!

OPEN !

Moving ahead, it was yet another autobiography that I read. Andre Agassi’s ‘OPEN’. Agassi has always been my favorite tennis star. More because of his way of playing tennis and also because his fashion on the court. He has always been applauded more for his service return on the court. Any service to him, would be returned with double the speed and power it was actually served at him. This was something that none of his contemporaries had expected and also a major reason for his wins. Flashy orange shorts, glossy green tshirt, red bandana – is what I remember him wearing in many of his matches. Why should I wear white always? is what seems like he always tried to say.

Coming to the book, from the very start of the read you get a feel that he is being very frank and open about what he is telling and this goes on till the end. Interestingly, ‘The End’ is the first chapters name, where he talks about his match with Marcus Baghdatis.  The finish line of his career.

Reading through the first half of the book we get to know that his way of being a rebel was not something he wanted but something that came from him as a reaction to the things happening with him. His childhood with a tennis ball shooting machine he calls dragon in his residence backyard court, he being sent away to a tennis school and his struggle with books and actual studies make you know more that his rebelliousness was obvious. His unending practice sessions even though taking a toll on his young body is what might have made him stronger giving the power to endure and last longer than his opponents in matches later on in his life. Much has been written about his excruciating relationship with his father and he doesn’t seem to hide anything about that as well. The pain he goes through putting up with his fathers sort of comes to an end when he meets his long time physical trainer Gil. Andre almost surrenders to Gil and trains like he has been asked to without questions. Apart from all that  he also goes on to do many revelations about himself that most of his fans around the world wouldn’t have known in any way like about his hair rug that he wore for quite some time. Soon reaches the stage where he talks about his love Steffi Graff and how it all happened between them and finishes the book with talking about his philanthropic work through his school

The parts of the book that I liked the most was about his matches and his arch rivals Boris Becker and Pete Sampras. His memories of all those matches, or knife fights as he says, are almost like photographic memory. And the way its written makes you almost relive the match and cheer for him during the match.

I am glad I bought this book and read it. It was a absolute page turner and quite an inspiring book. Oh and ya, to all those thinking that I dint mention about his drug episode, I don’t give a damn about that, he is an achiever, an idol and a role model to me and many and that’s all that I see him as.

Game, Set, Match and Book – Andre Agassi !

Vinay

The Last Lecture

After those two books, it was “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. My father had finished the book during his journey back from Mysore to Bangalore which is about 3 hours and he had liked it and so suggested me to read it. Thanks to him. It’s a wonderful read. Simple, sensible and a straight forward book. Randy Pausch delivered his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University on September 18, 2007, and the lecture was called “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” At the Carnegie Mellon University every retiring professor is requested or in a way given a last chance to lecture to a larger student audience about what ever they would want to talk about(does anything like this happen in any of our Indian universities? Let me know if you know).But in Randy’s case, it was actually a Last Lecture as he was by then diagnosed with terminal cancer.

There isn’t any point, during the read, a chance for the reader to get bored because Randy has been very humorous and also very serious at the same time. He starts with telling about the “Elephant in the room”, cancer. Without getting into too much details about it, he quickly moves on to what his childhood dreams were and how he made it come true. Oh no, not all of his dreams came true, his dream of getting into the National Football League (NFL) never happened. But his try and preparation for it made him learn lessons he wouldn’t forget all his life. It is at this point where he talks about head fake (which is a term familiar to the American football fans) and goes on and tells us all what it is.  Randy dint just achieve his dreams or most of his dreams but he also helped others achieve their dreams. His start and upbringing of the Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center is something very inspiring to read about. The creative opportunities created by him for many students at CMU is something that really needs, not only, to be noticed and applauded but to be implemented in all universities.

The book actually came out quite later after his actual lecture at CMU and goes a little  beyond what you see in the video. Its for this reason that I suggest you all to read the book first and then watch the lecture video which is available on youtube and CMU websites as well. I also suggest that its better not finish this book in one sitting, which is quite possible, as it might be felt a bit overwhelming if done so.

Much is there to be learnt from this guys simple lecture. Clarity, Hope and Optimism lingers on with you after you finish reading it. Do not miss reading this book and do watch the video.

Cheers to Randy !

Vinay

Recent read !

I have been on a kind of a reading spree. For the last 4 to 5 months or so, I have picked up books one after the other. Though it might not sound like too many books for many people but for some one like me who would seldom read it is was quite a number of books. Here is the list of the books that I read recently and a few words on how I liked or disliked it.

It started with “Not a penny more, Not a penny less”. A Jeffery Archer novel. His first novel and my first read amongst all his novels. The book is quite a page turner with an interesting plot taking place in London. The ending though was quite a disappointing one for being much unexpected after that fast pace. Its as if  a American football player is brought down by a opponent when he is almost about to touch down. But a good read though.

Next was “Its not about the bike: My journey back to Life” autobiography by Lance Armstrong. I had first heard of him for having won the very famous Tour De France and then later I was more curious to read about Lance after getting to know that he had won the tournament after beating cancer. The book finally caught me during last years World book fair held in Bangalore and finally did read the book after having shelved it for some time.

The book starts with the childhood of Lance, telling the readers on how he started with marathons and moved on to cycling. About how his mother played a significant role and continued to be that way for the entire of his life. He moves on to the start of his cycling career and then comes the major part of the book, his fight with cancer. And I am using the word ‘fight’ because that’s how even he confronted it. He saw cancer as his arch rival and fought with all he had. The writing about the whole time right from his diagnosis till the time where he was nervous the cancer relapsing is a stern read but inspiring as well. But the part I liked the most was the one in which he comes back to cycling and takes up the Tour de France and goes on to win it. That entire part about the whole tour and the race is very interesting to read.

Will let you know about the next books in my next blog soon. Do come back.

Cheers

Vinay

Coming back…

I have been away from blogging for quite a long time… been busy .. anybody missed me..??

Many things has happened. Change.
Recession, more attacks, more movies, more (bizzare!) reality shows, more people into blogging, more movies, more F1- kimi is still the favorite, so much more to read, so much more .. more … more….

well shall get back to ranting my thoughts. Do come back.

Cheers

The Dark Knight

After much await, i finally made time to watch the Dark Knight. And i am glad i watched it on big screen. Its surely a movie which has to be seen on big screen. It was a pleasure to see it. Apart from the sound and visual effects its the story that will make you get involved in it deeply and make you get to the edge of the seat.

Movie begins with a few guys with joker masks robbing a bank. But only one of the jokers leaves the bank with all the money. And he is none other than JOKER superbly played by Heath Ledger. Scarred face, greasy makeup, long messy hair makes anyone remember him for a few days more after watching the movie. The best of nemesis ever seen. Batman comes up once again to save Gotham city, but Mr. Harvey Dent (or Two Face), nicely played by Aaron Eckhart, seems to save the city with out wearing a mask. But its Joker again who keeps Batman from retiring. The action continues until Batman along with his techy guy Louis Fox (Morgan Freeman) keeps up to his savior status and gets the clown.

There is plenty of noisy action, which can numb your ears, so be ready for those surprise sound effects. Apart from the Jokers face, few snippets are unforgettable, like the sequence in which Joker enters the gotham city mob meeting making a rather funny laugh, the sequence where Batman brings back the chinese guy, the Joker coming out of the hospital and blowing up the whole hospital building and the awesome plunge of Batman from the skyscraper… and may be many more of that .. Kudos to Heath Ledger for his academy award winning kind of performance and will be missed by many and hope to see Christian Bale in the bat suit again with a faster bat mobile.

Don’t miss this dark, quite complex and unforgettable movie, and do watch this on big screen, big screens are made for such movies….

Walk on the Clouds !!

Viewing the first rays of sun at about 2000m above sea level at the dawn of a new year was absolute bliss and I couldn’t ask for a better start of a new year.

With sudden plans for the New Year eve actually taking place we were all together on the move towards Skanda giri, which is about 70 km’s from Bangalore. Anil and his colleagues planned for this and sandeep and me joined them . My only reason for joining this trek was a thought to do something different and unusual for this New Year eve. A moon light trek was apt enough for my reason.

Everyone got together at malleshwaram at about 11 p.m. and within no time we all got along very well and we headed towards Chikkaballapur, from where the Skanda giri or kalavarahalli betta is about 7 km’s. Reaching the foot of the hill at about 12.30 a.m., I was surprised to see about 50 or more number of people there getting ready to do the trekking. A rocket was fired and there was this roar of sound in chorus welcoming the New Year. Every person there seemed to be full of josh and energy. Not wasting much time we started towards the hill immediately.

As we moved ahead the path seemed quite fine in the beginning but it worsened with every step. Thorny bushes, hissing sounds and the not so full moon light was all ignored by each one was and all we wanted to do was to reach the peak as soon as possible. But it was only after about an hour’s climb did we notice that there was no path ahead and we seemed lost. With much confusion we decided to get down and take the other path. So we did come back to almost where we started. By this time we were all quite tired. But still without taking a break we just started on the new path, which seemed a lot better than the earlier one. Or so it seemed. As we moved up, those thorny bushes and slippery path was not missed. The temperature dipped as we moved higher and the winter was felt by every one of us. Without wasting much time, we had almost reached the peak at about 3.35 a.m. Just below the peak point there was this flat place where most of the people were resting and so did we.

The view of the city lights from up there was fabulous. By that time all other groups were there and another surprise awaited us there. We had heard from others who had been to this place earlier that nothing would be available up there, but we were relieved to see someone preparing hot bajji’s and tea there which was totally unexpected. We missed the tea since we reached there after the other groups. But we were glad that we enjoyed those hot bajji’s. We were not the last ones to get there, as several more reached there after we did who missed even what we got.

At about 4.30 we started for the peak point, which was just about 5 mins ahead from where we rested. Having reached the peak we all settled down at an edge of the hill waiting for the sunrise. The pool of clouds seen from there seemed like ksheera saagara – sea of milk which was just amazing. The temperature there was freezing. But it was the view, which made us ignore everything and we all just enjoyed it.

At about 6 a.m. the much-awaited sunrise happened and along with me there were many who just seemed to be so overwhelmed with the joy of experiencing such thing. This joy and experience has to be felt by actually being there as it’s not easy to put it in words. Some people screamed, some just sat there in silence and watched the awesome view. Cameras clicked and moments captured.

We started the downhill at about 7 and reached the place where we started at about 9. Most of us were tired and sleepy. The cramps started to show up. But all I could think of on the way back was that it would be one of the most memorable treks of my entire life. And for those who have not been to this place, all I would say is you are missing it. Visit this place once and you will be tempted enough to go there again..

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Click on the images to enlarge..

pool of clouds

Dawn of 2008 !!

 
Guess wheres Sandy !?

More photos will be added soon..

(In case you are planning to go to this place don’t forget to take water and food, warm clothing and a good torch while a night trek.)

Taare Zameen Par

Taare Zameen Par, a very sensible movie at the end of the year. Amir Khan making his directorial debut has proved that now not only does he act well but can also direct a movie with utmost perfection even with a sensitive story giving out a important message to everyone, especially to ‘parents’.

The movie is about the eight year kid Ishaan, the main protagonist in the movie, who is put through the ‘ be ahead of others ‘ kinda stress, very much like every other child in this country. Even after been repeatedly correcting his mistakes by his mother, ishaan keeps doing the same mistakes. Getting frustrated for not been able to discipline him, he is packed off to a boarding school by his father. Things worsen for ishaan there. With no known faces around, but just scary teachers, he just puts himself into a nutshell without showing any improvements with his studies and also almost stops doing painting which used to be his most favorite thing. To his rescue comes his new art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, very well portrayed by the perfectionist actor Amir Khan. It is he who takes a closer look at ishaan and finds out that its dyslexia which is keeping ishaan from coping up with his studies. And with able help from his new art teacher, ishaan does improve making his parents proud.

There are many moments which stays for a long time even after the movie ends like the one in which Ishaan does a moon walk in the school corridor while being sent out from class, the one in which Amir visits ishaans parents and makes them understand their childs problem and another in which ishaan is surprised to see his art teacher to have done a painting his smiling face.

The movie is upto the expectations it had created. With no stylish fashion, no fancy camera effects, Amir has directed a fabulous film with just a solid script backed with apt lyrics by Prasoon Joshi and unconventional music by the Shankar-Eshaan-Loy trio. And its Darsheel Safary who plays ishaan who steals the show with his fabulous acting. And interestingly, never in the movie do you see Amir overshadowing the ishaans character. All other actors including Tisca Chopra and Vipin sharma who play ishaans parents have put in fair share of acting. No wonder that its been highly rated by most of the critics.

All in all a wonderful movie which is not to be missed by anyone..

To Teachers, With Love..

There are very less people who would be fortunate enough to have had good teachers in their lifetime. I consider myself one of them. There were 2 teachers whose teachings still stay with me. It was in Beasant English School,Mangalore where I happened to be a student of Prabha Kudva madam and Sudha madam. Definitely the best teachers i have ever had till now and may be forever. I did my primary schooling from 2nd grade till 4th in Beasant School. Three years of unforgattble learning experience. Though it was in the very early statges of my schooling, their teaching is the only ones which is like engraved in my memory. Apart from studies, they both encouraged us all a lot for many other activities like sports and cultural activites. Infact such activites were done more than anything else. If at all theres any creativeness in me then its just because of they both. Along with teaching the text books, they made us write stories, read encyclopedias, even let us watch movies (quite unbelievable, but true).

Now when I look back into my student life, I feel that i was a true student only in these three years with these two teachers. For the rest of my education i guess i was just a student preaparing to do well in the annual exams.

I thank them both again for everything they have given not just to me but to all their students.
Happy Teachers Day

Sincerely,

Vinay

One evening ….

I know i am pathetic at writing anything… but still, long back sometime i had tried at putting words together to write up something which would seem like a poem in some way.. now going ahead and taking one more risk of letting you all read it… so here it is ..

One evening ….

Woke up on a pleasant evening,
Felt like the whole day i had been sleeping…

There was no one to wake me up,
No one to call my name…

Moved out of the home with strange feeling,
I felt i was still dreaming….

Visited all the known places
Looking for those familiar faces…

Soon i was left with a very few choices
Where i could hear the known voices…

Confused with the words i heard,
Refused to go near the yard…

But somehow could’nt keep myself,
Legs had started moving by themselves…

As I reached the place near,
Eyes looked arround in great fear..

Found all those faces i had been searching,
Could’nt understand for whom they were mourning….

Thought of looking at that resting face,
Heart was beating with great pace…

As the face uncovered at the count of nine,
With great disbelief i saw it was mine…

The strange feeling had by now vanished,
I now realised that my terms here had finished…

To keep up my words honestly i had tried,
Could see a few hearts which for me had cried…

Even after years, I roam arround the same old places,
Treasuring those joyous expressions on those known faces…

Wish even I had moved through all those phases…

– VS